Each year the Charlotte City Council Sets Priorities for City government's work year.  Following is the report for the period January - June 2003.

Economic Development
Affordable Housing
Smart Growth

Economic Development -  
Business Retention & Growth Achievements:
- Developed customer survey program
- Awarded Business Investment Grant to Time Warner for relocating corporate offices and 670 employees to Charlotte

Small Business Development Program Achievements:
- Developed Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program and good-faith effort to contract with certified businesses
- Created small business hub with CPCC and non-profits
- Created SBE loan program

Business Corridors Achievements:
- Developing with Eastland Mall owners a "town center" and private/public improvements
- Completed Big Box Study and developing City West Commons and Wilkinson/CMDC projects
- Created University City Municipal Service District

Transit Supportive Development Achievements:
- Adopted Joint Development Policy Framework
- Initiated Independence and North Tryon market studies

Economic Development Tools/Resources Achievements:
- Successfully passed Project Development Financing and advanced Special Obligation Bon Program legislation in the NC General Assembly
- Revised Business Investment Grant Program
- Developed Economic Development (ED) Policy Framework and consolidated ED structure

Hospitality and Tourism Achievements:
- Completed Marketing Advisory Committee recommendations report
- Westin Convention Center Hotel opened
- Exploring new structural options for long-term growth of the industry

Infill Redevelopment Achievements:
- Development programs in place for Midtown Square, First Ward Urban Village, and Elizabeth projects
- Planning and designed South Corridor infrastructure
- Enhanced Center City development though approving new arena, incorporating retail into arena design, and investing in key developments on and adjacent to arena site

Affordable Housing
CDC Action Report Achievements:
- Approved contract with North Carolina Community Development Initiative to administer Charlotte Neighborhood Fund to provide support and assistance to CDCs

Code Enforcement Achievements:
- Combined Housing Code Enforcement Division and Community Improvement Division into new Code Enforcement Division under Neighborhood Development
- Cross-trained inspectors to undertake both housing and community inspections

Financing and Completion of Housing Units Achievements:
- Financed 1,347 new or renovated units and completed 1,005 new or renovated units for fiscal year ending June 30, 2003
- Included $20 million housing bond for FY2004 in FY2004-2009 Capital Investment Plan

Affordable Housing at Transit Stations Achievements:
- Housing Trust Fund Allocation approved $4 million for land acquisition in station areas
- Developed acquisition strategies and purchasing land at station areas

Implementation of 2003 Affordable Housing Bond Achievements
- Appropriated $12.6 million of $20 million housing bond in FY2003: $7.6 million for multi-family rental, $0.5 million for special needs housing, $0.5 million for innovative homeownership, and $4 million for transit station development.  Remaining bond funds will be appropriated by FY2004
- Approved commitments to seven multi-family projects totaling 567 units (467 affordable). Leverage $1 City dollar to $6 private dollars in development cost.

CWAC Committee Affordable Housing Review Achievements:
- Reached preliminary recommendations on City/County cooperation, Homeownership, Information Clearinghouse, Section 8 Incentives and Assisted Housing Definition policies

Housing Retreat Achievements:
- Held second retreat with City, Housing Authority, and Housing Partnership.  Reached consensus on cataloging assets, skills and resources, developing strategies for local affordable housing issues, and other topics.

Housing Trust Fund Bond Achievements:
- Approved both the 2003 Rental and Ownership Demand and Supply forecasts and interviewed stakeholders to formulate FY2004 bond allocation recommendations.
- Continued discussions on creating sponsoring non-profit collaborative to encourage private investment

Smart Growth
Land Use Planning Achievements:
- Joint Development Policy Guidelines adopted by City Council, County Commission, Metropolitan Transit Commission and Board of Education
- Completed stakeholder review of GDP and initiated final public review and adoption process
- Completed preliminary station area plans along South Corridor and began developing transit-oriented zoning districts along transit corridors
- Adopted several area plans, including East Boulevard Pedscape Plan, Belmont, Dixie-Berryhill, Eastland Mall Revitalization and Second Ward

Transportation Choices Achievements:
- FTA approved Final Environmental Impact Statement and issued Record of Decision for South Corridor Light Rail Project
- Approved Final Design consultant contract for South Corridor and began acquiring real estate
- Rapid Transit Corridor System Plan approved by Mecklenburg-Union MPO and presented to FTA to begin preliminary engineering work
- Initiated Urban Street Standards Study and Center City Transportation Study and formed steering committee for connectivity project
- Finalizing linkages between new MPO boundaries and federally-mandated transportation planning and air quality conformity process.
- Integrating transportation and land use in developing street guidelines, transit area station plans, rezoning decision and other issues.

Health Neighborhood Achievements:
- Approved Communities Within A City (Neighborhood) Focus Area Plan
- Selected Beatties Ford Road and Eastland Mall area as first sites for neighborhood transit centers
- Collaborating with CMS to assess infrastructure improvements and safety issues in selected school areas
- Conducted public education about Model Neighborhood Standards.  Developed proposed ordinance to prohibit the parking of cars on front lawns

Environmental Quality Achievements:
- Completed stage 1 of EPA regional sustainability project and developed action plan for phase 2 of project
- Joined the Regional Planning Alliance, public-private non-profit initiative convened by Centralina COG
- Approved MOU with the Department of Energy Clean Cities program, in cooperation with Centralina COG, to promote and accelerate use of alternative fuels
- Developed low emission bus plan as part of BREATHE stakeholders' report recommendations