Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is proposing increases to transit fares and passes on all of its services, which would take effect on Monday, October 6. The Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) will conduct a public hearing on the proposed fare increases Wednesday, May 28, in Room 267 at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center (600 East Fourth Street) at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited to comment.

Click here to view proposed fare increases

To speak at the hearing, call 704-432-0490 or e-mail mtc@ci.charlotte.nc.us before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28. The deadline for signing up to speak is at 5:30 p.m.

Visit the CATS Rider's Alert web site for more information.

Creating sustainable neighborhoods helps create a strong city.

The Charlotte Regional Realtor Association (CRRA) will host the inaugural Workforce Housing Fair Saturday, June 14 at Eastland Mall. The fair will provide resources and information needed to address credit issues, finding reliable lenders and down-payment assistance options, and beginning the home-buying process.

Local builders, mortgage lenders, realtors, nonprofits and community agencies will be available to answer questions about homeownership opportunities in Charlotte. There will be four education sessions offered throughout the day, with two available in Spanish.

Saturday, June 14
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Eastland Mall,
5471 Central Avenue

For more information, contact the Housing Opportunity Foundation at 704-940-3148.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control is holding three upcoming events in Charlotte. 

They will host a microchip clinic Saturday, June 7 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at MetroPaws. Microchips serve as permanent identification for your pet. Every Animal Care & Control officer carries microchip scanners in the field, and each animal that is picked up is scanned for a microchip. If a microchip is located, the pet owner is immediately contacted so the animal can be returned home instead of going to the shelter, which saves owners from paying reclaim fees, and animals from stress.

Microchips are responsible for reuniting hundreds of lost pets with their owners each year. Last year 70 percent of microchipped pets avoided a trip to the animal shelter, and already in 2008 nearly 85 percent of microchipped pets have been reunited with their owners.

Saturday, June 7
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
MetroPaws,                                                                                                                                          2029 South Tryon Street 

Animal Care & Control will also host its monthly pet adoption clinic Saturday, June 7 from 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. at South Park Mall's center court (4400 Sharon Road).

To combat cat overpopulation in Charlotte, Animal Care & Control is offering free Cat Spay & Neuter surgeries Saturday, June 14 at the Animal Shelter (8315 Byrum Drive). Surgery applications can be found at www.cmpd.org or you can call 704-336-4424 for more information.

The City of Charlotte recently updated the Uptown Streetscape Standards to ensure pedestrians enjoy their Uptown experience. The standards include wide sidewalks on tree-lined streets. Now, the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) needs feedback on the Center City Transportation Plan. Visit the CDOT web site to review and submit feedback about the Standards.

As summer approaches, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities thanks customers for their conservation this spring and reminds them to continue these practices in the coming months.

The current mandatory water restrictions are as follows:

• Those with odd addresses may irrigate lawns, wash cars and fill fountains on Saturdays.
• Those with even addresses may irrigate lawns, wash cars and fill fountains on Sundays.
• Customers may use drip irrigation, hand-held hoses with nozzles or containers to water trees, shrubs and flower beds anytime.
• Pressure washing and fountain operation also are permitted.

Lake levels are normal for this time of year; however, we can expect those to dip once summer heat increases evaporation. Stream flow and groundwater still lag below normal, and our region continues to be listed in "extreme" drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

For WaterSmart landscaping ideas and other conservation tips, please visit www.cmutilities.com or www.saveyourwater.org.

Tune in this week for a NASCAR Hall of Fame construction update and to learn about the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport's impact on the Queen City's economy. You'll also hear about the how City maintains 2,300 miles of streets and how to use 311 to reserve space at local parks.