Agenda Notes:
- March 22 Dinner Briefing - Elizabeth Avenue
- Agenda Item #8 - Sustainability Index
- Agenda Items #11 & #29 - Light Rail Vehicle Purchase and Related Design Contract Amendment

Information Items:
- Interim Economic Development Director
- Transportation Committee Referral/Colony Road & Myers Park High School
- Seminars for Starting a Business
- Charlotte Observer Developing a Series of Articles on the 2025 Transit/ Land Use Plan

Attachments:
- Sustainability Index
- Elizabeth Avenue
- Memo on Observer Article
- City Council Follow Up Report

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Agenda Notes:
March 22 Dinner Briefing: Elizabeth Ave
Staff Resource:  Tom Flynn, 704-432-1396
The attached information is background for the March 22 dinner presentation on the Elizabeth Avenue Redevelopment.

Agenda Item #8: Sustainability Index
Staff Resource: Tom Flynn, 704-432-1396
Attached is additional information regarding the Sustainability Index that is being recommended by the Economic Development and Planning Committee for approval.

Agenda Items #11 and 29 - Light Rail Vehicle Purchase and Related Design Contract Amendment
Staff Resource:  Ron Tober, 704-336-7245

      -  CATS has received the "Letter of No Prejudice" from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) granting approval to proceed with the award of a contract to Siemens Transportation Systems Inc. for the purchase of 16 light rail vehicles and related equipment, spare parts, training and support. This approval from the FTA grants the authority to begin incurring costs on the purchase of the vehicles prior to a final federal commitment on funding for the project.  It also insures these costs will be included as local share in the calculation of the amount of federal funding CATS will receive for the project.

Purchase of the light rail vehicles is a long lead time item. A notice to proceed must be given to the manufacturer by the end of March to avoid either a delay in the project schedule which would increase costs or severe limitations on the time available in 2006 to test vehicles and train transit employees and contractors. A final federal commitment on funding for the project is expected in the fall of this year.

      - Staff is moving Consent Agenda item # 29 – South Corridor Final Design and Construction Management contract amendment – to new Agenda Item #11D. This will enable all actions related to acquisition of the light rail vehicles to be considered as a package on the Policy Agenda.   

Information Items:
Interim Economic Development Director
Staff Resource:  Pam Syfert, 704-336-3185

John Palmieri's last day with the City of Charlotte is today, Friday, March 19, 2004.  Therefore, I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Tom Flynn as the interim Economic Development Director for the City of Charlotte effective Monday, March 22, 2004.  Tom's experience and credentials will serve the City well during this interim period and allow us to continue to provide a high level of service with our Economic Development Division staff.  A national search for John's permanent replacement will begin immediately.

Transportation Committee Referral/ Colony Road and Myers Park High School
Staff Resource: Doreen Szymanski, 704-336-7527

On March 9, 2004, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board approved donating land and a cost sharing plan for improvements on Colony Road at the Myers Park High School driveway entrance.  The City Manager is referring this item to the Transportation Committee for review, and it will be scheduled for the March 29 committee meeting.

Seminars for Starting A Business
Staff Resource:  Gwenarda Isley, 704-336-2116

The Charlotte Enterprise Community and the City of Charlotte's Economic Development Division are hosting a series of seminars for persons interested in starting their own business.  The sessions are open to individuals residing in the Charlotte Enterprise Community and the City's Neighborhood Action Plan areas. 

The curriculum will cover such topics as researching the business, developing a business plan, credit worthiness, non traditional loans and grants, legal aspects of owning a business, marketing/advertising, selecting the right location, employee issues and matching/mentoring of persons who are in the business now.  The seminar series will kickoff March 23, 2004 at the Sugar Creek Joblink Center, 4045 N. Tryon Street. 

Charlotte Observer Developing a Series of Articles on the 2025 Transit/ Land Use Plan
Staff Resource:  Ron Tober, 704-336-7245

The Charlotte Observer is developing a series of articles on the 2025 Transit / Land Use Plan.  It will cover the progress made in the first 5 years of the plan, how the plan has advanced through the MIS and EIS processes, enhancements to the plan and the overall long-term funding of the plan.

The Charlotte Observer has requested information under the Freedom of Information Act. They have also contacted other transit systems across the country who were recommended for a

Federal Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) in the recent submission of the President's budget, asked for information on their projects and project costs, staff salaries and administration expenses.  Interviews have been conducted with the Mayor, CATS staff and the FTA Administrator.

Staff is providing the Charlotte Observer with the requested information and anticipates the series of articles to run in the April time frame.  Attached is a handout used at a December 2003 Transit Summit which provides accomplishments over the past five years.