Calendar:
Monday, April 26 - Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Chamber Inter-City Visit, Nashville, TN
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
5:30 pm - MTC Meeting, Room 267
Thursday, April 29
7:30 pm - Mayor's New Business Breakfast, Westin Hotel - Grand Ballroom A/B
Information Items:
2005 Annexation Qualifying Areas
Staff Resource: Jonathan Wells, 704-336-4090
Eight areas have been determined by staff to qualify as part of the 2005 annexation process. These eight areas - located in the east, northeast, northwest, southwest, and south areas of Charlotte's ETJ - were shared with an inter-departmental staff team at a meeting on April 8. The staff team has commenced work on annexation service plans that will be presented to City Council and to the community in July. Maps of each of the eight areas are attached.
- Brookshire East
- Brookshire West
- Caldwell
- Community House Road
- Mallard Creek Church East
- Withrow Downs
- Steelecreek North
- Steelecreek South
City Council will have four opportunities to consider these areas, according to the 2005 annexation schedule. The schedule is outlined below:
July 19, 2004
Preliminary 2005 Annexation Report presented to City Council
July 26, 2004
City Council considers "Resolution of Intent" for annexation areas, formally establishing dates for public informational meeting and public hearing. Council is also presented with annexation reports (containing the service plans) for each of the annexation areas.
October 11, 2004
City Council holds annexation public hearing.
November 22, 2004
City Council considers annexation ordinances for each qualifying area, formally approving the annexations that will take effect June 30, 2005.
Parking Citation Payment Website
Staff Resource: Doreen Szymanski, 704-336-7527
We had an inquiry from WCNC reporter Jeff Sonier regarding the security of the parking citation payment website. Someone had questioned whether proper security was in place for protecting credit card information. Mr. Sonier had an independent source look at the website, and that individual claims the site is not secure.
The Transportation Department hired an independent contractor to evaluate the security of the website. The contractor found no cause for concern about the security of the credit card payments. There have been no breaches of the site and all sensitive information is housed on a separate server, properly encrypted, and separated by a network filtering device such as access control enable router or firewall.
The results of the evaluation reinforce our confidence in the system's security for our customers. Mr. Sonier may choose to air a story that conflicts with these findings.
Independence Blvd. In-fill Housing Master Plan Consultant Sought
Staff Resource: Tom Warshauer, 704 336-4522
The Economic Development Office is seeking a consultant to create a master plan for development of market rate for-sale housing for a proposed site between Independence and Commonwealth in the vicinity of WTVI. The site combines various public and private sector property owners. The City does not own any of the land in this area.
At the March 1, 2004 Council Workshop, Economic Development staff presented the recommendations of the December 2003 Market/Economic Analysis of the Independence Boulevard Study Area prepared for the City by Anita Kramer and Associates in conjunction with The Littlejohn Group and Hunter Interests, Inc.
Their recommendations called for the City to facilitate bringing the owners of several underutilized and/or vacant properties in the Independence Boulevard Study Area - Segment One together so that their properties could be offered for redevelopment. City ED staff has met with several of the affected property owners and these owners have expressed a strong interest in pursuing the recommendation.
Due to the complexity of the site, the development of a preliminary master plan is needed to examine the redevelopment potential of the site and identify and resolve potential redevelopment issues: land assembly, topographic/storm water/swim buffer concerns, access issues, etc.
The consultant would facilitate meetings with the participating property owners to help them develop consensus on the redevelopment and their partnership. This process will also include input from adjacent neighborhoods. The final products of the assignment will be a preliminary master plan and a RFP from the property owners to potential developers.
Increase in Punishment for Assault on a Transit System Operator
Staff Resource: Boyd Cauble, 704-336-2009
The Charlotte Area Transit System requested that we include an item in our legislative package increasing the penalty for assaulting a transit operator from a class A2 misdemeanor (the lowest class of misdemeanor) to a class A1 misdemeanor. The class A1 misdemeanor could result in possible incarceration for repeat offenders. Because this issue involves statewide legislation, we determined that it could not be included in our local package during the "short session," but rather would be presented to Council in January for the 2005 legislative session.
This week the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee reviewed this and two other transportation related items for consideration by the legislature during the short session. Recommendations from this committee are eligible for consideration during the short session and Representative Drew Saunders, a member of the oversight committee, has agreed to sponsor this legislative request for the North Carolina Public Transportation Association. If the legislation is introduced this year, we will be asking for Council's endorsement and authorization to assist with the passage of this transit safety issue.
Auto Theft Presentation
Staff Resource: Captain Katrina Graue, 704-336-4187
The Community Safety Committee received a presentation on vehicle theft at its April 22 meeting. Staff from the Police Department presented an overview of the vehicle theft problem and the initiatives being used to address it. Staff also presented several legislative changes which would allow law enforcement to deal more effectively with juvenile involvement with law enforcement. The Committee endorsed presenting those changes to Council as they prepare their 2005 legislative package.
A copy of the power point presentation and the information on the legislative changes is attached.
Colony Road/ Myers Park High School Intersection Improvements
Staff Resource: Vi Lyles, 704-336-3132
At its April 19 meeting, the Transportation Committee unanimously approved in principle the Charlotte Mecklenburg School design for the intersection improvement planned for Colony Road at Myers Park High School (MPHS).
In 2001, Council approved a CDOT-proposed plan to realign that intersection in order to allow for a left turn from northbound Colony Road into the MPHS campus. The design was estimated to cost approximately $125,000.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board has a proposed plan which it feels will further enhance pedestrian and vehicle safety on the Myers Park campus and provide for less traffic congestion. This design is estimated to cost approximately $200,000, and CMS has agreed to donate the necessary property and to share in the cost of construction.
The Transportation Committee approved the alternative design in principle, pending an in-depth review by CDOT, development of a detailed cost-sharing plan with CMS, opportunity for further public input, and approval by the full Council..
Housing Trust Fund Advisory Board - Mid Year Report
Staff Resource: Stan Wilson, 704-336-3337
The Housing Trust Fund Advisory Board met on March 11, 2004 and approved the FY2004 Mid-Year Report. The attached report provides an update on the Board's FY2004 activities. Board activities for this fiscal year include; the adoption of the For Sale Housing Market Study, the election of officers, the structuring of committees and the FY2004 Housing Trust Fund Allocations for funding.
Water Week Events Set
Staff Resource: Doug Bean, 704-391-5070
May 2-8 is National Drinking Water Week. Council members are invited to attend several upcoming events put on by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities and the Clean Water Coalition to mark this annual celebration:
- As a Water Week warm-up, water symposiums will be held for local schoolchildren at the North Mecklenburg Water Treatment Plant (7980 Babe Stillwell Rd., Huntersville) on April 27-29, from 9:00 am until 2:30 pm each day. Evening tours will also be available on Thursday, April 29 from 6:30 pm through 8:30 pm. The symposiums include new and exciting hands-on exhibits and displays that focus on the complete water cycle and various related topics.
- A Water Week proclamation will be read Tuesday, May 4 at 11:30 am at Hidden Valley Elementary School (5100 Snow White Lane). WaterSmart Awards will be given out to local individuals and businesses that have taken steps to conserve water. During much of the day more than 600 Hidden Valley students will learn about drinking water, pollution, and how they can help.
