~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Calendar:
Monday, June 7
5:00 pm - Business Meeting (televised), Meeting Chamber
6:00 pm - Dinner (immediately following Business Meeting), Room 267
6:15 pm - Council Workshop, Room 267
7:30 pm - Citizens' Forum, Room 267
Wednesday, June 9
Town Hall Day, Raleigh, NC
Charlotte Observer Reporter Melissa Manware is working on a story addressing the decline in Hazardous Traffic Citations in 2003 over 2002. She interviewed Chief Stephens this afternoon. There was a 17.6% decline in the number of hazardous citations in 2003 when compared to 2002.
There are a number of explanations for the decline. We have been increasing education and engineering efforts along with enforcement, while targeting high crash corridors and intersections. That work has had a very positive impact on the number of collisions in the city and county, while the number of miles driven has increased by about 4% annually.
The chart below shows an 8.7% decline in overall crashes in 2003 over 2002 and a 17.2% decline in 2003 when compared with 2000. We saw a continuation of a decline in injury crashes with a 5% reduction in 2003 over 2002 and a 21% decline when 2003 is compared with 2000.
|
Collisions |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
%00 - 03 |
| Fatal |
89 |
58 |
63 |
54 |
- 39 |
| Injury |
9,410 |
8,585 |
7,831 |
7,438 |
- 21 |
| Property |
26,252 |
26,309 |
24,533 |
22,114 |
- 15.8 |
| Total |
35,751 |
34,952 |
32,427 |
29,606 |
- 17.2 |
Hazardous Citations
| 2000 |
30,783 |
|
|
| 2001 |
40,848 |
+ 32.7% |
|
| 2002 |
44,589 |
+ 9.2% |
|
| 2003 |
36,725 |
- 17.6% |
Compared to 2000 + 19.3% |
In addition to the focus noted above, the CMPD has operated with an average of 35 to 40 fewer officers on the street, which has an impact on all street patrol activities. The department is currently 42 officers under authorized strength because of not being able to fill positions due to budgetary restrictions.
Finally, the CMPD has focused on robberies, auto thefts and burglaries during 2003, which has required a shift in emphasis. Given these operating challenges, it is a very positive sign that the traffic strategic emphasis has had such an impact.
North Carolina Legislative Update
Staff Resource: Boyd Cauble, 704-336-2009
Attached is a memo from Boyd Cauble outlining the Town Hall Day Activities in Raleigh next week. The memo also describes major issues that occurred this week in the Legislature that you may wish to discuss with our Delegation members.
Gus' Sir Beef Uptown Restaurant and Food Lion Speed Street
Staff Resource: Brad Richardson, 704-336-6587
The Mayor and Council members received a letter from Attorney Dennis L. Guthrie regarding Gus' Sir Beef Uptown Restaurant and Food Lion Speed Street. Attached is a memo from Brad Richardson addressing the issues raised by Mr. Guthrie.
