Calendar Details:
Monday, August 23
12:00 pm - Agenda Briefing, Room 280
1:30 pm - Transportation Committee Meeting, Rooms 270/271. AGENDA: Connectivity; Transportation Priority Planning
5:00 pm - Council Manager Dinner Briefing, Room 267
6:30 pm - Citizen's Forum, Meeting Chamber
Wednesday, August 25
8:30 am - Mayor's Task Force on Cultural Facilities Meeting, Room 280. AGENDA: Continued Discussion of Funding
2:00 pm - Retirement Reception for Vi Lyles, Council Chamber
5:30 pm - MTC Meeting, Rooms 270/271
Friday, August 27
7:45 am - Planning Liaison Committee Meeting, 8th Floor
Agenda Items:
Agenda Item #5: Deferral of Public Comment on Amending the Albemarle/I-85 Study
Staff Resource: Garet Johnson, 704-336-8364
Late this afternoon, Planning staff received a revised request from the American Asset Corporation for amending the Albemarle Road/I-485 Interchange Study. The revision represents a significant departure from the original request.
Staff needs additional time to review the revised request and to communicate the changes to the public. In addition, the plan amendment, as revised, will need to go back to the Economic Development and Planning Committee before seeking public comment. Therefore, this item has been removed from the agenda. Staff will notify all speakers of this deferral.
Agenda Item #11: Economic Development Strategic Framework
Staff Resource: Tom Flynn, 704-432-1396
Attached is the Request for Council Action, including the proposed process.
Agenda Item #12: Arena Out-Parcel 3
Staff Resource: Curt Walton, 704-336-5019
Attached is the Request for Council Action, including the memo from the City Manager.
Agenda Item #29: Razor Scooters
Staff Resource: Bruce McDonald, 704-336-2406
Several Council members had asked about the operation of the Razor scooters on public rights of way. The Police Department and the Transportation Key Business prepared this information in response.
North Carolina law contains the classifications of "motor vehicles" and "vehicles". The "motor vehicle" category includes the traditional type of transportation vehicles. They must be registered, inspected and insured, and the operator must be licensed. "Vehicle" is a broader classification and includes both motor vehicles and other types of vehicles. Mopeds fall into the "vehicle" category. By definition, a moped: 1) has two or three wheels, 2) has no external shifting device, 3) has an engine that does not exceed 50cc piston displacement, and 4) cannot travel at a speed greater then 30 miles on a level surface. Mopeds do not require registration, inspection, insurance, or a license for the operator. State law prohibits anyone under 16 from operating a moped on a public street or in a public vehicular area, such as a parking lot.
A razor scooter has no official classification under state law, but has been interpreted as falling within the definition of "moped".
State law prohibits the operation of a "motor vehicle" on the sidewalk. The Police Attorney's Office has prepared an ordinance, which is on Council's August 23 agenda, which prohibits the operation of a "vehicle" on a sidewalk. This will prohibit the operation of a razor scooter on the sidewalk and will address the safety issues associated with razor scooters. The ordinance will also prohibit the operation of mopeds on sidewalks, an issue not currently addressed under state law.
Agenda Item #67: Condemnation of BASF Property for Charlotte Department of Transportation Street Maintenance Facility, Parcel #1
Staff Resource: Ed Wright, 704-336-3212
The August 23, 2004 Council agenda includes a condemnation action for BASF property needed as a relocation site of the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) Street Maintenance facility. The Street Maintenance facility is currently located at Central Yard.
On May 29, 2001, City Council approved the City Within A City Committee's recommendation to relocate the Street Maintenance facility. The purpose of the relocation was to free up land for a Light Equipment Garage and Solid Waste Services and to remove the current city parking from the west side of Seigle Avenue as a part of the Piedmont Courts Hope VI project. Funds for Central Yard renovations were approved as part of the 2001 Capital Improvement budget.
Recently, the Housing Authority received the Piedmont Courts Hope VI grant. The City will transfer City-owned land on the west side of Seigle Avenue to the Housing Authority in approximately 18 months. Land for the new Street Maintenance facility must be acquired immediately. Adequate time is needed to construct the new facilities in order to coordinate with the Hope VI construction activities.
An extensive search for the appropriate Street Maintenance site was performed. Based on very specific criteria for the Street Maintenance facility, the search yielded few suitable sites:
- Site size of approximately 20 acres
- Central location for efficient service delivery
- I-2 zoning to allow for outdoor storage
- Convenient and non-disruptive access for truck traffic
- Sensitivity with respect to established residential neighborhoods
- Fits within the established budget
The BASF site was found to best meet all of the criteria. BASF owns the undeveloped 20.24-acre site in the Northpointe industrial park located off North Hoskins Road between Brookshire Boulevard and Beatties Ford Road.
The BASF site purchase was complicated by the presence of contaminated groundwater. The City has an appraisal of the property that indicates a fair market value (FMV) of $765,775. Upon completion of the Phase II Environmental investigation, the FMV would be reduced by any actual remediation costs to be incurred by the City. Staff has been working to acquire the BASF site for over two years. We were very near a negotiated purchase. Other BASF representatives from the Corporate Office recently became involved and added stipulations unacceptable to the city. We will continue to work for a negotiated purchase, but need the condemnation to stay on schedule should agreement not be achieved.
Information Item:
Charlotte Arena Project Monthly Expenditures
Staff Resource: Jim Schumacher, 704-336-3656
Attached is the Monthly Arena Expenditure Report.
