Information Items:
Mayor's Task Force on Cultural Facilities Meeting
Staff Resource: Carol Jennings, 704-336-7285T
he next meeting of the Mayor's Task Force on Cultural Facilities is Thursday, September 2, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Room 280. This is a change from the originally scheduled time. Attached is the packet for the meeting.
FY2005 City Budget Information Brochure
Staff Resources: Ruffin Hall, 704-336-3403 and Julie Hill, 704-336-4098
Attached is a draft copy of the FY2005 City Budget Information Brochure or "budget-in-brief". The most recent citizen survey indicated a need for better information related to the City budget and how tax dollars are spent. Eighty-eight percent of survey respondents indicated keeping them informed about the City's financial status is somewhat (15%) or extremely (73%) important. The "budget-in-brief" will be used to communicate the most critical information on the City budget to community groups, future annexation areas and visitors. It also will be added to the web site as a publication available for download.
2004 Wastewater Performance Report
Staff Resource: Doug Bean, 704-391-5070
Attached is a summary version of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities' Wastewater Performance Report. This report (for the year ending June 30, 2004) is a state requirement for all public and private wastewater operators. The document lists our highlights and challenges. It also describes the wastewater treatment process and how customers can help by reporting sewage spills and keeping kitchen grease out of the sanitary sewer system.
After a tough year for sewer spills in 2003, the past fiscal year ended with a 35% reduction in the total number of overflows, and a 96% reduction in the volume of wastewater spilled (the lowest number of gallons in at least five years). The drastic drop in spills can be attributed to new and ongoing spill reduction strategies implemented by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities as well as more normal weather patterns.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities safely collected and treated more than 99.997 percent of the community's 29.60 billion gallons of wastewater before releasing the cleaned water back into our local creeks. Our five wastewater treatment plants met more than 99.85 percent of all discharge permit requirements.
The summary version is being distributed in the September water/sewer bills. The bill insert and 30-page report may be found online.
Recruitment Rumors Regarding Chief Stephens
Staff Resource: Darrel Stephens, 704-336-2360
In the last few days, there have been several news stories that have indicated that Chief Darrel Stephens is being recruited for positions in other police agencies. Chief Stephens wanted the Council to know that he is unaware of the source of those stories. While Chief Stephens is often contacted regarding job openings, he has not heard from recruiters for any agency in several months. The Chief reports that he is very happy in Charlotte and is not seeking other employment.
New Recording for 911 System
Staff Resource: Darrel Stephens, 704-336-2360
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department strives to improve its services to citizens who use the 911 system. During times of peak call volume, citizens may call 911, let the phone ring for only a few seconds, hang up, and dial again. This delays the response to the citizen. When a 911 call is received, it automatically goes into a queue and is answered by the next available telecommunicator in the order in which the calls were received. When a citizen hangs up and redials, the process starts all over. Most citizens who hang up seem to do so after about five rings, the equivalent of 30 seconds. The 911 call abandonment rate for FY04 was 7.1%
In an effort to reduce the number of abandoned 911 calls, the Police Department is placing a recording on the 911 line which will tell the caller that he has reached 911 and asking that he remain on the line. The recording will activate if the caller has heard the phone ring for 25 seconds. Most major cities use such a recording and feel that it positively impacts their abandonment rates. CMPD anticipates similar results and feels it will improve the productivity of telecommunicators who call back on all 911 hang-ups.
The recording will be tested in September and should be fully operational by October 1, 2004.
Correspondence from John Woodlief
Staff Resource: Pam Syfert, 704-336-3185
Attached are copies of correspondence between John Woodlief and me regarding accusations Mr. Woodlief is making about Assistant City Attorney Bob Hagemann related to the Eastover Woods subdivision matter. I responded to Mr. Woodlief on August 17, 2004 (copy attached). He sent another letter to me dated August 31, 2004 (copy attached) indicating he was not satisfied with my response and planned to contact Council. I wanted you to be aware of this in case you hear from him.
Bob is angered by the accusations and has asked Mac McCarley to conduct an investigation so Bob can respond to the allegations in an appropriate forum.
Jamestown Drive Sidewalk Project
Staff Resource: Vivian Coleman, 704-353-0481
A sidewalk project is planned for Jamestown Drive between Princeton Avenue to Westfield Road. County staff requested that the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) initiate the project to help support the restoration of the Little Sugar Creek and to continue the greenway trail. Along most of its length, the greenway trail will be located along the creek. However, the County determined through their planning and public involvement processes that construction along the creek would be too disruptive to property owners along the segment between Freedom Park and Westfield Road. The County determined that the trail should connect via a sidewalk that would be located along Jamestown Road.
CDOT agreed to construct sidewalk along Jamestown Road with the understanding that the County would seek consensus of abutting property owners during their planning process. It is CDOT's understanding that in addition to several public meetings, the County's greenway planner had one-on-one discussions with every resident along Jamestown Road to seek their preferences on whether to locate the trail along the rear of their properties or along a new sidewalk in front. Apparently, every property owner, except Mr. J. J. Schonberg, preferred the sidewalk instead of the trail along the creek.
Mr. Schonberg, property owner of 1646 Jamestown Road, has contacted CDOT to discuss this project. He wants the greenway located along the creek behind his home. He believes there was insufficient public involvement and believes residents were misled during this process. CDOT staff discussed the issue with current and former greenway planners and understands that the County did carry out a sufficient public involvement process.
CDOT independently evaluated Jamestown Road using the sidewalk ranking criteria and determined that it ranks in the top 10% of requests and meets the objectives of the Sidewalk
Program. The sidewalk can be located entirely within the public right-of-way. Only temporary construction easements are required to build this project. Every property owner, except Mr. Schonberg, has agreed to the easements. We determined that the sidewalk can be built without easements along Mr. Schonberg's property. Aside from Mr. Schonberg, CDOT has received no other calls from residents with concerns about this project.
Taxicab Update/Limo and Other Company Operating Certificate Renewals Staff Resource: Joe Vanderlip, 704-398-6793
Chapter 22 of the City Code regulates all local passenger-vehicles-for-hire (PVH) companies operating in Charlotte. The PVH Ordinance requires all companies to obtain and annually renew a company operating certificate before operating any passenger vehicle-for-hire. Upon application for a company certificate, owners agree to meet and comply fully with all ordinance requirements and to ensure their drivers and vehicle owners also meet all requirements.
Taxicab Update: On August 1, American Cab, Eagle Cab, and Nations Cab companies did not meet the 30-vehicle minimum requirement to operate as a taxicab company. Their certificates were not renewed and they were required to cease operations. Each company subsequently repaired or replaced vehicles to meet the 30-vehicle requirement. All permitted vehicles from each company were inspected to verify each met ordinance standards. After a series of inspections, all three companies have regained their operating certificates.
Limo and Other Company Operating Certificate Renewals: Limousine and all other for-hire companies are required to renew their operating certificates in August. All operating certificates for these companies expire as of September 1. As of August 31, only 34 out of 65 companies with operating certificates for 2003-2004 submitted renewal application packages for 2004-2005. Thirty-one (31) companies did not submit any renewal information.
All companies that did not submit a renewal application will be mailed letters of non-renewal on Wednesday September 1, 2004, and directed to cease operations until they submit their renewal package and receive a valid company operating certificate.
All company operating certificate holders have been repeatedly advised by the PVH Office of the importance of meeting the requirements of the Ordinance. All company owners were mailed renewal packages in June with all necessary forms and a cover letter outlining renewal requirements and reminding owners that the company certificates expired on September 1.
As with the non-renewed taxi companies, City PVH staff will issue driver permits and vehicle operating permits at no charge to any driver or vehicle owner impacted by the company non-renewals who requests a transfer to another company in possession of a current company operating certificate.
August 25, 2004 MTC Meeting Summary
Staff Resource: Ron Tober, 704-336-7245
At its August 25 meeting, the MTC received an update on the status of the Historic Trolley Barn renovation at Bland Street and South Boulevard. The project remains on schedule and on budget, and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2005.
The MTC was also presented with a brief update on the effort to locate new office space for the CATS staff. The Mayor communicated the desire of some City Council members to explore the feasibility of exploring locations along the South Corridor as an alternative to locating CATS offices in the center city. Various members of the MTC expressed concern about not having the transit system's offices in the downtown area and said that there may be locations in other corridors that should be considered if the CATS offices aren't kept in the center city area. This item will be back on the MTC's agenda again probably in September.
The bulk of the MTC meeting was devoted to a workshop in which MTC members and several members of the Citizens Transit Advisory Group (CTAG) discussed the recommendations developed by the CTAG during the year-long Transit Governance Review completed in June. CATS staff reviewed the adopted 2025 Transit Plan and its governance implications. The group spent over two hours discussing transit system governance and the pros and cons of the recommendations offered by CTAG and the pluses and minuses of the current structure. The recommendations call for an incremental process of changes to the governance structure triggered by various events leading to creation of an independent transit agency many years in the future. The MTC will continue to discuss the recommendations at its next meeting in September.
