Calendar Items:
Grand Opening of Fire Station 36 - December 4, 2004
Staff Resource: Luther Fincher, 704-336-2791
The Charlotte Fire Department will host the community at the opening of Fire Station 36, located at 2325 West Mallard Creek Church Road, on December 4 between 10 am and 2 pm. Council members should have received an invitation already. The ribbon-cutting will be at 11 am. Refreshments will be served, and tours of the station will be available.
United Agenda for Children Town Hall Meeting - Saturday, December 11, 2004
Staff Resource: Dennis Marstall, 704-336-3980
At the November 8, 2004 Business Meeting, City Council voted to commit city funding for the United Agenda for Children initiative being led by the Lee Institute and others. At that meeting, Council members were strongly encouraged to attend the day-long, community-wide town hall meeting on Saturday, December 11, 2004 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart. If you have not registered and would like to do so, please contact Mindy Levine at
704-336-3184 and she will submit your registration information. Also, if you need a copy of the brochure highlighting the initiative, please contact Mindy or visit the website http://www.unitedagendaforchildren.org.
Information Items:
Experience with Aggressive Panhandling Ordinance
Staff Resource: Ruth Story, 704-336-6904
The City Council approved an aggressive panhandling ordinance in November 2003. Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon requested a report on the enforcement efforts over the past year and an assessment of the ordinance's effectiveness. Attached is a report from Chief Darrel Stephens. The Police Department believes that the ordinance is a useful tool in improving the perception of safety in Uptown.
Police Academy Investigation
Staff Resource: Darrel Stephens, 704-336-2360
Yesterday, the North Carolina Criminal Justice Standards Division notified eighteen CMPD officers that they must appear for a probable cause hearing on December 3, 2004. These hearings are the follow-up to the State's investigation into the Police Academy. The hearings are open to the public and will generate media coverage.
The Charlotte Observer has been in contact with the agency holding the hearings. It is likely that a story will appear in the Observer prior to the hearings. We anticipate that the Observer will get a list of the names of the officers who have been asked to appear before the hearing board.
Chief Stephens has asked to address the hearing board and they have agreed to allow him to speak at the December 3 hearing. The Chief will also notify the officers that the hearings are open to the public so that they will be prepared for the media coverage.
Elmwood Cemetery and Norfolk Southern Railroad Tracks
Staff Resource: Ron Tober, 704-336-7245
CATS has received written conformation from the Norfolk Southern Railroad that the plan developed by North Corridor project staff and NCDOT to reconfigure the railroad tracks to the north of the proposed West Trade Street Multi-modal station is acceptable to the railroad subject to final plan design review. This is good news because the track reconfiguration plan will permit the North Corridor commuter rail line to come into the Multi-modal Station without requiring any portion of the Elmwood Cemetery to be permanently taken to provide the right-of-way for the commuter rail track. CATS North Corridor project staff and NCDOT staff will now work with Norfolk Southern representatives to finalize the track and related infrastructure plans for the Multi-modal station.
South Corridor Light Rail Project Art Exhibition Results
Staff Resource: Ron Tober, 704-336-7245
The South Corridor Light Rail Project Art Exhibition at Spirit Square ended October 23. Over the more than 40-day run of the exhibition, a total of 3,029 people visited the exhibit to view the public art proposals developed by 19 artists for the project. Comment cards and a drop box were located near the entrance with a sign asking for comments from attendees. The public was asked for their first choice and why, what makes Charlotte our "place" and other comments. Of the 103 comment cards received, 92% made positive comments about the incorporation of public art in the light rail project.
The cards received were overwhelmingly complimentary of individual proposals, the South Corridor Light Rail public art project in general and the quality of the exhibition itself. There were general comments (not mentioning a particular art proposal) that were positive, focusing on diversity of art and artists, relevance of proposals, and praise for more public art in Charlotte's future. A few constructive comments encouraged attention to landscape (greenery, trees, shade) and area history. Nearly every proposal received a specific positive comment; some received constructive comments that will be shared with the artists. Negative comments included a question about the diversity of artists, relevance of art to Charlotte, opposition to light rail and objection to the expenditure of public funds for art.
The proposals receiving high responses as first "choice" included:
- Drinking Fountain Basin by Nancy Blum
- Leaf Fence by Shaun Cassidy
- Sculpture Bench by Hoss Haley
- Elevator -"Tower of Light" by Richard Elliott
- Skyline Observatory by Carl Cheng
Favor was fairly divided between the proposals, demonstrating that the public's taste is varied and a range of art appeals to the community.
