Calendar:
Monday, February 21
12:00 pm - Agenda Briefing, Room 280
5:00 pm - Council Manager Dinner Briefing, Room CH-14
6:00 pm - Zoning Meeting, Meeting Chamber
Wednesday, February 23
12:00 pm - Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee Meeting, Room CH-14 AGENDA: 2004 Quality of Life Study - Follow Up; First Ward Park Redevelopment RFP
5:30 pm - Metropolitan Transit Commission Meeting, Conference Room 267
Friday, February 25
7:45 am - Planning Liaison Committee Meeting, 8th Floor Conference Room
Agenda Notes:
Consent II, Item #4: South Corridor Light Rail Construction Project:
Staff Resource: Ronald J. Tober, 704-336-7245
On February 21, 2005, under Consent II, Item # 4, Council action is requested on several contracts for the South Corridor Light Rail Project (SCLRP) and funding for these and other upcoming contracts.
Contracts listed under Actions C and D will currently be funded by Certificates of Participation pending the availability of Federal dollars under the Full Funding Grant Agreement.
The contract listed under Action E.a. will be funded 50% by Certificates of Participation and 50% from funds from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). The State's share of this contract is based on the State Full Funding Grant Agreement and Grant Contract which assists the SCLRP by providing 50% of the cost of specific, early contracts. NCDOT's overall contribution to the SCLRP will be 25% of the project cost.
Council's adoption of the resolution, Action E.b. will authorize CATS CEO to submit grant application to NCDOT for funding 50% of the cost of the SCLRP-Train Control and Communications Contract. Contract awards are contingent upon receipt of a Letter of No Prejudice from the Federal Transit Administration.
Also concerning action 4.E.a., CATS staff has been processing a protest made by the second low bidder on this contract. The protest involves whether the low bidder (Mass Electric/Aldridge Electric joint venture) has the proper North Carolina contractor licenses for the work involved. Initial determinations by engineering, procurement and legal staff found that the joint venture did have the proper licenses. This determination was made after consulting with the NC Licensing Board and their legal counsel. However, the protesting contractor (Crowder Construction) has now appealed that determination to the CATS KBE under the CATS protest procedures. As of Friday, the CATS KBE had not completed his review of the Crowder appeal. If this review is not completed before Monday, then item 4.E may be pulled from the Council agenda on Monday evening.
Information Items:
Information Request on Uptown Municipal Service Districts
Staff Resource: Ruffin Hall, 704-336-3403
Attached is a copy of information requested by a Council member regarding uptown municipal service districts (MSDs). Included in the request is a map illustrating the boundaries for the three areas (MSD 1, 2 and 3).
Charlotte Selected for 2005 Bike Town USA
Staff Resource: Ken Tippette, 704-336-2278
Charlotte has been selected as a 2005 Bike Town USA project community along with 10 other cities across the U.S.
Bike Town USA is a project sponsored jointly by Rodale Publishing and manufacturers of bicycles and bicycle parts. (Rodale Publishing is the publisher of BICYCLING - the nation's largest bicycle magazine.) Rodale uses its extensive media expertise to publicize the event, which has proven successful in previous years. They will be working with the community and local cycling organizations to give this event major publicity and will likely do related stories in BICYCLING magazine. The Pilot Program occurred in 2003 in Portland, ME with 50 participants. In 2004 they had 5 markets in Chatham/Madison, NJ, Chicago, IL, Irvine, CA, Microsoft Campus, WA and Racine, WI with 250 participants.
The project provides bicycles to individuals in selected communities who have submitted winning essays on why they should have a new bike. The Bike Town program is an editorial experiment that chronicles the impact of a free bike. The Bike Giveaway occurs in May in conjunction with Bike to Work Week (May 12 - 16).
Nextel NASCAR All-Star Challenge Race
Staff Resource: Ron Kimble, 704-336-4169
Tim Newman is scheduled to appear at your February 28, 2005 City Council meeting to officially request funds from the City to support keeping the Nextel All-Star Race in Charlotte. A Local Organizing Committee (LOC) began meeting soon after last year's race to develop additional activities that show our love and support for NASCAR and more specifically this $94M/year economic impact race in Charlotte each May. Many regional players serve on the LOC and they have already stepped up financially to fund some of these activities.
Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte will each be asked for $62,500 to support this year's race. Tim will make the request on February 28 and it is our intent to bring this to you for formal action at your March 28 meeting. Keeping this All-Star Race in Charlotte (as opposed to rotating each year) has tremendous economic benefits for our Region, as evidenced by others who have already pledged their financial support.
