Calendar:
Monday, March 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
Tuesday, March 22
8:00 am - Economic Development and Planning Committee Meeting, Room CH-14 AGENDA: Business Investment Grant Program
6:00 pm - District 1 Meeting, Charlotte Merchandise Mart, 2500 E. Independence Blvd.
Wednesday, March 23
12:00 pm - Community Safety Committee Meeting, Room 270-271 AGENDA: MEDIC Presentation; Passenger Vehicle for Hire Ordinance
3:00 pm - Budget Retreat, Room 267 AGENDA: City Cost Containment; Review Request for Additional Police Officers; Revenue Update; Review Request for Additional Street Maintenance and Code Enforcement Resources; Storm Water Public Hearing Process; Questions and Answers from March 2 Budget Retreat
6:00 pm - Metropolitan Transit Commission Meeting, Room 267
Thursday, March 24
12:00 pm - Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee Meeting, Room CH-14 AGENDA: 2004 Quality of Life Study - Follow Up; Charlotte Neighborhood Fund - Status Report and Competitive Process; Neighborhood Development Financial Partners Compliance Monitoring - Mid Year Report
Friday, March 25
Easter Holiday - City Offices Closed
Information Items:
Referral of Charlotte Neighborhood Fund Competitive Process
Staff Resource: Stanley Watkins, 704-336-3796
On July 26, 2004 the City Council approved a contract with the North Carolina Community Development Initiative to serve as an intermediary for the Charlotte Neighborhood Fund (CNF). The CNF provides operating funds and technical support to local Community Development Corporations, which assist in the City's housing and neighborhood revitalization initiatives.
As part of the approval last year, the City Council asked staff to explore setting up a competitive process for participation in the CNF. Council tentatively said it would like the process in place by FY2006. In order to maintain a schedule by which Council can make a decision for next year, the City Manager is referring this item to the Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee for a review and recommendation to the full Council. This item will be on the Committee's agenda on March 24, 2005.
Senate Approves Full Funding for Community Development Block Grant
Staff Resource: Boyd Cauble, 704-336-2009
We received the attached press release regarding the Senate's approval of full funding for the Community Development Block Grant. Senator Dole voted to fully fund CDBG while Senator Burr voted against full funding.
Your work and the efforts of others while attending the National League of Cities meeting last week in Washington DC helped deliver the 66 to 31 positive vote for CDBG.
Invitation to Participate in the Highway Safety Information System (HSIS)
Staff Resource: Charles Jones, 704-336-3901
The Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) has been invited by the Federal Highway Administration to participate in the Highway Safety Information System (HSIS). Charlotte will be one of two cities participating in the program. HSIS consists of crash, roadway, traffic, and other linkable databases from eight states, including North Carolina. The data within HSIS is used by FHWA and many other agencies, including the National Academy of Sciences to conduct studies related to transportation safety.
Based on a review of crash data maintained by CDOT, FHWA determined that the City of Charlotte has one of the best crash data systems among all the cities within the eight HSIS states. The quality of CDOT's crash data, combined with the diversity of intersection and street types within Charlotte, led to the City's selection to participate in the HSIS program.
CDOT's participation will require providing FHWA copies of data that we currently maintain. It will require neither additional resources nor increased staff workload.
Anonymous Allegations Against the Contract Operator of CATS' Bus Fleet
Staff Resource: Ronald Tober, 704-336-7234
On March 17, 2005, local media received anonymous allegations from several maintenance employees at CATS Bus Operations Division (BOD) against the current management company, McDonald Transit Associates, Inc. regarding the maintenance of buses, vendor relations and use of funds. The complainants did not contact CATS staff directly with these issues.
Staff takes these accusations seriously and has started an independent investigation into the allegations. CATS routinely conducts audits of its transit service contractors' maintenance records, processes and financial expenditures using an independent firm. Since 2002, the independent audits have shown that maintenance performance has improved, while BOD management has reduced overtime expenditures. Regardless of these recent improvements, CATS staff will follow-up with McDonald Transit Associates on any problems or inappropriate behaviors uncovered by the investigation and insure that appropriate corrective actions are taken.
McDonald Transit Associates, Inc.'s contract with the City started in September 2003 and they are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of CATS' largest bus fleet. CATS uses a transit management firm since North Carolina Law prohibits governmental entities from managing and negotiating with unions. The maintenance employees involved in this matter are actually employed by a private company called Transit Management of Charlotte, Inc. which is managed by McDonald Transit Associates, Inc. under its contract with the City.
Salvation Army Women's Shelter - Medical Clinic
Staff Resource: Stanley Watkins, 704-336-3796
On March 9, 2005 members of Charlotte City Council and Mecklenburg County Board of Commission toured the facilities of local homeless service providers. The visit to the Salvation Army Women's Shelter also included the medical clinic, which serves mostly women and children who live at the homeless shelter. The medical center, which is staffed by the UNC Charlotte School of Nursing, is scheduled to close in August. As a follow up, staff was asked to provide information on the clinic's annual budget.
According to Dr. William Cody, Professor and Chair, Family and Community Nursing at UNC Charlotte, the University will discontinue its involvement with the clinic in August, but is working with a committee to find another organization to administer it. Dr. Cody stated that the clinic requires a minimum budget of about $160,000 annually to operate - approximately 60% for personnel and 40% for non-personnel items.
Attached is an article that appeared in the Charlotte Observer on March 17, 2005 that provides more information on the clinic's closing.
10th Annual Neighborhood Symposium
Staff Resource: Cynthia Woods, 704-336-2646
The City of Charlotte celebrated a milestone and hosted the 10th Annual Neighborhood Symposium on Saturday, March 12, 2005 at the Marriott City Center. The symposium's theme "Designing A Blueprint for Neighborhood Success: A Framework for Effective Organizations" and the workshop sessions focused on capacity building strategies for creating strong and effective neighborhoods.
This year's event attracted approximately 400 residents, including 90 youth, from more than 74 neighborhoods. The symposium featured 35 information and display exhibits by local service providers and four neighborhood organizations. Belmont Neighborhood Association, Grenelefe Town Homes Homeowners Association, Thomasboro-Hoskins Youth Council and Winterfield Neighborhood Association used the display tables as an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and highlight the community's involvement in the completion of neighborhood projects.
As a follow up to the symposium, participants will have an opportunity to take part in a series of other capacity building workshop sessions through May. Proceedings from this year's symposium will be available in mid April.
Concerns of Jim Roberts
Staff Resource: Major David Graham, 704-432-0470
The Police Department has been working with Jim Roberts and the Windsor Park Homeowners Association to address their concerns regarding speeding in a reasonable and responsible manner. In an e-mail to City Council and the County Commission this morning, Mr. Roberts indicates that he is still not satisfied with the police response.
The Police Department will provide a detailed report on their efforts in Windsor Park next week. That report will be shared with Council.
Followig is the link for the South End Pedscape/Transit Station Area Plan for the February 28 Transportation Committee Meeting Summary report.
