Information Items
   - Piedmont Triad Professionals to Tour Charlotte's Transit-Oriented Development
   - Grand Opening of Fire Station #10 - Saturday, April 23
   - Environmental Action Plan: Biodiesel Test Program
   - Solid Waste Services Performance Data

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Information Items:
Piedmont Triad Professionals to Tour Charlotte's Transit-Oriented Development
Staff Resource: Laura Harmon, 704-336-4565

A group of planning directors, land use planners, developers, transit and transportation agency representatives, chamber members and builder/realtor association representatives from the Piedmont Triad Region will tour the Charlotte area on Friday, April 15, to see how transit-oriented developments are working in this region. The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation, know as PART, is leading this effort.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission is coordinating the tour, which kicks off at 10:00 am in the Council Chamber with a welcome from Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon and Assistant City Manager Curt Walton. Tour stops will include 3030 South, SouthEnd, Gateway Village, First and Fourth Wards and Elizabeth Avenue. Luncheon speakers include Tony Pressley of MECA Properties and Planning Director Debra Campbell. The group will also visit Birkdale Village and Morrison Plantation.

After learning that more than $350 million of new development has occurred along the South Corridor since the announcement of passenger rail service, PART wants to take this opportunity to show the Piedmont group the significant connection between land use and transportation. PART is currently undergoing a Transportation Alternatives Analysis, which includes looking at changes in future land uses and development patterns.

Grand Opening of Fire Station #10 - Saturday, April 23
Staff Resource: Sally Young, 704-336-2881

The Charlotte Fire Department will hold a grand opening for Fire Station 10, 2810 Wilkinson Boulevard, on April 23, 2005 between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Council members are invited to attend. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 11:00 am. Refreshments will be served.

Environmental Action Plan: Biodiesel Test Program
Staff Resource: David Friday, 704-336-5774

Equipment Management is completing plans to operationally test up to 20,000 gallons of Biodiesel fuel in City equipment. The test period, which will begin in a few weeks, is in support of the Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition initiatives, of which Charlotte is a core stakeholder.

Biodiesel is a blend of low sulfur diesel fuel and pure soybean oil. The typical blend is 80% diesel fuel and 20% soybean oil. The soybean oil is grown domestically and could actually be grown in North Carolina. Using this 80% - 20% blend lowers most exhaust emissions and reduces dependence on foreign oil.
   - The test will involve 67 vehicles and pieces of equipment and will likely last two to four weeks.
   - The equipment types will range from dump trucks to small auxiliary equipment.
   - No equipment related problems are expected from the test, but Equipment Management will be monitoring the vehicles and equipment closely.
   - We expect the costs for the test to be a few hundred dollars more than the cost of regular diesel fuel for the full 20,000 gallon test,
   - We will evaluate the results immediately following the test period.

Solid Waste Services Performance Data
Staff Resource: Wayman Pearson, 704-336-3410

The 2004 North Carolina project report released last month shows City Solid Waste Services outperforming other North Carolina municipalities in cost and efficiency of garbage, recyclables, and yard waste collection.

Key findings from the 2004 report include:
   - Charlotte's collection costs per ton for garbage are 45% less than the statewide average.
   - Charlotte spends 41% less per household to collect garbage than the statewide average.
   - Charlotte collects 27% more tons of recyclables per employee than the statewide average.
   - Charlotte collects 46% more tons of yard waste per employee than the statewide average.

The North Carolina project is a collaborative effort between fifteen North Carolina cities, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Institute of Government and the North Carolina Local Government Budget Association. The project presents performance and cost data for participating cities. Participating cities include:

     Asheville           High Point
     Cary                 Matthews
     Charlotte           Raleigh
     Concord            Salisbury
     Durham             Wilmington
     Gastonia           Wilson
     Greensboro       Winston-Salem
     Hickory