Calendar:
Monday, April 18
12:00 pm: Agenda Briefing, Room 280
2:00 pm: Tour of New Arena, Meet at Hunt Construction Trailer on Sixth Street
5:00 pm: Zoning Dinner Briefing, Room CH-14
6:00 pm: Zoning Meeting, Meeting Chamber
Tuesday, April 19
10:00 am: Tour of New Arena, Meet at Hunt Construction Trailer on Sixth Street
Wednesday, April 20
3:30 pm: Economic Development and Planning Committee Meeting, Room CH-14 AGENDA: Business Investment Grant Program Review; Self Financing Bonds Criteria Development
Thursday, April 21
8:00 am: Mayor's Small Business Summit, CPCC West Campus (Harris Conference Center)
12:00 pm: Restructuring Government Committee Meeting, Room CH-14 AGENDA: Multi-Family Garbage Collection; Four-Year Terms
Agenda Notes
Dinner Briefing Item: NASCAR Hall of Fame
Staff Resource: Ron Kimble, 704-336-4169
Mayor McCrory has added an update on the NASCAR Hall of Fame project to the dinner portion of the City Council Zoning Meeting on Monday, April 18, 2005.
Information Items:
Charity Motorcycle Ride
Staff Resource: Keith Parker, 704-336-3855On Sunday April 17, at 11:00 am, a charity motorcycle ride will take place that may disrupt traffic. The Hendrick Charity Ride is likely to attract 250 to 500 bikers. The bikers will travel from Carolina Place Mall to the Hendrick Motorsports Complex in Concord, via I-485. The North Carolina Highway Patrol Motorcycle Unit will provide police support for the event.
Pre-Annexation Solid Waste Services Meeting
Staff Resource: Wayman Pearson, 704-336-3410Solid Waste Services will host a Meet and Greet session on Tuesday, April 19, beginning at 6:00 pm in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, Room 267. The session will provide residents in the seven 2005 annexation areas an opportunity to meet key Solid Waste Services managers and operational staff and gather information about the various Curb It! collection services they will receive upon annexation. The session will also provide an opportunity for staff to engage customers and learn more about customer expectations for service. Additionally, Solid Waste Services will attend homeowner's association meetings in the annexation areas during April, May and June.
City staffers may receive calls inquiring about the event. To answer staff questions and assist staff in answering customer questions, staff and customer frequently asked questions (FAQ) documents have been created and are attached for your information. Annexation documents are available online at http://curbit.charmeck.org.
Governor Easley to Visit Charlotte
Governor Easley's Office called today to say he will be in Charlotte on Wednesday, April 20. He will be making an announcement at 2:30 pm at the First Citizens Bank Plaza, 128 South Tryon Street (corner of South Tryon and Fourth Street). This is all the information we were given. The Governor would like to recognize elected officials in attendance, so please call Mindy Levine at 704-336-3184 if you plan to attend.
Mark of Distinction Recognition Banquet
Staff Resource: Wayman Pearson, 704-336-3410
On Friday, April 22, 2005, Solid Waste Services will host the Mark of Distinction Recognition Banquet beginning at 6:30 pm at the Design Center of the Carolinas in the South End district.
This thank you event is planned to acknowledge and recognize the Mark of Distinction program including partners and sponsors of the 2nd Time Around
Recycling Fashion Show, Recycling Renovation Contest and Solid Waste Services Recycle and Win incentive program awardees. Mayor, City Council members, City Manager and staff are invited guests to the banquet.
Annual Evaluations of the City Manager and City Attorney
Staff Resource: Curt Walton, 704-336-5019
With Council's decision this past Monday to cancel the June 27 Council meeting, the dates for the annual evaluations of the City Manager and the City Attorney will also need to be adjusted. The evaluation process had been scheduled to begin on June 27th.
The dates of the City Manager's evaluation will now be July 18 and July 25, while the City Attorney's evaluation will be August 22. The evaluations will begin at 3:30 pm on those dates. These dates and times will be added to the Mayor/Council calendar.
The Government Channel Honored with Five Awards
Staff Resource: Julie Hill, 704-336-4098Corporate Communications received notice that we have won five Telly Awards in the 26th Annual Award program. Founded in 1978 to honor outstanding local, regional, and cable television commercials/ programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, the Telly is one of the industry's most sought-after award.
The Government Channel received two silver Telly's, the highest honor, for:
"Two Souls Indivisible", a discussion by two Vietnam veterans, a librarian and an avid reader in our community about the story of two Vietnam POWs - one black, one white - who shared a cell and developed an unshakable bond.
CMPD Women Recruit video, produced as part of the Department's efforts to attract female candidates.
The Government Channel received three bronze Telly's, as finalists, for:
"Lessons for Our Tomorrows", (awards in two categories) Karl Kakadelis speaks to a group of teenager's about his experience with drinking and driving and losing his best friend.
Fire Diversity Recruitment video for the Charlotte Fire Department illustrating opportunities for careers in the fire service.
All judges are top advertising and production professionals and past Telly winners.
Judges evaluate entries to recognize distinction in creative work and high merit.
Improved Property Tax Revenues
Staff Resources: Greg Gaskins, 704-336-5885 and Scott Greer, 704-336-5883
As the Mecklenburg County Tax Assessor's office continues to evaluate current property values, the City has received revised estimates of FY2006 assessments. Following are the reasons and General Fund impacts from the evaluation:
- Analysis of the ratio of building permits to new construction in 2004 has yielded higher estimates of growth in real estate values. ($950,000)
- Returns are indicating stronger values for business personal property. ($350,000)
- The State Department of Revenue has indicated that declines in values of Utility and Transportation property will be less than earlier expected. ($160,000)
- It is expected that appeal resolution at the State level will be higher than earlier expected. ($585,000)
The total impact on the General Fund is estimated to total $2.05 million.
Charlotte Arena Project Monthly Expenditures
Staff Resource: Jim Schumacher, 704-336-3656
Attached is the Monthly Arena Expenditure Report.
311 Update
Staff Resource: Saskia Thompson, 704-336-4947
Greater access to city and county government will arrive in July via 311, the new customer service line, scheduled to go "live" on July 5. Charlotte will join more than 140 communities nationwide providing this service, making customer service operations more efficient for both the customer and employees.
311 gives the public one easy number to remember, reduces non-emergency calls to 911, streamlines customer service calls into one central location, has a live voice answering every call, and keeps transfers to a minimum.
As referenced in her March 311 presentation to Council, Saskia Thompson, executive assistant to the City Manager, stated while staff is in training and transitioning to 311 over the next two months, the public may experience a longer than normal wait when contacting customer service. As part of the recorded greeting, callers will hear information regarding possible delays in call response.
