The proposed FY2006 federal fund allocation represents a decrease of approximately $691,637 under the FY2005 fund amount of $9,621,131.
A Steering Committee consisting of private citizens, the Charlotte Housing Authority, Charlotte Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, Housing Trust Fund, providers of Homeless Services, Habitat for Humanity, Department of Social Services and City departments (Police, Planning, Community Relations, Economic Development and Neighborhood Development) was formed to provide input into the plan.
The Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee is scheduled to review the plans on June 7, 2005. City Council adoption is anticipated for June 13, 2005.
A copy of the draft document has been made available in the Council library, public libraries and community centers. Neighborhood Development advertised the public hearing in local newspapers and sent 1,000 invitations to neighborhood organizations, Neighborhood Development's financial partners and interested individuals.
Agenda Item #11: Sidewalk Program Review
Staff Resource: Vivian Coleman, 704-353-0481
The Sidewalk Program Retrofit Policy is included on the May 23, 2005 City Council agenda for action. Key points of the proposed policy include:
- Continuing to build sidewalks on both sides of all existing thoroughfares and one side of all existing local streets and collectors that lack sidewalk.
- A standard procedure and list of criteria for prioritizing sidewalk retrofit projects. The proposed procedure includes a four-category approach to ranking identified and requested projects.
- A procedure for public involvement early in the sidewalk prioritization process. Under the new procedure, it will no longer be possible for one property owner/resident to initiate the request process for residential type streets.
Two of the sidewalk prioritization categories are for streets with higher traffic volumes (over 3,000 vehicles per day). Due to the need for sidewalks on these streets for pedestrian safety, a public meeting will not be typical. The City will send informational mailers to property owners to update them on the project and staff will be available to talk with property owners on a case-by-case basis.
For streets that carry lower traffic volumes (under 3,000 vehicles per day), the two other prioritization categories will allow for substantial public participation. These streets are primarily in residential neighborhoods and the public involvement process is as follows:
- In Tier 3 (Streets with Traffic Volumes of 1,000-3,000 near a school or park), staff will identify and prioritize projects and a public meeting will be held for each location to obtain resident input. All property owners within ¼ mile and any neighborhood associations will be notified about the public meeting. The public will have the opportunity to work with staff on the design issues for these projects.
- In Tier 4 (Streets with Traffic Volumes of 3,000 or Less), property owners or residents will request projects. Requests are subject to obtaining 25% support of property owners or tenants on both sides of the street (maximum of 2 signatures per lot or dwelling unit). Staff will then rank the project, and, when it nears the top of the ranking list, a public meeting will be held. After the public meeting, submittal of a petition will be required. The petition requires signatures of at least 60% of the property owners on both sides of the street. After submittal of a valid petition, CDOT will build sidewalks along street sections with the highest rating as funding becomes available.
PULLED Agenda Items #18 and #19: Voluntary Annexation Agreement and Public Hearing Date
Staff Resource: Mike Boyd, 704-336-4111
Agenda items 18 and 19 relate to the voluntary annexation of property developed as part of the NorthLake Mall and must be pulled from Monday's agenda. Work on the voluntary annexation of the NorthLake Mall is proceeding, but was not completed as anticipated. Those items will be brought back for Council action as soon as possible.
Revision to Council Business Agenda Item #26: FY2005 Annual Financial Audit Contract
Staff Resource: Greg Gaskins, 704-336-5885
In FY2004, Council approved an audit contract with Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, LLP for four years. The first year fee was $109,000 with increases in subsequent year fees limited to the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Monday's Council Action includes an estimate based on the annual change in CPI of 3.1%, or $3,379, for a total revised contract amount of $112,379. After negotiations with the contractor this week, the actual amount of the increase was agreed at 2.783%, or $112,033, a decrease of $346.
Information Items:
Planned Temporary Water Outage along South Blvd. at Arrowood Drive
Staff Resource: Doug Bean, 704-391-5070
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities is connecting a new 24-inch water pipe along Arrowood Drive to the water pipe network. The connection will occur on Saturday, May 21 at 10:00 pm and could continue as late as 2:00 pm Sunday, May 22. Utilities scheduled the connection to limit the number of customers impacted by the water outage. Apartments and some businesses were connected to above ground water pipes. Customers were not connected to above ground pipes if they were closed during the outage, chose not to be connected, or were not close to water pipes from other streets. This improvement is part of the South Corridor Light Rail Project.
The outage will affect properties along South Boulevard from the intersection Starbrook Drive/Arrowood Drive (7101 South Blvd.) to the entrance of Lance (Lance will not be affected).
North Division Open House
Staff Resource: Major Lisa Shores, 704-432-3805
The Police Department's North Patrol Division will host an open house at their new office at 10430 Harris Oaks Drive on Wednesday, May 25 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The event will include a brief ceremony at 11:30 am and refreshments will be served.
To reach the North Division Office, take I-77 North to the Harris Boulevard exit. At the stop light, turn right on Harris Boulevard, then take the second right on Harris Oaks Drive. The office will be on the left.
