Information Items:
Uptown Sky Show
Staff Resource: Deputy Chief Jerry Sennett, 704-336-6943
The Police Department is conducting an extensive review of the events that occurred following the Uptown Sky Show on the night of July 4. After the show ended around 11:00 pm, a fight broke out at the Trade Street side of the Transit Center. As police officers responded to that situation, large groups of youth began congregating in the center city. Fights broke out, impeding traffic, and fireworks were thrown at vehicles, pedestrians, and police officers. 81 officers from outlying divisions responded to the center city to assist the 15 Central Division officers and 34 off-duty officers and supervisors who were working the event. Staffing levels were based on past July 4th celebrations where similar crowds have enjoyed the festivities without significant violence.
The Police Department has analyzed video of the incident from their uptown camera mounted at Trade and Tryon as well as from WBTV's camera mounted at the Square. The initial assessment of that video indicates the possible presence of some gang members but the incidents do not appear to be gang related, gang perpetrated, or gang motivated. Instead it appears that groups of unrelated and unruly individuals engaged in disorderly conduct that escalated due to growing crowds. Police have run the names of the seventeen people who were arrested through the GangNet database; none of the arrestees are documented gang members.
CMPD is now preparing an after action assessment of the entire incident. This assessment will include the pre-event intelligence which provided no indication that any trouble would occur.
This event has traditionally provided few problems for police. A review of the data from the 2003 and 2004 Sky Shows indicates only five arrests at the previous two events. Police will also analyze their operational plan including staffing levels for both on and off duty personnel as well as the locations where they were deployed. They will review the event conditions, the radio communications related to the event and the calls for service that were held as officers from other divisions were dispatched to the center city. They will analyze the actions that were taken including arrests, calls, police reports, and the shift assignments for officers throughout the department. CMPD will use the information from their analysis to make recommendations on how to prevent future problems at this type of event. The assessment should be completed next week and the subsequent recommendations will be shared with the Mayor and Council.
The Charlotte Observer Article on Business Investment Grants
Staff Resource: Tom Flynn, 704-432-1396
In April 2005, The Charlotte Observer made a public records request for files and e-mails related to the City/County Business Investment Grant Program (BIG). Staff provided the requested information and met with the Observer reporters to answer their questions.
We expect the Observer to run their story in the next few days. We believe the story will focus on the need for the grants in light of only four companies actually having signed contracts. Of the 14 grants approved by City Council, we have signed contracts on four grants and expect to have signed contracts on three by the end of July. We expect the remainder to be signed by the end of the year.
There are several reasons for only four companies having signed contracts:
1) Once a company makes a decision to expand or relocate the company concentrates on the expansion and relocation first. They delay work on the BIG contract until after the move or expansion is complete.
2) The company's attorneys review the contract. This takes time and may involve conference calls with City and County attorneys and staff.
3) The actual grant payment is usually three years after the Council decision to award a grant. This is because the company's investment does not go on the tax rolls until January following the investment completion. The grant is paid the following January.
4) The loss of a senior City economic development staff person in early 2004 caused some delay in administering the BIG contracts during most of 2004.
The Observer article may also raise an issue about the grant to Media Evolved. This was the first grant made, and due to fast depreciation on their business personal property, the grant payments exceeded their tax payments. In 2003, the BIG Program was modified so this cannot occur again.
City and Chamber staff believe the program has been an important and effective tool in attracting and retaining companies, jobs and investment in Charlotte.
At City Council's direction, City staff has reviewed and made recommendations on modifications to the BIG program. The Economic Development and Planning Committee has recommended these modifications and this action will be on the City Council's agenda on
July 25. The County Commissioners will consider these modifications on July 12.
