Calendar:
Monday, July 25
3:00 pm - City Manager Evaluation Discussion, Room 280
6:00 pm - Council Manager Dinner Briefing, Room 267
6:30 pm - Citizen's Forum, Meeting Chamber
7:00 pm - Council Meeting, Meeting Chamber
Wednesday, July 27
5:30 pm - Metropolitan Transit Commission, Room 267
Friday, July 29
7:45 am - Planning Liaison Committee Meeting, 8th Floor Conference Room
Agenda Notes:
Agenda Item #11: Cultural Facilities Request
Staff Resource: Ron Kimble, 704-336-4169
Attached is the Request for Council Action (#11) for the Cultural Facilities Plan that is on your agenda for Monday, July 25. The Economic Development and Planning Committee took action on July 20, 2005 to recommend a strategy for funding the Cultural Facilities Plan.
Agenda Item #12: first Ward Park Redevelopment
Staff Resource: Tom Flynn, 704-432-1396
Attached is the Request for Council Action (#12) regarding the First Ward Park Redevelopment which is included on Council's agenda for July 25. First Ward Park was reviewed by the Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee on July 19, 2005 which recommended by a unanimous vote (with two absent) to authorize City staff to negotiate with LandCraft Properties for the redevelopment of First Ward Park and land adjacent to the Afro-American Cultural Center.
Agenda Item #14: Neighborhood Mataching Grants Program
Staff Resource: Cynthia Woods, 704-336-2646
On June 7, 2005, the Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee considered proposed modifications to the Neighborhood Matching Grants Program boundary. As a result of their discussion, the Committee requested information on overall project eligibility and two previous grant awards involving travel and tennis lessons. Included in the attachments is the information requested and a list of approved grants over the past two years.
Agenda Item #17: Charlotte Neighborhood Fund
Staff Resource: Stanley Watkins, 704-336-3796
Attached is a Request for Council Action (#17) on Monday night's Council agenda regarding the Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee's recommendation to approve several actions relating to the Charlotte Neighborhood Fund. The Committee met on July 19, 2005 and unanimously voted to approve the City's $300,000 funding to the Charlotte Neighborhood Fund and grant awards to the CDCs with conditions. In addition, the Committee issued a statement of concern that none of the City's supported CDCs has reached a satisfactory performance rating.
Agenda Item #18: Carolina Theatre Development Process
Staff Resource: Tom Flynn, 704-432-1396
Attached is the Request for Council Action (#18) regarding the Carolina Theatre business item which is included on Council's agenda for July 25. The Carolina Theatre was brought to Council on June 13, 2005 and City staff was instructed to work to develop a 120 day option agreement, which will include performance benchmarks, with Camden for Council consideration on July 25, 2005.
Agenda Item #21E: Colony Road Barricade Removal and Sidewalk Construction
Staff Resource: Doreen Szymanski, 704-336-7527
On Monday's Council meeting agenda, Council will be asked to approve the construction contract to remove the Colony Road barricade, reconstruct the intersection with the Myers Park High School main driveway entrance, and add a missing section of sidewalk along the road.
Work on this project should begin in late August. Construction completion is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2005. This is in accordance with the Interlocal agreement with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools approved by Council on October 11, 2004 that requires the work be completed by December 31, 2005. The contract is specific about work time requirements, traffic controls, and requires the contractor to work with the school to accommodate any extracurricular activities that may be scheduled.
Agenda Item #22A-E: In Rem Demolition at 2004 Primm Road
Staff Resource: Walter Abernethy, 704-336-4213
On July 25, 2005, City Council will be asked to approve a demolition recommendation for the mobile homes located at 2004 Primm Road (Item #22 A-E). These five (5) mobile homes are located in the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) outside the Charlotte city limits. The substandard conditions were reported by Mecklenburg County Building Standards. The City's Code Enforcement Division enforces Minimum Housing Code standards in the ETJ.
Agenda Item #53: Property Transacitons
Staff Resource: Lynda Parsons, 704-336-4550
The South Corridor Infrastructure Program consists of 24 separate projects with a total of 600 parcels. The timing of acquisition and construction of the 24 SCIP projects is coordinated with CATS Light Rail Corridor construction to minimize impact on the traveling public.
There are 18 parcels from 7 of the 24 SCIP projects on the July 25 Agenda. Of these 18 parcels, 12 are non-responsive owners, 2 parcels will likely settle, and 4 parcels with property owners opposed to the projects.
It is necessary to request approval for condemnation to maintain the project schedules.
Information Items:
Arts and Cultural Facilities
Staff Resource: Tom Flynn, 704-432-1396
Attached is an analysis prepared by County Commissioner Clarke on the County's participation in the arts and cultural facilities proposed as part of the Wachovia Mixed Use Project. Commissioner Clarke used this information at Wednesday's Economic Development and Planning Committee meeting. The Committee requested that this information be provided to all City Council members.
Charlotte Enterprise Community (CEC) Mobile Unit
Staff Resource: Veronica Mosley, 704-336-2427
The Charlotte Enterprise Community will display its Mobile Training Unit on Monday, July 25, 2005. The viewing will take place at the plaza of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm.
Named the Career Cruiser, the Mobile Training Unit is a state-of-the-art vehicle equipped with twelve computers and Smart Board Technology, which will enable staff to deliver job readiness training to neighborhoods. Services can also be provided to businesses in Charlotte-Mecklenburg who are in need of specific training for employees.
Members of City Council are invited to tour the Career Cruiser at their convenience on Monday, July 25.
Independence Boulevard Housing Study
Staff Resource: Tom Warshauer, 704-336-4522
In 2004, the City contracted with ColeJenest & Stone, in partnership with The Littlejohn Group, to examine the feasibility of market rate for-sale housing being developed on land owned by the Housing Authority (HA), Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) and a hotel in the area surrounding WTVI, between Independence and Commonwealth near Briarcreek.
This study was conducted in response to neighborhood concerns about the future of the businesses and hotels in the area as a result of the changes to Independence and in the market.
The study found that market rate for-sale housing would likely become a viable option for the HA and CMS sites in the future, but that the financial gap was currently too large without significant subsidy. The recommendation was to make the property owners aware of the possibility so that they would take no actions in the short term that would preclude housing development in the future. Meetings have been held with the property owners and a meeting with the surrounding neighborhood leaders is scheduled for July 29, 2005 in the Economic Development Office.
The report can be seen on the Economic Development website. Go to http://edo.charmeck.org, click on the EDO Library on the left, then on Policies, Studies and Reports on the right, and then scroll down to Market Studies.
2005 Neighborhood Symposium Proceedings Report
Staff Resource: Cynthia Woods, 704-336-2646
Attached is the Proceedings Summary Report for the 2005 Neighborhood Symposium. More than 350 neighborhood leaders, youth and agency representatives convened for the 10th Neighborhood Symposium on March 12, 2005. The theme was "Designing a Blueprint for Neighborhood Success: A Framework for Effective Organizations."
The annual event began as the result of staff's desire to develop a large-scale capacity building program or event that provides an opportunity for neighborhood residents to learn about services and resources, participate in workshops, and network with others with similar interests and issues. The Symposium is sponsored each year by Neighborhood Development with the help of Police, Solid Waste, Corporate Communications and several other partners and contributors.
