Agenda Notes:
Consent Agenda Item #20A: Purchase of Hybrid Vehicles Program
Staff Resource: David Friday, 704-336-5774
On Monday's agenda, Council will be requested to approve low bids to purchase several models of hybrid vehicles.
Charlotte now has seven hybrid vehicles operating in Transportation, Transit, Police, Planning, Business Support Services/Equipment Management, and Solid Waste Services/Special Services. Equipment Management's hybrid is available for City staff to try and drive for a day to encourage additional departmental consideration.
At this time, we have commitments for ten additional hybrids from Transportation, Police, Utilities and Fire, with the possibility of three to four more hybrids for Transit's Security Division. These new units will bring the total number of hybrid vehicles up to around twenty. Current delivery schedules for 2005 models are expected to be two to six weeks for the Honda Civic Hybrids and eight to ten weeks for the Ford Escape Hybrids. Delivery of 2006 models will be longer.
The initial analysis of the City's four original Honda Civic Hybrids shows that they perform well, obtain superior miles per gallon performance, and are less costly to maintain than a standard small staff car. As of July 1, 2005 the four original hybrid units have traveled a total of 21,000 miles achieving 54 miles per gallon in town and 43 miles per gallon on the highway with an average annual maintenance cost of $250. Equipment Management will continue to monitor hybrid units and periodically report on their performance. Based on this short analysis, hybrids payback time for their higher initial costs may range from 2.4 to 5.2 years, depending on the model. Payback time may increase or decrease depending on future maintenance and fuel costs. We expect similar results from other hybrid vehicles currently under consideration.
Hybrid vehicles are a significant portion of the City's efforts to clean the air by having cleaner toxic air emission vehicles that are less reliant on foreign fuels. The purchase of these hybrids is in keeping with the City's efforts as a key stakeholder in the Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition, the SEQL initiative, and the BREATHE initiative.
Corporate Communications is developing a unique graphics package that will soon clearly identify Charlotte's hybrid automobiles.
Information Items:
Urban League of the Central Carolinas, Inc.
Staff Resource: Richard Bargoil, 704-336-2142
The following is in response to Council member Tabor's request for additional information pertaining to the Urban League's loan modification that is on the August 22 Council agenda.
What other loans are in the City's economic development loan portfolio? Attached is a report on the Business Equity Loan Program that was originally sent to Council in the Council Manager Memo #17 on March 11, 2005 that provides an overview of the loan program. Also attached is a loan portfolio report for the Business Equity Loans and other economic development loans managed by the Economic Development Office.
The majority of loans in the portfolio were made under the Business Equity Loan program. However, the portfolio does include economic development loans approved by Council that supported revitalization initiatives in distressed business districts.
The Urban League loan was approved by Council in 1999 as a special funding request by the Urban League to assist with financing its facility to support workforce development training initiatives targeting low-income individuals in the CWAC focus area.
As part of staff's evaluation - was cutting operating expenses by reducing staff considered? Information provided by the Urban League shows that the organization's personnel expenses today are 81% of that for 2001 and the organization has reduced overall employment by 9 employees since 2003.
Communicating About Community Safety
Staff Resource: Julie Hill, 704-336-4098
In the last few weeks, Police Chief Darrel Stephens wrote three editorials we sent to The Charlotte Observer with a request to publish them as "For The Record" items. The newspaper opted only to publish the first article (safety in the center city). Attached for your information are the other two articles, one on gangs and one on community safety. We will be publishing them in City Page in Charlotte Weekly, post them on the Website and include them in our CMail newsletter distribution.
GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting - Fiscal 2004 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
Staff Resource: Greg Gaskins, 704-336-5885
The City has been awarded its 20th consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officer's Association for its fiscal 2004 comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. A Certificate of Achievement is valid for one year only. The Finance Department is currently preparing the City's fiscal 2005 CAFR and it will also be submitted to the GFOA to determine its eligibility for this award.
Charlotte Arena Project Monthly Expenditures
Staff Resource: Jim Schumacher, 704-336-3656
Attached is the Monthly Arena Expenditure Report.
