Calendar:
   (See Below)

Information Items:
- February 7 Workshop Agenda
- NC 49/US 29 Interchange Reconstruction
- Southern Environmental Law Center Press Conference
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Domestic Intersection Safety Scan
- Hot Jobs/Cool Communities
- SBE Loan Program Quarterly Update
- Procurement Services Division Recognized
- CMPAC - Public Access Issues and Contract with the City

Attachments:
- February and March Calendar
- Follow up Report--2/4/05
- Economic Development & Planning Committee Summary 1/19/05
- Transportation Committee Summary 1/24/05

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Calendar:
Monday, February 7
     3:00 pm - Transportation Committee Meeting, Room 280   AGENDA: Transportation Targets for Action in 2005; State Transportation Funding Legislative Strategy; Street Resurfacing Evaluation: Vehicle Weight Limits; Urban Street Design Guidelines
     5:00 pm - Council Dinner, Workshop and Agenda Items, Room 267
     7:30 pm - Citizen's Forum, Room 267

Thursday, February 10 - Friday, February 11
     8:30 am - City Council Retreat - CPCC West Campus, Harris Conference Center

Information Items:
February 7 Workshop Agenda
Staff Resource: Curt Walton, 704-336-5019

Due to the cancellation of the February 14 Council meeting, six agenda items are included on your workshop agenda Monday night. These items are the only ones that could not wait until February 28 without impacting project costs or schedules.

NC 49/US 29 Interchange Reconstruction
Staff Resource: Kruti Desai, 704-353-1795

The US 29 / NC 49 Interchange Project was approved in the 1998 State Transportation Bond Referendum. The City of Charlotte and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) then entered into a Municipal Agreement, for the City to fully fund all planning, design, land acquisition and construction of this project.

The purpose of the US 29 / NC 49 Interchange project is to eliminate the weave where the I-85 connector joins US 29 / NC 49 and construct a grade separated interchange where US 29 and NC 49 split. The construction of the US 29 / NC 49 interchange also includes the extension of NC 49 (University City Boulevard) westward to connect to the City Boulevard interchange at I-85.

The improvements identified above are estimated to exceed the current project budget. The project meets transportation, economic and community needs so the project team is making every effort to evaluate alternatives to make this project a success for the community. The goal is to complete the project; however, the project team needs to evaluate some alternatives. These include:

• Receiving additional funding from the NCDOT
• Building the project in phases (other phases may be built at a later date), and
• Scaling the project back (reducing the scope)

Several factors contributing to the project cost in excess of available funds include:

• NCDOT's original project cost estimates
• Expanded scope
• General increase in construction cost
• Increased real estate costs, and
• Additional acquisition costs due to "Controlled Access"

"Controlled Access" is a condition where owners or occupants of abutting land cannot directly access the road. Vehicles are prevented from entering or leaving the controlled roadway thus lessening the crash potential and increasing safety.

There is considerable interest from the University-area to move ahead with the full project as soon as possible. The project team will make a recommendation to the City Manager by mid-2005 and the Manager will work with City Council on the recommended alternatives.

Southern Environmental Law Center Press Conference
Staff Resources: Norm Steinman, 704-336-3939 and Tim Gibbs, 704-336-3917

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) is an organization whose initiatives focus on environmental protection laws and policies. As stated on their web site, the SELC attempts to play a role in setting the South's environmental future through direct legal action and policy reform.

On February 8, the SELC will host a press conference and release a report on air quality challenges in the Charlotte region. Their report, which we received this week, focuses on the following five recommendations: 1) the establishment of a regional metropolitan planning organization, 2) refocusing transportation funding priorities, 3) adding a regional component to land use planning, 4) not weakening new source review programs, and 5) finalizing a strengthened Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). Both the new source review programs and CAIR affect power plant emissions.

The SELC sued Atlanta's regional planning organization over various land use and transportation issues affecting their conformity analysis, and subsequently SELC advocated for the creation of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA). GRTA was created by the State of Georgia to improve mobility, air quality, and land use practices in the thirteen counties in the Atlanta area that have been designated as non-attainment under the federal Clean Air Act standards.

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Domestic Intersection Safety Scan
Staff Resource: Charles L. Jones, 704-336-3901

The City of Charlotte has been identified as one of a group of select cities nationwide to participate in a Domestic Intersection Safety Scan. A multi-agency team will visit the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) on February 9 and 10 to review innovative intersection treatments, comprehensive safety processes and other policies and practices used by CDOT to improve intersection safety.

The goal of this Domestic Intersection Safety Scan is to reduce fatalities, personal injuries and crashes at intersections in the United States by documenting and subsequently promoting innovative intersection treatments and comprehensive intersection safety processes that have been implemented in this country.

CDOT staff will spend the two days presenting and discussing information related to overall safety strategies, traffic safety data, traffic calming programs, pedestrian and bicycle safety, transit safety, and safety project implementation. A final report detailing the teams' findings will be produced and available early next year.

Hot Jobs/Cool Communities
Staff Resource: Tom Flynn, 704-432-1396

As a follow-up to the recent articles in the Charlotte Observer, Council member Lassiter asked that Council receive the attached consultant's PowerPoint presentation on the status of the Hot Jobs/Cool Communities initiative. The presentation may be viewed at www.nextgenerationconsulting.com/guests/?GuestID=2 The City of Charlotte is one of many sponsors of this initiative and we plan to use this information in developing the Economic Development Strategic Framework.

The Hot Jobs/Cool Communities final report and recommendations are due in late March 2005. We will arrange a presentation of the final recommendation to the City Council at that time.

SBE Loan Program Quarterly Update
Staff Resources: Richard Bargoil, 704-336-2142 and Dale Harrold, 704-409-5915

The Charlotte Observer and Charlotte Business Journal requested information on the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Loan program that is administered by the Self Help Credit Union. The following information summarizes the data that was provided.

Since the September 2004 quarterly report, Self Help Credit Union has approved 9 new loans to small businesses under the SBE Loan Fund for a total of 30 loans. The Fund continues to serve as a good resource for small businesses in need of non-conventional financing for working capital and equipment loans with an average loan size of $54,480. The types of businesses being served by the Fund continues to generally be service sector businesses, which is to be expected given Charlotte's market.

SBE Loan Fund activity as of 12/31/04.

Loans Closed	27 Loans / $1,532,400
Loans Pending Closing	3 loans / $102,000
Grand Total Loans Closed/ Pending	30 loans / $1,634,400
Average Loan Amount	$54,480
Minority-Owned Businesses	15 loans ($736,400)
Woman-Owned Businesses	15 loans ($746,000)
Start-ups	16 loans ($825,400)

Procurement Services Division Recognized
Staff Resource: Susan Johnson, 704-336-6252

For the third year in a row, the Procurement Services Division (PSD) of Business Support Services has been recognized as one of the most advanced and professional purchasing agencies in the Carolinas. The Carolinas Association of Governmental Purchasing cited PSD's work in professional development, vendor relations, minority outreach, use of automation and electronic commerce. PSD provides procurement services to both the City and Mecklenburg County.

CMPAC - Public Access Issues and Contract with the City
Staff Resource: Doris J. Boris, 704-336-3064

On January 27 representatives from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Access Corporation (CMPAC) had a positive and productive meeting with City staff concerning several performance requirements in the CMPAC annual contract. John Petrie, CMPAC's Executive Director, and Harvey Williams, CMPAC's Board President, discussed several issues concerning the CMPAC and its contract with the City, including customer service and progress reporting. The CMPAC agreed to further build on its relationship with the City by meeting with staff on a quarterly basis.