Calendar:
Monday, November 21
1:30 pm - Budget Committee Meeting, Room 280 AGENDA: General Fund Financial Trend Analysis; Summary of Other Agency Funding Items; Revenue Issues: Sales Tax/Property Tax; Committee Action - Recommended Process on Review of Revenues and Expenditures
5:00 pm - Council Manager Dinner Briefing, Room CH-14
6:00 pm - Zoning Meeting, Meeting Chamber
Tuesday, November 22
12:00 pm - Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee Meeting, Room 280 AGENDA: Johnston and Mecklenburg Mill Properties; No Parking on Front Lawns Status Report; 2006 Neighborhood Symposium; Section 8 Follow Up; Rental Registration and Inspection Program; Low Rental Occupancy - Crisis Assistance/Charlotte Apartment Association Proposal for Security Deposit Guarantee Pilot Program
Thursday, November 24
Thanksgiving Holiday, City Offices Closed
Monday, December 5 - Oath of Office Ceremony - Meeting Chamber - Reception to Follow
Staff Resource: Julie Hill, 704-336-4098 - jehill@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Attached is the schedule of events for the Oath of Office ceremony for Monday, December 5, 2005. Invitations will be available Monday, November 21. Each Council member will receive fifty (50) invitations. If you do not need that many, please let me know and we can make the additional invitations available to others who would like them.
Please meet in Room 267 at 6:30 pm on December 5 to review the event logistics and take care of last minute details. The City Clerk will have Bibles available for Council members taking the Oath of Office. If you have and would like to use your own family Bible, please feel free to bring it with you that evening. You may ask a member of your family to hold your Bible for you while you take the Oath.
We will reserve some audience seating for the members of your families attending the event. We also will broadcast the ceremony live on The Government Channel, Cable 16.
Immediately after the ceremony, we will take the official photographs of the 2005-07 City Council. The reception will begin immediately after the ceremony.
Briar Creek Sewer Project Followup Meeting Set - November 22
Staff Resource: Doug Bean, 704-391-5070 - dbean@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Following this week's City Council presentation and agenda discussion related to the Briar Creek sewer project, Utilities has scheduled another meeting for next week with residents of Lila Wood Circle and the Selwyn Homeowners Association. The Briar Creek-related agenda items will be placed back on the November 28 agenda, as Council requested.
The meeting is set for 5:00 pm on Tuesday, November 22, in Room 266 of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, 600 East Fourth Street.
The purpose of this meeting will be to further discuss questions and concerns about the recommended pipe route in the Lila Wood Circle area, which requires City purchase of two private properties based on their proximity to the route. Utilities will continue communicating and working with neighbors to address remaining concerns, questions and issues about this significant improvement project. The Briar Creek project is necessary to reduce wet weather sewer overflows and provide additional sewer capacity for the Briar Creek basin.
Police NASCAR Entry on Display - November 22
Staff Resource: Sergeant Jeff Baker, 704-572-7059 - jbaker@cmpd.org
On Tuesday, November 22, NASCAR's newest entry, the Smith & Wesson Police car, will be on display at the Police & Fire Training Academy from 10 am to 1 pm. This car was made in Mooresville and will be driven by Ron Hornady. It is the only NASCAR entry that is dedicated to police and other law enforcement officers in the United States.
Information Items:
Housing Trust Fund Advisory Board - Officers Elected
Staff Resource: Stanley Watkins, 704-336-3796 - swatkins@ci.charlotte.nc.us
On November 10, 2005, the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) Advisory Board elected officers for the coming year. The membership elected Anthony Lindsey as Chair and Patrick McNeely as Vice Chair. Mr. Lindsey and Mr. McNeely will serve in these positions for a term of one-year.
In 2001, City Council established the HTF Advisory Board to oversee the HTF Program, make recommendations on fund allocations and solicit private sector participation. During the 2005 fiscal year, the HTF made financial commitments for 633 affordable homes by investing $8,867,300 and leveraged $48,013,856 for a funding ratio of 1:5. In addition, the Advisory Board oversaw the completion of 604 affordable ownership, rental and special needs homes from funding commitments made in prior years.
The HTF's FY05 Annual Report and accomplishments were presented to City Council on October 24. A copy of the Annual Report was included in Council's packet on November 11.
Published Articles about the New Arena
Staff Resource: Curt Walton, 704-336-5019 - cwalton@ci.charlotte.nc.us
This week's edition of Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal includes several articles on the new arena. Those articles are attached for your information.
Utilities Nets Public Communication Awards
Staff Resource: Doug Bean, 704-391-5070 - dbean@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Yesterday, Utilities staff accepted two Excellence in Communication Awards from the North Carolina Association of Government Information Officers during its annual conference in Chapel Hill.
The awards recognize:
- The WaterSmart Liquid Assets Home Water Use Audit Program (Special Projects category); and
- The brochure put together by Utilities and City Corporate Communications staff to market the Blue Planet Water Environmental Education Center (Special Publications/Small Budget category).
These winning entries were selected by public sector communications professionals from various state and municipal agencies. Staff is pleased to earn recognition for these two communications tools, which are tied directly to Utilities' most important public education and outreach programs.
Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) Meeting Summary
Staff Resource: Paula Washam, 704-336-7356 - pwasham@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The MTC received informational briefings on the South Corridor Light Rail Project, CATS Technology Initiatives and MTC Rules of Procedures.
The South Corridor Project Status Report provided an update on the construction work to date. Significant progress is being made on the light rail vehicles, roadbed, track and structures, vehicle maintenance facility, power systems and signals/ communications contracts. Photos highlighting this work were shown. A communications update highlighting the work of the SCIP in conjunction with the light rail construction was provided by Corporate Communications Director, Julie Hill.
The Technology Initiatives presentation highlighted the advanced technologies which encompass a broad range of communications-based information and electronics technologies. Some of the systems being used are Automatic Vehicle Locator, Geographic Information Systems, Scheduling, Advanced Traveler Information Systems, Fare Collection, Financial Systems, Surveillance and Access Control.
The presentation on the MTC Rules of Procedure highlighted proposed amendments to the document. Several of the proposed amendments are the result of the action the MTC took on August 24, 2005 approving changes to the Transit Governance Interlocal Agreement. These proposed amendments are designed to implement the pending changes in the transit governance structure and to insure that the MTC will be able to function effectively as a policy and decision-making body.
In addition, staff completed a review of the entire Rules of Procedure document and recommends other changes in addition to two previously approved actions by the MTC. Action on any changes to the Rules of Procedure will be brought back to the MTC when the amendments to the Transit Governance Interlocal Agreement are approved by all eight signatories to the Agreement. Currently, six of the eight signatories have approved the amendments. The remaining two signatories are to consider the amendments at meetings scheduled to take place before the end of November.
Under the CEO's report, the MTC was advised that ridership year to date through October was up 9% as compared with the same year to date period last year. This increase was seen despite a fare increase which was implemented early in October.
The MTC was provided with the FY2006 1st Quarter Management Report. Components of this report included a Ridership Report and Analysis, Financial Report and Performance Targets and Objectives. Copies of the report are available.
It was also noted that the third annual Transit Summit sponsored by the Charlotte Chamber in conjunction with CATS and other organizations, including the City's Economic Development office, was held on October 14 at the Westin Hotel. The focus of this year's summit was on transit oriented development and included national and local speakers. An estimated 175 people attended. This year's Summit was a cooperative effort between City staff from CATS, CMPC and ED working with the Chamber.
The MTC's next meeting will be December 21, 2005.
