Information Items:
Federal Appropriations Update
Staff Resource: Boyd Cauble, 704-336-2009 - bcauble@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Attached is a summary of our federal appropriation request status generated by Holland & Knight (our DC lobbyists). Although we were unable to get funding for each of Council's requested projects, the final results are very positive during a tight budget year. As Holland & Knight points out, all these appropriation earmarks may be subject to an across the board percentage reduction in order to address the catastrophic costs of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The latest earmarks include:
- full funding for our $55 million South Corridor Light Rail Phase
- $1 million for Providence Road water line
- $150,000 for the "Gang of One" project
- $700,000 for the South Boulevard Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) project
These earmarks, coupled with our earlier surface transportation authorizations listed below, are the result of tremendous efforts of our Congressional Delegation working with our Washington lobbyist and local staff.
- Eastland Mall Transit Station: $1,672,000
- Trade Street Multimodal Station: $19,864,800
- Additional preliminary engineering work in all transit corridors.
We will later share with the Mayor and Council a summary of our individual Delegation members' efforts and accomplishments. Each member supported all our requests while they worked hard on specific projects - especially those that directly impacted their districts.
We will send a final summary of federal "earmarks" when (if) Congress addresses the last few appropriation bills. Holland and Knight representatives will be in Charlotte on Wednesday, January 4 to interview local officials about 2006 federal appropriations. If you would like to schedule a meeting with them, please contact Boyd Cauble.
Charlotte Marathon Follow-Up and Major Event Planning Review
Staff Resource: Brad Richardson, 704-336-3857 - brichardson@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Several Council members received complaints following the Charlotte Thunder Road Marathon last weekend about traffic congestion and severely limited access to several neighborhoods along the route. While this race followed the procedures outlined in the Parade and Public Assembly Ordinance, the length of a marathon causes unique challenges to the movement of traffic throughout a large portion of the City. Traffic control for the marathon required 382 police officers and cost $45,954, which will be paid for by the race organizer.
In recent months, the number of special events requiring police support has nearly overwhelmed the City's ability to facilitate them. In January, City staff will begin a review of the procedures for handling major event requests in an effort to lessen the impact on police services and to better communicate event information to the public. We will advise Council as we make progress.
State Assisted Housing for Evacuees of Hurricane Katrina
Staff Resource: Richard Woodcock, 704-336-8572 - rwoodcock@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Following up to last Friday's update, City staff met with representatives of North Carolina Emergency Management and FEMA to discuss requirements for accessing funds in the Public Assistance Interim Shelter Program. This program would provide rental assistance to evacuees between now and March 1. The City would anticipate spending no more than $1.0 Million which would be reimbursed by the State. The City has received clarification on eligible costs and procedures. On December 12, staff intends to bring a proposal to City Council for the City's participation in the Public Assistance program, along with a funding source. The Request for Council Action will be included in Friday's Council Manager Memo.
To make the program more workable, the Mayor will be requesting an extension from FEMA of the December 15, 2005 deadline for evictions and entering into housing contracts. Other states have a January 7, 2006 deadline and we will be asking FEMA to grant the same deadline. The City would utilize area non-profit agencies to secure housing on its behalf. Due to the very short timelines, City staff will be contacting those agencies to ask for their assistance.
