Information Items:
City Wins in 27th Annual Telly Awards
Staff Resource: Julie Hill, 704-336-4098 - jehill@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Corporate Communications received four Telly Awards in the 27th Annual Awards Program. Founded in 1978 to honor outstanding local, regional and cable television commercials/ programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, the Telly is one of the industry's most sought-after awards.
The Government Channel received one silver Telly, the highest honor, for: Art In Transit, "To Scale" Category: General Public, an educational video to explain the art in transit process to citizens, Council and the Mayor. Chosen Artists' were interviewed and their work shown from beginning to implementation.
The Government Channel received three bronze Telly's for "CMPD Today", (2 awards) Category: General Public and "Fair Housing" Hispanic Version: Category: Hispanic population. CRC received a grant to produce videos on fair housing for agencies in Mississippi devastated by Hurricane Katrina. These videos also are being shown in Charlotte.
Floodplain Regulations Revisions
Staff Resource: Tim Richards, 704-336-4555 - trichards@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The City and County are drafting revisions to the City's Floodplain Regulations. The process has included the Storm Water Advisory Committee, a stakeholders group and several property owners. In the last few weeks, the development community represented by the Subdivision Steering Committee (an ad-hoc staff-developer liaison group) as well as residents from the Chantilly Neighborhood have requested an opportunity to spend some time reviewing and commenting on the proposed revisions.
City and County staff will be scheduling meetings with the interested parties over the next several weeks to discuss their concerns. In addition, there will be a mailing to owners with properties in the floodplain to give them an opportunity to review a summary of the proposed revisions on the City/County website.
We anticipate being able to work through the issues and expect to propose having a public hearing for the revisions in July or August 2006.
Road Quality of Providence Road West
Staff Resource: Layton Lamb, 704-336-5128 - llamb@ci.charlotte.nc.us
This is in response to an April 30 complaint to Layton Lamb by Mr. Richard Cox regarding the quality of street maintenance work on Providence Road West.
Street Maintenance crews have been working on Providence Road West to prepare it for resurfacing under the FY06 contract. This contract was approved by City Council on May 8.
The road surface and foundation had deteriorated seriously over a length of several hundred feet. The recent work was to remove broken asphalt and the soft foundation that caused the street surface to fail. The work included a series of patches that left the road with minor dips and several rough spots. Those will be smoothed out when we add a new resurfacing layer over the newly repaired foundation.
Two to three months of preparatory work were required prior to resurfacing due to the extent of deterioration. That work is being completed, and we expect the contractor to resurface this portion of Providence Road West in 8 to 12 weeks.
We have provided this information to Mr. Cox. He indicated that he now understands the process, is relieved to learn that the job is not yet complete, and was satisfied that the street will be resurfaced in the weeks ahead.
NASCAR Hall of Fame Construction Manager Selection
Staff Resource: Jim Schumacher, 704-336-3656 - jschumacher@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The NASCAR Hall of Fame will be constructed with a contractor known as a Construction Manager at Risk, a method of project delivery authorized by the state legislature approximately five years ago. This method was used to construct the new arena and phase I of the rail corridor improvements in the Convention Center.
The Construction Manager is selected based on qualifications, and provides overall oversight and management of the construction. All work of the various trades and vendors is publicly bid and subcontracts awarded by the Construction Manager. A committee of Engineering staff, an Assistant City Manager, the Small Business Opportunity Program Manager, the County Manager, and representatives of the architect and NASCAR, interviewed four firms for the project, and selected a joint venture known as Turner - Thompson - Davis. This joint venture firm demonstrated the best qualifications of the four in their team members, experience, and approach. The details of the selection process are summarized in the attachment.
An initial contract for "pre-construction services" with Turner - Thompson - Davis is on the May 22 agenda for your consideration.
Metropolitan Transit Commission Meeting Summary
Staff Resource: Ron Tober, 704-336-7245 - rtober@ci.charlotte.nc.us
At its meeting on Wednesday, April 26, 2006, the MTC had no action items on its agenda, but received information briefings on the following:
Market Research Results: Staff gave the MTC an overview of the 2006 Market Research Study Results. This year marked the sixth year that staff conducted the study to identify key customer service, operational and management elements. Staff conducted the study with the assistance of a market research firm that administered on-board surveys to CATS' customers and phone surveys to non-riders throughout Mecklenburg County and surrounding counties. The study found that CATS' overall performance rating, which is based on a 1-5 scale, decreased slightly from 3.88 in 2004 to 3.82 in 2006 among riders; for non-riders there was a significant drop from 4.01 in 2004 to 3.64 in 2006. With the current results, staff will be able to review trends in service performance and the public's perception of CATS to better develop, operate and market existing and new services.
North Corridor Study Results and Alignment Alternatives: Staff gave an update on the North Corridor study results and alignment alternatives. Staff is nearing completion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and will present the information to the MTC this summer for final approval before it is sent to the FTA. The proposed total cost of the project is about $280 million. Staff is still working with Mooresville and Iredell County on funding issues, but their officials have indicated that it is highly unlikely that they would be able to secure funding at this time to extend beyond Mount Mourne. However, they have stated their intention to work with CATS to secure funding for a Mount Mourne terminus and will consider future extension of the line north of Mount Mourne. A commitment from Iredell County has to be made to CATS by August. Staff will come back to the MTC for action on the North Corridor in May.
CEO's Report: Under the CEO's Report, updates were provided on:
- The LYNX Blue Line, which remains on schedule and on budget. Staff was able to resolve the flagger problem with Norfolk Southern when the railroad system placed two additional flaggers on the project.
Reinstating an elaborate canopy at the Trade Street station, which was cut to save money, but now that Center City Partners has raised almost $500,000 to help cover the estimated cost of $1.2 million for the canopy. Staff will most likely incorporate the canopy back into the design. Staff noted that the remaining funding for the project will not come from the light rail construction budget, but from under spending in this year's budget and savings.
- Ridership across all services increased 8.3% in March; year-to-date ridership has increased 9%.
- The results of an FTA Triennial Review of the City of Charlotte/Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) April 24-27, 2006. The purpose of the Triennial Review was to assess CATS' management practices and program implementation to evaluate compliance with federal requirements. This Review went exceptionally well. The draft report received indicated that of the 23 different areas reviewed, there were only 3 findings. Those findings were in the areas of Satisfactory Continuing Control, Buy America and Title VI. Staff has prepared a response to the draft report and will be required to formerly address the findings by August 25. This was CATS third Triennial Review.
The next MTC meeting will be held Wednesday, May 24, at 7:30 pm.
