Information Items:
Retreat Planning Committee Update
Staff Resource: Denise Foreman, 704-336-3186, dforeman@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The Retreat Planning Committee met on Thursday, January 12. The City Council will receive an update of the Committee's recommendations at the January 17 Zoning Dinner Briefing.
County Election Board Voting Machines
Staff Resource: Ruffin Hall, 704-336-3403 - rhall@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Mecklenburg County staff approached City staff last week regarding the City's participation in funding for new voting machines for the County Elections Board. City staff is gathering and reviewing information regarding the impacts of this issue on the FY2007 budget and beyond.
The interlocal agreement with Mecklenburg County specifies a cost sharing arrangement of County 60% and City 40%. The State of North Carolina has required the purchase of new voting machines to meet new certification standards. State law requires purchase by January 20. The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners will consider an agenda item to purchase the first increment of new voting machines at their meeting on January 18.
City staff will report to Council the results of the funding discussions with County staff as part of the upcoming FY2007 budget process.
Connectivity Workshops
Staff Resource: Andy Grzymski, 704-336-3928 - agrzymski@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The Federal Highway Administration awarded the Charlotte Department of Transportation a $198,261 Transportation and Community and System Preservation Grant. CDOT will use the grant to conduct a study to identify ways to connect neighborhoods for non-motorized transportation. The focus of the study is to enhance neighborhood connectivity for bicycle and pedestrian access to shopping, schools, parks, greenways, neighborhoods, transit stops and employment.
CDOT is involving the public in this study through the use of four workshops to be held on January 24, 25, 26 and 28. Participants will help identify potential pedestrian and bicycle connectivity projects.
More information about the workshops can be found on the CDOT Website.
Pavement Degradation Studies
Staff Resource: Layton Lamb, 704-336-5128 - llamb@ci.charlotte.nc.us
In March 2005, the Charlotte Department of Transportation presented Council a report on Charlotte's street pavement condition decline. Attached is an update describing progress that we are making to fulfill the study's recommendations. Three recommendations were:
- Strengthen the pavement thickness requirement of residential streets (completed 4/15/05)
- Perform a utility cut pavement degradation study (underway)
- Perform a heavy vehicle loading pavement degradation study (RFP submitted)
The fourth recommendation is to fund the resurfacing budget to support a resurfacing cycle of 12 years. Council will consider this recommendation as part of the Transportation Action Plan and the upcoming budget process.
Film Shoot on Tryon Street
Staff Resource: Dave Christopher, 704-336-3889 - dchristopher@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Tryon Street will close between 5th and Stonewall Streets this Sunday at 7:00 am to film a GM Goodwrench commercial. Local access will be maintained for all businesses, and parking decks on the cross streets and church services (St. Peter's and First Presbyterian) will not be disrupted. Fifteen off-duty CMPD officers will coordinate the closure. The filming will involve the use of five NASCAR racing vehicles.
The film crew has been advised to avoid use of the vehicles before 9:00 am due to the city's noise ordinance and the proximity of two major hotels (the Omni and Marriot Center City). The Square will be closed for a section of the shoot and then the closure will decrease to Tryon Street between Trade and Stonewall Streets. Filming is expected to be completed mid to late afternoon on Sunday.
