Agenda Notes:
Dinner Briefing Item #1: Fall Cankerworm Update
Staff Resource: Don McSween, 704-336-5752 - dmcsween@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Don McSween, City Arborist, will be making a presentation to Council on Monday, September 11, at the dinner meeting. Don will provide information to Council regarding options considered by the City regarding cankerworm control and future action this fall and winter. The information will include plans for additional banding of about 3,400 street trees and to better educate citizens about the banding of trees on private property. The estimated cost for the additional banding and communication program is about $120,000. Funding will be discussed at the briefing.
Information Items:
Economic Development: Small Business Outreach
Staff Resources: LaTonya J. Polk, 704-336-4178 - ljpolk@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The City of Charlotte has partnered with Mecklenburg County, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and the Latin American Coalition (LAC) to present a workshop on how to do business with local government. The workshop will be hosted by the LAC and is scheduled for September 20, 2006 at 5:30 pm. Participants will learn about the procurement process, construction projects, how to find contracting opportunities, and how to get certified as a small or minority-owned business. Bilingual staff representatives will be on hand to help answer questions. Please see the attached flyer for workshop details.
EDO 2nd Quarter 2006 Report
Staff Resource: Tom Flynn, 704-432-1396 - tflynn@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Attached is the Economic Development Office's 2nd Quarter Report for 2006.
Metropolitan Transit Commission Meeting Summary
Staff Resource: Ron Tober, 704-336-7245 - rtober@ci.charlotte.nc.us
At its meeting on Wednesday, August 23, 2006, the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) voted unanimously to approve Resolution No. 2006-06, which adopted the following multi-phased approach for the West Corridor:
1. Adopting Streetcar from Center City to the Airport as the long-term LPA
2. Implementing the current proposed / funded CMAQ project to upgrade bus service to the Airport (immediate)
3. Implementing Enhanced Bus improvements in the Wilkinson Boulevard, West Boulevard / Tyvola, and Freedom Drive corridors (near to mid-term)
Attachment A of the Resolution provides a discussion of the approved items and is available for review.
The MTC also declined to take action on staff recommendations for adoption of a multi-phased approach as noted below for the Southeast Corridor's LPA:
1. Select Bus Rapid Transit from Center City Charlotte to the CPCC Levine Campus in Matthews as the LPA.
2. Construction should be phased to be consistent with the State highway project. In association with the next scheduled/funded phase of Independence Boulevard from Sharon Amity Road to Conference Drive, the first phase of the Southeast BRT would be from Center City Charlotte to Conference Drive.
3. The BRT project would be designed to allow for the option of managed lanes along Independence Boulevard to be considered in the future.
4. Construction of BRT, not falling within the Independence Boulevard right-of-way, from Sam Newell Road to the CPCC Levine Campus, may proceed independently of the highway schedule.
The MTC opted to continue to consider this matter for an additional 30 days after having received comments from the several citizens as well as Council member Nancy Carter, Mayor Pro Tem Susan Burgess and NC Congressman Robin Hayes, each of whom expressed their strong support for light rail as the locally preferred alternative. Staff was asked to meet with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) officials to further review technical issues as well as provide answers to questions regarding the FTA process, specifically to ascertain how the FTA might handle a New Starts request for light rail. Staff is scheduled to report back to the MTC the results of those meetings at their September 27, 2006 meeting.
The MTC also received information briefings on the following:
CEO's Report: Under the CEO's report, it was reported that:
1. Ridership for the month of July 2006 increased 4.9% across all services compared to July 2005. Regular bus services had a ridership increase of 6.4%, while Regional Express services and Community Circulators exhibited 32.7% and 10.8% increases, respectively. Activity Center Circulators also showed a double-digit increase of 10.1%. STS increased 3.0%, while Vanpool services started FY 2007 with a 27.0% increase. The Beatties Ford Village Rider and DSS experienced decreases for the month.
2. The Art-In-Transit program during FY2006 continued to incorporate art into CATS' transit centers and park and rides and was recognized nationally by the Americans for the Arts Public Art Network for art at the South Tryon Bus Facility. A detailed report is available for review.
The next MTC meeting will be held September 27, 2006, wherein the MTC will again consider making a decision on the refined final preferred alternative for the Southeast Corridor. Initial information will also be presented on the Revised Transit Corridor System Plan, which the MTC will be voting on later this fall.
