Information Items:
- City of Charlotte Awarded its 21st Consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
- Grier Heights Neighborhood Graduation
- Scaleybark RFP Presentation
- Cultural Facilities Plan

Attachments:
- Scaleybark Station Area Land Acquisition - ppt

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Information Items:
City of Charlotte Awarded its 21st Consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
Staff Resource: Greg Gaskins, 704-336-5885 - ggaskins@ci.charlotte.nc.us

The City of Charlotte has received its 21st consecutive certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its fiscal 2005 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. A Certificate of Achievement is valid for one year only. The Finance Department is currently preparing the City's fiscal 2006 CAFR and it will also be submitted to the GFOA to determine its eligibility for this award.

Grier Heights Neighborhood Graduation
Staff Resource: Stephanie Small, 704-336-2929 - ssmall@ci.charlotte.nc.us  

The Grier Heights Neighborhood has graduated from the City's Neighborhood Revitalization process. The revitalization initiative began in 1997. The City developed a plan to guide the revitalization effort and created an employee team, including residents and other service providers to implement the revitalization plan. The team worked on service delivery, strategic investments and neighborhood capacity building issues to help implement the plan.

The neighborhood has met the graduation criteria: at least 75% of the revitalization plan has been implemented, the neighborhood has remained at least "transitioning" for two cycles of the Quality of Life Study and an effective neighborhood organization is in place. One hundred percent of the revitalization plan was completed, the neighborhood ranked Transitioning in the 2004 and 2006 Quality of Life Studies and the Neighborhood Organization achieved an effectiveness score of 92 out of 100.

Grier Heights Neighborhood organization will be recognized by City Council Monday night, September 25, 2006 at the Council meeting. The Mayor and Council are also invited to attend the graduation celebration on Saturday, September 30, 2006 from 12:00 until 2:00 pm at the Grier Heights Center, located at 3100 Leroy Street. Please join us in recognizing the Grier Heights community for its achievement. Attached is the Grier's Heights Neighborhood Sustainability Plan.

Scaleybark RFP Presentation
Staff Resource: Tracy Finch, 704-432-3025 - tfinch@ci.charlotte.nc.us  

Attached are the three proposals for the Scaleybark Transit Oriented Development RFP Update presentation noted in the Friday, September 15, Council Manager Memo # 59. Staff will present the three proposals to the Economic Development and Planning Council Committee at their 3:30 pm meeting today (Wednesday, September 20). A three month evaluation/decision making process is anticipated to consider these proposals.

Cultural Facilities Plan
Staff Resource: Ron Kimble, 704-336-4169 - rkimble@ci.charlotte.nc.us

Last night, the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners adopted a 5% rental car tax increase effective December 1, 2006. As part of their action, they requested reconsideration of the City/County Interlocal Agreement regarding their obligation to pay 30% of the building maintenance expenses on the cultural facilities located in the Wachovia Tower project area.

In exchange, the City of Charlotte would have the 5th penny of rental car tax equivalent available for general government purposes (approximately $1.37M annually). We will be sending to you a Request for Council Action this Friday for your consideration on Monday, September 25, 2006.