Information Items:
  - Utilities Tours - First One Scheduled for Monday, October 9
  - Metropolitan Transit Commission Meeting Summary
  - Mecklenburg Mill Update
  - Economic Development Office SBA Loan Workshops

Attachments:
  - MTC Matrix 9-28-06

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Utilities Tours - First One Scheduled for Monday, October 9
Staff Resource: Doug Bean, 704-391-5070 - dbean@ci.charlotte.nc.us  

During budget workshops last spring, some City Council members expressed interest in visiting and touring Utilities facilities to learn more about our operation. Several of you have had the opportunity to visit our plants and offices in the past, and we have scheduled a tour for Council member Foxx on Monday, October 9, from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm. If any Council member would like to join us that day, or if you'd like to schedule a visit at another time, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Metropolitan Transit Commission Meeting Summary
Staff Resource: Ron Tober, 704-336-7245 - rtober@ci.charlotte.nc.us  

At its meeting on Wednesday, September 27, 2006, the MTC unanimously voted to approve Resolution No. 2006-07, which adopted an amendment to CATS' Fare Policy to include a section entitled "Fares for Special Event Services," which allows the MTC to vote on fares for special events on a case by case basis. This resolution also authorized a special events fare of $20 roundtrip for park and ride service to Lowes Motor Speedway races for all bus patrons.

Also, the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) did not vote to approve Resolution No. 2006-05, which would have adopted Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as the Locally Preferred "Build" Alternative in the Southeast Corridor. Instead, the MTC approved a substitute motion by Randy Kincaid, Mayor of Davidson, to take the following approach for implementing rapid transit in the Southeast Corridor:

     1. Select BRT as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) in the Southeast Corridor
     2. Delay implementation of BRT for at least five years to allow for future reconsideration of light rail (LRT) in the Southeast Corridor
     3. CATS staff is directed to take the necessary steps in design and engineering with NCDOT of the highway project so that LRT could be considered in the future.

The MTC also received information briefings on the following:

Transit Corridor Implementation and Financial Plans: Staff presented to the MTC a thorough summary of the evaluations of the LPA actions taken by the group to date for each of the corridors and for the two technology alternatives still under construction in the Southeast Corridor. The information was presented in matrix form (which is attached) using the evaluation criteria previously identified by staff, i.e. environmental impacts, daily ridership, cost, etc. The matrix showed the results for each corridor's LPA as well as the technology in the Southeast Corridor. Staff presented the MTC with this information so they could have a better understanding of where each corridor's LPA stands against the FTA's criteria and against one another.

CEO's Report: Under the CEO's report, it was reported that:
     1. Ridership for the month of August 2006 increased 5.4% across all services compared to August 2005. Regular bus services had an increase in ridership of 5.8%, while Regional Express services showed an increased of 31.8%. The Community Circulators experienced a 19.4% increase and Activity Center Circulators and Vanpools both showed double-digit increases. Also, ridership decreased on the Mooresville Express due to the loss of two park and rides and the Beatties Ford Shuttles due to the discontinuation of Route 200 and the expansion of Route 7. Ridership also decreased on Human Transportation Services.

     2. Service changes will go into effect October 2, 2006. These changes will mostly affect local and regional express routes.

     3. A timeline was presented for the South Corridor Light Rail Project (SCLRP) from the beginning of the project in 1998 to the present. The timeline highlighted key events including those involving the designer Parson Transportation Group (PTG) and specific actions taken by the Charlotte City Council as a result of the design problems/changes. The timeline included in more detail events that occurred during the last three years (2004-2006) than on events during the period from 1998 through 2003. It was noted that the FTA has been intimately involved in the SCLRP all along and they have conducted a rigorous oversight of CATS staff's conduct on the project using its Project Management Oversight Consultant (PMOC) and its staff. CATS has worked on three Risk Assessments of the project with the FTA, prepared three Recovery Plans for keeping it within budget, and more recently, have worked with the FTA to develop an Estimate at Completion (EAC) for what will be the best estimate of the final cost of the project.

     4. It was also noted that the Eastland Community Transit Center will hold its grand opening on Saturday, October 28, 2006.

The next MTC meeting will be held October 25, 2006, wherein a public hearing will be held on the revised Transit Corridor Implementation and Financial Plan.

Mecklenburg Mills Update
Staff Resource: Stan Wilson, 704-336-3337 - swilson@ci.charlotte.nc.us  

The Charlotte Observer is planning to publish an article this week that will include a mention of the Mecklenburg Mills. The article's writer, Fred Kelly, has inquired about the Mecklenburg Mill Apartments. Some of the questions centered around AIMCO (the former property manager), the City's involvement in the properties, the Engineering Report and the status of the former residents.

Below are updates on the status of residents achieving permanent housing, status of claims raised by former residents pursuant to the move, relocation expenses and progress on the disposition of the Mecklenburg and Johnston Mill properties:

Permanent Housing Status Of the 59 households involved in the move, there are 7 households remaining to be placed. Their status is as follows:

• Two residents are finalizing the purchase of homes.
• Two residents are working with the Charlotte Housing Authority.
• Two residents will be moving into permanent housing within the next two weeks.
• One resident is still looking for permanent housing.

Resident Moving Claims: City Council has received inquiries from residents regarding claims that have been filed against the mover for damaged and/or missing items. The City's Insurance and Risk Management Department is handling the processing and settlement of these claims. To date, 23 claims have been filed by residents, 15 have been settled (three have been settled and paid), seven residents are pending a response and one large claim is being resolved with the assistance of the insurance carrier of the mover. The total of the claims is $29,775 and the total amount approved and accepted by the residents is $26,000. The funding is through Insurance and Risk Management's loss funds. Insurance and Risk Management will in turn negotiate a settlement with the mover. This is the standard procedure in settling claims.

Relocation Expenditures: To date, the City has spent approximately $359,000 relocating the 59 households in Mecklenburg Mill. The costs breakdown as follows; hotel accommodations - $146,000, benefits such as; food, expense allowances, rental and security deposit assistance - $86,000 and moving costs - $127,000. These funds are being expensed against the City's relocation account, which are Federal Community Development Block Grand funds. Overall this equates to approximately $5,983 per household.

Mecklenburg and Johnston Mills RFP: City Council's Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee is scheduled to begin discussion of disposition of the Mill properties at their October 20 meeting.

Economic Development Office SBA Loan Workshops
Staff Resource: Gail Whitcomb, 704-336-5849 - gwhitcomb@ci.charlotte.nc.us  

The Economic Development Office (EDO) partnered with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) to host two SBA Community Express Loan Workshops during the month of September. The workshops were held at the BizHub Network and CMGC. More than seventy (70) current and potential small business owners attended.

The workshops gave participants the opportunity to learn about various federal and local programs including financing, technical assistance and contracting opportunities. The SBA's Community Express Loan Program, targeting small business owners, offers loans from $5,000 - $50,000.

Additional workshops are scheduled for 9:30 am - 12 noon on Monday, October 30 and Monday, December 4 at the BizHub Network, 124 East Independence Boulevard (corner of Independence and Elizabeth). Staff, together with CPCC and the SBA, will be marketing the workshops to the business community. Registration is available by contacting CPCC at 704-330-4223.