Calendar:
Wednesday, November 1
12:00 pm - Economic Development and Planning Committee. AGENDA: Open Space Requirements in Single Family Districts; Update on Bryant Park; Update on Scaleybark Transit-Oriented Development
Information:
Approved Tax Increment Financing Projects
Staff Resource: Tom Flynn, 704-432-1396 - tflynn@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Attached is information on the Council-approved Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Projects that Council member Mitchell requested at a recent Economic Development and Planning Committee Meeting.
Keep Charlotte Beautiful/ Code enforcement Sign Sweep
Staff Resource: Wendy B. Gigante, 704-336-4211 - wgigante@ci.charlotte.nc.us
On Saturday, October 28, 2006, Keep Charlotte Beautiful will team up with Neighborhood Development Code Enforcement to canvas areas throughout the City and remove signs that are in violation of Charlotte's Sign Ordinance. Although Code Enforcement performs a weekend sign sweep every month, Keep Charlotte Beautiful members will partner with them to tackle the increased visual blight caused by proliferation of signs, particularly in public right-of-way.
Keep Charlotte Beautiful is one of the nation's oldest Keep America Beautiful affiliates. Founded in 1974, part of the Keep Charlotte Beautiful mission is to participate in programs that promote clean, safe, and beautiful communities, and to forge partnerships with government, communities, and organizations, with similar goals and objectives. Among its annual projects are the Great American Cleanup, the Neighborhood Recognition program and the Adopt a City Street Program.
Code Enforcement has removed approximately 20,000 illegal signs this year, primarily through monthly sign sweeps. Most signs are in violation of Charlotte Health and Sanitation Code 10-212, which states that signs cannot be posted within the public right-of-way. The violation is $25 per sign. Citizens may call 311 to report the location of illegal signs.
Fall Cankerworm Tree Banding Update
Staff Resource: Don McSween, 704-336-5752 - dmcsween@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Listed below is a summary of the multi-faceted response to the Fall Cankerworm infestation Charlotte is experiencing.
- City Arborist Donald McSween continues to meet with neighborhoods to encourage them to band their trees (Hidden Valley, Medford Acres, Commonwealth, Hampshire Hills, and Dilworth).
- Five contracts have been awarded to contractors to place bands on 5,000 large Willow Oak street trees. The current total cost of tree banding and communications is $149,875. The remainder of the funds beyond the $120,000 designated by Council will come from the Tree Management operating funds. Staff has contacted Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation and they will band some trees in Freedom Park, Edgehill Park, Eastover Park, Pearl Street Park, and Baxter Street Park.
- Letters were sent to Garden Centers, Hardware Stores, and Landscape Suppliers to inform them of the heightened banding program. The Tanglefoot Company has been contacted to make them aware of the banding program. A list of suppliers has been developed and is available to the public so they will know where to purchase materials.
- Neighborhood Services has sent information to communities that potentially qualify for the City's Matching Grant Program to help with the cost of tree banding. They have conducted three training sessions with community leaders to educate them about the need to band trees on private property and how they can apply for the Grant program. Neighborhood Services has made provisions for community organizations to be able to apply for these grants by setting a special deadline of November 3rd for all applications. Thirty-five community leaders have attended these meetings. Representatives of the City Arborist's staff have attended the meetings to explain the need for banding and how it is done.
Communication Activities
- The attached "Let's Band Together" educational brochure is currently being distributed.
- P.S.A./Answer Guy/City Source - The Answer Guy educational spot is running on the Government Channel's City Source to demonstrate proper tree banding.
- Press Releases - Press releases will be distributed in mid-November just prior to the time of banding completion. This will depend on weather conditions and leaf drop timing.
- Web Site - A website has been created to educate citizens on the fall cankerworm, tree banding and future steps. http://cankerworm.charmeck.org
Mecklenburg Mills Update
Staff Resource: Stanley D. Watkins, 704-336-3796 - swatkins@ci.charlotte.nc.us
As mentioned in an earlier memorandum, City staff met with the former residents of Mecklenburg Mills on Wednesday, October 25, 2006. The purpose of the meeting was to give the residents an opportunity to share concerns and complaints about the relocation and placement processes associated with the Mecklenburg Mill closure on May 12, 2006.
Attendees included 11 former Mecklenburg Mill residents, representatives from the Help Empower Local People (H.E.L.P.) organization and two City Council members. Some residents expressed concern about communications and customer service surrounding the move. Most wanted clarification regarding reimbursements for moving damages, which was provided.
We are reviewing the housing subsidy and loss wages issues raised at the meeting. Our goal is to share a full report with recommendations on appropriate courses of action to City Council next week.
Request for Informationon the Small Business Development Program
Staff Resource: Tiffany Capers, 704-336-3862 - tcapers@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Attached are responses to questions Council member Mitchell raised during the October 18 Economic Development & Planning Committee meeting. The Committee reviewed four major recommendations from staff:
- Changing the formal construction contract threshold from $100,000 to $200,000
- Requiring Construction Manager at Risk and other construction contracts with City investment to be subject to the Small Business Opportunity Program
- Changing the mandatory outreach requirement to a minimum outreach requirement as a good faith effort
- Increasing the Citywide goal for SBE utilization on informal contracts from 7% to 10%
The Committee voted unanimously in favor of three of the recommendations. The Committee approved the recommendation to change the mandatory outreach requirement to a minimum outreach good faith effort initiative with a 3 to 1 vote. The recommended Small Business Opportunity Program changes will appear on a future Council agenda. Interested Council members can contact Tiffany Capers for more information on the recommended changes.
SBE Loan Program Update
Staff Resources:
Richard Bargoil, 704-336-2142 - rbargoil@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Dale Harrold, 704-409-5915 - dale.harrold@self-help.org
The SBE Loan Fund, a community partnership led by Self Help Credit Union, began making loans in September 2003. The almost $10 million fund, comprised of Self Help's $8 million contribution together with $500,000 from the City and $1.4 million from other major corporations and foundations, provides financing to small businesses in the Charlotte community that are considered just below bankable by traditional lenders.
During the 2006 calendar year, Self Help has approved 13 loans totaling $739,475. This represents a 22.7% increase over the same 9-month period last year (11 loans totaling $602,560 were approved Jan-Sept 2005).
2006 SBE Loan Fund Activity (9 month period January - September)
