Information Items:
Attached is the Proceedings Report from the 12th Annual Neighborhood Symposium. The event was held on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at the Charlotte Convention Center. Approximately 660 neighborhood leaders and residents, presenters, exhibitors and volunteers attended, representing a 60% increase over last year's participation.
Based on the theme, "Neighborhoods in Action: Mobilizing, Organizing and Sustaining Success", special emphasis was placed on bringing community leaders together to network and share ideas. John Barros, Executive Director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, was the keynote speaker. A record-breaking 45 exhibitors provided resource information for adults and youth.
Tiffany Capers, Small Business Program Manager, is leaving the City to take a position as Vice President - Scholarships with the Foundation of the Carolinas. Veronica Mosley, currently serving the Economic Development Office as Workforce Development Specialist, will assume the position of Interim Manager beginning July 5, 2007.
We are sad to see Tiffany leave, but are equally pleased she will be fulfilling her aspiration to work with young people as well as continue a career in public service. Tiffany has helped us build an outstanding small business program and we thank her for her years of service to the City of Charlotte.
Veronica has an extensive background with the City with more than 21 years of experience. She began her career in the Neighborhood Development Department working in various supervisory positions. Most recently, she provided oversight to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board and has been a key part of the City's business retention efforts.
With Veronica's leadership skills and the proficient small business staff, we are confident the transition will be seamless as we actively recruit for the Small Business Development Program Manager position.
In February 2006, the City of Charlotte's Office of Cable & Franchise Management filed comments in the FCC's fact-finding process. Although the January 1, 2007, changes in North Carolina video franchising laws under S.L. 2006-151 restricted Charlotte's authority to issue and renew video franchises, we could still be affected by the FCC's precedent-setting actions which assume broad jurisdiction over our real property and seek to restrict our ability to protect our rights-of-way.
Therefore, in April 2007, after the FCC issued its order, Charlotte joined with the National League of Cities (NLC), United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), National Association of Counties (NACo), National Association of Telecommunications Officials and Advisors (NATOA), Alliance for Communications Democracy (ACD), and Alliance for Community Media (ACM), to ask the Federal courts to reverse the Order. The formal Petitions for Review, as filed by these organizations, contended that the FCC order "exceeds the FCC's statutory authority," is "arbitrary and capricious," and constitutes "an abuse of discretion, unsupported by substantial evidence, and in violation of the United States Constitution".
Appeals filed by local government interests have been consolidated in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Charlotte is supporting the effort to challenge this FCC decision by participating in two filings - one by the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) and the other by the associations referenced above. We will keep Council advised.
