Monday, July 16
7:30 am - Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee Meeting, Room CH-14. AGENDA: Double Oaks Feasibility Study
5:00 pm - Council Manager Zoning Dinner Briefing, Room CH-14
6:00 pm - Zoning Meeting, Meeting Chamber
Thursday, July 19
12:00 pm - Economic Development and Planning Committee Meeting, Room CH-14. AGENDA: Bryant Park Land Use & Streetscape Plan; Building Permit/Plan Review Process Update
Zoning Agenda Note:
Agenda Item #16: MUMPO 2009-2015 Candidate Projects List
Staff Resource: Andy Grzymski, 704-336-3928 - agrzymski@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Yesterday, the Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) of the Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization (MUMPO) voted unanimously to endorse the list of Candidate Projects presented to Council at the June 25 dinner briefing (attached). Monday's Zoning Meeting Agenda includes item #16 to direct your MUMPO representative's vote in support of the TCC recommended list. The item will be on the MUMPO agenda for vote on July 18.
The TCC specifically indicated it did not support inclusion of a federal earmark for parking improvements at the Marion Diehl Center which was omitted from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Transportation Improvement Program last year. If included on the list and funded, the project would take away from funding of higher priority needs since funding would apply to the Equity Formula.
The 2009-2015 Candidate Projects List indicates to the NCDOT the projects which the local MPO feels are highest in priority for future funding. The NCDOT will publish a draft 2009-2015 Transportation Improvement Program later this year and City Council and the MUMPO will be given an opportunity for further input before it is finalized.
The storm on Saturday, July 7, left the yards of Charlotte residents cluttered with tree limbs and other yard waste debris. Citizens in Plaza-Midwood, Grier Heights, Chantilly, Elizabeth, Myers Park and Villa Heights were hardest hit as a result of the storms. Solid Waste Services' Special Services Division has worked in cooperation with Engineering and Property Management's Landscape Management Division and CDOT's Street Maintenance Division to collect oversized yard waste and sweep streets in these neighborhoods. Plaza-Midwood, Grier Heights and Chantilly have been cleared. Staff expects nearly all oversized yard debris to be off the curb by the end of next week in the remaining neighborhoods.
The Collections Division continues to collect yard waste on residents' regularly scheduled collection days. Though crews have experienced an increase in yard waste at the curb in all areas of the City, they are on schedule. Staff expects yard waste volumes to continue to run above normal for the next few weeks as residents get materials prepared and to the curb. Solid Waste will adjust operations accordingly, but staff does not expect to get behind. We will keep Council advised.
There are two upcoming public briefings on the proposed Urban Street Design Guidelines (USDG). Council members are invited to attend either or both of these briefings, which will be held:
Thursday, July 19th
5:00 pm or 7:00 pm (these are duplicate meetings, for the convenience of attendees)
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
600 East Fourth Street
Room 267
At the briefings, the public will hear from staff about the USDG and will have the opportunity to provide comments. The Urban Street Design Guidelines document is available on-line at:
http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Transportation/Home.htm . Attached is a hard copy of the guidelines for your convenience.
As recommended by the Council Transportation Committee, there will be a policy item on the July 23 Council agenda to receive public comments on the draft guidelines. After additional review, the Council will be asked to adopt the guidelines this fall.
The Charlotte Department of Transportation and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Department have been working for the past five years to make changes to how Charlotte's thoroughfares and streets are designed, and have provided several presentations to the Transportation Committee and Council about those changes. These changes are needed to accommodate growth and to reduce or eliminate deficiencies. The proposed USDG are intended to create "complete streets" - streets that provide capacity and mobility for motorists, and that are also safer and more comfortable for pedestrians, cyclists, and neighborhood residents.
Union Bill to be heard in the House Appropriations Committee next week. The attached League Bulletin urges city officials to contact members of the House Appropriations Committee and urge their opposition to H1583 -- Restore Contract Rights to State/Local.
Also attached is a summary of significant issues that occurred in the legislature this past week.
The Senate passed the State Medicaid Swap bill (H1016). Our analysis confirms that Charlotte's future sales tax, with growth, will not be impacted by the Medicaid issue. The NC League of Municipalities and the Metropolitan Coalition made significant revisions to the legislation possible by providing expert testimony and coordinating local officials lobbying efforts. City Council is to be congratulated for contacting key senators in our Delegation and letting them know of our concerns for what would have been a tremendous loss of local revenue.
Significant progress was made on our local bills: Industrial Machinery - Building Code; Vehicles used for towing to be marked; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Investment Authority; and Charlotte/Water and Sewer Facilities Design Build.
Next week may yield significant discussions regarding solid waste disposal fees and interbasin transfer regulations.
