Agenda Items:
After an intensive evaluation and negotiation process, CATS staff has successfully arrived at vendor recommendations for replenishing the transit bus fleet over the next five (5) years. The negotiation process was unusually lengthy and difficult in that the possible impact of the ½ cent transit tax referendum was taken into account and the proposed contracts negotiated to provide the City with the flexibility to adapt to a variety of potential outcomes.
The agreements with the recommended vendors will be 'requirements' or unit price contracts providing CATS with the option to purchase up to a total of 220 buses over the 5-year term, but with the obligation to purchase only a minimal number of buses in year one. Only that quantity of buses required to provide the approved level of service will be purchased. CATS will be bringing the agreements to Council on August 27 for approval.
CATS has placed an emphasis on safety and security for the upcoming opening of the Lynx Blue Rail Line and the major transit service expansion it represents. Market studies consistently show that transit safety and security are a priority for transit users. CATS will be seeking to expand its security resources to meet the needs of our growing transit system.
Currently, CATS utilizes the CMPD Transit Unit, consisting of 12 officers, together with contracted unarmed security guards. On August 27, CATS will seek Council approval to add 32 sworn company police officers to the security team. CATS will be recommending the use of company police officers due to their level of training. Company police are required by law to have completed 600 hours of law enforcement training. CATS will supplement the basic requirements with additional transit specific training including anti-terrorism and city customer service components. CATS requires by contract that all security officers maintain strict compliance with the law and customer service standards and may remove or terminate any security officer or service that fails to do so. CATS is committed to providing a safe, comfortable and secure public transportation system.
City staff has carefully reviewed the request of Mr. Richard Belcher to add curb and gutter, in addition to sidewalk, along the frontage of his property. Sidewalk program practices follow Storm Water Services' policy of repairing open channel improvements with channel improvements and repairing existing pipe systems with pipe improvements. In this case, staff has found that there is no technical reason to enclose the ditch at this location.
Attached is a report from the Charlotte Department of Transportation. Council is asked to approve the condemnation at Monday's meeting.
Information Items:
Monday's news article in the Charlotte Observer has generated some questions as to the City's legal obligations to the US National Whitewater Center. An additional story is expected to run in the Business Journal this Friday. Below is a summary of the City's agreement with Whitewater:
City Council approved an agreement with the US National Whitewater Center on November 24, 2003. Mecklenburg County, Gaston County, and the communities of Belmont, Gastonia, and Mount Holly are also committed to funding of the Whitewater Center at various levels. Highlights of the City's agreement are:
- Annual Payment: Up to $285,714.28 for 7 years ($2.0 million). The payment could be less, depending upon Whitewater Center revenues and expenditures. The FY2007 Capital Investment Plan included the appropriation of $2.0 million. The source of funding for this appropriation is Arena land sales.
- First Payment Request: Could be received within the next two months.
- Request Statement: A "Statement of Financial Need for Capital Contribution" must be made by the US National Whitewater Center to the City of Charlotte 30 days prior to the first payment. This statement would include:
- annual revenues and debt service
- audited financial statement for the preceding fiscal year
- City of Charlotte payments to the US National Whitewater Center are to be used only for capital related expenses and not operational expenses. However, debt payments are considered to be capital related expenses.
City Council is not required to take further actions on this item. The contract has been approved and funding has been appropriated. If a request for funding is received, staff will inform Council.
Construction of the I-277/Caldwell Interchange Project (NASCAR Hall of Fame Road Improvements) will begin the week of August 27, 2007. Lane closures will be in place on Caldwell and Stonewall Streets while crews perform necessary utility work.
The right curbside lane of Caldwell Street between the intersection of Stonewall Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard will be closed beginning August 27, 2007 through December 1, 2007. Stonewall Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction with a center turn lane between the intersection of Brevard Street and Davidson Street beginning August 27, 2007 through December 31, 2007. Access will be maintained to the CMGC parking deck. Uptown businesses have been notified of the construction and related traffic impacts.
The I-277/Caldwell Interchange Project (NHOF Road Improvements) will reconstruct several ramps on I-277 and modify Stonewall, Caldwell and Brevard Streets along with Martin Luther King Boulevard in uptown Charlotte. When completed, the area in and around the interchange will be pedestrian and bicycle friendly and accommodate development of the future NASCAR Hall of Fame site. The NHOF Road Improvements is scheduled to be complete when the NASCAR Hall of Fame opens in 2010.
PRIDE Charlotte Festival - Saturday, August 25, 2007
Staff Resource: Emily Westbrook, 704-432-2076 - ewestbrook@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The 2007 PRIDE Charlotte Festival will be held Saturday, August 25 at Gateway Village in Center City. While the majority of the festival will occur on private property, a portion of City right-of-way will be used. Staff has worked with the festival organizers, CMPD and the property manager to organize event logistics.
This year, we expect at least two organized protests of the festival from Concord-based Operation Save America (OSA) and Faith Baptist Church in Primrose, Georgia. Last year, we met with representatives from OSA prior to the event to review City policies that govern activism at special events in order to ensure all laws would be enforced and First Amendment rights protected. This year, OSA declined our meeting invitation.
Staff has sent copies of all applicable ordinances to both protest groups, and CMPD will be on-site to ensure safety.
