Tuesday, September 4
4:00 pm - Governmental Affairs Committee Meeting, Room 280. AGENDA: Review Final Results of 2007 Legislative Session; Discussion of Metropolitan Coalition Priority Action Plan; Discussion of 2008 Short Session Advance Strategy Ideas; Federal Appropriations Update
Wednesday, September 5
12:00 pm - Economic Development and Planning Committee Meeting, Room 267. AGENDA: Area Plan Inventory and Asessment Process; Update on University City Area Plan; Belmont Retail
Information Items:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities begins dedicated enforcement patrols today for mandatory water restrictions. Utilities employees received training this week and began routes early this morning looking for irrigation violations. In addition to spotting violations as they drive, patrollers also communicate directly with our Command Center that dispatches them to specific locations based on 311 calls. Patrollers issued 39 civil penalties during the morning hours.
Lower water demand this week is an encouraging sign that customers are heeding the mandatory restrictions. Utilities has a goal of reducing water consumption to an average of 140 mgd during the month-about a 10 percent reduction. In the first three days of mandatory restrictions, the average water demand was 136.8 mgd. Wednesday's demand of 129.1 mgd was the lowest we've seen since July 31.
Utilities' goal during mandatory is to help customers comply, reduce water consumption and protect our water supply. Enforcement is a visible sign that we take these restrictions seriously and want to provide an incentive for those who comply with watering schedules.
It has come to our attention that Keep Mecklenburg County Beautiful has sent out letters to all local candidates asking them to pledge removal of all campaign signs within one week after the election is concluded. The City is pleased to support that message.
Within these same letters dated August 3rd and August 17th, there is incorrect information that would lead candidates to believe that it is permissible to post signs within the public rights-of-way. That information is incorrect. The Charlotte City Code, Chapter 10 and Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 13 clearly prohibit the posting of signs within the public rights-of-way. The rules regarding sign postings were relayed to all candidates in a correspondence from City Code Enforcement on August 24th.
The County's August 3rd letter to the candidates also refers to implementation of a program to raise the campaign sign bond amount in 2008 from $50 to $500. This matter was recently considered by the Housing and Neighborhood Development Council Committee, at which time they chose not to increase the campaign sign bond amount. Neither Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful nor Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Services have jurisdictional authority over this issue. City staff has contacted Keep Mecklenburg County Beautiful and Mecklenburg County Land Use and Environmental Services to clarify these issues and to ensure that any future correspondence with local candidates will provide accurate information.
During the 2007 ozone season, the air quality monitors in our region have recorded 21 Code Orange Days, One Code Red Day and One Code Purple Day. This summer's low rainfall amounts and lack of windy days have contributed to more Ozone Alert Days than occurred in each of the past two years.
The NC Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ) is responsible for preparing the State Air Quality Implementation Plan (SIP) that describes how violations of the air quality standards will be
avoided in nonattainment areas, such as Charlotte by 2010. City Council received information in several previous Manager-Council memos about some of the technical issues in the SIP and concerns of staff. Most important were concerns that county-by-county Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets (MVEB) were too low and likely would result in a conformity violation that would stop transit and road funding by 2010.
Comment letters to DAQ and to EPA have resulted in a series of meetings (beginning
September 7) to be held with regional staff, NCDAQ, NCDOT, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to discuss what can be done to change the MVEBs so that our region can avoid a transportation conformity lapse between now and 2010. It is difficult to estimate how long the series of meetings will last, or what the final outcome will be.
We will also be assessing how the recent monitor readings could affect our ability to meet 2009 air quality standards.
We will keep you apprised of the results of these discussions.
WSOC-TV aired a story Wednesday evening that highlighted a street on the resurfacing contract. It was intended that the street be removed from this year's contract because a Storm Water project is scheduled in the near future. Because of an error, the street was not removed, and the contractor began milling one side of the street. Residents called the City, and the resurfacing was placed on hold.
Because approximately three-tenths of a mile on one side of the road was milled, we will need to lay asphalt even though the Storm Water project will dig up the road in the next 15 months. The cost to the City will be approximately $10,000.
We regret the error, and are reviewing our procedures to prevent future occurrences.
From time to time, Council members ask the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) the status of converting our traffic signals to Light Emitting Diode (LED) traffic signals. CDOT has upgraded to LED signals on approximately 20% of our system. Attached is a report explaining this technology and the decreased cost in their use in Charlotte. The North Carolina Department of Transportation, as well as other municipalities across the state, are upgrading to LED's. CDOT is finalizing a comprehensive inventory of our signalized intersections to begin the process of planning an upgrade project.
MetLife Award Presentation - September 17
Staff Resource: Darrellyn Kiser, 704-336-7736 - dkiser@cmpd.org
The Druid Hills community has received the 2007 MetLife Community-Police Partnership Award. The award, given by the MetLife Foundation, honors neighborhood revitalization efforts that are the result of partnerships among residents, police and community development entities. Druid Hills was selected for the $25,000 first place award out of a field of over 400 nominees.
The award presentation will be Monday, September 17, at 10:00 am at The Gables, 1125 Kohler Avenue. Officials from MetLife will join the Mayor, Council member Barnes, Chief Stephens and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership Director Pat Garrett for the awards presentation. Druid Hills residents, members of the Neighborhood Cabinet and the Neighborhood Action Team for Druid Hills and community coordinators from the Metro Division will also be on hand. Following the presentation, there will be light refreshments and an opportunity to mingle.
CMPD hopes you can join us in celebrating a milestone for Druid Hills.
CMPD Promotions and New Assignments
Staff Resource: Julie Hill, 704-336-4098 - jhill@cmpd.org
Police Chief Darrel Stephens will promote 11 officers on September 6, impacting every rank in the department. The promotion ceremony is at 2 pm at the Police & Fire Training Academy, and City Council is invited to attend.
Those being promoted and their new assignments are:
- Kerr Putney to Deputy Chief, Support Services Group
- Diego Anselmo to Major, Central Service Area
- Vicki Foster to Major, Community Services Bureau
- Katrina T. Graue to Major, North Service Area
- Craig "Pete" Davis to Captain, Watch Commander's Office
- Roderick Golding to Captain, Watch Commander's Office
- Sherie E. Pearsall to Captain, Watch Commander's Office
- Ryan Butler to Sergeant, TBA
- Andrew Harris to Sergeant, TBA
- Christopher Miller to Sergeant, TBA
- James Morrison to Sergeant, TBA
At the same time, the following changes will be made to Command Staff assignments: Major John Diggs to the West Service Area; Major Harold Medlock to the Criminal Investigations Bureau; Captain Martha Dozier to the Providence Division; Captain Lisa Goelz to the Family Services Bureau; Captain Michelle Hummel to the Street Crimes Division; Captain Johnny Jennings to the North Tryon Division and Captain John H. Williams to Steele Creek Division.
Please join with us in congratulating each of these officers as they take on new assignments and responsibilities.
