Information Items:
On Monday, November 12, University City Partners (UCP) will host a public meeting on a proposed extension of the University City Municipal Service District (MSD). The meeting begins at 8:30 am at the Ben Craig Center located at 8701 Mallard Creek Road. Council members are invited to attend.
While exact boundaries have not been decided, the focus of the extension is the University Research Park and adjacent parcels that would most directly benefit from services provided by the district. The public meeting, though not required by State law, is part of the City's recommended process for Council to consider the extension of an MSD.
In January, UCP will update Council on the proposed extension. At that time, UCP will seek Council's concurrence on the proposal and ask Council to direct staff to prepare a formal report on the extension in accordance with State law.
Implementation of the City Manager's decision to cancel the East Zone Memorandum of Understanding and conduct a new managed competition for the East Zone is progressing. The Privatization Competition Advisory Committee (PCAC) was notified of the City Manager's decision at their regular monthly meeting on October 11, 2007. Termination of the MOU is discussed further in the attached memo from the City Manager to the Solid Waste Services Key Business Unit.
A detailed competition process and schedule have been established and staff is working to develop a Request for Proposals (RFP) with a service start date of July 1, 2009. PCAC will review the competition process and schedule at their meeting on November 8, 2007. City Council and the PCAC will continue to be updated periodically through the managed competition process.
On November 13, 2007, two 18-foot tall stainless steel lighting sculptures will be installed at South Boulevard and Sharon Road West, marking the intersection and the entry to the CATS light rail station. Commissioned by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Arts and Science Council (ASC) and in cooperation with the City's Engineering and Property Management Department (E&PM), these sculptures will serve as an attractive amenity for the surrounding neighborhood.
The artist, Cliff Garten, designed these sculptures to be illuminated at night with the stainless steel surfaces refracting and reflecting sunlight during the day. The "plaza" at Sharon Road West and South Boulevard includes a pedestrian bridge across the light rail tracks, elevators, stairs, trees, landscaping, benches, a bike rack and pedestrian lighting.
In an Executive Session in October 2006, we shared with you our recommendation for a Business Investment Grant to Bake Right Corporation, a manufacturer of frozen bakery products for coffee shops, convenience and grocery stores. The company was attempting to purchase the former Merita Bakery in West Charlotte. The company planned to re-open the facility, invest $8 million in new machinery and hire 300 workers.
This week, we learned that the company was unsuccessful in its bid to purchase the site and has decided to open a facility in another state.
