Calendar Details
   (See Below)

 

Agenda Notes:
- Dinner Briefing Item #3 - Federal Work Program Update

 

Information Items:
- Solid Waste Service to Heathrow on Harris Condominium Development
- Police Department Personnel Changes
- Fire Chief Change of Command Ceremony - December 19th
- News Racks Ordinance
- Issuing Permits to Dual State Passenger for Hire Companies
- Community Economic Development Strategy
- Charlotte Regional High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)/ High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Managed Lane Study Key Stakeholder Workshop
- Neighborhood Improvement Program - Public Involvement Meetings.

 

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Monday, November 26
     5:00 pm - Council-Manager Dinner Briefing, Room 267
     6:30 pm - Citizens' Forum, Meeting Chamber
     7:00 pm - Council Meeting, Meeting Chamber 

 

Wednesday, November 28
     5:30 pm - MTC Meeting, Room 267

 

 

 

 

Attached is a summary of the federal work program update which will be presented to Council at the Monday dinner briefing.  The document, prepared by Holland & Knight, will be discussed in detail as our Washington lobbyist updates us on last year's federal work program and begins the process of soliciting ideas for the FY09 federal work program

 

 

 

 

Staff was contacted by representatives of Heathrow on Harris, a multifamily complex having 101 residential units, who expressed concern about the City's multi-family solid waste policy.  The City's policy establishes dumpster or compactor service (as opposed to curbside roll-out container service) as the required collection service type for multi-family complexes having 30 or more residential units.  Heathrow on Harris currently contracts with a private garbage hauler for roll-out collection service.   Heathrow on Harris has formally requested that the City provide the roll-out collection service instead of their private contractor.

 

Solid Waste Services staff worked closely with representatives of the Heathrow on Harris community in 2001 following its annexation.  Staff also addressed this issue with Heathrow residents at their April 2002 Homeowner's Association meeting and has been in periodic contact with this group, most recently in September 2007.  In 2004, the Council considered providing service to 3,493 multifamily units, including Heathrow on Harris, that had no available space within their complexes to place dumpsters or compactors.  The estimated cost to provide service to these units was $2.9 million.  The cost to provide service was given consideration for inclusion in the FY2007 operating budget, but due to other priorities it was not funded. Staff is developing a coordinated, written response to the questions raised in this group's latest letter, which states that the group plans to appear in front of Council at its November 26 meeting to discuss the matter. 

 

Police Department Personnel Changes
Staff Resource:
Julie Hill, 704-336-4098, jhill@cmpd.org
 
Police Chief Darrel Stephens will promote three to the rank of Captain and three to the rank of Sergeant at a promotion ceremony on Monday, November 26, at 2 pm at the Police & Fire Training Academy. City Council is invited to attend the ceremony. These promotions are due to the retirements of Captains Denise Bridges, Libby Buchanan and Russ McElwee.
 
The new Captains and their assignments are Charles (Karl) Bannerman, Watch Commander; Steven Brochu, Watch Commander; and Freda Lester, University City Division. The new Sergeants are Darren Aldridge, Eastway Division; Michael Harris, Independence Division; and Chad Howard, Westover Division.
 
Related to the retirements are the following transfers: Captain Jimmy Fields to
the Airport Police Division, and Captain Roslyn Maglione to the Internal Affairs
Bureau. The promotions and transfers are effective on November 26.

 

 

After 42 years of service with the City of Charlotte, Fire Chief Luther L. Fincher, Jr. is retiring.  Deputy Fire Chief Jon Hannan will assume his role as Fire Chief on December 30, 2007.  Jon has been with the department since 1978 and has been the Deputy Chief of Administration since 1999.

 

The Change of Command ceremony will be held on Wednesday, December 19, 2007, at 3:00 pm in the Council Chambers.  This symbolic ceremony will include the pinning of the Badge of Office and the official introduction of Jon Hannan as our newest Fire Chief.

 

 

A little over a year ago, Charlotte Center City Partners (CCCP) approached the City with concerns regarding the location and condition of news racks in the City of Charlotte.  They requested an ordinance to address these concerns.   At that time, City Manager Pam Syfert informed CCCP that the City would consider the request if they researched and provided the
groundwork to move forward.

 

Since that time, CCCP worked with a small stakeholder's group representing several publications and distributors to gain insight into the issues surrounding an ordinance.  In addition, they researched other ordinances around the country.  CCCP is now ready to meet with publications and distributors to discuss a possible ordinance, what an ordinance will look like, and receive feedback from them.  The meeting will take place on November 29, 2007.  City staff will be in attendance.

 

City Council should expect a formal request from CCCP for an ordinance within a few weeks of the meeting.

 

 

A South Carolina-based taxicab company, Carolinas Cab, has recently inquired into the possibility of having its company operate in both North Carolina and South Carolina.  There are at least two other passenger vehicle for hire companies who have made similar requests to the Passenger Vehicle for Hire (PVH) Manager.

 

The Charlotte City Code requires that a taxicab company, in order to do business in Charlotte, meet certain minimums, including number of taxicabs.  Those ordinances also speak to the number of taxicabs per company which must be handicap accessible. The ordinances are silent on where those vehicles must be registered. 

 

However, the NCDOT Division of Motor Vehicles has decided that out of state cabs may travel into and through North Carolina, but may not pick up and discharge passengers within the state.  This decision would allow South Carolina tagged taxicabs to travel into Charlotte to drop off a passenger, but would not allow them to operate within the state, picking up and dropping off passengers.

 

Carolinas Cab Company has some taxicabs tagged in North Carolina and some of its taxicabs
tagged in South Carolina.  If the PVH Manager were only to consider the taxicabs tagged in North Carolina, the company, which complies in every other way with the requirements of the Charlotte passenger vehicle for hire ordinances, would not have enough taxicabs to meet the minimum cab requirements.  If the PVH Manager considers all of the taxicabs that the company has, the company would meet the minimums.

 

In the interest of fairness, while protecting the interests of those members of the public who use cabs, the PVH Manager has determined that those companies that have at least fifty percent of
their vehicles tagged in North Carolina will receive company permits, provided the all of their taxicabs meet all the other passenger vehicle for hire requirements in the City Code.  Those taxicabs and other passenger vehicles for hire in each company with South Carolina license plates will receive permits that only allow them to engage in interstate transportation.  Those taxicabs and other passenger vehicles for hire in each company with North Carolina license plates will receive permits that allow them full privileges to transport within Charlotte.

 

It is possible that this decision will generate controversy from the existing cab companies who do not want additional competition.  The purposes of the City regulations on taxicabs and other passenger vehicles for hire are public safety, customer service, consumer protection and financial ability to perform, it is not to limit competition or market entry.  Therefore, staff feels the interpretation described above meets the goals with minimal market interference.

 

 

The City's current Capital Investment Plan consolidated previous programs for Business Corridor Revitalization and Pedscape Plan Implementation into a new program entitled Community Economic Development Strategy.

 

The purpose of the program is to provide funds for improvements in distressed business corridors and in areas with adopted Pedscape Plans. The focus is on projects that improve the multi-modal function of designated streets and appearance of the streetscape.

 

The current fund balance is $1.6 million, including funds from the most recent bond allocation. It is anticipated that additional funds will be available in future years.

 

Projects funded by the previous Business Corridor and Pedscape programs include Elizabeth Avenue, Wilkinson Boulevard, NODA, Freedom Drive, Graham Street, North Tryon Street, West Boulevard, South Boulevard, and East Boulevard.

 

Projects proposed for funding at this time are:

 

The above projects came from a longer list of potential projects taken from approved plans, and from needs identified by an interdepartmental staff team from Planning, Economic Development, and Engineering and Property Management. This team evaluated the projects based on the following criteria:

The proposed Commonwealth and Beatties Ford projects meet the above criteria well and were identified as needs in prior years by Pedscape plans. The Kings Drive project is a small project that also satisfies the criteria by building on County Park and Recreation's greenway project to provide a pedestrian link to the adjoining Cherry neighborhood. All are "ready to go," and capable of making an impact with modest expenditure.

 

Charlotte Region High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)/High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Managed Lanes Study Key Stakeholder Workshop
Staff Resources:
Tim Gibbs, 704-336-3917, tgibbs@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Robert Cook, 704-336-8643, rwcook@ci.charlotte.nc.us
 
In May, City Council voted unanimously to enter into an agreement with municipal, regional and state transportation planning agencies in the Charlotte region to initiate a study to examine ways to address traffic congestion on the region's highway system.

 

In addition to analyzing the viability of adding additional high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes (similar to those currently operating on I-77 between North Charlotte and Huntersville), the study is considering other congestion management (managed lane) techniques, including high occupancy-toll (HOT) lanes (which could potentially be used by motorists willing to pay for travel time advantages), and truck only-toll (TOT) lanes.
 
A workshop will be held on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 from 9:30 am to 1:45 pm at the Carole Hoefener Center, 610 E. 7th Street in Uptown Charlotte, to review information from the initial
feasibility analysis. Council members and interested City staff are invited to attend the workshop, which will include other elected officials, media and interested local and state staff from throughout the Charlotte region. Lunch will be provided.

 

During the workshop, information will be discussed about: 1) where the potential exists for a system of managed lanes in the region; 2) how the screening methodology and potential policy options (vehicle eligibility, hours of operation, tolling segments and types, etc.) will be used in defining corridors for further study.

 

The study's final report is due out next summer.  Information pertinent to the study may be accessed on the Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization (MUMPO) website, mumpo.org.

 

Please contact Carolyn Green at cgreen@ci.charlotte.nc.us or 704-336-3906 by Tuesday, December 4, if you are interested in attending the workshop. Participants are welcome to attend all or part of the workshop.

 

 

City Council approved 14 neighborhood improvement planning contracts with seven engineering firms at their May 14, 2007 meeting.  These neighborhoods include: Sugaw Creek/Ritch Avenue, Revolution Park, York/Cama, Enderly Park, Tryon Hills, Colonial Village Sedgefield, Lincoln Heights/Wilson Heights, Nevin, Eastway/Sheffield, East Forest, Farm Pond, Autumnwood, Delta Lake and Linda Lake.

 

City staff and engineering firms have begun holding a second series of public meetings in these neighborhoods.  The purpose of these meetings is to present neighborhood infrastructure project alternatives, based on citizen input, received during the first round of public meetings.  The November and December meeting schedule is: