Calendar Details:
Monday, June 9
3:30 pm - Transportation Committee, Room 280. AGENDA: Sidewalk Retrofit Policy; Connectivity Policy: Initiatives 1&2; Air Quality – Attainment and Conformity Implications
4:00 pm - Restructuring Government Committee, Room CH-14. AGENDA: Privatization and Competition Advisory Committee (PCAC) Annual Report; Adopt Meeting Schedule
5:00 pm - Council Dinner Briefing, Room 267
7:00 pm - Council Business Meeting, Chamber
Wednesday, June 11
12:00 pm - Housing and Neighborhood Development, Room CH-14. AGENDA: FY09 Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development; Update on Community Development Corporations; Committee Schedule
Thursday, June 12
7:30 am - Business Corridor Symposium, Extravaganza Depot, 1610 N. Tryon Street
Information Items:
Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority Visit
Resource:
Keith Parker, 704-336-3855 or kparker@ci.charlotte.nc.us
On Wednesday June 11, a group of approximately 15 - 20 officials from the Tampa region will visit the area to learn about Charlotte's approach to land use and transit. The group is comprised of elected officials and political appointees to the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority. The visit is part of a 3-day trip to Charlotte, Dallas, and Denver. A tentative agenda is attached.
The group's itinerary includes an opportunity for peer-to-peer dialog with elected officials. Scheduled participants from Charlotte are Anthony Foxx (Chair of Council Transportation Committee), Jennifer Roberts (County Commission Chair and MTC Chair) and John Woods (Mayor of Davidson representing MTC Towns). If any other Council members wish to participate in the elected officials dialog from 11:30 – 1:30, please contact Pam Lunsford and let her know.
Public Meetings for Potential Street Closures at Railroad Crossings on W. 9th, W. 11th, Seaboard and N. Church Streets
Resources:
Doreen Szymanski, dszymanski@ci.charlotte.nc.us or 704-336-7527
Tim Gibbs, tgibbs@ci.charlotte.nc.us or 704-336-3917
Public meetings have been scheduled to discuss potential closing of several streets at railroad crossings near Uptown.
The first meeting will allow citizen input into the potential street closings at three existing at-grade railroad crossings upon completion of the relocated Seaboard Street between 11th and Johnson streets. The relocated Seaboard Street will provide a new connection to Graham Street. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 11 at 3:00 pm in Room CH-14 of the Government Center. The grade crossings being discussed are with the CSX Railroad and existing Seaboard Street and the Norfolk Southern Railroad at W. 9 and W. 11 streets.
In August 2007, City Council authorized the CDOT KBE to execute a three-party agreement between NCDOT, the City, and Fiber Mills, LLC. The three-party agreement contemplated these closings.
NCDOT, Norfolk Southern and the CSX Railroad have asked that the City enter into a four-party agreement with them that provides payments to the City for costs associated with the Seaboard Street project and associated street closures totaling $272,000. The budget ordinance appropriating this (3663-X) was approved by Council in August 2007.
Council will be asked to act on the three Seaboard Street area street closings as part of the four-party agreement noted above on the June 23 Council agenda.
The second meeting, which will allow citizen input regarding a future potential closing of the N. Church Street /CSX Railroad crossing, will be held on Wednesday, June 18 at 3:00 pm in Room CH-14 of the Government Center.
In addition to the Seaboard Street area street closings, the four-party agreement noted above includes steps that would need to be taken before N. Church Street would be closed at the crossing. At some future time, when access improvements are made to affected businesses in this area, Council will be asked to consider implementing this closing.
A map showing the proposed street closing locations and the Seaboard Street Relocation is attached.
Status of Public Safety Recommendations for the District Attorney's Office
Resource:
Carol L. Jennings 704-336-7285 or cljennings@ci.charlotte.nc.us
On May 12, City Council approved Public Safety Recommendations for the District Attorney's Office for funding five positions for the Property Crimes Unit ($375,000) and future technology improvements ($3m).
On June 23, Council will be asked to approve a contract with the Administrative Office of the Courts to add two Assistant District Attorneys and three support personnel, and an MOU with the District Attorney's Office which outlines specific performance measurements for the Property Crimes Unit.
Process Mapping: The most important component of the performance measures will be a process mapping of the flow of a property case through the Police Department and the DA's Office. The process map will look at each step that is taken as a case goes through the system and the variables that may occur depending upon the outcomes at each phase of the process. Once the process is mapped, it will be analyzed to identify any inefficiencies or bottlenecks and develop ways to overcome them. This work will be completed by CMPD's Process Mapping Unit, with intentions to expand this effort to other types of crime in the future.
Funding for technology improvements in the District Attorney's Office and the Trial Court Administrator's Office: City Council approved setting aside $3 million in funding to be used upon receipt of a detailed plan for case management technology with appropriate performance metrics. The process mapping described above is a critical first step which will drive the design of an information system by identifying the components that must be automated and insure that inefficiencies are not built into the automated system.
Electronic Submission of Information to the DA: In addition, CMPD is applying for a Federal Grant in the amount of $641,000 (with 10% local match), which will benefit both CMPD and the DA's Office. The Police records management system "Knowledge Based Community Oriented Policing System" (KBCOPS) enables officers to electronically record and store all information related to criminal cases and incident reports. The DA's Office is not equipped to receive electronic submission of case information. Consequently the DA requires separate and distinct paper forms to be completed by officers when presenting a case. This is a redundant and time consuming effort. The goal of this grant is to enable officers to generate a Case Screening and Analysis packet electronically for the DA's office. This will also improve tracking of information between the DA's Office and CMPD.
Spring Bond Update
Resource:
Keith Richardson, 704-336-5865 or krichardson@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Attached is the spring version of the Bond Report. Corporate Communications collaborates with Planning, Engineering, CDOT and Neighborhood Development to compile the latest information on ongoing City Bond Projects. Additional project information is available at the bonds web page at http://citybonds.charmeck.org.
Digital Television Transition Workshop
Resource:
Doris J. Boris, 704-336-3064 or dboris@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 mandates that on February 17, 2009 all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and change to digital format only. Benefits of this change include an improvement in the quality of television viewing, additional programming capacity and having additional broadcast spectrum available for use by emergency responders.
TVs that receive analog-only signals – without a converter designed to allow the digitally-transmitted signals to be viewed – will not receive any television programming after February 17, 2009. Even with cable or satellite service, TVs without digital tuners will not be able to receive over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts whenever there is a loss of video through these service providers. Consequently, should cable/satellite service go out due to a weather event like Hurricane Hugo, TVs that are not digital-ready will not be able to receive OTA public safety or other broadcasts. TVs that are capable of receiving digital signals will receive OTA broadcasts now and after the DTV transition. Many members of the public are unaware of these issues – and the impact of them on their future TV reception capabilities.
Spearheading this transition are the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). These federal agencies – who are charged with industry compliance and consumer education – have enlisted the assistance of cities and counties in these efforts. Therefore, the BSS Charlotte-Mecklenburg Cable Office is working with the City's Corporate Communications and the County's Public Service and Information divisions to educate our citizens about the significance of the DTV transition.
On Thursday, October 16, 2008, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin will come to Charlotte to promote this effort. The day's events include:
- The FCC and NTIA will present a public workshop at 6:00 pm - which will be televised to the community live on the Government Channel. Chairman Martin is expected to make an appearance at this workshop.
- A private reception for the FCC and NTIA representatives will be held from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm at the government center prior to the workshop. City and County officials are invited to attend the reception. Chairman Martin is also expected to attend this reception.
- The FCC, NTIA and local broadcasters, cable operators, retailers and other stakeholders will have DTV Transition educational/informational displays available in the CMGC Lobby during business hours the day of the reception and workshop.
Additional information will be provided concerning the details of this event.
