Calendar Details:
Monday, August 11
Cancelled - Transportation Committee
Information Items:
Army Community Covenant Ceremony – August 13
Resource:
Dennis Marstall, 704-336-3980, dmarstall@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The City is serving as host for the Army's Community Covenant Ceremony to highlight the community's support for the active duty Army, Army Reserves, National Guard and their families. The Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, August 13 at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Meeting Chamber of the Government Center. A reception will follow in the CMGC lobby.
This Covenant program is being held in eight communities across the country this year, particularly where there are Army bases, and Charlotte was chosen to be a Covenant site given the significant Guard and Reserve installations in Charlotte and the region. This event will feature high level Army staff from the Pentagon, plus local Generals, elected officials, business leaders, and community members, such as Blue Star families. The program will include music by the Army Band, Color Guard, comments from a wounded veteran, dignitaries, and local family members of those serving in the Army. The Army NASCAR will be on display in the CMGC Circle off Fourth Street and banners of support displayed on the plaza for citizens to sign.
RSVPs are being handled by Pam Young in the Mayor's Office (pyoung@ci.charlotte.nc.us or 704-336-2064) and reserved seating will be available for City Council members and other dignitaries.
Feasibility of Green Roof on CMGC Lower Roof
Resource:
Sue Rutledge, 704-336-4120, srutledge@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Staff has been asked to reassess the feasibility of installing a green roof at CMGC. This analysis is underway and is expected to be complete by mid-September.
After a similar analysis in 2004, staff selected the Discovery Place roof as the test site for the City's first green roof project. It was selected because:
- the existing roof was at the end of its useful life
- the roof was capable of absorbing the additional weight without structural modification
- the slope of the roof was ideal for accommodating a green roof
- the surrounding buildings benefit aesthetically from the project
- the building is in a center city location surrounded by impervious area
The Discovery Place installation has been a success, serving as a learning site for other green roof projects such as the Federal Reserve.
Staff eliminated the CMGC as a potential test site in 2004 because:
- the warrantable roof life (installed in 2002) extends until 2022
- the center portion of the roof (inside the skylights) will not support the additional weight requirements of a green roof
We are proceeding with a new assessment and report to examine:
- the area of the roof that can structurally accommodate a vegetative roofing system
- possible plant layout, insulation, depth of growing media, irrigation, plant type and vector map leak detection
Our roof consultant is conducting the current assessment, which includes an engineering analysis of the lower roof to determine if it can support the additional weight of a green roof. He has informed us at least one manufacturer may be willing to install a green roof solution over the existing membrane and warranty that installation for 20 years. He will offer further analysis of the feasibility of this solution. Additionally, staff will continue assessing pros and cons of a green roof on the CMGC and at other City-owned locations. The complete report will be provided in September.
Non-Residential Building Code Stakeholders Group
Resource:
Stanley Watkins, 704-336-3796, swatkins@ci.charlotte.nc.us
On February 11, Council authorized staff to proceed with the development of a Non-Residential Building Code and directed the City Manager to form a stakeholders group. The purpose of the stakeholders group is to develop a proposed non-residential building code ordinance and make recommendations concerning the scope, and minimum standards of fitness and enforcement.
The city manager has recommended the following individuals to serve on the stakeholder's group. These individuals consist of representatives from business, neighborhood and governmental entities.
Neighborhood Representatives
- Brian Fincher – West Area
- Susan Lindsey – Eastside Partners
- Al Peace – Montclaire South
- Lori Polite – Echo Hills
Business Representatives
- Carol Burke – North Tryon Area
- Brian Francis – Chamber of Commerce
- Andy Munn – Real Estate and Building Coalition
- Joe Rempson – TR Lawing
Governmental Representatives
- Walter Abernethy - Charlotte Code Enforcement
- Captain Brian Cunningham – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police
- Chief Rob Kinniburgh – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fire
- Tim Taylor, Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement
Stakeholder meetings are scheduled to begin in early September and conclude in December of this year.
TAP and USDG Receive NCAPA "Outstanding Planning Awards"
Resource:
Norm Steinman 704-336-3939, nsteinman@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Last week, CDOT was notified by the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (NCAPA) that they had selected the Transportation Action Plan (TAP) for the 2008 North Carolina Marvin Collins Planning Award in the Comprehensive Planning (Large Community) category and the Urban Street Design Guidelines (USDG) for the 2008 North Carolina Marvin Collins Planning Award in the Implementation (Large Community) category. The City will be recognized for these two accomplishments at the North Carolina Annual Planning Conference Awards Luncheon on September 26, 2008 in Raleigh.
Copies of the letters from NCAPA are attached.
CATS Receives New Buses for Special Transportation
Resource:
Pete Wallace, 704-336-3860 or pwallace@ci.charlotte.nc.us
CATS' Special Transportation Service is replacing 24 older minibuses in its 85-vehicle accessible fleet. Fifteen of the new buses have already arrived and are being prepared for service. STS anticipates that all 24 replacement buses should be in service by Labor Day.
STS plans to order an additional 23 minibuses by late August and anticipates their arrival in late 2008. These additional vehicles should be in active service by January 1, 2009. These minibuses were originally ordered during August 2007, but had to be put on hold due to the transit tax repeal referendum on last November's ballot. Shortly after the transit tax was upheld by the voters, CATS proceeded with the minibus order.
Once all of the FY08 and FY09 STS vehicles have been put into service, 55 percent of the current fleet will have been replaced. STS minibuses that are replaced will be auctioned to the public.
STS provided 234,393 rides and drove 2.7 million miles during FY08. This is a 2.8 percent ridership increase over the previous year. STS has been providing door-to-door public transportation service since 1981 to people with disabilities that are unable to board or negotiate local CATS bus routes and the LYNX Blue Line.
