Calendar Details:
Wednesday, April 1
1:30pm - Budget Committee, Room 280. AGENDA: Proposed April 15 Budget Retreat Agenda, Employee Pay and Benefits
3:30pm - Economic Development & Planning Committee, Room CH-14. AGENDA: FY2010/FY2011 Focus Area Plan; Business District Organization Program, Independence Blvd. Transitional Setback
Information Items:
Update Regarding the Transitional Setback on Independence Boulevard
Resource:
Tom Warshauer, Neighborhood and Economic Development, 704-336-4522, twarshauer@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Following the March 19, 2009 Economic Development & Planning Committee meeting, an interest was expressed in the validity of the 1989 drawing shown as the rationale for the 350' Independence ROW. Staff understands that there has been much discussion in the community about the rationale for the 350 foot ROW width and the length of time it was meant to be in place. The attached Memorandum from 1989 from Charlotte Department of Transportation Director Bob Pressley to Planning Director Martin Cramton explains the reasoning behind the 350 foot ROW reserved on Class I thoroughfares.
This letter is also being released to interested parties in the community today.
ICSC Carolinas Idea Exchange – Charlotte Retail Update
Resource:
Chris Hemans, Neighborhood and Economic Development, 704-432-3025, chemans@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The International Council of Shopping Centers Carolinas Idea Exchange was held at the Charlotte Convention Center on March 2-3, 2009. Economic Development staffed a small booth during the conference and provided space for several local brokers to showcase their retail leasing opportunities and developments in Charlotte's distressed geography and priority corridors, including Eastland Mall.
Despite the inclement weather which made driving and flying into Charlotte precarious, over 1,500 people attended the event. Staff fielded continual questions about available space, public assistance programs and schedules for road and transit construction. Although many retailers have shuttered stores or halted expansion plans, many others were searching for sites for immediate needs as well as using the opportunity of the downturn to plan for expansions or reconfigure how they serve this geography. One local fast food chain stated 2008 was their "best year ever". The company spokesperson also commented on how the company has refocused its efforts on urban markets, due to the higher densities and belt-tightening by many families. Additionally, several out of town shopping center owners were present and used the event as an opportunity to check in with the City on public plans and priorities. While we read about the demise of retail, there is still interest in Charlotte and our urban geography.
Economic Development staff continues to follow up with developers and retailers on their plans.
Earth Hour Participation Update
Resources:
Kim McMillan, Corporate Communications, 704-336-2643, kmcmillan@ci.charlotte.nc.us; Carrie Lynch, Corporate Communications, 704-336-5863, clynch@ci.charlotte.nc.us
On Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m., cities from across the world will participate in "Earth Hour," a program sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund. Earth Hour encourages cities, businesses, and citizens to take the initiative to turn off their lights for one hour to make a global statement of concern regarding climate change, conservation of limited energy supplies, and to demonstrate a commitment towards finding sustainable energy solutions. Charlotte joins 1,800 cities and 50 million people worldwide.
The following businesses and organizations have joined the effort:
BOMA Carolinas-West Virginia – are participating and also encouraging employees to turn off all non essential lights, computers, kitchen and office equipment in their offices. Employees are also encouraged to participate at home.
Childress Klein Properties – will turn off exterior and roof lights for One, Two and Three Wachovia Centers.
Bank of America Corporate Center – crown will go dark.
Cousins Properties – all of Gateway Village will participate by turning off exterior lights.
Osprey – Bank of America Plaza and First Citizens Plaza will turn of lights.
Hines – Carillon and Charlotte Plaza will turn off exterior lights.
Earth Hour has received local and national attention from the news media. Wednesday, March 25th, CNN's Larry King hosted celebrity activists Edward Norton and Alanis Morissette in a discussion about Earth Hour and climate change. Locally, the Charlotte Observer has featured two articles (attached) on its web site homepage about the Uptown Earth Hour efforts.
The Government Channel's bi-weekly television show "City Source" ran a one minute feature about Earth Hour and News 14 conducted an in-depth interview with Council member Nancy Carter and a Duke Energy representative. Additionally, Council member and Environment Committee Chair Edwin Peacock will be interviewed by WBT radio host Don Russell the morning of Saturday, March 28 to raise awareness of the City's environmental initiatives and the Earth Hour program.
This year, the City of Charlotte, CMS, Mecklenburg County, Duke Energy and Charlotte Center City Partners have partnered to participate and promote this effort.
Website Domain and Email Update
Resource:
Kim McMillan, Corporate Communications, 704-336-2643, kmcmillan@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Corporate Communications currently is working with Mecklenburg County Public Service and Information on development of a streamlined charmeck.org. The new look will focus on City and County services provided by 311 or those routed from 311 to the appropriate agencies. The page also will serve as a portal to the County homepage, www.mecklenburgcountync.gov, as well as the City homepage, www.charlottenc.gov. These changes will reflect the services provided by city and county more accurately, streamline and reduce the copy on the current homepage, and focus on the public's most requested services.
Another step in this process is a change in email addresses for City employees. Replacing "ci.charlotte.nc.us" will be "charlottenc.gov"; for example jsmith@ci.charlotte.nc.us will become jsmith@charlottenc.gov. The launch of this effort will coincide with the migration of the current website to a new content management system. We do not have an official migration date but will keep you informed. We are also working on a more streamlined, cost-efficient business card and stationary program which will also carry the new website domain and email addresses. We are going to test the online ordering during a pilot program early in May so that we can officially launch July, 2009.
