Council Manager Memo #32 - May 1, 2009
Calendar Details:
(See Below)
Information Items:
- May 6: Metropolitan Transit Commission to Recognize General Assembly and North Carolina Board of Transportation
- May 7: Participate in Don't Drive Day
- May 7: Utilities Partners with Devonshire Elementary to Celebrate Water Week
- May 14: Comment Session on Draft Sustainable Facilities Policy
- CATS Service Adjustments Effective June 1, 2009
Attachments:
- May and June 2009 Calendars
- Council Follow Up Report 5-1-09
- Housing & Neighborhood Development Committee Summary 4-8-09
- Redistricting Committee Summary 4-17-09
- Redistricting Committee Summary 4-24-09
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Calendar Details:
Monday, May 4, 2009
4:00 pm - Governmental Affairs Committee, Room 280. AGENDA: Update on Legislative Issues, Preparation for Town Hall Day
5:00 pm - Council Workshop, Room 267
7:30 pm - Citizens Forum, Room 267
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
NCLM Town Hall Day, Raleigh, NC
Information Items:
May 6 – Metropolitan Transit Commission to Recognize General Assembly and NC Board of Transportation
Resource:
Olaf Kinard, CATS, 704-336-2275, kkinard@ci.charlotte.nc.us
On the tenth anniversary of the start of the half-cent sales tax dedicated to public transportation, the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) will present to the North Carolina General Assembly and the North Carolina Board of Transportation a Proclamation recognizing them for their vision, leadership, and partnership in making public transportation a viable option everyday in the lives of Mecklenburg County citizens, creating sustainable communities and improving the environment for generations to come. On May 6, Town Hall Day, the MTC will conduct a series of presentations to these governmental bodies and board. Staff is working with the General Assembly staff to firm up times with the Senate and House leadership and will inform Council of any changes to the schedule. The tentative schedule is outlined below.
| Time |
Location |
Event |
| 2 - 2:30 p.m. |
NC Legislative Lobby
16 W. Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601 |
NC Senate Leadership News Conference Proclamation |
| 2:20 - 2:45 p.m. |
NC Legislative Lobby
16 W. Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601 |
NC House Leadership News Conference Proclamation |
| 3:30 - 3:45 p.m. |
NC Dept. Transportation
1 South Wilmington St.
Raleigh, NC 27601 |
NC Board of Transportation Proclamation Presentation |
| 4 - 4:15 p.m. |
NC Legislative Building
16 W. Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601 |
Senate Recognition by Lt. Governor |
| 4:25 - 4:30 p.m. |
NC Legislative Building
16 W. Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601 |
House Reading of Proclamation |
May 7 – Participate in Don't Drive Day
Resource:
Krystel Green, CATS, 704-336-6999, kmgreen@ci.charlotte.nc.us
On Thursday, May 7, Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Clean Air Works!, Mecklenburg County Air Quality and NC Air Awareness are encouraging commuters to park their vehicles and participate in the Second Annual "Don't Drive Day". The purpose of the day is to promote alternatives to driving to work alone and to help clean our air. Alternatives to driving to work alone play a vital role in the region's air quality problems. In 2008, the eight-county Charlotte region exceeded the EPA health standard for ground-level ozone on 28 days (25 code orange days and 3 code red days). Riding CATS buses, LYNX Blue Line, vanpooling or carpooling gives citizens in the region an opportunity to help reduce ozone pollution by trying a cleaner way to get to work.
Eligible commuters can register how they got to work on May 7 at www.dontdriveday.org and are automatically entered to win prizes such as an iPod Touch, programmable thermostat, solar phone charger or digital camera provided by Mecklenburg County Air Quality. Entries are due by noon on May 8, and winners must live or work in the Charlotte ozone non-attainment area, which includes Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, Rowan, Iredell, Lincoln, Gaston and York (SC) counties.
Also, Bike Week runs May 3-9 and commuters who load their bikes onto the racks of CATS' buses and trains ride transit for free.
May 7 - Utilities Partners with Devonshire Elementary to Celebrate Water Week
Resource:
Doug Bean, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities, 704-391-5070, dbean@ci.charlotte.nc.us
As part of its celebration of National Drinking Water Week, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities will provide water-related educational programs for Devonshire Elementary students next Thursday, May 7. Students in third, fourth and fifth grades will rotate among stations discussing water treatment, water conservation, wastewater treatment, grease disposal, storm water and field work. Tappy the Water Drop will visit kindergarten, first and second graders with WaterSmart messages.
There will be a ceremony at 11:30 a.m. that day to recognize the winners of our Water Star water conservation awards and the annual Water Week poster contest. Council members are invited to join us at Devonshire Elementary, 6500 Barrington Drive, to celebrate the importance of safe drinking water in our community.
May 14 – Comment Session on Draft Sustainable Facilities Policy
Resource:
Gina Shell, Engineering & Property Management, 704-336-4648, gshell@ci.charlotte.nc.us
City staff is drafting a "Sustainable Facilities Policy" to provide guidance in the design, construction and operation of sustainable ("green" and functional) City facilities. The policy is currently in a draft stage. Staff provided an update on the development of the policy at the April 23 Environment Committee meeting.
Prior to final draft presentation to the Environment Committee and City Council, staff is seeking feedback from a representative group of local "sustainable facility" experts. The goal is to gather feedback and suggestions for consideration by staff in development of final recommendations. Included as invitees are representatives of local business and industry, US Green Building Council, Sierra Club, Chamber of Commerce, Center City Partners, Mecklenburg County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, UNCC, and CPCC.
The meeting is planned for Thursday, May 14, 3:00-5:00 p.m. in Room CH-14 of the Charlotte- Mecklenburg Government Center.
CATS Service Adjustments Effective June 1, 2009
Resource:
Larry Kopf, CATS, 704-432-0497, lkopf@ci.charlotte.nc.us
On Monday, June 1, 2009, the Charlotte Area Transit System will adjust service on several bus routes. A total of thirty bus routes will be adjusted on June 1, 2009. Many of the adjustments are minor trip time changes designed to improve on-time performance. In addition, ridership levels were investigated, and several late night trips with lower ridership will be discontinued. Other significant changes include the following:
Route #1 Mt. Holly Road will have select trips extended on weekdays to the Wal-Mart located off of Callabridge and Hwy. 16. The extended trips will operate approximately every hour.
Route #4 Country Club will be adjusted to operate every 30 minutes during rush hour times.
Weekend service will be discontinued on three routes because of lower ridership. Route #18 Selwyn Avenue will be discontinued on Saturdays. Customers have the option to use Route #6 Kings Drive or #19 Park Road to reach destinations in the areas where Route #18 provides service. Route #60 Tyvola will no longer operate on Saturdays because of lower ridership, and Route #204 LaSalle will no longer operate on Sundays.
One trip on Route 48X Huntersville Express, a midday trip leaving Uptown Charlotte at 2:52 p.m., will be discontinued because of lower ridership. Customers have the option to use Route #77X North Meck Express during mid-day hours as an alternative.
Route #57 Archdale will be extended via Forest Point Boulevard to Arrowood Road on Saturdays. Route #57 already operates to Arrowood Road on weekdays.
The Airport Route #5 (Wilkinson Boulevard) conversion to the Sprinter Airport enhanced bus service has been postponed from June to September 2009. We have experienced some delays in getting shelter easement agreements from property owners and formal NCDOT approval of the shelter/stop locations.
