Calendar Details:
Monday, June 22
12:00pm - Budget Committee, Room 280. AGENDA: State Tax Proposal and Impact on Local Revenues
3:30pm - Transportation Committee, Room 280. AGENDA: Street Connectivity Studies, Construction of Wright Avenue, Committee of 21 Recommendations
5:00 pm - Council Business Meeting, Council Chamber
6:30pm - Citizens' Forum
Thursday, June 25
6:30pm - Mayor Pro Tem Burgess Town Hall Meeting, Room 267
Agenda Notes:
Agenda Item #8: Public Hearing on a Resolution to close a 10 foot Alleyway off Dotger Avenue
Staff Resource:
Jeff McSwain, CDOT, 704-432-1489, jmcswain@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The petitioner for the proposed abandonment of the alley connecting to Dotger Avenue has notified the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) that they wish to withdraw their petition. This petition was scheduled for a continuation of public hearing and a decision during the June 22 City Council Meeting. A meeting between the petitioner and the board of the Elizabeth Neighborhood Association was scheduled for June 15 to discuss a new site plan and to seek resolution to the neighborhood's outstanding concerns in advance of the City Council meeting. We understand that the petitioner did not attend this meeting and, therefore, the neighborhood remains in opposition to the abandonment.
Agenda Item #11: Carolina Theatre Seventh Amendment
Resource:
Tom Flynn, Neighborhood & Business Services, 704-432-1496, tflynn@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Attached is a revised agenda item that extends the existing option to August 31, 2009. We are recommending this option to allow time for staff to work with CMP Carolina Theater, Bank of America, and Mecklenburg County on a fire escape easement from the adjacent building (owned by Bank of America and currently occupied by the Mint Museum of Craft and Design) across the
Carolina Theater property. Once this easement issue is agreed to by all parties, staff will bring back to Council the recommendation from the Economic Development and Planning Committee.
Agenda Item #16: 2009 Housing Trust Fund Recommendations
Resources:
Stan Wilson, Neighborhood & Business Services, 704-336-3337, swilson@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Zelleka Biermann, Neighborhood & Business Services, 704-336-2482, zbiermann@ci.charlotte.nc.us
On June 22, 2009 City Council will be asked to approve the 2009 Housing Trust Fund Project Recommendations. The following is a response to questions raised at the June 1 City Council Workshop regarding the 2009 Housing Trust Fund Project Recommendations.
City Council requested that staff have a discussion with the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) to address two areas: 1) the differences between the City's Assisted Multi-Family Housing Locational Policy and the NCHFA's assessment of project sites and 2) the possibility of using low-income housing tax credits for projects where development has stalled due to the economy.
The NCHFA does not have a housing location policy, but does consider the concentration of low-income households as part of their evaluation and scoring of potential development sites. The NCHFA guidelines include an exception for projects in economically distressed areas which have community revitalization plans with public funds committed to support the effort.
NCHFA representatives stated that it may be possible to fund the acquisition and development of stalled projects with low-income housing tax credits. However, some of these projects may be ineligible under federal tax law. Further discussion with specific project examples will be required to determine which developments could qualify.
Staff will continue discussions with the NCHFA to explore how the City's and the NCHFA's policies can be aligned to support the City's affordable housing goals.
Agenda Item #17: Water/Sewer Refunding and NASCAR Hall of Fame Permanent Financing Solution
Resource:
Joel Levy, Finance, 704-336-2456, jlevy@charlottenc.gov
On the recommendation of bond counsel, there has been a modification to one of the original resolutions regarding Agenda Item #17. These modifications give staff greater flexibility while negotiating the agreement if approved by City Council.
Attached is a document containing both the corrected resolution and a copy of the original resolution showing the changes that were recommended by bond counsel.
Agenda Item #35, 36, 39: Small Business Opportunity Program Bid Rejections
Resource:
Nancy Rosado, Neighborhood & Business Services, 704-336-2116, nrosado@ci.charlotte.nc.us
On June 22, 2009 City Council will be asked to make awards to two second low bidders on agenda items: #36 (Vest Water Treatment Plant Repairs) and #39 (Stonewall Street Water Main), due to the low bidders' failure to comply with the City's Small Business Opportunity Program (SBOP) requirements.
Also, an award to the second low bidder for agenda item #35 (McAlpine Creeks Relief Sewer Phase 2) may be contested by the third low bidder due to SBOP issues. Attached is a memorandum providing background on each project.
Agenda Item #46F – (New Title) South Corridor Light Rail, Parcel #318
Resource:
Jeff Reid, Engineering & Property Management, 704-336-4191, jlreid@ci.charlotte.nc.us
In the Council Business Agenda for June 22, the title for Property Transaction Item F is partially incorrect. It is listed as "Freedom Drive Widening, Parcel #318". The correct title is "South Corridor Light Rail, Parcel #318." All other details within the transaction are correct.
Information Items:
East Forest Neighborhood Improvement Project
Resource:
Kristie Kennedy, Engineering & Property Management, 704-336-6194, kkennedy@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The East Forest NIP located in southeast Charlotte is a 2008 Neighborhood Bond Project chosen through the Council approved process. This project proposes sidewalk along various streets in the neighborhood, with construction expected to begin in the second quarter of 2010.
City staff understands that residents opposing the proposed sidewalk along Donegal Drive and Coatbridge Lane have signed up to speak at the June 22 Council business meeting.
The following process was used to determine the need for sidewalk along these two streets:
- Three public meetings were held to discuss improvements for the neighborhood.
- The City has received numerous requests to install traffic calming devices, such as speed humps, along Coatbridge Lane.
- The sidewalk is also needed to complete pedestrian connectivity to two existing area public schools, a county park and a library.
- Coatbridge Lane handles an average of 1,200 vehicles per day; therefore, CDOT ranks its need for sidewalk higher than most neighborhood streets. It is classified as a Tier 3 street.
- Coatbridge Lane and Donegal Drive are on CDOT's list to receive sidewalk in approximately 5 to 6 years. The NIP has allowed the City to expedite the construction.
Some additional facts about the project include:
- According to the plans, four trees along Coatbridge Lane and four trees along Donegal Drive may need to be removed.
- In other areas, the planting strip width has been reduced to save trees.
- Approximately 10 feet of temporary construction easement and two to three feet of permanent sidewalk easement will be needed.
Irrigation Meter Requirement
Resource:
Doug Bean, Utilities, 704-391-5070, dbean@ci.charlotte.nc.us
A new state law (N.C. House Bill H2499) takes effect July 1, 2009 requiring separate water meters for all new in-ground irrigation systems that are connected to any public water system. The law was adopted to provide the state and local water utilities additional information and management tools to measure the impacts of irrigation use on water systems.
Some customers installing new irrigation systems will incur additional costs associated with this requirement. To minimize the financial impact of this requirement, Utilities has identified an alternative connection method that was not previously available to customers. Details of the new legislation, connection methods and associated costs will be shared with the homebuilding industry, landscaping companies and other key customer groups. The information is also available on Utilities website www.cmutilities.com.
Customers currently using in-ground irrigations systems are not impacted by this new requirement.
Crescent Resources Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing
Resource:
Tom Flynn, Neighborhood & Business Services, 704-432-1396, tflynn@ci.charlotte.nc.us
In light of Crescent Resource's recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, staff reviewed the City's Reimbursement Agreement with Crescent for the IKEA Boulevard Extension project. Under this Reimbursement Agreement, the City will reimburse Crescent up to $5.3 million for the construction of IKEA Boulevard Extension to McCullough Drive. The revenues for these payments will come from the incremental property taxes generated by IKEA and other development along this road.
It is our understanding from Crescent officials that they intend to use the Chapter 11 filing to restructure their company and will continue to work on this development, with the intention of keeping this property when they emerge from bankruptcy.
If Crescent decides to sell this property, they have the right to transfer this agreement without any approval from the City. However, any new owner would have to abide by the existing terms and conditions in order to be receive reimbursement through incremental taxes. The Chapter 11 filing does not change these agreement terms.
Finally, this agreement could be terminated through the bankruptcy proceeding, in which case the City would pay Crescent nothing, but IKEA Boulevard Extension would not be built. That is the same result should Crescent simply decide not to construct the extension.
June 23 Mayor's Youth Employment Program/Colgate-Palmolive Press Event
Resource:
Dawn Hill, Neighborhood & Business Services, 704-336-4445, dhill@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Mayor and Council are invited to join us for the Mayor's Youth Employment Program (MYEP) kickoff & press event on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 10:00 am at the Bi-Lo grocery store located at 1620 Ashley Road. Representatives of Colgate-Palmolive and Bi-Lo will make a $10,000 grant to the MYEP through its P.O.W.E.R. program, which supports career development and job opportunities for youth. The donated funds will be used to provide matching dollars for local non-profits interested in employing a youth participant this summer. In addition, Mayor McCrory will proclaim June 23, 2009 as "Mayor's Youth Employment Day".
