Calendar Details:
Wednesday, September 2
12:00 pm - Economic Development & Planning Committee, Room 280. AGENDA: Greenway Business Center Grant Request from Charlotte Mecklenburg Development Corporation; North Carolina Music Factory Pedestrian Access/Lighting Issues
Information Items:
Rescheduling of the City Manager's Evaluation
Resource:
Tim Mayes, Human Resources, 704-336-5702, tmayes@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The City Manager's evaluation dates of September 14 and September 21 will be rescheduled due to scheduling conflicts. There will be an item on the September 14th agenda to schedule a different date and time later in the fall. By rescheduling these two evaluation dates, the Transportation and Environment Committees may return to their normal schedules at 3:30 pm, with Transportation meeting on September 14 and Environment on September 21.
Annual Wastewater Report Announced
Resource:
Doug Bean, Utilities, 704-391-5070, dbean@ci.charlotte.nc.us
In September, customers will receive the attached bill insert about how Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities successfully collects and treats the community's wastewater before recycling it to the environment. Wastewater treatment plants continued their award winning performance as they treated 30 billion gallons of wastewater during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2009. Crews maintained and improved the infrastructure and responded to four fewer wastewater overflows.
The bill insert and a detailed annual report are posted on www.cmutilities.com. An advertisement will also be placed in a local Spanish newspaper as well as on our website.
Planning Department Receives Award for Sustainable Planning
Resource:
Kent Main, Planning, 704-336-5721, kmain@charlottenc.gov
The North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association recently selected Charlotte's South Corridor Station Area Plans to receive the 2009 Marvin Collins Planning Award for sustainability. The award recognizes plans of unusually high merit and acknowledged that the Station Area Plans promote sustainability by incorporating public transit into neighborhoods and increasing transportation choices. Planning staff will receive the award during the North Carolina Annual Planning Conference on October 2, 2009.
Metropolitan Transit Commission Meeting Summary
Resource:
John Muth, CATS, 704-336-3373, jmuth@charlottenc.gov
At its meeting on Wednesday, August 26, 2009, the MTC had one action item and three information items on the agenda:
Vanpool Fare Policy and Fare Increase: MTC members unanimously approved incorporating Vanpool fares into the MTC Fare Policy and also approved a 15 percent increase effective October 1, 2009. Vanpool fares were last increased in 2005. As with all other CATS services, Vanpools fares will now be reviewed every two years consistent with MTC policy. The MTC Fare Policy provides for modest fare increases more often, rather than large increases at longer intervals.
Federal Legislative Update: Jeff Boothe from Holland and Knight gave an update on emerging issues in Washington relative to upcoming re-authorization of the Surface Transportation Bill and issues affecting public transportation. Jeff emphasized the importance of continuing to request funds for Final Design of the Blue Line Extension while, at the same time, pursuing changes in the FTA New Starts evaluation process that will allow commuter rail and streetcar projects to compete for federal funds.
State Legislative Update: Staff presented information on actions affecting public transportation from the recent session of the North Carolina General Assembly. That included passage of HB 148 (Congestion Relief/Intermodal Transport Fund) which provided local option sales tax for all counties in North Carolina (except Mecklenburg) to give voters the opportunity to enact the tax to support public transportation. Efforts to include Mecklenburg County in the bill and provide additional funds for public transportation were not successful. HB 1005 (DOT Participation in Fixed Rail Projects) was also enacted this session. The Bill allows NCDOT to participate in the funding of rail projects that do not have federal funding. This represents a change from past practice which limited state investment to only those projects eligible for federal funds. This opens the door for potential state funding in projects like commuter rail and streetcar. Also, Senate Bill 910 (Regional Transportation Authorities) was introduced this session by Senator Clodfelter and is expected to be taken up again at the next session. The Bill would allow eligible units of local government to create a joint agency for the purpose of financing, constructing, and operating regional transportation projects under a Regional Transportation Funding Agreement (RTFA). The Bill requires all counties within the ozone attainment area to be members to the agreement and also requires there only be one Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Multiple MPOs operating within the ozone attainment area disqualifies all local governments within the ozone attainment area from being party to an RFTA. The Charlotte region's designated non-attainment area currently includes four MPOs.
By-Laws for CTAG & TSAC: Staff discussed proposed changes to the MTC By-Laws that would establish consistent attendance polices for appointed members of the Citizens Transit Advisory Group (CTAG) and Transit Services Advisory Committee (TSAC). Those appointments are made by the member jurisdictions that belong to the MTC. Staff is recommending adoption of the current City of Charlotte citizen committee attendance policies to establish attendance requirements. There was also discussion of term limits for appointments to these committees, but there has been feedback to leave that up to the appointing bodies. The MTC will consider this action item at their September meeting.
Interim CEO Report: Under the Interim CEO's report, Mr. Muth discussed the following:
a. Ridership
b. Monthly Budget Update
c. Parking Signs at I-485 Station
d. Sprinter Service Update
The next MTC meeting will be September 23, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.
