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TRANSCRIPT
Council-Manager Memo #18 Thursday, May 4, 2017
WHAT’S INSIDE: Page Updates: Airport Bond Rating Upgrade .................................................................................... 2-3 Can Do Signs Projects Installation of Positive Signage .............................................. 3 Open Streets 704 Spring Event .................................................................................. 3-4 Granicus iLegislate Highlighting Issue ........................................................................ 4 2017 State Legislative Report #12 ............................................................................ 4 Separated Bicycle Lane Demonstration Project on The Plaza ................................... 4-5 HNS Partners with Charlotte Premium Outlets on Youth Career Fair ....................... 5
WEEK IN REVIEW:
Mon (May 8) Tues (May 9) Wed (May 10) Thurs (May 11) Fri (May 12) Sat (May 13)
2:00pm Transportation & Planning Committee Mtg., Room 280 5:00pm Council Business Mtg., Room 267 5:30pm Budget Public Hearing, Council Chamber
12:00pm HAND Committee Mtg., Room 280 1:00pm Budget Adjustments, Room 267
12:00pm ED Committee Mtg., Room CH-14
Mayor and Council Communication 5/4/17 Page 2
CALENDAR DETAILS: Monday, May 8 2:00pm Transportation & Planning Committee Mtg., Room 280 Agenda: Vision Zero; Regulatory Plan Review Process; Charlotte BIKES 5:00pm Council Business Mtg., Room 267 5:30pm Budget Public Hearing, Council Chamber Wednesday, May 10 12:00pm HAND Committee Mtg., Room 280 Agenda: TBD 1:00pm Budget Adjustments, Room 267 Thursday, May 11 12:00pm ED Committee Mtg., Room CH-14 Agenda: Link between Ovens Auditorium and Bojangles Coliseum; Eastland Mall Update; CIAA Update; Overview of Upcoming Agenda Topics
May and June calendars are attached.
May-June 2017.pdf
UPDATES:
Airport Bond Rating Upgrade Staff Resource: Randy Harrington, M&FS, 704-336-5013, [email protected] Brent Cagle, Aviation, 704-359-4035, [email protected] The Aviation Department and Management & Financial Services are pleased to announce that Fitch Ratings has upgraded the credit rating of the City’s General Airport Revenue Bonds from A+ to AA-. This rating was provided in connection with the City’s proposed issuance of its Series 2017 General Airport
Mayor and Council Communication 5/4/17 Page 3
Revenue Bonds, which Council approved on April 24, 2017. We are also pleased to announce that Moody’s Investor Service has affirmed its rating on the City’s Airport Bonds at the Aa3 level. As the Airport embarks on its $1.5 billion, five-year Community Investment Plan, the rating upgrade gives the Airport access to capital markets at reduced borrowing costs, resulting in multi-million dollar savings in annual interest. In its notice of the rating upgrade, Fitch cited the stable and growing local air traffic base of the Charlotte region, the existing and continued growth in the Charlotte area economy and the Airport’s strong financial metrics as key drivers in determining the upgrade. Fitch also cited the Airport’s exceptionally low cost structure, strong management and the execution of the new airport lease agreement in 2016 as key factors in the upgrade. The Can Do Signs Project Celebrates the Installation of Positive Signage with a Bike RideStaff Resource:
Sarah Hazel, City Manager’s Office, 704-336-6496, [email protected]
The Can Do Signs project, a 2016 Knight Cities Challenge winning project, is sponsoring a bike ride to celebrate the installation of 11 unique positive signs in public spaces around Charlotte. The bike ride will be held on Saturday, May 13th from 10 a.m. -12 p.m. starting and ending at Blue Blaze Brewing (528 S. Turner Ave., Charlotte, NC 28208) and is part of a series of Bike! Charlotte events. About the Can Do Signs Project - Most people associate government signage with what actions are prohibited. Think “Do not enter” or “No feeding the geese.” This project, run by Charlotte’s Urban Design team in partnership with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, has flipped the script. Positive signs will invite residents to enjoy their public spaces. “You can dance!” “You can high five a friend!”
Can Do Signs have also been proven to have a positive impact. Last fall, the City partnered with the Center for Active Design to conduct a nation survey aimed at evaluating positive signage’s effect on civic engagement outcomes. Can Do Signs, when compared to typical rules-based signage, result in increased level of pride in community and an increase in the perception that City cares about its public space users.
Council and friends are invited to join us on this fun ride to celebrate some of our Can Do Signs and see what activities we "can do" along the way. RSVP here.
CfAD Charlotte Park Sign Experiment Memo_9-23-2016.pdf
Open Streets 704 Spring Event Staff Resources: Danny Pleasant, CDOT, 704-336-3879, [email protected] Linda Durrett, CDOT, 704-336-3902, [email protected]
Charlotte’s third Open Streets 704 event is scheduled Sunday, May 7, from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Grand Opening event is at the intersection of Commonwealth and Pecan Avenues, rain or shine. This event will temporarily close some Charlotte streets to automobile traffic so people can walk, bicycle, dance, play and meet their neighbors for an afternoon of fun.
Mayor and Council Communication 5/4/17 Page 4
This third Open Streets 704 event will be within walking and biking distance of the Elizabeth, First Ward, Windsor Park, Chantilly, Echo Hills, Commonwealth, Plaza-Midwood, Sheffield Park, Country Club Heights, Eastover, and Cherry neighborhoods.
Powered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the Open Streets 704 pilot program was initially made possible by a grant from the Knight Foundation. Open Streets is a collaboration among Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, Mecklenburg County Health Department, Partners for Parks and CDOT. More than 25,000 people participated in Open Streets 704 in its first year.
More Route details can be found at Home - Open Streets 704
Granicus iLegislate Highlighting Issue Staff Resources: Tony Bittle, Strategy and Budget, 704-336-4969, [email protected] Alicia Dasch, Strategy and Budget, 704-336-5018, [email protected] Melia Gordon, Strategy and Budget, 704-336-5016, [email protected] The Office Strategy and Budget has been in contact with Granicus about the loss of functionality to highlight agenda items within the iLegislate application. This impacts all Granicus customers, and the Granicus development team is expeditiously working on a resolution of this issue. The Office of Strategy and Budget will continue to update the Mayor and Council members upon receiving new information.
2017 State Legislative Report #12 Staff Resource: Dana Fenton, City Manager’s Office, 704-336-2009, [email protected] Attached is the Week 12 State Legislative Report.
2017 week 12 report.pdf
Separated Bicycle Lane Demonstration Project on The Plaza Staff Resources: Danny Pleasant, Transportation, 704-336-3879 Ben Miller, Transportation, 704-336-2278, [email protected] Angela Berry, Transportation, 704-432-5259, [email protected] The Charlotte Department of Transportation will implement a separated bicycle lane demonstration project on The Plaza between Central Avenue and Belvedere Avenue. This demonstration will open as a connection to the Open Streets 704 route on Sunday, May 7, and remain in place until Sunday, May 14. The project will temporarily convert the outside travel lanes on The Plaza into one-way, separated bicycle lanes, creating a comfortable connection for bicyclists through the Plaza-Midwood Historic District. Bicyclists will be separated from motor vehicles in the temporary bicycle lanes by orange cones, temporary striping, and buffer space. In addition, temporary staging areas will be set up at the intersection of The Plaza and Central Avenue. This space provides cyclists a dedicated area to stage in front of vehicles to be more visible to drivers making right turns. Advocates with the Stroll and Roll Plaza-Midwood neighborhood group initiated a petition urging the City to take proactive measures to make neighborhoods safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. The bicycle
Mayor and Council Communication 5/4/17 Page 5
lane demonstration project is one feature of the Open Streets 704 event, and will be extended throughout the following week. Demonstration projects allow a city to test out different public space configurations before committing to longer-term capital projects; however the implementation of a demonstration in no way accelerates funding for a permanent solution. The City will consider demonstration projects in other places where public space or transportation safety may be enhanced.
The Plaza Separated Bicycle Lane Pilot Project - Council Manager Memo final.pdf
HNS Partners with Charlotte Premium Outlets on Youth Career Fair Staff Resource: Jason H. Parker, HNS, 704-336-4998, [email protected] Housing & Neighborhood Services (HNS) will pilot its first Youth Career Fair on Friday, May 19, 3p.m.—5:30 p.m. at the Goodwill Opportunity Campus at 5301 Wilkinson Boulevard. The fair will be held in partnership with the Charlotte Premium Outlets. Attendees will be able to:
Connect with Outlet employers that are hiring for open positions
Participate in group learning activities with trained career coaches
Draft and print resumes as well as submit application materials
Learn how to stand out as a job applicant, including what to wear and what questions to ask
The career fair is in support of the Community Letter’s objective of increasing access to good paying jobs by helping teenagers and young adults find summer and permanent employment. Over the next few months, HNS staff will partner with local businesses and organizations to organize a minimum of three full-service career fairs with a goal of placing 500 participants, ages 16-24, in good paying jobs with Charlotte area employers.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1
12:00pm
Environment Committee Mtg.,
Room 280
4:30pm
Dinner before
Budget Presentation, Room 280
5:00pm
Council
Workshop/Budget Presentation, Room
267
2 3 4 12:00pm
Community Safety Committee Mtg.,
Room 280
5 6 9:00am
District 3 Town Hall Mtg., CPCC
Harper Campus –
315 W. Hebron St.
7 8 2:00pm
Transportation &
Planning Committee Mtg., Room 280
5:00pm
Council Business
Mtg., Room 267
5:30pm
Budget Public Hearing, Council
Chamber
9 10 12:00pm
HAND Committee
Mtg., Room 280
1:00pm
Budget Adjustments, Room
267
11 12:00pm
ED Committee
Mtg., Room CH-14
12 13
14 15 12:00pm
Council Zoning
Briefing (optional),
Room 886
1:00pm
Intergovernmental
Relations Committee Mtg.,
Room 280
5:00pm
Zoning Mtg., Room
CH-14
16 17 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Crowns of
Enterprise,
Harvey B. Gantt
Center, 551 S.
Tryon St.
18 12:00pm
Community Safety
Committee Mtg.,
Room 280
19 20
21 22 12:00pm
Governance & Accountability
Committee Mtg.,
Room 280
2:00pm
ED Committee
Mtg., Room CH-14
5:00pm
Citizens’
Forum/Council Business Mtg.,
Room 267
23 24 12:00pm
HAND Committee Mtg., Room 280
12:00pm
Budget
Adjustments/Straw
Votes, Room 267
5:30pm
MTC Meeting,
Room 267
25
26 27
28 29 30 31
2017
May
Memorial
Day
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 12:00pm
Community Safety
Committee Mtg., Room 280
2 3
4 5 12:00pm
Environment
Committee Mtg.,
Room 280
5:00pm
Council Workshop/Citizens’
Forum, Room 267
6 7 8 12:00pm
ED Committee
Mtg., Room CH-14
9 10
11 12 2:00pm
Transportation &
Planning Committee
Mtg., Room 280
5:00pm
Council Business Mtg./Budget
Adoption, Room
267
13 14 12:00pm
HAND Committee
Mtg., Room 280
15 12:00pm
Community Safety
Committee Mtg.,
Room 280
16 17
18 19 12:00pm
Council Zoning
Briefing (optional), Room 886
1:00pm
Intergovernmental
Relations
Committee Mtg., Room 280
5:00pm
Zoning Mtg., Room
CH-14
20 21 22 12:00pm
ED Committee
Mtg., Room CH-14
23 24
25 26 12:00pm
Governance &
Accountability
Committee Mtg., Room 280
5:00pm
Citizens’
Forum/Council
Business Mtg., Room 267
27 28 12:00pm
HAND Committee
Mtg., Room 280
5:30pm
MTC Meeting,
Room 267
29 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Council member
Fallon Town Hall
Mtg., University City Library -
300 East W.T.
Harris Blvd.
30
2017
June
2017
US Conference of Mayors Annual
Meeting
Miami Beach, FL
US Conference of Mayors Annual
Meeting
Miami Beach, FL
Center for Active Design 215 Park Avenue South, 215 Park Avenue South, 6th Floor New York, NY 10003 centerforactivedesign.org
September 22, 2016 Measuring Impact of “Can Do” Park Signage on Civic Engagement Prepared for: Charlotte Urban Design
Introduction to the Assembly Initiative
The Center for Active Design (CfAD) is leading a pioneering initiative, Assembly, to understand how place-based design informs a range of civic engagement outcomes in communities. Research findings will be translated into practical design strategies and disseminated in an upcoming publication, “Assembly, Shaping Space for Civic Life.” As part of this initiative, CfAD conducted a national survey in August of 2016, drawing responses from over 5,000 residents. The online survey aimed at evaluating the relationship between place-based design and civic engagement. In addition to investigating correlations between design and civic engagement, the survey included visual experiments to test for causal relationships. One of the visual experiments embedded in the larger survey was based on the City of Charlotte’s “Can Do Signs” program. CfAD used this experiment methodology to prototype the signage design for the City of Charlotte. Using three potential park signage designs supplied by the City of Charlotte, CfAD evaluated the impact of each on civic engagement outcomes. The survey experiment design and results are presented below. Overview of Experiment In order to measure the potential impact of Charlotte’s “Can Do” signage on civic engagement, CfAD administered a survey experiment to 5,188 Americans from 26 select small, medium, and large cities across the country. CfAD randomly assigned one of the following three photos of signs to respondents. Photo 1: Rules (N=1,898) Photo 2: Can Do (N=1,841)
Photo 3: Can Hive Five (N=1,760)
The respondents were asked to imagine they lived in the community depicted in the photo. After seeing their assigned photo, the survey asked respondents two questions: 1. “How proud are you to live in this community?” (Not at all, Not very, Somewhat, Very much, A great deal) 2. “How well do you think the city cares about people in this park?” (Not well at all, Not very well, Somewhat well, Very well, Extremely well) Respondents did not know they were partaking in an experiment and were just asked for their honest opinion about the sign they were shown. Results CfAD found that Photo 2 and Photo 3 increased both pride in community and the perception that the city cared about the people in the park. For instance, while only 50% of those shown Photo 1 – Rules had a lot of pride in their community, 55% of people shown Photo 2 – Can Do and 61% of people shown Photo 3 – High Five felt the same. In other words, the High Five sign increased levels of extreme pride in the community by 11 percentage points relative to the Rules Sign.
11%
39%
50%
9%
37%
55%
6%
33%
61%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Notatall/Notvery Somewhat Verymuch/Agreatdeal
“Howproudatyoutoliveinthiscommunity?”
Photo1:Rules Photo2:CanDo-Photo Photo3:CanDo–HiveFive
CfAD found similar results in terms of the perception that the city cares about park users: the High Five sign increased perceptions that the city cared about community members by 9 percentage points relative to the Rules sign.
For further information or clarification on the results described above, please contact Alan Potter at [email protected]. The Center for Active Design
The Center for Active Design is the leading non-profit organization that uses design to foster healthy and engaged communities. We take a multi-disciplinary approach to translating research into practical design solutions. We guide the creation and implementation of initiatives that respond to unique community priorities, and result in measurable outcomes.
14%
37%
48%
12%
37%
51%
10%
32%
57%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Notwellatall/Notverywell Somewhatwell Verywell/Extremelywell
“Howwelldoyouthinkthecitycaresaboutpeopleinthispark?”
Photo1:Rules Photo2:CanDo-Photo Photo3:CanDo–HiveFive
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE M E M O R A N D U M
May 4, 2017
TO: Marcus Jones, City Manager
Randy Harrington, Chief Financial Officer
FROM: Dana Fenton, Intergovernmental Relations Manager SUBJECT: Week 12 State Legislative Report What You Need to Know Now that Crossover has passed, the Senate should be expected to release their 2017-2019 State Budget recommendations within the next few weeks. A new state budget needs to be in place by July 1. Furthermore, the House and Senate will be turning more of their attention to bills that have been passed by the other chamber. The House passed Changes to Current Body-Worn Camera Law (HB 797 – Faircloth) that amends last session’s police recordings law (HB 972) but without the change to add members of city councils to the list of officials to whom the custodial law enforcement agency may disclose the recordings. The House passed Private Action Local Compliance / Immigration Laws (HB 113 – Cleveland) that allows any person who resides within the jurisdiction of a city or of a law enforcement agency that the person believes is not in compliance with State immigration laws to bring an action for declaratory and injunctive relief in the Superior Court of that County. The Senate immigration bill, Government Immigration Compliance (SB 145 – Sanderson) has a similar provision for private cause of action. State Legislative Agenda Charlotte Citizens Review Board/Subpoena Powers (HB 350 – R. Moore) legislation was not acted upon prior to Crossover. Police Recordings: See Changes to Current Body-Worn Camera Law (HB 797 – Faircloth) above.
Page 2 May 4, 2017 Week 12 State Legislative Report Strategic Transportation Investments: The House passed DOT/DMV Changes – Megaproject Funding (HB 110 – Torbett) that creates a new program to fund larger-scale and higher-cost transportation projects of over $200 million. The new program does not have an identifiable source of revenue, except for appropriations or transfers made by the General Assembly. Instead of the General Assembly establishing criteria for selecting projects, HB 110 would establish a workgroup to develop the selection criteria. In 2013 when the Strategic Transportation Investments program legislation was enacted, the General Assembly specified quantitative criteria in the underlying legislation (HB 817 – Brawley) for selecting projects. Sales Tax Redistribution: The Senate passed Change the Local Option Sales Tax Adjustment Factors (SB 126 – Brown) that changes the adjustment factors applied to the half-cent local Article 40 sales tax levy with factors based on the county's economic tier designation. Tier 1 counties, which are the most economically distressed counties in the State, would be assigned a factor of 1.10. Tier 2 counties would receive no adjustments and Tier 3 counties would be assigned a factor of 0.90. According to new estimates prepared by the non-partisan General Assembly Fiscal Research Division in April, approximately $2.1 million more in sales tax revenue would accrue to the City of Charlotte in the first full year of implementation. Sales Tax Redistribution: The House passed BRIGHT Futures Act (HB 68 – Szoka) that focuses on accelerating the deployment of digital infrastructure in rural and unserved areas including broadband, retail online services, internet of things, Grid Power, healthcare and education. Sales Tax Redistribution: The Senate passed Economic Development Incentives Modifications (SB 660 – Brown) that makes changes in how Job Development Investment Grant and One NC funds are distributed to projects in Tier 3 counties like Wake and Mecklenburg. SB 660 is similar to legislation filed in the 2015 long session in that it put projects in Tier 3 counties at a competitive disadvantage when competing for State economic development funds. Charlotte Firefighters Retirement System (HB 58 – Dulin) is local legislation requested by the City of Charlotte that enables the Charlotte Firefighters’ Retirement System to comply with the Voluntary Correction Program entered into with the Internal Revenue Service to tweak the method for computing a firefighter’s final average salary. The bill has no fiscal impact upon the System. HB 58 passed the House.
