85 - Fall 2022

our City’s website where you’ll find a wealth of

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The Concord City Circular is produced quarterly by the City Manager’s Office to provide Concord citizens with information about current activities of the City of Concord It contains items that will help make it easier for you to do business with the City Your comments and questions are welcomed . Please send them to: Concord City Circular P O Box 308, Concord, NC 28026 or call 704-920-5210 or e-mail publicaffairs@concordnc gov designed by Granite Sky Civic

Jennifer P. Hubbard District 6

Terry L. Crawford District 5 Mayor Pro Tem

John A. Sweat, Jr. District 7

JC McKenzie District 4 Betty M. Stocks District 3 Brian King District 2

Andy Langford District 1

From the Mayor

William “Bill” Dusch

New Ways to Live, Work, and Play in Concord

HELLO, CONCORD! WE ARE living in exciting times all around our great city. The many downtown projects are rapidly moving ahead, giving us new ways to live, work and play. Over 300 new living units in our Center City are under construction. Many of them are new apartments and townhomes, while others are created from the renovation of historic buildings for residential and commercial use. The Cabarrus Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship that opened last year is creating and developing new job opportunities. The Downtown Streetscape project is underway and will bring our 100+ year old utility infrastructure up to date while creating a new experience for all to shop and dine.

At the Grounds at Concord (previous Phillip Morris site), Eli Lilly, Red Bull, Ball Aluminum, Rauch and GoldenHome will join Carvana on the 2,100-acre site bringing many high paying jobs to our community. Eli Lilly has begun construction of their new pharmaceutical plant on the north side of the Grounds. They will initially produce their advanced drugs to treat diabetes and Alzheimer’s and employ over 600 people at the plant. They are working hard to make sure that locals have an opportunity to have a Lilly job by partnering with Rowan Cabarrus Community College to create training programs that give our citizens the skills required for many of the new jobs.

As you read our Fall Circular, you will find information about our Parks and Recreation bond that will be up for vote on November 8. With all that is going in Concord, it is important that we have ways to keep ourselves strong both physically and mentally. These bonds will be used to create new parks and upgrade many existing parks throughout Concord. Please take a moment to read about all this bond will do and be sure to put November 8 on your calendar to vote!

Thank you for making Concord the best city in North Carolina to Live, Work and Play! •

Manager’s Notes

Lloyd Wm. Payne, Jr. Concord City Manager

Shaping Our City, Our Parks, Our Future

HELLO CONCORD. FALL IS here, school is back in session, hope for cooler weather is afoot, and our city is as busy as ever.

Various public and private development projects are underway across our city, as I am sure you see as you travel around our community each day. Your public servants continue to work hard each day to ensure our collective “quality of place” improves. The desire to enhance employment opportunities through our economic development efforts can be seen in our industrial and commercial growth.

Coupled with the “live and work” concept, the city is also focused on the “play.” Recreational opportunities are more than just a “nicety” – they are a necessity to our thriving community. They provide opportunities for a healthier lifestyle, community building, and places for family and friends to gather. To this end, Council has approved a $60 million general obligation bond referendum to be placed on the November ballot for you to consider. A great deal of work by city staff has occurred over the past couple of years putting designs and plans together for various park projects across our community. Your input to these plans has been sought via online surveying and in-person meetings. We have compiled your feedback into our planning and the results reflect your desire for improvements to existing parks as well as the construction of new parks in our city.

If you are not familiar with the Parks and Recreation general obligation bond and what projects would be included, please take a few moments to check out our dedicated bond website at concordbonds.com. You and all residents of Concord will have the ability to vote this November on the bond. If it passes, city staff will move as quickly as possible to get the projects underway and completed.

Regarding other plans and initiatives for our community, City Council will look to update the current 2020-2023 Strategic Plan this year. Our current Plan has served as a guide for decision making and budget planning. We have accomplished many of the items in the current Plan and thus, it needs to be updated to incorporate more of the forward thinking plans and ideas to keep our community moving forward. Council will be working through this

Desmond Miller Honored with Jo Atwater Continuous Core Values Award

Upon accepting the honor, Miller spoke of opportunity and encouraged others to not squander second chances.

“This has been my journey, my opportunity when I needed it,” said Miller. “When I got a second chance, I didn’t let it go. I come to work every day with that attitude and try to inspire others to be their best, just as they inspire me. Together, we set examples, we create the culture of excellence.”

DESMOND MILLER IS THE CITY OF CONCORD’S 2022 recipient of the prestigious Jo Atwater Continuous Core Values award, the highest honor bestowed upon a city employee. Miller received the honor for his dedicated service to his coworkers and the residents of Concord.

City Manager Lloyd Payne presented the award to Miller during the May City Council meeting. Miller was joined by members of his family, close friends, colleagues, and past recipients of the Jo Atwater Award.

“Desmond is a shining example of respect, teamwork, and ethical standards,” said Payne. “Just like Jo Atwater, he has shown a commitment to serving others and the community in an abiding dedication to the city’s core values. No matter the challenge, he is always right there to assist.”

Miller was nominated by his coworkers for his commitment, compassion, advocacy and leadership. He is a respected friend to many throughout the community and continuously goes above and beyond the call of duty to help others. He has a heart for service and passion for the city that is unmatched.

Miller began his career with the City of Concord in 2011, and currently serves as Supervisor for Environmental Services. He is a neighborhood liaison with the city’s Partnership for Stronger Neighborhoods program, and leads the city’s Customer Service Advancement Team (CSAT). CSAT is a team of employees from every city department, dedicated to establishing a culture of excellent customer service. Members of CSAT are appointed by the City Manager and develop training and programs that promote the city’s nine principles of excellent service: Concern for the Individual, Customer Focus, Fair and Equitable Service, Professional Service, Effective Communications, Taking Ownership, Timeliness, Teamwork, and Great Service Recovery.

A native of Cabarrus County, Miller graduated from A. L. Brown High School. He spent time after school at the Boys and Girls Club playing football, and attended Appalachian State University on a football scholarship. He is a member of Bethpage Presbyterian Church, a member of the Coalition to Achieve Racial Equity, and has worked in collaboration with Cabarrus Health Alliance for many events. He has also been involved in the I Love My City project and regularly organizes projects to help keep Concord clean and safe. Miller became a first-time homebuyer in 2021 through the city’s affordable home buying program and now does all he can to educate others about the programs and resources available to help families in need achieve homeownership. •

BACKGROUND

The Jo Atwater Award was created in 2003 to recognize one coworker annually who embodies the city’s organizational core values and commitment to serving others in the community. Jo Atwater was Concord’s Human Resources Director and worked for the city from 1994 until her passing in 2004. She was the first recipient of the award that was named in her honor.

Welcome Doug Summer, Director of Fleet Services

The The City of Concord is excited to introduce our new Fleet Services Director, Doug Summer Doug brings over 25 years of leadership and maintenance experience to the position where he will manage all aspects of the city’s fleet, including CDL driver training and licensing, the purchase of new equipment, and the service and maintenance of over 1,000 city-owned vehicles and equipment

“I am excited to welcome Doug to our leadership team He brings vast knowledge and experience in the logistics and fleet management arena to the city I look forward to working alongside of him,” said City Manager Lloyd Payne

Prior to joining the City of Concord, Doug served in the United States Army and worked 15 years in the logistics industry for Novant Health and FedEx He received two Masters Degrees from Pfeiffer University; a Master in Business Administration and a Master in Health Care Administration .

“Doug is a well-respected professional who will bring valuable expertise and experience to our fleet management efforts,” said LeDerick Blackburn, Assistant City Manager “I look forward to leveraging his insights as we work together to maintain the city’s fleet inventory in an efficient and effective manner ”

The City of Concord Fleet Services was named Best 100 Fleets of North America for 2022 This is the city’s seventh Best 100 Fleets award . The city’s Fleet Services is also the only National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Blue Seal recognized repair shop in Concord . ASE is the industry-leading certification program for automotive professionals .

Doug will lead the city’s award-winning fleet services during an era of tremendous growth in Concord . The City of Concord is currently the 10th largest and 6th fastest growing city in the state . As the city is growing, so too is the need for services For example, next summer the city will bring garbage and recycling in-house; a move that will greatly improve the level of service the city is able to provide to its residents . This change, however, will add 18 heavy duty vehicles to the city’s fleet from one department alone . This growth is a challenge that Doug and his team are ready to meet

Outside of work, Doug enjoys spending time with his family and has served as a Gaurdian Ad Litum and Chairman of Operation Lamb at his church He and his wife met in middle school and currently live in Cabarrus County . •

#15 Safest Cities in North Carolina (Safewise .com)

Named by HGTV One of America’s Most Charming Small-Town Downtowns

Our city is a thriving, diverse community that has become one of the most desirable places to live. Through decades of strategic planning and wise investments, and with support from our citizens, Concord is a growing community full of new opportunities for residents and visitors. But what will it take to keep Concord special? It will take continued planning and smart investments, and thoughtful, intentional action by Concord citizens.

This November, we are asking residents to help shape Our City, Our Parks, and Our Future. City Council voted unanimously to give voters the opportunity to decide on a $60 million parks and recreation General Obligation (GO) Bond that if approved, will enhance the recreational opportunities available to residents in all parts of our community.

As the 10th largest and 6th fastest growing city in the state, Concord is a leading destination for innovation and job creation. We are enjoying historic economic growth and have

some of the best health care and educational opportunities in the state. We are home to world-class racing, and have abundant options for arts, entertainment, shopping and dining.

But when it comes to parks and recreation opportunities, our city is currently far behind –in fact, we are dead last compared to our peers.

We participate in a benchmarking project with the UNC School of Government to look at how we compare to other North Carolina cities in terms of the many programs and services we provide. In Fiscal Year 2021, Concord tied

A $60 MILLION PARKS AND RECREATION GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND IS ON THE BALLOT.

VOTE NOVEMBER 8 TO SHAPE OUR CITY, OUR PARKS, OUR FUTURE.

for last place in the total number of parks. Our city ranks near the bottom – and at best, middle of the pack – across all other parks and recreation benchmarks, including park acreage, greenways, and the number of recreation centers, playgrounds and picnic shelters. When we look at our county’s health reports, the news doesn’t get any better. Today, only 20% of Cabarrus County residents have adequate access to locations for physical activity.

But we don’t need a report to tell us this, we have heard it from our citizens too. Input from residents helped guide the development and adoption of the 2016 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan. With this plan in hand, city leaders and staff strategically began focusing on our needs within existing parks and looked at ways to improve parks and recreational programming in underserved areas of the city.

Over the past six years, through numerous in-person and virtual meetings, conversations, and surveys, the city listened to the community.

Residents have already set the vision for our parks by providing community input that served as our guide to develop the plans for the nine park projects included in the bond on this year’s ballot.

Top Requests from more than 33,000 responses to public input:

Greenways/Trails/Connectivity

This November, voters will decide on the 2022 Concord parks and recreation bond referendum. The bond referendum includes:

OF 4 NEW PARKS:

J.E. “Jim” Ramseur Park

Wilson Street Park

David Phillips Park

Poplar Tent Trailhead Park

TO 5 EXISTING PARKS:

Marvin Caldwell Park

James L. Dorton Park

Hartsell Park

Academy-Gibson Park

W.W. Flowe Park

DEVELOPMENT OF 8 MILES OF NEW GREENWAYS AND TRAILS CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE PARK PROJECTS

I wish we had more greenways

we need more space for outdoor events Splashpads!!

I’d like to play Pickleball!

to

approved by voters, the bond will give residents the chance to enjoy more parks and greenways and secure additional open green space in Concord. Specifically, residents will get:

what exactly is a bond referendum? It’s a voting process that gives you, the voter, the power to decide if the city should be authorized to raise funds through the sale of bonds. A General Obligation (GO) Bond is a form of long-term borrowing in which a municipality pledges their full faith and credit to repay the debt over a specified term. GO Bonds are the cheapest way for the city to pay for these parks and recreation projects. The city has an excellent credit rating and consistently wins awards for its financial management. That means we can borrow money at low interest rates and issuance costs.

Below is a breakdown of how the $60 million will be spent.

a growing city with a bright future. Wise investments and intentional actions are needed to keep Concord a vibrant, healthy, and prosperous community.

invite you to learn more about the Concord parks and recreation bond by visiting concordbonds.com. On our dedicated bond website, you can explore each of the 9 park projects in greater detail, including through 3D renderings and before and after conceptual maps. We also included a helpful Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. If you have questions, you can also call our Parks and Recreation Department at 704-920-5600.

What

16 Items You Should Never Flush Down the Toilet

Sewer backups and overflows can cause health hazards, damage home interiors, and harm our environment Avoid costly repairs and save your home’s plumbing and sewer system by learning what not to flush .

Whether you are connected to the city’s sewer system or have a septic tank, as a general rule of thumb, flush only toilet paper and human waste

But what about “flushable” or “biodegradable” wipes? Many items labeled as flushable or disposable can actually put your pipes and sewer system at risk That’s because these items do not degrade like toilet paper . They can clog pipes, tangle pumps, and cause messy sewer backups in your home or business, and even into our streets and waterways . Sewer backups are not only gross, they can be hazardous to your health and costly to clean up

Below are 16 items you should NEVER flush down the toilet

Wipes (cleaning, facial, baby, or personal care)

Paper Towels, Tissues, Napkins

products (pads, tampons, applicators)

products (disposable diapers, wipes, nursing pads)

(motor oils, transmission fluid, anti-freeze, etc)

(including nail polish and nail polisher remover)

The toilet in your home or business should never be a replacement for the garbage can . The drains that connect your home to the main sewer line are only big enough to carry water, toilet paper, and human waste Sewer pipes are often no wider than 4 inches .

So protect your plumbing and sewer system, and help protect our environment by following the guide above And remember, when in doubt, throw it out!

Yard Waste Bag Giveaway Schedule

For more information, please visit: concordnc.gov /solidwaste or call 704-920-5555

All giveaway events will be held from 12:00 – 4:00 PM

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

Fire Station 9

1020 Ivey Cline Rd

DECEMBER 1, 2022

Fire Station 5 170 Pitts School Rd

JANUARY 3, 2023

Fire Station 3

100 Warren C. Coleman Blvd N

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

Fire Station 8 1485 Old Charlotte Rd SW

MARCH 1, 2023

Academy Rec Center 147 Academy Ave NW

APRIL 3, 2023

Fire Station 12

3300 Roberta Rd

MAY 1, 2023

Fire Station 9

1020 Ivey Cline Rd

JUNE 1, 2023

Fire Station 4

1165 Warren Coleman Blvd S

Yard Waste Collection:

Transition from Plastic bags to Compostable Bags or Reusable Containers

Over the summer, the City of Concord made the transition from plastic bags to paper bags and individually owned containers for loose yard waste. Plastic bags, which are detrimental to the environment and time consuming to remove from the waste stream, are no longer collected from the curb. The change to paper yard waste bags only affect loose leaves, grass, and clippings.

It has no impact on limbs, shrubs and larger branches, or the city’s traditional offering of loose-leaf collection service during the months of November to February.

What is yard waste?

Yard waste includes grass clippings, tree and shrubbery trimmings and leaves.

Why did the Concord make this change?

Environmental impact, service efficiency, and employee safety were all factors that contributed to the city’s decision to move away from plastic bags. Collecting yard waste in paper bags and individually owned containers improves our service efficiency by decreasing the amount of time required to provide service at each home. It also provides a safer work environment for our employees by eliminating the need for collectors to stand behind our collection vehicles to remove plastic while on busy roadways.

If plastic bags are no longer accepted, what can I use for my yard waste?

Residents have the option of using 30 Gallon brown compostable paper lawn bags or individually-owned containers, no larger than 44 gallons. If residents choose to use reusable individually owned, containers, they must be clearly labeled as “Yard Waste.” Each container should have two handles and weigh no more than 35 lbs. when full.

Where can I purchase compostable, paper bags or reusable containers?

Compostable paper bags and reusable yard waste containers can be purchased at many local retailers such as Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, True Value Hardware, etc. and from online retailers like Amazon. Prior to making the transition to paper bags, we notified our local stores of this change in anticipation of resident demand and asked that they stock these items.

In addition, the City of Concord is hosting Yard Waste Bag Giveaway events each month. During these events, we will give out approximately 1,000 paper yard waste bags on a first come, first served basis to residents, with a limit of 5 bags per household each month. We are also distributing “YARD WASTE” stickers at these events. The “YARD WASTE” stickers can be used to label personally owned reusable yard waste containers. Please note that two stickers are needed per container, one for each side.

What will happen if I continue to use plastic bags?

Plastic bags placed at the curb will no longer be collected until the contents are placed in a compostable paper bag or reusable container.

How many bags or containers can be collected at one time?

There is no limit on the number of compostable, paper bags or personal, reusable containers that are collected.

Will this affect my loose limbs?

No, this change will have no impact on our loose limb collection. Limbs greater than 1-inch diameter and 12 inches long do not require bagging and should be placed at the curb with other limbs for collection.

Will this affect Loose Leaf collection in the fall and winter months?

No, our annual loose-leaf collection service will not be impacted by this change. Loose leaves can be left curbside during the months of November to February and bagging is not required.

We would be happy to answer any further questions you have about the change to paper yard waste bags. Feel free to contact the City of Concord’s Customer Care Department at 704-920-5555 or visit our website at concordnc.gov/solidwaste

More information about both events will be posted at

Collection Guidelines

■ Place your loose leaves at the curb by 6 a.m. the FIRST day of your specified collection week.

■ Collection crews are unable to return if you place leaves at the curb after they have worked your street.

■ Leaves must be free of tree/shrub limbs or foreign objects and kept away from storm drains, mail boxes, and parked cars.

■ Bagged leaves and labeled personal yard waste containers are collected WEEKLY on your regular garbage collection day. Consider bagging your leaves or placing them inside your personal yard waste container if you cannot wait for loose leaf collection.

■ Bagged leaves MUST be contained in biodegradable paper bags weighing less than 35 pounds each.

■ The City will collect your Christmas trees too! Please leave trees at the curb with your regular household garbage. Remove all stands, lights, and ornaments.

■ No loose leaf collection is scheduled on City-observed holidays, including Veterans Day (November 11), Thanksgiving (entire week of November 21-25), Christmas (December 23 and the week of December 26-30), New Year’s Day (January 2), and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday (January 16).

■ You may track the progress of our crews each day via our website at concordnc.gov/looseleaftracker.

This schedule is subject to change due to weather delays and equipment breakdown. Contact the Customer Care center or check concordnc.gov for updates.

Customer Care Center

704-920-5555

Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 5:30 pm concordnc.gov

Loose Leaf Leaf

Collection SCHEDULE

Your Garbage Day Is...

Monday

Your Loose Leaves Will Be Collected...

November 7–10

December 19–22

January 30–February 3

Tuesday November 7–10 December 12–16 January 23–27

Wednesday

October 31–November 4 December 5–9 January 17–20

Thursday October 31–November 4 November 28–December 2 January 9–13

Friday November 14–18 January 3–6 February 6–10

Second Chance Fee: $75

Second Chance Program

You are required to bag all loose leaves placed at the curb after leaf crews work your street during the third collection cycle. A Second Chance Program is offered for anyone who misses the last collection and is willing to pay rather than bag their leaves and avoid the Code Enforcement penalties. For a fee of $75, the City will schedule a special loose leaf collection the weeks of February 13–17 and February 20–24.

Quarterly High Performers

The following members of Team Concord were recognized for going above and beyond in providing excellent customer service or for taking actions that best embody one of more of the city’s 9 Principles of Excellent Service . The High Performers were selected from among the High Five nominations received from April – June 2022 Aviation

Kristen Marckese City Manager’s Office

Miller

Katherine Ramirez Campbell Housing

Human Resources

Concern for the Individual

Customer Focus Fair and Equitable Service

Professional Service Effective Communication

Taking Ownership Timeliness

Teamwork

Great Service Recovery

High Five recognizes coworkers who make a difference.

Each day City of Concord coworkers are focused on providing the services needed to keep our community moving forward We believe that coworkers who are delivering excellent service deserve timely and effective recognition by their team members, managers, and the community . We invite you to help us recognize one or more of our coworkers who have provided excellent service

These nine principles help us deliver a high level of quality services. There are three ways to submit your recognitions:

Call 704-920-6400 to submit your acknowledgment by phone

Complete the online form at concordnc.gov/high5

Complete a paper form found one of the following public facilities: City Hall; Academy Recreation Center; Brown Operations Center; Concord Regional Airport; Fire Stations 3, 7, 8, and 9; Housing Department Office; Police Headquarters; Rider Transit Center .

Sophia Davis Finance

April Clark Parks and Recreation

Tim Davis

Grayer

Hogue

Wright

Department

Layton

Curtis Cruz-Cline Water Resources

We believe members of Team Concord who provide excellent service deserve recognition by their team members, managers, and the community Our employees are the city’s most valuable asset and each play a critical role in contributing to the attainment of the city’s goals and mission . Thank you, Team Concord!

MANAGER'S NOTES

continued from page 3

process through the end of this year and into the first quarter of 2023. It is our goal to publish an updated Plan by late spring of 2023 which will guide us for the next few years and serve as a blueprint for staff.

As always, the fall brings a variety of activities and events for us all. The city’s annual Tree Lighting event is planned for Friday, November 18th with the annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, November 19th. Please be patient with us as the footprint for these events will be slightly altered due to

the Streetscape project in Downtown. This will be true for this year and 2023, but we are hopeful the Streetscape will be completed by 2024’s events and we can reestablish a more permanent footprint for events in Downtown Concord.

Thank you for trusting in Team Concord each day to provide you with excellent services. If we can assist you, please reach out to us and let us know how. We welcome feedback as we continuously strive to improve our relationship with you.

Concord Mobile Care

City of Concord Important Phone Numbers

Fire, Police, Medical Emergencies 911 Customer Care Center 704-920-5555

Call the Customer Care Center for service requests and inquiries about any of the following:

• Electric Outages/Services

• Water/Sewer Emergencies

• Dead Animal Pick-up

• Drinking Water Inquiries

• Garbage/Bulk Pick-up/Recycling

• Utility Bills

• Street/Traffic Light Issues

• Right-of-Way Issues

• Storm Water/Storm Drain/Flooding Problems

• Yard Waste/Leaf Collection

• Building Material Disposal

• Bulk Metal Collection

• Old Tire Collection

• Vacant Lot Cleaning/Mowing

You can also fax our Customer Care team at 704-920-6953

The primary phone numbers for the various City departments are:

Main Switchboard 704-920-5200 Buildings & Grounds 704-920-5380 Cabarrus County Tax Office 704-920-2119 City Clerk . .

. 704-920-5205 City Manager

. 704-920-5215 Communications 704-920-5580 Concord Regional Airport 704-920-5900 Electric Systems 704-920-5320 Engineering 704-920-5425 Finance 704-920-5220

Fire Department Administration .

. . . 704-920-5516

Fleet Services 704-920-5430

Housing 704-920-6100

Human Resources 704-920-5100 Meter Reading 704-920-5219 Parks & Recreation 704-920-5600

Planning & Neighborhood Development . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5152 Police (non-emergency)

. 704-920-5000

Public Affairs 704-920-5210

Purchasing 704-920-5440

Rider Transit 704-920-7433

Risk Management 704-920-5111

Rocky River Golf Club 704-455-1200

Solid Waste

704-920-5361

TTY/North Carolina Relay 711 Transportation 704-920-6371

Water Resources 704-920-5342

Zoning/Permits 704-920-5152