71 - Spring 2018

Information You Can Use

SPRING 2018

2030 Land Use Plan Citizen Survey Results

New Regional Transit Service

City Council

Sam Leder District 1

Ella Mae Small District 3

Terry L. Crawford District 5

Brian King District 2

JC McKenzie District 4

Check out the back page to see how you can participate – and have tons of fun!!!

Jennifer H. Parsley District 6 Mayor Pro-Tem

John A. Sweat, Jr. District 7

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 franzese@concordnc.gov. designed by

TAKE THE CITY NATURE CHALLENGE AND HELP CABARRUS COUNTY WIN!

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In this Issue:

COVER PHOTO: CITY OF CONCORD/ L.J. WESLOWSKI

From the Mayor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Corrected 2018 Recycling Calendar . . . . . . . . 4 Citizen Survey Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Deputy Fire Chiefs Honored . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Neighborhood Partnership Awards . . . . . . . . . . 7 2030 Land Use Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Rider Transit Launches CCX . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 What’s Your Water Worth? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 High Performers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 City Nature Challenge 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . back

2 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SPRING 2018 • concordnc.gov

Visit concordnc.gov to subscribe to the CityLink email newsletter, and receive weekly updates and information about Concord direct to your inbox.

Get Connected Get connected with Concord through Facebook and Twitter!

Simply scan the QR code with your smartphone or go to facebook.com/concordnc and twitter.com/ConcordNCgov.

From the Mayor William “Bill” Dusch

Thanks and Farewell to our City Manager For the past 19 years, I have had the honor of working and running with Brian Hiatt, our retiring City Manager. Brian came to Concord from Hickory in 1998 where he had served as Assistant City Manager for over 10 years. When I met Brian, I knew we would work well together since one of his alma maters was the University of North Carolina at City Manager Brian Hiatt was Chapel Hill, (often referred to as introduced in City Circular Issue the “Southern Part of Heaven”, as No. 4, which was published in the fourth quarter of 1998. coined in William Meade Prince’s 1950 memoirs). As we are both avid runners, we often pass before first light as we trek down Union Street.

At time of publication the City Council remained in the process of selecting a new City Manager. Updates on this process are available at concordnc.gov. The Manager’s Notes column will resume with its new author in the Summer 2018 issue.

Brian’s involvement in our community has been quite extensive and I do not expect that to end with retirement. For our citizens interested in numbers, I count nearly 10 organizations that he has been associated with during his time in Concord. In most of these, he has served as chair or in some leadership position.

Over the years, I have observed his dedication to all in our city, be it citizens, non-profits, coworkers, councils and boards. From my perspective, I have always seen him as being extremely professional, clear, and concise even during times that would stress most others. Many will agree with this but the best endorsement comes from our current Deputy City Manager and friend, Merl Hamilton, who is never one for an understatement.

Merl flatly states that “Brian Hiatt is by far the best City Manager the City of Concord has had since 1998.” continued on page 14

May 17, 2018 | 5-8:30 p.m.

HAULERS ON UNION Parade & Fan Fest Games, Music, Mascots, Race Cars, Celebrities, Beer & Wine Garden DOWNTOWN CONCORD

JOIN US! All Activities Are Free For additional information, visit www.600festival.com

concordnc.gov • SPRING 2018 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 3

Use this one!

(The first version of this calendar in the Winter 2018 issue had an error for the month of March)

2018 Recycling & Bulky Waste Calendar Recycling & Bulky Waste is collected every-other-week on your regularly scheduled garbage day.

January

February

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

April

March

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

May

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

July

1 2 6 7 8 9 13 14 15 16 20 21 22 23 27 28 29 30

October

3 4 5 10 11 12 17 18 19 24 25 26 31

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

4 5 6 7 11 12 13 14 18 19 20 21 25 26 27 28

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

September

November

1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 30 31

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

June

August

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

7 14 21 28

If you are a City of Concord resident, recycling roll-out carts are free. Call 704.920.5555.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

December 1 2 3 8 9 10 15 16 17 22 23 24 29 30

2 9 16 23 30

1 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 31

For full holiday collection schedule, go to: concordnc.gov/ whatsmyday and click on ‘Holiday Schedule’.

Don’t know if you are a blue week or the green week?

Go to: concordnc.gov/whatsmyday and enter your address.

City Holiday Blue Week Green Week

Put these items in your recycling cart Empty Aerosol Cans (no paint cans)

Aluminum Cans, Steel Cans, & their Lids

All Plastics (1 - 7)

Glass Bottles & Jars

(no Styrofoam, bags, or wrap)

Wide-Mouth Plastic Containers & Lids Rigid Plastic Containers & Small Plastic Toys Milk & Juice Cartons, & Juice Boxes

Shredded Paper

(placed in clear bags)

Spiral Paper Cans

(with plastic lids detached)

Clean pizza boxes

(without grease or food residue)

Cereal & Food Boxes

Gift Boxes, Shoe Boxes, & Small Cardboard Boxes (flattened and placed into Cart)

Large Cardboard Boxes

(flattened, cut into 3ft x 3ft sections and placed inside cart for collection)

Paperback Books Mixed Paper, Newspapers with Inserts, & Junk Mail

Gift Wrapping Paper Magazines & Phonebooks (without foil backing)

4 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SPRING 2018 • concordnc.gov

Bulky waste is anything that won’t fit inside and isn’t allowed in your garbage cart like furniture, construction and demolition debris, tires, scrap metal (including lawn equipment, bicycles, etc.) electronics and appliances.

Cart lids must be able to close completely.

Extra bags of trash and recyclables placed outside your cart will not be collected.

Twice per year, for special occasions, parties and family reunions, the City will collect a small amount of extra bags.

Please call to schedule all special occasion collections.

Those who consistently have more garbage than the green rollout cart can hold may call to reserve an extra brown garbage cart for a monthly fee.

Recycle cardboard the right way! All cardboard must be flattened and cut down to 3ft x 3 ft sections or smaller for collection. A MAXIMUM of 2 or 3 flattened cardboard boxes can be placed between the top of the cart and the lid. Additional flattened boxes should be stacked neatly beside your recycle cart.

Place cart out between 5:00 p.m. day before and 6:00 a.m. day of collection.

Retrieve cart by 9:00 p.m. collection day.

Place carts for collection with heels facing your home.

Keep carts 2 feet from one another and 2 feet from parked cars, mailboxes, etc.

Do not block sidewalks with carts.

Thank you for your continued efforts with our solid waste program and for recycling abundantly.

Register to receive collection schedule changes and other important updates via phone, text, or email through our secure Blackboard Connect Portal at ConcordNC.gov.

For more information on Solid Waste Services: concordnc.gov

704.920.5555

Customers rate City of Concord services better than national average

The City of Concord is no stranger to appearing in published ranking lists, including being Money Magazine’s best place to live in North Carolina. The recently conducted 2017 Customer Satisfaction Survey backed up this claim with residents and customers showing strong support for North Carolina’s 12th largest City and its services.

As part of the January 25-26 annual Planning Session, the Mayor and City Council received a report from the consultants who conducted the survey in late 2017. ETC Institute, a national market research firm that specializes in surveys for local governments, conducted the survey with a randomly selected sample of Concord residents.

The goal of 400 completed surveys was met, providing a 95 percent level of confidence and a precision of at least +/- 5 percent. The survey respondents’ demographics reflected that of the actual population.

The major findings of the survey included residents’ positive perception of the community, and higher satisfaction with City services compared to other communities. Nearly all respondents (90 percent) rated Concord as an excellent or good place to live, and 84 percent an excellent or good place to raise children. Of residents who had an opinion, 79 percent indicated they were either “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the overall quality of City services, and 60 percent had a positive rating of the value received for tax dollars and fees.

These results and others showed that Concord rated above the national average in 63 of the 69 areas that were assessed, and significantly above the regional average in 55 areas. The Atlantic Regional comparison was similar, with 64 areas above average and 52 significantly above the regional average.

The results indicated focus areas to improve future citizen satisfaction ratings, including overall flow of traffic and the ease of getting around, and overall maintenance of City streets, sidewalks, and infrastructure. Survey findings can be incorporated into annual Mayor/Council goals developed for FY19 or future years. The full presentation and survey results are available at concordnc.gov.

The top ten areas where Concord outperforms the national average: City of Concord

National Average

Overall Quality of City services

+30% 0 0 0 0

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of customer service received from City employees

+34% 20 20

40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100

20 20

40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100

of City parks and recreation programs and facilities

+22% 20 20

40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100

20 20

40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100

0 0

20 20

0 0

20 20

Overall 40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100

40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100

effectiveness of City communication with the public

+25%

0 0

40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100

20

40

60 60

80 80

100 100

0 0

20 20

40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100

0 0

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40 40

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100 100

40 40

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0 0

20 20

impression of the community 20 40

+22%

Leadership of

elected officials

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

+26% 20 20

80 80

100 100

20 20

40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100

20 20

40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100

City Manager and appointed staff

+28%

Satisfaction with 20 20

40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100

80 80

100 100

bulk trash pickup/removal service

+25% 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

20 40 dollars and 60 fees value received for tax 20 40 60

+22% 20 20

40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100

20

40

60

80

100 100

20 40 80 enforcement of the mowing and60cutting of weeds 20 property 40 60 80 on private 20 40 60 80

+25%

100 100

20 20

40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100

20 20

40 40

60 60

80 80

100 100

concordnc.gov • SPRING 2018 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 5

Concord Deputy Fire Chiefs honored by peers In February, the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs hosted its annual conference in Concord. Part the conference includes a banquet to recognize exemplary fire service professionals across the state. This year, both of Concord’s deputy fire chiefs were recognized by their peers in the association for their contributions to the fire service.

Deputy Chief Todd Eury

Deputy Chief Todd Eury, who has served the City for “I am very humbled to receive this award,” said Eury.

28 years, was awarded Career Fire Officer of the “It has been and continues to be a honor to serve the Year. Eury was recognized for his dedication of time and passion to protect the shareholders (the Fire community in which I was raised. The Concord Fire Department’s preferred term for the public it serves) Department is highly regarded across the state and I of the City of Concord. After 28 years, Eury continues am proud to be a part of the organization.” to serve his community with a focus on retention, growth, and future planning of the department. He is dedicated to assuring that each station, apparatus, and coworker are fully equipped with equipment and tools that meet the highest standards. By doing so, the shareholders of the City of Concord are receiving the highest level of fire and life safety services.

Deputy Chief Jake Williams received the honor of Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year for his dedication and service in his capacity as Chief of the Odell Volunteer Fire Department. Williams has served as a leader and dedicated servant to both the Concord and Odell communities for over 20 years. Williams fulfills his distinct leadership roles in both departments to ensure the community receives timely emergency care, with a focus on life and property conservation.

“I am excited that these two professionals received recognition for their dedication and commitment to the City of Concord and its citizens,” added Fire Chief Ray Allen, who was Officer of the Year in 2016. “I have the privilege of working shoulder to shoulder with them on a daily basis and because of them my job is made significantly easier.”

These awards are considered among the highest honors for fire chiefs in North Carolina. With the combined leadership of both of these individuals in the Concord Fire Department, all coworkers have a solid foundation to continue to provide exemplary care and dedication to the shareholders of the City of Concord. To find out more about the NC Association of Fire Chiefs, visit ncafc.com; for more on the Concord Fire Department, visit concordnc.gov/fire.

“Receiving the award has been an honor and I am humbled,” said Williams.

“I have had great mentors along the way who set good examples to follow. The fire service is the most rewarding field I could have ever chosen for employment and volunteering.”

6 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SPRING 2018 • concordnc.gov

Deputy Chief Jake Williams

Inaugural Neighborhood Partnership Awards highlight community members In late 2017, the City of Concord introduced the first ever Neighborhood Partnership Awards, which recognize neighbors or community groups whose leadership and service work with the City’s Recognized Neighborhoods are making exceptional contributions to improve quality of life. The program honors those who make a difference in the community without seeking or receiving recognition for their service. The 2017 honorees include individuals and groups, who organized beautification efforts, worked to revitalize a neighborhood organization, spearheaded crime fighting youth engagement and community building efforts, organized neighbor helping neighbor initiatives, and provided suburb leadership.

The Neighborhood Partnership Awards program provides an excellent opportunity for Concord’s neighbors to celebrate neighbors and community groups whose work has contributed to increasing the quality of life in our neighborhoods and City. The inaugural Neighborhood Partnership Awards honorees include: Beverly Hills Neighborhood Board of Directors – Recognized Neighborhood: Beverly Hills Neighborhood Association Taking initiative to improve relations in a neighborhood can be a difficult task, but that didn’t stop the board members of the reorganized Beverly Hills Neighborhood Association. The 2017 Beverly Hills Neighborhood Board - Victor Gomez, Diann Norwood, May Scott, and Susan Smith have invested considerable efforts into revitalizing the neighborhood association.

In November 2016, four neighbors agreed to band together to begin to revitalize the social network in the Beverly Hills Neighborhood. Two of the members were new neighbors. These neighbors started their work with a brainstorming session about how to reconnect the organization with its mission of connecting with neighbors and from that session carried out several social community building

events. These events included BBQ in the park, movie night in the park, a chili cook off, and a caroling and cocoa which is schedule for some time in December.

With each event, the board is learning more about the needs and desires of the neighbor and is created once again, a tight knit community.

Mr. Larry J. Mullis – Recognized Neighborhood: Gibson Village Community Association Mr. Mullis is a life-long resident of Concord and a lifetime resident of the Gibson Village Neighborhood and most significantly a founding member of the Gibson Village Community Association with a big heart for serving his neighbors. He is the type of neighbor and citizen that makes Concord a great place to live, work and play. Whenever anyone needs a helping hand, Larry is there to cut the grass, provide a ride to the doctor, or roll out

the trash cans. If there is a task that he can’t do, he will find someone to take care of it. He is always available to carry out small and often unrecognized tasks such as picking up litter during the biannual Litter Sweep pickup campaign or offering general support to the neighborhood association without complaint. He is very generous, kind, and community minded.

He continues to support the rehabilitation of the Clearwater Artists’ Studios.

Afton Village Beautification Team Recognized Neighborhood: Afton Village Community Association The 2017 Afton Village Beautification Team members – Janet Coward, Dale Rich, Mark Antozyk, John Swinson, Barbara Laplish, Carolyn and Terry Crawford, Tonie and Tom Fagart, MaeNell Gilleland, Sam Collins, Turner McCorkle, Sheila and Mike Jones, continued on page 12

Pictured: Gibson Village: May Scott, Susanne Smith - Beverly Hills Neighborhood; Larry Mullis - Gibson Village; Rose Rummel-Eury - Edgewood Historic; Victor Gomez - Beverly Hills Neighborhood; Jeremy Staton - Dreamworks Landscaping - Afton Village; Janet Coward, Hildegard Wittemann, Barbara Laplish, Carolyn & Terry Crawford - Afton Village; Chris Minnis - Moss Creek; Christine Anaya - Mountain Laurel; Aavis J. Clark - Logan Community

concordnc.gov • SPRING 2018 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 7

2030 LAND USE PLAN process nears completion

The Planning and Neighborhood Development Department is in the final stages of 2030 Land Use Plan process. The existing Land Use Plan, referred to as the 2015 Land Use Plan, was created in 2004 and updated in 2007. The 2030 Land Use Plan is a document, driven by community input, which establishes a vision and a list of policies and tasks designed to bring that vision to life over the next 10 to 15 years.

The 2030 Plan was developed through a process that combined both aspirational and fact-driven components. This process is now moving into the adoption phase, followed by implementation over the next decade.

The data collection and analysis phase resulted in a comprehensive technical memorandum that assessed the existing planning framework through a review of prior plan documents, an assessment of the policies of the 2015 Land Use Plan, an examination of the present community profile, and identification of preliminary plan issues and opportunities with input from the City Council, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and the members of the Planning Technical Team.

The 2030 Plan process was driven as much by the input of the local stakeholders as by the outcomes of data analysis.

Stakeholders included private citizens, business owners, developers, civic organizations, non-profit institutions, City staff, and appointed and elected board members. Input was sought through interviews, milestone meetings, public workshops, online participation, a paper survey, public meetings of the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council, and public hearings during the approval process.

8 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SPRING 2018 • concordnc.gov

In addition to maps to guide the community’s development, the plan contains background and analysis about the community. The analysis includes significant facts and figures about prior growth trends of the community, its infrastructure, its assets, and its character.

The plan is not zoning, but it serves as a guide for zoning decisions. Each planning and zoning case, including changes to the zoning map and changes to the text of the development ordinance, are evaluated for consistency with the land use plan. The plan also guides City Council and staff activities by recommending priorities for implementing items. These implementing items include further planning efforts, ordinance amendments, process improvements, programs, outreach, and infrastructure investments.

Critical components of the plan include the vision statement, growth concept map, future land use map, and implementation section.

The vision statement is an aspirational expression of where the community would like to be in 2030. Although it is a small portion of the plan, the Vision guides every other component.

The growth concept map identifies the areas in Concord where with the highest future growth potential. It establishes 9 unique geographic character areas, and the text of the plan sets forth strategies to guide development in each area.

This map also shows existing and future greenway corridors, multi-modal corridors, and activity centers. The activity centers represent existing major attractors throughout the community whose continued evolution will greatly affect the surrounding areas.

The Future Land Use Map is a parcelbased depiction of how the community envisions development occurring in the future. The Future Land Use Map is not zoning, but it is a guide for the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council as they consider

rezoning decisions. It also is a guide for infrastructure decisions based on anticipated future land uses. It is important to examine the future land use map in the context of the Future Land Use Categories Table, which outlines associated place types, characteristics/ guidance, density/intensity, and applicable zoning districts.

Parks and Recreation, Natural Resources and Agriculture, and Infrastructure.

The plan includes goals, objectives, and policy guidance supported by implementation action items. These action items guide the allocation of city resources, including money and time, to bring the plan to fruition. Covered topics include Land Use, Housing and Neighborhoods, Connectivity and Mobility,

After adoption, the City will begin implementation through a series of ordinance modifications and other planning efforts as set forth in the Implementation Section of the Plan. For more information about the 2030 Land Use Plan, visit concordnc.gov/2030 or call Kevin Ashley at 704-920-5149.

As part of the adoption process, the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council each hold public hearings as a final method of public involvement.

Updates to the adoption timeline can be tracked at concordnc.gov/2030.

concordnc.gov • SPRING 2018 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 9

Rider Transit Launches CCX regional service PHOTOS: CITY OF CONCORD/ L.J. WESLOWSKI

Concord Kannapolis Area Transit (Rider) is launching the new Concord Charlotte Express regional bus route on Monday, March 19. This new express service will connect the Rider Transit Center, CFA Village/Big Lots Park and Ride, and the new Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) JW Clay Boulevard Station on the LYNX Blue Line Extension.

This service, run by Rider Transit and the Cities of Concord and Kannapolis, in partnership with CATS and the City of Charlotte, will be the first all-day, seven-day-a-week regional express service in our area. It will provide easy access to and from Charlotte to provide residents and visitors expanded access to employment, medical, entertainment, and educational options, including the UNC Charlotte campus.

All day service to and from Charlotte has consistently been Rider Transit’s top service request for many years. Some people are looking for access into Charlotte for work, some for educational opportunities, some for entertainment and cultural options. However, it’s not all about just getting into Charlotte.

Rider also receives many requests for service from people living in Charlotte, particularly the University area, who want to take transit to get to work in Concord or Kannapolis, shop at Concord Mills, or get to the North Carolina Research Campus or CHS NorthEast. For Concord and Kannapolis, this means a larger pool of potential applicants with reliable transportation for employers, more people coming to shop in our stores, eat in our local restaurants, and visit our local attractions, and more potential students that will now have access to the Rowan Cabarrus Community College system.

10 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SPRING 2018 • concordnc.gov

Before the launch of the CCX, the only public transit service linking Concord, Kannapolis, and Cabarrus County to Charlotte and the rest of the region was the CATS-operated 80X regional express bus. This was a limited weekday-only service that provided four early morning trips into Charlotte and four late afternoon trips back to Concord. While useful for some commuters, it did not provide all day flexibility to travel between Concord and Charlotte for people who primarily use public transportation. For non-commuters, this lack of midday service was an obstacle, requiring an early morning ride and a 7 to 8 hour layover before making a return trip. Even commuters who could usually use the service had challenges if there was a need to return home in the middle of the day to return home due to illness or weather-related school closings. Additionally, the service was not useful to those who work later than 5:30 p.m.

The new CCX will provide more freedom of movement to passengers—all day and all week long, including weekends!

No more gap in the middle of the day with at least 12 hours of continuous service each day. With the last trip from the Rider Transit Center heading to JW Clay and Charlotte at 7:30pm, and the last bus from JW Clay back to the Rider Transit Center at 7:53pm, it adds over two hours of service time beyond the 80X service. Additionally, those who have to work a little later unexpectedly or have a late afternoon medical appointment running long won’t wonder how to get back home.

The new CCX is a cost-effective and stress-free option for moving about the region. Costs to park in uptown Charlotte continues to increase every year, not to mention the hassle and lost-time of driving in heavy traffic, along with gas, wear and tear, and vehicle maintenance expenses. According to the American Public Transportation Association’s Transit Saving

Can I use the CCX to go to Panthers games or NASCAR races?

CCX DAILY DEPARTURES FROM: Rider Transit Center WEEKDAYS > 5:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

WEEKENDS > 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

STOPS: Village/Big Lots > Charlotte Motor Speedway > North Tryon/Pavilion Blvd > JW Clay LYNX Light Rail Station > CFA

FREE PARKING: CFA Village/Big Lots Park & Ride Lot

Report, a two-person, two car household can save, on average, more than $9,823 a year by downsizing to one car. Rider Transit’s fleet of modern, BRT styled hybrid electric buses have free Wi-Fi available on board, so you can take the time you would use to spend driving to check your email, browse the Internet, do school work, or plan your next vacation or weekend getaway – or just take a quick nap as you leave the driving to us! The two newest hybrid buses even have USB charging stations throughout, so you never have to lose power while on the go.

Rider Transit will provide special extended hours and additional CCX buses for the 2018 NASCAR events at Charlotte Motor Speedway, as well all 2018-2019 Carolina Panthers home games! Forget about driving in traffic and then searching and paying for parking. For only $4.40 per person round-trip, park and ride at the CFA Village/Big Lots Park & Ride Lot, and ride to Charlotte Motor Speedway, or continue on down to the CATS Light Rail, ride in to Uptown, and catch the big game. Then, hop back on the LYNX Blue Line, transfer back to the CCX, and you’re back before you know it. Visit tryccx.com or ckrider.com for details and special service schedules as your event approaches.

So how much does it cost? The new CCX route will cost $2.20 each way, only $4.40 round trip. Transfers from local Rider Transit routes to the CCX will be just $0.95. Each CCX ticket includes a free transfer to the CATS system including the new light rail extension. Passengers simply request a transfer ticket when you board the CCX and can use it on any of the CATS buses that serve the JW Clay station, or just keep it to board the light continued on page 15 concordnc.gov • SPRING 2018 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 11

Community Members continued from page 7

Hildegard Whittman, and Dream Works Landscaping have worked hard to plan, coordinate, and implement a major beautification plan that has significantly enhanced the “Afton Village Greens.” Team members volunteered time and labor and the results are evident in how the area has been converted into a peaceful and beautiful area for neighbors, visitors, photographers, and local pollinators to enjoy.

Aavis J. Clark – Recognized Neighborhood: Logan Community Association Mr. Aavis (AJ) Clark, President of the Logan Community Association is a very humble leader who is committed to and deeply involved in the Logan community. His dedicated service and outstanding leadership has helped to create a safer more harmonious neighborhood. Mr. Clark has consistently worked with community partners to enhancing his community. Over the past year, Mr. Clark helped facilitate the implementation of a very important sidewalk and road improvement project by working closely the City of Concord.

He has also worked long hours to locate heirs to abandoned properties. His recent work includes expanding and growing much needed vegetable gardens for the Logan Greens Urban Farms Project, distributing meeting announcement fliers, spearheading fundraisers, and organizing community building events such as National Night Out celebration.

Tara Dumas – Recognized Neighborhood: Brandon Ridge Homeowner’s Association Ms. Tara Dumas has worked diligently to ensure that the Brandon Ridge Neighborhood remains a safe place to live. Through her continuous collaboration with the Concord Police Department, the Brandon Ridge Neighborhood has seen a decline in crime throughout the community and within the surrounding communities.

Neighbors are more aware of how to fight crime and report criminal activities. Tara is never afraid to speak up or act on behalf of others in the neighborhood and she serves selflessly for the good of the neighborhood.

She is truly an individual that neighbors

respect and look up to. The neighbors in Brandon Ridge are grateful for the work that she’s done to help reduce crime.

Chris Minnis – Recognized Neighborhood: Moss Creek Village Homeowner’s Association Mr. Chris Minnis serves as the Moss Creek Village Homeowner’s Association Board Chairman and works tirelessly for the overall benefit of the community and truly keeps the best of the neighbors in Moss Creek in mind at all times. The work of a neighborhood President in a large community can be overwhelming and some equate it to having a part-time job – something that Mr. Minnis does without complaint. The Moss Creek HOA is responsible for serving thousands of residents and it is often impossible to please everyone equally however, Mr. Minnis always works diligently to be fair and balanced. He makes extra effort to serve even if the service is in the late hours of the evening or early morning.

He is an outstanding servant leader and graciously works to improve the quality of life in the Moss Creek neighborhood.

Ms. Christine Anaya – Recognized Neighborhood: Mountain Laurel Homeowner’s Association Christine Anaya has worked hard to lead efforts that engage to engage youth and families from the neighborhood that were not previously engaged in the Mountain Laurel Neighborhood. She worked to plan and carry out activities for families with children. Her efforts have raised the awareness of the presence of many families that live in the neighborhood who have young children. The youth are an integral part of our neighborhood and our vibrant future. Her energy is all phases of the important social activities that she plans never waivers. She’s excited and committed to each task. The families Mountain Laurel Neighborhood Association are grateful to have a neighbor who is passionate and carrying.

Kathy Bliven – Recognized Neighborhood: Villages at Skybrook North The term community can be defined as “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and

12 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SPRING 2018 • concordnc.gov

goals.” Ms. Kathy Bliven is a standout neighbor that puts forth tremendous effort to bring neighbors together and build fellowship among the neighbors in The Villages at Skybrook North. Serving as an active member of the Villages at Skybrook North’s social committee and safety committee, Kathy is a valuable resource in planning and hosting a variety of community building events.

She served as the key organizer of the neighborhood’s National Night Out and Popsicles in the park events and other community gatherings. These events have help to engage with more members of the community and build stronger bonds.

Her passion and service has done a lot to help inform neighbors and raise awareness about City resources that can benefit the neighborhood.

Rose Rummel-Eury – Edgewood Historic (not a City-recognized neighborhood) Rose Rummel-Eury has worked to bring the neighbors in Edgewood Historic together as an area that is wildlife friendly. Many of the neighbors in Edgewood have taken the steps necessary to prepare and certify their properties as wildlife habitats thanks to the work of Rose. She has served as volunteer for the Concord Wildlife Alliance for a while and her passion is an inspiration to her neighbors and community. She has served as the organization’s secretary and has been instrumental in such activities as Adopt-A-Stream, Herb and Plant Festival, Kids in Nature Day, the Strategic plan, Hunters for the Hungry, the Butterfly Highway, Certified Wildlife Habitats and many more. The Edgewood Historic neighborhood is grateful to have such a thoughtful neighbor whose dedication for wildlife is making a difference.

These individuals/groups were nominated by their neighborhood organization for the hard work and significant efforts made over the past year to engage residents, lead, or invest in their neighborhoods.

The honorees were recognized at the December 11, 2017 Neighborhood Leadership Council.

For more information about the City of Concord’s Partnership for Stronger Neighborhoods Program, visit concordnc.gov/neighborhoods.

Water.

What’s it worth?

Have you ever opened your monthly utility bill and considered the amount of water you are buying for the money you pay? Perhaps you have a very low bill and do not think much about it.

Or maybe you wish your water bill were lower.

As part of your City of Concord utility bill, you will see charges for water, wastewater, and stormwater services.

Some customers who receive electric service from the City of Concord also see that on the bill. We believe Concord water customers receive a tremendous value and hope to explain why.

The average Concord water customer spends about half a cent1 for every gallon of tap water used. Most of these gallons are probably used for cleaning, laundry, cooking, and hopefully for drinking too. As a comparison, bottled water typically cost more than a dollar for every gallon and soft drinks cost two dollars or more per gallon.

Interestingly, the Natural Resources Defense Council2 estimates that 25 percent of bottled water is packaged tap water.

North Carolina. Recycling is a far better option, but certainly is not free in terms of energy and water usage.

Concord water meets or exceeds all federal and state regulation standards, and is constantly being tested at the water plant and throughout the distribution system.

Do you know when the quality of typical bottled drinking water was last tested? Even more concerning, a new “raw water” fad is causing some to believe there are health benefits to drinking unfiltered, untreated spring water. Aside from the fact that raw water can cost over 14 dollars per gallon, health officials warn of health risks3 associated with drinking untreated water due to the potential for viruses, harmful bacteria, and other contaminants.

The average Concord household uses approximately 3,000 gallons of water each month, charged at the current rate of $5.36/1000gal (or $0.00536/ gal) for residential users that consume less than 6,000 gallons/month.

1

www.nrdc.org/stories/truth-about-tap

2

www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/dining/ raw-water-unfiltered.html

3

So, for those who value conserving money, natural resources, and making environmentally-sound choices, the best way to consume water is straight from the tap…in a reusable container.

To find out more about your water, visit concordnc.gov/water or call 704-920-5342.

www.npr.org/sections/ thesalt/2013/10/28/241419373/ how-much-water-actually-goes-intomaking-a-bottle-of-water

4

Extra money is not the only cost associated with bottled water. Another is the water itself. According to some estimates4, it can take more than three gallons of water to produce a gallon of bottled water, especially when you consider the water it takes to produce the disposable packaging.

And of course, there is also a cost to the environment when it comes to transporting and refrigerating bottled water, as well the impact of disposable packaging that is thrown away or even recycled. The water, energy, and natural resources required to produce a bottle is wasted if it is thrown into a landfill – and doing so is illegal in concordnc.gov • SPRING 2018 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 13

Quarterly

High Performers Congratulations to the following coworkers who were selected as quarterly High Performers: Concern for the Individual • Customer Focus

Aviation: Bill Sherrill

Fair and Equitable Service • Professional Service Effective Communication • Taking Ownership Timeliness • Teamwork • Great Service Recovery

Fire: Aaron Anderson, Sonya Bost, Shawn Burris, Dylan Daquila, Norman Franklin, Mark Goss, Tim McDonald

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: 1C all 704-920-6400 to submit your acknowledgment via the telephone.

2 Complete the online form at concordnc.gov/high5 3C omplete 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.

Mayor continued from page 3

Thank you, Merl but back to Brian. His list of accomplishments during his tenure is astounding. Looking at the impact on City operations and facilities is certainly impressive. He was involved in the building of a new City Hall, Police Headquarters, 6 Fire Stations, the Alfred M. Brown Operations Center, Jim Dorton Park, 3 greenways along with the renovations of 5 additional Parks and Recreation facilities, the Cabarrus Avenue Parking Deck, the Interbasin Transfer and resulting Albemarle Water Line, Rider Transit, the LED street light conversion, and commercial air service at Concord Regional Airport.

Thinking about Brian’s role in local economic development speaks for itself. Some highlights include creation of Concord Mills and the resulting development of the Exit 49 area, Concord Convention Center, Great Wolf Lodge, S&D Coffee expansion at West Winds, Concord Airport Business Park, the growth of motorsports business like Hendrick Motorsports, Ganassi Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, and Windshear Wind Tunnel.

14 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SPRING 2018 • concordnc.gov

Police: Ricardo Rodriguez Solid Waste: Alan Blackmon, Jason Mitchell Water Resources: Ronnie Allman High Performers were selected from among the high five nominations received from the past quarter (October – December 2017). These recognitions best demonstrate “going above and beyond” in providing excellent customer service or events that best embody one or more of the 9 Principles of Excellent Customer Service. These co-workers were honored at a special lunch event in February. The City of Concord is recognized for having dedicated employees who are committed to providing excellent service.

Thank you for helping us recognize our best!

For our citizens he inspired many customer service and outreach enhancements, including the Partnership for Stronger Neighborhoods Program, Youth Council, Concord 101 (one of my favorites), Third Grade Civic Education, the Customer Care Center, and the Customer Service Excellence initiative that has changed the organizational culture.

While all these things were going on, Brian was able to help Concord become an Al- America City, maintain financial stability, and build up capital reserves to minimize the use of debt. These accomplishments would be impressive by themselves, but they happened in Concord while dealing with challenges caused by droughts, loss of major manufacturers (Cannon/Pillowtex and Philip Morris), the Great Recession, and an amazingly high growth rate.

Brian, we will all miss you starting in April, and I am sure you will be enjoying your well-earned retirement with your wife Julie and visits with your children Andrew and Erin. This community owes you its gratitude for your leadership and tireless efforts over the last decades. Keep running, my friend, and I will see you on the streets!

Rider Launches CCX continued from page 11

rail. Transfers are good for 85 minutes. For the return trip, pay $2.20 for either a CATS bus or Light Rail trip back to the JW Clay station, and then use a CATS bus transfer or Light Rail pass to hop back on the CCX for free.

If you plan to be a frequent CCX passenger, you might want to consider a multi-ride pass. Current Rider Transit local route pass users who plan to ride the CCX should consider the new $60 Super Pass option that will offer unlimited rides on both services. Those planning to mostly park and ride the CCX exclusively, can choose from a 31-Day Rider Regional Express Pass ($40) for regular trips into Charlotte or a 10-Ride Regional Express Pass ($20) for occasional CCX trips. Both passes save money off the standard fare, can be purchased individually or in multiples, and do not activate until the first time used it in the farebox on a bus. Passes are available for purchase over the phone at 704-920-7433, or in-person at Rider Transit Center. Online pass purchase options are in development for the future.

To introduce and celebrate this exciting new transit option, Rider Transit will offer free rides on the CCX the first two weeks of service—Monday, March 19 through Sunday, April 1. Whether you are a seasoned transit veteran, or have never tried public transit before, this is a great opportunity to try this exciting new transportation option and see what public transit can do for you. Check out tryccx.com for detailed information on stops, schedule, fares, and a chance to win free rides on the CCX!

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 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 & Community Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5152 Police (non-emergency) . . . . . . . 704-920-5000 Public Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5210 Purchasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5440 Rider Transit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-7433

Did you know...

Did you know you can use Rider Transit’s trip planner to find out how to get where you want to go? Go to ckrider.com now to see how fast and easy it is to try transit!

Risk Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5111 Rocky River Golf Club . . . . . . . . . 704-455-1200 Solid Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5361 Tax Collector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5216 TTY/North Carolina Relay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 711 Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5362 Water Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5337 Zoning/Permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5152

concordnc.gov

TAKE THE CITY NATURE CHALLENGE AND HELP CABARRUS COUNTY WIN!

P.O. Box 308 Concord, NC 28026

The City of Concord, Cabarrus County, Reed Gold Mine, Concord Wildlife Alliance, Cabarrus County Schools, NC Wildlife Federation, Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District, Cabarrus County Library, and others are excited to partner in a global contest to see who can identify the most species! Cabarrus County is joining over 60 cities in 18 different countries in this competition to see who can observe the most wildlife!

a

Take the challenge!

Anywhere in Cabarrus County between April 27 - 30th.

Nature can be found in the crack of a sidewalk or crawling up the side of a wall...so keep your eyes peeled!

FIND WILDLIFE Any plant or critter in Cabarrus County.

TAKE A PICTURE OF WHAT YOU FIND Be sure to note the location of the plant, critter, or fungus.

SHARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS By uploading your finding to www.inaturalist.org.

Make sure to attach your observation to the City Nature Challenge 2018: Cabarrus County project. contact:

A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. We’ll be bioblitzing all over Cabarrus County April 27-30!

You don’t have to attend an event to participate.

You can bioblitz wherever you are, or find fellow bioblitzers and experts to help with iNaturalist and identification at these events:

Mandy Smith-Thompson | smithal@concordnc.gov | 704.920.5379

Schedule of Events FRIDAY, APRIL 27

AT WORK/SCHOOL Organize or even challenge

your coworkers or classroom to see what plants, animals, or fungi can be found at your place of work or school.

ALONG THE GREENWAY 10:00 a.m. – noon

Meet at the Concord Library branch, 27 Union St. N, and ride the shuttle to McGee Park for a short hike to find plants, animals, and fungi along the McEachern Greenway Downtown Connector. Then ride the shuttle back to the library for a wrap-up party.

SATURDAY, APRIL 28

FRANK LISKE PARK 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

4001 Stough Road

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CONCORD WILDLIFE ALLIANCE’S KIDS IN NATURE DAY 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Woodland Discovery, 8755 Poplar Tent Road

SUNDAY, APRIL 29

CAMP TN SPENCER 8:00 a.m. – noon 3155 Foxford Road

MONDAY, APRIL 30

AT WORK/SCHOOL Another chance to see what plants, animals, or fungi can be found at your place of work or school.

FINAL FLIGHT CNC WRAP-UP PARTY AND MOTH ID starts at 6:30 p.m. in Cabarrus Brewing

Co. native plant beer garden, 329 McGill Avenue NW.

Concord Mobile Care

concordnc.gov

You can now report pot holes, street light malfunctions, and many other non-emergency issues to the City using your smartphone.

Visit our City’s website where you’ll find a wealth of information. Pay bills online, access government and City departments, and discover what’s going on in Concord.

Visit concordnc.gov to learn about and download the Concord Mobile Care app for your android or iOS device, or access the web-version on any other device, including PC and laptop computers.