74 - Winter 2019

Information You Can Use

WINTER 2019

City's New Wholesale Electricity Provider Meet Your Elected Officials 2019 Solid Waste Calendar

In this Issue: From the Mayor................................... 3 Manager’s Notes................................. 4 CPR Training........................................ 4 2019 Recycling Calendar...................... 5 NCWF Municipal Conservationist of the Year................... 6 Concord 101 Class of 2018................. 7 David W. Phillips Activity Center..........8-9

21st Annual Mayor’s Golf Tournament Benefits Youth Programs On September 29, Rocky River Golf Club hosted the 21st Annual Mayor's Golf Tournament.

This year's event raised over $11,000 that will directly support youth in our community.

NTE Energy Powers Concord...........12-13

A special thank you goes to the sponsors that help make the event possible, as well as the City and golf course staff members who once again organized the event and volunteered their time and effort.

High 5 Performers ............................. 13

Thank you to our Eagle sponsors:

Long Range Public Transit Master Plan Update......................10-11

Important Phone Numbers.................. 15

Cover photo courtesy of NTE Energy.

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

Granite Sky Civic

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.

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

2 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • WINTER 2019 • concordnc.gov

From the Mayor

City Council

William “Bill” Dusch

Get Involved With Your City Government For the past year, I have had the honor as serving as your Mayor. Each day is varied and exciting, whether celebrating the opening of new businesses, honoring our service members and veterans, or welcoming citizens to newly opening facilities. This is the “fun” part of the job.

Then there is the “work” part, which is still fun but certainly challenging for us and important for the community. Often, discussions at our monthly City Council meetings are extremely detailed and due to our tremendous growth, I don’t foresee this likely to change in the foreseeable future. I hope you will consider attending a City Council meeting to see how we operate.

Our meetings take place in City Hall (35 Cabarrus Avenue W) the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 (with a work session the preceding Tuesday at 4:00), and are open to the public. You can always find the latest agenda at: concordnc.gov/Government/Council-Agenda We have created a number of ways to keep you informed and help you understand how the City operates. Believe it or not, even in our digital age customer satisfaction surveys have consistently showed that this quarterly publication is the preferred way to get information from the City for most citizens. However we have an approach to ensure that we are reaching as many people as possible through their preferred method, whether it be the city website (concordnc.gov), a variety of social media accounts, the weekly CityLink Newsletter (subscribe at concordnc.gov), utility bill inserts, or the even phone messages with the voice of Public Affairs manager, Peter Franzese, who many of us have come to rely upon for various announcements related to city service updates.

If you don’t get our phone calls, visit concordnc.gov/ Resident/Sign-up-for-notification to learn more.

Another way we reach our citizens is by our yearly offering of Concord 101, a 14 week program that shares insight about the history of our city and our philosophy of service, what is going on in economic development, and how each of our city departments operate, and the people who get the job done. Once a week, citizens have the opportunity to get a firsthand look at different city operations which include interactive presentations and facility tours. These classes discuss the most city functions such as electric, water, sewer, public safety, parks and recreation, Rocky River Golf Club, internal city departments, and even a visit to Concord-Padgett Regional Airport.

Sam Leder District 1

Brian King District 2

Ella Mae Small District 3

JC McKenzie District 4

Terry L. Crawford District 5

Jennifer H. Parsley District 6 Mayor Pro-Tem

John A. Sweat, Jr. District 7

Meet your elected officials This is the first of a series of Q&A features to help you get to know Concord’s elected officials a little more. Have an idea? Tweet it to @concordncgov with the hashtag #ConcordCouncilQA.

Q: A:

What’s your favorite Concord memory?

JC McKenzie – Taking the City Council Oath of Office Terry Crawford – The Embassy Suites Concord grand opening ceremony Jennifer Parsley – Summer visits to Cabarrus Creamery John Sweat – Crusing Church Street as a teenager

Continued on page 15 concordnc.gov • WINTER 2019 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 3

Manager’s Notes Lloyd Wm. Payne, Jr., Concord City Manager

We’re Working For You Hello Concord. Fall is wrapping up and winter is just around the corner.

FREE CPR TRAINING AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC Equip yourself.

Empower yourself.

Team Concord continues to work hard each day to enhance the quality of life for you and your family. We are finishing up with the Connectivity Study which will assist us in our greenway development across the City.

Recreation is a big priority of Mayor Dusch and the City Council. It is our goal to connect our current greenways to our schools, neighborhoods, and commercial areas.

The Connectivity Study, once complete, will give us a roadmap of how and where to make these connections.

The Study will also better our successes with grant funding. Recently, the City was awarded $350,000 from the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to extend the Hector H. Henry II Greenway from the Weddington Road Bark Park to the Riverwalk community. This project will add 1.4 miles of asphalt trail to the greenway.

Another enhancement to our Recreation opportunities was the grand opening of the David W. Phillips Activity Center located at 946 Burrage Road NE. This facility will allow staff to provide classes and activities for arts/ crafts, cooking, fitness, nature, and more. In addition, classes and activities at the Center will be for adults and children. We will be programming opportunities for children with special needs at the Center, too. The facility is named after former Council member David W. Phillips who devoted 20 years of service on the Concord City Council. We continue to look for other ways to develop and enhance our current (and future parks). I am hopeful there will be some exciting announcements in the near future regarding the expansion of an existing park and the development of a new park – stay tuned!

Speaking of quality of life, I would like to briefly talk about the City’s Neighbor Helping Neighbor program. This is a very simple way to help others in our community who cannot pay their utility bill. You fill out and submit the form online which gives the City permission to round up your monthly utility bill to the next dollar. The City provides those funds to the Cooperative Christian Ministry (CCM) who assists citizens in crisis. Thus, all of the money collected comes back to the City when CCM pays the utility bills for someone in need. Your contributions are tax deductible and are a great way to truly help out your neighbor. You can find out more and sign up at concordneighborhelpingneighbor.com.

Continued on page 15 4 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • WINTER 2019 • concordnc.gov

The Concord Fire Department, in partnership with the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, offers Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training free of charge to the public. While not providing official certification, the program will educate the public in the lifesaving skill of CPR. The classes are offered selected Friday evenings from 6-8 p.m. in Fire Station Community Rooms.

2019 CPR TRAINING SCHEDULE

February 22 April 12 June 7 July 19 August 23 October 11

Fire Fire Fire Fire Fire Fire

Station Station Station Station Station Station

8 9 9 9 9 9

Participants in this class will learn the fundamentals of adult and infant CPR, and how to use an automatic electronic defibrillator.

The latest research indicates that hands-only CPR can double or triple the chances of survival for victims of cardiac incidents.

Meanwhile, 70 percent of Americans feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency, because they do not know how to administer CPR or are afraid of hurting the victim.

Visit concordnc.gov or call 704-920-5516 to learn more and register.

2019 Recycling & Bulky Waste Calendar Recycling & Bulky Waste is collected every-other-week on your regularly scheduled garbage day.

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

January

February

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 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

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

May

June

1 2 3 4 5 6

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

July

August

September

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

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

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

October

November

December

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

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

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City Holiday Blue Week Green Week

Those who consistently have more garbage than the green roll-out 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.

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

Do not block sidewalks with carts.

Aluminum Cans, Steel Cans, & their Lids

Small Cardboard Boxes

(no paint cans)

All Plastics (1 - 7)

Glass Bottles & Jars

(no Styrofoam, bags, or wrap)

Spiral Paper Cans

Large Cardboard Boxes (flattened, cut to 3ft x 3ft sections, placed inside cart for collection)

Clean pizza boxes Rigid Plastic Containers & (without grease or food residue) Small Plastic Toys Cereal & Food Boxes Milk & Juice Cartons, Magazines & Phonebooks & Juice Boxes Gift Boxes, Shoe Boxes, &

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.

Place carts for collection with heels facing your home.

Put these items in your recycling cart

(with plastic lids detached)

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

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

To verify your collection schedule or to find full holiday collection details, visit concordnc.gov/whatsmyday or download our CARTology mobile app. To download the mobile app, search for CARTology in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

Wide-Mouth Plastic Containers & Lids

Cart lids must be able to close completely.

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

ü Know your Collection Day ü Sign up for FREE Reminders ü Find out how to dispose of items

Empty Aerosol Cans

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.

(flattened and placed into cart)

Paperback Books

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.

Mixed Paper, Newspapers with Inserts, & Junk Mail

For more information on Solid Waste Services:

Gift Wrapping Paper

concordnc.gov 704.920.5555

(without foil backing)

concordnc.gov • WINTER 2019 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 5

Concord is NC Wildlife Federation’s Municipal Conservationist of the Year

The City of Concord has been recognized as the North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s (NCWF) Municipal Conservationist of the Year.

The award is part of NCWF’s prestigious Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards which honor commitment to conservation in NC annually. Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards are the highest natural resource honors given in the state.

This honor recognizes the work of the Concord Wildlife Alliance and coordination of City of Concord Environmental Educator- Mandy Smith-Thompson in: •

Achieving the National Wildlife Federation’s Community Wildlife Habitat certification annually since 2015

•

Signing the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge

•

Partnering with Stonewall Jackson Youth Development Center and other community organizations to create a native •plant propagation and distribution project aimed at environmental education while increasing the availability of native landscape plants in the City

•

Organizing over 20 partners and 5,000 citizen scientists to successfully and competitively participate in the global City Nature Challenge

Award winners are nominated by the citizens of North Carolina and decided upon by a committee of scientists, environmental educators, and conservation activists. These prestigious awards are the highest natural resource honors given in the state.

Concord was honored at an award banquet on September 8, where Mayor Bill Dusch and former Mayor Scott Padgett accepted the award. NCWF and Concord Wildlife Alliance representatives also attended the September Council meeting to present the award.

NC Secretary of Environmental Quality Michael S. Regan presented the NCWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards at a ceremony in Raleigh on September 8.

For more information about the Governor’s Conservation Achievement Award Winners, visit ncwf.org.

PHOTOS: NC WILDLIFE FEDERATION

Mayor Bill Dusch and Environmental Educator Mandy Smith-Thompson joined the Concord delegation, including (left to right): Glenda Steel (Concord Wildlife Alliance Board) , John Robbins (former NCWF chairman), Chris Shoemaker (Concord Wildlife Alliance Board), and Lynn Tesh (Concord Wildlife Alliance Board).

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Cross-Section Of The Community Completes 17th Concord 101 The Concord 101 class of 2018 was

recognized with a graduation ceremony on November 20. This year's class set a participation record for the second year in a row, with 47 active community members who were thanked at the ceremony by Mayor Bill Dusch for their involvement in the program.

Concord 101 is designed to inform citizens about their local government.

Participants met on Tuesday afternoons or evenings and learned about what it takes to run City services such as solid waste and recycling, public utilities, police, fire, parks and recreation, and more. The course also included special sessions about Concord’s history, economic development, and tourism. The free 14-week course began in August.

Melendez, Mei Olson, Clifford Patton, and Kimberly Strong.

At the ceremony, Mayor Dusch encouraged the graduates to take an active role in the community. He also welcomed continuing feedback on City services and programs. The next class will begin in fall of 2019, with applications available in May. Learn more about Concord 101 at concordnc.gov/concord101.

2019 Public Safety Academy The 2019 Citizen Public Safety Academy begins January 29 and provides an opportunity to learn about Concord's Police, Fire, Communications, and Emergency Management functions. There is no cost to participate and applications are accepted through January 22.

Visit concordnc.gov to learn more and apply.

The class was first offered in 2002, and alumni are a diverse representation of the community. Some are now serving in leadership roles in their neighborhoods or on City boards and commissions. Council Members Jennifer Parsley and John Sweat are both graduates of the program.

Pictured (left to right) are: front row: Karen Green, Elizabeth Mueller, Pearl Asbury, Esmeralda Aguilera; Row 2: Lynda Womble, Sara Kull, Mylene Matthews, Takhiya Glover, Richard Walkup, Wayne Wilson, Daryl Huffman; Row 3: Mike Womble, Doug Kull, Alecia Shirley Phifer, Clara Culnon; Row 4: Ramesh Chandanala, Youndolyn Smith, Rod Hanson, Meredith Buskey; Row 5: Pamela Lefebvre, Robert Skillman, Theresa Scott-Stills, Angela Banks-Johnson, Sandra Cusack, Chris Kallio; Row 6: Norman Lefebvre, David Anderson, Robert Stevenson, Kathy Murphy, Donald Watson, Evelyn Barbee; Row 7: Coretta Grant, James Macdonald, Chuck Howard, Ernest Johnson, Frank Hoover, Joanne Evans-Hoover; Not pictured: Ray Brickner, Brittany Craig, John England, Rosa González, Prakash Kammula, James McDonnell, Maria concordnc.gov • WINTER 2019 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 7

Try something new at the David W. Phillips Activity Center

O

n September 11, 2018 the City of Concord celebrated the opening of a new activity center located at 946 Burrage Road NE in the Beverly Hills neighborhood, which has been named in honor of former City Council Member Dave Phillips.

Managed by the programs staff of the Parks and Recreation Department, the David W. Phillips Activity Center will host a variety of interactive recreational opportunities for youth and adults. Classes and activities will include arts and crafts, cooking, fitness, nature, and more.

Former Council Member Phillips is a lifelong resident of Concord and retired from Duke Energy Carolinas with 36 years of service. During his 20 years on Concord City Council (1995-2015), he served two terms as Mayor Pro-Tem. He is a member and former president and director of the Concord Rotary Club, member of the UNCC Alumni Association, and life member of the National Eagle Scout Association. Prior to being elected to City Council, he served on Concord’s

8 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • WINTER 2019 • concordnc.gov

Planning and Zoning Commission. He also is one of the City’s representatives on the Water and Sewer Authority of Cabarrus County (WSACC) board of directors. He has several interesting hobbies including model train collecting.

To acquire the space for this new and innovate recreation offering in Concord, the City purchased a prominently located former residence and surrounding property that has been vacant for several decades. The City contracted with local firms Griffin Architects, P.A. and Ike’s Construction, Inc. to design and renovate the property into program space, offices, and parking while retaining the residential character.

Activities in the David W. Phillips Activity Center are listed in the Leisure Times, or you can learn more and register at concordparksandrec.org. In addition to scheduled program times, you can also visit staff at the center weekdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (with plans to expand these time frames in the future) or call 704-920-5604.

PHOTOS: MICHAEL A ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY

concordnc.gov • WINTER 2019 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 9

Cabarrus County Long Range Public Transit Master Plan Update Concord Kannapolis Area Transit (known as Rider Transit), and Cabarrus County Transportation Services (CCTS) have partnered to conduct a Long Range Public Transit Master Plan for Cabarrus County.

Currently, Rider Transit operates fixed route bus and ADA paratransit services in Concord and Kannapolis, and CCTS operates demand response services within Cabarrus County*. Beginning in June 2018, Rider and CCTS began work on the Plan with AECOM, a consulting firm with a local office in Charlotte. The plan focuses on improving coordination, financial position, operational functionality, and service delivery across both providers looking to the next 20 years. The overall goal of this Plan is to identify current and future opportunities to expand public transit throughout Cabarrus County, while improving regional connectivity.

Current US Census data indicate identify our region among the fastest growing in the United States. The 2017 10 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • WINTER 2019 • concordnc.gov

population of Cabarrus County was 206,872. With a current forecasted growth rate of nearly 90 percent over the next two decades, Cabarrus County’s population is expected to nearly double by 2035. These population growth factors, coupled with already congested travel corridors, present both a challenge and an opportunity to examine options to improve public transportation services for residents and visitors of Cabarrus County.

In addition to current fixed route bus, ADA paratransit, and demand response services, the Cabarrus County Long Range Public Transit Master Plan will examine the potential need for other modes of public transit, such as light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit, autonomous vehicles, and van-pooling. A robust, well-planned public transit system is an important component within a healthy transportation network. The Plan seeks to improve the quality of life for our citizens by fostering economic growth, reducing congestion, and providing access to jobs, education, and healthcare. Transit service will be an essential part of a comprehensive strategy for effectively accommodating growth, managing transportation demand, and creating a more economically competitive and livable community.

Because the Plan will ultimately serve the citizens of Cabarrus County, an extensive public participation engagement process is an important part of the development of the final document. The public participation engagement process has been comprised of multiple components:

setting and prioritization for planning the future of public transit within the County. The four stakeholder groups consisted of social service agencies, city/ county staff and elected officials, the business and employer sector, and current riders of fixed route bus, ADA paratransit, and demand response services.

Notably, input from these groups demonstrated that the top three roles of public transit within our community should be local connectivity, job access, and equal access/social justice. The top two requests for improvement of current service that arose from these sessions were extended service hours and expanded regional connectivity. Close to 100 individuals attended these sessions.

3.

Pop-up public input events with interactive activities were held in October and November at the Kannapolis Fire Safety Festival, the Concord Latin Festival, hosted

by El Puente Hispano on the campus of Barber-Scotia College, the Cabarrus Brewing Company, and TwentySix Acres Brewing Company.

4.

A multi-faceted process garnered input from onboard vehicle surveys as well as online and in-person community surveys. The community surveys gathered Continued on page 14

1.

A steering committee, consisting of representatives from local governing bodies, agencies, educational institutions and the business community, as well as technical personnel, was established early in the development of the Plan. The steering committee will meet four times during the study to provide guidance, vet ideas, and resolve any difficulties that might arise.

2.

Community stakeholder group sessions were held in October, and discussion focused on challenges and opportunities for transit in our area, as well as goalPHOTOS: CITY OF CONCORD/ L.J. WESLOWSKI

concordnc.gov • WINTER 2019 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 11

NEW YEAR, NEW POWER SOURCE:

City of Concord, North Carolina to begin receiving power from NTE Energy January 1 T he new year will bring a new source of cleaner, more efficient energy to residents of Concord, North Carolina, when the city begins receiving power from NTE Energy.

January 1 will mark the beginning of a 20year power purchase agreement between NTE and Concord that local officials say will generate significant wholesale energy cost savings for the city.

“Concord Electric Systems has a long history and a reputation in our community for reliable hometown public power,” said Concord Mayor Bill Dusch.

"In addition to celebrating 115 years of providing this service to the community, 2019 will mark a new chapter for our customers and the professionals who keep the system running every day."

"The City of Concord is thrilled with our new partnership with NTE Energy and look forward to the energy stability we will be able to offer our citizens for at least the next 20 years,” added City Manager Lloyd Payne.

Seth Shortlidge, NTE’s chief executive officer, noted that NTE’s natural gasfired, combined-cycle facilities produce up to 50 percent more energy from the same amount of fuel while producing far less emissions than plants that run on coal or other less efficient fuels.

“NTE’s facilities are among the cleanest and most efficient energy sources in the Carolinas,” Shortlidge said, “and that efficiency translates into tangible economic benefits for the local communities we serve. Through its agreement with NTE, the City of Concord will enjoy reliable electricity with significantly increased economics for years to come.”

"We have been looking forward to January 1, 2019 since entering into the agreement with NTE in 2014," said Concord Electric Systems Director Bob Pate. "Our customers will benefit from more efficiency and the ability to invest more resources into our local power grid."

Concord is one of four Carolina communities that will begin receiving power from NTE on January 1. In addition to Concord, Kings Mountain, North Carolina and the South Carolina communities of McCormick and Greenwood PWC are also slated to begin long-term service from NTE on that day. They will join the North Carolina communities of Winterville, Black Creek, Lucama, Sharpsburg and Stantonsburg, which began receiving power from NTE earlier this year.

NTE’s most recent plant addition is its Kings Mountain Energy facility located in Cleveland County, North Carolina. NTE

12 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • WINTER 2019 • concordnc.gov

also currently operates the Middletown (Ohio) Energy Center and is constructing another 475-megawatt natural gasfired plant in Reidsville, North Carolina.

The company is also developing the Fayetteville Solar Energy Center, a 30-megawatt facility that will provide an affordable source of clean, renewable energy to customer communities and utilities in the Carolinas through NTE’s SolarSelect program.

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.

About NTE Energy Based in St. Augustine, Florida, NTE Energy develops and acquires strategically located electric generation and transmission facilities within North America.

Through its affiliates, the NTE team executes all aspects of project development, from initial market and site evaluations and permitting to financing, construction and operation. For more information about NTE Energy, visit www.nteenergy.com.

PHOTOS: NTE ENERGY

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: 1 Call 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.

Quarterly

High Performers Congratulations to the following coworkers who were selected as quarterly High Performers:

Solid Waste: Valerie Proper Finance: Shelby Black Human Resources: Deidre Connellan Aviation: Richard Burris Buildings and Grounds: Bill Leake Water Resources: Alex Dums and Darius Hicks High Performers were selected from among the high five nominations received from the past quarter (July-September 2018). 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 November. 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! concordnc.gov • WINTER 2019 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 13

Long Range Plan Update, continued from page 11

information from transit riders and non-transit users.

All surveys were available in English and Spanish formats. The survey process closed on November 9 with nearly 800 completed surveys. Data from the surveys will be compiled, synthesized, and reflected in the final Long Range Public Transit Master Plan document.

5.

Additionally, interviews with Rider and CCTS drivers, supervisors, and transit staff were conducted to gain input from their perspectives on issues and opportunities relevant to the Plan.

The detailed information and guidance received from the steering committee, community stakeholder group sessions, pop-up public input events, and surveys is critical to the development of a successful transit plan that will reflect the specific needs of our local community and will help improve the quality of life in Concord, Kannapolis, and across Cabarrus County.

The Cabarrus County Long Range Public Transit Master Plan will detail the vision for the future of public transit in Cabarrus County and establish the road map to get there.

The information gathered from our public engagement activities, data collection, evaluation of existing service, development of service plans, and assessment of capital infrastructure options and facility needs will be refined and included in a draft of the Plan. The draft will identify specific short, medium, and long-range recommendations for implementation over the next 20 years. The draft of the Cabarrus County Long Range Public Transit Master Plan will be available for public review and comment in late January/ early February 2019, and we encourage you to provide

feedback and help us develop the right mix of transportation options as our area continues to thrive, develop and remain locally, regionally and nationally attractive and economically competitive.

After all input is received, a final plan document will be prepared for review and recommendation for adoption. As part of the adoption process, a public hearing will be held as a final method of public involvement. Final Plan adoption is anticipated for Spring of 2019.

To learn more about the Cabarrus County Long Range Public Transit Master Plan, please contact Rider Transit Planner, Andy Christy at 704-920-5875 or christya@concordnc.gov. * Rider Transit currently operates seven local bus routes in Concord and Kannapolis and one express route that connects to the LYNX Blue Line at the JW Clay Light Rail Station in Charlotte. Rider Transit carries approximately 410,000 fixed route and 10,500 ADA paratransit passengers each year.

Hours of service are Monday through Friday from 5:30am to 8:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 8:30am to 8:30pm.

For more information, visit www.ckrider.com or call Rider Transit Customer Care at 704-920-7433.

CCTS currently provides Demand Response services (Human Services, Aging, and Rural General Public) throughout Cabarrus County and carries over 85,000 passengers each year. Hours of service are Monday through Friday from 5:00am to 6:00pm and Saturdays from 5:00am to 12:00pm.

For more information, visit www.cabarruscounty.us/ departments/transportation or call 704-920-2246.

PHOTO: CITY OF CONCORD/L.J. WESLOWSKI

14 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • WINTER 2019 • concordnc.gov

From the Mayor continued from page 3

The 17th Concord 101 program that just finished in November was in such demand that for the second year, a participation record was set, totaling 47 citizens this year. Most Concord 101 participants gain a valuable understanding as to how the city operates and many go on to volunteer for our city boards such as Historic Preservation, Planning and Zoning, Board of Adjustment and the Storm Water Advisory Commission. The 2019 class will begin enrolling in May for the session that begins in August. If you are interested in learning more about Concord 101, take a look at concordnc.gov/concord101 or call the City Manager’s Office at 704-920-5215.

With the holiday season upon us, I wish all my fellow Concord citizens a very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year.

From Manager’s Notes continued from page 4

I am honored to work each day on your behalf. Concord is a growing city, and development continues to be strong. If you see issues or things Team Concord can do to improve the City, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let me know. We want to continuously improve our City and your feedback is very much desired. Thank you for your ongoing contributions to our City – may Concord always thrive for you!

City of Concord Important Phone Numbers Fire, Police, Medical Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 911 Customer Care Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5555 Call 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 Primary Phone Numbers For City Departments: 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 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

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Did you know...

Did you know a new mobile command post is service for our community? The City’s public safety departments will use this tool to coordinate emergency response and on-scene decisions at major events or critical incidents around the City.

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.