80 - Summer 2020 by City of Concord NC

Information You Can Use

SUMMER 2020

Cabarrus County Long Range Public Transportation Master Plan Getting Through COVID-19 Together See Page 7 For Details On Our Online-Only Leisure Times concordnc.gov/leisuretimes

In this Issue:

City Council

From the Mayor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Manager’s Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Fleet Services Director Dan Nuckolls . . . . . . 4 2020 Census . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Fighting Coronavirus With Cabarrus Health Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Leisure Times Moves Online . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Map of Concord Parks And Greenways . . . . 8

Andy Langford District 1

Brian King District 2

Ella Mae Small District 3

JC McKenzie District 4

Cabarrus County Long Range Public Transportation Master Plan . . . . . . . 10 Community Input Invited For George W. Liles Parkway Corridor . . . . . . . 14 Annual Water Report Available . . . . . . . . . 14 Concord 101 Applications Open . . . . . . . . 15 High 5 For Excellent Service . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Important Phone Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Jennifer H. Parsley District 6

Terry L. Crawford District 5

John A. Sweat, Jr. District 7 Mayor Pro Tem

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.

Council Districts Adopted 12/13/2018 3 ¬ «

73 ¬ «

§ ¦ ¨ I-85

29 £ ¤

concordnc.gov 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. 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:

Council Districts District 1 49 ¬ «

District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7

² 0

0.5

¬ « 200

Miles

Visit concordnc.gov/Government/Mayor-Council to see our district map.

Concord City Circular P.O. Box 308, Concord, NC 28026 or call 704-920-5210 or e-mail franzese@concordnc.gov. cover photo: Special thanks to Michael A. Anderson photography for this issue’s cover photo and the image on page 3, both showing an unusually quiet Downtown Concord. designed by

Granite Sky Civic

2 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SUMMER 2020 • concordnc.gov

601 £ ¤

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

From the Mayor

Manager’s Notes

William “Bill” Dusch

Lloyd Wm. Payne, Jr. Concord City Manager

Thank you, Concord

Concord Strong

In the past months, we have all been touched by the Coronavirus pandemic. The City Council and I want to thank you for all you have done to slow the COVID-19 spread. Your efforts to follow the rules and maintain social distancing is working, with local statistics reflecting your efforts. Why are these evolving numbers important? It’s quite simple. Your efforts have resulted in Atrium Cabarrus maintaining the number of beds available for all the hospital needs for the members of our community. In addition to following the guidance of public health officials, please visit the Cabarrus Health Alliance coronavirus information page to keep up with these important local statistics at cabarrushealth.org/555. Three simple steps are important to carry us through the coming weeks and months:

1. Wear your mask when in public 2. Wait 6 feet apart to maintain your social distance 3. Wash your hands often (or use hand sanitizer if you

are unable to wash your hands) I would add one more important thing to this list of steps to remember: If you feel sick or have a fever, don’t go out. Please keep up the fight against the spread of COVID-19. Take a moment to thank all in our community that are working hard to keep us safe- Health care professionals, Police, Fire, EMS, utility service providers, sanitation workers along with our City, County and Health Alliance personnel that are working 24/7 to get us through this pandemic. Despite this time of social distancing, know that the City continues to provide the services you need. We also want to remain accessible and are working to ensure you can find assistance from our team over the phone or online at concordnc.gov. That includes our City Council meetings, which will be live streamed at concordnc.gov while City Hall is closed to the public. •

Hello Concord. Much has changed in our community, region, state, nation, and world since our last City Circular. COVID-19 has changed our lives, arguably forever. I had no idea the staple that toilet paper would become – much like eggs, bread, and milk during winter/snow storms. It took some getting used to seeing our neighbors and coworkers wearing protective face masks in the office and around our community. Over the past couple of months, I have been encouraged by the positivity within our community amidst the pandemic crisis. I have seen and read “Concord Strong” in multiple places to include signs in business windows, in parking lots, and leaned up against buildings. Neighbors have reached out on Nextdoor about making grocery store runs and volunteering to pick up needed items for others while they are out. We have witnessed children in our neighborhoods use sidewalk chalk (some of it provided by Concord Police Department) to illustrate messages of hope and appreciation for others in our community. The examples go on and on as you have witnessed many other instances of human kindness and hope in an otherwise dismal time. With the Stay-At-Home orders/proclamations from Governor Cooper and our local officials, extremely tough decisions have been made for our collective good at the expense of our individual freedoms. These decisions were not made lightly. I along with other leaders realize these decisions have placed financial and physical stress on many of our citizens. We are hopeful these decisions will continue to “flatten the curve” and lessen the potential exposure of this deadly virus. Throughout this difficult period, it has been my desire to maintain as many services as possible to our citizens. While our City Hall and other work locations/buildings have been closed to the public to minimize personal exposure, we continue to be operational and will continue to be so as long as we have personnel to do so. We realize we are public servants and our job is to provide essential services to you – in good times and in bad times. Team Concord will continue to serve you during this time of crisis and be available by email or phone to respond to any issues you may have. While we are exercising social distancing, you are never far away. We are one community and we will persevere – Concord Strong! • concordnc.gov • SUMMER 2020 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 3

Behind the scenes:

Fleet Services Director Dan Nuckolls

What brought you to the City of Concord? DN: I particularly wanted to work for the City of Concord because their Fleet Department was fairly new in 2002 and required a ground up structuring of the maintenance program and the systems and policies to support it. This was the type of challenge I was made for, and as the City is fiscally conservative, that is the best environment for an efficient and effective fleet program. What is a challenge you are working through this year? DN: Finding and hiring qualified technicians. Fewer and

fewer people want to work with their hands, nowadays. And considering the complexity of the modern automobile, modern day technicians must not only be mechanically inclined, but be computer savvy, analytical, and smart. To that end, we have developed an internal mentoring program whereby we can train individuals that are currently enrolled in an automotive repair program at a local community college. Our first candidate has now been with us for a year and is an integral part of the team. Our current compliment of technicians is of the highest caliber. What excites you to come to work every day? DN: Easily, the challenges of a 1000 vehicle fleet. Each day

is another opportunity to fine tune the operation, analyze the data, and continually monitor and adjust for maximum efficiency.

his quarter, we’d like to introduce you to another long-serving member of Concord’s staff leadership team. Fleet Services Director Daniel Nuckolls is someone who most citizens do not see, but they certainly benefit from the work of his team. Concord’s Fleet Services Department is an internal service, which means other City departments are their customers. From fire trucks to weed trimmers and everything in between, the City’s vehicles and equipment are purchased, fueled, maintained, and disposed of by Fleet Services. Nuckolls has been the City of Concord Fleet Services Director for 18 years. He has served in both the Army and Coast Guard, and has over 34 years of automotive maintenance and fleet management experience. He holds an associate’s degree in business administration, is a Certified Automotive Fleet Manager (CAFM), and is a commercial driver’s license third-party examiner. His Fleet Services team’s accomplishment include: Best 100 Fleets in North America for six out of the last ten years, ASE Blue Seal of Excellence shop for the last seven years, and consistent ranking as the lowest cost fleet in the NC Benchmarking Program. Air quality awards include: 2015 and 2017 Smart Fleet Champion, 2007 and 2015 Region of Excellence Award, 2011 Champions of Clean Air, and 2014 Clean Cities Early Pioneers and Explorers Award. Nuckolls also served as the Transit Manager for the ConcordKannapolis Transit System from 2003 to 2010. 4 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SUMMER 2020 • concordnc.gov

Who inspires you? DN: I try to receive inspiration wherever I can find it,

especially in writing. However, my wife and children are the most constant inspiration in my life, besides God. What are you currently reading? DN: “The Eagle” which is the last of a series written by Jack

Whyte about Arthurian England. My ideal day looks like: DN: …one that does not cost a lot of tax payer money. What do you hope to accomplish in the next five years? DN: To facilitate a seamless transition for the next

fleet manager by upgrading all our systems, creating redundancies in the various fleet responsibilities, and providing training and certification opportunities for qualified internal Fleet personnel. What would surprise someone to learn about you? DN: That I play the guitar and banjo, and I do most of the

cooking in the family. Anything else you would like to share? DN: I am proud to be associated with the technicians, parts

and administrative personnel at Fleet Services. They are an award-winning group, and certainly the best in the State. Concord Fleet Services is consistently among the Best 100 Fleets in North America, and that is due in large part to the professionals within our department. •

When you shape education, you shape our future. Respond to the 2020 Census and inform funding for educational programs that benefit our children, like after-school activities, school meal programs, and Head Start. It’s more than just a count, it’s an opportunity to shape the next generation.

For more information, visit:

2020CENSUS.GOV D-PO-SC-EN-030

concordnc.gov • SUMMER 2020 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 5

Local Governments Join Forces With Cabarrus Health Alliance To Fight Coronavirus The past three months in Concord were unlike anything our community has experienced before. At the time of publishing this edition of the City Circular, City facilities remain closed to the public, events have been cancelled, and in-person meetings and services have moved to online experiences with the help of technology. While we are still in the midst of getting through the pandemic, it is clear that our local response has been marked by a high level of coordination and cooperation among the local governments in Cabarrus County. In late February, the Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA), our local public health authority, began working with local officials and other community partners to monitor and plan for potential coronavirus cases in our community. At this point, there were no cases in North Carolina. The CHA activated its public health command center on February 26 and began sharing preparedness information with the community the first week of March. Even though we have lived through this together, it is helpful to reflect on the milestones of the past three months: First presumptive case in Cabarrus County announced; Concord City Manager Lloyd Payne takes first precautionary measures to limit non-essential events or gatherings involving City staff and the public. MARCH 12

Leaders from Concord, Harrisburg, Kannapolis, Midland, Mount Pleasant, and Cabarrus County met with CHA, Atrium, and Novant to discuss coronavirus preparations and response. Officials agreed to coordinate decision-making and communications moving forward.

MARCH 13

MARCH 18

Most City facilities closed to the public.

MARCH 19 State of Emergency Declared in throughout Cabarrus County MARCH 24 Governor Cooper's Executive Order 120 closes K-12 public schools through May 15, bans mass gatherings over 50 people, and closes some businesses. MARCH 26 Cabarrus Stay at Home Proclamation effective; Rider Transit suspends fares, requires rear entry on buses MARCH 30 Governor Cooper's statewide Stay at Home Order through April 29 effective, including ban on gatherings over 10 people. MARCH 31 Cabarrus Stay at Home Proclamation revised to align with statewide Order APRIL 6 City of Concord announces additional temporary payment policies for Utility Customers APRIL 17 CHA warns of small gatherings less than 10 people causing COVID-19 outbreaks APRIL 23 Governor extends Stay at Home Order through May 8, plans three-phase lifting of restrictions based on virus trends APRIL 29 Expiration of local Stay at Home Proclamation and transition to statewide Stay at Home Order

Modified NC Stay At Home order effective, Phase 1 of easing certain restrictions begins

MAY 8

Throughout the pandemic, elected officials and staff from Concord, Cabarrus County, and other partners worked together to coordinate the local response. Communications teams from each jurisdiction joined together to share resources and expertise, and align messaging. All of this— the coordination, cancelled events, closed schools, social distancing, and overgrown hairdos—were in the name of slowing the spread of COVID-19. In the meantime, we saw and continue to see a lot of good. Chalk adorning sidewalks with messages of hope and determination. Families using new found time to connect with neighbors or to lend a helping hand. Countless frontline workers keeping life manageable for those who are doing their part to stay at home—everyone doing what they can to get through this together.

MARCH 14 Cabarrus County Joint Information Center convenes in a virtual environment.

While we're still not all the way through this experience, we know that there will be a time when we are. We also know it may not look exactly like what life four months ago looked like, but by going through this together we are building a stronger community.

MARCH 16 First positive COVID-19 case in Cabarrus County confirmed; City Manager takes additional measures to cancel events, encourage using telephone or internet to conduct business with the City, prohibit non-essential business travel for staff; City announces that utility customers will not be disconnected for non-payment.

We hope you continue to stay in touch with us for the latest updates and information about City services, events, and facilities. Please visit concordnc.gov or check out our social media platforms. If you have health-related questions or concerns, please visit cabarrushealth.org/555 or call 704-920-1213. •

6 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SUMMER 2020 • concordnc.gov

Leisure Times Moves Online In Response To COVID-19 To provide you the most up-todate program information in the face of changing recommendations for coronavirus response in our area, this summer’s Leisure Times will be published online only. Concord Parks and Recreation continues to work closely with state health officials to ensure program schedules follow recommended guidelines for maintaining the health and safety of our citizens. To minimize confusion, we are limiting the Summer 2020 Leisure Times to a digital edition only. Remember that all City parks and greenways remain open. Please observe safe social distancing at all times to keep yourself, your family, and your fellow citizens as safe as possible. • concordnc.gov/leisuretimes

S T O P THE SP RE AD W E A R YO UR M ASK WHEN IN P U BL IC

concordnc.gov • SUMMER 2020 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 7

Get Outside!

Lake Howell

73 MOSS

ODELL SCH OO L

Enjoy Concord’s many parks and greenways.

RM MO S S FA

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Parks

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1 Beverly Hills Park 704.920.5601 • 631 Miramar Street, NE

2 James L. Dorton Park RO

CKY RIV

704.920.5603 • 362 Georgia Street, SW

4 Hartsell Park

DERIT A RD

704.920.5602 • 5790 Poplar Tent Road

3 Marvin Caldwell Park

R COX MILL

704.920.5602 • 65 Sunderland Road

5 J. W. “Mickey” McGee, Jr. Park

704.920.5601 or 704.920.5600 219 Corban Avenue, East

CONCORD REGIONAL AIRPORT

6 Les Myers Park 704.920.5600 • 338 Lawndale Avenue

7 W. W. Flowe Park 704.920.5600 • 99 Central Heights Drive

8 Weddington Road Bark Park CR EE KR D

704.920.5600 • 8955 Weddington Road

Greenways

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Parking at 5015 Weddington Road (Publix)

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2 George Liles Greenway

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Union Street S & Means Avenue

3 Hector H. Henry II Greenway – Moss Creek Parking at 1215 Moss Farm Street NW.

4 Hector H. Henry II Greenway – Weddington Road

CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Parking at 8955 Weddington Road and at the Embassy Suites, 5400 John Q Hammonds Dr, NW

5 Hector H. Henry II Greenway – Mills at Rocky River Parking at 1095 Drake Mill Lane SW

6 Harold B. McEachern Greenway 704.920.5600 • Enter at Les Myers Park or J. W. McGee, Jr. Park 219 Corban Ave SE or 106 Wilson St SE

7 The Village Greenway

All City parks and greenways remain open. Please observe safe social distancing at all times to keep yourself, your family, and your fellow citizens as safe as possible.

704.920.5600 • 175 Academy Avenue, NW (Parking at Academy Recreation Center)

8 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SUMMER 2020 • concordnc.gov

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concordnc.gov • SUMMER 2020 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 9

Enhancing Mobility And Enriching Our Community Cabarrus County Long Range Public Transportation Master Plan Concord Kannapolis Area Transit (Rider) and Cabarrus County Transportation Services (CCTS), along with the cities of Concord, Kannapolis, and Cabarrus County, initiated a Long Range Public Transportation Master Plan study in 2018 with the intent of creating a strong vision for improved public transportation throughout Cabarrus County to address needs not only today, but far into the future. At the heart of the plan is a robust public involvement process. More than 1,200 members of the community participated in the multipronged outreach effort, providing a strong foundation through a variety of means for input from community members, including pop-up events, in person and online surveys to current riders and non-riders, public meetings and focus groups with key stakeholders, and city and county leadership. These activities guided the development of the study and helped the study team define the priorities for the plan. This information, along with demographic and market analysis were considered when crafting the recommendations. This ambitious plan provides recommendations for the next 20 years and defines operational, capital, and personnel improvements in six phases.

10 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SUMMER 2020 • concordnc.gov

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Phase 6

Years 1-3 Extended hours of service for existing 8 fixed routes to 12:30 a.m. Initiate consolidation of CCTS and Rider Transit Identify potential vanpool partners

Years 4-6 Double frequency of fixed routes to 30-40 minute service Implement countywide demand response service Establish Downtown Concord hub and Kannapolis Train Station hub

Years 7-8 Add 8 fixed routes (for a total of 16 routes) Begin operation of Downtown Concord hub and Kannapolis Train Station hub

Years 9-11 Double frequency of fixed routes to 15-minute service Establish Harrisburg Hub

Years 12-14 Add 4 fixed routes (for a total of 20 routes) Begin operation of Harrisburg Town Commons hub

Years 15-20 Add 1 fixed route (for a total of 21 routes) Introduce High Capacity Transit modes (light rail, bus rapid transit, and/or commuter rail)

concordnc.gov • SUMMER 2020 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 11

Today, Rider Transit and CCTS operate as two separate, disconnected services with different missions and options for users. This often creates confusion and frustration for people new to public transit in the area as they often don’t know which service to call or call the wrong one. Today, between the systems, there are 10 buses, 28 smaller Demand Response vehicles, and 92 employees. Combined, the two systems provide approximately 525,000 passenger trips per year. There are seven local bus routes and one regional bus route running once every 60-75 minutes. Several areas in Concord and across Cabarrus County receive limited or no public transit service at all. This often creates significant mobility challenges for people living or working in those areas. Once fully realized, the new plan changes the landscape of public transit in Concord and Cabarrus County as we know it today:

ONE system

unserved areas

194 vehicles

Commuting patterns for Cabarrus and Mecklenburg County indicate a significant amount of regional demand to access jobs. In addition to Charlotte being the most common out-of-county work destination for Cabarrus residents, Charlotte residents continue to make up a considerable portion of those who commute into Concord and Cabarrus County for work. Several key regional destinations require frequent transit into and throughout Cabarrus County. Examples include the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Salisbury, North Carolina Research Campus, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Mills, The Grounds at Concord, Concord-Padgett Regional Airport, Uptown Charlotte, and University of North Carolina Charlotte. These key locations and regional travel patterns represent an opportunity for improved mobility via investment in public transit for those who live in Cabarrus County and work regionally. Additionally, an

• 21 bus routes • Countywide Demand Response • 3 new hubs/transfer sites (downtown Concord, downtown Kannapolis, Harrisburg)

Administration & Maintenance Facility

(108 Bus, 86 Demand Response)

6,400,000

6,900,000

annual passenger trips

560 employees

15 minute

bus route frequencies =

World Class Transit Service

(not including High Capacity Transit options)

12 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SUMMER 2020 • concordnc.gov

One or more modes of

Regional High Capacity Transit (Light Rail, Bus Rapid Transit, Commuter Rail)

opportunity exists to greatly broaden the talent pool for companies in Concord, Kannapolis and Cabarrus County. From an economic development perspective, increasingly, companies are prioritizing (and often requiring) transit as a key element when deciding on where to locate or expand. Development of robust public transit corridors increases adjacent property values, which in turn stimulates investment in and development of those corridors. This can lead to more business and employment opportunities, more options for housing (including affordable housing), dining, shopping and entertainment venues. This creates more tax revenues, helps mitigate congestion, and helps to control sprawl via more compact and efficient development. The Concord urbanized area (UZA), and Cabarrus County in particular, is adding population and jobs rapidly, with significant growth expected to continue over the next 25 to 30 years. Cabarrus County is projected to increase in population by 160,000 people (up nearly 90 percent from 2010 Census numbers) by 2035. Because of this growth, more people will be commuting to work, seeking access to educational opportunities, more senior citizens will be traveling to medical appointments, and more freight will be traversing the region on capacity-constrained corridors. Cabarrus County’s unique characteristics – geographic location, cost of living, employment opportunities, population demographics, development patterns and policies, political environment and rapid growth create myriad challenges and opportunities for the area as a whole and public transit in particular. Mobility is a necessity. Even for those who own a vehicle, having other mobility options can help reduce the need for additional vehicles in a household (and on local roadways), as well as save time, money and the hassle of dealing with traffic and parking. Effective mobility is critical to everyone living in, working in, or visiting Concord and Cabarrus County. It is crucial that Concord, Kannapolis, and Cabarrus County take steps now to improve and add mobility options for all to effectively address growing congestion and increasing travel times, equitable access to education, medical and social services, cultural and sporting activities and events, as well as provide better access to jobs and the attraction of new and diverse employment opportunities. Transit services will be essential as part of a comprehensive strategy for effectively accommodating growth and managing ever more complex transportation demands. It is imperative to successfully accommodate this growth in population and travel demand and help Concord, Kannapolis and Cabarrus County develop and maintain a quality of life that helps our area compete on a national level in terms of being a desirable place to live and work. It is critical that we address current and future unmet

needs and opportunities to expand public transit opportunities throughout Cabarrus County, while improving regional connectivity. We need to begin building today so that we will have mobility options tomorrow and far into the future. The Cabarrus County Long Range Public Transportation Master Plan will provide local decision-makers with a roadmap to enhance transit service delivery to the region while increasing mobility choices over the next 20 years. The plan was presented to the Concord Kannapolis Transit Commission in late February, and Concord City Council at their April 9 meeting. It was unanimously adopted by both bodies. Investment in robust, expanded public transit options will benefit Concord, Kannapolis, and all of Cabarrus County. With the adoption of this plan, a roadmap now exists to help communities within Cabarrus County embark on a transformative process to provide fundamental changes to their transportation systems in years to come. To learn more and access the full plan, please visit ckrider.com/resources/documents. •

concordnc.gov • SUMMER 2020 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 13

Community Invited To Guide The Future Of George W. Liles Parkway Corridor

and other suggestions to city planners who can incorporate those ideas into small area plans. The community typically participates in this type of process through public meetings and surveys. A 2005 small area plan for Concord Parkway/Roberta Church Road identified a land use pattern for 780 acres of largely undeveloped land. It also recommended the alignment used to construct the George W. Liles Parkway extension, particularly the interchange with Concord Parkway S (US 29). This plan also reserved locations for key civic facilities; envisioned the Coddle Creek greenway; identified major activity centers; recommended urban, pedestrian friendly development; and promoted new zoning districts and design standards to ensure attractive and sustainable future development. Much has changed in this area since 2005, but the 780 acres of land off George W. Liles Parkway remains mostly undeveloped. The City of Concord now invites the community to develop today's vision for this area. Planning staff are working on an update to this small area plan, with expanded boundaries stretching west to Coddle Creek and east to George W. Liles Parkway/Stough Road. The plan will focus on two distinctive areas:

ne of Concord's prime development areas for the coming decades is the George W. Liles Parkway corridor. City staff are working to understand the community's vision for this central location covering thousands of acres, while maintaining social distancing needs during the coronavirus pandemic. A public involvement process for this area is underway through June 5.

AREA A: Mostly undeveloped land located in the Central Concord District per the 2030 Land Use Plan. Closely matches the 2005 Small Area Plan boundaries. AREA B: Mostly residential with some small scale industrial and undeveloped land near Highway 49.

Small Area Plans guide future decisions on land use, zoning, transportation, open space, and other capital improvements. They also identify opportunities for commercial revitalization, economic development, and mixed-use development.

To kick off the planning process, you're invited to complete a community input survey by June 5. The results will help establish a unified vision for future development along George W. Liles Parkway. You can find a staff presentation and the input survey on the City's public engagement portal: concord.publicinput.com. Future participation planned for summer 2020 includes reviewing plan concepts and drafts, and public hearings during the adoption process (timeframes are subject to change pending coronavirus disruptions).

Members of the community in Concord play a key role in developing these types of plans. By participating in the planning process, citizens can channel neighborhood insights

For additional information about this process, please visit concord.publicinput.com, or contact Kaylee Caton, Design Manager at 704-920-5151 or catonk@concordnc.gov. •

14 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SUMMER 2020 • concordnc.gov

Concord 101 Returns This August:

Apply Now

The City of Concord is accepting applications for the 2020 Concord 101 program, an annual course designed for citizens to learn about their local government. The free fourteen-week session begins August 18 and culminates with a graduation ceremony in November. Residents of Concord age 18 and older are invited to submit an application by July 24. Class size is limited.

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: 1 Call 704-920-6400 to submit your acknowledgment by phone. 2 Complete the online form at concordnc.gov/high5 3 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.

The course was designed to give citizens the opportunity to interact closely with City staff members, who will conduct weekly classes on Tuesdays. Classes will be available in the evenings from 6:15 until 8:30 p.m., and if there is enough demand and interest, an afternoon (2:00 until 4:15 p.m.) offering may be available. Citizens will get a first-hand look at what it takes to run City services such as solid waste, water, police, fire, parks and recreation, and much more. In addition, several community partners will be on board to give a behind-thescenes look at what makes Concord such a great place to live. In addition to learning about Concord, the City hopes participants will provide input and take a more active role in their neighborhoods and community. For example, Council Members Jennifer Parsley and John Sweat are Concord 101 alumni. Concord 101, like all City-sponsored meetings, events, and programs are subject to change due to pandemic restrictions or other challenges. More information, the application, and the class schedule are available on the City’s website, concordnc.gov. Residents may also call the City Manager’s Office with questions at 704-920-5215. •

Annual Water Quality Report Now Available The Annual Drinking Water Report for 2019 for the City of Concord is now available at concordnc.gov/WaterQualityReport. The report contains important information regarding the sources and quality of your drinking water. If you have any questions regarding the report, or if you would like to receive a paper copy, please call 704-920-5337. • concordnc.gov • SUMMER 2020 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 15

PPCO

PAID

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

City of Concord Important Phone Numbers Fire, Police, Medical Emergencies .............................. 911

P.O. Box 308 Concord, NC 28026

Customer Care Center ................................ 704-920-5555

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

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 & 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 Tax Collector ....................................................704-920-5216 TTY/North Carolina Relay ................................................... 711 Transportation .................................................704-920-5338 Water Resources ..............................................704-920-5342 Zoning/Permits ................................................704-920-5152

concordnc.gov 16 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SUMMER 2020 • concordnc.gov