Fall 2014

Information You Can Use

FALL 2014

Promoting community wildlife habitats

Concord’s New Sister City: Freeport, Grand Bahama Island City Hall Construction Has Begun

Loose Leaf Collection Schedule

concordnc.gov • FALL 2014 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 1

City Council

David W. Phillips District 1

Ella Mae Small District 3

W. Lamar Barrier District 5 Mayor Pro-Tem

Nuckolls and City of Concord named clean fuels Early Pioneers and Explorers lead the charge for CCFC and its mission.

Nuckolls is the coalition’s longest serving member and a core stakeholder. He assisted with the designation process after joining in 2003.

James E. Ramseur District 2

Alfred M. Brown, Jr. District 4

Jennifer H. Parsley District 6

John A. Sweat, Jr. District 7

The Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition held its tenth anniversary event on Thursday, May 29 at the Foundation for the Carolinas in uptown Charlotte. The event celebrated past accomplishments and encouraged coalition stakeholders to meet future challenges. Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition (CFCC) also recognized stakeholders for their actions and activities related to reducing petroleum dependence, improving air quality, and expanding alternative fuel use and technology.

Fleet Services Director Daniel Nuckolls has represented the City of Concord at the CCFC since it started, and was recognized with the Early Pioneers and Explorers Award. This award recognizes an organization or individual who helped

In this Issue:

As City of Concord Fleet Services Director, he has worked to decrease the City’s use of petroleum and has helped displace almost 700,000 gallons of fuel by using biodiesel and electric vehicles in the City’s fleets.

Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition is a local initiative of Centralina Council of Governments and is a part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program. Since 2004, the Coalition has worked throughout the Centralina region to further the Clean Cities mission of reducing dependence on foreign oil, improving air quality, and promoting the use of alternative fuels and technologies.

The Coalition is made up of local, regional, and state government agencies, private companies, non-profit organizations, and interested individuals who work together towards the Clean Cities mission.

COVER RENDERING: ADW ARCHITECTS

From the Mayor | Manager’s Notes . . . . . . . . 3 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 Design, Inc.

Turn Around Don’t Drown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Reusable Yard Waste Containers . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Electric vehicles and charging stations . . . . . . 6 Excellence in financial reportings . . . . . . . . . . 7 Concord Wildlife Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9

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

RR Golf Club is Certified Wildlife Habitat . . . . 10 Concord adds Sister City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Downtown Blue–recycling, Green–trash . . . . . 12 Free paint, and chemical disposal . . . . . . . . . 13 Loose leaf collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 STAR employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . back

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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.

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From the Mayor

Manager’s Notes

J. Scott Padgett

Brian Hiatt, Concord City Manager

Local decisionmaking is critical to our future I was riding through town on July 4 and noticed something that stuck out among the many people enjoying a day off and the red, white, and blue—a Concord Water Resources crew making an emergency repair. We are so assured our needed utilities and services will be there that we seldom think about them. Fortunately, there are many who think about them for us. This is just one example of what we enjoy by living here. Hundreds of dedicated City staff members are ready to respond to keep life moving, no matter the day or time.

City Hall construction begins Folks passing by probably have noticed that work has started on the new City Hall site at the corner of Cabarrus Avenue and Market Street. The City Council held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 25, with CM Black Construction Co. beginning site work on July 28. This marks the beginning of a project to produce a building that will be far more customer-friendly than our current facilities, and allow the City organization to be more efficient. The building is scheduled to be complete before the end of 2015.

CITY OF CONCORD/CHERIE JZAR

This may not surprise you, but I think it is worth saying: I love living in a city, specifically, this city. People live in cities because it makes sense. Living near our jobs, schools, places of worship, and businesses makes life easier. Being in close proximity to neighbors makes it easier to help each other out. Humans are created to be social, and cities are the original social network.

I understand that some prefer a more rural way of life. That is actually a good thing if you ask me… North Carolina’s diversity of landscapes and lifestyles is what makes our state such an appealing place. Unfortunately, not all appreciate this mix. Many in the North Carolina General Assembly have declared war on cities.

This is a big problem because in North Carolina, cities exist and are only allowed to function with permission of the state legislature. We are at the mercy of the very body attacking us. “Our cities are increasingly being squeezed by mandates that are put upon them by the legislature while their revenues are being taken away,” says former state senator and Carrboro mayor Ellie Kinnaird.

The Salisbury Post sees the writing on the wall, that with state interference into local revenues, “cities and towns will have to raise taxes or reduce services to make up…”

The Greensboro News & Record asks an important question, “what becomes of our progressive cities if their ability to make their own decisions is overridden by a not-soprogressive state legislature?”

80 percent of economic development in America occurs in cities. continued on page 14

Currently, most of the coworkers that will be located in the new building are spread across three Downtown buildings.

Another function that will be moved is temporarily located in Fire Station 3 on Warren Coleman Boulevard.

The layouts of these existing buildings are not customerfriendly for governmental operations, and it is extremely difficult to alter these spaces to improve conditions due to their structural limitations. For example, the Municipal Building at 26 Union Street South is actually three different buildings that have been merged together, and many of the walls are load bearing and cannot be moved. When you enter into the collection area in the front of this building, there are limited waiting areas to accommodate customer traffic during peak times. Also, we have been restricted in our ability to create private areas for confidential discussions that take place regarding payment issues.

Another major challenge is the Council Chambers. The current Council Chambers was built to accommodate meetings for a City with one fourth of Concord’s current continued on page 15 concordnc.gov • FALL 2014 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 3

You know how important a strong, vibrant community is to growing business and giving families a great place to call home. Here in Concord a professional city manager orchestrates all of the pieces—working with public officials, as well as civic and business leaders, to move communities forward. Professional managers offer the leadership, transparency, accountability, ethics, and efficiency that make government work for the people. So whether it’s economic development, transportation, recreation, or other public services… it’s your professional manager’s job to work with you to make the community great.

Log on today to learn more about how a professional city manager works to make Concord a community we can be proud to call home.

LifeWellRun.org

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Drivers in Concord will soon notice new signs providing “words to live by” on roadways subject to flooding. The City recently joined the National Weather Service’s Turn Around Don’t Drown program, with the goal of saving lives by raising awareness for motorists.

regularly see warnings without flooding. Signs at these areas can be flipped down to reveal the “Turn Around Don’t Drown” message, supported by other temporary signs that can be removed after the event.

TURN AROUND DON’T DROWN

People often do not consider the hazards associated with crossing flooded areas. The signs provide a “reminder” at the source of the hazard to remind motorists. Signs in parks subject to flooding and along the City’s greenways are a future possibility. In addition to signs, the program also includes awareness campaigns during severe weather seasons and Flood Awareness Week.

Nearly six square miles or just over nine percent of Concord’s City limits are located in the 100-year flood plain.

Flooding in these areas not only affect private property, but also can impact the transportation system. Nationally, most deaths from flooding occur in automobiles as motorists attempt to drive through flooded areas. Twenty-four potential problem areas have been identified along local roadways. Previous mitigation efforts include mapping these areas, and preparing a rapid-response trailer to close roadways. Unfortunately, flooding can occur without sufficient time to deploy these resources.

Through strong departmental partnerships, this program can continue to grow within the community and regionally.

Incorporating this into civic and public education programs will not only help get the word out but promote a safety mindset.

The new flip-down warning signs alert drivers to existing or potentially hazardous road conditions in the 24 identified high-risk locations. Flip-down signs were chosen to reduce the possibility of complacently that may result if motorists

Watch a video about the hazards of flooding, and how to stay safe at youtu.be/jgn9RVau2QI. Additional resources on flooding are available at tadd.weather.gov and concordnc.gov/flood.

Reusable Yard Waste Containers:

Save Money & Reduce Waste The City of Concord requires all bagged yard waste to be contained in clear plastic or paper bags for collection. However, there is another way to prepare yard waste that reduces waste and saves you money.

Citizens may use personal containers such as old trash cans or storage containers for yard waste, in place of clear and paper bags. Containers must be clearly marked “YARD WASTE ONLY” and must not weigh more than 35 pounds when full. Service crews will collect the yard waste inside and leave the empty container behind to be used again. The City is not responsible for stolen or damaged containers.

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Grant to fund electric vehicles, charging stations

by Joseph Beasley The City of Concord has been awarded a grant from the North Carolina Solar Center at N.C. State University to help purchase and install six charging stations for electric vehicles. The grant will also fund two plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) that will replace two older vehicles in the City’s fleet.

The total project is expected to cost $123,329. Funding from the North Carolina Solar Center $69,543, over half of this total. Fleet Services Director Daniel Nuckolls expects charging stations to be installed this fall, and the two electric vehicles to be purchased shortly thereafter.

The City of Concord is making this investment as part of its award-winning program to improve air quality. The charging stations will be strategically placed across the City to promote the use of electric vehicles, which produce zero harmful emissions and reduce dependency on oil.

The investment in charging stations also addresses a growing demand from citizens who are interested in purchasing electric vehicles. Charging stations can help provide peace-of-mind and confidence to drivers of completely electric vehicles, and maximize efficiency of hybrid electric vehicles.

All of the charging stations that will be installed are considered level 2 stations, which charge vehicles three to five times faster than a standard 120-volt electric outlet. Five of the six charging stations will be accessible to the public and initially available free of charge.

Two charging stations will be located Downtown in the Cabarrus Avenue parking deck. Two more stations will be located at Concord Regional Airport, and the fifth publicly accessible station will be located at the Rider Transit Center. A sixth charging station will

eGallon: Compare the costs of driving with electricity What is eGallon?

It is the cost of fueling a vehicle with electricity compared to a similar vehicle that runs on gasoline.

On average, it costs about 3 times less to drive an electric vehicle.

be located at the Alfred M. Brown Operations Center for City use only.

The City already uses two Electric Neighborhood Vehicles for downtown parking enforcement. Both of the new City-owned electric vehicles will be available for frequent use by a variety of people. One will be located at Concord Regional Airport for pilots and flight crews to visit restaurants, stores, and other local businesses. The second electric vehicle will be located at the Brown Operations Center and available as a pool vehicle for City coworkers traveling between facilities or attending meetings in the community.

eGallon vs Gasoline cost

regular gasoline electric eGallon

3.65 1.0 8

least 355 publicly accessible charging stations across North Carolina. The plan estimates that over 750,000 plugin electric vehicles will be on North Carolina’s roads by 2030.

The public can view the locations of publicly accessible electric charging stations across the country by visiting the U.S. Department of Energy’s website at: afdc.energy.gov/locator/ stations

The two new electric vehicles will replace a 1997 Dodge Intrepid and a 2000 Ford Crown Victoria, and will reduce the City’s consumption of gasoline by 1,111 gallons per year. As part of the grant, the City will also monitor and report the kilowatt hours used to determine fuel displacement.

Many municipalities across North Carolina have already deployed public charging stations. Several of these municipalities also do not charge any cost to the public for use of charging stations. In April 2012, Charlotte, NC installed 26 charging stations across the city that remain accessible to the public and free of charge. The North Carolina Plug-In Electric Vehicle Roadmap Plan reported that as of 2012 there were at

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Joseph Beasley is a second-year Master of Public Administration student at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Government.

A Concord native, he spent this summer as an intern for the Cities of Concord and Kannapolis. He graduated summa cum laude with a BA in Political Science and a minor in Spanish from NC State University. Prior to entering the MPA Program, Joseph was a Constituent Services Intern and a Communications Fellow in the Office of North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue.

Concord’s excellence in financial reporting recognized for 25th consecutive year For the twenty-fifth consecutive year, the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the City of Concord by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).

The most recent certificate was for the comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the areas of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management, according to GFOA.

Leigh Ann Sells, Dana Hood, Jessica Jones, Karen McCall, Karen Broadway, and Pam Hinson; not pictured: Kristin Roe. CITY OF CONCORD/CHERIE JZAR

5 2 tiv u c e ns

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“We are pleased to receive this recognition from GFOA once again,” said City Manager Brian Hiatt. “Finance Director Pam Hinson and her team have continued our organization’s tradition of financial excellence established decades ago, and this achievement is well-deserved.”

The annual CAFR describes the City’s financial position, including an independent audit of financial statements. This process and the City’s financial procedures follow City policy, State law, and the generally accepted accounting principles established by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.

The CAFR is produced by the City’s Finance Department accounting team, comprised of Finance Director Pam Hinson, Accounting Manager Jessica Jones, Finance Manager Karen Broadway, and Accountants Dana Hood, Karen McCall, Kristin Roe, and Leigh Ann Sells. Each year, the CAFR is judged by an impartial panel according to the high standards of the program.

Mayor Scott Padgett applauded the City Manager, Finance Director, and staff on behalf of the City Council. “In addition to our conservative budgeting and cash management, this tradition of excellence is added assurance to our community that tax dollars are wellmanaged,” said Padgett.

“The City of Concord has the highest level of financial accountability.”

The GFOA is a nonprofit association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Washington, DC. It established the awards program in 1945 to encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements in preparing comprehensive annual financial reports in the spirit of transparency and full disclosure, and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal. concordnc.gov • FALL 2014 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 7

T This logo for the Concord Wildlife Alliance was created pro bono by Granite Sky Design, who contracts with the City of Concord for production of the City Circular and Leisure Times.

Concord is home to the newest local chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF), the Concord Wildlife Alliance (CWA).

Approximately one year ago, the Concord City Council established a goal to certify Concord as a

Certified Community Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation. A citizen committee that includes local NCWF members was formed to achieve this goal, with establishing CWA as their first step towards Community Wildlife Habitat certification.

CWA officers are Jeff Fink (President), Lynn Tesh (Vice President), Rose Rummel-Eury (Secretary), Ian Prince (Treasurer), Glenda Steel, and Gary Elderbroom (Board Members at Large).

“The citizens of Concord have, without a doubt, the biggest role in CWA’s first project,” said CWA

President, Jeff Fink. “In addition to a few administrative and educational requirements for certification,

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we need Concord citizens to get their back yards certified through NWF. When Concord registered with the Community Wildlife Habitat program, we learned over a hundred back yards had already been certified in the city. We still need at least 99 additional private property certifications, and that is the biggest way citizens can help with this project,” Fink said.

The quickest way to get started is visiting nwf.org/gardenforwildlife. Citizens may also request a hard copy of the certification from the City of Concord or any CWA officer.

“We are proud to introduce the CWA to the citizens of Concord, and we want everyone to get involved with our Community Wildlife Habitat project as well as the other projects and activities the CWA has planned,” said Fink.

Half of every membership donation remains with the chapter to help fund projects that support CWA’s mission, which is “to protect and enhance the natural resources and wildlife habitats of the City of Concord.”

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While both are simple and easy, joining CWA and certifying your back yard are two separate processes. To join CWA, visit ncwf.org/support/ncwf-membership, where a link to the membership form is available.

E

Be sure to select Concord Wildlife Alliance from the “Join a chapter” list.

The Concord Wildlife Alliance invites everyone who is interested in wildlife and natural resource conservation to attend one of its regular meetings. The group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at McGill Baptist Church (5300 Poplar Tent Road).

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t a place known for birdies and eagles, the City of Concord hopes to provide safe haven for turkeys, butterflies, deer, and other wildlife. The City-owned Rocky River Golf Club is now a Certified Wildlife Habitat. This designation by the National Wildlife Federation places the course on a roll of more than 150,000 habitats across the country.

The certification process was spearheaded by course superintendent Joel White following a request by City Manager Brian Hiatt.

White says the NWF designation helps to shelter wildlife from encroaching development on all sides of the course.

David Mizejewski, a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation.

NWF’s Certified Wildlife Habitat program has helped people take action on behalf of wildlife for more than 40 years. The certification at Rocky River is part of the City’s larger effort to achieve Community Wildlife Habitat Certification through the work of the newly formed Concord Wildlife Alliance.

The local chapter of the NC Wildlife Federation is working with City officials to encourage certification for local homeowners, businesses, schools, churches, parks and other institutions that want to make their communities wildlife friendly.

ROCKY RIVER GOLF CLUB NOW CERTIFIED WILDLIFE HABITAT

A “It allows us to maintain a habitat for animals and keeps us moving in the right direction for sustainability,” White explains.

“There will always be 120 acres on the course where there won’t be any development, so it serves as a sanctuary for wildlife.”

The habitat program requires four key elements needed by wildlife – natural food sources, clean water, cover, and places to raise offspring. Rocky River was awarded the designation in May. “Providing a home for wildlife in our communities is the demonstration of a healthy and active ecosystem. There is no more rewarding way to stay connected to nature right outside your door,” says

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At Rocky River, a part of the Embassy Suites Golf Resort & Spa, guests often marvel at the nests of blue heron perched high in wetland trees. White has seen bald eagles in the vicinity too, as well as other forms of animal life.

“About every morning between the fourth and fifth holes there are several deer. And my staff always lets me know if they see something usual like a bobcat or coyote,” says White.

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The course recently partnered with the Mecklenburg Audubon Society to install nearly 50 bird houses for brown-headed nut hatches, which are expected to nest in late autumn.

Learn more about the Certified Wildlife Habitat program at nwf.org/gardenforwildlife, and plan your next golf outing or event at rockyrivergolf.com.

Concord adds Sister City in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island The Concord Sister Cities Association is pleased to announce a new Sister Cities agreement with Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. The agreement became official July 10 when the Concord City Council adopted a resolution inviting Freeport to participate with Concord as a Sister City. The Concord Sister Cities Association Board of Directors had already unanimously approved the agreement.

With the agreement, Concord and Freeport will set up cultural, business, medical, and educational exchanges. It also means that Freeport will encourage Concord visitors to enjoy its many opportunities, including beaches, shopping, golf courses, and restaurants.

Businesses located in the Freeport area pay no taxes in an agreement that extends to 2054. Freeport also is a free trade zone and its International Bazaar offers duty-free shopping. Grand Bahama Island has miles of beautiful beaches, golf courses (including one – The Reef – which was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.), and a Dolphin Experience.

Freeport becomes Concord’s second Sister City, with Killarney, Ireland its first. Freeport has a population of around 55,000 and a strong industrial complex, topped by the Grand Bahama Shipyard, one of the largest in the world.

Concord Sister Association president John Dunlap and past president Rosemary Loftus meet with officials at the Grand Bahama Port Authority. Pictured from left to right are Loftus, Ginger Moxey of Immerse Bahamas, Dunlap, Ian Rolle and Derek Newbold of Grand Bahama Port Authority.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Freeport as our new Sister City for any number of reasons,” said John Dunlap, president of the Concord Sister Cities Association. “Grand Bahama Island is the closest Bahamian island to the United States and there are non-stop flights from Charlotte to Freeport.

The people of Freeport are most welcoming. As it turns out, Freeport and Grand Bahama Island are seriously considering

building a new auto racetrack and have a great interest in NASCAR. Concord certainly has a keen appreciation of that, as well.”

Mayor Scott Padgett also is happy with the pairing and what it means to the city.

“We are pleased to work towards a new partnership with the people of Freeport, Bahamas,” said Padgett. “Since 1993, Concord has enjoyed a rewarding relationship with Killarney, Ireland that has provided cultural and economic benefits to both communities. The work of Sister Cities International and its member communities continues to offer the promise of a better future for our world through peace and mutual understanding. Thank you to the Concord Sister Cities Association for starting the process of broadening our community’s partnership to a new community in Freeport and continuing the successful relationship with Killarney.”

The feeling was mutual.

“We are so excited about the City of Freeport becoming a Sister City with the City of Concord,” shared Ginger M. Moxey, President COURTESY OF JOHN DU NLAP and CEO, Immerse Bahamas.

“The untapped, synergistic opportunities are endless, and we look forward to creating avenues for both cities to benefit and thrive as a result of the signing of the agreement.”

According to Dunlap, adding Freeport should provide a new sense of excitement to the Concord Sister Cities organization and the local community. Those who are interested in joining the association can contact Dunlap at 704-361-3676 or decidedlydunlap@gmail.com.

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When you’re Downtown…

Blue for recycling, Green for trash

When you visit Downtown, help reduce contamination in the new recycle containers by keeping trash out. Treat the blue Downtown containers like you would your black recycle cart at home. Here’s what you can put in each one:

Blue for recycling

Green for trash

do recycle

do not recycle

Residents will be able to recycle many new items to further reduce the waste going to the landfill. Please rinse all food, drink, or other residues from items first.

Here’s an updated list of recyclable items:

CITY OF CONCORD/CHERIE JZAR

Q Empty Aerosol Cans (no paint cans)

Have you seen the new blue and green trash and recycling containers in Historic Downtown Concord? Away-from-home recycling just got easier! The new receptacles reduce waste by providing Downtown visitors a place to recycle, and they reduce litter by providing a place for trash. Blue is for recycling. Green is for trash.

“I’ve heard a few folks ask why the recycle containers are blue, instead of green,” said Concord Environmental Educator, Mandy Smith-Thompson. “Staff worked with Concord Downtown Development Corporation to select the colors. Since the former trash cans were green, the new trash containers are also green. Blue recycle containers were chosen to compliment the green trash containers, while clearly indicating that they serve a different purpose.”

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Q All Plastics (no Styrofoam, bags, or wrap) Q Wide-Mouth Plastic Containers & Lids Q Rigid Plastic Containers & Small Plastic Toys Q Milk & Juice Cartons, & Juice Boxes Q Shredded Paper (placed in clear bags)

These items are not recyclable: Q Plastic Bags, Plastic Film, or Plastic Wrap (recycle shopping bags at participating stores) 1

2

3

4

5

6

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Q Pizza Boxes (or other cardboards with food residue) Q Styrofoam Q Caps (only wide-mouth plastic & steel can lids can be recycled) Q Audio & Video Cassettes, & Photographic Film

Q Aluminum Cans

Q CDs & DVDs

Q Metal Food Cans & Lids

Q Rubber or Tires

Q Glass Bottles & Jars Q Cereal & Food Boxes Q Cardboard Boxes Flattened Q Mixed Paper, Newspapers with Inserts, & Junk Mail Q Paperback Books Q Magazines & Phonebooks Q Spiral Paper Cans (with plastic lids detached)

Q Paint Cans Q Household Glassware Q CFL Light Bulbs Q Clothing (or other fabric) Q Household Garbage

For more information, visit

concordnc.gov or call

704.920.5555

Free paint, and chemical disposal too

Cabarrus County manages the Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at 246 General Services Drive in Concord.

There you will find the Paint Swap Shop, where latex and spray paint are available free of charge. Simply make an appointment and stop by.

Did you know moth balls, nail polish, and many household cleaning products are considered HHW (household hazardous waste)? These and other items are collected from the public and safely recycled or disposed on two days each month.

motor oil, all batteries, lacquer, wood preservative, nail polish, metal polish, polish remover, paint stripper, paint thinner, moth balls, solvents, degreasers, spot removers, kitchen cleaners, oven cleaner, bathroom cleaners, upholstery cleaners, drain cleaners, furniture polish, HHW Facility tile cleaners, powder cleansers, aerosol hours of spray cans, pool chemicals, fluorescent operation: bulbs and tubes, mercury thermometers, and electronic waste.

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month

Unacceptable items include: trash, ammunition, explosives, fireworks, flares, The HHW Facility is a great service to Concord fire extinguishers, medical waste, drugs, gas 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and Cabarrus County citizens. Many locations in cylinders (except 16oz. propane cylinders), the third Saturday NC host just one HHW collection per year, and radioactive materials, commercial waste, of each month most do not have an HHW facility. unknown chemicals, and smoke detectors (send them back to the manufacturer). For Materials accepted are: paint, pesticides, herbicides, rat more information, contact 704-920-EARTH (3278).

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poison, brake fluid, antifreeze, gasoline, kerosene, used

2014 2015

Loose Leaf Collection Schedule

Monday

October 27-31 November 10-14 December 29-31, January 20

Tuesday

November 3-7 December 15-19 January 26-30

Wednesday

October 20-24 December 8-12 January 20-23

Thursday

October 20-24 December 1-5 January 12-16

Friday

February 2-6 February 9-13

This schedule is subject to change due to weather delays and equipment breakdown.

Contact the Customer Care center or check check concordnc.gov for updates.

paper bags weighing less than 35 pounds each.

curb by 6 am the first day of your specified collection week.

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

• Leaves must be free of tree/shrub

• T he City will collect your Christmas

trees, too. Please leave trees at the curb with your regular household garbage. Remove all stands, lights and ornaments.

Second Chance Program

limbs or foreign objects and kept away from storm drains, mail boxes and parked cars.

• Bagged leaves are collected weekly on your regular garbage collection day. Consider bagging your leaves if you cannot wait for loose leaf collection.

• Bagged leaves must be contained in untied, clear plastic or biodegradable

You are required to begin bagging all loose leaves placed at the curb after the leaf crew works your street during the third collection cycle. The Second Chance Program is for anyone who missed the last collection and is willing to pay rather than to bag their leaves and avoid the Code Enforcement penalties.

No loose leaf collection is scheduled on City-observed holidays, including: Thanksgiving (November 24-28) Christmas (December 22-26) New Year’s Day (January 1) Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 19)

C

Second Chance $75 fee

October 27-31 November 17-21 January 5-9

• Place your loose leaves at the

b

Your Loose Leaves will be Collected…

B

If your Garbage Day is…

For updates, contact the

Customer Care Center

704.920.5555 or check our website

concordnc.gov

concordnc.gov • FALL 2014 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 13

From The Mayor continued from page 3

Cities are expected to grow at the rate of 30 percent each year.

By 2040, 67 percent of Americans will live in cities.

For the good of our country and state, North Carolina’s cities must have the authority to control local issues and policies.

Shouldn’t state legislators hold a similar position? Their outcry about interference from Washington, DC into state affairs is commonly heard but not supported by their actions against municipalities. Local elected officials are closest to the people they represent. We live here, are elected here, drive local roads, and go to local churches. We know local issues first hand and are held accountable for our ability to respond to them.

Each municipality should have its own personality, rather than be constrained to a one-size-fits-all set of rules from Raleigh on how to govern. Legislators have held up isolated examples of abuse as their reasoning to apply fixes to local issues such as water systems and airports. When asked by Concord elected officials, they freely admitted we do not have any of those problems here. If there are local problems, then why not work on local solutions with county and municipal elected officials, rather than apply broad action to regions or even the entire state?

aggressive and competitive in 3Stay economic development and job creation.

Forty-seven percent of the labor force is women, and 62 percent hold minimum wage jobs. One third of all women are living below the poverty line. New and better-paying jobs for all segments of our population are the best way to address income inequality.

great K-12 education and job 4Provide training.

In North Carolina, public schools are a state and county responsibility. But, Concord should continue to be active supporters of good education to meet needs of today’s students. This is a moral and economic issue. If our state and county had the best schools in the region and nation, there would be no need for incentives to bring good-paying jobs in the future. We would be the desired place to invest, work, and live.

The political environment in Raleigh has been disheartening to say the least. However, it makes me especially appreciative of our City Council. Together with the City’s staff members who work around the clock to keep our community going, I know we will continue to be the best place to live, work, and play in North Carolina. Let’s hope our state legislators will soon remember where they all come from: cities, towns, and counties.

SAVE THE DATE!

There is no better reason to end this madness than economic development. Cities are where growth and prosperity will take place in our future. At the same time, there are opportunities for the state’s rural and urban areas to work together for the good of all. Local governments should have the ability to manage this growth and all that comes with it as they see fit.

For many years, bringing jobs to our community has been one of City Council’s top one concerns. We have been successful over the years at attracting investment and thousands of jobs to Concord. In order for this to continue and to best serve the community, we need the flexibility to respond to local needs and meet local priorities.

I believe we must remain focused in four areas:

1

Continue adequate funding to maintain our transportation and utility infrastructure. Roads

and bridges, sidewalks, public transit, air transportation, as well as electric, water, and sewer systems are all crucial to everyday life and development of business.

2

Dedication to long-term resilience and decision-making. Protecting our environment and

natural resources such as water and energy, but also making the best use of economic resources and financial stewardship.

14 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • FALL 2014 • concordnc.gov

Friday, November 21

for an evening of fun and festivities:

Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Fireworks New Downtown location: Bicentennial Plaza

EVENT SCHEDULE: 5:30 Children’s activities Trolley and carriage rides

6:00 Family entertainment 7:30 Tree lighting and Fireworks!

Also join us for the Art Walk 6:00-9:00 presented by:

Manager’s Notes continued from page 3

population. Residents coming for meetings when there are topics of great interest often find themselves standing and pressed against a wall.

Meeting and overall building security were also not big concerns when these buildings were constructed and/or renovated. The security of our customers and our coworkers has to be a major consideration in today’s world.

Currently, many similar internal functions are physically separated, making it more difficult to achieve efficiencies. For example, the Customer Care Center (704-920-5555) is located in a different place from service representatives working with customers face-to-face. While many of these coworkers are cross-trained, the physical separation makes it more difficult for them to assist each other during peak times. The new building has been designed so these coworkers will be located in the same area, making such assistance seamless. This will be particularly helpful to reduce instances when customers have to hold for a representative when calling.

Having departments within the same building will help in other areas.

Persons getting permits will be able to pay for them without the City having multiple payment points that can undermine our financial controls. Fire inspectors that are involved in the plans review process will be located in the same area as the planners that are facilitating the development review process. Finally, departments such as Finance will have all coworkers in the same building and near other administrative functions, such as Human Resources and Risk Management, requiring frequent communication.

The new City Hall is the final step of a three step plan the City Council established several years ago. The first was constructing a parking deck on Cabarrus Avenue in 2002. The deck not only provides public parking, but moved employee and City vehicle parking out of Downtown surface lots to make them more convenient for the general public. The deck was also essential to provide customer and employee parking for the rest of the plan. The next step was the construction of the Police Headquarters across the street in 2006, with construction of City Hall being the final piece.

MICHAEL A. ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Moving the City Hall to the new location should also help Downtown by diverting parking demand from the City’s two current buildings on Union Street. More importantly, it will allow these buildings to be used for different purposes, most likely in the private sector. At the same time, functions within the new public building will remain in Downtown so the activity around the City Hall can continue to contribute to the vitality of the heart of Concord. Follow along with the project at concordnc.gov/ newcityhall.

City of Concord Important Phone Numbers Fire, Police, Medical Emergencies . . . . . 911 One number does it all . . . . . . 704-920-5555 Call the Customer Call 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 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 Community Development . . . . . . . 704-920-5143 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 Sewer Construction & Maintenance 704-920-5351 Solid Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5361 Stormwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5360 Tax Collector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5216 TDD/North Carolina Relay . . . . . . 1-800-735-8262 Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5362 Water Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5341 Zoning/Permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-920-5152

concordnc.gov

concordnc.gov • FALL 2014 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 15

Did you know...

8 75

new hybrids are using

fuel

Did you know Rider Transit’s fleet includes new hybrid buses?

43% less

than the traditional diesel buses that they replaced.

less than

In addition, they run quieter and produce

the % ofharmful emissions

of regular buses, helping do their part to improve air quality in Concord and Kannapolis.

If you haven’t used Rider before,

now

is a great time to try transit!

Get started at

ckrider.com Stay Connected Stay 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.

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.

16 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • FALL 2014 • concordnc.gov

Police Officer Mark Hansen

Officer Hansen shows concern and compassion to family In April, Police Officer Mark Hansen and his training officer responded when a couple called to report the theft of their eight-year-old son’s bicycle. After taking the report, the officers felt bad for the boy. When Officer Hansen came back to work a few days later, he brought with him a brand new bicycle for the boy.

Officer Hansen spent his time off searching several stores for a replacement bicycle.

He first checked many pawn shops and the internet for a good replacement, but ended up buying the boy a brand new bicycle from a retail store with his own money.

When Officer Hansen and his training officer presented the new bicycle to the family, the boy was thrilled and his parents were brought to tears.

Mark Hansen was named a Shining STAR for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013-14, and recognized at the August 14 City Council meeting.

The STAR program is an opportunity for City of Concord coworkers to recognize each other for excellent customer service. STAR stands for Special Thanks and Recognition. The City of Concord would like to congratulate Mark for his commitment to our community.