31 January 2008 Streetscape From Tuesday The steering committee of the Gateway Corridors and Connector Streets Economic Development Program, commonly know as Streetscape, met on Tuesday for an update on the status of this 20-year roadway improvement program. Fifth Avenue from Main Street to Bridge Street, and Third Avenue North from Main Street to Bridge Street are in the construction bid process, with bids due February 21. Columbia Avenue from Main Street to Fowlkes Street is nearly ready to bid. Hillsboro Road, the project with the highest priority is also the most complicated. We will need to make some decisions very soon - including looking at possible alternative overhead routes for major electric transmission lines because the cost of burying these lines is prohibitive. MTEMC is working on conceptual alternatives for routing these lines. The committee will next meet on February 21 at 5:00pm. at city hall.   BOMA Work Session on Water From Tuesday Following the Streetscape meeting, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen met to begin evaluation of our city's drinking water supply. We heard a detailed analysis of the cost for upgrading the Water Treatment Plant versus the cost for purchasing all of our drinking water from Harpeth Valley Utility District (HVUD). The city has been issued an Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP) by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) that indicates continued withdrawal from the Harpeth River within established limits would not degrade this resource. The decision before BOMA is whether the city will continue to be a manufacturer of drinking water or whether we will be a water distributor only. There are pros and cons of either decision, such as continuing to have redundancy in the system and being able to control rates - both important components of this equation. And while cost is important, cost should not be the most important consideration, in my opinion. We require significant infrastructure investment in our drinking water delivery system and storage capacity regardless of which direction we choose to take. Proposed Charter Amendments At the regular Budget and Finance committee meeting on Monday, I recommended the following amendments to the City Charter: 1) To provide that the Board of Mayor and Aldermen have responsibility for only one employee, the City Administrator, and that the City Administrator have complete oversight for the Department Directors; 2) In the event of an election tie that the Board of Mayor and Aldermen be allowed to either break the tie, call for a special election, or use whatever other process is allowed by State law; and 3) In the event of a board vacancy that the Board of Mayor and Aldermen be allowed to appoint a replacement, call for a special election, or use whatever other process is allowed under State law. These amendments were approved by the committee and forwarded to BOMA for consideration on February 12. If approved by the full board, they will be sent to the General Assembly for consideration in this legislative session. A two-thirds majority of BOMA will be required for ratification after approval by the State Legislature, anticipated to occur in May. Transportation for Monday 2/4 1.    Consideration of the City of Franklin Public Transportation Report as prepared by TranSystems. 2.    Consideration of professional services agreement for fulltime construction management and inspection services for the Franklin Gateway Corridors and Connector Streets Project, Phase I, Third Avenue and Fifth Avenue. 3.    Consideration of the performance agreement with Franklin Realty Investors Partnership for traffic signalization at the Spring Creek Center development. 4.    Consideration of the traffic improvements development agreement with Franklin Realty Investors Partnership for the design and construction of traffic signalization at the Spring Creek Center development. 5.    Consideration of the realignment agreement with South Carothers Partners for payment of costs for the redesign of relocation of South Carothers Parkway on the Lockwood property. 6.    Report on the Transportation Summit scheduled for March 7 at City Hall. 7.    Report on the Columbia Avenue TPR public hearing held last week. City Hall Redevelopment Proposals Due Today Today is the deadline for submission of redevelopment proposals for the city hall site, to include a new city hall on the square. One of the four finalists who were invited to present has withdrawn from consideration, so three creative proposals are expected. I am anxious to see what these creative teams recommend at this very desirable location. A hotel has been suggested, but we'll have to see if such is included in any or all of the concepts. This is one of the most underutilized sites in town, located at the very heart of our city and there is no better opportunity for mixed-use redevelopment and economic revitalization than what this site offers. If we truly want to extend our Main Street experience, we should do it here first, on the square, directly connected to Main Street - not isolated out Columbia Avenue. I hope we will be able to continue our aggressive design schedule for this project, but all is dependant upon awarding the construction contract for the Police Headquarters building at February's board meeting.