Curt Walton
Charlotte City Manager
By John Galles
       
Katie Tyler introduced our speaker, Curt Walton. As our new city manager chosen to replace Rotarian Pam Syfert, Curt Walton graduated from UNC Chapel Hill and also from UNC Charlotte. A member of Matthews United Methodist Church, Curt has participated in many organizations including the International City Managers Association, Leadership Charlotte and the United Way. He is married and has a daughter named Hannah, who is headed off to college this fall.
 
He opened his presentation stating that he would happily have Pam Syfert back with the city. He expressed admiration and gratitude for all that he learned from her leadership as city manager. Looking forward to the next 50 years for Charlotte, he said that there is so much good about Charlotte and that we are lucky to be on the growth side of things happening unlike other cities facing substantial declines. Nevertheless, Curt described five areas of focus that are of considerable concern as we face growth and change.
 
First, he addressed the transit repeal effort. Focusing primarily on the financial side, he described that $77 million would be provided by the additional .50% sales tax in 2009 when the repeal would take effect. While that amount is only 4.8 % of the $1.6 billion city budget, it is nearly 20% of the share of the operating budget that would be diminished by the repeal effort. As a result of dedicating the additional sales tax for transit, the city has issued over $300 million of debt. That debt must be repaid or defaulted upon. Default would create even more problems, so we have no choice but to pay those bonds off to keep our city credit rating at a high level. If the repeal is successful, Charlotte would be the only city to ever have paid back the state and federal government for transit dollars. Facing this repeal puts Charlotte in a precarious financial position.
 
Second, he remarked about Charlotte's environment. He started by describing one inch of rain falling on an acre of land simply soaks into the ground. However, when one inch of rain falls on an acre of concrete, that rain creates 27,000 gallons of run-off water that affects everyone downstream. Charlotte has many problems facing its water and storm sewer management process. He also addressed air quality. He admits that Charlotte is getting better, but not quickly enough. He is concerned that if we do not increase our efforts to improve air quality, we will lose federal and state fund assistance. Curt also commented on our trees, the natural scrubbers of our atmosphere. He said we are losing 5 acres per day and that our canopy has decreased from 60% to 45% to even less if this continues.
 
Third, Curt is prepared to pay close attention to economics. He said Charlotte is a great engine of economic activity, but we must continue to support that growth from our center city to our business corridors to our suburbs and make sure we have equal access for all to that activity.
 
Fourth, Curt spoke about managing change. To do that, we must pay close attention to diversity. He said that over 100 different languages are spoken in Charlotte and it is essential that we apply technology and do all we can to maintain southern civility in the midst of all these changes.
 
And fifth, he addressed sustain-ability. We must continue to maintain clean resources; expand green spaces, offer mobility and land development for quality growth. That requires education and continuing support from civic minded community leaders. Curt's respect for private sector leadership is immense. He ended his speech with Q's and A's. He also reported that he had elevated Rotarian Ron Kimble to Deputy City Manager and Jim Schumacher to Assistant City Manager.
   
Head Table: John Lassiter, Mac McCarley, David Zimmerman, Katie Tyler, Ron Kimble, Anthony Foxx;
Invocation: Will Barnhardt
Visitors & Guests: Randall Groves; Health & Happiness: John Tabor; Song: Alan Barnhardt; Piano, Thomas Moore

• Carlos Sanchez and Peter Sidebottom will lead the Chamber's fund drive next spring; Alan Adler was quoted on what it takes to organize a golf tournament, saying "It's a yearlong effort"; Ronnie Bryant provided an editorial on the broader perspective of the region's transportation infrastructure; Tony Zeiss commented on CPCC's growth plan and the upcoming bond request; John Galles and greater Charlotte biz magazine profiled recently retired city manager, Pam Syfert; The discount coupon for the Southern Women's Show has been moved to www.southernshows.com/rotary.
        
• Ronnie Pruett reports his son, David, caught a 4 ½ pound bass last Sunday will fishing in a lake in Camden, SC; According to Thomas Moore, Fran Shafter was the best music teacher he ever had and she taught him how to sing in a more complete way. Thomas is sad to say Fran passed away last week in Wichita; Kurt Waldthausen recently attended a Rotary club meeting in Orvieto, Italy. The meeting started at 8:30 PM and Kurt says "the wine was flowing, 5 courses, smoking breaks after each course outside the restaurant, Grapa (sort of like cognac) flowing in plenty and conversation it appeared with hand and feet - with just me looking at this in amazement." Kurt was the second person to leave early - at 11:45 PM.
          
• David Anderson will have a meeting at his home at 4:00 PM on Sunday, August 26, and another one on Sunday, September 9, for anyone considering going to Peru. The meeting will last about an hour and is intended to answer questions and provide info about the 2008 trip. Again, the group will leave Charlotte on February 8 and return February 17. The approximate cost is $2100 and a $100 non-refundable deposit is due by October 8.
     
• Ed Lewis has provided information on the Charlotte Bobcats Youth Foundation: donors (individual or corporate) can purchase tickets through the Foundation Tickets for Kids Program to give deserving youth an opportunity to attend a Bobcats game. Contact Ed Lewis, 704-688-8875, for details.
  
• School Tools is an annual campaign designed to collect school supplies for students in need in the community. Classroom Central, Communities in Schools, and WSOC-TV partner to make this annual event a huge success. Lined notebook paper, glue sticks, and pencils are very much needed and can be dropped off at the Rotary check-in desk over the next few weeks.

• Interact Club update: John Snyder presented a $750 check to Myers Park Principal Tom Spivey and IB Coordinator Ron Thomas that will be used while hosting the World View Seminar. The Seminar, sponsored by CMS, provides training for 600 teachers region-wide. Interact member Katherine Shintay expressed thanks to the club for sponsoring her enrollment in the week-long RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) program held at Gardner-Webb University.

• President David thanked John Johnson for repairing the club's lectern, which David says displays the signature of those that have made repairs in years past: 1951 R. D. Long; 1968 L. Betchold; 1993 (couldn't read the name). John has signed in for 2007.

• Luther Moore and members of the Student & Group Exchange committee are in need of host families for this year's exchange student, Isabel Masa Tejada. Isa arrives in Charlotte on the 20th and a family from Charlotte Country Day will be her host through November. Hosting opportunities are available from December - February and March - May. If you have tickets to a ballgame, etc., or would like to include Isa in your weekend activities or holiday events - contact Lamar Thomas, Luther Moore, or Ed Wadsworth.

The Classification and Membership Committee recommend and the Directors approve for consideration for all members, the following NEW MEMBERS. Should you question the eligibility of any nominee, please call the Rotary Office by August 20th. You will be contacted by a member of the Board. Otherwise, no reply is necessary and election will proceed according to our bylaws.