City reports increased services during CIAA tournament weekend

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — City departments and partners increased their services to support this year's College Intercollegiate Athletic Association, CIAA, tournament held Tuesday, Feb. 23, through Sunday, Feb. 28. 
 
City Manager Ron Carlee declared the CIAA tournament an extraordinary event due to the larger-than-normal crowds in Uptown.
 
By declaring the CIAA championship an extraordinary event the city is able to increase services to meet the demands and respond to incidents.  
 
Attached is a list of departments and agencies' event-related updates:
 
Public Safety
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Charlotte Fire Department, Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, MEDIC and federal partners worked together to monitor activities from the CMPD command center Feb. 26-28.

• CMPD reported nine adult arrests in the Uptown area during operational hours of the command center. Of the nine arrests, four were alcohol-related, three were simple assault charges and two were trespassing. CMPD will provide additional information for incidents that occurred outside of command center hours.
• CFD along with Alcohol Law Enforcement, Alcohol Beverage Control and CMPD checked over 100 venues that advertised CIAA related events.
• The fire marshal's office prevention staff patrolled the Uptown area and other event locations to check safety precautions and monitor overcrowding. Staff also provided fire watch at several venues permitted as temporary places of assembly.
• Several event venues were cited and closed due to code violations. The Fire Marshal's Office can provide venue closings and details on Monday during normal business hours.
• CFD also provided extra personnel to staff ATV and fire department tankers to provided life safety and suppression services within the downtown perimeter. These units provided quick response and maneuverability in and out of crowds during the event weekend.
• Due to the CIAA tournament extending this year to Sunday, all CFD staffing will remain throughout Sunday afternoon.

Charlotte Area Transit System

• Charlotte Area Transit System operated bus and extra LYNX Blue Line service in support of CIAA activities.
• CATS ridership results are typically available five to seven5-7 days after an event to ensure all vehicles have been probed for ridership information.

Charlotte Department of Transportation

• CDOT implemented traffic control plans for events associated with the CIAA tournament around the Charlotte Convention Center and Time Warner Cable Arena.

Solid Waste Services
Solid Waste Services provided assistance with traffic control and cleanup.

• SWS delivered over 200 barricades and 40 cones to assist with traffic control.
• Staff total included 12 crews (93 employees) over all three days, throughout the event. There were four shifts per day. One sweeper, three packers and four crew cab pickups were used for final cleanup.
• Collection consisted of over 300 garbage bags and 100 recycling streamers.
• Crews collected litter outside of the main event, sites at Romare Bearden Park and within normal light rail cleanup locations. Cleanup of these areas was completed by 2 a.m. on Jan. 1.
• Event cleanup was completed at 11 a.m. Sunday,with the exception of one vendor location currently in the process of breaking down a tent.

Cox Media Group