Charlottesville City Council (2016-2017)

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See also: City Council, List of members of Charlottesville City Council from 1928 to present, List of Charlottesville City Council sessions, City Government

Charlottesville City Council
CityofCharlottesvilleSeal2018.png
Official city seal of Charlottesville

Charlottesville City Council (2016-2017)
Type: Unicameral (officially nonpartisan)
Electoral District Plurality-at-large
Term Start January 1, 2018
Term End December 31, 2019
Preceded by Charlottesville City Council (2014-2015)
Succeeded by Charlottesville City Council (2018-2019)

Last Election: 2015 election

Next Election: 2017 election

Biographical Information

Website https://www.charlottesville.gov/677/City-Council

The Charlottesville City Council (2016-2017) served as the city's legislative body under the charter of the city, granted by the Legislature in 1946.

2016 retreat

At the February 2016 retreat, a majority of Councilors agreed to make changes to the way meetings were to be conducted. They included a stricter adherence to Robert's Rules of Order, moving work sessions to the second Monday meeting of each month, imposing time limits on discussions, and limiting City Councilor comments to three minutes. [1] However, the biggest controversy centered around a decision to use a lottery system to choose speakers at Council's first public period. [2] Council voted 4-1 on February 16, 2016 to enact the new changes with Bob Fenwick voting no. [3] The new procedures went into effect beginning with the March 7 meeting. [4]

Surveillance cameras

Downtown Mall

Statues

See also: Payne v. City of Charlottesville

In 2017, Charlottesville City Council adopted multiple resolutions announcing its intent for the removal of the statues of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson from the City’s downtown parks, and asking the City Manager’s office to present options for how removal could be accomplished.

  • January 31, 2017 – Mayor Mike Signer holds “Capital of the Resistance” press conference on Downtown Mall.[8]
  • February 6, 2017 – City Council votes 3-2 to remove the statue of Robert E. Lee; unanimously, to rename Lee Park; and to add context to statue of Stonewall Jackson.[8] Kristin Szakos, Wes Bellamy, and Bob Fenwick vote in favor of the statue’s removal. Kathy Galvin and Mayor Mike Signer vote against.
  • In April 2017, the City Council voted three to two (exactly along the lines of the February vote) that the statue be removed completely from Charlottesville and sold to whoever the Council chooses.
  • August 20, 2017 – the City Council unanimously voted to shroud the statue, and that of Stonewall Jackson, in black. The Council "also decided to direct the city manager to take an administrative step that would make it easier to eventually remove the Jackson statue."
  • The statues were covered in black shrouds on August 23, 2017. The tarp was removed in February 2018 by order of a judge.

August 12, 2017 “UNITE THE RIGHT” rally

see also 2017 for timeline of events

Renaming streets, parks, etc.

Salaries & Compensations

Charlottesville Council members were given a salary of $18,000 per year for councilors and $20,000 for the mayor. Their service included two public meetings per month, and overseeing finances and ordinances in the city. Charlottesville has one of the highest average salaries for council members in Virginia. State code sets salary limits for members of city councils based on population, ranging from 35,000 to 74,999. laws of the Commonwealth.

Ordinances

May 1, 2017 – Increased Salaries of members and mayor. City Council increased its members salary starting July 1, 2018 by adopting changes to the City Code, Sec. 2-40. Salaries of members and mayor. The annual salary of members of the city council, except the mayor, was at that time $14,000.00 while the annual salary of the mayor was $16,000.00. Starting July 1, 2018, the annual salary of members of the city council, except the mayor, would increase to $18,000.00, and the annual salary of the mayor $20,000.00 - the maximum range allowed under state guidelines.[10][11]

Resolutions

By Resolution approved on December 18, 2017, the City Council authorize the creation of an initial Charlottesville Police Civilian Review Board (“Board”) composed of eight members to be appointed by the Council to a one-year term. The initial Board was tasked with drafting bylaws and defining the Board’s proposed mission.[12] The initial board was appointed in August 2018.

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References

  1. Web. City Council to Consider Revised Council Procedures, City of Charlottesville, Press Release, City of Charlottesville, February 10, 2016, retrieved December 29, 2016.
  2. Web. Winning the lottery: City Council’s new commenting policy draws controversy, Samantha Baars, News Article, C-Ville Weekly, February 16 2016, retrieved December 29, 2016.
  3. Web. City Council OKs revisions to meeting procedure, Sean Tubbs, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, February 17, 2016, retrieved December 29, 2016.
  4. Web. City Council - New Public Comment Procedures, Press Release, City of Charlottesville, retrieved December 31, 2016.
  5. Web. Mall ambassador program cut in proposed city budget, Lauren Berg, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 7, 2016, retrieved December 31, 2016.
  6. Web. Timeline: Major Downtown Mall developments, Staff reports, News Article, The Daily Progress, retrieved September 19, 2020.
  7. Web. Timeline: Major Downtown Mall developments, Staff reports, News Article, The Daily Progress, retrieved September 19, 2020.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Web. FINAL REPORT INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE 2017 PROTEST EVENTS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, Hunton & Williams LLP, December 1, 2017, retrieved December 1, 2019.
  9. https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/charlottesville-city-council-renames-lee-jackson-parks/article_2c849c98-4a5f-11e7-9781-7f23c7cf1163.html
  10. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title15.2/chapter14/section15.2-1414.6/
  11. Web. Sec. 2-40. - Salaries of members and mayor., City of Charlottesville, May 21, 2023, retrieved May 21, 2023.
  12. http://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=62535

External Links