Charlottesville City Council (2018-2019): Difference between revisions

From Cvillepedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
mNo edit summary
mNo edit summary
Line 181: Line 181:
The purpose of Matters by the Public is to offer individuals an opportunity to state a position, provide information to City Council, comment on the services, policies and affairs of the City, or present a matter that, in the speaker’s opinion, deserves the attention of City Council. Speakers may speak for a maximum of three minutes and are requested to begin by identifying their name and address.
The purpose of Matters by the Public is to offer individuals an opportunity to state a position, provide information to City Council, comment on the services, policies and affairs of the City, or present a matter that, in the speaker’s opinion, deserves the attention of City Council. Speakers may speak for a maximum of three minutes and are requested to begin by identifying their name and address.
====January 2, 2018====
====January 2, 2018====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable"
!  !! Community Matters from January 2, 2018
!  !! Community Matters from January 2, 2018
|-
|-

Revision as of 00:08, 17 June 2019

See Main Article: City Council

The Charlottesville City Council, 2018-2019, is the current governing body of the City of Charlottesville.

The Charlottesville City Council is composed of five members who are elected "at-large" by City voters, operate as a single entity and granted by the City Charter and the Code of Virginia with the power of establishing laws in the city, adopting an annual budget and setting tax levels. In January 2018, at the first regular meeting after the November 2017 election, the president of the council (called "mayor") and the president pro tempore (called "vice-mayor") were elected by the council to serve two-year terms. The mayor is a fifth member of the City Council, chairs the council meetings and acts as the official head of the city government.

Regular council meetings are held in the City Hall on the first and third Monday of each month starting at 6:30 p.m. except on holidays or if decided by special resolution.

City population

The total population reported in the City of Charlottesville for 2017-2018 was 43,475 (according to the U.S. Census Bureau Quickfacts). The area within the city limits is 10.27 square miles.

Organization

The City of Charlottesville is administered by a Council-Manager form of government in which five citizens are elected at-large to serve on the City Council and select a City Manager to carry out the policies of City Council. The City Council establishes the City's public policy through resolutions and ordinances, approves proposed programs, and controls the funding of these programs. The City Council is guided by the City Charter, as adopted and approved by the Virginia General Assembly in 1946, and by its own rules of procedure, resolutions and ordinances. The City Council is required by the City Charter to elect one of its members to act as president (called Mayor) by presiding over its meetings and continue in office two years; a vice-president (Vice-mayor); a City Manager; a City Clerk of Council; and a City Finance Director.

Prior to the 1946 Charter, under the old Council-Mayor form, Councilor members were elected from the four wards to provide the legislative role as the governing body of the city and a Mayor elected-at-large to oversee the day-to-day government operations through a Chief Administrative Officer.

School Board

The city has an elected school board, which oversees the operation of the K–12 public schools in the city.

Elections

Since 2006, municipal elections have been held the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years. Two open council seats (previously held by Kristin Szakos and Bob Fenwick) were up at the last municipal election held on November 7, 2017. Two new members of City Council were chosen by the city voters - Nikuyah Walker and Heather Hill; See also: 2017 election. The November 5, 2019 municipal election will include three open seats on the city council - Kathy Galvin, Mike Signer and Wes Bellamy have each declined to seek re-election. See also 2019 election.

City Council Organizational Meeting

The first meeting of the 2018-2019 City Council was held on January 2, 2018, Nikuyah Walker was elected as mayor, and Heather Hill became vice mayor. [1] City Council committee assignments were also determined at this meeting. (see below)

Salary and Compensation

Currently, councilors make $18,000 a year and the mayor makes $20,000 a year. The range is the maximum allowed under state guidelines.

Term of office

The terms of Council members are staggered so that three are elected in one year and two are elected two years later. At the first regular meeting of the Council after the election, Council members elect one of their own to serve as Mayor and one as Vice Mayor. Both are two-year terms. There are no limits to the consecutive terms in office.

Duties & Powers

The City operates under the City Manager-Council form of government, with all legislative powers vested in a five-member Council elected at-large by all voters of the City for four-year terms. As the legislative body, the City Council is responsible for adopting all ordinances and resolutions, approving the annual operating and capital budgets, setting all tax rates, approving the City's multi-year Capital Improvements Plan (CIP), setting all user fees, making land use and zoning decisions, and establishing long range plans and policies.

FY 2018 City's Annual Adopted Budget

  • (July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018)[2]
  • Total Operating Budget: $157,102,268
  • Total City Budget: FY 2017-2018: $171,657,127[3]

FY 2019 City's Annual Adopted Budget

  • (July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019)[4]
  • Total Operating Budget: $164,954,032
  • Total City Budget: FY 2018-2019: $179,725,535[5]

FY 2018 to FY 2019 Change

  • Total Operating Budget Increase: $7,851,764 (5.0%)
  • Total City Budget Increase: $8,068,408 (4.7%)

Rules and Procedures

At the conclusion of their annual retreat, held in February 2018, the City Council revised the Rules and Procedures for conducting council meetings in an effort "to help City Council conduct its affairs in a timely and efficient manner, while encouraging a robust and meaningful dialogue with members of the community." The revised Council Meeting Procedures was passed by Council on February 5, 2018. Council last made major changes to its meeting procedures in February 2016, when an effort was made to make meetings more formal.[6]

City Officers

Among the officers and clerks who have served at the pleasure of the 2018-2019 Council Council:

City Manager

The City Manager, appointed by the City Council, acts as the City’s Chief Executive Officer. The City Council delegates broad administrative power to the City Manager subject to its review. Qualifications, powers and duties of the City Manager are provided for in the City Charter.

City Council Clerk

City Finance Director

The Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer assists the City Manager in the operational and financial aspects of all City functions and coordinates interdepartmental activities.

City Attorney

According to city communications director Brian Wheeler, under the city charter, the council has an advisory role in appointing the city attorney.[8]

Appointment of advisory boards, committees and commissions

refer to Main Article: List of Boards and Commissions

Adopted Budgets

  • FY 2019 City Budget (July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019): As adopted by the City Council, the total General Fund Budget of $179,725,535 represents a 4.70% increase over FY 2018.[9]
  • Cities are authorized to issue general obligation bonds so long as total general indebtedness does not exceed ten percent of assessed value of taxable real property; no referendum required. There is no amount limitation imposed regarding revenue bonds. (Virginia Constitution, Article VII, §10)

Major Highlights of the FY 2019 Budget

  • $3.4 million was budgeted in the CIP for the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund, keeping the commitment to double the fund from FY 2017 levels, totaling $17.0 million in the 5-year plan.
  • $106,400 budgeted for the Residents on the Job Program, managed by the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority (CRHA). This program intended to support low-income residents in apprenticeships to rehabilitate 23 public housing units and train residents for jobs in the construction field.
  • City/County Revenue Sharing decreasing by $159,125.
  • City Council established a fee schedule for Emergency Medical Services vehicle transport services. FY 2019 is the first full year of this program, and it is expected to generate $1.4 million in revenue.
  • $500,000 is included in the Budget for the City Council Strategic Initiatives Fund for the African American Heritage Center at the Jefferson School.
  • $100,000 to cover the City Council Strategic Initiatives Fund will be used to fund a pilot Participatory Budgeting initiative.
  • $122,000 is budgeted for an Assistant City Attorney to provide support for the legal representation of City departments, commissions and elected officials.
  • At a cost of approximately $115,000, living wage in FY 2019 will increase to $14.40, the first year of a two-year plan to raise the living wage to $15.00 per hour.

see also Charlottesville Office of Budget and Performance Management

Events

  • December 3, 2019: Councilors voted, 3-2, to allow the city to operate outside of state guidelines for mayor and councilor pay — $18,000 a year for councilors and $20,000 a year for mayor - and determine their own pay. The proposed changes to the current city charter included moving the municipal elections from May to November.[10]
On motion by Wes Bellamy, seconded by Kathy Galvin, Council authorized that a request be made of state legislators to amend the City Charter so allow City Council to set its own compensation.[11]
FOR : Nikuyah Walker, Wes Bellamy, Kathy Galvin
AGAINST : Heather Hill, Mike Signer
On January 3, 2019, Delegate David J. Toscano (D-Charlottesville), said that he would not introduce the changes in the upcoming General Assembly session, to start on January 9, 2019. “Introducing a charter that would allow the City Council to raise their salaries to an untapped amount is a non-starter in the General Assembly,” Toscano said.[12]

City Council Standing Committee assignments (2018 – 2019)

Body Meeting Time Councilor
Albemarle/Charlottesville Regional Jail Authority [13] 2nd Thursday of every other month at 12:30 p.m. Bellamy
Audit Committee (annually) as needed Signer
Audit Committee (annually) as needed Hill
Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) Advisory Board [14] 2nd Tuesday, 8:30am-10am Walker
Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program [15] 3rd Wednesday, 8-9am Bellamy
Greater Charlottesville Development Corporation (GCADC) tbd Bellamy
Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority (CRHA) [16] 4th Monday, 6:00pm Bellamy
Darden Towe Park Board annually in September / as needed Signer
Darden Towe Park Board annually in September / as needed Hill
Historic Resources Committee 2nd Mondays, 11am-12pm, NDS Conf. Room Hill [17]
Housing Advisory Committee [18] Every 3rd Wednesday, 12pm Hill
Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) 4th Monday, noon Hill [19]
Jefferson Area Community Criminal Justice Board [20] 2nd Monday of every other month (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep & Nov) at 5:00 p.m. [21] Walker
LEAP Advisory Board tbd Signer
Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board 3rd Wednesday of every month at 4:00 p.m [22] Galvin
Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board 3rd Wednesday of every month at 4:00 p.m [23] Signer
Mobilization for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) twice annually, Tuesday 8:30-10am Walker
Piedmont Housing Alliance – Friendship Court Committee [24] as needed (generally meets on the fourth Thursday of every month) [25] Galvin [26]
Piedmont Workforce Network (PWN) Council Quarterly, time varies Walker
Planning and Coordination Council (PACC) (typically Mayor & Vice Mayor) Quarterly, 3rd Thursday of the month (Feb, May, Aug, & Nov) at 2:00 p.m. [27] Walker
Planning and Coordination Council (PACC) (typically Mayor & Vice Mayor) Quarterly, 3rd Thursday of the month (Feb, May, Aug, & Nov) at 2:00 p.m. [28] Hill
Retirement Commission 4th Wednesday of every month at 8:30 a.m. [29] Hill
Rivanna River Basin Commission (RRBC) [30] 1st Tuesday, 11:30am-12:30pm (FY19 Quarterly) [31] Signer
Rivanna Solid Waste Authority (RSWA) [32] 4th Monday of every month at 2pm [33] Galvin [34]
Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (RWSA) 4th Tuesday of every month at 2:15pm (RWSA) [35] Galvin [36]
Hydraulic Planning Advisory Panel (typically Mayor) [37] 2nd/4th Thursday, 2-4pm Galvin [38]
School Capital Projects as needed Bellamy
School Capital Projects as needed Walker
Social Services Advisory Board [39] 4th Monday of every month at 12:00 p.m. Walker
Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission [40] 1st Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. Signer
Virginia First Cities 1st Friday, Quarterly (all day) Galvin (Bellamy, alt)

City Council Regular Meetings

Regular council meetings are held in the City Hall, Council Chambers, on the first and third Monday of each month starting at 6:30 p.m., except on holidays or if decided by special resolution. Meetings are open to the public and televised on Cable Channel 10, as well as streamed online.

On February 5, 2018, the starting time of the regular meeting changed from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with the the council's adoption of revised Council Meeting Procedures.

Community Matters

At Council’s regularly scheduled meetings, two opportunities are to be afforded for members of the public to address Council as outlined in the Charlottesville City Council Meeting Procedures Passed by Council on February 5, 2018:

One Matters by the Public session will be offered early in the meeting, which shall be called "Community Matters" (formerly Matters by the Public) (Limited to 16 speakers, maximum).
A second Matters by the Public session will be offered as the final item on a regular meeting agenda.

The purpose of Matters by the Public is to offer individuals an opportunity to state a position, provide information to City Council, comment on the services, policies and affairs of the City, or present a matter that, in the speaker’s opinion, deserves the attention of City Council. Speakers may speak for a maximum of three minutes and are requested to begin by identifying their name and address.

January 2, 2018

January 16, 2018

  1. Dave Ghamandi (Albemarle County) said people will not be civil when fighting against profit-making, racism and militarism. He said budgets are moral documents, and he called for a massive investment in jobs, housing and peace. He called for an investment in housing controlled by community land trusts.
  2. Michael Payne said he saw a news story on NBC 29 about Crescent Halls regarding a burst pipe and sewage on the floor. He compared monetary allocations for public housing to funding for other projects throughout the City. He asked Council to consider affordable housing and the needs of vulnerable citizens when developing the budget. Ms.
  3. Jalane Schmidt said she found the transparency of the January 2 Council meeting refreshing, and she encouraged Council to continue with that level of transparency. She said people are being uncivil because they feel the City is being sold out from under them to the highest bidder. People who have been calling for a return to civility have wider access to elected officials than the average member of the community. She asked whose names are on the list for the Council retreat at Morven Farms.
  4. Don Gathers described the reasons why City Council meetings have recently experienced anarchy, and why he believes it will continue. He said civility is shrouded for the time being and called on Council to listen to all members of the community equally.
  5. Matthew Slaats (Crozet resident) advocated for participatory budgeting to rebuild trust. He also said the City needs to rethink how the Comprehensive Plan moves forward. He called on Council to create a truly public process, and create a plan that addresses the community's needs.
  6. Jojo Robertson said there is a problem at Crescent Halls, and she said the Facebook page she started called "Caring for the Cville Community" has been addressing the same issues over the past two and a half years. She said a Council cannot demand respect, but instead has to earn trust. She asked Council to revert to the old rules.
  7. Paul Long spoke on public transportation. He said City buses should run during the holidays. He called for bus routes to run every 20 minutes to encourage use of public transportation. He said this issue is more important now that Charlottesville is growing.
  8. Mary Carey said the issue at Crescent Halls is active and needs to be addressed. She recounted a comment during a recent CRHA meeting that she considered offensive.
  9. Peter Krebs thanked the County for acquiring park land for Vista Run. He described what the event regarding 5th/Ridge/McIntire will cover and encouraged community members to attend.
  10. Nancy Carpenter thanked Ms. Walker for her recent representation on The View]. She said she was putting her fist in the air in solidarity with Ms. Mary Carey. She called on the City to repair Crescent Halls, and at the least, address major maintenance issues while waiting for a permanent resolution.

City Council Work Sessions

2018 City Council Work Sessions

2019 City Council Work Sessions

  • January 23: Joint Worksession with Charlottesville School Board.
  • January 30: Joint Worksession with the Albemarle Board of Supervisors.
  • January 31: Budget Worksession.

"Our Town" meetings

The 2017-2018 City Council added the "Town Hall meeting" public forum to their revised Council Meeting Rules and Procedures as passed by Council on February 5, 2018.

The 2009-2010 City Council approved a community initiative called "Our Town Charlottesville" intended to bring town hall style meetings to City neighborhoods so that residents would be encouraged to discuss emerging issues and voice concerns and preferences about their respective communities. [41]

History of City Charters and Amendments

  • In the 1916 election, the Commission Plan was defeated by a margin of 257 to 178. Voters of Charlottesville chose not to adopt the new idea of municipal government known as the Commission-Manager form fast being adopted throughout the different states. (Staunton, Virginia created the council-manager form of government in 1908, which now serves as a standard form of government across the United States.)
  • By referendum in the Election held on December 17, 1920, a slim majority of voters voted to request their local member of the General Assembly submit a bill granting the city a new form of government as provided by the 1919 Code of Virginia known as the "Modified Commission Form". The General Assembly approved a new charter for the city on March 24, 1922. This new form of government centralizes legislative authority and responsibility in the elected City Council with administrative authority and responsibility to be held by the City Manager, who was to be appointed by the City Council. The first City Council under this new form of government took office on September 1, 1922 and appointed B. A. Bennett, from Hill City, as City Manager the same day.


Logo-small25.jpg This article is a stub. You can help cvillepedia by expanding it.


References

  1. Web. Walker selected as Charlottesville’s next Mayor after public discussion, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, January 3, 2018, retrieved March 26, 2019.
  2. http://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=61955
  3. http://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=62017
  4. http://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=61955
  5. http://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=62017
  6. https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/city-council-format-change
  7. Web. Packet for March 6, 2019 public interviews of managerial candidates, March 5, 2019, retrieved March 6, 2019.
  8. https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/council-decides-on-process-for-hiring-city-attorne, Council decides on process for hiring city attorney, Charlottesville Tomorrow, Sean Tubbs, April 14, 2018, May 22, 2019
  9. Web. City Manager's Budget Letter 2018, Office of the City Manager, July 1, 2018
  10. https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/city/toscano-bell-oppose-city-charter-changes-likely-dooming-salary-proposal/article_463f627c-0fb0-11e9-a2dc-abcb4f9febda.html
  11. http://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=63920
  12. https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/city/toscano-bell-oppose-city-charter-changes-likely-dooming-salary-proposal/article_463f627c-0fb0-11e9-a2dc-abcb4f9febda.html
  13. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/albemarle-charlottesville-regional-jail-authority
  14. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/cat-advisory-board
  15. http://www.cvillescholarship.com/
  16. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/housing-authority
  17. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/neighborhood-development-services/historic-preservation-and-design-review/historic-resources-committee/members
  18. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/housing-advisory-committee
  19. http://www.jabacares.org/jabas-board-directors
  20. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/jefferson-area-community-criminal-justice-board
  21. http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/webapps/boards/bc/showrecs.asp?ID=40
  22. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/metropolitan-planning-organization-policy-board
  23. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/metropolitan-planning-organization-policy-board
  24. https://piedmonthousingalliance.org/
  25. http://www.friendshipcourtapartments.com/advisory-committee/
  26. http://www.friendshipcourtapartments.com/advisory-committee/
  27. https://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=ctyexec&relpage=13535
  28. https://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=ctyexec&relpage=13535
  29. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/retirement-commission
  30. http://www.rivannariverbasin.org/
  31. http://www.rivannariverbasin.org/meeting-materials-RRBC.php
  32. https://www.rivanna.org/recycling-and-waste-disposal/
  33. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/rivanna-solid-waste-authority
  34. https://www.rivanna.org/who-we-are/our-board-of-directors/
  35. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/rivanna-water-and-sewer-authority
  36. https://www.rivanna.org/who-we-are/our-board-of-directors/
  37. http://www.route29solutions.org/panels_meetings/hydraulic_planning_advisory_panel.asp
  38. http://www.route29solutions.org/panels_meetings/hydraulic_planning_advisory_panel_members.asp
  39. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/social-services-advisory-board
  40. http://campo.tjpdc.org/committees/policy-board/
  41. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-a-g/city-council/our-town-charlottesville
  42. https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/future-of-charlottesville-governance
  43. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title15.2/chapter2/section15.2-201/

External Links