Charlottesville City Council (2018-2019)
See Main Article: City Council
The 2018-2019 City Council is the current legislative branch that governs the City of Charlottesville. The 1946 City Charter established the current "Council-Manager" form of government in which Voters elect the nonpartisan, part-time Council. All five members of Council are elected at-large, and are required by the City Charter to appoint the Mayor, Vice-Mayor, City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk of Council. The Mayor is a fifth member of the City Council, chairs the Council meetings and acts as the official head of the city government. The City Manager administers the city government, carrying out the policies of City Council.
Wes Bellamy, (as of 2016)
Kathy Galvin, (as of 2012)
Heather Hill, Vice-mayor (as of 2018)
Mike Signer, (as of 2016)
Nikuyah Walker, Council Mayor (as of 2018)
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.
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.
First 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
According to city communications director Brian Wheeler, under the city charter, the council hires the city manager, the clerk of council and the city’s finance director. The council has an advisory role in appointing the city attorney.[7] Among the officers and clerks who have served at the pleasure of the 2018-2019 Council Council:
City Manager
The City Manager is appointed by the City Council and serves at the “pleasure” of the governing body and 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.
- Tarron Richardson, (first day on the job will be May 13, 2019)[8]
- Mike Murphy, Interim (as of July 31, 2018)
- Maurice Jones (December 6, 2010 to July 31, 2018)
Assistant City Managers
- Mike Murphy, (August 1, 2015 to present)
- Leslie Beauregard, (August 1, 2015 to present)
- Kaki Dimock, Interim (2019)[9]
City Attorney
- John C. Blair (as of August 15, 2018)
- Lisa Robertson, Interim (January 2018 to August 15, 2018)
- Craig Brown (2001 to January 2018)
Deputy City Attorneys
- Lisa Robertson, (~2002 to present)
- Allyson Manson-Davies, (2007 to present)
City Council Clerk
- Kyna Thomas (as of January 28, 2019)
- Brian Wheeler, Interim (September 21, 2018 to January 28, 2019)
- Paige Rice (May 1, 2010 to September 21, 2018)
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.
- Chris Cullinan, (as of December 1, 2014)
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.[10]
- 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.[11]
- 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.[12]
- 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.[13]
City Council Standing Committee assignments (2018 – 2019)
Body | Meeting Time | Councilor |
---|---|---|
Albemarle/Charlottesville Regional Jail Authority [14] | 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 [15] | 2nd Tuesday, 8:30am-10am | Walker |
Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program [16] | 3rd Wednesday, 8-9am | Bellamy |
Greater Charlottesville Development Corporation (GCADC) | tbd | Bellamy |
Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority (CRHA) [17] | 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 [18] |
Housing Advisory Committee [19] | Every 3rd Wednesday, 12pm | Hill |
Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) | 4th Monday, noon | Hill [20] |
Jefferson Area Community Criminal Justice Board [21] | 2nd Monday of every other month (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep & Nov) at 5:00 p.m. [22] | Walker |
LEAP Advisory Board | tbd | Signer |
Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board | 3rd Wednesday of every month at 4:00 p.m [23] | Galvin |
Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board | 3rd Wednesday of every month at 4:00 p.m [24] | Signer |
Mobilization for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) | twice annually, Tuesday 8:30-10am | Walker |
Piedmont Housing Alliance – Friendship Court Committee [25] | as needed (generally meets on the fourth Thursday of every month) [26] | Galvin [27] |
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. [28] | 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. [29] | Hill |
Retirement Commission | 4th Wednesday of every month at 8:30 a.m. [30] | Hill |
Rivanna River Basin Commission (RRBC) [31] | 1st Tuesday, 11:30am-12:30pm (FY19 Quarterly) [32] | Signer |
Rivanna Solid Waste Authority (RSWA) [33] | 4th Monday of every month at 2pm [34] | Galvin [35] |
Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (RWSA) | 4th Tuesday of every month at 2:15pm (RWSA) [36] | Galvin [37] |
Hydraulic Planning Advisory Panel (typically Mayor) [38] | 2nd/4th Thursday, 2-4pm | Galvin [39] |
School Capital Projects | as needed | Bellamy |
School Capital Projects | as needed | Walker |
Social Services Advisory Board [40] | 4th Monday of every month at 12:00 p.m. | Walker |
Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission [41] | 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
Council holds public meetings on the first and third Monday of each month starting at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers in City Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 605 East Main Street. Meetings are open to the public and are televised on Cable Channel 10, as well as streamed online.
- Starting time of the meeting was changed from 6:00 p.m. with the adoption of the revised Council Meeting Procedures as passed by Council on February 5, 2018.
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 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. [42]
History of Council-Manager form of government
- In 2004, the City Council moved the municipal elections from May to November.[43]. The first November elections was held on November 6, 2007, new members of the council City Council took office on January 1, 2008.
- In the 1922 election, a slim majority of the voters changed the local government from a Council-Mayor form of government by approving adoption of the council-manager form of city government. This form of government centralizes legislative authority and responsibility in the elected City Council. Administrative authority and responsibility are held by the City Manager, who is appointed by the City Council. The 1922-1924 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.
- By referendum in the Election held December 17, 1920, a slim majority adopted the form of Government provided by the Code of Virginia known as the “Modified Commission Form”.
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.
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References
- ↑ Web. Walker selected as Charlottesville’s next Mayor after public discussion, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, January 3, 2018, retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=61955
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=62017
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=61955
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=62017
- ↑ https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/city-council-format-change
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Web. Packet for March 6, 2019 public interviews of managerial candidates, March 5, 2019, retrieved March 6, 2019.
- ↑ Web. [ ], Josh Needelman, The Daily Progress, May 22, 2019, retrieved May 22, 2019.
- ↑ Web. City Manager's Budget Letter 2018, Office of the City Manager, July 1, 2018
- ↑ https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/city/toscano-bell-oppose-city-charter-changes-likely-dooming-salary-proposal/article_463f627c-0fb0-11e9-a2dc-abcb4f9febda.html
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=63920
- ↑ https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/city/toscano-bell-oppose-city-charter-changes-likely-dooming-salary-proposal/article_463f627c-0fb0-11e9-a2dc-abcb4f9febda.html
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/albemarle-charlottesville-regional-jail-authority
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/cat-advisory-board
- ↑ http://www.cvillescholarship.com/
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/housing-authority
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/neighborhood-development-services/historic-preservation-and-design-review/historic-resources-committee/members
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/housing-advisory-committee
- ↑ http://www.jabacares.org/jabas-board-directors
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/jefferson-area-community-criminal-justice-board
- ↑ http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/webapps/boards/bc/showrecs.asp?ID=40
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/metropolitan-planning-organization-policy-board
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/metropolitan-planning-organization-policy-board
- ↑ https://piedmonthousingalliance.org/
- ↑ http://www.friendshipcourtapartments.com/advisory-committee/
- ↑ http://www.friendshipcourtapartments.com/advisory-committee/
- ↑ https://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=ctyexec&relpage=13535
- ↑ https://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=ctyexec&relpage=13535
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/retirement-commission
- ↑ http://www.rivannariverbasin.org/
- ↑ http://www.rivannariverbasin.org/meeting-materials-RRBC.php
- ↑ https://www.rivanna.org/recycling-and-waste-disposal/
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/rivanna-solid-waste-authority
- ↑ https://www.rivanna.org/who-we-are/our-board-of-directors/
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/rivanna-water-and-sewer-authority
- ↑ https://www.rivanna.org/who-we-are/our-board-of-directors/
- ↑ http://www.route29solutions.org/panels_meetings/hydraulic_planning_advisory_panel.asp
- ↑ http://www.route29solutions.org/panels_meetings/hydraulic_planning_advisory_panel_members.asp
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/social-services-advisory-board
- ↑ http://campo.tjpdc.org/committees/policy-board/
- ↑ http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-a-g/city-council/our-town-charlottesville
- ↑ https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/future-of-charlottesville-governance