Charlottesville City Council (2020-2021)

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

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• Charlottesville City Council (2020-2021); Term runs from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021
• 

  Sena Magill (D), Title: Vice President (Vice mayor); member since January 2020; next election: November 7, 2023

• 

  Lloyd Snook (D), Title: Councilor; member since January 2020; next election: November 7, 2023

• 

  Michael Payne (D), Title: Councilor; member since January 2020; next election: November 7, 2023

• 

  Nikuyah Walker (I), Title: President (Mayor); member since January 2018

• 

  Heather Hill (D), Title: Councilor, member since January 2018

Nikuyah Walker (I), a city employee, ran as an independent in the 2017 election. Lloyd Snook's mother, Helen Snook (D) ran for City Council in the 1986 election.

City Council appoints the City Manager, the Director of Finance, the City Assessor, the Clerk of the Council and members of major policy-making Boards and Commissions. Council has an advisory role in appointing the City Attorney and the Chief of Police.

Council appointments

City Manager

1. Dr. Tarron Richardson, May 13, 2019 to September 30, 2020 (16 months, 17 days)
2. John C. Blair, II, September 13, 2020 to September 30, 2020
3. John C. Blair, II, October 1, 2020 to February 15, 2021 (acting city manager)
4. Chip Boyles, February 15 to October 29, 2021 (8 months, 15 days)
5. Marc Woolley, appointed Interim City Manager on November 5, 2021, set to begin December 1, 2021; withdrawal effective November 30, 2021.

Deputy City Manager

• Deputy City Manager for REDI: Ashley Reynolds Marshall, since May 2021 (performed enhanced duties until an Interim City Manager was placed in 2022).
• Deputy City Manager for Operations: Sam Sanders, since July 2021 (performed enhanced duties until an Interim City Manager was placed in 2022).

Director of Finance

Christopher Cullinan, since January 2015

City Assessor

Jeffrey S. Davis, since December 2015

Chief of Staff / Clerk of Council

Kyna Thomas, since January 28, 2019

Advisory appointments

• City Attorney: Vacant as of February 12, 2021
• Deputy City Manager of Operations: Vacant as of February 19, 2021
• City Attorney: John C. Blair, II, August 15, 2018 to February 12, 2021
• Acting City Attorney: Lisa Robertson, since October 1, 2020
• City Police Chief: Dr. RaShall M. Brackney, since May 21, 2018
• Deputy City Manager & Chief Operating Office: Letitia Shelton, July 2019 to February 19, 2021

Council's organizational meeting

On January 6, 2020, Nikuyah Walker (I) was selected on a 3-2 vote for a second term as mayor at the bi-annual organizational meeting of the City Council. Walker and councilors Michael Payne (D) and Sena Magill (D) voted in favor of her appointment. Councilors Heather Hill (D) and Lloyd Snook (D) voted against it. New councilor Sena Magill (D) was elected 4-1 as vice mayor, a position previously held by Heather Hill who declined nomination.

Walker was firest appointed mayor on a 4-1 vote in January 2018 in the fallout of the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally and is the first mayor to serve more than one term since Satyendra Huja stepped down in 2015. Walker received the most votes (29.13%) during the 2017 election for City Council. Former councilor Mike Signer served only one term. Prior to the 1990's, the custom of the council was to select as mayor the most senior council member who had not already held the position. In the general election, Magill got the most amount of votes in history for a Charlottesville City Councilor.

Issues raised by the council

Revising city logo

“I don’t think our current city logo reflects us as a city. We have changed. We have been reexamining who we are and I think a logo is pretty important with that.” Councilor Sena Magill, Nov 17, 2020

Statue of Lewis, Clark and Sacagawea

On Saturday, July 10, 2021 a Special/Emergency Meeting was called to order at 12 p.m. to discuss removal of the Lewis, Clark, and Sacagawea statue on West Main Street. The council's unanimous 5-0 vote came after crowds cheered when the bronze statues depicting Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were carted away earlier this Saturday morning.

Dispute over hiring a new City Manager

On Tuesday, November 30, 2021 Charlottesville City Council held a Special/Emergency Meeting for the purpose of discussing the withdrawal of appointed Interim City Manager Mark Woolley. Mr. Woolley had reached out to Mayor Nikuyah Walker on Sunday, November 21st to verbally inform her of his decision to withdrawal his application as Interim City Manager. After Tuesday’s closed session meeting, Council stated that they are considering entering into a contract with a firm for interim services; deputy City Managers Ashley Marshall and Sam Sanders will continue to perform enhanced duties for the City until an Interim City Manager is placed.

Issues in the city

Government turnover

Long-standing staffing turnover issues. City Councilor Michael Payne called it a “leadership crisis.”

• City spokesman Brian Wheeler

Lawsuit over Statues of Confederate generals

The lawsuit, Payne v. Charlottesville, involves two Confederate statues located in the downtown part of the city.

Tourism dollars

February 19, 2021: Charlottesville-Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVACB) reported that transient occupancy tax revenue, which comes from people staying in area hotels, was drastically lower last year compared to previous years. Tourism normally creates more than $10 million during the summer and fall seasons. At the beginning of 2021, tourism dollars were behind by roughly $3 million. In 2018, 86 percent of business owners said they were seeing fewer tourists and 35 percent said they're seeing fewer local customers.

Lawsuit filed by former City Manager

Former Charlottesville City Manager Tarron Richardson has filed a federal lawsuit against City Council as well as Mayor Nikuyah Walker, councilor Heather Hill, City Attorney Lisa Robertson and former City Attorney and former Interim City Manager John Blair for allegedly violating the First Amendment.

Potential lawsuit by former Police Chief

Former Charlottesville Police Chief RaShall Brackney filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claiming she faced discrimination based on race and sex.

Salaries & Compensations

$18,000 for councilors and $20,000 for the mayor. 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 $11,000 to $30,000. laws of the Commonwealth.

Council seeks to set its own compensation

• Charlottesville City Council (2018-2019) voted 3-2 on December 3, 2018 to authorize that a request be made of state legislators to amend the City Charter to allow City Council to set its own compensation. Nikuyah Walker joined then councelors Wes Bellamy, Kathy Galvin in voiting for the change; Heather Hill joined then councilor Mike Signer in voting against the change.

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.

Fringe benefits

Medical and dental insurance coverage

In 2012, councilors voted to include themselves in the city’s employee medical and dental insurance coverage plans. Employees and councilors who already had medical insurance from another source were allowed to opt out of coverage and receive a $500 annual stipend paid over the course of the year.

FY2022 Budget (July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022)

• April 13, 2021: Charlottesville City Council adopts $192.2 million budget for fiscal year 2022.

FY2021 Budget (July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021)

• January 19, 2021 – City Council's meeting included presentation of December (2020) sale numbers. The city is currently forecasting operating with a budget roughly $10M less than when it was adopted. Acting City Manager John Blair noted the situation could get better if the Biden Administration and Democratic-controlled Congress delivers on more relief. The city is operating on a $191.2 million budget for fiscal 2021, which started July 1, 2020.

• June 1, 2020: During its virtual regular meeting on this Monday, city councilors unanimously signed off on the $191.2 million budget for fiscal 2021, which starts July 1, 2020. The revised budget for FY21 reflects a loss in sales, meals and lodging tax revenue of $2.3 million. Projected revenues and expenditures that were presented in the originally proposed budget were reduced as a result of COVID-19. These reductions resulted in revenue projections falling from $196.6 million to $191.2 million. The city’s contribution to the school division was set at $58.6 million, a $1.3 million increase over FY20.

• March 2, 2020 – Council proposed a total general fund expenditures of $196.6 million. This is a 4.11% increase from fiscal year 2020. The proposed budget for FY21 had revenues for sales, meals and lodging taxes set at $31,950,505. This was an increase of $970,752 from the adopted FY20 $30,979,753 budget.

City’s Strategic Plan

Over the next year (July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021), Council will be reviewing the plan and making revisions and updates for future goals and budget alignment. Below are some highlights of expenditures included in the adopted FY2021 Budget budget that fall under the priorities of the Strategic Plan.

City Schools

• $1.34M in new operational funding as well as a $3.4M investment in their capital program.

City Council Initiatives

• Provides new funding of $655K for new programs initially approved by Council in FY2020 to address issues of equity.
• Police Citizen Review Board - $150K
• Food Equity Program - $155K
• Home to Hope - $350K

Compensation and Benefits

• Maintains level funding for employee compensation and benefits.
• Fully funds the City’s Actuarial Retirement Contribution for the Retirement Fund, at a cost of $10.5 million in the General Fund.

2021 election

Elections for the Charlottesville City Council (2022-2022) will take place in 2021. Two of the five seats on the Council will be open. The Democratic primary will be held on June 8, 2021, and the general election will be held on November 2, 2021.

2019 election

Elections for the Charlottesville City Council (2020-2021) took place in 2019. Three of the five seats on the Council were open. The Democratic primary was held on June 11, 2019, and the general election was on November 5.

Council’s configuration & power

Since 1928, the council has been composed of five councilor members, one of whom serves as mayor. Each member is elected at-large, by voters to four-year, staggered terms. Following the 2019 election, held on November 5, 2019, three new members, Lloyd Snook, Sena Magill and Michael Payne, each took their oath of office on December 19, 2019, allowing them to assumed full duties immediately on January 1, 2020 and thereby filling the seats being vacated by Mike Signer, Wes Bellamy and Kathy Galvin who each declined to seek re-election.

Council president and vice-president

Charlottesville is a city manager-weak mayor form of local government, the positions of mayor and vice-mayor largely are ceremonial. The President of City Council (called mayor) and Vice-president (called vice-mayor)are elected by the five members of Council at the beginning of each two-year Council term and serves until the next election. Nikuyah Walker, an independent, won a second term as president of the council (mayor). Councilor Sena Magill (D) was selected as vice mayor.

City Officers

Council's most significant role is to enact laws, to adopt the city's operating budget and to hire the City Manager to run most city operations. Council is in charge of policy oversight and also hires the Chief of Staff/Clerk of Council, Director of Finance and the Real Estate Assessor. Council has an advisory role in appointing the City Attorney and the Chief of Police. Council also has the authority to decide who sits on various city boards and commissions. As a result, City Council has significant influence in shaping city policies and programs. Among the officers and clerks who have served at the pleasure of the Charlottesville City Council (2020-2021):

Chief of Staff/Clerk of Council

Formerly referred to as the City Council Clerk, the position was expanded by the Charlottesville City Council (2018-2019) under the title of Chief of Staff / Clerk of Council.

School Board Members

The city has an elected at-large school board. Prior to 2006, members of the Charlottesville City School Board were appointed by the City Council.

City Council Standing Committee assignments (2020 – 2021)

Advisory City Council Committees

Most, but not all, of Council's standing committees are organized into specific policy areas. The committees each have a chair, vice chair and a minimum of 3 members. They consider policy areas that are directed to them by the Council. The committees report back to the full Council on their work. The standing committees have special rules for appointing leadership and members. All five Council members serve on the various Committees. City Council Committees do not replace the City Council as final decision makers on behalf of the full City Council.

Appointment of advisory boards, committees and commissions

refer to Main Article: List of Boards and Commissions

The City Council appoints various boards, commissions, and committees to support the City Council in the policymaking and decision making processes. One or two City Council members may serve on a committee as a representative of, or liaison to, the City Council.

Charlottesville City Council reviews Boards & Commissions applications on a quarterly basis after an opening has been posted for a minimum of 30 days, unless Council determines a vacancy needs to be filled sooner and a deadline is posted otherwise. Council may extend a deadline as necessary.

The appointment schedule for 2020 is as follows:

• January 6, 2020
• March 15, 2020 (application deadline March 6, 2020)

Current vacancies:

(1) Board of Architectural Review (Historian)

(3) Board of Zoning Appeals (Full-time Member & Alternate Members)

(1) CDBG Task Force (Belmont Community Representative)

(3) Charlottesville Economic Development Authority (CEDA)

(1) Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority

(2) Community Policy and Management Team (Parent Rep,. Private Provider Rep.)

(3) Housing Advisory Committee (Neighborhood Assoc. Rep., Banker Rep., At-Large)

(1) Monticello Area Community Action Agency Board (MACAA)

(1) Region Ten Community Services Board

(1) Retirement Commission (Community Member)

(2) Sister Cities Commission (Business Rep., Youth Rep.)

(2) Social Services Advisory Board

(3) Tree Commission

(2) Vendor Appeals Board Current vacancies (non City-employee)

Youth Council

• June 15, 2020 (application deadline June 5, 2020)
• September 21, 2020 (application deadline September 11, 2020)
• December 21, 2020 (application deadline December 11, 2020)

The appointment schedule for 2021 is as follows:

• March 15, 2021 (application deadline March 5, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.)
• June 21, 2021 (application deadline June 11, 2021)
• September 20, 2021 (application deadline September 15, 2021)
• December 20, 2021 (application deadline December 15, 2021)

City Council Regular Meeting Schedule for 2020

Regularly scheduled Council meetings take place on the first and third Mondays of each month at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall pursuant to Charlottesville City Code Section 2-41. If a regularly scheduled Council meeting falls on a holiday, then the meeting will take place on Tuesday. Council normally cancels one meeting during the summer months. In 2019, the Charlottesville City Council (2018-2019) cancelled its July 15 meeting. During the January 6, 2020 meeting, the current Council will discuss its preference for cancelling one of its summer meetings. If Council decides to cancel a meeting, the schedule will be amended to reflect the cancellation.

As of January 6, 2020, the proposed regular Council meeting schedule for 2020 is as follows:

• Monday, January 6, 2020
• Tuesday, January 21, 2020
• February 3, 2020
• Tuesday, February 18, 2020
• March 2, 2020
• March 16, 2020
• April 6, 2020 - CANCELED
• April 20, 2020 - Public hearings online *

Council held its first regular monthly meeting using a Virtual Meeting platform via Livestream (view only).

• May 4, 2020 *
• May 18, 2020 *
• June 1, 2020 *
• June 15, 2020 *
• July 6, 2020 *
• July 20, 2020 *
• August 3, 2020 *
• August 17, 2020 *
• Tuesday, September 8, 2020 *
• September 21, 2020 *
• October 5, 2020 *
• October 19, 2020 *
• November 2, 2020 *
• November 16, 2020 *
• December 7, 2020 *
• December 21, 2020 *

Italics indicate an adjusted date due to a holiday

Public hearings online *

Special meetings, closed meetings, and emergency meetings

According to Council Policies and Procedures "Special meetings, closed meetings, and emergency meetings may be scheduled and held in addition to the schedule of regular meetings. Notification requirements for special meetings, closed meetings and emergency meetings are governed by the Virginia Code.

For special meetings, the purpose and nature of the meeting will dictate whether public comment will be allowed. Time for public comment may or may not be allocated depending on the nature of the meeting and at the discretion of Council."

City population

Population as of most recent census (April 1, 2010): 43,475

• According to the current data from U.S. Census Bureau Quickfacts, the estimated population in 2018 was 48,117, which represents a 10.67% population growth since the last census.
• The area within the city limits was 10.27 square miles, giving it a population density of about 4,600 people per square mile. Relative to local populations, Charlottesville has one seat for every 8,700 residents.
• As for historically under-represented groups, the city has about the same percentage of blacks in council as in the general populations; in Charlottesville, blacks makeup 18.3 percent of the population and 20 percent of the council.

General notes

• Elections are non-partisan elections.
• The council post videos of council meetings online as well as searchable databases of legislation.
• Council does not post members’ personal financial disclosure statements or lobbying records.

• Charlottesville City Council (2020-2021)
• 

  City Council Organizational Meeting, January 6, 2020

• 

  City Council's First "Virtual" Public Meeting, April 20, 2020