Board of Supervisors Regular Second Meeting   9/18/2024

We can't do a Chinese script.

We very much appreciate it for all.

If all present now could stand as you are able and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you for joining us in a moment of silence.

Board, as always, our first item is to adopt the final agenda.

Without objection, the clerk will call the roll.

McKeel.

Yes.

Mr. Pruitt.

Aye.

Mr. Andrews.

Mr. Galloway.

Yes.

Board will now move to brief announcements from board members and our order today begins with Supervisor Malik.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Supervisor Pruitt.

Thank you.

That's all.

So thank you.

Board our next item is proclamations and recognitions and I believe there are none today so that will take us to matters from the public, matters on the agenda but not listed for public hearing or on matters previously considered by the board or matters that are pending before the board.

Thank you.

Without objection, the clerk will call the roll.

McKeel, Mr. Pruitt, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Galloway.

Thank you.

Demick.

would you like to say something about the money?

The board's approved before, but we wanted to bring this back because of the different programming that was originally approved and approved in the budget two years ago.

since that time there were these additional six households that have expressed an interest who are sort of in an on-deck kind of capacity and of them there are only three that sort of meet more than one criteria for eligibility and so we're recommending that we essentially leave $150,000 in the pool for AHIP to do septic to sewer conversions for those three higher risk households and then reprogram the remaining funds as described.

We'll start with Supervisor Mauck.

County.

It's an outside agency, Piedmont Housing Alliance and United Way together created the Financial Opportunity Center.

Thank you.

So we're just asking questions now.

So the timing is not critical right now.

We could certainly revise this contract and use these funds ongoing.

Sorry.

I'll have some comments when we come back around it in a thought, but... Supervisor Prud.

Do we have maybe a sense of what the opportunity that's shaping around that looks like?

I think it's moved beyond the conceptual phase into some practical reality phase, which is pretty exciting.

And with winter 25 as their target, does that also mean there's a reasonable likelihood that a clearly articulated ask could be coming before we were actually in a position to have a finalized 2026 budget?

I anticipate that you all will have a specific ask coming from the community relatively shortly.

what the landscape for navigation services looks like and whether or not you see this as a duplicative service in any capacity.

and so the cost of the system and the individual for losing housing, even if they get some of our best resources, like a housing voucher or something like that, is still tremendously great for them.

Is there currently, is it common for you to conduct warm handoffs with the financial opportunity system or center with clients that you don't necessarily have the capacity for?

Yes, very common.

What would an FTE doing this role cost the county?

I'll let Mr. Bowman answer because he's smarter than I am, but but I'll tell you $80,000 wouldn't cover the cost of the FTE.

That's all I have for questions.

Supervisor LaPiz Toker.

We could wait.

correct $500,000 yes you could wait you could make no decision about it today you can make a decision to keep it with Albemarle Housing Improvement Program as Mr. Bowman has suggested the urgency is around the highest and best use of the money using the lens around the most vulnerable and the people who need it the most correct but it looks like you've gone through

That's true.

Park of the six don't want to make sure I'm there were six who were and who were expressed interest at five who were income qualified so one of them is not qualified at all so there's remaining five who are qualified for consideration and of those none of them have a failing septic that's that's what I understood none of them have a failing septic system I guess my thought process is that

may or may not be a good approach or some other kind of, because I go from this, supervisor McKeel has been saying for years now that in the urban area there are a lot of failing septic systems and they could be hooked up to our sewer and water.

So I think we were somewhat surprised too at the lack of immediate interest in this project.

Thank you.

Well, slide three.

There we go.

You can meet one or two.

So, in order to be considered for the project at all, you have to meet all of these.

They're not meeting the failing, but they are meeting the

Please.

And then when someone, when a household is eligible, this covers the entire cost of the conversion, which includes both the actual construction costs and conversion, connection fees associated with this.

All of it.

and have we looked into, I guess this is ARPA funding that's been used for this, whether those different activities have different eligibility criteria for other sources of funding or whether ACSA has sources of funding for connection fees for others.

so far ACSA hasn't been forthcoming about additional dollars or discounted rates for this service and we there was additional dollars that came from the Department of Environmental Quality last year using federal ARPA money to help with broad sort of big neighborhood based septic to sewer projects but not for this kind of house by house project so I'm not aware of additional dollars

We should go through our order to get some comments on, oh, one more question.

because that's a whole lot more complicated in my experience over 50 years of living in my house than people might guess.

I didn't know if that was part of the contract.

They had to look at the lines and they had to open the D box and look and see that things were actually functioning.

And I'm certain that the Albemarle Housing Improvement Program did not identify any future legislation from the state when they had their contact with families.

And I guess, since I'm here, I'll just start off by saying I think trying more to identify, because we've heard so many comments over many years dispersed throughout neighborhoods, we've had some spectacular failures that have required emergency connection at county expense, then I'm tempted to sit tight for a while.

So tight, meaning not use the funds at all?

I mean, I don't know where the list is.

But slide up again with.

I don't know.

We have all the people have been contacted twice.

OK, and that came from VDH or someplace.

came from the, for Albemarle Housing Improvement Program to say the county has a septic to sewer program for which you appear to be initially eligible.

Okay, so it did not come from the health department as far as verification, okay.

Supervisor McKinnon.

You're referencing the ones that are in the system to be hooked up.

There are six households that have reached out after we had started this process to get ready for today that have since reached out and of those five are income eligible and then the remaining, so of those five there's only three that have more than one person in the household using the septic system and only one is next to an endangered waterway.

That's not a question.

All we knew was that they were on septic and could be on sewer.

So I prefer to hold this money for a while longer.

Supervisor Pruitt.

I'm very excited to support the county's recommendations that are in front of us and we'll be voting that way.

So I'm happy to support staff's recommendation.

And I'm just wondering if we use some of these monies, it's got to be less than, what did you say, 20,000 for the conversion septic to sewer?

We thought it was going to be $28,000, but it's been closer to $45,000.

$45,000.

And we could still be able to do BCND.

I'm sorry, based on what I just heard, was there a particular section of this ABC or D or just that's how they would prefer to keep using money to us for ongoing support for this kind of issue that we would identify money that could be used for emergent situations or for regular maintenance for existing substance.

But that's something I'd rather take up at that time rather than letting this opportunity go.

So that does make a difference.

a way to put some money into or replacing some of that 500,000 or 350, I don't know how much it might be, but I would like to see a contingency fund that we could go to in an emergency when we had a situation like that, Jeff.

Is that something, and Mr. Andrews, so I've got it, and that's something that would be a priority, and I've got four votes to move forward on that.

But my understanding is, I mean, septic replacement and repair and conversion is already a service that AHAF is within their ambit absent a discretionary set aside.

But I don't think right now that we, that's part of why this was a unique approach is that I don't think we've used the traditional monies around housing preservation for this purpose.

is that a

I don't think there's a mechanism around compliance and I think it's worthy of us sort of pursuing that with CDD.

this needs to be

And I just don't want us to think that we can just pass the buck to somebody else and they will take care of it because they won't.

established a process, a pot of money to use, because they're obviously sometimes people that can pay for this, that maybe don't even know about it, but then their criteria we've established for people that probably couldn't pay for it.

Absolutely, and I think we've got research to do about what we ask AHIP to do for us already and how much that is, and we can certainly compile all that information and share it with you in advance of the 26th budget process.

I don't know, just something to think about.

Maybe it would make more sense if we just give them half a million so that they could spend what they need to on what they need to.

Maybe there's a tie-in to our climate change and our environmental work because 20 years ago we were not thinking about this and we are thinking about it now in many ways.

The other tie-in is helping people stay in their houses because the final straw for the VDH is they declare the house uninhabitable.

Yes.

And that's what I'm really concerned about, avoiding, is that we're losing a NOAA right there at NOAH.

Kind of gets to what you're talking about, Ann.

So we have all kinds of We have a lot of problems and I think we're getting a little bit further and further We are and I apologize We will, I hope, have an opportunity to address more of these issues in the future Do you have an initial comment?

About $500.

This isn't something that.

So throwing that out.

Demick has taken notes, but we'd be prepared in the budget process to talk about what our effort has been with this program since today's discussion.

Let's put it that way.

No, there's worse.

Okay.

I'm just saying, but that's not where we are now.

We should have.

And if I could just clarify with Mr. Bowman is a reappropriation being sought at this time?

No, that will come back to the board through a different action, but this gives us the intent to move forward.

Okay, so a motion could be as simple as what's put in the staff recommendation.

Is that a motion?

Second.

Okay, we have a motion from Supervisor Malick, second from Supervisor LaPistola-Curtley, without objection, if the clerk call the roll.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Kilroy to discuss the budget request, and then I'll be back up here later in the presentation.

Thank you.

Any questions or receive any feedback on all five items?

Supervisor Mal.

Thank you.

Supervisor McHugh.

When you talk about a circular trail, I see an ADA trail.

Yes.

So, explain.

because the broader trail is not built, but it would be a segment of that trail that when, as we continue to develop the park over time, it would ultimately connect in with that circulator trail.

Okay, so you're talking about just starting it.

But this is a one mile first segment.

All right, and so for that one mile, we would spend $1.37 million.

We would be seeking state funds.

and those I think that's the only question I have about your presentation right now.

Thank you, Supervisor Pruth.

Are we also going to be in this block of time presented on the positions and policy statement section or is that later?

We wanted to pause here.

I'm

and this would be more of a pedestrian access point into the park.

Supervisor Pruitt and just to indicate the stream restoration project is underway right now and in fact in the partnership report that the board received last evening at the joint meeting there is information in there about the stream restoration project and some partnership with the city of Charlottesville as well.

So what we're doing is kind of what is within the realm of the feasible consistent with a previous bill that was brought by Delegate Reed.

and New York.

but I'll save that for the next half.

So we'll see what the second half brings.

We've got big projections and big needs that won't be met just by this first phase that are very important to us as a project.

and so we'll be continuing to work at what are some other streams that we could bring in to help continue to make sure that we're making good progress.

I think we can go to the next part of the presentation.

Okay, and now I'm going to turn it back to Mr.

but at this point I'll take another pause and see if there's other questions regarding this shorter second half.

Yeah, thank you.

Supervisor Malek.

Why would we be asking for them to expire?

and an emergency that's long since passed.

Thank you.

Okay.

If you have suggestions for either the priorities or the policy statements.

We need that sunset, that not a sunset clause.

You can order however you want.

I don't know that they, and I'll have to turn to you and ask, I don't think all of those committees have voted on their proposals at this point.

The votes will be at the November meeting.

So just want that to be on our radar screen.

If that's something that the Board supports, we can certainly discuss with the Chief and others about working there.

And I'll let you, you probably have it more clearly.

I'm not sure I have the whole list that you have.

Yeah, and I'm looking specifically at last year we had House Bill 597 and Senate Bill 497.

I don't have their numbers.

Oh, there you go.

Goodness, you're more prepared than I am.

McKeele, if I understand your request correctly, those bills last year would have allowed localities to have enforced violations of the Residential Landlord Tenant Act.

Yes.

that bill that, as you indicated, passed but was vetoed ultimately would have allowed localities the right to enforce violations under the residential landlord tenant.

And this particular bill would allow, I'm just catching here very quickly, but it would allow us to have the power to do some things that we don't have the power to do right now without actually having to go in and create a whole other department of inspection levels for our for Almar County.

The difference between this and the adopting the Virginia maintenance code is that this could be done perhaps on a more limited or selective basis.

And we need the ability to charge those particular groups with the work.

And I just want to be careful not to over promise to the board as to what the county is going to be able to do under that, that again, it would require a different... Yes, and I get that.

require the property management companies and or the landlords in some cases, not all of them, but in some cases to provide responsible housing for their tenants and react to concerns and complaints.

and if that's the consensus of the board, we can certainly add those when we bring the final proposed project back to the board here.

And I'll let, I'm going to let you handle that one for me, Mike.

I don't know what that would look like.

and it sounds like the debate has not proceeded to what the liability shifting might be.

But I might be misconstruing how staff puts together and conceives of this list.

So that would be a J-Larke study.

That would be a J-Larke study.

Supervisor Callum.

in parentheses, maybe hit some high target items that would be relevant.

Okay.

Affordable housing more generally.

A term that might be more familiar to the general assembly.

County.

I thought data centers that I learned from the vehicle conference that those were by right.

Well, data centers are addressed in individual local ordinances, and what this is designed to do is to ensure that localities still have the ability to address them in local ordinances, as opposed to those decisions being made at the state level.

Which I totally support, and I'm hoping that we have something either, I don't know if it's appropriate for our COMP plan, or a separate ordinance regarding data centers, because, you know.

to the extent it's not constrained by the general assembly.

Did you want to say something, Mr. Richardson?

I've heard several times board members expressed some interest in learning more about that and we can flag that for consideration for future discussion.

And then also under land use matters, would that also include our homestay issue which we brought up in the past that the homestay or the permit goes with the owner not with the land

And so that was actually, like I said, an expansion that resulted from last year's assembly.

It goes, because right now, or the way it was before the home stave, we give a special use permit and rezoning, and then it goes with the land, but not with the owners.

I mean, that's something that... We have what we need.

Okay, got it.

Although, I will say that's not typically been done in Albemarle, but that is an option that's now available.

Okay.

Right, again, and that would not require any sort of change in state law.

two-lane roads that are windy and everything.

And if a position statement, I guess I'd look to Mr. Blunt as to how that might be worked into other bills that are currently pending before the assembly, or that we anticipate pending before the assembly?

is the

the DMV or something.

I'm afraid I'm not prepared to address that today.

So I think that's the distinction that I don't know anymore about.

Yeah, they just pay it.

That was the BS part of that poll.

because I'm just going to one step further, when you go from Keswick, you go through Orange, you go into Gordonsville and then Orange is that stretch of the road where it goes from I think 45 to 35 to 25, you don't see anybody speeding, nobody.

Albemarle.

I think it would be helpful to staff to have board direction on that.

I think we're talking just about the J-Lark study at this point.

Yeah, I think it was the J-Lark study.

are 40-something long list as policy positions for us to support if and when they come.

Kilroy's approach, so you have something to add.

if that is helpful.

Mike, are you on the Housing Steering Committee by any chance or could you sign up for that?

The State Committee?

Please sign up.

You have a chance to go to a meeting in November.

But I think that authority is incredibly important to figure out a way to be able to help people in that circumstance.

So, Supervisor McHugh, if there's additional comments or concerns?

It always takes a long time to get that date on the calendar.

So we'll be reaching out later this week to get dates on the calendar for hopefully some time in November.

So I'm just saying.

but we'll start now to get a date for after the election.

Thank you.

Thanks.

So I appreciate the Board's patience in kind of receiving them in this moment rather than in writing earlier.

I would just simply say that we have to remember that staff is not here to just do our bidding on all of this stuff, that the board has to support what the board says our board legislative priorities are, but there are a lot of things we can do as individual supervisors in our own advocacy to the General Assembly to advance things that are priorities of ours that don't necessarily meet the board prioritization.

But kind of like doing both to get, frankly, the best bang for a buck.

That's correct.

at the

And I will turn it over to him to just give us a little bit of a preview of the 25 session.

Mr. Roy, your reputation precedes you.

The trucks issue, I think probably need to do a little research on that as was indicated.

I'm going to get you more information.

Supervisor Mellon.

Is it out already, the summer housing study?

I think some of the things that I think cause some consternation with local governments this past session seem to be moving in a more positive direction.

I'm going to see him on Friday, but I didn't know if there was any update on his study committee.

But I will put that down as a follow-up for myself.

But there is a new reorganization of the Department of Energy and this woman whose name I can't remember right now.

Yes, Carrie Herron.

The budget amendments do not count in the 15 and 20.

That's good.

I just wanted to verify.

Thank you very much.

Thank you so much for the update.

I believe it brings us to item 11, which is a closed meeting unless there's something further.

Supervisor.

of the Code of Virginia, first under subsection one to discuss and consider appointment of the county's director of economic development and second under subsection 22 to discuss the renegotiation of a public contract between the county of Albemarle, Virginia and the Charlottesville Albemarle Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals involving the expenditure of public funds for the provision of shelter services where discussion in an open session would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the county and the board.

We have a motion from Supervisor Pruitt, second from Supervisor Mallet, without objection, if the court could call the roll.

Mr. Pruitt?

Aye.

Mr. Andrews?

Yes.

Thank you.

Good evening.

I move that the Board of Supervisors certify by a recorded vote that, to the best of each supervisor's knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from the open meeting requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and identified in the motion authorizing the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered in the closed meeting.

We have a motion from Supervisor LePiste-Curtley, a second from Supervisor Malek, without objection, if the clerk will call the roll.

Mr. Andrews?

Yes.

Mr. Galloway?

And I note that Mr. Brute will be here, I think, in a few minutes, but we'll receive it on him.

Close me.

Second.

Without objection, the clerk will call the roll.

Mr. Lapisto-Curtley.

Aye.

McKeel.

Yes.

Mr. Andrews.

Yes.

Mr. Galloway.

Yes.

Well, we'll call you up here to put you on the spot while we celebrate your new position.

There is great opportunity ahead and thank you for the chance to help guide it.

Take a moment to congratulate you, Supervisor Malik.

And now they're all big.

Hello, babies.

Supervisor McHugh.

We're thrilled to have you in the position.

So good luck in the role.

Thank you, Supervisor Callaway.

She's an outstanding person and we really like her a lot.

I'm glad you're with us and in this position so we look forward to working with you.

Thank you all so much.

Thank you.

With that board, we will turn to the County Executive for a report.

Trevor, thank you.

So we have a good plan and we're ready to execute.

We'll be happy to answer any questions that the board may have.

Supervisor Malick.

Thank you.

Supervisor McKeil.

and that's a really good idea just to say that I think that's a really outstanding idea because those of us that drive that road routinely know how dangerous it is and it is a speedway so I don't know if we can do that but if that's possible

Stump and take responsibility in the county executive's office that we will package the information that we've got to this point, and we will get it to all three of the delegation members and earmark that one of the members specifically asked for this information said it would be very helpful as she moves forward into this coming session.

School is not going on during those days, but still it is really critical that we maintain order and safety for everybody.

Schools leadership have been part of this process and are a good partner with us.

Bob Crickenburger, 50 years with Albemarle County, and I will say, and I have his permission to quote him, but I said to Bob as I walked in, Bob, you look really good for somebody that has been with us for 50 years, and he said, Dyntha, I started in Albemarle County in diapers, and I'm going to leave in diapers.

So on that, I'll stop.

I learned a lot about the election security process from the outside as being the guy running for it and then also before that the guy out there doing pole watching in my role in the party but boy howdy it has been really exciting to see it from both sides and it gives you a lot of confidence the more on this side of the veil of government seeing all the energy that goes into election security so thank you all for your work.

Supervisor Galloway.

Thank you for the report and the other information.