City Council Meeting   7/19/2021

1. Closed session as provided by Sections 2.2-3711 and 2.2-3712 of the Virginia Code (Personnel evaluation; legal consultation)

• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:00:03
    All right.
  • 00:00:03
    Everybody's here.
  • 00:00:05
    Yes, okay.
  • 00:00:06
    Councilor Hill, would you read us out of closed session, please?
• • 00:00:14
    Yes.
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 00:00:18
    I move the city council members certified by recorded vote that to the best of each member's knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from the open meeting requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, identifying the motion to convene the closed session, were heard, discussed, or considered during the closed meeting.
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:00:34
    Second.
  • 00:00:36
    Ms.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:00:36
    Thomas?
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:00:38
    Mayor Walker?
  • 00:00:39
    Yes.
  • 00:00:41
    Vice Mayor McGill?
  • 00:00:42
    Yes.
  • 00:00:44
    Councilor Hill?
  • 00:00:45
    Yes.
  • 00:00:46
    Councilor Payne?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 00:00:47
    Yes.
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:00:48
    Councilor Snook?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 00:00:49
    Yes.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:00:52
    Thank you.
  • 00:00:53
    So I call our regular City Council meeting to order.
  • 00:00:57
    We will take a brief moment of silence.
  • 00:01:21
    All right, thank you.
  • 00:01:23
    Ms.
  • 00:01:23
    Thomas, would you do roll call, please?
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:01:26
    Mayor Walker?
  • 00:01:27
    Present.
  • 00:01:29
    Vice Mayor McGill?
  • 00:01:31
    Present.
  • 00:01:32
    Councilor Hill?
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 00:01:37
    I'm here, sorry, my space bar was our name.
  • 00:01:40
    Councilor Payne?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 00:01:41
    Here.
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 00:01:42
    Councilor Snoop?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 00:01:43
    Here.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:01:43
    All right, thank you.
  • 00:01:49
    Is there a motion to approve the agenda?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 00:01:52
    So moved.
  • 00:01:53
    Second.
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:01:56
    Mayor Walker?
  • 00:01:59
    Yes.
  • 00:02:01
    Vice Mayor McGill?
  • 00:02:03
    Yes.
  • 00:02:04
    Councilor Hill?
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 00:02:05
    Yes.
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:02:07
    Councilor Payne?
• • Michael Payne
  • 00:02:08
    Yes.
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:02:09
    Councilor Snook?
• • Michael Payne
  • 00:02:10
    Yes.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:02:14
    Thank you.
  • 00:02:15
    Are there any announcements, Councilor?
  • 00:02:21
    No.
  • 00:02:22
    All right.
  • 00:02:24
    Any items for recognition?
  • 00:02:29
    No.
  • 00:02:30
    All right.
  • 00:02:32
    We're at the consent agenda.
  • 00:02:34
    Ms.
  • 00:02:34
    Thomas, would you read the consent agenda, please?
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:02:42
    Consent Agenda 1, Minutes, May 17th, Work Session and Regular Meeting, May 26th, School Reconfiguration Work Session, June 7th, Closed and Regular Meetings, June 22nd, Monthly Work Session, June 23rd, Special and Closed Meetings, June 24th, Special and Closed Meetings, July 7th, Special Meeting, July 10th, Emergency Special Meeting
  • 00:03:08
    Two, Resolution, Appropriating Funds for COVID Homelessness Emergency Response Program, Grant Amendment, $201,120, second reading.
  • 00:03:20
    Three, Resolution, Appropriating Funds for Charlottesville Student Victim Outreach Program, Department of Criminal Justice Services Victim of Crimes Act Grant, $343,371, second reading.
  • 00:03:37
    for resolution appropriating funds for Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Grant for Charlottesville Albemarle Family Treatment Court Program Expanded Services $827,973.

2. CALL TO ORDER

• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:03:49
    Second reading.

3. MOMENT OF SILENCE

• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:03:54
    Five, Resolution Appropriating Funds for the FY21 Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Body Worn Camera Grant $100,000 Second Reading Six, Resolution Appropriating Fiscal Year 2021 Supplemental Federal Funding for Transit Capital
  • 00:04:14
    and Operating Assistance, $5,038,344, second reading.
  • 00:04:16
    Seven, Resolution, Appropriating Funds for City School Bus Driver Incentive Plan, $332,952, second reading.
  • 00:04:21
    Eight, Resolution, Appropriating Funds for Transit Bus Driver Benefits Incentive Plan, $499,632, second reading.

4. AGENDA APPROVAL

• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:04:43
    nine resolution appropriating funds for the Virginia Department of Education special nutrition program summer food service program $200,000 first of two readings 10 resolution appropriating funds for Virginia housing solutions program grant award $539,333 first of two readings

5. ANNOUNCEMENTS

• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:05:07
    11, Resolution Appropriating Funds for Family First Prevention Services Act for the Department of Social Services Family Services Staffing $164,607, first of two readings 12, Resolution Appropriating Previously Approved Funds to the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society for the purpose of identifying the individuals interred
  • 00:05:33
    in the unmarked graves at Penn Park and their descendants.
  • 00:05:36
    $2,500, first of two readings.
  • 00:05:40
    13 resolution appropriating previously approved funds for a match of a Virginia Department of Historic Resources 2021 through 2022 state survey and planning cost share program grant for phase one of the Charlottesville downtown mall historic landscape study and management plan $10,000 first of two readings 14 resolution amending and reauthorizing the Charlottesville public school scholarship fund
  • 00:06:09
    One reading.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:06:15
    All right.
  • 00:06:15
    Thank you.
  • 00:06:16
    Counselors, are there any questions this time?
  • 00:06:20
    No?
  • 00:06:20
    All right.
  • 00:06:21
    Mr. Wheeler, I'll turn it over to you to see if we have anyone who would like to make public comment on an item on a consent agenda.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:06:29
    Thank you, Mayor Walker.
  • 00:06:30
    If you'd like to address counsel, please click the raise hand icon in the Zoom webinar.
  • 00:06:36
    If you're on via telephone, you can press star nine.
  • 00:06:39
    Each person will get up to three minutes.
  • 00:06:42
    And again, this is just for items on the consent agenda.
  • 00:06:47
    We have a telephone caller.
  • 00:06:49
    If you could introduce yourself, tell us your full name and where you're calling from.
  • 00:06:56
    And you'll have to unmute your microphone.
  • 00:07:03
    This is for the phone number ending in 7-8.
  • 00:07:14
    Can you hear us?
  • 00:07:15
    And can you unmute?
  • 00:07:16
    All right, we'll come back to that person.
  • 00:07:23
    Next up is Morgan Smith.
  • 00:07:25
    Morgan, you're on with counsel and you've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_32
  • 00:07:29
    Hi, good evening, excuse me, counsel.
  • 00:07:32
    My name is Morgan Smith.
  • 00:07:33
    I am a resident at 1025 Cottonwood Road.
  • 00:07:36
    And I just want to quickly and briefly come to you with a item of concern, not necessarily, but just to see if we could solicit some help from the city.
  • 00:07:46
    I'm a graduate of Charlottesville High School year 2002.
  • 00:07:49
    I was a member of the undefeated state championship team in 2001.
  • 00:07:54
    And that
  • 00:07:58
    was not recognized at all within the city of Charlottesville.
  • 00:08:02
    Yes.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:08:03
    Hi, so this is public comment is just for any item that's on the consent agenda that was just read by the clerk.
• • SPEAKER_32
  • 00:08:10
    Oh, my apologies.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:08:12
    Two opportunities later to speak on other public comment matters.
• • SPEAKER_32
  • 00:08:18
    Okay, my apologies.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:08:23
    And we'll try again with the telephone caller on the number ending in 7-8.
  • 00:08:28
    If you could unmute.
  • 00:08:37
    And that person's not responding.
  • 00:08:42
    Mayor Walker, I don't see any other hands raised.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:08:45
    All right.
  • 00:08:46
    Thank you.
  • 00:08:46
    All right.
  • 00:08:48
    Counselors, are there any questions or comments?
  • 00:08:54
    Okay.
  • 00:08:55
    I just have some, and I made these comments before.
  • 00:08:59
    I just, you know, for number item resolution seven, I just want to make sure that we are prioritizing, figuring out, you know, bonus or incentives for other city employees.

6. CONSENT AGENDA*

• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:09:14
    Okay.
  • 00:09:16
    also for item number eight and this applies to seven two I know we have the
  • 00:09:25
    health insurance benefits, but we know that retirement benefits are a big portion of this, so I hope that's something that's being looked at for future modifications for both school bus and transit drivers and other city employees to make sure that we factor that in.
  • 00:09:49
    In terms of item 12, and I sent an email earlier to Mr. Warner about this, I'm not sure how the partnership with the Historical Society, ACHS, is going to
  • 00:10:11
    And that article that the intern will write will produce the desired results, but I will remain optimistic that that is what will happen.
  • 00:10:20
    I'm just not sure those individuals and maybe something has changed that has just not been communicated, but that the individuals that we're seeking is reading that publication.
  • 00:10:35
    So I'm interested in just a little more of how that process is going to be fleshed out and what exactly the 2,500 other than the article it's going to produce.
  • 00:10:50
    And then in terms of number 11, does this automatically...
  • 00:10:56
    equate to the downtown area being considered an historic site and then what is the public engagement process if that is determined to be a next step and maybe I didn't understand the report enough but it seemed like that designation could be something we may be striving for in the future and I just want to make sure that other people
  • 00:11:21
    other citizens other than who may be just on the downtown mall is included in that public engagement piece and understands what that designation means.
  • 00:11:34
    Can you talk about historic landscape study?
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 00:11:36
    Yes.
  • 00:11:37
    Okay.
  • 00:11:37
    I think my numbers look different.
  • 00:11:39
    Okay.
  • 00:11:40
    I do see that Mr. Werner is on.
  • 00:11:42
    Do we want him to chime in on those items?
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:11:48
    I have the answer for that, but if you want to share with us your thoughts on either one, then that's fine.
• • SPEAKER_21
  • 00:11:59
    Sorry, I'm getting, if you're asking me, I'm sorry, Mayor, you were asking me to repeat her.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:12:07
    Well, Councilor Hill just asked you if I wanted you to chime in.
  • 00:12:10
    I emailed you earlier.
  • 00:12:11
    I was just stating it for the record.
  • 00:12:13
    But if you want to comment on either one of those, that's fine.
• • SPEAKER_21
  • 00:12:19
    Yeah, and I appreciate you asking that question.
  • 00:12:21
    I realize I probably hadn't.
  • 00:12:24
    There's so many pieces and parts, but I could just best say it is this is a mystery that I have some extraordinary people helping us kind of unravel in Dr. Shelley Murphy and Sam Taller and some others.
  • 00:12:38
    And the first step in when we spoke last November about Penn Park,
  • 00:12:46
    your instructions were let's not let's before we start talking about memorializing that site let's understand what possibly the descendant community would want and we agree with that and then we say all right well who are who are the folks that we need to be talking to and as you know Dr. Murphy's been involved with the
  • 00:13:06
    University's work in researching the folks that work at the university in slave population there.
  • 00:13:13
    And so it's been fascinating, some of the things that have crossed over and things that Mr. Taller has brought to the table.
  • 00:13:19
    But it really is, we're talking 150, 200 years in the past, and trying to identify individuals and identify them with full names that then allow individuals
  • 00:13:31
    the genealogists to take that forward and identify individuals that we could reach out to.
  • 00:13:39
    So it's been I wish I could have shared with you all of the attachments.
  • 00:13:43
    I think I know that I haven't been able to go through them all, but it is volumes.
  • 00:13:47
    But we are beginning to create a list of who those individuals likely were.
  • 00:13:53
    and then to then take that list and begin to contact descendants.
  • 00:14:00
    And the work on the side with the Historical Society, yes, they are working on an article and they have an intern who's kind of helping to catalog and inventory all this information that's being done.
  • 00:14:12
    So, an article is a piece of this, but the greater objective is
  • 00:14:19
    who are these individuals and do they have families still that we can contact?
  • 00:14:24
    So that's where that is.
  • 00:14:26
    I mean, to have someone like Shelley Murphy and Sam Power, that caliber of expertise helping us out, it's actually, I think this is a pretty good deal for the city.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:14:38
    And in terms of the intern selection, are they a part of that process too?
• • SPEAKER_21
  • 00:14:43
    I'm sorry, say that again?
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:14:44
    The intern who will be selected, are they a part of that process too?
• • SPEAKER_21
  • 00:14:49
    Well, we don't know, and we're talking about Penn Park, correct?
• • SPEAKER_32
  • 00:14:53
    Yes.
• • SPEAKER_21
  • 00:14:54
    Yeah, we just, we don't know who they are.
  • 00:14:57
    And, you know, we've got some good leads, and it's turning some of the
  • 00:15:05
    But we don't know who they are yet.
  • 00:15:06
    So we have until we sort of can say, all right, it's kind of genealogy backwards.
  • 00:15:11
    Instead of starting with yourself and working back in time, we're finding individuals and being able to kind of piece together, all right, here's who they were.
  • 00:15:22
    Do they have a family tree that we can trace into the present day and then to reach out to those individuals?
  • 00:15:29
    So I have not yet reached out to anyone.
  • 00:15:34
    and hoping as things progress over the summer we'll have something to report back to you all on that.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:15:44
    My question was the intern that will be selected this phase of the project.
  • 00:15:52
    I'm assuming that Ms.
  • 00:15:54
    Murphy, she'll have some input on who that person is?
• • SPEAKER_21
  • 00:15:58
    So the intern is an individual, a young woman that actually contacted me last summer, a university student.
  • 00:16:08
    was very interested in this topic and we were talking and I said the city does not have an internship available and I suggested she talk with the historical society so sort of things came together and so she is there kind of yeah sort of putting together for a something that can be presented in our goal but I said this is a tremendous amount of information and she's already starting to kind of just
  • 00:16:37
    pull it together on, you know, we're even discussing, like, should be index cards.
  • 00:16:41
    I mean, it's one of those, you need a giant room with a chalkboard to keep track of all these folks, but that is, that will be her job.
  • 00:16:48
    This is just a fraction of what I think the Historical Society is contributing to her internship into this effort.
  • 00:16:58
    So, this is just to sort of, to help them help me.
  • 00:17:04
    Okay.
  • 00:17:05
    All right.
  • 00:17:06
    And on the Mall, we'll get to the point where, yeah, the Downtown Mall is already historically designated.
  • 00:17:12
    This is something that started
  • 00:17:16
    It predates when I came to the city three and a half years ago, or at least in play with the city, but it is to look at the mall itself, the design space that is the Halpern design, and so there's several steps along the way, and yes, the community will be very involved as that goes forward.
  • 00:17:34
    This initial phase is more of a documentary research, but the next steps will be very heavy with stakeholder involvement.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:17:46
    Okay.
  • 00:17:48
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_21
  • 00:17:49
    Thank you.
  • 00:17:49
    Thank you, Mayor.
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 00:17:53
    I do have one clarifying thing that I've been asked about.
  • 00:17:56
    When we talk about the resolution for the benefits plan, that does include transportation drivers as well as our city bus drivers, is my understanding.
  • 00:18:04
    And Mr. Boyles, correct me if I'm wrong.
• • SPEAKER_17
  • 00:18:07
    I'm sorry.
  • 00:18:10
    Something muffled you with one of the driver descriptions.
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 00:18:14
    So around the benefits incentive plan, that's not just for city like cat drivers, it's also for people transportation.
• • SPEAKER_17
  • 00:18:22
    Yes, both.
  • 00:18:23
    We're doing both school bus pupil and cat transit drivers.
  • 00:18:27
    Just wanted to clarify that because that question was asked.
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 00:18:29
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:18:32
    You are talking about the benefits?
  • 00:18:35
    Yes.
  • 00:18:36
    But it's specifically related to health insurance, right?
  • 00:18:39
    It's not the benefits.
• • SPEAKER_17
  • 00:18:41
    Yes, it's the health insurance.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:18:42
    Yeah, so that was my comment.
  • 00:18:46
    All right.
  • 00:18:49
    And I guess we will go and I do have a question about the scholarship fund.
  • 00:18:54
    I didn't know if but we can check with the caller to see if they can speak now and then we'll come back to that if that's helpful.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:19:10
    Mayor Walker, you're referring to the person who has their hand raised?
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:19:13
    The 882 number, yeah.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:19:14
    Okay.
  • 00:19:15
    We can try that again.
  • 00:19:18
    If you're on via telephone and you'd like to address counsel, please unmute your microphone and tell us your full name.
  • 00:19:28
    Yes.
  • 00:19:29
    Yeah, go ahead.
  • 00:19:30
    You've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_18
  • 00:19:33
    Yes, my name is Matthew Ray.
  • 00:19:36
    I'm a 51-year
  • 00:19:37
    resident of City of Charlottesville and also a CAT employee.
  • 00:19:42
    I was calling in today in support of a transit union that I believe that would greatly benefit us as CAT drivers.
  • 00:19:56
    As you know, CAT is called upon to do many things.
  • 00:20:00
    We have been there for most every weather condition that we've had.
  • 00:20:04
    We've stayed on the road.
  • 00:20:05
    Mr. Ray?
  • 00:20:05
    Yes.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:20:08
    So you are on our public comment section for just coming up shortly.
  • 00:20:14
    So you'll have an opportunity.
  • 00:20:16
    This was specifically related to the items that were on the consent agenda.
  • 00:20:23
    Okay.
• • SPEAKER_18
  • 00:20:23
    Understood.
  • 00:20:24
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:20:25
    Thank you.
  • 00:20:33
    Councillor Snook, did you want to comment on the resolution for the amending or reauthorizing the Charlottesville Scholarship Fund?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 00:20:44
    Sure.
  • 00:20:44
    Basically what happened was some years ago, and I'm not frankly sure when, members of the scholarship committee
  • 00:20:57
    extended the benefit not only to CHS students but also to city employees and to school board employees though that was not actually authorized by the resolution that had created the scholarship fund in the first place and so when the CACF when CACF took over as our agent and they looked at all of the documents
  • 00:21:25
    they said hey wait a minute you're you're not actually authorized to do that so this is an effort to get the authority equal to that which has been happening for the last few years anyway and essentially to in this case the specific issue is to be able to offer scholarship funds to city and to city school employees to go to PVCC to take a class
  • 00:21:54
    of some sort to improve their situation.
  • 00:21:56
    And that was really the main purpose of it all.
  • 00:22:01
    And as we talked about how we could best do that, the easiest way was simply to
  • 00:22:14
    to make the change that was suggested in the resolution to basically give the committee the authority to make whatever other changes may be necessary or appropriate and recognizing, of course, that there's a city councilor on the committee so there would not be a disconnect between council's wishes and the scholarship committee.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:22:44
    And I had one question.
  • 00:22:46
    In terms of prioritizing, do you all prioritize a certain percentage towards youth or adults, or is it just based on the applications that you all receive?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 00:22:58
    To be honest, this particular year, I don't think we had any specific requests, but the idea was we were going to fund a certain number of
  • 00:23:16
    of students.
  • 00:23:17
    And if there are other people, other staff who said they wanted to participate as well, wanted a subsidy of some sort for scholarship, then we would consider those.
  • 00:23:26
    We have not had the situation where we've said, oh, gee, we can't afford to do what we were expecting to do with the students because we were doing something
  • 00:23:33
    with the staff.
  • 00:23:36
    The reality is that we've done pretty well on our investments.
  • 00:23:40
    The endowment is doing well.
  • 00:23:43
    And so we are able to continue to expand the services available and the scholarships available.
  • 00:23:51
    So it's really not a matter of trading off one against the other at this point.
• • SPEAKER_06
  • 00:23:57
    Thank you.
  • 00:23:58
    Okay.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:24:01
    So any
  • 00:24:02
    Councilors, any questions?
  • 00:24:04
    All right.
  • 00:24:05
    Is there a motion?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 00:24:08
    I'd move the approval of the consent agenda.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:24:14
    Ms.
  • 00:24:14
    Thomas?
  • 00:24:15
    Opposed, Heather, second.
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:24:18
    Chair Walker?
• • SPEAKER_32
  • 00:24:20
    Yes.
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:24:21
    Vice Mayor McGill?
  • 00:24:23
    Yes.
  • 00:24:24
    Councilor Hill?
  • 00:24:25
    Yes.
  • 00:24:26
    Councilor Payne?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 00:24:28
    Yes.
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 00:24:29
    Councilor Snook?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 00:24:30
    Yes.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:24:32
    Okay, that carries, 5-0.
  • 00:24:35
    Next up, we have the city manager response to community matters and to counselors.
  • 00:24:40
    Mr. Bowles, I'll turn it over to you.
• • SPEAKER_17
  • 00:24:45
    Thank you, Mayor Walker.
  • 00:24:46
    Just a few quick things.
  • 00:24:51
    Just a very big thank you to you, the city council, our city staff, and especially our community for what turned out to be a very successful statue relocation this past week and prior weekend.
  • 00:25:09
    Things went much quicker and very quieter than we had anticipated, but it's always better to overprepare and not need it.
  • 00:25:20
    and but just a very, very big thank you because a lot of people throughout the city staff and the community contributed to making that happen.
  • 00:25:29
    Staff has continued to work and we will update you as we progress on getting the final resting places for those three statues.
  • 00:25:39
    We'll be prioritizing the Sacagawea Lewis and Clark statue first and then as that comes to a line we find a location for that then we will continue to work with the two Confederate statues.
  • 00:25:54
    But a very big thank you to everybody on that.
  • 00:25:59
    At a previous council meeting, it was requested that staff look at trying to find a bathroom solution on the downtown mall.
  • 00:26:09
    We continue to work on that, quite a challenging task as I know it's been worked on for many years and been worked on in a lot of other communities, but we continue to work with a couple of business groups on that.
  • 00:26:23
    and we are beginning to have some ideas with some opportunities that have arisen there.
  • 00:26:31
    Would like to try to update Council on filling our open positions.
  • 00:26:37
    It was a very busy week last week with interviews.
  • 00:26:41
    We had some final interviews with the Police Civilian Review Board and also on Friday final interviews for Director of Neighborhood Development Services.
  • 00:26:54
    We're getting much closer with those two.
  • 00:26:57
    Unfortunately, we will be and it began today advertising for the human resources director position again.
  • 00:27:05
    But with those, the more promising news that we have and I would like to take the opportunity now to introduce Sam Samuel Sanders who is our new deputy city manager for operations.
  • 00:27:20
    If I could ask Sam just to pull his camera on for a second.
  • 00:27:25
    Sam started last Monday so he's just over a week with us.
  • 00:27:32
    I'm trying to figure out how he started on the Monday after we had such a busy weekend, but we'll figure that out later.

7. CITY MANAGER RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY MATTERS and to COUNCILORS

• • SPEAKER_17
  • 00:27:39
    But we're very, very happy to have Sam on board.
  • 00:27:43
    He's covering a lot of different departments that include NDS, Utilities, Public Works, Parks and Rec.
  • 00:27:51
    and a few others that we haven't assigned to him yet, but I'm sure we'll get to.
  • 00:27:56
    But Sam, we're very, very happy to have you on board.
  • 00:28:00
    Sam comes to us from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he has served a number of years with a neighborhood development corporation in mid-city of Baton Rouge.
  • 00:28:12
    just the mid-city neighborhood is nearly the size of the city of Charlottesville it's over 35,000 people so very happy to have Sam with us we're also very happy to be able to report that we've been monitoring the Midway Manor elevator status and we were notified last week that they do have both elevators working
  • 00:28:39
    I haven't heard anything lately, so I'm hoping they're both still working.
  • 00:28:43
    But for the first time in a very long time, they do have that.
  • 00:28:48
    But we are continuing to try to work with the residents.
  • 00:28:51
    There's still a few other resident type services that do need to be addressed there.
  • 00:29:00
    Just to let you know, after a fairly long hiatus, we have reengaged our quarterly neighborhood association meetings with the city manager's office and several department heads.
  • 00:29:13
    So we held our second one of those on July the 15th.
  • 00:29:18
    Reminder to council that July 27th we do have a council workshop and we'll be focusing there on the budget schedule for FY23 and we will also present to you a draft for a two-phase strategic planning process.
  • 00:29:41
    an initial phase that will get us into fiscal year 23 and then a bigger version that will cover fiscal year 24 through 26.
  • 00:29:53
    both of these both the the one year and the three year will be include community engagement for the entire community it will cover work with city staff and of course work with the city council so we'll do that along with presenting you our proposed schedule for the FY23 budget process we also will be presenting to you
  • 00:30:21
    probably at your next council meeting a proposed schedule for the American Rescue Plan funding as we get closer to knowing what our reserve needs will be as our audit becomes a little bit clearer.
  • 00:30:38
    Of course, we finished the fiscal year on June 30th.
  • 00:30:42
    and we're starting to get better understanding of what these funds can and cannot be used for.
  • 00:30:48
    We'll present that to you and that plan will be for over a year because we will not be presenting to you anything that would commit us to funding until we actually receive our second round of the ARP funds.
  • 00:31:06
    will present something to you for the first round, which is half of the funds, but we don't want to commit that second round until we actually know that we will be receiving those.
  • 00:31:17
    With that, that's my whole report.
  • 00:31:21
    Be glad to answer any questions.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:31:25
    Thank you.
  • 00:31:27
    Counselors, any questions?
  • 00:31:29
    I welcome Mr. Sanders.
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 00:31:32
    I just want to say welcome and also just echo the thanks Mr. Boyles and to staff and all the community partners that were part of just the removal of the statues.
  • 00:31:42
    It was just an incredible effort and just really appreciate the tremendous lift.
  • 00:31:47
    Pun intended.
• • SPEAKER_16
  • 00:31:52
    I don't think it could have gone smoother.
  • 00:31:54
    Thank you.
  • 00:31:56
    I know it was a good work.
  • 00:31:59
    No, that pun wasn't intended, but thank you and welcome, Sam.
  • 00:32:05
    I look forward to getting to know you better.
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 00:32:07
    And I wholeheartedly agree with the thanks and the praise for the efforts in removing the statues so professionally and also agree that welcome, Sam.
  • 00:32:22
    Thanks.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:32:22
    Okay.
  • 00:32:27
    Any other?
  • 00:32:27
    Okay.
  • 00:32:28
    Well, thank you.
  • 00:32:28
    Thank you for that update.
  • 00:32:31
    Next up, we have the community matters.
  • 00:32:34
    I'll turn it over to Mr. Wheeler.
  • 00:32:36
    It looks like we have seven.
  • 00:32:40
    Eight people pre-register one of those numbers and we'll call on other after the registration.
  • 00:32:51
    I think we have eight, correct?
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:32:52
    That's correct.
  • 00:32:53
    Thank you, Mayor Walker.
  • 00:32:54
    We have eight people who signed up in advance.
  • 00:32:56
    We'll call on them first.
  • 00:32:57
    If you'd like to get in line, please click the raise hand icon in the Zoom webinar.
  • 00:33:03
    If you're on via telephone, you can press star nine.
  • 00:33:07
    and Mr. Ray you can go ahead and raise your hand again as well because you are one of the ones who have signed up.
  • 00:33:13
    You'll be number eight and Tom Richmond you'll be number seven.
  • 00:33:18
    You were on the waiting list and you got moved up.
  • 00:33:21
    Our first speaker tonight is Peter Krebs.
  • 00:33:27
    Peter you're on with counsel and you've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_09
  • 00:33:31
    Good evening, council, staff, and community.
  • 00:33:34
    Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
  • 00:33:36
    I'm Peter Krebs.
  • 00:33:38
    I work for the Piedmont Environmental Council, and I live on Tufton Avenue here in the city.
  • 00:33:43
    Tonight's agenda contains two items that fund important, really, three important bicycle, pedestrian, transportation priorities.
  • 00:33:53
    The Transportation Alternative Grant for Meadow Creek Connector
  • 00:33:57
    will allow people to walk or bike or move calmly and safely along a streamside trail from Mickey Drive to Greenbrier Drive and Greenbrier Park.
  • 00:34:09
    That'll allow kids who live in Mickey Drive, for example, to walk to school at Greenbrier.
  • 00:34:14
    It'll open numerous connections to help people reach work or shopping along the 29 corridor.
  • 00:34:22
    and it'll extend the process that we're working on along 250 the John Warner Parkway to connect the core of the combined Charlottesville Albemarle urban area.
  • 00:34:32
    The TAP grant also supports the Safe Routes to School Program and coordinator position.
  • 00:34:38
    I simply can't say enough about Safe Routes.
  • 00:34:41
    And I think it's really that program and Kyle as well have really shown their value to a greater degree than ever before.
  • 00:34:51
    now that we're looking at school buses in new ways.
  • 00:34:54
    So I'm excited about that.
  • 00:34:56
    I also hope you will approve the Fontaine streetscape, which will dramatically improve movement along a key artery for everyone and make it much safer for walking and biking.
  • 00:35:08
    All three of these projects embody, and the Fontaine piece in particular, something that I harp on all the time, which is
  • 00:35:17
    picking up shared wins for Charlottesville, Albemarle University, and fostering collaboration, active collaboration.
  • 00:35:25
    They're very community-focused projects.
  • 00:35:27
    They focus on the vulnerable.
  • 00:35:30
    They embody lots of community engagement.

8. COMMUNITY MATTERS

• • SPEAKER_09
  • 00:35:33
    They're examples of staff identifying small investments that can bring much, much larger investments from outside.
  • 00:35:41
    So very smart way to work.
  • 00:35:44
    Most importantly, they'll help residents live healthier, less stressful lives, reduce our carbon footprint, and create a safer and more sustainable and equitable transportation system.
  • 00:35:56
    Thank you all for your great work.
  • 00:35:59
    And that extends to the many people out in the community in trenches doing different kinds of work.
  • 00:36:06
    Deep respect to everybody.
  • 00:36:08
    Thank you very much.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:36:12
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:36:15
    Mayor Walker, our second speaker was to be Morgan Smith, who I know was on earlier and I believe wanted to highlight the Charlottesville girls basketball team, but we'll see if she returns to the call.
  • 00:36:28
    Next up is Julia Whiting.
  • 00:36:30
    Julia, you're on with counsel and you've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_30
  • 00:36:36
    Can you hear me?
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:36:37
    We can.
  • 00:36:38
    Go ahead.
• • SPEAKER_30
  • 00:36:39
    Thank you.
  • 00:36:41
    I'm a city resident.
  • 00:36:43
    In 2012, I was at a number of city council meetings about another matter when I observed the process for a special use permit for a proposed new large apartment building on Main Street.
  • 00:36:56
    Much of the discussion then centered on general appearance and business use, but there was some discussion about affordability.
  • 00:37:03
    Many residents at that time commented about citizens being displaced and the neighborhood being disrupted, and their comments reflected despair that the money interests had already determined the outcome.
  • 00:37:17
    Over two weeks ago, my husband wrote to City Hall to find out the agreed upon details of that 2012 permit.
  • 00:37:24
    and ultimately how many units were produced despite the agreement.
  • 00:37:28
    He still has not gotten the data and was told there is no central city database for this information.
  • 00:37:34
    And due to that and high staff turnover, he might need to file a Freedom of Information Act to obtain it.
  • 00:37:41
    I ask Council to quickly make this information available as a timely matter of public discussion rather than requiring citizens to ask for and pay for this information.
  • 00:37:53
    I think the information should be provided for at least the last 20 years of development.
  • 00:37:59
    I'd also like to ask a few more questions of Council.
  • 00:38:03
    How will the proposed changes shown on the future land use map about affordable housing?
  • 00:38:09
    by flooding the market with a general increase in housing units or just the designated affordable units?
  • 00:38:17
    Is the goal to have more rental units or owner occupied condos?
  • 00:38:23
    How will affordability be defined?
  • 00:38:25
    Is the goal to create affordability for a larger number of below median income working people or a small number of severely impoverished with an income of 10 to 15% of area median income such as the disabled or elderly?
  • 00:38:40
    How will the city avoid repeating another episode of what happened in Belmont with the new dense commercial district causing distress to longtime homeowners next door?
  • 00:38:51
    Is the council aware that 10 out of the 15 units on 10th Street near Dairy Market are already owned by developers and that homeowners are getting cold calls from real estate agents in neighborhoods with high development pressure, especially near UVA?
  • 00:39:08
    Finally, neighborhood nodes with retail and commercial space do not increase housing density.
  • 00:39:16
    Retail and commercial space is in gross oversupply in the city.
  • 00:39:20
    If a neighborhood is strongly unified against retail or other commercial enterprises, will there be a process where the mixed use designation can be reverted to residential only in any particular neighborhood?
  • 00:39:34
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:39:43
    Our next speaker is John Ertle, who will be followed by Emily Yen.
  • 00:39:49
    John, I'm with counsel, and you've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_19
  • 00:39:52
    Thank you.
  • 00:39:52
    My name is John Ertle.
  • 00:39:53
    I live at 313 Huntley Avenue in Charlottesville, and I'm a collective bargaining administrator with the Amalgamated Transit Union.
  • 00:40:00
    The ATU is the largest union representing bus operators and other transit employees throughout North America.
  • 00:40:05
    I want to thank you for this opportunity to address this body on what's a very important issue for the hardworking public servants in our community.
  • 00:40:12
    First, I want to applaud this body also for having the courage to finally see through the removal of the Confederate statues in our great city.
  • 00:40:19
    They were a vulgar expression of racism and a reminder that the Confederacy had not truly died.
  • 00:40:24
    However, statues are not the final holdover of the Jim Crow South because we still have policies on the books that disproportionately disenfranchise people of color.
  • 00:40:34
    Tonight I'd like to talk specifically about the absence of any provision for collective bargaining for public sector employees in our city.
  • 00:40:40
    Article 23 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights which is a guidepost for human rights throughout the world provides that it's a basic human right for workers to be able to form and join labor unions to advocate for their interests.
  • 00:40:55
    For generations, however,
  • 00:40:56
    Municipal employees like the transit operators who are predominantly people of color have been deprived the right to form a union and collectively bargain for better wages and conditions of employment.
  • 00:41:06
    Moreover, the anti-union laws that are on the books now are rooted in a legacy of racism.
  • 00:41:11
    Virginia's past segregationist Governor William Tuck, the same governor who encouraged massive resistance to school desegregation and the Supreme Court's Brown versus Board of Education decision.
  • 00:41:22
    He was the guy who also passed Virginia's anti-union right to work law
  • 00:41:26
    and he cemented some of the nation's most aggressively anti-union laws.
  • 00:41:30
    These laws weakened and defunded unions in the state and ensured that unions, which are a critical vector of social uplift, would be mollified.
  • 00:41:38
    He and others like him were allied with Vance Muse, the segregationist and anti-Semite who was the founder of these anti-union so-called right-to-work laws.
  • 00:41:47
    His organization, the so-called Christian American Association, long imposed unions because they recognized that unions had the potential to unite workers of all races.
  • 00:41:56
    And Muse employed ugly anti-black rhetoric when he imposed unions.
  • 00:42:00
    He said that if there are unions, and I quote, white women and white men will be forced into organizations with black African apes whom they will have to call brother or lose their jobs, end quote And if there is any question about whether unions and racial justice were intrinsically intertwined, Dr. King himself had this to say in 1961 The labor hater and the labor baiter is virtually always a twin-headed creature spewing anti-Negro epithets from one mouth and anti-labor propaganda from the other mouth
  • 00:42:28
    In sum, the absence of core union rights in our Commonwealth can best be understood as a monument to racism that just like the heinous statues lionizing the slaveocracy must be dismantled.
  • 00:42:39
    We have an opportunity now to pass a strong public sector collective bargaining ordinance that will allow city workers the right to form unions, and I implore city council to take the opportunity.
  • 00:42:50
    Tonight you'll hear from Matthew Ray, a long-time bus operator, and his colleagues are already working to organize, and we've already signed up a quarter of the workforce to join our union, and we implore city council to do the right thing, seize this opportunity to undo the tragic legacy of anti-union laws,
  • 00:43:07
    and help give these employees the fundamental human right to be able to form a union and bargain collectively.
  • 00:43:12
    Thank you.
  • 00:43:14
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:43:21
    Our next speaker is Emily Yen, who will be followed by Philip Harway.
  • 00:43:26
    Emily, you're on with counsel and you've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_00
  • 00:43:29
    Hello, I am Dr. Emily Yen.
  • 00:43:31
    I'm a Charlottesville City resident who lives on 506 Ridge Street.
  • 00:43:36
    I am speaking in support of the collective bargaining ordinance for municipal public sector workers here in Charlottesville.
  • 00:43:44
    There's a long history of racial injustice in Charlottesville, and it's unfortunately part of our everyday reality.
  • 00:43:50
    According to the 2019 data from the American Community Survey, the median household income for non-Hispanic white residents in the city of Charlottesville is $71,317 and for black residents $36,000
  • 00:44:10
    and 36 and $122 for Blacks households.
  • 00:44:20
    This is a $35,195 income gap.
  • 00:44:23
    This is absolutely atrocious.
  • 00:44:24
    It's a reflection of the racial inequity that exists in our community.
  • 00:44:30
    While there has been steps taken since the United...
  • 00:44:35
    Unite the Right Rally.
  • 00:44:36
    This material difference is really a reflection of the work that needs to be done.
  • 00:44:43
    It's imperative that we address collective bargaining rights.
  • 00:44:48
    How we treat our workers in our own city, in our own backyards, is a reflection of our community's values.
  • 00:44:55
    The best way to treat our workers with dignity and respect and start to close this racial income gap is to grant collective bargaining rights to our own employees.
  • 00:45:07
    I urge you to pass a strong collective bargaining ordinance similar to the one passed in Loudoun County, Virginia, as soon as possible.
  • 00:45:21
    in order to start to ameliorate this injustice.
  • 00:45:24
    Thank you very much.
  • 00:45:25
    I really appreciate you giving me the opportunity to speak to you tonight.
  • 00:45:28
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:45:30
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:45:30
    Our next speaker is Philip Haraway, who will be followed by Thom Richmond.
  • 00:45:39
    Philip, you're on with counsel and you've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_03
  • 00:45:43
    Great, thank you.
  • 00:45:44
    My name is Philip Haraway and my wife and I live at 707 Alta Vista Avenue here in the city.
  • 00:45:51
    Mayor Walker and members of the council, thank you for allowing me to speak this evening.
  • 00:45:57
    I previously was able to express myself at the last council meeting on the future land use map under the public times.
  • 00:46:04
    So I'll be brief.
  • 00:46:06
    I do want to address the plan that was presented to the planning commission at their last meeting by the housing advisory committee.
  • 00:46:15
    At the end of that last Planning Commission meeting, the Housing Advisory Committee presented alternative future land use maps.
  • 00:46:24
    Like them, I'm most concerned that the plans presently being developed and presented by the outside consulting company will not result in many of the goals set out.
  • 00:46:36
    The Housing Advisory Committee
  • 00:46:41
    presented these alternate plans for upzoning, but they are tied in most cases to confirmed affordable housing, not just upzoning and letting the market do its magic.
  • 00:46:56
    Those terms affordable housing still need to be defined but at the very least the housing alliances plans appear to have targetable goals with their proposals that the consultants maps leave open to eventual and future decisions.
  • 00:47:13
    I understand that the heavy lifting
  • 00:47:16
    comes next when the zoning and eventually the city council makes the final decisions.
  • 00:47:22
    But let's not start down the road now by just saying affordability will be accomplished later.
  • 00:47:29
    It doesn't seem to have worked in the past, so we must do better this time.
  • 00:47:34
    I urge you to get behind the housing advisory committee alternate plans in whatever way you can as this gets developed.
  • 00:47:42
    And thank you for taking care of some serious problems here in the city.
  • 00:47:47
    And I also would like to commend the removal of the Confederate statues.
  • 00:47:52
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:47:55
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:48:00
    Our next speaker is Tom Richmond will be followed by Matthew Ray.
  • 00:48:04
    Tom, you're on with City Council.
  • 00:48:06
    You've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_29
  • 00:48:08
    Thank you.
  • 00:48:09
    Good evening.
  • 00:48:09
    My name is Tom Richmond, and I actually live in Lexington at 106 Liberty Hall in Lexington, Virginia, so I'm south of you guys.
  • 00:48:19
    I'm the president of Caltri Events.
  • 00:48:21
    Caltri Events is a Virginia-based 501c3 nonprofit with a mission of being safe, affordable, and accessible, and we're a national triathlon series.
  • 00:48:32
    Typically, athletes and their cheering sections representing 20 to 25 states visit our host cities for each of our races.
  • 00:48:43
    At one of our most recent races, athletes raised a quarter of a million dollars for Special Olympics and Crohn's and colitis.
  • 00:48:50
    This year, there are five races scheduled in Albemarle and Flavana counties.
  • 00:48:54
    On May 2nd, thanks to the support of Lake Monticello, Flavana and Albemarle counties, we produced a sold out socially distanced race, which by all accounts was a complete success.
  • 00:49:06
    In 2021, there were two races that require a city of Charlottesville special events permit as the swim and staging area is at Fry's Spring Beach Club.
  • 00:49:15
    One was on June 27th and the other will be on September 26th.
  • 00:49:19
    For the June 27 race, the city's policy read, quote, due to the potential spread of COVID-19 and its threat to public health and safety, the city of Charlottesville is not accepting any applications or issuing any special event permits until further notice, end quote.
  • 00:49:34
    We were forced to choose between disappointing athletes again in 2021 or producing the June 27 race with limited numbers at a substantial loss.
  • 00:49:43
    As a commitment to our community of athletes, we chose the latter.
  • 00:49:48
    Compare the austere nature of the city of Charlottesville special events policy against the one governing events such as Fridays after 5, which began on June 18.
  • 00:49:55
    I quote, I want to quote Carly Haynes of CBS 9 News, who interviewed the general manager of the Nook on the downtown mall in a July 5 piece, quote, on any given Friday, you probably see a thousand people walk by.
  • 00:50:11
    It's wonderful.
  • 00:50:12
    The return of the music, the return of the crowds, the smiles, getting to see everyone's face, it's great.
  • 00:50:18
    Frankly, our community was confused how a large gathering where food and beverages were served and social distancing wasn't being observed was not a threat to public safety, public health and safety, but permitting our triathlon, which includes swimming at Frye Spring, Biking Old Lynchburg Road, and running along Stribbling Avenue was considered a threat to public health and safety.
  • 00:50:38
    on June 30th we messaged the entire city council and did get a prompt reply the next day from Mr. Boyles his response was the Fridays after five event is held by a private entity who formally leases the pavilion space from the city and not subject to special event permitting for public parks and streets end quote we view that as a difference without a distinction certainly the city of Charlottesville should be consistent with respect to potential threats to public safety
  • 00:51:08
    We encourage them to do so moving forward.
  • 00:51:11
    And as a follow-up, I know my time is done.
  • 00:51:14
    We earlier today, it looks like the special events process actually opened up and we did put in a permit for September 26th.
  • 00:51:24
    Thank you for your time.
• • SPEAKER_23
  • 00:51:28
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:51:33
    Next up is Matthew Ray.
  • 00:51:39
    Matthew, you're back on with council.
  • 00:51:40
    Go ahead.
• • SPEAKER_18
  • 00:51:42
    Thank you.
  • 00:51:44
    My name, as you know, is Matthew Ray.
  • 00:51:46
    I'm a 51-year resident of Charlottesville.
  • 00:51:49
    I live on 935th Street.
  • 00:51:51
    I'm also a seven-and-a-half-year employee at Charlottesville Area Transit.
  • 00:51:56
    And the first thing I want to say is commend our director, Director Garland, for his magnificent job of keeping us safe and healthy through the coronavirus.
  • 00:52:06
    What I also wanted to state was
  • 00:52:09
    How we at Transit that, I guess, the fact that how we are perceived or maybe what we do.
  • 00:52:25
    We have worked through the entire transit effort here.
  • 00:52:29
    We've had several drivers get sick.
  • 00:52:32
    We've been here with the major snowstorms.
  • 00:52:34
    We were there on August 11th and August 12th.
  • 00:52:38
    We were on the road.
  • 00:52:40
    We've also filled in for school bus and kept them running.
  • 00:52:46
    The need for the transit union as representation, I think, is something that is long overdue for us.
  • 00:52:55
    A lot of us and a lot of our guys feel they're underpaid and maybe, you know, we've kind of been through a lot of change and turmoil lately.
  • 00:53:02
    And we think that representation with the transit union would be good for our sector.
  • 00:53:09
    of what we do.
  • 00:53:11
    I would like to share that living in Charlottesville is difficult with the housing and everything else.
  • 00:53:29
    Most of our arborists do not live in Charlottesville.
  • 00:53:34
    That makes it difficult when you do have weather and things like that to get into town and to come to work, but we do it.
  • 00:53:48
    So I would just like to say that being in the union and having representation with the union would probably be a good thing for us and for the city and for us to advance on in what we do for the city.
  • 00:54:05
    I am proud to be a part of this city and proud to be a CAT employee.
  • 00:54:10
    So I want to continue with the union activities if possible.
  • 00:54:16
    I would like for you guys to consider the collective bargaining agreement if we can reach it.
  • 00:54:22
    And I thank you for your time.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:54:27
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:54:31
    Mayor Walker, Morgan Smith did not return to the webinar.
  • 00:54:35
    So I'll move on to the next group that has their hands raised, which I think includes everyone that was on the waiting list.
  • 00:54:42
    First up will be Kathleen Glenn Matthews, who will be followed by Katrina Turner.
  • 00:54:48
    Kathleen, you're on with Council.
  • 00:54:50
    You've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_02
  • 00:54:52
    Great.
  • 00:54:52
    Can you hear me?
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:54:53
    We can.
• • SPEAKER_02
  • 00:54:55
    Hello, my name is Kathleen Glenn Matthews.
  • 00:54:58
    I'm a resident of the City of Charlottesville and also the Deputy Executive Director of Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
  • 00:55:06
    I wanted to join tonight to thank Mr. Williams, the Director of CAT, Mr. Boyles, Ms.
  • 00:55:12
    Walker, the Mayor, and City staff for all their help and support in our moments of need over the past couple of weeks as we've had to relocate our elderly
  • 00:55:22
    and disabled community members at Crescent Halls.
  • 00:55:26
    We are very grateful for your support and we wanted to send a very sincere thank you.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:55:36
    Thank you.
  • 00:55:43
    Was she done or did that stop abruptly for some other reason?
• • SPEAKER_02
  • 00:55:49
    No, I was finished.
  • 00:55:50
    Okay, thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:55:57
    Our next speaker is Katrina Turner.
  • 00:55:59
    Katrina, you're on with council.
  • 00:56:02
    You've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_23
  • 00:56:06
    Katrina Turner, I want to speak to Mr. Boyles.
  • 00:56:14
    A couple of city councils ago, I asked some questions about Chief Brackney and about
  • 00:56:24
    Chief, former Chief Thomas getting rid of the records in 2016 and needing to know how Chief Brackney actually reviewed my case if Chief Thomas got rid of those records before he left.
  • 00:56:44
    In a letter from Chief Brackney on September 26, 2018, Chief Brackney accused me of accusing an officer of lying in court.
  • 00:56:59
    That never happened.
  • 00:57:00
    I've asked to speak to someone about all these decision letters that I have gotten.
  • 00:57:07
    Okay, and what she said that I accused an officer of was injuring my son with keys.
  • 00:57:18
    On the deposition letter in 2016, it states,
  • 00:57:23
    With regards to the keys striking Mr. Porter in the head, all evidence leads to a conclusion that it was an accident and occurred while the officers were struggling to take him into custody.
  • 00:57:36
    Nothing about an injury.
  • 00:57:38
    So I need to know where she got that I accused an officer of an injury to my son.
  • 00:57:45
    Okay?
  • 00:57:46
    Not just that.
  • 00:57:51
    Where...
  • 00:57:54
    She states that
  • 00:57:58
    In the decision letter, it states that there is clear evidence from every person on the scene, including you, that your son was not only being uncooperative, but physically interfering with the officer's ability to do so their job.
  • 00:58:12
    My son was handcuffed behind his back from the time he was in his apartment until the time they slammed him against the wall, against the police, the car and everything.
  • 00:58:24
    So I'd like to know
  • 00:58:27
    How?
  • 00:58:29
    What did she look at in order to say that she reviewed this case?
  • 00:58:36
    I need to know if
  • 00:58:39
    Those records were gotten rid of by Chief Thomas because I have a recording from Chief Thomas that states both will always be there whenever I need them.
  • 00:58:51
    I've been trying to get these records for over five years.
  • 00:58:55
    I need to know the truth.
  • 00:58:57
    The officers in this case lied.
  • 00:59:01
    and I'm saying it now and if I'm slandering the police department then make them come after me but I need answers in this case.
  • 00:59:10
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 00:59:13
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 00:59:18
    Mayor Walker, a brief announcement.
  • 00:59:20
    My team tells me we may have a brief interruption in the broadcast that it will not impact the webinar.
  • 00:59:26
    So if you're watching on one of our channels, please know we're going to restore the broadcast as quickly as possible.
  • 00:59:34
    And if you're on the webinar, hang with us.
  • 00:59:37
    Ms.
  • 00:59:37
    Turner was our ninth speaker.
  • 00:59:38
    Next up is Mark Cavett, who will be followed by Courtney Caucasian.
  • 00:59:44
    Mark, you're on with Council and you've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_01
  • 00:59:47
    Good evening.
  • 00:59:48
    Mark Cabot, 400 Altamont Street.
  • 00:59:51
    Let me first say that I have many issues with the comprehensive plan as presented.
  • 00:59:56
    I have only three minutes, but I need two hours.
  • 00:59:59
    First issue that we need to address with the community is how dense do we want the city to become?
  • 01:00:05
    Do we have the infrastructure to support high density?
  • 01:00:09
    Where should new schools be built?
  • 01:00:11
    Who do you see living in the new units to be built?
  • 01:00:14
    I don't believe it will be people looking for affordable housing.
  • 01:00:18
    There's a movement nationwide for people to live in urban areas, especially like Charlottesville.
  • 01:00:23
    Demand for housing is going to remain strong for some time.
  • 01:00:27
    We're not going to build our way out of that demand.
  • 01:00:30
    When I compare rent to other similar cities such as Chapel Hill and even large cities such as Detroit, I notice that our current rates are in line with other cities.
  • 01:00:42
    When comparing new construction in the urban core, you do not see rent decrease until you get away from the urban core and look at older housing.
  • 01:00:51
    I have data on this and I'll be presenting it to you all within the next few days by email and also a package that's being put together by myself and several other people.
  • 01:01:02
    This brings me to a time-time presentation with three out-of-state experts in the field of affordability about three years ago.
  • 01:01:09
    The bottom line for the program is that you're not going to achieve affordable housing with new construction.
  • 01:01:14
    New construction is inherently expensive.
  • 01:01:17
    You are not going to achieve affordable housing with that new construction unless you have public money.
  • 01:01:23
    that would be better to spend money to repair existing housing or adding on to single-family homes.
  • 01:01:30
    And I know that we have a program that does help people who cannot afford to repair their homes.
  • 01:01:35
    The average new construction apartment is renting for about $1,500 a month.
  • 01:01:39
    Before that,
  • 01:01:43
    appointment a person would need to make about $30 an hour.
  • 01:01:46
    If you got lucky and you got a unit that had been designated as an affordable unit, you need to be making at least $22.50 an hour.
  • 01:01:55
    What are we going to do for the person that needs housing making $12 to $15 an hour?
  • 01:01:59
    and we're working on a cost of new apartment rentals in our area.
  • 01:02:03
    We'll have that information at a future council meeting.
  • 01:02:06
    In future, I, as I said, and others are going to be making some recommendations on how this comprehensive plan should be adjusted.
  • 01:02:13
    There are ways to achieve density and more affordable housing.
  • 01:02:17
    This plan as submitted will not achieve the desired results.
  • 01:02:22
    What we have in this area is an income disparity issue.
  • 01:02:27
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 01:02:30
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 01:02:31
    Our next speaker is Courtney Caucasian, who will be followed by Nancy Carpenter.
  • 01:02:38
    Courtney, you're on with Council and you've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_04
  • 01:02:43
    Good evening, Mary Walker and Council.
  • 01:02:45
    Thank you for hearing my comments this evening.
  • 01:02:47
    I'm Courtney Kikation, Executive Director of the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau, a jointly funded organization by the city and the county to promote overnight stays amongst other tourism related support.
  • 01:03:00
    The CACVB's mission is to enhance the economic prosperity of the city and the county by promoting selling and marketing the city of Charlottesville and Albemarle County as a destination.
  • 01:03:09
    Visitors to the city of Charlottesville bolster local businesses and attractions and in 2019 sustained 2,700 jobs generated more than $277 million in economic impact and contributed nearly $9 million to the city's budget.
  • 01:03:26
    COVID hit the tourism industry especially hard.
  • 01:03:29
    As our industry begins to climb back, it's essential that we invest in promoting the city to have a strong recovery, especially as visitors venture further from home and as our events struggled for return.
  • 01:03:41
    At the CICBB, we made organization-wide changes to respond to the crisis and mitigate impact, including closing our brick-and-mortar visitor centers and shifting to a mobile visitor center model.
  • 01:03:53
    However, our budget moving forward is more than 20% cut this upcoming fiscal year and likely 50% down the following.
  • 01:03:59
    The American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law by President Biden on March 11th, sending $350 billion to governments to address the fiscal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 01:04:12
    The ARPIS states that funding should be used to aid in relief of hard hit industries, specifically mentioning travel, tourism, and hospitality as an industry needing assistance.
  • 01:04:22
    This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Virginia localities to alleviate the economic losses sustained through the pandemic.
  • 01:04:28
    Estimates show that in 2020, the Virginia tourism industry lost $10 billion, the state's lodging industry lost over $3 billion, and Virginia's restaurant industry lost over $1.8 billion.
  • 01:04:40
    It is estimated that room revenues will not recover until 2023 or 2024 which means lodging accommodations will need our support over the next couple of years.
  • 01:04:49
    The lodging industry has not received local COVID relief to date and I humbly ask council to consider providing grants to the sector for recovery.
  • 01:04:59
    With the easing of restrictions and pent-up desire to travel, the CACVB wants to welcome visitors back with consistent, compelling messaging for the next two years that can only be accomplished with a restored budget.
  • 01:05:10
    I humbly request council utilize a portion of the ARPA funding to restore the CACVB's marketing budget for the next two fiscal years.
  • 01:05:18
    Thank you for your time and consideration in supporting the tourism industry, the CACVB, and the return of the strong revenue source for our community.
  • 01:05:26
    Thank you for all that you do.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 01:05:34
    Our next speaker is Nancy Carpenter, who will be followed by Robin Hoffman.
  • 01:05:39
    Nancy, you're on with counsel.
  • 01:05:40
    You've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_15
  • 01:06:20
    I would call it economic catastrophe because of this pandemic.
  • 01:06:24
    And unfortunately the data shows as I think a lot of other people have talked in other various avenues that families of color have disproportionately felt the burden of this catastrophe.
  • 01:06:38
    Earlier this month I was at a conference call with the Virginia Poverty Law Center and they were estimating that about 34% of tenant families in Virginia could face possible eviction after the CDC moratorium ends in a couple of weeks and just as an FYI there were about 30,500 and some tenant families in the state of Virginia according to the National Low Income
  • 01:07:05
    Housing Coalition's recently released report which is called Out of Reach and they do it this time every year which is where I'm getting my data.
  • 01:07:15
    So what we need to do in this community is work really hard to keep families housed and specifically families because
  • 01:07:23
    We have a virus variant out there, which last year people in my age group were the ones that were potentially dying from this virus.
  • 01:07:33
    Now we have a variant that seems to want to strike younger mature adults, young adults and children and to have children in congregate shelter to
  • 01:08:07
    have severely eliminated the burdensome documentation that they had to provide for that program.
  • 01:08:15
    So I hope people will do that.
  • 01:08:16
    But I'm also looking at courts, the judges who hear these unlawful detainers, the lawyers that are...
  • 01:08:23
    representing landlords or property management groups, property management associations, apartment building associations, medical centers, school systems, and anybody in between that as best as we can to try and work through the next few months and keeping families housed because not only are kids going to be
  • 01:08:46
    facing that, but there's also a real risk of bullying and taunting for those children that go to school and wear masks from children who come from families that do not think masking is important.
  • 01:09:00
    So to have a safe space to come home to, for me, is very tantamount in the next few months.
  • 01:09:05
    Sorry I went over and thank you for my time.
  • 01:09:07
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 01:09:11
    And count...
  • 01:09:13
    Council, hopefully you can hear me.
  • 01:09:15
    We did have an issue with the broadcast.
  • 01:09:16
    It looks like we've brought it back, and we apologize to Ms.
  • 01:09:20
    Carpenter for not including her in the broadcast.
  • 01:09:24
    Next up is Robin Hoffman.
  • 01:09:27
    Robin, you're on with Council, and you've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 01:09:30
    You're muted.
  • 01:09:33
    I'm Robin Hoffman.
  • 01:09:34
    Can you hear me?
  • 01:09:36
    Wait, Robin, just a second.
  • 01:09:38
    Mr. Miller, we can't hear you.
  • 01:09:42
    You're muted.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 01:09:44
    How about now?
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 01:09:45
    Yeah, so right after Nancy Carpenter, you went out on us.
  • 01:09:51
    Right after you said Nancy Carpenter's name.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 01:09:52
    And I just wanted to share that we're restarting the broadcast.
  • 01:09:57
    And Nancy Carpenter's presentation was not broadcast, but it is in the webinar.
  • 01:10:03
    And so our next speaker is Robin Hoffman.
  • 01:10:05
    And Robin, you're on with counsel, and you've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_27
  • 01:10:08
    Yes, thank you.
  • 01:10:09
    Thank you so much.
  • 01:10:11
    Officials, for the last four years, it's been really, really tough.
  • 01:10:16
    I mean, you pulled the Band-Aid off and now we're the happy city again, I think, on the tourist, at least, attraction spot.
  • 01:10:29
    but what I'm trying to say is that I really want to uplift our communications department especially working so hard to get everybody on board and connected and I think it's unprecedented and I think that there's a lot of reasons why but it's particularly I think the staff is amazing they're very talented
  • 01:10:59
    Brian and David Dillahunt are just amazing that they listen to you and then they get it done so I want to thank everybody everybody and but also I want to say that I thought I was doing parks as a theme I have a camera now so I went out and I went to um what was I gonna do I went to the park and
  • 01:11:24
    to see what everybody was thinking and I did get very good interviews and one of the interviews where Chief Brackney said to me I'm glad we are in a position to support everyone in Charlottesville and I want to say that that is far from when Mike Signer was mayor in July 2017 and he said to me the courts are holding back
  • 01:11:50
    the fact of the permission for people to buy the statue, even though there are buyers.
  • 01:11:57
    So we have come a long way, but it's only because of the dedication of the staff that's currently here.
  • 01:12:04
    And if we didn't have representation as Nikuyah Walker and, you know, from the very onset of speaking on
  • 01:12:15
    what the issues were, and of course, Zion Bryant and Don Gathers and many more.
  • 01:12:24
    But also, I want to say that, you know, the education piece with Charlene Greene and Jelaine Schmidt and Andrea Douglas, you know, ongoing, the commission, et cetera, these are all really important issues, but
  • 01:12:42
    I was hoping that we would all become CPA TV members and then have this ongoing conversations.
  • 01:12:52
    I mean, these interviews that I've been doing, I've been doing 73 episodes.
  • 01:12:57
    and right now I'm with the Botanical Gardens Park, with the Senior Citizens Park and I'm gonna go to the Parks and Rec next and do the Athletes League and I think it's just become a place that people are saying to me, you know, hey TV lady, Mr. Rogers and Julia Childs and that,
  • 01:13:19
    And now even, you know, talking about me being with the camera, Judge Judy, Mr. Green Jeans, Anthony Bourdine, and now, thank you, Andrea Douglas, I am now a little bit of a Tonya Harding.
  • 01:13:35
    But I have to say all of this because people are coming forward saying that they want more ways to get to become a member.
  • 01:13:44
    And we don't, it doesn't seem, okay, thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 01:13:50
    and my colleague David Dillahunt says you should be able to hear me now.
  • 01:13:54
    Is that true?
  • 01:13:56
    Yes.
  • 01:13:56
    All right.
  • 01:13:57
    So speaking of kudos for David, he restored the broadcast after an unforeseen obstacle.
  • 01:14:03
    So thank you, David.
  • 01:14:05
    Next up is Jeff Fogel, who will be followed by Rebecca Deeds.
  • 01:14:10
    Jeff, you're on with counsel and you've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_22
  • 01:14:12
    Thank you, Brian.
  • 01:14:13
    Good evening.
  • 01:14:15
    I'm speaking as a member of the People's Coalition.
  • 01:14:19
    I know at some point in history, you will actually have a police civilian review board.
  • 01:14:26
    What we really want is for all of you to live up to your own rhetoric.
  • 01:14:31
    Councilors have repeatedly said that what they want is a strong and independent civilian review board and yet virtually every action taken by the council has been to undermine the strength and independence of that board and then to listen to Lloyd Snook say what's being presented by the civilian review board to the council is a solution looking for a problem
  • 01:14:56
    Well, that's a pretty outrageous statement if he doesn't understand what's going on in this community and the history of this issue.
  • 01:15:04
    But let me share with you something I don't think you know, which is what is it like to go before internal affairs?
  • 01:15:10
    Do any of you know?
  • 01:15:11
    Have any of you reached out to learn what goes on when somebody files a complaint with internal affairs other than to ask internal affairs itself?
  • 01:15:20
    Well, let me tell you that when even they do the right thing,
  • 01:15:24
    in the case, and now I'm talking about LaQuinn Gilmore, the process is seriously flawed.
  • 01:15:30
    Let me give it to you quickly.
  • 01:15:32
    We went there, they wanted to interview LaQuinn.
  • 01:15:35
    He agreed, we agreed, so long as, and they were going to do it by tape recording, so long as we could have a copy of it.
  • 01:15:42
    And they said, of course you can have a copy of it.
  • 01:15:44
    To this date, they won't give me a copy of it.
  • 01:15:47
    Nobody will give me a copy of it.
  • 01:15:49
    And nobody has explained why.
  • 01:15:51
    I've been told that it was under orders of the city attorney, although I never learned that attorneys had the authority to order anybody to do anything.
  • 01:15:59
    But it's lack of even information about why this was withhold such a simple request.
  • 01:16:05
    And then we requested to see the video that the police department had and they wouldn't show it to us.
  • 01:16:11
    Why not?
  • 01:16:12
    I still don't get an answer to that.
  • 01:16:15
    But they did show it.
  • 01:16:16
    After the proceedings were over and the police department wanted to give its own spin on it, it showed the video, not to the complainant, not to the victim, but to serve their own interests in using their own sort of approach to the problem, including criticizing my client for certain discrepancies about which they had never even asked him.
  • 01:16:43
    So I tell you, the process is rotten, even when it results in the right decision, as it did in the case of LaQuinn.
  • 01:16:52
    And then, of course, I went to our wonderful Commonwealth attorney and said, look, my client was assaulted.
  • 01:16:59
    The police department found that he was illegally detained, thrown to the ground, had a serious concussion and a back injury.
  • 01:17:06
    How come you're not prosecuting?
  • 01:17:08
    He won't prosecute, but let's remember, of course, he's already prosecuted one police officer, so I guess he feels he doesn't have to prosecute another.
  • 01:17:17
    Thank you.
  • 01:17:17
    Good night.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 01:17:20
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 01:17:22
    Our 15th speaker will be Rebecca Deeds.
  • 01:17:25
    City Council has room for one additional speaker.
  • 01:17:27
    If you'd like to raise your hand, click the raise hand icon in the Zoom webinar.
  • 01:17:33
    Rebecca, you're on with Council.
  • 01:17:34
    You've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_28
  • 01:17:36
    Thank you for the chance to speak.
  • 01:17:39
    I'm here on behalf of Preservation Piedmont to comment on the proposed land use map and I live in the city off Carlton Avenue.
  • 01:17:47
    I want to thank city council, staff, consultants and community members who've put such great effort into the land use map.
  • 01:17:57
    Our organization has been tracking the comprehensive planning process since 2017 and we have some feedback to share regarding the proposed map.
  • 01:18:06
    First, we're concerned the current plan will create greater displacement of historically marginalized communities in vulnerable neighborhoods like 10th and Page, Fifeville, Star Hill and Rose Hill due to their proximity to UVA, speculative development and demolition.
  • 01:18:25
    We seek clarity from the consultants regarding strategies they will use to protect vulnerable neighborhoods.
  • 01:18:32
    We worry about widespread demolition of existing more affordable housing in favor of new developments resulting in considerable environmental and community degradation.
  • 01:18:42
    We want to see a plan that will incentivize and promote reuse of existing structures.
  • 01:18:48
    The plan should address the potential effects of upzoning on cultural and environmental resources such as the reduction in city tree cover due to new development.
  • 01:18:59
    Such impacts will contribute to heat islands and reduce shaded streets and sidewalks that encourage walking rather than driving.
  • 01:19:06
    Currently, the proposed land use map does not reflect how these changes would intersect with the architectural design control and conservation districts that receive review from the Board of Architectural Review.
  • 01:19:18
    Additionally, the plan does not acknowledge or provide a strategy for state and nationally designated or eligible historic districts
  • 01:19:26
    that are not locally designated for design review.
  • 01:19:30
    According to the consultant's estimates the proposed changes will produce only a small number of affordable housing units.
  • 01:19:36
    At the November 2020 community meeting the consultant stated that with the mandatory inclusionary zoning and possible land use changes only 30 new affordable units and 12 new ADUs could be anticipated per year when according to the housing plan 4,000 units are needed.
  • 01:19:55
    We hope that consultants and council members will look at more details related to the map, taking into account city topography, its watersheds, locations of resources like shopping, office facilities and schools that could be walkable.
  • 01:20:11
    We want to remind council members that the future land use map is only one of many tools available to help mitigate the affordable housing crisis.
  • 01:20:20
    The affordable housing plan outlines many other strategies outside of the land use plan that should move ahead while work on the land use map continues.
  • 01:20:29
    And then finally, while it's true the land use map is the vision for zoning ordinances versus a binding legal document, the map will guide the zoning process and has the potential to provide legal arguments for rezoning.
  • 01:20:42
    We will continue to participate in this process and keep you updated with additional comments and concerns and we thank you so much for your service and hard work.
  • 01:20:52
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 01:20:55
    Mayor Walker, our last speaker will be Andrew Shelton.
  • 01:20:59
    Emily Yen did have her hand raised, but she spoke previously, so I did lower her hand.
  • 01:21:04
    Andrew, you're on with Council.
  • 01:21:05
    You've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_08
  • 01:21:08
    Great.
  • 01:21:08
    Thank you.
  • 01:21:08
    I just wanted to thank you all very much for your decisive action when it came to the statues last weekend.
  • 01:21:17
    And we all appreciate that.
  • 01:21:20
    I also wanted to make a brief comment on the ongoing housing issues in our town.
  • 01:21:25
    I rent.
  • 01:21:28
    I've lived in an apartment here for many years now and have lived here previously for quite a long time.
  • 01:21:36
    And ultimately, I would just like to ask y'all to we need more housing.
  • 01:21:43
    There are a lot of people that are bringing up issues about affordable housing using language that I feel is being appropriated to cover their actual mission of maintaining their ongoing neighborhood character.
  • 01:22:03
    And I would like to say that we see that and recognize what they're doing and we need more housing.
  • 01:22:10
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 01:22:21
    Mayor Walker, we can't hear you.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 01:22:25
    Thank you, Mr. Shelton.
  • 01:22:29
    And next, counselors, any comments?
  • 01:22:33
    I have some, but I'll wait.
• • Michael Payne
  • 01:22:36
    Just briefly, one, Ms.
  • 01:22:40
    Carpenter had raised the issue of the need for additional
• • SPEAKER_11
  • 01:22:48
    Our pay-per-p allocation tonight will also include over $800,000 moratoriums ending in state money available.
• • Michael Payne
  • 01:22:58
    I know there's going to be over, I think, $400,000.
  • 01:23:38
    if there is well.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 01:23:43
    Thank you.
  • 01:23:46
    Any other comments?
  • 01:23:52
    So I agree with the collective bargaining piece.
  • 01:23:54
    I also hope that we can be an agency where unions are not the only way that staff members are getting their need met.
  • 01:24:04
    And I think if we reach that goal, then we won't
  • 01:24:09
    there won't be such a need for the collective bargaining but since there is definitely want to take a look at that I also think that we need to keep in mind as a council what that means for a lot of the funding allocations that we
  • 01:24:34
    keep voting on that will come up in a couple of years like the school bus drivers.
  • 01:24:41
    There were two I think additional positions in that the fire department will have to support those new firefighters in a couple of years.
  • 01:24:52
    The schools are supporting our
  • 01:24:55
    what we voted on tonight for two years after that, that will become a budget item for them.
  • 01:24:59
    We have the $4.5 million already that we'll have to figure out a way to support.
  • 01:25:07
    And at some point, those things are gonna compete with people who are not gonna be able to join unions.
  • 01:25:14
    The people in housing that we're talking about now that won't be able to advocate for themselves in the same way.
  • 01:25:24
    just want to make sure that we are considering all of those things holistically every time we vote.
  • 01:25:31
    I do think that Mr. Shelton made a point that has been resonating with me for a while about appropriating language that some people are using to maintain their neighborhoods as they currently are.
  • 01:25:50
    It's been really interesting and I've just been reading and not commenting a lot on the future land use map.
  • 01:26:01
    But it seems to be that there is, you know, sort of an understanding that if we
  • 01:26:11
    If it does pass as is, then developers will probably build for themselves.
  • 01:26:18
    And we know unless someone has to do something different, the conversations that we've had over the past three and a half years will lead to them doing things that are associated with bottom line revenue, ROI, things like that.
  • 01:26:33
    And so we know what we're doing isn't working.
  • 01:26:36
    And I feel...
  • 01:26:38
    that we need to make sure that when we are advocating for change or even the clarity in who we are talking about when we talk about affordable that I think it would be helpful for me for some of those same individuals hundreds and thousands of individuals to also understand that when they are silent
  • 01:27:06
    you know what that does someone mentioned 10th and Page of course my mind immediately goes to what is happening with Monticello Dairy some of the same people who are supporting changes to the future land use map who have also been participants over the years and advocating on their nonprofits behalf or whatever are also the same people that stays silent
  • 01:27:34
    when a development like Monticello, the area is built and you can't dictate, I mean, you can't decide when you are going to be pro affordable housing and then when you support how, you know, when you support developments that are against it just based on relationships.
  • 01:27:53
    And that's been a consistent theme
  • 01:27:56
    the entire time that I've been here, that some people remain silent when they shouldn't, even when it's in direct conflict with the work they do.
  • 01:28:07
    And it's almost as if people understand that developers, unless they have to, will probably do the same thing.
  • 01:28:15
    And the concern is about building in the neighborhoods because truly, even with where we are at today, if we...
  • 01:28:26
    If the ownership of the land or the dollars that will be invested in creating these affordable units don't happen, then there probably won't be any new development that benefits the lower income citizens.
  • 01:28:42
    Pushing lower income citizens outside of an urban ring or in the city limits is the same cycle that happens based on where white people traditionally decide they want to live.
  • 01:28:56
    whether it's in suburban areas or urban areas.
  • 01:28:59
    So we are following that same trend now and a lot of the comments are aligned with that.
  • 01:29:04
    And it's all driven by who has the most access to what resources.
  • 01:29:11
    And that's not a conversation that we're having as we have a conversation about what is affordable, where should density be, if it should be, what will guide the ultimately the zoning rewrite that we will do later.
  • 01:29:26
    And it would seem to me to be more authentic if we were having all of those conversations and not just part of it.
  • 01:29:33
    So it does seem to be used just because when it's convenient to use racism and the language of it without it ever benefiting the people.
  • 01:29:52
    And hopefully we can change that.
  • 01:29:56
    Any other comments?
  • 01:30:01
    Yeah.
  • 01:30:02
    All right.
  • 01:30:05
    Okay, so we're at break, and so we will be back at 817.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 01:30:12
    Mayor Walker, I'd like to encourage everyone on the city staff.
  • 01:30:17
    Mr. Willer, you're muted again.
  • 01:30:18
    Can you hear me?
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 01:30:24
    It's good now.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 01:30:29
    if you can hear me.
  • 01:30:30
    I just want to encourage everyone to reboot their computers during the break.
  • 01:30:35
    It looks like IT is pushing out some updates and we want to make sure everyone does that before we restart.
  • 01:30:44
    If you have a PC.
  • 01:30:46
    Thank you.
  • 01:54:18
    David, if I got audio overhead.
  • 01:54:53
    Okay, we have a temporary laptop in place.
  • 01:54:56
    Sorry for the delay.
  • 01:54:58
    We're ready to go.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 01:55:03
    All right, thank you.
  • 01:55:04
    That was some great music while we were waiting, so I think that should have kept everybody satisfied doing the break.
  • 01:55:13
    All right, so we're up.
  • 01:55:14
    We have our first action item.
  • 01:55:17
    It's a resolution approving the request to pursue transportation alternative project grant funding through the Virginia Department of Transportation for, one, design and construction of the Meadow Creek Valley Trail Bridge.
  • 01:55:30
    at $675,000 and two Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator at $200,000.
  • 01:55:36
    It's one reading.
  • 01:55:37
    I invite staff to participate.
• • SPEAKER_33
  • 01:55:44
    This is Chris Gensick with the Parks Department.
  • 01:55:46
    Can you all hear me?
  • 01:55:48
    Yes.
  • 01:55:50
    Okay, great.
  • 01:55:51
    I'm on my phone.
  • 01:55:51
    My laptop's still rebooting updates.
  • 01:55:55
    This item is for a
  • 01:55:58
    Grant program that we use many, many times over the years.
  • 01:56:00
    That's the Virginia Department of Transportation's Alternative Transportation Program grants.
  • 01:56:05
    They require a council resolution, which is why we're here in front of you tonight.
  • 01:56:10
    We decided to do two grants in one resolution this evening.
  • 01:56:14
    I think they're separate resolutions.
  • 01:56:15
    It's one action item.
  • 01:56:17
    The grant the Parks Department is pursuing is to construct a long awaited portion of ADA accessible trail along the Meadow Creek Valley from the Mickey Drive area.
  • 01:56:27
    up to the Virginia Institute of Autism at Greenbrier Drive and also around the corner to Greenbrier Park.
  • 01:56:34
    As you see in your notes, the Parks Department will use its existing trails CIP allocation of $135,000 and then the federal government matches through VDOT to bring in a total of $675,000.
  • 01:56:42
    That's on top of about 375 we already have for this particular
  • 01:56:53
    Project costs have gone up over the years, and so we've determined that we're going to need this extra money for that particular project in Meadow Creek.
  • 01:57:00
    I could take questions on the Meadow Creek one now, or Amanda Ponce can present for the safe routes piece, whichever way you'd like to do it.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 01:57:11
    Councilors, are there any questions on the Meadow Creek Valley Trail?
  • 01:57:17
    No?
  • 01:57:18
    All right.
• • SPEAKER_07
  • 01:57:22
    Okay, sounds good.
  • 01:57:28
    Good evening, counselors.
  • 01:57:29
    My name is Amanda Ponce, and I'm the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator in the Department of Public Works.
  • 01:57:36
    We've been running a Safe Routes to School program for the last five years in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation.
  • 01:57:43
    and the Safe Rout to School Non-Infrastructure Grant Program.
  • 01:57:47
    Safe Rout to School programs help schools and communities make walking and biking to school a safe and convenient natural activity.
  • 01:57:54
    This year, VDOT announced that the grant funding would be changing and future non-infrastructure grants would be funded through the Transportation Alternatives Program that Chris described.
  • 01:58:03
    And so we're hoping to apply for up to $200,000 that would fund a full-time coordinator and associated programming for two years starting in 2022.

9. Approving the request to pursue Transportation Alternatives Project grant funding through the Virginia Department of Transportation for: 1) design and construction of Meadow Creek Valley Trail bridge $675,000, and 2) Safe Routes to School Program and Coordinator $200,000 (1 reading)

RES_TAPGrant2021FINALRES_TAPGrant2021FINAL_MeadowCreekBridgeTrailGraphicVDOT2021
• • SPEAKER_07
  • 01:58:13
    So this grant application would continue the already established programming that we have in K-8 schools citywide.
  • 01:58:20
    These activities include things like bike and walk to school day events, helmet giveaways, neighborhood bike repair in some of our public housing areas, student travel tallies, and a website and social media presence.
  • 01:58:35
    So we hope that you'll support our desire to submit a grant application for this program and hope you will approve this resolution If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them Will the neighborhood bike repair go to people where they're at?
  • 01:58:52
    Yes, that is the intent So the Safe Routes to School program will be pairing up with community bikes and sort of traveling neighborhood to neighborhood to help with that
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 01:59:03
    What is the time frame at which we know if these grants have been appropriated from the programs which we're seeking?
• • SPEAKER_07
  • 01:59:10
    Yeah, well, for Safe Routes to School, for both of these, the funding would become available in 2022.
  • 01:59:17
    I mean, I know that, you know, I don't know the exact funding.
  • 01:59:23
    We'll know of the award next year, and at that time, they'll kind of give us a sense of when that funding will be available.
  • 01:59:30
    But we're anticipating, at least for the
  • 01:59:32
    for the Safe Routes grant that it would be available in the fall of 2022.
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 01:59:35
    And does that mean that you have a gap in that programming this coming year because of the expiration of the other grant that was coming from the infrastructure grant?
• • SPEAKER_07
  • 01:59:50
    Right.
  • 01:59:50
    So we were awarded that grant.
  • 01:59:52
    We'll be coming to you with an appropriation in the next couple of weeks.
  • 01:59:56
    But we will have the program continue through next year, but it will not be at the same.
  • 02:00:02
    Well, we're hoping it will be at the same level, although the funding that we were awarded was less than we had received in past years.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:00:20
    Any other questions?
  • 02:00:23
    Any other questions?
  • 02:00:28
    So this position for the Safe Routes to School, you would be adding another employee or supporting the current employee?
• • SPEAKER_06
  • 02:00:36
    This would support a current employee to continue his position.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:00:45
    Okay, so the gap in funding supports is, so that employee is still supported?
• • SPEAKER_06
  • 02:00:52
    Yes, correct.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:00:54
    Okay.
• • SPEAKER_07
  • 02:00:57
    Like I said, we'll be coming to you at a later time, probably August, probably September timeframe within appropriation for next year's, the 2021-2022 year.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:01:15
    Second.
  • 02:01:19
    All right.
  • 02:01:20
    Any other questions?
• • SPEAKER_11
  • 02:01:22
    No.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:01:23
    All right.
  • 02:01:24
    Is there a motion?
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 02:01:26
    I move we adopt the resolution authorizing application for transportation alternatives funding for a Meadow Creek Valley Trail Bridge and for the Safe Routes to School program and coordinator.
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 02:01:38
    Second.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:01:40
    Any further questions?
  • 02:01:42
    No.
  • 02:01:43
    All right.
  • 02:01:44
    Thomas?
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 02:01:46
    Mayor Walker?
  • 02:01:47
    Yes.
  • 02:01:48
    Vice Mayor McGill?
  • 02:01:50
    Yes.
  • 02:01:51
    Councilor Hill?
  • 02:01:52
    Yes.
  • 02:01:53
    Councilor Payne?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 02:01:54
    Yes.
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 02:01:55
    Councilor Snook?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 02:01:56
    Yes.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:01:56
    All right, that carries 5-0.
  • 02:02:00
    Thank you.
  • 02:02:02
    Thank you.
  • 02:02:06
    Next up, we have a resolution.
  • 02:02:09
    Oh, thank you.
  • 02:02:12
    Next up, we have a resolution appropriating funds for funding transfer for the Charlottesville affordable housing fund program review redesign and inclusionary zoning program design.
  • 02:02:26
    It's a $165,000 request.
  • 02:02:26
    And this is the first of two readings.
• • SPEAKER_12
  • 02:02:33
    Good evening, Mayor Council and the city manager.
  • 02:02:39
    This is Alex from NDS.
  • 02:02:43
    This request is essentially a fund transfer to enable staff to complete a couple of related projects designed to implement the affordable housing plan that was endorsed by the City Council a couple of months ago.
  • 02:03:02
    Staff is asking for fund transfer for this particular purpose.
  • 02:03:07
    The fund has already been appropriated.
  • 02:03:10
    and Council Action will essentially transfer these funds from CDBG admin funds and 2022 CIP, affordable housing CIP fund.
  • 02:03:28
    The project that's been undertaken is essentially two-fold.
  • 02:03:32
    One is to review the affordable housing program,
  • 02:03:37
    performance, past performances dating back to 10 years from today.
  • 02:03:46
    The program is designed to evaluate whether the city's investment is actually producing a desired outcome.
  • 02:03:57
    The project will be looking at the agreements, selection process, contracting process,
  • 02:04:05
    Development of new approaches as needed, grand times, and the program criteria.
  • 02:04:12
    Additionally, a metrics will be developed so the city will be able to evaluate the program effectively going into the future.
  • 02:04:25
    The other component is inclusionary zoning design.
  • 02:04:28
    When the current contract for comprehensive plan update
  • 02:04:35
    was signed.
  • 02:04:39
    It did not include inclusionary zoning program design.
  • 02:04:44
    And staff is looking at working with the consultants to take a look at this.
  • 02:04:53
    The completion of this study will provide a tool for the implementation of affordable housing chapter of the comprehensive plan.

10. Appropriating funds for funding transfer for Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund (CAHF) Program Review/Redesign and Inclusionary Zoning Program Design - $165,000 (1st of 2 readings)

RES_CAHF Program review Inclusionary Zoning Study Funding
• • SPEAKER_12
  • 02:05:04
    is going to look at zoning incentives like bonus density, or density bonus rather, parks abatement, parking requirements, and streamlining of the development review process.
  • 02:05:19
    So we are hoping that once done, we'll have additional item in the toolkits for implementing affordable housing program.
  • 02:05:31
    There are several benefits to these two
  • 02:05:35
    items.
  • 02:05:36
    And in terms of affordable housing implementation, we provide a more inclusive development feasibility in terms of exaction.
  • 02:05:48
    The request complies with the provisions of 2018 to 2020 strategic plan and also council's mission statement.
  • 02:06:00
    So with council action tonight,
  • 02:06:04
    will be authorizing transfer of these funds from appropriate, already appropriated funds to enable the completion of this project.
  • 02:06:14
    With that in mind, I'll entertain a question from the city council.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:06:20
    Thank you.
  • 02:06:20
    Any questions?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 02:06:25
    I have a couple of questions.
  • 02:06:28
    First of all, we have heard in the last few months a series of complaints from people who are upset with the way that the process has been working for the land use map and so on.
  • 02:06:42
    And they're saying, well, have the consultants done a study of induced demand or of various other econometric kinds of calculations?
  • 02:06:54
    Is any of that contemplated here?
• • SPEAKER_12
  • 02:06:59
    The inclusionary zoning is going to include some calculations, you know, about thresholds for multifamily development and density bonuses and then a designation of affordable housing out of those.
  • 02:07:20
    So that calculation will be included in
  • 02:07:24
    Inclusion Arizona Program.
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 02:07:29
    So I guess I understand the part about wanting to do the evaluation of past efforts, the program review and the redesign.
  • 02:07:45
    I guess I'm wondering what exactly do we expect to get out of the redesign?
• • SPEAKER_12
  • 02:07:55
    Right now, in terms of redesigning the program, it will enable a more efficient use of the city's resources.
  • 02:08:05
    It's going to look at the agreement right now.
  • 02:08:08
    The agreements we have, if you look at it, from the agreements I've been used to, it just doesn't have enough teeth in it.
  • 02:08:16
    It's not performance-based.
  • 02:08:19
    The selection process and contracting process
  • 02:08:23
    services needs to be revamped.
  • 02:08:28
    The terms of the contracts and the criteria for evaluation.
  • 02:08:32
    And finally, we need a metrics, you know, how we are going to evaluate the program in the future.
  • 02:08:41
    So that's what we are going to get out of this.
  • 02:08:44
    Right now, the program we have
  • 02:08:50
    is not efficient in terms of investment of the city's resources.
  • 02:08:55
    We need to have a very good inventory system, accountability, which is lacking at this time and some kind of performance-based measurement program going into the future.
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 02:09:14
    I guess the other question is,
  • 02:09:19
    Do we have any idea how long it will take them to do it?
• • SPEAKER_12
  • 02:09:23
    Yeah, I think they are looking at probably within six months to get it done.
  • 02:09:35
    And the inclusionary zoning, they need to make a substantial progress because it's going to inform the development of
  • 02:09:49
    certain pieces of the zoning rewrite because it's going to deal with some calibrations, thresholds in terms of multifamily development and things like that.
  • 02:10:02
    So we are looking at accelerated studies in terms of getting this done.
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 02:10:11
    I guess I'm a little surprised that this would not already have been thought of as being included within the zoning rewrite that it's part of the $975,000 contract we've already got with these folks but if it's not it certainly should be and if it's not we should definitely be adding it to the mix just a couple questions one
• • Michael Payne
  • 02:10:41
    I know we've heard in recent weeks the proposal for an affordable housing overlay.
  • 02:10:45
    Is there any expectation that the money allocated for developing this inclusionary zoning program could be used to develop that affordable housing overlay program if that's a direction we decide to go in?
  • 02:11:02
    Or would that be a completely separate thing?
• • SPEAKER_12
  • 02:11:05
    It's a separate thing.
  • 02:11:07
    Let me just say about that overlay.
  • 02:11:11
    was presented to the Planning Commission.
  • 02:11:15
    Staff and the consultant also met with the proponents of the representatives of HAC, Mr. Dozingwe and Sunshine Merton of PHA.
  • 02:11:35
    went through the proposal and Planning Commission also reviewed it and then asked the consultant to evaluate that proposal and then see whether there are some of the provisions that are practical in terms of application that can be integrated into the future land use.
  • 02:12:02
    So the consultant will be doing that.
  • 02:12:04
    I don't think there is a
  • 02:12:07
    additional funding that will be necessary to do that.
  • 02:12:09
    I think it will be part of public comments.
  • 02:12:13
    That's what that is.
  • 02:12:15
    So the consultant is going to be looking at that overlay proposal to see whether there are parts of it as directed by the Planning Commission that can be integrated into the future land use map.
  • 02:12:29
    Having said that, I just want to point out something just
  • 02:12:35
    Food for Thought for the City Council in terms of that overlay.
  • 02:12:41
    Everything that comes out from the future land use map and perhaps the zoning ordinance and maybe portions of the overlay that would be integrated into the future land use map has to be what
  • 02:13:01
    the market can respond to.
  • 02:13:03
    You know, we have to become resent of that because we may come up with something that the market will not respond to.
  • 02:13:12
    And then the developers, private developers, may not like to respond to that.
  • 02:13:21
    So we have to take that in mind.
  • 02:13:22
    We also discussed this particular issue with the consultant and representatives from MAC.
  • 02:13:30
    So, to answer your question again, as directed by Planning Commission, the consultant will be looking at that overlay proposal to see what can be integrated into the future land use map.
  • 02:13:41
    And I don't think that would require additional funding to do that.
• • Michael Payne
  • 02:13:47
    And then, is it still the expectation in terms of timeline, the inclusionary zoning program would coincide with any changes
  • 02:14:00
    to our zoning map rather than follow afterwards before any zoning changes are made?
• • SPEAKER_12
  • 02:14:06
    It will coincide because once canceled, this is two readings.
  • 02:14:13
    It requires two readings.
  • 02:14:14
    So the next reading, I think if council decides to move it forward, will be August 2nd, I believe.
  • 02:14:23
    And the consultant is gearing to kick this off.
  • 02:14:29
    Second reading is done.
  • 02:14:31
    You know, the housing consultant and the land use RHI, you know, they will be talking to each other right away, you know, in terms of staging the project because the recommendations or outcome of the inclusionary zoning program design, you know, is going to inform a whole lot of aspects.
  • 02:14:59
    of the zoning rewrite.
• • Michael Payne
  • 02:15:02
    And final question is the allocation for the CAF aspect of this is that is it accurate that that's basically this will allow us to fulfill the
  • 02:15:16
    governance section of our adopted affordable housing plan as it relates to the CAF in terms of providing the full documentation of affordable units, how long they're actually staying affordable, as well as the other changes that our adopted affordable housing plan specifically called for.
• • SPEAKER_12
  • 02:15:30
    Yeah, essentially part of the administration of the CAF, that's performance, investments,
  • 02:15:42
    Outcome base and things like that.
  • 02:15:44
    And the process is associated with it, including the agreement itself.
  • 02:15:51
    That's what it's going to help to accomplish.
• • SPEAKER_10
  • 02:15:55
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 02:15:57
    You're welcome.
  • 02:15:58
    And my questions were just asked and answered.
  • 02:16:01
    Thank you, Michael.
  • 02:16:06
    All right, any other?
  • 02:16:07
    I will just say that during my time on the Housing Advisory Committee and sitting in on some of the allocation discussions, I just think this is really long overdue.
  • 02:16:16
    I know that the mayor and I have discussed this throughout our time on council and just making sure that we have a process in place that does have that accountability, but also just looking back historically and understanding what has and has not been working so that we can have the most effective use of city dollars moving forward.
  • 02:16:31
    So I'm glad to see this coming to fruition.
  • 02:16:35
    and also just getting to the question that was asked and answered around just that the timing of some of these things is coinciding with all the other efforts that are underway so that at the end of this we're feeling like we've done a fully comprehensive assessment of all the angles that we can take to come through on our affordable housing plan.
  • 02:16:51
    So thank you for bringing this forward.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:16:54
    Thank you.
  • 02:16:59
    So I have a lot of comments, but I will let what has been said be the comments.
  • 02:17:05
    I just think, like Heather said, this is something we just want done and we've been talking about.
  • 02:17:11
    So grateful for that, finally.
  • 02:17:14
    And my only other question would be,
  • 02:17:17
    if we could speed this up by a week, if that's helpful, if we want this for our second vote on the 27th.
  • 02:17:23
    So that's my only question there, if that's a possibility.
• • SPEAKER_17
  • 02:17:35
    Mayor, I think that's up to council.
  • 02:17:37
    You'll be in a regular public meeting and can vote on it.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:17:43
    Is everybody okay with that?
• • SPEAKER_16
  • 02:17:48
    as long as it doesn't put any pressure on staff I'm fine with that and as long as it stays within timelines for public notification and that hasn't gone out yet we can do it all right sounds good thank you all thank you council and mayor
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:18:15
    Next up, we have resolution approving the findings of the design public hearing for the Fontaine Avenue streetscape.
  • 02:18:25
    And this is one reading.
• • SPEAKER_31
  • 02:18:36
    Hello.
  • 02:18:38
    Good evening, Mayor Walker, members of council.
  • 02:18:40
    I'm Kyle Kling.
  • 02:18:41
    I'm a transportation project manager with the Department of Public Works Engineering Division, and I'm the city's project manager for the Fontaine Avenue project.
  • 02:18:51
    I'll be joined this evening by members of our design consultant team, Amy Sandberg and Owen Peary.
  • 02:18:57
    They're with RK&K Engineering.
  • 02:19:00
    As you just mentioned, we're here this evening seeking a resolution approving the findings of the project's design public hearing, which was held back in early May of this year.
  • 02:19:10
    As some of you may recall, in January of 2020, Council accepted the Planning Commission's recommendation that this project's conceptual design was found to be in accordance with the City's comprehensive plan.
  • 02:19:25
    Over the past year and a half or so,
  • 02:19:27
    The design team has worked diligently to move the project from that conceptual design phase into and through the preliminary engineering and design phase.
  • 02:19:39
    That finalized with a design public hearing on May 12th of 2021.
  • 02:19:45
    where the preliminary design was presented to members of the public and those individuals who were in attendance had an opportunity to solicit and provide feedback on the design.
  • 02:19:59
    With that being said, I'll pass things off now to Amy and Owen with RK&K to provide some more detail on what that preliminary design looks like and to discuss some of the findings of a public hearing.
• • SPEAKER_10
  • 02:20:15
    Thanks, Kyle.
  • 02:20:16
    I'll kick it off.
  • 02:20:18
    Brian, if you could sort of just roll with me here.
  • 02:20:21
    First, the agenda, we're just going to give you a brief overview of the project and where we've been since we last saw you.
  • 02:20:28
    A little bit of a project update, show you some of the public hearing displays that we showed the public and the feedback we got.
  • 02:20:37
    and some of the recommendations or a couple of recommendations we have for you this evening to help us move forward.
  • 02:20:45
    Go ahead.
  • 02:20:48
    First, we'll give a review of the project, including goals, budget schedule and meetings attended.
  • 02:20:55
    Fontaine Streetscape project has identified four key project goals, which have not changed since the last city council meeting in January, 2020.
  • 02:21:05
    In line with the city of Charlottesville's overall transportation goals, the project seeks to make Fontaine Avenue a complete street which improves accommodations for all users, ensuring safe passage for pedestrians and bicyclists,

11. Approving the findings of the Design Public Hearing for the Fontaine Avenue Streetscape (1 reading)

RES_2021_07_19_City Council Report_Fontaine Streetscape(2)
• • SPEAKER_10
  • 02:21:20
    Understanding that this serves as a gateway corridor into the city and ensuring the impression is attractive and improving access to local facilities and ensuring these connections are also easily accessed by pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users.
  • 02:21:40
    Project Budget Funding for this project was obtained through the VEDA program called Smart Scale, which provides funding for local projects throughout the state on a competitive basis.
  • 02:21:52
    The Smart Scale application placed a high emphasis on safety and multimodal improvements, which ultimately lead to its selection and funding of $11,700,000 for the proposed improvements.
  • 02:22:03
    Go ahead.
  • 02:22:13
    The 60% plans for the project were submitted in the summer of 2020 and utility coordination has been ongoing with private utility owners.
  • 02:22:21
    Right-of-way acquisition and utility relocations are scheduled to be completed by early 2023.
  • 02:22:28
    Final designs will take place during the same time period with 100% plans being completed by early 2023.
  • 02:22:35
    The project is slated to be advertised and bid by contractors between the fall of 2022
  • 02:22:42
    and the spring of 2023 with construction starting immediately after that.
  • 02:22:50
    Go ahead.
  • 02:22:52
    Just to show you what we've been doing.
  • 02:22:54
    Sorry if Zoom chops off the bottom.
  • 02:22:58
    You're down there where we are tonight.
  • 02:23:01
    A little bit out of sight, but you can see the robust public meetings we've had, amount of public meetings to gather information and feedback from both committees and from the public.
  • 02:23:15
    including we've had two open houses and several technical committee meetings, planning commission, police task force, of course your meeting we have with you in January and now we're back here again this evening.
  • 02:23:32
    So with that I'm going to turn it over to Amy to show you what we showed the public or design public hearing displays and some of the other graphics that just will help show you what this project's about.
• • SPEAKER_05
  • 02:23:45
    I think so.
  • 02:23:45
    And we can go on to the next slide, please.
• • SPEAKER_10
  • 02:23:49
    Amy, can you just get a little closer to the mic?
  • 02:23:51
    I can barely hear you.
• • SPEAKER_05
  • 02:23:53
    Okay.
  • 02:23:53
    Is that better?
• • SPEAKER_10
  • 02:23:54
    Better.
• • SPEAKER_05
  • 02:23:56
    The project area per the SmartScale application is along Fontaine Avenue from the city limits to the Jefferson Park Avenue and Morey Avenue intersection.
  • 02:24:04
    The project falls within the Jefferson Park Avenue neighborhood with the Fry Springs neighborhood south of the railroad tracks.
  • 02:24:10
    The Fontaine Research Park is on the western side of the site, the city of Charlottesville fire station within the central portion, and several local businesses on the eastern edge.
  • 02:24:19
    Next slide, please.
  • 02:24:22
    The image on the screen is a graphical rendering of the project site and the following slides will show some close-up segments with associated renderings showing the improvements for the project.
  • 02:24:34
    From the city limits to Summit Street, there is primarily residential housing with the University of Virginia property to the north.
  • 02:24:40
    During this phase, we will make the transformation from bicycle accommodations within the street to dedicated bicycle lanes on both sides of the street.
  • 02:24:47
    The sidewalks are improved on each side of the street by making the south side wider and adding a sidewalk to the north side.
  • 02:24:54
    As you reach the Summit Street intersection, we have a protected intersection design.
  • 02:24:59
    This shifts pedestrians and bicyclists away from turning traffic to promote safety for all users.
  • 02:25:04
    At the intersection, we also have a new crosswalk for safe passage along Fontaine Avenue.
  • 02:25:09
    This was highly desired during feedback we received throughout the outreach period.
  • 02:25:12
    Next slide please.
  • 02:25:17
    The segment features sidewalks, landscape buffers, dedicated bicycle lanes with buffers, and vehicle traffic lanes.
  • 02:25:23
    On the south side, which is shown on the right, there is a proposed retaining wall that will minimize impacts to the surrounding properties.
  • 02:25:30
    These improvements are like those shown on other segments, as you'll see in the next few slides.
  • 02:25:39
    The central portion of the project extends from the Summit Street intersection to Lewis Street.
  • 02:25:44
    This corridor features the City of Charlottesville Fire Station, a gas station, and several residential properties that are both single-family homes and student apartments.
  • 02:25:52
    This segment features a similar concept to the first section and introduces a second protected intersection at Piedmont Avenue, which also features a dedicated crosswalk.
  • 02:26:06
    The Summit Street to Lewis Street section is very similar to the first part of the project.
  • 02:26:09
    One key difference in the section is that the trees on the north side shown to the left will be slightly smaller to accommodate the overhead power lines and communication lines along the street.
  • 02:26:19
    All of the landscaping chosen will be per the city of design standards and will be specifically picked for success along this corridor.
  • 02:26:28
    Next slide.
  • 02:26:31
    On the eastern side of the project, there is a commercial section between Lewis Street and Jefferson Park and Maury Avenue.
  • 02:26:37
    This section converts from the general concept shown thus far in the presentation to become more traditional.
  • 02:26:42
    The bicycle lanes on the north side are shared lanes that become dedicated facilities just to the west of Lewis Street.
  • 02:26:48
    On the south side, the bicycle lane remains, but it is not buffered.
  • 02:26:51
    It is anticipated that the bicycle lane will be shown across the intersection to connect with the existing facilities to the east on Jefferson Park Avenue.
  • 02:26:59
    The turning lanes existing today will remain in order to provide access to destinations to the north and the south.
  • 02:27:09
    As shown in the plan view, this section varies from others within the corridor by removing the landscape and bicycle buffers and maintaining the existing turning lanes in the eastbound direction.
  • 02:27:20
    And the next slide we have is a video rendering that we will show you of the corridor once the Fontaine streetscape improvements are implemented.
  • 02:27:29
    Brian, if you can please click it.
  • 02:27:33
    Thank you.
  • 02:27:35
    Everything shown in this rendering is an artistic rendering and is not field conditions.
  • 02:27:40
    All of the plantings materials and features shown along the corridor are subject to change.
  • 02:27:45
    Note that as we move through the entrance corridor to the city, you saw the introduction of dedicated bicycle lanes and there was the first protected intersection.
  • 02:27:53
    There is enhanced landscaping along the street and
  • 02:27:57
    There is several bike lanes you're showing.
  • 02:27:59
    There's the second protected intersection and the bicycle lanes continue along the street as we move through the residential part of the corridor.
  • 02:28:07
    And as we move here towards Lewis Street, you'll notice that the bike lanes start to transition down and become shared on the left side of the screen and become dedicated without a buffer on the right side of the screen.
  • 02:28:24
    Next screen, please.
  • 02:28:29
    So now we will discuss the hearing feedback.
  • 02:28:34
    The project had five responses to the online survey and received an additional 18 comments.
  • 02:28:39
    Many of the comments supported safety for bicyclists, maintaining access along the corridor, and ensuring that the landscape selections are chosen to fit the context of the corridor.
  • 02:28:48
    None of the comments received impacted the major design features of the project or the design intention.
  • 02:28:53
    The feedback will be incorporated into the future 90% design plans.
  • 02:28:56
    Anything that is not
  • 02:28:58
    Anything that is incorporated is not anticipated to change the current right of way impact.
  • 02:29:07
    The design team recommends the following for approval from the Council.
  • 02:29:14
    Approval of the major design features as shown at the design public hearing and requesting right of way authorization from VDOT to continue into the next phase of the project.
  • 02:29:25
    And with that, we would like to thank you for listening and appreciate your interest in the Fontaine Streetscape Project.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:29:34
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_31
  • 02:29:36
    All for the presentation.
  • 02:29:38
    Yeah, we'd be happy to take any questions at this time as well, if there are any from members of council.
• • SPEAKER_16
  • 02:29:48
    I have one about who's going to be selecting the species of plantings.
• • SPEAKER_31
  • 02:29:55
    Yeah, so we'll work closely with urban forestry to come up with a planting pallet for the corridor.
  • 02:30:03
    I think as Amy indicated, the trees on the south side of the street are going to be understory trees just to avoid any conflicts with the power lines out there.
  • 02:30:13
    But we'll use the planting pallet that's already determined by urban forestry and coordinate with them as we move along.
• • SPEAKER_16
  • 02:30:22
    I'm just becoming more and more concerned with invasive species and there's many times where we think what we're planting is perfectly fine and then we come to find out a few years later it's kind of growing out of control and it would be really great if we could work as best we can to stay within native species
• • SPEAKER_31
  • 02:30:50
    Yeah, certainly.
  • 02:30:50
    That's something we'll look into and, you know, like I said, coordinate as we move forward.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:30:55
    I have a question about the potential.
  • 02:31:02
    You all are trying to, it says, reduce construction costs to fill some, I guess, gaps between the state and federal funding.
  • 02:31:11
    If you could talk a little bit about that, just
  • 02:31:14
    Are we going to see any future requests?
  • 02:31:17
    And I just want to talk about that based on just where we're at, if that's the case.
• • SPEAKER_31
  • 02:31:22
    Yeah, sure.
  • 02:31:23
    So based off of the last estimate that was provided, which was about two months ago, we're looking at around a $400,000 shortfall.
  • 02:31:32
    That estimate did have a pretty conservative 20% contingency on it.
  • 02:31:37
    So we're looking at about
  • 02:31:40
    $1.4 million in contingency funding that's wrapped into that estimate.
  • 02:31:46
    We weren't comfortable reducing that number just given how we've seen construction costs escalate during the pandemic.
  • 02:31:55
    So it is possible you'll see an additional request for funding sometime down the line, but we will work over the next several months to try to cut costs where we can.
• • Michael Payne
  • 02:32:11
    One question I had perhaps related to that is I know I've been reading through some of the community feedback, there are a couple people who raised the question of why these aren't protected bike lanes with ballers or some kind of physical separation between the bike lane and the road where cars are.
  • 02:32:28
    I know that's a problem that goes beyond just this specific project, but what is the reason for that?
  • 02:32:32
    Is it cost?
  • 02:32:33
    Is there some other design challenge that prevented that?
• • SPEAKER_31
  • 02:32:38
    Yeah, great question, Michael.
  • 02:32:40
    So the main reason is because of the fire station along the corridor there.
  • 02:32:44
    We need to maintain access to those emergency vehicles traveling up and down the corridor.
  • 02:32:51
    We felt that if we were to put 11-foot travel lanes out there with some type of separated facility restricting access, it would make it more challenging for those vehicles to travel the corridor when needed.
  • 02:33:05
    I think another aspect of that is
  • 02:33:09
    It is a residential neighborhood, as Amy pointed out, a good majority of it is.
  • 02:33:13
    And there's a ton of driveway cuts associated with that.
  • 02:33:18
    So in order to have some type of separated or protected facility out there, we would have a lot of challenges incorporating that just given the number of driveway cuts and how that grade would have to change every, you know, 20 or 30 feet to meet those entrances.
  • 02:33:33
    So
  • 02:33:34
    Those are the two main reasons.
  • 02:33:36
    Owen or Amy, if you guys want to expand on that a little bit, feel free to.
• • SPEAKER_10
  • 02:33:41
    Yeah, Michael, that's a great question.
  • 02:33:42
    And I will add with the steering committee and with the internal technical committee that's made up by staff, we
  • 02:33:50
    looked at tons of options the fire station was a major one driveways for sure and I think it also for special events and stadium events not having those impediments in the roadway gives police and and the people ushering people in and out of the city a few options they may not have
  • 02:34:13
    otherwise.
  • 02:34:14
    So all that was sort of put in the hopper with the pros and cons of having a buffered strip and having a protected strip.
  • 02:34:21
    And we're trying to do the best we can without wrecking the fabric that the street has today and, you know, just making the footprint unbearably big.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:34:31
    Okay.
  • 02:34:40
    Counselors, any other questions?
  • 02:34:47
    All right.
  • 02:34:50
    I'm trying to...
  • 02:34:56
    I know there are some comments about UVA and their participation.
  • 02:35:00
    I wonder, Chip, if it's worth exploring the contribution that was agreed upon for them to make on, I think, phase four of the West Main Street that was negotiated a bit with the Brandon Avenue project.
  • 02:35:20
    If maybe since they have, you know, there's a lot of traffic
  • 02:35:26
    in that area due to their work too that maybe that could be transferred maybe.
  • 02:35:34
    I think it's a conversation that is worth having.
• • SPEAKER_17
  • 02:35:39
    We can certainly have that conversation.
  • 02:35:42
    I think related to this project, if I'm not mistaken, too, Albemarle County and VDOT have a project that's at the Fontaine and U.S.
  • 02:35:52
    29 intersection that will join this project that is very instrumental to the research part there.
  • 02:36:00
    And it's certainly a...
  • 02:36:06
    three-way type of, actually four, with the city, county, VDOT, and UVA that'll benefit from the improvements there.
  • 02:36:14
    And we can certainly bring that up.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:36:18
    Okay.
  • 02:36:19
    I think it would be helpful just not knowing what the financial requests will be.
  • 02:36:26
    And we've also been getting some of the comments from like the Cherry Avenue neighborhood that this is consistently coming up.
  • 02:36:35
    And the conversations that we just had around affordability with like West Main Street, it would just be helpful to have that information to know what we can afford and if we can
  • 02:36:48
    transfer that commitment to if that's something they will be open to that should take care of the difference.
  • 02:37:02
    Any other questions?
  • 02:37:05
    All right, is there a motion?
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 02:37:09
    I move we adopt the resolution approving the Fontaine Avenue streetscape project design public hearing.
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 02:37:19
    I second.
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 02:37:22
    Ms.
  • 02:37:22
    Thomas?
  • 02:37:23
    Mayor Walker?
  • 02:37:25
    Yes.
  • 02:37:27
    Vice Mayor McGill?
  • 02:37:28
    Yes.
  • 02:37:30
    Councilor Hill?
• • 02:37:31
    Yes.
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 02:37:32
    Councilor Payne?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 02:37:33
    Yes.
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 02:37:34
    Councilor Snook?
• • Lloyd Snook
  • 02:37:35
    Yes.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:37:38
    Thank you.
  • 02:37:39
    That carries five to zero.
  • 02:37:41
    Thank you all for the presentation, and hopefully we'll have an update sooner than later on the funding aspects of that.
  • 02:37:49
    Just be helpful.
  • 02:37:51
    We'll keep you posted.
  • 02:37:52
    Thanks.
  • 02:37:53
    Thank you.
  • 02:37:54
    All right.
  • 02:37:59
    Next up, we have a resolution appropriating funds from the American Rescue Plan for eligible local activities at $1,986,000.
• • SPEAKER_17
  • 02:38:13
    Thank you, Mayor Walker and Council.
  • 02:38:16
    Since this is a second reading, I won't go into great detail on this, but you have your information packet.
  • 02:38:24
    But for any of the new listeners that we have, as part of the American Rescue Plan that was signed into law in March of 2021,
  • 02:38:34
    The City of Charlottesville will be the recipient of just over $19.5 million of the ARP funding.
  • 02:38:42
    We've already received our first tranche of those funds, which was $9.8 million, and we expect to receive our second half in May of 2022 of another $9.8 million.
  • 02:38:55
    While we're putting together a program to go out to our public partners and stakeholders and nonprofits that are providing community assistance, we have had some very immediate needs that we brought to you prior to putting that program together.
  • 02:39:13
    Additionally, just as a reminder, a good portion of the first tranche of these funds will be to replenish the city's revenue that was lost during the pandemic.
  • 02:39:25
    We're expecting that to be in the neighborhood of $7.3 million.
  • 02:39:31
    But the emergency and immediate needs that we have identified are in the areas of housing assistance for rental housing mitigation for helping to pay other household expenses to families that have lost jobs and other reasons for financial distress due to COVID
  • 02:39:52
    as well as eviction mitigation, working to try to have a legal and counseling assistance program in place to help prevent evictions when they do begin again at the end of this month.
  • 02:40:11
    In addition to that, we also have some immediate needs in the areas of economic development, trying to provide support to some of the smaller businesses that have been hurt during the pandemic.
  • 02:40:23
    And then finally, in trying to open up City Hall in the first week of September, is making some safety improvements in the lobby areas where people will congregate, where we can provide better access and safe access
  • 02:40:39
    as citizens begin to use City Hall again.
  • 02:40:42
    The total of this request is $1,986,100.
  • 02:40:48
    After the first reading, Council asked for more specifics on each one of the programs, which we've provided to you in your packet, and we have several of our department heads that are overseeing these funds that are here to answer any questions that you may have.
  • 02:41:06
    With that, we would be glad to answer questions.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:41:13
    Thank you.

12. Appropriating funds from the American Rescue Plan for Eligible Local Activities - $1,986,100 (2nd reading)

RES_$1,986,100_American Rescue Plan Appropriation
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:41:14
    Counselors, any questions?
• • Michael Payne
  • 02:41:19
    Just one, which is, I know it had been mentioned Albemarle County was possibly pursuing
  • 02:41:30
    funding their own portion to try to provide right to counsel in eviction cases.
  • 02:41:35
    Do we know if that's something that Albemarle County is pursuing or is that just something we don't know at this point, they're still deliberating that?
• • SPEAKER_17
  • 02:41:44
    Kathy may have a more up to date.
  • 02:41:47
    My understanding is they are still pursuing that, but they have not taken a vote on it yet.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:42:01
    Do we know when they are taking the vote?
• • SPEAKER_17
  • 02:42:05
    I do not.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:42:07
    Okay.
  • 02:42:11
    Any other questions or comments?
  • 02:42:15
    No?
  • 02:42:15
    All right.
  • 02:42:16
    Is there a motion?
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 02:42:17
    Let me find it.
  • 02:42:20
    I'm sorry.
  • 02:42:22
    I move we adapt a resolution appropriating funding for the American Rescue Plan for eligible local activities in the amount of $1,986,100.
  • 02:42:29
    Second the motion.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:42:35
    Any further discussion?
  • 02:42:41
    All right.
  • 02:42:42
    Ms.
  • 02:42:43
    Thomas?
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 02:42:44
    Mayor Walker?
  • 02:42:46
    Yes.
  • 02:42:48
    Vice Mayor McGill?
  • 02:42:49
    Yes.
  • 02:42:51
    Councillor Hill?
  • 02:42:52
    Yes.
  • 02:42:53
    Councilor Payne?
• • Michael Payne
  • 02:42:54
    Yes.
• • Kyna Thomas
  • 02:42:55
    Councilor Snook?
• • Michael Payne
  • 02:42:56
    Yes.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:43:00
    All right.
  • 02:43:00
    Thank you.
  • 02:43:00
    That carries.
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 02:43:01
    I really, sorry, really quick.
  • 02:43:05
    Sorry.
  • 02:43:07
    Just kind of related to this before we jump.
  • 02:43:09
    So I know we just kind of stepped through Mr. Boyle's like, where the kind of allocation of funding is with revenue replacement.
  • 02:43:18
    But we are continuing to get questions around when and
  • 02:43:22
    what flexibility we may have for these dollars, even if it's through the revenue replacement route for other initiatives, and I guess for the public awareness, like what are our thoughts on how we might be approaching that over the next six to 12 months?
• • SPEAKER_17
  • 02:43:36
    Sure, I'd be happy to.
  • 02:43:44
    We will still receive, and anyone who has what they believe is a direct COVID-related emergency need, similar to rent relief and other things, they're more than welcome to send me a request information.
  • 02:44:01
    I will work with our different departments according to where it may be.
  • 02:44:06
    and help to determine if it is in fact something that's of an immediate and emergency importance to us and we have that opportunity to come to council just like we did with these programs.
  • 02:44:19
    The other is that as we get closer, June 30th of course was the end of our fiscal year.
  • 02:44:25
    As we get closer to November when our
  • 02:44:29
    Audit will be completed.
  • 02:44:31
    We'll have a better idea of what that lost revenue actually is so that we then would know what the balance we have of the $9.8 million we've already received minus what we have allotted through tonight will be available.
  • 02:44:48
    We will have a program in place so that we can take applications from the public
  • 02:44:54
    as well as our departments who have their own departmental request in and come to council with that sometime in the early fall.
  • 02:45:03
    We don't intend to try to appropriate or allot the full $19 million.
  • 02:45:11
    We want to wait on the second tranche until we know for certain that we are getting that.
  • 02:45:18
    Congress can always come back and undo what they did.
  • 02:45:24
    So we don't want to make commitments for the second round until that's actually in our hands, but then use the same program to
  • 02:45:33
    to put that money into the community.
  • 02:45:36
    The other thing is, is that there are still so many variables and unknowns.
  • 02:45:41
    We don't know if there will be a resurgence of COVID in the future.
  • 02:45:46
    And so there may be additional needs or other needs in a year from now that we just can't contemplate right now.
  • 02:45:54
    But for the immediate future, we plan to have a program in place early this fall when it's more definitive of what our available funding will be.
  • 02:46:07
    But if someone does have what they believe is an immediate need, they can certainly contact us and we can help them figure out how immediate that is.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:46:19
    Okay, that was going to be my comment.
  • 02:46:21
    Sorry, Felicia.
• • 02:46:22
    That's okay.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:46:24
    Thank you, Chip.
  • 02:46:25
    Thank you.
  • 02:46:30
    I had a thought.
  • 02:46:32
    I needed that laugh.
  • 02:46:34
    Oh, the allocation and the resurgent of COVID is looking very likely that because of the, you know, restrictions being, you know, removed that other places, localities are having
  • 02:46:54
    a resurgence and having to return to the mask and distancing physical distancing requirements.
  • 02:47:01
    So it's likely that if we stay on pace to where we are now that this fall is not going to be very pleasant.
  • 02:47:11
    And so that means the federal government will probably have to continue allocating at some point.
  • 02:47:16
    But whether they do or not, I just hope we prioritize families that will not be able to bounce back in the same way that even our local government will be able to.
  • 02:47:27
    And so I just want to make sure that we
  • 02:47:34
    There's not a lot of evidence based on direct payments to families because people don't want to give people direct payments.
  • 02:47:42
    But we all know, and people who have family members that have been able to support them, normally when you listen to stories, there was even a business owner on a call back in
  • 02:47:55
    or a couple months ago, Paul, that talked about starting his business based on the money from his mother's, I think he said, passing.
  • 02:48:08
    And so we all know that those type of deposits into someone's life can really alter the trajectory.
  • 02:48:18
    And so I hope that we understand as a government just the
  • 02:48:22
    value of making sure that families' needs are met and they're not having to go through a whole lot of hoops to get the support that they need.
• • SPEAKER_17
  • 02:48:37
    And Mayor, also along those lines, we're watching very closely what the state will be doing with the ARP money that they're receiving.
  • 02:48:46
    The General Assembly doesn't go back into session until August to begin to allot those funds.
  • 02:48:54
    Any funds that we have needs for that can be paid for with state funds then allows us more flexibility with our local funds for exactly what you're talking about.
  • 02:49:07
    Because the state will stay with most of the more basic programs like rent relief and business assistance.
  • 02:49:15
    So the more we can rely on the state, the more flexibility we'll have with our local funds.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:49:22
    And they also had, what was it, a $2 billion surplus?
• • SPEAKER_17
  • 02:49:26
    Yes.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:49:27
    Yeah, and hopefully that'll be utilized in some way that'll be helpful.
  • 02:49:35
    All right, any additional comments?
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 02:49:41
    Are we at the part where I can ask Chip about something for next time?
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:49:45
    No, we have one more thing.
  • 02:49:47
    Okay.
  • 02:49:49
    Okay.
  • 02:49:50
    Well, just that we are almost there.
  • 02:49:52
    Okay.
  • 02:49:53
    So general business, we have a report, the Rivanna authorities quarterly report.
  • 02:49:58
    It's a written report only because they do an in-person annual report.
  • 02:50:04
    Are there any comments, counselors from the report?
  • 02:50:10
    Questions?
  • 02:50:11
    No questions.
  • 02:50:12
    All right.
  • 02:50:13
    Moving on, now we're at other business and questions for city manager follow-up.
  • 02:50:17
    So are there any other business items for consideration or questions that counselors have for the city manager?
• • SPEAKER_14
  • 02:50:25
    I just had a question because we've gotten several inquiries about this and coming from different angles about just the role the city does or does not play in the Greyhound bus station's decision to no longer have...
  • 02:50:37
    You don't have to answer it now, Chip, but I just know this is coming up and I just want to acknowledge to the public that we're hearing the frustrations.
  • 02:50:43
    I think this is a different, this is not within our purview, but the most recent comment that came today was around the role our own cat, our own bus station could play in that as a housing place for those stops.
  • 02:50:57
    And so I just wanted to kind of put that out there as something that we recognize that the community is interested in, but if you want to clarify anything now, but otherwise we'll just wait to hear from you in the future.
• • SPEAKER_17
  • 02:51:07
    I can say, and Mr. Williams is, I think, still with us.
  • 02:51:15
    But, yes, we're very concerned about it, too, for a number of reasons.
  • 02:51:21
    Certainly for our citizen services.
  • 02:51:23
    A lot of our citizens utilize Greyhound to travel.
  • 02:51:29
    We are very limited in what we can do because it is a private carrier and a private service.
  • 02:51:36
    Part of, we have received a request of if there were any way to provide some type of shelter where the current travelers are waiting for the bus, but it's all privately owned property and our understanding when we inquired is that
  • 02:51:56
    Both parcels of land that is adjacent to where the bus is parking is for sale and has offers on that property.
  • 02:52:06
    So the property owners would not be allowing any type of use of that right now.
  • 02:52:14
    We would love to talk with Greyhound.
  • 02:52:16
    I know that they have inquired, but the last that we heard, they were just looking for somebody to take over the service, which would be the ticket sales and everything else that were involved with that, which is beyond what we would do with our public transit.
  • 02:52:35
    But with that, that's about all that I could help with at this point, but we're certainly
  • 02:52:40
    would love to continue that conversation to see.

13. Rivanna Authorities Quarterly Report (written report only)

REP_202107_RWSA RSWA Quartlery Update_City
• • SPEAKER_17
  • 02:52:46
    We believe that there are some other locations that are close by that Greyhound would be very well suited for but they're also on private property and would have to be negotiated with the private property owners.
• • SPEAKER_06
  • 02:53:03
    Thank you.

14. OTHER BUSINESS and QUESTIONS FOR CITY MANAGER FOLLOW-UP

• • SPEAKER_17
  • 02:53:06
    I can say too that it's our understanding from actually from some news articles that Greyhound is actually stop service and other similar up here markets within Virginia just recently okay thank you councilors any other questions or any other business
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:53:32
    No.
  • 02:53:33
    All right.
  • 02:53:34
    So we're at matters about a public.
  • 02:53:36
    I'll turn it over to Mr. Wheeler.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 02:53:40
    Thank you, Mayor Walker.
  • 02:53:41
    We have 17 people in the audience right now.
  • 02:53:44
    If you'd like to address council, please click the raise hand icon in the zoom webinar.
  • 02:53:48
    If you're on via telephone, you can press star nine.
  • 02:53:53
    First up is Robin Hoffman.
  • 02:53:55
    Robin, you're on with council.
  • 02:53:56
    You've got three minutes.
• • SPEAKER_27
  • 02:53:58
    Yes, I want to say two things.
  • 02:54:01
    One thing is quickly, I've actually tried to organize a bunch of people from various parts of our community, artists plus the senior center to do drawings of the parks and to try to develop voluntarily some ideas about what could be in the parks.
  • 02:54:18
    But then secondly, I want to say Yancey School has telemedicine for mental health.
  • 02:54:25
    and different things and also H1N1 we myself and the health department just went to the schools and lined everybody up.
  • 02:54:37
    This politicizing of the COVID is so stupid.
  • 02:54:42
    We need to just do that.
  • 02:54:43
    We need to just set up lines at the schools and have everybody just line up.
  • 02:54:49
    And that's something we've done in the past and it worked really effectively.
  • 02:54:53
    We've even gone to different offices, you know, as a group of nurses and pharmacists and things.
  • 02:55:00
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:55:03
    Thank you.
• • SPEAKER_13
  • 02:55:03
    If anyone else would like to address counsel, please click the raise hand icon.
• • SPEAKER_25
  • 02:55:15
    All right.
  • 02:55:19
    Doesn't look like it.
  • 02:55:20
    Well, thank you all for attending tonight and meeting adjourned.
  • 02:55:25
    Thank you.
  • 02:55:26
    Good night.

15. MATTERS BY THE PUBLIC