City Council Meeting   3/6/2023

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You're fine, it's an asshole Pointing to me

Thomas, will you please call the roll?

Councillor Payne?

Here.

Councillor Pinkston?

Here.

Mayor Snook?

Here.

Vice Mayor Wade?

Thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you for having me.

Mr. Payne is delighted to not be by himself down there I know, I'll be so lonely on that side Now he's got somebody to nudge with his elbow or something Is there a motion to approve or to amend the agenda?

I move to approve the agenda Second Second

So the meeting will be divided into three main sections as always.

That starts at 6.30.

I don't know that you formally addressed this.

and with the existing blocks as they're set up for CAT.

What does it mean to say not all operation blocks could be transitioned?

You'd have to bring in a second vehicle for some of those longer blocks.

blocks his work in terms of the route and the distance.

So after June, we'll start moving towards that and start talking about what the CAT facility will actually need to look like to accommodate that technology.

I think that's right.

This is a study saying, is it feasible for us to make a transition?

I see.

They're able to give us funding once we have that in place, saying how we're going to make that transition happen.

Thank you.

And if we're going to be substantially increasing the number of times buses are running, presumably the capacity of each individual bus would be less important than it might be right now.

So we'll have to sit down and think about how we want to structure that service going forward.

Those two issues ought to connect at some point.

It's just, yeah.

Interesting.

if and how seriously you would pursue programs in the recent federal legislation like the bipartisan infrastructure law and the one before it that include a lot of money for municipal electrification.

that says this is what the transition looks like and then we would be able to program out exactly how we're going after those funds.

I guess maybe I'm just not understanding it, but to me it's kind of like a chicken and egg thing where the cost benefit analysis looks a lot different if it's federal funded versus like all locally.

Okay.

So I don't know if things have changed

That goes through a somewhat different formula process that is not so directly competitive agency to agency.

Thank you, sir.

We didn't have a ton of experience with it.

The other- Somebody picked 12% and everybody went with it?

As I mentioned at the beginning, we've had issues historically with transportation planning outreach, and this is no different.

Was that, was the fee issue, the 12% issue, why, or did it contribute to why the other companies decided to bail on us?

And for outreach, we're looking at VAO providing two outreach events per quarter, specifically to low income populations and to college populations.

So there is a way for the system to know if it's parked where it shouldn't be and to dock the dockless person?

When you finish your trip on a Veo scooter right now, when you park, you have to take a picture.

Oh.

And you send it into Veo.

Interesting.

In the future, that would change.

Okay.

Right.

You guys figure out the right mix for it and then tell us what you're doing.

I was wondering if there's some reason why we need to be trying to give incentives to have more e-bikes or incentives or the other way around.

It's a lot more straightforward than just do with what you will as we have right now.

for the most part or some days most of the scooters and e-bikes are in use?

I would also say that there are some days that not every scooter is being used every day.

So I'm trying to figure out how do they know they want more?

We want to have as many vehicles out there as we can.

you know they wouldn't do it at home but they just feel like they're away and they just leave them anywhere and anyway I just think it's more that potentially could be done on education time.

This is opened up to, you know, Lime and Bird and all the other vendors that do this would have the capability of jumping in on our market and

Thank you so much.

They've been really easy to work with and would be happy to add more data about education to their app.

Okay.

Mr. Rogers?

What's the local operation here?

They have local staff who does operations that does the rotating scooters and they can be pretty quick at responding to something like that.

where they can look to get the number to call to have somebody move it.

And that should also be part of our outreach as we're talking to residents.

And those are added directly to .

I didn't even know that.

But whenever you have incentives, young people seem to be incentivized by incentives.

Yeah, sure.

will be able to discuss and have in their proposals.

We haven't put that on paper as something that we absolutely need here, but that is something we can talk about what that looks like with VAO.

Is it true that if you're close to a hub, you can't end your ride if you don't park in a hub?

Yeah.

What is it that we're gaining by reducing their fee?

That's the biggest benefit.

Wonder whether before they're kind of rewarded financially in that way just seeing a little bit more proof they're actually going to follow through on some of these great new things they say they're going to do because we've heard a lot about how they'll pick up the scooters and improve it but at least anecdotally

Are they going to do everything they promised?

And then it would be the bike ped coordinator's job to make sure that those things are enforced.

They haven't been, frankly.

Then what do I do?

If there's not space, there should be some real close.

Am I going to get a fee?

Okay.

I just have to think about all contingencies.

I lost my slides.

Uh-oh.

I'll move on to our last bit.

Would this be like more sidewalks or more what might be a typical project?

aimed at improving safety, though.

Cool.

Those are just going to happen.

Good.

So if you have any questions on that process or on anything else I've provided, I'm good to go.

So this is new?

Okay.

And so having a list and having priorities, even if a person may not like exactly precisely the way the priorities laid out, knowing that it's there and it's being thought about will make a huge difference.

Previously our priorities were basically we had so many plans that everything was a priority.

Yeah, which means you don't have priorities.

Yeah.

I'd like to be able to tell people either one.

Well, the answer is going to become this process.

Okay.

What it was previous to this process is a question mark, honestly.

And when do you think you will have an answer to this question that people are asking me?

I would say probably by the summer.

Okay.

in the summer we would be coming before you to adopt the final list.

Are we in better shape now?

Okay.

The three projects that are next up, boom, boom, boom.

Yeah, I don't know if I would say we're putting them in specific order because we don't want to get ourselves in a bind if a funding source comes up, but we do want to say this is the list of what we want to get done in the next three years or three to five years.

I can't answer my own questions.

But for the ones that are existing and upcoming that we've already programmed funds for, we are trying to pull together internally, sort of figure out what the status of those projects are so that we can put together something that we can share with council so they are more aware of what's going on with projects.

Right.

your stakeholders and things that they feel may be important and if funds can be adjusted within what you already have those things will happen or are you saying both?

Because we don't know what all the available funding for these projects would necessarily be at this point.

And how do you receive stakeholder input?

We will be going to neighborhood groups to talk with them.

So you'll be going to the various neighborhood associations and presenting to them?

If you all support that, then if quarterly.

get that not just for transportation but for everything.

And so this, yeah.

Mr. City Manager, anything else we need to take up right now?

Not at this point.

All right, so shall we do a closed circuit, closed session, closed circuit, whatever.

That as well, I guess.

Yeah, sure.

I've got a copy here.

Okay.

and two to certain boards and committee seats in Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711A8 for consultation with legal counsel retained by counsel specifically regarding the city's collective bargaining negotiation process and subsequent agreements.

We will return about 6-30 with the rest of the agenda at that point.

See you all later.

Oh.

I see him.

Hey, Renee.

Okay.

Do you have that certification, Mr. Pinkston?

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

Thomas, you take the vote.

Councillor Payne?

Yes.

Councillor Pinkston?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Wade?

Motion passes 5-0.

business meeting with a moment of silence.

Counselors, are there any announcements?

Again, the extended deadline is Friday, March 10th.

Fix a leak.

Thank you.

Community members are invited to network, learn about what actions are already happening, and share ideas for multiplying climate action.

Any other announcements?

Mr. Payne, you want to lead us off?

whereas reading stimulates the creative and intellectual growth of individuals while also building community through shared experiences, discourse and understanding whereas the 2023 Virginia Festival of the Book with events presented locally and live streamed draws attendees and attention to Charlottesville from around the globe while providing all programs free of charge to attendees and offering greater accessibility through closed captions, recap videos and transcripts.

I don't know, is Williams here to accept the proclamation?

Welcome.

Goldstein?

Yes, hi.

Yes.

So I really appreciate the recognition.

I'll bring it when I see you later this month.

Thank you.

Did you want to say anything?

Just because they're selling out.

All right.

That's a good sign.

That's a great sign.

Multiple sclerosis.

Collier here?

You two can say something if you'd like to.

Thank you.

Councillor Pinkston.

It's a popular month.

And I think we have Mr. Brent.

And you, too, if there's anything you'd like to say to the assembled multitudes.

So thank you.

We have board commissions and appointments.

Thomas do we need to have a formal motion to approve all of this or do you know?

If our attorney tells us otherwise we'll revisit it.

The next thing is a board and commission matter that is on the agenda with Mr. Sanders.

Evening, Counselors.

and we were we missed the moment of reminding you that you needed to select one of those candidates to appoint to that one vacancy and then we'll continue to advertise for the three remaining seats that are affordable housing beneficiaries based on the changes that were made a couple years back.

So we have I guess we can go ahead and I guess we need to rescind the appointment that we made last time and appoint somebody this time around.

I move that we rescind the appointments that we made two weeks ago and that we appoint Mr. Richard Fravel to that position.

Okay, is there a second?

Second.

Thomas, will you take the vote, please?

Vice Mayor Wade?

Thomas, would you please read the consent agenda?

$45,559.02, second reading, seven resolution considering a critical slope waiver application request at 1000 Cherry Avenue for Beaufort Middle School, one reading, eight resolution settlement for opioid related claims, one of two readings, nine by motion approving the disposition of wood from the downtown mall trees,

Do we have anybody online who would like to speak on a consent agenda item?

Mayor Snook, there are no raised hands.

Is there a motion then to adopt the consent agenda?

I move to adopt the consent agenda.

Thomas, you take the vote, please.

Vice Mayor Wade?

Motion passes 5-0 to adopt the consent agenda.

Mr. Rogers, is there a report from the City Manager's Office?

Mr. Sanders, there was one item that I'd ask you to lift up.

join us for upcoming work session so we'll work to get that squared away so they'll have a chance to come before you share any updates as to what they are working on as well as to respond directly to the items that were mentioned in that particular letter and give you a chance to engage with them so we'll get that scheduled and I'll let you know as soon as possible once that has been done

So that's my report, Mr. Mayor, Council.

Okay.

The first one up, Downing-Smith.

I haven't been here in a long time.

Welcome back.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you.

Next up is Dave Norris.

Puryear.

Thank you, Mr. Norris.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Norris.

Thank you.

If you're calling in by phone, wish to speak, press star nine.

You are on with Council.

you know it's affordability it's it's all comes down to affordability both with tenants not being able to move to a better location and with people not being able to afford housing in Charlottesville so I really hope you'll make sure that this new zoning rewrite centers deep affordability of 50 percent AMI or lower those are the folks that are really being pushed out of this community and they need a leg up and they need we need to right historic wrongs thank you so much

Who's next online?

Yes, Mayor Snook, we have Emily Smith.

Smith.

You are on with counsel.

Thank you.

Smith.

Laura, you are on with Council.

Thank you so much.

Next.

Mayor Snook, I see no additional hands at this time.

Hemenway, whoever.

Yes.

Hi there.

Fire away.

We have had dozens, if not probably a couple hundred calls to our office just with people asking questions, being able to send out emails, give any answers to let as many people know as possible.

And did any of the comments cause you or the folks on the electoral board pause wanting to make any changes to what the proposal you've already put forward?

I think the reward is worth taking away a tiny bit of the walkability of where they are now.

And I guess we have to remember that there is a reason why the move away from Tonsillar, it's too small, there's no parking, there are some real issues there.

Right.

Hemingway?

We are losing two polling places that the community has gotten used to over the last 10 years, but we're acquiring two that I think the city of Charlottesville will be extremely happy with.

Thank you.

That allows a 30-day waiting period, which I think it's worth letting the public know that that's a period for them to bring challenge if they have concern.

And so the hope is that the primary in June will be conducted at these new locations and everybody will be going in different places?

Yes, that's correct.

Okay.

So after tonight, after we officially approve this, then notices will start going out or at some point in the near future?

We will begin notice even during the 30-day waiting period to let people know, and then there will be additional notice once it's enacted, and then notice will be directly mailed to affected voters of changes.

Coulson, when the name changes occur, you will do another mass mailing to registered voters, or how do you intend to communicate that information?

Since the location place is staying the same, it's just the name that was the Attorney General's opinion.

It's only one polling place that would have its name changed.

Oh, yeah, I think it might, yeah, I think only one, only one right now, so.

Okay.

Is it two?

I believe it was, wasn't it Clark and Venable, I believe, were the two.

And Albemarle's running into the same issue as well, so it's just something we'll deal with as we...

So I'm just wondering how that's going to roll out.

Thank you.

I know some people who still refer to the Tonsillar Precinct as Firehouse.

Thank you.

Council, do we have a motion, a second, discussion?

Can someone just remind me where we are in the process?

So we had the first reading like two months ago and now we need the second reading to officially adopt it and then it goes through further processes outside of our attention.

If you want a copy of that, you can have it.

All right, thank you.

Okay.

I would move for approval of that.

Thomas?

Councillor Payne?

Yes.

Councillor Puryear?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Wade?

If you're looking to talk about the Virginia Land Conservation Fund and Moores Creek Parkland acquisition, come back in two weeks.

Got a tag team going here, huh?

Who's leading off?

Mr. Bryant.

Now step back and let Dr. Gurley continue.

Thank you.

Next slide.

And I'm going to turn it back over to Mr. Bryant.

Are there any questions for us?

What's the current thinking?

You want to speak?

to determine whether they're going to reduce us for that error because that's the lookout for the House budget or will the Senate's budget, which is much more failable, and adding that back to us.

The 192, is that included or not?

So that's the reason that we're waiting for the conference budget to come through to determine how we'll handle it going forward in this budget.

So if there is some change, it'll be a good change, not a bad change.

Okay.

Thank you.

A narrow question, but I know with collective bargaining formally being approved, which I was glad to see, are you anticipating this budget cycle, the need for any costs, just in terms of startup costs for like a labor relations administrator, that kind of thing?

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

What's the current enrollment now of all the system?

This budget was based on $4,200.

Thank you.

Where's Kim?

No more thermometers.

Am I correct in that?

Yeah, okay.

I must be remembering that slide.

We just condensed it down just a little bit.

But still 15% of our students.

Yes, sir.

And I think it speaks to the kind of welcoming community that we are, we aspire to be, and also speaks to some of the special needs of the budget that you all have to put together.

We put the top languages, but it is 42 languages spoken in Charlottesville City Schools.

I just hope we can come up, I like the word holistic, I hope we can come up with something regionally where we're really using that asset and it's not just kind of stranded which seems like it has been to some degree.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anybody else?

So thank you.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Have a good evening.

Thank you for coming.

Dr. Odey.

I'm sorry, I don't know the assistant superintendent.

And she is right there to support.

Which, for the benefit of any reporters who are going to come up to us later and ask us, we got this when we sat down tonight, so we don't know what's in it yet.

We're about to learn.

We're about to learn.

Mr. Mayor and Council, as required by Charter, I am very pleased to stand before you as City Manager and present the FY24 proposed budget, the City Manager's budget for your consideration.

You're going to do a demonstration?

Just a second.

There we go.

and again the table of contents in the home are basically the same tab so either one will take you back to this main screen and allow you to navigate through the budget document.