Every year, City Council adopts a budget which includes funding for Charlottesville City Schools. During the rest of the year, staff spend the money to obtain items needed for activities to continue. Paying attention to these details is part of the work I do as a municipal journalist. Many of these stories perhaps have more of a story behind them.
One that jumps out in this set of procurement activities is a bid sent out Tuesday for firms to create an urban forest management plan for the city. Specifically, the city wants a plan to adapt to climate change.
“As we document continued urban canopy loss, observe increasing stresses from invasive species, project local risks and vulnerabilities related to climate change are projected, and acknowledge equity and access issues in the community, we recognize the need and opportunity to tackle a more relevant, adaptive, and inclusive approach to the management of our urban forest,” reads a section of the RFP.
Here’s what the city wants from the plan:
- Alignment with the city’s Climate Action Plan
- Set a formal goal for an urban tree canopy
- Synthesize recently collected data including information on heat-islands to update the CityGreen Map
- Identify training opportunities for individuals, groups and organizations to get involved
- “Engage difficult-to-reach and previously under-represented communities.”
- Incorporate strategies for private landowners as well as outreach to Albemarle County
Bid are due on May 21, 2024.
Here are some other activities worth noting:
- The firm AAR of Kernersville, North Carolina, has been awarded a contract for the second phase of a roof replacement at Charlottesville High School. (learn more)
- The firm Benevate Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia, has been awarded a contract to provide software to help the city manage grant applications. They do business as Neighborly Software. (learn more)
- The firm Sowing Good Seed Landscaping was awarded a contract on April 9, 2024 for mowing and trimming services on trails owned by the City of Charlottesville. (learn more)
- University Tire and Auto Center of Charlottesville have been awarded a contract “to provide passenger, light truck, and police pursuit tires and related services on an as-needed basis.” (learn more)
- On April 3, 2024, the city put out bids for someone to replace the emergency generator at the Smith Aquatic Center. Bids close on May 15, 2024. (learn more)
- Charlottesville City Schools are also preparing to be the sole owner and decision-maker at what will be known on July 1 as the Charlottesville Area Technical Education Center. Bids are being sought for a firm to take two classrooms and convert them into a kitchen and dining area “to support additional food services curriculum located within CATEC.” Bids are due May 5, 2024. (learn more)
- Charlottesville City Schools are seeking a firm to remove a cooling tower at Jackson-Via Elementary School and to install a new one. Bids close on May 29, 2024. The work is to be completed by August 1, 2025. (learn more)
- Charlottesville is seeking a firm to provide home electronic monitoring services for youth. This is related to the Virginia Juvenile Community Crime Control Act for when a court has ordered particular individuals to be geographically restricted. The firm must provide up serve 50 individuals. For a sense of how often these are used, there were 26 youth who requires home monitoring in FY23, 31 in FY22, 42 in FY21, and 40 in FY20. The contractor must be able to provide notifications of six violations including whether the device has been tampered with or whether the individual is violating curfew. (learn more)
- Bids closed on April 17, 2024 for firms to remove and replace two gas-powered generators for Charlottesville High School. (learn more)
Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment is from the April 24, 2024 edition of the newsletter. To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon.
