Information Charlottesville

Another item on the agenda tonight is a report from interim City Manager Michael C. Rogers. The 14-page document contains a lot of information that may not be stated tonight because of the length of the meeting. (read the document) 

• Charlottesville’s Compensation Study will be available on February 15. The document will likely lead to further salary increases for city employees. 
• There are two firms still in the running to provide the function of Labor Relations Administrator to handle collective bargaining for the three unions approved by the city. That will also likely lead to further salary increases for city employees. 
• The city continues to need new bus drivers and is paying $21 an hour as a starting wage. There are still almost 500 pupils who are not eligible for pupil transportation due to the triage rules put into place before the beginning of the school year. 
• Albemarle County has taken over control of the surface parking lot at Market Street and Seventh Street for use by court staff and court visitors. Council agreed to amend the terms of an agreement late last year. 
• The Office of Human Rights saw over 4,300 incoming and outgoing contacts for service last year, including around 2,500 which are outside the charge of its enabling ordinance. A full report will be presented to Council in the spring. The Office is hiring an intake specialist and are creating a Fair Housing Assistance Program in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 
• Want to be a Charlottesville firefighter or work for the department in some capacity? The hiring window is now open through March 6. 
• Want to rent a garden plot from the city of Charlottesville? The window for existing renters to renew their plot from Parks and Recreation lasts through Friday. If you’re a city resident and want a plot, you can begin applying after February 13. If you’re a non-resident, you have to wait until February 20. (learn more)
• Bids for the renovation and expansion of Buford Middle School are expected to go out today with a deadline of March 13. “Based on bid prices, Public Works will require swift decisions from Charlottesville Public Schools and City Council on options based on any foreseen escalations that exceeded our original estimate for construction.”