Monthly Archives: April 2023

Charlottesville seeks firms to conduct comprehensive plan for city parks and recreation

The city of Charlottesville has never created a master plan for its entire parks and recreation system but that could change now that a request for proposals has been issued for such a document.

“The [Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department] hopes to have clear direction on how to prioritize improvements and connections of current facilities, parks and trails, a buildout strategy, recommendations pertaining to recreation program offerings, recommendations on how best utilize recreation centers as well as recommendations for equitable advancing of recreation and health throughout the City,” reads the proposal

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Council briefed on results of compensation study

A consultant is recommending a series of changes to the way Charlottesville arranges and pays for city jobs, but has concluded that the pay scales are generally attractive to potential employees who want a job in the public sector. 

“Overall, the city’s salaries are highly competitive,” said Beverly Moultrie, a principal consultant with the firm Gallagher.

However, the city lags behind private sector salaries by about 5.6 percent. 

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Charlottesville may drop pandemic meeting restrictions

Among localities in the region, Charlottesville is the only one still operating with pandemic-era restrictions on who can attend meetings and what bodies can have in-person ones. That’s despite ending the local COVID-19 emergency meeting at their meeting on September 6, 2022. 

That action allowed meetings to only be held in-person meetings if there is appropriate space on city properties, sufficient staff are on hand to maintain distancing protocols, and measures are in place to stop the spread of COVID. 

Interim City Manager Michael C. Rogers announced last night at City Council that those restrictions will soon be removed. 

“We are currently working to remove the continuing resolution which has  been active since September 6, 2022,” Rogers said. “The resolution was issued to preserve Council’s ability to maintain safety protocols for all meetings of the government while balancing the ongoing concerns with COVID-19.” 

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Oschrin enters race for Charlottesville City Council; Deadline to run as Democrat is Thursday

One of the six short-listed candidates for a City Council vacancy earlier this year has filed paperwork with the Virginia Department of Elections to run for one of the three seats. Natalie Oschrin has filed to run as a candidate in the June 20 Democratic primary. 

Oschrin joins fellow challenger Dashad Cooper and incumbents Michael Payne and Lloyd Snook officially in the quest to get on the primary ballot. Former City Councilor Bob Fenwick is also collecting signatures but has not yet filed a statement of qualification with the Virginia Department of Elections. 

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