Oschrin introduces herself to Charlottesville

There were little to no debates or candidate forums for Charlottesville City Council last fall as there were three candidates on the ballot for three seats on the elected body. Newcomer Natalie Oschrin received the most votes with 8,937 ballots cast, with incumbent Michael Payne getting 8,666 votes and incumbent Lloyd Snook receiving 8,548 votes.

At the very beginning of Council’s first regular meeting of 2024, Councilor Oschrin was asked to make a few remarks.   

“I ran with a vision for a Charlottesville that is more accessible, both in being able to find housing and make to it more possible to get around safely and easily especially if you don’t have or don’t want a car,” Oschrin said. “I want to congratulate and thank everyone who worked so hard over so many years to achieve the zoning rewrite. That’s a huge step in the right direction and now we can continue to build on that policy to make sure our affordability, environmental, and transit goals are met.” 

Councilors also appointed themselves to Boards and Commissions.

City committees:

• Councilor Michael Payne will continue to serve on the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners. The agency is in the midst of a major redevelopment campaign as well as acquiring other properties throughout the city. 
• Councilor Lloyd Snook will continue to serve on the Historic Resources Committee as an ex officio member.
• Councilor Michael Payne will continue to serve on the Housing Advisory Committee. 
• Councilors Snook and Oschrin will serve on the Legislative Review Committee. 
• Mayor Wade will continue to serve on the Minority Business Commission.
• Vice Mayor Brian Pinkston will continue to serve on the Retirement Commission. 
• Wade and Pinkston will continue to serve on the School Capital Projects Committee. 
• Pinkston will continue to serve on the Social Services Advisory Board.

Regional bodies:

• Pinkston will continue to serve on the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail Authority.
• Wade will serve on the Charlottesville-Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau.
• Oschrin will serve on the Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program Board.
• Snook and Oschrin will serve on the Darden-Towe Memorial Park Board
• Wade will continue to serve on the JABA Board.
• Snook will join the Jefferson Area Community Criminal Justice Board.
• Payne will continue to serve on the LEAP governance board.
• Oschrin and Pinkston will serve on the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Policy Board with Oschrin serving as the alternate. They’ll also both serve on the Regional Transit Partnership. 
• Payne is the Piedmont Housing Alliance’s choice to serve on their board, a position not up for Council’s decision. 
• Payne will serve as the main representative to the Regional Housing Partnership with Snook as an alternate. 
• Payne and Snook will serve as the representatives to the Rivanna River Basin Commission.
• Pinkston will remain on the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority and the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority.
• Councilors decided to appoint two of their number to the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, removing Planning Commissioner Phil d’Oronzio as the representative. Payne and Oschrin will be the representatives. 
• Wade will continue to serve on the Virginia Careerworks / Piedmont Workforce Board.
• Wade will continue to serve as Charlottesville’s representative to Virginia First Cities with Snook as an alternate.

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