Charlottesville City Council to get updates on climate action, authorize $6.75M in spending on affordable housing projects

The current era of Charlottesville City Council features long work sessions held usually on Monday afternoons before regular meetings. These are usually long presentations and conversations with a focus on big topics like homelessness, sidewalk construction, and the future of transit. These are held in City Council Chambers beginning at 4 p.m.  (meeting overview)

Today there are two items on the work session agenda. The first is an update on the city’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the overall climate action workplan. This is first ever annual report on what the Office of Sustainability has been doing following adoption of a climate action plan in January 2023. 

“In 2024, we have a dedicated, three-person team climate team and we have expanded and dedicated capital funding to support this work. We are committed to using this funding to lead by example as a government organization, to support climate actions in the community, and to leverage outside funding where possible,” writes director Kristel Riddervold. 

The report includes numbers from the 2022 greenhouse gas emissions inventory for both the municipal sector and the rest of the community. 

“The 2022 emissions inventory demonstrated continued progress toward meeting Charlottesville’s GHG reduction targets, with emissions down 42% relative to the 2011 baseline,” reads page 7 of the report.

The report documents a series of initiatives and describes whether they are complete, in-progress, on-going, or are bonus programs not included in the work plan. One of the bonuses is the creation of a new connection fee for natural gas installation. 

There’s also a draft plan for FY2025.

Next up at the work session is an update on the Vibrant Community Fund, the program Charlottesville created when a decision was made to no longer work with Albemarle County to decide what nonprofit agencies would be funded. Planning for the FY26 process is getting underway. There was tension this spring as some Councilors questioned some of the large payouts being envisioned through the fund. (read my story)

This work session is intended as a way to provide direction to staff and to set parameters now before the next cycle begins. 

“Honoring the practice of continuous process improvement, the Vibrant Community Fund staff intends to incorporate upgrades to implementation, communication and training for the FY 26 budget cycle,” reads the staff report. 

Will the meeting end with a closed session? There’s no indication but Council has gone into closed session at its last two meetings to discuss “probable litigation regarding the Water Street Parking Garage.” 

Will there be a third? 

City Council to consider financial support for four affordable housing projects

Charlottesville’s regular meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. There are a lot of items of business and in this era of city government, these items tend to go fast. So, in the spirit of brevity, I’ll try to write them fast, too! (meeting info)

On the consent agenda is the second reading of a $3 million appropriation to the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority for the second phase of South First Street. This will see the construction of 113 townhomes on the site of several structures from 1981 that are being demolished now. Another $3 million from the city will be granted in FY2026. (staff report)

There will also be first reading of an amendment and reenactment of the Emergency Medical Services Agreement between the city and the Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad. You may recall there had been confusion about who was eligible to answer certain calls, as I wrote about back in September 2021. Now it appears there is a way forward. 

“A new agreement has been established allowing CARS to continue providing emergency medical services for the City of Charlottesville as a designated component of the Charlottesville Fire Department,” reads the staff report. “The volunteer Charlottesville Fire Company will also come under the umbrella of the CFD.” 

The new agreement comes with a $450,000 payment from the city to CARS to have access to some of their vehicles. 

Next is a resolution to amend the Human Rights ordinance to give more ability to Human Rights investigators. Specifically, city staff want to enter into a workshare agreement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to conduct fair housing investigations. (staff report)

CRHA redevelopment comes back up again with the first of two readings on city funds toward their $31 million project to build 47 affordable rental units at the Sixth Street site. This is for another $3 million. Other sources of funding include low-income housing tax credits. There would be nine one-bedroom units, 26 with two bedrooms, and another twelve with three bedrooms. (staff report)

Next, the city will formally approve the appropriation of $750,000 in a loan to Virginia Supportive Housing for their redevelopment of a hotel into 80 units reserved for people making between 0 and 50 percent of the area median income. The staff report states construction will get underway in May. I don’t visit that area very often. Has that happened or is that a line in the staff report that didn’t get updated? (staff report)

So far at this meeting we’re up to $6,750,000 in funding from the current fiscal year to support construction of housing at one meeting. Is there more?

Yes, but the dollar amount is not specified for a “resolution of financial support for 501 Cherry Avenue Redevelopment Project.” For background, Council approved a rezoning for Woodard Properties at that location that will see construction of two buildings totaling 71 affordable rental apartments. 

“PHA is now requesting that the city commit to pursue a performance agreement or similar tool that shares a portion of the incremental increase in real estate tax created by the improvements contemplated for this site in the form of an annual grant for a specified period of years,” reads the staff report.

Council to consider agreement with VDOT on project management

Charlottesville took over management of transportation projects from the Virginia Department of Transportation in the mid 2000’s but failed to delivery any of those projects on time. VDOT has previously taken over administration of the so-called Best Buy Ramp as well as Hillsdale Drive Extended. Yet, the city kept on receiving funding for projects and has already canceled two of them. 

“The City is designated as DEFICIENT for not being able to deliver projects on-time and on-budget,” reads the staff report for memorandum of agreement with VDOT to determine how to proceed. 

VDOT may take over some of the local projects but there is no inventory of ones under consideration. For more information, take a look at a story I wrote back in May.

One area where the city consistently failed is in right of way negotiations. Council will also get a memo describing how VDOT performs the work. (staff report)

Council to take input on Court Square and Market Street parks

The Charlottesville City Council meeting continues with a public comment opportunity on framework plans for the two parks where Confederate statues were removed This is part of the creation of a new Parks and Recreation master plan. 

“PROS Consulting and their partners Kimley-Horn, who was hired to develop the Master Plan is utilizing a variety of community engagement tactics and this public comment session at Council is an opportunity for the public to provide their thoughts and comments on the parks and future usage,” reads the staff report. 

Because “framework plan” reads like jargon, I asked for a clarification of the term last week.

“A park framework plan is a strategic document that guides the development, management, and enhancement of a park or a system of parks,” said Afton Schneider, the city’s director of communications and public engagement. “It serves as a blueprint for the future, outlining goals, priorities, and specific actions to improve and maintain park spaces.”

Finally at this meeting, Council will get a presentation from the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority. 

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 July 15, 2024 Week Ahead edition of the newsletter.