Perhaps one reason many Americans find local government hard to follow is a preponderance of plans. There are Comprehensive Plans, transportation plans, water and infrastructure plans, and all sorts of other documents that direct the future of a place.
The day to day work of government in Charlottesville is guided by a strategic plan. Council adopted a framework in September 2023 that was organized into nine areas plus an overarching commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
“This is a three year document of which we are nearly two years through,” said Deputy City Manager for Administration Eden Ratliff. “So we have one more year to go.”
Council adopted the framework for the strategic plan just one month after City Manager Sam Sanders took over from interim City Manager Michael C. Rogers. Rogers was an employee of the Robert Bobb Group who the city turned to staff the position after a string of resignations. Sanders as well as Ashley Marshall were hired by former City Manager Chip Boyles who left in the fall of 2022.
Sanders has since filled his administration with additional two deputies including Ratliff who was hired early in 2024. Sanders also promoted Neighborhood Development Services Director James Freas to Deputy City Manager for Operations.
In the coming months, Council will begin the process of creating a new strategic plan that will kick off with a retreat sometime in early Fiscal Year 2026. But first, Ratliff went through a series of accomplishments.
“One of the things that we have completed or substantially complete is the reimagination of locally administered program with the Virginia Department of Transportation,” Ratliff said.
For many years, the City of Charlottesville struggled to move funded projects from planning to design to construction. Here are several stories that document the past few years.
- City officially cancels West Main Streetscape project, June 10, 2022
- Charlottesville infrastructure updates: Sanders seeks more time to help city build back capacity, December 6, 2022
- Charlottesville’s new transportation planner briefs Council on future process, March 21, 2023
- Charlottesville transportation planners seeking to rebuild public trust, May 16, 2024
- Transportation planning manager updates Charlottesville City Council on existing projects, May 17, 2024
- Commonwealth Transportation Board supports cancellation of two Charlottesville projects, formally cancels Emmet Street Phase Two, December 7, 2024
Ratliff said the city will release a strategic plan tracker this fall. He said this will allow people to find the answers to questions such as how many affordable units have been built. For now, here’s a link to the 12 page report.
The city has hired the Raftelis Group to assist with tracking the current strategic plan and creating the next one.
Before you go: This story was originally posted in the April 9, 2025 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. To support this work, consider a paid subscription to the newsletter or support through Patreon. Checks are also welcome!
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