Charlottesville City Manager Sanders provides update on work plan

We are now in the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2026, another year in which City Manager Sam Sanders has mapped out how he intends to achieve strategic goals in a work plan.

“This is my opportunity to come before Council, holding myself accountable for what we are responsible for doing, and that is doing the good work to implement your vision and giving you quarterly peeks at how it’s going,” Sanders said.

This latest report covered the third quarter of FY2026, otherwise known as January, February, and March. During that period, City Council held a work session with a coalition of nonprofit organizations who are helping to shape the vision for a future homeless shelter at 2000 Holiday Drive. A follow-up work session will be held on May 4.

Sanders also said the public can expect several transportation projects to get underway in the near future.

“We are actually concerned about how fast the many projects are moving because it is going to disrupt what our normal workflow is in this community when so many projects are happening at the same time,” Sanders said. “I’ve expressed to the team that I will apologize in a way that is not really an apology. It’s pardon our progress. We’re trying to get things done.”

Other highlights:

• Sanders has also reorganized his office with the arrival of two new assistant city managers and other officials. One position that will be filled in the new future is a Chief Prosperity Officer. Former Deputy City Manager Ashley Marshall briefly held that position after the restructuring was announced in the fall.
• The city is now in possession of two electric school buses.
• Progress is currently underway to create a new strategic plan to replace the current one. This one will have fewer goals and Sanders unveiled at least one of them to Council.
• There will be an update on the climate action plan at a Council meeting in June.
• The City has also launched a new community engagement tool called Connect Charlottesville

For all of the previous work plan reports and other documents related to the City Manager’s office, visit the city’s transparency portal.

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