Government Glance for Monday, August 15, 2022: Charlottesville City Council to discuss collective bargaining ordinance
A look at what's happening in local government meetings today in the Fifth Congressional District
I have now done this report for three months and it’s been an absolute pleasure. This past week I went on a family vacation and was unable to work on Saturday. That’s the day I usually spend going through the agenda of government meetings.
I would argue, though, I got an hour’s worth of research done by driving through Danville, Pittsylvania County, and Campbell County on the return journey from out of state.
This newsletter is an experiment, and I want to make sure readers in the greater area get to know what’s happening in Charlottesville this evening. It is the only entry for today. The goal will be to get the rest of the week published tomorrow, but first I have to get an episode of Charlottesville Community Engagement out first!
I’ll be back tomorrow with the rest of the week.
Monday, August 15, 2022
Charlottesville Council to allocate VDOT money for Belmont Bridge, discuss collective bargaining
The five-member Charlottesville City Council meets for a work session on collective bargaining at 4 p.m. followed by a regular session at 6:30 p.m. (meeting info)
Legislation passed the General Assembly in April 2020 to allow localities to decide whether they would enter into collective bargaining with their employees. Members of both the Charlottesville Fire Department and Charlottesville Area Transit have asked the city to proceed. The resignation of former City Manager Chip Boyles last fall delayed implementation.
This summer, interim City Manager Michael C. Rogers hired the firm Venable LLP to prepare an ordinance. His employers, the Robert Bobb Group, have experience with collective bargaining.
”Introduction of collective bargaining is a substantial undertaking, and both the City and its employees require time to gain experience with the bargaining process,” reads the staff report for the work session.
The draft ordinance initially prioritizes bargaining rights for police officers, uniformed firefighters, and certain Charlottesville Area Transit employees. These rights would not apply to supervisors.
“The City Council is facing a number of urgent fiscal and budgetary issues in the next several budget years, and the City Manager strongly advises that starting with these three authorized bargaining units will allow the City Manager and Council an opportunity to gain a practical understanding of the administrative, operational, and financial impact of each new bargaining unit.”
The negotiations would be conducted by an independent contractor that the city would hire, and a budget would need to be set aside for legal issues and implementation. The process would take at least a year and a half with union elections authorized to begin on January 1, 2023.
So far, collective bargaining ordinances have been adopted in Alexandria, Richmond, Arlington County, Fairfax County, and Loudoun County. They have been rejected in Portsmouth, Radford, Prince Edward County, and Isle of Wight County.
The regular session begins at 6:30 p.m. and there are several land use items.
In the first, the owner of Preston Place Properties is requesting a vacation of existing utility easements as well as a boundary line adjustment. As part of the deal, the property owner would dedicate 1,277 square feet of property for public right of way. (staff report)
Next, the cost to replace the Belmont Bridge has increased from $35.4 million to $38 million. The city has had to pay a large portion of the project because the scope approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation some of the finishes and accoutrement requested by many when the project was going through the design process nearly a decade ago.
Last June, Council approved $4.28 million in funds from one VDOT pool of money related to bridge repair and maintenance. Now, the city has received an additional $2.67 million from a VDOT program called Demonstration Repurpose VA200 (DEMO) to cover contingencies and cost increases due to inflation.
The project is set to be completed by January 2024. (staff report)
Next, there are two requests for honorary street designations. These are for a section of Lankford Avenue after Alvin C. Edwards (application) and Ridge-McIntire between Main Street and Preston Avenue as Vinegar Hill Boulevard. (application)
After that, Council will hold first of two readings on a proposal to allow the Commissioner of Revenue to issue tax refunds of up to $2,500 without Council approval for erroneous payments. (staff report)
The next two items did not proceed in mid-July due to the absence of City Council Juandiego Wade. These are a request from a landowner to vacate right of way on Oak Street in the Fifeville neighborhood (staff report), and a special use permit for additional density at 1000 Monticello Road. Members of the Public Housing Association of Residents and staff at the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority have lobbied Council to deny. (staff report)
For one account, read my story Four-member Council delays action on two land use items, approves a third.
Finally, there’s a second reading on suggested uses of the city’s share of American Rescue Plan Act funding. For an account, read my story Council briefed on potential usage of ARPA funds.
Appomattox BOS to hold work session on public safety training facility
The Appomattox Board of Supervisors meets at 6 p.m. for a work session (agenda) followed by a regular meeting. The work session will be a chance to discuss a request from the Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department related to a training facility.
In the regular meeting (agenda):
The Department of Forestry will present its annual report
There will be an update on the tudy of the county’s current public safety communications infrastructure
There will be a vote to authorize a study on the old Courthouse
There will be a public hearing on a vote on a request to abandon a portion of Hunter Street and dedicate it to Liberty Baptist Church for additional parking
In another meeting:
The Amherst Board of Supervisors are holding a planning work session at 9 a.m. at the Wailes Conference Center. (meeting page)
More tomorrow!