1 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Wednesday, October 24, 2018, AT 6:00 p.m. IN THE auditorium OF THE Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) at 1000 Rio Rd E, Charlottesville, VA 22901. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Work session related to Neighborhood Development Services Novak Study Review and Discussion BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL BY Brian Wheeler CHARLOTTESVILLE ALBEMARLE TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER October 24, 2018 Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Ms. Walker; Ms. Hill; Dr. Bellamy; Ms. Galvin; and Mr. Signer. Ms. Walker called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. On motion by Ms. Hill, seconded by Mr. Signer, Council voted (Ayes: Ms. Walker; Ms. Hill; Dr. Bellamy; Ms. Galvin; and Mr. Signer. Noes: None. Absent: None) to amend the agenda to appoint a board member to the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail Authority Board. On motion by Ms. Hill, seconded by Dr. Bellamy, Council voted (Ayes: Ms. Walker; Ms. Hill; Dr. Bellamy; Ms. Galvin; and Mr. Signer. Noes: None. Absent: None) to appoint Kristin Clarens as the Charlottesville Citizen Representative to the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail Authority Board effective immediately for an initial term of three years. Work session related to Neighborhood Development Services Novak Study Review and Discussion Mike Murphy, Interim City Manager, introduced Michelle Ferguson with the Novak Consulting Group. Ms. Ferguson reviewed her firm’s recommendations related to a 2017 efficiency study of city government overall followed by recommendations from a 2018 efficiency study of the Neighborhood Development Services Department. Alex Ikefuna, Director of Neighborhood Development Services, provided a presentation which detailed specific responses by the City undertaken in response to both studies. Paul Oberdorfer, Director of Public Works, provided a presentation on an enterprise software solution being planned for multiple departments to jointly address eight Novak recommendations related to permitting and asset and work order management systems. 2 After Council’s discussion with staff about the presentations, Mayor Walker invited the public to offer comments. Genevieve Keller said she had concerns about the quantitative nature of the studies. She encouraged inclusion of qualitative assessments regarding NDS. She added that the enterprise software solution should be user friendly and improve the process for citizens rather than making access more complicated. Mark Kavett said the City had a history of deviating from the Comprehensive Plan with respect to new development. He said the City needed to clean up its zoning code and that neighborhoods are seeing projects built on their doorstep that should not be done in the first place. Council continued to discuss the recommendations. Ms. Hill asked if any interim steps could be taken – while waiting for the enterprise software system to be implemented in NDS – that would make more information available to the public (e.g. site plans, documents, staff comments, etc.). Mr. Murphy said he would return to Council with proposals for interim solutions in December. Mr. Ikefuna said the new system would provide comprehensive access for both the public and developers. Ms. Walker asked about the timing of the hiring of a new engineer in NDS. Mr. Murphy said the position was in the current budget and that Mr. Ikefuna would weigh the pros and cons of whether a Support Services Manager – as called for in the Novak study – would be a higher priority over an engineer. Council reached consensus that Mr. Ikefuna should proceed with hiring another staff member as he deemed appropriate. Ms. Walker adjourned the meeting at 8:01 p.m. Approved by Council November 5, 2018 Nikuyah Walker Mayor, City of Charlottesville