CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
                CITY COUNCIL AGENDA




Agenda Date:          May 4, 2020

Action Required:      Ordinance Enactment

Presenter:            Todd D. Divers, Commissioner of the Revenue
                      John C. Blair, II, City Attorney

Staff Contacts:       Todd D. Divers, Commissioner of the Revenue
                      John C. Blair, II, City Attorney


Title:                Rental Relief Program Deadline Extension

Background:

Charlottesville City Code Section 25-56 et seq. establishes the City’s Rental Relief for the
Elderly and Disabled Persons Program (hereinafter “Program”).

In order to qualify for the Program, individuals claiming the grant must fill out an affidavit on an
annual basis with the Commissioner of the Revenue. The affidavit must be filed with the
Commissioner of the Revenue by May 1 of each calendar year pursuant to Charlottesville City
Code Section 25-59.

Discussion:

On March 12, 2020, the Charlottesville City Council authorized Charlottesville City Manager,
Dr. Taron J. Richardson, to issue a Declaration of Emergency due to the potential spread of
COVID-19. Subsequent to Dr. Richardson’s Declaration of Emergency, Virginia Governor,
Ralph S. Northam, issued a series of Executive Orders implementing social distancing practices
across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

On March 16, 2020, the Charlottesville City Council enacted an emergency ordinance to extend
Charlottesville City Code Section 25-59’s deadline from May 1, 2020 to June 1, 2020.

Commissioner of the Revenue Todd Divers is requesting that Council enact another emergency
ordinance to extend the Program’s deadline from May 1, 2020 to September 1, 2020.
Additionally, the ordinance states that no medical doctor’s statement shall be required to
accompany the affidavit in 2020.

Alternatives:
The Council could decline to adopt the Ordinance.

Attachments:
Ordinance
     ORDINANCE EXTENDING DEADLINE FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED
 INDIVIDUALS TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS PURSUANT TO CHARLOTTESVILLE
                      CITY CODE SECTION 25-59
       WHEREAS, the Charlottesville City Council authorized Charlottesville City Manager,
Dr. Taron J. Richardson, to issue a Declaration of Emergency on March 12, 2020 in order to
prevent the spread of COVID-19; and

        WHEREAS, Virginia Governor, Ralph S. Northam, issued a series of Executive Orders
in response to COVID-19 which implement social distancing practices across the
Commonwealth of Virginia; and

       WHEREAS, the effects of COVID-19 have interrupted the practices of many of the City
of Charlottesville’s residents including the transaction of government business in a timely
manner.

        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of
Charlottesville, Virginia, that the deadline for elderly and disabled individuals to submit
applications and affidavits to the City for the rent relief program is September 1, 2020 pursuant
to City Code Chapter 25, Section 25-59. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sec. 25-59(a), the
City’s Commissioner of Revenue is hereby authorized to extend the deadline for filing
applications and affidavits to September 1, 2020, and no medical doctor’s statement shall be
required to accompany any affidavit received for this year’s rental relief applications.

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to Charlottesville City Code Section 2-
97, this Ordinance was passed with the requisite four-fifths votes necessary to adopt an
Ordinance on the date of its introduction.