CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
                CITY COUNCIL AGENDA


Agenda Date:           December 7, 2020
Action Required:       Approval of Resolution
Presenter:             John Blair, Acting City Manager

Staff Contact:         Kyna Thomas, Chief of Staff/Clerk of Council
Title:                 Disposition of City Council-appointed Boards and Commissions




Background

Charlottesville City Council met on October 6, 2020, in a work session to discuss City Council-
appointed boards and commissions.

The City Council appoints members to over thirty Council-established boards and Councilors
serve on an additional thirty-plus boards. Several Councilors expressed a desire to evaluate all
boards and commissions to consider:

    -    Whether the board purpose is still relevant to City goals and initiatives.
    -    Whether Council participation on the board is necessary.
    -    Whether the board serves to advise Council or staff.
    -    Whether changes to board make-up would need to be considered.
    -    Staff capacity to support board and commission meetings.
    -    Ensuring transparency for benefit of the public.

Discussion

Council agreed on the following actions:

Dissolve
   - Belmont Bridge Steering Committee
   - Hydraulic Road Planning Advisory Panel
   - Streets That Work/Code Audit Steering Committee after completing its task
Re-evaluate Council participation at a later date
   - Historic Resources Committee

Table
   - Police Civilian Review Board discussion pending General Assembly decisions

Transition to staff-advisory entity
   - Parking Advisory Panel
   - Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
   - PLACE Design Task Force
   - Water Resources Protection Program Advisory Committee

Director of Communications Brian Wheeler advised that during the Covid-19 State of
Emergency, one virtual meeting per month would be supported for all boards and commissions,
and an additional six monthly slots for a maximum of three hours each could be accommodated
for subcommittee meetings on a first-come, first-served basis.

Alignment with Council Vision Area and Strategic Plan

This action is in line with Section 5.4 of the City’s Strategic Plan for Fostering Effective
Community Engagement. The wide array of seats on the city’s boards and commissions offers
significant opportunity for community engagement. By periodically reviewing the alignment of
boards and commissions, City Council helps to promote effective and meaningful use volunteer,
staff, public and Council time in working to achieve city goals.

Budgetary Impact:

None

Alternatives:

City Council could delay action.
                                      RESOLUTION
              Disposition of City Council-appointed Boards and Commissions

        WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Charlottesville previously established specific
entities pursuant to its authority conferred by Virginia Code Section 15.2-1411; and

        WHEREAS, the Council convened an October 6, 2020 work session to determine if
these entities should still exist or be appointed by the Council; and

        WHEREAS, after its deliberations, the Council determined that the status of several
entities needed to be revised.

       NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of
Charlottesville that the following boards or committees are dissolved: Belmont Bridge Steering
Committee, Hydraulic Road Planning Advisory Panel, and Streets That Work/Code Audit
Steering Committee.

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following boards or committees will transition
from public bodies appointed by City Council to staff-advisory committees: Parking Advisory
Panel, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, PLACE Design Task Force, and Water
Resources Protection Program Advisory Committee.