CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
                  CITY COUNCIL AGENDA



  Agenda Date:        November 7, 2022

  Action Required:    Adopt Resolution (One Reading)

  Presenter:          Mayor Lloyd Snook

  Staff Contacts:     Lisa Robertson, City Attorney

  Title:              Extending the Contract for city management services with The Robert
                      Bobb Group (1 reading)


Background
By resolution approved December 20, 2021 (#R-21-184), City Council awarded a contract to The
Robert Bobb Group, for the provision of city manager services. The contract executed by the City
and The Robert Bobb Group (RBG) required RBG to perform services through June 30, 2022. By
resolution approved June 6, 2022 (#R-22-071) City Council extended the contract for an additional
six-month term (through December 31, 2022).

Discussion
In June 2022, City Council determined that it would be desirable for the Robert Bobb Group RBG
(working through Michael Rogers) to continue providing contracted-for city management services, to
provide leadership during a process for selection of a police chief. Additionally, while RBG has
served the City well (successes include recruitment of a permanent Human Resources Director and
delivering to City Council a collective bargaining ordinance), work contemplated by this contract
remains to be done.

Council has not established an updated strategic plan for the City government, and RBG’s work
under this contract was intended to include support during a Strategic Planning Process and
development of a prioritized work plan for a permanent city manager, tied to a written plan of goals
and priorities approved by City Council (which relate to the Strategic Plan). These remaining items
will be important to set the stage for a successful recruitment of a permanent city manager suited to
the City’s needs. Va. Code §2.2-4309 allows the existing contract to be extended for completion of
work that remains to be completed.

Between now and the end of the first quarter of 2023 (January – March), City Council anticipates the
following projects, all of which will require the continued support of an interim city manager:

     Completion of the recruitment process for a chief of police; establishing goals and objectives
      for the new chief and for the Charlottesville Police Department
     Development and approval of a budget for Fiscal Year 2024
     Review and public hearings for a new zoning ordinance
     Commence Development of a Strategic Plan (first stage: focusing on immediate organizational
      needs and effectiveness, and setting goals/priorities for the City Council/ City Manager
      working relationship; later stage: expand community engagement under the leadership of a
      permanent city manager, for a more traditional approach to establishing goals and priorities)
     Commence implementation of Collective Bargaining


As a practical matter, RBG is the only source available and in a position to commence and pursue
these projects in the coming months. A different interim could not, as a practical matter, get
familiarized with the City organization quickly enough to provide effective leadership in all of these
efforts going on at once, and neither can City Council complete a well-run executive recruitment for a
permanent manager before these projects need to be commenced.

Alignment with City Council's Vision and Strategic Plan
Yes.

Community Engagement
N/A

Budgetary Impact
None

Recommendation
 Staff recommends approval.

 Suggested Motion: “I move the RESOLUTION to extend the contract for city manager services with The
 Robert Bobb Group”

Alternatives
If City Council elects not to extend the term of this contract, Council would need to make provisions
for the management/ administrative functions to be covered by a different person.

Attachments
1.   RESOLUTION Extend RBG Contract