CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL
                          TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
               FOR THE 2023 REGULAR GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION

        1.     Our most important legislative priority is legislation to allow all localities the
option to enact a one-cent sales tax increase to provide funding dedicated to the construction or
renovation of public-school facilities. If legislation allowing all localities this option is not
successful, we would also support any bill that would allow Charlottesville the option.

       2.      We encourage the General Assembly to authorize localities to require affordable
housing set-asides for large developments.

        3.       We call for state legislation that will require AirBnB, VRBO, and similar short-
term rental platforms to disclose information about short term rentals to local government
officials, sufficient to allow local officials information necessary to verify that local taxes are
being paid and local zoning ordinances are being complied with.

        4.      We support legislation to change the requirement that a police officer remain with
someone who is the subject of an Emergency Custody Order until a bed is found for that person.
This requirement is causing Police Departments to take officers off of regular patrol duties for up
to 72 hours at a time when Police Departments across the Commonwealth are having trouble
hiring enough officers to meet pressing needs.

       5.      We oppose the efforts of the natural gas industry to tie the hands of the localities
in how the localities deal with gas utilities.

        6.      We encourage the General Assembly to amend §2.2-3711 of the Virginia
Freedom of Information Act, to expressly allow police civilian oversight boards the authority to
convene within closed meetings, to protect the privacy of complainants and to deliberate on
police officer personnel and disciplinary matters.

        7.       We support removing barriers for localities seeking to participate in net and
virtual net metering through the state's existing municipal net metering pilot program allowing
for eligibility of facilities installed and operated pursuant to power purchase agreements (PPAs)
and raising or removing system size limits that are inconsistent with state's net metering
provisions.

        8.      Medicaid reimbursement rates – particularly for mental health services – must be
significantly increased.

       9.      We support legislation to abolish the designation of “single-family” zoning areas
throughout the Commonwealth. Policies encouraging “inclusionary zoning” would allow for
more affordable housing and create more diverse communities.