Podcasts about charlottesville city council

Brace yourselves now for another sonic edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement with audio versions of stories that have already gone out in this feed. These podcasts also appear in radio form on WTJU on Saturday morning at 6 a.m. but you can decide when you to listen the podcast. I'm Sean Tubbs, and I could decide to wait to produce it, but then everything would go stale.In this edition:* The executives in charge of Albemarle, Charlottesville, and the University of Virginia talk collaboration and innovation at the Tom Tom Festival (learn more)* City Council votes 3-1 to approve special use permit for commercial lodging at 401 Ridge Street (learn more)* Charlottesville City Council holds first reading on pass-through grant for police technology (learn more)* Charlottesville City Council also votes to approve a new lease for the Dogwood Vietnam Memorial Foundation for their memorial in McIntire Park (story not online yet)First shout-out: Celebrating the community's other information organizations!There are a lot of stories each week that go out through this newsletter, but no one information outlet can put together the entire picture. That's why each regular edition ends with a section called Reading Material.Charlottesville is fortunate to have a media landscape that includes the Charlottesville Daily Progress, C-Ville Weekly, Charlottesville Tomorrow, and Cville Right Now, I curate links from these sources because I believe a truly informed community needs multiple perspectives.There's also the Cavalier Daily, Vinegar Hill Magazine, the Fluvanna Review, the Crozet Gazette, NBC29, CBS19, and other sources. But if you look every day, you'll find links to articles in national publications, all linked to give you more perspectives on some of the issues of our times.Now more than ever, journalism is needed. To be a citizen of a democracy, you must seek information from multiple sources. Consume only one and you are at risk of becoming a zombie!Second shout-out: Advertise on Information CharlottesvilleLong-time readers may know that most of the stories posted through this newsletter are also posted to Information Charlottesville. Sometimes the stories go there first! Both this newsletter and that website are part of the same information gathering operation, an operation I hope to continue to grow!There are multiple ways to contribute to Town Crier Productions.One new one is to place an advertisement on Information Charlottesville. I'm in the early days of experimenting with visual ways for organizations to get their message across to a growing audience. I've not yet put together a media kit, but I'm ready to offer a special for March. What's the special? More details in the audio version of the podcasts. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

If you have never heard the podcast edition of the newsletter before, how will you be able to tell if the words I am writing here are actually the words I'm saying to the hundreds of listeners? Don't you want to hear the way people in these stories sound? Wouldn't you like to see if the editors left in the many curse words that are uttered during production? Either way, there are both written and sonic versions of Charlottesville Community Engagement and one day there may be a version told entirely through pencil shavings.In this edition:* Charlottesville City Council grants appeal to allow Delta Zeta to demolish 144 Chancellor Street (learn more)* Virginia now requires localities in the same river basin to come up with a regional water supply plan to prepare for drought (learn more)* Council agrees to exercise eminent domain to purchase land for streetscape projects (learn more)* Residents call for Council to take action on speeding on Lankford and Deputy City Manager James Freas provides an update (learn more)* A look back at a presentation in January on the city's safe streets strategy (learn more)* Albemarle County's Board of Supervisors adopts a budget for FY2026 after another review of what is in it (podcast listeners get a first listen!)First-shout: Rivanna River Fest this SaturdayWe're up to that time of year when the Rivanna Conservation Alliance and their partners celebrate our community's main waterway - the Rivanna River!From 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. there will be all sorts of events at the Rivanna River Company on land now owned by the City of Charlottesville. There will be family-friendly activity tables, free tubing from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m (depending on water levels), and you can sign up for fly-fishing lessons with Orvis.* At 2:30 p.m. you can hear the “Story of Buck Island” from Philip Cobbs* At 3 p.m. the Rockfish Wild Sanctuary will present “Wild Neighbors”* At 3:30 p.m. Horace Scruggs will present the “African American History of the River”* At 4 p.m. there is a guided walk from Steve Gaines, the city's urban forester* At 5 p.m. there is performance from The Front Porch's Hometown Choir* There's a free concert from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. from Mighty JoshuaFor more information and details, visit the Rivanna Conservation Alliance website!Second shout out: When Driving Is Not An Option webinar on May 12A third of people living in the United States do not have a driver's license and must navigate a mobility system designed almost exclusively for drivers. Does it have to be that way?On Monday May 12th from 6:30 pm to -7:30 pm, Livable Cville will hold a conversation with Anna Zivarts, author of the excellent book When Driving Is Not An Option. Charlottesville City Councilor Natalie Oschrin will also make an appearance.When Driving is Not an Option shines a light on the reality for non-drivers and explains how improving our transportation system with nondrivers in mind will create a better quality of life for everyone. Zivarts is a low-vision mom, disability advocate, and non-driver. In this webinar, she'll explain how healthier, more climate-friendly communities can be the result of what happened when the needs of involuntary nondrivers are viewed as essential to how we design our transportation systems and our communities.Councilor Oschrin will share about how these ideas apply to the Charlottesville area. There will be an opportunity for Q&A at the end. You can sign up here for this free event. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Time again now to return to the imaginary airwaves with a podcast edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. Should these sonic versions also contain a historic fact in order to signify something that is otherwise irrelevant to the information you are about to receive? Do you need to know that on this day eighty years ago, the founding negotiations began for the United Nations at a conference in San Francisco? That's one of many things to know about April 25. I'm Sean Tubbs, and there is no quiz at the end.In this edition:* Charlottesville City Council briefed on current state of affordable housing (learn more)* Bids have come in over budget for a project to improve a busy intersection in Charlottesville (learn more)* Charlottesville seeks applicants for Board and Commissions (learn more)* The University of Virginia announces the winners of its 2025 Sustainability Awards (learn more)* The Albemarle County Planning Commission votes 4 to 3 to recommend filling in the floodplain to allow for an industrial building in the Woolen Mills (story forthcoming on C-Ville Weekly)* We go back to the archives for a January briefing on the Broadway Blueprint (learn more)* Fire ants have been found in Albemarle County and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services want you to report any mounds you see (learn more)First shout out: When Driving Is Not An Option webinar on May 12A third of people living in the United States do not have a driver's license and must navigate a mobility system designed almost exclusively for drivers. Does it have to be that way?On Monday May 12th from 6:30 pm to -7:30 pm, Livable Cville will hold a conversation with Anna Zivarts, author of the book When Driving Is Not An Option. Charlottesville City Councilor Natalie Oschrin will also make an appearance.When Driving is Not an Option shines a light on the reality for non-drivers and explains how improving our transportation system with nondrivers in mind will create a better quality of life for everyone. Zivarts is a low-vision mom, disability advocate, and non-driver. In this webinar, she'll explain how healthier, more climate-friendly communities can be the result of what happened when the needs of involuntary nondrivers are viewed as essential to how we design our transportation systems and our communities.Councilor Oschrin will share about how these ideas apply to the Charlottesville area. There will be an opportunity for Q&A at the end. You can sign up here for this free event.Second shout-out: Second-shout out: Cville Village?Can you drive a neighbor to a doctor's appointment? Change an overhead lightbulb, plant a flower, walk a dog for someone who is sick, visit someone who is lonely? If so, Cville Village needs you!Cville Village is a local 501c3 nonprofit organization loosely affiliated with a national network of Villages whose goals are to help seniors stay in their own homes as long as possible, and to build connections among them that diminish social isolation. Volunteers do small chores for, and have gatherings of, professors and schoolteachers, nurses and lawyers, aides and housekeepers. Time and chance come to all – a fall, an order not to drive, failing eyesight, a sudden stroke. They assist folks continue living at home, with a little help from their friends.Cville Village volunteers consult software that shows them who has requested a service and where they are located. Volunteers accept only the requests that fit their schedule and their skills.Volunteering for Cville Village will expand your circle of friends and shower you with thanks.To learn more, visit cvillevillage.org or attend one of their monthly Village “meet-ups” and see for yourself. To find out where and when the next meetup is, or to get more information and a volunteer application, email us at info@cvillevillage.org, or call us at (434) 218-3727. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

CCE-850ALast week I asked listeners of the podcast to let me know if they were tuning in, and sure enough, several of you did reach out! So, perhaps this Friday edition of the newsletter going out as a podcast will continue. Today's edition doesn't have any new information but instead is an audio summary of some of what has been going on with voices from some of the decision-makers.I'm Sean Tubbs, and this one's a bit of a puzzle to put together. In the print edition below you'll see new versions of a couple of the stories as I had to develop a new script. I have not included the images, but these podcasts will now have normal shout-outs. No more house ads!Two stories in this edition, both about Charlottesville's budget for FY2026:* City Council makes last minute decisions at final work session before tonight's vote on $265M budget* Council adopts $265.2 million budget after another conversation about transit fundingFirst shout-out: Plant Virginia NativesSpring is here and there's still time to plan for upgrades to your outdoors. You can take some time to get ready for spring! Check out Plant Virginia Natives!Plant Virginia Natives is part of a partnership with ten regional campaigns for ten different ecosystems across Virginia, from the Northern Piedmont to the Eastern Shore. Take a look at the full map below for the campaign for native species where you are in the Commonwealth. For the Charlottesville area, download a free copy of the handbook: Piedmont Native Plants: A Guide for Landscapes and Gardens.Plant Northern Piedmont Natives is for anyone who works with native plants, whether you are a property owner, private consultant, landscape designer, nursery operator, conservation group, or local government.(image)A summary of the April 10, 2025 Charlottesville City Council budget work sessionOne of the challenges of doing a podcast version at the end of a week is that I may have to rearrange two previous stories in order for the audio edition to make sense. That's the case this week with Charlottesville City Council's adoption of a $265.2 million budget for fiscal year 2026. That happened on April 14 at a special meeting.But before we get to that, we have to go back to the work session held on April 10.In Charlottesville, the budget process never really stops. In fact, it keeps on going up to the last minute of adoption. New items were added at the work session that had not previously come up.At the beginning of the April 10 work session, they learned about additional spending that can happen because new funding has been found since the beginning of the budget process in March.“We do have supplemental revenue over and above the proposed budget of $774,263,” said Krisy Hammill, the city's budget director.The driver of that change was an additional $700,000 increase in Business and Professional Licenses that had not been factored in.There were many numbers thrown around during the final work session. Before Council signed off on how to spend that money, City Manager Sam Sanders went through how $915,620 in “Council Discretionary Funds” would be spent to leave a balance of $440,406 to spend.“Kind of thinking that with all the volatility that we have in DC, there could very easily be a series of moments that come up and that this would give you the flexibility to make some decisions and how we could support gaps in what could happen based on decisions and how it actually lands in the community,” Sanders said.Staff codified a list of what Council had already decided to spend over the course of four budget work sessions.* $250,000 to the Blue Ridge Coalition for the Homeless to cover the costs of a federal grant not obtained because there was an error related to a recent leadership transition.* $162,000 to the Piedmont Housing Alliance to pay for the cost of staff who work on eviction prevention.* $50,000 in cash to the Piedmont Housing Alliance related to eviction prevention.* An additional $43,150 to the Boys and Girls Club for a total of $116,000 in the FY26 budget.* An additional $28,800 to Lighthouse Studios to fund two programs for a total funding of $40,000 in the FY26 budget.* An additional $6,000 to Loaves and Fishes to bring their total funding to $50,000 for FY26.* An additional $1,200 to Piedmont CASA for a total of $10,000.* An additional $6,600 to Live Arts for a total of $16,000.* An additional $7,100 to Legal Aid Justice Center for a total of $40,000* An additional $1,500 to SARA for a total of $25,000.* A total of $104,261 in capital improvement program funds will be redirected to the Dogwood Vietnam Memorial. Read this story for more information.At the meeting, Hammill handed out a spreadsheet that provided more details about other programs that were added to the list such as an annual payment to the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. This was initially left out of the budget because the organization did not fill out an application through a portal called Zoom Grants.The payment to the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center was $228,993 in FY2024 and $246,993 in FY2025. The organization is considered fundamental which means it no longer has to compete for funding through the Vibrant Community Fund process . The payment for FY2026 will be $228,200.“By not submitting through Zoom Grants, they didn't appear on the list, but they didn't know that they had to still submit through Zoom Grants,” Sanders said. “So we have some course corrections that we need to do there and making sure that everyone understands what they have to do still, even though they're in a non competitive round.”Sanders said there was a similar error with the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. That government body is considered “fundamental” but also sought additional funding.“We have to have a conversation with them about their pursuits of funding going forward to your point they could be here and in the competitive rounds,” Sanders said. “I don't particularly care for that. I think that makes it double dipping.”Sanders said Deputy City Manager James Freas and the Office of Community Solutions are currently performing an audit of CRHA as a way of building a better working relationship.City Councilor Michael Payne, a member of the CRHA Board, called for a joint work session to plan for the likelihood of reduced federal funding for public housing units.At one point in the conversation, Council initially signaled a willingness to add an additional $16,000 to the United Way for their Prosper program. Deputy City Manager Ashley Marshall made a pitch for the program at the April 10 meeting. The program had previously been called the Financial Resiliency Task Force.Another last minute item is $30,000 for the Tonsler League headed by former City Councilor and current CRHA Chair Wes Bellamy. The organization had expected that the City of Charlottesville would have received an additional $250,000 from the state government for operations, but Governor Glenn Youngkin recently vetoed that from the budget.“He received a $250,000 grant for this current year that ends in June,” Sanders said. “I am planning to check with him to see if. If he will expend all of that and avoid the risk of having to send anything back.”Council supported giving the Tonsler League $30,000.At half an hour into the final budget work session held three days after the final public hearing, Sanders asked Council if there was any other item they might want to fund and gave them the current balance.“The question that we are really posing at this point is, is there anything else that you all have been pondering?” Sanders asked. “Because we try to remind you that this is the end of the road and we are truly down to $394,000 that today, right now at this moment, is your Council Strategic Initiatives Fund.”That prompted Councilor Lloyd Snook to express a concern.“So we haven't even gotten to the fiscal year and we've already cut it down?” Snook asked.“That's correct,” Sanders said.Snook said he felt the process was not appropriate.“I find myself trying to figure out what possible process we're advancing here,” Snook said. “And the answer is it's still back to whatever anybody throws up against the wall at Council at the last minute. I just think that's a terrible way to do business.”Sanders said he understood Snook's concern.“I understand and appreciate the last minute nature of it and I'm not a fan of always doing that and I think in these, this, these two moments specifically, we can identify a way to bring you critical information so that you can have that presented to you and then you can make that determination on if you believe the item is ready to go forward,” Sanders said, adding that both Marshall and Bellamy could appear before Council to formally make a pitch.There were at least three Councilors who supported funding for Tonsler, but not yet for the Prosper Program.There was also a long discussion about increasing the number of transit drivers to 82 in order to restore service to pre-pandemic levels. This comment from Sanders finishes off that discussion and sets up a conversation for the future.“I think what I heard was that you are not going to attempt to unpack the budget at this late stage and find a way to make 82 drivers a reality,” Sanders said. “But what you are indicating is that you support the desire for added drivers and that you're looking to have us revisit that with you at some point in the future later in 2025 for the possible consideration of the use of one time funds for the bridge that would be required to get us to the next budget where we will realize the true cost.”Sanders also said he still wants to hold on to the $22.4 million surplus from FY2024 in case federal programs are cut.“The conversations that are being had in regards to SNAP and Medicaid are real in that they're big,” Sanders said. “And if those cuts were to occur, we will see a number of our constituency impacted directly by that.”Sanders said that while the city is blessed to have a large surplus, it will go very quickly if the local government picks up what had been a federal program.Tonight's meeting to adopt is not the end of the process. Because of a second advertising error, Council still has to hold a public hearing on the tax rates and that will take place at the next regular meeting on April 21. By law, Council cannot adopt those tax rates at that meeting and must wait at least three days. A second special meeting will be held on April 24.I had hoped to tell you more about the next three items by going back to the audio, but I've got to get to the next set of stories:* Sanders had an update on a potential low-barrier shelter. The General Assembly's version of the budget had $1.5 million going to the City of Charlottesville for this purpose, and Youngkin cut this in half. The budget has not yet been finalized and Sanders said Senator Creigh Deeds is still trying to make the case to restore the funding.* Sanders said he believes the city would need to provide operating funds to any grocery that sets up at 501 Cherry Avenue.* There is still a possibility that the city might provide funding for UVA's affordable housing project at 10th and Wertland. They will be asked to submit a request as part of the next funding cycle this fall.Second shout-out: Piedmont Master Gardeners seek items for Green Elephant SaleIf you are cleaning out your garage or basement this winter and have garden implements or yard ornaments you no longer need, the Piedmont Master Gardeners will take them off your handsThe Piedmont Master Gardeners are seeking donations of new and used garden tools, hoses, decorative items, outdoor furniture, and virtually anything else that can be used to maintain or enjoy a home landscape. From February 1 through April 30, these "Green Elephant" donations may be dropped off at 402 Albemarle Square between 10 a.m. and noon on Wednesdays or Saturdays. The Master Gardeners are not able to accept plastic pots or opened chemicals.The Green Elephants will be offered for sale to the public during PMG's Spring Plant Sale, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at Albemarle Square Shopping Center. Proceeds will support the many free and low-cost horticulture education programs the Piedmont Master Gardeners offer to the community.To arrange a pickup of large items or for more information, contact the Piedmont Master Gardeners at greenelephant@piedmontmastergardeners.org.(image)Council adopts $265.2 million budget after another conversation about transit fundingCharlottesville City Council adopted a $265.2 million budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 at a special meeting on April 14 but not before another review and summary from City Manager Sam Sanders. He had introduced a $264,474,183 budget on March 4.“Things have changed a little bit, as it always does, from the proposed date to your adoption date,” Sander saidThere have been five budget work sessions and two public hearings on the document itself, but yet to come is a public hearing on the tax rates for 2025.“What I'll point out to you just in basic highlights, is that the revenue expenditure at this time has now risen to $265,248,446,” Sanders said.The tax rates have not changed for 2025, but another year of growth in assessments has resulted in more revenue. The assessor's office reported an average of a 7.74 percent increase in late January.One spending change in the budget is an additional $600,000 for Charlottesville Area Transit which partially came out of a push for local advocates.“We added a transit mechanic to help with operations,” Sanders said. “We are also maintaining fare free service across the system and absorbing the absence of the flexible federal funds because those funds are now not available to us as they have been.”Other highlights:* There's $5.4 million over the next five years for sidewalk repair and construction* There's $12.7 million in spending on affordable housing initiatives in FY26* The FY26 budget is the first to apply to a fourth collective bargaining unitCity Councilor Michael Payne asked about the status of a $22.4 million surplus from FY2024. Sanders made the decision to keep the amount in reserve and Council has so far agreed. The idea is to keep the money available while a new era for the federal government continues to settle in. He also said he has been meeting with nonprofit groups who have been making presentations on funding they have lost from the federal government.“So they are first trying to recoup what they've spent and hope that they might actually get some continuation,” Sanders said. “So that is beginning to build. We're beginning to see that finally the city organization itself has not incurred a loss. But we still continue to monitor just believing that it's just a matter of time. It's not a matter of if, it is actually a matter of when.”A generally-held practice in municipal budgeting is to not use one-time money such as surpluses to hire staffing.“Something like staffing is not ideal because we can't guarantee that funding to occur year to year,” said City Councilor Natalie Oschrin.The conversation went back to transit. The City of Charlottesville owns Charlottesville Area Transit and has full control of its operations. Albemarle County and Charlottesville have entered into an entity called the Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority but so far that is entirely about planning for transit operations.Albemarle Supervisors vote to join Regional Transit Authority, December 15, 2024Charlottesville joins regional transit authority; Council holds first reading on federal transit allocations, December 28, 2024Charlottesville Area Transit has no independent board of directors which makes Council the sole authority over its operations. There had once been an advisory body made up of citizens but that was eliminated sometime during the pandemic.An advocacy group called IMPACT made up of various churches has been pressuring Albemarle and Charlottesville to increase the amount they spent on transit to hire additional drivers. Their specific number has been 82, a number believed to enable Charlottesville Area Transit to increase service.“The solution to long wait times is very straightforward: we need more bus drivers,” reads their website. “Right now, Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) has budgeted 67 drivers. Getting to wait times of half an hour will require at least 80.”In Virginia, cities and counties are completely independent of each other. There are regional services such as that provided by the Rivanna Water and Service Authority, but localities have to adopt budgets independently.IMPACT's public event was held on April 8, over a month into the budget process for Charlottesville and about six weeks after Albemarle County Executive Jeffrey Richardson introduced that locality's budget.At their work session on April 10, City Council indicated they wanted to support IMPACT's request but the timing is not right for the existing budget. They agreed to hold conversations about how to get there shortly after the budget is adopted.Vice Mayor Brian Pinkston and Charlottesville City Council were the two members of Council who went to hear from IMPACT at what they call the Nehemiah Action.“The commitment that the two of us made was to try to get something for this coming the fiscal year that we're working on now, which means some sort of amendment or whatever,” said City Councilor Brian Pinkston.Several members of the group were in attendance at the meeting and Pinkston addressed them directly from the dais and encouraged them to get involved earlier in the budget process.“I want people to know that this is not the end,” Pinkston said. “We heard you last week, we're working on it. And what you're hearing now is the sort of public outworking of the conversations that need to happen.”For over four years of reporting on transit issues, take a look at this tab on Information Charlottesville.Council adopted the budget after a final explanation of last minute changes such as $30,000 for the Tonsler League to help keep it going after Governor Youngkin vetoed an anticipated $250,000 from Virginia's budget.Council will hold a public hearing on the tax rate for 2025 on April 21 and then will hold a special meeting on April 24.Postscript for #850AToday's edition was intended to have additional audio but I ran out of time. Also the podcast edition can be less than half an hour long. The version that airs on WTJU has to be at least 29 minutes long. There was no radio version last week so I'm going to put another story or two in that version from #846-A. Behind the scenes I have quite a bit of organization that allows me to seemingly produce more content than entities with budgets that are much larger than mine. One day there will be more of everything. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

In the early days of Charlottesville Community Engagement, each edition was a newsletter as well as a podcast. In early 2024, this tradition was severed so I could make sure I could get a radio version on WTJU for Saturday morning 6 a.m. That's the case with this March 28, 2025 edition which is being produced in an odd week with slightly less productivity due to seasonal allergies. I'm Sean Tubbs and next week may see further experimentation.* Albemarle Supervisors briefed on climate funding, pay increases, and future direction for FY2027 (learn more)* EPA climate resilience grant for community nonprofits rescinded (learn more)* Supervisors also learn about the county's plans to add $4.2 million to a housing fund as well as a potential pause in federal housing vouchers (written story out tomorrow)* Charlottesville City Council holds first reading of allocations for affordable housing projects (learn more)* City Council enters into new agreement with CRHA for Sixth Street redevelopment (learn more)* Solar panels atop Ivy Landfill move closer to reality (Read this story on C-Ville Weekly)* Local projects left out of recent Continuing Resolution for federal budget (learn more)First shout-out: Celebrating the community's other information organizations!There are a lot of stories each week that go out through this newsletter, but no one information outlet can put together the entire picture. That's why each regular edition ends with a section called Reading Material.Charlottesville is fortunate to have a media landscape that includes the Charlottesville Daily Progress, C-Ville Weekly, Charlottesville Tomorrow, and Cville Right Now, I curate links from these sources because I believe a truly informed community needs multiple perspectives.There's also the Cavalier Daily, Vinegar Hill Magazine, the Fluvanna Review, the Crozet Gazette, NBC29, CBS19, and other sources. But if you look every day, you'll find links to articles in national publications, all linked to give you more perspectives on some of the issues of our times.Now more than ever, journalism is needed. To be a citizen of a democracy, you must seek information from multiple sources. Consume only one and you are at risk of becoming a zombie!Second shout-out: Advertise on Information CharlottesvilleLong-time readers may know that most of the stories posted through this newsletter are also posted to Information Charlottesville. Sometimes the stories go there first! Both this newsletter and that website are part of the same information gathering operation, an operation I hope to continue to grow!There are multiple ways to contribute to Town Crier Productions.One new one is to place an advertisement on Information Charlottesville. I'm in the early days of experimenting with visual ways for organizations to get their message across to a growing audience. I've not yet put together a media kit, but I'm ready to offer a special for March. What's the special? More details in the audio version of the podcasts.Advertising on Information Charlottesville could be a great way to keep my business going while also growing yours. I think there are new ways to do advertising, but I don't know what they are until I'm allowed to continue testing. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

With the writing of this sentence, I advance my desire to be more familiar with Democracy in America. In the fourth decade of the 19th century, a French national named Alexis de Tocqueville wrote two volumes of an examination of the system of government in the relatively new United States of America. I have vague memories of reading it over thirty years ago in a political science class at Virginia Tech and I've been meaning to take a look back in order to get a fresh perspective of where we are on February 8, 2025.This is the audio edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement for that particular today and the I in this sentence is me, Sean Tubbs. I've made my career writing about municipal government, giving me a unique perspective into American government for the first three decades of the 21st century. If you decide to take a listen, you're about to hear the audio versions of recent stories.The following links go to Information Charlottesville, the companion website for this newsletter.* Charlottesville City Council briefed on Project Safe Neighborhoods (learn more)* Charlottesville Police Chief Kochis gives an update on FLOCK license plate readers (learn more)* Albemarle County Supervisors and the Charlottesville City Council both acknowledge Black History Month (learn more)* Albemarle County appoints a new director of Facilities and Environmental Services (learn more)* Supervisor Pruitt sounds alarm on economic threat of federal cuts, executive orders (learn more)* Coalition wants Albemarle County to pay $10 million a year toward housing costs (learn more)Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.First shout-out: Celebrating the community's other information organizations!In today's first shout-out in the form of a house ad, I want to make sure everyone knows that every edition of the regular newsletter (not the podcast ones) ends with a section called Reading Material. Charlottesville Community Engagement is just one offering in a landscape that includes the Charlottesville Daily Progress, C-Ville Weekly, Charlottesville Tomorrow, and Cville Right Now, I curate links from these sources because I believe a truly informed community needs multiple perspectives.There's also the Cavalier Daily, Vinegar Hill Magazine, the Fluvanna Review, the Crozet Gazette, NBC29, CBS19, and other sources. But if you look every day, you'll find links to articles in national publications, all linked to give you more perspectives on some of the issues of our times.Second shout-out:What you are reading or listening to at Charlottesville Community Engagement is part of a business-venture that's based on a pretty simple idea. I will spend my time researching and reporting and will provide ways for people who want to pay for the material to be produced!bI've been a journalist for a long while now, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Charlottesville Podcasting Network. While that website doesn't have new content, it's part of how I demonstrate my dedication to this community. In 2025 I'm seeking ways to solidify the business, and here are some ways you can support the work.* Sign up for a paid subscription through Substack. There is not much premium content because my primary aim is to get information out to as many people as possible.* Contribute through Patreon. A major goal this year is to replace this with a way to make a tax-deductible donation, but that's not set up yet. If I had more time, I'd make more audio programs through Patreon.* Send in a check made out to Town Crier Productions at PO Box 1754, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22902. This will be used as a replacement for Substack.* Buy an ad on InfoCville.com! I do not have a rate sheet yet, but if you respond to this email with the promo code #experimental-ad I can do a really very low price until the end of February! How low? Send me the email! * Tell friends about the work and use the stories to start conversations. Post articles on social media, for instance. * Volunteer to design some logos because I'm very bad at graphics! Someone did the one for me a few years ago and I probably should give her credit. I'll reach out! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

We have all arrived at February 1, 2025 and this is the time to conduct whatever rituals you have to welcome the new month. Perhaps that includes listening to this edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement, an audio version of a newsletter about local and regional government. I'm Sean Tubbs and the next 30 minutes will feature some recent stories:In this edition:* Charlottesville City Council is briefed on $22.4 million surplus for FY24 (learn more)* The new director of Neighborhood Development Services tells Council about her department's work plan (learn more)* The five elected officials are also introduced to the city's “Safer Streets Strategy” projects (learn more)* An infectious disease expert from the UVA Health System explains what's happening with bird flu (learn more)* The Charlottesville City Schools hold a work session on revenue assumptions for the next fiscal year, including an expectation sales tax revenues will decline (learn more)* Herrick appointed as Albemarle County Attorney (learn more )* Albemarle EDA briefed on Broadway Blueprint (learn more)First shout-out: Celebrating the community's other information organizations!In today's first shout-out in the form of a house ad, I want to make sure everyone knows that every edition of the regular newsletter (not the podcast ones) ends with a section called Reading Material. Charlottesville Community Engagement is just one offering in a landscape that includes the Charlottesville Daily Progress, C-Ville Weekly, Charlottesville Tomorrow, and Cville Right Now, I curate links from these sources because I believe a truly informed community needs multiple perspectives.There's also the Cavalier Daily, Vinegar Hill Magazine, the Fluvanna Review, the Crozet Gazette, NBC29, CBS19, and other sources. But if you look every day, you'll find links to articles in national publications, all linked to give you more perspectives on some of the issues of our times.Second shout-out: Help me keep this going!What you are reading or listening to at Charlottesville Community Engagement is part of a business-venture that's based on a pretty simple idea. I will spend my time researching and reporting and will provide ways for people who want to pay for the material to be produced!I've been a journalist for a long while now, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Charlottesville Podcasting Network. While that website doesn't have new content, it's part of how I demonstrate my dedication to this community. In 2025 I'm seeking ways to solidify the business, and here are some ways you can support the work.* Sign up for a paid subscription through Substack. There is not much premium content because my primary aim is to get information out to as many people as possible.* Contribute through Patreon. A major goal this year is to replace this with a way to make a tax-deductible donation, but that's not set up yet. If I had more time, I'd make more audio programs through Patreon.* Send in a check made out to Town Crier Productions at PO Box 1754, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22902. This will be used as a replacement for Substack.* Ask me about advertising opportunities! Advertising is live now on Information Charlottesville and introductory prices are low! * Tell friends about the work!* Volunteer to design some logos because I'm very bad at graphics!* Keep paying attention to as much as you can! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

In an alternate universe, the print edition and the podcast edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement would not have been separated. It is also possible that this is the alternative universe and we'll all just have to get used to it.Either way, the next print edition is listed as being the 800th installment whereas this latest compilation of audio stories is classified in the Town Crier Productions taxonomy as CCE-799A. Both are expected to be published on January 26, 2025 but this is the one that features audio trickery in the hopes of providing entertainment value.In this edition:* Public hearing held for Charlottesville's draft Capital Improvement Program (learn more)* Charlottesville City Council gets progress report on school construction (learn more)* Finishing touches underway on Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Master Plan (learn more)* Council waives rules to expedite vote on Human Rights Ordinance (learn more)* Andrew Herrick is appointed as Albemarle County Attorney (learn more) (need to produce)* Three Constitutional amendments pass Virginia Senate including the right to reproductive freedom (learn more)First shout-out: Celebrating the community's other information organizations!In today's first shout-out in the form of a house ad, I want to make sure everyone knows that every edition of the regular newsletter (not the podcast ones) ends with a section called Reading Material. Charlottesville Community Engagement is just one offering in a landscape that includes the Charlottesville Daily Progress, C-Ville Weekly, Charlottesville Tomorrow, and Cville Right Now, I curate links from these sources because I believe a truly informed community needs multiple perspectives.There's also the Cavalier Daily, Vinegar Hill Magazine, the Fluvanna Review, the Crozet Gazette, NBC29, CBS19, and other sources. But if you look every day, you'll find links to articles in national publications, all linked to give you more perspectives on some of the issues of our times.Second shout-out:What you are reading or listening to at Charlottesville Community Engagement is part of a business-venture that's based on a pretty simple idea. I will spend my time researching and reporting and will provide ways for people who want to pay for the material to be produced!bI've been a journalist for a long while now, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Charlottesville Podcasting Network. While that website doesn't have new content, it's part of how I demonstrate my dedication to this community. In 2025 I'm seeking ways to solidify the business, and here are some ways you can support the work.* Sign up for a paid subscription through Substack. There is not much premium content because my primary aim is to get information out to as many people as possible.* Contribute through Patreon. A major goal this year is to replace this with a way to make a tax-deductible donation, but that's not set up yet. If I had more time, I'd make more audio programs through Patreon.* Send in a check made out to Town Crier Productions at PO Box 1754, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22902. This will be used as a replacement for Substack.* Ask me about advertising opportunities! Later this month, advertising will begin to appear on Information Charlottesville and I'm hoping it can have the same style as the shout-outs. Introductory pricing will be low!* Tell friends about the work!* Volunteer to design some logos because I'm very bad at graphics! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

It's beginning to look a lot like a holiday break with Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and festive fixtures in the Barclays Premiership. Until then, there's still some business to attend to such as a sonic recap of stories from last week in this podcast edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. I'm Sean Tubbs, always interested in finding new ways to get the information out.On this penultimate edition for 2024:* Governor Glenn Youngkin recommends $1.1 billion fund to cover car tax credit as part of his suggested amendments to Virginia's budget (learn more)* Charlottesville City Council is briefed on increasing costs for public safety and transit (learn more)* Charlottesville Planning Commission seeks more funding for affordable housing, planning for schools (learn more* The City of Charlottesville has completed a section of sidewalk on Monticello Avenue (learn more)* Sanders addresses low-barrier shelter before Council approves $3 million for other Salvation Army project (learn more)* UVA's non-voting member of the city Planning Commission gives an update on capital projects for Charlottesville Planning Commission (learn more)* UVA Health Children's and Sentara Martha Jefferson have opened a new clinic for children behavioral and mental health (learn more)While most items in this newsletter feed are text-only, every so often there's an audio version. Sign up to get both! Consume what you can! First shout-out: Celebrating the community's other information organizations!In today's second shout-out in the form of a house ad, I want to make sure everyone knows that every edition of the regular newsletter (not the podcast ones) ends with a section called Reading Material. Charlottesville Community Engagement is just one offering in a landscape that includes the Charlottesville Daily Progress, C-Ville Weekly, Charlottesville Tomorrow, and Cville Right Now, I curate links from these sources because I believe a truly informed community needs multiple perspectives.There's also the Cavalier Daily, Vinegar Hill Magazine, the Fluvanna Review, the Crozet Gazette, NBC29, CBS19, and other sources. But if you look every day, you'll find links to articles in national publications, all linked to give you more perspectives on some of the issues of our times.Second shout-out: Cvillepedia!Cvillepedia is an online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this second shout-out today is to provide a little bit about what I know. I helped create the website back in the late 2000's as a way of keeping track of all of the stories being written for the nonprofit news organization I worked for at the time.Now Cvillepedia is hosted by the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library under the stewardship of the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. There are over 6,500 articles and we need volunteers to help keep it up to date and to capture more of this community's history, present, and future.If you want to learn how to do research, learn how to explore historical documents, and want some experience writing, consider becoming a volunteer. As a little teaser, here's some of what's listed for December 23 throughout the years:Events* 1914 – Fire breaks out at Albemarle Hardware Company on East Main Street and takes seven hours to extinguish [1]* 2062 – A time capsule buried in 2012 will be unearthed to celebrate Charlottesville's 300th Anniversary.[2]Births* 1895 – Alfred Washington is born to Gus and Martha Washington in Charlottesville. A resident of Chestnut Grove and a farmhand, he was called up for service in World War I and had his portrait photograph included within the Holsinger Studio Collection.References* ↑ Web. Business Block Nearly Consumed, Staff Reports, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, December 24, 1914, retrieved December 25, 2016 from University of Virginia Library. Print. December 24, 1914 page 1.* ↑ Web. Time capsule causes disappointment in Charlottesville in 2012, News Article, Daily Progress, May 27, 2017, retrieved May 24, 2024. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to a new era of the podcast edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement with an experiment in sending these out on a Monday morning as opposed to a Saturday afternoon. I'm Sean Tubbs, the host and producer and employee-of-the-month at Town Crier Productions.The reality is that most people who experience this information do so by scanning words arranged into paragraphs which works out well because that means I can get more editions out faster.But many of the stories are produced by piecing together snippets of sound from meetings of local and regional government. Thirty years ago when I gained my first professional experience, this would be done by slicing bits of tape and assembling them together and recorded to a cartridge. The technology has morphed so many times since then, each of the audio versions you here harken back to days gone by.Enough of this introduction. Let's move on to the actual show going out on December 16, 2024.In this installment:* Charlottesville City Council briefed on upcoming spending on housing and infrastructure (learn more)* The UVA Finance Committee signs off on North Grounds Parking Garage, Ivy Road student housing (learn more)* Albemarle Supervisors vote to join Regional Transit Authority (learn more)* Council briefed on status of negotiations with VEO for scooter/e-bike permit (learn more)* Rumble strips at Nelson County intersection subject of concern (learn more)* New NDS director previews departmental website for Charlottesville PC (learn more)Every so often there is a podcast edition that goes out in the main feed. This is that version. Sign up if you want all of it. First shout-out: Celebrating the community's other information organizations!In today's first shout-out in the form of a house ad, I want to make sure everyone knows that every edition of the regular newsletter (not the podcast ones) ends with a section called Reading Material. Charlottesville Community Engagement is just one offering in a landscape that includes the Charlottesville Daily Progress, C-Ville Weekly, Charlottesville Tomorrow, and Cville Right Now, I curate links from these sources because I believe a truly informed community needs multiple perspectives.There's also the Cavalier Daily, Vinegar Hill Magazine, the Fluvanna Review, the Crozet Gazette, NBC29, CBS19, and other sources. But if you look every day, you'll find links to articles in national publications, all linked to give you more perspectives on some of the issues of our times.Checking in on the spreadsheet that runs the information!Second shout-out: Cvillepedia!Cvillepedia is an online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this second shout-out today is to provide a little bit about what I know. I helped create the website back in the late 2000's as a way of keeping track of all of the stories being written for the nonprofit news organization I worked for at the time.Now Cvillepedia is hosted by the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library under the stewardship of the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. There are over 6,500 articles and we need volunteers to help keep it up to date and to capture more of this community's history, present, and future.If you want to learn how to do research, learn how to explore historical documents, and want some experience writing, consider becoming a volunteer.As a little teaser, here's some of what's listed for December 16 throughout the years.Events: * 1937 – After repair and re-installation, the "Great Clock", termed “a masterpiece of backwoods ingenuity,” designed by Thomas Jefferson and built by Philadelphia clockmaker Peter Spruck in 1792, once again beat out the hours on the big bell in the dome at Monticello.* 1975 – Blenheim, a 19th century structure in Albemarle County, is listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register.* 2004 – The historic Paramount Theater reopens after a $14 million restoration.* 2008 – Albemarle County Board of Supervisors hold a retreat at which they get a lesson on the development of the county's Comprehensive Plan. David Benish, the County's Chief Planner at the time, traced the evolution of the Comprehensive Plan. Benish said the County's growth management policy stems from the adoption of the first plan in 1971.[1] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

And now we find ourselves on December 7, 2024 or at least that's where I find myself when I'm putting together the latest sonic edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. I'm Sean Tubbs, the only person currently working for Town Crier Productions unless you count two feline partners who occasionally make an appearance in the narrations but so far have not appeared in a recording. Is today the day? Listen for yourself!On this edition:* Quantitative Foundation gives another $20M to UVa for second building for School of Data Science (learn more)* Charlottesville Planning Commission gives more direction on capital improvement program (learn more)* The Charlottesville Redevelopment Housing Authority has a conversation on preventing evictions (learn more)* Commonwealth Transportation Board supports cancellation of two Charlottesville projects, formally cancels Emmet Street Phase Two (learn more)* Louisa's Board of Supervisors support that county's continued funding of Household Hazardous Waste Day (learn more)* More details on UVA's new urban area from the Buildings and Grounds Committee (learn more)Saturdays are for podcasts! The next edition will be the Week Ahead! Sign up to get all of the content! First shout-out: Celebrating the community's other information organizations!In today's second shout-out in the form of a house ad, I want to make sure everyone knows that every edition of the regular newsletter (not the podcast ones) ends with a section called Reading Material. Charlottesville Community Engagement is just one offering in a landscape that includes the Charlottesville Daily Progress, C-Ville Weekly, Charlottesville Tomorrow, and Cville Right Now, I curate links from these sources because I believe a truly informed community needs multiple perspectives.There's also the Cavalier Daily, Vinegar Hill Magazine, the Fluvanna Review, the Crozet Gazette, NBC29, CBS19, and other sources. But if you look every day, you'll find links to articles in national publications, all linked to give you more perspectives on some of the issues of our times.Second shout-out: Cvillepedia!Cvillepedia is an online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this second shout-out today is to provide a little bit about what I know. I helped create the website back in the late 2000's as a way of keeping track of all of the stories being written for the nonprofit news organization I worked for at the time.Now Cvillepedia is hosted by the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library under the stewardship of the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. There are over 6,500 articles and we need volunteers to help keep it up to date and to capture more of this community's history, present, and future.If you want to learn how to do research, learn how to explore historical documents, and want some experience writing, consider becoming a volunteer. To give you a sense of one potential project, Frances Brand painted dozens and dozens of portraits of people in the Charlottesville area. Who were they? What can we learn about where we are now by documenting the stories of everyone from Ruth Klüger Angress to Jay Worrall?As a little teaser, here's some of what's listed for December 7 throughout the years.Events* 2020 – Charlottesville City Council approves the idea of exploring a Sister City Connection with Huehuetenango, Guatemala. [1]Births* 1754 – Jack Jouett is born.Deaths* 1932 – George R Ferguson Sr. dies in Charlottesville and is buried in the Sammons Family Cemetery. A physician and the father of George R Ferguson, his portrait photograph was prominently featured in the “Visions of Progress: Portraits of Dignity, Style and Racial Uplift” exhibit of Rufus W. Holsinger's photographs that was on display at the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library from 2022 to 2023.* 1941 – Harry H. Gaver becomes the first alumnus of the University of Virginia to die in World War II, meeting his end during the surprise Japanese military strike on Pearl Harbor. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

As promised four weeks ago, this is the fifth Saturday of November. Or at least, this podcast edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement is being produced on November 30. Every week I write over two dozen stories but only some of them are converted into audio versions both for this feed and for WTJU-FM. Most of those stories also end up being added to Information Charlottesville, the archival companion to this Substack feed. I'm Sean Tubbs, and I put this together for many reasons but a love of audio production is at the top of the list.Here's what's in the edition for the final Saturday of this month:* Albemarle Supervisors briefed on potential revenue gap in five-year financial work session (learn more)* The UVA Foundation seeks firms to build 600 units of mixed-income housing at North Fork (learn more)* Albemarle Planning Commission recommends denial of a “public garage” in Keene (learn more)* Charlottesville's Board of Architectural Review wants a different design for a proposed hotel for 218 W. Market Street (learn more)* The director of the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority RSWA director briefs officials on some of the challenges facing the disposal industry including a dwindling amount of landfill space (learn more)* Charlottesville using ranked-choice voting to select name for holiday tree (learn more)First shout-out: Shout-outs on Town Crier Productions!When I went back to journalism in 2020, I started a Patreon account as one way to figure out how to pay my bills. For years I had the idea of producing something that sounded like a public radio show, and I decided to offer “shout-outs” to those who were in the $25 a month tier.That's why you read or hear brief spots for WTJU, the Rivanna Conservation Alliance, Plant Virginia Natives, and other entities that opted for that tier. Over the years I've expanded this and those who pay more than $200 a year through Substack also get a shout-out.In 2025, I plan to shake up the system a little as I try to bring in more revenue to help grow Town Crier Productions as a business. I don't have anything to offer just yet, but I'm interested in hearing from businesses and organizations that might want to help support the work and reach a growing audience. So, drop me a line and let's build the community together!Second shout-out: Cvillepedia!Cvillepedia is an online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this second shout-out today is to provide a little bit about what I know. I helped create the website back in the late 2000's as a way of keeping track of all of the stories being written for the nonprofit news organization I worked for at the time.Now Cvillepedia is hosted by the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library under the stewardship of the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. There are over 6,500 articles and we need volunteers to help keep it up to date and to capture more of this community's history, present, and future.One of those articles is November 30 and there's a list of some things that happened today:* 1897 – Charlottesville City Council holds a special meeting to discuss supplementing the area's water supply and they agreed to sell $35,000 worth of bonds to finance improvements. [1]* 1899 – The last Thanksgiving of the century was held on the final day of the month. [2]* 1903 – A special meeting of the Charlottesville City Council takes place and City Engineer C.L. DeMott comments that the city is run by the street railway company. Mayor J. Samuel McCue said that might have been true of a different Council. [3]* 1905 – President Theodore Roosevelt traveled through Charlottesville on his way to Pine Knot. [4]* 1925 – Planning continues for the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with Charlottesville hoping to take the lead. [5]* 2010 – Kick-off meeting for Belmont Bridge replacement at CitySpace. [6][7]There's so much more to had and so many sources to cite. If you're interested in helping out, drop me a line and I'll put you in touch with someone at the ACHS. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Eighty percent of Saturdays in this month of November have already occurred if you include the one in which this edition of the Charlottesville Community Engagement podcast is released into the world. At one point, there was a podcast for every newsletter. When you're done listening to today's edition, why not go back to 2020? Thanks to paid subscriptions, I've been able to develop a body of work over the past four and a half years and have tracked a great deal of information. As we approach the next winter holiday, I will be reflecting on how grateful I am to those who support the work. Now, let's get to what's in here today. Each of the links goes to a story posted on Information Charlottesville, a companion to this newsletter. If you like what you read, why not share it with someone you think might want to know what's going on? This week's sonic stories: * Albemarle County continues work on the Comprehensive Plan update and will get outside help to review of how efficiently development area is used (learn more) * The Virginia Public Access Project has put together a more complete picture of turnout in the 2024 elections (learn more)* Arlington County will appeal a judicial ruling invalidating their program for providing middle missing housing (learn more) * Charlottesville City Council gets the first of three budget briefings intended to get their initial response to proposed new spending and City Manager Sam Sanders said he will try to recommend a budget without a tax increase (learn more) Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.First shout-out:  Cvillepedia! Both of today's shout-outs relate to the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. Neither of these are paid for in any way. I really want you to know these things, beginning with cvillepedia. Cvillepedia is an online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this first shout for the November 23, 2024 edition seeks to provide a little bit about what I know. I helped create cvillepedia back in the late 2000's as a way of keeping track of all of the stories being written for the nonprofit news organization I worked for at the time. Now Cvillepedia is hosted by the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library under the stewardship of the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. There are over 6,500 articles and we need volunteers to help keep it up to date and to capture more of this community's history, present, and future.  If you want to learn how to do research, learn how to explore historical documents, and want some experience writing, consider becoming a volunteer. To give you a sense of one potential project, Frances Brand painted dozens and dozens of portraits of people in the Charlottesville area. Who were they? What can we learn about where we are now by documenting the stories of everyone from Ruth Klüger Angress to Jay Worrall? More on Brand in the next shout-out? Questions? Drop me a line! There's even a Slack channel if you'd like to get involved!Second shout-out: ACHS taking orders for book profiling local artist Frances BrandIn the next shout-out for the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society: Frances Brand lived from 1901 to 1990 and in her later life she undertook a series of portraits of individuals from Charlottesville and Albemarle County that would become her Gallery of Firsts.Brand was a U.S. Army major, a civil rights activist, a world traveler, a devoted churchgoer, and an accomplished artist, among other things. Some remember her as a colorful eccentric who loved to dress in purple, while others knew her as a committed and lifelong social activist.Behind each of Brand's portraits of these 20th-century pioneers is a special story. To collect some of them, the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society has created a book that features 51 portraits from the full collection of currently known Firsts portraits and share some of the compelling stories about those depicted.ACHS is taking pre-sale orders now for shipping in November. To place your order, visit the ACHS store. Reading material for #767AThis one is a little different. This morning I'm cleaning up some of my files and opted to go through a document I keep that tracks the state of journalism. These are all from the time when I was launching this work. * How Can the Press Best Serve a Democratic Society?, Michael Luo, New Yorker, July 11, 2020* Report for America opens newsroom applications, expands opportunity to hire more journalists, Report for America, July 13, 2020* How the Decline of Local News Threatens Local Democracy, Michael Hendrix, Manhattan Institute, October 5, 2020 * To save itself, journalism will need to stop preaching to the choir, Lauren Harris, Columbia Journalism Review, July 15, 2020* The Journalism Creators Program at CUNY teaches participants to launch their own news products, from wherever they are, Hanaa' Tameez, Nieman Lav, October 27, 2020* What Happens When a Community Loses Its Newspaper?, Christine Ro, November 11, 2020How well have I done? Well, I'm still afloat! I am grateful for all of those who are supporting the work. If you'd like to join them, there are many ways to do so. I'm just not as good at figuring out the best way to ask!  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Exactly twenty percent of the days in this November are a Saturday, and this is the one in the middle. This marks the third consecutive week in which the audio version of Charlottesville Community Engagement goes out on the first full day of the American weekend. Could it be that a routine is in place? I'm Sean Tubbs, and you'll just have to wait. On the program today: * Charlottesville continues to move forward with several long-delayed transportation projects (learn more)* Charlottesville waives a procedural step to expedite funds transfer for Pollocks Branch bridge (learn more)* Albemarle Supervisors approve a permit for mixed-use building and want school division to accept pathway to Agnor Elementary (learn more) * The School Division explains why they did not accept the pathway but are willing to entertain an alternative connection * Albemarle Supervisors agree to allow Defense Intelligence Agency to use county-owned land for field training (learn more)* Preliminary work is beginning on new regional hazard mitigation plan (learn more)* The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is preparing for a regional housing summit and an update of housing needs assessment (learn more)First shout-out:  Cvillepedia! Cvillepedia is an online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this second shout-out today is to provide a little bit about what I know. I helped create the website back in the late 2000's as a way of keeping track of all of the stories being written for the nonprofit news organization I worked for at the time. Now Cvillepedia is hosted by the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library under the stewardship of the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. There are over 6,500 articles and we need volunteers to help keep it up to date and to capture more of this community's history, present, and future.  If you want to learn how to do research, learn how to explore historical documents, and want some experience writing, consider becoming a volunteer. To give you a sense of one potential project, Frances Brand painted dozens and dozens of portraits of people in the Charlottesville area. Who were they? What can we learn about where we are now by documenting the stories of everyone from Ruth Klüger Angress to Jay Worrall?Questions? Drop me a line! Second shout-out:  Celebrating the community's other information organizations!In today's second shout-out in the form of a house ad, I want to make sure everyone knows that every edition of the regular newsletter (not the podcast ones) ends with a section called Reading Material. Charlottesville Community Engagement is just one offering in a landscape that includes the Charlottesville Daily Progress, C-Ville Weekly, Charlottesville Tomorrow, and Cville Right Now,  I curate links from these sources because I believe a truly informed community needs multiple perspectives.There's also the Cavalier Daily, Vinegar Hill Magazine, the Fluvanna Review, the Crozet Gazette, NBC29, CBS19, and other sources. But if you look every day, you'll find links to articles in national publications, all linked to give you more perspectives on some of the issues of our times.End notes for #762AThis is the 14th day in a row that something has gone out in the newsletter feed. Admittedly, there's no real new content in this. I have other stories I thought about putting in the podcast, but I ran out of energy and I'm ready to take some of today off. Not much, though. On to the Week Ahead! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Sometimes when there are too many loose threads, the way out is to sort them all into lines that make sense. That's the basic theme behind this audio version of Charlottesville Community Edition collecting stories from editions #714 and #715 so work can get underway on #716. I'm Sean Tubbs, and there is madness to this madness. On this audio program:* Charlottesville City Hall has reopened for business after major water leak in 2023 (learn more)* Council recognizes Farmers Market Week through August 10  (learn more)* The Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors takes another look at the housing market (learn more)* Council holds first reading on salary increase for future counterparts elected after next November (learn more)* Charlottesville authorizes enhanced role of Office of Human Rights in housing investigations (learn more)* Carlton Mobile Home Park owner accepts Habitat counter-offer day after Council agrees to contribute $8.7M (learn more)Every now and then there is a podcast version that features the voices of people who spoke at various meetings. Give it a try! First shout-out: Information CharlottesvilleIn today's shout-out from the owner of Town Crier Productions, have you taken a look at Information Charlottesville? You can do so now at infocville.com.  What's there? Since the middle of February, there have been over four hundred stories contained within the newsletter Charlottesville Community Engagement. The vast majority of them are reposted to Information Charlottesville, a website I created to serve as an archive. Most of the stories from the last four years are on the site and if you go back far enough you can even see the test run I did of this newsletter in early January 2020. The goal of all of this is to document a community and region in transition through coverage of decisions about what will happen with links to primary sources to help people gather the information they need to understand context and complexity. You won't find pop-up ads but you just might find something you wanted to know about. Visit infocville.com now to learn more about how you can help keep all of this going! Second shout-out: Thanks to Wraki for the music! If you listen to this edition of the program about halfway through there will be a break where I say “this is Charlottesville Community Engagement”  and usually I would read one of the pieces of copy for a shout-out. And underneath it would be a track by the elusive Wraki called “the helvetica scenario” but in this case I'm drawing attention to the role that this D.C. based artist plays in each and every podcast by provided music that can be used without paying any royalties. I've offered, they've refused, and so I'm encouraging people to go to Bandcamp to see what other music by Wraki is there. You too can “regret everything” in musical style. Or consider diving onto the Wraki wavelength on YouTube. Either way, thank you Wraki! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Pliable. Stretchable. Bendabe. Malleable. Whippy. These are all synonyms for flexible, a word that describes the production nature of Charlottesville Community Engagement, a newsletter and occasional podcast that for most of the past four years was both at the same time. Over time, though, it was necessary to become more limber, plastic, elastic, and workable. For this August 3, 2024 podcast edition, audio versions of several stories from the last three print editions. I'm Sean Tubbs, glad to be able to still be doing the sonic version.In this edition: * Charlottesville City Council to vote Monday on salary increase (learn more)* Albemarle moving ahead with update of economic development strategic plan (learn more)* City of Charlottesville updates retail vacancy report  (learn more)* Six townhouses planned for single-family house on Alderman Road (learn more)* State Senator John McGuire will be the Republican nominee for the Fifth District Congressional Race this fall after a recount affirmed his victory in the primary * The Albemarle Board of Supervisors gets a briefing from Albemarle staff on changes to the structure of the next Comprehensive Plan (learn more)This time it is a podcast. Next time it will be a summary of what's coming up at government meetings next week. After that? Sign up and see for yourself! Sponsored message: Buy Local  Buying locally supports our neighbors and community members and makes a big impact for our local economy. Local businesses are more likely to reinvest in our community and their goods and services contribute to the unique character of our community.Learn more about how you can support local business at ShowLocalLove.org and on social media:* Instagram* Facebook* The website formerly known as TwitterAn explanation of shout-outsIn a typical edition, I use this space to provide a “shout-out” to subscribers and Patreon supporters who have qualified for a particular perk. Most of these editions are written as scripts for a podcast as my early journalistic dream was to be a public radio producer. I love the way that public service announcements sound and I love that in three years I've been able to use this space to promote items that I think most of you would be interested in. In this shout-out, I want to salute anyone who has learned something new from these shout-outs. I also want to thank those individuals and organizations that have supported me in the past. (image) Town Crier ProductionsThoughts on 713A and the ending of the work weekAt 5:30 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon I am so happy to stop working and to pick it all up again tomorrow. So I will just say that if you have not listened to one of these before, this would be a good one to start. The secret has always been that this was intended to be an audio product as that's what I've always wanted to do. January will mark the 30th anniversary of an internship I had at a public radio station. The AC44 version aired on WTJU this morning, as I have an obligation to fill 30 minutes a week. Knowing I had to make a new deadline every week, I restructured a lot of my internal processes to be able to make sure I could do it.This is not that version. I could have just posted that here and taken a day off, but I felt I owe the hundreds of people who do listen to the podcast. I really enjoyed doing this work today while I watched the Olympics in Paris, something I did not expect I would be doing nine days ago.Watching people compete and be their best is inspirational to me. I've worked hard to get good at writing about this stuff, and the podcasts sound pretty good, too. Take a listen, though this one is not soundbite-heavy. I run audio of myself quoting from reports through a filter, which is a very cheap way to try to make it sound interesting. I much prefer people hearing to the voices of people I quote, and that is in the final segment which has already aired on the radio first.What would me from 1984 think about being able to produce this information and grow an audience? I'm not sure, but I know I'm glad I put this together today. Producing audio is my favorite thing to do. If you listen, thank you!One more thing to do before going offline for the night. I want to post the WTJU version to the because I put the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisor discussions on the Comprehensive Plan in one podcast. Just another way to document things that may slip past without being published somewhere. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

This being a leap year, July 18 is the 200th day of the year. Will knowing that piece of information have any effect on how this day flows for you? Is there any significance to this being the 707th edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement? If so, can it be found by listening to endless covers of the song Seven and Seven Is? I'm Sean Tubbs, and while that's unlikely I'm going to keep trying. In today's installment:* Charlottesville City Council is briefed on work toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions including a new dashboard to keep track of progress* The Albemarle County Economic Development Authority endorses a request to increase the pay scale for federal employees in the Charlottesville Metropolitan area * Albemarle County has issued a request for proposals for a firm to change the traffic layout of The Square in Crozet and provide other improvements  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

There are words written down, and then there are words spoken out loud and arranged into an order that allows someone listening to learn a few things about what's happening in geographical area in which they are interested. For those reading these words now, this is a complicated way of saying this is Charlottesville Community Engagement that has been produced for June 22, 2024. I'm Sean Tubbs, and I can report that there's madness to this method. In this installment: * Charlottesville City Council reaffirms water protection ordinance / stormwater utility fee after two public hearings that were not labeled as such in the agenda (learn more)* Charlottesville Deputy City Manager Marshall briefs Council on her approach to social equity goals (learn more)* The Charlottesville and Albemarle economic development authorities meet to learn more about the regional strategies put together by another level of government (learn more)* The University of Virginia Buildings and Grounds Committee learns how planning and budgeting works for capital projects (learn more)* The Harrison Center of Translational Research at the University of Virginia is preparing to learn more about neurodegenerative diseases (learn more)First shout-out: Friends of JMRL In the first subscriber supported shout-out since the summer solstice: Let's learn a little about a nonprofit group that plays a major role to keep the Jefferson Madison Regional Library going strong. Friends of JMRL plays an important role in the slightly Byzantine structure of library budgets. Proceeds from the popular book sale go to pay for children's, teen and adult programs. The five jurisdictions that make up JMRL pay for facilities, salaries, and operational costs. State aid funds the collection acquisitions for all materials, physical, and digital. The federal e-rate program pays for equipment purchases. And Friends of JMRL raise funds for all sorts of activities. That includes the Library endowment in conjunction with the Charlottesville Albemarle Community Foundation awards money to special efforts such as the NAACP scholarship as well grants to out-of-area patrons to cover the $30 fee for residents of non-member localities. Friends of JMRL also  manages the Books Behind Bars program. Volunteers find and ship books to Virginia inmates at no cost to the inmates. Expenses are paid through private benefactors and Red Light Management.Visit jmrlfriends.org to learn more and find out how you can get involved. Second-shout out: Cvillepedia Cvillepedia is a wiki dedicated to sharing and building community knowledge and history about the people, places, and events in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. This site is built with the same software as Wikipedia and is a free, public, collaborative encyclopedia that anyone can edit and improve. Cvillepedia is a volunteer run project. Click HERE to become a volunteer and add to the stories we tell about the past!Thoughts at the end of #693AAnd with publication of this newsletter, one week ends and another begins. I have two more stories to post to Information Charlottesville, but one may end up being more appropriate in tomorrow's edition of the newsletter. For now, I need to turn my attention to putting together the Week Ahead. By my count, there were 17 stories in the newsletter this week, and about half of them became audio versions. I've sort of figured out how to balance all of this in a way that the print newsletter gets out quicker and those who listen get to hear the stories the way they're meant to be experienced.People learn things in different ways, and I'm always looking to learn new methods of getting information to people. In four years, there have been hundreds of stories, and I hope to be able to continue this for some time to come.Many of you subscribe and as its a Sunday and my time is partially covered by the sponsor of the Week Ahead, I'm going to spare you the sales pitch. I will ask you consider sharing this newsletter with someone else who may not know about it. Listeners and readers wanted! Share with people you think may want to be informed about things! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

An introspective introductionFor most of the history of this newsletter, the print version has served as the script for the audio version. Both went out at the same time. In the past few months, the two products have diverged but it is my hope to return back to more frequent audio. This particular edition is almost the exact same as the June 11, 2024 newsletter. That's the one that went out late Tuesday about a single topic. That and the 33 minute podcast version are the result of my trip to Champaign-Urbana to follow the Charlottesville City Council on their visit to the Mass Transit District. I've also cross-posted the full article to Information Charlottesville which serves as an archive site for most of the work I do. I estimate this edition took about forty hours of my time not counting the travel time out to Champaign-Urbana. I decided to take the trip because I wanted to go back to Illinois, a place where I spent time as a child. I'd not been back in a very long time and along the way I had an interesting journey that's not germane to Charlottesville Community Engagement. Yet the trip to Champaign-Urbana was very much part of what I've always wanted to do in my time as a journalist. I don't do enough reporting from the field, and I forgot a lot of necessary tricks for audio production, such as make sure you grab enough tone to make it seem like the narration is coming from the scene. This also could have used another edit, but as a one-person operation sometimes you just have to move on. Yesterday I spent about four or five hours or so doing the audio version so I'd have something to air this morning on WTJU. I was glad to spend that much time on something complicated so that doing smaller stories will seem more manageable. A house shout-out: A Thank You to Patreon SupportersIn today's first shout-out, I am shouting out the dozens of people who support Town Crier Productions through Patreon. Over four years ago, I wanted to get back to journalism but did not have deep pockets or a large bank account. I had an idea of what I wanted to do, and decided to put out a digital hat to support my community journalism!And since then, Patreon supporters have provided the bedrock of my finances so that I can continue to go forward in the telling of stories intended to help members of the community understand where we are in a turbulent era of history. This summer I'll be rethinking the various tiers and what people get, but for now I want to encourage others who may not be Patreon supporters to consider doing so. This summer I hope to get the podcast back in line with the newsletter because audio production is a core component of what I hope Town Crier Productions will continue to do. There's a link in the newsletter if you want to sign up! And double thanks to all of those who double-dip with Patreon and Substack support.This one ends as #687AThe only way I can pull off all of this work is to organize as best I can. Or at least pretend to be. Over the years I've added internal numbering to everything I do. I have to keep track of the shout-outs and make sure all stories get from the newsletter to Information Charlottesville. In addition to Patreon, there are hundreds of people who have subscribed here on Substack. Part of today's work is going to be thanking recent subscribers for making the decision to help fund this work. I may also get a good jump start on the Week Ahead and see if I can publish that earlier in the day as I'm doing with the newsletter.I'm grateful to get to keep experimenting and covering as much as I can. I also want to continue exploring different parts of the country and writing about them. There is a lot to learn from similar communities across America and the world and every now and then I'll do something like this edition. Subscribers make it happen, and I appreciate it. If you become a paid subscriber through Substack, Ting will match your initial subscription. That can be at the $5 a month level, the $50 a year level, or the $200 a year level. If you have any questions, drop me a line.Ting can help you with your high speed Internet needs. If service is available in your area and you sign up for service, enter the promo code COMMUNITY and you will get:* Free installation* A second month for free* A $75 gift card to the Downtown Mall This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Some time has passed since there was a sonic version of Charlottesville Community Engagement, a newsletter that is now only sometimes a podcast, the podcast you are now listening to. That time could be anytime after May 25, 2024 when this edition was updated away from the WTJU Radio Version to something for Substack subscribers who want to hear these stories! I'm Sean Tubbs, and I do, too. In this edition:* Charlottesville transportation planners are seeking to rebuild public trust (learn more)* Transportation planning manager updates Charlottesville City Council on existing projects (learn more)* Charlottesville Area Transit seeks input on a new strategic plan intended to make the service more attractive (learn more)* Regional planners want you to identify unsafe intersections in the region (learn more)* Virginia Breeze to launch new east-west service through Charlottesville  (learn more)* UVA is seeking firms who want to partner on building up to 2,000 beds as part of an initiative to require second-year students to live on Grounds (learn more)First shout out: ReLeaf Cville In today's first subscriber supported public service announcement: ReLeaf Cville exists to reverse a worrying trend. Since 2004, Charlottesville's Tree Canopy has declined from 50 percent to 38 percent. Two-thirds of the city's neighborhoods are below 40 percent. ReLeaf Cville aims to change that through a series of tree plantings, preservation efforts, and education campaigns. ReLeaf is a public / private partnership between the city tree Commission, the Nature Conservancy, City of Promise, Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards, and the Van Yahres Tree Company.  Their efforts are funded through donations so consider making yours today!Sponsored message: Buy Local  Buying locally supports our neighbors and community members and makes a big impact for our local economy. Local businesses are more likely to reinvest in our community and their goods and services contribute to the unique character of our community.Learn more about how you can support local business at ShowLocalLove.org and on social media:* Instagram* Facebook* The website formerly known as TwitterNotes on #681AIt's now been three and a half months since I agreed to do a radio version for WTJU, a decision that forced me to rethink how I do a lot of things. As soon as I agreed to volunteer my time to produce a version for them, I knew I needed to create a way to manage all of the stories. At the beginning of this newsletter back in July 2020, I wasn't tracking any of this. I wasn't even sure what I would be putting together. The first one dates back to July 13, 2020 if you want to hear it. For the first year or so, all I did was put them together and move on. At some point, I began cross-posting stories to the Information Charlottesville website but until I began using this spreadsheet, I wasn't really keeping track of my progress. Up until episode 650 or so, all of these were podcasts. That stopped when I knew I had to better consider the sound quality as some of what I was using sounded awful over the radio. I also realized that sometimes the extra hour of production to create a radio version delayed information I wanted to get out quickly.I miss that twinned era, but I don't think it's going to be coming back anytime soon. I'd like to know what you think of this, though. Please drop me a line, or leave a comment. I want to hear from podcast listeners. There's at least 300 of you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Saturday is alright for podcasting. Or at least, that's how I deliberately misremember a song in order to have an opening paragraph for this latest audio version of Charlottesville Community Engagement. For much of this publication's history, the sonic and print versions were unified. It may take an epic quest for that to be restored. I'm Sean Tubbs, and I seem to have misplaced the map. In this edition: * Albemarle Supervisors approve $2 million for Piedmont Housing Alliance's 60-unit Premier Circle project (learn more)* The regional planning body adopts a new regional economic development strategic plan (learn more)* Charlottesville City Council gets briefing on how tourism bureau works (learn more) * Charlottesville wins the ability to increase Council salaries (learn more)* JABA director marks Older Americans Month (learn more)Concluding notes for #676-ATwo podcasts in a week! It might be that I can get into something of a rhythm! In any case, as soon as I hit send, the next work week begins. I do not think I am going to write up a newsletter today. I feel like I should write up some things I have not been able to complete yet.In any case, thanks to paid subscribers. If you want to become one yourself, Ting will match your initial subscription. I am aware they are not available in all locations, but I am also aware of how their support allows me to continue to feel like I can continue this work into the future. Ting can help you with your high speed Internet needs. If service is available in your area and you sign up for service, enter the promo code COMMUNITY and you will get:* Free installation* A second month for free* A $75 gift card to the Downtown Mall This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

The introductory paragraph of every edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement is intended to be a script for a podcast but recently there was a disturbance in the workflow. Efforts are being made to build a new framework and the arrival of steel beams this week to the construction site for Buford Middle School has prompted me to take the next step. I'm Sean Tubbs, and I miss the podcast, too:On today's podcast edition:* Charlottesville City Council adopts a budget that reflects a move toward unionization of the city's workforce, higher salaries for city employees, and lower education funding from the state due to increasing property values (read the story)* There's a problem with excessive dog waste being left at the city's newest park (read the story)* Charlottesville's parks and recreation officials want your input on the next master plan to guide the future of public spaces in the city (read the story)* The city has a plan to fix drainage issues in Oakwood Cemetery and will further discuss the issue on April 24 (read the story)* Albemarle and Charlottesville both need more lifeguards for the summer season (read the story)* Charlottesville's Planning Commission gets an update on the new Development Code (read the story) * Albemarle Supervisors have comments on recent deployment of the HART team and a bomb threat at Planet Fitness (read the story )* The Albemarle Department of Social Services helps a lot of people each year and Supervisors get a briefing (read the story) * Albemarle Supervisors weigh in on expanded uses in the rural area as part of the Comprehensive Plan process (read the story) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Governor Glenn Youngkin offered more than 200 amendments to the General Assembly's budget proposal; Charlottesville City Council pushed back the date of its vote on the city's Fiscal Year 2025 budget to April 15th; Governor Glenn Youngkin has vetoed several abortion-related bills this session.

Charlottesville City Council reverses course and approves a Gaza cease-fire resolution… Governor Youngkin signs another 100 bills, including a measure to protect Virginians from unlawful discrimination… Most Virginia state parks, including Natural Bridge, will hold watch parties for next Monday's solar eclipse….

One of these things is not like the other, which is to say that these words are written as a script for a podcast edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement that's made up of stories from recent editions of the newsletter. I'm Sean Tubbs, and this is an experimental time for Town Crier Productions. Why? There are many reasons I could state but for now, perhaps it's just better to get on with this edition. This version of the podcast includes:* A red flag day last week resulted in brush fires all across Central Virginia including Albemarle and Louisa, and Deputy Chief John Oprandy briefed reporters on March 21 (read the story)* The City of Charlottesville's participation in a health and social metrics program has garnered national recognition (read the story)* Charlottesville will hold a meeting this upcoming Wednesday to give an update on improvements to Stribling Avenue to make it safe for people to walk and bike on (read the story)* Charlottesville seeks dismissal of lawsuit to overturn new zoning (read the story)* Albemarle County budget officials provide more information about the payment that the University of Virginia makes in lieu of taxes (read the story)* Charlottesville City Council goes through applications made through the Vibrant Community Fund and City Manager Sam Sanders pushes back against requested tweaks (written version to be published in next edition of the newsletter) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Since I first began this newsletter in July 2020, I've published almost all of the regular newsletters concurrently with the podcast version. The Charlottesville Quarantine Report was something I started on March 15, 2020 as an experiment on a day when I wasn't a journalist as the world was about to change. In 1995, my first professional work was as an intern at WVTF Public Radio.I've always worked like a radio reporter. I love to work with sound, and even in the days I was at Charlottesville Tomorrow, I used audio software to do my work. I had always wanted to experiment with sonic versions of stories, but I was not in charge.Now, I'm the sole proprietor of a company I set up to do this work. At the base of it, I want to write up as much as I can about what's happening so more people might have an understanding and an account of decision-making processes. Since the beginning, the podcast and the newsletter have been published together.Since beginning to do a radio version that airs Saturday morning at 6 a.m. on WTJU 91.1 FM, I've realized that I'm taking the podcast version for granted. I've been using a lot of filters to do the hard work of editing for me, and as a result the sound quality suffered. Working with my colleague at WTJU, I've realized I have to begin producing the sonic version with more aural scrutiny. At the same time, I've been having a weird audio glitch on my primary narration recording computer, one that cost me valuable time. Most people read the newsletter rather than listen to the audio. But, yet, I know there are many of you who listen to the podcast. I would like more people who just read to listen, because I think what I do rivals anyone else doing local radio. I say that as a friendly competitor, because I really just want people to know things. In any case, it's time now to post this and get ready for the new set of stories. This podcast covers what I classify internally as CCE-649 and CCE-650 and carries the working title “Brain Breaking Necessary Decision” because a person who works by themselves depends on in-jokes to keep morale up.In this edition:* Albemarle County Board of Supervisors interrupt a meeting on the Comprehensive Plan to declare a state of emergency related to over a dozen wildfires, and evacuation orders have been issued for some parts of Albemarle and Louisa* Charlottesville City Schools appoint a new principal for Charlottesville High School* Charlottesville City Council goes through changes in revenues and spending in City Manager Sam Sanders' FY25 budget* The city's finance director briefs Council on the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds with an eye toward shifting unspent funds to other projects * Charlottesville City Council gets some follow-up answers to some budget questions I am looking for feedback. This and every other Town Crier Productions production is an experiment and I depend on those who have come to appreciate the work to tell me what they think. Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

For many years, the Comprehensive Plans of both Albemarle and Charlottesville have called for additional density to be located in walkable communities where public transit is a viable option for getting around without a car. But how well are the various systems working to meet that goal? A direct answer may not be available In today's edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement, but this one does catch up on a variety of meetings held at a time when there's a lot of talk about creating a Regional Transit Authority. I'm Sean Tubbs, still watching the wheels go round and round.  On today's show:* The Regional Transit Partnership directs staff to prepare the by-laws for a potential transit authority * Charlottesville City Council agrees to a pilot project where Charlottesville Area Transit buys two battery-electric vehicles now and agrees to have staff research the potential purchase of two hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in 2027* The interim CEO of Jaunt responds to comments made by a representative of the transit union  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

There are an even 300 days until the end of 2024 now that it is March 6. A lot of things have happened on this day in history, There are likely a lot of newly created holidays for this day, but Charlottesville Community Engagement is currently not using either frame to create these opening paragraphs, paragraphs whose function has never been beta-tested or shown to a test audience. I'm Sean Tubbs, lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. On today's show:* Charlottesville City Council has directed City Manager Sam Sanders to settle a lawsuit with Albemarle County related to the use of bikes at the Ragged Mountain Natural Area* Three new members have been appointed to the Charlottesville Housing Advisory Committee* On March 26, Council will resume discussions over decarbonization of the city's utilities department * Sanders recommends raising the real property tax, the meals tax, and the lodging tax to cover the cost of paying unionized and non-unionized city employees more money and benefits  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

The Wikipedia entry for Writer's block currently suggests five distinct causes for the phenomenon ranging from “physiological and neurological basis” to “negative self-beliefs and feeling of incompetence.”None seem to apply to the inability for Charlottesville Community Engagement to swiftly write up all of the desired stories in the timeliest of manners. Time is required to sift through all of the elements to see what segments result. I'm Sean Tubbs, understanding there are no more than seven days in a week. On today's show:* The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority announces a pump station has been completed in the wake of a January 9 incident that overwhelmed the system leading to untreated sewage entering Moores Creek* The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission's Board learns about and then endorses two efforts to get people around the area without a car* Charlottesville City Council adopts the manual to guide the development review process under the new zoning code, and allows for more projects to be considered older the old one This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Today is a day intended to celebrate one version of love, but there are many forms of devotion. This is the 636th edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement, a newsletter and podcast that seeks to provide as much information as possible about a particular region of the United States of America. I'm Sean Tubbs, and this love is what I got. On today's show:* One of Charlottesville's Deputy City Managers is no longer with the city, and there are two other new top vacancies* The United States Department of Agriculture has released their latest count of all statistics related to farming, and the number of farms is down in Albemarle County* The Charlottesville Human Rights Commission is seeking your input on what area they should focus on next * New members join the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and get an introduction to the organization* Charlottesville City Council adopts an Affordable Dwelling Unit manual despite some concerns This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Several Richmond-area restaurant owners are objecting to penalties, they say the city's finance department has unfairly charged them in connection with the meals tax; on Tuesday, the Charlottesville City Council unanimously voted to elect Councilor Juandiego Wade as the new mayor; on Tuesday, Richmond's City Council elected a new president and vice president.

This is the second in a series of installments that seeks to take a look back at 2023, a year in which a lot seems to have happened and a year in which I think I did not write nearly enough. This review is intended to help me figure out where to prioritize in 2024 and what I need to follow up on. This edition also carries the podcast version of the December 22 edition. That's the one that sought to document City Council's adoption of a new zoning code. I didn't have enough time to produce the audio that day and I'm out of my home studio this week. If you've never heard one of these before, take a listen! The podcasts reflect my love of audio journalism and my vision of what I think local public radio should sound like. They also reflect the implementation of the early vision of the Charlottesville Podcasting Network. I'm producing this series by going through posts archived to Information Charlottesville and seeing what seems interesting and relevant. The flow is loosely month to month, but you'll note I jump ahead here and there. This particular edition reviewed early March through mid-June, but some of the paragraphs provide updates on what happened later in the year. Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Albemarle's FY24 budgetFor the first time in four years, Albemarle residents had the opportunity to comment in public on the $551.5 million budget for the next fiscal year. That figure was actually six percent less than the budget for FY22, as reported at a work session. Some speakers expressed concerns about rising assessments, while others called for additional spending on housing. A thing to watch in the next year is how much Albemarle's real estate assessments increase in FY24 and whether there will be calls to lower the rate. In FY24, the county allocated an additional $240,000 to property tax relief for the elderly and disabled. Charlottesville's FY24 budgetCharlottesville's interim city manager recommended a $226M budget in early March. The budget called for sharp increases in funding for the Human Rights Commission, the Police Civilian Review Board, and the Office of Equity and Inclusion. That additional funding was slated for additional positions as detailed at a work session in March. In March, Charlottesville Area Transit Director Garland Williams sought additional funding to add additional service on Route 6. That has not yet happened. There was no proposed increase in the real property tax rate. By early April, the draft budget had increased to $227.7 million. No one spoke at the public hearing for the first reading of the budget. Some on Council wanted additional spending and an additional $2 million or so was found before the second reading and adoption. Council had previously opted to proceed with the renovation and expansion of Buford Middle School, a project with a price tag north of $90 million. In May, the city learned it would receive $17.5 million from the Commonwealth of Virginia to contribute to the cost. Charlottesville also finalized an economic development strategic plan after being briefed on the document in May“First and foremost, Charlottesville is a diverse and young community with an authentic small-town charm,” said Resonance Vice President Steven Pedigo at the May 15 meeting of Charlottesville City Council. “Charlottesville is home to a highly skilled workforce, a variety of industries, and a really strong healthy economy.” (view the presentation).You can review the final plan here. It lays out five goals, with the first being: “We will invest in entrepreneurship to grow a more diverse, equitable, and vibrant Charlottesville.”Transportation planning continues in the spring In March, City Council heard from the city's new transportation planner. Over the years, the city has been awarded several dozen millions of dollars for projects through the Smart Scale process, all but one of which have not yet made it past the planning phase  At this session, Chambers gave updates on CAT's alternative fuels study and the city's dockless mobility permit program. The latter followed up on a briefing on the sole company that holds a permit. The city was to have negotiated a new contract with VEO. Did it happen? One to follow-up on in 2024. There were lots more transportation updates in March, including information on a series of projects funded through Smart-Scale at the Hydraulic / U.S. 29 intersection. That will include a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 29 to connect high-intensity developments on either side of the eight-lane highway. I reached out to the Virginia Department of Transportation earlier this month for the  latest info. A $20,788,119.29 design-build contract was awarded on April 19. “The construction will be done by Curtis Contracting Inc. of West Point, Virginia,” said Lou Hatter, spokesman for VDOT's Culpeper District. “Wallace Montgomery of Fairfax is doing the design work.”Hatter said the work must be completed by October 31, 2025 and there is an incentive for the project to be completed early. That's something to keep an eye on as this year proceeds. Albemarle County's ability to convert projects from proposal to implementation far outstrips Charlottesville. Another set of intersection improvements is moving through the preliminary engineering stage. These will see roundabouts at Route 53 and Route 20, John Warner Parkway and Rio Road East, and Old Lynchburg Road and 5th Street Extended. These have now been bundled with two other projects and the design public hearing was held in SeptemberAnother intersection project became the subject of concern from the University of Virginia. In March, I relayed information about the conversion of Fontaine Avenue and U.S. 29 into a diverging diamond. Supervisors were told of this critique in April. The Charlottesville Planning Commission learned more at their April meeting when one of their members gave details about how UVA is concerned that the project would not be able to handle traffic volumes when the Fontaine Research Park. That member was telling the appointed body what had been said at a meeting of the Land Use and Environmental Planning Committee. That closed-door body replaced the public Planning and Coordination Council after the latter was disbanded by elected officials in late 2019. The LUEPC committee would later amend their by-laws to make clear that participants were not to divulge confidential  information. More on local regional planning in the next edition. Sustainability and expansion for Charlottesville's public housing agency In March, Council got an update on a plan for the long-term financial health of the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. CRHA hired Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures to develop the plan and Council were told the consultants would look into possible futures for both Westhaven and the former auto garage at Avon Street and Levy Avenue. In September, Council got an update on the plan and were asked for $15 million for CRHA to put toward redevelopment of Westhaven. That amount is included in the draft capital improvement program to be included in the FY2025 budget. In mid-April, Council held the first reading on a $5 million request from the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority to purchase 74 residential units from Woodward Properties. CRHA got another $5 million from a loan from Riverbend Development. These units will be jointly owned by the city and the public housing agency and finances will be kept separate from public housing properties. According to my report from the second reading, the first annual report from CRHA on how the portfolio is doing will be due on January 31. With City Council's permission CRHA continued to purchase single sites across Charottesville using city funds that had originally been allocated for rental assistance. That included one property on Harris Road in the Fry's Spring neighborhood. Albemarle continues to discuss developer incentives to build affordable unitsAlbemarle County Supervisors adopted an affordable housing strategy in June 2021 but has not yet implemented mandatory requirements to build units. That's because ways to incentivize developers to do so has not yet been adopted. In February, Supervisors were briefed on a possible grant program. On April 19, there was another lengthy work-session that covered many different possibilities including additional tax relief. Supervisors expressed interest in hearing from developers. In December, that occurred when the Central Virginia Regional Housing Partnershipthey brokered a roundtable. I've not written that meeting up yet and it's on a long list of follow-ups. Supervisors also heard in April from the Piedmont Community Land Trust about how the $625,000 they received from the county would be used. Albemarle makes major economic development investment in defense sector The largest government land purchase in my time as a reporter was perhaps telegraphed in early May with a report from the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce that found that the defense sector has a $1.2 billion impact on the region. Two weeks later, Albemarle County announced that Supervisors would approve a $58 million purchase of 462 acres of land around the Rivanna Station military base in order to protect it from encroachment. The purchase of the property from developer Wendell Wood would also be an investment in economic development.“Through the establishment of an Intelligence Community Innovation Acceleration Campus, this campus will be a place for public sector organizations, private sector businesses, and academic institutions to work together to co-create solutions to the biggest challenges facing our nation and the world,” said Supervisor Chair Donna Price at the time. The property transaction had not closed as of this writing. Supervisors had an update in December that is on a long list of stories I still want to tell. Charlottesville continues renaming city schools In March, a committee proposed new names for Johnson Elementary School and Burnley-Moran Elementary School. A month later, the School Board would hit pause on these particular renamings. Descendants of one of the namesakes questioned the research that had gone into that process. An official date change for the transitions of Venable Elementary to Trailblazer Elementary and Clark Elementary to Summit Elementary has not yet been made. Buford Middle School will become Charlottesville Middle School in 2025. Where is this process now? Meanwhile, the University of Virginia's Board of Visitors approved the naming of two new student residence halls after the late Paul Gaston and Ruhi Ramazani. That happened in September, as I reported for C-Ville Weekly. Short items for this edition:* Property assessments were up all around the region, as the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission learned in March. * Charlottesville City Council returned to in-person meetings in May, but would suspend remote public comment in October after a person used their time to shout racial slurs.* In May, Greene County hired Catherine Schafrik as the new administrator. * In May, Charlottesville released the latest data on greenhouse gas emissions. Later in the year, City Manager Sam Sanders announced the creation of an Office of Sustainability independent of Public Works. * In May, the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce announced Natalie Masri would be the president and CEO. Her last day in the role is January 16. The Daily Progress reported in December that Masri did not she was the right fit for the job. . * In May, Albemarle Supervisors finally filled a vacancy on the Planning Commission by naming Nathan Moore to the Rio District seat. City Council has yet to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Liz Russell in June. That position won't be filled until at least February. * Albemarle County's review of changes to a policy on siting cell towers went before the Planning Commission in June. They were taking feedback through mid-December. Final recommendations for changes will come out early next year. * Former interim City Manager Michael C. Rogers named former Chesapeake City Attorney Jacob Stroman as the new top legal counsel for Charlottesville in June.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

There are two weeks to go until the end of 2023 and tonight is expected to be the final vote on a new zoning code for the City of Charlottesville. Most editions of Charlottesville Community Engagement seek to cover multiple stories but thankfully the format is flexible enough to have at least one more edition that seeks to document the process by which a generational change has been made. I'm Sean Tubbs, looking forward to the new set of stories. On today's edition:* Charlottesville City Council held one more work session to go over final tweaks in the Development Code* Charlottesville Mayor Lloyd Snook announces opposition to restricting development rights in certain neighborhoods but is out-voted four to one on two key provisions * Snook picks up two other votes to place a 5,000 square foot cap on building space in Residential-A districts* A full list of all of the various items up for a vote tonight  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

There are only 18 days left in 2023, and the December 13, 2023 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement begins with a reminder that there is only about a week to go before the days will begin to have more light. To some this will bring great comfort and to others there may be a lament. Many will not notice either way. I'm Sean Tubbs, capable of imagining multiple points of view. In this edition:* Charlottesville City Council held a four hour work session last night on the new Development Code, but have not yet taken a vote* A plan to restrict by-right building heights in entrance corridors is off the table, but Council may require stepbacks in some buildings* The Buildings and Grounds Committee at the University of Virginia approves the schematic designs for a new parking garage and road network at the Fontaine Research Park, as well as the Manning Institute for Biotechnology  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

The land use reform currently underway in Charlottesville dates back to January 2017 when the Planning Commission at the time began work on a review of the Comprehensive Plan. I wrote about that work for the next 18 months before I took a break from journalism and out of the light. The Cville Plans Together process began just before the pandemic, a crisis that prompted me to step out of the shadows and back to the grind of documenting meetings. The first segment on Cville Plans Together in Charlottesville Community Engagement was on August 24, 2020, which was the 31st installment of the program. I'm grateful for the many supporters who have helped pave the way to get me all the way to 614. I'm Sean Tubbs, committing to adding up numbers as long as I can. On today's program:* Charlottesville City Council will hold the first of two scheduled work sessions on the Development Code tonight* The city has published a list of changes that have been made since the draft zoning ordinance was advertised for Council's public hearing* Several dozen people spoke at what may be the final public comment period before Council takes a vote  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Remember, remember, the 11th of December? I don't think that's how the line goes, but I do know that Charlottesville Community Engagement often begins with a non sequitur, a Latin phrase that I'm not even sure is commonly used anymore. The point is to remind everyone of the date, try to say something witty, and then tell you I'm Sean Tubbs and I'm fairly certain I'll always ask why. On today's program:* Albemarle County is seeking feedback through Friday on changes to its cell tower policy* Charlottesville City Council agrees to alter conditions in a three party agreement that will allow the reservoir at Ragged Mountain to increase by 12 feet* Charlottesville plans to launch a new way to track snow plows should there be winter storms this year* And the chair of the University of Virginia's Buildings and Grounds Committee expresses concern about development in Charlottesville This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

There are 55 days left until 2024, the time when people who are elected to office this week will take their positions. Election Day is one of the strangest days in the United States, a country where different political parties have sharply different approaches for how the government should work. Charlottesville Community Engagement is the result of a career that has included many days like today that are literally pivotal. Today's November 7, 2023 and I'm Sean Tubbs.On today's program:* Albemarle County Fire and Rescue wants you to delay burning outdoors to avoid the spread of wildfire* The region's wine industry gets a major honor from a global trade publication * Charlottesville City Council marks the 160th anniversary of First Baptist Church West Main Street* A forthcoming report on recommendations for transit fuel sources will be delayed until after members of City Council can visit Montgomery County, Maryland* City Manager Sam Sanders indicated he'll be back soon with a request for Council to invest in 80 supportive housing units at Premier Circle  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

What you'll learn in this edition:* Charlottesville City Council suspends remote public comment after recent racist remarks* City Manager Sam Sanders further explains decision to reimpose operating hours at Market Street Park this Saturday* The person whose arrest in September began the incident speaks to Council * Campaign finance reports are in and both candidates vying for the at-large seat on the Albemarle School Board have raised over $100,000 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

The Chickahominy District representative on the Hanover County Board of Supervisors is resigning; Billionaire Jeff Yass has donated two million dollars to Governor Glenn Youngkin's political action committee; A flood of racist and antisemitic remarks disrupted a Charlottesville City Council meeting that discussed rezoning and unhoused people.

Here's a message for you to receive on this October 4. In the late 1930's,  the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International created a system of Aural Brevity Codes to standardize radio communications between officers in the field. The usage of the word “ten” first gave enough time for early radio microphones to transmit a clear signal of the more important second number. These ten-codes were phased out in the 2000's in favor of plain speech. 10-4? Somehow that's relevant to Charlottesville Community Engagement. I'm Sean Tubbs, two syllables of pure brevity. On today's show:* Another round of rezoning applications have been made in Albemarle including a request for a 500 home development in Hollymead as well as an amendment to a previous rezoning just across the street * Charlottesville City Council holds the first of three work sessions on the city's Development Code and discuss community design, the definition of house-sized, and commercial uses in residential neighborhoods  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to Johnny Appleseed Day. Or if that doesn't take root in your mind, celebrate National Compliance Officer Day and think whether Mr. Appleseed's work would be acceptable with 21st century agricultural practices. If you fail to have interest, ponder whether apples could be used in a commemoration of National Dumpling Day. If that's all nonsense to you, perhaps this edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement is a way to mark Love Note Day. I'm Sean Tubbs, enamored as always of the details.  On today's show:* Charlottesville City Council makes several appointments to Boards and Commissions but does not fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission * The city's new building permit system is operational * The city will work with Albemarle County on a grant application for a transportation study for the U.S. 29 corridor* A subcommittee of the Board of Visitors weighs in on the design for the renovation of Center for Politics * The Charlottesville Planning Commission addressed anti-displacement solutions at a two-hour deliberation on September 19 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to a rare Saturday edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. This installment is necessary to get recent information to people in as timely a manner as a one-person operation can manage. There has been a lot of relevant subject matter related to land use, transportation, and economic development and it is the mission of Charlottesville Community Engagement to turn as much of it as possible into content. Are you content with that?On this installment:* Greene County lifts mandatory water restrictions* The latest campaign finance reports are in with the at-large Albemarle School Board race as the most expensive so far * The most lackluster race in terms of fundraising is either the Charlottesville City Council or the City School Board race * There's a new chair of the UVA Buildings and Grounds Committee and new residence halls will be named for two esteemed faculty members  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

As of August 30, 2023 is now two thirds of the way until the end. Perhaps one way of thinking about that is that we have now heard both sides of a long-playing record designed to play at 33 revolutions per minute. It is at this point where the metaphor perhaps falls apart, but I'm still curious to know: What are you going to listen to in the next 166,656 minutes or so? This is Charlottesville Community Engagement.On today's program:* Amazon Web Services announces they will invest $11 billion in two data center campuses by the year 2040* Charlottesville City Council and the Planning Commission learn that allowances for AirBnB and other forms of short-term rentals will not be eliminated as part of the zoning reform* Charlottesville seeks input on steps to keep improving on the city's accessibility * The Albemarle Economic Development Authority signs grant paperwork for biotech startup Agrospheres * The Free Enterprise Forum releases a periodic report on local government spending * Charlottesville City Council is briefed on ranked choice voting Charlottesville Community Engagement is perhaps kind of like an afternoon newspaper, and one looking to boost its circulation. Sign up for free!First shout-out: Plant Northern Piedmont NativesSince the beginning of this newsletter, one Patreon supporter has dedicated their shout-out to an organization that seeks to draw awareness of the importance of native species to the ecosystem. As summer comes to an end and fall begins, Now is the time to visit  Plant Northern Piedmont Natives to learn what you can about what species are specific to your region! Plant Northern Piedmont Natives is one of ten regional campaigns for ten different ecosystems across Virginia, including Eastern Shore. Take a look at the full map below for the campaign for native species where you are in the Commonwealth. You can also download a free copy of their handbook: Piedmont Native Plants: A Guide for Landscapes and Gardens. In this guide, Piedmont native plants are defined as those that evolved before the influence of European settlements shaped and changed the landscape. Plants included in the guide were selected from the Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora and occur naturally within the region. Amazon to invest $11 billion in Louisa County Louisa County has announced that Amazon Web Services will invest $11 billion to build two data center campuses within two Technology Overlay Districts. “The campuses will position AWS as one of the largest private-sector employers in Louisa and will create hundreds of new jobs,” reads a press release sent out this afternoon. The county's website describes the technology overlay districts as areas within Louisa's growth area that are close to road networks and electric transmission lines. They're also areas where residential and retail development are not being encouraged. Supervisors approved the technology overlay districts in April, according to the Central Virginian. The vote to add the districts to the county's Land Development Regulations was 6 to 1. Earlier this year, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced Amazon Web Services would invest $35 billion in Virginia by 2040. That now includes this investment in Louisa. “We're proud to partner with AWS to expand their operations in a world with a growing demand for cloud computing infrastructure,” said Louisa County Board Chairman Duane Adams.Amazon Web Services is looking at two specific sites according to Louisa County Community Engagement Manager Cindy King. “AWS is evaluating two sites,” King said in an email. “What would become the Lake Anna Technology Campus (LATC) near the North Anna Power Station; and the North Creek Technology Campus (NCTC) near the Northeast Creek Reservoir.”King said construction activity could begin as soon as 2024. The Board of Supervisors will enter into a performance agreement with Amazon Web Services. That agreement could also see the rebate of tax revenues with details to be worked out in the future. Homestay provisions will not be eliminated as part of zoning code updateAs Charlottesville plans for public hearings on a new zoning code, a proposed prohibition on short-term rentals of “homestays” has been pulled from consideration.“We've gotten substantial comment back and in conversations with various of my colleagues and others in the community, we believe that this is a larger issue than we might have anticipated and one that we would recommend we kick out of this process and take up after the zoning ordinance is adopted,” said James Freas, the city's director of Neighborhood Development Services. A consolidated draft of the Development Code released earlier this month had removed “Homestay” from a list of accessory uses that would be allowed under the new zoning. That had not been included in previous drafts released earlier this year. Freas said this is one example of how the city's zoning code should be considered a living document that will be updated over time. He made his comments at a briefing given to the Planning Commission and the City Council on Tuesday. “The intent here is for the Planning Commission to conduct a public hearing on Thursday, September 14,” Freas said. “That hearing will be in Council Chambers so note the change in venue and it will begin at 4 p.m.”Notice has been mailed to property owners in the city about the public hearing. Those who wish to speak will be limited to two minutes. Freas said it will be up to the Planning Commission to determine if they would like to vote on a recommendation or if that will be done at a later time. Dates have been reserved for September 19 in Council Chambers and September 26 at City Space. Once the Commission is done with their work, Freas said Council will hold their own work sessions on a range of topics. If any changes are to be made, a new draft will be produced for Council before their vote. The plan is for Council to hold their own public hearing. Once adopted, the zoning won't take effect until a specific date after the day a vote is taken. Some projects currently in the process may have the opportunity to proceed under the old rules, but where that line will be drawn is not yet known. Freas also addressed another item that is not in the draft zoning code. The Comprehensive Plan's Future Land Use map designated “Sensitive Community Areas” which depicted places where residents are subject to displacement pressure. “We have not moved forward with an overlay or zoning specific to Sensitive Community Areas,” Freas said. “I would note that a number of the recommendations that are in the Sensitive Community Area recommendation page… have been incorporated into the general zoning ordinance.” Freas said this includes allowing for more units to be built across the city and changes to allow smaller lot sizes in some residential zoning areas. He said there was a sense that restricting development in those area would limit wealth-building opportunities.“If the displacement is a result of rising taxes, there are other ways of addressing that issue as well,” Freas said.  City Councilor Michael Payne said he did not support the lack of a specific overlay.“I would expect that this will definitely be one of the topics we need to have a work session about,” Payne said. “I know it was pretty integral into the original plan and strategy and the connection to the [Affordable Housing Plan] and I know just in the past week or two, this has been of particular interest to the 10th and Page Neighborhood Association as well as the Fifeville Neighborhood Association.”Freas pointed out that the Comprehensive Plan clearly states that specific non-zoning interventions may need to be made for each community. A question from me: Who should do that work? The city government? Non-profits? Individual homeowners? This particular part of the conversation is not over. Charlottesville seeks input on update of accessibility planThe city of Charlottesville is in the early stages of updating a plan that seeks to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The federal legislation became effective in 1990 and requires localities to make sure public facilities can be accessed by anyone. In Charlottesville, that means the update of a Transition Plan with work underway. The last version was adopted by Council on June 3, 2013. “While we are continuously working on improving accessibility, an updated Transition Plan will help us benchmark where we are now and develop a roadmap for where we can be in the future,” said Paul Rudacille, the city's ADA coordinator. As part of the work, crews have completed a self assessment of 165 miles of sidewalk owned by the city to identify potential barriers. This fall, the city's parks and other facilities will be reviewed as will services. Nothing happens in this community without a survey. There's a longform version that takes up to ten minutes to fill out. There's also a shorter one.The city has hired the firm Precision Infrastructure Management to oversee production of the new plan. There will also be a town hall meeting on September 20. Albemarle EDA signs agreement for Agrospheres fundingThe Board of Directors for the Albemarle Economic Development Authority has ratified a performance agreement with a local company that seeks to expand its sale and manufacture of a new generation of pesticide delivery systems.Agrospheres has set up operations at 1180 Seminole Trail and recently was awarded $200,000 from the Commonwealth of Virginia's Development Opportunity Fund. There's also a $36,000 from the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. “They've committed to $25 million of capital investment and creating 53 new jobs for research and development and a test of a manufacturing area,” said J.T. Newberry, Albemarle's interim director for economic development. AgroSpheres got its start as a laboratory venture at the University of Virginia. The company will be seeking to hire people with experience in biotech fermentation, plant molecular biologists, and other types of scientists. Payam Pourtaheri, founder and CEO of AgroSpheres, told the EDA's Board on August 22 that 14 of those jobs have been created so far.“The facility isn't up and running yet so a lot more jobs will be created,” Pourtaheri said. “We've recently received organic approval for our technology that helps basically to provide a controlled release of biological pesticides.” Pourtaheri said the technology is free of microplastics unlike other delivery systems. “Really excited about that and that's what we're going to be manufacturing here in Albemarle County,” Pourtaheri said. Approval from the United States Environmental Protection Agency is needed before the product can become commercially available. Pourtaheri said he's hopeful the green light will be given within a year. * Review the performance agreement* Review the resolution authorizing a local match for the two state grantsSecond shout-out: Camp AlbemarleToday's second subscriber-supported public service announcement goes out to Camp Albemarle, which has for over sixty years been a “wholesome rural, rustic and restful site for youth activities, church groups, civic events and occasional private programs.”Located on 14 acres on the banks of the Moorman's River near Free Union, Camp Albemarle continues as a legacy of being a Civilian Conservation Corps project that sought to promote the importance of rural activities. Are you looking to escape and reconnect with nature? Consider holding an event where the natural beauty of the grounds will provide a venue to suit your needs. Visit their website to view the gallery and learn more! Free Enterprise Forum releases local spending report A nonprofit group that tracks activities of local governments throughout the region has released the annual report of spending activity. “The Free Enterprise Forum Local Government Spending Index (LGSI) is modeled after the statistical methodology used to calculate the Consumer Price Index,” reads the introduction of the fifth Choices and Decisions report.Data comes from the Commonwealth of Virginia's Auditor of Public Accounts, an office that produces a Comparative Report on Local Government Revenue and Expenditures. The Free Enterprise Forum whittles down the localities to Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson. Some interesting highlights:* Charlottesville had the highest per capita spending in the region at $5,385 in FY22* Albemarle's per capita spending in FY22 was $3,643.90* Nelson County's per capita spending in FY22 was $3,392.21 * Louisa County's per capita spending was $3,356.56 * Greene County's level of spending per person is $3,212.20  * Fluvanna County's per capita spending in the period was $2,836.63. That's the lowest amount. What else is in the report? Take a look on the Free Enterprise Forum's website.Council briefed on ranked choice voting Should Charlottesville switch to an alternative form of voting that proponents say could increase participation? The earliest the city could make a transition to what is known as “ranked choice voting” is in 2025, but the five-member City Council got a briefing at its meeting on August 21. “Instant runoff voting, or ranked choice voting, is a voting system where a voter can rank their ballots sequentially in order of preference rather than just give a single or limited number of candidates for their choice of winner,” said Taylor Yowell, the city's registrar. Proponents of this method of voting argue that it can help expand the number of candidates who seek office. (view Yowell's presentation)The votes are counted in order and individuals who receive enough votes to pass the threshold qualify for the ballot. If there are more slots remaining, the candidate who received the fewest votes is dropped from the second round.“The process will continue until a winner has earned over the election threshold,” Yowell said. That threshold depends on how many seats are available. This method was authorized by the General Assembly in 2020 as one of the electoral reforms introduced when Democrats held both Houses in Richmond. “In the session of the legislature in 2020, a bill was passed to allow ranked choice option for City Council and Board of Supervisors elections throughout the state,” said Jim Nix, one of three members of the Charlottesville Electoral Board and the only Democrat. In August 2011, Nix presided over the Charlottesville Democratic Party's use of a “firehouse primary” to select its three candidates for City Council that year from seven candidates. “I counted the votes for it,” said Charlottesville Mayor Lloyd Snook.“That was fun,” Nix said. “I was there, too,” The contest resulted in the the nomination of Satyendra Huja to a second term as well as the first nominations for both Kathy Galvin and Dede Smith. Galvin and Huja got a plurality of votes in the first round, but Smith didn't secure enough votes until the fifth round when she edged out Paul Beyer by 29 votes. (view the results on cvillepedia)Nix said the legislation that passed in 2020 has a sunset date of 2031. He said Arlington used ranked-choice to select two members of its County Board in a primary race this past spring. “It appears to have been successful,” Nix said. “The process worked as intended. The results were published quickly. Actually, too quickly, but we don't need to go into that. The outcome was clear and unchallenged and public satisfaction was high based on the results of some online surveys that were done.” However, Nix said criticisms have emerged about the tabulation method that had been used and a decision has been made in Arlington County to not proceed with ranked choice in the general election.  He said one issue is that the voting software used only allowed voters three choices for the two seats. Charlottesville's software would allow voters to rank six. The first time Charlottesville could use ranked choice voting would be in the June 2025 primary when the seats held by Juandiego Wade and Brian Pinkston would be up. That's less than 22 months away! Yowell said only the City Council races could be conducted with ranked choice voting, and not School Board races. She said there would be a cost associated with educating the public about how the new process works, should Council decide to proceed. Yowell said the city should also update to a new version of its Hart software at a cost of around $4,000. For more details, view the video of the meeting on the city's streaming service. A factor to consider and a question to you. This year, five candidates sought three Democratic nominations for three seats on Council. Only three candidates are on the ballot. Only five people submitted paperwork to be on the School Board ballot for four seats. Only four qualified. If any locality pursues ranked choice, what steps might be taken to encourage more people to actually run? Reading material:* Charlottesville City Council approves new employee pay policy, Allison Metcalf, Cavalier Daily, August 29, 2023* Charlottesville leaders, residents split over zoning rewrite, Jason Armesto, Charlottesville Daily Progress (paywall), August 29, 2023#571 shall go gently into that good night There are six segments in this installment, two more than anticipated when I began writing everything out this morning. In the three years of this newsletter, it's become an afternoon newsletter that harkens back to my childhood when my family got a freshly printed paper around 5 p.m. every day. There's been a ridiculous amount of change in my 50 years. I think one thing that remains the same is a need for as many people as possible to know what's happening. This work is about establishing a common set of facts which is why I make as many links to other periodicals as possible. For now it's just me doing the work with the aim toward eventually getting one out by 5 p.m. every single day. It's a good goal and one that motivates me.Paid subscriptions motivate me and keep me fed. If you've done so yet, do consider a paid subscription through Substack. If you do, Ting will match your initial subscription! Ting's support for Charlottesville Community Engagement is not an afterthought. The internet company wants to support community knowledge and they will match the initial subscription for every new Substack subscription. And perhaps you are a UVA student looking for fast Internet service? If you sign up for Ting at this link and enter the promo code COMMUNITY, you'll get:* Free installation* A second month for free* A $75 gift card to the Downtown Mall This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

One of the unacknowledged co-workers here at Town Crier Productions is Karen and that changes right now as a result of August 17 being National Black Cat Appreciation Day. That's the only sentence about that in this edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement, because this newsletter and podcast feels strange about stooping to cat pictures to boost audience numbers. I'm Sean Tubbs, and I did it anyway.On today's program:* The public comment period is underway for a document that describes how federal funds for affordable housing have been used* Smith Aquatic and Fitness Center will close this weekend through Labor Day for annual maintenance* Charlottesville City Council gets an update on what the Land Use Environmental and Planning Committee talked about from January to June this year* A quick summary of what LUEPC talked about in July* Charlottesville City Council weighs in on transit governance as the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission oversees another study  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

There are two questionable holidays worth noting before the actual information content begins in this edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. The first invites you to take a look at where you are right now as it is Update Your Bio Day. I would update mine, but it's also National Lazy Day so maybe I'll wait until next year. I'm Sean Tubbs and… who are you? Update away and away with the update. On today's program: * Charlottesville City Council has officially asked the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing on the draft zoning code* The top three police officers in the area give an update on public safety to the Senior Statesmen of Virginia * Albemarle County Supervisors get a briefing on transportation projects This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Why do we call this month August? As someone born in this month, I have to confess I have no idea. Why do we name months? Will there ever be any changes? Why do we celebrate birthdays? Why can't I just simply look up the definition? None of the answers to these questions can be found this edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement, but perhaps you'll learn something anyway. On today's program:* The comment period is open for the finalization of a rule change that would pull Virginia out of a carbon cap and trade program * CAAR reports a continued trend of lower sales and higher prices for homes in the area* Charlottesville City Council gets a briefing on the status of transitioning to alternative fuels for Charlottesville Area Transit This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Today is the penultimate day before the third birthday of this newsletter and podcast. This is now the 555th' edition of a program created to inform readers and listeners about a great number of items. Assuming the average length of each program is 1,850 words long, there have now been over a million words associated with Charlottesville Community Engagement.  I'm one of many Sean Tubbs, but the only one fool enough to launch an information outlet. On today's program:* Charlottesville City Council selects Sam Sanders as the new City Manager* Plans have been filed for three more new buildings on Preston Avenue at Dairy Market* The Albemarle Economic Development Authority finds out what CvilleBioHub is doing* The latest figures for the Consumer Price Index indicate a decline in inflation rates* Charlottesville officials take questions at a recent meeting of neighborhood leaders This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

The summer solstice is not the time for perihelion. Summer in the northwestern hemisphere takes place at a time when the Earth is further away from the sun. This fact is one of many examples of the truism that things are not always what they seem. But does anyone scrutinizes these adages? Anyway and either way, it's June 21, 2023 and this is another edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement.On today's program:* A brief rundown of the results in yesterday's Democratic primary election* Charlottesville City Council accepts $5 million from UVA for streetscape projects* Charlottesville Mayor Lloyd Snook predicts an emergency Council meeting  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Charlottesville City Mayor Lloyd Snook and Charlottesville City Council candidate Bob Fenwick joined Keith Smith and Jerry Miller on “Real Talk With Keith Smith” powered by YES Realty Partners and Yonna Smith! “Real Talk” airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:15 am – 11 am on The I Love CVille Network! “Real Talk With Keith Smith” is presented by Ally Property Management, Charlottesville Settlement Company, LLC, Closure Title & Settlement Co., Fincham & Associates, Inc., Free Enterprise Forum, Intrastate Service Co, Keller Williams Alliance, Pearl Certification, Ross Mortgage Corporation, Stanley Martin Homes and YES Realty Partners.

City of Richmond tax revenue has gone up so much, the city has millions more than it expected; Charlottesville City Council announced it hired a new police chief during a Monday meeting; Chesapeake school officials sent a letter to families last week about a new club called the After School Satan Club; and other local news stories.