Week Ahead for August 24, 2020: Reservoir discussions: Past, present and future
Every single time I begin research for this newsletter, I think it will be a quiet week. But then I notice yet another meeting and I realize how important it is to keep paying attention to what’s going in local government. That’s the way to get involved, and to help make our communities better places. And that’s why I am doing this work.
This week features discussions of Greene County’s desire for a new reservoir, as well as what the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority should do with land it purchased for one that never got built. Decisions matter, no matter when they were made.
This newsletter is sponsored by the Piedmont Environmental Council, an organization that shares my interest in the public record and transparency in government proceedings.
This is the last week that this will be available as free content on this newsletter. It will be available for a subscription, and details of that will be made available later today as I post my first premium story and podcast.
Monday, August 24, 2020
It has been a busy year for public housing in Charlottesville, even with the pandemic. The Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority (CRHA) recently hired John Sales as its new executive director. Sales last served as housing coordinator for the city of Charlottesville, and he will oversee the implementation of the first new units on CRHA property in a generation. Sales and two news CRHA Commissioners were introduced at a work session held on August 13, but this is his first regular meeting. (link to agendas and materials)
Among the items on the agenda is an update on redevelopment efforts that are underway. The CRHA is finalizing construction contracts with the firms hired to begin work on the renovation of Crescent Halls as well as new units that will be built at South First Street. (redevelopment update)
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The Steering Committee for the C’Ville Plans Together initiative is scheduled to meet virtually at 4 p.m. for another meeting. The firm Rhodeside & Harwell and various contractors are being paid to work on an update of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, a rewrite of the city’s zoning ordinance, and a new affordable housing policy. Later today, I will have a story and podcast from a recent discussion of the work held by the Charlottesville Planning Commission available for a paid subscription. (register for the meeting)
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The Albemarle Historic Preservation Committee meets at 4:30 p.m. for their monthly gathering. The agenda includes a discussion of candidates for new historic highway markers, continuing a conversation held at the meeting in July. Earlier this year, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources approved a marker to commemorate the life of Shadrach Battles, a Black man from Albemarle who fought in the Revolutionary War. A location for that marker has not yet been identified. (meeting info)
The Pantops Community Advisory Committee regularly scheduled for this evening has been canceled. (meeting info)
Tuesday, August 25
The Greene County Board of Supervisors meets at 7:30 p.m. and there is a lot on the agenda about that locality’s future. First, there will be an update on the proposed water supply plan that was to have been undertaken by the Rapidan Service Authority. Last month the Madison County and Orange County representatives on the RSA Board voted to stop collecting facility fees to pay for impoundment along White Run for a new reservoir.
There will also be an update on the county’s transition to running its own Emergency Medical Services department. A contract with the University of Virginia Health System to provide that service expires on October 14, according to this update from Terry Beigie in the Greene County Record. A next step is the consideration of adding professional fire services as well, and the Board of Supervisors will take up a study of the issue conducted by the Virginia Fire Services Board. (study) (full agenda)
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A meeting of the Charlottesville Housing Advisory Committee will meet at 1 p.m. not at their usual time. This is a make-up event for the one canceled on August 19. (city meetings page)
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The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority meets at 2:15 p.m. One potential topic for discussion could be the timing for construction of waterline to connect the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir and the Ragged Mountain Reservoir. On August 17, City Council held first reading on an agreement to grant an easement to the RWSA to build the new pipeline on its property at the Ragged Mountain Reservoir. (meeting page)
The RWSA will get an update on water projects in Crozet as well as a presentation on a master plan for land that had been purchased in the 1980’s for the Buck Mountain Reservoir. That project never went forward because of the presence of an endangered species. Some original landowners have requested the land to be sold back to them. (master plan) There will also be a strategic plan work session with the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority. (329-page agenda packet)
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The Charlottesville City Council had been scheduled to hold a virtual joint meeting with the city’s Human Rights Commission at 3 p.m., but the meeting has been postponed to another date. The HRC has a recent annual report that was to have been used as a launching point for discussion. The HRC agreed it would be appropriate to wait until a new executive director is hired for the commission. (annual report)
Wednesday, August 26
The Albemarle Broadband Authority (ABBA) will hold its annual meeting at 5 p.m, which means new officers will be selected. In July, ABBA released a Frequently Asked Questions page which listed information about the projects it is working on to expand internet service in the county. (meeting info)
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The Charlottesville Tree Commission meets for the first time since the pandemic began with a virtual gathering that begins at 5 p.m. One of the items on the agenda is a discussion of urban forestry goals for the current fiscal year. Proposed goal #2 is to create a priority for this work.
“There is an overriding City need for a procedure to determine how and where funds are spent for tree work, particularly in a time of limited resources,” reads a description of that goal. “Task is paramount for long term budgeting purposes.” (Tree Commission agenda)
Thursday, August 27
The Places29 Rio Community Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet virtually at 6 p.m. Items on the agenda include a community meeting for a special use permit to allow outdoor display of automobiles at a new car dealership at 1680 Seminole Trail. Housing coordinator Stacy Pethia will give an update on the county’s housing policy, which is under development.
This will be the first meeting since the Board of Supervisors endorsed the concept of a roundabout at the intersection of Rio Road and the John Warner Parkway. The idea that will be submitted to the Virginia Department of Transportation included feedback from Lee Kondor, a member of the Places29-Rio committee. (meeting info)
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The Regional Transit Partnership is set to meet virtually at 4 p.m. They will elect new officers, get an update on how COVID affecting transit providers, and will learn more about Jaunt’s forthcoming on-demand service. (meeting info)
While you wait for the meeting, check out this article from Wyatt Gordon in the Virginia Mercury on the future of transit in the midst of a pandemic. Many transit agencies have gone fare-free for the time being out of public safety precautions, and all have been hit with declines in passenger revenue. (RTP website)
Friday, August 28
There is nothing scheduled at this time. What have I missed? What should I know?
Thank you very much for reading this. As I’ve said, this weekly run-down of what’s coming up is going to be available only through a paid subscription beginning next week. This is how I will cover the cost of providing the daily newsletter. I believe this service is of value, and I’m counting on members of the community to help me expand!