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1. When is the City Council meeting agenda available for public viewing?

Pursuant to Code of Virginia § 2.2-3707, meeting notices are posted at least three working days prior a meeting, except for special meetings which are noticed as soon as reasonable under the circumstances.  The City of Charlottesville posts its notice of regular public meetings for the calendar year following adoption of the annual meeting calendar in January. Proposed agendas and agenda packet materials (unless exempt) are provided to the public at the same time as such documents are furnished to the members of the City Council, generally five days before the meeting date. 

Agendas and supporting materials for special meetings are distributed to the public contemporaneously with the City Council. 

Individuals may create a login and subscribe to receive notification of agenda postings at www.charlottesville.gov.

2. When are appointments and reappointments to Boards and Commissions made?

Regular appointments and reappointments to City boards and commissions are made on a quarterly basis during the second regular meeting in March, June, September and December.  City Council may choose to make appointments as needed outside of the quarterly schedule.  Only applications for which a vacancy has been advertised will be considered, and members with expiring terms must reapply. 

A list of vacancies can be found on the Boards & Commissions page on the City website. 

Applications for those not appointed will remain on file for consideration for up to 1 year unless withdrawn by the applicant or unless it is determined that the applicant does not meet criteria to qualify.  

3. How do I contact members of City Council?

You may email council@charlottesville.gov to reach City Council. Several key leaders within city government also receive emails sent to the City Council group email.  All emails sent to City Council are subject to record retention rules of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

4. There are a lot of acronyms. What do they stand for?

This list is in no way exhaustive, but here is a list of acronyms.

• ACRJA – Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail Authority
• ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act
• BAR – Board of Architectural Review
• BCBA – Building Code Board of Appeals
• CAAA – Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Commission
• CACVB – Charlottesville-Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau
• CAT – Charlottesville Area Transit
• CDBG – Community Development Block Grant
• CDSS – Charlottesville Department of Social Services
• CEDA – Charlottesville Economic Development Authority
• CFD – Charlottesville Fire Department
• CMO – City Manager Office
• COIA – Conflict of Interests Act
• CPD – Charlottesville Police Department
• CPMT– Community Policy and Management Team
• CRHA – Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority
• CSA – Children’s Services Act
• CSCC – Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission
• CUP – Conditional Use Permit
• DBA – Downtown Business Association
• FAMIS - Family Access to Medical Insurance Security
• FAPT – Family Assessment and Planning Team
• FBC – Form Based Code
• FEI – Food Equity Initiative
• FLUM - Future Land Use Map
• FOIA – Freedom of Information Act
• FTE – Full-time Equivalent
• HAC – Housing Advisory Committee
• HRC – Historic Resources Committee
• HRC – Human Rights Commission
• JABA – Jefferson Area Board for Aging 
• JAUNT – Jefferson Area United Transportation
• JMRL – Jefferson-Madison Regional Library
• KPA – Key Performance Area
• LEAP – Local Energy Alliance Program
• LIHEAP - Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
• MACAA – Monticello Area Community Action Agency
• NDS – Neighborhood Development Services
• PC – Planning Commission
• PCRB – Police Civilian Review Board
• PRA – Public Records Act
• PUD – Planned Unit Development
• ROW – Right of Way
• RSWA – Rivanna Solid Waste Authority
• RWSA – Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority
• SADM – Standards and Design Manual
• SAP – Small Area Plan
• SIA – Strategic Investment Area
• SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• SUP – Special Use Permit
• TANF - Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
• TJPDC – Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission
• VEEP – Voucher Energy Efficiency Pilot
• VIEW - Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare

5. Why am I being asked to complete a Statement of Economic Interests, Financial Disclosure Statement or Disclosure of Real Estate Holdings form?

Virginia Code §2.2-3115 requires the following local officials to file the State and Local Statement of Economic Interests:

• Members of the local governing body (City Council)
• Executive director and members of Industrial Development Authorities and Economic Development Authorities 
• Persons holding positions of trust appointed or employed by the governing body if the governing body has passed an ordinance requiring them to file
• Members of the governing body of any entity established in a county or city with the power to issue bonds or expend funds in excess of $10,000 in any fiscal year if the governing body of the appointing jurisdiction has required them to submit this form 

Virginia Code §2.2-3115 requires the following local officials to file the Financial Disclosure Statement:

• Members of the governing body of any authority established in any county or city, or part or combination thereof and having the power to issue bonds or expend funds in excess of $10,000 in any fiscal year unless required to file the Statement of Economic Interests by the governing body of the appointing jurisdiction
•  Non-salaried citizen members of local boards, commissions, and councils if the governing body has designated them to file

Virginia Code §2.2-3115 requires the following local officials to file the Real Estate Disclosure:

• Planning commission members
• Members of board of zoning appeals
• Real estate assessors
• County, city, or town managers
• Executive officers
• Non-salaried citizen members of local boards, commissions, and councils if the governing body has designated them to file

The Clerk of Council will mail appointed members the appropriate form upon appointment and State Code §2.2-3115 requires forms to be mailed in January at least 20 days before the February 1 annual filing deadline.