Charlottesville meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Charlottesville meeting roundup: Tree Commission elects FY2026 officers, City Council to weigh $54M in bonds

The Tree Commission elected its FY2026 officers and the Human Rights Commission approved its June minutes over the past two weeks, while several other Charlottesville boards and commissions held discussions on spending plans, school facilities, and housing policy. Official minutes are not yet published for most of the recent sessions.

Tree Commission

The Tree Commission elected Shanti Levy as Chair, Hannah Brown as Vice Chair, and Cole Thornton as Secretary for FY2026. Commissioners also approved the March meeting minutes. Staff provided updates on the Urban Forest Management Plan, invasive species control, and plans for a first-ever Cville Tree Week in November 2026. The commission discussed potential meetings with the Planning Commission and Stormwater Task Force but took no formal votes on those initiatives.

Human Rights Commission

The Human Rights Commission voted 6-0 to approve the June 18, 2026 meeting minutes. The work-plan check-in was tabled, and new business items were also tabled for future discussion.

City Council

City Council held a work session on the Charlottesville City Schools Facilities Construction Program, covering financial and portfolio assessments and discussing a potential sales tax referendum to fund school projects. No public comment was taken during the session.

Other Boards and Commissions

Several commissions met to discuss policy items, though official minutes are not yet published:

• **Sister Cities Commission**: Discussed the FY27-28 Spending Plan, officer job descriptions, election process, and signage update. City reports on Huehuetenango, Besancon, Poggio a Caiano, and Winneba were presented.
• **Police Civilian Oversight Board**: Discussed the School Resource Officer MOU and reviewed the FY26 Director's Work Plan and 2026 PCOB Work Plan.
• **Historic Resources Committee**: Continued reviewing a draft Honorary Naming Policy and welcomed new member Jonathan Rice. Updates included the Downtown Mall 50th Anniversary, the Beloved Cville project, and the Liberty Bell Replica in relation to the 5th Street Fire Station ADA entrance re-design.
• **Charlottesville Economic Development Authority**: Reviewed updates on Goal 3 of the Economic Development Strategic Plan, focusing on the Charlottesville Talent Network. Reviewed May 2026 Treasurer Reports.
• **Housing Advisory Committee**: Received staff updates on the 2026 Code Clean-Up Cycle and the Missing Middle Working Group, and discussed committee priorities.
• **Minority Business Commission**: Reviewed SWAM spend for the second half of FY2026, the GO Start-Up program, and a recap of the Piedmont Ascent/Piedmont Pitch event. Preparations for the 2026 Reverse Vendor Fair were also discussed.

Coming up

• **City Council (July 20)**: Public hearings on issuing up to $29,000,000 in General Obligation Public Improvement Bonds and $25,000,000 in Refunding Bonds. Council is also considering a referendum to authorize a local general retail sales tax not to exceed 1% for public school construction and renovation. Other items include allocating $575,000 in Housing Operations and Support FY27 Grant Funding, $425,000 for the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority South First Street Phase Two, and zoning text and map amendments for 801 West Street.
• **Retirement Commission (July 22)**: Will consider a proposed amendment to the City Code and discuss a topic labeled DROP.

Tree Commission elects FY2026 officers; City Council to weigh school construction funding

The Tree Commission elected its FY2026 leadership and approved March minutes at its July 7 meeting, making it the only local body with official decisions on record this past week. Several other commissions and City Council met or are scheduled to meet, but their minutes have not yet been published.

Tree Commission — Decisions

The Tree Commission elected Shanti Levy as Chair, Hannah Brown as Vice Chair, and Cole Thornton as Secretary for FY2026. Commissioners also approved the March meeting minutes.

Staff provided updates on the Urban Forest Management Plan, invasive species control, and plans for the first Cville Tree Week, scheduled for November 2026. Commissioners discussed potential meetings with the Planning Commission and Stormwater Task Force but took no formal votes on those items.

City Council — School Facilities Work Session

City Council held a work session July 8 at CitySpace, 100 5th Street NE, on the Charlottesville City Schools Facilities Construction Program. The session covered a financial assessment and a portfolio assessment of existing school facilities, along with discussion of a potential sales tax referendum to fund school projects.

No public comment was taken during the session. Councilor reports from boards and committees were scheduled if time permitted. Minutes have not yet been published, so no formal actions are on record.

Sister Cities Commission — FY27-28 Spending Plan

The Sister Cities Commission met July 7 to review the FY27-28 Spending Plan and discuss officer job descriptions, the election process, and a sister city signage update. City reports were presented for each sister city: Huehuetenango, Besancon, Poggio a Caiano, and Winneba. Committee reports covered grants, education, outreach, and planning for an annual retreat on September 29. Minutes are not yet published.

Police Civilian Oversight Board — SRO MOU and Work Plans

The Police Civilian Oversight Board met July 9 to discuss the School Resource Officer program MOU and review the Director's FY26 work plan and the 2026 PCOB Work Plan. The meeting included two public comment periods and approval of the June 11 minutes. Minutes are not yet published.

Historic Resources Committee — Honorary Naming Policy

The Historic Resources Committee met July 10 to continue reviewing a draft Honorary Naming Policy for community individuals, with discussion on criteria and documentation. The committee received updates on the Downtown Mall 50th Anniversary in 2026, the Beloved Cville project, and the Liberty Bell Replica in relation to the 5th Street Fire Station ADA entrance re-design. A new member, Jonathan Rice, was welcomed. The committee also reviewed its Rules of Procedure, revised August 2017, and discussed an ACHS-HRC internship collaboration for an online BPAC walking tour flyer system. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming Up

Minority Business Commission — July 16: The commission will review SWAM spend for the second half of FY2026, discuss the GO Start-Up program, recap the Piedmont Ascent/Piedmont Pitch event, and plan the 2026 Reverse Vendor Fair. The meeting includes public comment and approval of the April 16, 2026 minutes.