I call the Charlottesville City Council work session to order. This is for outside and nonprofit agencies. Um, madame clerk, will you please call the role? >> Wade >> here,
>> Austin here, council >> here. Councelor B >> here, >> and councelor Snook is traveling. >> He might we we might see him virtually. Um so tonight we're having our work
session on um outside and nonprofit agencies. So we have a big turnout tonight which is great. Um after we have our discussion we will have public you know comment and we're going to um because we have so
many people I think we're on the third page now. We're going to um have you all to keep it to um two minutes two minutes when you come up to speak. So if you have something written down, if you can, you know, you have a little time now to
>> cut and paste or edit what you have. So we want to be here all night. >> Um so two minutes when it's time. So um >> I will turn it over now to um city manager Sanderson. >> Good evening, counselors. Good evening
members of the public. Uh, and because we have such a well attended meeting this evening, I'm going to not spend a lot of time just simply indicate that tonight we are on work session number two in the review of proposed FY27 budget. As I've described, it's been a challenging year. It's been an
interesting process to try to get through. We are moving through the process as quickly as we can and we look forward to you hearing uh from the community tonight and then beginning the process of finalizing this aspect of the budget so that we can then move to the CIP and the closure of the budget on
April 9th. So I'll turn it over to Miss Hamilton. >> Oh good evening council public. Um thanks for attending the work session. We have as you know uh preparing the budget takes a village and so we have a lot of friends here tonight to talk about different things. Um as we go
through uh computer will work. Uh as we go through tonight's agenda we will talk about the vibrant community fund first. Uh we'll talk about the hops awards. Um we'll talk briefly about the fundamental agencies and the intergovernmental
agency budgets. Um, and then we will move on to public comment. And so with that, I will turn it over to Honor Smith. >> Hello everyone, everybody out there. Um, I'm here to present on the Barber Community Fund for FI27 and I don't have
a ton of things to go over. I try to condense it down to save everyone's everyone's time. Um, so the priority areas for FI27 were based on the city council strategic plan include the following categories. public safety and housing. Although housing applications
are put in a different kind of portal, a different pool that is still one of the priority areas. Uh transportation, climate action, commitment to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, education, economic prosperity, and recreation, arts and culture. Uh we did hold information sessions and orientations
for applicants uh in person and virtually prior to the release date. Um and recordings available too on the website along with weekly office hours during the application period. Um orientation for review panel members were held and this year we had a a large
number of panel panel members. We want to give a always want to give a shout out to the review teams. Uh for city councilors that don't know or staff that don't know we we have people from the community that that do this. I think this year we had about 35 folks that came in and helped us with that. And we really appreciate that that anyone that's here or watching virtually, we
really appreciate that. Office of Budget and Grants Management U participated in reviews as well and offered up to 10 bonus points for priority area alignment and five offered for financial stability. Those are my words. Uh so those those kind of summarize how we did that. Next slide please.
There were a total of 86 application for the VCF process and there were nine arts and cultural events applications. We say it that way because the arts and cultural events applications although they come through the uh Zoom grants portal they are handled separately and so we just separate them out that way um
as we talk about them. Uh one VCF application was removed to a housing funding opportunity hops and six were deemed ineligible due to not having a 5013C status or or due to having ex or or due to having existing with the city. Uh the ineligibility issue came to light
after applications were received and reviewed and so I know some folks applied understanding that that was part of the instructions but that we we found that out during the process. Um the most updated VCF report does list those programs that would be ineligible
in the summary section at the end. Is that up Christy? The newest one report the new report. It's updated on the website for anybody wants to see it. Um the total amount requested for FI27 um not including the one application moved to the housing opportunity uh was
5.4 million plus. Uh the total number of funded applications was 71 and that number would increase to 80 with including the arts and cultural event applications. Next slide. The report reflects percentage award
levels of 91% 48% and 27% of each grant proposal. The review teams read, reviewed, and scored applications based on the scoring matrix that's available on the BCF web page. So anybody that wants to see the matrix or the orientation or any any of those things, all that's available on
the website during the whole the whole process. Applications with average scores of 90 or higher, we're in the 91% award level. 80 to 89, we're in the 48% level. 70 to 79 where the 27 27% award level and scores below zero 70 were not funded
this year. Uh the primary factor of funding level is due to the total amount of funds requested compared to the total available funds. Um that number is wrong by the way. It should be 5.4. So I have the wrong number there. Uh that's 5.4 plus versus a $2.6 million budgeted
amount for BCF. That's primary reason. We have a lot of folks asking for for funding and we don't have the same amount of level same amount of money available to to award out. Uh again, thanks to the community reviewers out there that spent their time with Reggie and I Reggie up
help me out this year. >> I want to add a couple quick notes on top of that. The ineligibility issue um some folks in here, we probably didn't do the best job handling that as a team. It was a new thing that happened this year. We weren't prepared for that. And so I don't know that we did the best job reaching out to those few folks. I think
was six that were deemed ineligible. We should have reached out to you guys during the process. We didn't. Uh so we we reflected on that, made some adjustments for next year. Should that happen again? Um and I do appreciate the the folks at Bennis Village reach out to me and brought that to my attention and I appreciate that feedback and so it
helped. And so it did help us kind of re-evaluate how we handle those changes that we're that were unexpected. Um, I also want to say for me the the award levels and the percentages don't reflect the programs here. It just reflects how the applications are
reviewed and scored by by our review panels. These programs out here are amazing. I know a lot of good people out there. Everybody here does a really good job. I just wanted to say from the review team and the department that the results are not indicative of what programs do or how they operate. Uh, so I still really like what people do out
here. It's a they do a lot of good work that doesn't always get recognized. So wanted to point that out. That's all I have believe. Thank you. >> Do you want to talk about alt arts and culture or >> Oh yeah, I forgot. >> Um I didn't look at these this year. So
I don't have a ton to say about these wonderful arts events programs. I didn't I didn't work on them, but these are the award levels that these programs are receiving this year. Again, they were reviewed in a separate process. And you can see, which I can't quite see because
I don't have my glasses with me. I'm gonna look at Chrissy's computer, everybody. Excuse me. Uh, you can look on the first column is the requested amount for FI27 and the proposed amount and is in the second column. And then the percent change is just I think from last year >> from the request
>> from the request to the proposed. Um, right. And so that's that's really all I have to say about the cultural events program. So, >> and I'll add in in regards to the management of these um requests uh by pulling them out of the VCF fund, the
desire for me was to remove where possible requests that we were processing that could be funded in a different way so that more funds could be available for actual program related activities. So by pulling them out of the BCF proper, we're now using what is
labeled the quality of life fund. That is my discretion. And I'm using that to basically make grant contributions to events that are aimed at really focusing on the enrichment of our broader community at large. And the requests that come in, we look at those and we
make um contributions based on size and scope of the project. So the reach, the number of people that are attending and where we see indications that they're bringing people to the city as well. So that is an economic development benefit of some kind. So that's the basis of why you see the numbers moving from one to
the next. And the again the goal was to make more money available in the programming space by removing a one-time fund that I'm managing to a process of eventually having what would be a parallel to your strategic initiatives fund. I would have a flex fund to do
things like this. How much is in the quality of life fund? >> The initial allocation was 500,000. We are in year two of that. So it is far from that today. Uh we're working towards it being a three-year project before we settle on what it comes in at for a recurring amount. >> So it came in through VCF. It was
flagged >> as just a way to receive it so that they submit a request. Okay. And then it comes to my office. >> So that review team never saw these. It just went straight. Okay. >> Also too everybody comes through. So intergovernmental everybody comes through that same thing. Moving on. Um, we'll move on to
Matteline who will talk about house. >> Yep. I'm um Oh, and good evening council and everyone that's here. I'm Maline Metsler, the acting housing program manager. Um, and I'll be presenting FI27 HOPS grant program funding and HOPS stands for housing operations and
program support. Um, as Hunter mentioned, these would have been a part of BCF, but starting in FY24, they were pulled aside into their own lane. And, um, there is a separate committee that reviews these, that is the Cath committee, um, the Charlottesville
affordable housing fund committee, and they are also made up of resident volunteers as well as staff. They review those applications and then make funding recommendations for you all to consider. uh notice of funding was uh released in August and we received 14 applications
including the one that was moved over from VCF into HOPS because it was uh really clearly aligned with the HOPS the HOPS program. Um and that uh the totaling those 14 applications total one just under 1.4 million in funding
requests and there is $575,000 available to award. Um, so it's it's a tough uh decision every year for the committee. They do a really great job trying to um balance all of the requests with uh that pool, but it it it gets
tough because again like Hunter mentioned, all of the programs are offering really important services to the city. We also had workshops and technical assistance. Um when the application period was open, applications were reviewed using an
effective rubric with a maximum possible score of 105 points. The rubric evaluates program effectiveness, organizational strength, alignment with city housing priorities, and the impact on vulnerable populations among other um more detailed
criteria that are on the screen there. And each application was scored by the committee members individually, then discussed um collectively before final scores were averaged. Based on the final scores, applications were grouped into four tiers. Um the
first year was over 100 points for those that did receive uh some of the bonus points. Um, oh, and I should have mentioned that the one of the factors that uh goes into those bonus points is if the the program is serving the homeless community or
helping to reduce homelessness um or impacted in a positive way in the city as well as for just in a really exemplary application that stood out to the committee. >> Oh yeah. So um three applications were in
the over 100 points category. Eight applications were between 90 to 99 points. Two applications were at 80 to 89 points and one application was below 80. So you can see there was a really overall very high scores.
And um yesterday we published the hops report in advance of this budget work session based on feedback from previous years. And uh one important f thing we found there was an error that we found. So you'll see on here there's two um two funding level levels that one was the
initial recommendation that the fund the committee made um for each tier and then we had to make some minor adjustments um based on an error that was made which I'll get into in a moment. Um but that that results in those
applications with the highest scores um would get 70% of their requested funding and in the next tier they would get 44.7% of their funding request followed by 19% of the third tier for the third
tier and the fourth tier um was not recommended for funding. So, here are the requested all of the requests. Well, except for the one that um I should have put that on here. I apologize that didn't receive a recommendation for funding, but these
are all of the recommendations um and with the corrections that happened with those percentages. Uh after publication, we identified a formula error in the internal spreadsheet that affected one application uh patch's application for case management program. Uh mistaken
reference pulled in an incorrect amount and so we were factoring in a request of $30,000, but their actual request was $120,000. Um so rather than recommending them for only $15,000 of funding, that was um not
not what the committee's intention was. So that was why we made the corrections to those percentages. And >> that's Hope House or Patchum. >> This is Patchchum. Yes. So they Oh. Oh my goodness. Yes. So it was for the
correction the corrected column is correct. >> Um but yes, the request is well you can see how it happened in the first place. Um >> so Hope House was really 30. House requested 30,000 and was recommended for the tier 2 percentage which was
ultimately $13,410. Patchcham requested $120,000 in funding also in tier 2. So the same percentage of funding request as um Hope House, but that would ultimately mean $53,000 and
640 cents in funding, not 15,000, which would be a really significant decrease in funding for Patchchum. And I'm really glad that they reached out when they saw that because that was again not the intention of the committee. Um
and so yeah, the because the award percentages were based on the um request amount that error happened and once it was identified, I consulted the committee and they reached a consensus on the correction. Um so that keeps all
of the hops allocations at $575,000 total. uh but maintains the same funding tiers but it does result in a little bit less funding for those tier two and tier three applicants. >> Can I ask a question about the applications? So since they're getting
awarded the formula based X percentage of request, does the request have to be specifically tied to certain things that are outlined or can they just request whatever money they would like and hope to get X amounted?
>> It they have to show in their budget like the specifics of what that funding is for. Um because right to your point that you could see well if I just ask for more then I'll get more. really gives it >> and I think you know they PE applicants may tailor their applications to think
oh maybe we maybe we should be thinking about a different program or something that is a better fit or asking to cover different expenses associated with the program um to be more likely to be funded because I think too if they came in and asked you know too much of a
large amount that wouldn't benefit it because we can't really give so much money just to one applicant that wouldn't be fair either which is another factor that the committee really has to balance. Um because it is fair to use the percentages, but it is tough when Yeah.
if you have somebody asking for $10,000 versus $200,000. Um and yeah, so we have those those corrected and the report that was published yesterday will also be corrected. It it wasn't in time for this meeting, but um slides were able to be corrected.
Next slide please. So after uh the budget is approved what happens is the recipients must submit agreements within three months and the funds must be used within 12 months. Each organization submits quarterly
reports and uh they don't receive their quarterly funding until we receive those reports. So that's one of the compliance mechanisms that's been incorporated in the last few years which has really helped with compliance as you might imagine. Um and this table also shows
just a little bit about some of the performance over time. Um we had 13 out of the 14 applications uh recommended for funded this year which was an improvement of 93% of the applications were funding um compared to you can see
in FY25 was 47% of the applications were funded um and this is the highest in the four years of the hops program but as I mentioned the total requests continue to significantly exceed the available funding um >> and the available funding is going down >> well so that's the available funding has
always been published at $575,000, but there have been times when council has elected to go above and beyond that. So, that is where the total funded um is there, but we are generally trying to keep it within the the budget of
$575,000 as we publish. But to your point, yes, without any additional funding above that amount and just seeing the overall quality of applications improve since we've refined the process and worked with the applicants
um and the amount just the number of applications remaining a high amount. It does mean that if we are funding more applications then the amount of the awards does go down a bit and um overall requests continue to
outpace funding as I said but the FY27 cycle reflects a strong set of applications really consistent alignment with the city's housing objectives and the HOPS program continues to support a broad range of services across the community. Um, and I know that if if it
were to go away, I we would have an even larger crowd here tonight because all of the recipients of this award um are are really appreciative of what the city contributes. And that's it for any questions or comments. I'm available. Thank you.
>> Thank you. So, real quickly, we'll just um the next few slides are just a a a display of um this slide here is a display of what the fundamental agencies u requested and
what is in the proposed budget. Um generally, most of those were about a 3% increase. There were a few that had some programmatic changes which end up with higher um increases that you see here in
those situations. Um CRA and FAR um both um as you see submitted a large request um and we worked on those but did not fully fund those but did fund a you know a larger increase.
Um and then um that's it basically here on those unless someone has oh offender aid and restoration. Um part of that increase is the coming home program which was formally um housed in the department of
human services in terms of funding and we moved that to the general fund. Um, so it is showing an increase here, but that was actually about a $10,000 decrease in that program um in the funding. Uh, but it it does add about
$50,000 to the funding in the general fund. >> Chissy, sorry. You said for CRA and FAR, they had requested X money, but it looks like FAR got funded above their request. >> Um, this right?
bar requested. Oh, that might not be right. That looks like an error. >> Yeah, I think I think that must be an error. I'll check on that for you. >> The request was hiding. >> Yep. I'm I apologize. We'll check on that.
>> There's a lot of boxes on these. >> Pardon me. >> There's a lot of boxes to get ready. Yeah, >> I understand. Once in a while there something switched. >> We'll check on that. I get back to you. >> Um the intergovernmental agencies, uh
most of these are agreements orus that um the city has. >> Um I'm sorry. Thanks. So just remind me of the the bottom one. What the 4500 is part of the central chain. That's the Afton Express and that's actually paid
out of CAT the CAT budget but it is a fun we do treat it like a fundamental agency. >> Excuse me. Um everything on the borrow requested 100,000. So unless they
they only request for 100,000. Unless they spoke separately about 125, which I think they did, put in a separate 125 >> different numbers. >> We'll confirm. >> Um, >> everything on this slide are basically
the result of submitted budgets. A lot of these we have board members uh on the boards for these agencies and they're the result of contractual changes. Excuse me. Uh same for this slide
and this sorry to back up real quick. This line item for the jail is just operations, not renovations. >> It's both. So, it is um operations and most of the increase that you see here is related to the debt service for the
renovations. Excuse me. And then finally, this is the last of this group. And so overall, um, there was, uh, about 20.7 million that was requested, 20.4 that was funded, and that resulted
in about a $1.4 million or 7.4% change over last year. >> So ask your question. >> Yeah. Um so DIC the intergovernmental agency funding is
again more of an operational fund because they also apply for a VCS grant which is a programmatic fund. So that that difference okay thank you >> and that's all we have in terms of a formal presentation.
I just want to remind you next things coming up. Um, Monday night will be a first opportunity for the public to speak on the tax rate that's currently in the budget. April 6 will serve as the official public hearing on the tax rate
as it needs to be noticed in a in the newspaper and it will be advertised on March 26. So there'll be two opportunities for the public to speak on that and um the first of which is Monday night and with that uh this is the
calendar of what's left. We have two public hearings on the tax rate I just mentioned. Next Thursday night will be our community budget forum which is on the budget overall and then we'll be moving towards adoption on April 9th. Um and next week the meeting same
meeting is here at six six o'clock. >> Correct. >> That's for the overall overall budget. So before we um take comments from the public, we just want to kind of have our discussion of it. So um we can just
chime in if you have questions or >> Oh, sorry. before we do that. The so the community budget forum that's here next week is like the different stations with staff that people can walk around or >> it's it's the same opportunity to for
you to hear from the public. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thanks. >> That was different. You interactive. Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. Because those were called that same thing. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, so did you have any comments on just in
general? >> You have >> I have a question. >> Yeah. Are you surprised that I have a >> So generally speaking, do we contribute from the strategic fund to to ops or
uh fundamentals or we just that's not really what that that's not there's not a space for that. So the desire that I've been working with you all on is to receive the requests for the program related funding opportunities that we advertise people respond to and the
awards are recommended that the goal would be for you to consider those as presented accept those or adjust them if you so choose and then if there is a desire to go beyond through your discretionary fund you would make those determinations based on how you
strategize about that because you have a limited amount of funding that is available >> and that's it for the year. >> And and the reminder that I have for you always is while we're doing this now in March as a part of our budget process
for adoption, any decision that you make, you are spending money for effective July 1. And that budget that has been set aside for you is for the entire year. So if you spend 150,000 of it in this process, you technically
start July 1 short 150,000 for the rest of the year. >> And if anything came in between March and July, it would >> it would be it would be held until July to begin the new process, new budget cycle.
>> I don't know how much we have left in our current fiscal years. Well, you're operating from the idea that you have $500,000 available. Whatever that balance is, we top it off as the budget. It's 365, I think. >> Yes. The reason why I'm asking is just thinking like
>> what do we use this year? >> How much do we hang on for a rainy day versus spend? >> Yeah. You you were able to reach the 1st of March with 365,000 available. >> Okay. So, we held on to a bit. >> That hadn't been the case in the past.
>> Yeah. Okay. a little good. >> And thanks to the thanks again for the review team for all their contributions and you >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. I I said, you know, before, you know, I got on council and I got on
school board began is that I was on the these review committees for 20 20ome years. And that's how I really got to know all of the nonprofits in the community by reading the applications and getting to know them. Um, so it's doing amazing work in the
community. So it's it's good that we have this opportunity. I talked to other counselors across the state and they they just don't have this, you know. So it's a it's a good problem to have, but um we just don't, you know, I think at 5.4 million of requests and and we have
like two and a half 2.3 or something. So it's just a lot of I imagine a lot of tough decisions to be made. um by um the reviewers are now ultimately the the five of us. Um so uh so
um I know we have been contacted by a lot of nonprofits about you know the funding um whether they like what they had and they may want a little bit more or they didn't get anything and you know want some justifications or they got something and wanted a little bit more.
it's all kind of been there together and and you know um so it's wasn't enough pie to go around. Um but um we always work work through it. So um
so um we have a lot of people to speak. I think that we probably want to get out discussion now because maybe when it's over we might be may not be in the ready to to comment you know for us to have discussion on it. So do you
have any questions now or comments? >> And I'll share that the thought is that based on the the volume of comments if there's time left then you can begin having discussions. We're looking for answers. So, you got to make decisions
or recommendations or questions that even if we don't get to discussion tonight. The community budget form is next Thursday. We don't know how many people will show up. That's on the global budget. So, there could be even more people. It all depends especially because that other word was discussed
and people might come out for that. So, if that turns out to be the case, then we may have time next week and if so, you'll have the ability to do that discussion. Then we have the CIP is the following week. We usually don't use all the time for the CIP. So you might be
able to have some discussion, but the April 2nd work session is the one that is not programmed and that's meant to be the last ditch effort final discussions on everything. I anticipate we will have things to talk about. So, if we could get this resolved sooner, then that
would mean that that meeting would actually go as needed because the 9th is coming fast and that's all we got. >> Yeah. So, before we get comments from the public, do we have any clarifi clarification questions from council or
anything? Right now, >> we're we are we ready to determine what amount we want to supplement if at all? Do we want to set up? >> I kind of want to hear. >> Okay. Yeah. >> And then chat at the end. And if there's
60 slots and waits, 30 slots in a few minutes, that'll give us some time at the end still to chat. >> Super. Okay. >> So, Kina, are you going to call the >> Okay. >> Her speaker is Sakina Alcatiz.
>> So, um Kina, she's coming up. Um remember, it's two minutes. If you could tell, let the next person know so they can be ready. So we can they can be ready. >> Next person is Adam Nut. >> My first name is Alib and I'm the revenue and
partnerships for lad tomorrow. As this is our first time being considered, I'm not here to request additional funding, but to reiterate the importance of our program. Charlottville Tomorrow is a community focused and equity centered nonprofit newsroom that's been around for 20 years. We're dedicated to creating
equitable access to trustworthy information and amplifying voices that have historically been excluded from local media and decision-making spaces. Our news and resources are free to all. Our program, the community growth and visibility program, offers free marketing opportunities to local small
businesses and nonprofits, especially those led by or serving underrepresented communities while strengthening the local news ecosystem. This program aligns with the city's priority of economic prosperity by directly supporting the financial, health, and visibility of small businesses and nonprofits. Through this initiative, we
will provide sponsorship grants to help organizations promote their programs, services, and events. By offering access to our platform, which reaches tens of thousands of engaged local readers each month, we're helping organizations expand their reach, attract customers and participants, and build long-term
sustainability. This program is particularly impactful for small businesses and nonprofits, which often lack marketing budgets or access to traditional media. We're trying to also solve a timely issue. Charlottesville's business and nonprofits face increasing barriers to reaching audiences they
depend on. In a survey we conducted, many respondents described feeling stuck between expensive low return advertising options and digital platforms that no longer deliver meaningful reach. Charlottville Tomorrow is an online only publication that attracts an average of 45,000 to 55,000 engaged readers each
month. A highly local audience that cares deeply about civic life, housing, education, and equity. and for our proposed community growth and visibility program. We aim to make that visibility accessible to all. Thank you so much. >> Thank you,
>> Adam Neck of Jania Bradford and Kathy Boyd. >> Hi, my name is Adam Nett. I'm going to talk to all of you too in case anyone wants to partner together in the future. Um, I'm with Mima Music. Uh, founded 25 years ago at Princeton. We've been here
for 10 years in Charlottesville. MIMA used to stand for modern improvisational music appreciation but that's a mouthful and uh then we got funded by the US state department to go to about 40 countries and the name just became MIMA MIMA does collaborative songwriting we don't have a set song book that we go in
and ask people to learn it's a a methodology we created where kids create their own rhythms melodies their own lyrics and stories and then we put it together into professor recordings all of this is really just a Trojan horse for the uh social emotional learning skills that we hope to teach things like
concentration and collaboration and competence. Uh the aim of the proposed project is to provide MIMA after school programs in seven low-income housing communities. Uh the initiative has been funded by the vibrant community fund for the last two of the city's fiscal years.
Thank you very much. And builds on the progress of the work made possible by previous funding. Um in the current cycle we provided programs in all seven housing communities that we set out to reach serving about 300 youth and adult residents. Uh our school after school programs in these communities has been
very effective with approximately 90% of respondents reporting becoming more adept at creating music and that's great but also being more engaged in program activities being more comfortable with working with people they don't know well. Uh that's really big for us and then making friends over the course of
these programs. uh most recent uh funding for our work is less than 50% of the funding we requested. We appreciate it. We're always looking for other funding opportunities, but as a result, we've had to curtail the length of our programming in some communities, uh and serve others through one-day events. Um
uh we're able to work with when we're able to work with participants for extended periods. Uh we believe that creating that consistency is really important in building trust. We'd love to be considered at the 91% level in the future. And thanks so much for your >> Thank you. Bradford by Kathy Boyd and Nancy
Littlefield. >> Good evening. My name is Johnson and I Good evening. Before joining the Mohamad Friends Foundation, I really didn't think much about I just thought it would magically sorry appeared from my mom's
purse. I learned about saving, budgeting, and making smart choices with money. Programs like this help kids like myself feel more confident about our future and hopefully help us grow into adults who are smart and confident with our
movement. >> Thank you, Jakis. Jak story is exactly why we're here tonight for young people like him, their families, and the long-term health of our community. Good evening, council members and mayor. I'm Janata Bradford, founder and executive director of Mahogany and Friends
Foundation. If any of our board members or community supporters are here tonight, please stand. >> Thank you. Because building a financially stable community takes partnerships. Over the past two years, with limited city funding, we've served
more than 500 youth and families, including over 150 Charlottesville residents. at Mahongy and France. Financial education, stability, and economic mobility are at the core of our work. This is preventative work, not reactive. Tonight, we're asking the city
to partner with us with a $60 investment. $60,000 investment to expand financial wellness program. Of that investment, $35,000 will support our high- five savings program at Charlottesville Middle School serving 100 students. This work directly
supports the city's priorities. Youth development, economic mobility, stronger families and communities. So tonight, we invite the city to join us in a winning effort to move Charlottesville forward. Investing not only in meeting immediate needs, but in the preventative work that
helps families move beyond them. Because strong communities aren't built by responding to crisis. They're built by preparing the next generation before crisis. Thank you. >> Thank you. Great job. Littlefield, Moren. >> Good evening, councilors. Uh, and Mayor
Wade. Uh, I'm Kathy Boyd. I'm the executive director of Relief Seagull. And this is the green team. >> Good evening, Mayor Wade and city council members. My name is Julian uh Tony. I'm a senior at CHS and I'm a member of Relief Seville. Green. >> Good evening. And I'm Sanju Suba. I'm
also a senior at 12 member of green. We are growing up hearing people called city of tree. But is this really true? >> Since 2004 in our lifetime, the city has lost about a thousand acres of tree canopy. It's like losing a massive forest right under our nose. We're here
to ask you guys you to fully fund relieve seeds on trees planting prevention and education program because our generous city is going to be liveable. I want to talk about equity for a second. If you walk through some neighborhoods in
Seville, it's nice shady and it's cool. But if you go to other neighborhoods, the canopy is tiny 125%. >> On a summer day, those neighborhoods can be 20° hotter than the shaded ones. Think about that. While some kids are playing in the shades, others are quite
literally burning their hands on playground equipment are stuck inside because their families cannot afford massive AC bills caused by how the sun beating down on the hills. >> When you fall in relief planting programs, you're not just putting a a steak in the ground. You're giving families a break on their bills and
cooling down the streets where we live. >> We also can't just keep planting small trees and watching the big ones get cut down. A huge old oak tree, when restored, provides air, shade, and beauty. Right now, >> our preservation program helps people keep those legacy trees alive,
especially for neighbors who can't afford $2,000 to hire AR. >> And for the education side, that's where we come in. Green Team isn't just a club. We're actually taking care of the environment and learning about careers in forestry. We're out there camping, talking to neighbors, and getting people
hyped about their own yards. In four years since Breville started, we planted 452 trees, preserved 100 trees, and over 600 young people like us have learned about trees. Thank you very much. >> Thank you
little following and Douglas Stew. >> Good evening. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you tonight. My name is Nancy Littlefield. I'm a registered nurse and also the president and CEO of Hospice of the Pedmont. As part of our mission and
services, I we I also am here to represent the hospice house, which is our community's beloved facility located at 501 Punk Street here in Charlottesville. For those that don't know, our hospice house is a 247 8bedroom home that cares for patients
needing hospitals, do not have do not have a safe place to live or do not have care. In our work, we know that resources and care available to people during the six months may not be experienced equally across the community. Our mission at our
organization has been to ensure that every Charlotte school resident regardless of income, housing status, or insurance lifelimiting illness with support, dignity, comfort, and compassion. Within the city of limits alone, on a daily basis, we've supported over 100
residents who have needed end of life supportive care to include clinical care, physician home visits, and caregiver support. As part of our commitment to that community and our mission, our daily work extends far beyond reaching of the dialing of the dying. We provide care and grief
support. We provide kids grief and healing for children within our community because we know that if a child receives grief support, they are healthier. as an adult. And through our Serenity Fund, we provide over $10,000 in direct financial assistance to families who might need help keeping
their lights on or heat on. The strength of our mission as we evaluate our own budget process and the impact of our mission, we know that we've provided just under $300,000 in charity care specific to Charlottesville patients last year. If we're fortunate to be
approved of this grant, I want to give you confidence that the resources that you provide for us will continue to help all residents of city of Charlottesville to make sure we have end of life care support in all reaches of the city. Thank you. >> Thank you,
followed by Samantha Strong and Carol McCluren. >> I'm Moren from New City Arts. I'm joined by one of my board members, Marica, many arts colleagues and uh gallery regulars. I'm from VC Arts. We've been a VCF recipient for the last eight years. Um
receiving 32,000 this year consistent with level funding from the last few years. I don't know why our funding was cut to 10,000 for next year. And I realize that organizations should not assume the same level of funding annually. Um I also want to say thank you for the support you have given us. um and that as the city's needs have
grown without a central arts council or coalition during this time, New City Arts has evolved to fill the gap. Our vision, governance, practices, and programs intentionally address unjust systems of power historically upheld by art spacesh 2027 season in front of you. Um and in
it you'll find things from last year, 12 exhibitions, 150 artists supported, 90,000 distributed to Charlottesville area artists, 7,500 participants, most of whom were city residents. The examples you're find you'll find in there are not expensive paintings with high price tags because we don't rely on
a high commission to fund our work. We rely on community support. We believe that the the same artists who contribute to Charlottesville's vibrancy should be able to live and work here. However, they reported they report consistently that affordability, affordable studio space, affordable housing, and funding for their work are huge concerns. We are
wage certified, which means that we follow national standards for paying artists for their work, including $1,200 exhibitions for solo shows. We are also leading a study to try and bring back an arts council for the city of Charlottesville so that the funding distributed to arts and culture organizations through VF could
potentially be managed by a dedicated coalition rather than bundled with human services. As a part of the study um our job, the local steering committee, their job has been to look in comp so that we're not looking at places like New York um for comparable models. We're looking at cities similar to Charlottesville like Boulder who give
1.5 million to arts and culture annually compared to 500,000 given to arts and culture orgs and events through VCF. Um, good news. The one of the strategies in the city's plan is to increase the pool of funding overall to arts and culture organizations and we're asking for 24,000 to bring our own funding back up
to comps next year compared to the last couple of years that we've received through UTF. Thank you so much. So Boulder is coming up again. I think I heard 1.5 and I know that they have a mall
pedestrian mall. So anyway, thank you. Thank you >> Samantha Strong followed by Carol McClen and her vibes. >> Good evening and thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. My name is Samantha Strong and I'm here representing Bennett's Village as a
board member. At its heart, Bennett's Village is about something very simple but very powerful. Creating spaces where everyone in our community can play, connect, and belong. Inclusive spaces matter because play matters. Play is where children build friendships,
confidence, creativity, and resilience. It's where families gather, where neighbors meet, where communities grow stronger. I've seen firsthand what happens when inclusive spaces are designed well. My family has visited communities like Carmel, Indiana and Charleston, South Carolina, where
thoughtful playground design has created places where children of all abilities can truly play together. I watched my son play alongside children with different abilities and backgrounds, laughing and exploring together as if those differences didn't exist. I watched grandparents, including my son's
own grandparents, sitting nearby and participating in the space, able to comfortably be a part of the experience instead of watching from a distance. Those spaces weren't just playgrounds, they were gathering places. They were community builders. And that is exactly
what Bennett's Village is working to create here for our community. With the treehouse, Jos's Way, and the continued development of this space at Penn Park, we're building more than a destination. We're creating a place where children can grow, families can connect, and people of all ages and abilities can
feel welcome. Inclusive spaces support physical health, emotional well-being, and they strengthen the social fabric of a community by bringing together people who might otherwise never have met. Bennett's Village is already showing what's possible when a community comes
together in this vision. And with the continued partnership and long-term support, we have the opportunity to ensure this space continues to grow and serve our families for generations to come. Because when we build places where everyone belongs, we build a stronger
community for us all. Thank you. >> Thank you, Amanda. >> Kara McClen, Herb Dickerson, and sorry, Annette Anthony. >> Good evening. My name is Karen Mcclurken and I'm the executive director of Bennett Village. I come here tonight to
provide feedback on how we experienced the vibrant communities fund process and to make the case for city financial support for Bennett. I want to start with appreciation for all involved with the vibrant communities fund. I had wonderful conversations with them and I'm grateful for their dedication and
hard work. As Mr. Smith noted earlier tonight, Bennett's Village was determined to be ineligible for the vibrant community funding because we have anou at the city. But there was nothing in the grant application that suggested we would be ineligible. There's also nothing in our MOU that prevents the city from providing funding
to our project. We put time and effort into pro we put time and effort into the process of writing the grant meeting with the folks from the site visit and at no time did anyone suggest we might be ineligible. By not informing us of the eligibility early on, it prevented
us from pursuing a different course to seek funding. Successful models of inclusive play spaces have significant financial investment from local government sources in public private partnership. 20% is generally the standard. Many of our
potential funders, individuals, foundations, and government agencies want to know what the city is investing in Bennett's Village, not just in words, but in dollars. The community and the city government want Bennett's Village to be built, but it takes a village, as
our name implies. We're at a critical juncture to demonstrate the city's financial support as we ramp up fundraising efforts for phase two. Given that Bennett Village was deemed ineligible for the vibrant communities funding, can you help us identify a path for the city to provide direct financial support for phase 2? Together, we can
build a place where all can play. We value our partnership with the city and remain committed to working together to bring this inclusive community play space to reality. you. >> Herb Dickerson and Ed Anthony,
Kevin Parks and Shante Davis. >> How y'all doing? >> Heard he had to step up. I ain't got nothing much to say. This council all very well the work that we doing in the community as far as fighting gun violence. But in the five years that we've been working, we noticed that we
it's impossible for us to do this without getting into the in the community and get dealing with the trauma and the poverty that's going on. So we started a community outreach team and they gonna come up and speak and uh this is the program manager that runs outreach team. >> Uh how you doing? My name is Annette
Anthony. Uh when we started the buck squad then CBVI now uh we started with our hearts not our heads. So we we let our hearts lead us. You know, we too at the time had the mentality that some of you have where these are just bad
people, bad kids out committing these gun crimes for no good reason. And as we worked and we saw that a lot of this is trauma related things going on in the household, you know, sometimes out of their control things with parents, uh
sometimes school, sometimes financial, what whatever the need may have been that that made them go outside and and commit these crimes. We finally figured out that we needed to provide wraparound services that we couldn't just say,
"Hey, Hunter, stop doing that. Don't do that anymore." We had to say you don't have to do that. You can do this and show them a better way. And a lot of people have never had, we've learned, never had anyone that they could count on or trust. So, we have to be that
constant in their lives and be that support no matter what it looks like. If it looks like a ride, if it looks like filling out job applications, we're in constant communication with them every day. These are two girls
who I know from my community who who I've always, you know, known because the the community, black community in Charlottesville is very small and we all know each other. Our families know each other. So that is why the Buck Squad I
think is so successful. >> Yeah. >> Hello, my name is Shantaa Davis. Over the years, trouble followed me all my life. I felt trapped like there was no way out. January 2025, I became homeless
due to unseen circumstances and I felt I had had no way out. Homelessness led me to active addiction and major major depression until I realized I was in my own way. And if I wanted different results, then I had to be receptive to
the help. I didn't do I didn't know where that help would come from, but it came. I received a call from a friend that wanted to know if it was okay to give my number out to someone that could possibly help me. I accepted that offer
and said it was okay. From that moment, my life changed. I started to trust the process with Annette and CBVI. and knowing part of my story. Her knowing part of my story, knowing that my trauma and my hurt, all they wanted
to do was help me in any way possible. She connect me with Ben Allen from the Equity Center and they have been a blessing to my family ever since. When so many doors had closed in my face, people passed judgment due to things my son were
involved in in the community. from grand theft autos to gun vot offenses. Now today, 10 months later, I've accomplished goals that I given up on. I'm 10 months clean and recovery. I have a valid driver's
license. I've completed my peer recovery support training and most importantly helping people like myself. I'm now one of those outreach people for CBVBI outreach and the support team. The
outreach and the support team I have allowed to help me and network. I'm now building I'm now building and have saved my life. Even though I'm not perfect, me trusting the process has allowed me to rebuild my life in the future with the help of
CVBI. How they pushed me and never stopped. So, I'm confident with us receiving these funds, they will help more families with similar situations like myself who have been in the same or if not different situations. Thank you.
>> Congratulations on >> Amen to that. >> Good afternoon. My name is Siobhan Wilson. Being a single mother, raising a young black man comes with many challenges. Which brings me to this meeting this evening. As my son entered his teenage years, we began facing many
obstacles, including peer pressure, learning to make the right decisions, and understanding not everyone around you has everyone around him always has his best interest. I truly believe it takes a village to raise our children. With the help of my son's mentor,
Annette and Kevin, who was connected to him through CBVI, we have been working together to mold my son to be the best version of himself. Before meeting and Kevin, my son experienced tremendous loss. There were three important men in his life that were taken away. My
brother was killed on the downtown mall in October 2022. Right before he passed, we had just signed a lease to get a place together. He was extremely sad about this. Shortly after losing my brother, I also lost two other brothers to the system. This was a heavy burden
even for adults to carry and my son struggled with how to express his feelings. He began acting out and shutting down emotionally. That's where Jon's mentor Kevin played a very special role in his life. There was a time when Jay was hanging around the wrong crowd and making decisions that concerned me
as a parent. I knew I had to intervene. Kevin stepped in and began checking in with Jay every single day. Since Kevin has been a part of his life, Jay's grades are no longer failing. He recently took his so test and path and woke up feeling confident and prepared. Kevin truly changed his life. He was
heading down a path that I didn't want for him. When I first met Kevin, I shared my concerns and immediately went to work. He showed my son that there was more to life than the streets. He taught him how to save money, how to think about his future, and how to navigate life's challenges. Most importantly, he
showed my son that Most importantly, he showed my son that even when life throws curve balls, he does not have to face them alone. Programs like CVVI are truly needed for our children. So many young people feel lost because there are not enough resources and opportunities
available to them. I stand here tonight as a living testimony that these programs do work. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> So, I appreciate that. Um, we I know we have some schoolboard members here. They'll be happy to hear
the impact it's having on on SOS and um and so as we um the next person Kina has who is it? >> So, that's all. Okay. Jane Mills followed by Molly Jackson and Carrie Clemens.
>> So, as um Jane is coming up As you all can see, we haven't heard any program that's not deserving of funding today. And so, you get an idea of the difficult decisions that that we have to make. It's no bad programs. We all, you
know, we all wish we had funding to to fund them all. But I just want you can see now is that what the decisions that that council and the reviewers have to make. I'm sorry. >> It's all right. Were you taking part of my two minutes?
What a great and tough act to follow. Um, I'm Jane Colony Mills from Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. I'm joined tonight by Ray Gilmer, one of our board members. And I wanted to thank the city of Charlottesville for recognizing Loaves and Fish's role in feeding our community by awarding vibrate community
funding since FY24. I was sad to learn that in the 27 budget, we are proposed to have a 9% decrease in funding. But I understand the methodology and I know just from looking around the room how many needs there are in our community. I wanted to share the impact Loavo and Fishes is
having on Charlottesville residents. Since July 1, 2025, Loaves and Fishes has directly provided at least one week's worth of free healthy groceries to 4565 unique Charlottesville residents. And some of them come every two weeks or
some some come once a month. um they are, you know, able to come when they need the food and and get it from us. Um through our varied food sourcing efforts, which include rescuing more than a million pounds of grocery store food from going to waste, it costs Loaves and Fishes only about $7 per
person to provide one week of food. Many of our customers have shared that by coming to Lowe's and Fishes for a week or two of food each month, they can save money for other basic monthly necessities like housing, health care, child care, transportation. I'm grateful
for the city of Charlottesville support, which helps us feed our neighbors. But the need for food has grown 75% over the last three years, which means that the cost of living in our area is increasingly unmanageable for many people. I know affordability in our area
is not going to be solved in the FY27 uh budget, but I would ask city council to consider increasing rather than decreasing Loaves and Fishes funding in next year's budget. Twothirds of Charlottesville's food insecure people rely on us for one of life's basic needs, food.
This year, we're beginning to explore ways of increasing our distributions to get nutritious, healthy food closer to where food and secure people live. And if there's one more thing I would ask council's support for, it's for a bus stop closer than a half a mile away from the pantry.
Thank you for your continued support and for hearing my concerns. >> Thank you, >> Molly Jackson, Gary Clemens, and Danielle Przer. >> Hi, I'm Molly Jackson, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of
the Central Blue Ridge. Our mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. We provide kids ages 6 through 18 with strong, reliable, professionally supported mentoring relationships that empower and inspire them during the most crucial
time of their development. The program is specifically designed to improve academic performance and educational expectations, increase social emotional learning, decrease negative and risky behaviors, and improve family and peer connectedness. Our bigs provide
personalized support, guidance, and encouragement, committing to spending time with their littles two to four times a month. Staff support matches with active case management throughout the duration of their relationships. Our 2025 outcomes include 87% of our littles
improved or maintained their grades or academic performance. 93% reported being better able to manage their emotions and increase their social competence. 100% avoided contact with the police or juvenile justice system. 96% avoided
behavior that led to school disciplinary inaction. Equally important are our long-term impacts. Littles are 20% more likely to enroll in college after high school graduation. Littles enter the workforce earning more than their non-mentored peers with a 15% higher
income between ages 20 and 25. Mentorship closes twothirds of the socioeconomic gap for littles compared with their non-mentored peers, demonstrating the power of mentorship to build social capital and foster upward mobility. Our littles exhibit improved
behaviors and stronger social bonds, leading to a reduced dependency on social services and long-term societal improvements. Strategic partnerships with businesses, organizations, and schools in the city enhance our ability to serve local youth. leverage collective community resources and fill
service gaps by ensuring that our program complements rather than overlaps with existing initiatives. Ultimately, the city's investment in Big Brothers, Big Sisters is an investment in our local youth, the families of our bigs and littles, and our community as a whole. Thank you. >> Thank you,
>> Harry Clemens, Daniela Pritzer, and I think this is Joseph Cheney. Hello, I'm Carrie Clemen. I am the director for Pedmont Regional Dental Clinic. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you tonight. I'm here to share the
impact we are making for Charlottesville residents and respectfully request your support to help us continue our work. Last year we served 320 city of Charlottesville residents, 110 children and 210 adults. These are working families, seniors on fixed incomes and
individuals who do not have access to affordable dental care. We have also partnered with the Charlottesville pre clinic to um for referrals for comprehensive and emergency care as needed for those patients. As most of you know, oral health is connected
directly connected to your overall health. Untreated dental disease leads to many chronic health conditions and preventable emergency room visits. We're intentional about affordability. Our fee schedules are set at a lower percentile than private practices for
the area to make our care accessible and affordable. Even with these fees, uh, lower fees, many of our patients still need financial assistance to move forward with their treatment. And we do offer affordable care programs for adults at
half cost. And we see any child that needs dental care for free. We do not charge the the patient or the family. It we are a safety net dental clinic. Your investment has a meaningful impact and it directly supports our clinical
supplies, restored materials, and lab cost. It helps fund preventative visits for many children, restorative procedures, and urgent treatment that prevent far more costly interventions later. Your support demonstrates partnership and shared commitment to the
health of Charlottesville residents. I truly appreciate your time and consideration. Thank you all. >> Thank you. Daniela Prtzer, Joseph Cheney, and Ryan McKay. >> All right, good evening. Um, my name is Daniela Prtzer. I'm the executive
director of the Bridgeline. We provide services for people with brain injuries. And you may know that a brain injury can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time uh very suddenly. Um we serve people with uh traumatic brain injury, stroke
after a tumor, infections, domestic violence victims, strangulation, continued drug abuse. Um and all these cases and the healing does not resol is not resolved after their acute rehab, right? It presents as a executive
function uh variability identity disruption social disconnections um fluctuation uh in the participation capacity and vulnerability during any kind of life transition and it requires
really a flexible lifelong lifespan oriented support and we do that in three programs which have thank you very much been supported by the city for many years. Uh we have a case management program. The case managers go out into
uh the homes of the people who have uh a brain injury or they come to us. We have a prevocational program where we teach life skills and uh skills that they can use to get a job again or volunteer job.
And we have a residential program where people live together um with staff oversight. Um, so and all these programs have always been a life of set their a lifeline for the people we're serving.
And as you know, the gas prices, the food prices, everything went up. And so I was sad to see that our funding was cut uh from last year. I know this always starts with zero, but I would like for you to consider to get our funding as to last year's um funding.
Um, and I have another quick request. I would love to understand how the score happens. How can we better can we apply better and make it clear what we what we're doing. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, >> Joseph Cheney, Ryan McKay, Suzanne
Bowers. >> Thank you guys for listening. Um, thanks Joseph Cheney. Uh I was a one-time member here at the Bridgeline and uh what I found here working at well being a member here at the Bridgeline
was that I was able to gain a perspective as far as seeing what it is I was able to accomplish and as far as what the doctors told me that I was able to do and what my parents expected as far as having a
brain injury, what I was actually able to do and my recovery happened a lot faster and I was able to accomplish a lot more than everybody has expected. And so with that, I was wanting to convey that or show that to the other
members. and the respect I seen there, the consistency, the teamwork community uh aspect of it, the comfortability that the members that I seen when I was a member there, uh the reliability of the coordinators and the
director, uh the uh judgment free environment, not feeling like you're being judged by the coordinators or the director, positivity, the good energy that you feel there as soon as you walk through the for uh the mix mixing pot of
the diversity that's at the bridge line. There's a mixing pot. There's just a bunch of different types of people there. Myself, I'm black and Korean. There's a lot of uh there's some Hispanic people that come to the Bridge Line. So, everybody can feel welcome
there. It's not just one race of people in the food. uh before I had my brain injury. >> I was a chef and then I had to the opportunity to become a coordinator at the bridge line and I took that opportunity. So I'm able to help the
members gain access to learn things as far as the kitchen aspect and they can take that on into their life as far as if they want to get a job in the kitchen. And I found out that if you are a gifted person, it doesn't mean that
you gain something. It means you have something to give back. So I'm very grateful for the bridge line. >> Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. >> Ria McCay, Suzanne Bowers, and Kate Lambert.
Good evening, Mayor Wade and members of the city council. I'm Ryan McCay, director of the Blige Health District. Our funding request for the health district um and the recommendation by the review team and city manager provides a starting point for long-term stable funding for three key roles that
are currently grant funded. These roles quietly protect Charlottesville every day. preventing disease outbreaks, connecting residents to care, and ensuring we use strong data to guide public health decisions. First, the disease investigation investigation specialist or DIS. When someone tests
positive for infections like HIV or SAP, this role works directly with that individual to ensure they receive treatment and to identify others who may have been exposed. They help connect those individuals to testing and care quickly, which prevents further transmission. This work is one of the
most effective ways we have to protect community health and stop the spread of disease early. Second, the community health worker or CHW focuses on meeting residents where they are, helping people navigate the health care system and connecting them with services like primary care, mental
health support, and food resources or transportation. All of which residents identified as priorities for maintaining and improving health and well-being in the 2025 community health assessment. The CHW helps turn those findings in the health assessment into action by
building trust in the community, connecting residents to services earlier and helping prevent health challenges from becoming much more costly emergencies later. A third, the senior epidemiologist focused on tracking communicable diseases, helping guide the public
health response when they occur. This role analyzes disease reports, identify patterns in transmission, and works closely with our clinical and disease investigation teams to deter determine appropriate control measures. These investments help ensure Charlottesville residents continue to
benefit from a prevention focused public health system that protects health, connects people to care, and supports long-term well-being of our community. Thank you for our continued partnership and your thoughtful consideration of our request. >> Thank you. So um just um Brian for the
first part this is quick followup question I I I could have I would have guessed that you know the state health department kind of had a role into um preventing you know the spread of the disease that's a local responsibility
>> there's a partnership we are the primary like a first responder we're closest to where the uh disease spread happens and so we have the most knowledge about our partners our communities When needed, we receive support from the state, but mostly it's local staff who
do the work of um volunteers. Thank you. >> Suzanne Bowers, Kate Lambert, Caleb Nelson. >> Hello. My name is Suzanne Bowers. I am the new executive director of Macka. And
um so first and foremost, I know there's like this big elephant in the room and we've been around a long time. We've made lots of changes. We've made lots of friends. We've made probably lots of enemies. So I personally would like to thank you for not giving up on us. Um
and I hope that when I'm here next year, you're going to see all the big changes that we've made at MACA. We are revamping. Um, I would like to thank you for your um recommending approval of funding for our hope house program. This
is a transitional housing and intensive case management program for families in the Charlottesville area who are experiencing or facing imminent homelessness. Um, we are at maximum capacity right now. So, we appreciate your support. Uh, I would also like to
thank you for supporting Project Discovery this year. It provides first generation students in grades 9 through 12 with free post-secary access resources to support um their their journey and their thriving future for life after high school. In addition, I'd
like to acknowledge our appreciation for recommending funding for Kindlewood Management um kindlewood care management. But now I'm going to put a little twist in it is Macka has decided that we are not going to manage Kindlewood.
And so I am humbly requesting if it's possible that we put the $5,400 that was allocated to Kindlewood to our family and community services um program. It is
essentially the same thing. we were going to have a case manager specifically for Kindlewood given the population. This would been just put a case manager in all of Charlottesville to be able to serve all of Charlottesville. Um, and that that did
not get funded. And so what we have to do is when people call from Charlottesville is we just have to refer them out, which is very hard to do because we hate not being able to serve them and we hate people to feel like they're just being pushed on to the next
person. And just to kind of put it in context, just since July 1 of 2025, which is the beginning of our fiscal year, we have referred 164 families who live just in Charlottesville, out to other agencies, and many times they call us back because they say people can't
help them. >> Not that we're the end all by any means, and we certainly always give resources and follow through. Um, but um, that's why we would like to see if we could just transfer that money. Um, and I thank you for your time. I welcome you
to contact me with any questions, ideas, suggestions, anything like that. And um, uh, I have my contact information for you. >> Thank you. It's good to hear Mike is still around. Great. >> Good. Better than ever. Thank you.
>> Um, Hunter, if you could um, just send us some information on what you want to do to see if it's possible. Let me know. Thank you, sir. >> Perfect. Thank you. We have Kate. Good evening, Mayor Wade and members of the city council. Um, my name is Kate Lambert. I'm the CEO of Boys and Girls
Clubs of Central Virginia. I want to start by thanking you for your past and current support. It means the world to the children and families we serve. Uh, we've been recommended to receive $60,000 in FY27 and we are respectfully requesting that our funding be restored
to our current and previous funding level of $116,000. It's a $56,000 difference. Our organization operates the Cherry Avenue Boys and Girls Club on the campus of Charlottesville Middle School. Uh the club provides year-round youth
development programs every day after school and all day during the summer to young people between the ages of five and 18. Our programs focus on academic success, health and well-being, character and leadership, and life and workforce readiness. As you know, access
and affordability mean everything to families. And with your support, cost isn't a bar a barrier to participation in our club programs. Our membership fee to families is only $35 for the whole year. As you know, Charlottesville Middle
School is adding over 300 sixth grade students next year for a total of 800 students on that campus. Because of our proximity, we're in walking distance to Charlottesville Middle School. The city schools have asked if the club can serve more students next year, and we
anticipate enrolling an additional 100 youth. The cost of not serving those children will be far more costly to the city in alternative services down the road. That includes health care, mental health care, incarceration, and loss tax
revenue. What we know is that it's better for children to come to the club after school than it is for them to be at home. It's better for them to be with their friends, receive a healthy snack or meal, participate in activities like sports, academic tutoring, reading,
STEM, and arts, and learn life skills like financial literacy. To continue serving the needs of our city youth and families and at the increased level requested by our schools, the club respectfully requests the restoration of our current funding level of $116,000
for FY27. Thank you so much. Thank you, >> Caleb Nelson, Dina Dul, Lindsay Hwood. >> Good evening, Mayor and members of city council. My name is Caleb Nelson. I'm here on behalf of Live Arts. Thank you for the care and commitment you show every day to the well-being of
the community. I'm here tonight to respectfully ask for your support of Live Arts through the Vibrant Community Fund at our requested level of $30,000. Live Arts has been proposed for 8,100 this year. While we are grateful for the support, it represents a reduction of
nearly half last year and falls far short of what is needed to sustain our education program. Live Arts is more than a theater. It is a community hub where creativity, learning, volunteerism, and connection come together in the heart of downtown. Our
stage is powered by more than 1300 volunteers who build sets, design costumes, run lights, welcome audiences, and bring stories to life. It is also a place where local artists and meaningful work where young people discover confidence, collaboration, and creative
expression through camps, classes, and workshops. Our education program serves youth ages 4 to 17. These programs are often a young person's first experience standing on a stage, speaking in front of others, or working as part of a creative team. We are also deeply
committed to accessibility through TING, pay what you can performances and our 434 initiative. Anyone new to live arts or anyone under the age of 25 can attend a show for just $4.34. These programs ensure that theater in Charlottville is not limited by income
or background. It belongs to everyone. Sporting Live Arts is also a smart economic investment. National studies show that for every dollar in public funding theaters, nearly $3 are generated in additional local spending through tourism, jobs, and surrounding businesses. When you invest in live
arts, you are investing in downtown, education, and economic activity. Your support allows us to produce five mainstage productions each year, provide space for emerging artists, and continue offering hands-on arts education to young people across the region. Without sustained public support, Charles will
risk losing a vital cultural and educational resource that has served this community for decades. Thank you for your time and allowing me to speak. >> Thank you, >> Diana Lindsay and then Courtney P. >> Hi, I'm Dina Gold with Lighthouse
Studio. Um, while I'm here tonight to speak for Vine Vinegar Hill Theater Community Programs, I would like to start by giving a shout out for all arts organizations in the city. Thank you counselors for considering additional support for Vinegar Hill as well as the
arts broadly speaking. A 2021 report synthesized 20 years of research and evaluation on the impact of arts engagement and concluded that arts engagement can play a role in shaping and reinforcing people's cultural identity, promoting
civic behaviors, enhancing communities livability and economic vitality, and bridging relationships across races, generations, and political divides. Every five years, Americans for the Arts conducts an economic impact study of the
nonprofit arts and culture industry in the US. Charlottesville participated in this report in 2017. A key finding from these studies is that investments in the arts yield big returns. Um the combined five billion in direct arts funding by
local, state, and federal governments yielded 27.5 billion in government revenue. That is a 450% return on investment. Not only do we teach workshops at Vinegar Hill, we screen films for the community, but we also
host many rentalful events. We offer discounted rates and sponsorships to other nonprofit organizations, many who otherwise would not have been able to hold their events. Last year, we gave 59,000 back to the community. We pay 16,000 in taxes. Last year's partners
include the city office of human rights, black professionals network of Charlottesville IRC, sevil renewable energy alliance, hummingbird fund, welcoming greater Charlottesville region 10 among others. As you can imagine, there are expenses uh associated with
these events. We applied the vibrant community funds support towards these programs programs and we appreciate you considering a return to last year's awarded amount of 20,000 which enables us to continue the work. Counselors, many of you have attended our events in
the past few years and I just really want to say thank you um for your time out of your busy schedules. Thank you. Hear, Courtney Colt, Dorene Bonnet Hipler also with Lighthouse Studio. And I wanted to speak tonight about our application for our educational
programs. Um, between our two applications, both of them were recommended for funding, which we so greatly appreciate. Yet, we are recommended for 23% less than we received last year. And we ask you to consider increasing our funds more in line with what we received last year. In
2025, we applied our VCF support towards six filmmaking workshops, including partnerships with Lugo McInness Academy, CHS Urban Farming, YMCA, Abundant Life, Virginia Discovery Museum's Democracy and Dialogue Program, and creating a
documentary film with C3 about green jobs. We thank the city of Charlottesville vibrant community fund at the end of these films and many of these films screened locally at both our youth film festival and the Virginia film festival. The Lugo McInness film was accepted to the British Columbia
Teen Film Festival in FY27. We plan to partner with all of these organizations again and we appreciate you considering level funding with last year to enable us to continue these partnerships. We understand the tiered focus of the VCF process.
Um, and while Lighthouse and other arts programs are not feeding, housing, and transporting people, we do nurture our youth in a different way. Studies consistently show that arts education is closely linked with positive academic outcomes and social and emotional
development. We uh track our own students. We see this in the data as well as just in the stories. Um, Lighthouse expands access to educa arts education for all young people in Charlottesville. We help young people become active creators rather than
passive consumers of digital media. Arts education is not an extra or an add-on. It's an essential part of supporting the young people in our community and setting them up for success in the future. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you.
Pulk, Dorian Bonnet, Megan Gild. >> Right. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Thank you so much for the opportunity to be here tonight. My name is Courtney Pulk and I'm executive director at Building Goodness Foundation. This is the first time that Building Goodness Foundation has applied for the Vibrant Community Fund and um so I just want to
say we're really grateful to be here and for your consideration for this opportunity. So, thank you so much. EGF is a construction nonprofit organization. We partner with local nonprofits, other nonprofits here in Charlottesville area who need work on their building so that they can continue
to implement their mission. We also work with local low-income homeowners to provide urgent and critically needed home repairs for their houses so that they can remain in their homes. And we also partner with small businesses to help make sure that they have what they need, the places that they need so they
can continue to operate and grow their businesses. In 2020 during the pandemic, we created a program called Seville Builds as a pilot program to help our local community during that pandemic. That year in 2020, we completed 22 projects locally. And I'm so pleased to
report that our pilot project has done really well. We've continued it every single year, and it's our flagship local program. Last year in 2025, our fifth year, we completed 92 projects in our local community. That's up from 22 projects our first year five years ago. Of those 92 projects, 45 were home
repair projects, 11 were ramp installations for additional homeowners, three were projects for small businesses, and 33 were projects for nonprofit organizations. One thing that's interesting to note is that of all of the nonprofit organizations that are incredible that you all are
reviewing for funding for the upcoming year, BGF has worked with 17 of them to make sure they have the buildings and the facilities they need so that they can actually implement their missions. Um, a couple of notable projects from the last year include the Haven refresh, working with Loaves and Fishes to give
them a new walk-in freezer, yellow door, new floors for the kids that are imuno compromised and need apartments to live in nearby. Um, and also Haven Salvation Army, um, we did a really awesome project with them to to fix their apartments for local families in need.
So, thank you so much. Thank you for your time and for your consideration. >> Yeah, I saw the apartment work. Good. It was good work. >> It's good stuff. So good. >> Dorian Bonnet, Megan Hildy, Kim Basil Wood. >> Uh, thank you all for the opportunity to
share a little bit more about our organization. My name is Dorene Bonnet. I am the executive director of Birth Sisters of Charlottesville. We are a community-based dual organization supporting women of color during their birth journeys. A former teacher once
posed this question to me. When your mother was carrying you, what did you marinate in? It wasn't just a question about the condition of her physical womb. It was also a question about the condition of the home in which her mother would
resided while pregnant, the support she received or not from family, friends, care providers, and the community at large. What kind of mental, emotional impact did all of this have on your mother? And what impact did it make on
your development while she was carrying you and after she gave birth to you and watch you grow? Birth sisters walks along mother alongside mothers of color in our community as they navigate their
pregnancies and everything that surrounds it. We have a team of 15 community-based duelists, seven of which are statecertified. The efforts of these incredible women, which two of them are in the audience here in our organization, are literally
saving lives, making this work essential. Black women in Virginia continue to experience higher rates of pregnancy associated deaths when compared with white counterparts in 2023. So 70 point
a rate of 70.7 for black women compared to 36.2 2 for white women. Just in comparison, the m maternal mortality rate for women who have been supported by birth sisters of Charlottesville from the time we
incorporated in 2020 to today is zero. >> So this work we do is impactful and it is necessary. As community based doulas, we work with mothers during their most vulnerable times. We have witnessed and supported them as they navigate many
challenges. We have seen housing issues, financial issues, partner violence, mental health challenges, and nearly every social determinant of health. >> All of this while these brave mothers are doing the sacred work of throwing babies in their bellies.
>> Thank you. Our our fundraising campaign is called protect a push which stands for provide compassionate culturally rooted trauma informed dual care. U uplift the voices autonomy resilience and power of mothers of color. Sustain
revolutionary change through systemic advocacy and honor sacred beginnings, ancestral legacies and cultural birth practice. Push is our call to action. It's our mission and it is our promise. So, we're
asking you to help us. The demand for our services increases every year. We served 54 54 families in >> Oh, I'm done. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> We We got you. We understand.
>> Kim Basil Wood Melissa Step. >> Hi. Good evening, Mayor Wade and City Council. My name is Megan Gild Day and I'm the chief development officer from the Pedmont Family YMCA. I'm here to express our gratitude for the city's investment in our work and sharing what
what that support makes possible for Charlottesville families. The city has supported our early learning child care and educating and education program for children ages 0 to five for many years and this year recommended expanding investment to our school age programs
for children ages 6 to 12. A natural continuum of that of that early learning work serving children and families as they grow. We are truly thrilled by that expansion partnership. On the early learning child side, pardon me, on the early childhood side, we are the area's
largest nonprofit provider of full-time care for children ages 0 to 5. This past year, we opened a second center at Santara Martha Jefferson, expanding access for city residents directly at this new center and by opening more spots at our Jefferson school location.
As state funding for new child for for new children has been cut, your local support is increasingly critical to maintaining quality care at low or no cost to low-income families and competitive compensation to our staff. Thank you from the Y and from the
families and from the hundreds of families who benefit from this service. Our school age work grew out of COVID when we converted the Y into a school and deepened our partnership with Charlottesville City Schools, eventually taking over the class afterchool program for ages for children ages 6 to 12.
Today we serve more than 1300 children in all city schools through afterare out of school time summer enrichmentmies that fight summer learning loss and summer camps. We hope that number will grow next year as we work toward taking over the afterchool prek program at the
former upper at the former Walker Upper Elementary School. Of the school-aged children we currently serve, more than 61% receive financial assistance to participate to participate representing $1,80,000 in scholarship support we are
committed to providing. Thank you for seeing the importance of our school age programs for families. We are grateful to you for your continued investment and hopeful as we see it signals that the city shares our belief that every
child and family deserves access to safe, enriching, lowcost programs. Thank you for being our partners in that work. Thank you. >> Basil Wood Melissa step. >> Hi, my name is Kim Basil Wood and I'm
affiliated with the Ben Heres for Life Foundation founded over 10 years ago. Our foundation is very appreciative of the vibrant community fund and the support for the city. However, our mission is still incomplete.
When Brenda and Gordon Hair founded our organization, the purpose was to waterproof our community. It should not be a privilege to learn to swim in Charlottesville, now Marl County. It should be a basic human right as we are
surrounded by water. If you don't know, rates from the CDC, children aged one through four are most likely to die an accidental death by drowning. Not guns, not in automobile accidents. Children
ages 5 to 10 are number two cause of death. So, we're coming today not to ask for additional funding in a check, but to ask for lane rental reduction. What we're trying to do is go to the Crow pool and not pay
almost $1,000 a week to be in the pool. What we're asking for is a a cost reduction so that we can get more and more children in the pool. The more time in the pool, the
more children we serve. Last year we gave we taught 300 children how to swim during the summer and adults and 200 of 80 of those people were on scholarship which means the funding that we're doing
is is going to the community. This spring we have we're teaching 80ome children to swim of which we're paying and because most of them are on scholarship so we're just asking for a
reduction in fee because we even pay for our own funds. Thank you. >> Thank you Steph Kate Shereico and Quinton Carell. to stand here. Can I Yeah, >> I have to stand here. >> No,
>> I'm I'm a mobile. >> Yeah. >> Um, okay. Thanks. Uh, guys, my name is Price. I have the the uh honor of being the executive director at City of Promise. I want to thank you guys for your continued investment in our work, our kids, and our communities. Look, here's what we know. We know we already
have the second highest cost for blue in the state of Virginia, around $18,500. We know we have the largest literacy pass rate gap in Virginia, about 48 points. We also know that our kids during their K12 here spend about 80% of their waking time out of school, right? So, they spend that time in
environments, in communities, and with and around people that will either be headwinds or tailwinds as they pursue their education, right? We have to continue to deeply and sustainably invest in these areas, right? Because we understand education is a social issue. Your ability to learn to read, to engage
with information in school is a mosaic of in and out of school factors. Health care, child care, out of school time. We've heard from all these great folks has an incredible impact on your ability to engage with the information, interact with the information that you're being given inside of a school building, which is why we've worked so hard to build
this community school model with the schools, with our nonprofit partners and practitioners, with our community, built out of people who live here, out of people who grew up here, right? Built from the fabric of this community. We went to school here. I'm very proud to be one of those people who went through Charleston City Schools because we know it works. We know the model works. We
know we have the people that can make the deep connections with our kids. So, one family who we have, the mom has a mentor, our director of family engagement and advocacy. The son is involved in our tutoring program, our after school program, access our on-site food pantry, a trailblazer, and also is on our walking bus. That student's
tardies have been reduced fivefold. Absences are down uh 33%. His literacy rate is up 8% as measured by vowels. That's just in a year, right? So we know what works. Uh the city has asked us to have staff members in summit. They have asked for us to have staff members in this early learning center. Those
unfortunately do not yet come with dollars attached to them. So we need to fund those positions to continue to do the work that we want to do to continue to build this community-based model to grow our staff efficiently and effectively in pursuit of teaching all of our little ones to read. Thank you guys. I look forward to
>> Thank you. Kitos, Clinton Herel, and Ashley Selis Matthews. >> Um, my name is Kate Jericho and I'm the current board chair for Bennett's Village and I'm here to ask you to prioritize funding for Bennett's
Village, an inclusive play space planned for Penn. As the ca as the country across the country, parks are increasingly recognized not just as places for recreation, but as critical infrastructure for community health and belonging. Parks and recreation systems
play a vital role in improving health outcomes, strengthening social connections, and ensuring equitable access to outdoor spaces for all residents. But equity requires intentional investment. Right now, Charlottesville has many parks, but none that are truly inclusive
for people of all abilities. For families with children who use wheelchairs, have sensory sensitivities, or other disabilities, the reality is that many playgrounds simply aren't useful. That's why Bennett's Village matters so much. Inspired by a child who
loved to play but couldn't access most playgrounds, this project will transform part of Penn into a multi-acre all abilities play space where children, parents, and grandparents regardless of mobility or developmental differences can play together.
The project's first phase, an accessible treehouse, opened recently, allowing people of all abilities to share the experience of climbing and playing together. But this treehouse is just the beginning. The project's second phase will include accessible play equipment, shaded
resting places, a freestyle track, a play tower, and cardio equipment for adults so no one is left on the sidelines. The rest of the vision will only become a reality if the city treats this project as a priority, not just a nonprofit effort. When cities invest in
inclusive recreation spaces, they create healthier, stronger, and more connected communities. Charlottesville prides itself on equity and inclusion, but inclusion must be invisible in our public space. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Perau, Ashley, Senelli, Matthews, George, and Matt. >> Evening. Good evening, everyone. >> Good evening, sir. Uh my name is Quinton Herell and I'm here on behalf of New Hill Development Corporation and the Beacon Kitchen
Initiative. Uh New Hill CEO would normally be here tonight, but tonight she's facilitating Beacon Kitchen's first night of our food new food service management training program, which helps aspiring food entre entrepreneurs gain
all the skills they need to launch and sustain the businesses here in Charlottesville. I'm here to respectfully request council to reconsider the proposed funding reduction and restore support for New Hills new programming
to 150,000. Uh New Hills is more than a program. It's an it's an economic infrastructure for Seville food economies. Uh today, Beacon supports 25 food businesses operating out of our 10,000 square foot
shared use commercial kitchen with capacity to support up to 70 businesses as we continue to grow. We're also expanding Beacon's impact by investing to support food processing on site for entrepreneurs. We're building out a
storefront space to uh create uh new opportunities for kitchen members and establishing presence on UVA grounds. Um that'll help connect our members to large markets. All this requires planning, programming and staff support
help uh to help entrepreneurs grow their business. And when the business grows, that success provides ROI to the city uh in the form of jobs, uh increased tax revenue, and a stronger, more diversified local food economy.
Beacon provides daily meals and snacks to several private schools, Boys and Girls Club, uh, and Barry Early Learning Center, helping these organizations to meet USDA compliance requirements and, uh, providing lunches for less than $5
per lunch. Uh I know my time is running short, but we understand difficult decisions uh councils have to make, but this reduction significantly impacts programs that are already creating jobs, already supporting entrepreneurs, and providing meals for the children across our
community. We just ask that you consider a $150,000 investment uh to Beacon uh so that it is an investment in our local business opportunity and the food economy that serves us all in this committee. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Ashley Selli Matthews, Georgia here. Um I'm Ashley Selli Matthews. I'm the executive director of Central Virginia Community Justice. Um first just want to thank you guys for your support. Um
we've had city council support since we first got started a few years ago. We're really grateful. Um we provide restorative justice services. um as you may know, research shows that restorative justice reduces trauma symptoms and reduces recidivism um more
effectively than criminal prosecution um while also costing less than a prosecution, a trial, incarceration and re-entry. So, diverting into restorative justice makes all those costs disappear. Um the first thing I wanted to check about was a mixup. I'm looking looking at Hunter. Has this already been
addressed or should I bring it up now? >> It hasn't been addressed. I forgot to get back to you. >> Okay. So, it's all good. >> It was really just the flipping of the numbers. >> Okay, I will not address that since it sounds like it's already been. >> All good. Thank you. Um, but uh what I really wanted to just share was a little
bit about restorative justice. I know everyone's not um as familiar with it. Um I got a call just this week from somebody who said um somebody who was working at our home stole a significant amount of money from us. We've called the police. we know we have this option to uh potentially press charges and move
forward with prosecution, but somebody I'm really close to and respect a lot told me about you guys and highly recommended your services. Um I really don't need this person to go to jail. They're a parent to a young child. They have their own struggles in life. I want
something to happen. You know, this needs to be addressed. Um but we would much rather work it out with them if we can. Um, and so if if something like that can go forward, we uh do not need all of the the criminal system, the
court hearings, all of the costs associated with that, we can help these folks work it out in a way that's meaningful and um meets their needs without having to go through the criminal system. And so um we would love to be able to keep doing that with your support. Um you know, with the flip-flop
um we're very grateful that that has been addressed. um that still is a reduction in um funding from what received in fiscal year 26 and we would love to request you to um continue at our fun fiscal year 26 level. Um we are
about as lean as we can get. Most of our staff work by the hour. Uh we do not throw fancy gallas. We don't even have an office space yet. Um and so uh if funding gets reduced, the only thing left to cut is to take fewer cases. um we do not want to start turning away
Charlottesville citizens um from our work. So we would request any support that you can offer and thank you all so much for your support. >> Thank you >> George and Matt Gordon Marissa Williamson. >> How's everybody doing? My name is
George. Want to thank y'all for, you know, supporting us and supporting our growth. Um, I'm just going to get straight to the point. I do my work from the heart, so I'm going to speak for the heart. Um, I want to appreciate y'all for everything that y'all have given us,
but when I looked at the the paper and I saw 2027, u I think we're getting reduced by 23%. Um, I work with a lot of misunderstood kids. I don't call them trouble youth, I call them misunderstood. We wrap around
service. Um, I'll be by I was doing it by myself, helping them with their homework. Um, going to their schools. I had a um, Matt who just left. He helps volunteer. We go to their schools. We pick them up. Um, if you ever come to our gym, we're a diverse gym. I'm big on
um, building self-confidence. We feed the kids. Um, and we growing at a rate where we need a new building like bad because we growing that fast. and for for funding to get cut. I'm doing this by myself already. And I'm gonna be
honest with you. You know, I got a new board now that's amazing, but we don't have no grant writers that know which word to put on the grant to give us the funding that we need because again, we do it from the heart. I've been service
probably over 2,000 kids in Charlottesville since 2020 that we that we um got established in Charlottesville. Couple of them were looking to commit suicide. Some of them that wanted to commit suicide didn't want to go to school no
more grades graduated looking to their own business. Had some of them some of these kids don't even want to go home because we're a safe haven. Um our work is different from everybody else. And I see like other cities, you know, like Baltimore, Nora, they really invest in
their programs like the boxing programs to help keep these kids off the street. And since they've done that, the gun violence and overall violence has gone down, but we're different. Like I said, we we work a lot besides just um you know, hitting the bag and stuff like
that. So, I would love for y'all to reconsider um our funds for next year and you know hopefully read lead us in the right direction so we know exactly what words to put for the um grants that we need. >> Thank you sir. >> Appreciate yam
Brown and Derek Rush and those our final speakers. >> That was pretty movie. Um my name is Gordon Hair. I'm the founder of the Benhair Swim for Life program. Uh this was uh in memory of my son who was
a city employee. It was a lifeguard at me and worked as a pharmacy technician down on the mall. Uh really felt for the kids uh that attended swim lessons and and recreation at me. Um,
I've been here before. Uh, maybe 10 years ago, I was here trying to kick off the the Brooks YMCA. Uh, I was a major investor in that endeavor. And uh thanks
to Brooks, I partnered with them and to together we put a half a million to continue to support a learn to swim uh program for all of the uh the city, county, Louisa, and Green County. The
schools are shipping the the kids to the Y. However, that is only five 40 minute lessons. So, it really doesn't um teach the children. It just makes them fall in love with the water, but it
doesn't make them water safe. So, I would like to continue that u that program at Crow Pool. And there's many times that Crow Pool is just not being used at all. Um, and I wouldn't get in
the way of any anyone that wanted to pay money for it, but to have a pool of that size closed doesn't make any sense to me. And I can provide all of the staff uh to support that place. We have Fry
Springs Beach Club in in the summer and that's about 90% uh nonwhite. uh you can come down there and have eight languages going on in the pool at the same time. Um but that that doesn't
cover a measurable amount of kids. That's three or 400 uh of kids that we serve there uh for mostly free, but um the program with the Y supports it. And if I could advertise all of the the
places in town that give swim lessons and then also use Crow Pool with some sort of a a handshake. That would be fun. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you for the words. >> Brown.
>> Um, good evening and uh thank you for uh the opportunity to speak. My name is Belie Brown. I'm from uh Charlottesville, Virginia. I'm here on behalf of Bennett's Village, a community-led effort to build Charlottesville's first fully inclusive uh playground. A place where children uh
of all abilities can play together, learn together, and belong together. For many families in our community, playgrounds um that most children enjoy simply aren't accessible. And this village aims to change that by creating a space designed um from the ground up
with inclusion in mind where children with mobility mobility challenges, sensory sensitivities, and other disabilities can play alongside their peers. It's not just a playground. It's a statement about who belongs in our community. That's why local government
support matters so much. When the city invests uh when the city invests through this through the Charlottesville vibrant communities fund, it does more than provide financial support. It sends a powerful message, a powerful signal to foundations, corporations, and philanthropic partners uh that this
project is a priority for Charlottesville. Across the nonprofit world, we see this again and again. Public investment unlocks private investment. When local government demonstrates confidence in a project, other donors step forward because they know they are joining a
true public private partnership. Vibrant Communities Fund was created to support projects that strengthen connection, accessibility, and opportunities across Charlottesville. Bennett Village embodies those uh goals perfectly. It brings families together. It ensures
children uh with disabilities are not left on the sidelines. and it creates a gathering space that serves the entire community. By supporting Bennis Village through the Vibrant Communities Fund, the city is not just helping build a playground. It's helping to have additional philanthropic support and
showing that Charlesville believes in in building a community where every child has a place to play. Thank you for your time and your commitment to a more inclusive Charlott. >> Derek Rush is our final speaker. Uh good evening to the mayor, excuse me, and the members of the council. My name
is Derek Rush. I am the uh co-founder of the Yahoo Foundation, a local nonprofit uh here in the Charlottesville area. I want to first thank you guys for uh the recommendation of 54,000 uh through the VR Community Fund. Uh we truly appreciate uh the city and recognizing the importance of the work that we're
doing um as well as investing in individuals who are returning home to our community from incarceration. Uh my in my role, I work directly with the men of our transitional house program. Uh so I get to see firsthand uh what people face when they come home from incarceration. Uh many return determined
to rebuild their lives, but they quickly encounter a lot of barriers or the same barriers that a lot of individuals are facing. Uh those being uh limited housing options, limited support systems, uh uh uh difficulty finding employment. uh and without that stability uh during that transition it
becomes very easy for someone to fall uh into homelessness and and back into the justice system in general. So what makes our work unique is that we provide more than housing. Our program provides mentorship structure uh workforce connections uh accountability that helps individuals stay focused on rebuilding
their lives. Um and when people have that stability, we see real outcomes. people obtain jobs, long-term employment, career paths, reconnect with their families, and also remain stable in the community and become uh law-abiding citizens and and taxpaying citizens in the community as well. Um so
the challenge that we face is demand um that our services continue to grow as we scale. Uh we're operating at two houses right now in the community. Uh one on six and a half street, another one on 12th Street. Uh we're looking to expand two more houses by the end of 2026 if possible. Um, so I know that we we asked
uh we made an ask for 200 grand. Um, so the difference between that recommended 54,000 and 200 grand that we requested represents a difference and basically being able to maintain what we currently do and also meet the the growing needs that we have for our community. Uh so we're grateful for the support that's
been recommended. Uh we respectfully ask uh that the council consider strengthening that investment uh because uh when we help people stabilize during the most vulnerable transition of their lives uh we're not only helping individuals but we're strengthening the safety and stability of our community. Uh if possible I'd like to yield the rest of my time. We actually have a
gentleman uh that's one of our uh attendants in our house and and just and give him a second to speak the club. That's okay. Well, it's you have no more time in. Um, >> but that's fine because I think you're the last speaker and so if you want to be next, sir, you have your whole two
minutes. >> So, my name is Kevin Parks. Um, I also work for CBVI. Um, I wouldn't have been able to have this opportunity if it wasn't for the Yu Yuhuru program. Um, so, you know, I had a lot of struggles with addiction, um, incarceration, uh,
coming home. it was extremely difficult to get any footing. Um, Uhuru Foundation, uh, they were able to, you know, allot me opportunities to get a job, um, get on well, not just a job, career, to get on my feet. Um, it was,
it was something I didn't expect from a community I wasn't born and raised in. I'm from Northern Virginia, so, you know, it's it's extremely busy up there. Communities aren't as tight-knit. Um, so being here and being in the community, people that have resources, um, willing
to help, um, was something I definitely appreciate. If it wasn't for the foundation, um, I wouldn't have a foundation. So being a part of the Uhuru program is something I I appreciate you guys. Appreciate everything we do. And, you know, also with CBVI, um, I feel
like, you know, the community needs programs like this. You know, it's it is it is an issue with some minorities not having a support system. You know, I grew up in a household that was completely different to what I see on a day. I had had my
father and a lot of these kids don't have father figures, don't have support systems and, you know, something I want to be able to share jewels with these young kids and be able to get them, you know, off the streets and in the programs and need funding to do that. >> Thank you and congratulations. You look
great. >> It was supposed to be me and Matt. So, can I do Matt two minutes? I got to say no. Um, it's been a long night. So, we, you know, sometimes we double it up, but we we don't we don't have to. >> Would anyone else like to speak other
than? >> Anyone else like to speak? >> I really like to speak. I just asked my Did I have to go there? >> Yes, please. >> No. I did not want to come up here and I know my child is probably like why is this woman speaking but my name is
Beatatric Bradford I work for the city I actually work for >> that man over in the corner right there Saunders um Janata Bradford from Mahogany and Friends is my daughter and I want to say that everybody should be so proud and everybody should give their
self a round of applause because if that's the problem that we have today in Charlottesville is trying to get so many of these nonprofits to try to get money. That's wonderful. That is a blessing. That is a big blessing. And I think it's I think it's just great. Um and I also I
I don't know. I I not Yeah, Mojave and Friends. I believe you start with the children and Mojave and friends are not just for children. they're actually helping adults and they um I wish it was around when I got my large sum of money when my children's father died because I did not know exactly what to do with it.
So, I mismanaged a lot of things. So, education is key. So, but but I think with a lot of these problems that I'm hearing, it's like a lot with children and it start with children. You got to start from the children. I'm not saying forget about the kids in the haven and all that, but I think to put more into
the children or my suggestion to you guys, I'm always thinking that I know something, but sometimes you do, right? I might give you guys an idea. Um, is to um put some of these programs together because a lot of them doing the same thing. Somebody strategize and try to
get which ones could get together and do the same thing and then that kind of cuts a little bit of the money and I'm gone. That's what I was say. That's what I was gonna say. >> That's exactly what I was >> I can tell you.
>> Don't forget about my parking spot. So, >> throw that in there. That was >> Yeah. So, I can tell you the idea of combining some I we started to do that 20 some years ago and once you start dipping in these nonprofits
um silos and missions, it's it's not pretty. But I'm not saying it can't be done, but they you're not the first to them. Maybe they might want to do it theirelves. >> Um okay. Anyone else like to speak? We got the issue of the parking space.
Anyone else like to speak? >> Thank you so much. We appreciate it. It's um we we got through it fairly quick. It's a little bit after 8. Do we want to discuss this um tonight? >> Okay. >> Not because it's not important, but I think that we have some spreadsheets to
review. We have some reports to read. It's always great hearing from the people. you know, we get the the the work that the reviewers do and that Hunter provides us is great. Um, but this is always helpful. So, we can take some time to digest, make notes in our spreadsheets, and um,
circulate those. >> Michael, you may at this point if >> we could before you start. >> Yeah. >> This is John's first time going through this process as our city attorney who is here to keep us all out of trouble. Uh, and just because we've been doing it a
certain way, I'm always conscious of the idea that when we have to reflect on things, we figure some things out. So, I want to make sure that he has nothing to advise us of as we start to go through this process because strengthening it is what I'm always after.
>> Thanks for putting me on the spot, Sam. >> No, the we have a lot of authority to make grants under Virginia law. It's actually uh very different in Virginia than where I came from. I'm still getting used to those sorts of things, but um we do have to make sure that we're being open and transparent and that decisions are getting full
sunlight. Um so we have to be as we are considering these things, make sure that it's not groups of three all getting together and deciding on funding, but ultimately it will be um if you the council has to decide as a group which groups get additional funding. So it's important as you're being approached by members of the community, you're having
conversations with these lovely folks who have shown up that um we're not promising things because only the only the council can act for the council. Um, that's about all I've got just on the spot, but I'm sure as as Miss Ford might have at the conclusion, maybe I can do a posttop and we can uh
>> that will happen. I promise you. >> But I just wanted to make sure he had a chance to advise you uh in this this activity. >> So, we we have received a lot of emails what you heard tonight and many many many more um and um which is great. Um
you know, we I love this engaged community. So I think that what I heard um I'm sorry Mike you already said something >> just do people have a sense even ballpark >> the total amount they're looking to change at this point not the specific
agencies but >> do you mean from the >> from your fund >> from our fund is that what yeah okay >> right that is your single source >> I will always remind you of that >> yeah I I think I I mean I I don't want
to just make up a number for that. Um you know, there's some questions I have for staff about other places funding could come from or other help that like grant writing assistance. Where do those people go for that? And so I think there's going to be some marinating and some emails before we come up before I
come up with a number. >> Yeah. Um yeah, I I think that um you know that I have heard that you know we were talking maybe in $100,000 of the
strategic funds in that neighborhood but um I heard a lot of I took a lot of notes from tonight that I you know that that didn't really resonate with me from reading the applications but the the comments from board members and things like that did. So, um, yes, I may have
some some additional thoughts. >> Michael, did you have a number you were working with or >> not particularly? I mean, I think about years past, I mean, there I don't have specific agency recommendations in
mind, but if we're going to make changes, I was thinking kind of in a ballpark of like $100,000 or so. um just because we know there going to be requests throughout the year um especially if our year in surplus is kind of
soft earmarked for a lot of other things. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I had started with 150,000 based on last year's 96 um and just the ecosystem, the nonprofit ecosystem at the moment and what after
interviewing a lot of people what it seemed like but um that was the starting point. So yeah, I've been discussing >> um so um we have a council meeting on Monday and although it's not an official
public hearing, but people can provide comments at that meeting on the budget if they like, but but also can continue to to email counsel. Um and that's something that, you know, we all read and we factor in as we make decisions.
And um so um yeah, >> and depending on the turnout next week, we'll have an opportunity to do some additional work as well. >> So every Thursday of this month um >> I'm back here
>> six to you know six o'clock and um you know so um it's a lot of meetings, a lot of issues that we have to try to address this budget. We may even have to have an additional meeting. We we'll have to see, but um we'll definitely give to public notice of that. So um any other
questions or comment? >> I think Miss Bradford said it nicely. It is nice to see that there is this much community involvement, positivity, conscientiousness, and effort going into making our city better, stronger, and um
and more together. So thank you all so much for everything you do. do. >> May I get a a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor, please say yes. >> Yes. >> All oppose, please say no. >> Thank you. all the things that are dry.