What does C’ville actually get from all those consultants it hires?

Money for nothing?

Consulting is a booming business in Charlottesville

By Sean Tubbs

It’s a process that happens over and over again in Charlottesville and other localities. A big project is proposed, but before any money is spent on construction, the city hires a consulting firm, often to the tune of six or seven figures. Projects like the Belmont Bridge, the West Main Streetscape, and Cville Plans Together have already cost the city millions, even though work has been delayed and may never even begin. Are these outsiders worth the big bucks?

“Consultants often have specialized knowledge, skills, or resources that allow them to take care of work that might be daunting to locality planners whose knowledge is necessarily more broad and generalized,” says Mike MacKenzie, the director of the Land Use Education Program at Virginia Commonwealth University.

After several years of turnover at the highest levels of government, even Charlottesville’s top official is currently a consultant paid through a firm the city hired.

Last December, the city issued a request for proposals for a firm to provide the service of city manager after a candidate hired in November turned down the job. The Robert Bobb Group of Washington, D.C., got the nod, and council selected Michael C. Rogers from a list of candidates. The initial sixmonth term carried a price tag of $155,000, and the firm just got a six-month contract extension for Rogers at the same price.

There’s no line item in the budget that lists all of the consultants working at any given time. In fact, the word “consultant” only appears once in the entire Charlottesville bud-

“I have worked with some consultants who I feel really brought a lot to the table, and I have worked with some I felt really did not listen to what our community was asking for.”

CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCILOR SENA MAGILL

get for FY23. Yet the work of various firms has played a significant role in city government long after their contracts are over.

In the past 10 years, Charlottesville has spent millions on firms to produce plans to guide city decisions. The Toole Design Group was hired in 2014 to develop a “multimodal plan for the City of Charlottesville” called Streets That Work for an initial payment of $50,000. At the time, at least one city councilor felt existing planning staff were not up to the task.

That summer, Toole got an additional $85,000 to update the Bicycle and Pedestrian

CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE

Years before the Sacajawea, Lewis, and Clark statue was removed, consultants envisioned a West Main Street streetscape that never happened.

Master Plan. In August 2017, it was hired again on a $199,987 contract to update a Standards and Design Manual. These three documents are frequently used by planning staff as it reviews plans.

In 2016, The Novak Consulting Group was paid $101,250 to study how Charlottesville government worked, followed by

A bit of advice

Kimley-Horn This Richmond-based firm was hired by the city in November 2016 for nearly $2 million to finalize a Belmont Bridge design built on the work of the previous consultant. Construction is now underway. This firm was also hired by the city to oversee the East High Streetscape, one of several Smart Scale transportation projects that have not yet gone to construction.

Rhodeside & Harwell RHI got the $340,000 contract for a design study of West Main Street approved by City Council in 2013. By October 2018, the firm had been paid $1.8 million to oversee technical drawings for a street improvement project whose cost estimates climbed as high as $55 million and which was recently sidelined. RHI was hired again in 2020 for nearly $1 million to oversee creation of an affordable housing plan, finish the Comprehensive Plan, and rewrite the an additional $42,200 for a review of the city’s planning department. Many of these recommendations were not implemented, in part because of turmoil that began in the summer of 2017.

Other projects crafted by consultants have also not come to fruition. Earlier this month, council put the West Main Streetscape design

city’s zoning code. Council has been authorized at least $165,000 more for additional studies to complete the work. As of the end of April, the city has paid out $766,316.78.

Timmons Group The Timmons Group is overseeing design work for two Smart Scale projects (Emmet Street Streetscape and Barracks Emmet Improvements), but is working closely with the city to develop new software for the city to track landuse applications such as rezonings and site plans. The firm will get more than $900K over five years to replace software from 2008. Such software has been recommended by previous consultants.

New Hill Development In late 2018, council directed $500,000 to the New Hill Development Company to create a master plan for the Starr Hill neighborhood, but the final work product ended up being converted to a vision plan. overseen by Rhodeside & Harwell back on the shelf after agreeing to reprioritze capital spending for school renovation.

School systems hire consultants to do work, too. The Charlottesville School Board hired VMDO Architects for $1.47 million in April 2021 to develop the plans to renovate and expand Buford Middle School.

Consultants aren’t always hired to plan for infrastructure projects. Governments also hire consultants to get a fresh look on long-term planning, and last week, the city hired Venable LLP to help write a collective bargaining ordinance.

The practice continues under the current council. Vice-Mayor Juandiego Wade says hiring outside parties can help with staff shortages.

“I think the work could be very good if the consultants are appropriately chosen,” he says.

Councilor Sena Magill says she would prefer that more work be conducted in-house, but sometimes groups will have the right kind of expertise required.

“I have worked with some consultants who I feel really brought a lot to the table, and I have worked with some I felt really did not listen to what our community was asking for,” Magill says.

Active bids at the moment include an engineering firm to craft a plan for city buildings to become compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and a company to lead an executive search for the city’s next police chief.

FRIDAY 6/17 – SATURDAY 6/18

FARE THEE WELL

AMY AND JACKSON SMITH Keese

FRIDAY 6/17 – SUNDAY 6/19

COMMEMORATION

The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center’s Juneteenth Celebration kicks off with Honoring the Ancestors, during which community members give presentations about local ancestors through readings and songs. Saturday’s day-long celebration features a parade, food, music, dance, an expo of over 30 Black-owned businesses and orgs, and the Emancipation Concert. Performers over the weekend include Myra Anderson, Richelle Claiborne, Ti Ames, and Keese. The Charlottesville Players Guild wraps up the event with a staged reading of Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks, and a post-show discussion with director Matthew Reynolds, the cast, and community leaders and artists, including Sarad Davenport, Zyahna Bryant, Chris Evans, and Reverend Brenda Brown-Grooms. Free, various times. Various locations. jeffschoolheritagecenter.org Hear ye, hear ye, ‘tis time for merriment and revelry galore, as the Fae Festival is nigh upon us. Meander through a medieval market, where vendors display their wares, and witness demos and workshops from Raptor Hill Falconry, The Amethyst Cauldron Witch Crafts, and more. Feast on a fine selection of food while enjoying live music and dance performances from An Lár, Vicky Lee, Ginnie Fae Fairy Dancer, and many more. $10-20, all day. Ix Art Park, 522 Second St. SE. ixartpark.org

SUNDAY 6/19

STAY POSITIVE

Andy Grammer’s head-bobbing pop anthems go hard on the radio, and even harder on stage. The multi-platinum artist is currently on The Art of Joy Tour, where he performs earworms like “Honey, I’m Good,” “Fine By Me,” and “Keep Your Head Up ‘’ with contagious energy. On Naïve, an encouraging, spiritual pop record, Grammer sings about emotion and pain with his signature positivity. The single “Don’t Give Up On Me” is the theme song for the romantic drama Five Feet Apart, and it’s a hopeful tune about believing in yourself and fighting for something that’s slipping away. $34.75-69.75, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

SUPPLIED PHOTO

Wednesday 6/15

music

Beleza Duo. Samba soul. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

BRIMS & WTJU FM Present: John Doyle

& Mick McAuley. A special night performance featuring Slice Versa food truck. Free, 7pm. Potters Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com Irish Wednesday. Traditional folk music, peace advocacy, and wholesome kookiness from Matthew O’Donnell. Free, 5:30pm. The Pub at Lake Monticello, 51 Bunker Blvd., Palmyra. lakemonticellogolf.org Lord Huron with Erin Rae. An expansive and dynamic blend of folk, rock, pop, and threads of Americana. $39, 7pm. Ting Pavilion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. tingpavilion.com The Wavelength. A mid-week music boost. Free, 6:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjarcville.com

dance

Charleston Dance Lesson. SwingCville teaches this three-week lesson series for all levels of experience. Free, 7pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.org

outside

Archaeology Plantation Walking Tour.

Join archaeologists on a walking tour to hidden parts of the plantation and learn how archaeology informs our understanding of the lives of those who lived and worked at Monticello. Included with admission, 1:30pm. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. monticello.org Farmers in the Park. Local farmers with seasonal produce and meats, cut and potted flowers, baked goods, hot meals, value-added products, prepared food, and crafts. Free, 3pm. Farmers in the Park, 300 Meade Ave. charlottesville.gov Wind Down Wednesday. Acoustic music, food trucks, and a stunning Charlottesville sunset. $5, 6pm. Carter Mountain Orchard, 1435 Carters Mountain Trl. chilesfamilyorchards.com

etc.

Radio Relics: A WTJU History Exhibi-

tion. A new micro-museum exhibition tracing WTJU’s storied history of broadcasting, featuring curated photos, artifacts, and tons of T-shirts. Free, 10am. WTJU, 2244 Ivy Rd. wtju.net Trivia in the Orchard. Katalin Magyar tests your knowledge of history, pop culture, holidays past, and, of course, cider. Free, 6:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

Thursday 6/16

music

Berto and Vincent. Wild gypsy rumba and Latin guitar. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

classes

Fae Costume Workshop: Flower

Crowns. Prepare for Ix’s Fae Fest with a hands-on workshop weaving your own flower crown. Free, 6pm. Ix Art Park, 522 Second St. SE. ixartpark.org