AGENDA DATE: 8/5/2020
TITLE:
Title
Ordinance Amendment - Administration; Elections; Rio Magisterial District; Branchlands Precinct and Northside Precinct - Change of Polling Place
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Public hearing to consider an ordinance to establish: 1) the Hillsdale Conference Center as the polling place for the Branchlands Precinct in the Rio Magisterial District, and 2) the Laurel Hill Baptist Church as the polling place for the Northside Precinct in the Rio Magisterial District.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Bessette, Washburne, Schermerhorn
PRESENTER (S): Heilman, Wurzer, Rodemeyer, Washburne, Schermerhorn
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Virginia Code § 24.2-307 requires that the Board of Supervisors establish polling places by ordinance.
County Code § 2-102(C)(2) currently establishes the Activity Center at the Church of the Incarnation as the polling place for the Branchlands Precinct in the Rio Magisterial District, and County Code § 2-102(C)(4) currently establishes the Earlysville Volunteer Fire Station as the polling place for the Northside Precinct in the Rio Magisterial District.
Due to Covid-19, these locations were not able to serve as polling places for the June 23, 2020 primary election. Given the uncertainty of the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Electoral Board decided it would be best to find a new polling place for the Branchlands Precinct and the Northside Precinct for future elections.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality Government Operations: Ensure County government’s capacity to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION: The Albemarle County Electoral Board investigated alternative polling place locations for the Branchlands Precinct and recommends that the polling place be relocated to the Hillsdale Conference Center at 550 Hillsdale Drive. The Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors owns and manages the Hillsdale Conference Center, and has agreed to have the Hillsdale Conference Center serve as the polling place for the Branchlands Precinct. The attached map (Attachment A) shows the former Church of the Incarnation location and the proposed new Hillsdale Conference Center location.
The Albemarle County Electoral Board investigated alternative polling place locations for the Northside Precinct and recommends that the polling place be relocated to the Laurel Hill Baptist Church at 3595 Grand Forks Blvd. The Laurel Hill Baptist Church has agreed to serve as the polling place for the Northside Precinct. The attached map (Attachment B) shows the former Earlysville Volunteer Fire Station location and the proposed new Laurel Hill Baptist Church location.
The County Attorney has prepared the attached proposed ordinance (Attachment C) to reflect these polling place changes for the Board’s consideration.
BUDGET IMPACT: The adoption of the proposed ordinance will have minimal budget impact, as new voter cards will have to be mailed to all registered voters in the Branchlands Precinct and the Northside Precinct.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that, after the public hearing, the Board adopt the attached proposed ordinance (Attachment C).
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Map - Branchlands
B - Map - Northside
C - Proposed Ordinance