In an effort to improve relations and communication between the University student body and Charlottesville City Council, Student Council began formulating a city liaison position this academic year.
"The position is a way to institutionalize the relationship between students and the City Council," Student Council Chief of Staff Noah Sullivan said.
Student Council is creating a proposal that will be submitted to City Council in two weeks. The proposed student member of the City Council would not hold a voting seat but would attend Council meetings, have speaking privileges and be responsible for keeping Student Council and the University student body informed about the city.
"Most of us are not technically Charlottesville citizens, but certainly where we go and what we do is affected by City Council," Sullivan said. "In that sense, we are very active residents of Charlottesville."
Although most University students are unable to vote in Charlottesville, the liaison position would give the student body a chance to influence the City Council.
"Although we cannot vote, our influence on Charlottesville as a whole essentially forces us to form a relationship with City Council," Community Affairs Committee Chair Otis Ofori said.
City Council members are eager to give University students a voice, too.
"I think students are recognized citizens in this community and are a very big part of why we are all here," Mayor Maurice Cox said. "It only makes sense that we would try to develop a way to share issues together directly."
Housing and transportation are two city issues on which Student Council foresees the future liaison having an impact.
"I think the Student Council liaison will not only address unique situations to college life, such as housing and parking, but will attempt to codify a lasting relationship between the University and the City Council," Ofori said.
The student liaison to City Council is a relatively new idea that was briefly discussed by Student Council during the last academic year, but made a priority by this year's body, Sullivan said.
He added that he was pleased Student Council was moving ahead with its proposal and optimistic about its implementation as early as next fall.
"It would be fantastic if we got everything together to start next year," Sullivan said.
Student Council has yet to determine the position a student liaison would hold with respect to Council or the exact process for student liaison selection.
Sullivan said there would most likely be an application process in the spring followed by a selection overseen by Student Council, the city attorney and the vice mayor. One student would be appointed to the student liaison position, much like the student member of the University Board of Visitors. The appointed student would serve as liaison to City Council for one year.
Both the Student Council and the City Council have expressed enthusiasm about the proposed liaison, especially since failure to communicate has strained town-gown relations in the past.
"Both parties have a strong interest in improving communication," Sullivan said.
City Council members said they are anxious to see the proposal and are optimistic about its potential.
"I haven't seen the proposal, but I'm generally supportive of the idea of strengthening the relationship between City Council and Student Council," Council member Kevin Lynch said. "It remains to be seen what the appropriate format to do that is."
City Council members, however, also are encouraging Student Council to consider a range of options.
Cox said he favors University student representatives also attending Planning Albemarle-Charlottesville Council, a group dedicated to discussing issues which affect the entire region.
A student representative does not, however, have the power to impact policy just by attending City Council meetings, Cox said.
"That won't necessarily give them a voice at the table," he said.
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