The Civic Voice
Newsletter of the Arlington County Civic Federation
October, 2000 - Volume 85, No. 2
Civic Federation to Host Commission Chairs, Debate Bonds
October General Meeting
7:30 pm, Tuesday, October 3rd
Arlington Hospital - Auditorium
1701 N. George Mason Drive
While the first ACCF meeting of the year, September�s Candidates Night, may
be hard to top � the second meeting should be as thoroughly interesting and
just as important to all of our members. At this meeting, the Federation
will review the local bond initiatives and constitutional amendments that
will appear on the ballot in November�s election. We will consider
resolutions either supporting or opposing these ballot questions. Our
program for the October Meeting will be:
~ October�s Meeting Program ~
Review Bonds and Constitutional Amendments on November Ballot
Panel of Commission Chairs Will Discuss Bonds, Answer Questions
ACCF Will Vote Recommendations
Chesapeake Bay Task Force Presentation
A summary of the Bond Initiatives and the Constitutional Amendments appears
on Page 2 in this newsletter
Update by Chesapeake Bay Task Force At This Meeting
Is Arlington County doing a good job cleaning up wastewater that it returns
to the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay? Are we meeting State
Environmental Standards? Will fixing these problems bust the County�s
budget next year and raise taxes? A presentation on these issues has been
added to our October 5th meeting � see the article on Page 2 for details
Check Out the Federation Webpage�s Civic Calendar
To help our members we�ve added a calendar to our web page. Now member
organizations can consult the Civic Federation�s web page before scheduling
events to avoid conflicts and competing for the same programs. ACCF member
organizations can "spread the word" about important meetings and events they
are planning. Please check out the new Civic Calendar at:
www.civfed.org or www.civfed.com
Proposed Amendments to the State Constitution and
County Bond Referenda Appearing on the November 7th
General Election Ballot
Proposed Constitutional Amendments
Question 1: Shall the Constitution of Virginia be amended to provide for a
Lottery Proceeds Fund and the distribution of net lottery revenues to the
localities to spend for public education purposes?
Question 2: Shall the Constitution of Virginia be amended by adding a
provision concerning the right of the people to hunt, fish, and harvest
game?
Proposed County Bond Referenda:
Public School Projects: Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its
general obligation bonds in the maximum amount of $42,612,500 to finance,
together with other available funds, the costs of various capital projects
and land for Arlington County public school and community purposes?
Local and Regional Parks and Recreation: Shall Arlington County contract a
debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum amount of
$25,875,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of
various capital projects for local and regional parks and recreation
purposes?
Streets, Highways, Metro, Storm Drainage, and Community Conservation: Shall
Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in
the maximum amount of $34,291,000 to finance, together with other available
funds, the cost of various capital projects for streets, highways, Metro,
storm drainage, and community conservation purposes?
Government Facilities and Higher Education: Shall Arlington County contract
a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum amount of
$7,210,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the costs of
constructing and equipping Fire Station #5 and the constructing and
equipping of Phase II of George Mason University�s building?
Utilities: Shall Arlington County issue $12,070,000 in general obligation
bonds, along with other available funds, to finance the cost of expanding,
improving, and renovating Arlington County�s Water Distribution and Sanitary
Sewer Systems?
Format for the ACCF�s Deliberations
We will begin with a short review of the bond referenda and constitutional
amendments and proposed ACCF resolutions presented by the ACCF�s Revenues &
Expenditures and Legislation Committees.
Next we�ll hear from a panel of County Advisory Commission Chairs about the
merits of the bond initiatives. The ACCF has invited the chairs of the
Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission, Transportation Commission, Neighborhood
Conservation Advisory Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission,
Environmental and Energy Conservation Commission, Schools Capital
Improvement Advisory Committee, and the Joint GMU/Arlington Co. Advisory
Board. The panel will then be available to answer ACCF membership
questions.
Following the question and answer period, the membership will vote for or
against recommending the bond and constitutional amendments to our member
organizations.
Chesapeake Bay Update
By Patrick Smaldore (ACCF ExComm Chair)
Our County has accepted the challenge of protecting our streams, the
Potomac, and the Chesapeake Bay, by paying more attention to how we use and
manage our own lands and waters. Citizens and staff have recently completed
two major studies that stress that everyone � county staff, developers,
contractors, and county residents � should understand the risks posed by
runoff from our streets, parks, backyards, and parking lots. This fall and
winter both studies � one updating our Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance
and the other looking broadly at watershed management in the County � will
come before the County Board with proposed steps to implement their
recommendations. The leaders of these study groups will appear at October�s
meeting with progress reports.
Meeting on Glebe & Rt. 50 Changes
State Delegate Karen Darner has advised the ACCF that VDOT will be holding a
�Location and Design Public Hearing� for the widening and rehabilitation of
the Glebe Road/Route 120 bridge over Rt. 50.� Hearing will be held on
October 19, from 5 to 8pm at Jefferson Middle School.
ACCF Executive Committee is Becoming more Agile on Issues
Did you know that the purpose of the Executive Committee (the �ExComm�) is
to act on Federation business between General Membership meetings? To
become more responsive to County events, and issues, we�re streamlining how
the ExComm takes actions.
- If an issue arises that can�t wait until the next General Meeting, the
ExComm will take action on the ACCF�s behalf.
- On occasions when the ExComm can�t meet, �eVote� resolutions are passed
via email or fax to �get the job done.�
- At the next General Meeting, any ExComm actions taken since the previous
general meeting will be reviewed for general consent and can be changed,
modified or revoked by the General membership.
Notes From the ACCF President
We�re off to a fast start for the Civic Federation�s Fall agenda and making
good progress in a number of areas. Our Candidates Night was a resounding
success � with the highest attendance in memory and great reviews in the
papers. Some initiatives we will continue to press forward with are:
- We�re getting our Committees geared up and moving proactively on issues
of interest to our member organizations.
- As your President, and with the advice of the Executive Committee, I�ve
given our Committee Chairs a list of issue areas that we need to take on.
That list is posted on our web site and will be provided at the October
meeting � and we need your inputs to improve it! Many of the Committees are
meeting soon to look at those issues and any others they wish to undertake.
If you would like to join a committee, consider attending:
- The Transportation Committee will meet at 7:30 pm on October 26th at Randy
Swart�s house.
- The Schools Committee will hold its first meeting Sunday, October 15.
Anyone interested should contact Terri Prell or Roger Meyer for details.
- The Parks & Recreation Committee held its first meeting on September 27,
at Jay Wind�s house � check with Jay or Judy Green at the October General
meeting for the next meeting date.
See you at the October Meeting!
Jim Pebley
After Notes
- November 7th General Meeting � ACCF Legislative Package
Drafts Will Be Available At The October General Meeting And On Our Website
Discuss It With Your Organizations!
ACCF Officers
President Jim Pebley 703-525-0766 jim+
Vice President Dan Krasnegor 703-534-4024 dan+
Treasurer Frances Finta 703-528-2882 (no email)
Secretary Tim Wise 703-243-8345 tim+
Executive Committee
Chairman - Patrick Smaldore 703-528-3935 - patrick+
Member - Robert Atkins 703-527-8859 - (voice or fax) - (no email)
Member - Darnell Carpenter 703-243-5188 - darnell+
Member - Mileva Hartman 703-841-9287 - mileva+
Member - Dan Krasnegor 703-534-4024 - dan+
Member - Susan Quinn 703-931-1755 - susan+
Committee Chairs
Newsletter Editorial Committee
+
News email: - civicvoice Fax: 703-486-0576 +
Web: - www.civfed.org (.com works too)
Recipients of this newsletter are encouraged to forward to all and any
interested parties
Copies of the Newsletter are available for Download from the Civic
Federation website.
If you have comments or complaints, please contact the editor, Jim Pebley
This page was last revised on: December 28, 2003.
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Arlington County Civic Federation
