The Civic Voice
Newsletter of the Arlington County Civic Federation
February, 2001 - Volume 85, No. 6
March Meeting Moved
To Monday, March 5th!
FEBRUARY GENERAL MEETING To Be held:
7:30 P.M., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH
Arlington Hospital, Hazel Auditorium
1701 N. George Mason Drive
We'll be discussing a medley of issues at the Civic Federation's February
meeting. As of the deadline for this newsletter, the evolving agenda looked
like this:
February Meeting Program
- - - -
Pre-meeting Public Comment
- - - -
Visit by Acting County Manager
- - - -
Tax Assessment Brief With Q&A
- - - -
Bicentennial Update
- - - -
Parks Committee Presentation
* * * * *
Acting County Manager To Visit
Federation at February Meeting
As you have undoubtedly heard, the current County Manager, Bill Donohue, has
tendered his resignation to the County Board, effective in two weeks. At
the January 27th County Board Meeting it was announced that Mr. Ron Carlee,
the current Director of the Department of Human Services, would be the
Acting County Manager until the County Board completes a nation-wide search
for a new Manager. Less than 10 minutes after the announcement, Mr. Carlee
asked the Civic Federation President if he could "stop by at our February
meeting" to introduce himself and establish communications with the
Federation. In response to this encouraging outreach gesture, we agreed to
"give him the floor" at the beginning of our upcoming meeting.
The "Citizen' s Forum" Continues In February
7 :00 To 7:30
P.M. -- Before The Meeting
Federation and County To Discuss Community Planning At March Meeting
Over the past 6 months, a number of neighborhood leaders and Civic
Federation members have expressed serious concerns about the County's
planning process. Specifically, almost all mentioned that when nearby
commercial developments were being planned that neighboring community civic
leaders were being contacted too late to affect the outcomes and mitigate
impacts. With the concurrence of the Federation's Executive Committee, the
Federation President contacted the County Board Chairman, Jay Fisette, to
offer hosting an "educate and communicate" session at the Federation's March
meeting. To avoid a conflict with the County's budget hearings, our meeting
has been moved to Monday, March 5th. Mr. Fisette, the Board Chairman, will
speak for the County Board. Mr. Jack Goodman, the Planning Commission's
outgoing Chairman has offered to sit on the panel as well. Invitations have
been extended to the Acting County Manager, the Community Planning and
Housing Development's chief planner and to the Director of the Department of
Economic Development. This meeting is intended to complement a March 10th
confab being hosted by Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC). That
meeting is planned as a forum on community planning to discuss the direction
Arlington is taking with development. Additionally, the Federation has
offered to host a town hall style meeting (in the near future) on planning
between the County Board & Staff and the Federation's Officers, member Civic
Association/Organization Presidents and other interested parties.
Tax Assessments Rise � Chief of Tax Assessments to Address
Federation
By this time, many readers will have received notifications from the County
that their real estate property tax assessments will be raised an average of
10%, which equates to about $220 per home per year. Mr. Tommy Rice, the
Chief of the Department of Real Estate Assessments (which is an
administrative part of the Department of Management and Finance but is
titled a "Department" as a State Code requirement) has tentatively accepted
an offer to address the Federation at the February meeting. Mr. Rice will
explain the assessment process and how you may appeal an assessment you don'
t consider appropriate for your home. Come and listen!
Update on the Bicentennial Celebration at Federation's February
Meeting
At our February meeting, Ms. Margaret Lampe and other Bicentennial Committee
members will provide an overview of planning for the County's "200th Year
Birthday Party." Patrick Smaldore, our representative on the committee
advises us that we still haven't reached the 300-plate threshold for the
Commonwealth to issue the new Bicentennial License Plates. Come-on
everybody -- let's get those orders in today! You can order them over the
County's eGov Internet site or by contacting/visiting the Treasurer's
office.
Civic Federation Awards Banquet Set for March 30th � Reserve That
Date!
Dan Krasnegor, our VP and Special Events Committee Chair advises us that the
Annual Banquet is set for Friday evening, March 30th. The affair is planned
to take place at the Hilton Hotel in Ballston (same locale as last year).
While Dan won't say who the guest of honor is yet (rumors of a media
personality abound), we are hoping that the dinner will raise funds to
balance this year's Federation budget and that voluntary coincidental
contributions will help build up funds to permit doing things like a larger
scholarship fund or for grants to civic associations starting up in
economically disadvantaged parts of the County. Let's all plan to attend �
and bring a spouse, a friend and a neighbor!
Public Comment A Continuing Success
At our January meeting we had 6 members and guests speak during the
half-hour before the meeting. Since this tradition appears to be taking
hold, we will continue the sessions while experimenting with the format. At
the February meeting we hope to provide more interaction between Federation
Officers and speakers seeking assistance on issues.
Reach Out and Touch Your Legislator
Robert Atkins advises that the State Legislature's session is in full swing
as this newsletter is mailed. This year's 45-day session began on January
10 and should run through approximately February 14th. Robert says that you
can obtain information about the status of pending legislation by logging on
to the state's Internet site at "http://legis.state.va.us". To talk to your
state legislator, you can call him/her at 804-698-10xx (xx = your Delegate
district's number) or 804-698-10xx (xx = your Senate District number). To
email your legislators, you can contact them at:
Del_(Last Name)@house.state.va.us
Sen_(Last Name)@senate.state.va.us
Revenues and Expenditures Committee To Review County Budget
The County Manager's Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2002 will be released
on February 10th. Each year the Federation reviews the County's budget and
provides significant inputs to the County Board about planned revenues and
expenditures (hence our committee's name). Robert Atkins, our Committee
Chair, advises that they will begin meeting shortly after February 10th to
begin breaking up the budget into "bite-sized" pieces for the Committee's
review. In the past, the committee met weekly on Sunday afternoons to
discuss the budget. Robert advises that his committee is open to newcomers
and welcomes any delegate, alternate or participant in our member
organizations to attend these interesting review sessions. Robert will
provide meeting times and locations at the Federation's February Meeting.
Search For Civic Heroes Continues
In case you've missed a couple of meetings recently, you know that the
Federation is honoring "Civic Heroes" at our monthly meetings. An Ad hoc
sub-group of the Executive Committee has established a set of guidelines for
selecting and recognizing "those citizens or persons who work in Arlington"
and make important civic contributions to our whole community. If you know
someone really worthy of such recognition � contact your organization's
president and ask him or her to forward a name and justification to the
Executive Committee or President for consideration.
Notes From Your President
-- Neighborhood Day. Each year the Federation takes the lead on organizing
Neighborhood Day. This year's N-Day has been scheduled for May 12. The
theme for Neighborhood Day this year will be tied into the Bicentennial (no
surprise here!). In addition to events across all the neighborhoods (park
clean-ups, chili cook-offs, community yard sales, etc.), each year the day's
big event is a parade down Clarendon Boulevard to the County Building. This
year's event will be a doozy � with antique cars, civil war re-enactors,
marching bands, and neighborhood floats. Details about how to participate
are on the Civic Federation Web Page.
-- Community Calendar Reminder. If you have a community event you want
everyone to know about � send it to our Webmaster at "calendar"+
We'll be happy to post your event in our Countywide Calendar. You can use
the calendar to plan events to avoid competing with other community
activities.
-- Congratulations are in order for Mr. Talmadge Williams. Talmadge was
recently elected as President of the Arlington NAACP. Congratulations,
Talmadge!
-- Upcoming Issues. We are looking at initiatives on restricting commercial
vehicle parking in residential areas. I've also asked committee chairs to
review the pros/cons of a proposal for a regional authority to raise sales
taxes currently under consideration in Richmond. The Bylaws Committee is
forwarding proposed bylaws changes. And...we haven't given up on the snow
removal ordinance.
--That's all for this [hardcopy] newsletter. See you at the February 6th
meeting!
A couple of additional notes --
First -- I regret to inform our membership that Dottie Stepp's husband,
Arthur passed away yesterday, January 31st. As the President of the
Arlington County Crime Prevention Council, Dottie is a frequent visitor and
friend of the Federation. We deeply regret his passing and extend our
deepest sympathies to Dottie.
Services for Arthur Stepp will be Monday, February 5 at 1000 at Arlington
National Cemetery Columbarium. Friends should meet at the Cemetery
Administration Building at 0945.
Second -- I received the following letter from School Board Member Mary
Hynes last week. While I was unable to include it in the newsletter, I
offered to post it on the web site and incorporate it in the eNewsletter.
Here it is:
January 23, 2001
Dear Mr. Pebley,
At your January meeting, a Civic Federation member misquoted me when she
asked County Board members an affordable housing question. Based on review
of the meeting videotape, I am writing to correct the record regarding my
position on this very important topic. Contrary to the statement at your
meeting, I am very supportive of County efforts to provide a variety of
affordable housing throughout our community.
Since 1995, when I joined the School Board, the community discussion on
affordable housing has not flagged. Clearly, changes in housing patterns
have the potential to impact the school system's need for resources. And,
without a doubt, schools and affordable housing are among the many pressures
on the County budget. Advocates for both have articulated persuasive
arguments for increased funding over the past few years. Balancing these
needs, along with others, is one of the County Board the toughest jobs.
As a School Board member, my official focus has been twofold: ensuring that
school planners have the best information possible about impending
conversions of existing housing and new construction and ensuring that
county planners are using the best data possible on the impacts that
conversions and new construction may have on the school system's need for
resources. I am pleased to say that the dialogue between school and county
planners, while not perfect, has improved significantly over the past 6
years.
In addition to this official focus, for a number of years I have
communicated strongly to my County Board colleagues my personal belief that
stabilizing families should be one goal of our housing policies. When
families are able to live in clean, safe housing for extended periods of
time, the children feel more settled and do better in school.
In the long run, I believe our county housing policies should result in an
increase in the number of new families who choose to remain in
Arlington-ultimately moving from rental housing to homeownership. Moving in
this direction will ensure the continuation of the "Arlington Way", rooting
new people of all backgrounds in our caring community. It will also help the
school system meet its two most important strategic goals-increasing student
achievement and closing the achievement gap between minority and white
students. I firmly believe-and research bears out-student achievement rises
when youngsters are able to remain in the same school for a number of years.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to clarify last month's statements
about my beliefs. Please feel free to share this information in any way you
choose with members of the Civic Federation.
Mary Hynes
School Board member
Finally -- I received the following letter from Toni Copeland, the Clerk of
the County Board. We surprised Toni at our January meeting with an award
from the Civic Federation. The letter explains the rest.
January 14, 2001
Arlington County Civic Federation
c/o Jim Pebley, President
4851 North 16th Street
Arlington, Virginia 22205
Dear Jim:
I want to thank you and each member of the Arlington County Civic Federation
for presenting me with your prestigious Arlington Civic Hero award. It was
a pleasure to share this honor with so many familiar faces in the audience
on January 2nd.
I believe the true civic heroes are those in your membership who genuinely
care about their community and work hard to make a difference in the quality
of life of residents. Each of you have been a role model for me for many
years. The Federation is truly the heart and soul of the Arlington
community, and I continue to be grateful for the opportunity to lend my
support to your efforts whenever possible.
On behalf of the County Board I serve, thank you, once again, for the Civic
Hero award. This will long be remembered by me as one of the most
significant highlights of my career with Arlington County. Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Toni Copeland
Clerk of the County Board
That's all for this newsletter.
But please see the add on articles here!
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. (This page!)
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
