March, 2002 - Volume 86, No. 7
County Board Declares March
to be Civic Federation Month
Civic Federation officers look on as County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman declares March 2002 as Civic Federation Month. Pictured are (l-r) Mileva Hartman, Jim Pebley, Kim Smith, Chris Zimmerman, Pat Smaldore, Dan Krasnegor, Frances Finta and Tim Wise.
March Meeting to Address Metrorail, Stadium, Boundary Issues
March General Meeting
7:30 pm, Tuesday, March 5th
Virginia Hospital Center
Hospital Conference Center
1701 N. George Mason Drive
This March s membership meeting won't have a guest speaker/program in order for the Federation to discuss and decide Federation positions on several key issues facing our membership this year. Here s the agenda for March:
March General Meeting Tentative Agenda
Committee Reports
Baseball Stadium Resolution
Leeway-Overlee and Highland Park-Overlee Knolls CA Boundary Resolution
Metrorail Expansion Resolution
Bylaws Changes
Resolution on Pledge of Allegiance
Federation Award Banquet March 15!
The Federation's annual Awards Banquet is on track for March 15th and this year's banquet will build on last year's great turnout. You definitely don't want to miss this event so be sure to mail your banquet RSVP back to Kim Smith (703-527-0295) or Frances Finta (703-528-2882) before March 7th. If you like, you can prepay at this month's general membership meeting. This year's banquet will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City. In observance of the Federation's continuing emphasis on community preparedness, this year, we invited Governor Warner's new Assistant to the Governor for Commonwealth Preparedness, former Lt. Governor John Hager. We will also be using this event as an opportunity to raise funds for the Federation's 911 Scholarship Fund (not included in the price).
Neighborhood Day On May 11th
May 11th has been set for this year's Neighborhood Day. This event, co-chaired by the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee and the Civic Federation, consists of a series of dispersed events in neighborhoods and central events like the annual parade and the Twilight Tattoo at Ft. Myer. For more information about what your organization can do during Neighborhood Day 2002, check out the suggested activities listed on our web page at http://www.civfed.org/neighday.htm
Date Set For Delegate's School - March 24th
Want to learn about The Nuts and Bolts of Running a Neighborhood Civic Association ? Join us on Sunday, March 24, at 1pm for about 2 hours. The ACCF is holding a Delegate's College at the Hazel Conference Center at Arlington Hospital (where we hold our monthly meetings). Topics will include how-to's on finances, dues, newsletters, the Web, events, membership, neighborhood conservation plans, zoning issues and constructive interaction with the County. There will also be a special topic on Homeland Security for Civic Associations. For more information, check the flyer and program on our Web site, or call Patrick Smaldore at 703-528-3935
Resolution On Baseball Stadium in Arlington Under Consideration At Next Meeting
A resolution was presented at the February membership meeting regarding the desirability of a major league baseball team moving to the Washington D.C. area. The motion advocated sending a letter to the Commissioner of Baseball saying the Federation's members do not want a baseball stadium in Arlington. A joint meeting of the Executive Committee and Planning & Zoning Committee was held on 22 February to discuss the resolution. Mr. Brian Hannigan, a representative of the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority, was present and provided an overview of his organization's activity and what was the current status of this initiative. The group discussed the pros and cons of such a stadium in Arlington. The Planning and Zoning Committee agreed to develop a resolution that reflected the sense of the committee. That resolution, which was not available at press time will be available on the Federation's Web site the weekend before the membership meeting. Delegates are urged to discuss this issue with their respective Federation member organizations and be prepared to vote on the issue at the March meeting.
Budget Review Group Continues to Meet
The Revenues and Expenditures Committee will continue to meet on Sunday afternoons to review the County's Fiscal Year 2003 budget. They will be providing recommendations at the April meeting. If you would like to join, contact Bob Atkins at 703-527-8859. The group needs everyone's input and no prior experience with budgeting is required!
Report By The Joint Working Group on Proposed Metrorail Expansion Plans
As noted in previous issues of The Civic Voice, Metro has recently discussed plans for expansion of Metrorail service. The plans, as disclosed, include possibly adding a rail line running parallel to the north of the Orange line from Rosslyn to the West Falls Church station. The line, as envisioned, would have as many as three stations along the new service. In response, a joint working group led by Matt Bonini and Martha Moore has met with County Staff, their working group and most recently with County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman. Based on their findings, the group has drafted a resolution for presentation at the March meeting.
The main points of the resolution (summarized to save space) are that the Federation recommends Metro consider an alternative new Transit line in Arlington, extending from the Pentagon along Columbia Pike to Baileys Crossroads and then along Route 7 to Falls Church. The working group felt that this route would better serve the needs of Arlington County by
� Easing congestion in the Ballston-Rosslyn corridor
� Introducing Metro service to parts of Falls Church, Fairfax and Arlington Counties not now served
� Encouraging economic development and associated jobs in South Arlington
� Avoiding over-saturation with Metro in North Arlington
� Improving access to South Arlington at a time when companies with government contracts can be expected to need office space near the Pentagon and the District
� Providing direct service between South Arlington and job centers in the Tyson s Corner/Dulles corridor.
Leeway-Overlee and Highland Park-Overlee Knolls Boundary Dispute
At the February meeting, delegates from the Leeway-Overlee (LO) Civic Association (CA) introduced a resolution calling for the Civic Federation to hold a plebiscite by polling the residents of the disputed area [currently represented by Highland Park-Overlee Knolls CA]. The purpose of the polling was to determine if residents in the affected area would rather be represented by the LO or HPOK as designated on County maps and for other purposes such as NCAC funding by the County. Right after that resolution was introduced, the HPOK delegates moved a substitute motion, one that can be summarized as stating that the County should continue to recognize HPOK as the civic association designated to represent the area. Both motions were referred to the Executive Committee for review and subsequent recommendation to the whole Federation membership for a decision.
Some Background On This Issue: For some time now, there have been competing claims for what is currently the HPOK civic association area which straddles Washington Blvd between the Arlington East Falls Church and Westover CAs. The LO civic association (to the north) has for years allowed residents of the HPOK area to become members of LO. In 1997, members of the LO CA asked the County Board to merge the two areas into a larger LO organization. To resolve the issue, then County Board Chair Ellen Bozman decided that, to determine who the County should list as representative organizations on County maps, the Board would seek the Civic Federation's recommendation. In that case, the Federation recommended against LO's request. Since then, the Federation has provided several such recommendations in other disputes.
In this case, LO sent a letter to the County Board in September 2001, again asking the County to consider changing the map to reflect LO representation of the area labeled HPOK. In turn, the County Board Office requested the Civic Federation provide a recommendation on the dispute. The policy of looking for the Civic Federation s recommendation is one that both past Board Chairman Fisette and present Chairman Zimmerman have reaffirmed.
The Civic Federation's leadership has been working for more than four months with both civic associations to try to reach some mutually agreeable solution. In November, as agreed on by both CAs, a meeting for affected residents was held to determine 1) if they wanted HPOK to continue to represent them and, 2) if not, then what organization would they prefer represent them? Unfortunately, the meeting concluded without answering both questions. After subsequently meeting with representatives of both groups, a cooling off period was agreed upon, during which time the Federation would attempt to facilitate discussions and seek solutions. Despite several meetings hosted by the Civic Federation, agreement was not reached and the LO organization opted to introduce the motion seeking the plebiscite at the February Federation meeting. HPOK followed suit with its own motion.
The Executive Committee has conducted exhaustive research and analysis of the situation, studying the 20 odd year history of the dispute, reviewing each organization's bylaws, determining what principles regarding representative organizations should be observed and ultimately trying to understand what are the desires of the affected area (i.e. what did the incomplete vote in November mean?). After extensive deliberations, the Executive Committee has drafted a resolution that concludes that lacking clear indications (such as a two thirds majority) of the affected area residents desires regarding alternative representation (such as the LO CA) and noting that the current organization is active, viable and open to residents for membership, recommending such a boundary change is not warranted. The committee's resolution will be presented at the membership meeting on March 5th. That resolution along with the original resolutions will be available on the Federation's web site at www.civfed.org. At the meeting, the Executive Committee Chair will present the committee's conclusions and recommendations and both organizations will be allotted time to present their viewpoints. After that, the membership as a whole shall decide on the Federation's recommendation to the County Board.
Federation Reconsiders Pledge of Allegiance Resolution at Coming Meeting
A resolution was introduced at the end of the January meeting recommending recital of the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of Federation meetings. The issue was debated at the February meeting and sent back to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee has decided to return the motion to the floor at the March meeting near the end of the program, time permitting (we have a full agenda). This resolution has been an item of interest in the local press and delegates are urged to discuss this measure with their parent organizations.
President s Notes
This has been a busy and challenging winter. We've had some tough issues to handle and, despite the occasional detractors, I'm proud of the Federation for tackling issues ranging from such subjects as the long term impacts of an expansion by Metrorail, a rather intractable (20 plus years!) boundary dispute between two member organizations, the need for development to follow area sector plans or on such basic questions as, should meetings begin with the Pledge of Alligance?
The range of our interests may occasionally seem disconnected and the divergence of our views may seem wide at times. Nevertheless, these are all important threads that pull together the civic fabric of this county in which we live, work or seek our futures. I certainly hope we will never shrink from any subject because it is too controversial or because we would risk criticism for acting.
See you Tuesday, March 5. Come ready to work!
Sincerely, Jim Pebley
Don t Forget! Get Those RSVP cards mailed in for the Awards Banquet by March 7 ~~ Don t Miss It!
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 - Dan Krasnegor 703-534-4024 - dan+
Member - Robert Atkins 703-527-8859 - (voice or fax) - (no email)
Member - Mileva Hartman 703-841-9287 - mileva+
Member - Roger Meyer 703-671-3655 roger+
Member - Patrick Smaldore 703-528-3935 - patrick+
Member - Kim Smith -
kim+
ACCF Committee Chairs
Bylaws
Jean Mostrom, Chair 703-532-0452
Scott McGeary, Vice Chair 703-750-4704
Community Relations Jacqueline Mow 703-528-1112
Cultural Affairs
Environmental Affairs
Housing
Legislation
Membership
Frances Finta 703-528-2882 (no email)
Parks & Recreation
Planning & Zoning
William Gearhart 703-522-2276 bill+
Martha Moore 703-527-3782 martha+
Public Services
Anne Fisher
Kim Smith kim+
Revenues and Expenditures
Robert Atkins 703-527-8859 (voice or fax) no email
Schools
Special Events
Transportation (Co-Chairs)
Matt Bonini 703-820-2032 matt +
Jerry Auten 703-536-5365jerry+
Newsletter Editorial Committee
+
News email: - civicvoice Fax: 703-486-0576 +
Web: - www.civfed.org (civfed.com works too)
The paper version of the Civic Voice uses a design by Cheryl Whitehead, who can be reached through email to cwhite229@erols.com. This Web version, using the same text but posted within the style confines of our Web page design, is put up by Randy Swart. If you have comments about either version, please contact the editor, Jim Pebley
This page was last revised on: December 28, 2003.
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Arlington County Civic Federation
