November, 2003 - Volume 88, No. 3
Legislative Package and Planning and Zoning College in November
November General Meeting, Tuesday, November 11th 2003, 7 PM Hazel Auditorium, Virginia Hospital Center-Arlington
Special Planning and Zoning Symposium, Saturday, November 22, 2003, 10 AM, 3033 Clarendon Blvd, 7th Floor
Federation Stays Busy
with Two Events in November
The Federation will host two events in November. Our regular meeting, November 11th, will feature the Federation's annual legislative package. On Saturday, November 22nd, the Federation will present a forum designed to introduce the basics of planning and zoning in Arlington.
November 22nd Planning and Zoning College
If you haven't noticed recently, there are changes going on around Arlington. There are new (sometimes big) houses being built in old established neighborhoods. Two storey commercial buildings from the 1950's are coming down and are being replaced by modern glass towers.
You want to have some control over what happens in your neighborhood, but it can be hard to do unless you understand the planning and zoning process. How can you learn all that you say? The Civic Federation is here to help! The Federation will present a symposium on planning and zoning basics on November 22nd, from 10 am to Noon. The class will be held at the Department of Human Services Building, 3033 Clarendon Blvd., Rooms 7E-7F.
At least one representative from each member organization is encouraged to attend. This class is also highly recommended for Civic Associations who have not yet had the experience of having a developer come to your neighborhood. Be prepared, learn the basics! Please contact bill+ or Martha+ to RSVP, or with any questions.
November 11th meeting
The Legislation Committee has been hard at work over the last few months putting together the proposed Civic Federation Legislative Package for 2003-2004. At the November meeting, delegates and alternates will have an opportunity to review and discuss the proposed package, and ultimately to tell our County, State and Federal representatives what we want them to do.
The proposed package was sent out in the October 2003 newsletter, and is available on the Federation website.
As in past years, a Special Rule will be offered for the debate. The proposed rule is as follows:
The Main Package -- The main part of the Legislation package consists of those measures that the Federation's Legislation Committee has voted unanimously to include (or retained from past years) in the package. If the special rules are adopted for the meeting, we will take a single vote to accept or reject this package as a whole. If the "vote to accept" fails, we will consider each section separately.
Addenda Items -- During their deliberations, there were items that the Legislation Committee failed to achieve unanimous agreement on. Those measures that were supported by a majority of the committee members will be presented as topics to be voted on separately by the whole membership. If approved, they will be incorporated into the overall package.
Items Proposed by Delegates -- While we have encouraged everyone to attend the Legislation Committee's meetings, it's only fair to let issues proposed by delegates be considered by the whole membership. However, to prevent "sneak attacks" on the Legislation Package, the Executive Committee has agreed to require submission of issues by individual members not later than 3 days before the meeting. Proponents of items must forward such proposals in writing to the Civic Federation President. Items may be delivered to Dan Krasnegor's house at 1305 N. Longfellow Street, or sent by e-mail to dan+ or to Legislation Committee Chair Nancy Graham at nancy. In order+ for the item to be considered 100 copies of the proposal must be on the table in the lobby of the Hospital's Hazel Conference Center by 6:45 p.m. on November 11th.
Community Forum
There will be two presentations at the November 11th Community Forum. First, we will hear from Hope for Kids (HFK), a 501(c)(3) organization providing clothing, books, and toys to homeless and disadvantaged children in the Washington, DC-area. Last year, HFK managed to raise nearly $10,000 to fund toys for the holidays, coats for the winter, and four sets of encyclopedias to DC schools that do not have a library - helping hundreds of children throughout D.C.! HFK did all of this in its first year of operation with virtually no overhead. They pledge to keep costs even lower this year, with 100 percent of contribution going directly to the children served.
On Thursday, November 20th, HFK is hosting its annual Fall fundraiser at MCCXXIII Club (1223 Connecticut Avenue, NW) from 6 - 9 pm. There will be silent auction items (Caps tickets, Wizards tickets, restaurant certificates, movie passes, a day at the spa, and many more) and plenty of door prizes. And again, 100 percent of your contribution, which is fully tax-deductible, will go directly toward providing toys and coats for children in the Washington, DC area this winter. Tickets are $25 in advance or at the door, or $20 with an unwrapped toy. For more information, please contact Patrick Hope, President, at (703) 528-8956 or visit the HFK website at www.hopeforkids.org.
The second presentation will come from the Arlington County Solid Waste Team. The team will update the Federation on the basic direction for its 20 year plan. Also, Carl Newby and Scott MacDonald of the Department of Environmental Services Solid Waste office will explain how the public comments process will work, and encourage everyone to participate in this important decision-making process.
The Community Forum is provided as a service to the community by the Civic Federation. It allows for private and government-based groups and organizations to speak to community leaders about what they do in Arlington. Any group wishing to participate should contact dan+.
Federation News
October Meeting Recap
Following a spirited debate, the Federation passed a resolution that stated:
1. Arlington County Civic Federation opposes the use of Quincy Park for the school and favors keeping it as a park and making future improvements so that it will better meet the needs of residents.
2. The Federation believes that the time frame for making recommendations on this major project is too short to permit meaningful public participation.
3. The Federation believes that charge to the Steering Committee should be expanded to include exploring additional options, including relocation of the Education Center and use of the Buck property across North Quincy Street.
4. The Federation recommends that Arlington County adopt a firm policy precluding the use of parkland for other purposes.
A second resolution was passed joining the County Board in opposing the closing and moving of Northern Virginia Community Hospital and Dominion Psychiatric Hospital.
Committee News
The Community Relations Committee needs help identifying locations for distribution of the Civic Voice in Arlington, and in getting newsletters distributed each month. Please help us! Outgoing people are encouraged to join as members to help reach out to those parts of our community that are not yet members of the Federation. For more information, contact mike+.
In addition to the "routine" (is there any such creature?) details of operating the Civic Federation and planning our general membership meetings, the Executive Committee has also been busy with the start-up planning for the banquet, with providing suggestiont and assistance to Planning and Zoning for its November 22 seminar, working with Transportation on both parking (on which we hope to have a forum) and arterial issues.
We also reported out the report of the Best Practices Task Force. This will be presented from the Executive Committee at the November meeting. Because of its length, we ask all delegates to review it on-line. For those who do not have computer access, please call Kim Smith, Bob Atkins or Randy Swart for a copy.
The Executive Committee meets the third Tuesday each month at the Hospice of Northern Virginia at 7:30 PM. All are welcome. For more information, contact kim+.
The Best Practices Task Force has been meeting on and off for the past year, in part in response to the request of the County Board for guidelines on boundary disputes but also because this provided us with an opportunity to gather some of the best ideas and practices from our members and put them into document form.
The document, which is on the web site, covers organizational guidance; recommended minimum attributes (that encompass governing documents, meetings, and inclusivity); "best practices guidance" which includes an overview of everything from membership to duties of officers, technology, respect for and consideration of other organizations' boundaries, etc.
The Best Practices Task Force is also recommending that three criteria/questions be considered before engaging in a boundary dispute:
- That the civic association has and follows by-laws or other governing documents( i.e., constitutions or articles of incorporation);
- That membership is available to at least all residents in the geographic area served;
- That there is at least one meeting annually and that the meeting(s) be broadly advertised, in a timely fashion, and open to all residents within the geographic area served.
In the absence of these criteria, the Civic Federation would review and recommend to the County Board on boundary issues.
The report also includes listings of the various methods of communications our civic association members utilize; the many wonderful and novel events designed to bring each community together; suggestion on how to organize or restart a civic association, and special focus on programs where funding is available to neighborhoods (Neighborhood Conservation).
We thank all the civic associations that shared ideas with us during the course of this project.
The Public Services Committee has taken a slight break from its efforts as a result of seriously stressed member schedules. However, we will be meeting in late November/early December, so please check the Civic Federation's web site for details.
The Siren Resolution will be brought to the full membership at the November 11th meeting. We have also worked with the Legislation Committee on an addition to the Legislative Package seeking enabling legislation from Richmond in the event Arlington decides to pursue a Public Defenders' Office. We will also be considering the Cherrydale Fire Station resolution jointly with Planning and Zoning and investigating the possibility of getting drop-boxes at area libraries.
Work still continues on emergency preparedness, and joint County-Civic Federation presentations were given to Boulevard Manor and Williamsburg Civic Associations in October. Any who have not yet received the information/presentation (which includes the PD, Public Health, CCC, CERT, etc.), please let us know and we'll be glad to try to accommodate you.
Members are always needed on committees (not just this one), so please consider adding Public Services to your agenda. We cover many interesting and challenging issues in the course of our travels - and we'd welcome you gladly.
The Scholarship Committee urges all Civic Federation members to contribute to our 911 Scholarship Fund. One of the easiest ways to do this is by designating your contribution to the Arlington Community Foundation through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaigns ("CFC"). The Arlington Community Foundation's designation number for both campaigns is #8143. To donate, please complete and return this following form.
(The Foundation receives only your name as a donor. Please provide the amount of your United Way or CFC contribution to the Foundation and the fund(s) to which you wish to direct your contribution. You still must fill out the United Way Pledge card designation #8143)
Please contact jim+ with any questions. Please FAX (703) 243-4796 this form to the Foundation or turn the form over for easy conversion to a mailer!
Your name ____________________________________
Address _______________________________________
Daytime phone, in case we have questions (_____)_______________________
Total amount of your United Way Campaign or CFC contribution
to the Arlington Community Foundation: $ _______________
ACF Fund Name: 911 Scholarship Fund
Contribution: $ ______________
If you are giving to other ACF Funds, list them and the dollar amount below:
Fund name _________________ Amount ____________
Fund name _________________ Amount ____________
While the Federation's committees provide opportunities to stay involved and make a difference, it won't help you, unless you and your organizations participate. You say that you don't have time? You can't stand meetings? Well, thanks to the hard work of Jay Wind over the last few months, there is a new, easy way to stay in the loop. Internet discussion groups have been established for all Civic Federation Committees. The new discussion groups make it easy to join committees, participate in discussion, and to keep up-to-date on the latest news without taking up all your time. Anyone who belongs to a Civic Federation member organization is eligible to join up. To sign up, all you have to do is go to our Web page and follow the instructions on the page.
The Arlington County Civic Federation
Officers 2003-2004
President Daniel Krasnegor (dan+)
Vice President Patrick Smaldore (pat+)
Treasurer Tim Wise (tim+)
Secretary Frances Finta (703-528-2882)
Executive Committee
Chairman Kimberly Johnson-Smith (kim+)
Vice Chairman Nancy Graham (nancy+)
Member Randy Swart (randy+)
Member Bobi Wallace (bobi+)
Member Ken Marcus (ken+)
Committee Chairs
Ad Hoc Airport Issues Committee (Co-chairs) Steve Baur
(steveb+) Steve Geiger (steveg+)
Bylaws Scott McGeary (scott+)
Community Relations Mike Lane (mike+)
Cultural Affairs Herschel Kanter (herschel+)
Environmental Affairs (Co-chairs) Ben Axleroad (other co-chair vacant)
Governance vacant
Housing Joe Wholey (co-chair) (other co-chair vacant)
Legislation Nancy Graham (nancy+)
Membership Frances Finta 703-528-2882
Parks & Recreation (Co-chairs) Jay Jacob Wind (jay+) (other co-chair vacant)
Planning & Zoning (Co-chairs) William Gearhart
(bill+) Martha Moore (martha+)
Public Services (Co-chairs) Anne Fisher (anne+) Kim Smith (kim) +
Public Preparedness Initiative Jackie Snelling (prepared) +
Revenues and Expenditures (Co-chairs) Robert Atkins (bob+) Randy Swart (Randy+)
Scholarship (co-chairs) Tim Reese, Jim Pebley jim+
Schools (Co-chairs) Roger Meyer (roger+) Terri Prell (terri) +
Special Events (Co-chairs) Ann Rudd annrudd+; Adam Parkhomenko (adam+)
Transportation (Co-Chairs) Jerry Auten (jerry+) Ed Parks (ed) +
This page was last revised on: December 27, 2003.
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Arlington County Civic Federation
