Lee District Monthly Newsletter  Summer 2016

The McKay Messenger
Fairfax County
 Boa rd of Supervisors
Jeffrey C. McKay     
 

Summer is officially here! With longer days and hopefully more time to spend with your family, there is much to do and look forward to here in Lee District and throughout Fairfax County.

It's the best time of year to check out some of our awesome parks. Our wetlands restoration at Huntley Meadows Park was named the best restoration of a Virginia park by the Virginia Recreation and Park Society last year. The wetlands are now healthier than they've been in two decades. Take a walk on the boardwalk and see the crown jewel of Lee District in its peak season. Lake Accotink, home of many of your favorite summer activities, is hosting some great events this summer including campfires on select Saturday nights, and as always, have plenty of bikes and boats that you can rent, miniature golf, and their antique carousel.
 
The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is again offering some great summer camps. There are a number of camps available, from sports camps to aquatic camps, from science camps to arts and crafts and many more. FCPA's summer camps are for all ages and are still available for registration.

There's a lot going on at Lee District Park, too. In addition to Lee District RECenter's usual offerings, our Special Harbor Spray Park is now open. The family favorite in our own backyard is open every day. Finally, don't forget about Lee District Nights, the Fairfax County Park Authority's summer entertainment series held at the Lee District Amphitheater. There is a wide variety of great music from jazz to rock and roll, to folk and country. The concerts are every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and run through the end of August. It's a great opportunity to bring a picnic and enjoy these great free concerts. A member of my staff will be there every week to answer any questions or concerns you might have.

If you have any questions or want to know more about what's going on in Lee this summer, give my office a call at 703-971-6262. I hope to see you out and about. 
Last month, the Board of Supervisors and the Fairfax County School Board held a full day joint retreat to discuss goals and priorities and review past and present areas of collaboration.

Many topics came up in conversation such as land use, shared facilities, fiscal priorities, equity, families, public  safety and workforce development as they relate to students in FCPS. 

You can read more from the meeting here.
Ad Hoc Police Commission Update

At the Board Meeting on June 21, we approved two Action Items related to the Use of Force and Communications recommendations made by the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission. Chief of Police Ed Roessler has already implemented many of these recommendations, including the adoption of a predisposition to disclose rather than withhold information, a central tenet of the Communications recommendations, as well as putting the sanctity of life at the center of its training, a key part of the Use of Force recommendations. 

The purpose of the Action Items was to provide direction where needed and officially endorse those recommendations already being implemented. The Use of Force recommendations passed unanimously. 

To see the full progress report, click here
One Fairfax Resolution 

This week the Board of Supervisors adopted the "One Fairfax Resolution" that will direct the development of a racial and social equity policy to ensure all residents in Fairfax have an opportunity and access to the services they need to succeed. This is a formal declaration that will help shape decisions regarding education, land use, zoning and public-private partnerships. I'm proud to be a part of this initiative. More info is available here
FCPA Wins Stewardship Award 

As you've already read, there's a lot going on at our parks this summer. In addition to July being National Park and Recreation MonthI'm proud to announce that the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) has been named the winner of the National Recreation and Park Association's 2016 Barb King Environmental Stewardship Award, which recognizes a parks and recreation agency that has achieved excellence in environmental stewardship. 

This national recognition pays tribute to the Park Authority's growing commitment to the protection of natural resources in Fairfax County.  
Save the Date!

The 15th Annual Springfield Community BridgeWalk will be Tuesday, August 30, at 7 pm at the intersection of Bland Street and Amherst Avenue (FedEx Parking Lot).

It's now a little bit easier to vote in Virginia. On May 24, Governor McAuliffe visited the Fairfax County Government Center to sign   Virginia House Bills 1223 and 1030 which p ermit voters to give their full name and current  address orally or in writing to the officer of election when offering to vote and requires each officer of election to receive training before the first election in which they will be serving.

Remind your friends, family and co-workers to register to vote or update their voter registration information no later than 22 days before Election Day (November 8, 2016) which is October 19, 2016.  

The Lee District Association of Community Associations (LDACO) is hosting an open house about mosquitoes and the Zika virus. Join Josh Smith from the Fairfax County Health Department on Saturday, July 23 from 10 am until noon to get the facts and your questions answered.  

Check out great resources the County has put together for prevention and control  here 
Embark Richmond Highway

We are holding our second community meeting for the Embark Richmond Highway project on Monday, July 25, from 7-9 p.m. at West Potomac High School (6500 Quander Road).

We will discuss expanding transit service, improving pedestrian and bicycle systems, and building mixed-use, transit-oriented developments. Get more info on the meeting  here.
Extended Summer Office Hours
 
Next week Delegate Mark Sickles and I will be hosting special evening Summer Office Hours on Tuesday, July 19, from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Please come by with any questions or concerns that you may have. 

This will be held at the Franconia Governmental Center (6121 Franconia Road) in the Community Room. I look forward to seeing you there. 
Metrorail SafeTrack

The Metrorail SafeTrack effort is in full effect and is affecting our area. In response to the Metrorail SafeTrack maintenance effort, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is taking steps to help mitigate the reduced level of service provided by Metrorail while critical maintenance is completed during its year-long  SafeTrack plan.

During most safety surges, Fairfax Connector will provide supplemental express service on existing routes or on rush-hour shuttles. To check out all of your commuting options during SafeTrack, click here.  


Thank you for subscribing to my monthly e-newsletter. I hope these updates will keep you in the loop with some of the major events in our District.

If you'd like to learn more about something in the newsletter or have an idea for a future edition, please don't hesitate to contact me or my staff.
  
Sincerely,
Jeffrey C. McKay
Lee District Supervisor
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
703-971-6262