Volume 2 | March 2020
Spring is coming, which means our work on the Board of Supervisors focuses on the proposed FY 2021 Budget.

The county executive released his proposed (Advertised) FY 2021 Budget on Feb. 25. It addresses funding needs for affordable housing, early childhood education and our public schools - with a proposed real estate tax increase of three cents, from $1.15 to $1.18 per $100 of assessed value ( check your home’s assessment). Tomorrow, March 10, as required by law, the Board of Supervisors will authorize a proposed real estate tax rate for FY 2021. This is not the final tax rate for FY 2021 - it is the highest amount that the Board can consider before adopting the final budget in May. 

However, while the budget addresses several key priorities of the Board of Supervisors, I am concerned about the impact of an increased tax rate on our homeowners. More than 66% of our general fund tax revenue comes from residential real estate taxes. I am committed to seeking opportunities for tax reform and diversification to make us less dependent on residential real estate taxes, and for finding more efficiencies in county government to reduce costs.

There are additional opportunities for you to share comments and concerns for consideration as we go through the budget process :

Respectfully,
Walter Alcorn 
For the most timely updates on Hunter Mill District and countywide news, including the budget and coronavirus, follow, share and like on social media: Twitter , Facebook and Instagram .

Board Matters - February 2020
Coronavirus Update
There is a lot of misinformation on coronavirus in the community. Please only use trusted sources, beginning with the county's web page on Coronoavirus . This web page also includes links to the Virginia Department of Health and the CDC .

Currently, there are no vaccines available to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 infections. However, there are steps you can take to prevent spread of flu and the common cold that will also help prevent coronavirus disease :

  • Wash hands often with soap and water. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
  • Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick
  • Stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others

On Sunday, March 9, the Fairfax County Health Department and our state partners held a news conference to update the community on coronavirus in our area. Please watch the video:
Mark Your Calendar!
Tax Relief Workshop, March 12, 2 to 5 p.m.: The Hunter Mill District office is hosting a tax relief workshop in the community room at the North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Dr., Reston. Real estate and vehicle tax relief is available for older adults 65+ years old and people with disabilities who meet certain qualifications. For more information call the Department of Tax Administration at 703-222-8234 or visit the website.

2020 Housing Challenge, March 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Fairfax C ounty and George Mason University School of Business are hosting the 2020 Housing Challenge to bring together residents, students, housing advocates, industry professionals and policy experts to provide solutions to three critical challenges facing affordable housing. Cash prizes will be awarded!

Move Your Way Day, March 14, 10 a.m. to noon: Whether you walk, dance, swim or move in some other way, join your neighbors at one of the county's eight RECenters for a morning of free classes, workshops and more! More information .

Statewide Tornado Drill, March 19, 9:45 a.m. : This annual drill is an opportunity to prepare for weather threats and to test public warning systems. More information .

Countywide Strategic Plan Community Input Meeting, April 1, 7 to 9 p.m. Provide your input on the first-ever countywide strategic plan at a meeting at Reston Community Center at Lake Anne. When final, the plan will shape and identify the future of Fairfax County government.  Register here

Town of Vienna Clean Up Day, April 4, 9 a.m. to noon: Volunteers needed to pick up trash, remove invasive plants and spruce up designated areas. Sign up by emailing jking@viennava.gov or calling 703-255-6336. Be sure to wear appropriate outdoor weather attire!

Free Income Tax Preparation Through April 15: Individuals and families who earned less than $55,000 in 2019 may qualify for free income tax preparation assistance through the county’s  Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Volunteers certified by the Internal Revenue Service help ensure that participants receive the maximum tax refund to which they are entitled and can help determine if they are eligible to receive an Earned Income Tax Credit. Dates and locations.

Hunter Mill District Focus Group on Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan, April 16, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Meeting is in Community Room A at the North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston. Open to public. Provide feedback on community-driven plan that will identify and develop strategies to meet countywide climate mitigation goals, and provide guidance for residents, workers, public and private sector organizations and businesses to reduce their energy use and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. More Information .

Potomac Watershed Clean Up, April 18, 9 a.m. to noon: Volunteers from Reston Association will be removing debris from the wooded areas around the North County Governmental Center, the Reston Regional Library and the Embry Rucker Shelter. Everyone is welcome to volunteer.  Contact the Reston Association for more information.

Reston's Founder's Day Float Parade, April 18, noon: T he Reston Historic Trust & Museum will host its inaugural Founder’s Day Float Parade at Lake Anne Plaza to celebrate life in Reston.  Build a float and join the fun!
 
The Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan Energy and Climate Task Force Meeting March 31, 6 to 9 p.m.: Meeting will be held at the Fairfax County Government Center and is open to the public. More information. (Note - this is a countywide meeting, the April 16 meeting noted above is specifically for Hunter Mill District.)
It's Time to be Counted!
This month you will receive a postcard in the mail about t he 2020 Census . It only takes a few minutes to fill out the Census. For each resident who does not respond to the census, Fairfax County could lose $12,000 in potential funding over the course of a decade.

Remind friends, family and neighbors to fill out the  Census  !
Land Use Meetings
CANCELLATION NOTE: Reston Planning & Zoning Committee Meeting, North County Governmental Center, Community Room, March 16 meeting has been cancelled. More Information .

 
Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Meeting, North County Governmental Center, Community Room, March 17,
7:30 p.m.
Discussion on RZ 2019-HM-011. Application is located at Old Courthouse Road in Vienna .
Update From Supervisor Alcorn on Reston Comprehensive Plan Task Force  

  • We are still gathering nominations for task force participants and plan to have the group finalized in the next two weeks. Membership on the task force will be a balanced combination of residents and business/industry professionals. Once finalized and members have been notified by my office, the list will be shared through my social media accounts and on a task force web page that will go live later this month.
  • The inaugural meeting of the task force is scheduled for April – the date and location will be forthcoming soon. There is a lot of work to be done, so we will schedule meetings every two weeks.
  • I am committed to robust communications for the task force – we will have a web page with existing comprehensive plan language, recent rezoning activity, relevant studies, task force minutes and other relevant information. In addition, we will provide residents with frequent updates and forums to provide input.
 
This is an exciting time to move forward and shape our future in Reston! For more information, please contact Hunter Mill District Land Use Aide Jose Delcid at 703-478-5123, TTY 711, or email the office at huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov .
Transportation Update

Parking Reductions at Three Orange Line Metrorail Stations Begin March 15

Beginning Sunday, March 15, surface parking lots at the East Falls Church, West Falls Church and Vienna Metrorail stations will be closed for seven to nine months as construction contractors begin the process of moving material and machines into place ahead of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) summer 2020 platform improvement project. More information.


Save the Date: Hunter Mill District Transportation Advisory Committee (HMTAC) Meeting

April 29, 8 to 10 a.m. at the North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive in Reston.
Briefings will be provided by VDOT, FCDOT, Dulles Rail and other transportation agencies. This is an opportunity for the community to directly ask questions of and get information from those who help us meet our transportation needs. Open to the public.


Capital Bikeshare

For more information on the Capital Bikeshare expansion in the Reston area, please go to https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/bike-walk/fairfax-county-bikeshare. For more information, contact Shyamali Hauth at 703-478-0283.


Hunter Mill Road Bridge

The one lane bridge on Hunter Mill Road in Reston was found to need some immediate repairs due to structural deficiencies. These have been completed, but the weight load of the bridge has been reduced to 10 tons. There is a plan to replace the bridge and that process has been accelerated. When available, additional details will be provided in an upcoming newsletter.


Public Input Sought on Preferred Plan for Herndon-Reston Silver Line Bus Service

Meetings are scheduled for March 21 in Herndon and March 25 in Reston; you can also comment online.
Pedestrian Safety Reminders From Police
A recent Washington Post article reports that nationally pedestrian deaths have increased more than 50 percent since 2010, according to the Governor's Highway Safety Association. Sadly, Fairfax County had eight pedestrian fatalities in just the first two months of 2020.

Reston District Police Station Commanders Capt. Jack Hardin and Lt. Karen Maslona urge everyone - drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists - to See and Be Seen on our roads. Other safety reminders include:

  • Put the phone down and your eyes on the road.
  • Cross the street at marked crosswalks and intersections only.
  • Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists.
  • Stay visible after dark, wear light clothing or reflectors.
  • Slow down and obey posted speed limits.

Read:
We Love Our Volunteers!
Our Hunter Mill District volunteers on Boards, Advisories and Commissions (BAC) are the cornerstone of our community. To thank them for their service we held a Valentine's Day reception at the North County Governmental Center. Thank you to everyone who could attend!


New Hunter Mill District BAC Representatives:
  • Nancy Colleton, Water Authority Board
  • Gary Maupin, Reston Transportation Service District Advisory Board
  • Farzin Fazad, Civil Service Commission
  • Brad Swanson, Tysons Transportation Service District Advisory Board
  • Alex Rough, Trails, Sidewalks and Bikeways Committee

Re-appointed Representative:
  • Lucinda Stewart, Animal Services Advisory Commission.

If you are interested in becoming a BAC volunteer, email Gwenn Minton or call 703-478-0283
Picture This: In Your Community
As an extension of my responsibilities as Chair of the Board of Supervisors Transportation Committee, I serve as an alternate on the WMATA Board. It was quite an honor to be sworn-in on Feb. 27 at the headquarters in D.C. Photo Credit: Max Smith
On Feb. 29 I attended the Meet Your Muslim Neighbor event at the Reston Regional Library and enjoyed a great presentation by Saif Rahman on Islam and its history.
One of the most fun events I participated in was on Feb. 28 - a Black History Month reading event at Armstrong Elementary School!
2020 promises to be an exciting election year. It was great to see neighbors when I voted at my poll for the March 3 Presidential Primary.
On Feb. 27, I spoke at the Hunters Woods Fellowship House Preservation kick-off event for its $12 million renovation/modernization. The Fellowship House provides much needed affordable housing for our older adults. 
Did you know Feb. 20 was Love Your Pet Day? My daughter and I marked the occasion with a photo op with her turtle Franklin. If you are looking for a pet, consider the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn
703-478-0283, TTY 711