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June 23, 2020
Dear Neighbors,

At Tuesday Board of Supervisor's meeting, the Board approved the County Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for FY 2021 - 2025, as discussed at the June 2 Budget Policy Committee meeting. We also took action to further support those struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic, by reducing late payment penalties for real estate and personal property taxes for tax year 2020. 

In addition, the Board approved revisions to County Personnel Regulations including adding six weeks of paid family leave as a type of leave that can be used for Family and Medical Leave. I strongly support additional family leave for our County employees and also believe it is important that we identify ways to enable all employers to universally provide this benefit, particularly smaller businesses.

This week we re-instituted Board Matters at our meetings and passed two of significant note. One was a joint Board Matter between myself, Chairman Jeff McKay and Supervisor John Foust to provide additional support for those struggling to pay rent and mortgages in the wake of COVID-19. This involves a Housing Partnership Pledge, Emergency Rental Assistance and additional flexibilities. A second Board Matter directed the Fairfax County History Commission to prepare a report listing a full inventory of Confederate street names, monuments and public places in the County and on County-owned property. This inventory of names and their history will inform discussion of the appropriateness of these names and renaming considerations. I fully support doing this research and considering future action.

Three Additional Meeting Highlights:
  1. Authorized a public hearing to consider County Code amendments to align with the General Assembly’s 2020 SB 838 that prohibits discriminating in employment “on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or status as a veteran". The County already has much of this codified, but this would expand our existing code.
  2. Authorized four Capital Improvement bond referendums for the November 3, 2020, general election: parks, libraries, human services and transportation.
  3. Approved FY 2020 financial year-end processing.

You can read more about my Board Matters, the latest COVID-19 information and upcoming community meetings below.
Respectfully yours in public service,
 


Dan Storck
Supervisor, Mount Vernon District
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
The following are highlights from the Board of Supervisors June 23, 2020 meeting, including items of particular interest to Mount Vernon residents. For additional information, please go to the County’s Board Agenda and Meeting Schedule . You may listen to highlights from the Board meeting on your computer or listen directly on iTunes. Subscribe to the podcast, or choose a program and listen in. 
All presentations, recognitions and Board Matters were postponed.
To view the June 23, 2020 Board Package click here .
Administrative Items

Item 2: Approved an additional 24 months for commencement of construction for the Artis Senior Living Facility in Lorton. The site plan has been approved and architectural plans for building permit issuance have been submitted, however, additional time is needed to secure bonds and establish escrow for the site requirements. In addition, if new regulations are put in place for senior living facilities due to COVID-19, the plans may need to be re-worked as COVID-19 could radically change operations and possibly design.  The full item can be read on pages 73 - 83 of the Board Package.

Item 9: Authorized the advertisement of a Public Hearing on amendments to the County Code relating to animal control and care. Proposed changes include:
  • Permit wildlife rehabilitators, exhibitors and other individuals with valid permits from Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to possess wildlife in the County.
  • Revise the definition of wild or exotic animal.
  • Revise rabies control provisions.
  • Revise provision related to traveling animal exhibitions.
  • Remove provisions related to euthanizing wildlife at the County’s animal shelter.
  • Update the animal shelter’s fee schedule.
The hearing will be held on July 14 at 4:30 p.m. The full item can be read on pages 123 - 159 of the Board Package.

Item 11: Authorized the advertisement of a Public Hearing on amendments to the County Code related to County employees and personnel administration. This amendment adds additional protective categories to the existing County Code to prevent County government employment discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or status as a veteran. The hearing will be held on July 14 at 4:30 p.m. The full item can be read on pages 171 - 176 of the Board Package.
Action Items

Item 3: Approved revisions to the County Personnel Regulations to align definitions and to add six weeks of paid family leave for County employees.   The full item can be read on pages 195 - 262 of the Board Package.

Item 4: Approved four bond referenda on the Fall 2020 Bond Referendum totaling $441 million. These bond funds, if approved, would be used to pay for the County’s share of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Capital Improvement Program ($160 million); and capital improvements and replacement of existing County facilities associated with Parks and Park Facilities (FCPA $100 million and NVRPA $12 million), Libraries ($90 million), and Community Health and Human Services Facilities ($104 million). The Bond Referendum will be on the November 2, 2020, election ballot. The full item can be read on pages 263 - 290 of the Board Package.
Board Matters

Housing Partnership Pledge and Emergency Rental Assistance - Joint with Chairman Jeff McKay and Supervisor John Foust

As we continue to address the impact of COVID-19 and the associated impact on employment in our community, low and moderate income families in particular are increasingly at risk of falling behind on rent and mortgages, and eventually eviction and even homelessness. While the steps the County, our housing authority, our nonprofit partners, and our community are taking are making a critical difference, the time has come to look at additional steps we can take to sustain and even expand these efforts in the coming months.  

Action
  • Directed staff to develop a Housing Partnership Pledge. Similar to work done in Chicago, we plan to convene leadership from our landlord and lender community to develop a pledge to provide relief for borrowers and tenants impacted by COVID-19, asking them to voluntarily defer actions such as foreclosures and evictions, and providing grace periods for payments.   
  • Directed the Department of Housing and Community Development, in partnership with other appropriate County agencies, develop new guidelines for Emergency Rental Assistance, to provide for a requirement that landlords receiving such assistance certify that, in exchange for accepting the payment on a renter’s account from the County, they will work in good faith to help the tenants maintain their housing and will contact the County prior to filing a legal action. In addition, we should explore asking landlords receiving emergency rental assistance to waive late fees dating to April 1.  
  • Requested that the Redevelopment and Housing Authority explore what additional flexibilities it may have in its programs to provide emergency rental assistance.   

Expedited Processing for PCA/CDPA/FDPA Aventon Holdings I, LLC. 

The pending application Proffer Conditions Amendment/Conceptual Development Plan Amendment/Final Development Plan Amendment PCA/CDPA/FDPA 2000-MV-046 is an application to amend the proffers and conditions, the conceptual development plans, and the final development plans associated with rezoning application RZ-2000-MV-046. The Applicant, Aventon Holdings LLC, proposes to amend the proffers approved pursuant to RZ 2000-MV-046 in order to permit application of remaining multifamily residential units available under the Comprehensive Plan for this area. This application is scheduled to go before the Planning Commission for a hearing date of July 8, 2020.

The proposed multifamily building will be seven stories and contain up to 379 multifamily units. The proposed building design compliments the existing multifamily structures to the south of the Property, while being respective of nearby single-family uses. It also promotes a contemporary urban design adjacent to the Huntington Metro Station.

The plan promotes use of transit (Metrorail and bus), other high-occupant vehicle commuting modes, walking, biking and teleworking, all to reduce automobile trips. The Applicant has proffered a Transportation Demand Management Plan, has an outlined dedicated Sustainable Design Plan for the buildings, an Invasive Species Plant Management Plan, tree preservation and soil remediation to satisfy cultural requirements for trees, shrubs, and groundcovers.

Finally, this project will create 44 workforce dwelling units in this development, furthering the County’s goal of providing more affordable housing.

Action
  • Authorized expedited processing of the pending Proffer Conditions Amendment/Conceptual Development Plan Amendment/Final Development Plan Amendment PCA/CDPA/FDPA 2000-MV-046 for a Board of Supervisors hearing date of July 28, 2020.
Public Hearings

Reduction in the Late Payment Penalty Ordinances for Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes for Tax Year 2020

Approved temporary-ordinance amendments to reduce the late payment penalty rate from 10% to 5% and provide additional relief during COVID-19 conditions to taxpayers who are unable to make timely Real Estate tax and Personal Property tax payments for tax year 2020. Also, the additional late payment penalty of 15% for tax year 2020 Personal Property tax payments past due more than 30 days is temporarily eliminated. The ordinance changes take effect immediately. The Department of Taxation Administration (DTA) also intends to eliminate other administrative fees for tax year 2020 – these changes do not require ordinance changes. The full item can be read on pages 314 - 318 of the Board Package.
Board Appointments
 
Mount Vernon residents were appointed or reappointed to the following:
  1. Kenneth Heyman (Affordable Dwelling Unit Advisory Board) 
  2. Roberta Kelley Dean (Barbara Varon Volunteer Award Selection Committee)
  3. Lanita Thweatt (Human Services Council
  4. Pete Sitnik (Transportation Advisory Commission)
  5. Joseph Cammarata (Water Authority)
Upcoming Land Use Cases
 
Planning Commission

July 8, 2020: The Applicant, Aventon Holdings LLC, proposes to amend the proffers approved pursuant to RZ 2000-MV-046 in order to permit application of remaining multifamily residential units available under the Comprehensive Plan for this area. The proposed multifamily building will be seven stories and contain up to 379 multifamily units, including 44 workforce dwelling units. The proposed building design compliments the existing multifamily structures to the south of the Property, while being respective of nearby single-family uses. It also promotes a contemporary urban design adjacent to the Huntington Metro Station. The Board of Supervisors Public Hearing will be held July 28, 2020. Project zoning webpage...

Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) has resumed meeting, but agendas for July are not currently available. Meeting dates and agendas as they are posted...
COVID-19 Updates







Forward Virginia: Phase 3

This week, Governor Northam announced Virginia will enter Phase 3 of reopening on July 1, including Northern Virginia. View Phase 3 guidelines in English and in Spanish. Governor Northam's presentation outlining Phase 3 can be found here.

Key changes:
  • Non-essential businesses, restaurants, and beverage services may fully reopen.
  • Entertainment venues may open at 50% capacity.
  • All open facilities must continue to maintain physical distancing practices and enhanced cleaning and disinfection practices.
  • Gatherings of up to 250 people will be allowed.
  • Teleworking is still strongly encouraged.
  • Face masks are still required.

Schools


Get Help, Give Help
  • A Place to Stand is a non-profit organization assisting families from our community, particularly from Mount Vernon High School, with food and hygiene needsLearn more...
  • For more, visit our Get Help, Give Help webpage.

Other News

Credit: Tweet from Julia Marcus, PhD, MPH @JuliaLMarcus
District Information & Upcoming Events
FREE Community Immunization Clinic
June 25 at 2 p.m.
Gerry Hyland Governmental Center, 8350 Richmond Highway


Original Mount Vernon High School (OMVHS) Community Meeting
June 29 at 7 p.m.

A virtual community meeting will be held to provide updates on the OMVHS Renovation and Adaptive Reuse project. The County completed the master planning process and hired an architecture & engineering consultant to start the design process to renovate the historic OMVHS building. The overarching vision for this project is to leverage the former high school to build communities of opportunity , create career pathways, connect different generations and better integrate residents into the economy.

To attend the virtual meeting , please email DPWES . Meeting sign-on instructions will be sent to you by return email; or call the Building Design and Construction Division administrative office at 703-324-5800, TTY 711. 

Mount Vernon District Office | 703-780-7518