Recent Current Events
2007-2008
2007-2008 Committee reports
Accessory Dwellings: July 19 vote by the County Board: approved Caregiver suites 5-0; approved Accessory Dwellings, with some modifications, 4-1. The final County Board report with attachments and a summary of recommendations including staff recommendations are on the website. The County Board will take up Accessory Dwellings in its regular meeting agenda on Saturday, July 19. County Board meetings are cablecast live on the Arlington Virginia Network (AVN) on cable (Comcast channel 74 and Verizon channel 40).
On Thursday, July 17, 7:30 p.m., the Transportation Commission will hold a Working Session on the draft Parking and Curbspace Management Element of Master Transportation Plan. The meeting is in the County Board room at Court House Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard. For more detail see September 2007 draft document and more current 2008 draft that will be part of the discussion.
Accessory Dwellings: The draft County Board report and its Executive Summary (NOTE ERROR: correct option for item #6 is D) include the draft staff recommendations. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposal at 7:00 pm on Monday, July 7, in the County Board Room, 2100 Clarendon Blvd. The Housing Commission will review the proposal at 7:00 pm on Thursday, July 10 in Rooms 7 E & F, 3033 Wilson Blvd.
The Arlington County Board will hold a public hearing on these changes to the Zoning Ordinance on July 19. A final County Board report will be released in advance of that meeting.
From former ACCF President Larry Mayer: "It is with deep sadness that I must inform all of you that that our dear friend and colleague Frances Finta passed away. The viewing will be at Murphy's on Wilson Boulevard this Thursday from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. The funeral mass will be at St. Agnes on Friday at 10 am." From Jim Pebley, former ACCF President: "She was our core. I thought she would outlast us all and we would never lose her. It's not that I took her for granted when I was Civic Federation president. It's just that you knew that she made all the trains run on time, wound all the clocks, sent out all the newsletters, kept meetings on
track and was the soul of the Civic Federation. You never questioned
Frances -- she WAS always right and you never conceived how we could get
along without her. She was...is...too vital to us all to contemplate. If I had to have a hero or heroine in the pantheon of civic activism, Frances would have won all the laurels. No questions need be asked"
Frances Finta has a deep history with the Arlington County Civic Federation. She was elected President for 2008-2009 at the June meeting. The ACCF honored her in 2003 for Distinguished Meritorious Service and with the Journal Cup in 2001.
Peter Owen was elected Chair of the Executive Committee and Wayne Kubicki Vice-Chair for 2008-2009 at the June 9 Executive Committee meeting. The next Executive Committee meeting will be held on Monday, July 14 in the ground floor conference facility (pre-function room) at the Navy League Building, 2300 Wilson Boulevard. The Navy League building has a free (when validated), attended underground parking garage, and is located approximately 1 block from the Courthouse Metro station. It has entrances from both Clarendon and Wilson Boulevard, between Wayne and Adams Streets.For info please contact Excom President Peter Owen+
Our June newsletter, the Civic Voice, gives the agenda for the June 3 membership meeting. Here are the Accessory Dwelling Survey Results - final and the Accessory Dwelling Resolution (final language). for the June 2008 meeting agenda. In the Accessory Dwelling Resolution the Family Suite provision was 100% supported (Unanimous); the Accessory Dwellings provision was 67% supported and the Enforcement provision was 82% supported. June meeting presentations on the Arlington Information Technology Advisory Commission (ITAC)are available: Joe Pelton, Chair ITAC, Jack Belcher, Arlington Chief Information Officer
(CIO), and Bob Griffin, Director, Arlington Office of Emergency Management.
Schools Building Program 2009-2014: The Arlington School Board is considering its building program (Capital Improvement Program or "CIP") for
the next five years. The Board is scheduled to vote on the program -- and
its budget -- on Thursday, May 29, 2008. This is an early look at what the
2008 and 2010 school bond referenda will look like. The Schools Committee
report and recommendations on the CIP report is available, along with the
testimony on the CIP by Schools Committee Chairwoman Beth Wolffe at
the School Board's public hearing, and the transmittal letters to the superintendent and the School Board. The
CIP as originally proposed on May 5, 2008 is available on the APS website.
From President Larry Mayer: "May 20 Testimony to County Board on some "technical corrections" - related to the Advertisement of proposed zoning change language for: (1) Changes to existing zoning provisions for Family Suites (related to correcting Caregiver occupancy numbers and Caregiver definitions - consistency with ACCF survey definitions) - Points #1 and #2; (2) Zoning language for the "new" Accessory Dwellings (Correcting "minimum" size of AD consistent with minimum of the Family Suite, to make it consistent with Staff presentation at ACCF May 6, 2008 meeting -- and with ACCF Survey definitions) - Point #3. The Board adopted the suggested changes into the advertisement (although Mayer's "exact" suggested zoning language will be reviewed and modified by the County Attorney to "properly fit" zoning language) -- where hearings on adoption will be held in July (Board projected on July 19).
2008 Neighborhood Day Parade: Randy Swart,
Jay Wind, Frances Finta, Max Scruggs.
In background: Bernie Berne and Mark Antell
Photographer: Larry Mayer
May 13 is the deadline for delegates and alternates to submit the AD survey. Delegates may download and print the survey, along with the summary of the staff recommendations, for distribution in their associations. However, all delegate/alternate surveys must be returned no later than Tuesday, May 13 so the results can be collated and used to develop an AD resolution for the June 3 Civic Federation meeting. Mail completed survey to Larry Mayer, 3108 4th St. N., Arlington, VA 22201-1614.
Background: At the May 6 Civic Federation meeting, the Civic Federation presented a summary of the staff recommendations for Accessory Dwellings(AD). Delegates and guests were asked to complete an AD survey that gathers their opinions about the staff recommendations. Delegate and guest surveys are color-coded and will be tallied separately, a process we have used for past surveys. Each delegate survey must include the delegate’s organization, as only 4 delegates per organization may complete a delegate survey. Surveys from attendees were collected at the end of the May 6 meeting. Additionsl information is available from the County staff presentation at the May 6 ACCF membership meeting.
Our May newsletter, the Civic Voice gives the agenda for the May 6 membership meeting: "What's My Sign" Award; State Delegation program, Accessory Dwelling Program, Part I (see latest County proposal).
Accessory Dwellings: May 1 is the next Community Forum on Accessory Dwellings. It will be held from 7 - 9:30 pm in the Washington-Lee High School Cafeteria, 1301 North Stafford Street. The latest County proposal is available or go to County website. and search for "Accessory Dwelling" for a more comprehensive list of documents.
Plan now for Neighborhood Day on May 10. See the latest information on Arlington County plans. For your planning ideas see the Neighborhood Day Information Flyer. Consider nominating a Community Hero. For further information contact Civic Federation representative Jay Wind .
The Sun Gazette cup was awarded to Larry Mayer , current ACCF president, at the 92nd annual banquet and awards ceremony on March 28. Certificates of appreciation were presented to Mileva Hartman , Wayne Kubicki , Peter Owen and Martha Moore.
Our April newsletter, the Civic Voice. Agenda: budget package for County and Schools. Revenue and Expenditure FY 2009 committee report is available. Two Revenue and Expenditure committee proposals will be presented for separate votes: repeal the residential utility tax and homeowner grants. The Schools Committee recommendations for the FY2009 Arlington Public Schools budget is available for review.
April 18 is the deadline for Free Trees . It's also the extended deadline for accepting applications for the County Board’s Walking Town Meetings.
The Community Forum for the Housing Commission's Accessory Dwelling Proposal is Monday, March 31 from 7 - 9:30 pm in the Central Library Auditorium, 1015 North Quincy Street. For details see invitation. The report with executive summary is also available from the County. Documents from the Civic Federation include: Accessory Dwelling Units presentation; latest timeline for County consideration; Current Housing Rules; timeline for County Board action; resolution on Accessory Dwelling Units passed 2/5/08.
April 5 is the deadline for neighborhood associations to provide comments and input to the County staff on the newly "revised" Neighborhood Traffic Calming Manual. Mileva Hartman is the Civic Federation representative to the Traffic Calming Committee.
After our February meeting on the County's proposed Accessory Dwelling ordinance, Martha Moore worked with Susan Bell, the Director of the Department of Community Planning, Housing & Development, and others to produce this set of clarifing questions and answers. The latest timeline for County consideration of this issue is also available. There are more links to info on this issue below.
Our March meeting featured a presentation on food safety in Arlington by Arlington's Public Health Director, Dr. Reuben Varghese. We adopted a motion on the Central Place Observation Deck. Katy Brown-Henry presented background on the Neighborhood College and an invitation to join in.
Our March newsletter, the Civic Voice
From President Larry Mayer: "February 23 Testimony to County Board to request a county attorney opinion addressing a key question: "If the County legalizes Accessory Dwellings, can the County use a permit process to compel homeowners and accessory dwelling residents to submit to unscheduled inspections - or, as some people have asserted, would that violate their 4th amendment protections against search and seizure?"
February membership meeting and Accessory Dwelling Units: Our February newsletter, the Civic Voice, presents the agenda for the February 5 meeting featuring the annual meeting with the County Board. The revised resolution on Accessory Dwelling Units that was passed at the February meeting is supported by two background documents: the January 8 presentation on Accessory Dwelling Units and Current Housing Rules. Accessory dwelling units - and ACCF actions -- are in the local news: NBC4 on Friday, January 25 and Larry Mayer (toward the end of the video). A timeline for County Board action was distributed at the meeting. The original resolution on Accessory Dwelling Units is also available.
Civic Federation members are encouraged to participate in a MAPP Survey in English and Spanish to determine where the Arlington County Public Health System should focus its efforts over the next 10 years. Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) is a community-wide strategic planning tool for improving community health. The survey should be completed by the end of February.
March 7 is the application deadline for the Civic Federation 911 Scholarship (5 at $1,000; valued at $4,000) for high school seniors or students who have deferred college enrollment for one year with a 2.5 high school GPA to attend an accredited post-secondary institution. Applicants must have a parent who has been an Arlington County uniformed public safety employee or dispatcher for no fewer than 10 years, retired from one of the respective departments, been permanently disabled on the job, or killed in the line of duty. Renewable for up to 3 years with good academic standing. Apply online with one application for all scholarships offered by the Arlington Community Foundation:
scholarship application . See background information and donation form for the Civic Federation 911 Scholarship.
Our January newsletter, the Civic Voice presents the agenda for the January 8 meeting featuring a program on Accessory Dwellings and Arlington's Medical Reserve Corps. Regular meeting start time is 7:30 pm.
Our December newsletter, the Civic Voice presents the agenda for the December 4 meeting featuring the annual visit of the School Board and a proposed resolution on snow removal [NOTE: passed 29-1-1 on 12/4/07]. Also, a resolution on a New Tax for Stormwater Management [NOTE: passed 36-3-1 on 12/4/07] will be brought forward from the Revenues and Expenditures Committee. Regular meeting start time is 7:30 pm.
Second Round Voting for the Legislative Package
Results of the second round of voting on the 2008 Legislative Package are:
1) Evaluate/support JLARC recommendations on licensed psychiatric services =
28-4
2) Allow workforce housing in state/local government facilities = 19-15
3) Permit building affordable housing over publicly-owned property = 20-14
4) Adopt Instant Runoff Voting for elections in the Commonwealth = 14-19
In addition, Part I vote results are available. The October newsletter, the Civic Voice presented the new procedures for constructing the legislative package this year. The draft legislative package is also available for review.
From President Larry Mayer: "Testimony to County Board asking for a deferral of the Advertisement of the Master Transportation Plan (MTP) due to inconsistencies went fine -- but the Board decided in spite of problems [see memo to Ritch Viola specifying issues - and his reply] , which they acknowledged, to advertise anyway -- and stated (one can look at the three people who testified and the Board's responses on the County Web site) that they could always defer action (hearings) either until the November 27th carryover meeting (versus the November 13th Board meeting, to avoid conflict with the ACCF meeting at the same time) or until the December meeting -- but in any case wanted to take action prior to the calendar yearend.
Privately, after the meeting, the County Manager stated that he believed that new maps will be available next week (week of October 15th) and that it was "possible", but not certain, that designations could be changed to avoid conflicts with the GLUP designations.
Everyone should be aware that their only chance for comments is the Transportation Commission review on October 23rd [see information below] and/or the Planning Commission on October 29th.
The Arlington County Master Transportation Plan (MTP) will be reviewed in a public presentation on Tuesday, October 23, 7:00 to 9:00 pm - Navy League building, Ground floor conference room. 2300 Wilson Blvd. For more details go to Calendar Page and scroll to October 23.
Participate in What's My Sign by identifying unnecessary or duplicative signs, ugly signs, unhelpful/confusing signs, sign clutter, absence of necessary signs - and then letting us know.
2006-2007
2006-2007 Committee reports
On June 5 we adopted this resolution on Arlington's AIRE initiative.
On April 3 we approved this report on Arlington County's proposed FY 2008 budget.
On April 3 we adopted this resolution on use of Wilson School grounds.
At our 91st Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony on March 30th we awarded the Sun-Gazette Cup to Jerry Auten, Chair of the CivFed Transportation Committee, and awarded the Order of Distinguished Meritorius Service to Martha Moore, Co-Chair of Planning and Zoning Committee. Congratulations to two deserving and hard-working Federation delegates!
Here is the Report of the Revenues and Expenditures Committee on the County's FY 2008 Budget, the main business of our April 3 meeting. And here is earlier testimony by Committee Chair Burt Bostwick before the County Board on the FY 2008 budget.
Testimony of Schools Committee Chair Beth Wolffe before the School Board's budget hearing on March 15.
Our Transportation Committee prepared this Issues Paper for the Master Transportation Plan hearing on March 19.
Revenues and Expenditures Committee held its organizational meeting for this budget season on March 11 at Chairman Burt Bostwick's home, 3833 Military Road. Please email Burt (Burt+) if you are interested. Committee Chairs are urged to let R&E know of any budget priorities, particularly anything that has been requested by a CivFed resolution. The Schools Committee is also meeting through March. The final budget recommendation is likely to be voted on as a single package at our April 3rd meeting, so if your neighborhood has strong budgetary views you should be joining one of the committees as they work.
Longtime CivFed delegate Sherwin Landfield died on February 3rd. Sherwin was involved in many areas -- Airport issues among them. We awarded him our Order of Distinguished Meritorious Service in 1997. His urn was placed at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, February 21st. Many of us will always miss Sherwin whenever airport noise comes up. The Washington Post had a good obituary on February 21st.
February 6 Meeting:
We passed unanimously this resolution on Metrorail Blue Line service on January 2nd.
Here is the Sun Gazette coverage.
The School Board provided these materials as promised during their December visit: the formal written response to questions the Federation had posed before their visit, and the PowerPoint presentation they used during the meeting. We appreciate their responsiveness.
We adopted this resolution on building height in Rosslyn on December 5th.
We appointed on December 5th an Awards Committee consisting of Frances Finta, Ann Rudd, Charlotte Cleary, Herschel Kanter and Amy Levin. Please contact one of them if you have an award to suggest.
Our January Newsletter, the Civic Voice
We adopted our Legislative Package for 2007. Here is the final package. And here is the voting on the additional items we approved for inclusion in the package.
We adopted this resolution on Transfer of Development Rights on November 14.
Frances Finta and Larry Mayer with the
ACCF wreath at the Veterans Day Ceremony
In Clarendon Park. November 11, 2006
On October 3rd our Delegates voted in favor of all the bond issues on the November ballot, including the following for and against counts:
- Parks 40 to 37
- Metro 71 to 6
- Community Infrastructure 57 to 19
- Utilities 68 to 8
- Schools 47 to 28
Here is the report of our Revenues and Expenditures Committee on the County's bond issues for 2006.
At our October 3rd meeting we also adopted this Resolution on constitutional amendments on the 2006 ballot and this Resolution on bond timing.
On September 18 we sent this letter to the County commending the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Resources for its prompt cleanup after the storm on June 25th.
On September 16 CivFed President Larry Mayer testified before the County Board on the position we adopted in this resolution on restoring the BZA's ability to grant exceptions to the Zoning Ordinance.
Our Transportation Committee met on Sunday, September 10 to discuss Arlington's Master Transportation Plan update. See this page for details on the comments made. Here is the County's Draft Residential Sidewalk Policy referred to in New Business at our September 5 meeting.
Joint letter to the County Board on LPACAP funding decisions. We also have the response from Chairman Zimmerman.
Here is a list of Arlington's CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) graduates by neighborhood. How many CERT grads does your neighborhood have for emergency response?
On August 10th we sent this letter to the Arlington County Board on plans for continuing the Arlington Urgent Care Center.
On July 6 we sent this letter to the Arlington County Board asking them to defer action action on Lot Definitions.
At our June 6 meeting we elected new officers.
President: Larry Mayer
Vice President: Frances Finta
Treasurer: Tim Wise
Secretary: Burt Bostwick
Executive Committee: Frank Emerson, Larry Finch, Stan Karson, Jackie Snelling, Eileen Williams
We also passed this Historic Preservation Policy Resolution, and did not pass a resolution on Buckingham.
2005-2006
Check out our new Arlington County Street System Guide. There is logic to the system, and our guide will help you find any address in Arlington.
CIP hearing testimony by R&E Chairman Burt Bostwick.
Schools CIP recommendations from the ACCF Schools Committee.
The Office of Emergency Management has a page up on Hurricane Preparedness Week and others on preparing your pet for a disaster, having a Personal Response Plan, pandemic flu and receiving alerts from the County in case of disasters.
At our May 2nd meeting we passed the Airport Committee's resolution on an airport noise study. Here is a summary of the study's recommendations. Our State legislators briefed us on the perennial lack of progress in Richmond.
CivFed on Arlington TV! ACCF President and 2006 Sun-Gazette Cup Recipient Patrick Smaldore was interviewed by ACCF Community Relations Chair Beth Offenbacker on Arlington Weekly News. If you missed it, here is a partial transcript of the interview.
We met on April 4 and adopted this report incorporating resolutions with recommendations for the Arlington County budget for FY 2007. We also passed this resolution on sidewalks.
Our Schools Committee has produced this report for the Arlington County Public School Board on closing the education gap.
On March 7 we adopted this resolution on limiting the real estate tax rate used for the second collection to the amount required to generate planned budget funds.
Here are the two presentations on Transfer of Development Rights that experienced technical difficulties in our March meeting. It is a .pdf file. The first black and white slides were prepared by Martha Moore to introduce the topic. The second presentation was developed by Colleen Connor, County Planner. TDR's occur in Site Plan areas, so this map provided by the County shows where they could occur.
Our Executive Committee met with County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman on February 17 to discuss Arlington civic issues.
L to R: Frank Emerson, (ex)Pres. Patrick Smaldore, Frances Finta, Chairman
Zimmerman (seated), Burt Bostwick, Stan Karson, current Pres. Larry Mayer
See this Memorandum of Meeting for the substance of the discussion.
On February 7 we passed a resolution on the Four Mile Run Plan
On February 7 we passed this resolution on support for ad hoc civic association alliances.
On February 7 we passed this resolution on Transfer of Density Rights.
Our Planning and Zoning Committee briefed us at our January 3 meeting on changes to regulations for secondary rental of church and lodge parking lots. Martha Moore and Bill Gearhart have developed background materials. We also took a straw poll of delegates that closed on January 15. Here are the results.
The Sun-Gazette mentioned our page on smoke-free restaurants in Arlington!
Here is a study on how neighborhood civic associations can include diverse groups.
Here is the County's announcement of the new zoning provisions affecting lot coverage, and a worksheet for finding out how your property may be affected. But the best guide to understanding Arlington's zoning regulations is Martha Moore's guide (pdf format). It's also on our page in Word format. Both were revised December 12th, and are expected to be revised again as clarifications emerge. Highly recommended! We had adopted this resolution on lot coverage restrictions at our October 4, 2005 meeting.
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Arlington County Civic Federation
