Dear Friends,
June is upon us already. For our May meeting, we added a day for a special meeting on May 28 to allow time for our Capital Improvement Program (CIP) presentation which is why this summary is coming to you a little later than usual.
Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
We adopt our CIP every 2 years. It is a 10-year plan for our buildings and infrastructure that has, essentially, two parts. The first 2 years of the plan will determine for which projects we will request bond funding for and how much we will request from our voters this fall. These projects are planned, and pretty certain. The 8 years beyond that are planned projects which are more subject to change. Obviously, the further out in the plan we go, the more likely there will be adjustments to future projects.
We have a series of work sessions coming up to look at various parts of the CIP. One of the issues we always have to consider is not only the capital costs of a project, which are bonded, but also the ongoing costs that a project may add to our annual budget. Those costs can include maintenance, staffing, and the added debt cost we take on when the bonds to construct the project are sold. The County Manager’s presentation was comprehensive. I am pleased with the increased emphasis on resiliency, and I am always impressed at how much we handle as a County.
As we work on our County CIP, the school system is also developing its own CIP. I anticipate a fair amount of discussion about the school’s CIP this year. Our school system has been growing for decades, but that growth has slowed considerably and our school population at some levels is likely to decline. And, APS already has excess capacity particularly at the elementary level. There are a number of schools that need significant maintenance and renovation.
For both our CIP’s, it is important to get the correct balance of new construction and renovation/maintenance. This balance may be more complex than in the past for our schools now that rapid growth has stopped. As we work through our respective CIPs, I will want to make sure the schools’ CIP does not saddle us with debt for empty classrooms, especially at a time when funds are short and extensive maintenance may be needed.
On our side, the cost of Metro is an issue. I will be following closely the regional effort to restructure how Metro is funded. At the moment Metro takes about 20-25% of our capital dollars. While Metro’s needs are growing and it is crucial to our and the region’s economy, Arlington County taxpayers cannot take on much more Metro burden.
Solid Waste Management Master Plan & Zero Waste Plan
At our Saturday meeting, we advertised our Solid Waste Management Master plan and Zero Waste Plan which will come to us next month for adoption. The Management Plan is required by the State of Virginia. The Zero Waste Plan is not required, but sets our strategy for diverting 90% of the County’s waste from incineration or landfill by 2038. We are continuing to develop ways to make it easier for both homeowners, and also commercial establishments and apartment buildings to recycle and compost.
Special General Land Use Plan Study
At our Tuesday Carryover Meeting, we accepted the Special General Land Use Plan study document for 750 South 23rd St, the Melwood building, and authorized future public hearings when a project is submitted for the site. Melwood is on the site of the former Nellie Custis School and currently houses programs for individuals with disabilities. Melwood would like to construct a facility that can provide day programs and/or housing for individuals with disabilities.
Some of the nearby residents were concerned about the added height and traffic such a building might bring. Many people came in support of Melwood’s plans, including members of the disability community talking about what such housing and programs mean to them. While there were strong opinions on both sides, everyone stayed respectful and it was one of those meetings that makes me proud of our community. I visited the site and concluded that with setbacks and tapering of a building, that site is very well suited for the use Melwood would provide. There is a park which makes a good-sized buffer area between the site and the homes across the street at the back. On the other three sides of the site there are commercial and institutional buildings.
Preparedness: Hurricane Season & Other Disruptions
June 1 is the official start of the hurricane season and forecasters are predicting a particularly busy season with perhaps some especially large storms. As I think we are all aware, climate change is bringing bigger storms and sometimes unusual weather patterns.
Also, looking to the fall election season, it is not unreasonable to expect that there could be disruptions in our elections that could unsettle life here at times. This could include cyber-attacks and/or fake videos to cause disruption, and/or something like January 6. It’s not too early to start thinking and preparing to be more resilient this fall. I’ve decided to talk about resilience and preparedness every month as part of my regular Chair’s report. I’ve already ordered and installed a small solar battery and solar panels that could power the heat or a small AC unit for my mother as well as a few other outlets. While many of us could make do without heat or AC for a while, my mother cannot. I plan over the summer to make sure we are stocked up on the foods she needs. I advise my readers to consider their own needed preparations. In general, emergency experts have long said everyone should be prepared to go at least 3 days without power and without resupplying. I find it easiest to think about it as just being ready for a few days of camping. Hopefully, all will remain calm this fall and we will have no political unrest and no severe weather. But, hope is not a good plan and some preparedness is always a good idea.
County Board Election
Finally, thank you to all who expressed your appreciation regarding my support for Tenley Peterson for County Board. That primary will be June 18. I urge you to support Tenley with a donation now and your vote soon. Tenley is head and shoulders above the other candidates. This is a critical time for our nation and for Arlington. We need the very best people on our Board. I will feel confident that the Board is in good hands if Tenley can take my seat when I leave.
There are 3 locations for early voting in Arlington’s June primary. They follow. Please check this link for specific days and hours at each site: https://vote.arlingtonva.gov/Early-Voting
- Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd, Ste. 320
- Madison Community Center, 3829 N Stafford St.; and
- Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 16th St. S.
As always, I hope this has been helpful and welcome comments and questions.
Best,
Libby
