Coraggio Consulting
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Meeting, Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Place: Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Virginia
Length: 3h 22m (video)
Official meeting video (Fairfax County): https://video.fairfaxcounty.gov/player/clip/2735
Official Board of Supervisors page (Fairfax County): https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/boardofsupervisors/

Machine transcript (speech-to-text) produced by Coraggio Consulting. Not an official county record. Names and numbers may be misspelled; check the video at the timestamp before quoting.
Speech-to-text: whisper.cpp, model large-v3-turbo. Produced 2026-11-04. Timestamps are [HH:MM:SS] into the meeting video.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

[00:00:04] Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our board meeting of February 7th, 2023, and let me start by congratulating everyone in the auditorium for that amazing silence that we just had. We wanted to make sure we started on time, but not a second before 9.30.

[00:00:20] And so this morning, in a moment, we are going to rise for a moment of silence to be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, and before we do that, if there are board members who would like to keep some folks in our thoughts and prayers. I would welcome that, and let me begin by mentioning a few. First, I'd like us to keep in our thoughts and prayers Robert Cunningham and his family. Tragically, on Wednesday, February 1st, as we all know, Robert Cunningham, a Metro mechanic, was tragically shot and killed when he acted with extreme bravery

[00:00:56] to protect a customer in the Metro system who was being threatened by a shooter at the Potomac Avenue station and this heroic and metro heroic metro employee was 64 years old and apparently was continuing to work at metro so that he could pay for his kids college tuition and at 64 years old was still an active mechanic in our metro system and so for his heroic acts and his tragic loss of life we want to honor Mr. Cunningham and keep the Cunningham family as well as our partners

[00:01:31] at WMATA Metro Rail and his fellow employees as well in our thoughts and prayers this morning. Secondly, the sad news to pass along the passing of Ellen Gale, and I know some members of the board knew Ellen. I knew her well. She was 91 years old and passed away on February 3rd.

[00:01:54] She was a resident of the Green Spring Senior Living Community in Alexandria, I'm sorry, in Springfield and was a very active member of our community and many, many social justice avenues and was heavily involved in supporting the Jewish community and many of our Jewish community organizations and certainly was involved a lot in civic activities and in politics over her long distinguished life. So if we could keep Ellen Gale and her family and friends also in our thoughts and prayers. And then lastly, we know about the catastrophic earthquakes that took

[00:02:32] place in Turkey and Syria and the tremendous loss of life. We certainly want to keep those in our thoughts and prayers as well, victims of the earthquake, but also our proud Virginia Task Force One of our own Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department has been deployed. They received orders to prepare and for deployment, and they have deployed in response to these catastrophic earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, and so if we could keep all of the members of our Virginia Task Force One and their families in our thoughts and prayers, and, you know, unfortunately,

[00:03:08] they get deployed too often, but when they do, I think as a community, we can certainly be proud to know that our finest Fairfax County's first responders are going internationally, domestically, wherever there's tragedy in an effort to try to help save lives.

[00:03:27] As a reminder, this Task Force One is federally funded, but they train here, and they're one of the few in the United States. And so when they deploy, it's certainly a proud moment for Fairfax County, but it's also tough for their families to be away and certainly in harm's way.

[00:03:46] So if we could keep all of our Virginia Task Force One personnel and their families and our Fire and Rescue Department, many of which are backfilling these stations to support our community while these members are away in our thoughts and prayers in the weeks ahead. That would be appreciated.

[00:04:02] With that, let me ask if there's any other board members who would like to be recognized this morning. Supervisor Gross. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate your remembrance of Ellen Gale. I'd known Ellen, golly, going way, way back because I think she was a supporter of Ellen Mayer when he was in the House of Delegates.

[00:04:25] I think that's when I first met her. She was a little minute of a woman, tiny little woman. But she was a driving force, especially in the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, which is now called the POSIS Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia. Pre-pandemic, almost any time you went to the JCC, Ellen was there for every single activity.

[00:04:45] She was a delightful lady, always with a positive approach, but also always knowing that she was going to get you to do the right thing. So I appreciate very much your mentioning her. She was a tremendous member of our community.

[00:05:02] Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Gross. And I noticed you have her obituary there, and I noticed that, too, and it says Perlman Gale, and I never heard her called Perlman. We all knew her as Ellen Gale. But what a legend. So thank you, Supervisor Gross. Others who would like to be recognized? Supervisor Palchuk.

[00:05:26] Mr. Chairman, you mentioned Robert Cunningham, but I think it's just worthy mentioning again. And I know many of us sit on boards, on transportation boards and regional commissions. And we know that not only have our transportation employees really been in the front lines and working very hard through this pandemic, engineers our bus drivers and others and as was mentioned extremely saddened that mr. Cunningham chose to stay to continue working past retirement in order to help send his fourth child to college so I know that many of us have

[00:06:01] contributed there is a GoFundMe page that Metro has sent out has helped create and also our thoughts and prayers to his family as well as his work family and community who are distraught during this time continue to need to address both the mental health crises and the gun violence crises in our nation.

[00:06:24] So I appreciate you sharing that, as well as, you know, we continue to hear about the devastation, and many of our residents here have family still either in Turkey or in Syria, and so definitely our thoughts are with them and with our deploy team.

[00:06:41] Thank you very much. Supervisor Palchuk. With that, if everyone can please rise for a moment of silence to be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Please face the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United

[00:07:18] States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And we have five presentations today, and as we've done in the past, I will announce the proclamation and invite the speaker or speakers down to the podium in front of me. Then we will read the proclamation. And after the speaker's remarks, we will pose for a picture from the dais. And I know our first presentation has a lot of young people here.

[00:07:56] We loved hearing them during the Pledge of Allegiance a moment ago. And our first presentation is to recognize the staff, students, teachers, and community members involved in the county's Historical Marker Project. And this resolution was requested by myself, Supervisor Palchuk, and Supervisor Smith. And our speaker today is Edwin B. Henderson, chair of the Fairfax County History Commission. Marker, I'm sorry, I'm just getting a note that Mr. Henderson is not here.

[00:08:27] So Ramona Carroll from Neighborhood and Community Services will speak on the group's behalf. If you could come on down to the podium. And at this time, I'm going to turn to Supervisor Palchuk to read the resolution. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Whereas at the beginning of 2022, the historical marker project, I think we want all the kids to come on down. Yeah, sure. Anyone who is here for this proclamation is welcome to come on down. And actually, Supervisor Palchuk, why don't we wait for one second and allow some of them to make their way down safely.

[00:11:03] Amazing. Amazing. Welcome, all of you, to the Government Center. What an outstanding way to start our morning. Supervisor Palczyk. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm just thinking about our next generation of when we'll see some of these kids sitting at this dais. So good to see you here this morning.

[00:11:21] whereas at the beginning of 2022 the historical marker project was launched focused on the african-american history of fairfax county and allowing new stories to be shared with our community and whereas the project's goal was to reveal narratives and oral histories of our african-american communities whose history culture and accomplishments in the county are underrepresented in our history books lessons and markers and whereas through the tireless efforts of staff students teachers and volunteers and support from the community the historical

[00:11:59] marker project has come to fruition and whereas the numerous students classes scout troops and other groups submitted proposals for 53 individual and group markers with six outstanding markers selected from a group of 14 finalists by a committee of fairfax county history commission

[00:12:21] And whereas, through Fairfax County's newest historical markers, residents and visitors can learn the remarkable histories of Louise Archer, Lillian Blackwell, Annie Harper, Gunnell's Chapel, Colin Powell, and the West Springfield 16,

[00:12:39] Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of all residents of Fairfax County, does hereby congratulate and thank all of the participants and supporters who made the inaugural Historical Marker Project a success and offer special congratulations to the students whose work helped uncover these important stories from our history.

[00:13:05] And I'm happy to second that along with Supervisor Smith. Discussion on the motions, Supervisor Palchuk. Sure. I know we are just thrilled to see all of you here today. I think it's definitely the best part of our meeting today, if not this year.

[00:13:22] We are so proud of all of you and so grateful to everyone who supported this work, from our history commission to our staff, our parents, our teachers, our scout leaders, and those who've been doing this even for years before this project. In July of 2021, our board approved the joint matter presented by myself, Chairman McKay, Supervisor Lusk, and Supervisor Smith, together with the Fairfax County School Board, launching a historical markers contest jointly, and not just about the contest, but to me what was truly important, and we were happy to take the time to do it properly, was to ensure

[00:14:00] that this was going to come to our classrooms, that your teachers were able to use this as project-based learning. I know as a former FCPS student, I'm just a little jealous, but very excited for all of you and your peers and your teachers to be able to learn more about our history and our past here in Fairfax County, especially the many African-American families and community members who helped build what we are here today. The inaugural contest did focus on our African-American history to really allow those new stories, and really not new, but maybe

[00:14:36] new to some of us stories to be shared not just with you with our families with our community and i hope that you will continue to share those with your friends and colleagues and generations to come the goal was really to focus on those narratives and oral histories who history culture and accomplishments have been underrepresented and we're so fortunate that we were able to do this jointly with our colleagues on the school board and to honor those of you who who submitted today.

[00:15:05] I know the History Commission had a tough time 'cause they were overwhelmed by the number of submissions that they received. And those of you here today really went above and beyond. You were able to find the ones that really needed to be shown that hadn't been shown yet.

[00:15:21] And I know that there will be others to come. So we have our honorees here today. I will try hopefully to name all of you who are here or the groups representing here. I also truly wanna thank the voting committee members. I think some of them are here with us, who use their volunteer time to help review these submissions.

[00:15:41] You also have your teachers. Teachers, can you just raise your hand, those of you who helped? Thank you so much. We were just thrilled by the number of submissions, and we know we wouldn't have seen that without your work and dedication above and beyond what you already do in your classrooms for your kids.

[00:16:05] So we're delighted to spotlight, and through the Titleist efforts, I'm thrilled to name our submitters. Let's see, if you are, let's see, how about when I say the group, if you want to raise your hands so that we know you're representing them. The two, we have, let me start, I believe six finalist winners.

[00:16:26] The first is from Louise Archer. Who is here from Louise Archer today? Some of our youngest but mightiest representatives here. We actually had two groups of submitters that submitted Louise Archer.

[00:16:45] We had Sidney Guthrie and Hunter Guthrie, 10th grade at James Madison High School. Are you here with us today? Yes, they are right here. Oh, excellent. As well, so 10th grader at James Madison, 8th grader at Luther Jackson.

[00:17:05] Wonderful to have you here. We also had a submission by the 4th graders of Louise Archer Middle School. Elementary School, I was going to say. This is middle school. and their sponsored teacher, Anna Marie Harris. So all four teachers from Louise Archer, if you want to raise your hand.

[00:17:23] Those of you who are here with us today. I believe some of you are now in the fifth grade, is that correct? Yes, excellent. So I know it's been a long process. And I'm sure you're excited to see your fourth grade teachers again and to be with us here today a little bit taller than you were last year.

[00:17:43] So thank you for your excellent work. The next group was Lillian Blackwell, and that was submitted by Maren Fikru. Delano Telford, Maddie Haag at 12th and 11th grade at South County High School. I hope I pronounced your names correctly.

[00:17:59] Are you with us here today? Hello, teachers here. Thank you. We also, number three, the third submission was for Annie Harper, and that was submitted by the, I believe, last year, fourth graders of Island Creek Elementary School and their sponsor and teacher, Ms. Maura Keeney.

[00:18:21] Are you with us here today, current fifth graders? And I know we're delighted Maura not only submitted this, but Maura has been doing this work for many, many years. So thank you so much, Maura, for your continued efforts in our community.

[00:18:39] And our fourth submission, it was Robert Gunnell of Gunnell's Chapel, and this was submitted by last year's fourth and fifth graders at Haycock Elementary School, sponsored by Stephanie Duffield and Patty Gray, teachers at Haycock Elementary. Haycock, are you here with us today?

[00:18:55] Yeah. Excellent. Thank you. And I know I got to meet a couple of the students up earlier. Number five is our own General Colin Powell, and he was submitted by Caroline Fox, a resident of McLean.

[00:19:13] Caroline, are you here with us today? There she is. Thank you, Caroline. Thank you. And finally, a marker commemorating the 16 officially enslaved individuals, better known as the West Springfield 16, who were on the land of the West Springfield High School, Where the West Springfield High School now stands, I apologize, and that was submitted by the Applied History Class of teacher Brian Heintz of West Springfield High School.

[00:19:47] West Springfield, are you here today? Woo, excellent. I know we are just so delighted, and what I love is that we have, as you can see, every age group in our community from elementary school, middle school, and high school here representing, because this is work that all of us can do and will continue to do to help ensure that we recognize and understand the history, the complete history here of Fairfax County.

[00:20:17] Those of you here today or visitors, future visitors to the government center, if you look outside in the atrium, you can see a small exhibit of these historical markers and their potential locations. It is quite a process, and so the markers are not quite ready to be posted yet, And I know as soon as they are, we will have individual celebrations for each marker, and we hope to see you there again.

[00:20:41] And I want to also thank the exhibit was put together by the excellent New County staff team of Stephanie Neumann and Laura Kvicklis. I hope I said it correctly. Are you here with us, Stephanie and Laura? Thank you.

[00:21:00] I know we, all of us here, are immensely proud of this project, of the fact that it really, truly is educational and transformative for years to come. And I know many, including, we're so happy to see Mary here again today, and the History Commission, who continue to make this possible.

[00:21:20] Very thankful to everyone involved, particularly the leaders of this work have been Suzette Reynolds, Crystal Santos, Cheryl Ann Repetti, and Mary Lipsy, who have spent so many hours, countless hours over the past two years, making this happen.

[00:21:38] I have a whole long list of people who helped. I'm happy to say it quickly, if that's okay, Mr. Chairman, because I know this has been a long project. We had Stephanie Duffield and Patty Gray from Haycock, Sean Miller from South County High School, Girl Scout Troop 3686, Carla Bruce, Don Hyman, Crystal Santos, Tracy Nguyen, Mary Lipsy, Cheryl Ann Rapetti, Aria Callender for my team, Alicia Hunter, Deborah March, Roberto Quinn, Katina

[00:22:11] Matthews, Ramona Carroll, Suzette Reynolds, Tammy Manarino, Maggie Gohan, Morachini, and Brian Heintz. And I also want to thank all of our voting committee members. Thank you all very, very much for your incredible work. And one more round of applause to everyone.

[00:22:28] Thank you very much. Uh, supervisor Palchek, any other discussion? Uh, supervisor grows. This is such a great lesson in civics and, um, I'm delighted to see you all. I've noticed some of you waving at the, at the television screen and my, my, my request actually is I'm sure that there are many people, parents and maybe back at school that are recording this, but I'm wondering if maybe Channel 16 might be able to do some sort of a DVD of this particular presentation,

[00:23:08] including all of the remarks, because I think this belongs in the school libraries and in the various locations where people have actually made the nominations. So that would simply be my request so that we can actually capture this for all time.

[00:23:27] Thank you, and thank you for all your good work. And we are doing that, Supervisor Gross. I'm not sure everyone here knows what a DVD is. But we will make sure the video is available.

[00:23:44] Supervisor Lusk. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I also want to thank the students and the teachers for this very important work. And I'll acknowledge that we want to reflect the contributions of all members of our community and that we are all woven together.

[00:24:04] We are a community made of many, and I think it's important for us to sometimes stop and think about what others have done in support of our community. There's no group that's more important than any other. And I appreciate the work that the schools have done and the teachers have done to help bring this forward because this is information that we can share for future generations, and I think it's just so, so important.

[00:24:31] So thank you all for your contributions and your efforts here today. Thank you, Supervisor Luss, Supervisor Stork. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. And it is absolutely a pleasure and honor to recognize these students, their teachers especially, and really the community that's helped to bring us together and focus not only on our present, but just as importantly on our past and how we have tried to create and support creating a more perfect union, which is the essence of the documents that created our republic.

[00:25:04] So that happens every single day when we make a difference and we work hard. Laura Akini, particularly Mara, I'm sorry, thank you very much for your work, and thank you very much for your students' work. I also want to thank the other, frankly, Mount Vernon District folks who have really been essential to this process.

[00:25:22] Obviously, Gum Springs people, Ron Chase, Tammy Ryan Arena has been very involved, Ann Barnes, Sally Lyons, just a huge part of this, but especially, and most importantly, to honor Ann Harper and, frankly, the folks with her, Curtis and Myrtle Burr, as well as Gladys Berry, who were part of the effort to overturn the poll tax in Virginia.

[00:25:49] And for what, Mara, your team and your now fifth graders were essential in highlighting and making a difference. And so, again, we're creating that more perfect union, and it happens every single day because you all make a difference. So thank you for making a difference for all of us and bringing forward the light that those individuals have helped us to create.

[00:26:10] Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Stork. And seeing and hearing no one else that would like to be recognized, let me just say that I love everything about this. This morning, I love that adults throughout the county can learn from our young people, from the work that you did.

[00:26:28] You're the teachers in this instance of so many people who will read these markers that you researched and that you developed the information for. I also want to thank, I hesitated when Supervisor Pouchek started reading the list because there's a group that's not on the list and that's all of your parents because your parents are also being celebrated here this morning, not only for having such wonderful children, but for also being supportive of you and everything that you do, just like your teachers and faculty and staff

[00:27:02] at all of our schools are. And what I also love this morning is this is the largest group that we've had in this auditorium since 2019, for obvious reasons. And what a great way to celebrate community with so many of our young people, especially after what we've been through over the last couple of years. And it didn't stop all of you from doing the excellent work that you did to make this happen. I also love, as others have acknowledged, that what we have before us is literally the embodiment of One Fairfax. It is kids from every walk of life, from every ethnicity,

[00:27:40] from every background, coming together as a team to celebrate your work in a way that's remarkable and is a reinforcement of what a proud, inclusive, multinational, international community that we've created here in Fairfax County. Another thing that I love about this is, and I say this often, especially in recent times, is that we can't go back and change our history, but we sure can learn from it and do better. And in researching, I'm sure a lot of you were surprised in some of the

[00:28:15] research of the challenges that have been faced by people before us and how we must as adults and as young people always strive to learn from that history and strive to do better and create a better environment for all people, not just in Fairfax County, but in this world. And that's an important role that history always plays. And so I want to congratulate the students most particularly, but the staff and the teachers who worked with you on the research. As I mentioned earlier, your parents, our fantastic history commission, being able to use the talents of

[00:28:54] our young people in a way we never have before. And to be able to come and celebrate that is so important, so important for our next generation. And the History Commission has been doing a remarkable job of getting our young people involved, not just you, the ones who were before us, but I know some of the students at our universities who are doing a lot of work with the History Commission as well, and telling, as Supervisor Powcek said before, the complete history of our nation, and more importantly for us here locally, our complete history of Fairfax

[00:29:29] County. And so what a remarkable job to all of you. I am told that should this motion pass, that all of you will be getting certificates and they will be handed out to you after the celebration this morning on your way out. And certainly want to thank all of you for being here today and for playing such an important role in making sure that the history of the county is not lost, but instead is used as a pivot point from all of us to learn. And thank you for teaching a lot of adults a history lesson isn't that cool you guys got to be the teachers in this case and

[00:30:03] teachers for a lot of people so well done with that I think we're ready for a vote all those in favor of the motion please say aye aye very good very good there there will certainly be empty seats up here in the future from some of our vocal ones I love it any opposed any abstentions And as expected, that motion carried with a lot of people in support of it.

[00:30:43] And so with that, Ramona is with us from NCS. Ramona, welcome. Good morning. Thank you so much. I just want to echo some of what has already been said about the amazing students that are here today with us who were able to participate in this project.

[00:30:59] As it has been mentioned, the Black African American Experience Project's purpose was to reveal the narratives and oral histories of Fairfax County's African American communities whose rich history, curriculum, culture, and accomplishments are underrepresented in our history books.

[00:31:15] We have shared that these youth have given us a history lesson, have unearthed some things about Fairfax County that maybe us as adults didn't know. We are so grateful for the opportunity to partner with them to collaborate with the school system on this project, to work with our community members who served as voting members of the Historical Marker Project, and also to work with colleagues and partners across our Fairfax County system, specifically our History Commission partners who worked with us and who gave us information to make sure that our students, our teachers, had what they need to do the research.

[00:31:48] This has been a wonderful project. We look forward to the continued work that these young people will do when we're just very excited of the impact that they're going to have on our community. So thank you. And Ms. Carroll, thank you very much. Appreciate your words. And we are going to pose for a picture. This is going to be interesting.

[00:32:05] I know that our experts at the Office of Public Affairs are going to put together an amazing photo. And so we want to make sure that the young kids are in the front again. So if the adults could come with their backs to the dais here and face the audience.

[00:32:21] And then all of our young people can probably mostly just turn and face the audience. And I'm trying to help OPA organize this very wide lens photo. And the board will rise and do the scrunch, which we haven't done in ages.

[00:32:38] Wow.

[00:32:38] folks are exiting folks are exiting if we could um i'm remiss and not uh introducing

[00:37:25] michelle togby michelle is is in the stairwell right here and i wanted to recognize her because i did not see her during the presentation but she is the student representative on the fairfax county public school school board so thank you thank you for joining us this morning as well And with that, we are ready to move on to our next presentation.

[00:37:52] And next, we have two sports team resolutions this morning requested by myself, Supervisors Walkinshaw, Gross, Paucek, Herity, and Lusk. And I understand we have the West Springfield coach, Christopher – I'm sorry, I guess we have another change.

[00:38:10] I have a West Springfield coach, Christopher Pellegrini, but I'm also told from West Springfield, Lexi Stein is here. Is Lexi Stein here? If you could please come on down. And W.T. Woodson coach Garrett Croner is here.

[00:38:26] And their teams are with us here today. And if the team members who are here with them want to come on down, we would welcome you to come on down at this time. And I will turn to Supervisor Walkinshaw for a motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and we have two separate resolutions, so I'll do them each separately.

[00:38:47] First, West Springfield Girls, whereas the West Springfield Girls cross-country team capped off a highly successful fall 2022 season by winning the Virginia High School League Class 6 state championship on November 12, 2022 at the Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg, and whereas en route to the state championship, the team's second state title, The Spartans were also victorious at the Patriot District and Occoquan Regional Championships.

[00:39:16] And whereas the team's tremendous accomplishments include placing four of the top 15 finishers in the championship race. And whereas team members demonstrated unwavering dedication and support for each other, staying positive throughout close competitions, and celebrating each other's achievements.

[00:39:37] And whereas the team, led by seniors Lexi Stein and Kenza Elecari, juniors Aidan McGrath, Grace Weveley, Chloe Miller, and Catherine Lynn, and sophomore Adeline Barker, has been skillfully guided by Coach Christopher Pellegrini, who has led the team since 2006.

[00:40:01] Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of all residents of Fairfax County, does hereby congratulate the West Springfield Spartans and Coach Pellegrini for their impressive success this year, culminating in the state championship.

[00:40:17] So moved. I'm happy to second that, along with Supervisor Gross and Herity. Any discussion on that motion? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just want to congratulate you all on your incredible success and an incredible season. And we have another cross-country team up next, so I'll try not to be redundant.

[00:40:36] But you all know that cross-country is a unique sport, and it's one where training, diligence, and discipline count a lot more than natural ability. And you all have put in hours and hours and hours and hours of training and work culminating in your success this season, and we're so proud of you.

[00:40:58] So congratulations. Thank you, Supervisor Walkinshaw. Other discussions? Supervisor Herity? Yeah, just real briefly, as a Spartan alumni and a Booster Club member, I want to add my congratulations.

[00:41:17] I get the pleasure of watching you start your long season running up and down Rolling Road right outside my office. So I see all the hard work firsthand and appreciate the effort. It's cross-country, such a great sport, gets you outdoors and teaches you a lot of those life lessons that you learn because there's a lot of individual to cross-country, but there's a lot of team, too.

[00:41:42] So congratulations to you, Coach, to all the students and all the parents who also put up with all the work. And I work very hard to take care of our one cross-country trail, which is in Burke Lake Park, which is also in the Springfield District.

[00:42:01] But I know that's very, very important, and it's something that we do everything we can to make sure is in good shape for you all every year. Other discussions? Supervisor Lusk? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just also want to congratulate both teams for their successful season, and I want to acknowledge I'm a recovering runner.

[00:42:22] I try to run myself, and what I've learned is it's extremely hard. It takes a lot of patience and dedication and diligence, and I know how hard you guys work. And I want to say I don't know how you guys can get sub-six-minute mile paces. I'm just, like, struggling, struggling to be at eight minutes right now.

[00:42:39] So I might need to get some training from you guys when you have some free time. But I want to say congratulations again and so proud of you for what you've accomplished. Thank you, Supervisor Luss, Supervisor Gross. There we go.

[00:42:55] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and congratulations to all of our young people. I live close to TJ, to Thomas Jefferson High School, and I live on a hill that's like this. And so I get to see, when I'm home occasionally, the cross-country team from TJ running up and down our hill.

[00:43:13] So running up is really hard, but running down is hard, too, because it's so steep. But I really wanted to say that, especially for the girls, I grew up before Title IX. The only sports available to young women, even in college at that time, were things like volleyball with girls' rules and field hockey.

[00:43:40] There was really, there was no encouragement, nor was there any legal requirement. So I have been delighted to see, as a result of Title IX, the opportunities for all sports for girls and young women today.

[00:44:02] Boys, you've always had that advantage, quite frankly. Girls have not. And so for those of us who grew up at a time when it was all boys sports, it wasn't girls sports. I am really thrilled to see that you've been able to participate, but also your success.

[00:44:22] So congratulations. Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Gross. And before we vote, let me also congratulate the West Springfield girls on the first proclamation. I have a nephew who is on the cross-country team at West Potomac High School, and I see what the amount of training and the amount of time that he has to put in.

[00:44:43] And as others have acknowledged, Supervisor Lusk and I, who are struggling to run frequently, look out in awe at the Hayfield cross-country team run by where we live. And what I'm always struck by is hearing them cheering each other on, you know.

[00:45:00] So while this is individual determination that helps your success, I know that the support of your teammates, we see it, we hear it, matters a lot. And the support of the community and your parents and teachers, your coaches who helped you with this achievement.

[00:45:17] This is something that you'll be able to remember for the rest of your lives, hopefully inspires you to keep at it, but also the network of people who helped you make this happen. A lot of times we forget those folks, the ones who encourage you at home, the ones that encourage you in the classroom.

[00:45:35] And as with all of our student-athletes, your academic success is noted as well, and you really are a complete successful student. So I want to congratulate, at this time, the West Springfield Girls cross-country team. What an achievement. Congratulations.

[00:45:51] With that, all those in favor of that motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? And that motion carries. Supervisor Walkinshaw. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Whereas the W.T. Woodson boys cross country team capped off a highly successful fall 2022 season by winning the Virginia High School League Class 6 state championships on November 12, 2022 at the Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg.

[00:46:20] And whereas in route to their state championship, the Cavaliers were victorious at the Patriot District and Occoquan Regional Championships, the first time in Woodson's history that the school has won all three. And whereas the team had a tremendous year, winning multiple weekend invitationals and finishing in fifth place against some of the best teams in the Northeast at the Manhattan Invitational.

[00:46:43] And whereas the team embraced new training methods, including yoga and team bonding activities that no doubt contributed to their success. And whereas the team, led by senior captains Samik Bengay, Daniel Kasata, Caleb Hymans, and Luke Schools, and including junior Stephen Wolfe and sophomore Jabron Hutchins and Zane Elcock, counts all district, all region, and all state runners among their ranks, and has been skillfully guided by Coach Garrett Croner, now therefore be it resolved that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors,

[00:47:23] on behalf of all residents of Fairfax County, does hereby congratulate the W.T. Woodson Cavaliers and Coach Garrett Croner for their impressive success this year, culminating in the state championship. Second. I'm happy to second that motion along with Supervisor Palchuk.

[00:47:39] Discussion, Supervisor Walkinshaw. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Most of what was said applies to you. Not all of it, but most applies to you all as well. Congratulations on an incredible season, an incredible year. You know, I noted that cross-country is a sport that rewards your training and diligence and discipline more than natural ability.

[00:48:02] It's also a rare sport where there's no halftime, no timeouts, no substitution. It's just you the entire time until you finish the race. So it's really incredible what you all have done this year, and congratulations to the team, and congratulations to you, Coach.

[00:48:22] Thank you Supervisor Walkinshaw, Supervisor Palczyk. Thank you Mr. Chairman and I also wanted to speak to both but we'll start with Woodson because I've had the opportunity as I drive my now one-year-old to daycare every day right next to Woodson to see some of you running while she's got she's trying to run with her little walker right now. I think what I love about cross country and that it did not know was a sport until high school is that it truly is for those of us who don't necessarily consider ourselves athletes or coming from athletic families

[00:48:57] how it really is a sport that so many can participate in it is inspiring i really just want to speak today both to the boys team and to the girls team that you are doing incredible work and i hope you will think about inspiring if you're not already the next generation i think It's a sport, Girls on the Run, I was able to start a club just a few years ago, and it really brings girls, there are also boys running clubs as well, into lifelong sports.

[00:49:29] I think there are some sports that make it difficult to be a lifelong athlete, especially excited to hear that you're doing yoga and other well-being and self-care activities. And so I really want to both commend you for your excellent work and accomplishments, and also look forward to seeing you use those skills leading in your careers and your futures.

[00:49:51] You go to college. It's a great way to stay in shape in your mind and your body, and also help inspire some of the other younger kids. We saw some of them here today in your community for a wonderful sport. So congratulations, and excited to see the years ahead. And congratulations to your parents.

[00:50:07] Many are here filming you in the back and your families and your and your coaches for what you've done. And finally, they're not with us here today, but I know your leaders, your principals are excellent, wonderful, supportive leaders in your schools and want to congratulate them as well.

[00:50:23] Thank you very much, Supervisor Palchek. And let me also congratulate you as Supervisor Walkinshaw mentioned, winning all three championships to be the first teammates ever to do that in school history.

[00:50:38] will be something certainly never forgotten. Supervisor Lusk, we now know the answer. It's not old age that slows us down. It's a lack of yoga. And so maybe there's hope for us to get back in the game. But obviously, those non-traditional techniques have worked.

[00:50:58] So congratulations to whoever's idea that was. But in all seriousness, as I said earlier, this is a huge dedication on behalf of a whole network of people to make you successful and we had the WT Woodson High School Orchestra here for the New Year's celebration in the atrium right next door not long ago and I might recognize some people who were here that night too but obviously Woodson like so many of our high schools is just excelling in the arts and in athletics and in academics and this board of supervisors is very proud of each

[00:51:34] and every one of you and certainly your work on cross country makes you a much more well-rounded student to be much much more successful in life because of that dedication that you put into this and so we're proud of your accomplishments winning these titles is not easy and we wanted to make sure we took a moment to say personally how proud we are of you of your coaches and of your teams both at West Springfield High School and W.T. Woodson so with that all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? And that motion carries. And I

[00:52:11] understand Lexi Stein is here from West Springfield, as well as Coach Garrett Croner. I hope I'm pronouncing that right. If either of you would like to share a few words with us, or if you have a substitute who would like to share words with you, with us from each school, we would welcome that at this time welcome hi sorry hi I'm Lexi um I'm a senior um for West Springfield and I want to first thank the board for having us today and I would like to thank our coaches for giving us

[00:52:48] something that we never thought would happen we thought it was just a dream and we've been wanting it for like a long time and we're just really happy that it finally happened because now I can carry that with me for the rest of my life and especially when I come back to West Springfield in 20 years I'll get to see my teammates as we're inducted in the West Springfield Hall of Fame and I also want to say thank you to my teammates for just teaching me a lesson that I always wanted to learn what it really is to be a teammate and have a team sport I played soccer for a lot of

[00:53:27] years but it wasn't until I joined cross country that I really felt like I was a part of a team and that's a lesson that I really wish every person had the opportunity of learning and I'm just so grateful for all these people um yeah thank you excellent thank you very much Lexi nicely done um good morning my name is Saman Pingay and I'm the captain of the cross country and track teams and on behalf of our cross country team I'd like to thank our coaches

[00:54:04] especially coach kroner um and coach winslow and coach devlin who aren't here today um for all the work for the past i don't know five years longer than that um for all the work he's put in all the hours all the late nights um losing hours of sleep just everything like that and everything he's done for us um and we're here today because of the because we're here to recognize the work he's done

[00:54:34] And I also want to thank my teammates, our four seniors here today, and then Gibran, our sophomore, and then Stephen and Zane, who aren't here today, and then just the whole team for coming out to states and supporting us.

[00:54:53] And it's a great honor to be here. So thank you to all of the Board of Supervisors for hosting us here. Yeah, thank you. Well done. Well done. Thank you very much. And with that, I think we're ready for a photo.

[00:55:10] you all could come up face the audience come to the dais and then face the audience we can be

[00:55:15] prepared for a photo okay next up we want to we have a resolution to recognize nate mook

[00:57:57] ceo of world central kitchen and requested by myself and supervisor alcorn nate is with us here today i'm told it there he is if you could come on down to the podium and supervisor alcorn will read resolution. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Whereas World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit founded by renowned chef and philanthropist Jose Andres, provides chef-prepared meals to communities in response to humanitarian climate and community crises, and whereas World Central Kitchen has created a new model for disaster relief, helping devastated communities

[00:58:32] recover and establish resilient food systems, and whereas in 2017, in the wake of Hurricane Maria, Reston native Nate Mook joined World Central Kitchen to lead its relief efforts in Puerto Rico. And whereas, from 2018 to 2022, Nate Mook served as CEO of World Central Kitchen, traveling worldwide to provide humanitarian aid, including several months in war-torn Ukraine.

[00:58:56] And whereas, under his leadership, World Central Kitchen served more than 60 million meals, while also helping to build sustainable local food systems. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of all residents of Fairfax County, does hereby congratulate and thank Nate Mook for his exceptional accomplishments during his tenure as CEO of World Central Kitchen.

[00:59:22] Second. It's been moved and multiply seconded by myself and Supervisor Lust. Discussion on the motion, Supervisor Alcorn. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Nate, it's great to have you here, and usually we do proclamations for folks that are doing things locally, and you're kind of a local guy that's done a lot of stuff globally, so, you know, it's not an understatement.

[00:59:45] I mean, in the resolution, we're talking tens of millions of people that you've helped over your career so far. So just a little bit of background for the board, Nate's a native of Reston and went to Southlakes High School.

[01:00:00] His family has strong roots in Fairfax County and in Reston. I've heard Nate credit growing up in Reston, influencing his life's work. His mother, Sarah Larson, historian, founder of the Reston Museum, infused his interest in storytelling And I understand maybe enlisted you in painting a wall or two at Reston Museum's founding.

[01:00:24] Also, he was greatly inspired by his grandparents, Cal and Nancy Larson, who had a long history of giving themselves in service of others. So just a little bit more on Nate. Started early as an entrepreneur in the tech and software industries.

[01:00:41] I think you co-founded or founded three different companies by the time you were 27. Named a change hero by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for your work with TEDx, which really does elevate voices in underserved communities.

[01:00:57] And thank you for doing that. He also has been a producer of documentaries and films, including Baltimore Rising. And as a filmmaker, you've also produced direct shot projects in Somalia, Haiti, Colombia, Panama, Uganda, Kenya, Iraq, and Liberia.

[01:01:15] But today, we're just focusing on World Central Kitchen and the work that you did when you were CEO there. You left last year. So I do just want to note and look forward to hearing also any thoughts you might want to share.

[01:01:31] But after World Central Kitchen, Nate's been back in Ukraine many times, including, I believe, last night, or you just got back, And continue your work as president of the Ukraine Foundation, which I understand feeds people that are reeling from the Russian invasion.

[01:01:50] So I know you've been on the Polish border at first and then on the front lines in the east. But your dispatches that you put out over social media I know are followed by millions. And I really appreciate you not only what you're doing but also communicating it to the world.

[01:02:09] And we're grateful for everything you've done, and we're honored to honor you today. Thank you, Supervisor Alcorn. Any further discussion? Let Supervisor Walkinshaw. I'll just say, coincidentally, I couldn't sleep the other night.

[01:02:24] I went downstairs to turn on HBO Max and find a documentary, and I watched Baltimore Rising. It was incredible. I recommend it to everyone. So thank you for sharing that. Thank you, Supervisor Walkinshaw. And let me also congratulate you, Nate.

[01:02:41] I mean, we're honoring you and your accomplishments. And, you know, I think it's appropriate we're doing it today after, you know, starting our day first thing this morning, thinking about people in Turkey and Syria. And, you know, sadly, it seems like these natural disasters happen so quickly.

[01:02:59] These humanitarian crises, whether they're caused by climate or corrupt governments or other reasons. I think a lot of times, you know, it's hard for us to stay focused on the victims. There's so much coverage always of the storm or the movement, but not a lot of profiles of the so many innocent people who are victimized when these incidents occur.

[01:03:22] And, you know, being able to provide them a healthy meal may not seem like a lot. It's huge. It's huge to be able to do that. And the work of World Kitchen and your background has been highlighted in many places.

[01:03:38] I know I've read many, many articles, seen many news clips, documentaries about the work that's been done by World Central Kitchen in particular. And hearing Supervisor Alcorn talk about your background in Reston and knowing that there's a little sliver of Fairfax County DNA in you makes us very proud.

[01:04:00] And you need to know that your local community here, while you're doing so many things internationally, your local community here is so proud of the work you've done and the lives that you've changed in people's worst times. And so thank you so much on behalf of the 1.1-plus million residents of Fairfax County.

[01:04:21] We have so many talented people in our community, and Nate, you are one of them and are doing amazing work. So thank you very much. With that, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions?

[01:04:37] That motion carries. And Nate, welcome. The floor is yours. Thank you so much. It truly is an honor to be here today, not only because I grew up in Reston and Prefects County, but because, as Supervisor Alcorn mentioned, it really shaped who I am today.

[01:04:53] You know, this is a community where service to others, I think, is a central core value. And not only in my immediate family, but even as I was driving in today, you know, I saw the sign for the Panino building. And I had the great fortune to be very close to Martha Panino growing up when I was young and to be surrounded by individuals doing incredible work within their communities and beyond.

[01:05:21] As Supervisor Alcorn mentioned, I just got back from Ukraine last night, one of many trips. And, you know, my work both over the last five years with World Central Kitchen and, you know, we actually did quite a bit of work in this in Fredericks County during the pandemic as well as we were focused very locally in the United States.

[01:05:41] But, of course, overseas and abroad, I had an opportunity to work alongside Virginia Task Force One in a number of disasters. And I saw that they were being deployed to Turkey and Syria. And many of my former colleagues are now headed that direction as well.

[01:05:57] And now my current work, of course, in Ukraine, you know, I am following the footsteps of so many that have come from Fairfax County and that have really shown me the way. And so it is an honor again to be here. I'm grateful for this recognition. And it's so nice to be to be home. Thank you.

[01:06:17] Outstanding. Thank you very much, Nate. As I said, we're so proud of you and inspired by you and certainly wish you continued success. We know the need is out there, but knowing there are people like you in this world, I think we can all rest a little bit easier.

[01:06:32] But congratulations on this honor, and thank you for all your work. With that, I think we're ready for a picture. Supervisor Alcorn and I will come down, and if the board could do the scrunch.

[01:06:44] And our final resolution today is a very special one,

[01:07:51] and that is to recognize former Fairfax City Mayor David Meyer for his accomplishments and contributions to the community. And this was requested by myself, and I know Mayor Meyer and some of his colleagues are here. We would welcome all of you to come down to the podium at this time, and I am going to read the proclamation.

[01:08:11] I'm going to hand the gavel over to Vice Chairman Gross. Whereas David Meyer was elected mayor of the city of Fairfax in 2017, and whereas prior to his tenure as mayor, David Meyer, a resident of the city of Fairfax since 1981, served capably for five terms on the Fairfax City Council.

[01:08:31] And whereas David Meyer's love of Fairfax is evident, including in his service on the historic Fairfax City Board of Directors and as co-author of Fairfax, Virginia, a city traveling through time. And whereas during his tenure, David Meyer led the city of Fairfax through challenges like the pandemic, growth and economic development, and achievements like the city's AAA bond rating, one of only four cities in Virginia with that rating.

[01:08:59] And whereas David Meyer has also contributed his time and talent through service as a regional leader on the Virginia-Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, and whereas David Meyer has been a supportive, dedicated, and knowledgeable collaborator and partner in making and helping to make Fairfax City and Fairfax County and the region a great place to live, work, and play and do business,

[01:09:27] Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of all residents of Fairfax County, does hereby congratulate David Meyer for his achievements as mayor, expresses its gratitude for his service, and wishes him well in all his future endeavors.

[01:09:44] You've heard the motion seconded multiply. I think I heard Supervisor Luskin, Supervisor Palchuk. Is there discussion on the motion, Mr. Chairman? Thank you, Vice Chairman Gross. You know, this resolution talks about a lot of professional achievements of Mayor Meyer, which we're very proud of.

[01:10:04] But what I want to talk about is just what a great friend he is and collaborator. You know, you run across a lot of people in public life, and not all of them always have the calmness, the demeanor, the professionalism, the collaborative spirit that Dave Meyer has.

[01:10:24] And that's been my experience with Dave, not only serving on several of our regional commissions where we've been strongly supportive of each other, Fairfax County and Fairfax City succeed together, and we've always known that, but also in my role as chairman of the board, the opportunities I've had to work with David from that capacity have been outstanding and really a model of how public service should and can be done.

[01:10:53] And so I want to thank you, Dave, for being a friend and partner in so many successful things. And certainly in my time as chairman and your time, part of your time as mayor, things weren't easy. I mean, we had a lot of tough things to deal with, mainly the pandemic and all the effects on all of our residents of that.

[01:11:15] And you've been a stalwart supporter and somebody that I've admired throughout that time and proud to count as a partner. I also want to thank your wife and family because we know that public service is a family affair. And there are a lot of nights and weekends that you've given up to support the residents of the city of Fairfax.

[01:11:37] And that sometimes can take tolls on our families. And so I want to thank that your family as well for their support of you, which allowed you to support the city and support so much of what we're doing together with the city and with Fairfax County.

[01:11:52] And so, Dave, I know we're going to see and hear a lot of you in the future. I know you're not going anywhere. I'm praying that you still stay involved in the community because your talents are immense. Your demeanor is amazing and your friendship is something that I personally cherish.

[01:12:10] So thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm going to start over here at this end because I imagine that almost everybody wants to say something. Supervisor Alcorn. Thank you, Madam Chair. David, thank you. You've been such a wonderful colleague and peer in my three years, I guess plus now, in this role.

[01:12:29] And everything you've done, not just for Fairfax City, but also for the region. And I also just want to remind folks, if folks don't know, there's some Fairfax County routes here. In Vienna and I would say probably Centerville District back in the day.

[01:12:46] But, you know, we just heard about Martha Panino. But thank you again for everything you've done, all your service, and look forward to working with you in future endeavors. Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor. Supervisor Walkinshaw. I'm sorry. You have it. That's right. You have it. I forgot the Vice Chair has the floor for a minute.

[01:13:04] Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. You know, David, there are very few people in public service that I admire more than you. I've watched your leadership since you've been on the council and as mayor and have been constantly impressed by what you've done for your community and in our region.

[01:13:26] And I was thinking about Mayor Meyer, and I have to admit to my colleagues, I think over the last three years I've probably spent more time with David Meyer than I have with most of you. because we have so many shared priorities with the city that we've worked on together.

[01:13:48] You're incredibly dedicated and diligent service on so many regional bodies that I know most all of us can attest to. And one thing that I always tell people is that, you know, in our region, Fairfax City has punched way, way, way above its weight because of your work at TPB and NVRC and NVTC, and the list goes on and on and on, but you've made substantive contributions that have made the city and our region better at each of those.

[01:14:25] And you've led your community through some tough issues and some big decisions, and I think you're one of those leaders who, for those who are operating in good faith, Even if they disagree with you, they have to concede that you're always doing what you believe to be in the best interest of your community, and you're doing it in a way that brings civility and dignity to it, and that's a model I hope all of us can try to follow.

[01:14:55] So thank you for your service. I know that Mayor Reed will find ways to enlist you moving forward and engage your talents to continue working to improve the city and the region. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Walkinshaw.

[01:15:13] Supervisor Smith? Just briefly, David, it's been a pleasure working with you on Northern Virginia Regional Commission, driving through the city to those meetings. It's been wonderful to see the changes in the city. Some of the road work, you know, has been a challenge, but you've done a great job.

[01:15:31] Thank you. I appreciate getting to work with you. Thank you. Supervisor Lusk? Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. I just want to say thank you to David for all of his service, obviously for the City of Fairfax, but for the region as well. I had the opportunity to serve with David on the Council of Governments.

[01:15:48] And I just want to reiterate the point that the chairman made, his demeanor, his style, temperament. It's very smooth, very, very even-keeled. And I just appreciate his willingness to extend himself to others as well.

[01:16:08] I had the opportunity to have some conversations with him at COG during the retreat and got to know him a little bit better, and I can tell what type of person he is, and I know he has a passion and a heart for public service, and the residents of Fairfax have been duly and ably represented by him.

[01:16:29] So, thank you for all that you've done, and I look forward to continuing to work with you in the future. Thank you. Supervisor Fast? Thank you, Madam Chair. They're like most of us on this board. We've had an opportunity to serve with you on various boards, authorities, and commissions around the region.

[01:16:47] And, I mean, I just want to tell you how much I respect you, how much I appreciate the hard work you do. You can tell that when you take on a project, you really put everything into it to get the best possible result for the community.

[01:17:06] I would say that, you know, your regional work is great. I've enjoyed being your partner on some things, but especially like the leadership you've provided to the city. I love what you've done in Fairfax City, and I think it's, you know, you have a true legacy there that you should be very proud of, and we'll all benefit from.

[01:17:29] So thank you. Look forward to many more years of knowing you and working with you, and there'll be plenty of opportunities. Thank you, Supervisor Faust, Supervisor Herity, and then Supervisor Palchuk. And then we're going to perhaps, David, you won't have to endure this too much longer.

[01:17:48] I will keep my comments brief, but I do appreciate it. And the comments on temperament and style are absolutely right on. Enjoyed working with you, certainly on FCAB and when there were issues and when there weren't. And your leadership on a lot of things, and one that I followed pretty closely, was the city jobs program because that was something that uh that we didn't quite get off the ground here you showed us how and we were able to go back and get it done in fairfax county so really appreciate appreciate your leadership there and uh and everything you've done for the

[01:18:23] residents of the city and the the relationship that we've had thanks supervisor palchick uh thank you maestro smith a lot has been said um and i think that we know clearly uh you're leaving the city in great hands with Mayor Reed with John Steele and with your council but I know that I as long as well as many of my colleagues will personally miss getting to see Carpool with you and work with you every day no one has the public service bug the way David Meyer has the public service bug you want to talk about every issue you care about every issue you absolutely care

[01:18:59] about this region and the community you were actually born in the northeast I believe definitely not in the South, and it's been interesting to hear when I reached out to you about the African American Black History Markers Project, just how passionate you were, because I did not know you well, and how you spent your life, I believe, even as a Madison High School grad, surprised at the glorification and the way we taught history here in the South, in Virginia. And so I truly appreciate that you have used your passion, but also your humility

[01:19:37] and your ability to work with people across every background, political background, and that you make sure that the best outcome is the one that's focused on. You've been an incredible mentor, as well as a wonderful driver to MBTC meetings. And I do hope that we continue to work be able to work with you um and thank you for leaving a fairfax in great hands and being a wonderful partner thank you supervisor palchuk and before we vote i need to get a few words in david matthew uh because we've worked for a long time on uh both cog and the northern

[01:20:13] virginia regional commission i've got to know you pretty well i think um first of all thank you for bringing fairfax city back into participation in the region that was really important because there was a period of time where Fairfax City really wasn't out there in front, and you brought that back, and I really appreciate that. Also, Supervisor Powcheck, you mentioned his passion for the history piece, and I remember more recently the work that you did was at the Germantown Cemetery, I think, which really was a healing opportunity for a lot of your residents

[01:20:51] in Fairfax City and took an awful lot of effort and I think it took a little bit of a toll on you just because of what was learned and how you bring people together to find is there a sweet spot if there's not a sweet spot is there a spot at least somewhere where people can come together um I also remember and this was pre-pandemic you came to a meeting in my office with the local government advisory committee on Chesapeake Bay.

[01:21:22] And you were sitting there, you representing Fairfax City. And wow, I thought, I've known David for a while, but I had no idea he was so involved in water. He had such a passion for stormwater and those things.

[01:21:39] So there was another part of you that I had not seen before. And I still remember that. Speaking of water, one day, and David, I'm going to tell this little story. One day, I think he was late to one of the regional commission meetings at NBRC, and he told a story.

[01:22:00] Well, the reason he was late was that an elderly constituent had called him. She had a pipe burst or something in her house, and she called the mayor to get it fixed. And what did the mayor do? He put on his blue jeans, rolled up his sleeves, and went to fix her pipe.

[01:22:20] That made him late to his meeting. And I thought, how many of us would actually do that? How many of us would actually have the skills to do that? Not just the desire to do it, but the skills. And so, David, you really, you know, have served at the grassroots level and have made, I think, Fairfax City a much more important part of our community, sort of in the way that some of your predecessors did, but not all of them did.

[01:22:54] And so to Mayor Reed, you have big shoes to fill. We've already had that conversation. And John, to you, you know, working together with you on the Cog Chesapeake Bay and so forth. Maybe, I don't know whether he rubbed off on you or you rubbed off on him.

[01:23:12] But anyway, really the work on Chesapeake Bay from a very small jurisdiction. You know, people don't think there's so much, but we're all involved in that. So thank you, David. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for always being there.

[01:23:28] And with that, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed, say nay. Any abstentions? That motion carries. Mr. Chairman, Gabble is yours. Thank you very much, Supervisor Gross. And before I turn the microphone over to Dave to say a few words, I also want to thank Catherine and John, obviously, for being here.

[01:23:49] But most importantly, I'm not sure about the John, Dave, who rubbed off on who, but I can tell you this, Mayor Reed is at everything now. And so we worried on some of these regional things, we worried, frankly, when you were going to retire, Dave, about whether or not that cooperation would continue that Supervisor Gross talked to.

[01:24:10] And Mayor Reed is stepping into those shoes and doing that, and we are grateful for that. So with that, Mayor Meyer, welcome. The floor is yours. Well, Chairman McKay, thank you and my colleagues and friends on the Board of Supervisors. How much I appreciate your recognition today.

[01:24:30] I want to, and Chairman McKay, I appreciate your comments about family. We all have families, and yes, it is an impact on our family life. And I want to thank my wife and my children. My wife just retired in June from Fairfax County Public Schools.

[01:24:50] Chairman McKay understands this well with his mother's career with FCPS as well. And I spent the first 30, as Supervisor Alcorn said, I spent the first 30 years of my life as a county resident.

[01:25:06] So all of that was good preparation for coming into the city of Fairfax. And I also want to just remind us of the power as parents, the modeling that we do for our children.

[01:25:23] And I didn't really appreciate this until I became an adult, but my parents were very active in their local church in the town of Vienna. And my father, for many years, was a coach in the Vienna Little League. And my mother was an election officer in the Vienna Community Center for almost 30 years.

[01:25:42] And so they imbued with, to me, a sense of very quiet modeling of public service and serving the community. And I want to thank all of you for the opportunity to collaborate with you in the county. We did an amazing amount of groundbreaking work in so many areas.

[01:26:02] We've established a stronger relationship with George Mason University. We worked collaboratively to ensure that the reconstruction of I-66 didn't have a negative impact on the communities along the highway.

[01:26:18] And, of course, that very first meeting in the Sherwood Center in March of 2020, Chairman McKay and I were, and many of you were there, to talk about this unusual virus that no one really understood what was happening.

[01:26:37] And we didn't realize that we were on the cusp of a global pandemic that was going to change the future of the whole planet. And we were somewhat ground zero in this area for that. And there's no better example of how regional cooperation can make a difference in saving lives.

[01:26:58] And that's what happened here in Northern Virginia. And we couldn't have done that without the county, and the county couldn't have done it without the talented people from the state health department. And all of those weekly meetings that we had on Zoom to talk about where we were in trying to protect our health system at Fairfax, the ANOVA health system and others.

[01:27:22] Toward the end, we did several things, but this collaboration for our new health center in the city, along with our recreation center, is really a great example of our collaboration as communities.

[01:27:38] And then, of course, at the same time the pandemic was happening, along came a national reckoning about race in America. And it forced every community, ourselves included, to have an honest conversation about our past and what kind of preferred future do we want to see.

[01:28:01] And I found great help and guidance to me personally about the initiative for One Fairfax. Because one Fairfax isn't just Fairfax County, it's really one Fairfax writ large. And so we embrace the principles and the concepts behind that to guide us as we as a small community move forward.

[01:28:24] We did several things in concert and in parallel with the county to look at our history through a much, much wider aperture to understand fully why things turned out the way they did and the legacy that we inherited and what we should do about that and what we're called to do about that.

[01:28:47] And so as we move forward, as we look back with a wider aperture, and when we turn to look forward, that future vision is going to be much wider, more inclusive, more participatory, and we can ensure that our children and grandchildren, while we may make some mistakes, at least we will have everybody as much as possible at the table for those conversations.

[01:29:12] It's absolutely critical. I'm going to close with just telling you a little story. Before the pandemic, a few years before, I went to my 40-year high school reunion at Madison High School. It was at a hotel at Tyson's.

[01:29:29] And I encountered a classmate who I was good for. I mean, I knew we were friends. We weren't close friends. But he was on my baseball team when we were in elementary school and middle school. And he came up and he asked me about my life.

[01:29:45] And he asked me about my parents and my father in particular. And I told him that my father had passed away. And all of a sudden, he grabbed the lapels of my jacket and pulled me forward. And he got these tears in his eyes. And he said, your father was so kind to me.

[01:30:02] And he really helped me become who I am. And I was just sort of taken back by this. And I was a little awkward, but I thanked him. And then we went on for the evening. And so driving home, I was reflecting on that moment.

[01:30:20] And the reason I'm sharing that with you is not to toot the horn, to say something about my dad, but to remind us all of the, we don't know the impact that we're having on somebody else's life. And here we are, here it was four decades later, someone that came to me to make that statement, and I haven't forgotten it.

[01:30:42] And so as we all are about the business of public service, we need to remember, it's a little bit of the parable of the mustard seed. We don't know where acts of kindness and justice are going to have an impact on someone else's life. But that was a powerful reminder to me of what this is really all about.

[01:31:03] I want to say thanks to the new mayor, Catherine Reed, my colleague, John Staley, for being here today and most especially for their support of me while I was mayor. And I commit my support to them in moving forward.

[01:31:20] And I also want to say a word about the staffs that we employ who support us as collegial bodies. We have some amazing, talented, and dedicated public servants in the county organization and in the city organization. So my thanks to Ed Long and to Brian Hill, to Bob Sisson, Rob Stolzer, and all the people who work for them to help us do the things that are going to move our communities forward.

[01:31:48] So thank you very much for this recognition, and I appreciate your friendship, and I look forward to staying in touch with you. And this means a lot to me to be recognized by you, and thank you again for everything. Thank you very much, Dave, and thank you for your words.

[01:32:07] I think they just reconfirmed for us why we've enjoyed serving with you so well, so well-spoken, and much appreciated all the contributions that you've made to the city and by extension to the county. And so it's been our honor to honor you this morning.

[01:32:23] With that, I think we're ready for a photo. And if you all could come on forward.

[01:32:40] We're just here to take the photo, Mayor. Paparazzi. Yeah, with them. Yeah, they can take their picture, too.

[01:33:04] Okay.

[01:33:06] And next up, we have a report on general assembly activities.

[01:33:54] So let me turn to Supervisor Walkinshaw, the chair of our board's legislative committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Since our last board meeting, the legislative committee has met twice, on Friday, January 28th, and Friday, February 3rd. There's been a lot of activity on the board's county initiatives.

[01:34:11] The first, which would allow Fairfax County to use contractors to remove illegal signs from the right of way, passed the House unanimously and is now headed to the Senate Transportation Committee. The second, which would clarify that localities in Northern Virginia are authorized to post appropriate and clear signage, requiring motorists to stop for pedestrians and crosswalks at unsignalized intersections, was reported from both the Senate Transportation and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees last week, and now awaits full consideration by the Senate.

[01:34:46] Unfortunately, the third, which would have clarified that counties that do not maintain their own roads are authorized to reduce speed limits to less than 25 miles per hour, but not less than 15 miles per hour on highways within their boundaries, within business or residential districts, was tabled by a House Transportation Subcommittee and did not advance.

[01:35:07] Thousands of bills have been introduced in the session, and the board has discussed hundreds of them related to public safety, land use, human services, and transportation, among others. We're at a critical point in the session right now, as today is the crossover date.

[01:35:24] Crossover is the deadline for bills to pass their originating chamber and crossover to the opposite chamber. Following crossover, both chambers will continue to work on their individual revenue bills as well as the state budget. On Sunday, the House and Senate money committees reported their budgets, and our staff is working to analyze them and will provide updates to us throughout the remainder of the session, as the budget will be a key area of focus during the second half of the session.

[01:35:53] I want to remind my colleagues about the Board's annual reception in Richmond, which will provide an opportunity for productive conversations with our delegation. That reception is tomorrow, Wednesday, February 8th at 5.30 p.m. at the Credit Union House of Virginia, and I hope to see you there.

[01:36:14] With that, Mr. Chairman, I move that the Board adopt Legislative Committee Report No. 2. I'm happy to second that motion. Is there discussion on the motion? Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed?

[01:36:30] Parity, nay. Any abstentions? And that motion passes 8 to 1, Supervisor Palchuk being out of the room at the time. Supervisor Walkinshaw. That's it, Mr. Chairman. All right. Thank you very much. With that, and hopefully everyone is able to make it down to the reception that you mentioned this week.

[01:36:50] It is a pivotal time in Richmond, so I look forward to seeing as many of you down there as possible tomorrow evening. Next up, we have board matters, and the clerk, of course, has compiled these digitally and will go alphabetically by district, following myself and Vice Chairman Gross, and I'm going to turn the gavel to Supervisor Gross.

[01:37:11] Unfortunately, I have several, but they should be pretty quick. First, I move to approve without objection the proclamation request listed in this document. And that is a resolution to recognize African American History Month, recognize the 40th anniversary of Dar al-Hijra Islamic Center, a proclamation to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Tree Commission, and a proclamation to recognize March as Developmental Disabilities Inclusion Month.

[01:37:37] Without objection, so ordered. Thank you. My next board item is a joint board matter with Supervisor Dan Stork. Last week, in an exciting Final Jeopardy, contestant Patton Oswalt won second place and was awarded $250,000 to benefit Alice's Kids.

[01:37:56] As many of you know, Alice's Kids is a nonprofit organization right here in the heart of Fairfax County. Thanks to actor Patton Oswalt, actor slash comedian, I should say, for his generous donation and for raising national attention for this organization. This is a well-deserved recognition.

[01:38:13] We want to celebrate the ongoing, tremendous work in the community and our region of Alice's Kids. Ron Fitzsimmons and his sister, Laura Fitzsimmons Peters, created this organization in memory of their mother and based on her own childhood experiences. Their goal is to illustrate what child poverty in this country looks like on an individual level.

[01:38:34] Since they don't want children to feel as though they are receiving charity, Alice's Kids usually sends gift certificates to kids who can take them shopping and get the credit for giving them that needed gift. Fitzsimmons said, we're not going to solve all the pains of all the children, but we just want to be a part of the answer at least.

[01:38:55] Alice's Kids receives a majority of their funding from individual donations and very little comes from grants and corporations. The first time actor Patton Oswalt donated, the first time he donated was $5,000 a few years ago. And he obviously was very impressed and he stayed with them and stayed in touch with them and donated this incredible winning amount from last week's Jeopardy winning to the charity.

[01:39:21] Therefore, we move that the Office of Public Affairs prepare a proclamation to congratulate Alice's kids on receiving national recognition to be presented in the boardroom. You've heard the motion seconded by Supervisor Stork as a discussion on the motion. Supervisor Stork.

[01:39:38] And I would just frankly repeat what's in the motion, but most importantly, anybody who knows Ron knows how deeply committed and how long he's been committed to making a difference for kids. And this is really without any compensation or really any benefit to him personally.

[01:39:54] This is all the money that's donated goes into this, and he, I mean, maybe it's changing a little bit, But it was operated literally out of a room in his house and with his sister and just the community engagement and the broad support.

[01:40:10] And what at one time was a, I would say, very much a local charity is now really spread throughout the country. And that's really a function of Laura and Ron and their work, commitment to honoring their mother and, frankly, the challenges of their own childhood and never forgetting that you can make a difference.

[01:40:29] So thank you both. Thank you. Are there any other discussion? This is a motion. Is that all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed, say nay. Any abstentions? That motion carries. Thank you, Vice Chairman Gross. My next joint board matter is with Supervisor Faust, and this is a request for a status and timeline update for the school bus arm camera program.

[01:40:54] The safety, security, and well-being of our residents are of the utmost importance, and this is especially true for our children. As I'm sure many on this board and our residents can attest to, we've all seen a vehicle speed pass a school bus that has its stop arm out and its red lights flashing.

[01:41:11] This is unacceptable. Recognizing that this poses a significant risk to our children, I and Supervisor Faust from this board led the extensive effort to give localities the authority to implement a school bus stop camera arm program dating back to 2013, and the timeline is attached.

[01:41:30] These cameras serve to change driver behavior and keep our children safe. While the board and the Fairfax County Police Department are supportive and have worked towards the ability to implement such a program, it is technically within the purview of the Fairfax County Public Schools to initiate this policy or maintain the equipment needed.

[01:41:48] As such, and given that several years have passed and the cameras are still not in operation, without objection, we ask the board to request a formal update from the working group working on this, which I understand includes more than just Fairfax County public schools, we request a formal update from this working group to the board that includes the current status of the camera program and a timeline for their implementation.

[01:42:13] Do you want to make that without objection or a motion? I'd like to make it a motion. Okay. You've been moved, seconded by Supervisor Faust. Is there discussion on the motion, Mr. Chairman? Yes, Madam Chairman. Just very briefly, I think the timeline, the chronology that i've attached speaks for itself i i and i know others are are very frustrated with this this is something we started 10 years ago it's hard to get authorizing legislation from the general assembly it's even harder to go back and correct that legislation when there are technical

[01:42:49] components of it that pose a challenge all those things have been done here i understand we've been in a pandemic but frankly I've lost my patience with the excuses that seem to come up from the working group repeatedly some of those are we ran a pandemic that was a high priority some of them are we have still one legal headache we need to get over some of them or do the police have the resources and I want to be clear in this point and saying absolutely they do and that our police department strongly supports this program as the board knows we recently got authorizing

[01:43:27] legislation to put speed cameras in school zones and work zones and a year later we're getting ready to put that program into motion this has been sitting on the books for almost 10 years and we see continually vehicles still passing a yellow school bus with red flashing lights and driver behavior you know there may be good explanations from time to time for bad driver behavior there is never an explanation ever for passing a school bus a bright yellow school bus with flashing red lights and a stop arm out and literally our children's lives are at stake here

[01:44:06] and given the increase in pedestrian accidents we've seen lately erratic driving behavior being able to take advantage of this technology even if started as a pilot program very similar to our speed camera program is a no-brainer from my standpoint and I want to hear exactly why this hasn't been started and hear exactly what the timeline will look like to implement this and I will finally add that every school board member I've talked to is supportive of this program everyone in the community that I've talked to is supportive of this program I don't know that I've

[01:44:42] ever seen something so widely supported and yet so miserably delayed and it's time to act on this thank you mr. chairman supervisor alcorn yeah thank you madam vice chairman um just to build on that a little bit you know it's not as though this came up 10 years ago and we actually haven't been talking about it since i mean there have been numerous uh discussion there have been board matters uh on you know that had mentioned this you know when we were just getting the uh the ATE systems for using the authority on speed that the chairman mentioned we talked about it then we talked about it at board transportation committee

[01:45:20] meetings so it is time I do look forward to hearing why why there may be some delays delays and and and frankly is there anything we've done or haven't done you know I I don't think we have any authority over that but I do look forward to hearing more. Thank you. Thank you. Supervisor Stork. I'd absolutely echo those comments and have been involved with no other discussions and frankly the comments that I've heard relate to how the school system's legal department is looking at this issue. I frankly think the school board needs to step up, take it

[01:45:57] forward and frankly see where it goes from there. But you know I as a business owner as well as a member of this board there's times when boards have to make decisions that aren't maybe consistent with what legal counsel is recommending and i'm saying that's the way we're elected was to make those decisions and do what we know needs to be done even if we're not always sure about the absolute outcome that will come from that decision but i think that's what needs to happen here it's long overdue and i'm not i'm sharing the frustration and the impatience that we all have that this needs to get done right away thank you supervisor faust

[01:46:34] No, I just want to thank the chairman. He has been tenacious with this. It's inconceivable to me that the school board or the school administration has ignored this opportunity to make our children safe.

[01:46:54] I mean, it's a no-brainer. It's, you know, 10 years. Time has come. Let's do it. You know, I'm happy to do some kind of, you know, small number of buses to get started, but I don't see why we would even do that.

[01:47:11] Let's just implement this program. We've all, we all see it. You don't have to be on the roads very long around here. You see people passing school buses. Something bad is going to happen if we don't implement this program. So anyway, again, Chairman McKay, you've been really focused on this for some time, and I appreciate everything your office is doing to try to make it happen.

[01:47:41] Now let's see it happen. Thank you, Supervisor Faust. Certainly, if you look at the chronology, a number of places, the GA fixed the problem. The GA fixed the problem. The GA fixed the problem. So we went to the General Assembly and got the solution, and still it hasn't happened.

[01:48:01] All those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed, say nay. Any abstentions? Mr. Chairman, that motion carries unanimously. Thank you, Vice Chairman Gross. And I did not put a timeline in here, but I see no reason why we can't get a formal update, Mr. County Executive, unless you do within the next two weeks.

[01:48:22] I will do my best to speak with the superintendent and to provide the board with a nip in the next two weeks as it relates to this topic. And I do want to say thank you for your support on the cameras that we should be putting out next week throughout the county.

[01:48:42] So I will get back to the board as soon as I get information from the superintendent. Excellent. Thank you, Mr. County Executive. My next board matter is jointly with Supervisor Walkinshaw. On June 7, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved my board matter directing county staff to reconvene the Girls Fast Pitch Softball Equity Action Plan Review Team, APR2, APRT, I'm sorry, a multi-agency team led by Neighborhood and Community Services that includes the Park Authority, the Public Schools, the Athletic Council, and the Commission for Women.

[01:49:18] The purpose of reconvening APRT was to prepare a report updating their 2007 report that highlighted disparity between girls' fast-pitch softball and boys' baseball facilities. Last week, the board received the report from APRT, which unfortunately found that disparity has in fact widened and that the quality and quantity of the fields available for girls' softball have been reduced.

[01:49:45] The report, which is attached, contains eight recommendations to reduce the disparity. As in 2007, the county must bring resources to bear in order to address the findings of the report. In service to our One Fairfax policy, it is critical we take action to reduce the disparity in order to meet the needs of all youth sports in Fairfax County.

[01:50:06] Therefore, Madam Chairman, I move the Board of Supervisors direct staff to identify options for one-time funding in the amount of $1.7 million as described in the APRT report for the board to consider as part of an upcoming quarterly review or through the utilization of other funding sources as appropriate. Additionally, as part of this action, Supervisor Walkinshaw and I will be submitting the recurring cost of $300,000 for the board's consideration as part of the FY 2024 budget process following the release of the advertised budget on February 21, 2023.

[01:50:43] I believe Supervisor Wackenshaw will second. Is there discussion? Mr. Chairman, the report is not attached. The board matter says that the report which is attached contains eight recommendations. I think we probably received that separately.

[01:51:00] Yes. Okay. I know it's been distributed to the entire board and and madam chairman if i could just very briefly um you know speaking of things that have gone on too long i think you eloquently uh spoke to our cross-country teams about girls equity and athletics and you know there's still some great disparities out there this is but one but as these are identified we we really need to to collaborate and work and address these and i i want to thank all the folks who were involved in the aprt process and for their work on this report because it gave us clear recommendations on what we can do to address this issue, and I appreciate all their work.

[01:51:40] Other discussion? Supervisor Walkinshaw. I just want to just agree with everything the chairman said and thank especially those on the APRT for their work to dig into this issue and really identify a path forward.

[01:51:59] And the item here is the number one recommendation that came out of that process, and I hope the board will support it. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Supervisor Walkinshaw. Any other questions or comments? I know that as we are expanding some of our high schools, the fields that were there are being used for or suggested, recommended to have buildings on them.

[01:52:29] and so this has been an ongoing issue for I know at least one high school in my district um all those in favor of the motion please say aye aye all any opposed say nay any abstentions and you will be submitting that the motion carries and they but this motion does not refer to the uh board's consideration item that will be a separate correct during the budget just want to make sure that any of our viewers understand that the motion is to move forward not necessarily for

[01:53:03] the consideration item next item thank you madam chairman my last item concerns the springfield site for the fba fbi headquarters relocation i think everyone knows very well this issue on april 28 2022 the board of supervisors sent a letter expressing our unanimous support for the fbi headquarters relocation to the site of a federally-owned warehouse in Springfield.

[01:53:29] The letter listed the myriad of advantages this site has over the competition. As the site selection process has entered into a new phase, it is appropriate to once again state our strong support. As the board well knows, the Springfield site has many advantages over the other sites, both of which are in Maryland and are formally in competition. The Springfield site provides unparalleled access to other federal sites including the FBI National Academy and the FBI Laboratory at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Greater Springfield is a majority minority community which supports the federal government's renewed emphasis on equity. Virginia also has sustainability

[01:54:07] advantage such as having a top 10 rankings by the U.S. Green Building Council for our high concentration of sustainable buildings and livable communities. Finally, the transportation advantages of the Springfield site include access to Metro and VRE, numerous bus lines, and easy access to Interstate 95, 495, 395. Therefore, Madam Chairman, I move that the Board send the attached letter to Robin Carnahan, Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, and Christopher Wray, FBI Director, expressing our continued support for the Springfield site. I'd be happy to second that motion. Is there discussion on the motion,

[01:54:46] Mr. Chairman, speaking about a very long time coming. Yeah, that's right. We've been working on this one for a very long time. A very long time, very briefly, and I want to thank Supervisor Lusk for his support. This site is, of course, in the Franconia District, and he and I have both worked on this in various capacities for a long time.

[01:55:05] I also want to thank our congressional delegation and the governor. I've been in a lot of calls with Governor Youngkin, his administration, Senator Warner, Senator Cain, Congressman Connolly and Bayer about this issue.

[01:55:22] And they are all working on one team, one United Virginia team to land this headquarters. Much has been said in Maryland about equity. And I think you'll see the focus of our letter is that, you know, we are second to none when it comes to addressing equity.

[01:55:38] The difference we have is we just still have the better site on top of that. And this particular part of the county could benefit greatly from this type of economic development and job opportunities and certainly is a part of the county that, from an equity standpoint, has not had the advantages of other parts of Fairfax County.

[01:55:58] And the FBI could be a part of that solution as opposed to continuing to be a part of the problem. And so there's a United Virginia effort on this. The governor's staff are working with a marketing company, working closely with our EDA to try to bring better awareness to this site and the issues associated with it.

[01:56:21] We have supported a number of transportation improvements in the area. And, of course, there is no better connected site, I would argue, literally anywhere in Fairfax County that has as much connectivity. It's every interstate. It's the county parkway. The only interstate missing is 66, but it's 95, 395, 495, the Fairfax County Parkway, the Virginia Railway Express, Metro Rail, major bus lines coming in and out of this location literally almost every minute of every day.

[01:56:50] And so from a transportation standpoint, there is no better connected site in Fairfax County, in Virginia, or in the region than this opportunity. And it's important that we continue to weigh in on this. No one knows when the decision will be made, but I will concede nothing with this.

[01:57:09] And, you know, we have the best site, and when the issue of equity came up, as trumpeted by Maryland, it's important that we point out that there are serious equity advantages of relocating to Springfield just as well, if not better, as the ones in Maryland. And so we want to make sure we reiterate that as a board and stay active in this competition.

[01:57:29] Additional discussion? Supervisor Wackenshaw. Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. You know, this is an issue that I've been involved in longer than I maybe would like. I can remember a press conference with Jim Moran, Jerry Connolly, and a young lead district supervisor, Jeff McKay. He was running seven-minute miles at the time.

[01:57:50] I was, I was. It was so long ago. But, you know, this issue has always been about the merits of the Springfield site versus the politics in Congress that the Maryland delegation has used.

[01:58:10] And they have used every technique, tactic, tool, lever to try to steer this in the direction of Maryland. They've used authorization bills. They've used appropriation bills, some tactics that you don't see very often within the regional delegation, quite frankly.

[01:58:31] And our posture for a decade now has been, if this decision is made on the merits, as this letter lays out, what best serves the mission of the FBI, the Springfield site is the clear winner.

[01:58:47] When you add some of these new categories that GSA has added to the mix, as the letter lays out, equity issues, environmental issues, again, on the merits, the Springfield site is the best choice. So I'm hopeful that the decision will be made on the merits and the political tactics that we've seen from some in Maryland won't be successful.

[01:59:10] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Any other comments? Are we ready to vote? All those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed, say nay. Any abstentions? That motion carries unanimously. Thank you, Vice Chairman Gross. And that is the end of my board matters.

[01:59:27] Next up is you, Vice Chairman. I have no board matters today. No board matters. Supervisor Walkinshaw. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have one board matter and two announcements. The board matter is a joint board matter with you, Mr. Chairman, Supervisor Gross, Supervisor Herdy, and Supervisor Palchuk to recognize the Woodson Esports team for winning the state championship in Rocket League.

[01:59:48] We haven't done too many e-sports, Jim, but I have a feeling there will be more of these in our future. Mr. Chairman, Rocket League is a fantastical sport-based video game developed by video game company Psyonix. It's like soccer with cars. The game features a competitive mode where three players work as a team using rocket-powered cars to outmaneuver their opponents' cars and score goals on the opposite side.

[02:00:14] The Woodson e-sports team participated in the Virginia High School League tournament. eSports competition that took place at Shenandoah University on December 17, 2022 and won the Rocket League Fall Championship. Woodson eSports entered the tournament as the 18th seed out of 32 teams able to participate. In order to compete in the live playoffs, Woodson beat the previous number one seed team. The competition started at 9 a.m. and the playoffs were at 5 p.m., which made it a whole day event. The team had to make it through two other teams on the day of the event to play in

[02:00:49] the finals against the number two seed it was a best of seven game where woodson won the first two games and the other team then won three games in a row woodson esports won the next game to force game seven game seven went into overtime where they ended up winning the the game winning scoring the game winning goal so pretty exciting finish there the names of the participants are Grayson Berg, Chance Clayville, Connor Lane, Andrew Wong, Johnny Hsu, a coach, and Michael Kuykendall, a coach.

[02:01:23] Therefore, Mr. Chairman, without objection, I ask that a certificate of recognition be prepared by the Office of Public Affairs for the Woodson Esports team to be presented outside the boardroom. And without objection, it is so ordered, Supervisor Walkinshaw. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First announcement, and this has been in my newsletters and on social media, we have two upcoming meetings to discuss the Lake Akatink dredging project and the result of additional analysis there will be a virtual meeting and an in-person meeting the virtual meeting Wednesday February 15th at 7:30 p.m. and the in-person

[02:02:00] meeting Thursday February 16th at 7:00 p.m. at Kings Glen elementary school second announcement as as promised enter I have a new staff member new Braddock district staff member to introduce, Andrea Lewis. Andrea has lived with her husband in Fairfax County. Stand up, Andrea. She's a proud mother of two. One of whom attends West, two sons, one of whom attends West Springfield High School, and the other, Mr. Chairman, attends James Madison

[02:02:34] University. For more than a decade, she's been an active volunteer with her kids' school and sports activities, and more recently, she's been a volunteer coordinator to increase her community's participation in the state and local democratic processes. She's drawing on her education and experience in the public policy and nonprofit sectors to serve the Braddock District in Fairfax County. Her knowledge of climate resiliency issues and her longtime passion for protecting the environment brought her to her current position where she's handling environmental issues and and park related issues and i can share that mr chairman last week i was on my way to the office

[02:03:11] on guinea road and i saw unfortunately a couch that had been discarded unlawfully discarded on parkland property i got to the office and told andrea about it and by the next day that couch was gone so i don't know if she did it herself or she got the park authority to do it quickly but she's already doing great things for the braddock district so welcome andrea standing mr chairman Yes, Supervisor Lusk.

[02:03:40] I will admit that she works in Supervisor Walkinshaw's office, but she lives in a district called Franconia. That's right. That's right. It's just all great things. That's Supervisor Walkinshaw.

[02:03:55] That's all I have. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. All right. Excellent. Thank you. Supervisor Faust. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have one board matter. It's a special exception amendment for SEVA Truck at Lewinsville Senior Center. Mr. Chairman, Savitruck is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization that serves free meals to children attending Title I schools across the Washington metro area.

[02:04:20] In Fairfax County, Savitruck delivers food to 15 schools and nonprofit sites in six magisterial districts and has supplied almost 300,000 meals since its inception in 2015.

[02:04:33] In September 2021, Neighborhood and Community Services entered into an agreement with Seva Truck to permit the nonprofit to use the kitchen located in the county-owned Lewinsville Senior Center tax map parcel 30-3, double circle 1, 42A, located at 1613 Great Fall Street, McLean, to serve as one of the sites for the preparation and distribution of its meals.

[02:05:01] Although the development conditions associated with SEA 94D-002-02 for the Lewinsville Senior Center would not permit this use, the local emergency ordinance designed to provide zoning relief in response to the COVID-19 emergency permitted the nonprofit to engage in these activities temporarily.

[02:05:22] In order to allow SEVA truck to continue to operate as a permanent service, NCS and SEVA truck are now seeking a special exception amendment to include this service in the governing approvals. Based on the foregoing, NCS is requesting board concurrence in the filing of the special exception amendment application, designation of NCS as the board's agent for this request, and an expedited public hearing at the Board of Supervisors.

[02:05:54] Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move that the board concur with the filing of a special exception amendment application on Tax Map Parcel 30-3, double circle 142A, located at 1613 Great Falls Street by Neighborhood and Community Services.

[02:06:13] I further move that the board authorize the Director of Neighborhood and Community Services and or his designee to act as agent of the board in connection with this application. Finally, given the narrow scope of this application, I move the Board of Supervisors, Director Clark, to the Board of Supervisors and Director of the Department of Planning and Development to expedite the scheduling of the public hearing for this special exception amendment.

[02:06:38] These motions should not be construed as a favorable recommendation by the board on the proposed application and do not relieve the applicant from compliance with the provisions of any applicable ordinances, regulations, or adopted standards.

[02:06:55] So move. Second. The motion has been multiply seconded. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none. All those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Supervisor Faust. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[02:07:11] That's all I have. Thank you, Supervisor Faust. Supervisor Lusk. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have one motion and one announcement. The motion first. Mr. Chairman, last year at the board's discretion, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority commissioned a market assessment of the Springfield-Franconia sub-market.

[02:07:32] This initiative was grounded in the understanding that the current Springfield Conference of Plan is in need of a significant revision, A long-term vision laid out at the adoption of the plan reflects projections in our office and retail markets that have likely been out of reach for some time now, a fact that has only been exacerbated by the recent pandemic.

[02:07:52] Despite these challenges, and thanks to the proactive work of this board and you in particular, Mr. Chairman, the economic forecast for Springfield appears bright. From the revitalization of the Springfield Town Center, which includes both a new housing and hotel development, the addition of the LEGO Experience Center, the addition of a new commuter garage, and several proposals under consideration for commercial and residential development, there is currently more activity in Springfield than there has been in over a decade.

[02:08:23] That is why it is critical that we leverage this moment of opportunity and move to implement the recommendations generated from last year's Springfield Market Assessment, which was completed last fall by HRNA. The study confirmed our analysis of the changing office market and the increased potential for residential uses that were not envisioned in the comprehensive plan.

[02:08:46] In total, the study outlines 27 action items for consideration, as well as recommendations for a coordinated strategy to facilitate Springfield's revitalization. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move to direct the staff from relevant county agencies including DPD, DEI, EDA, FCDOT, DHCD, and DTA to form a working group to evaluate and provide recommendations regarding the actions contained in the Springfield market assessment.

[02:09:20] I would note that there are recommendations related to considering updates to the Conference of Plan recommendations for the Springfield CBC. Authorization for a potential Conference of Plan amendment for this area will be brought forward as the board reviews the Conference of Plan amendment work plan this spring.

[02:09:38] So moved, Mr. Chairman. I'm happy to second that motion. Discussion on the motion? Let me just, Supervisor Luss. Yeah, I'll just make the point. This is in tandem with the motion you just made, Mr. Chairman. So I think with the FBI and just looking at the opportunity for us to leverage all the new and interesting things that are coming to bear in Central Springfield.

[02:10:00] I'll also note that we have a couple of SSPA nominations that we are going to be reviewing. There will be an opportunity for us to look at those in tandem with this market study assessment as well and come back with some recommendations.

[02:10:15] So I'm delighted to make the motion here today, and hopefully we'll have concurrence from my fellow board members on this item. Thank you, Supervisor Lusk, and thank you for your vision to have the market assessment done. There is a lot of great things happening in Springfield, and the assessment helps string all those together in a much more profound way.

[02:10:38] And so I look forward to seeing these recommendations achieved and seeing what staff comes back to for doing that. With that, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions?

[02:10:54] And that motion carries. Supervisor Lusk. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My second is an announcement. So I've got a handout and just a talking point here, Mr. Chairman. I would like to give a reminder that my office in partnership with Corner, Connor Strong Foundation, Celebrate Fairfax, and Federal Realty will kick off the first annual You Are Not Alone 5K run at the Kingstown Shopping Center on March 25th from 7.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.

[02:11:25] We know there are certain basic needs that are particularly impacted, that particularly impact an individual's mental health, homelessness, unemployment, hunger, and this event is designed to increase awareness about resources available in our community that specifically address these needs.

[02:11:42] Net proceeds raised from the 5K will go to two key nonprofits in the Franconia district, Koinonia and United Community, which provide various services and programs, including addressing food insecurity for over 22,000 residents in my district.

[02:11:59] We are asking each participant and observer to bring a canned item or other non-perishable food item to the event, which will help restock the food banks at both organizations. So with that, Mr. Chairman, thank you. I hope you've been training for this run, Mr. Chairman, as we've heard earlier in the conversation today.

[02:12:23] Some of us are not able to run at a six-minute mile pace. I'm almost embarrassed to say I think I'm hedging towards a nine-minute mile pace right now. But I look forward to having you and maybe even the county executive, if he's so inclined, to get out and run the 5K.

[02:12:43] We can see who's faster. We'll see who's faster, the county executive or the supervisor. So I look forward to seeing you guys if you're able to make it. So thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Supervisor Luskin. You and I know this route well.

[02:12:59] We do. We've run it together before, and I'm temporarily on the IR. But due to a nerf injury with my son, but by March 25th, I'll be ready to go. Okay, I'll look forward to it. Is there any, there was not a motion, just information? Thank you, Supervisor Lusk.

[02:13:16] Supervisor Alcorn. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have no board matters, but I just want to say I wish I could do nine-minute miles on a 5K. So I will be there, but I will not be approaching. I'll be getting as close as I can to those nine-minute miles.

[02:13:33] But no board matters, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Supervisor Alcorn. Supervisor Stork. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a joint board matter about recognizing our Fairfax County Police Auto Crimes and Enforcement Team, or the ACE team, and it's a joint board matter with yourself and Supervisor Lesk.

[02:13:53] Over the past few months, certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles have been stolen at a higher rate than other vehicles due to the coordinated effort on social media. In January, 33 vehicles were stolen countywide. In response to these increasing thefts, and actually more than a year ago, the chief, I think, put this group together.

[02:14:12] In response to these increasing thefts, Franconia Captain John Lieb and the Franconia Station partnered with the Fairfax County Police Auto Crimes and Enforcement, or ACE team, to focus on the Lorton community where year-to-date at least nine vehicles were stolen. By increasing their presence in the neighborhoods most impacted, two significant arrests were made, both of which were juvenile offenders.

[02:14:34] The Franconia team also provided awareness and crime prevention strategies via Nextdoor and broader messaging in their Franconia community report. This partnership is an excellent example of our talented public safety team and how community policing can have a very positive impact on our neighborhoods.

[02:14:51] This past Saturday, the Franconia Station also launched a steering wheel lock distribution at the Lorton Community Center, which was very well received from residents all over the county. These free locks were provided by Kia and Hyundai in partnership with the Fairfax County Police Department.

[02:15:07] Franconia officers also provided child safety seat inspections, gun locks, and crime prevention and safety information. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, without objection, we ask that the board invite the Franconia Police Station and Auto Crimes Enforcement, or ACE Team, to appear at an upcoming board meeting to be recognized for their partnership, outreach, and creative approach to keeping our community safe.

[02:15:29] And without objection, that is so ordered, and Supervisor Stork, did you want to... Just to add to that is, most people don't know that the Franconia Station has a key piece of the Mount Vernon District. It's essentially the east side of I-95 and what's south of Fort Belvoir, so includes Mason, Neck, and Lorton.

[02:15:50] That will eventually, probably sometime this summer, will actually change when we start the South County Police Station. But I also wanted to recognize them for their work, as well as thank you, Mr. Chairman, for being there on Saturday. Absolutely. Truly, there were a lot of folks lined up, a lot of safety seat inspections.

[02:16:08] That was maybe the most common thing that happened. The club as we knew it from our earlier days were passed out routinely, but thank you very much. Thank you, Supervisor Stork, and thanks for your work and raising awareness about this. It was packed, and I think it was you or one of the officers mentioned to me that the first person in line that morning had come from Reston to pick up a steering wheel lock.

[02:16:31] And so this very much was a countywide for people who own these vehicles. And it was great to see old technology coming back to use. There are probably people there who didn't know what a steering wheel lock was. But importantly, this was our police taking a proactive approach.

[02:16:49] And these steering wheel locks were donated by Kia and Hyundai. And obviously, we hope they do more because this is really picking up steam. and it's another example of our police, you know, trying to get ahead of the curve. So it was a great event.

[02:17:07] All right, Supervisor Stork. The next item I have is also a joint back to what matter. This will be with Supervisor Gross regarding Flood Awareness Week, March 12th through 18th. As climate change increasingly impacts communities around the country and around the world, its effects will continue to reach Fairfax County.

[02:17:26] Floods related to inclement weather, rising sea levels, and potentially from climatological changes remain the most common and costly natural disasters in the United States. Flood Awareness Week is recognized by municipalities nationwide throughout the year. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, we recognize Flood Awareness Week in March.

[02:17:44] The goal is to stress to residents and business owners that it is vital for them to understand the best and safest ways to protect themselves and their property during a flood event. Flood Awareness Week also provides an annual opportunity to raise awareness to flooding issues and concerns in the county, paying attention to weather warnings, stressing the dangers associated with flooding, educating the public on safety measures during floods and how residents can better protect themselves and their property from the effects of flooding, obtaining flood insurance, particularly for properties that exist within our floodplains,

[02:18:21] and knowing if your home or business is in a floodplain. Fairfax County's Department of Public Works and Environmental Services responds to service requests and implements projects to mitigate structural flooding. The Northern Virginia Soil and Wildlife Conservation District provides on-site technical assistance to residents and commercial owners on minimizing negative impacts from damage and drainage.

[02:18:44] In extreme flood situations, Fairfax County launches multi-departmental emergency response, including the fire and police departments, Departments of Public Works and Environmental Services, and the Department of Emergency Management and Security. Per its one Fairfax policy, the county strives to ensure equitable outcomes for all, particularly marginalized populations and underserved communities.

[02:19:07] Mr. Chairman, without objection, we ask that we recognize March 12th through 18th, 2023, as Flood Awareness Week in Fairfax County, and that a proclamation be signed by the chairman, myself, and Supervisor Gross, and be presented out of the boardroom to the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.

[02:19:24] And without objection, that is so ordered. Supervisor Stork. Mr. Chairman, it's been a while since we've had a major flood event. There's been some definitely risks and concerns. Part of it is the county in the past has taken some effort.

[02:19:39] The Huntington Levee was a good example of the county as a whole spending and actually voting for a levy to fund a levy, and that's really resulted in further flooding in that area. But there are areas, particularly New Alexandria, Bellevue, River Towers, Those areas clearly have major risks, and our Department of Public Works have been there time and time again, even at the risk of flooding, because it doesn't take a hurricane to create that kind of flooding.

[02:20:08] A super storm or an intense downpour can do the same thing, a derecho. So our DPWES has really been there time and time again. The residents particularly, and this is one of the comments I've heard over and over and over again, And when those risks are high, they especially appreciate the county providing sand and bags so people can come and fill a sandbag or as many really as they might need to protect their home.

[02:20:33] Those kinds of supports, they don't cost much, but they make a huge difference in particularly the people in that community feeling like the county is there for them and ready to help make a difference and protect their homes, property, and lives. So thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Supervisor Stork, Supervisor Gross.

[02:20:50] Thank you. Just wanted to point out, you don't have to live near a water body to experience flooding. The recommendation to apply flood insurance, especially if you can qualify for FEMA flood insurance, is really important.

[02:21:09] I was talking to a constituent just yesterday afternoon where there is additional development going on in the area and some of our older areas. And there is a sort of a funnel. You know, water does flow downhill.

[02:21:26] And so in a storm, it doesn't have to be a heavy storm, water will damage one house. But at the next house, where it's a convergence of all of the water, their losses have been in the $80,000 range.

[02:21:44] They were able to finally get some FEMA flood insurance. So they've been able to mitigate that a little bit. But our old infrastructure sometimes creates the problem. And so you don't have to be, you know, waterfront property.

[02:22:02] You accidentally end up with waterfront property because of the way of the infrastructure. And that is something that we, I think, has been a challenge for the county for a long time. It worked well when we had less impervious surface.

[02:22:18] Now it's a struggle. So I want to make sure that the flood insurance piece is highlighted because that is available. And I appreciate Supervisor Stork bringing this up. You know, rainy day flooding is one thing. Sunny day flooding is another piece that is happening, especially in some of our lower lying areas.

[02:22:38] And people are very surprised. Well, there wasn't a storm, but I'm flooded. It's because of what we call sunny day flooding, much worse down the Tidewater area. It's certainly working on the Chesapeake Bay issues. but we have some of it here too so thank you thank you supervisor gross and uh supervisor stork mentioned the staff that you know helps residents when there's incidents and we i think we've all seen them at work uh sadly and they're the best there there is and so mr harrington is here i want to make sure um he you know continually passes along to his team our gratefulness because whenever these incidents do occur they don't always occur during business hours or when it's

[02:23:17] convenient they occur normally at times that aren't um in the team at dpw and and and the uh really the county staff as a whole uh responds to these in a remarkable way and part of this is also to make sure we always say thank you to them so mr harrington thank you supervisor store and and thank you mr chairman and that means 24-hour monitoring because we have floodgates in bellevue and new alexandria that are essential to protect the community and they're there at the hint of a storm or flood event so thank you all very much last time was a verbal board matter which is to remind folks and i know the chairman will be with me and and the county

[02:23:55] executive and many others we have our our 36th annual mount vernon town meeting be this saturday the uh the cafeteria for our vendors opens up at 7 45 it's just about more than 50 vendors going to be there we're going to have 12 entrepreneur entrepreneurial children that are are going to be that are going to be marketing their wares so we're very excited about that and then at 9 30 we start the formal program where likely all of us will be speaking at various times and we cap it off with two other things one is the the virtual fly virtual flying tour of the district which shows all the different changes and things that have happened over the course of the

[02:24:32] last year and then finally as a new item this year is we're going to have a taste of mount vernon so You can come, stay all morning and get food in the end and get a chance to talk to folks and, frankly, learn a lot. So we welcome everybody to join us. We're going to have the school superintendent as well as we're going to have the police chief that are going to be there to talk about different things.

[02:24:52] And, of course, Karen Corbett-Sanders, the Mount Vernon district rep. So thank you all. Looking forward to it. Thank you, Supervisor Storick and your staff. I mean, I know how much work this is. So it's tremendous thanking them in advance and after. Supervisor Palczyk. - Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[02:25:10] I have just one joint board matter with yourself and with Supervisor Lusk, actually following our latest skipped meeting on workforce development. And this is for the Capital Youth Empowerment Program, CYEP, Unite Conference. We did get their updated flyer last night, so it was shared with all of your offices and would love your support in sharing this out.

[02:25:32] Members of the board, the Capital Youth Empowerment Program, CYEP, a unifying force in the national capital region that works to connect industries to disenfranchised families and fosters the needs of the community. The CYP hosts an inaugural Unite Conference and Career Expo that seeks to unite the community with higher education and industry partners to explore income inequality issues for boys and girls. This year, the CYP Unite Conference is taking place on Monday, February 20th and will be hosted at the Capital One Hall located at 7750

[02:26:08] Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, Virginia from 1 to 4 p.m. The conference will feature a townhouse session, more than 20 breakout sessions, and a career expo. In addition, CYEP will host the Fairfax County My Brother's Keeper Summit which will give Fairfax County leaders a platform to improve educational and economic outcomes for boys of color this career expo is inclusive and will allow men and women throughout the dmv to engage with various employers and industries such as technology engineering government business healthcare and others the goal of this expo

[02:26:45] are to expose the goals of this expo are to expose students to stem pathways and experiences to create a platform for men and women to build self self-efficacy learn their history and develop positive social behaviors. The Expo will provide opportunities for networking with professional leaders in education, STEM, medicine, business, and government, and connect participants with companies for near and future career opportunities. There are various ways to participate in the Unite Conference and Career Expo. Students and those interested in participating in the Expo

[02:27:21] as an organization, sponsor, and or for table information can be found at www.cyap.org. Thank you to the Capital Youth Empowerment Program for your dedication and efforts in enriching the lives of our community and our youth.

[02:27:39] Therefore, I move that, I think without objection, that the Office of Public Affairs partner with Neighborhood and Community Services Teen Centers to advertise the Capital Youth empowerment program, CYP, unite conferences on their channels and to encourage and invite the community to join this wonderful opportunity. Without objection, it is so ordered. Supervisor Palchuk. Yeah, let me just add briefly to it. I also want to share out so you can share with your offices. There are incentives to attend. As you know, it is a day off of school and why we especially

[02:28:13] wanted to make sure that it was shared through all channels, including our teen centers. I know that there are people looking at transportation options and hopefully this is the first of many more conferences of its type I know it is coming up very soon so really would appreciate my colleagues in helping share this with your communities and your constituents and especially want to thank supervisor Lusk and chairman McKay for their partnership on this and just want to point out there speaking of five case chairman McKay is usually at the front of the tyson's 5k uh i go out there to take a picture so um i think you've got your your

[02:28:53] competition out for you but i'll join supervisor alcorn in the back yeah we got the back all right we'll take the caboose i did run a 7 15 freshman year of high school it's only gone downhill since yeah it gets tougher uh excellent excellent thank you thank you very much yes supervisor Alcorn. Thank you. Yeah, I just want to thank Supervisor Palchuk for bringing up the Capital Youth Empowerment Program and encouraging all of us to try to get the word out. It's really important. And I know there are other things going on in that space, but this is a really

[02:29:29] big step forward. And thank you for bringing it forward. Thank you very much. And Supervisor Palchuk, was that it? That's all. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Excellent. Thank you. Supervisor Yeah, well, my mile time is about a 30, but I do it in a pool, 30 minutes, in a pool, swimming a mile, which is quick, but not as quick as you can run it.

[02:29:57] All right, so the first one's a little different because he's not fully retiring, but I thought it appropriate, and this is done jointly with Chairman McKay, to recognize Pete Murphy's service as Planning Commission Chairman. So, Commissioner Pete Murphy has been an active member of the community for many decades.

[02:30:16] His dedication to public service shows through his work on task forces and multiple leadership roles, including being the honorary chief of the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, his work for the county in multiple committees, including the Fort Belvoir Area Plan Review and the Capital Improvement Program Committees.

[02:30:33] In 1982, I graduated from college in 1982, Pete was appointed to the Planning Commission by the Board of Supervisors, serving as its chairman since 1989. During this time, he's played a critical role in transforming the county from a sleepy bedroom community into the economic powerhouse it is today.

[02:30:52] He's been a leader in forming the land use policies in Fairfax County as we know it, from Springfield District cases like Fairfax Corner and Fair Lakes to county-wide cases like the Tyson's plan. His vast knowledge of the planning process in Fairfax County's foundation contributes to how the commission operates, conducts business, and makes decisions and how we will grow as a county.

[02:31:13] His steady leadership is one of the critical elements that has enabled Fairfax County's development success. While he will remain on the Planning Commission and continue to serve our constituents, he will be stepping down as chairman after 34 years. During his time as chairman, he's received multiple accolades from the community and the board, including the Department of Army's Commander's Award for Public Service, the Cain Hanley Public Service Award, Fairfax County Volunteer of the Year Award, the community leader category, and was named Lord Fairfax for the Springfield District.

[02:31:42] He is respected and appreciated by me, staff, the Planning Commission, the board, land use attorneys, and applicants, residents, and all those who've been fortunate enough to work alongside him. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I ask without objection that a resolution be prepared for Commissioner Murphy recognizing his decades of service as chairman of the Planning Commission to be presented before the board, And we're going to try to do a little recognition ceremony prior to the board meeting.

[02:32:10] And without objection, that is so ordered. Thank you. Supervisor Herity. The next one is jointly with Supervisor Smith. Southwestern Youth Association was established in 1973 to provide sports opportunities for children from ages 4 to 19, regardless of their financial status or athletic ability.

[02:32:32] Today, this nonprofit volunteer-based organization continues to provide for youth in Centerville, Clifton, and surrounding communities supporting over 13,000 kids and 5,000 families today. Offer a wide variety of programs, including tackle football, rugby, cricket, volleyball, cheerleading, soccer, baseball, softball, and often collaborating with the Park Authority to host tournaments and perform high-quality field upgrades.

[02:32:58] SYA is also a key community partner in the Sports Tourism Task Force and had an invaluable role in establishing our first sports tourism facility at Patriot Park North. On June 24th, SYA will host a community-wide event to celebrate the 50th year serving youth and families of western Fairfax County.

[02:33:19] This will encourage those new to the area to get involved with the program and show appreciation for coaches, sponsors, and community members who have volunteered and donated for 50 years. S.Y.A. has upheld its mission to provide a safe, positive environment for sports competition and continues to play an invaluable role in development of countless Fairfax County youth.

[02:33:39] Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I ask without objection a resolution be prepared for Southwestern Youth Association recognizing their decades of service to be presented S.Y.A.'s 50th anniversary community celebration on June 24, 2023.

[02:33:54] And without objection, that is so ordered. Supervisor Herity. Yeah, and I want to say this one is presented jointly with former Supervisor Michael Fry. Fair. And I notice Evelyn's up in the audience, although she was told she didn't need to be here.

[02:34:11] As always, she's here just to make sure this goes right. So thank you for everything you do. Thank you for being here, too. This is on the business license renewal mailing for Friends of Fairfax County Animal Shelter Flyer. So we look forward to the opening of the second animal shelter in South County.

[02:34:28] We should also be preparing for the cost of providing additional services and caring for more animals. It's clear that the Friends of Animal Shelter, the formal fundraising partner, will be counted on even more. We recently entered into an agreement with the City of Fairfax to provide shelter services for city residents.

[02:34:45] The Friends met with City Manager Rob Stalser and other officials to discuss ways they could help and to seek assistance of the city and familiarizing city residents with the Friends group, including its role in supporting the shelter. One of those things the city agreed to do is put the Friends flyer in the mailing of their business license renewal.

[02:35:04] Fairfax City agreed several years ago to include this flyer in city residents' personal property confirmation notes, and it's been very successful. If we did, as Fairfax City has done, and include Friends Flyer in the Fairfax County business license renewal mailings each year, this would open a whole new audience to the shelter, its services, and to the role the Friends play in supporting the animals of Fairfax County.

[02:35:30] According to Department of Tax Administration, adding this flyer would not increase the county's cost to send out the business license renewal mailing and would reach approximately 48,000 recipients. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move DTA staff be authorized to include the Friends flyer in the business license renewal mailing that will go out in 2024.

[02:35:56] The Friends of the Animal Shelter will pay for the printing of the flyers and coordinate with DTA. So moved. I'm happy to second that motion. Is there a discussion on the motion? Let me just say I'm really happy you brought this forward and thank the Friends group for all that they do.

[02:36:13] I had an opportunity last week to visit the shelter because we took in a ton of donations at our New Year's celebration. And seeing all the friends, volunteers who were there, there is real excitement building for the new animal shelter in South County, too.

[02:36:28] And as this mentions, that means there's going to be need to be more resources and more animals that we can help. But with that comes a price. And so anything we can do to help the friends group, happy to do that. And thanks for bringing this forward. All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

[02:36:44] Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? And that motion carries. Supervisor Herdy. Yeah, a very short update on the Lee Chapel Road. We had a great town hall Monday, January 30th. Supervisor Stork and Chairman McKay both attended and spoke at that, and it was well attended by the public.

[02:37:05] I just want to, again, thank VDOT and FC DOT for moving forward. They've already done some extensive ditch and shoulder work. Uh, we met with, uh, Jay Cole to start moving the park authority piece forward. And I know, uh, FC dots got the midterm proposal moving forward, but just wanted to give the staff and not to staff the board a quick, uh, quick update on things still moving forward.

[02:37:28] We've got our follow-up meetings, I think, uh, two weeks or a week, week or two weeks. So that's it for me, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, thank you, supervisor Harity, supervisor Smith. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Matan-Gloris Road, LLC, has filed a rezoning application RZ 2022-SU-00010 on tax maps 33-2, double circle 2, 9, 9A, and 10D, and on a portion of Barney Road right-of-way to rezone 16.3 acres from the I-3 and I-4 districts to the I-4 district

[02:38:04] to allow an expansion of a surface parking area serving an industrial development previously approved under RZ 2020 SU002 consisting of office warehouse data center uses all previously approved commitments associated with the industrial development will be carried forward no new gross floor areas proposed an associated request to abandon and vacate barney road is scheduled before the board of supervisors on march 21 2023 the applicant has a public hearing scheduled for the rezoning application

[02:38:39] before the planning commission on march 8 2023 and is requested a day certain for a hearing before the board of supervisors to be consistent with the associated abandonment and vacation of barney road i move to expedite this public hearing for application number rz 2022-su-00010 to a date certain of march 21 2023 to a time consistent with the associated abandonment and vacation of barney wrote scheduled for board consideration on March 21, 2023. This motion should not be construed as a favorable recommendation on these applications by the board and does not relieve the applicant

[02:39:18] from compliance with the provisions of any applicable ordinances, regulations, or adopted standards. This action in no way prejudices the substantive review of the applications. You've heard the motion. It's been seconded by Supervisor Lusk. Any discussion? Seeing and hearing none. All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

[02:39:37] Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Supervisor Smith, that's all. All right. Thank you very much. With that, we can move on to admin items, and we only have admin items 1 through 5. Supervisor Gross, do you have a motion?

[02:39:53] Move approval, Mr. Chairman. Heard the motion. I'm happy to second that motion. Are there any admin items board members would like to pull for separate discussion or vote? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of admin items 1 through 5, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions?

[02:40:11] And that motion carries and takes us to action items. Action item number one is authorization to execute a rectangular rapid flashing beacon maintenance agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation and approval of funding allocations.

[02:40:26] Supervisor Alcorn. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move approval of A-1 as recommended by the county executive. Second. I've heard the motion. It's been seconded by a lot of people. Discussion on the motion? Supervisor Faust. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Shodney, I was just wondering, is there an expectation in terms of timing for repair of the rapid flash beacons, or is that within VDOT's discretion?

[02:40:58] This is Michael Greene with Fairfax County Department of Transportation. We don't have that in the agreement. VDOT's been very responsive for the incident response getting out, typically the day of when we hear there's a knockdown pole or some equipment to clear the roadway.

[02:41:14] make it safe and then they've been working to do repairs or replacements as soon as possible they will be able to store some equipment so if it's pretty simple repair it in some cases they can even just the poles knocked down they just put the pole back and it's working when there's been a large longer delay it's because the actual RRFB signal box has to be programmed in the factory and they're site-specific so they can't really stock those right now so typically that's been the longer delay. Certainly, if there's something where we see things are taking longer than we want, we could perhaps try to update the agreement, but we haven't really

[02:41:52] had a lot of issues with them. Okay. Further discussion? Supervisor Palczyk. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, I just want to thank you, Mr. Bresciani, Mr. Guarino, and our county staff for your work on this. Very excited to see that it includes our existing RFBs. And I guess My question is, is our hope that this is a pilot initiative that I think we want to see more and more of these across the county, that if this works well, that we'll be able to continue to work with VDOT on these projects?

[02:42:27] Supervisor Pelchek, Tom Boshadny with the Department of Transportation. Yes, it is anticipated that this can be expanded to include additional installations as they occur. Excellent. Thank you so much. I know these have been very effective, and we'd like to see more of them and very happy to support this initiative.

[02:42:44] Supervisor Alcorn. Yeah, thank you. Just to follow up on that, so it's a little weird because this is the county with the maintenance agreement with VDOT on these, and typically these would be VDOT facilities. What's the progress on getting these completely within the unified states?

[02:43:05] So we've been working with VDOT at a staff level, and we have general agreement to work towards VDOT, assuming all maintenance. Right now, my understanding is VDOT still expects the county to provide funding for these, and I do not hear it at my level of any change of that.

[02:43:26] So I think if the board wants, we could work towards a longer-term goal of getting these into the state maintenance systems like any other traffic signal equipment for VDOT to both maintain and pay for maintenance. Yeah, that might be a future topic for a Transportation Committee meeting.

[02:43:42] But I do want to say that this is really, these are very important, and they've been great benefit to the community, improvements in safety at some key locations around the county. So thank you for doing this. Excellent.

[02:43:57] Thank you, Supervisor Alcorn. Supervisor Stork. I understand a key part of this issue is that the federal government is not, the Federal Hyatt Administration has not, has given it an interim status designation, and that's VDOT's argument about why it's not a responsibility that should be maintained.

[02:44:21] Do we have any sense of where the federal government is with this interim status? Is it years away, or is there some things that we could do as a board to encourage them to act more quickly to confirm its permanent status? Supervisor Stork, it has been on an interim status for some time.

[02:44:40] We can follow up and see if we can get an update on where the Federal Highway Administration is with their approval. And I would particularly like to know if there's any action the board could take to at least encourage either our representatives or others to take a stand or position to try to urge quicker adoption by that.

[02:45:00] Thank you. We'll follow up. Okay. If there's no further discussion, all those in favor of action item one, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Action item number two is adoption of a value engineering policy update for Fairfax County Capital Construction Project, Supervisor Smith.

[02:45:20] I move the county executive's recommendation. I'm happy to second that motion. Any discussion on action two? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of action item number two, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries.

[02:45:37] Action item number three is adoption of a resolution terminating a declaration of local emergency and consenting to all actions taken by the director of emergency management and county staff. And let me first put a motion on the table, Supervisor Gross, and that is that I move approval of the county executive's recommendation of the attached resolution to one, terminate the declaration of local emergency effective March 1, 2023, and 2, approve and consent to all actions taken by the director, emergency management, and county staff

[02:46:15] pursuant to the declaration of local emergency and the Fairfax County Emergency Operations Plan. I'd be happy to second that motion. Is there discussion on the motion? No discussion on the motion. Madam Chair, this is a milestone.

[02:46:32] I don't think there needs to be much discussion other than to thank our staff. You know, federally this is being considered, and with that comes a number of consequences of doing that. And staff with OPA has worked on messaging on what this means in terms of, you know, impact to our everyday citizens but also businesses, nonprofits, others operating in the community and has done a really good job of explaining this.

[02:47:02] this is a milestone we would not be here without the work of so many people in our county we've recognized our nonprofits our county staff really the diligence of our community during some really difficult times and so it's great that we're able to do this I want to thank staff for being smart about doing it at the right time because this technically could have been done earlier but we would have forfeited a lot of flexibility in collecting federal funds and other strategic advantages we had by operating under declaration.

[02:47:38] And so it's nice to get back to normal, the plexiglass is down here. But in all seriousness, it's been a journey and a journey that our staff has done amazing work on, including this resolution and including the language that's in here that will help our community understand what this means.

[02:47:56] This is a journey that none of us wants to repeat. No, no. Any other discussion? Supervisor Walkinshaw. Just one point, Madam Vice-Chair. Obviously not the most significant issue related to this, but one that is going to be important practically is making sure that our BACs understand the change in status.

[02:48:20] And I think, you know, the meeting, the legislation with respect to electronic meetings for organizations like BACs is confusing, even to those of us who do it every day. So it's going to be really important that we proactively, I know we've already done some of that, but get the word out to those BAC members.

[02:48:44] because folks are used to operating under the way they've been operating for the last three years, and this is going to be a change and requires a lot of management, so it's going to be really important that we get that right and that all of us on the board help to communicate that information as well. Thank you, Supervisor Walkinshaw.

[02:49:00] It would seem to me that perhaps the bylaws of the various BACs may need to be reviewed just to make sure that the language is updated in case we made any changes before. Madam Chairman, I want to thank the county attorney. We had conversations about this. She is all squared away on that front and providing that support to our BACs.

[02:49:19] Good, good. I do have a question, though, and it's to, not to Mr. Arnold or anybody there. It's actually a zoning issue, so Tracy Strunk might want to come down. We were very successful in doing some special opportunities for our business community, especially our restaurants, to operate under sort of special provisions during the emergency.

[02:49:50] And I know that there are some who would like to continue that. So just a question, I believe we may have had a nip about that, but I'd like to publicly ask Tracy Strunk if you could comment on those special provisions we put into zoning for outdoor dining and so forth.

[02:50:09] What's the status now of that with the termination of the local emergency? Absolutely. Tracy Strunk, Director of Department of Planning and Development. There were a couple different things that we did. There was one ordinance that allowed restaurants to put up tables in parking lots without having to come through and adjust their parking requirements or any of those other types of things.

[02:50:30] And the other was a provision that actually allowed us a lot of flexibility in proffers and development conditions and things that you might see as an interpretation to allow some flexibility. So the classic example was a church that said no outdoor speakers that needed to use outdoor speakers in the beginning of the pandemic to allow worship.

[02:50:52] So those provisions will remain in place for the year. so anyone who is currently using that will be able to continue doing that for the for the coming year after the end of the emergency which is march i believe and then we will be doing outreach to the restaurant community to look at to make sure that they understand what they will need to do if there there are not very many out there that we believe are still doing that but um we'll be doing some outreach to them we will also be doing outreach to any of the folks that got a formal letter from my previous office, Zoning Evaluation, for relaxation of their conditions so that they

[02:51:32] understand what they need to do at the end of the year. And in fact, the motion that Supervisor Faust made about SEVA truck is one of those that has already come in to start the next process. We are also, because as part of the being able to put up seats out in the parking lot areas, people said, well, this is actually kind of nice regardless of the COVID.

[02:51:54] And so our zoning administration folks are looking, that was added to the work program sometime last year, to look at some kind of provisions to allow something like that and how we could manage that in the future. So that's also something that we're looking at and would assume that whatever the board decides to do on that will be able to be in place before we get to the end of the year after the end of the emergency.

[02:52:19] Thank you. Thank you, Tracy, for that. I know that there are a number of locations in my district where we see more outdoor dining that we didn't have before. Not necessarily right now, but certainly when the weather is just a little bit warmer. So I wanted to make sure that folks may be surprised if there's a change.

[02:52:38] And we need to make sure that they all understand what happened and how some of those things will go forward. So thank you, Tracy, very much. And staff has been working hard. We've been talking for months about this notification, and the board will recall it was our initiative at the General Assembly to provide 12 more additional months of flexibility from the date of the end of the declaration.

[02:53:02] And so, you know, that means until deep into 2020, well, into March of 2024. And so I think what's important here is that people understand the clock starts ticking now, but nothing happens now. So if you've been able to take advantage of that flexibility, now is the time.

[02:53:21] Don't wait until the last minute. Now is the time to come in and work with staff on getting that established permanently at this point in time. But that's why we wanted the extra time, given a lot of folks have gotten used to this now over years.

[02:53:38] And a 12-month period of time is a much more reasonable period of time for people to get permanent approval of that flexibility. which is one of the reasons I brought the... Supervisor Faust. Supervisor Faust. Thank you, Chairs. I want to make sure I understand.

[02:53:58] We're looking at something, as a board, we're looking at something that would have universal application that would apply to all restaurants, perhaps, in terms of allowing outdoor seating.

[02:54:16] Is that correct, I guess, is my first question. That is correct. We actually, when we, when we updated the zoning ordinance entirely last year, we actually created a little bit more flexibility just for the sort of outdoor seating you would see on a patio. So there's already, it's a lot of details, but we, we used to require parking on that. And now, so there's already more flexibility if you just want to put some, some tables out on the sidewalk, as long as you're not blocking things.

[02:54:44] So what we're looking at is specifically the use of parking spaces, which otherwise would have to be available for parking, on a temporary basis. Because we recognize that's not a year-round thing if you're putting out some extra spaces, but particularly in the nicer months, people like to have that flexibility.

[02:55:01] So we're looking at restaurants and other types of uses like that. It would be something that would be universally available, and we will bring forward a number of options for the board, whether that would be something that would be a buy-write ability or something that would require some kind of administrative permit or something like that.

[02:55:18] Okay. And that sounds great. But, you know, it's going to take a while, obviously. We should expedite that as best we could because if somebody, you know, doesn't want to take a chance, they would have to file a special exception, I guess, to modify their own zoning to get approvals to do things that they've been able to do under the emergency ordinance.

[02:55:48] It might be. We'd be moving in parallel only. They'd be spending a whole lot of money, time, and effort to process an approval, which we may then, as a board, adopt as kind of generally applicable, if I understand what you're saying.

[02:56:05] It's a very broad range. A lot of the restaurants aren't necessarily under a proffered plan or a condition. They could be just a buy right. They could have plenty of excess parking. might not have excess parking so it's really hard to say in blanket but i can say that if we are looking at a particular use that we think might run into this change in ordinance we'll be aware of that obviously so if someone comes in and says i'm going to spend sixteen thousand dollars to do a special exception to amend to put this outdoor parking in and or this out to take up some parking and and we know that this is coming down the pike will work with them on okay on being flexible

[02:56:42] Final question. When will we know specifically what staff is looking at? This sounds like something that we could come back to Supervisor Smith's Land Use Policy Committee rather than trying to figure it out right here at the diet. Is that the intent that it will come back, and if so, when?

[02:56:58] Yes, it is the intent that it will come back. It will not be at the meeting next week, but sometime this spring. I think we're planning to bring that forward. Thank you. Thank you. I think we're ready to vote on the motion to terminate the Declaration of Local Emergency and the other items that the chairman identified. All those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed, say nay. Any abstentions? That motion carries, Mr. Chairman.

[02:57:28] Thank you, Supervisor Gross. And that brings us to our information items. We have two today. Just As a reminder, we do not vote. The first is endorsement of design guidance for the Tysons Community Circuit in the Hunter Mill and Providence districts.

[02:57:43] Are there any questions or comments from board members, Supervisor Alcorn? Yeah, actually, I was just going to say on both of them, these are great. And on one in particular, the first one, really nice graphics and photos that really do bring across what we're looking for.

[02:58:00] So thank you, staff, for doing that. And the equity impact is really helpful. Thank you, Supervisor Alcorn. Any other questions or comments on Info 1, Supervisor Palchik? I'm sorry, I just have to. Susie Batiste is here, and the DPD team, she's really led the effort on the Tyson's Community Circuit.

[02:58:18] If you haven't had a chance to look at it, several departments at DPD, LCS, Park Authority, I'm probably missing a couple, worked also with our industry groups across the board, and I think have created a beautiful design, including the equity impact that as it comes in, we have this first portion coming in with the next piece of the borough.

[02:58:39] So I think this will be an exciting opportunity for beautiful and multi-use opportunities in the Tysons area, 4.75 miles, I believe, of the circuit. So just want to thank Ms. Batista for all her efforts on this. Thank you very much. And information item number two is endorsement of street tree canopy credit and planning alternatives for constrained sites.

[02:59:01] Are there any questions or comments? Again, we don't vote on these. Seeing no questions or comments, thank you to staff for your work on these. And with that, we are about ready to go into closed session. Let me ask the county attorney how long we need for closed session.

[02:59:18] Mr. Chairman, we're going to need two hours for closed session. Two hours. So that's what I was afraid of. So what we are going to do is we are going to get lunch and report straight into closed session. We will try to get through as much of it as we can, and we will play by ear if we want to come out for the 1.30 meeting, 1.30 public hearing, or whether we will be finished by then.

[02:59:45] But in order to keep us moving, why don't we all grab our lunches and report to closed session immediately. And that assumes that a motion and Supervisor Gross' hand passes. Supervisor Gross. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Board of Supervisors recess and go into closed session.

[03:00:01] For discussion and consideration, matters enumerated in Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 and listed in the attached agenda for this meeting, and in addition, one as permitted by Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711A7 and 8, legal briefing regarding Dwale v. Fairfax County Police Department,

[03:00:20] Fairfax County Circuit Court case number CL-2019-17251, and a settlement demand made on behalf of Ms. Diwali and her family members, and two, as permitted by Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711A1, consideration of prospective candidates for appointment, as well as annual evaluations for the county executive and county attorney.

[03:00:44] You've heard the motion. I'm happy to second it. All those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries, and we will report immediately in the closed session. Before we break, just an update from Chief Butler and Mr. Arnold that our Virginia Task Force One is currently en route to Germany and then on their way to Turkey. So they are in a plane on their way, and we are thinking about them. So thank you with that. The board will

[03:01:14] recess and grab lunch and report directly into closed session. Okay, we are going to begin our

[03:03:50] afternoon. We have only one public hearing, but before we go to that public hearing, let me turn to Supervisor Gross for a motion to bring us out of closed session. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Board of Supervisors certify that to the best of each member's knowledge. Only public business matters lawfully exempted from the open meeting requirements by virtue of Virginia Code Section 2.2 dash 3711, and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which closed session was convened, were heard, discussed, or considered by the Board of Supervisors during the closed session. I'm happy to second that motion along with Supervisor Lusk. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any

[03:04:30] opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Motion's coming out of closed session. Supervisor Mr. Chairman, in response to a letter from the Fairfax County Circuit Court to the county attorney dated December 19, 2022, I move that the Board of Supervisors concur in the appointment of Roderick Marabojak to the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals.

[03:04:56] And I further move that the board requests the Circuit Court to appoint an alternate to the Board of Zoning Appeals. And finally, I move that the board concur in the appointment of Thomas Warner-Smith as the alternate. I'm happy to second that motion along with Supervisor Lusk.

[03:05:12] Discussion on the motion. Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Other motions? Any other motions coming out of closed session? Okay. I think that's it.

[03:05:27] And that brings us to our public hearing. And let me first just remind some folks about public testimony. Individuals wishing to provide testimony have a number of options. They can testify here in person or they can provide testimony by phone or YouTube video at the designated point.

[03:05:45] In the public hearing, I will call for any speakers from the speakers list and they will either come forward or their video will be shown or they will be connected by telephone. There will then be an opportunity for anyone else who would like to speak to the application to come down to the podium or to call in on a number that will be provided on the screen.

[03:06:01] Speakers testifying via video must sign up and submit their video no later than 9 a.m. on the day prior to the hearing. For all testimony, you are given three minutes to speak as an individual. If you're a spokesperson for a group, you are given five minutes. Our first public hearing today is a public hearing on RZ2021-PR-00030, Fairfax County School Board, a body corporate in the Providence District, and who do we have who can reaffirm the affidavit?

[03:06:30] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. My name is John McGranahan, and I reaffirmed the affidavit dated January 26, 2023. You've heard the reaffirmation. Are there any disclosures from board members? Disclosures? Let me start with Supervisor Palchik.

[03:06:46] Yes, Mr. Chairman. Carl V. Frisch has contributed in excess of $100 to Dahlia Palchik for Fairfax County Supervisor. Thank you, Supervisor Palchik. Supervisor Lusk. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I disclose the friends of Rodney Lusk received in excess of $100 from Elaine Tolan.

[03:07:04] Thank you, Supervisor Lusk. Supervisor Alcorn. Making sure that Tolan is right.

[03:07:20] I'd like to disclose contribution in excess of $100 from Carl Frisch. was it for for school board to the friends of walter alcorn campaign thank you thank you supervisor alcorn and um always awkward but the schools are the applicant in this and the school board is listed in the affidavit and of course they're all very good friends and associates of ours and so but those disclosures are important at this time i would now recognize staff for a county staff presentation thank you good afternoon mr chairman and members of the board i am kimia

[03:07:59] Zolfigerian with the Department of Planning and Development. The applicant Fairfax County School Board seeks to rezone the subject property from R2 District to R3 District to allow several building additions and site improvements for Mosaic Elementary School. The 10-acre subject property, which consists of one parcel, is currently developed with Mosaic Elementary School.

[03:08:24] The property is south of Five Oaks Road, north of Kingsbridge Drive, and west of Mosby Woods Park. the site is accessed from a pipe stem driveway from five oaks road the applicant also owns the property to the south which is zoned pdh4 district this 1.45 acre parcel was dedicated to the applicant in 1977 but is not included in this application the subject site is developed at an intensity of 0.16 FAR with an approximately 70,000 square foot school building. The property

[03:09:04] includes a bus pickup and drop-off area at the front entrance to the school, which faces the east. There is a surface parking lot in the southeastern corner of the site, three modular classrooms south of the building, and a fourth modular classroom located in the northwestern portion of the site. The site also includes a playground, a basketball court in the south, and a baseball softball field in the north. The current design capacity is for a maximum of

[03:09:37] 1,038 students. The elementary school is surrounded by residential development, including multi-family residential buildings to the east, single-family attached dwellings to the south, and single-family detached dwellings to the west and north. The R2 zoning district allows for a maximum of 0.25 FAR for public uses. The proposed expansion will increase the FAR to 0.29.

[03:10:08] Therefore, the applicant is requesting to rezone the property from R2 to R3 district to accommodate these additions. The applicant proposes a 55,365 square foot expansion of the existing elementary school building, increasing the gross floor area of the building to approximately 125,000 square feet in size.

[03:10:31] This expansion will increase the capacity of the school to up to 1,050 students and includes a two-story expansion generally on the southwest corner of the site that would replace a portion of the existing building and allow for additional classrooms, a gymnasium, three courtyards, and expansions of the cafeteria and library.

[03:10:53] The changes include a new secondary vehicle access for buses only from Kingsbridge Drive that will separate buses from kiss-and-ride traffic, expansion of the parking lot to allow 55 additional parking spaces, new bicycle racks, new sidewalks along the vehicular entrances, a trail around the playfields in the north, and three new playgrounds along the southern portion of the property.

[03:11:20] This is a photograph of the sidewalk along Kingsbridge Drive. In conclusion, staff finds the application to be in conformance with the comprehensive plan and the zoning ordinance. Thank you. Thank you very much for that presentation.

[03:11:41] And I'll recognize the applicant for an applicant's presentation. Thank you again, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. John McGrenahan, the attorney for the applicant. And first, let me apologize for the snafu with the affidavit two weeks ago.

[03:11:58] But as you said, Mr. Chairman, it's important to get those things right. And we did, and we greatly appreciate you all accommodating us today as your only public hearing item so that we only lost two weeks with that. Mrs. Ulfogarian did a very nice job of summarizing the details of the application.

[03:12:17] And when I saw we were the only thing on your agenda, I took my 50-slide, 45-minute presentation and condensed it pretty substantially so that you all can get on to other things. But I would like to highlight a couple of points. First off, this is a very important renovation project for the school board.

[03:12:35] The school was built in 1964, and Mosaic Elementary School, it used to be Mosby Woods Elementary School, has been in the queue for renovations since 2008 when the school board created that queue for renovations. So it's been a long time coming. As you can see, there's a substantial increase in gross floor area that's being proposed.

[03:12:58] It's really the educational specifications that are driving that. The gymnasium is the example that comes to my mind is being substantially expanded to meet the current educational specifications. And there are a number of areas that fall into that category.

[03:13:13] So, again, this is very important. I thought I would highlight just a couple of the things we work through with your staff and the community for you. Next slide, please. Oh, wait, I have it. It's not, oh, there we go.

[03:13:30] This is an important slide because one of the key changes to the site is the addition of an entrance onto Kingsbridge Drive, which is on the south side of the school, the top side of your screen. And as many of you know, the school system tries to separate the bus traffic from the parent and visitor traffic.

[03:13:51] And currently, there's only one access point from Five Oaks Road to Mosaic Elementary School. So this would add a second point of access. As you can imagine, the communities on the other side and who access from Kingsbridge had a lot of questions and concerns.

[03:14:08] So we've agreed and proffer forward to a number of limitations on this new entrance. It is for bus traffic only. That was an important one. The other thing is we proffered a gate so that we could manually control that. And the gate will be closed during off-school hours so that the school doesn't become a cut-through for traffic going between Kingsbridge and Five Oaks.

[03:14:31] The other point that we made is the buses all arrive and they stay on site so that they come in one direction and then they'll all be released in another direction. So you won't have two-way bus traffic coming into the new entrance. And then most significantly, the school system proffered to have staff both educate the parents and the families about that it's for bus traffic only, to include signage that it's for bus traffic only, and to have people out on the site to help control traffic, which they do at most of the schools in the school system.

[03:15:09] This next slide relates to that new entrance. The community, Villa d'Este Village to the south or across the street, uses Kingsbridge Drive for parallel parking. So they wanted to make sure that if you create this entrance for bus access that you don't take away the parallel parking opportunities there.

[03:15:29] So the school system hired Wells and Associates and they did an analysis which we presented to that community that shows that, again, if the buses are coming in one way and then going out so you don't have double traffic, that you can accomplish the turning movements without impacting those parking spaces.

[03:15:47] This is the conceptual landscape plan that shows you the finished product, if you will. You can see the new entrance there at the top of your screen. And you'll notice along that top part of the parking lot a sidewalk that comes sort of through the trees from Kings Bridge.

[03:16:06] And that was, I want to give credit to your staff for coming up with that idea. There's currently a path and a cut through there that people use regularly, but it's not paved, it's not official. And the idea was if you create an actual pedestrian sidewalk there, then the walkers who are coming up Kingsbridge can get out of the way, if you will, for the bus traffic that's going on up to the entrance.

[03:16:31] So they would be entering the site from that sidewalk and not – there will be sidewalks on both sides of the bus entrance, but the walkers to the school can actually use that one. It was a great idea, and we appreciated that suggestion. The other thing on this slide, if you look to the right of the screen, which is the west, you'll see a substantial amount of vegetation.

[03:16:50] And those homes that are on Savoy Drive, we spent some time with them. They're obviously impacted by the new addition, and they wanted to see what the landscaping would look like. So we did some cross sections, which are on the next slide here, that we shared with them.

[03:17:08] And you can see with the vegetation, it really will do a nice job of screening the additions to the school from the homes along Savoy Street. Wrapping up here, just wanted to show you a couple of images, elevations of the school. This is the front of the school.

[03:17:25] The cafeteria there is on the left-hand side. You can see these descriptions or images show the character and the quality of the architecture that will be used. And you can see that it's compatible with what the existing school building architecture is.

[03:17:43] Last image here shows you the gymnasium and the play area. And also the addition to the library as you're coming up from Five Oaks Road into the school site for people who are visiting there. So that's it, Mr. Chairman, members of the board.

[03:18:02] We'd appreciate your support. The school system is hoping to have this finished and available in the fall of 2025. So with your blessing, we will move with all due haste to make that happen. Happy to answer any questions you all might have.

[03:18:18] Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Mr. McGranahan. Any questions of staff or the applicant? Any questions of staff or the applicant? Seeing and hearing none, this is a public hearing, and I have no speakers who have signed up in advance to testify on this matter.

[03:18:33] Is there anyone here in the auditorium that would like to testify on this matter? Anyone present who would like to speak? This is a public hearing. I'm seeing and hearing no one. Let me ask the clerk if anyone has called in. No one has called in. I assume the applicant waives rebuttal.

[03:18:51] Any closing comments or recommendations from staff? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On November 16, 2022, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the application subject to the executed proffers dated October 20th, 2022, and approval of a modification of the transitional screening requirement in favor of that shown on the GDP.

[03:19:14] Staff concurs with these recommendations. Thank you. Thank you very much. Are there any questions from board members? Seeing and hearing none, I will now close the public hearing and recognize Supervisor Palchuk for a motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And first of all, before I make the motion, I really want to thank Ms. Ophagarian and the team in the county, quite a few in DPD who have worked on this over the years.

[03:19:38] I want to thank the school, the school system, and all those representing them for what I think truly is a much-needed and will be a beautiful renovation. This was actually one of the first schools where I taught Spanish after school. And I can tell you back then, I got moved from a tiny room to a tiny corner in the library.

[03:19:56] And you absolutely have an incredible staff and team. but Ms. Osti can do it all on her own. And definitely this is a much needed renovation. They currently have 966 students enrolled. So it's not increasing enrollment, but it is trying to move away from the long temporary classrooms and really the necessary cafeteria, open space, gym, et cetera, to really meet the needs of this excellent school and community.

[03:20:28] I want to absolutely commend all of you for your very effective and extensive outreach I know it has lengthened the process but I think it is the best outcome we could have for this community both having two safer ingress egress separating the bus from the car traffic is what I wish we could do at every school and also ensuring hopefully no emergencies but if there were one that you do have a second location, a second exit. I also want to commend you on focusing on

[03:21:03] trying to maintain the open space, having the existing conservation easements, working with the community, the various communities, and on reducing the disturbance to the beautiful property site. And finally, I don't know if it was mentioned, but there will be EV charging stations here, which is very exciting and really appreciate the the creativity from staff and all those involved in finding a way to more safely allow for that foot traffic from the back of the school which is quite a few of our students who

[03:21:40] come that way so I think to that everything else was shared this is really incredible work from all the departments and want to thank all those who've been involved especially my Planning Commissioner and my staff who really worked with all of you through this process so to that i have one motion um i move that the board of supervisors approve rz 2021-pr-00030 subject to the executed proffers dated october 20th 2022 and i further move that the board approved the requested modification of the transitional screening requirements around the periphery of the property that is adjacent to

[03:22:19] existing residential uses to what is shown on the gdp heard the motion and a second by supervisor lusk any discussion on the motion any discussion on the motion seeing and hearing none all those in favor of the motion please say aye aye any opposed any abstentions that motion carries uh thank you very much and uh with that uh that also brings us to the end of our meeting of february 7th 2023 and seeing no additional business to come forward to the board our meeting is adjourned

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Coraggio Consulting · aguyonx.com