Coraggio Consulting
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Place: Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Virginia
Length: 2h 58m (video)
Official meeting video (Fairfax County): https://video.fairfaxcounty.gov/player/clip/3204
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 2026-11-02. Timestamps are [HH:MM:SS] into the meeting video.

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[00:00:06] Good morning. Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here. As you can see, Chairman McKay is not here today, and I get the honor of chairing this meeting, so welcome everyone to the meeting.

[00:00:22] I am going to start, before we do anything else, with a motion to permit remote participation in board meeting of February 6, 2024, and if Supervisor Pelchuk will act as vice chair. Before we get started, Chairman McKay will be participating remotely in the meeting today due to an illness that prevents his physical attendance.

[00:00:43] Mr. Chairman, I would ask you to state your name and general location for the record. Jeff McKay in Alexandria, Virginia. Thank you. I move that the Board of Supervisors certify for the record that Chairman McKay's voice can be adequately heard by all persons assembled here at the Government Center, And I further move that the board approve Chairman McKay's remote participation in today's board meeting as it fully conforms to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors' policy for remote participation in meetings.

[00:01:12] Is there a second? Second. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstention? Madam Chair, the motion passes. Thank you very much. We will begin the meeting with a moment of silence to be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

[00:01:32] Let me ask if board members have anyone they would like for us to keep in their thoughts and prayers today. Supervisor Harrity. Yeah, Madam Chairman, I'm sad to announce the passing of Judy Bright on January 28th. She was a longtime resident of West Springfield and Fairfax Station.

[00:01:48] Many know her from her active membership with Seidenstricker United Methodist Church for nearly 45 years. She was the proud wife of an Air Force and Vietnam veteran. Her good-hearted nature and her commitment to those she loved earned her the CAM Community Leadership Award and a lobby plaque with her name on it inscribed at the Fairfax at Belvoir Woods facility.

[00:02:09] She's going to be missed, and I ask that we keep Judy's family and friends in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you, Supervisor Herity. Anyone else? Supervisor Walkinshaw. Thank you, Madam Chair. Sad to share the news, and board members probably are aware of this, That Sunday morning, we experienced a tragedy in the Braddock district.

[00:02:31] Yun Hu from Annandale was killed in a car accident at the intersection of Bradfield Drive and Braddock Road. She was in a car that was attempting to make a left turn across four lanes of traffic on Braddock Road, one of those really dangerous intersections, unsignalized intersections and movements that we have in the county, unfortunately did not survive. There were four other passengers treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released from the hospital to remain hospitalized as of today. And it's just an

[00:03:09] important reminder about how dangerous it is when we get in our cars and how important it is to be as cautious as possible. The other thing I'll share is on Braddock Road, this is the second fatality that we have had in the last six to nine months. The first was a pedestrian fatality at an unsafe crosswalk. This weekend we had traffic fatality at an unsafe unsignalized intersection. Both of those locations will be changed and fixed and made safer with the completion of the Braddock

[00:03:48] Road multimodal improvement project that we are fighting to get across the finish line as we speak working closely with vdot in the community it's a challenging project and folks have a lot of strong views about it but it is so important that we make these safety improvements and unfortunately this weekend is a reminder of the fact that the lives are at stake with these kind of projects so i ask you to just keep the family members and loved ones of all those involved in this weekend's crash in your thoughts and prayers thank you thank you supervisor

[00:04:21] Walkinshaw. Seeing no one else, if everyone please rise for a moment of silence. Please place the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it

[00:04:55] stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. We will now start with our presentations at the meeting. We have a presentation for the best workplaces for Commuter Awards. And for that, I will recognize Philip Winters, director of the TDM program and the Center for Urban Transportation Research. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, board, for

[00:05:30] having us here today. It's my privilege, actually, to come up here and recognize these employers. As a community, Fairfax County uses a multimodal approach to enhance mobility and move people consistent with the values of the community. And we know, generally speaking, that employer policies such as work schedule flexibility, employer-provided transit pass discounts, and parking policies, among others, affect how employees ultimately choose to commute.

[00:05:59] But the county, like many other communities, can find it challenging often to engage employers who are focused on business issues such as attracting and retaining talent. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics National Compensation Survey finds only 9% of civilian workers have access to subsidized commuting like discounted transit passes and vanpool subsidies. They also find that only 15% of civilian workers have flexible work schedules and that can influence their ability to use transit, fixed route transit. And there are also

[00:06:36] though business benefits associated with these commuter benefit programs such as for example nearly one quarter of workers have left a job due to a bad commuting corner to research by the staffing firm Robert Half. And commute benefits like these can help ease the commuting experience of their workers and help make an awfully reduced turnover. Therefore, Fairfax County has partnered with BWC Best Workplaces for Commuter to provide employers that meet the national standard of excellence and the county helps inspire others to do the same to pursue

[00:07:14] commuter-friendly strategies that can pursue the designation of best workplaces for commuters and actually i like to single out fairfax as one of our most successful commuter benefit programs in the country under best workplaces for commuters so much so that it's made it's helped make Virginia in the top three of all states with best workplaces for commuters recognized.

[00:07:42] We encourage communities to follow what we call the Fairfax partnership model, working with employers like we're introducing today. And I'm excited to actually recognize the following employers for their commitment to helping change how America commutes. This year's designees are among the 700 plus best workplaces for commuters, best sites, best universities and colleges.

[00:08:09] First is Agile Defense. Next is BXP Boston Properties, Cargo Sense, Freddie Mac, GDIT, Grove Slade, Guidepoint Security, InnoDev, Innova Fair Oaks Hospital, Innova Springfield

[00:08:35] health plex jones rob kajit and maximus so thank you i'm going to come down and join for the picture

[00:09:07] and if the board members would stand to thank you thank you to everyone it's fun to be in the top

[00:10:49] three for our commuting so thank you um next up on the agenda we have four presentations today for each presentation i will announce the proclamation invite our speaker down to the podium we will then read the proclamation and after our speaker's remarks we will pose for a picture from the dais first we have a resolution to recognize davis career center for its 40th anniversary this was requested by chairman mckay supervisor pelchik and supervisor lusk our speaker today is chad clayton principal of the davis career center please come on down and anyone that needs

[00:11:26] is here with you can come down we've got a big crowd okay that's great we're going to raise the the spirits in the room. How's that? That sounds good. All right. Well, I'll go ahead and read the resolution. Yes, please. Thank you. Whereas 2023 marked the 40th anniversary of the Davis Career Center, the DCC, one of two Fairfax County public schools, centers that offer a modified curriculum focused on life, social, and vocational skills for students with disabilities ages 18 to 22,

[00:12:06] And whereas for four decades, DCC staff and administrators have created classroom and community environments that prepare and empower students through self-advocacy, problem-solving, and productive communication skills.

[00:12:22] And whereas DCC's success is achieved through various instructional strategies in small group classrooms, at school and community-based job and resource sites, in supervised and unsupervised settings.

[00:12:37] And whereas DCC helps build strong connections between school, home, and community with focuses on inclusion that foster growth and allow students to feel encouraged, involved, and respected while working in a challenging and safe environment.

[00:12:55] And whereas the Davis Career Center has and will continue to transform the lives of many in our community, now therefore, be it resolved that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of all Fairfax County residents, does hereby congratulate the Davis Career Center on 40 years of dedication and success by Supervisor Alcorn M. Luz.

[00:13:28] Discussion? Yes, Madam Chair, and I'm sure you will also want to weigh in. And I know Supervisor Stork and you and myself had the pleasure of enjoying the wonderful catering from the Davis Career Center while we were on the school board.

[00:13:43] We are so delighted for the cookies that you brought us today. We know that your staff, Chad, and your entire team have done incredible, incredible things in partnering with our businesses in the community. I was talking to some of your students today about their work placements from the U.S. post office to FCPS schools.

[00:14:06] I believe we have some Upper Bailey school participants. And I know many, many more job sites that have provided these opportunities to really what is the best kind of education and workforce development for all of our students. So, Chad, to you, your incredible and always positive cheerleader, I call you the cheerleader principal, leadership, and to all of the families, current, past, and future, who have supported you.

[00:14:34] And I believe you also have some, I see at least one school board member present, and some others, it's a little hard to see. Thank you so much for being here. I believe that's Robin Lady there. And to everyone who supports the schools, I think you're Region 5 now, and I think Region 5 is in the room as well.

[00:14:50] so thank you for being here I know we don't usually pitch businesses but catering by Davis Career Center is in the back if you need them but thank you all for being here thank you Supervisor Lusk thank you madam chairman I'll just make a couple of comments for just over 40 successful years the s John Davis Career Center has trained and transitioned hundreds of disabled young adults to welcoming employers and work sites across Fairfax County is a remarkable achievement

[00:15:30] that comes as a result of dedicated partnerships between home, school, and community. I want to give a special acknowledgement to the decades of parents of students requiring special needs instruction and support because we know that in the pre-Davis years, the idea of working skills, possible employment, and greater independence for their children seemed inconceivable. I also acknowledge the employers who then and now have stepped forward to provide on-site shadowing and training

[00:16:05] opportunities and who provide training materials and equipment to the center itself. In 2023 alone, such work sites included hotels, restaurants, schools, fitness centers, a labor union, and a church to name a few and i know that i speak for all of the franconia residents when i express our gratitude and appreciation to davis's talented and intrepid teachers and principals those who were not and are not daunted by imposed barriers and similar challenges finally is the

[00:16:40] davis center which served as an early model so to replicate so to replicate services in southeastern Fairfax County at the Earl Pulley Career Center. So with that, Madam Chairman, I would like to say Principal Chad Clayton, I thank you. And I also want to thank the Dr. John Spear Davis Career Center family for bringing promise, hope, and now accomplishment to the lives of so many and many more to come. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you so much.

[00:17:16] If there's no further discussion, all those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. That motion passes unanimously.

[00:17:32] Chad, the floor is yours. Thank you. Thank you. Well, good morning. My name is Chad Clayton. I am the very proud principal of the Davis Career Center. And our DCC, I should say, as we are, are more commonly referred to these days. First, Madam Chair, thank you very much and each member of the board for having us here this morning, and especially, Dahlia, for our, sorry, Supervisor Palczyk, for all of your support over the years, especially back to your days as our school board member. And, you know, the cookies are always a big hit, so thank you for recognizing that. I'd also like to take a moment to recognize

[00:18:10] our very first principal of the Davis Career Center, Mr. David Temple, Jr., who currently serves as the education and workforce development aid to Supervisor Lusk.

[00:18:26] So thank you for that continued support. Our community is indebted to him for his vision and dedication 40 years ago to begin what continues to be a thriving community of eager, talented, insightful, and inspiring learners. I'd also like to thank Becky Bainig, our Region 5 Assistant Superintendent, and Jay Pearson, Executive Principal, for being here this morning to support me and our school as we receive this wonderful recognition from the board and also uh robin lady for being here as well thank you so much uh now you may not know it uh but well obviously you do know it because you have your cookies but um i also brought some magic with me this morning and that magic is

[00:19:06] actually sitting standing right here um so the magic you see are the students uh wearing their 19 dcc 1983 uh shirts because the magic of the davis center are the students who attend the Davis Center. They show up each day to take on the challenges of growing, learning, working, and adulting. And as we all know, adulting is hard. The magic of DCC is also the teachers and staff who are also here who show up to model and lead the way for students as they are learning to voice a vision for living their own self-determined lives. That magic is also the dynamic Fairfax

[00:19:44] County business community that so generously supports us year after year with opportunities to come into their places of retail, worship, education, hospitality, care, and food to help our students learn and grow as part of their community work experiences.

[00:20:00] I am deeply grateful to everyone who makes our community thrive. I believe that it is an honor to take each of our students, a majority of whom have been through FCPS, from preschool or kindergarten through 12th grade, and help them prepare to use all that they have learned and put that into their communities to be contributing citizens living meaningful, self-determined lives.

[00:20:21] This has been happening since 1983. Thanks to the support of the Board of Supervisors, the FCPS School Board, the leadership of FCPS, and the Davis Career Center, we have had 40 years of opportunities to improve the lives of students and families who come our way looking, hopefully, to a future beyond FCPS and a life within Fairfax County.

[00:20:44] Thank you for recognizing the work of the Davis Career Center and celebrating 40 years of this important work. We look forward to the next 40 years. Thank you so much. Thank you. Mr. Luskin-Palchek will join me in the front, and board members stand.

[00:21:02] All right, guys, come on down.

[00:21:04] Thank you very much. We appreciate it.

[00:25:08] Okay, as we clear the room, I'm going to get us started on the next presentation.

[00:25:45] We have a proclamation to designate February 2024 as Career and Technical Education Month. This was requested by Chairman McKay, Supervisor Stork, Supervisor Palchuk, and myself. Our speaker today is Katrina Chen, Edison High School Career and Technical Education student and president of the Virginia Future Business Leaders of America.

[00:26:10] And I am going to call on Supervisor Stork to read the resolution. Well, thank you, Madam Chair. It is my pleasure to do so. Whereas Career and Technical Education CTE Month is held every February to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of these programs nationwide aimed at preparing students for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand careers.

[00:26:34] And whereas currently there are 12.5 million students enrolled in CTE courses across the nation, and the school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs is 93%, compared to an average national freshman graduation rate of 80%.

[00:26:50] And whereas Fairbanks County Public Schools offers CTE programs in every middle and high school, including business and information technology, family and consumer services, health and medical sciences, technology education, engineering, and trade and industrial education.

[00:27:09] And whereas within these programs, students receive industry credentials and learn the technical skills of many occupations while preparing for higher education or entry-level employment, setting students up to be confident and professional in their chosen career. And whereas FCPS Career and Technical Students Organization enhance student learning through leadership, personal development, and real-world application, including competitive events and programs that allow students to gain the skills necessary to succeed in their career and to network with business and industry partners.

[00:27:43] Now, therefore, be it resolved, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of all residents of Fairfax County, does hereby declare February 2024 as Career and Technical Education Month in Fairfax County and urges all residents to recognize the value of these programs for students and our community.

[00:28:02] Second. It's been moved and seconded. Discussion? Supervisor Stork. Madam Chair, I know you personally know, and I know the board, when we served on the school board, I think we personally recognize that these programs were instrumental and essential to really providing all students with an opportunity to reach their full potential.

[00:28:25] And reaching their full potential was whatever they really chose and whatever they wanted to do at that time. And hopefully we're guiding them, giving them, if you will, stair steps to head towards, frankly, reaching their fullest potential. Whether it's getting started in a particular class, maybe cosmetology or out-of-body or whatever, you know, computers, whatever it might be, but getting them on a path that gives them confidence and develops basic skills that essentially allows them not only to graduate high school, but just importantly, have a good next step to that career for themselves.

[00:29:01] And that good next step is oftentimes a certification that gives them the opportunity to have a job that pays more than minimum wage and gives them a sense of how they can develop their own skills and I think a sense of confidence and purpose and really a way that they can move forward.

[00:29:18] And hopefully they can share that with with their their colleagues, with their other students, because particularly we know that transition from 18 to 19, 20, that that early transition is important to have some sense of how you can move forward. Now, that's for them personally. For a community, it's even bigger than that.

[00:29:37] And for our community, we know we have a huge deficit of those skills in almost every every category of employment. So for the schools and the county and Nova Community College and George Mason and really the union electrical programs IBEW has, et cetera, those are all critical parts of how we can work together to make sure that that student has a pathway for success.

[00:30:03] So it's an honor to talk about this. And, you know, in particular, when we started paying for those certifications in 2004, we went from about 700 certifications a year to almost 17,000 certifications a year. So we know it makes a difference when the board and our community, you know, make that a priority, and we encourage students in the ways that we have.

[00:30:25] So thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Supervisor Stork. Supervisor Palchuk. Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to add this incredible team here that helps lead the CTE programs. I know there's a lot of talk today, and we know that college and career readiness, having both, are very important. In FCPS, there's a program that every single middle school and high school, as well as our academy programs, are critical to that work.

[00:30:47] I want to use this opportunity to put in a pitch that it requires additional flexibility at the state SOL level in order to be able to expand and provide access to all of our students, and definitely to more of our students, to have those college and career paths available, especially as they get into high school and start exploring their future.

[00:31:06] So I want to thank all of you. I know the regents here and all the way up to the superintendent who have been leading in this work and who have been proponents of expanding Korean technical education for all of our students. So thank you for what you do every day and thank you for being here today to celebrate the excellent work by all of your academies and education programs.

[00:31:26] Thank you, Supervisor Lusk. Thank you, Madam Chairman. I just want to say I'm very delighted to have this coming before the board and this recognition for the exceptional work that's done to support those individuals who are now having the aperture open for them and thinking about what opportunities they might be able to take advantage of.

[00:31:47] I like the point that you don't have to necessarily go to college. You don't have to go into debt. You can move into a career that you can ladder into the middle class and beyond. And the thing that I appreciate, too, about this opportunity through CTE is that we can also develop entrepreneurs.

[00:32:08] And this is something that I think is critical as well as having the option. You've got this skill in trade. Do I go work for a company or do I start my own company? And the beauty here is if you start your own company, you can provide opportunities for others in the community as well.

[00:32:26] And for me personally, I see this as a gateway for transforming the lives of many, many of the residents who live in my communities where we have lower incomes and college is not necessarily an option.

[00:32:42] And being able to get the skills trades, go into med tech, go into the emerging technology areas, it will make a sizable difference in the lives of those residents. And I just want to acknowledge the young lady here who's standing before us as a representative of my district.

[00:33:01] I'm delighted to see you and thank you for what you're doing. So thank you, Madam Chairman. Thank you. And, you know, I have to say Supervisor Stork was a little modest when I served on the school board with him. and the school system had been paying for the the kids to take the psat it was supervisor stork who had the idea that we need to pay for the certifications and you can see the difference it has made in our public and i come from a family where my father and my brothers are in the construction field and and all of these different types of roles we need in our community and so

[00:33:35] with that i'm going to call for the vote all those in favor of the motion say aye aye anyone opposed that motion carries unanimously katrina the floor is yours hello everyone my name is katrina chen and i serve as the fbla national southern region vice president and state president as we stand in this room today to celebrate career and technical education i can't help but feel like i'm standing in a room full of mentors who train superheroes why you may ask because each and every one of you trains our students through CTE, our very own superpower, equipping over 65,000 students

[00:34:13] in SCPS with skills for success. Students in CTE courses aren't just reading about concepts, they're building robots, cooking up a storm in a kitchen, repairing or rebuilding a car, or even launching a new business pitch. That's the magic of CTE. It takes students beyond the the textbooks and into the real world, where creativity, innovation, and hands-on experiences are the future of our students. As a passionate advocate for CTE, I believe in its transformative power to shape the future of our students. A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend

[00:34:50] the Virginia ACTE Conference alongside my fellow CTSO state presidents, where we went to the state capital and advocated for CTE and CTSOs. Through my involvement and CTSOs, I have witnessed firsthand the impact of CTE and empowering its students. As we express our gratitude today, it is essential to recognize the impact you have on us. Your guidance transcends into our personal lives, helping us build character, confidence, and compassion. Thank you for your unwavering commitment for being our backbone for growth. Thank you for being our guiding light and shaping

[00:35:27] the success of our students educational experiences and future careers. Let's embrace CTE month as a time to celebrate the transformative power of career and technical education. Together let's continue to support and advocate for CTE ensuring that every student has the opportunity to unleash their full potential and achieve their dreams. Thank you. Thank you Katrina. Those are wonderful words. So we are ready for a photo. If anyone with you would please come down and Supervisor

[00:36:00] stork and palchek please join me supervisor stork i just wanted to thank the former student

[00:37:44] representative on the school board from lorton from south county high school who helped to prepare that that and she's actually watching us now michelle tugby so i just wanted to give her a plug she's at brown watching our event so i wanted to share that with very good excellent thank you next we have a resolution to recognize pohick church for its 250th anniversary this was requested by chairman mckay and supervisor stork our special our speaker today is very

[00:38:16] reverend dr lynn rinaldi excuse me rector of the pohick episcopal church please come on down uh supervisor stork would you read the resolution thank you again madam chair and welcome whereas As celebrating its 250th anniversary this year, Pohick Church has been an active spiritual home to many of our nation's founders, including George Washington, a Triller Parish vestryman, church warden, and land surveyor who played a crucial role in the location, design, and construction of the church at its site in Lorton.

[00:38:55] And whereas rightly called the Mother Church of Northern Virginia, Pohick was the first permanent church in the colony to be established north of the Occoquan River, sometime prior to 1724, with the existing building completed in 1774, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.

[00:39:14] Whereas Pohick was raided by the British during the War of 1812 and periodically abandoned during the early part of the 19th century before being restored, only to be severely damaged by occupying Union forces just two decades later.

[00:39:31] And whereas Pohic Church stands as a testament to the collective endeavors of historic figures like George Washington and George Mason, local tradespeople and business owners, and numerous enslaved African Americans whose names are immortalized in bronze to commemorate their contributions.

[00:39:49] And whereas with its history spanning four centuries, Pohic Church continues to inspire visitors from around the world, inviting all to come and explore the rich spiritual heritage that so many have experienced over the years. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of all Fairfax County residents, does hereby congratulate Pohick Church on the occasion of its 250th anniversary and recognizes its important role in our history and as a spiritual home to many in our community.

[00:40:20] Been moved and seconded. Discussion? Supervisor Stork? Thank you, Madam Chair. And I think, as most of you know, I'm fond of using the word semi-quincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the church. And the fact that that history is just embedded really in that area, Mount Vernon, obviously, but George Mason and Mason Neck and Woodlawn.

[00:40:46] I mean, so much of the history of our community is tied to that, as well as the many enslaved communities that were at George Mason's home, as well as in Washington and Albany, Gum Springs, and the many, many families, the Quandter families that have populated our community as well.

[00:41:05] But this particular celebration is to recognize really the depth and breadth of that history for Pohic Church and to specifically recognize what it brings to our region. There's so much of our wonderful history that's found at the site.

[00:41:21] I always think of the balloon corps during the Civil War was one of the balloon corps sites was there where they would literally, one of the first balloons that they used for observation would raise it up many, many thousands, I guess a thousand or so feet and observe different areas of the battlefield and potential battlefield.

[00:41:40] So again, there's just a lot there to see and visit and enjoy. I wanted to thank Reverend Lynn Rinaldi for being here and for coordinating with our office to bring this special recognition, and I look forward to this Saturday, the gala at Mount Vernon State, to further recognize that and to have a seminar on that history and how it's connected to the community.

[00:42:03] So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Seeing no further discussion, all those in favor of the motion, say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? The motion carries unanimously. Thank you. The floor is yours. Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Stork, and we look forward to having you this weekend, too, at Mount Vernon.

[00:42:24] As Supervisor Stork said in that beautiful resolution, we're the church of many of our nation's founders, completed in 1774 at the location where it is now at Old Colchester and Richmond Highway, that corner. It's in an old brick Georgian style, and we call that the new church because, as you mentioned, the old church was down the street, a wooden structure in Old Occoquan.

[00:42:49] And there's a humorous story about how George Washington and George Mason, both on our vestry, which is our board of elders, actually argued over where to put this new church, where it stands today. And George Washington won the day and the closer location and not having to cross Pohick Church by surveying the property that we're on today.

[00:43:11] So anyway, we've got a lot of history, as you mentioned, in several eras. And I wanted to say, I wanted to introduce our current senior warden. George Washington was a senior warden of our vestry for many years. He was on our vestry for 23 years and a senior warden many of those years.

[00:43:30] Today's current senior warden is Mike Elston here with us, and he actually happens to be a distant cousin of George Washington. How about that? So what an honor. But today, we do gratefully receive your recognition and your resolution and say a heartfelt thank you to you and Fairfax County for supporting us so often.

[00:43:51] When I first arrived about six years ago at Pohick, a lot of the people I met in the community would say, Oh, you work at that place? It's a museum, right? or that's a church and they didn't realize it was alive and very active and warm church and so you've helped us in our quest to become known not only as a wonderful historic landmark but as a wonderfully warm and welcoming church today thanks to your leadership we've been able to carry forward the spiritual heritage of our founders not just george washington and george

[00:44:24] mason but also george william fairfax for whom this county is named were all pohicians and among others and what they did back then was they were they served as more than just festery members of a church they were magistrates they were they helped the widows and the orphans they did a lot of outreach as we still do and today you've helped us live into that ongoing vocation in this community and offer god's hospitality to strangers and these are some of the ways you have helped us The Historic Review Board recently approved our permanent accessibility ramp.

[00:45:00] It's a symmetrical, beautiful brick ramp that goes with the church and will really enhance, I think, the look of the church, but more importantly, the accessibility to those who are disabled or challenged. And so we're very thankful for that.

[00:45:15] We've raised $200,000 or 90% of the $200,000 necessary. We're there, and so we're very, very thankful. To help rectify the fact that some of our neighbors thought Pohick was a museum, you helped us to approve a big new brick sign that's actually visible from the road.

[00:45:34] That's helped, so thank you for that. And your history archivist recently also assisted us in discovering all those who built Pohick Church. Our docents and historians went down, and your archivist helped them uncover names of people who not only were the merchants who helped build our current church and the artisans, but also the indentured servants and the enslaved persons, many of the enslaved persons by name, who helped build Poet Church.

[00:46:03] So we've recently been able to recognize all of them with a brick plaque that you mentioned in the resolution. No, excuse me, not brick, bronze. And it's permanent, and it thanks and recognizes all who built Poet Church, All, including the founders who were on the vestry, all the way to the artisans and all the way through the indentured servants and the enslaved persons.

[00:46:29] So thank you for that as well. Thank you, finally, for this beautiful resolution. We will definitely hang it up in our parish house for everyone to see for posterity. And thank you for helping us share the love of God and the peace of the gospel, which from the birth of our nation has always shaped and formed our community and our nation.

[00:46:52] So POIC will continue to communicate and apply our founders' spiritual and moral principles and struggle with them in the ways that we need to be better even about enforcing those into the next 250 years and beyond that.

[00:47:10] We look forward to our next big anniversary coming up, as you mentioned. It will be more than 300 years that we have been in the area. So soon we'll have that new additional anniversary. And Supervisor Stork, we look forward to having you this Saturday at Mount Vernon at our big gala.

[00:47:27] And we hope that you'll read the resolution there. Thank you so much. And thank you all to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Thank you. Thank you so much. We are ready for a picture. So if you want to come down, Supervisor Stork, join me. And if you have anyone else with you, thank you.

[00:47:45] I'm really enjoying getting more steps in today.

[00:49:29] Finally, we have a resolution to recognize Fairfax County Auxiliary Police Program for its 40th anniversary, which was requested by Chairman McKay. Our speakers today are Chief Kevin Davis and Lieutenant Deanna Weand, I'm sorry if I pronounced that wrong, of the Fairfax County Police Department.

[00:49:47] Please come down. And I have the resolution. Good morning. Good morning. Whereas the Fairfax County Auxiliary Police Officer APO program recently concluded its 40th year in our community, helping to strengthen the Fairfax County Police Department, FCPD, and bolstering community safety in immeasurable ways.

[00:50:13] And whereas the devoted volunteers of the Auxiliary Police Officer program undergo rigorous training to assist and enhance the work of FCPD's full-time officers. And whereas all volunteers must successfully complete the APO Academy, which lasts approximately six months and includes weekends for driver training, weapons training, and on-the-street traffic control.

[00:50:38] And whereas last year Fairfax County APOs logged nearly 20,000 volunteer hours assisting the police department with community events, and since the program's inception, over 1.3 million volunteer hours have been logged.

[00:50:54] And whereas the work of Fairfax County's Auxiliary Police Officers helps to keep our county one of the safest jurisdictions of its size in the country, now therefore be it resolved that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of all Fairfax County residents, does hereby express its congratulations and thanks to Fairfax County's Auxiliary Police Officers and the program for 40 years of service and commitment to our community.

[00:51:21] I so move. Second. Second. Further discussion? Chair. I'm sorry, Chairman McKay's not here today. I know he was very excited of having you all here. We all know this is a great place to live.

[00:51:38] And your commitment to our county and volunteering your time, that's really what makes us a great, safe place to be. So thank you very much. Madam Chairman? Yes. Madam Chairman? Mr. Chairman, go ahead. Yeah, if I could briefly just make a comment.

[00:51:55] First, you know, having tested positive for COVID last night, is the reason why I'm not there today. And I hate to miss this because I think many of you know, a couple decades ago, I went through the program to become a volunteer reserve sheriff's deputy myself.

[00:52:14] And so I saw firsthand exactly the type of training and dedication that goes into being able to get a badge to begin with, much less the amount of work, time and effort, volunteerism that these folks put in to this program is just remarkable.

[00:52:30] And I'm glad the number of hours were in that resolution because we have volunteers throughout this county. And then we have volunteers that will put on a uniform that literally puts them at risk every day to protect every other resident of this county.

[00:52:47] And that takes a level of care and compassion that is unparalleled. And the folks before you and all the folks who aren't before you who are volunteering in this program come from all different walks of life. I've met some incredible people who are volunteering, who've spent careers in related fields and in some cases have spent careers in something totally different.

[00:53:12] And I think it's just a remarkable testament that we have regular everyday citizens that will put on a uniform, put themselves at risk to protect all of us in the name of volunteerism. And so this is 40 years, a lot of volunteer hours for our community, but we hope and we know that this program will continue to thrive, and we will continue to have outstanding people who put their community before everything else.

[00:53:39] And it's just remarkable, and my congratulations to all of you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We're glad you're staying home and keeping us safe today. I had Supervisor Walkinshaw and then Supervisor Lusk. Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to echo everything Chairman McKay said, and thank you all for the incredible work.

[00:53:59] Like I'm sure all board members, I see you out in the community so often. So on behalf of the people that I represent in the Braddock District, thank you. And I'll also specifically call out and thank you all for the work on the child safety seat, the car seat.

[00:54:16] I had my own car seat inspected, and I was really nervous, man, because if something had been wrong, I would have felt bad. But I thank you all for confirming it, that I had it right, and for doing that for so many families in our community. So thank you all. Thank you. Supervisor Waukesha, Supervisor Lusk.

[00:54:33] Thank you, Madam Vice Chairman, or interim Madam Vice Chairman. Delighted also to acknowledge the great work that the auxiliary police department men and women do for Fairfax County. And just want to acknowledge also that at the Fairfax County District, I see on a daily basis one of our auxiliaries.

[00:54:53] he's there every single day the commitment is just phenomenal and just hearing the number of hours again uh certainly indicates the value and the commitment and the importance of the work that each of you are doing so I just want to acknowledge that and say thank you thank you Mr. Lusk uh supervisor I'll start here with supervisor um Herity and then Stork that was hard um it's my first time doing this um I'll try not to repeat what's already been said but I mean you are out in the community all the time you're around the station all the time but it's interesting the

[00:55:29] the amount how much our community is going to rely on you the number of events that we do that you provide safety you provide that friendly face to the community that uh that's that softens it when an officer has to go into the community and speak with community members but the the service goes beyond the hours it's it's the it's it's the work you do to keep us safe the work you do to put a good foot forward the work you do that that our officers frankly just don't have the time to do um but we we couldn't uh we couldn't do police couldn't do what they do without you so

[00:56:05] i want to thank you each and every one of you for everything you do thank you supervisor stork i'll just echo the comments of so many of you and be specific specific to mount vernon and the number of events we have in mount vernon not only our shred events or our our uh and i particularly wanted to say something because I see Rick Lopez here and Rick have you ever missed one I'm just I'm just I don't think so I mean I really don't think so and and that's that's he's so indicative of of the value and the purpose in the and really the affinity the connection that residents even

[00:56:43] have because they see you see all of you at so many of these events and know that they could they're you're like them I mean they're they can feel that connection and and it's sometimes we know with police people have a little bit more of anxiety and I think that's one of the things you all are so successful doing is reducing some of that anxiety and and having them feel comfortable and connected and able to speak with you as well so again my deepest thanks for for your work on our behalf thank you and before we take a vote as the interim vice chair I will take the prerogative to once again thank all of you prevention is worth announced that prevention is worth a pound of a cure and I know that

[00:57:21] but especially in these challenging times of being able to recruit and retain our public safety fields, having your faces in the community from our ice cream socials that are very popular, some of their faces here to all of the events. And I have to say, not just for us, but for the grandparents, the car seat check is highly, highly appreciated.

[00:57:42] So thank you for what you do, and thank you to the chief and your staff for ensuring that we're able to continue to have this program viable and supporting the community. So to that, I think we will take a vote. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions?

[00:57:59] Madam Chair, the vote passes unanimously. Thank you. The floor is yours. Madam Chair, Board of Supervisors, Kevin Davis, Police Chief. I'll make a couple remarks. I'm joined by newly promoted Lieutenant Deanna Weyand. She oversees the good work of these auxiliary police officers, along with Bill Saleh.

[00:58:20] Bill's a retired colonel from the Air Force who I see more than most on the eighth floor of headquarters. So a couple of fun facts. We have 54 auxiliary police officers right now. We just graduated a class of 10.

[00:58:36] And not unlike our police academy classes, that class of 10 is the largest in about a decade. So we're really proud that we attracted 10 more folks who are volunteering to serve and be a part of this special group. The average age is 59 years old.

[00:58:55] The oldest is 86. The youngest is 28. The total number of career hours served by current auxiliaries is over 228,000 volunteer hours. And I think it was mentioned earlier that the total number of hours logged since the program's inception is $1.3 million.

[00:59:15] Can't put a price tag on that. The longest serving auxiliary is here today, Beth Myers with 27 years. Beth is the lead APO at the Fair Oak Station as well as being instrumental in our very popular women's self-defense class.

[00:59:31] She serves as an instructor. i just want to thank lieutenant wean because she's in charge of so many different moving parts on the police department that someone has to pay attention to and lead she's a remarkably talented multitasker i wish i had that skill but i'll turn it over to lieutenant wean to offer a couple more remarks and and thank you all for this opportunity thank you good morning my name is diana wean i'm the lieutenant that oversees the auxiliary police officers also known as apos first i want to express my sincere gratitude to the board of supervisors for recognizing the

[01:00:08] contributions of our apos i'd like to share with you a little bit of history on the apo program colonel william uric a fairfax county community member served the navy reserve the national guard the army the secret service marine corps the air force office of special investigations and finally the naval criminal investigative service after he retired from the federal government he sought out ways to continue to serve his community here in Fairfax County. In 1976, he devoted his efforts to the Fairfax County Neighborhood Watch Program, as well as becoming the first chair of our Community

[01:00:42] Advisory Council. Still seeking ways to serve the community, he became the first APO in 1983, which led to the first APO Academy graduating in December 1983. Colonel Urick finally retired from all public service in 1996 after having served over 10,000 hours with Fairfax County Police Department. Last year alone, our APOs logged volunteer hours that equated to nine officers working full-time without any vacation for the entire year. Out of the APOs that were fully sworn and operational last year, they averaged 400 hours of service each. And if you're a numbers

[01:01:19] person, like I am, you're doing the math, that's 10 full weeks of full-time service to our county. I think it's important for you to also know that many volunteered this time in between working their full-time paying jobs that doesn't just pay with coffee and donuts.

[01:01:35] There are officers that own successful businesses. These are highly educated officers that hold college degrees, many with master's degrees, some with multiple. These are officers that have achieved some of the highest ranks in our armed forces, including four full bird colonels.

[01:01:52] They are educators, lawyers, engineers, pilots, musicians, managers, directors, investors, and government contractors, to name a few. They are also moms and dads, brothers and sisters, daughters and sons, all of whom sacrificed time they could spend with their families to be here with their police family, serving the communities they live in to make them a better place.

[01:02:15] Their contributions not only help FCPD be the best law enforcement agency in the nation, but ensure that Fairfax County is one of the safest communities in the country. Thank you again for supporting and recognizing the APO program. Thank you so much.

[01:02:31] We are ready for a photo, so if you want to come down.

[01:04:07] Okay, next on the agenda is the presentation of the Don Smith Award. For that, I will recognize Sean Corcoran, Chairman of the Employee Advisory Council.

[01:04:30] Sean, welcome. The floor is yours. Thank you. And if I could have any of our EAC Council members that are here today, as well as the award recipients.

[01:05:09] Before I get started, I just want to say thank you very much to all our Employee Advisory Council members for all the hard work they've done here today, and especially making today a success.

[01:05:39] So, Chairman McKay, I guess remotely, Madam Chair, Vice Chair, Board of Supervisors, County Executive Hill, and staff, thank you for having us here today. My name is Sean Corcoran, and I'm the Chairman of the Employee Advisory Council. The EAC's vision is to work towards a fair and equitable workplace that encourages and rewards excellence in public service.

[01:06:01] It is within their spirit that the Don Smith Award was created and rewarded annually on behalf of the EAC to employees that have gone above and beyond in service to their fellow employees and the county. As in every year, we are deeply grateful to all of this year's nominees and are always truly inspired by the hard work, generosity, and selflessness so many of our co-workers show day in and day out.

[01:06:23] Thank you for all you do to make Fairfax County the great workplace that it continues to be. This year, the council has awarded two Honorable Mention recipients, as well as the winner of the Don Smith Award. Mary Pham of the Community Service Board Jail Diversion Program is our first Honorable Mention recipient.

[01:06:41] In the words of Rosemary Bell, her supervisor, Mary consistently goes above and beyond to build an environment of warmth, support, and inclusion. She takes it upon herself to orient and support new employees as they begin to work with the program outside of her job responsibilities.

[01:06:58] She also works proactively to build relationships across the office, agency, and region to best support her coworkers. In addition, she takes on the role of providing moral and social support, organizing team events both in the office and team activities beyond the workplace, striving to create a lively and dynamic work environment.

[01:07:16] The EAC is proud to award Mary Pham with my honorable mention.

[01:07:29] Marina Watkins is our second honorable mention recipient. Marina is an assistant manager in the Fairfax County Health Department Maternal Child Health Field Program. According to Kim Mazzarella, her nominator, Marina exemplifies servant leadership by always being willing to do the same work she would ask other nurses to do.

[01:07:47] Taking on a caseload, assisting in home visits, and other responsibilities outside of her job duties is just a small part in how this is demonstrated. In addition, Marina supports her teammates and subordinates by creating a sense of community and teamwork. She also takes great effort in making sure the office practices self-care.

[01:08:06] In short, Marina takes care of the team so that they can take care of the clients. The AC is proud to award Marina Watkins with honorable mention.

[01:08:21] This year's winner of the Don Smith Award is Mina Bhatia. Mina works in the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, Wastewater and Planning and Monitoring Division. In the words of her supervisor and nominator, Sharon Mosinian, Mina believes in brightening her colleagues' lives with almost daily action of providing items out of her own budget.

[01:08:40] Mina plans group activities, both inside and outside the work, places of work to keep up team spirit. Meena does this for her beloved wastewater planning and monitoring division, about 100 colleagues, but she extends this care and generosity to the whole of Public Works, almost 1,000 people.

[01:08:56] In addition to planning and organizing events, she also makes sure that guests of honor have something to remember by, be it photos, plaques, or the like. In addition to working to improve the morale of the office, Mina has also become a resource for benefits, ensuring co-workers are educated and aware of different county programs, live well benefits, and other programs.

[01:09:20] She has also taken the lead in organizing community outreach such as clothing drives and volunteer opportunities. We are proud to award Mina Bhatia with this year's Don Smith Award. Again, I would like to thank all of the nominees and all the nominators for reflecting the incredible work that our employees do day in, day out.

[01:09:48] There's just a small sliver of the work that's done every day to make Fairfax County the great workplace that it is to be in. So thank you all, and thank you to our recipients. Let's come forward for a photo.

[01:10:05] I know the county executive would like to join me if you have anybody else with you. Thank you.

[01:12:14] Next, we have our report on the General Assembly activities, and I want to turn to Supervisor Walkinshaw.

[01:12:31] Thank you, Madam Chair. Since our last board meeting, the Legislative Committee has met once on Friday, January 26, 2024. Many members of the board were also present for VACO VML Day, our local government day in Richmond, on Thursday, February 1, 2024.

[01:12:49] I'm pleased to report there's been significant activity on one of our county initiatives. The first initiative, HB 793, patroned by Delegate Henson, has been rolled together with an identical bill patroned by a legislator from a different part of the state, HB 1071, Delegate Carr.

[01:13:09] That bill expands the current authority of any locality to reduce the speed limit to less than 25 miles per hour, but not less than 15 miles per hour on highways within its boundaries that are located in a business district or residence district to include highways within the state highway system, provided that such reduced speed limit is indicated by lawfully placed signs.

[01:13:31] The bill has been modified slightly to specify that this authority is only for those roads that have an existing speed limit of 25 miles per hour. It also requires the locality to provide written notice to the commissioner of highways 30 days before changing the speed limit on any road in the state system.

[01:13:52] Unlike previous years, the administration has not opposed the bill and instead has provided input on the proposed amendments, which is good news. And I'll just say, after our challenges last year with VDOT's opposition and the administration's opposition, and to their credit, they raised some specific concerns, and we've worked with the General Assembly this year to make sure that we're addressing as many of the concerns that VDOT and the administration have as possible to try to reduce their opposition or eliminate their opposition.

[01:14:23] and so far we've been successful. The bill was reported by the House Transportation Committee 14 to 8 and is awaiting action on the House floor. Our second initiative, HB 1238, extends the deadline for local electoral boards to meet after an election for the purpose of certifying the election results and submitting the abstract of results to the State Board of Election from seven days after the election to ten days.

[01:14:49] That bill has been referred to the House Privileges and Elections Committee but has not yet been heard. A wide range of bills have been introduced this session, and our board has discussed legislation related to public safety, land use, human services, transportation, and much more.

[01:15:07] One bill in particular, which has sparked a fair amount of discussion, is SB 675. This bill would add Fairfax County to the list of localities authorized to operate a casino. There are currently five such localities in Virginia, and SB 675 would add Fairfax County as the sixth.

[01:15:27] Our board spent a significant amount of time discussing this bill in our legislative committee meeting. And ultimately, after that discussion, Chairman McKay sent a letter to the General Assembly's leaders, as well as our delegation, outlining our concerns with the process and issues included in the legislation.

[01:15:47] After being reported by the Senate General Laws Committee early in the session, it was sent to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Last Thursday, it was heard in the Resources Subcommittee of Senate Finance, and after the subcommittee read Chairman McKay's letter, and as well as hearing public testimony, including from some of our colleagues, the subcommittee recommended carrying the bill over to the 2025 General Assembly session, while also directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commissioner, Jay Lark, to update its review of a potential casino in Northern Virginia or Fairfax County.

[01:16:23] The full Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee this morning accepted that recommendation and carried the bill over to next year. We also spent time, and I hope to start spending more time on this after we're through with that previous conversation.

[01:16:40] We spent time discussing the governor's proposed 2024 and 2026 biennium budget. Though there are some items in the budget that would be helpful to the county and are welcome, There is a glaring oversight in the lack of any mention of the watershed JLARC study on state K-12 funding, which showed the really shameful underfunding of public schools by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

[01:17:08] The biennium budget, as well as advocacy for the inclusion of increased state K-12 funding will continue to be our key area of focus throughout this session. Finally, Mr. Chairman, Madam Chair, we're at a critical point in the session right now.

[01:17:26] Next Tuesday, February 13th is crossover date. Crossover is a deadline for bills to pass their originating chamber and crossover to the opposite chamber. And I know we will have a full agenda and much to discuss at this Friday's legislative committee meeting.

[01:17:42] Also want to remind my colleagues about our annual reception in Richmond next week, which I hope will provide an opportunity for some productive conversations and dialogue with our delegation. That reception will be Thursday, February 15th.

[01:17:58] We were originally looking at Valentine's Day, but I eliminated that as an option. Thank me later. Thursday, February 15th at 530 p.m. at a new location this year. So we'll be at a new location, which will be the Vaco building, newly renovated Vaco building at 1207 East Main Street.

[01:18:19] With that, Madam Chair, I move that the board adopt legislative committee report number one. Second. Thank you. It's been moved and multiply seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Aye. So that passes nine to one.

[01:18:37] Thank you. Thank you for that report. Okay, now we're going to move on to board matters. the clerk has compiled these digitally and we will go alphabetically by district and i will start with chairman mckay so supervisor palchek if you vice chair me here okay i move to approve without objection the proclamation request listed in this document to be presented inside or outside of the boardroom is appropriate a proclamation to recognize march is development developmental disabilities inclusion month a proclamation to recognize seek awareness

[01:19:16] and appreciation month in april a proclamation to recognize international dark sky week april two through eight a resolution to recognize the recertification of fcpd crime prevention communities program through the virginia department of criminal justice services uh without objection so moved thank you um this next board matter is with supervisor walkenshaw fairfax county Design and Environment Achievement Awards 2023. I am pleased to announce that Fairfax County's Environmental Excellence Awards, Exceptional Design Awards, and Friends of Tree Awards will be presented at a special evening ceremony at the Fairfax County Government Center on Tuesday,

[01:19:57] February 27, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m., with a reception to follow in the forum. The awards ceremony will be televised, live-streamed, and archived by Fairfax County's Channel 16. In the past, we have presented these awards during morning presentations at board meetings.

[01:20:13] A special evening event is planned to draw greater attention to the awards, better honor our recipients, and accommodate the attendance of family members, friends, and co-workers. Walter Hamilton III from Land Development Services has graciously agreed to serve as our emcee.

[01:20:30] The date of this ceremony is scheduled on a board committee meeting day. All board members are invited to remain for this event to help celebrate our community's accomplishments environmentalism sustainability and creative building and site designs we all will have the opportunity to say a few words and take official photos with the award winners a special invitation to all board members will be sent to your offices thank you madam chair okay this is electrical vehicle charging permit fee and this is with the chairman myself andre Jimenez and James Walkinshaw. On October 11, 2022, the Board adopted an amendment to the Land

[01:21:10] Development Services fee schedule to eliminate building permit fees for all electrical vehicle charging infrastructure construction for a trial period of 18 months ending May 1, 2024, to determine if elimination of the fee would incentivize use of electric vehicles, enabling residents, businesses, and organizations to take small actions to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

[01:21:33] Between October 31, 2022 and October 30, 2023, 38 commercial EVC permits and 858 residential permits were issued. This data does not reflect the number of chargers installed with each permit, nor does it include installations in new parking structures which receive a more general type of electrical permit.

[01:21:55] Based on the data collected, it is difficult to determine whether the absence of a fee provides an incentive to install EVC equipment. Carbon-free Fairfax envisions a future for Fairfax County that is healthy, sustainable, and economically prosperous without greenhouse gas emissions.

[01:22:13] One of the most important steps we can take to reduce these emissions is to transition to electric vehicles. I believe that this fee waiver should continue for an additional 18 months in support of this critical environmental initiative. Therefore, I move that the board directs staff to prepare an administrative item for the March 5, 2024 board meeting so that a public hearing can be held on March 19, 2024, on Appendix Q of the County Code, the LDS fee schedule, exempting all electrical and building permit fees exclusively associated with EVC infrastructure for an additional 18 months.

[01:22:51] I further move that the Board directs staff to conduct a new public information campaign to advertise the fee exemption and return to the Board four months prior to the expiration of the extension with a detailed breakout of installations by types of uses as well as impacts to the lds budget i think i have a second from supervisor walkenshaw uh would you like to speak to the motion i'm good i saw supervisor jimenez and i'll work my way this way no oh sorry i thought you had a hand up any other comments uh well i just want to thank all of you and the chairman for bringing this forward i know there was a lot of support at our committee meeting

[01:23:30] for looking to extend it and continuing to monitor and i do think that having the date meeting set as well as the increased community outreach and engagement will help us increase access to this excellent program all right so to that all those in favor please say aye aye aye any opposed any abstentions uh madam chair the vote passes unanimously thank you okay this was exciting with the Grammys. A Fairfax County teacher took home a prestigious golden gramophone at the 66th

[01:24:05] Grammy Awards on Sunday, and this is with Supervisors Jimenez and Walkinshaw. Annie Ray, the orchestra director at Annandale High School, won the 2024 Grammy Music Educator Award. The award honors educators who made a significant and lasting contribution to music education in schools. Annie has drawn praise for her work with Crescendo Orchestra, which serves students with severe disabilities, according to the FCPS release.

[01:24:33] She was one of ten finalists in a list that included music teachers from ten cities in nine states, according to the Grammys. As the winner, she will receive a $10,000 honorarium and matching grant for the Annandale High School Music Program. Therefore, I move that a resolution be prepared for Annie Ray to recognize her Grammy win to be presented to her outside of the boardroom.

[01:24:54] Second. That's without objection. Thank you, I believe. It was a motion. Sorry, my apologies. I had multiple seconds. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions?

[01:25:10] All right, that passes. Thank you. Thank you. And I'd like to say a couple comments, if you don't mind. We are so excited, Mason District, about this award. It's so well-deserved. The community has such a fantastic buzz. And we're all so excited, not only for Miss Annie Rae, but for Annandale High School.

[01:25:28] This has been really, really fun. It's been quite the journey and it's very exciting for us. So I'd like to congratulate Andale High School orchestra teacher Annie Ray on receiving the prestigious Grammy Music Educator Award. The prestigious annual award recognizes current educators who make a significant and lasting contribution to the music education field and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of public school music education.

[01:25:54] Like all music teachers in the spring of 2020, Ms. Ray had to adapt to remote teaching, or as so she eloquently put it in her TED Talks, she had to learn how to make music when the world had gone quiet. Ms. Ray went above and beyond working with a group of students whom she never had met in person so that together they could grow beauty out of that silence. It's that same creativity and willingness to put herself into her students' shoes that earned her the title Fairfax County public schools outstanding secondary school teacher last year for her work with children with disabilities she tackles problems with empathy respect and the type of spark that we

[01:26:33] all hope kids teachers possess i hope the board will join me in congratulating miss ray on this incredible achievement we are so proud in mason district thank you mr jimenez and i know we're all so proud of our educators especially showing the importance of arts and inclusion and our excellent educators in the classroom every day thank you and we're very excited for our very own miss annie ray thank you supervisor palchuk okay now i don't have any board matters uh supervisor walkenshaw no board matters uh supervisor bierman i don't have any board matters but i wanted to

[01:27:10] recognize some new staff and actually some outgoing staff as you may know jane edmondson who served supervisor fast for 16 years retired this last week we would have had a board matter for her today but not only can she not be here she left too soon to write it for herself so but we will eventually be be recognizing her when she's not um i believe she's going to cruise to antarctica but you all know many of my other staffers uh because they they have served with uh with with Supervisor Fowles, Patty Dinkelmeyer, our scheduler, office leader, extraordinaire.

[01:27:48] Many of you have talked to her over the years. Jenny Phipps, our Herndon liaison. Ben Wiles, my chief of staff, who's right behind me. There we go. But I wanted to recognize two new staffers as well. First, I'll recognize Natalie Bennett, who's coming over from the private sector.

[01:28:05] It's her first job in government. She's a recent graduate of Christopher Newport University several years ago, And she's going to be helping us with community outreach, events, communication support and social media, traffic calming, all that good stuff.

[01:28:21] And we're very happy to have Natalie on board. And I also wanted to recognize Prabha Rollins, who is coming over. She has a little bit more experience with the county because she's coming over from the school board, which I think is really an incredible background to have working with us now.

[01:28:38] she's going to be working on transportation issues as well as school board issues libraries mclean community center and elsewhere and they've been very patient sitting behind me since the start of this meeting but i'm really glad that they came to this entire meeting because it's so awesome to see all the good stuff going on in our county whether it's auxiliary police officers public church dcc career and technical education i'm very happy to have them here so i just wanted to recognize them quickly and with that no board matters for me thank you thank you next we have

[01:29:14] a supervisor lusk thank you very much madam chairman i've just two matters the first madam chairman towns of villa park llc the applicant and affiliate of jr real estate group llc is the owner of two parcels of land identified on the fairfix county tax maps as 90-2 double circle four parcels 19 and 20 collectively the property the applicant has filed a rezoning and generalized development plan rz 2021-le-019 to permit the development of a residential community

[01:29:50] of up to 40 single-family attached dwelling units the board approved a comprehensive plan amendment on july 25th 2023 that allows a residential use at a density of five to eight dwelling units per acre and the applicant's proposal represents a density of 6.88 dwelling units per acre the proposed resigning application provides a unique opportunity to consolidate two undeveloped parcels and makes a significant investment in a community that needs new housing opportunities for current and future residents consolidation development of the property will will achieve several community objectives including significant tree preservation

[01:30:30] publicly accessible open space a much-needed sanitary sewer upgrade and modern stormwater management facilities I'll note the applicant has worked closely with my office Commission Lagana County staff and the Franconia land use committee and the community over the past two and a half years has made substantial improvements to their proposed development plan the resigning application is scheduled for the Planning Commission public hearing on April 24th 2024 so given the review process collaboration with the county and the

[01:31:04] community and the interest in moving this forward the applicants requested expedited processing to establish a Board of Supervisors public hearing date for this resigning application therefore madam chairman I move that the Board of Supervisors direct staff to expedite the scheduling of the Board of supervisors public hearing for resigning application rz 2021-le-019 to may 7th 2024 this motion should not does not construe as a favorable recommendation by the board of

[01:31:39] supervisors on the approved proposed application and does not relieve the applicant from compliance with provisions of all applicable ordinances regulations or adopted standards in any way Second. It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

[01:31:54] Aye. Anyone opposed? The motion passes. Thank you. Supervisor Lesk. Thank you very much. Second motion, Madam Chairman. Today, or excuse me, later today, I will be deferring SC-2023-FR-00008, Hirat Tesfaye Yaya Family Child Care from its public hearing today to March 5, 2024.

[01:32:22] This case must be rescheduled because the applicant did not timely reaffirm her affidavit. Under the zoning ordinance, there is a fee assessed for affidavit errors after public notice has been given. The applicant in this case is a home, daycare, or child care operator who, in addition to running a child care, is handling this case herself without the benefit of representation, and the added financial burden could be a significant barrier. Staff has explained this fee to the applicant so that this issue will not arise in the future. Madam Chairman, given the circumstances, I believe

[01:33:00] that there is a good cause for the board to grant a waiver, and therefore I move the Board of Supervisors direct the staff of the Department of Planning and Zoning to waive the deferral of hearing fee for the zoning case identified as SC-2023-FR-00008. This motion should not be construed as a favorable recommendation on these applications by the board and does not relieve the applicant 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. So

[01:33:38] moved and second been moved and seconded all those in favor of the motion say aye aye anyone opposed motion passes unanimously thank you madam chairman I have no additional items thank you supervisor Lusk supervisor Alcorn no board matters thank you supervisor Jimenez no board matters Thank you.

[01:34:00] Supervisor Stork. Sorry. We have a good one to have here. This is in conjunction with, jointly with Chairman Jeff McKay. It's recognizing March as Alternate Dispute Resolution Month.

[01:34:18] Alternate Dispute Resolution refers to several processes, tools, and techniques used to manage and resolve conflict. ADR is an alternate to traditional adversarial processes and helps disputing parties reach mutually agreeable outcomes that consider the needs of all involved and minimize cost, improving communication and morale.

[01:34:38] ADR is utilized in various ways throughout Fairfax County to foster effective and efficient government, such as through the Alternate Dispute Resolution Program. County employees are supported by the ADR program in navigating high levels of stress, communicating effectively, and strengthening workplace relationships.

[01:34:56] Fairfax County historically celebrates March as ADR month, and each year chooses a leader in this field to receive recognition. This year, Fairfax County recognizes the Consumer Affairs branch of the Department of Cable and Consumer Services. Consumer Affairs provides voluntary mediation services assisting clients and businesses to reach mutually agreeable solutions, thus resolving issues constructively and fostering positive relationships.

[01:35:23] Consumer Affairs mediates a variety of issues related to tenant landlord, housing services, automotive, retail, and additional products professional services. In FY 2023, through mediation efforts, Consumer Affairs recovered $461,256 for Fairfax County residents. Consumer Affairs provides valuable alternative methods of resolution, empowering clients to resolve issues constructively while preventing overburdening of traditional methods such as the court system. Therefore, Madam Chairman, without objection, I ask that we recognize March as Alternative Dispute Resolution Month in Fairfax County

[01:36:03] and that a proclamation be issued outside the boardroom on March 7th to the Consumer Affairs Branch and the Department of Cable and Consumer Services. So ordered. Thank you. Supervisor Stork? Thank you, Madam Chair. This next one is similar to the one that Supervisor lusted.

[01:36:22] Madam Chair, later today I will be deferring SE 2023 MV00021, Margaret McCauley-Mongela and the Montessori School of Lorton, LLC, from its public hearing today to March 5, 2024.

[01:36:38] This case must be rescheduled because the applicant did not reaffirm her affidavit on time. Under the zoning ordinance, a fee assessed for affidavit errors after public notice has been given. The applicant is a home child care operator in Lorton, near the Lorton Community Center, and in a neighborhood that is high on the Voluntary Variant Index.

[01:36:56] In addition to running child care, she is handling the case herself without the benefit of representation, and the added financial burden could be a significant barrier for her. Staff has explained this fee to the applicant so that this issue will not arise again. Given the circumstances, I believe that there is good cause for the board to grant this waiver, and therefore I move that the board direct the staff to the Department of Planning and Zoning to waive the deferral of the public hearing fee for zoning case SC-2023-MV-00021.

[01:37:24] This motion should not be construed as a favorable recommendation on any application by the board and does not relieve the applicant from compliance with the provisions of any applicable ordinances, Regulations or adopted standards. This action in no way prejudices the substantive review of the application Second it's been moved and multiply seconded all those in favor say aye Opposed that motion passes unanimously supervisor store and the last time I just a verbal one to I guess May remind my colleagues in in the community at large that the 37th annual Mount Vernon district town meeting will be held this coming Saturday at Mount Vernon high school

[01:38:02] The doors open at 7.45 in the morning for our venue hall, if you will, where we have lots of not-for-profits and lots of county agencies that are there to, frankly, connect and provide services or offer services, as well as we have KidBiz, which is we have about 30, maybe 40 kids this year who are offering their own wares that they've made themselves.

[01:38:25] It's a way of being entrepreneurial, and we've been encouraging. This is, I think, our third year that we've done this. So it's another way, plus we have the high school orchestra that's kind of a subset of that that's playing. And again, just a great community event.

[01:38:41] The formal program starts at 930, where we have, in this case, Congressman Connolly, as long as some of our state representatives that will be speaking. And we have our typical virtual fly-through, which is really is, in this case, Channel 16 has just done an amazing job.

[01:38:57] They actually have me piloting a helicopter. And you can imagine how dangerous that is, except it's all virtual, thankfully. But it's all part of the way that we, and so I urge my colleagues to either to watch the program or it will only be posted online.

[01:39:14] And then we have, again, two forums with the county executive and the chairman, who I imagine will be there now virtually, as well as we're doing an educational piece with Northern Indian Community College. Chris Amundsen who as an author education author former delegate former school board member will also be there as well as the former School board representative for our area Karen Corbett Sanders So doing an education kind of a post K through 12 education conversation about how to get folks to Lifelong learning and hopefully reach their potential educationally. So thank you. Thank you Supervisor Stork Supervisor Palcha Thank You madam chair

[01:39:52] I do have three. I'll try to go quickly through them. The first one is a joint board matter with Supervisor Lusk requesting to designate April of 2024 as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Members of the board, April is a time to recognize the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse. Fivrex County's child abuse prevention efforts seek to build stronger families that can provide safe and healthy childhoods that lead to creating a strong and thriving community. This year's theme is Family Matters. We recognize the importance of families and the formation of children's character and that spending time together as a family

[01:40:29] develops loving relationships. In FY 2022, nearly 3.1 million children were involved with child protective services across the country. In FY 2023, more than 52,000 children in the Commonwealth of Virginia and approximately 3,700 children in Fairfax County were reported as possible victims of abuse or neglect. Additionally, Fairfax County's Child Protective Services 24-hour hotline received approximately 13,100 calls in FY 2023 for protective services and information

[01:41:04] about prevention and family support services. Child abuse prevention is a community responsibility, and finding solutions depend on involvement among all people. The lives of our children can be positively changed and saved by active and aware community members making a critically important decision to ask more questions and to offer help. Adverse childhood experiences result in long-term health impacts. Fortunately, the trauma of child abuse and neglect is preventable.

[01:41:35] Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, nurturing, and stable environment. Fairfax County is dedicated to the safety of children and providing the appropriate support to parents to keep families healthy. We encourage residents, community agencies, faith groups, and businesses to renew their commitment to preventing child abuse, supporting families, and promoting safety, family resilience, and child well-being. Without objection, we move that the board designate April 2024 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Fairfax County and to present a proclamation to the

[01:42:10] Fairfax County Department of Family Services at its meeting on March 19, 2024. Thank you. It's so ordered. Thank you. Next is a joint board matter with yourself and Chairman McKay, celebrating Women's History Month and very much thank the Commission for Women and Chair Felicia Woods who yearly help us to write this proclamation. Members of the board, Women's History Month originated as Women's History Week in 1982. Since the National Women's History Project petitioned the designation of March as Women's History Month in 1987, we have celebrated the diverse facets of women's identity that enrich and sometimes challenge our experiences. This year's theme,

[01:42:49] Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion celebrates women nationwide who are committed to eliminating bias and discrimination still prevailing in our lives and in our systems to assure a more positive future. Women of diverse backgrounds recognize the inherent injustice of inequality and are committed to advocating for fairness. In alignment with our One Fairfax policies, we acknowledge that a just and inclusive society requires the collective effort of women as integral members of families, civic and community groups, businesses, and legislative

[01:43:24] bodies to challenge the status quo and to reevaluate harmful social policies that subtly shape our future. One Fairfax is our declaration of commitment that all residents deserve an equitable opportunity to succeed. This year, we celebrate the example set by women dedicated to embracing everyone in the collective pursuit of freedom and opportunity. The courage displayed by women advocating for practical goals such as equity, diversity, and inclusion is commendable, particularly in the face of opposition from established forces seeking to misinterpret,

[01:43:58] exploit, or discredit their efforts. Established in 1971, the Commission for Women, CFW, has been a voice for women to combat domestic violence and promote educational equality and progress in the workplace. CFW honors local women, past and present, who have taken the lead in advocating for change and establishing firmer safeguards, practices, and legislation reflecting values of inclusion, equality, and fairness. Therefore, we move without objection that the Office of Public Affairs prepare a proclamation to be presented to the Commission for Women in the boardroom on March

[01:44:35] 5, 2025, to designate March 2024 as Women's History Month in Fairfax County, and to recognize and celebrate the vital role women play in Fairfax County's history and across our nation. Thank You Supervisor Palchuk. It is so ordered. Thank You, Madam Chair. It's nice that there are two women sharing today Finally, I do have a board matter for concurrent processing of a site plan Members of the board as you may know the Fairfax County School Board recently submitted rz-2023 PR-00018 to permit the development of a new

[01:45:15] Dunloring Elementary School on the northwest side of the intersection of Idlewood Drive and Gallows Road. Tax Map 39-4-1-24. The existing Dunloring Administrative Center building located on this 9.97 acre site would be replaced with a new building and facilities to support a new school.

[01:45:37] To maintain their CIP schedule, the Fairfax County School Board has requested concurrent processing of a site plan with their recently submitted zoning application rz-2023-pr-00018 i anticipate that fairfax county public school staff and their representatives will initiate additional community outreach and engagement shortly to inform and receive feedback from the community regarding the pending zoning application i also want to add that they have and will continue to engage the history commission to ensure the commemoration of this

[01:46:15] historic site i move that the board authorize the filing of a site plan and direct land development services to accept the site plan for concurrent and expedited processing with the pending processing of the zoning application rz-2023-pr-00018 fairfax county tax map 39-4-1-24 this motion does not relieve the school board from complying with all regulations ordinances or adopted standards and will not prejudice this board's consideration of the application do i have a

[01:46:51] second it's been moved and seconded all those in favor of the motion say aye aye anyone opposed that motion carries unanimously um i just want to thank you madam chair i want to thank all who attended um including chairman mckay uh who attended our new year's eve reception it was was really nice to have a large portion of our community in person again as we were able to do pre-COVID and just a really wonderful celebration especially of those who represent the Providence District on the boards authorities and commissions and that is all thank you Supervisor Herity yes madam chairman I

[01:47:31] got one written in one unwritten board matter the first one's done jointly with supervisors and minutes about increased efficiency on disclosures. According to the Virginia Code and Virginia Supreme Court, members of the Board of Supervisors must disclose monetary contributions received within the last 12 months in excess of $100 from any entities involved in cases that come before the board. Board staff and the county's attorney's office spend considerable time in making sure that all necessary disclosures are identified.

[01:48:02] Currently there is no automated method for board members to cross-check affidavits efficiently and accurately. Appodated documents are provided as PDFs and staffs must manually check each entity listed for proposed disclosures prior to board meetings. This process has significant room for human error and consumes an unnecessary amount of staff time. Some of the detrimental consequences of not properly disclosing contributions include lack of public transparency and potential criminal charges for the offending board member.

[01:48:36] Therefore, Madam Chairman, I ask the board direct the county executive to work with the county attorney to consider an adapted process that would result in an electronic compilation of entities included in the affidavits that could be checked more efficiently by staff.

[01:48:54] This consideration should come back to before the board at the next information technology meeting. So moved. okay do i have a second okay it's been multiply seconded um discussion yeah just supervisor harry first very very very briefly it's our staff all knows how hard this is and this is just an ask to go back and take a look at whether there's a way that through the county attorney's office or some other way we could get an automated list of of those entities in the affidavits that would then help our staff do their job more efficiently kind of reduce human

[01:49:33] error it's uh that's that that's the request okay i'm going to go to supervisor jimenez and then alcorn and then walk and show thank you very much madam chair i just wanted to say that i signed on to this because it is really important that we start looking at where we can streamline where we can adapt where we can move forward and especially as supervisor harry said kind of take the human error part of it away we all have staff who sit there and work through this for hours and hours and hours how can we make this better so that they're doing their job properly we're communicating and being open to the public as we need to be so I think

[01:50:11] it's really important that we at least take a look and start looking into how we can do a better job here thank you thank you supervisor Al Quinn thank you I yeah I'm fine with this board matter I do look forward to staff coming back I i i would just note and i think we're probably going to hear um this is one small piece of the plus system uh basically when applicants come forward and submit applications this is one piece that ends up just being a pdf basically a photograph some of our some of our affidavits that we get are handwritten um so that probably you know this would require a review of how at

[01:50:48] at least that part of the system is done, which I'm fine with. And I'll just note, you know, the board matter talks about burden on staff. I do this myself. You know, this is one of those things that, frankly, you know, that we're on the hook individually if we screw this up.

[01:51:05] So, anyway, I'm fine with this, but I would note when we hear back from staff, there may be some other related things that we'll need to talk about, too. Thank you. Thank you. Supervisor Walkinshaw. Yeah, I'm happy to support this. And I think it's a good conversation to have. I will just raise a concern. I would be very concerned about taking the burden, which is right now on us to review the affidavits, which are legally required, right?

[01:51:36] So the affidavits is what the applicants must complete and creating another layer to a system where we're asking someone in the county attorney's office or the clerk's office or some office to take what's on the affidavits and type it into a spreadsheet that then we can easily check.

[01:51:55] because what you're introducing there is the potential not for less human error but for additional human error and and the as the board matter correctly notes the detrimental consequences are potential criminal charges for us so i would hate to to have a staff member in the position of having to you know and and obviously our staff are wonderful and amazing eventually somebody would make a mistake so is there a way to do it that's that's automated yeah is there a way to do it where the burden and this is another question we have applicants that struggle with the current system do we add another burden on the applicants to type it into a form on a website somewhere in

[01:52:35] addition to the so these are all good questions but i'll just say i have a little bit of concern i just don't want to put our staff in that in that position of bearing the burden that is is ultimately on us madam chairman yes um yeah i i have the the same concerns and and obviously having a discussion about this, maybe we'll put some of those concerns to rest. We have had this conversation before and for a lot of reasons decided not to go this path. I think when this comes back, if it does come back to the IT committee, regardless of where it comes back,

[01:53:13] what I would like to know is, is any other locality in Virginia doing something like this? Because my guess is probably not because of the uncomfortable position that might put staff in that Supervisor Walkinshaw just alluded to, and to his point, I mean, this does not absolve board members from the ultimate responsibility for making sure everything is accurate, regardless of how automated it is. We're still going to have to check each and every one of those to make sure that they're accurate, and so I think these are questions, you know, we can discuss when it comes back to us, but I would like to know, as a part of what comes back to us, is what are other counties

[01:53:53] in Virginia doing. They probably aren't doing this because they're not required to like we are, but I would like to know if anybody else has a system like this and how they use it. I appreciate that, Chairman McKay. My understanding is, and maybe the county attorney can answer this, that it is only Fairfax County and Loudoun County that need to file affidavits? That's correct. Okay. And as the chairman said, we had looked at maybe streamlining the form or doing something different a number of years ago, and so I think this is more comprehensive than just an IT solution that we need to step back and look at this with the county attorney a supervisor Palchuk I think you madam

[01:54:32] chair yes and I would say the one thing in addition to definitely looking at IT solutions it seems from today that just looking if we need to provide additional support to some of our daycares and small businesses that are often representing themselves and not using then use lawyers to file these applications I don't know if the madam tier mister has something to that I do actually we we do send reminders about these affidavit requirements coming due and although those reminders were sent in both of the cases that you waived the

[01:55:10] fee on today they were unproductive and so but I do want to note that we do send those reminders um brian hill we're also working on looking at those little holes in the system that created this today because as uh county attorney um miss tears stated we did send i think two emails unfortunately those emails uh weren't handled on the applicant side however i do think

[01:55:44] we as staff think we can figure out other ways to help the applicants moving forward especially the smaller and the folks who don't have agents we are really looking at how we can streamline that process for them supervisor harry i thank the board members for their concerns some of those we had internally discussed and i think that this is just to take another look at how we if and how we can make this a little a little better and a little uh a little easier yeah i think it needs

[01:56:20] to be more than just looking at an it solution looking at the whole process okay with that i'm to call for a vote. All those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? That motion carries unanimously. Thank you very much. Oh, I'm sorry. Supervisor Harrity. I was going to say very briefly, just a quick shout out on January 28th. Ilya Malinan won his second world championship, U.S. figure skating championship. He won thanks to his pat quad axle in his short program. He's a

[01:56:57] Marshall High School senior, skates at Reston Skate Quest. We've had him before the board, but I thought it was worth a quick shout-out and congratulations on making Fairfax County proud again on the national skating stage. Thank you. Just to clarify, he is now a George Mason University student, graduate of FCPS, so we're very excited about it.

[01:57:19] Thank you. Okay, now we will go to admin items. Is there a motion to approve admin items 1 through 7? So moved. Are there any admin items board members would like to have discussed or voted on separately? Madam Chair, just for quick comments on admin three and six.

[01:57:39] Okay. I have a second on the motion. Supervisor Walkinshaw. Okay. Let's vote. This is new to me. Let's vote on admin items one, two, four, five, and seven.

[01:57:57] All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Those items pass. Now we'll go to Admin Item 3, Supervisor Alcorn. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. So first of all, thank you to staff for pulling all this together.

[01:58:14] I think most of these are pretty straightforward and obvious. I do want to make sure, particularly the changes relating to plan districts, particularly the PRC, that any information about, want to make sure that these truly are admitted our editorial and not substantive in nature and then on page 16 of the document I do want to make sure This is another process thing that we deal with the proposal under published notice

[01:58:51] Public notices the hearing body's responsibility notice of any hearing must be published in accordance with the standard specified by state law law I think that's fine I just want to make sure we're not limiting ourselves to do anything more or different than required by state law for example you know using social media or something it may not be mentioned specifically in state law I think it's fine but I want to make sure you know we're not tying ourselves indefinitely in the future to whatever Richmond says and in terms of how we do that. So I just I don't think that's a problem if I could ask County

[01:59:31] Attorney's Office, County Attorney there. Supervisor Alcorn, Laura Gorey from the County Attorney's Office. We'll definitely take a look at that and be sure to address it as we move forward. Thank you. I understand exactly what the idea is but I also don't want to maybe it should say you know at least or in a court you know in accordance with state law something like that but you know work on the timing I just want to make sure we're not tying our hands if something new comes along in terms of how we want to do notice that might not

[02:00:07] be specified so thank you very much thank you any other questions on this item if not all those in favor of admin item 3 please say aye I think I needed a motion for that can I have a motion to approve admin item 3 to approve admin item three and a second okay let's try this again all those in favor of admin item three anyone opposed that motion passes unanimously okay admin item six let me get a motion on the table to approve that move approval okay second thank you um supervisor alcorn thank you very

[02:00:46] much um this is i know we do this every year this is really a very very excellent compendium of the work that we do with federal funding over the coming year and also some good information about the last year. And I encourage everybody who's interested in any of these issues to read through the whole thing. It's actually extremely informative. And I did just want to flag a couple of areas I know we're going to be talking more about. Certainly rental assistance and the end of the funding that we have been using from the pandemic I know is

[02:01:24] creating challenges for us and a related issue which wasn't as focused on as much in the document I know we'll be talking more about is the need for more shelter I know our focus is on permanent solutions totally support that but certainly we do have a critical situation with a lot of singles that are unsheltered uh these days and i know it's something we're all working on uh but uh mainly just wanted to shout out staff on this and then just flag those two issues so thank you very much thank you any other discussion on admin six if not all those in favor of the motion please say aye

[02:02:04] anyone opposed that motion passes unanimously thank you and now we are on our one action item And it's approval to authorize and execute a project administration agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation for the design and construction of replacement signage for Route 29 and Route 50 in the Braddock, Providence, Springfield, and Sully Districts.

[02:02:31] And I call on Supervisor Bierman for a motion. I move approval of the county executive's recommendation on Action Item 1. Second. Second. It's been moved and multiply seconded. Any discussion? Madam Chair. I'm going to start with Supervisor Palchuk and then Herody.

[02:02:49] Thank you, Madam Chair. And I see that our DOT office is here under Interim Director. I know that we have seen many of these signs have already been replaced, while many others have not yet. This looks to be the approval of the MOA with the funding as well as the duties between FCDOT and VDOT.

[02:03:10] if you'd like to just speak further to what's been done and then if we have timing on what we expect this next portion to include sure uh greg steverson acting director fcdot so what i call the smaller flag signs which are the ones that are at intersections on the posts that work has been done we started in august ended i want to say in december and that's work that was done by fcdot this agreement is for work that's going to be done by vdot and is for the much larger signs the ones

[02:03:45] that the along the highways or the ones on mast arms that take a little bit more work fabrication design to achieve and so the agreement sort of lays out a structure for them to do the design work and to come back with exactly a specific cost for installation and construction and then at that point we'd work on the timing for construction but right now they're telling us I believe they told us it was a year or two I think is what they gave us in terms of timeframe again a lot of the work is gonna is gonna revolve around trying to develop sort of the design and dealing with sort of the

[02:04:23] evaluation of you know the weight for the signs on the structures and things of that nature and then they also have to fabricate and install the signs thank Thank you. Supervisor Harrity. Yeah. Do we know how much FCDOT spent on the smaller signs?

[02:04:41] Yes. Again, Greg Steverson, acting director of FCDOT. I believe the cost for the smaller signs was $49,000. Well, like I did in 2022, when I voted against the name changes, I'm not going to be supporting spending $1.4 million of our residents' money.

[02:05:11] for something that the public didn't support we had over 23,000 respondents and 58% of them were against changing the the names on the road so I'll be voting no on this one thank you supervisor walk and show them Beerman thank you madam chair yeah I think it's just I mean it's important to remind ourselves in the community of the of the history here and I don't mean the history related to Lee and Jackson although I could give you that too if anyone has time but i know we want to get to lunch but but we we started this process in july of

[02:05:49] 2020 when we asked the history commission to create an inventory of confederate names which i think is one of the best documents that i've seen since i've been on this board really insightful and amazing context for so many namings in our county, and it makes you realize that this isn't an issue that's simple or cut and dry, and different namings have different contexts.

[02:06:21] In July of 2021, we had the Confederate Names Task Force that met over the course of many, many months engaged with the public, had a robust internal and external dialogue. They made a recommendation, a very clear recommendation to us in December of 2021.

[02:06:40] We went back after that and did more outreach, including the survey that was mentioned. And the results of the survey were mixed. I mean, you know, folks had complex and nuanced views on this issue, as you would expect. One of the issues that I have said from the beginning as somebody who represents, I think, more of the businesses and maybe residents in this corridor than anyone else on the board, is that especially where Route 29 and Route 50, formerly Lee Highway and Lee Jackson Highway, intersect in the city of Fairfax,

[02:07:19] Those prior namings, setting aside what one believes about whether we should name things after prominent confederates, created enormous confusion. The idea that you would have two roads that intersect, one's named Lee Highway and the other is named Lee Jackson Highway.

[02:07:37] I can tell you when I talked to the businesses in that corridor, the thing they talked about was the confusion that was created. So I appreciate the approach that we've taken here by simplifying the names and going back to the root numbers, which I think reduces confusion on a number of levels.

[02:07:56] So I think this is a positive step for us from an economic development perspective, both in terms of the image of our community and what we want to project as our values to the business community here and those who are thinking about investing in our community from across the globe, but also just from the very simple practical level of reducing confusion.

[02:08:16] So I think it's well worth it to do that. I know a lot of the businesses that I've talked to appreciate this change and this clarity that will help their customers get to their business and understand where the heck they're located in a much easier way than they could before.

[02:08:35] And I appreciate all of the work that has been done on this from board members to staff to task force members and everyone in the community who has weighed in. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Supervisor Beerman? I'll just note that it seems like a lot of work has been done on this.

[02:08:51] The names have been changed, and continuing to fight it seems like a lost cause, which I guess is fitting for this situation. Thanks. Thank you. Madam Chairman? Chairman McKay? Yeah, just very briefly, I'm not going to rehash all the obvious reasons why this is the right thing to do, and thankfully, we didn't need one survey to tell us whether it was the right thing to do or not.

[02:09:16] But I do want to dwell on one thing, because I think it's an important part of the timeline that Supervisor Walkinshaw was mentioning. One of the unfortunate delays that will inevitably increase the cost of making these signs was that the CTB did something unprecedented in Virginia history under the direction of the administration.

[02:09:38] And when local governments send a petition to the CTB to change a street name, the process is they just rubber stamp that. But all of a sudden, that wasn't good enough for the CTB. They weren't going to rubber stamp it. And I had to travel to Charlottesville to give a presentation in front of the CTB justifying why we wanted to change these names.

[02:10:02] unprecedented in Virginia history that that's done an affront to local government. And frankly, that costs us many, many, many months of inefficiency because this process was hijacked and politicized, unfortunately. That's the reality of a step in this process, which was unfortunate.

[02:10:20] And at the end of the day, I guess, you know, my frustration is how long it's taking to do this. And most of that time was on the state's clock, not on the county's. And so, You know, we do need to rectify that by working with VDOT to try to as quickly as possible accomplish the street name change.

[02:10:39] What I hear mostly from people in those corridors, why hasn't it already happened? And so, you know, we have to explain to them why the process has taken so long and every step of it. But, you know, I would just encourage our staff is what they already are doing. But to continue to work closely with VDOT to try to expedite the sign changes as quickly as possible.

[02:10:59] This was approved a long time ago, was unfortunately hijacked, and it's in our interest, really, to try to expedite finishing the job here. Thank you. Supervisor Stork. I think the only thing I wanted to add to the conversation is that we're not unique by any means.

[02:11:19] Our federal government, and particularly our armed forces, have made the clear statement that they're not going to accept the honors that have been bestowed in the past on folks who rebelled against the country who were insurrectionists and clearly didn't belong to be honored with names on our streets.

[02:11:41] And so Fort Belvoir is the most recent example of that is there are streets there that have been changed and will be changed to recognize many of the other key individuals in the history of Fort Belvoir and in protecting our country.

[02:11:57] so we are not unique i think it's a it's a recognition that uh that lost cause is over and we need to move forward and and have a real truly diverse and and recognize all the individuals who have helped to make this country the country that it is and we know we're always looking to get better so thank you thank you uh seeing no further discussion all those in favor of the motion say aye aye anyone opposed parity nay any abstentions that motion passes nine to one with supervisor herity voting nay okay we are now at the point we need our motion to bring us into

[02:12:35] closed session uh supervisor oh the time oh how much time i'm sorry how much time madam chairman i estimate that we'll need approximately one hour 15 minutes 15 minutes okay so two o'clock okay let's go back at two o'clock thank you for that assist we will go back at two o'clock before we do the motion to go into closed i know we talked about it but any other deferrals for

[02:13:09] any of the cases in the afternoon supervisor lusk thank you madam chairman i mentioned earlier that that I would be deferring SC2023-FR-00008 to a date certain of March 5th, 2024, at 3.30 p.m.

[02:13:29] Thank you. Supervisor Stork? Thank you, Madam Chair. And as I mentioned earlier, my intent is to defer SC2023-MV00021 to March 5th, 2024, at 3.30 p.m.

[02:13:47] Thank you. Okay, now Supervisor Pelchuk. Yes, Madam Chair. I do have several motions. I move that the Board of Supervisors recess and go into closed session for discussion and consideration of matters enumerated in Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 and listed in the attached agenda for this meeting.

[02:14:09] And in addition, one, as permitted by Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711A8, legal analysis regarding transportation improvement tax districts and zoning regulations 2 as permitted by virginia code section 2.2-3711 a 7 and 8 consideration of a claim and demand presented to the county by the family of timothy johnson as a result of his death near tyson's corner center on february 22nd 2023 and 3 as permitted by virginia code section 2.2-3711 a 1 and 8 appointments to the board of zoning appeals it's been moved in second

[02:14:49] and all those in favor of the motion please say aye aye anyone opposed that motion passes

[02:14:54] unanimously and the board will go into closed session at 2 p.m thank you madam chairman i move

[02:20:49] 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 2.2-3711 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 during the closed session it's been moved do i have a second second second by um supervisor lusk all those in favor of the motion aye anyone opposed motion passes unanimously uh we have

[02:21:27] motions coming out of close meeting supervisor powell check thank you madam chairman i move that the board of supervisors deny the settlement demand of the administrator of the estate of Timothy Johnson according to the terms and conditions outlined by the county attorney in closed session been moved and seconded any discussion all those in favor of the motion say aye aye anyone opposed that motion passes unanimously supervisor Walkinshaw thank you madam chair I have two motions first I move that the Board of Supervisors authorize the filing of a complaint with the State Corporation Commission against Virginia Electric and Power Company or

[02:22:04] dominion regarding issues with dominion's billing and customer care portal as outlined by the county attorney in closed session second by supervisor powell check any discussion all those in favor of the motion say aye aye anyone opposed that motion passes unanimously uh thank you madam chair as the board is aware roderick marabogic marabogic resigned from the board of zoning Appeals, or BZA, on August 21st, 2023, and his seat is vacant. Mr. Mayor Bojik's seat has been advertised. Several applications were received by the circuit court, and the court has asked whether

[02:22:41] the board concurs in a proposed appointment to this vacant seat. Separately, BZA member James R. Hart's term will expire on February 20th, 2024. He has served in this role for 24 years. Further, the term of BZA Chairman John Ribble will expire on June 13, 2024. He has served on the BZA for 42 years. As part of the board's ongoing efforts to open all the county's boards, authorities, and commissions up to the public and foster diverse representation on these BACs in accordance with the board's One Fairfax policy, all openings should continue to be advertised so that all

[02:23:18] interested county residents have an equitable opportunity to serve. With all this in mind, I'll now make the following motion. I move that the Board of Supervisors concur in the appointment of Akita Ruzi to the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals to further to fill Mr. Mayor Bojik's unexpired term. I further move that the Board of Supervisors request the circuit court to advertise to authorize the advertisement of the two seats on the BZA that will become available on February 20th, 2024, February 21st, 2024, and June 14th, 2024, with the understanding that a

[02:23:55] competitive application process will be used and the incumbents may submit applications for consideration by the court finally i move that the board direct the office of public affairs and the county attorney to circulate the advertisements for the two seats that will soon become available to additional professional organizations and board member offices so moved second i'll second that along with supervisor palchek and lost any discussion all those in favor of the motion say aye aye anyone opposed that motion carries unanimously thank you all right now we will

[02:24:31] move on to public hearings 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 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 to 703-324-1020 speakers testifying via video must sign up and

[02:25:07] 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 are the spokesperson for a group you are given five minutes our first public hearing is a public hearing on okay i'm going to stop one second i just want to remind people that uh chairman mckay is on the phone with us and um so he's participating that way and he is home because he has coveted madam chair if i just um i will be making a formal motion to defer but just want to let the public

[02:25:47] know okay um that i will be deferring the providence district case this afternoon thank you okay so i'm going to start again on our first public hearing our first public hearing is a public hearing on se 2023-mv-00021 margaret mcqually monguela and the montessori school of lorton llc mount vernon district i understand that this public hearing is being deferred so i recognize super supervisor stork for a motion thank you madam chair i move the board of supervisors defer the public hearing for sc 2023 mv 00021 to a date certain of march 5th 2024 at 3 30 pm

[02:26:26] it's been moved and seconded any discussion all those in favor the motion say aye aye aye anyone opposed that motion passes unanimously next we have a public hearing bless you on se 2023-fr-00008 herit tesfaya yaya yaya family child care llc franconia district i understand that this public hearing is also being deferred so I will recognize Supervisor Lusk for a motion. Thank you very much

[02:27:04] Madam Chairman. I'll say due to an affidavit issue I will now make the following motion. I move that the Board of Supervisors defer the public hearing for SC-2023-FR-00008 to a date certain of March 5th 2024 at 3 30 p.m thank you do i have a second by supervisor palchek any discussion all those in favor of the motion please say aye aye aye anyone opposed that motion carries unanimously

[02:27:36] thank you next we have a public hearing on se 2023-ma-00017 bradlick subsidiary llc mason district could the applicant please reaffirm the affidavit good afternoon supervisor smith mr chairman members of the board my name is noah klein with the law firm of venable here on behalf of

[02:28:14] combined properties i do hereby reaffirm the affidavit dated october 24th 2023 thank you any disclosures from board members okay no disclosures i'll now recognize staff for a presentation thank you madam chairman i'm william o'donnell with department planning and development I'm filling in for Damaris Martinez, who no longer works for the county. The applicant Brodick subsidiary requests approval of a special exception for a waiver of certain sign regulations to permit modifications in sign area and height for two existing freestanding pylon signs. The

[02:28:53] Brodick Shopping Center is located northeast of the intersection of Brodick Road and Backlick Road and is zoned to the C6 District. The site is developed with a large retail shopping center and two pad sites. The two existing freestanding pylon signs are highlighted on this aerial.

[02:29:11] One is located along Backlick Road and the other along Brodick Road. The request would allow the applicant to increase the sign area by 100 feet and the sign heights by 12 feet above what is permitted by right in the zoning ordinance. However, the proposal would actually result in a slight decrease in the existing sign area and would not be higher than what exists today. Here are the pictures of the existing and proposed signs on Braddock Road and here the existing signs on the existing and proposed signs on Backlick Road overall staff finds a proposal to replace the existing freestanding signs within the

[02:29:49] Braddock shopping center to be in harmony with the comprehensive plan and the applicable zoning ordinances this concludes my presentation thank you I'll now recognize the applicant for a presentation Smith and thank you to staff for their work on this application we did prepare a presentation However, I'll forego it.

[02:30:09] I think Mr. O'Donnell's, his presentation really spelled out exactly what we're trying to accomplish here. As you can see from the pictures, the existing signs are signs that harken back to an earlier era. They do need an upgrade. What the upgrades do is achieve a unity of design, also harmonizes the signs with sort of the dominant architectural theme of the shopping plaza.

[02:30:32] And overall, aesthetically, it would be a more attractive appearance. And with that, I'm happy to refer to the presentation if anyone has any questions. I'm certainly happy to entertain those, but otherwise, we will just ask for your support.

[02:30:48] And I will finally add that this is an application that enjoyed the unanimous recommendation of approval from the Planning Commission, as well as the Mason District Land Use Committee. Thank you. Thank you very much. Does the board have any questions of staff for the applicant? Okay, this is a public hearing.

[02:31:07] We don't have any speakers signed up. there anyone here else here in the auditorium who wishes to speak to this matter I will now recognize the clerk to note if we have any speakers who have called in no callers okay closing comments and recommendation from staff thank you madam chairman on December 6 2023 the Planning Commission recommended approval of the application subject to development conditions dated November 17 2023 2023 staff concurs with those recommendations thank you I I will now close the public hearing and recognize Supervisor Jimenez for a motion.

[02:31:45] Madam Chair, I request that the applicant confirm for the record the agreement to the proposed SE Development Conditions dated November 17, 2023. I confirm we are so in agreement. Madam Chair, I move that the Board of Supervisors approve of SE 2023 MA-0017, subject to Development Conditions dated November 17, 2023.

[02:32:09] Thank you. Second by Supervisor Palczyk. Is there any discussion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? That motion passes unanimously. Thank you. Thank you. Next, we have a public hearing on SEA 2002-MA-020, Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County, Virginia, and Global Signal Acquisitions, IV-LLC, Mason District.

[02:32:45] Could the applicant please reaffirm the affidavit? Good afternoon, Madam Chairman and members of the board. My name is Kamal Mohay, and I'm with the building design branch, and I agree from the application. Thank you. Any disclosures from board members?

[02:33:02] No disclosures. I'll now recognize staff for a presentation. Thank you, Madam Chairman. I'm Billy O'Donnell. Sorry, William O'Donnell, again, from Department of Planning and Development. The applicants, the board of supervisors, and GlobalSign Acquisitions are requesting a special exception amendment to maintain a wireless telecommunications facility and flagpole and to allow the relocation of the associated equipment cabinets to the rear of the site at the West Annandale Fire Station. The application site is located east of the intersection of

[02:33:36] Ridgelya Drive and Little River Turnpike and is zoned R1. The fire station was constructed in 1970 as a one-story brick building located in the center of the site. The existing monopole is located in front of the building.

[02:33:53] The associated telecommunication equipment yard is located to the east of the building within a brick and wood fence compound area. No changes to the existing fire station or the existing telecommunications flagpole are proposed with this application.

[02:34:09] The telecommunications equipment compound area is proposed to be moved to the northeast corner of the site. Supplemental landscaping is proposed to the north of the compound area. The compound area delineated in red would be approximately 20 by 15 feet in the area with an 8-foot-tall masonry or brick wall.

[02:34:31] Overall, staff finds the proposal to relocate the equipment cabinets and to maintain the telecommunications facilities on the site to be in harmony with the comprehensive plan and the applicable zoning ordinances. Thank you. Thank you. I'll now recognize the applicant for presentation.

[02:34:50] we don't have any presentation we just agree with the as presented by them thank you very much do board members have any questions of staff for the applicant okay this is a public hearing we have no speakers signed up is there anyone in the auditorium who would like to speak to this matter okay seeing no one i will now recognize the clerk to note if we have any speakers who have called in no callers all right closing comments and recommendation from staff thank you madam chairman on december 6 2023 the planning commission recommended approval of this application

[02:35:25] and the associated 2232 application for the new fire station staff concurs with those recommendations subject to the proposed conditions now dated february 2nd 2024. thank you i will now close the public hearing and recognize supervisor jimenez for a motion thank you madam chair i request the applicants please confirm their agreement to the development conditions dated february 2nd 2020 2024 for the record we agree with the agreements under february

[02:35:55] 2nd 2024 well with that madam chair i move that the board of supervisors approve sea 2002-ma-020 subject to the development conditions dated february 2nd 2024. second thank you it's been seconded by supervisors luskin palchek any discussion hearing none all those who favor the motion say aye aye anyone opposed the motion passes unanimously thank you very much thank you

[02:36:28] okay next we have a public hearing on rz 2023-pr-005 and pca1997-pr-0078221 old courthouse road lc providence district and um supervisor pelczyk has a motion to defer thank you madam chair also due to an affidavit issue we will be deferring this applications i move to defer

[02:36:59] consideration of pca-1997-pr-007 and rz-2023-pr-00005 for a public hearing on march 19th 2024 at 3 30 pm been seconded by supervisor lusk i think yeah okay um any discussion on the motion seeing and hearing none all those in favor of the motion say aye aye aye anyone opposed that motion passes unanimously thank you okay we are in that awkward little place where we need to wait until

[02:37:39] four o'clock to call the last um agenda item so we will do that at precisely four o'clock okay the

[02:48:21] The board is ready for our final public hearing of the day, which is a public hearing on a proposed zoning ordinance amendment about outdoor dining. I'll now recognize staff for a presentation. Good afternoon, Madam Chairman and Supervisors.

[02:48:38] I'm Lily Gazoo with the Department of Planning and Development. I'm joined today by Casey Judge and Bill Maland, also from the same department. The proposed zoning amendment before you today is listed on the zoning ordinance amendment work program and was added in response to the board's direction to find ways to continue the outdoor dining in parking areas allowed during the covid emergency with the adoption of the unified i'm sorry uncodified ordinance the uncodified ordinance which was implemented

[02:49:14] during the covet 19 emergency allows for the establishment of outdoor dining under certain conditions without requiring individual approvals. Although most programs permitted under the uncodified ordinance will expire by March 1st, 2024, outdoor dining is proposed to become a permanent option with this amendment. The zoning ordinance currently does not define outdoor dining, but the term is frequently used with outdoor seating and is considered an accessory use that is allowed in all zoning districts that permit restaurants and craft beverage production establishments.

[02:49:54] This amendment proposes to mostly carry forward the approach outlined in the uncodified ordinance that permits outdoor dining on private property by right subject to the specific standards and to introduce a new administrative permit process for outdoor dining in parking lots.

[02:50:15] No additional parking is required, regardless of the size or location of the outdoor dining, consistent with the recently adopted parking reimagined amendment. As an accessory use, the outdoor dining area is proposed to be limited to a maximum of 50% of the indoor dining area of the associated establishment.

[02:50:38] To address potential noise issues related to activities in outdoor dining areas, staff proposes that the hours of operation should generally conform to the business hours of the principal use. The amendment also proposes to allow outdoor dining and parking lots, as previously mentioned, with the issuance of an administrative permit. Similar to the by-right outdoor dining on patios and sidewalks, the maximum size is limited to 50 percent of the indoor dining area. If an

[02:51:13] The establishment provides outdoor dining on both the sidewalk or patio and the parking lot. The cumulative size may still not exceed 50% of the indoor dining area. Regardless of the size of the outdoor dining area, the total number of available parking spaces may not be reduced to below the minimum required for the site.

[02:51:36] application of an application fee of 205 is proposed which is the general fee charge for seasonal sales special events and other types of accessory use applications that concludes my presentation and I'm available to answer any questions you may have thank you thank you board members have any questions of staff supervisor Palchuk thank you madam chair just to clarify I believe you said this and it is in the report the recommendation is to codify the standards that we're currently using that are uncodified. Is that correct?

[02:52:11] Most of the standards that were included in the uncodified ordinance of the the size limit in the uncodified ordinance was 50% of the indoor occupancy. Staff is recommending 50% of the indoor dining area which is much easier way for us to figure out the size for the outdoor dining. Thank you very much. Thank you. Any other questions? Okay, seeing no other questions, this is a public hearing and we have one speaker

[02:52:45] who is calling in. Good afternoon, Supervisors. Good afternoon. My name is Chair Riddell Tabasola. I am Vice President of Government Affairs at the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington and I thank you for the opportunity to provide comment today in support of the proposal to make permanent outdoor dining rules that were introduced during the pandemic public health emergency. For more than 100 years, RMW has advocated and provided community for more than 1,400 entrepreneurs and small businesses in the greater Washington area, many of whom are Fairfax

[02:53:23] County residents and restaurants. We count among our members' favorite neighborhood spots, family-owned businesses, homegrown restaurant groups, and beloved national and regional favorites. Together, we are one of the largest job creators in the community and leading contributors to revenues. At the outset of our comments, we would like to acknowledge and thank you and county officials for swift expansion of outdoor dining in the early days of the pandemic. There is little doubt that your actions preserved hundreds of jobs and kept dozens of small businesses open during an unpredictable and turbulent period. We also note that while for many, life has resumed its familiar activities

[02:53:59] and routines, many restaurants every day continue to endure the pandemic's ongoing effects on historic inflation and workforce shortages. Expanded outdoor dining has been wildly successful in its efficiency and efficacy of maximizing the use of outdoor space for its greatest return.

[02:54:16] Additionally, outdoor dining is popular among Fairfax residents, and we have not yet maximized either the demand or capacity for outdoor dining. And for these reasons, we welcome the introduction of more permanent regulations that provide reasons for restaurateurs to further invest in outdoor dining, as well as incentivize establishment of new outdoor dining.

[02:54:35] We believe that these are your hopeful outcomes for the regulations as well. Notably, the proposed outdoor zoning maintains a common-sense approach that allows outdoor dining on private property by right and an administrative permit process. We commend that approach, and we cite it, actually, as a model for other jurisdictions to follow.

[02:54:55] And again, we thank you for the opportunity to provide comment today. RUMW shares the same goals as the county in fostering a dynamic and vibrant dining scene, and we look forward to continuing to be partners in this process. Thank you for your testimony. Do we have any other speakers who have called in?

[02:55:13] No. Okay. Closing comments and recommendation from staff. Thank you, Madam Chair. On January 10, 2024, the Planning Commission voted to recommend to the Board of Supervisors the adoption of the staff-recommended standard for the proposed zoning ordinance amendment as set forth in a staff report dated December 15, 2023, and to become effective at 12.01 a.m. the day following adoption, with a grace period until April 30, 2024, to allow existing outdoor dining setups to come into compliance with the new standards.

[02:55:50] The Planning Commission also voted on an amendment to the main motion to recommend the Board approve the amendment with no size limit on the outdoor dining. Staff recommends approval of the proposed amendment with the text as shown in the staff report dated December 15, 2023.

[02:56:09] Staff also recommends an effective date of 12.01 a.m. the day following adoption with a grace period of until April 30, 2024 to allow existing outdoor dining areas to come into compliance with the new standards.

[02:56:24] Thank you. Thank you. I will now close the public hearing and recognize Supervisor Bierman for a motion. madam chairwoman i move that the board of supervisors adopt the proposed zoning ordinance amendment for outdoor dining with the staff recommended options as set forth in the staff report dated december 15th 2023 and that the amendment become effective at 1201 a.m february 7th 2024 with a grace period until april 30th 2024 to allow existing outdoor dining areas to come into compliance with the new standards. Thank you. Second. I'll second that along with

[02:57:01] Supervisor Palachuk and Harrity. Is there discussion on the motion? Supervisor Behrman? It makes good sense to me. That's all I was going to say. Thank you. Supervisor Harrity? This is one of the good things to come out of the pandemic. There weren't many good things, but this is, and I want to thank staff for jumping on this right away early in that pandemic with the temporary rules and a great job here. Supervisor Palachuk. Thank you, Madam Chair.

[02:57:28] I, again, really want to thank staff both on this and on the work in the past four years that have gotten us here. I also want to point out on page 227 of our packet the equity impact, in addition to generally being very happy with moving forward, the expansion will offer opportunities to provide additional dining areas for all food establishment, regardless of their size of establishment, which we hope will help some of our smaller and women, minority, veteran-owned businesses.

[02:57:58] and help address equity as well as thing we all love place making in our community so thank you and I think this is a great day and a great step forward thank you seeing no further discussion all those in favor of the motion say aye aye anyone opposed any abstentions that motion carries unanimously and if there's no further discussion that brings us to the end of our board meeting of February 6 2024 and with that our meeting is adjourned

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