March 19 Board Meeting Highlights | |
At Tuesday's meeting, the Board designated March 31, 2024 as Transgender Visibility Day, April 2024 as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and April 1-7, 2024 as Public Health Week.
I presented the following Board Matters:
The Board also took the following actions:
Countywide
- Authorized the advertisement of public hearings on April 16-18, 2024 to amend the current appropriation level in the FY 2024 Revised Budget Plan.
- Approved the reciprocal agreement between the Virginia Department of State Police and Fairfax County during the Police Unity Tour from May 10 -12, 2024.
Providence District
- Approved SEA 81-P-025-02 to allow for the conversion of a bank building in the Shops at West Falls Church shopping center into a coffee shop with a drive through capability.
- Approved RZ 2023-PR-00005 to allow for the repurposing of an office building to a residential building on 8221 Old Courthouse Road with 55 units and six Workforce Dwelling Units.
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Health and Human Services & Housing Updates | |
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Gains, Gaps, and Goals
I hope you will join us this Friday, March 22 for Gains, Gaps & Goals: The Status of Women and Girls in Fairfax County, a presentation by the University of Virginia, followed by a panel discussion, audience Q&A, networking, and light refreshments.
Lastly, the Menstrual Supplies Drive is ongoing, and my office is collecting unopened packages of tampons, pads, liners, and menstrual cups to benefit BRAWS. Donations are also being accepted at several locations around the County including ALL Fairfax library branches.
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Scam Jam & Free Shredding
With advances in artificial intelligence (AI), scams can be hard to identify. Criminals make it hard to spot fraud by using AI to mimic voices, alter photos, and avoid spelling and grammar mistakes. Come out and learn how you can fight back against con artists on April 19 from 9 am to 3 pm.
Also, a shred truck will be on-site from 12 pm to 3pm so you can shred your sensitive documents securely. Maximum of two banker size boxes per car please.
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Neighborhood and Community Services is Hiring
Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) is now hiring summer leaders! Positions include a $500 sign-on bonus, up to $500 in retention bonuses and the opportunity to transition to year-round employment. Enjoy competitive pay, a dynamic work environment and the opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience.
Summer opportunities are ideal for college students majoring in recreation, education, special education and other social service areas, or anyone thinking of a career in those areas who wants relevant work experience. Pay is competitive and depends on the job description. Jobs are located at sites across Fairfax County.
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Workforce Dwelling Unit Accepting Feedback
Fairfax County is reviewing potential updates to the Workforce Dwelling Unit (WDU) Homeownership program to enhance affordable homeownership opportunities for residents. The WDU program is designed to support those with low to moderate incomes and is crucial as home prices in our area continue to outpace income growth.
The community is encouraged to share insights and feedback on these proposed revisions. Residents can review the draft policy changes and submit comments by April 7.
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Lights Out Fairfax
Experience the Magic of Natural Darkness and participate in Lights Out Fairfax on Saturday, March 23 from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
As our region has grown, excessive light pollution has dimmed the beauty of our starry skies, impacting our environment. Help out by turning off outdoor lights for one hour. Enlist your family, friends, and neighbors for this powerful connection with the natural world.
International Dark Sky Week - April 2-8
- Protect our dark skies and learn how light pollution affects us
- Explore the economic benefits of dark sky conservation
- Learn about its impact on human health, safety and the environment
Learn about the county’s outdoor lighting requirements and how you can make a difference in your community.
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Providence Earth Day Celebration
I am thrilled to invite you to the Providence Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 13th at Kingsley Commons! The morning will be filled with family-friendly activities, educational opportunities, a sheep visit, and so much more. We will be joined by County agencies and community nonprofits. Use the Facebook event page to RSVP and get future updates.
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Earth Day & Tysons' Birthday
I have partnered with Celebrate Fairfax, Tysons Community Alliance, and Hunter Mill District Office to celebrate Earth Day and Tysons' Birthday. Come out on Monday, April 22 from 9:30 am to 3:30pm and participate in a nature walk & cleanup at Raglan Road Park, PARC beautification projects, and a cleanup at Tysons Forest.
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Electrify Your Home
Through 2032, homeowners can take advantage of federal income tax credits available through the Inflation Reduction Act for getting an energy audit and making upgrades such as installing electric heat pumps and other energy efficient appliances, doors and windows, and insulation. There are also income tax credits for clean energy equipment, such as rooftop solar, wind energy, geothermal heat pumps and battery storage. Many of these items will also qualify for the Home Energy Rebates.
Dominion Energy customers in Fairfax County can also benefit from rebate and incentive programs for getting home energy assessments, buying ENERGY STAR® appliances and adding smart controls for heating and cooling your home.
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Electrify Your Home with Rebates and Incentives: Carbon-free Fairfax webinar recording. | |
Clean Fairfax
Spring is here! It's the perfect time of year to get outside and organize or participate in a community cleanup! Through Clean Fairfax’s Community Cleanup Program, they will send you free supplies to support your event, such as gloves, trash bags, and safety vests. No event is too small: make it a family cleanup; a thing you do with a few neighbors; or invite a club to which you belong to get outside for a morning or afternoon of service. Everything helps. Order your free supplies today!
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Hi, I'm Butters! I'm a 56 lb. lovebug filled with an endless supply of love and affection, and I'm looking for a loving family! I'm a mixed breed, and a little over 9 years old. I think toys are cool and all, but I REALLY like to be around my people. I'm comfortable with all kinds of petting, and there's no limit for how much you can pet me! When it comes to dogs, I'm very tolerant, but like people, I have my limits. I do well with all sorts of dogs but if a dog isn't respecting my space, I will respectfully correct them.
If you'd like to meet me, come in during open hours! Both of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter locations are open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 12-5pm, Thursdays and Fridays 12-7pm and Saturdays and Sundays 11am.-5pm.
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Call for Artists
Art is the ultimate form of self-expression to inspire, evoke emotions, and bring people together. mosaicARTs and Celebrate Fairfax invite all Fairfax artists, regardless of experience, who make 2D and/or 3D art to come and share their work and celebrate different art forms! Fairfax artists are encouraged to submit artworks by April 6.
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Congressional Art Competition
Congressman Gerry Connolly is excited to announce the start of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition! This competition offers students a chance to highlight their artistic talents and be a part of a professional gallery show at the Workhouse Arts Center (WAC). All entries are due by Monday, April 29, 2024. All entries will be displayed at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia from May 4 to 19, 2024.
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Land Use and Transportation Updates | |
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Hunter's Branch Office Complex Planning Study
Help envision a new future for the Hunter's Branch Office Complex! Fairfax County is evaluating potential land use changes for the Hunter's Branch Office Complex in the Vienna Transit Station Area. The study will consider potential redevelopment of the site with residential and community-serving retail uses, parks and open spaces, and other amenities. Staff will introduce the project, share preliminary data, and ask for feedback at a virtual community meeting on Wednesday, April 3 from 7 pm to 9 pm.
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2024 Paving and Restriping Program
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)’s Northern Virginia Paving Program improves hundreds of miles of roads in Fairfax County every year. VDOT and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation FCDOT) use this program as an opportunity to increase driver, bicyclist, and pedestrian safety with road and crosswalk improvements while minimizing the financial investment in restriping work.
A virtual community meeting for the Providence district will be held on Wednesday, April 10 at 7PM to collect feedback from the community. Meeting information and proposals will be posted on the website soon.
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Visualize 2050
The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) is seeking public feedback through March 30 on the Visualize 2050. The next step in this planning process is TPB's conduction an Air Quality Conformity Analysis of proposed, regionally significant roadway and transit projects.
All major transportation projects must be in the TPB plan to receive federal funding and approvals, from the planned I-495 interchange improvements near the proposed new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, Maryland, to the expansion of bus lanes along Georgia Avenue in D.C. and the US Route 1 Bus Rapid Transit project in Fairfax County. For the first time, the TPB is adopting a "zero-based budgeting" approach for this plan update. Under this strategy, previously approved projects were required to be resubmitted by their respective jurisdictions, excluding those already significantly underway.
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