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| Monthly Newsletter from Chairman Sharon Bulova |
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| Internship Opportunities |
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Intern applications for the Chairman's Office are due
January 12, 2018.
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Email
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Office
(703) 324-2321
Please contact my office with any comments, questions, concerns or ideas.
I look forward to hearing from you!
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Greetings,
As this 2017 Anniversary Year draws to a close, there is a lot to remember and reflect on:
- The signature event of our 275th Anniversary Year took place June 15th-18th on the grounds of the historic courthouse and judicial center campus in Fairfax. We were especially honored to be joined by Nicholas Fairfax, 14th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, a direct descendant of Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. (Thomas Fairfax was given the original land grant for Fairfax, bounded in 1722 by the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers.)
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The Class Act Players Theatre Company
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- On September 16th, the Fairfax Symphony performed an original orchestral anthem to Fairfax County called Resolutions. The music, composed by GMU Professor Mark Camphouse, was accompanied by a fascinating video created by Channel 16's talented producer, Valerie Bey.
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Fairfax Symphony Orchestra performs
Resolutions, Photo by Neshan H. Naltchayan
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On the public safety front:
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- Following through on recommendations of the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission, the new position of Independent Police Auditor was filled by Richard Schott. Additionally, members of a new Civilian Review Panel were appointed by the Board of Supervisors. They are now conducting community forums to introduce themselves to residents.
- Also as a result of the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission recommendations, the Police Department will launch a pilot program this spring for police body-worn cameras. The pilot program will go into effect for the Mason and Mount Vernon District Stations and last for at least 3 months.
- Throughout the fall, our public safety family moved into a new (and much improved) Public Safety Headquarters on the Government Center campus. The new building will enhance teamwork and collaboration among our public safety personnel.
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- Diversion First is new program that offers alternatives to incarceration for people with mental illness or developmental disabilities who have come into contact with law enforcement. During its first full year in operation, 375 individuals were diverted from potential arrest.
- Our premier Virginia Task Force 1 personnel spent hurricane season responding to storm and flood conditions in Texas, Florida and in the Caribbean. With Hurricanes Harvey, Maria and Irma battering the Atlantic Ocean, this was the first time that the team responded to multiple disasters. Training and equipment for this elite team is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). We are fortunate to have their unique expertise here in our community.
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A number of major economic development successes took place throughout 2017:
- Last year, the INOVA Hospital System aquired the former 117 acre Exxon Mobil site on Gallows Road, across from Fairfax Hospital in the Merrifield area. This year, INOVA began establishing their Center for Personalized Health on the new campus. The Center will be a hub for translational medicine, cancer research, and genomic science.
- New Metro stations and development activity are springing up along the Phase 2 corridor of the Silver Line. Service to Dulles International Airport and into Loudoun County is expected to begin in 2020.
In November, a One Fairfax Policy was adopted by both the Board of Supervisors and the Fairfax County School Board. "
One Fairfax"
articulates equity as a priority when our County is considering policies, programs or projects. We strive to ensure that all residents of Fairfax County have the opportunity for success.
As 2017 comes to a close, I want to say THANK YOU to former County Executive Ed Long for his outstanding service to our community. I also thank Acting County Executive (and Park Authority Director) Kirk Kincannon for his steady hand leading the County while our Board considered candidates for our next County Executive. At our Board Meeting on November 21, I announced the appointment of
Bryan Hill
to that position.
Bryan Hill comes to us from James City County, Virginia. Our Board was impressed with Bryan's strong fiscal and finance background, as well as his engaging leadership style. See more about Bryan Hill within this issue of the Byline. He will begin employment in early January and I look forward to introducing him to our Fairfax County community and workforce.
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Sincerely,
Sharon Bulova
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
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| Chairman Bulova's New Year Reception | Jan. 10, 2018 |
You are invited to my New Year Reception on January 10, 2018 at the Fairfax County Government Center. Come enjoy friends, food and a great evening!
This is an opportunity for me to say "thank you" for all you've done for our community.
Feel free to bring canned goods to donate to Stuff the Bus. We are also accepting donations of pet food for the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. The New Year Reception is my treat and not funded via County tax dollars.
Please RSVP here
. Hope to see you then!
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| Seasonal Family-Friendly Events |
Check out some fun and festive events happening in our area this Holiday Season!
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| Welcome to Fairfax County's New County Executive |
On Tuesday, November 21, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed
Bryan Hill as County Executive, effective Jan. 2, 2018. Bryan is currently the James City County, VA administrator and clerk to its Board of Supervisors. Bryan brings impressive leadership, management, communications and budget experience to the table, and we look forward to working alongside him. Fairfax County is on a great track, and we are confident Bryan will continue to build upon a foundation of excellence for both our workforce and county residents.
Bryan has been with James City County since 2014, and he previously spent seven years with Beaufort County, S.C. as deputy county administrator. At James City County, Bryan is responsible for oversight of staff, major infrastructure projects, economic development, transportation initiatives and the development and implementation of the county's first strategic plan. He recently led the realignment of the county's debt portfolio, which resulted in AAA ratings from each of the three major bond rating agencies.
I would also like to thank our acting county executive, Kirk Kincannon, for his fantastic work and support over the past few months while the Board of Supervisors and Human Resources Department underwent the county executive search and hiring process.
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| New County Website Just Around the Corner |
 Fairfax County is unveiling a brand new website this month.
This is one of the most significant digital projects in the county's history as we remake our virtual front door to residents and the world.
The new site is based in responsive web design, which allows users to easily view content on any device. This project continues Fairfax County's award-winning tradition of providing government services without walls, doors or clocks, and putting government in the palm of your hands. After the December soft launch, stay tuned for even more improvements to come in 2018!
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| Board Committee Meetings Live Streamed and Televised |
Did you know you can tune in to Board of Supervisors Committee Meetings on any computer or mobile device, or on Cable Channel 16? Board Committee meetings have always been open to the public, but now residents have the option of watching from anywhere and at anytime through the live stream or video archive.
Committee meetings serve as work sessions for the Board and County staff to share information and strategize on how the County should tackle important issues involving transportation, public safety, human services, housing, land use, the environment and legislation coming from the Virginia General Assembly. Committee meeting work sessions tee up important decisions that the Board ultimately votes on at Board of Supervisors Meetings in the Board Auditorium.
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| Police Body-Worn Camera Pilot Program Begins this Spring |
The Fairfax County Police Department will be launching a pilot body worn camera program this coming spring, after unanimous approval from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on November 21. This pilot program will be conducted with all operational uniformed patrol officers from two district stations; Mount Vernon and Mason. It will include 230 cameras and last for 3 months, with the option to extend it to 6 months.
This comes following the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission Final Report recommendations to outfit officers with body worn cameras. The pilot body worn camera program is designed to provide the Police Department with the opportunity to review police-community member encounters as they occur, as well as provide an additional degree of safety for our officers as they patrol the streets.
Cameras will be worn on the outside of the officer's uniform or ballistic vest on a full-time basis to evaluate the technical merits of the software and equipment. The cameras that will be tested offer various features and mounts to capture the details of police-community member encounters without compromising the officer's job tasks or safety. Prior to being issued the equipment, all officers will receive training.
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| Civilian Review Panel Public Forum | Dec. 12, 2017 |
Fairfax County is committed to providing transparency in all police investigatory matters. As part of this continuing effort, the Police Civilian Review Panel and Independent Police Auditor were created following Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission recommendation, consistent with Virginia law, that would help our county to achieve its goal of maintaining a safe community, ensuring our policies provide for the fair and timely resolution of police-involved incidents.
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| Groundbreaking for I-66 Outside the Beltway |
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Nov. 20, 2017 - Groundbreaking Ceremony |
- 22.5 miles of new express lanes alongside three regular lanes from I-495 to University Boulevard in Gainesville;
- Express lanes will be dynamically tolled to manage demand for the lanes and provide a reliable, faster trip - available to drivers who choose to pay a toll, and for free to vehicles with three or more people;
- New and improved bus service and transit routes;
- New and expanded park and ride lots providing convenient access to the express lanes and more than 4,000 new park and ride spaces;
- Interchange improvements to enhance safety and reduce congestion, including auxiliary lanes between interchanges, where needed.
The $2.3 billion I-66 Outside the Beltway Project is a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and private partner, I-66 Express Mobility Partners, a consortium of Cintra, Meridiam, Ferrovial Agroman US and Allan Myers VA Inc.
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| Construction Concerns? Call the Construction Hotline at 703-324-7470 |
If you have a concern with construction taking place in your community, Fairfax County's Land Development Services has a hotline for you to call. The "Site Construction Hotline" has Site Development and Inspections Division staff on hand to respond to complaints related to construction activity. Staff are even available to take your call on evenings and weekends. Whether it is mud on roadways, erosion concerns, drainage problems, or construction outside of the county-approved plan, staff will investigate to ensure that developers are adhering to county codes, rules, and other obligations for the site.
The hotline is (703) 324-7470. Callers should be prepared to provide an address and description of the problem. Please remember to never trespass on a construction site to investigate a development project. For more information, please visit
fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/news/hotline-construction-violations.htm.
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| Preventing Hypothermia as Temperatures Begin to Drop |
 The
Hypothermia Prevention Program is one of the county's most successful public-private partnerships. We rely on our nonprofit and faith-based community partners to help us carry out the life-saving mission to give our most vulnerable neighbors a safe place stay from the cold. The hypothermia shelters operate seven days a week from December through March. In addition, a "no turn-away" policy is implemented outside of that timeframe based on temperature and weather conditions at all of our
emergency homeless shelters. To find out if a specific shelter is on "no turn away", please call them directly.
Abby Dunner ([email protected]) in Fairfax County's Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, can answer any additional questions you may have about the program.
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| Seeking Volunteers for Meals on Wheels |
Meals on Wheels delivers meals to residents with disabilities and residents age 60 and over who cannot shop for or prepare their own meals, or have no one available to help prepare meals. This program provides individuals in need with two nutritious meals five days a week!
This fantastic program is always looking for delivery drivers, but right now, there is a great need for drivers for routes serving a large Vietnamese population in Falls Church and Annandale. Meals on Wheels also needs drivers in McLean, Bailey's and Annandale. For more information and to see other opportunities to help older individuals in Fairfax County, please visit
fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/volunteer-solutions.htm.
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