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In this edition:

  

 

  

Stay safe!

 

Pat

 

 

 

Reston May See a New Tax District

At yesterday's Board of Supervisors' meeting, the Board voted 7 to 2 to approve a new master plan for Reston. I voted against the plan because yet again, I believe the plan ignores our priorities when it comes to where developer contributions are spent. Not too dissimilar to the Tysons plan, this plan results in over $700M in transportation needs that come with the increased density. It is my fear that just as we did in Tysons, these requirements will be funded by a new tax on the residents and businesses in Reston. I believe that much more of these transportation requirements should have been funded by developer contributions from the increased density instead of many requirements in the plan. A new tax district in Reston, coupled with already rising tolls on the Dulles Toll Road, will adversely impact the residents and businesses of Reston. This is something that could have been avoided if we had focused more of our developer contributions on transportation.

 

 

Reducing our Facilities Cost

At the Board meeting on Tuesday, the Board supported my request to look at reducing the county's facility cost - one of the county's largest expenses - by further exploring the use of hoteling. The concept of hoteling in the workplace, or providing office space to employees on an as-needed basis, dates back to the early 1990s. The Board will also look at increasing our use of teleworking as another tool to reduce facility cost.

Hoteling is used by major companies throughout the country, and even in the federal government. A recent report from the GSA, where hoteling was put into place a few years ago, showed that a $600,000 savings was generated by cutting office space in half, eliminating 15,000 square feet of office space at GSA using the hoteling concept. Similar experiences have taken place at the Treasury Department, the Patent and Trademark Office, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Fairfax County is no stranger to hoteling as it is currently used for some field based employees. My recommendation would look to see if the County's hoteling practice could be expanded and reduce our facilities cost.

With more than 3.5 million square feet of space in our government buildings and more than 600,000 square feet we spend $14 million per year to rent. Our facilities costs are second only to personnel costs in our budget. Looking into savings in such a large part of our budget is a no-brainer and I look forward to the results of the study.

 

 

Storm Information

 

A quick reminder to fill up on gas, charge your electronic devices, and check on elderly neighbors before tomorrow's snow storm, as well as send you some important links and phone numbers. We're expected to get more than 5 inches of snow between Wednesday evening and Thursday evening.

 

Details about closures, power outages and other important information is below. You can keep up to date and get emergency alerts at the County's emergency blog - http://fairfaxcountyemergency.wordpress.com/ - three things it is recommending right now is to:

  • Be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for at least three days in case roads are blocked and/or there are power outages.
  • Make sure you have a three day supply of food that does not require electricity to prepare, and a gallon of water for each person for each day.
  • Have a battery powered and/or hand crank radio and extra batteries for emergency information. Listen to local weather forecasts and instructions from county officials.

 

Power Outages

 

Dominion

 

When the power goes out use your smartphone to go this website to see their restoration work.

 

Please report any downed power lines or outages through Dominion's interactive voice response system (1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357), or via smartphone here.

 

 

NOVEC

 

When the power goes out use your smartphone to go to this website to see their restoration work

 

Downed power lines should be immediately reported by contacting NOVEC at 703-335-0500 or 888-335-0500, or via smartphone here.

 

Stay away from downed lines and anything touching them, and please report them immediately to your power company.

 

 

Utilities

 

Verizon

 

To report an outage call 1-800-837-4966.

 

Cox

 

To report an outage call 703-378-8422

 

Washington Gas

 

If you smell gas, or in the event of a natural gas emergency, leave the area immediately and call 911 and Washington Gas at 703-750-1400 or 1-800-752-7520.

 

WG customer service line: 703-750-1000.

 

Using a generator? Here are some safety tips - http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/portgen.pdf

 

Roads

 

Current road conditions and hazards can be found here - http://www.511virginia.org/ or you can call 511

 

After 2 inches of snow you can track VDOT's plowing here - http://novasnowplowing.virginia.gov/

 

To report hazards or ask road related questions call 800-367-7623.

 

Reminder: It is helpful to clean-up crews that plow our roads if you can park your vehicles in your driveways.

 

 

Emergencies

 

Please only call 9-1-1 if you have an emergency; do not call 9-1-1 to report power outages.

 

If for some reason you are unable to reach 9-1-1, use these alternate numbers: 703-691-7561 or 703-691-3680. These numbers may be used for either emergency or non-emergency calls. Do not call these numbers for power outage information.

 

 

Downed Trees

 

Please report downed trees you see appropriately, if trees fall in your neighborhood, here's who to call regarding removal:

 

Adjacent to Public Roads

  • Contact Virginia Department of Transportation at 1-800-FOR-ROAD, TTY 711.

On County Parkland

Posing Hazard to Public Areas

Private Property

  • Removal is the property owner's responsibility.

 

 

 

Local Resources  

 

Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management 

 

 

Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management-Emergency Alert Sign Up 

 

 

Dominion Virginia Power 

 

 

Northern Virginia Electrical Cooperative 

 

 

WTOP 

 

 

State Resources

 

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management 

 

 

Virginia 511 Road Conditions

 

  

 

Federal Resources  

 

The National Weather Service 

 

 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

 

 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency 

 

Web: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/springfield

Email: springfield@fairfaxcounty.gov

Phone: 703-451-8873