Feb. 28, 2024

Neighbors,

Yesterday, during the Board of Supervisors' Housing Committee meeting, the county's Health and Human Services and Housing and Community Development staff provided presentations on what is being done to prevent rental evictions, as well as the progress being made in housing initiatives.

During the pandemic, federal funding and an eviction moratorium mostly put a halt to evictions, enabling residents economically impacted by the pandemic to stay in their homes. But as everyone knew, the generous federal aid was not going to last forever. The last of the related federal funding is being used strategically to provide critical support to renters in the middle of an eviction process but before they get evicted. Because of this targeted support the number of evictions has not increased at nearly the rate many of us had feared. Note of course that evictions overall have increased and any eviction is a personal tragedy and a frustrating situation for the individuals and families affected. Evictions lead to homelessness, and the more we can decrease evictions the fewer new homeless residents will be on our streets and in our shelters. 

Recognizing that housing is one of the most basic and critical needs for anyone to live and thrive, the Board of Supervisors and county staff are working to ensure our financial resources are being used smartly to make sure our residents have access to housing. I encourage you to watch the Housing Committee meeting and review the presentations.

This graphic provides a good overview of the investments that the county is making to ensure housing for all residents across the housing continuum. Click on for larger version (PDF), or view here.

Additional Information:

• Eviction Data Dashboard
• Affordable Housing Dashboard

If you have any questions or know someone in need of housing assistance, email my office at huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Regards,

Walter

REMINDER: Election Day is March 5. Learn more.

The Board of Supervisors held several committee meetings yesterday, Feb. 27. You can watch the meetings here and view the agendas and presentations on the links:

• Housing Committee  
• Environmental Committee 
• Land Use Policy Committee
• Budget Policy Committee Joint Meeting with School Board

The next full Board of Supervisors meeting is Tuesday, March 5. Learn more.

Important information from Fairfax County on deck safety:

What is the average lifespan of a deck?

• In general, if the deck was built and inspected to code and maintained properly, it should last 20 years or more.

How can I ensure my deck is safe?

• You should be evaluating your deck on an annual basis and maintaining it as recommended by your builder. However, we recommend that you have it inspected by a licensed contractor on a regular basis. The older your deck, the more often you should have it inspected.

Is there anything I can do to extend the life of my deck and identify any potential issues before they become dangerous?

• Make sure you follow manufacturing and building recommendations for cleaning and maintenance. Minimize the stress your deck experiences. For example, you should shovel the snow off your deck after a heavy snow.

Make sure you use your deck safely as well:  

• Don’t add large heavy items such as swimming pools or hot tubs on top of your deck; this is dangerous and could cause them to collapse.
• Make sure all stairs are well lit for safe travel after the sun goes down. This can be as simple as adding inexpensive solar powered lights.
• If you are using grills, heaters and outdoor fire pits on decks, be careful and follow all rules regarding their use. In addition to structure failure or collapse, fire is also a deck hazard.

Remember, before building a new or replacing an existing deck, building permits are required. Learn more:

• Deck Boot Camp – Watch Land Development Services staff guide you through the Deck Boot Camp training.
• Hire a Contractor – Learn about finding a licensed contractor.

The county executive presented his proposed budget for FY 2025 to the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 20. The county budget affects everyone in the county, so I encourage you to take a look at the links below and provide your input.

What to Know:

• Proposed Budget Presentation (PDF)
• Budget At A Glance (PDF)
• FY 2025 Budget Timeline
• Watch the FY 2025 Proposed Budget Presentation

Ways to Provide Your Input on the Proposed Budget and Tax Rate:

Email me at huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov

Hunter Mill District Town Hall Meetings:

• March 20, 7 p.m. in-person at Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave. East, Vienna.
• March 25, 7 p.m. virtual, use this link to attend and participate. You may also call in and listen to the meeting, dial 571-429-5982 and use conference call ID: 952 967 568# For more information email paul.davisjr@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-478-0283.

In addition, you now have the option to text input and provide feedback in multiple languages. More information:

• Online at FY25 Advertised Budget - PublicInput (fairfaxcounty.gov)  
• Text FY25Budget to 73224 
• Call 703-890-5898 
• Testify at budget public hearings held April 16-18 either in person, by video or phone. Sign up or call the Clerk to the Board's Office at 703-324-3151 (TTY 711) or email for more information.

Reston SSPAs Community Kick-off Meeting March 4

The Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development is hosting a community meeting on Monday, March 4, 7 p.m. to kick off the public engagement process for four Site-Specific Plan Amendments (SSPAs) in Reston. The meeting will be held at South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Dr., Reston.

The four SSPAs to be discussed are:

Roger Bacon Drive – PA 2023-III-UP8

Samuel Morse Drive – SSPA 2023-III-11UP

• Additional information

1950 Roland Clarke Place – SSPA 2023-III-12UP

Reston Corner – SSPA 2023-III-13UP

General information about the SSPA process can be found here. For more information, email Mark Goldberg-Foss or call 703-478-5123.

Update on Strike Affecting Fairfax Connector

Due to a job action and work stoppage taken by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, which represents Fairfax Connector drivers and mechanics, Fairfax Connector Service was suspended at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22. The Fairfax County Department of Transportation encourages our users to use alternative methods of travel. Fairfax Connector’s operations contractor, Transdev, is currently negotiating a new labor agreement with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689. Fairfax County is not a party to labor negotiations between Transdev and labor unions.

Passengers affected should consider alternate ways to travel:

• There are more than 4,000 available parking spaces at park-and-ride facilities across Fairfax County with access to express lanes, VRE and ridesharing.
• For ridesharing assistance, go online or call 703-877-5900, TTY 711. 
• For Metrobus or Metrorail information, go online or call 202-637-7000, TTY 202-638-3780. 
• VRE service, go online or call 1-800-RIDE-VRE, TTY 711.

Recycling Day is Saturday, March 2

The town's first quarterly recycling day of 2024 is Saturday, March 2, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents can drop off scrap metal, electronics, and auto waste for recycling at the Northside Property Yard, 600 Mill Street, NE. You can also drop off one-time use and rechargeable batteries for bulk recycling. Learn more.

Reston District Police Station CAC Meeting Tonight Feb. 28

The Reston District Station is hosting a Community Advisory Committee meeting tonight, Feb. 28, 7 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza N, Reston. Officers will provide updates and answer questions on public safety issues. For more information email jenette.post@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Animal Services Consolidation Proposal Town Halls

The Department of Animal Sheltering and the Fairfax County Police Department are hosting two town halls and a virtual presentation to discuss uniting animal care and control services under one department. For more information on the proposed consolidation of animal services, go to https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/fairfax-county-animal-services-consolidation-proposal.

Virtual Presentation:

Thursday, Feb. 29, 7 p.m. Advanced registration for link.

Town Hall One:

Monday, March 11, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Fairfax County Animal Shelter - Michael R. Frey Campus, 4500 West Ox Rd., Fairfax

Town Hall Two:

Wednesday, March 13, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Fairfax County Animal Shelter - Lorton Campus, 8875 Lorton Rd., Lorton

From Fairfax County Police Department: Pedestrian Safety Tips

When navigating the streets of Fairfax County, you should be alert and prioritize safety for yourself. Here are some essential tips:

• Use Designated Crosswalks: Whenever possible, cross the street at designated crosswalks and obey traffic signals. Wait for your turn to cross and always check for oncoming traffic before proceeding.
• Take Your Time: Rushing across the street can lead to accidents. Always take your time when crossing, even if it means waiting for a break in traffic or finding a well-lit area to cross safely.
• Stay Visible:  If you’re walking at night, carry a flashlight or use your phone’s flashlight to increase visibility. Wear bright or reflective clothing to make yourself more noticeable to drivers.

Online Tool to View Residential Market Sales

Your real estate assessment reflects your home’s fair market value, and its value is determined by comparing it to sales of comparable properties in your area. Find residential market sales that occurred countywide in 2023 using the county's new online mapping tool called RESviewer. You can search for sales in specific neighborhoods and even filter the data by property style, age or size.  Learn more

Golf Fairfax Launches New Tee Time Waitlist and Assistant

The Park Authority has launched Golf Fairfax’s new virtual tee time waitlist and assistant, powered by Noteefy. This new system allows golfers to receive real-time notifications when their desired tee time becomes available. Notifications are personalized for each golfer and are fully integrated with the tee sheet. The new virtual tee time waitlist and assistant eliminate looking for cancellations, calling the pro shop and constantly refreshing the online tee sheet. Learn more.

Reston Community Center Flea Market on Saturday, March 2

Get great deals on small appliances, books, jewelry, clothing, tools or toys at the Reston Community Center (RCC) Flea Market this Saturday, March 2, 9 a.m. to noon at RCC Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Rd., Reston. Learn more.