Volume 1 | February 2020
It was a great first month serving you as the Hunter Mill District supervisor!  

My staff and I hit the ground running on Jan. 2 with lots of events and meetings, including my first town hall on Feb. 3 at the Reston Community Center Lake Anne (pictured on the bottom left). More than 100 community members came out that evening to provide important input on a number of topics. A big thank you to everyone who attended!

My next town hall is Wednesday, Feb. 26,
7-9 p.m. at James Madison High School , Lecture Hall, 2500 James Madison Dr. in Vienna. I hope to see you there - please RSVP.

The year is off to a great start. I brought two major initiatives to the Board of Supervisors in January - to authorize a set of amendments to the Comprehensive Plan for Reston and to make Fairfax County safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. Please take a few minutes to read more about these Board Matters. The links are below.

For the most timely updates on Hunter Mill District and countywide news, follow, share and like on social media: Twitter , Facebook and Instagram .

Respectfully,
Walter Alcorn
  

Board Matters - January 2020
My Six Priorities for Hunter Mill District
Here are my top priorities for our district in 2020. These six priorities are my focus but rest assured that my staff and I will be working on other issues as needed.

Managing Growth
  • Facilitate Reston Comprehensive Plan updates to manage new growth and minimize negative impacts on existing community
  • Engage the community more effectively in county land-use decisions

Transportation
  • Improve pedestrian/bicyclist mobility and safety
  • Develop long-range solutions for improved mobility in the region

Affordable Housing
  • Preserve existing and generate new affordable housing
  • Prevent and end homelessness

Climate Change/Environmental Initiatives

Education
  • Maintain full funding of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)
  • Improve FCPS and county coordination of new residential development planning and approvals

One Fairfax
  • Implement One Fairfax - a social and racial equity initiative that commits the county and schools to intentionally consider equity when making policies and delivering programs and services.

If you have questions about these priorities, please attend one of my upcoming town hall meetings or send me an email .
For more information about my priorities and other topics of community interest - Listen to my "A Word With Walter" podcast.
Mark Your Calendar!
Presidents Day, Feb. 17: Fairfax County offices are closed on this holiday also known as George Washington's Day in our commonwealth.

Absentee Voting at North County Governmental Center, Feb. 22-29: There are 20 reasons you may be eligible to absentee vote for the March 3 Presidential Primary. Get information on how you can vote in Reston or several other satellite voting locations in addition to the Government Center in Fairfax.

Coats For Kids Drive Through Feb. 28 : The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) employees are holding a coat drive to benefit CSB clients and the community. Bring new or gently used coats, hats, scarves and gloves to a CSB office .

Diva Central Dress Drive Through Feb. 29: Reston Community Center is accepting donations of gently used dresses and accessories for its 18th annual Diva Central Dress Drive . 

Tax Relief Workshops March 4, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and March 12, 2 to 5 p.m. : The Hunter Mill District office is hosting two tax relief workshops in the community room at the North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Dr., Reston. Real estate and vehicle tax relief is available for older adults 65+ years old and people with disabilities who meet certain qualifications.For more informati on call the Department of Tax Administration at 703-222-8234 or visit the website .

Cyber Security Workshop by Fairfax County Consumer Affairs, March 5, 7 to 8 p.m.:
This free workshop will be held at Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston. More information. 

HOAs and Condo Workshop: Sustainable Solutions to Landscaping Headaches, March 6: Plan a more sustainable future in your own community. Attend the upcoming HOA and Condo Association Workshop , organized by Plant NOVA Natives .   Details and registration

2020 Housing Challenge, March 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. : Fairfax C ounty and George Mason University School of Business are hosting the 2020 Housing Challenge to bring together residents, students, housing advocates, industry professionals and policy experts to provide solutions to three critical challenges facing affordable housing. Cash prizes will be awarded!

Opportunity Neighborhoods Summit, March 14, 1 to 4 p.m. : Join the Opportunity Neighborhoods Partners Network for first-ever "ON-wide" shared learning and networking event. ON residents and ambassadors, community-based and faith partners, county government and school system staff, sponsors, policy makers, and other stakeholders are all welcome. More information – registration deadline is March 6.

Free Income Tax Preparation Through April 15 : Individuals and families who earned less than $55,000 in 2019 may qualify for free income tax preparation assistance through the county’s  Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Volunteers certified by the Internal Revenue Service help ensure that participants receive the maximum tax refund to which they are entitled and can help determine if they are eligible to receive an Earned Income Tax Credit. Dates and locations.
Land Use Meetings
Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Meeting, North County Governmental Center, Community Room, Feb. 18,
7:30 p.m.
Discussion on RZ 2019-HM-011. Application is located at Old Courthouse Road in Vienna.
 
Wiehle Avenue Pedestrian Crossing Study Group at the Campus Commons site, Feb. 27, 5 p.m.
Part of the meeting will include walking outside, so please dress accordingly. For more information, please contact Jose Delcid at 703-478-0283 or at jose.delcid@fairfaxcounty.gov .
Transportation Update
New Capital Bikeshare Stations in Reston Nearly Finalized

Reston is known for its network of trails. Soon it’ll be easier than ever to bike on the trails for enjoyment or your daily commute. The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has partnered with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and a federal program to bring 21 new Capital Bikeshare stations to the Reston area!  Get more information and locations. Any concerns about these locations should be provided to my office via email or by letter by Friday, Feb. 14 at 5 p.m.


Hunter Mill District Quarterly Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting, North County Governmental Center, April 29, 8 to 10 a.m.

These meetings include updates from local and state transportation officials and cover all ongoing transportation improvements - open to the public.


Fairfax County Department of Transportation Summary of Activities and Highlights


Town of Vienna Receives Bequest to Fund Sidewalks

Former Councilmember Maud Robinson, who passed away last year just shy of her 97th birthday, left a generous portion of her estate to the Town of Vienna for the specific purpose of building sidewalks over a five-year period in areas where they aren’t already planned or likely to be funded through grants or new construction. Read more about this multi-million dollar donation in the February issue of the Vienna Voice.
2020 Census is April 1 - Be Counted
I n March, you will receive a postcard in the mail about t he 2020 Census . It will give you directions on how to fill it out and other information you might need. It only takes a few minutes, but the impact will be felt for years.
 
Why should I fill out the Census? For every person who isn’t counted in the 2020 Census, our region loses $1,200 per year in federal funding.This means less money for the services you rely on like healthcare, education and transportation.
 
The county's Complete Count Committee is working hard to make sure every person participates, including difficult to reach communities. In an effort to do this, the Board of Supervisors will be sending information to homeowners with their yearly real estate Notice of Assessment Change . Help us spread the word and remind friends, family and neighbors to fill out the Census !
Picture This: In Your Community
The Reston Community Center's Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration on Jan. 20 featured keynote speaker Bakari Sellers (center), who among many other achievements, is a CNN contributor and was the youngest member of the South Carolina legislature in history. With us is County Executive Bryan Hill (left).
It has been our only snow day so far, but these great community members braved the weather and came out to participate in the Southgate Community Center's Martin Luther King Jr. day of service on Saturday, Jan. 18.
We stuffed the bus in Vienna on Saturday, Feb. 8! The Stuff the Bus events help us fight hunger in our community with your food and money donations. More Info .
Many thanks to Annette and her co-workers at ATCS in Herndon who donated nine large bags of coats last month to our Coat Closet with Cornerstones at the North County Governmental Center. More info.
On Jan. 22 I had the opportunity to meet with several of our local business leaders at the grand opening of the new M&T Bank on Metro Center Drive.
Your Hunter Mill District School Board representative Melanie Meren and I attended a joint retreat of the Board of Supervisors and School Board on Feb. 3 - great collaborative discussion!

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn
703-478-0283, TTY 711