At this week's Board of Supervisors meeting we recognized scores of students and teachers who participated in the County's Historic Marker Project. Among those recognized were Lorton resident and FCPS Librarian Maura Keaney and her Island Creek ES History Hunters who have now, collectively, been responsible for eight new Virginia historical markers over the last two years. But more importantly, they have brought rich Mount Vernon history to our attention. The History Hunters are responsible for one of the winners of this year’s Fairfax County contest. Annie Harper was a Gum Springs resident and the lead plaintiff in the Harper vs. VA Board of Elections lawsuit, the Supreme Court ruling which declared the poll tax unconstitutional. There were also 3 other plaintiffs in this case that were from the Mount Vernon area: Curtis and Myrtle Burr of Quander Road and Gladys Berry of Gum Springs.

Dan Storck

The following are highlights from the Board of Supervisors February 7, 2023 meeting, including items of particular interest to Mount Vernon residents. For additional information, please go to the County’s Board Agenda and Meeting Schedule. The clerk to the board's official Summary of Board Actions is available the week following each meeting. Information is also available by a video linked to the board agenda and the Board of Supervisors Highlights podcast. 

Para recibir la información de nuestro boletín electrónico en español, o para hablar con un hispanohablante, comuníquese con Madeleine Carcamo Reyes a su preferencia, por teléfono al (703) 780-7518 o por correo electrónico: [email protected].

To view the February 7, 2023 Board Package click here.

Item 1: Authorized the FCDOT Director to sign the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) Maintenance Agreement between the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Fairfax County so that VDOT can provide incident response and repair or replacement of knocked down, damaged, or inoperable Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons owned by the County, and Board of Supervisors’ approval of funding allocation for costs. The full item can be read on pages 36 - 41 of the Board Package.

Item 3: Approved ending the COVID-19 local emergency declaration that has been in place since March 2020. The declaration will end on March 1 and it had officially activated the County’s Emergency Operations Plan and authorized the furnishing of aid and assistance to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.

There will be no direct impact on the County’s operational response or approach to COVID-19. The Health Department will continue to share important updates and resources concerning COVID-19 on its webpage and social media channels. Vaccination clinics managed by Fairfax County ended operations in December, and vaccines continue to be widely available throughout our community and at Health Department District Offices by appointment. Residents who are unable to access vaccines or boosters may call the Health Department Call Center at 703-267-3511 for assistance. More information is available online.

During the pandemic, the County approved emergency rules to allow restaurants and exercise facilities to operate outside in parking lots. These businesses will be able to keep their outside operations for 12 more months until March 1, 2024. After that date, businesses will need additional County approvals.

Our Office to Prevent and End Homelessness is utilizing its existing shelter network. These sites will not be impacted by the termination of the declaration.

Residents are encouraged to continue engaging with Fairfax County by attending public meetings. The public meetings calendar is available online.

Recognizing the Fairfax County Police Auto Crimes and Enforcement (ACE) Team - Joint with Chairman Jeff McKay and Supervisor Rodney Lusk

Over the past few months, certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles have been stolen at a higher rate than other vehicles due to a coordinated effort on social media. In January, thirty-three vehicles were stolen countywide. In response to these increasing thefts, Franconia Captain John Lieb and the Franconia Station partnered with the Fairfax County Police Auto Crimes and Enforcement (ACE) Team to focus on the Lorton community, where year to date, at least nine vehicles were stolen. By increasing their presence in the neighborhoods most impacted, two significant arrests were made, both of which were juvenile offenders. The Franconia team also provided awareness and crime prevention strategies via Nextdoor and broader messaging in their Franconia Community Report. This partnership is an excellent example of our talented public safety team and how community policing can have a positive impact in our neighborhoods.

This past Saturday, the Franconia Station also launched a Steering Wheel Lock Distribution at the Lorton Community Center, which was very well received from residents all over the County. These free locks were provided by Kia and Hyundai in partnership with the Fairfax County Police Department. Franconia Officers also provided child safety seat inspections, gun locks, and crime prevention and safety information.

Recognizing March 12 -18 as Flood Awareness Week - Joint with Supervisor Penny Gross

As climate change increasingly impacts communities around the country and around the world, its effects also will continue to reach Fairfax County. Floods related to inclement weather, rising sea levels, and potentially from climatological changes, remain the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States.

Flood Awareness Week is recognized by municipalities nationwide throughout the year. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, we recognize Flood Awareness Week in March. The goal is to stress to residents and business owners that it is vital for them to understand the best and safest ways to protect themselves and their property during flood events. Read the full Board Matter.

Proclamation to Congratulate Alice’s Kids - Joint with Chairman Jeff McKay

Last week, in an exciting Final Celebrity Jeopardy contestant Patton Oswalt won second place and was awarded $250,000 to benefit Alice’s Kids.

As many of you know, Alice’s Kids is a nonprofit organization right here in Mount Vernon. Thanks to actor Patton Oswalt for his generous donation and for raising national attention for the organization. This is a well deserve recognition and we want to celebrate their on-going tremendous work in the community and our region.

Ron Fitzsimmons and his sister Laura Fitzsimmons Peters created this organization in memory of their mother and based on their childhood experiences. Their goal is to illustrate what child poverty in this country looks like on an individual level. Since they don’t want children to feel as though they are receiving charity, Alice’s Kids usually sends gift certificates to adults who can take them shopping and get the credit for giving them that needed gift. Fitzsimmons said, “We’re not going to solve all the pains of all the children, but we just want to be part of the answer at least.”

Alice’s Kids receives the majority of their funding from individual donations and very little comes from grants and corporations. The first time actor Patton Oswalt donated was $5,000 a few years ago. He must’ve been impressed because he stayed in touch and is donating his incredible amount from last week’s jeopardy winning.

The County is warning residents about a tax scam. Some residents may have received a "distraint warrant" letter from the "Tax Assessment Securities." This scam alleges that a warrant has been issued against the recipient due to delinquent tax debt and states the Federal Tax Authorities may take enforcement action to satisfy the debt. Fairfax County did not send this letter and is not connected with it in any way. Learn more.

On January 1, 2022, a 5-cent County Plastic Bag Fee went into effect, initiated by my Fairfax Green Initiatives. Disposable plastic bags are one of the most common items found during community park and stream cleanups. They damage ecosystems and their micro-particles enter water sources. In fact, plastics are so ubiquitous that we carry micro pieces of them in our very bloodstreams. A study published in 2019 concluded that an average person might ingest and inhale approximately 74,000 pieces of microplastic each year, just in the course of daily life – living, breathing, eating and drinking.

The purpose of the fee was not to raise revenue, or punish those who use plastic bags, but to account for the very real costs of plastic pollution, incentivize the transition to reusable bags, and fund improved litter prevention and clean-up efforts.

After the first year, we can report that the first $668,460 of revenue from the fee will go to fund litter prevention and community clean-up programs:

While we expect this revenue to decline as the community continues the transition to reusable bags, the County is using this revenue to do exactly what we promised - offset the real costs of plastic bag pollution and making Fairfax County cleaner and greener!

The Board authorized the exemption of all electrical, building and sign permit fees for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) for a trial period of 18 months. Learn more!

On Saturday, February 4, more than 1,000 community members and organizations gathered at the Fairfax County Government Center for an official recognition ceremony hosted by the Health Department and the Board of Supervisors. Learn more.

Are you planning home improvement projects in 2023? You may have learned about the recent changes to the County building permit process. Although resources exist online and through our phone system to guide you through the process, the Land Development Services Customer Experience Team is available to assist customers. Learn more.

Stacy Ziebell, program manager of the Countywide Coordination Team in Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, appeared on the January 25 episode of the “County Conversation” podcast as January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. However, according to the Polaris Project, human trafficking is a year-round problem. In 2021, “10,359 situations of human trafficking were reported to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline involving 16,554 individual victims.” Learn more.