At yesterday's Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, we honored our police officers for a job well done in the 34-hour standoff on our main street - Richmond Highway. Captain Fred Chambers, Lt. Veva Wallace and, particularly, the Day Shift B officers, joined by many County support teams and officers from surrounding jurisdictions resolved the situation through their coordinated efforts and professionalism. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our officers, mental health clinicians and many others, a life was saved and the woman was safely taken into custody. 

We also recognized the recipients of the A. Heath Onthank awards, the highest honor awarded by the County to its employees. One of this year's recipients has performed extraordinary work on our Richmond Highway corridor, and in service to those most in need in our community. Nurse Practitioner Nathalie Washington joined the Mount Vernon District Health Office in 2005 and has focused on helping our homeless population for many years. Among other activities, she is being recognized for organizing 130 COVID-19 vaccination clinics for Fairfax County’s homeless population, as well as her contribution to an article on vaccine coverage in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publication. Ms. Washington was also recently named 2023 Nurse of the Year and Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Northern Virginia Regional Winner.

The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Board of Supervisors and the not-for-profit Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC). SFDC is focused on the Richmond Highway corridor to educate and market our many development opportunities. It also brings investments and placemaking efforts including new murals, parklets and cultural events that help build a ‘sense of place’ and grow social cohesion. SFDC is a good partner on our corridor with many thanks to Evan Kaufman for his leadership and his involvement at many levels of our community and County, especially on our Economic Advisory Committee. Also, special thanks to the SFDC Board President Mark Viani, and Board Members Carlos Heard, Mike Kitchen, Bruce Leonard, Holly Dougherty, Katy Fike, Stephen Keat, Dick Knapp, Vik Patel, Ellen Young, Brad Bartell, Katie Leonard and others for their leadership over the years.

At the meeting I recognized the passing of Nate Wilson, past Vice President, President and Chairman of the Mount Vernon Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Quantico/Belvoir Regional Business Alliance. He also served on the the Board of United Community and was the President and Founder of Just in Time Community Development Corporation. Prior to his service to our local community, Nate served 27 years in the United States Air Force, serving in Vietnam and in numerous roles including Foreign Disclosure Officer and Deputy Base Commander. Nate and his outstanding service to our community will truly be missed by us all.

Respectfully yours in public service,

Dan Storck

The following are highlights from the Board of Supervisors June 27, 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 June 27, 2023 Board Package click here. For a complete listing of public hearings held and approved, please see the Clerk to the Board's official Summary of Board Actions, available the week following each meeting.

Item 1: Approved the Fairfax County Emergency Operations Plan, a multi-discipline, all-hazards plan that establishes a single, comprehensive framework for the management of major emergencies and disasters within the County. The full item can be read here.

Item 2: Approved a resolution to adopt the updated Northern Virginia Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan to update the comprehensive multijurisdictional plan aimed at all hazards mitigation. The full item can be read here.

Item 6: Approved four speed humps on Gateshead Road, at the request of the neighborhood and as part of the Residential Traffic Administration Program (RTAP). The full item can be read here.

Item 12: Authorized the Fairfax County Police Department to apply for and accept grant funding in the amount of $241,500 for the FY 2023 Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program. The funds will be used to purchase five license plate reader (LPR) speed trailers, 44 LPR cameras and three mobile LRP cameras to help reduce crimes. The full item can be read here.

Item 13: Authorized the Fairfax County Police Department to accept grant funding in the amount of $1M to replace the two outdated robots currently used by the FCPD Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Section. The full item can be read here.

Item 1: Approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Board of Supervisors and the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC), focused on the Richmond Highway corridor to educate and market our many development opportunities. The MOU, which is subject to periodic renewal and review, outlines the goals of SFDC and the terms and conditions for its receipt of funds from the Board through the County’s Contributory Fund, subject to annual appropriation as part of the budget process. Only minor administrative changes were made to the MOU, such as reflecting new department and magisterial district names. Additional collaborative partners were added including the Land Development Services and the Department of Economic Initiatives to reflect partnerships that have been established. The full item can be read here.

Item 6: Approved an agreement between the Fairfax County School Board and Board of Supervisors relating to the installing and operation of a video monitoring system to enforce the law against passing stopped school busses. The full item can be read here.

Item 9: Authorized the Fall 2023 School Bond Referendum in the amount of $435M. Details of the projects expected to be funded can be read in the full item here.

Request for Proclamation to Recognize the 75th Anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9981 - Joint with Chairman Jeffrey McKay and Supervisors Penny Gross, Pat Herrity and Rodney Lusk

For years prior to 1948, there had been generations of African Americans serving in the military, including during World War I and World War II, fighting to protect the very freedoms that were frequently denied to them at home. 

In November 1947, civil rights leaders A. Philip Randolph and Grant Reynolds formed the Committee Against Jim Crow in Military Service and Training, which originally targeted Congress for action to desegregate the military. When they found this route fruitless, they turned to President Truman. If he issued an executive order on the issue, it wouldn't be subject to a legislative vote, which were being filibustered by southern state senators.

To give Truman that final push, Randolph and Reynolds sent a letter to Truman, threatening that African American youth would boycott the draft if he didn't sign an executive order to end segregation in the military.

On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, establishing the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, committing the United States government to integrate the segregated military. 

Executive Order 9981 stated that “there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed forces without regard to race, color, religion or national origin.” Today, you can see the effect of EO 9981 in the diverse and multi-racial makeup of our men and women serving in the Armed Services and is a testament to our nation’s strength and democratic ideals that all Americans hold dear, that all persons are created equal.

Approved a special exception to permit the use of existing outdoor components associated with the existing kennel use at the Olde Towne Pet Resort Springfield, LLC, a pet boarding facility located at 8101 Alban Road on approximately 1.67 acres on the east side of Alban Road and adjacent to Interstate-95. The outdoor components include the construction of limited site improvements, including new awnings to replace existing awnings. These awnings will support the installation of new sanitary sewer connections within the outdoor play areas. The full item can be read here.

Approved amendments to County Code on motor vehicles and traffic. As a housekeeping measure to update sections of adoption of state law, including: authorization of School Board to install and operate a video monitoring system to enforce law against passing stopped school buses, head lamps on motor vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and other vehicles, reflex reflectors, and right-of-way of pedestrians have been amended to reflect changes made to the Code of Virginia by the 2023 General Assembly. A summary of the changes can be read in the full item here.

Virginia Code generally prohibits signs (including advertising) within the limits of highways. On March 11, 2013, following a public hearing on February 26, 2013, the Board entered into an agreement authorizing local law-enforcement agencies, local governmental entities, employees or volunteers to act as its agents in removing signs from the limits of the highways within the County and to collect the penalties and costs provided for in Virginia Code. During the 2023 legislative session, the Board initiated an amendment to Virginia Code to also allow the Board to use contractors. That amendment was adopted and takes effect on July 1, 2023. County staff has revised the 2013 agreement to reflect the recent legislative change, and if VDOT agrees, to use plain language. The full item can be read here.

Share your superpower with a local small business. Recruiting has begun for consultants and coaches in Marketing, Finance and Operations for the new Fairfax County THRIVE program. Small Businesses will receive targeted consulting services to help them achieve unique business goals. Consultants will be paid up to $10,000 per client. Applications close August 4. Learn more.

The Fairfax Food Council is seeking two youth representatives to serve on the Fairfax Food Council Steering Committee. The steering committee is charged with overseeing the work of the Council, setting priorities and raising resources, among other duties.

The youth representative position is considered a volunteer position, however, the youth representatives will be granted monthly stipends in the amount of $25 per hour of service. The time commitment is approximately 6 hours of service each month.  

Applicants should both live and attend school in Fairfax County, Fairfax City or Falls Church, and be a rising high school junior for the 2023-2024 school year.

Applications are due by September 15. Apply here.

Do you suspect that there’s a car tax evader in your neighborhood? Make a report online if you see a car with out-of-state license plates that’s routinely parked in your area. While no one likes paying taxes, we all pickup up the burden when others don’t pay their fair share.

Road safety is a top priority, and our officers are working hard to keep you safe on our County streets. With the “Road Shark” initiative, officers are focusing on high-accident areas to deter aggressive driving and reduce the number of crashes. This is a part of FCPD's 2023 Traffic Safety Initiative that features monthly themed projects to make our roads and County safer. Learn more.

Our police officers are utilizing new technology to close cases and recover more guns and drugs. The automated license plate reader systems have only been in action for 6 months but have already recovered 45 stolen vehicles, 11 firearms and located 5 missing persons. FCPD is always looking for new ways to keep our community safe, and utilizing new tools has proven to be effective and essential. Learn more.

Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services invites eligible child care providers to apply for $2.5 million in grants intended to help County child care providers recover from the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Child Care Provider Grant Program applications are due by July 21, at 11:59 p.m. The grant program uses funding received from the County's American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) COVID State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds allocation to bolster, support and preserve existing providers and services within the County. Grants range from $2,000--$15,000 depending on permit/license capacity and applications must be submitted by July 21. Apply here.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is looking to take composting at the Farmers Market to a whole new level by recycling 4 tons – 8,000 pounds – of compost during the month of June. All 10 farmers market locations now include food scrap drop-off sites where customers can dispose of food waste to be composted. Compostable food waste may be brought to the farmers markets in any type of container, but if you use a regular plastic bag, you will need to empty the bag into the collection container and throw the bag away separately. A complete list of items available for collection can be found on the Composting webpage. Learn more.

Are you a small business owner or thinking about becoming an entrepreneur? Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) use business experts from George Mason University to provide no-cost business counseling and training services to the small business community. Training and workshops cover business formation, marketing, pitch preparation, financing, SEO, cybersecurity, government contracting and more. Learn more.

Fairfax County is home to more than 750 miles of perennial streams, of which about 70% to 80% are in fair to very poor biological health. To address this, our Department of Public Works and Environmental Services regularly restores these streams to improve their water quality. Learn more.