Snow days

Hope folks have been able to plow out from under the snow. Kerry and I spent about 3 hours yesterday shoveling and the day before, about 2. Good workouts.

The City streets seem to be pretty clear. Have heard that not all residential areas are clear, but we're getting there. If you haven't had your street clear, call me at 202-243-8621. Or send an email to dan@danforfairfax.com. I'll get word to folks.

All in all, I think the City did a good job of getting our streets clear. Remember, too, that while the City of Fairfax is 6.3 square miles, our fair city is at the intersection of major roads like 50, 29, 236 and 123. So it's critical that our streets are clear for people to get from to and fro from east-west, north-south.

Thanks to all the hard working crews out there!

Governor Kaine's Budget: No Good For Fairfax City

Well,today was the day that Governor Kaine unveiled his budget that the next General Assembly and Governor-elect McDonnell will have to wrestle with.

I'll cut to the chase: It's dead on arrival and bad for the City of Fairfax. I hope it gets shot down.

With all due respect to the Governor whom I like, getting rid of the car tax relief program and having the General Assembly authorize a 1 percent local income tax is just not smart. It's not the Virginia way. We will be taxing middle class families at a time when we shouldn't be adding tax burdens such as this.

What troubles me most is that there was no creative thinking in the budget. Not even a discussion of offsetting revenues from a local income tax by decreasing the state income tax. Nope, just tax em. That won't fly with me.

Furthermore, the Governor wants to mess around with the composite index (which funds education)by freezing it. This would negatively effect Fairfax schools. So, no, I'm not happy with this and I hope the next Governor and General Assembly start with a clean slate.

While I'm on the point of budgets. Here's an idea: Why don't we restructure VDOT and give localities more control over roads while not raising taxes. Here's one way:

This could seem like a far-fetched idea, but as a way to fix transportation in Virginia we go back to the 1930s. More precisely, let's return Virginia's transportation system to pre-Byrd Act days when localities had control over the roads.

Until the Byrd Act, which gave the state authority and responsibility for almost all roads in the state, localities had to maintain them. Keep in mind, the "grand compromise" eliminated localities ability to tax income in exchange for getting funding from the state. That worked backed then because localities across the Commonwealth needed roads, period. Now there are more regional and local-specific needs.

So here's how it could work and be revenue neutral (this is key and needs work on the numbers side of the proposal) and cut a lot of red tape:

- Scale VDOT down to a size of 1,000 to 1,500 employees (now 7,500), only responsible for highway safety and maintenance on interstates
- Provide localities the ability to tax income with a cap, but the rate would have to be voted on by each local jurisdiction.
- Reduce the state income tax by 1-2 percent (or whatever percentage equals the amount now going to transportation and to offset the local income tax)
- Distribute federal/state gas tax revenues to localities by a formula that measures lane miles in a locality
- Provide a certain amount of seed money over a 5 year period for the transition
- Give localities the authority to build and maintain its own roads
- Require MOUs between adjoining localities on regional road projects so that there couldn't be a situation where only part of a road gets built

Clearly there are a ton of specifics that would need to be worked out, but I think that something radical needs to be done to really change the transportation dynamics in Virginia. I certainly support some of what the Governor-elect is looking to do, but it may only patch some of the long-standing issues we have with transportation as they are more structural.

The City is Ready: Let it Snow

With forecasters predicting up to a foot of snow, I contacted City Manager Bob Sisson and asked him about the City's plans. Here was his reply. I feel like we're ready. So drive safely and let's go sledding.

We have all equipment and materials ready to go. Crews will be focusing on

cleaning remaining leaves off the streets today and we hope to have this complete

by early afternoon. Then portions of the crews go home for sleep and return late evening

to start street surface preparation then snow removal and we will be working non-stop

until streets are clear. Different crews will be arriving for rolling shifts until finished.



The city has a “snow-desk” telephone #703 385 2629 which will be operational

beginning late this evening. This number, as well as other snow information

and advisories is provided on the web page.



Closings will be announced on Channel 12 and the web site.

The wife and kids on Channel 7/8

My wife and two boys are TV stars. Here they are talking about the recall of the H1N1 virus! She is so calm.

Check out the clip here.

Our growing City

I'm writing this from the newest Stabucks in the City. The one on Fairfax Boulevard where the old Frank's Nursery used to be. I'm here with my daughter, Sadie, just relaxing and enjoying each other's company. We try to get away and do this sort of thing after 9 a.m. Mass. She'll always be my little girl, but she's really growing up.

And so is our City. The juxtaposition of my comments isn't a mistake. It's a nod to the evolution of our City and its citizens. On the one hand we are certainly growing older (14 percent of the City's citizens are over 65), but we are also seeing a re-birth (pun intended) of families in the City, all looking for things to do, places to shape and schools that provide an excellent education (which they do).

It's a balancing act: Finding the right mix of development for the seasoned and the new. Ensuring that our senior citizens have experiences afforded to them that make their life here even better, but at the same time doing what we can to stimulate new citizen interest in their City.

I think we're doing a good job at that. I've started to see some new faces apply for boards and commissions, new parents coming to parks and I've seen signs, too, of civic engagement that point to a healthy City.

The economy has certainly brought to light what's really important in our lives. For me, it's the experiences of living in a place that has a sense of place. Whether it's playing at one of our parks, taking part in the Chocolate Lover's Festival or attending a City Council meeting to speak your mind, the City of Fairfax offers these experiences.

Newsletter - Holiday 2009

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

Happy Holidays from the Drummond Family. We hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are in the midst of enjoying this festive season. As this year comes to an end, I wanted to give you an update on the work the City Council has been doing on your behalf.

Be sure to check my blog - www.cornerof.com - for ongoing updates. You can also find me on Twitter (councilmandan) and Facebook.
We Care - Make Requests, Provide Feedback

The City has a new initiative to help citizens with requests or get feedback on how the City is doing. Just click on the "We Care" button (click here) on the City's homepage, www.FairfaxVA.gov. Staff will respond to your need or comment promptly. As always, if it is an emergency requiring police, fire or medical assistance call 911.

The City's Budget and Your Taxes

Reading the newspaper or watching the news one knows that government budgets (local, state, federal) are strapped. The City of Fairfax is no exception. The latest numbers from the City Manager indicate that our current budget is in a $2 million deficit and next year's budget is projected to be about $11 million in the red. This is due to a number of factors including:

- A $2 million payment to our retirement fund
- Increased City children enrollment in City schools
- Increased costs of materials

These budget figures do not include any pay raises, additional hiring or any additional discretionary items. On top of this, I think we will see an additional decrease in state aid, further compounding our problems.

In other words, as the City Council assembles the budget, we will have to make some hard decisions about what services City residents both truly want and absolutely need.

We all want a fair and low real estate tax rate. We still maintain the lowest in Northern Virginia at 88 cents per $100 assessed. At this point, I actually think we can achieve the tax equalization rate and ensure that services residents want are maintained. We will have to cut in areas that may not be absolutely necessary during these times and find innovative ways to streamline City government.

We live in a great City with services even Fairfax County residents envy. But we also must face fiscal reality. It will certainly be a balancing act for the Council. Here is a link to the staff report updating the Council and the community.
Development in the City
• The City of Fairfax is open for business. Our economic development officer, Geoff Durham, gave a recent presentation to the Central Chamber of Commerce and what it showed was that despite the battered the economy, the City is doing well attracting investment and new business. Click here to see the presentation.
• Best Buy is open! The Best Buy in Fair City Mall has opened to rave reviews and from the looks of the lines, it's doing very well. Click here to visit the store's Facebook page.
• The Sherwood Community Center is coming to closer to a reality. The City has received multiple bids for constructing the Center. We expect staff to make recommendations on a bid soon. A groundbreaking will soon follow.
• Madison Homes has been selected to redevelop the Old Library site, pending all of the proper approvals. They would be building 26 high-end townhouses. The townhomes are in keeping with the Old Town area's architecture and is complementary of adjacent properties. Here is a link to the staff report.
Other Notable Actions
• The City mourns the loss of former Councilman and School Board member Gene Moore. Gene was a dear friend of mine and helped me get my start in City affairs. A kind man with a clear opinion about many things, Gene could often be found at the McDonald's on Old Lee Highway with friends, having coffee and breakfast and holding court with visitors. Godspeed, Gene. You will be missed.
• Standard & Poor's has upgraded the City's bond rating to "AAA." Only 5% of all cities in the United States get this rating and the City of Fairfax is now one of four cities in all of Virginia. This rating is reflective of the City's strong fiscal health, prudent management of taxpayer funds and provides the City lower overall borrowing costs.
• The City of Fairfax observed Veterans' Day this year as an official holiday. This was made possible by Council action I led during the summer. It was an honor for the Council to make this change as a way to recognize all that our veterans have done for our community and country. Along with American Legion Post 177 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8469, Mayor Rob Lederer and Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova led ceremonies at the Old Fairfax Courthouse, laying a wreath in honor of those City and County residents who made the ultimate sacrifice.
• The Council has approved a legislative packet that includes support for the General Assembly to pass legislation that would require health insurance companies to provide some coverage to individuals with autism. This is the second year the Council has approved this resolution I sponsored. Here is a link to the resolution as part of the staff report.
• The City has established an Environmental Sustainability Committee. This Committee was formed by Council to get input from citizens how the City could be even more "green." Kudos to Councilman Steve Stombres for his leadership in creating this Committee.
• Speaking of being green, the City of Fairfax was honored by the Virginia Municipal League for achieving "green" status. I was lucky enough to represent the City and accept thee award on its behalf.

Have a wonderful holiday and a very Happy New Year!

As always, please contact me at ddrummond@fairfaxva.gov or 703-268-0541 if you need assistance with anything.

Cheers,
Dan Drummond

Busy weekend - Lights and Carols

You know it's the holiday season in the City of Fairfax when we have the Lights and Carols celebration and the lighting of our City tree. While the Lights and Carols is scaled back a bit from past events, I'm sure it will still prove to be a great time.

Here are the details for the weekend.

Event Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009

Old Town Hall & Kitty Pozer Garden

3999 University Drive, City of Fairfax

Lunch with Santa

* Seatings: 11:30, 12:15 or 1pm at Old Town Hall
* Fee: $5 per child (max. 5 ticket purchase)
* For ages 12 and under
* Tickets go on sale November 2 at the Parks & Recreation office:10455 Armstrong Street and Green Acres Center: 4401 Sideburn Road
* Lunch will be: Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets, cookies & juice

Click here for a copy of the Lunch with Santa flyer.

Lighting of the Christmas Tree

Kitty Pozer Garden, next to Old Town Hall
5 – 6pm
Caroling and bell ringing with the Jubil-Aires and Good News Ringers

The City of Fairfax will provide reasonable accommodations upon request. To request special accommodations or for further information, call the City of Fairfax Parks & Recreation Department at 703.385.7858 or visit www.fairfaxva.gov. Please allow seven working days in advance of the event in order to make the necessary arrangements.

And common sense prevails ...

Loudoun reverses ban on displays at courthouse

By Derek Kravitz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Bowing to an outpouring of protests from residents, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors reversed a week-old rule Tuesday that had banned public displays, including Nativity scenes and Christmas trees, at the county courthouse.

Supervisors voted 7 to 1 to allow community groups "equal access" to the courthouse grounds. The supervisor who voted to keep the ban, James Burton (I-Blue Ridge), said he feared that extremist groups would turn the century-old courthouse in downtown Leesburg into a "public circus."

Dozens of residents carrying signs and wearing Christmas red showed up at a county meeting Monday night to protest the rule, saying that it would ruin the county's holiday parade, set for Dec. 12. A decorated Christmas tree and a Nativity scene have been seasonal fixtures on the courthouse lawn for decades.

More than 1,000 people signed a petition against the policy, and several members of the Leesburg Town Council, including the mayor, voiced opposition to it.

A resident-led county committee that handles issues related to Loudoun grounds and facilities voted unanimously last week to bar any structures, religious or otherwise, from the lawn of the courthouse, citing the increasing number of requests by residents to use it as a public meeting space.

Members of the committee, who are appointed by supervisors, said they had studied the issue for more than a year, consulting with Loudoun County Attorney John R. "Jack" Roberts and evaluating two dozen court decisions.

Ben Lawrence, 79, chairman of the grounds and facilities committee and a Leesburg resident, said he was baffled by the reversal. He said the ban was not instituted solely to push out religious displays but to protect the 19th-century redbrick courthouse from damage.

"We really don't understand," Lawrence said Tuesday after the board voted. "We'll have to see what happens, but we think this means anything goes, and, if that's the case, my goodness gracious."

Supervisors said they had been told that the ban could have a chilling effect on First Amendment rights.

"We are looking at an issue that came down to the core of some people's beliefs and traditions," said Supervisor Kelly Burk (D-Leesburg), who proposed the reversal. "We want to make sure that all the requests are treated fairly under the law."

Phil Rusciolelli, 63, a member of the Leesburg Rotary Club whose original request to put up the tree and Nativity scene on the courthouse lawn this year was denied, said he was "very happy the board responded so quickly." Rotary Club members plan to install the displays this weekend, he said.