Coraggio Consulting
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Meeting, Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Place: Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Virginia
Length: 4h 59m (video)
Official meeting video (Fairfax County): https://video.fairfaxcounty.gov/player/clip/3833
Official Board of Supervisors page (Fairfax County): https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/boardofsupervisors/

Machine transcript (speech-to-text) produced by Coraggio Consulting. Not an official county record. Names and numbers may be misspelled; check the video at the timestamp before quoting.
Speech-to-text: whisper.cpp, model large-v3-turbo. Produced 2026-10-29. Timestamps are [HH:MM:SS] into the meeting video.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

[00:00:05] Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our Board of Supervisors meeting of June 10, 2025. And we have a lot on this morning's agenda and a packed house, which is great to see. We are going to do what we always do, which is we will start our meeting with remembrances to folks in our community that we've lost.

[00:00:25] We will then, for those who are able, we'll stand for a moment of silence to be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. And then after that, we'll move into our more formal presentations. And as we start this morning, I know every member of this board and many folks in our Fairfax County community begin our meeting with a heavy heart.

[00:00:46] It's been a tough six months for Fairfax County with the passing of first Supervisor Highland, which we memorialized at a previous board meeting. And then, of course, last month, we lost a legend in Fairfax County and Congressman and Chairman Connolly.

[00:01:05] And, of course, our supervisor from Hunter Mill District, previous supervisor, Kathy Hudgens, shortly thereafter. And so we're going to begin our meeting today first. We're going to play a video tribute to Congressman Connolly.

[00:01:22] I'm going to ask my colleagues if they want to share any thoughts after that video. We then will play a tribute video to the life of Supervisor Kathy Hudgens, and again, we'll ask if anyone would like to provide additional comments on that.

[00:01:37] And then after that, we will recognize others in our community that we have lost and want to keep in our thoughts and prayers this morning since the last time the Board of Supervisors met. And before we play Congressman Connolly's video, I think everyone knows, sadly, we lost Congressman Connolly last month after a battle with esophageal cancer, and Jerry was a friend and mentor of mine for 30 years, and I know a lot of people in this auditorium can say the same thing about Jerry being a friend and mentor for, in some cases, more than 30 years.

[00:02:12] His tenacity and vision, of course, made Fairfax County the powerhouse that it is today. And I know, having served with him, that his impact is felt on all of us at this dais, who he represented throughout his career, a true public servant.

[00:02:28] And no matter what elected office he held, Jerry always made time for everyone and to have the personal conversations with people. And I know since his passing, just a number of people have come up to me and told me stories about the difference in their lives that Jerry made and wanted to share that real impact with us because at the end of the day, at a lot of legislative successes, certainly the Cross County Trail and Oakton Library jump out, but I think his true legacy is in the personal relationships that he had with so many people in this auditorium and watching.

[00:03:05] And to honor Jerry, our friends at Channel 16, as they always do in moments like this, have put together a tribute video, and at this time I would ask that we play that video.

[00:03:40] God. Hi, this is Jerry Conley. And as you know, I have the honor of representing the 11th District of Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives. I'm also honored to welcome you all to the 20th annual Fairfax County History Conference. I represent a very large portion of Fairfax County in Congress and has served as both Providence District Supervisor and as Chairman of the County and the Board of Supervisors. So this county and its residents have a very special place in my heart. It was a renewal of our values because you know what? Those terrorists were not

[00:04:18] attacking the military might of America. They were attacking who we are, our values. That's what scared them. What we stood for was antithetical to what they stood for, freedom. I'm very proud of the fact that we were able to do that. I'm so honored that it would be named after me because it's kind of a living memorial that means a lot to me and I hope to the county as well. It's a legacy. Replenning Mirafield, what's called Mosaic now, was entirely my project. And it's one of the first things I did when I got on the board. To go there now, that was an old dumpy movie there. Now

[00:04:57] it's this very vibrant place people have chosen to live in and work in and dine and recreate. So those things give you a great deal of satisfaction. And whatever it costs, and whatever the overruns, It's a return on investment.

[00:05:14] The return on this investment will be, I believe, incalculable as we go forward in the future and will improve the quality of life and the environment for everybody. I would end on just urging everybody, you know, bloom where you're planted, wherever you're living, even if it's temporary.

[00:05:33] Find your niche because every one of those contributions makes a difference as a building block for a vibrant life.

[00:05:47] Let me thank Channel 16 for that great video. And we certainly will make that video available to be used in other venues as we continue to honor Jerry. And, you know, Fairfax County lost the legend for sure. But one thing is absolutely certain, and that is that Jerry loved Fairfax County and Fairfax County loved him back.

[00:06:10] And so I want to also recognize his wife, Smitty, who is here, as well as Maddie White, who was a fixture, always with Jerry Connolly at so many events in Fairfax County. Thank you all both for being here this morning and, most importantly, for sharing Jerry with this community that loved him.

[00:06:30] And with that, others who would like to say a few words, and I'm going to begin with Supervisor Walkinshaw. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to Channel 16. An incredible job on the video, and, you know, I've had a lot of opportunities over the last few weeks to talk to people about Jerry and his legacy, and the word that I have used consistently is singular. He is a singular figure in Fairfax County, in Virginia, and in the nation in terms

[00:07:04] of our politics, and he was passionate about local government and local engagement. I am very confident he will be the only person in history to be the two-time president of the Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations and the two-time president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. And I think that completely encapsulates his career of service to this community at every

[00:07:38] single level. And the work that takes place in this building and across Fairfax County continues to be shaped today by his work and his impacts and his leadership. So much of what we do at this dais is carrying on work that he began. And I know all of us are very committed to that.

[00:08:03] I'll just say, you know, personally, it's been a hard loss for me, but I'm really grateful for the time that we we had together um when he was diagnosed last year uh we we we committed to having breakfast together every weekend so we just about every Saturday we were at the Silver Diner in Merrifield you might have seen us there and uh we had a lot of conversations about about politics of course but more conversations about life and and and family and and the people that

[00:08:36] love and how to care for them and engage with them. And I learned a lot from him about all of those things. And I'm really grateful for that and grateful for all of you and so many folks in the community who have supported him and supported Smitty and Caitlin through this struggle. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Supervisor Walkinshaw. Supervisor Lasky. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the comments from my colleague here, and I'll say I feel the same. It was a great

[00:09:11] opportunity to work for Jerry. I had the honor to serve when he first got elected as the province district supervisor. He and I worked on land use and zoning cases, and I got a really big smile as I looked at that video because Jerry came into the office one day and said, Rodney, we've got to do something with that corner at 29 and Gallus. I'm tired of looking at those gargoyles hanging off the side of that building. I'm tired of looking at those U-Haul rental and crane

[00:09:46] establishments, and we've got to figure out something different for that location. And I'll say, when he first said that to me, I was like, oh, what do I do? And the first thing I did was we put together some meetings, and I'll say the community, the business community, it all came together on the vision for what is now Mosaic. And I just appreciate having the opportunity to work for a leader like him, who active in listening, so committed to service. And really, I think

[00:10:21] government is about action. And what I learned from Jerry, and I try to exemplify it here in my own role, is that you've got to do things. You can talk, but you've got to actually make something happen. And he was so effective at that in so many ways. And the last point I'll say that I just really appreciated about him was how he was able to see in others things they might not have seen themselves. I worked in human services for four years when I came to work for Jerry, and I did not

[00:10:59] have any experience in land use or zoning, but he knew there's something about the conversation that we had something about other conversations he had where he gave me an opportunity and because of him I sit here I sit at this dais and I do the work that I do in my district and have the heart for this work because of watching him his passionate commitment he is singular he is one of a kind he is special in so many ways thank you Mr. Chairman thank you Supervisor Lusk uh Supervisor

[00:11:37] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So good to see you, Smitty. This is very hard for so many. My family moved here in 1989. There's no Fairfax without Jerry for me. He was, at the time, the president of the Mantua Citizens Association, helping fight for the community after that oil spill.

[00:12:02] He became Providence Supervisor, Chairman, Congressman. Caitlin grew up with my sister, and for me, as an immigrant and children of immigrants, he was the leader of the county, and he made it the incredible county it is today.

[00:12:23] People don't realize, back in that time, we were not a majority-minority county, right? We were about 90% white population, and Jerry and his commitment to the community, to making it such an incredible place to live, to being a visionary, the number one thing I think Jerry really was, was a visionary.

[00:12:48] He saw what was there, whether it was our old dilapidated multiplex or a park system that needed incredible trails for the community. I don't know if you saw it the other day, but we've been working on the Aiken Community Park for years now.

[00:13:05] It's still on school board, and it looks amazing. Right on Prosperity, it is finally coming along. And now all I think about is Jerry and the trail where so many of us learn to ride our bikes and to love and fall in love with nature.

[00:13:23] And Mosaic District, I don't know that I would move back to Fairfax without that. It really created a sense of community and place for us to come together in a county that was built around the automobile. To really create places for people of every generation, background, ability, economic background, to be able to just be, work, and play.

[00:13:48] That is his biggest legacy for me as someone growing up here and attempting to follow in his footsteps. So I thank you, Smitty and Caitlin, for all you've given to us and all the years that Jerry was with us and helped create a community and helped inspire future leaders.

[00:14:08] You have Chris Falcon, our clerk of the county board, the first Latino elected. We both grew up in Mantua, children of immigrants. And I don't think we would be where we are today without Jerry and his legacy and the incredible people he's inspired.

[00:14:25] So thank you. And finally, I know we're doing the Barbara Verone Awards today, and an incredible community leader who I know is a dear friend and neighbor of yours as well. So I'm so grateful that you're here with us today. Thank you.

[00:14:41] Supervisor Alcorn. Well, I'm going to pile on just a little bit. One of the things that strikes me and has all along is Jerry always gave it his all. Whatever it was that he did, he was all in.

[00:15:01] And what that meant was sometimes you had to watch out. I'll bring up a situation. When I was in the Providence Supervisor's Office as a staff member, one of my issues was this kind of sleepy backwater thing called the environment.

[00:15:21] And then as Jerry used to like to say, oil was discovered in Mantua. It was no longer a sleepy backwater issue. But, you know, Jerry, Jerry did an amazing job back then, you know, advocating for his community, organizing, making things happen.

[00:15:44] And, you know, in some ways up here, we like to talk about how, you know, what moves the needle. And I think with Jerry, I think sometimes Jerry was the needle, you know, both in the sense of, you know, the metric, you know, the barometer of where things needed to be but also as a needler on these things you know i'll just mention one more example you know i'm i'm here and i know some of my colleagues have have pride buttons on you know pride world pride just happened you know when jerry came to the board

[00:16:21] that was not something anybody talked about that was not an appropriate issue for discussion and in this county, Jerry changed that. All of a sudden it was. It was a human right. And so we do have a lot of things to thank Jerry for. And I'm just blessed to have known him and been mentored as well. Thank you. Thank you. Supervisor Stork. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[00:16:55] And I like the needler as well as the driver because that's my experience. I first on the school board. That was my connection. It's about relationships. I think this is really what we all are about. We connect in different ways and different people and they have different impacts on us. And Jerry was get stuff done. And on the school board in particular, I appreciate a couple things that he did that he recognized something that was blowing the wrong way and he could do something to fix it. And I've had some conversations with you all about the issue we had in South

[00:17:32] Lakes was a major boundary issue, a huge problem for everybody. Although people on the southeastern side of the county was less so, but we knew it was a big deal and we heard about it. And we also had a school at Westlake, which they'd added a wing onto, which gave it more capacity. And so Jerry saw the wind that was blowing for South County. And the wind that was blowing to South County was a major boundary study, major boundary community disruption, and Jerry said we could make that a little bit better, and he basically put together $10 million that he got the boards

[00:18:09] of support that the county gave to the schools, and that $10 million was the difference between having a major community disruption and getting the South County Middle School built, which ultimately saved $35 million. It was a huge benefit to the community. That, along with myself and the community and others who really advocated and worked hard to make that up.

[00:18:29] So that was getting something done that made a real difference. The other part that particularly was powerful to me is in working with Jerry Highland and Jerry Connelly. The two of them were like, in some ways, peas in a pod, right? They were Boston Poles who just connected on so many different levels.

[00:18:47] And for me, that was about moxie, the drink moxie, because that was always part of the exchange, or eggs or vegetables or whatever Jerry Highland might bring. And that was always the expected payoff that Jerry Highland had to give to Jerry Connolly to make sure that he quote-unquote came to the Mount Vernon Town meeting.

[00:19:06] But in reality, it was a love for each other and a love for people and connections and making a difference, and I got to be the beneficiary of observing that. And that trend, that process, continued up until really this year When both of them, I mean, when Jerry passed and we got a chance to honor him, and Jerry Connolly was absolutely the right person to honor and help us all understand.

[00:19:33] We're the folks that are left to try to help others understand the powerful impact that Jerry Connolly had on us and the relationships that were so critical to getting things done and making a difference in our community. And for that, I will be eternally grateful. And the fact that he called me Danny, that's one of those things that I will never remember.

[00:19:52] forget, and I mentioned that to Smitty and Caitlin last night, how powerful just that word and that connection, that personalization made to me, and I know for many of you had the similar kinds of experiences, so thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

[00:20:08] Supervisor Jimenez. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and hello, Smitty and Matty. It's great to see you here today, and as mentioned, thank you, Channel 16, for that wonderful video that showed a lot of you, and I'm sure there's a lot of good reminiscing there. Jeff, I saw you smiling quite a lot there, so that was good to see.

[00:20:26] You know, one of the things is in this life, a lot of people, some people in this life just show up and stand out, and Jerry was one of those people. And Mr. Bierman and I have some experiences together working with Jerry while we were running, and we had a lot of laughs, and, you know, just like so many of us, we can call Congressman Connolly a friend and mentor.

[00:20:49] But one of the things that I want to say here is that though this is a very sad time, for Fairfax County and for so many of us, including his family and those who worked with him. What I want to really emphasize is that it's also a time to celebrate. It's a time to celebrate all the achievements, all the laughs, all the amazing things that Congressman Connolly gave.

[00:21:09] He gave to his community and gave to all of us. And so with that, I just want to say that Congressman Connolly not only showed up, but he made a difference. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Supervisor Behrman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And, you know, on that same note, I've never been at a funeral with so much clapping as Jerry Connelly's.

[00:21:28] In some ways, it was the happiest funeral I've ever been to because absolutely nobody could be sad about the amazing life that he lived. I'm glad, you know, when you go last, you always worry somebody else is going to tell your story.

[00:21:44] I remember we were doing a tribute video for Jerry, and I got there, and I practiced my lines in the car, And I said something about, you know, Jerry Connolly helping everyone from the person who needed a social security check to, you know, the resident to this or that to the guy with a dead deer in his yard.

[00:22:03] And the guy was filming the video, Jack Corral, he goes, you're the fifth person to tell that story. And if you saw that tribute video, you saw Jerry telling this wonderful story about the guy who called him up at 615 in the morning or woman called him up and said, you know, there's a dead deer in my yard.

[00:22:20] What are you going to do about it? And Jerry said, well, have you thought about calling animal control? And he said, why would I wake them? And, you know, the thing about that story, the amazing thing about Jerry is, you know, what Supervisor Palachuk said, visionary, or somebody said visionary.

[00:22:40] Then what James said about Supervisor Walkinshaw, local and the world, all in. Everything with Jerry was all in from the littlest problem in the world to the biggest problem in the world. And I think, you know, how many people on this board worked for Jerry?

[00:23:00] I mean, raise your hands. Look, three. Three worked directly for Jerry. The rest of us worked for him in other ways. He made sure of that. But, you know, I think these days I just I kind of see Jerry everywhere in my job because, you know, in this job, you show up at work and you don't really know what's going to happen that day.

[00:23:20] So yesterday there was a bear in Herndon. Seriously, there was a bear on Eldon Street in Herndon. Now, luckily, the Herndon police were handling that. I didn't get too many calls about that. But I think Jerry is probably somewhere laughing his tail off about the bear in Herndon.

[00:23:40] And the random stuff that we deal with every day. And I know he would have figured out how to solve that problem. I'll only close by saying one thing also about Jerry, which I think is really important. We can talk about his public life. We can talk about the fact that he always showed up.

[00:23:56] But when I sat down with him and I was considering running for the seat, he said, I had a small child at the time. My kid was three. There are three of us with kids who are five and under on the board right now. Andres' kids are a little older, Jeff's kids are a little older, and Jeff had kids this age when he first ran.

[00:24:16] And he said, whatever you do, make sure that you're around for your kid. He said, when you get on the board, they're going to ask you to go to everything. He said, you can't go to everything. You got to pick and choose. You got to stay in your district. You got to be around for your kid. I try to take that to heart.

[00:24:33] Of course, I told that to Caitlin, and she said, well, yeah, but you just brought me everywhere. And by the way, if you've seen my social media, you know I do the exact same. My son's with me always, but that is the type of advice that Jerry would give people.

[00:24:50] Remember your family, remember your constituents, remember everybody, and go all in. Thanks. Thank you. Supervisor Smith. Hard to go after that. I was fortunate to first work with Jerry when I was chair of the school board, and he was chair of the board here.

[00:25:08] But, you know, my family and I would talk, especially these last few years, that we felt safer because Jerry was in Congress protecting all of us and fighting for all of us. And he would come out to Western Fairfax Christian Ministries when we did our food drives.

[00:25:26] And he was always sure to tell people, thank you for volunteering. You make a difference in this community. And I think his service was so important in Congress because he started out at the grassroots and knew local government and knew what people needed and how to get it done.

[00:25:45] It just, he is sorely missed because he really cared about all of us. Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Smith. And I just want to close by just highlighting a couple things we heard here that I think are important. And there was a lot of laughter, and Jerry would have really enjoyed that.

[00:26:04] Because the one thing he did, there's a lot of photos of me laughing, is he made you laugh. And I always looked forward to going to an event where Jerry was because he would always say something to you that you at least could get a laugh out of.

[00:26:19] And that is so necessary in this world that we live in right now, And especially for the work of bodies like this to be able to enjoy a moment every once in a while. And Jerry was at the center of so many enjoyable moments for so many of us.

[00:26:35] He was a visionary for sure, but also a doer. And one of the things that Jerry always said is, to me at least, you know, you can have great vision, you can give a great speech, but can you get the job done? You have to have a strategy and know what it is you want to achieve.

[00:26:50] And Jerry did that so many times. And then finally, the outpouring from this community for Jerry has been inspiring over the last couple weeks, I think, for all of us. And something that Supervisor Beerman said about family, I just wanted to emphasize, you know, all the way back in 2007, when I first ran for office, Jerry said to me a very similar thing that he said to Jimmy about family.

[00:27:16] And, you know, my child wasn't born yet. And here 18 years later, I still think about that because when we were sworn into office in 2008, right on the other side of this wall, my daughter was 10 days old and Jerry was holding her.

[00:27:34] And he said, don't forget. So to that, I say, Jerry, we love you. We love you. And so Smitty, I hope you feel it. This community, they love Jerry and always will.

[00:27:52] So thank you for sharing him. With that, as hard as that is, we're going to move on to remember another true legend in our community, and that was former Hunter Middle District Supervisor Kathy Hudgens. And Kathy and I were seatmates on this dais for a long time, but we were also seatmates at WMATA.

[00:28:15] And Kathy, we were at her service just recently, certainly the first of many in Fairfax County, first African-American elected to this board, but also instrumental in working with me, I think, on one of the most important things we ever did in Fairfax County, which is adopting our one Fairfax policy.

[00:28:36] And equity was at the center of everything that Kathy Hudgens did, everything that she fought for. Again, a leader who, you know, there are landmarks in place all over Fairfax County and Hunter Mill District that wouldn't be there without Kathy. But hearing some of the testimonies about her life at her service and the contributions that she made, what a huge loss for all of us, certainly for the people in Hunter Mill District, but also throughout Fairfax County.

[00:29:05] And because she was my seatmate for so long, we worked on so many things together, and I'll never forget the time that Kathy and I kind of hatched an idea that, you know, maybe our kids in middle school and high school should be able to ride the connector bus for free because many kids who stay after school don't have parents who can give them a ride home.

[00:29:29] Many kids who leave school have jobs to go to that don't take them to their house, and wouldn't it be great if we could teach young people how to use transit, respect the environment, and also give them the same freedom that every other kid in a Fairfax County public school has.

[00:29:47] And I remember the conversations with her about how hard that was going to be to do and how much resistance we were going to get and then whether people would actually use the service or not. And, you know, I remember telling her much later, why did we worry about that? Because our community believes in these types of equity things.

[00:30:06] And so hard sometimes was for us to be able to get policies in place to promote equity. It wasn't hard to come up with the idea. Sometimes it was hard to have the courage to come forward and say this is what we should do and to hope that your community is there supporting you.

[00:30:22] And I know that for Kathy, that was at the heart of everything she did, and certainly so much of our policies in Fairfax County that improve the lives of all people, including the most vulnerable, are in place because of Kathy Hudgens. And with that, we do have another video that Channel 16 put together in tribute to Kathy Hudgens, if we could play that.

[00:30:43] I really want to thank all of you for participating in this opening and ribbon cutting because it's really, really critical in terms of us defining the future of transportation and using this as a going-forward measure for us.

[00:31:10] Vesper Trail represents just another important way for the residents to access that part of Tyson's Corner. I came along Route 7, and guess what? It took a long time. And I thought, gee, I really wish there was another way.

[00:31:27] And this is the way. I, Catherine and Hudgens, do solemnly swear. When I think about serving on the Board of Supervisors, I call it a continuum of my life. And one of the most enjoyable things is serving and finding solutions for people in need.

[00:31:44] When we purchased the Crescent, those families continued in our community. So it's not only the affordability of the house, it's where the house can be to be part of community that receives the thriving services. Well, this is an exciting day that we are opening up the Hunter Mill District and Police Station, which is the North County Governmental Center, and it really serves the entire community.

[00:32:10] This is the part about the One Fairfax and how we look at our budget and all of our policies to see whether or not we really are moving really in a measured way that says this budget is looking at the entire community and making decisions about how we move forward in a truly equitable way.

[00:32:29] So again, I want to thank Channel 16 for putting together that video.

[00:32:51] Definitely captured Kathy in so many ways, so thank you very much. With that, I'm going to recognize Supervisor Alcorn. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Boy, Channel 16 really did a great job. This really did, I think, capture both Jerry and Kathy very well.

[00:33:08] You mentioned some of the things I was going to say in terms of her legacy. went Fairfax, her service on the Metro Board, the student bus pass program. You know, in so many ways, I find myself striving to live up to her legacy as the 100 mil supervisor.

[00:33:30] And much of what she did, I think it's important for us to remember, she overcame obstacles that certainly I never had to overcome, that really any of us had to overcome. She grew up in segregated schools in Arkansas.

[00:33:49] You know, she moved to Reston, and this was something the chairman and I heard at her memorial service, and she used to talk about this. She and her husband, who was a Justice Department lawyer, moved to Reston in 1969, in large part because there was really no other place that met their standards where they, as black residents, could live.

[00:34:15] You know, this is not an ancient history. This is something that my predecessor and the woman that served with several of you lived. So let's don't forget that.

[00:34:31] Let's continue working on her legacy and continue to move things forward. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Supervisor Herdy. Yes, what I think I admire most about Kathy was that she was such a genuine person and everything she did truly came from her heart.

[00:34:50] She was incredibly kind and genuine. No surprise, I didn't always agree with her on policy issues, but I always respected that she was consistent with what she believed and what she did came from her heart, and she's got an incredibly long list of accomplishments, and Fairfax County will certainly miss her.

[00:35:13] Supervisor Stork. I just really wanted to channel for a minute something that I know everybody here on the table knows and has heard countless times about the power of early childhood education.

[00:35:32] As a school board member particularly, I served, we had a couple joint committees of the school board and board of supervisors, as well as ultimately Skip was formed at the time to try to focus and channel that energy into making a difference in the earliest days of a child's life.

[00:35:50] And we have a long way to go still, which is maybe still one of the issues that we've got to address and make a difference, but we no doubt that her consistent, incredibly strong advocacy got the county to do more and more each year. And I know in the end, we're going to need the state to step up and do more to really make that possible, but there's no doubt that she was absolutely right. Early childhood education is the foundation for equity and ultimately enabling our children to reach their potential.

[00:36:22] And I just wanted to recognize and support her advocacy and, frankly, her passion to make that happen. Thank you. Thank you. Supervisor Palachuk. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Well, I didn't get a chance to serve on this board with Kathy.

[00:36:38] I was fortunate to be on the school board. And I will never forget the first time I met Kathy in person. And it was visiting the opening, the dinner with the hypothermia shelter. It was my first time attending one of those events and gatherings in a church and feeling confidence talking to her and seeing someone who, as Supervisor Herity said, really her whole heart was in doing what was right for the community.

[00:37:08] Whether it was housing, human services, early childhood education, it was a time when I knew on the school board many of us were saying we've become a tale of two cities or two counties. here in Fairfax County and the fact that Cathy always stood by that, worked with the chairman on Fairfax and really led us to really start to begin on this important work of why so many of us are here, one for these offices, and want to make sure that we continue to ensure every single person

[00:37:42] in our community has a voice and is treated with dignity and respect and the housing and the services that they deserve and so every morning now there are two things i ask myself what would jerry do when i'm looking at the land use case and what would kathy do when we're talking about health housing and human services and i'm so grateful that um none of my colleagues wanted it as badly as i did and and uh being able to chair health and housing and human services every day um and then the last thing is that at the last shelter i visited there are people who've

[00:38:18] been doing this for so many decades and hosting for so many decades, that one of them, when I told her Tom Fleetwood is now the head of the housing department, she said, Tommy, I taught him in fifth grade. He was such an incredible student. And we truly have raised and continue to raise dedicated leaders here in Fairfax.

[00:38:37] So I'm always grateful for Kathy and her entire family who we recently saw at our leadership Fairfax breakfast. Thank you, Supervisor Palchuk. Supervisor Lusk. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll just join in with my colleagues and just appreciate the exceptional service and dedication of Supervisor Hudgens to this community.

[00:39:01] And when I think about her, too, I think about her from a human services and housing perspective, but I also think about her from an economic development perspective. I mean, her advocacy for the extension of the silver line and really making sure that we could open up those areas for future growth and development are pivotal to our economic vitality and pivotal to our economic future.

[00:39:27] She's special in many ways as well, and I just appreciate her legacy for also inspiring me. I serve on this board also because of her and acknowledge the pillars upon which we all stand and the work that we do, it's not us alone, and that there are lessons and there are people who come before us who've helped pave the way. And it is important for us to acknowledge their contributions and acknowledge their impact in our service. And I just want to say I appreciate

[00:40:03] so much what she's done. And I also want to thank her family. I don't think they're here today, but I want to thank them for allowing us to also have Kathy in service for 20 years. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Supervisor Lewis. Supervisor Smith. Kathy's caring that everyone was able to achieve, I think, really came out in the work that happened with Skip, with you and her doing that.

[00:40:31] And I think we approved that back in 2017. And you look at how her thoughtfulness and her caring for everybody came into this policy that now affects everything we do, because we are a county and a community that cares that everyone has that ability to achieve.

[00:40:49] And that's a pretty powerful legacy to leave. Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Smith. And I want to close by reminding folks about that because it was such a passionate thing for Kathy. And that equity policy started at this dais.

[00:41:05] And it started over a debate over the school's budget. And I remember it like it was yesterday because Kathy and I were talking about it before the meeting started and had righteous anger. Over the fact that at that time, the schools were reducing funding for Project Excel and Project Focus, which was money that went into Title I schools to help kids who had the most learning challenges and had demographic barriers put in their place to help fund those schools at a higher level and help those kids achieve.

[00:41:39] And yet, at the opposite end of the spectrum, there were no reductions for other programs like GT and advanced placement and some of the other elements. And we had a debate about, you know, the public schools being a necessary entity to educate all students.

[00:41:56] And that means making special accommodations for some students who need them so that they can succeed. And I've never seen Kathy as angry as she was over that. And she said to me she'd never seen me as angry as I was over that. And we really came together because as someone who was born and raised on the Route 1 corridor and someone who had Kathy's background, we both had seen so many injustices, not just where Kathy grew up in the South, but also injustices right here in Fairfax County.

[00:42:28] with the way certain parts of this county and certain zip codes were not getting the resources and the attention of this county government that they needed. And so that dust-up is what led to a conversation about our equity policy. And I remember Carla Bruce bringing Kathy and I together to talk about how we're going to address this issue in the county because what we don't want is 10 new programs to help address inequities.

[00:42:55] What we wanted was a very real, authentic conversation with our community about inequities and the risk that that brought. And without Kathy standing there with me and with Carla at the time saying this community is mature enough to have a conversation about race in a constructive way and injustices that have led to disparities, not just in our country, but in our county, our beloved county, Fairfax.

[00:43:23] And we owe it to those people to do better. And it was not an easy process, but it would not have been successful without Kathy's contributions and passion. And I remember her saying to me, isn't it great that we have two supervisors sitting next to each other from two very different areas of the county, almost as far southeast as you can be and almost as far to the west as you can be in Hunter Mill District, to come together and be able to address inequity in Fairfax County.

[00:43:52] And if there is any legacy of Kathy's that will live on forever, it was that. And I don't know many things that made her more proud because that is, as others have said, now the policy of the county that we will intentionally look at every decision we make and make sure that we are not compounding in equities that exist.

[00:44:11] Even down to things like where we decide to put a bus stop becomes an issue of equity. And we have to think about it that way. And I believe that because we do, we're building a better Fairfax County for all people. And for that, I salute Kathy. And as was said, we were at her memorial service.

[00:44:29] Her sons did a phenomenal job talking about Kathy as the mom to the part that we didn't necessarily see as closely. But Kathy, rest in peace. This community loved you as well. And so with that, I'm going to ask my colleagues if there's anyone else they would like to recognize.

[00:44:48] And I appreciate everyone bearing with us this morning. This is a heavy morning for all of us, but an important one. And after I recognize them, we will rise for those who are able for a moment of silence to be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. And before I turn to others, I do want to recognize that obviously last month we witnessed the heinous murder of two young Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C., and have seen some attacks on peaceful protesters in Colorado.

[00:45:18] And it's just a reminder that, you know, throughout this country, we've seen an increase in religious intolerance, anti-Semitic attacks. And I just want to be clear that in Fairfax County, along the lines of what we just talked about, that there is no place for hate or bigotry or violence of any kind against any people, period, any people.

[00:45:42] And that given these latest attacks on members of our Jewish community in particular, our Fairfax County Police Department has met with leaders, has increased presence around our houses of worship. And I want to thank Chief Davis for doing that and just remind everyone that as a county, we are committed and even more committed now during these difficult times to fostering an environment of inclusion where all people are respected and absolutely safe.

[00:46:10] here in the safest county of our size in the United States of America, and we will condemn any attacks against any people for any reason, especially for things like bigotry and racial and or religious intolerance.

[00:46:26] With that, let me recognize anyone else who would like to keep folks in our thoughts and prayers this morning, and I'm going to start with Supervisor Stork, Supervisor Alcorn, Supervisor Luss. Supervisor Stork. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also regrettably have to identify that we lost two community members due to the severe storm that we had on May 16th.

[00:46:49] It closed down not only the George Washington Memorial Parkway for several days, but also many, many streets in our area. You all may remember that we lost two members of our community. Dr. Marla Holden and Julianna Kai Russell were struck by falling trees on the George Washington Memorial Parkway and at Fry Road and Poe Road.

[00:47:09] Dr. Holden was the director of project management at George Washington's Mount Vernon, where she worked in historic preservation. And Juliana was a teacher at Edison High School. And I ask everyone here to please keep all of those, the family members, impacted by this heartbreaking tragedy and your thoughts and prayers.

[00:47:27] And the randomness of it, I think, still is kind of shaking all of us to recognize that it could be our moment in just an instant. So thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Supervisor Stork. Supervisor Alcorn. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Sad to report, long-time Reston resident Terry Maynard passed away unexpectedly two weeks ago.

[00:47:48] Terry was well-known for his life of service to our community and to our country. Among his many contributions to the community, he served on the Reston Citizens Association Board of Directors and as secretary from 2009 to 2014. During this time, he also concurrently co-chaired the Reston 2020 Committee.

[00:48:08] Terry was recognized for his community service by the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Association that presented him with a citation of merit in 2012. Terry, he was a Navy veteran. He served on the USS John W. Thomason in the late 60s, and he remained in the Naval Reserve until 1971.

[00:48:28] He spent the majority of his distinguished career in the intelligence community, including in senior executive leadership positions. So I'd like to offer my condolences to his wife, Susan. Their two sons, John and Matthew, and his two grandchildren.

[00:48:44] For all who knew him, Terry will be deeply missed. Thank you, Supervisor Alcorn. Supervisor Lusk. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll join Supervisor Stork in the remembrance of Juliana Kai Russell. She was a beloved business and information technology teacher at Thomas Edison High School in the Franconia District.

[00:49:04] Ms. Russell was described by her family as a light that brightened every room. She was passionate about teaching her students about financial literacy and setting them up for success after graduation. My thoughts and prayers are with her students, her colleagues, and the broader community.

[00:49:22] Second, Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry to announce the passing of a community leader in Franconia, Catherine Cathy Millard Schreiner. Kathy was a pillar of the Claremont Woods community for 50 years, serving the last 20 years as treasurer of the Claremont Woods Community Association.

[00:49:42] She was also an active member in St. John's Lutheran Church. I'm so happy and glad that Kathy was able to watch the board recognize her for years of service to the community and that the Claremont Woods Community Association could accept the proclamation on her behalf and deliver it to her.

[00:50:00] Her legacy of kindness and dedication to others will not be soon forgotten. Memorial service will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church on Tuesday, June 12th, at 11 a.m. And again, my thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends and colleagues.

[00:50:17] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Supervisor Walkinshaw. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm very sad to share the news that we lost a member of our Neighborhood and Community Services family. Tristan McGillicuddy passed away on May 27th, 2025.

[00:50:33] He was just 31 years old. He started with NCS, with SAC as a summer intern and became a cherished member of the staff at the Ravensworth SAC Center. He is a familiar face there, also at the Kings Glen SAC Center in Annandale Terrace.

[00:50:50] He cared deeply about his NCS colleagues and the entire Ravensworth community that he served. He never shied away from a challenge, facing each of them with a smile and willingness to help whoever needed it. He took a great interest in STEAM, and the kids at the SAC Center looked forward every week to the experiments that he set up for them to participate in.

[00:51:16] He was a lifelong learner who was knowledgeable about a vast array of issues, and he'll be truly missed by his colleagues and all of the children and families that he served. And my condolences are with his family, his many, many friends, and the students throughout the Ravensworth and SAC communities who knew and loved him.

[00:51:40] And I think that the county flag will be lowered to half staff in the coming days here in recognition of that loss. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Supervisor Walkinshaw. and seeing no one else that would be like to be recognized at this time, if those who are able to can rise for a moment of silence to be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

[00:52:03] Face the flag.

[00:52:31] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And this morning we have five presentations, And I will announce the proclamation, invite our speaker down to the podium in front of me.

[00:53:03] We'll then read the proclamation or the resolution. And after our speaker's remarks, we will pose for a picture from the dais. And first up this morning, we have a proclamation to recognize the Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.

[00:53:19] And this was requested by myself. Our speaker, of course, is the well-known Evelyn Greve from President of the Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. And anyone who is here with her is welcome to come on down. And with that, I am going to turn the gavel over to Supervisor Smith so that I can read the following resolution.

[00:53:42] Whereas 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, Friends, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the welfare of homeless pets in Fairfax County, and whereas Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter has provided medical, dental, and preventive care for shelter animals, including funding for surgeries, medications, parasite prevention, and trap-neuter-vaccinate-return TNVR programs for the community, cats,

[00:54:11] And, whereas for two decades, Friends has been dedicated to the belief that no treatable condition should result in the death sentence for any animal, ensuring that homeless pets receive a second chance at life through life-saving and life-enhancing medical care.

[00:54:29] Whereas prior to Friends founding, many adopted animals in Fairfax County shelters were euthanized due to insufficient medical resources. Thanks to Friends and its community, countless lives have been saved and pets have found permanent homes. Whereas Friends work has improved futures for animals and supported a healthier, more humane community in Fairfax County by uplifting the mission of the county's two municipal shelters, now therefore be it resolved that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of all residents, does hereby recognize the 20th anniversary of Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter

[00:55:06] and extends its heartfelt appreciation for their remarkable service, dedication, and advocacy on behalf of the county's most vulnerable pets. I'll second that along with Supervisor Herity. Mr. Chairman? Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll be brief.

[00:55:21] I want to thank the Friends Group for all their work. You know, we last night celebrated volunteers at a volunteer event, and I made the comment last night, and I'll make it here again, that when you walk into either of our two, now two, animal shelters in Fairfax County, you're likely to be greeted by dedicated staff who work for the shelter, but you're also likely to be greeted by a whole cadre of volunteers who make what happens at the shelter their business, and I love that about them.

[00:55:53] Their passion for saving animals' lives and the amount of resources that they're able to raise in our community to treat, as the resolution mentions, so many medical conditions that give our animals a second chance at life is remarkable.

[00:56:11] And, you know, I've said this before, I'll say it again, that a lot can be said about a community based on the way it treats its most vulnerable. And included in its most vulnerable are the many animals that call Fairfax County home. And so I want to thank all the folks from the Friends Group and former Supervisor Mike Fry, who is here with us, who's a big part of the Friends Group as well.

[00:56:36] I want to thank all the volunteers for all the work they do. This is the 20th anniversary, as the resolution mentions. But I know there will be many, many more, and it's because of your dedication. So congratulations. And if you haven't been to the shelter lately and you need a joy moment, go in there and visit all the friends that are there, and you will leave with a smile.

[00:56:57] I did it last night, and I do it as much as I can, so thank you. Thank you. Supervisor Lesk. Thank you, Madam Vice Chairman. I'll say I appreciate very much the work that the Friends Group has done in 20 years. It's an amazing accomplishment, so thank you for all of that.

[00:57:15] I also want to acknowledge the work that you're doing is actually helping some of the most marginalized communities here in Fairfax County, And I just want to thank you for bringing some critical services to those communities, helping us do some of the necessary vaccinations and helping people be able to retain their pets in their home and in their communities.

[00:57:38] And it's making a difference. And I just want to acknowledge how important that is and to thank you. And I've seen it very clearly in the Hyde LaValle community, so I want to lift you up for that. And then just say I look forward to the next 20 years. And I know it's going to be immense and great service you'll be providing over that time.

[00:57:57] So thank you very much. Thank you. Seeing no further discussion, all those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much. Supervisor Smith. And as I mentioned before, we have with us many people.

[00:58:13] And I know, I'm hoping they'll come down here shortly, including some furry friends that are here. But our speaker is Evelyn Grieve, the president of the Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. Welcome. Oh, good. I wasn't sure if it was on. Thank you all so much.

[00:58:30] We're just going to say a few quick words. With me is Karen Diveny, former shelter director and also the co-founder of the Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. She said she's not going to say anything, but I told her if she didn't come down, I would mention that she wouldn't come down. So I have her to thank.

[00:58:47] I have her to thank for the Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, as it was her vision when she started as the director to want to figure out how to help the pets that came into the shelter that needed a second chance. And without Karen, I wouldn't be here today.

[00:59:03] So I have to thank her for this, and I have to thank my poor husband who has, all these years, been part of this. And, of course, all the volunteers that help us are board members that are here. We have former board members that are here, the donors in the community.

[00:59:18] And most importantly, I have to thank the Board of Supervisors, because you helped us get the name out there by setting the precedent of letting us put flyers in personal property, dog licenses, and business licenses. So our name goes out countywide.

[00:59:35] And with that, it helps us do what we can do every day to help the pets at the shelter. And, of course, as you've all mentioned, without the dedicated shelter staff, volunteers, and everyone who does what they can, we wouldn't have the community that we have with the pets that we love.

[00:59:54] The other thing I'd like to mention, of course, are all the lovely pets that came with us today. And, of course, we left you a little flyer because, you know, if nothing else, we always have to give you some swag so you'll be more interested in us. So we have these lovely pets, and hopefully they've come back from their potty breaks.

[01:00:11] They might not have. Oh, they are. Okay, so they're going to come down and join us also for a photo. But again, as you all know, we started off with a simple vision and a simple mission. Take care of the pets at the shelter and get them the medical they need.

[01:00:27] And always, always remember your mission. Always remember your vision. And like you said about Jerry and Kathy, it's just that's why we're here. And we can never forget that. Thank you all very much. Thank you very much, everyone. Thank you very much, Evelyn, and thank you, Karen, for coming down.

[01:00:54] And for all the folks who are here, and I know there's a lot of folks who are here today, we want you in the photo. So if you could come on down, and we could bring all of our wonderful animals to come on down for a photo. Yeah.

[01:01:13] You know the drill. Yeah, yeah. And I'll get everyone to come on up. Get ahead over there. If you don't mind, that's my camera? Sure. Oh, thank you so much. I would take pictures.

[01:01:29] Okay, thank you so much.

[01:01:30] Folks, we're going to move on to our next presentation.

[01:05:03] We're going to move on to our next presentation. And before I do that, just a friendly announcement for all those who are here and watching at home that all of those animals that we just saw are currently available for adoption at the animal shelter.

[01:05:22] So if you fell in love with any of them this morning, leave here and race to one of the two shelters. in the county and if you're interested in adopting a pet the shelter does a wonderful job online on their web page of having photos and great descriptions of all the available animals including which of our two shelters they're available at now and so many folks have lived in this county for a long time we always had one shelter right around the corner from here but we now have two, both here in Fair Oaks, but also in Lorton. And so look up. Your beloved animal may

[01:06:01] be right around the corner on the website waiting for you. And with that, we're going to move on to our next presentation, which is a proclamation to recognize Immigrant Heritage Month. And this was requested by myself and Supervisor Palchuk and Supervisor Jimenez. Our speaker is John Cano, senior supervising organizer for the Legal Aid Justice Center, if you could please come on down.

[01:06:26] And if there are others who are here with you, they're welcome to come down now or they're welcome to come down for the photo. And I am going to turn the gavel over to Supervisor Smith so that I can read the following proclamation. Whereas during Immigrant Heritage Month, we honor and celebrate the generations of immigrants from around the world who have shaped Fairfax County's history and who continue to define and enrich our future. And whereas Fairfax County celebrates its diverse community where immigrants from all backgrounds, regardless of race, color,

[01:07:00] national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or income, enrich our county's cultural, social, and economic vibrancy. And whereas immigrants are vital to our local economy, serving as entrepreneurs, workers, consumers, and taxpayers, and strengthening our communities through innovation, service, and leadership.

[01:07:24] And whereas throughout history, immigrants in the United States have worked to secure not only their own rights and opportunities, but have also championed justice and equity for all. And whereas the experiences and contributions of our immigrant communities are deeply woven into the fabric of Fairfax County's past, present, and future and continue to inspire a more inclusive and prosperous society. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of all residents, does hereby proclaim June 2025 as Immigrant Heritage

[01:08:00] Month in Fairfax County and extends its sincere appreciation to immigrant community members for their ongoing contributions to the county, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the United States. Second. Second by Supervisor Palchuk and Jimenez. Mr. Chairman.

[01:08:15] Thank you, Madam Chair. First, I want to thank all the folks who are here this morning, as well as those who helped organize the reception that we had before the board meeting. It was a busy morning, but there was a wonderful reception. And I think this is, since we've been doing this proclamation for a couple years, It seems like each year it gets even more important to do, and it's certainly absolutely vital that we do this now to remind people of the important role that immigrants have played in shaping the Fairfax County that we love now.

[01:08:49] And I always say this, and I'll say it here again because I tell my kids this constantly, and my colleagues are probably tired of hearing me say this, but it is a true statement that, you know, if you really want to experience the rich cultural diversity of our county, just visit any one of our Fairfax County public schools.

[01:09:08] And I tell my kids that there's a gift to be able to grow up in a community where you can travel the globe without ever leaving your classroom. If you're just willing to listen, talk to and learn from the various different experiences, background and cultures that we have in Fairfax County.

[01:09:29] And through our young people, we are building a much more inclusive, loving community of all humanity from that standpoint. And as the proclamation mentions, our immigrant community can be seen everywhere in Fairfax County. And Supervisor Pouchek mentioned before that, you know, we have come from a majority white community to a majority minority community.

[01:09:53] And certainly if you go around Fairfax County, you will see that everywhere you go. And that is something to celebrate, that we have built a community that values all people. And for naysayers, we have also built a community that values all people, but that is also the safest jurisdiction of our size in the United States of America.

[01:10:16] And that is because we value all people and we want all people in this community to feel safe. And in order to feel safe, they have to be part of the conversation and not intimidated to talk to police, to talk to the county for the services that they need, but also to celebrate all the successful immigration stories in Fairfax County.

[01:10:39] And you can see them everywhere, from the small business owners to the diversity of our own county workforce. And it is something to celebrate and something to be proud of. And it seems like it gets more important every year for us to do this in Fairfax County. So I want to thank all the folks who organized today's proclamation and reception for the work you do every single day in our community to make this a more inclusive, vibrant community.

[01:11:06] Supervisor Palchuk. Thank you so much, Madam Vice Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for being here. Muchas gracias. Buenos dias. And to me, this is one of the, if not the most important proclamation that we do every single year.

[01:11:24] You know, we are so proud, and we talked earlier about our One Fairfax policy. But we know, and I believe, that if you truly, truly at your heart, in your core, believe about a community, believe in a community, and want it to survive. You want to make it better every single day. And just like all of you working in our community, as an immigrant who moved here, I see it as my role as well to point out the areas where we still have work to do, but to also celebrate the incredible strides we've made and an incredible

[01:12:00] commitment, especially when it comes to One Fairfax, because that is, we see our students first in our schools, and to have been, I believe, one of only five jurisdictions at the time when the One Fairfax policy was passed that was jointly voted by the school board and the board of supervisors, to really have that commitment and to say it's going to take time, but we don't want it just to be words on paper, right?

[01:12:25] We want to make sure that the work we do every single day and every agency and every interaction and every conversation we have with our community shows that dignity and respect, and that not only do we care about our immigrant community here, but that they make us who we are, right?

[01:12:44] I have a great quote that I wanted to share that I found yesterday with one of my team members from Oscar Hanlon, and it says, Once I thought to write a history of the immigrants in America, then I discovered that the immigrants were American history.

[01:13:01] And I love that today we're celebrating immigrant history, and we're also celebrating our 250th anniversary work because they are so intertwined. And I can't thank you enough for the work we do.

[01:13:18] I know that in our schools especially and with our youth, we have come a long way. I had family members who really struggled immigrating here and feeling that we have so much opportunity and an incredible community to live in.

[01:13:36] But getting to the point where we put our values forward, that we fund those values, that we fund the programs, and that we instill our safe community and our commitment to being one Fairfax. It's not easy to live in a diverse community.

[01:13:53] It's not easy to bring diverse voices together, but to me, that absolutely is 100% what makes us the best place to live in the whole world, I would say. So thank you for what you do, and thank you for the work of supporting our immigrant communities, especially our youngest ones, every single day out in Fairfax.

[01:14:13] Thank you. I have Supervisor Jimenez, then Walkinshaw. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to all of you. Thank you to everyone who put together this morning's reception for Immigrant Heritage Month. And obviously all those events take a lot of effort to do, especially in the morning. So thank you all for being here.

[01:14:29] When I look right in front of me, I just see such an amazing, diverse group of individuals that really are Fairfax County. And that's what makes us so strong as a county. We don't shy away from our diversity. We lean into it. We make sure that we let folks know the richness, how proud we are of everything that comes out of the different cultures that are here in Fairfax County.

[01:14:52] I, as an immigrant, am lucky and happy and so excited to be part of a county that really wants to work and make sure that we're doing better. Because, as the chairman said, there is a lot of work still to be done. And I see it as a supervisor in the Cultural Hub of Fairfax County and Mason District.

[01:15:10] And one of the board matters that I'll be doing today really emphasizes and really looks at communities that at times are divided by culture and by race. and we do need to be doing better, and I think that hosting these kind of events and having this proclamation really just reinforces the fact that together we are strong, all of us. Together as a county, we are strong. When we work together, things happen, and we are able to make sure that the where we live isn't just a phrase. It's not just the one Fairfax phrase, but we're actually living the one Fairfax policy, and so I want to say thank you to all of you. I'm really looking

[01:15:49] forward to having you all up here. And again, living in Fairfax County is such a honor because of the way we try to live our lives and try to make sure that our community feels, as the chairman said, safe, that we have a voice. Because, and I've said this for a long time, it's not enough to have a seat at the table. Anyone can have a seat at the table, but you have to have a voice at that table. So thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. I have Supervisor Walkinshaw, then Lusk.

[01:16:16] Thank you, Madam Chair. My family came here to northern Virginia in the 18th century. My grandfather grew up on a farm in Chantilly, not too far from here. But anyone who actually understands what this country is about understands that somebody who arrived here in Fairfax County yesterday is just as much an American as I am.

[01:16:42] And we're in the midst of a major debate in our country about that right now. And there are folks at the highest levels who don't believe that, who apparently didn't read the Declaration of Independence and don't understand that America and to be an American is not about where you were born or where your grandfather was born or where your great grandfather was born.

[01:17:04] It's about do you believe and subscribe to the ideas that are embedded in our founding documents of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, that all are created equal. And we have to wage that battle and that fight every single day here in Fairfax County.

[01:17:22] So that true and right vision of America prevails. And I'm so proud of the work that we do here and that you all do here every day in Fairfax County to make that a reality. So thank you so much for being here and for waging that really important battle.

[01:17:40] Thank you. Supervisor Lusk. Thank you, Madam Vice Chairman. I'll just say very succinctly, diversity is our strength, and it is important that we embrace diversity because it serves to make Fairfax County a better place to live, work, and play.

[01:17:57] And hearkening back to our conversations earlier about then-Chairman Conley, I remember seeing some discussions in Prince William County about having people be removed from that county, And I was never more proud of our chairman at that point, Chairman Conley, when he said Fairfax County is a place that will accept those who are different.

[01:18:25] We support, we value differences, and we value diversity. So I know that that's a core part of who we are here in Fairfax County. I just appreciate having this proclamation, having all of you here today. it reinforces that belief and the strength in diversity and again I just want to say I acknowledge all the work that you're doing collectively and just appreciate the strength that it has for our community thank you thank you seeing no further discussion all those in favor of the motion say aye aye anyone opposed any abstentions that motion carries mr. chairman thank you vice

[01:19:05] chairman Smith and as I mentioned before we have John who has no stranger to of Fairfax County and want to thank him for all the work he's done with the Legal Aid Justice Center, and he is our speaker. Welcome. Good morning, board and fellow community members.

[01:19:21] Hello. Hola. Cantale. Anyakasayo. My name is John Cano. I'm part of the steering committee for Fairfax County Immigrant Support Network, a network of over 40 non-profits organizations that convenes monthly to share resources to support, empower, and uplift our immigrant siblings here in Fairfax County.

[01:19:43] We provide updates on any changing matters relating to immigration, whether it's at the federal, state, or local level. During Immigrant Heritage Month and every month, we honor the stories, struggles, and contributions of immigrants who have shaped Fairfax County and whose impact extends across the Commonwealth and the nation. Our immigrant siblings are not just part of our workforce or economy. They are families, neighbors, community leaders, culture bearers, and change makers. Their presence make Fairfax County richer in every sense, economically, culturally, and

[01:20:22] spiritually. As proud sons of immigrants, I carry with me a lesson that has shaped me now in how I see the world and the work we do in our community. When a door opens for you, your job is to lay the foundation for others to thrive for those coming after you that value a collective uplift of building something not just for your personal success but for the good of the whole has deeply shaped fairfax county to strengthen our communities not only across the commonwealth but across here in this great nation fairfax is one of the wealthiest counties not because of what we have but because

[01:21:02] of who we are. The rich diversities of backgrounds, languages, foods, businesses, traditions makes our county vibrant and resilient. Immigrants have contributed to every sector and every neighborhood enriching our lives in powerful ways. This month and every month we say to our immigrant neighbors you are seen, you are valued, you are welcome here. Your journey, your work, and your dreams are helping to build a stronger and more connected future for us all. Thank you. Thank you very much,

[01:21:38] John. Absolutely perfect words. And we thank you and all those who are here today and not here today for the work that you do every day in Fairfax County. And with that, I think we're ready for a photo. If you want to come forward, if anyone else is here and not down here already,

[01:21:54] they're welcome to join us for a photo. I will need to also. It's hard now. Move on to our next

[01:26:58] proclamation, and that is a proclamation to recognize June as Pride Month. And this was requested by myself, Supervisor Beerman, Walkinshaw, Lusk, Alcorn, Jimenez, Stork, Palchek, and Smith. And our speaker is Leon Vander Gates, Executive Director of the Northern Virginia PRISM Center. If you could come on down. And while you are doing that, I am going to at this time recognize Supervisor Bierman for a proclamation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Whereas each June, communities across the United States celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,

[01:27:38] queer, LGBTQ plus Pride Month to honor the history, resilience, and contributions of LGBTQ plus individuals, and whereas Pride Month honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ plus civil rights movement, where community members protested justice, marking a national equality movement. And whereas the first Pride March on June 28, 1970 marked the anniversary of the uprising and launched a tradition of Pride events that celebrate LGBTQ plus visibility, culture, and achievements, while raising awareness of ongoing

[01:28:13] struggles faced by LGBTQ plus individuals. And whereas since 2013, Fairfax County has recognized June as LGBTQ plus Pride Month, reaffirming our commitment to an inclusive community where all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression are treated with dignity and respect. And whereas Fairfax County exemplifies its commitment to equality through the One Fairfax policy, integrating equity into decision-making and consistently achieving high scores on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index, demonstrating our dedication to inclusive policies for LGBTQ plus residents and employees. Now, therefore, be it resolved that

[01:28:52] the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on behalf of all residents of Fairfax County does hereby proclaim June 2025 Pride Month and encourages all residents to reflect on equality, celebrate the LGBTQ plus community's contributions, and work towards a just and inclusive society. And I'm happy to second that motion along with a lot of folks. Discussion on the motion, Supervisor Bierman. So I spent a long time thinking about what I wanted to say today and you all know because

[01:29:26] I mention it way too often that I'm a lawyer. Don't hold it against me. So I tend to tell lots of stories about the law. And this one actually comes from the year that I was born, 1986. It's a story that was told to me many times by one of my personal heroes, Professor Pam Carlin. And it's about a case that came before the court in 1986 called Bowers v. Hardwick. And it was a case about the criminalization of sodomy it was about anti-sodomy laws which were basically a way of

[01:30:00] criminalizing being gay and the swing vote in that case was virginian lewis powell and in the middle of deliberations about that case which was ultimately a five to four decision um that said that it was okay to criminalize uh sodomy lewis powell famously remarked to one of his clerks I don't believe I even know a homosexual.

[01:30:30] Does anybody know the punchline of this one, Beth? Punchline is that the clerk was gay. Lewis Powell himself had actually had a number of gay clerks. And in that case, Bowers v. Hardwick, again, five to four decision.

[01:30:47] Lewis Powell would later remark that he didn't think he'd spent more than 30 minutes thinking about that case. And he ultimately actually would later remark that he thought that the dissent, written by my hero Pam Carlin for Justice Blackmun, had a better argument. So 17 years later, that case came back before the court in Lawrence v. Texas.

[01:31:08] The guy arguing that case was himself a Lewis Powell clerk, Paul Smith, who was openly gay. And that time, 17 years later, the case came out differently. And Pam loves to tell this story about the day that they were going to hand down the decision in Lawrence v. Texas.

[01:31:28] They made sure that every single gay clerk who had ever clerked at the Supreme Court was there. And she tells this story about Sandra Day O'Connor walking in, and it wasn't necessarily that she did it with her hands, but she could just see it with her eyes. That person, that person, that person, that person.

[01:31:47] You know, what the heck's a straight guy have to say about Pride Month? But truthfully, what I have to say about it is that it's about affirming and it's about recognizing the people who otherwise society thinks might be different.

[01:32:04] You know, there's another there's another funny story about a poll in 2009 Pew Research. 18 percent of Americans said they had seen a ghost in 2015. There was a poll issued by GLAAD in which 16 percent of people said they knew someone who was trans.

[01:32:22] more people said they'd seen a ghost and i know what you're all thinking 18 percent 10 members of the board of supervisors which one of us has seen a ghost i think it's probably the guy who's out of the room right now just gonna throw that out there um but but again the point of this is that during pride month we recognize and celebrate our differences we recognize and celebrate that we all have neighbors. We know we have a neighbor who's lesbian. We know we have, we know somebody

[01:33:00] at the supermarket who's gay. We know somebody who's a police officer and is bisexual. We know somebody who served in the military is transgender. We know somebody who's queer. They are all throughout Fairfax County. They're all throughout our society. They are our friends. They are our neighbors. And everything, by the way, that was just said about the last proclamation also holds true for Pride Month. So, you know, I recognize that the history of Pride is frankly a heck of a

[01:33:34] lot more in some ways rich and radical than what I just talked about. I recognize that, but I want to focus very much on just the very, very simple core meaning. That again, I'm going to quote the last guy. He said, the great thing about Fairfax County, we have great things here, not because of what we have, but because of who we are. And that includes the LGBTQ plus community. In June,

[01:34:07] we celebrate it. Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Beerman. Supervisor Walkinshaw. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hard to follow that as usual. I was in the city of Fairfax this weekend for the Pride event there, and it was just a wonderful celebration, incredible event. Folks from the city and folks from the county and all over who were there. And, you know, it reminded me of the moment we're in, and we're celebrating Pride today and this week. So I don't want to

[01:34:45] discuss anything that's negative, but we're in an important moment, I think, in our country. And this celebration is particularly important now. And when I think about Pride and the gay rights movement as one of the great liberation movements in American history and in world history.

[01:35:06] If you think about the women's rights movement, the civil rights movement, the disability rights movement, the LGBTQ rights movement, all of those great liberation movements have liberated not just the members of those communities, but liberated all of us from our wrong ways of thinking about our fellow human beings and about the world. So all of us, even straight guys, owe an incredible debt of gratitude to the generations of Americans who have been part

[01:35:41] of those movements. So thank you all for being part of this movement. And we are going to be here with you every step of the way. And I can say this, and I know my colleagues, those of us who had the courage to sit on this dais, we're not moving backwards in Fairfax County. We're not going to move backwards, and we have your back. Thank you for being here. Thank you, Supervisor Walkinshaw. Supervisor Lusk. Yeah, I think I might have mentioned this story a few years ago, but I want to just mention it again, and that is when I was at the University of Virginia with Walter

[01:36:16] Alcorn, I served on one of our student council committees that was responsible for talking to all the different organizations to help them find out their level of funding. So one of the organizations that I was assigned to work with at the time was called the Lesbian and Gay Student Union. And this was back in 1986. So I called up the representative for that group and said I needed to meet with him to talk about his budget. And he said, where do you want to meet? And I says, I'd like to meet you on Central Grounds, which is basically the hub of the university.

[01:36:54] And he says, I can't do that. I can't meet you there. And I says, excuse me? Literally puzzled. I says, excuse me? And he says, I can't meet you there because every time I come on grounds, I'm followed and people throw rocks and bricks at me. And those people, unfortunately, were quote unquote fraternity brothers of fraternities at the University of Virginia.

[01:37:16] I got to admit something here too, which is hard for me to actually say, but at the time, I wasn't as sensitive and aware. I think that encounter made me realize the level of discrimination that people face, particularly those who are out and expressing their true authenticity.

[01:37:39] And they need protections. This is not right. So that was a defining moment for me personally. And I have been a supporter of pride. I've been a supporter of individuals who are different because I recognize the importance of that.

[01:37:57] And I just appreciate what each of you are doing specifically to ensure that others know about the importance of pride and then to help us get to a place where we don't actually have to have a distinguishing celebration.

[01:38:15] It's that everyone is included, everyone is accepted for their uniqueness and their own authenticity. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much. Supervisor Palczyk. I just want to thank you for continuing this work for so many years, as much as it in some ways has gotten a little bit easier, in other ways it has gotten ever more challenging.

[01:38:40] And the way I see it and the way I first ran for the school board is that it's not even up to personally how we feel about an issue. It's about best policy and how do we protect our most vulnerable and how do we ensure that our LGBTQ plus students who have double, double the mental health concerns and feeling sad and hopeless in our schools. That's the target. That's why we do this. That's why I do this. So many of us want to make sure that the students in our communities, in our schools, that their families,

[01:39:17] that our parents feel safe, feel respected, and feel that they have a place to belong. So thank you for holding this up every day, and thank you for bringing PRISM to our community, and just thank you from the bottom of my heart, keeping up the fight, because love wins, and hate has no home here. Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Palczyk. Supervisor Stork. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I would echo my colleagues' comments, and I would say to me, and particularly I'm going to talk for a moment about my mother, she didn't understand all of this, but she had a really

[01:39:57] clear clarity about her that I think summarizes what I think hopefully we all can see, if you will, is that love is everything, and love doesn't mean you have to understand everything. It just means you have to love and recognize and believe that the other person next to you or in front of you or wherever they are, is real and committed and caring in who they are, and you should want that.

[01:40:24] And I think particularly for my mother and for our family, one of the first marriages in our family was of two gay individuals in our family. And that was, for her, that was her moment of truth. She recognized that I love these people, even if I don't fully understand why and what and how, But I love these people, and God is love, and I love all aspects of our world.

[01:40:49] And that's what I, if nothing else, I just want people to see and feel that and recognize it. We don't have to understand everything, but we have to at least respect and care and love the persons around us, as well as the animals and other creatures that God loves and I share their needs.

[01:41:07] Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Stork. And let me also thank you for being here. just want to share a few things. I remember shortly after being elected chairman, I was presented with the Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index in Fairfax County. And we were ranked at that time around 20%. And I made a comment to all the people around me that we will not rest until we are at 100%. And that's where we have been for years now in Fairfax County.

[01:41:41] And I think that's really important because that is a professional measure of whether we are going to be a welcoming community or not that accepts all people. One of the things that will always stick in my mind is right here in Virginia, not long ago, we had a governor who took direct aim at the rights of our LGBTQ plus students in particular, the pinnacle of vulnerability in our community.

[01:42:09] And what did our FCPS students do? In mass, they walked out. They walked out to protest what was being done to their friends, to the people at school that they respected. And they were angry that an adult bully was doing that to them.

[01:42:30] And I think that's a moment for all of us to just be so proud of the community that we live in and to think about the future of our young people. It's a perfect segue from what Supervisor Stork talked about his mom is that, you know, communities evolve.

[01:42:46] Maybe some of their fundamental feelings were the same all along, but they can express them differently now. And I have great faith in our young people because I know when I talk to my own kids, they can't understand why adults are so obsessed with this issue and why they can't just love everyone.

[01:43:04] I mean, a very simple thing. It's almost as simple as the resolution that was just read. Didn't ask anyone else to change their lifestyles, didn't impose will upon anyone else. The resolution that was just read by Supervisor Beerman is a simple humanitarian resolution.

[01:43:27] And I want to be really clear to the residents of Springfield District in particular. And I'm going to channel Jerry Connolly for a moment because in a humorous way, he used to remind every member of this community that they had two supervisors. Their district supervisor and the chairman who represents everyone in this county.

[01:43:47] And I particularly want the residents of Springfield District to hear that my voice is for them and that I see them. I recognize them. I love them. There are thousands of LGBTQ people who live in that district and thousands more of their allies who need to know that their elected officials support them.

[01:44:09] And I do. And that's one of the beauties of being the at-large representative on this county board. And it is sad to me that in 2025, one has to say that on a simple humanitarian proclamation that recognizes that LGBTQ people live in our community and make enormous contributions to our community.

[01:44:28] and that their elected leaders must protect them, especially when they're under attack, does not supersede any other thing or tell anyone else how they should live their lives, but is a core value of when you say you represent all the people, that you actually mean you represent all the people.

[01:44:48] And I am so proud of the group that's here before us. I'm proud that PRISM Center, the Nova Prison Center, is here. I want to hear more about them, but mostly I'm proud of the tens of thousands of people in Fairfax County who are LGBTQ plus and their allies who will stand up and fight for the right thing to do, which is always want to be on the right side of equality and equity for all people in Fairfax County.

[01:45:14] And so this is Pride Month. We just had World Pride very close to us in Washington, D.C., an important time to do that. But Pride Month is every month in Fairfax County, just as Immigrant Month, Immigrant Heritage Month is every month in Fairfax County, because it is crucial to the success of our community that we recognize all people, their differences, celebrate them.

[01:45:38] And when any member of our community is under attack, that we also have the gumption to stand up and fight for them. And that is the only way you can serve all people that you represent. And so with that, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

[01:45:55] Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? And that motion passes 9-0, Supervisor Herity not being in the room. And with that, I am going to turn the podium over to who I announced earlier, Leon Vander Gates, who is executive director of the Nova Prism Center.

[01:46:12] Welcome. Good morning, members of the Board of Supervisors. My name is Leon Vander Goetz, and I am the executive director of Nova Prism Center, the LGBTQ Resource Center and Library. I want to take a moment first to thank you all for the opportunity to stand before you today and accept this proclamation.

[01:46:29] I am truly honored to be here, not only representing my community, but alongside them. but as a librarian i have a question for you how old were you when you first read a book watched a movie or played a video game about someone who looked like you someone with your hair or skin color who grew up in a similar place held your religious beliefs or experienced similar challenges to you for me it was this past october at 34 years old but there are so many people in the queer community who have never had that experience in january 2022 i was finishing up

[01:47:06] a teaching contract in Japan when I heard the news that here in Fairfax County, my hometown, there were people claiming that books about people like me were pornographic and that they should be removed from schools and from public libraries so that young folks, transgender kids trying to understand why they felt so different from their peers, would not be given the chance to learn the words to describe their inner truths. That night, the idea for Nova Prism Center was born. I founded the organization later that spring with a singular dream that our LGBTQ community

[01:47:41] would no longer have to experience the crushing isolation of invisibility. This proclamation also goes a long way because we hear you say, we see you, we value you, and your voices matter. This support is critical, and in the current environment, there's nothing more important than ensuring everyone's voice is heard as we stand together for the dignity, safety, and belonging of every resident of Fairfax County. Pride is a celebration of visibility, inclusion, and the incredible spirit of perseverance within all of us. Pride is about love, the most beautiful act that a person can do

[01:48:20] to another. And pride is also about honoring our place in a family that spans continents and generations, and that will continue to do so for as long as humanity exists. Each June, our family comes together again throughout the world to honor our ancestors and to pass down their stories of struggle and of success stories whether written in books or spoken in words or how we relate to other people stories have connected us for as long as we humans have been an us and far longer than the ability to write them down has existed sharing in other people's stories is as core to being

[01:48:56] human as exploration when we hear another person's story we imagine ourselves in their shoes and literally feel what they feel growing our capacity for empathy and care when we hear another person's story, we forge a bond with them, even if the person is fictional. Their story becomes a part of us and lives within us for the rest of our lives. And sometimes when we hear another person's

[01:49:22] story, we learn that at long last, we are not alone. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Leon. Much appreciated. And at this time, I think we're ready for a photo. Supervisor Bierman would join me if you all could come down and face the audience and the board could rise.

[01:49:49] That was beautiful.

[01:49:53] And next we have a proclamation to recognize the 250th anniversary of the United States.

[01:52:20] And this was requested by myself, Supervisor Stork, Lusk, and Herity. And believe it or not, our speaker is going to be President George Washington, who has come back to greet us, along with Gretchen Bulova, the chair of the 250th Commission.

[01:52:38] And for those of you, I just want to make you aware that, of course, when George Washington enters, he doesn't just enter, he enters with fanfare. And so George Washington and crew will enter from the side of the auditorium and get your ears ready.

[01:52:55] They will be accompanied by a fife and drum group and move to the podium in front of us. So at that time, at this time, we are going to welcome George Washington and his crew to the board auditorium.

[01:53:37] That's how you enter a room.

[01:54:22] With that, at this time, I am first going to turn to Supervisor Stork to read a proclamation. Supervisor Stork. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and it is absolutely my pleasure to do so. Whereas the year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, and communities across the country are preparing to honor this milestone with commemorative events and public engagement.

[01:54:47] And whereas in anticipation of this landmark occasion, Fairfax County established the Fairfax 250th Commission in 2020, or I like to say the semi-quincentennial committee, in 2020 to create inclusive community-centered programming that highlights our county's rich contributions to American history, honors our democratic ideals, and inspires future generations.

[01:55:11] And whereas Fairfax County is home to George Washington, who on May 4, 1775, departed Mount Vernon to join the Second Continental Congress, where he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. And whereas on May 4, 2025, Fairfax County officials officially kicked off its Fairfax 250th celebrations with a ceremonial event at Mount Vernon, co-hosted by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, and the Fairfax 250th Commission, including a symbolic march along Patriots' path honoring Washington's historic journey.

[01:55:50] Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on behalf of all residents of Fairfax County does hereby recognize the kickoff of Fairfax's 250th celebrations, plural, and encourages all residents to participate in this historic and inspiring commemoration of America's semi-quincentennial.

[01:56:09] I'm happy to second that motion. Discussion on the motion. Supervisor Stork. We have a lot to honor, a lot to celebrate, and it's not just about any one year. In this case, 1775 or 2025 is not really even the beginning of the American Revolution.

[01:56:28] It truly was the culmination of a lot of activity that had happened along the way. But the fact that we sent two representatives to the Continental Congress, George Mason and George Washington, recognizing that we had a problem, and maybe more importantly, England had a big problem.

[01:56:44] They weren't listening, and the government of the people, by the people, for the people, which ultimately comes together, and another important president in our history, recognized that we needed to take more decisive action, and the Continental Congress ultimately did just that by really establishing the United States Army on June 14th in 1775.

[01:57:09] And, of course, they needed a leader, and, of course, the representation of what George Washington was throughout the colonies and his knowledge and really his presence, because he was 6 feet 5 inches tall, his presence was a key part of that.

[01:57:28] And we are here to recognize not only the history of those steps that took place after Lexington and Concord with the culmination of the Continental Congress and the culmination of the Declaration of Independence by another Virginian, we all recognize that we are intimately and estrictly part of this whole process of 250 years of, frankly, celebrating but also recognizing the challenges hardships the difficulties it took to get us here and nothing ever starts out perfect as particularly board members we all know

[01:58:05] when we have an idea we usually work it through our colleagues in that idea that concept those things get better as you go along this country clearly has gotten better as it's gone along because we recognize just like in the previous presentation to us with the pride honoring pride month and we recognize that we have a long way to go.

[01:58:26] We've made great strides, but the 250th is a time to celebrate those strides we've made and to recognize that we will continue, hopefully, on that path of being more inclusive and more supportive and, frankly, being an exemplar to the rest of the world about how we work together and get things done.

[01:58:46] So there's a lot there, and I could go on longer, as folks here know, but I particularly wanted to thank a couple folks, specifically the ladies of George Washington's Mount Vernon. They played a huge role in protecting, preserving, and ensuring that we have a history that we can honor.

[01:59:08] I also want to recognize the importance of so many communities, the 250th committee. Scott Stroh, who was the original representative to the state committee, but also headed up our initial committee here, who was also the executive director at George Mason's house.

[01:59:27] Those are all key parts of how we've got to where we are today, and particularly want to thank the committee, Gretchen Boulevard, for your work, and Derek, for your work to, frankly, bring these pieces together and allow us to recognize the kickoff, the formal kickoff, if you will, of Fairfax 250th celebration.

[01:59:46] So thank you. Thank you very much, Supervisor Stork. And let me also thank the committee. The commission was started in 2020 so that we'd be ready for this big moment upon us. And obviously, you know, this is kind of the official kickoff of events in Fairfax County. But Supervisor Stork and I were out at Mount Vernon on May 4th, which of course was the day in 1775 that George Washington departed Mount Vernon to join the Second Continental Congress, and it was a huge number of people out there, as there always are at Mount Vernon, experiencing, literally experiencing

[02:00:24] our history here in Fairfax County, and, you know, it was an example of very early on, the citizens of Fairfax County, in this case, His Excellency, President Washington, didn't just talk, they acted, and one of the things, there's so many pieces of our history in Fairfax that, you know, root back to George Washington, but so many other leaders in our nation's history.

[02:00:50] But when you look at the Fairfax County flag, which is something that, you know, I reminded folks when we were at Mount Vernon about that Fairfax colors became America's colors in a lot of ways. And the buff and blue that was born here came to symbolize the revolutionary cause and is still visible today in Fairfax County's flag.

[02:01:12] And so there's so many ways that we are lucky enough to have played a vital role in history so many years ago. And I think we take for granted sometimes that all of these things, many of these things, happened right here in our backyard. And so, as Dan mentioned, I want to thank Gretchen and the commission.

[02:01:30] I know there's a lot of events planned over the course of the next year and want people to pay particular attention and take advantage of those literal once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Certainly want to thank the History Commission for their work, and you mentioned the ladies of Mount Vernon, and I think Dan and I, and this was channeled through Supervisor Highland a long time ago to us, that you can mess with a lot of people in Fairfax County, but don't ever mess with the ladies of Mount Vernon.

[02:01:57] And we know that, and we have never tried to, because they are a force to be reckoned with, and to watch the evolution of Mount Vernon from what it was when I was a kid, going on the field trips there through FCPS to what it is today, including telling the total history of what took place there, including the many exhibits and recognition of slavery and some of the components of Mount Vernon that we have learned from and become better for, fully recognized and on display for our kids to constantly challenge them in a revolutionary type of way that we are always an evolving and improving country.

[02:02:37] And I want to thank Mount Vernon for making sure that's a vital part of what is presented. And with that, I mentioned, and you know, we have with us President George Washington, accompanied by Gretchen Bulova, who has been leading the way with the Fairfax 250th celebration.

[02:02:57] And let us vote on the proclamation, and then we will hear from you. All those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? and that motion carries and welcome the floor is yours. Chairman McKay, esteemed members of the Board of Supervisors, I am honored to be here with each and every one of you. Thank you for your service to your communities. I admit that I hold a special place for Fairfax County in my heart. I've lived here amongst you for many years. I was saddened by the fact that I had to take myself to the Second Congress to leave you but it is for a greater purpose. We have lived in

[02:03:35] difficult times, as you all know, for many years now. Great Britain has done its work time and time again. The ministry has led poorly, and they have continued to put pressure upon the liberties that you all have espoused so very clearly today. We are not in positions of power because it is easy.

[02:03:53] We are here because we've been asked to be so, and we must remember at all times that we represent those individuals who have sent us here and those who have not. We must speak for all those in our care in every circumstance. I learned a lesson in the late war against the French about leadership, which was very, very important in those early days of youthful ambition, if you take my meaning.

[02:04:14] I was not a perfect man. But I watched as a man who was born to great privilege, and my first military conflict led poorly, abandoned his men in the field, and hid himself in a small stocated fort while his men died around him instead. And then I witnessed another man, not from Virginia, which was what we were defending, a man from South Carolina, who came here Not because he had any particular reason to fight for Virginia, but because his commanding officers had told him to do so.

[02:04:41] And he stood with his men, fully exposed to the dangers of the enemy, and did not shirk back. A man born to no particular privilege. A man born to no particular expectation. Not a man like myself, expected to lead because of who I was born to be. No, rather a man who led because of who he was.

[02:04:58] And he was wounded not once, not twice, but three times, and the third finally took his life. the entire time urging his men to stand to fight, not for a greater cause, but for the man next to him, for family, for brotherhood. So as we go to this Congress, as we look at this horrific circumstance that sits before us, this civil war that is moving into a revolution, as we know that I will probably be requested to serve in command of this new continental army, I regret to say that I fear that this question of liberty will require a great deal of blood to be shed, perhaps more than

[02:05:33] has ever been seen in the history of North America. But these liberties, these ideas are important. and leadership as you have very well said must be led by example talk is cheap actions speak louder than words so even though i feel that i and we all are in some ways cast out upon an ocean from which there is no friendly harbor it does not matter the result doing what is right matters

[02:06:03] most learn from the past learn and grow in all its complexities and thank you for your leadership Fairfax County, I think, is in good hands, so I get back. Mr. Chairman, could I just interrupt and say I'm really glad he didn't complain about trash collection?

[02:06:34] Chairman McKay and members of the Board of Supervisors, good morning. My name is Gretchen Bouliva. I have the privilege of serving as the chair of Fairfax 250 as well as the History Commission. And I'm pleased to be here today joined by this assembly of individuals committed to commemorating our nation's 250th anniversary.

[02:06:54] We are proud to represent and serve Fairfax County in this effort, showing along the way that the American Revolution was not accomplished on a single date or by a single person, with all deference to General Washington, Fairfax's own, next to me.

[02:07:15] Members of the founding generation represented different backgrounds and motives, but supported the common cause. Our independence was achieved through collaboration and communication. And that's exactly how we are working to honor this season of anniversaries.

[02:07:37] The Fairfax 250th Commission has been raising the visibility of the semi-quincentennial in the county, gathering momentum over the last year. Our collaboration with community partners has been evident in our efforts to amplify and enhance their efforts while also creating our own Fairfax County 250 events.

[02:07:58] We marked the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Fairfax Resolves last summer, the bicentennial of the Marquis de Lafayette's 1824-1825 Grand Tour of the United States throughout the fall, and participated, as you've heard, in Mount Vernon's Revolutionary War Weekend and Historic Vienna's Viva Vienna this past month.

[02:08:21] We are particularly proud of our own Fairfax 250 effort to commemorate the anniversary of the second Virginia Convention with a naturalization ceremony that was held in this room. That ceremony welcomed 70 new citizens from 58 countries and tied a significant day in Virginia's history to the future American history of all in attendance.

[02:08:51] communication has also been a key part of our strategy in the last six months the fairfax 250th commission has launched a monthly newsletter post bi-weekly content on the 250th facebook page posted and produced and distributed 40 000 copies of a full color multilingual rack card that was distributed to supervisors' offices, county facilities, and beyond. So what's next? We have established a partnership with Channel 16 to capture narratives responding to the 250th

[02:09:31] anniversary of the country and our county's progress toward a more perfect union. And thank you to all of you for providing and contributing suggestions of individuals in Fairfax County to participate in these interviews.

[02:09:47] We are testing out our 250th mobile signature experience this summer, gathering ideas as we build out the content for this traveling Fairfax 250 display that will participate in community events throughout the fall and 2026.

[02:10:05] We have a large celebration planned at the historic courthouse in Fairfax County Courthouse in September to honor the Fairfax Independent Company and those who fought for Fairfax County in the American Revolution. There's also a lot of excitement about the launch of commemorative beers from our amazing breweries in Fairfax County, and we're going to debut a Fairfax 250 wine from Paradise Springs, who will be doing a red, and Bull Run Winery, who will be making a white. Stay tuned

[02:10:41] on that. And collaborations are in progress with libraries, schools, arts organizations, our local museums and parks, and more. We want to thank you for today's opportunity to share some remarks and for your commitment to showcasing Fairfax County's stories from the past to today.

[02:11:02] But before I turn things over, I want to quickly thank members of the George Mason University Patriots Fife and Drum, as well as Daniel Cross portraying George Washington from George Washington's Mount Vernon. So again, thank you for this opportunity. We appreciate it.

[02:11:24] Thank you very much, Gretchen, for all of your work and the committee's work and certainly the History Commission and all that they're doing to help support. And I think we're ready for a photo and certainly folks who are here are welcome to come on down for the photo. And this is an important photo because forever now people will try to realize how President Washington, Dan Stork, aka Abraham Lincoln, and I ended up in a photo together. But in all seriousness, Supervisor

[02:11:56] Stork will join me for a photo and if the rest of the board could rise. And finally this morning,

[02:13:55] we have a related proclamation, and that is to recognize the 250th birthday of the United States Army. And this was requested by myself, Supervisor Stork, Lusk, and Herity. Our speaker today is Tammy Call, Director of the National Museum of the United States Army. If you are here, if you could please, you are here. You don't need to come on down. You were at the podium and prepared. And at this time, I would recognize Supervisor Stork for a proclamation.

[02:14:27] Supervisor Lusk has the proclamation. I will recognize Supervisor Lusk for a proclamation. I'll be happy to take that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Whereas the establishment of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, the United States Army has served as a cornerstone of national defense, upholding the values of democracy and freedom for two and a half centuries.

[02:14:49] And whereas from the Revolutionary War to the 21st century, the Army has played a vital role in defending the nation, advancing peace, and protecting Americans' interests at home and abroad. And whereas the leadership of our first Commander-in-Chief, General George Washington, established the foundation for the Army's proud legacy of honor, duty, and service, principles that continue to define the Army's mission to this day, and whereas Fairfax County is home to Fort Belvoir, a vital military installation

[02:15:24] and economic engine for our community and to the National Museum of the United States Army that preserves and shares the Army's legacy. And whereas the county proudly joins the nation in commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary as a part of Fairfax's 250th celebrations, honoring both our local and national contributions to the American story, now therefore be it resolved, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on behalf of all residents of Fairfax County hereby recognizes the 250th birthday of the

[02:16:04] United States Army and expresses its deepest gratitude to all who have served and continue to serve with honor and distinction. And I'm happy to second that motion along with Supervisor Stork. Discussion on the motion, Supervisor Lowsky.

[02:16:19] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll just make a few comments. First, acknowledging the really important installation known as Fort Belvoir. It's a very valuable community partner supporting servicemen, supporting military spouses and veterans. And I'll note it's the largest employer in Fairfax County with over 45,000 jobs. Recently, they had the pleasure of organizing a number of job fairs, and networking events to help transitioning servicemen and women and affected government employees and contractors who have been, unfortunately, let go from their positions.

[02:16:57] We will be celebrating the community covenant between Fort Belvoir and the community on August 30, 2025 at the annual Bridgewalk program, and I will share more details on that later with the board, and I also want to acknowledge one of the significant community events that's held at Fort Belvoir, Oktoberfest, which draws in so many participants into Fort Belvoir from the community, and it really helps us see that seamless boundary, that seamless line between the installation and our broader community.

[02:17:32] I'm also proud to serve as the co-chair of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission's Total Military Partnership, and I'll acknowledge our previous member of the board, Penny Gross, who chaired that committee for so many years and helped create what is a regional initiative designed to strengthen collaboration between local communities and our nearby military installations, and that includes Quantico, includes Joint Base Meyer, Henderson Hall, and Fort Belvoir, of course. NVRC is celebrating the 20th anniversary of that community and military partnership this year, so we'll be hearing more about that as well.

[02:18:12] And I'll just conclude by saying I look forward to seeing and participating in a number of the year-end celebrations here later this year. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Supervisor Luss, Supervisor Stork. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I want to really just broadly recognize the Army's longstanding role in shaping and defending the United States.

[02:18:34] And shaping, I think, is truly the right word. After Harry Truman did the right thing and integrated the military, it took us obviously many, many decades after that to get more and more engaged. And we actually came a long way, even with recognizing LGBTQ and enabling those folks to serve, and that is now apparently looking to be changed.

[02:18:58] But I think that's wrong, and I'm hoping that eventually folks will see the value that all people can make a difference and all people can serve. But that longstanding role of the Army, truly in shaping and defending, is a key part of, I think, who we are today.

[02:19:14] From, obviously, 1775 to the modern global operations that they have today, to Fort Belvoir and really all the differences and benefits it has there, the millions of soldiers who have served with honor and who have, frankly, gave the ultimate sacrifice to make a difference for all of us are huge parts of what I think we all try to honor and respect and appreciate as a son of a veteran who made it through and put his missions in and miraculously came home to father us

[02:19:53] and really be the role model that we all want. It's just in so many ways that the soldier, the individual, and the families that support those individuals are a huge part of, frankly, how we are being so successful, not only as an army, but also as a society.

[02:20:12] So we see that daily in Fort Belvoir and the communities around us, having military neighbors all around me, if you will. I see that clearly. I also see the critical importance of educating the public about the army and the military in general.

[02:20:30] Folks who have not been to the U.S. Army, the National Museum of the U.S. Army, you are missing a treat, not only an understanding that you far exceed anything you could get anywhere else, but more importantly, there's a new exhibit that helps to highlight, and I'm sorry, maybe I'm stealing some of your thunder, but I'm so excited about what all is there and the opportunity for all of us to engage.

[02:20:57] And even the most recent actions where the Army basically chose to leave the name Fort Belvoir, which we appreciate, but also renamed critical institutions on the fort. I think I have Tammy and some other members of my team in our community and the History Commission play key roles in making sure that we protected and hopefully recognize other parts of the folks who have served who maybe were not recognized in the past. Again, it's a long, long history, but one that I think is deeply part of and parcel of who we are.

[02:21:33] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much, Supervisor Stork. And let me first thank our Commander-in-Chief, George Washington, for establishing the Army that we are here celebrating. And let me also acknowledge that having spent my entire childhood on or around Fort Belvoir,

[02:21:58] The comments that have been made about the importance of Fort Belvoir and supporting our veterans and military families are so vital to the success of Fairfax County, but also the humanitarian element of that. When we think about Fort Belvoir, we think about the base, but Fort Belvoir is a community, a thriving, vibrant community, not only on post but off post, full of active-duty military veterans and their families who call Fairfax County and Fort Belvoir home.

[02:22:33] And so we want to make sure we honor all of those military veterans and service people for the work that they do every day. And while we're celebrating the 250th birthday of the Army, we know how important not only the Army is to our national defense, but literally how important it is to our community here.

[02:22:51] And then lastly, the museum is absolutely phenomenal. And I know there was a time in the early planning of the museum where we didn't know if the museum would be up, open, and operational in time for this major 250th birthday.

[02:23:08] And the fact that we got it done was because of the tenacity of a lot of people who raised a lot of money to make sure that the Army Museum happened and that it happened here in Fort Belvoir. And so, we want to not only socialize that with our community and the importance of this at 250 years, but we also want to encourage each and every person that comes and visits Mount Vernon, the home of our president, to also come and visit the National Museum of the United States Army.

[02:23:39] It's almost impossible anymore to do one without the other, and we want to make sure we emphasize this crown jewel in our backyard, in particular this year, but every year as we celebrate 250. And so with that, I think we're ready to vote on the motion.

[02:23:55] All those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries, and our speaker today is Tammy Call, Director of the National Museum of the United States Army, assisted by President George Washington.

[02:24:13] Welcome, Tammy. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman McKay and to the Board of Supervisors. It's really my very proud honor to accept the proclamation on behalf of the Army and also Colonel Stewart, the Fort Belvoir garrison commander, who unfortunately couldn't be here with me today.

[02:24:29] So we really appreciate it. As the director of the National Army Museum, as an Army veteran, This position is just the greatest honor of my career, and I, too, would have never thought that I would meet our first commander-in-chief that we talk so much about in the museum.

[02:24:45] So as a cultural institution, one of the cultural institutions within Fairfax County, the National Army Museum is really proud to serve as the Army's front door and connect our nation's citizens with our American soldiers, and that is one of our primary missions. We have reached over 800,000 visitors to date that I'm very, very happy about and hope to see over a million by the end of this year.

[02:25:11] So fingers crossed. Tourism is good right now. This past weekend, we opened a new exhibition, Call to Arms, the Soldier and the Revolutionary War. That exhibit holds 287 very rare artifacts from the American Revolution used by the soldiers of the American Revolution and a couple of your very special items.

[02:25:33] We currently have your pistols on display that you receive from Lafayette. And so we explore the history of the American Revolution in this exhibit through the collection of people, as we've all been talking about here this morning, through the collections of people that served and fought in the American Revolution, and it's extraordinary. The artifacts came to us from 40 different cultural institutions and private collectors, and we have artifacts on display from Canada, England, and France. So we're talking about all of the soldiers that fought in the American Revolution and why they did it. The army was formed

[02:26:12] before we were a nation, and while our founding fathers would declare our independence one year later. It was the soldiers led by George Washington that fought and won our independence. So I invite the board and all members of the Fairfax County community to visit and explore the new exhibit and the rest of the museum. The Army is celebrating its birthday, as everybody has probably already heard, on the National Mall this weekend on Saturday, 14 June. And the museum is open as well.

[02:26:43] so if you want a compatible experience to come and visit us as well this weekend we would we would welcome everyone thank you thank you very much Tammy and thank you for all your work with the museum that is appreciated with that I think we're ready for a photo and I will have we'll have a large photo if we can have some other folks who were in our last photo join us for this one as well. And Supervisor Lusk and Supervisor Stork and Herity will join me for the photo.

[02:28:52] All right, and what a morning. It has been here in Fairfax County, and we are going to move on to

[02:30:05] our next item, which is presentation of the 2024 Barbara Varon Volunteer Award to Jose Garzon. And at this time, we have with us Marie Colturi, chairman of the Barbara Varon Award Selection committee uh marie welcome the floor is yours thank you happy to be here good morning chairman mckay and each member of the board of supervisors i'm marie culturi chairman of the barbara baron volunteer service award committee thank you for allowing us to present the 2024 recipient of the

[02:30:39] barbara baron volunteer service award each year the board of supervisors solicits nominations for the barbara baron volunteer service award given annually to a resident who works to improve the community through volunteer service the award honors the late you could hold on for one second folks let's let's uh be respectful here of the speaker um and as a matter of fact um why don't we start over uh why don't we start this presentation over this is this is important um welcome if you don't mind we can start over thank you certainly certainly good morning i'm marie

[02:31:18] culturi chairman of the barbara varron volunteer service award committee thank you for allowing us to present the 2024 recipient of the Barbara Varen Volunteer Service Award. Each year, the Board of Supervisors solicits nominations for the Barbara Varen Volunteer Service Award given annually to a resident who works to improve the community through volunteer service. The award honors the late Barbara Varen, former chairman of the Fairfax County Electoral Board and dedicated community volunteer. Barbara was committed to voter registration outreach and fought for the

[02:31:56] rights and privileges of all citizens to participate in the electoral process. This year, we are pleased to recognize Jose Garzon from the Sully District as a Barbara Barron Volunteer Service Award winner. The selection committee, comprised of representatives from each magisterial district in Fairfax County, was impressed by his dedication and passion for supporting election protection, voter education, and voter initiatives, making him a true champion for voter protection and education.

[02:32:31] In addition to registration drives, Jose conducted literature drops at strategic locations and analyzed voter turnout trends to design targeted campaigns to drive participation. Through his tireless volunteer work, he empowered residents to exercise their democratic rights, fostering a culture of civic engagement that strengthened our community.

[02:32:57] We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jose Garzon and thank him for his service to the community. His dedication and passion are an inspiration to us all. Thank you. Jose is coming on down.

[02:33:29] We will pose for a picture, and I know there are a number of people here for this as well, including folks who are on the selection committee. I want to thank them for all of their work and dedication as well. And, Jose, if you want to share a few words, you're welcome to do that.

[02:33:47] I'll be brief. I did not bring a drum and fife core or a few puppies. I did bring my friends from Southern Democrats and my wife. Thank you. I just want to thank the board, really, for this award, and thank my friends who are putting me up for this.

[02:34:06] I'm frankly a little bewildered by all of it because I don't think I did anything different than what hundreds of other people did in both parties, by the way. You knock on doors, you hand out material, put things on people's doors, do voter observation, do analysis.

[02:34:30] Sometimes I led, sometimes I helped. But then again, maybe that's the point. Maybe democracy isn't the work of one person. It's the work of hundreds and thousands of people, putting things on doors, knocking on doors, talking to people, calling them up, sending those annoying texts.

[02:34:54] My childhood hero was Robert F. Kennedy Sr., who's clear about that. He said that, he talked about tiny ripples of hope that together build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of resistance and oppression.

[02:35:19] And that's all. Those tiny ripples of hope are all the more important. When we think of, there are people who want to stop those ripples and stop the ocean and just create this stagnant pool.

[02:35:35] And I refuse to accept that. My entire adult professional life was devoted to building democracies around the world in several countries as a foreign service officer with USAID. Anyone remember that? USAID.

[02:35:53] And I realized now I had to do it here at home. So I've kind of come full circle. So on behalf of those thousands and hundreds of colleagues on both parties, Those little drops of water could make the ocean of democracy.

[02:36:11] I thank you for this award. God bless. Thank you. Thank you very much, Jose. And for those who knew Barbara and her husband, what an honor for you to receive an award in their name for all the good work that you do.

[02:36:34] And we appreciate that. I think we'll pose for a photo. If you would, come on forward. And if the board could rise.

[02:36:47] And next we have the presentation of the Transportation Advisory Commission,

[02:38:14] the TAC 2024 Transportation Achievement Awards. And at this time, I would welcome to the podium Michael Champness, the chairman of the Transportation Advisory Commission. Michael, welcome. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Quite a busy morning.

[02:38:31] very pleased to decided not to take a lunch break now. I know that's coming. We'll just take a moment here. It's been a fantastic year this year. But before I get started, I'd like to introduce some folks. We have some commissioners here. Kevin Morris from the Braddock District, chaired the Tack Award Committee. Keith Fox from the Franconia District as well. And Karen Camplin, who is right up there with the divided loyalties, but actually showing a community involvement across the board

[02:39:05] there. We were very blessed with a lot of nominees this year. And so we had five, which is a huge number. And Mr. Steverson, Martha Coelho there, director, deputy director, and a previous winner, by the way, of a TAG award. It was a very difficult situation. And normally I don't describe the folks that we didn't select, but I think I wanted to mention it because there are so many because of the work they did. The FCDOT grant team for low or no emission vehicles or buses,

[02:39:40] they only saved about $50.6 million. Sorry, didn't win this year. Proffers management, improving the proffers process. Talk about a Gordian knot, another fantastic domination there. Comprehensive transportation analysis, a tool that we recognized in our comments on the transportation policy plan as an important tool that allows us to make some analysis and look at some things in a comprehensive way that we've not been able to do that before.

[02:40:08] Very compelling, not quite enough. Another one, quite honestly, is traffic calming projects, 16 projects, 8 districts. Exactly the kind of thing that we love to see, cooperation, involvement, folks working together. 12 folks from FCDOT, 16 from DPWAS, 12 Board of Supervisors aides.

[02:40:29] So we probably run the risk here of disappointing about all of you by not selecting that one. One county attorney's office, so hopefully our legal exposure is limited there. Two from the fire and rescue, two from the police, three from private firms. All, again, fantastic, fantastic nominees.

[02:40:47] But the one we chose, and I think you'll, I'm confident you'll appreciate it. Another thing we've talked about with our policy analysis is the need for community involvement. It's a common theme. I've seen it at the board. You have talked about it.

[02:41:02] We have talked about it. We made it an important component of, again, our comments on the policy plan. But also trying to do it in a slightly different way, bring folks in, do things a little bit differently. And the team that we selected here was a Fairfax Connector marketing team. It was a unanimous choice.

[02:41:19] And I like to read from the award. The Fairfax County Connector Marketing Team played a critical role in ensuring that transit services are accessible to the communities that are most dependent on them. They successfully communicated service changes to affected populations and managed the free student bus pass program using multilingual materials to ensure accessibility for students and their families.

[02:41:44] Their efforts helped expand transit usage among younger riders, fostering long-term engagement with public transportation. They also spearheaded the promotion of the Transit Ridership Incentive Program, TRIP, which supports commuters at or below the federal poverty line. Through collaborations with local businesses, employers, community service organizations, schools, and advocacy groups, they ensured that transit benefits reached those who needed them most.

[02:42:07] The team's innovative outreach efforts, such as the Spooky Bus and Winterfest Bus Wraps, combined festive themes with public transit awareness. These campaigns not only increased community engagement, but also included a charitable component, partnering with the nonprofit Cornerstones to support families in need.

[02:42:23] These efforts strengthened public trust in transit services and reinforced the role of transportation in community well-being. We thought they were eminently qualified and very pleased to support their selection. I've not yet mentioned their names. Kayla Berry is the lead for the group there.

[02:42:40] Kayla, there we go, if you could stand. Nicole Daly, Saul Sienza, and Lynn Krolowitz are also the members. There we go, traveling in a pack, as you would expect. So thank you very much. And Kayla, the floor is yours.

[02:43:02] I should have called you earlier. Thank you, Chair Chapniss. Hi. It's so good to see you all again. First of all, I want to say one of the things I think is so special about the Fairfax Connector marketing team is that we all live here.

[02:43:20] We live. We work here. We play here. We raise our families here, and I think that's what helps make us so dynamic and so all-in and so passionate about what we do in promoting transit through the various programs.

[02:43:37] Kathy Hudgens, former supervisor Kathy Hudgens, was the inspiration for the student bus pass program, arguably one of the most successful programs this county has ever, ever invested in. So over 4 million trips to date. trip, we continue to reach those people who need help the most. And we appreciate that opportunity.

[02:44:00] So I'm first among equals. Our team is fantastic. We have the ability to translate into Spanish and Korean within our team. And that reflects our commitment to be as inclusive as we can with our community and with our friends and our neighbors and our families. So thank you so much. Thank you.

[02:44:20] Thank you very much, and I think we're ready for a photo, and so if all those who are here for this could come on down. Supervisor Bierman, Chairman of the Transportation Committee, will join me, and if the rest of the board could rise.

[02:45:23] All right, we are now going to move on to board matters, and these have been compiled

[02:46:12] digitally and will go alphabetically by district, following myself and Vice Chairman Smith, And let me turn the gavel over to Chairman Smith, and I will go first with my board matters. And let me start first with a motion to approve without objection the proclamation request listed in this document to be presented inside or outside of the boardroom.

[02:46:39] And you can see here the list of them. I'm not going to go through them all. We all have hard copies of them. A lot of things for us to recognize. as we move forward at board meetings, and so without objection, I would ask for that to be approved. Without objection, it's so ordered.

[02:46:55] Secondly, let me also make two announcements, or at least one announcement, and that is about our June 24th Board of Supervisors meeting and our intent to defer the public hearing on unified sanitary districts, the public hearing on initiating the state-mandated five-year period in which to study the potential implementation of a unified sanitation district has currently been scheduled for a public hearing on June 24th.

[02:47:25] A deferment is necessary to allow more time for staff to effectively inform the public about the displacement process, address any misinformation, and communicate the potential benefits and disadvantages of the proposed changes. To align with this effort, staff will undertake additional public outreach efforts to provide accurate and consistent information to our residents necessitating that the public hearing should be deferred until a date in October of this year and therefore I am simply announcing today an intent to defer the public hearing currently scheduled for June 24th to October 14th

[02:48:02] 2025 and want to make sure that the public is aware of that well in advance there's been a lot lot of communication out there about that and I want to make certain that we effectively communicate that. And then finally I do have a summer intern that I want to introduce and that is Nathaniel and Nathaniel grew up in Vienna and recently graduated from Johns Hopkins University triple majoring in political science international studies and economics. Not sure what the rest of us are doing, but after completing his undergraduate studies focused on theoretical

[02:48:38] and macro level public policy, Nathaniel is eager to gain practical hands-on experience on how local government works. What's most impressive about him is that he helped his father, a middle school math teacher in Arlington County, improve time management and streamline processes, enabling him to focus more on helping students rather than handling administrative tasks. Nathaniel built a tool that automatically categorizes test scores into specific ranges, allowing users to view aggregate results without the need for a separate application. He also developed a website that

[02:49:13] generates digital hall passes from spreadsheet data, eliminating the need to manually print and fill out templates. One of his passions is being a private coach and helping students who went on to win national tournaments and invitationals. And our team is excited to have Nathaniel, not only in the chairman's office, but on Team Fairfax.

[02:49:34] And if you just listen to all the things he has already accomplished, there should be no reason to believe he won't be an excellent addition to Team Fairfax, and we look forward to his contribution. So thank you, Nathaniel. And with that, we are going to move on to Vice Chairman Smith.

[02:49:57] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The board has received a request from the National Association of Counties, NACO, regarding designating a voting delegate, an alternate voting delegate, to represent the county at the NACO Annual Conference and Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 11 through 14, 2024.

[02:50:16] Therefore, I move that the board designate Chairman Jeff McKay as the voting delegate and Vice Chair Kathy Smith and County Executive Brian Hill as the alternate voting delegates. It's been moved and seconded by Supervisor Bierman. You weren't going to second yourself, Mr. Chairman.

[02:50:32] I think because he's relieved he doesn't have to do this. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Supervisor Smith.

[02:50:48] Thank you. This is a motion for Centerville Stone Road Park and Ridelott. Increasing the supply of affordable housing continues to be a high priority in Fairfax County. In March of 2023, the Board of Supervisors doubled its strategic goal to provide a minimum of 10,000 new affordable housing units by 2034. In alignment with the county's housing policy plan, which prioritizes the use of county-owned buildings and land as sites for co-location and or development of affordable housing, the Department of Housing and Community Development, HCD, continues to actively investigate the feasibility of board-owned sites for the

[02:51:25] development of affordable housing within all magisterial districts. Through the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act, publicly owned land in Fairfax County has been successfully leveraged through partnership with private development and use of resources like low-income housing tax credits, LIHTC, to efficiently produce affordable housing units in a cost-effective manner. The Board is the owner of approximately 4.18 acres of land in the Sully District described as tax map numbers 54-3 double circle 2 and lots 5, 6, and 7 and 54-3

[02:52:03] double circle 25 lots A, 1, and B. The site is currently home to an existing park and ride lot consisting of 372 parking spaces and three Fairfax connector bus space. An opportunity exists on this site for the co-location of approximately 150 multifamily units and associated support services above a park and ride facility inclusive of bus bays and parking. Parking for both uses could potentially be provided via shared structured parking with minimal surface spaces. The site is in the Centerville Planning Area which is currently under consideration for a comprehensive plan

[02:52:40] amendment as authorized by the board in 2022. The Fairfax County Department of Planning and development leads the comprehensive plan amendment study in coordination with an appointed task force. The study will consider the inclusion of new and preservation of existing affordable housing within the Centerville planning area. Redevelopment of the site would provide residents with convenient access to public transportation as well as recreational and commercial amenities consistent with the Board's equity goals as described in the One Fairfax policy. Therefore, I move that the

[02:53:13] Board directs staff to initiate steps to formally authorize and schedule a public hearing to consider conveyance of approximately 4.18 acres of the board-owned Centerville Stone Road Park and Ride site located at tax map parcels 54-3, double circle 2, lots 5, 6, and 7, and 54-3, double circle 25, lots A, 1, and B, to the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority for the development of affordable housing, subject to the stipulations that, one, the transfer would be subject to the Memorandum of Understanding

[02:53:47] with the FCRHA, approved by the Board at a January 15, 2025 meeting, and, two, the FCRHA will provide the county with access to and use of the site until the project begins. I'm happy to second that motion, along with Supervisor Palczyk.

[02:54:03] Any discussion on the motion? No. Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Fairity, nay. Any abstentions? And that motion carries 9 to 1. Supervisor Smith. Thank you. I have another board matter with the same type of issue, so I'm not going to read the first paragraph that was the same as the last one.

[02:54:24] It's an explanation of our history. The Board is the owner of approximately 4.34 acres of land in the Sully District located at 14200 St. Germain Drive and described as tax map number 54-3, double circle 10012.

[02:54:40] The site is currently home to the existing Centerville Regional Library and 211 surface parking spaces. The existing library was constructed in 1991 and is in need of major capital renewal. Per the approved FY2026 through FY2030 CIP, the Centerville Regional Library is not scheduled to receive funding for the much-needed renovation until 2032.

[02:55:07] An opportunity exists on this site for the co-location of approximately 150 multifamily units and associated support services with a new regional library. Redevelopment of the site could expedite the construction of a new regional library while also providing critically needed affordable housing.

[02:55:25] The site is in the Centerville Planning Area, which is currently under consideration for a comprehensive plan amendment as authorized by the Board in 2022. The Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development leads the comprehensive plan amendment study in coordination with an appointed task force.

[02:55:41] The study will consider the inclusion of new and preservation of existing affordable housing within the Centerville planning area. Redevelopment of the site would provide residents with convenient access to public facilities and services, public transportation, as well as recreational and commercial amenities, consistent with the Board's equity goals as described in its one Fairfax policy.

[02:56:02] Therefore, I move that the Board directs staff to initiate steps to formally authorize and schedule a public hearing to consider conveyance of approximately 4.34 acres of the board-owned Centerville Regional Library site located at Tax Map Parcels 54-3-1-0012 to the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority for the development of affordable housing and a new regional library, subject to the stipulation that, one, the transfer would be subject to the memorandum of understanding with the FCRHA approved by the board at its January 15, 2025

[02:56:40] meeting. And two, the FCRHA will provide the county with access to and use of the site until the project begins. You've heard the motion. It's been seconded by the chairman and Supervisor Palchuk. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Parity, nay. Any abstentions? And that motion carries nine to one, Supervisor Smith. Thank you. That's all. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Supervisor Smith. Next up is Supervisor Walkinshaw. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have one board matter and one announcement to share. The board matter is a joint board matter with

[02:57:15] you and with Supervisor Herity, recognizing the Robinson Secondary School's women's and men's crew team for their recent state championships. Mr. Chairman, without objection, I ask the Office of Public Affairs to prepare a certificate of recognition for the Robinson Secondary school women's crew team and men's crew team to be presented before the board at the appropriate date, along with the other high school athletics presentations for the spring 2025 season.

[02:57:42] Without objection, it's so ordered. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to introduce one of our summer interns who's here, Charlotte Dowdy. Charlotte attended Robinson Secondary, where she was an IB diploma candidate and editor-in-chief of the yearbook.

[02:57:59] She's an incoming honors freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she hopes to study political science and communications studies. Charlotte was a fellow with the Global Leaders of Fairfax County. She's also currently an intern with the Photojournalism Archive Project, which is dedicated to preserving photojournalists' lives' work.

[02:58:22] She's passionate about youth civic engagement, prioritizing civil discourse, and live music. As I said, Charlotte's one of two summer interns joining us in the Braddock office this year, and I look forward to introducing our next intern at her June 24th meeting.

[02:58:38] And I'll just note, I know that all of you read every word of all 27 pages of the June edition of the Braddock Beacon. That was Charlotte's work. Our communications director's out, so she pulled all that together and did an incredible job.

[02:58:53] So she has really hit the ground running. Please give Charlotte a round of applause. And that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you. Supervisor Bierman. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.

[02:59:10] I have three quick board matters, and I will try to go quickly because we're getting close to lunch. First board matter is the appointment of Juan Tuasen to the Commission on Aging. The Drainsville District position on the Commission on Aging is now vacant.

[02:59:28] Because the next board meeting when boards, authorities, and commissions are on the agenda is not until June 24th, but the next meeting of the Commission on Aging is June 18th. I'm submitting this board matter to fill the Drainsville vacancy prior to bringing it. I shared the resume of Mr. Tuasen with board members.

[02:59:48] Therefore, I move that the Board of Supervisors approve the appointment of Juan Tuasen to serve as the Drainsville representative on the Commission on Aging effective immediately. I'll second that motion. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Supervisor Beerman.

[03:00:06] Thank you. My second board matter is a special permit fee waiver for Lift Me Up. Lift Me Up is a 501c3 nonprofit horseback riding center located in Great Falls and has served the Fairfax County residents in the broader region since 1975.

[03:00:23] It's a great organization, provides therapeutic riding lessons and wellness programs that are adapted to each rider's cognitive and physical needs. In January of 2024, Lift Me Up received approval of a special permit at their 1051 Kelso Road facility identified as SP-2023-DR-00041 for riding and boarding stable.

[03:00:47] In June 2025, Lift Me Up submitted a request to the county for an interpretation of zoning ordinance to determine whether their main facility located at 9700 and 9704 Georgetown Pike also requires approval of a special permit. Despite having operated a riding and boarding stable at these locations since 2011 and 2006, respectively, and longstanding equestrian uses at these properties, the zoning administrator has determined that a special permit is required for Lift Me Up to operate a riding and boarding stable.

[03:01:19] To assist in coming into compliance, Lift Me Up has requested that the Board of Supervisors grant a waiver of all fees associated with the filing of a special permit application. I believe that the public benefits provided by LiftMeUp have adequately demonstrated that there's good cause for the board to grant the request for a waiver of the filing fees, and there's precedent to do so.

[03:01:39] Therefore, I move that the Board of Supervisors direct the Department of Planning and Development to waive the special permit filing fee for a riding and boarding stable for LiftMeUp at tax map numbers 13-1, double parentheses 1, double parentheses 1, 42 and 43.

[03:01:56] This motion should not be construed as a favorable recommendation on the application by the Board and does not relieve the applicant from compliance with the provisions of any applicable ordinances, regulations, or adopted standards. This action in no way prejudices the substantive review of the application.

[03:02:12] And the Chair will second that motion along with a lot of folks. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. And if the clerk could please record me as an affirmative vote on Mr. Behrman's Commission on Aging Appointee.

[03:02:33] Supervisor Behrman. I've got to try that the next time I'm out of the room. Sorry. Final board matter, McLean Community Center election. Mr. Chairman, the McLean Community Center recently concluded open voting for five positions on the MCC's Governing Board of Directors, including three adult three-year terms, one youth one-year term for the Langley High School area, and one youth one year term for the mclean high school high school area i have attached the results of the election to this board matter mr chairman based on the results of this of the election as certified by the mcc's elections and nominations committee i move that the board of

[03:03:13] supervisors find that is in the public interest to appoint those persons receiving the highest numbers of votes in this election of governing board members and that the following individuals be appointed to the McLean Community Center and Governing Board. For adults, three-year terms, Ronald Keesing, Anna Bartowicz and Liz Lawson.

[03:03:34] For youth, one-year term, Langley High School area, Katie Marshall. And youth, one-year term, McLean High School area, Vanita Wang. You've heard the motion. I'm happy to second that. Is there discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor, please say aye.

[03:03:50] Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Supervisor Beerman. One more board matter. And again, I'll be brief. We will celebrate this later. But the board matter is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

[03:04:06] On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. The 35th anniversary of the ADA is a good opportunity to reaffirm the goals of the ADA and Fairfax County's ongoing efforts to create an inclusive and accessible society that allows people with disabilities to fully participate in their communities.

[03:04:24] Therefore, I move that the Board of Supervisors recognize the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and invite members of the Fairfax Area Disability Services Board, representatives of the disability community, and their supporters as well as county staff that provide services to people with disabilities to come before the Board at its July 15, 2025 meeting to receive the proclamation.

[03:04:46] You've heard the motion. I'm happy to second that. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Supervisor Beerman. That's all I've got. Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Beerman. Supervisor Lusk. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our first item, board item, is a Stock the Block recap. I'm happy to report that the third annual Stock the Block event on Saturday, May 17th, was a massive success.

[03:05:14] It was a beautiful day with warm weather and lots of music to lots of volunteers helping bring driving and walkers to the Jerry Highland Government Center to collect essential goods. The initial goal of the event was to distribute essential goods to 1,500 families in the area.

[03:05:33] I'm ecstatic to announce that that distribution assisted 2,500 families, 1,000 more than the initial goal. Over 30 pallets of food, hygiene supplies, and household goods were distributed to families in need. I'm happy to see also that Supervisor Sturck and his staff were able to attend the event, so thank you for coming out.

[03:05:53] I was lucky enough to spend a few hours helping with the distribution, talking to volunteers, and really seeing the remarkable effort and impact this event had. Anyone who wanted to see what makes our part of Fairfax County so special got a really good look at the Stock the Block event.

[03:06:11] I'd like to take time to recognize the organizations who played a pivotal role in making this really happen. First, the Young Adults with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, just a phenomenal group, over 250 of them. It's inspiring to see so many young people who not only care about their community, but also exemplify the virtues of altruism and selflessness.

[03:06:35] Managing the logistics of thousands of people driving and walking up to the parking lot of the Jerry Highland Governmental Center can be pretty daunting. But this event was smooth and seamless for everyone who participated. I'd also like to spotlight a few other organizations who played a very important role in helping make this event very successful.

[03:06:56] Those organizations include Good360, Lazara Ministries, the High Blue Valley Community Center, Neighborhood and Community Services, and the Fairfax County Police Department, as well as CERT. So thank you to everyone with these organizations and for all of the incredible volunteers.

[03:07:14] Next, Mr. Chairman, is a board matter on the Telegraph Road Conference of Plan Amendment. Mr. Chairman, the federal government previously owned Tax Map Parcel 92-1, Double Circle 01, Parcel 20C, located at 6801 Telegraph Road.

[03:07:35] The parcel contains 110,000 square feet of office buildings on a total of 9.75 acres. In 2022, the property was declared surplus and was sold in 2023. Over the last year, the purchaser 6801 Telegraph Road Development LLC has been engaging with representatives of the neighboring community to develop a concept plan for the future use of the property.

[03:08:04] The concept is to repurpose the existing office building into senior housing, including affordable units and other secondary uses, and to add additional single-family detached and attached units to the site.

[03:08:21] To date, the redevelopment proposal has been generally favorably received by the community representatives who have been contacted. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, in order to facilitate further community engagement and staff review, I move the Board of Supervisors authorize a Conference of Plan amendment for the property located at 6801 Telegraph Road that considers repurposing the existing building with senior residential units, including affordable units and other potential secondary uses, and the addition of up to 50 new single-family attached and or detached units.

[03:08:57] This motion should not be construed as a favorable recommendation by the Board of Supervisors on the proposed Conference of Plan amendment and does not relieve the property owners from compliance with the provisions of all applicable ordinances, regulations, or adopted standards in any way.

[03:09:13] This action in no way prejudices the substantial review of the Conference of Plan amendment. So moved. You've heard the motion and seconded by Supervisor Smith. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none. All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

[03:09:28] Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Supervisor Lusk. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And one last item. I just wanted to acknowledge the work of Deloitte with their Future of Work Institute at the WISH. I'm happy to report that Deloitte held its Future of Work Institute at the Workforce Innovation Skills Hub, also known as the WISH, On Friday, June 6th, Deloitte brought 15 of their staff to the WISH to provide this all-day program that focused participants on thinking about and discussing how the world of work is changing because of the advancements in AI technology.

[03:10:06] Logistics of the WISH event were developed in partnership between Deloitte, my office, the Department of Family Services, Melwood, and the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services to benefit WISH participants, residents of Hyde LaValle, and residents of Springfield. The program was expanded from the original concept to include a partner track that gave staff from a variety of county agencies, including staff from the Department of Economic Initiatives, DFS, Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, and Building Momentum and Melwood an opportunity to benefit from the content as well.

[03:10:40] I'm happy to take time to recognize the Deloitte staff who played a pivotal role in making this event happen as part of its annual Impact Day programming. Special thanks go to Glenn Davidson for bringing this idea to me earlier this year to support the mission of the WISH program.

[03:10:59] I also want to thank Dr. Michael Becketts from the Department of Family Services and his staff for working so closely with Deloitte and Millwood to ensure the Impact Day was such a success. Lloyd Tucker from the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and staff at the High Blue Valley Community Center were instrumental in ensuring residents from the Springfield Resource Center were able to also attend this important event.

[03:11:22] I'm grateful for everyone for their support and participation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And is that all, Supervisor Loves? That's all I have today. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Supervisor Alcorn. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One board matter and one announcement.

[03:11:39] The board matter is relating to Reston Town Center North Redevelopment Phase 1. As background, the Board of Supervisors, together with Inova Health Services, Inc., continues to pursue the redevelopment of the approximately 47-acre Reston Town Center North site.

[03:11:55] Currently, the site is comprised of a number of irregularly shaped parcels owned by the Board or by Inova. Specifically, from the project's inception, the Board has owned tax map number 17-1, double circle 1, parcels 3F, 12, 13, 14B, 14C, 14D, and tax map number 17-1, double circle 17, parcel 5A, while ANOVA has owned tax map number 17-1, double circle 1, parcels 14A, 14A, and 14F.

[03:12:27] The comprehensive plan envisions that the Reston Town Center North area will be redeveloped into a mixed-use development site with walkable blocks and safe streets. To that end, the Board has approved and executed an amended and restated interim agreement with ANOVA, which committed the Board to jointly seek with ANOVA an initial Phase 1 zoning action to consolidate the entire Reston Town Center North site area under a unified development plan to create the grid of streets and the development of blocks as reflected in the adopted comprehensive plan.

[03:13:00] If the initial Phase I zoning actions are approved, the Board and ANOVA, or their respective successors, as applicable, would subsequently seek additional land use approvals for the detailed site design and mix of uses on a block-by-block basis. On May 17, 2017, the Board previously authorized and concurred in the filing of all necessary zoning applications to implement the Reston Town Center North redevelopment and further authorize various staff to take certain related actions in support of those applications.

[03:13:30] Last year, the Board acquired an additional parcel, tax map number 17-1, double circle 17, parcel 4, comprising approximately 0.84 acres located between the current library and New Dominion Parkway.

[03:13:46] The comprehensive plan reflects that this parcel is planned to be developed with a road extending Library Street into Reston Town Center North, and implementation of this road would likely require approval of a conceptual plan and possibly a PRC plan. On November 19, 2019, the Board authorized the Director of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services and his designee to act as the Board's agent in applying for and seeking zoning approval of projects on board-owned property. Under the amended and restated interim real estate exchange agreement

[03:14:22] between ANOVA and the Board of Supervisors, ANOVA Healthcare Services, ANOVA, is charged with submitting and pursuing approval of land use applications. Because the development of Parcel 4 will need to be coordinated with the Reston Sound Center North Redevelopment, ANOVA should be authorized to pursue any necessary applications for implementation of adopted comprehensive plan recommendations. And I would also remind everybody of the September 12, 2023 board matter request sponsored by me and Chairman McKay to expedite processes associated with critical county facilities planned for Reston Town Center North. So therefore, Mr. Chairman, I, or sorry, Madam

[03:15:02] Vice Chairman. You could talk a little bit slower. Oh, okay. Therefore, Madam Vice Chairman, I move that the Board of Supervisors authorize ANOVA to apply for and seek approval of any zoning applications necessary to develop the property identified as tax mapped 17-1 double circle 17 parcel 4 and authorize the county executive to take any actions reasonably necessary in connection with the development of this parcel and its coordination with the rest in town center north redevelopment and this motion should not be construed as a favorable recommendation on the

[03:15:37] applications by the board and does not relieve the applicant from compliance with the provisions of any applicable ordinances, regulations, or adopted standards. This action in no way prejudices the substantive review of the application. And I would so move. I will second that motion along with Supervisor Palchuk.

[03:15:57] But before we vote or have any discussion, I want to announce the voluntary recusal from the public hearing on the ANOVA board matter. As you know, the board appointed Chairman McKay to serve on the ANOVA Health System Board of Trustees, and Supervisor Behrman serves on the ANOVA Healthcare Quality and Reliability Committee.

[03:16:17] This service is not compensated. Out of an abundance of caution, and not because it is legally required, they voluntarily recuse themselves from this matter and will not be participating in the discussion or voting on the matter. Okay, so now, is there any discussion?

[03:16:35] Not for me, Madam Vice Chair. I am going to call for the vote. All those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Any abstentions? That motion passes with Chairman McKay and Supervisor Bierman recused and Supervisor Lusk away from the table.

[03:16:54] Thank you very much. All right. Thank you, Madam Vice Chair and Mr. Chairman. Now, I do have one brief announcement. I want to congratulate Rustic Love on their fifth anniversary. The nonprofit group got its start on June 9, 2020, as a backyard project by a Vienna family and their neighbor.

[03:17:14] So they created, and I think many of you might have seen these, they created wooden signs adorned with an open heart. And I brought props. I have two of them right here. Okay. So you may have seen these signs. And basically, these signs were used to raise money to support the Vienna Foodies Facebook group during the early uncertain days of the pandemic.

[03:17:39] But this homegrown sign-making project has evolved into a thriving nonprofit that to date has raised more than $500,000 and given grants to more than 22 local groups that directly assist food insecure families. So thank you to Rustic Love for their ongoing efforts to help fight hunger.

[03:17:57] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much, Supervisor Alcorn, and next up is Supervisor Jimenez. Mr. Chairman, I have one board matter and one announcement.

[03:18:13] Mr. Chairman, in recognition of the Korean community's longstanding culture, economic, and civic contributions to our region, there has been a strong community interest in establishing an honorary naming to celebrate and acknowledge this impact. An initial proposal sought to honor a portion of Little River Turnpike.

[03:18:30] However, feedback from the broader community raised concerns about the historical context of Little River Turnpike. In response, many community members suggested an alternate location. A portion of John Marr Drive from Little River Turnpike to Columbia Pike has emerged as a meaningful and appropriate corridor for this honorary designation, reflecting the community's presence and history in the area.

[03:18:52] I respectfully request that the honorary naming of the portion of John Marr Drive from Little River Turnpike to Columbia Pike in honor of the Korean community be placed on the agenda for the Legislative Committee meeting on September 16th. This will enable formal consideration of the proposal and potential advancement through legislative means during the next General Assembly session.

[03:19:12] I'd like to direct staff to prepare all necessary background material and schedule the proposed honorary naming for discussion at the September 16th meeting of the Legislative Committee. I'm happy to second that motion as well. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none. All those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? And that motion carries. Supervisor Jimenez.

[03:19:37] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I forgot to mention that you, as well as Supervisor Walkinshaw, were also co-sponsors of that board matter. So thank you very much. We'll now move to the announcement section, which is really exciting. So last week, or last time we were here, last week, time flies.

[03:19:56] The last time we were here, we brought the awesome kids from Justice Row team here to honor them for what they have done and all their accomplishments. Since then, they've gotten even better, and this is amazing. This is an amazing story. I'm just so proud of the folks at Justice and the work that their principal and their parents, families, and everyone has put together on this.

[03:20:18] So, Mr. Chairman and members of the board, I'm proud to share some exciting news from Justice High School in Mason District. This past weekend, the Justice High School rowing team made an impressive showing at the Scholastic Rowing Association of America National Championship. Among the standout performances, the girls junior quad earned a silver medal, marking Justice's first medal at the Nationals since 2016.

[03:20:44] Competing against top crews from across the country, their hard work, determination, and teamwork truly paid off on the national stage. This accomplishment not only reflects the athletes' commitment, but also the incredible support of their principal, coaches, families, and the broader Justice community.

[03:21:00] We celebrate this milestone as a point of pride for Mason District and Fairfax County as a whole. Please join me in congratulating Justice High School rowing team on this well-earned success and wishing them continued strength and speed in the seasons ahead. Exciting update. Thank you, Supervisor Jimenez.

[03:21:23] Supervisor Stork. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have one verbal board matter, and this is related to our summer palooza, which is the first time we ever held it. We had more than 2,000 people attend. It truly was a phenomenal experience at the Mount Vernon District Government Center.

[03:21:42] The core of this is, you know, if you have great staffs, you can really do great things. And it started with really one of the staff members, Cassie Donahue, saying our two very successful events in previous years are Ides of Bark, which is our dog festival, which humans usually came to.

[03:22:00] And then we also had our Environmental Expo, which with the National Park Service and George Washington Memorial Parkway, which is equally successful. But we were finding we were getting audiences that were connected really just with those groups, and we wanted something a little bit broader, and Cassie Donahue truly came to us with this idea.

[03:22:20] Kama Speer, who's sitting behind me with the Loving America shirt, the 250th shirt, she and Cassie really worked together. They spent countless hours, but this event really rocked it. If you were around this past Saturday, you felt it as you came around the corner at Sherwood Hall Lane and Parker's Lane.

[03:22:41] So we had more than 53 vendors. We had big trucks and little kids, of course, the combination. We had incredible bouncy houses, and we had drawings. Southeast Fairfax Development hosted a number of kind of incredible kids' own arts and crafts, et cetera.

[03:22:58] Fry and Pan Farm Park brought their animals, which clearly went very, very well as well. We had, of course, the folks who are there to make sure that the humans can enjoy what their dogs love, as well as we had our environmental expo people.

[03:23:15] Hands down, folks, they said it was just getting a larger group to share their issues, concerns, questions, and really educate others was a key part of this. So I just want to give a broad, big, broad thanks, not only to Cassidy and Kamala and our team, Team MVD, which did a phenomenal job, but I also wanted to thank specifically Innova Mount Vernon Hospital, which is right next door and clearly been part of it, Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation, SFTC, who we helped to fund and support economic development on the Richmond Highway Corridor, our two chambers, Mount Vernon-Springfield, as well as the South Fairfax Chamber of Commerce,

[03:23:50] South County Cares, which is a church who consistently shows up, provides free food, along with we had a number of other restaurants who provided free food, including Dishes of India, Honeygro, Polo Campero, Sherwood Deli.

[03:24:07] We had Pohanka Automotive give us some very generous donations to connect and provide support. ReWorld, which is the folks who do the energy, create the energy from trash at our plant in I-95. Riptide Band, Bunnyman Brewery was there, which we all hope they're becoming more familiar with at the Workhouse Arts Center.

[03:24:28] They had an event there, and they offered beer. Of course, you had to pay for that, but the food was all free. And Fairfax Squatter was there, two smooth dudes in a truck. And I would say, really, the star of the show, really besides my staff members, was truly FMD.

[03:24:47] They absolutely stepped up. They did a phenomenal job, not only preparing the area, which took a lot of work, but even more importantly, they were there to support our zero-waste efforts. We truly wanted to make this a zero-waste event, and it was. And, again, I think our plan is to do it again, but I have to be careful because they do most of the work.

[03:25:10] I don't, but I know that it was that kind of a thing where we got just constant praise and thank you for doing it. So, again, I wanted to share that with all of you. and maybe give you an idea for something you may want to consider in the future. So thank you to my team, and thank you to the community for attending.

[03:25:27] Appreciate it. Thank you, Supervisor Stork. And next up is Supervisor Palchik. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And first of all, it's wonderful to hear that Supervisor Stork is about to announce our new community outreach manager, whose first big job will be Providence Fest year two.

[03:25:42] So a lot of good ideas to learn from you. I want to go ahead and recognize Magali Ceballos, if you want to stand up, Magali. She stems from the California Central Valley and moved to the D.C. metropolitan area after earning a degree in politics and Latin American and Latino studies from the University of California Santa Cruz in 2016.

[03:26:03] Before joining the Board of Supervisors in our office, she held roles in development, marketing, and home visiting at Mary's Center, a federally qualified health center in D.C. She played a pivotal role in the organization's rebrand, creating and running culturally humble campaigns, and most recently, implementing evidence-based home visiting programs to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

[03:26:27] Magali brings a strong background in community engagement, marketing, and project management. Her lived and professional experiences have fueled her passion of creating equitable spaces and systems, and she looks forward to using her skill set to support community building and serving the residents of Fairfax County.

[03:26:44] If you can please join me in welcoming Magali to our office in the community. We are so grateful. Yesterday, we had an opportunity to say goodbye to one of our longest-serving members who is now in law school and a clerk, REA, who has been doing a lot of work in the community.

[03:27:02] We're always happy to see our staff go and do bigger and better things. So happy, sad to see him go, but excited that we have a new member of our group. And then I have just one joint board matter with the chairman and supervisors Bierman and Alcorn, and a request to promote the Copa Tyson Soccer Fest on June 21st.

[03:27:22] Members of the board, the Tyson's Community Alliance, TCA, will host its inaugural Copa Tyson Soccer Fest on Saturday, June 21st from 1 to 7 p.m. at Can Lawrence Park. This free, family-friendly event will feature a wide variety of activities, including soccer inflatables, bubble soccer, face painting, a forum for adult soccer tournament, which you do need to sign up for, skill stations, and food trucks.

[03:27:49] I'm very excited. The special guest includes soccer legend Jaime Moreno, who many of us know from his D.C. United days. He is now a youth academy technical training coach for D.C. United, and P.K., oh, with D.C. United, and he'll be joining us in signing items, so I'll see you there, Andres, and P.K. the Eagle, the beloved mascot of the Washington spirit. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged. And for more registration and to register,

[03:28:24] you can visit tysonsva.org slash copa slash dash Tysons. And therefore, I move without objection that the Office of Public Affairs help promote this event through our appropriate channels. I further move that the board encourage the community to help spread the word and join in supporting this exciting and inclusive community celebration.

[03:28:45] I very much want to thank the board members at TCA and especially Tamir Linhart, who has helped do this of his free time. He has been running youth soccer programs for almost 30 years now, and I think it will be an exciting event.

[03:29:01] I hope to see you all there. And without objection, that is so ordered. That's all, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much. Supervisor Palachuk, Supervisor Herity. Yes, Mr. Chairman, I have two. The first one is recognizing the Greatest American Cleanup Kickoff Day in Fairfax County.

[03:29:20] Keep America Beautiful is a national nonprofit that was established in 1953 with the mission to spark action and pride in the places we call home. To help the nation look its best for the next year's 250th anniversary, Keep America Beautiful launched the Greatest American Cleanup, the largest cleanup and beautification effort in U.S. history.

[03:29:41] Its goal is to remove 25 billion pieces of litter and beautify 25,000 communities in the lead-up to this semi-quincentennial. You do much better with that, Supervisor Stork. You practice. It's no secret that our country is divided on many issues these days, but litter is one of the few topics we agree on.

[03:30:01] Nearly 90% of Americans believe there's too much litter in their communities, And a recent Harris Poll respondents overwhelmingly said that they want more optimism in their lives and value opportunities that bring people together to make tangible differences in their local communities. The Greatest American Cleanup is engaging communities and businesses across the country to work together with Hilton, including Hilton, Northrop Grumman, as well as Coca-Cola, AT&T, Disney, National Geographic, and others.

[03:30:31] In Fairfax County, our residents and businesses care deeply about the appearance of our community, and many already participate in volunteer litter cleanups. The Greatest American Cleanup is an opportunity to engage more Fairfax County residents and businesses to work together to address areas of litter near their homes, shopping centers, parks, and roads.

[03:30:52] Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I ask without objection the board designate July 3rd as the Greatest American Cleanup Kickoff Day in Fairfax County, recognizing the kickoff of this year-long historic campaign and acknowledging Keep America Beautiful's dedicated history of service to communities across the country, including Fairfax County.

[03:31:13] I ask this to be presented at our June 24th meeting. I also ask the Office of Public Affairs to help publicize this effort in ways that Fairfax County residents can organize and participate in litter cleanups. First, let me ask, I think we're full on June 24th.

[03:31:31] Are we full already? I think our office had reached out and said that we had a spot. I believe that is included. It is included, but we are full with that on the agenda. Correct. Okay. All right. So without objection, that is so ordered.

[03:31:46] Supervisor Herity. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The second one is to recognize the Children's Science Center Lab's 10th anniversary. The Children's Science Center Lab is an interactive museum operated by the Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation. It focuses on exploring science, technology, engineering, and math STEM concepts where children, families, school groups can learn through fun, develop problem-solving skills, explore their creativity, engage in hands-on exhibits, activities, and programs.

[03:32:18] The center prioritized reaching underrepresented and economically disadvantaged children with the significant support of businesses, private foundations, and individuals from across the region. Last year alone, the center served over 55,000 visitors in its interactive lab, a STEM museum based in Fair Oaks at Fair Oaks Mall in the Springfield District, and through community programs delivered to schools, libraries, and STEM festivals across Virginia.

[03:32:46] In April 2024, they welcomed their 500,000 guests. With a larger regional science center underway within the Dulles Technology Corner at Concordia, Hundreds of thousands more students will be inspired in STEM learning, fueling future growth in a community -- a Commonwealth's technology workforce.

[03:33:07] The Future Science Museum is a much-deeded flagship community resource for the Commonwealth and will greatly benefit our FCPS students. The lab is celebrating its 10th anniversary on Saturday and Sunday, June 14th and 15th, with programs, exhibits, and activities, and encourages children to learn about science, technology, engineering, and math in a fun and interactive way.

[03:33:29] Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I ask without objection that a resolution be prepared for the Children's Science Center Lab, but recognizing their 10 years of service to Northern Virginia and Fairfax County to be presented outside the boardroom. And without objection, that is so ordered.

[03:33:45] Supervisor Herity. That's it, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Herity. And with that, we are going to move on to our admin items. And let me ask if there's a motion to approve admin items 1 through 11. I move approval of Admin Items 1 through 11.

[03:34:03] I'm happy to second that. Are there any admin items board members would like to be pulled for a separate vote or discussion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of Admin Items 1 through 11, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries.

[03:34:19] And that brings us to action items. And action item number one is approval of the FY 2025 year-end processing. and I'm going to turn the gavel to Supervisor Smith so that I can move the county executive's recommendation.

[03:34:36] I will second that motion. Any discussion on the motion? Hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Vice Chairman Smith. Action item number two is adoption of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program, including certain proposed countywide site-specific plan amendment SSPA nominations.

[03:34:59] Supervisor Smith. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This action item involves the adoption of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program, which schedules all authorized plan amendments and planning studies.

[03:35:17] The 2025 Work Program would retain all ongoing active plan amendments and studies, including policy amendments, area-wide studies, and site-specific amendments throughout the county. The revised work program would remove four pending but inactive plan amendments and add plan amendments resulting from nominations in the county-wide site-specific plan amendment process per the Planning Commission recommendation.

[03:35:45] In many instances, nominations that are near others would be grouped together during the planning study to assess cumulative impacts. In addition, there are a few modifications that members of the Board have brought to my attention. Some of these items were not able to be presented to the Planning Commission for the review due to timing or a member of the Board wishes to present an alternative to the Planning Commission recommendation.

[03:36:12] They are as follows. In the Franconia District, one additional site at 6801 Telegraph Road, Tax Map Parcel 92-1, Double Circle 1, 20C, has been authorized as an out-of-turn plan amendment pursuant to Supervisor Lusk's earlier board matter today, and it should be added to Tier 2 with the SSPAs for further review.

[03:36:37] In the Hunter Mill District, nomination CPN-2025-Roman Numerals 3-HM-028, the Reston National golf course has generated significant discussion in the community. However, it is not ready to move forward at this time and should not be added to the work program. Additionally, the Planning Commission has recommended adding nomination CPN-2025-Roman numeral 3-HM-042, the Wheelie

[03:37:13] TOD North District as a Tier 1 item. However, much of the nominated area needs to be brought into the consolidation, and as a result, additional work by the nominator is needed before this item is ready to move forward. Therefore, this nomination should be placed on Tier 3. In the Mason District, with the completion of the study of the Seven Corners Ring Road, it is now appropriate to prioritize SSPA 2023-I-4J pistons to Tier 2 from Tier 3,

[03:37:48] which will allow staff to begin its review of the plan amendment. In the Drainsville District, the nominator for SSPA 2023-Roman numeral 3-2UP, Drainsville United Methodist Church was recommended to be removed from the work program, but has since indicated that they are re-engaging on the amendment, so that item should remain on Tier 1. Finally, in the Sully District, as a cleanup item, SSPA 2023-R3-5UP, Lincoln Park, should include a more logical planning area that

[03:38:26] adds three additional parcels, 24-4 double circle 1, 6D3, 6D5, and 6D6, which would expand consideration to adjacent and similarly situated parcels that are zoned for industrial use and could also transition to planned residential uses. The addition of the SSPAs listed in Action 2 concludes the SSPA screening process, which began on March 4, 2025, with the Board's acceptance of the list of nominations. It has included initial review by staff and members of the public in a

[03:39:03] series of 14 community meetings held in March and April, as well as three planning commission workshops held in May. The community was involved in the process and provided substantial input to staff and the Planning Commission on many of the nominations. A few of the nominations have resulted in community concerns, so I want to reiterate that we are not approving or denying any plan amendments at this stage. Rather, we are advancing these plan amendments to the work Program for further study by staff, the community, and the Planning Commission. I would also note that

[03:39:42] community engagement would continue in the next stage. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move that the Board of Supervisors adopt the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program as recommended by the Planning Commission, which is contained as Attachment 1 of Action Item 2, subject to the board modifications that I listed in my remarks and as shown in the attached Board of Supervisors markup of the 2025 Draft Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program. You've heard the motion.

[03:40:13] It's been multiply seconded by several board members. Any discussion on the motion? Discussion on the motion? Let me start with Supervisors. First, I really need to thank Katrina and Graham for all their work on this and to work with our colleagues and the community.

[03:40:31] It was a lot of outreach. It is still the beginning of the process. I know some people feel like it's the end of the process. And for me personally, I want to thank the Franklin Farm community for all their engagement in this process. I don't know what the outcome will be for the church and what they want to do.

[03:40:47] It is in Tier 3. It will be some time to get there. There's time for the community to come together and have discussions. I have no idea where we will end up in the end, but I feel a responsibility to have the discussion further. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Supervisor Smith.

[03:41:03] Supervisor Palcic. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also want to very much thank all the staff and committee members who have worked on this. I just want to make a brief comment. There are three cases in the Providence District that have been grouped together for the Tyson's Office study, and I look forward to that conversation.

[03:41:20] I also want to mention, as we in Stafford know, that they are unique cases, and they each have unique locations and needs. And so I just want to state that before we go into the study, that while they are grouped together, we will look at the individual needs and locations of each of those cases.

[03:41:38] Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Palczyk. Supervisor Stork. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wanted to echo, frankly, the words of the vice chairman and the points that were made about this in many ways. is the beginning of the end of the first process and then the beginning of a new process.

[03:41:57] And the beginning of this new process is truly to take a much deeper, closer dive, more careful look at the items that are frankly in the work plan. And I specifically wanted to reference the Pohic Road changes because I know there's a lot of community questions and concerns about it.

[03:42:13] I hear you. I've met with you a number of times and met with individuals in the community a number of times. And we will take a much deeper dive and look at this. And I think that's the process that I'm looking forward to having is this deeper engagement about whether or not this truly is the appropriate way to further, if you will, redevelop the Pohick Road in that particular area of the county.

[03:42:37] So I look forward to that conversation and the discussion we'll have over the next, really, nine months to a year. Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor Stork. Any other discussion? Seeing and hearing none. All those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed?

[03:42:53] Any abstentions? And that motion carries 10 to 0. And that brings us to action item number 3, which is authorization to enter into First Amendment to design and construction agreement with the Town of Vienna for redevelopment of the Patrick Henry Library and the license operation and maintenance agreement for the associated parking structure in the Hunter Mill District.

[03:43:17] Let me recognize Supervisor Alcorn. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move approval of A-3 as recommended by the county executive. You've heard the motion. It's been seconded by Supervisor Palchuk and myself. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none. All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

[03:43:33] Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Folks, we're going to have to make sure we take conversations outside of the auditorium at this time. And that's going to bring us to action item number four, resolution to support the addition of the extension of Howard Avenue in the Providence District.

[03:43:52] Supervisor Palczyk. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move approval of the county executive's recommendation to adopt the attached resolution supporting the addition of the extension of Howard Avenue. Second. You've heard the motion, and that was seconded by Supervisor Lusk and the chairman.

[03:44:09] Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? And that motion carries. And that brings us to closed session. And before I turn to Supervisor Smith for a motion on closed session, let me ask the county attorney how long we need.

[03:44:31] Mr. Chairman, I estimate one hour, 15 minutes. One hour and 15 minutes. So that means we go into closed session at 2.15. Why don't we call that 2 o'clock just to be on the safe side? If the motion by Supervisor Smith passes, the Board will take a very fast lunch break, probably bring your lunch in if you need to, into closed session, which we will start promptly at 2 p.m. Supervisor Smith.

[03:45:01] Mr. Chairman, I move that the Board of Supervisors recess and go into closed session for discussion and consideration of matters enumerated in Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 and listed in the attached agenda for this meeting. And in addition, as permitted by Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711A, 7 and 8, Brookfield, Washington, LLC v. Fairfax County et al., Fairfax County Circuit Court, case number 2025-7138.

[03:45:33] And Melissa Johnson v. Wesley Shifflett et al., U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, case number 1, colon 25-CV-80. Two, as permitted by Virginia Code section 2.2-3711A8, legal analysis regarding the 2025 school bond referendum.

[03:45:55] And three, as permitted by Virginia Code section 2.2-3711A3, possible terms of acquisition of real property for a public purpose and potential terms of disposition of publicly held property, all in the Sully District where discussion in an open session would adversely affect the county's bargaining position or negotiating strategy.

[03:46:16] you heard the motion I'm happy to second that motion is there any discussion on the motion seeing and hearing none all those in favor of the motion please say aye aye any opposed any abstentions that motion carries the board will grab

[03:46:32] lunch meet in closed session promptly at 2:00 p.m. okay the board is back having

[03:55:24] just completed closed session at this time I'm going to recognize supervisor Smith for a motion mr. chairman I move that the board of supervisors certify that to the best of each member's knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from the open meeting requirements by virtue of Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711, and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which closed session was convened, were heard, discussed, or considered by the Board of Supervisors during the closed session.

[03:55:53] Further motion? I'm happy to second that. Is there any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor, please say aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Supervisor Smith. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Board of Supervisors authorize the Chairman of the Board to send a letter to the Fairfax County School Board regarding the 2025 school bond referendum, all on the terms and conditions discussed with the county attorney in closed session.

[03:56:20] You've heard the motion. I've been seconded by Supervisor Lusk. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Supervisor Smith. I move that the board authorize the county executive or his designee to enter into a letter of intent for the disposition of certain publicly held real property in the Sully District of Fairfax County, Virginia, and take all necessary due diligence actions related to such potential disposition on the terms and conditions discussed in closed session.

[03:56:53] And the chair will second that motion. Is there any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none. all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries, and I believe that's all. The motion is coming out of closed session, so we are going to begin our afternoon public hearings. And just as a reminder, individuals wishing to provide testimony have a number of options. They can testify here in person, or they can provide testimony by phone or by YouTube video. At the designated point in the public hearing, I'll call for any speakers from the speaker's list, and they will either come forward or their video will be shown, or they will be connected by telephone there will then be an opportunity for anyone else present

[03:57:33] here in the auditorium to speak to the matter by coming on down to the podium or by calling in at 703-324-1020 speakers testifying by video must have signed up and submitted their video no later than 9 a.m on the day prior to the public hearing for public testimony you're given three minutes to speak as an individual if you're the spokesperson for a group you are given five minutes and with With that, I will go ahead and call our first 330 case, which is a public hearing on SC 2024-HM-00009, Columbia Retail Dulles, LLC, in the Hunter Mill District.

[03:58:12] And could the applicant please reaffirm the affidavit? Elmer Toll, business address is 457 Court Street, Portsmouth, Virginia. Affirmation was dated and made. We need to. We can't hear you, unfortunately. Can we start over?

[03:58:27] I'm sorry. Affirmation was affirmed on May 23rd, 2025. May 23rd. Excellent. Okay. Thank you very much. Are there any disclosures from board members? Any disclosures from board members? Seeing and hearing none, I will now recognize county staff for a staff presentation.

[03:58:47] Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the board. I'm Karen Yu, the Department of Planning and Development. The subject property is a 27,442-square-foot lot located within the Village Center at Dulles Shopping Center. Both the subject property and shopping center are zoned C6.

[03:59:03] The site is developed with a buy-right financial institution, Chase Bank. The applicant, Columbia Retail Dulles LLC, requests a special exception approval to add a drive-thru lane for an ATM window and a deposit box to the existing bank. No changes are proposed to the bank building.

[03:59:19] The applicant is proposing to reestablish one previously approved drive-thru lane, and there are no proposed changes to the site nor circulation. As a part of the proposal, the applicant will be providing additional landscaping, particularly along the Centerville Road frontage to reduce headlight glare from drive-thru users.

[03:59:38] That concludes staff presentation. Thank you. Thank you very much. Are there any questions of staff? Any questions of staff? Seeing and hearing none at this time, we'd recognize the applicant for an applicant's presentation. Thanks, staff. Did a decent job. It was pretty straightforward. I'll stand by for questions.

[03:59:57] Excellent. Thank you very much. This is a public hearing and I have no speakers who have signed up in advance to testify in this matter. Is there anyone here present who would like to speak on this subject? This is a public hearing. Anyone who would like to testify? Seeing and hearing no one, let me ask the clerk if we have anyone who's called in. There are no callers. Assume the applicant waives rebuttal. Closing comments and a recommendation from county staff. On May 7, 2025, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the application. Staff concurs with a recommendation of approval. Thank you

[04:00:32] very much. Last check, any questions from board members? Seeing and hearing none, I will now close the public hearing and recognize Supervisor Alcorn for a motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would ask that the applicant confirm for the record their agreement to the development conditions dated April 23rd, 2025. Yes. Thank you very much. So, Mr. Chairman, I move that the Board of Supervisors approve SE 2024-HM-00009 subject to the development conditions dated April 23rd, 2025.

[04:01:05] Second. You've heard the motion and seconded by Supervisor Palchek. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Thank you very much. Next up, we have a public hearing on SCA 87-P-073-002, Tyson's Ventures, LLC, in the Providence District, and could we please have the applicant reaffirm the affidavit? Good afternoon. I'm Lori Greenleaf with

[04:01:39] McGuire Woods, and I reaffirm the affidavit dated February 26, 2025. Thank you very much. Are there any disclosures from board members? Any disclosures from board members? Seeing and hearing on. We'll now recognize county staff for a staff presentation. Good afternoon again. I'm carrying you with the Department of Planning and Development. The subject property is a 27,018 square foot lot located along the Leesburg Pike Service Road in Tysons. The property is zone C8 and is in the highway corridor and sign control overlay district. The site is developed with a vehicle fueling station. The site is currently under a notice of violation for operating a truck

[04:02:17] rental use without an approved special exception. This SEA application is to remedy the notice of violation. The applicant is proposing 15 truck rental storage spaces at the rear of the gas station. As indicated by the applicant, customers will not be allowed inside the vehicle storage areas and must wait for employees to move trucks in and out the storage area. As a part of the proposal, the applicant will provide additional landscaping, crosswalks across both vehicular entrances to the site, and pedestrian lighting in the landscaped island along the service road.

[04:02:47] The applicant has requested a modification of the zoning ordinance requirement to provide two bicycle parking spaces in lieu of the required eight, which equates to four inverted U bicycle racks. That concludes staff presentation. Thank you. Thank you very much. At this time, we'd welcome an applicant's presentation.

[04:03:06] Again, I'm Lori Greenleaf with McGuire Woods. From a practical standpoint, there is a legitimate need for truck rental in Tysons to serve the existing residential units and the large and steady influx of more residential units.

[04:03:23] The ability to have convenient truck rental is important. We do appreciate staff working with us to find creative solutions to fitting this use at the existing service station into the fabric of Tysons, given the fact that this is not a redevelopment project.

[04:03:39] We are in agreement with the development conditions that are now dated June 6, 2025, and we respectfully ask that you follow the Planning Commission's unanimous recommendation and approve this application. I'm happy to answer questions. Thank you very much. Questions of the applicant, Supervisor Palachuk.

[04:03:55] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Ms. Greenleaf. I agree with you. It looks like we have worked hard and have been able to address most of the outstanding issues. The only one that was remaining following the Planning Commission and with staff is around the bicycle parking requirements. If you could just speak to us a little bit while you're requesting that reduction from, I believe, 8 to 2 spaces.

[04:04:17] Sure. So the zoning ordinance, Section 6102.1F of the zoning ordinance, does allow the board to adjust the number, and the wording is adjust the number of parking spaces when it is demonstrated that fewer spaces will adequately serve the use.

[04:04:35] In this particular case, obviously, nobody rides their bike to fill their car with gas. Nobody rides their bike to bring their car in to get serviced. And it has been U-Haul's experience that nobody rides their bike to then rent a U-Haul.

[04:04:51] So it's possible that one of the four employees may ride their bike to work. So we feel that the two bike parking spaces are adequate. The bike parking requirement is really directed at a redevelopment project, which this is not.

[04:05:08] I appreciate that. Can you confirm? While I don't love it, I understand that it's a very limited, tight site, and we've been working pretty diligently to try to get to a good resolution. I believe you have committed to the Tyson standard for the two bike spaces that are required.

[04:05:27] Correct. The standard that's in the urban design guidelines. Yes. Thank you. Yep. Okay. Any additional questions of either staff or the applicant? Not seeing or hearing any. This is a public hearing, and I have no one who has signed up in advance to testify on this matter.

[04:05:46] Is there anyone here present in the auditorium who would like to speak on this subject? This is a public hearing. Anyone who would like to testify? Seeing and hearing no one. Let me ask if we have any callers. No callers. No callers. Soon the applicant waives rebuttal. Closing comments and a recommendation from county staff.

[04:06:03] On April 30, 2025, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the application. Staff concurs with the recommendation of approval. Thank you very much. Any questions from board members? Seeing and hearing none, I will now close the public hearing and recognize Supervisor Palchuk for a motion.

[04:06:23] Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. Before the motion, I do first of all want to thank the applicants, the staff, and my staff who worked for this. I think it's been over a year on this application. I know it has been a challenge. I do believe that even though we're not getting the full eight bike stations, that would be lovely.

[04:06:43] I know that we've worked through the issues. It's a big improvement to an existing site. The screening, the improvements to the pedestrian connections at the front of the site. And there has been a lot of thought put into how to make this urban space work, right?

[04:07:00] Tyson's is becoming very urban. And I think, as the applicant mentioned, we definitely see a need, especially along the Route 7 corridor, to be able to have the ability to rent vehicles, especially those of those who don't have large moving vehicles, whenever they are in need and as community members are moving in and out of the area.

[04:07:19] And I do very much want to thank you for your communication with our office and with your neighbors through this process. So do that. I believe you already said this, but if I could request that the applicant reaffirm on the record their agreement to the proposed development conditions consistent with those dated June 6, 2025.

[04:07:38] Yes, on behalf of the applicant, we agree with those conditions. Okay, thank you. Mr. Chairman, I therefore move that the Board of Supervisors approve SCA-87-P-073-002, subject to the development conditions dated June 6, 2025.

[04:07:56] I also move that the Board of Supervisors approve the following modifications. 1. Modification of subsection 2103.8 of the zoning ordinance to permit the existing lot area and width. 2. Modification of subsequent 5108.3.8 of the zoning ordinance on the street frontage landscaping requirements in favor of that shown on the SEA plat.

[04:08:23] 3. Modification of subsection 5108.4.C of the zoning ordinance of the peripheral parking lot landscaping requirements along the eastern and western lot lines in favor of that shown on the SEA plat.

[04:08:39] And finally, 4. Modification of the bicycle parking requirements of subsection 6102 of the zoning ordinance to reduce the number of bicycle parking spaces required from 8 to 2. You've heard the motion. I'm happy to second that. Is there any discussion on the motion?

[04:08:57] Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Thank you very much. Thank you. And our next public hearing is...

[04:09:14] Yeah, that's what I have. Okay. Our next public hearing is on... Why do I not have these in the right order?

[04:09:31] Oh, right. I don't have them in the right order. I'm going to make sure I'm calling them in the right order. Yeah, 2014-PR-021. Okay, got it. All right.

[04:09:46] So our next public hearing is public hearing on PCA 2014-PR-021, RZPA 2024-PR-00040, 1764 Virginia LLC in the Providence District, and could the applicant please reaffirm the affidavit?

[04:10:04] Good afternoon. Kathy Taylor with the law firm of Walsh Clucci. On behalf of the applicant, I do reaffirm the affidavit dated May 22, 2025. Thank you very much. Are there disclosures from board members? Disclosures from board members. Seeing and hearing none, I will now recognize county staff for a staff presentation. Good afternoon again for the third time. I'm Karen with the Department of Planning and Development. The subject site is a 1.9-acre parcel located on 1764 Old Meadow Lane and is zoned PTC and HC. The site is bound by the Capitol Beltway to the northwest, an office to the east, multifamily housing, and Scotts Run Fire Station to the south,

[04:10:43] and Scotts Run Athletic Field and associated parking to the west boundaries of the lot. It is presently developed with a six-story former office building built in 1977. The subject property is currently operating as an interim self-storage facility through a 2018 proffer interpretation. The site is also under a notice of violation due to the applicant having exterior storage units on site and the storage of vehicles and trailers in the parking lot where the use standards prohibits both in the PTC district. Thus, this application is to remedy the notice of violation by adding the self-storage facility as a proffered interim use and to permit exterior

[04:11:19] storage units. The applicant is proposing to keep 18 exterior storage units totaling 3,100 square fee. The units will be located at the rear of the building and will be screened by the existing generator building on the north, an existing 8-foot-tall chain link fence with privacy slats to the east and existing vegetation to the west. As a part of the application, the applicant is providing several pedestrian improvements, which include an off-site sidewalk to provide a connection to the Scots Run athletic field. Along the Capitol Beltway frontage, the applicant has proffered to provide a reservation area for a future trail connection from the Zomo site to

[04:11:56] the athletic field. Part of the self-storage use standards in the PTC district requires self-storage uses to be enclosed within a building that is office-like in appearance and harmonious with the surrounding development. Staff finds the refacing of the building with corrugated metal panels on the windows make the building appear more industrial-like. After considerable discussion, the applicant will be providing additional landscaping along the old metal lane frontage.

[04:12:20] While staff would have preferred treatment to the facade, the landscaping will help to mitigate the visual impact of the building at the pedestrian level. That concludes staff presentation. Thank you. Thank you very much. At this time, we'd welcome an applicant's presentation. Good afternoon, Chairman, members of the board. Again, my name is Kathy Taylor from the law firm of Walsh Glucci. I do believe this is a fairly straightforward and simple request. I'll be brief in my remarks, but I thought it would be helpful to provide a bit of context and background of the request at hand. So if we can go to the next slide. As staff mentioned, the

[04:12:57] application property, along with a larger area known as the Highland District, was rezoned to the PTC back in 2016 to permit a mixed-use development. So before redevelopment occurs on the site in accordance with the approved CDP, the previous owner, as you heard, did obtain a proper interpretation back in 2018 that allows the existing six-story building/office building on-site to be utilized for an interim self-storage use. And as part of this approved interpretation, the previous owner did make minor interior and exterior improvements that were approved by the county, including building upgrades to accommodate the self-storage use so if you go to the next slide after obtaining

[04:13:34] all the necessary site plan and building permit approvals for the contemplated site and building improvements a non-rep was issued in 2019 and the previous owners legally established what you can see here as a cube smart while the applicant purchased the site this next year in 2020 they made no site or building facade enhancements other than to repaint portions of the existing building to stay on brand. They would also receive a non-REP in 2020. So if you go to the next slide, you can see they simply painted that red to blue. I will note that they did purchase the site right before the COVID pandemic lockdown went into effect. So to stay afloat during this challenging

[04:14:14] period, they did temporarily construct or erect those exterior units behind the building. And these exterior units not only help the applicant business to stay afloat, but it was also vital to assisting small local businesses in the Tysons area who would also use these units to stay in operation during the pandemic.

[04:14:32] So if we go to the next slide, you can see where those pods are located. The pods were implemented in good faith. They relied on information from zoning consultants in the industry to their detriment that these units were accessory to the principal use and so were permitted. They were thoughtful, as staff mentioned, in its location.

[04:14:49] There are overexisting parking spaces. They were strategically placed behind the building. that faces I-495, existing utility buildings, and also faces an existing above-ground parking structure. It was not until they got that notice of violation that they realized that this was, in fact, not a permitted use. So that is why we're here this afternoon to bring forth this application to rectify that notice of violation and legally permit the exterior storage units.

[04:15:14] I will note that the applicant continues to experience a strong demand for these exterior units, particularly from the small businesses that utilize them. So if we go to the next slide, there is no new construction or physical changes to the existing building being proposed it stays even with the exterior units it stays well under the far that's permitted in the ptc i do believe staff has done a good job going over the site improvements so i won't go through all of that again but i will reiterate that this despite the limited scope of this application the applicant has worked very closely with staff to implement meaningful improvements on site including enhancing pedestrian connectivity to the larger area as well as installing a

[04:15:53] considerable amount of new plantings around the site to soften the visual appearance of the existing building as well as aesthetically enhance the pedestrian route the next slide we have agreed to a number of proposed commitments and proffers some of which are listed here happy to answer any questions about that so in the end these applications will allow the continuation of an approved interim self-storage use that remains in demand and community serving the applicant applicant has worked hard to ensure that the proposal will not adversely impact adjacent properties, remains consistent with the mixed-use character of the area, and conforms to the recommendations of the plan. As you heard, Planning Commission does recommend approval as

[04:16:32] well as staff, and so we also seek your favorable consideration in this case. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Thank you very much. Questions of staff or the applicant? Supervisor Palchik. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. I don't know if it's for staff or the applicant, but I know we've spent a considerable amount of time looking if you can go to slide with the proposed connections pedestrian connections between your site and the new soccer field and I believe that we've been able to work out another the ownership was quite tricky to figure out there but if you could just give us a quick recap of what the plans are for

[04:17:07] being able to provide and finalize the crosswalks sure connection and so the applicant has agreed in the I guess northeast where you see that yellow line the applicant has agreed to a reservation for a future easement it would connect to the SOMOS development to the north and ultimately lead to the Scots run athletic field I will say between the SOMOS in this site there is an intervening parcel which is owned by VHC so the county would have to also get easement rights for that property so we thought at this stage because this is

[04:17:43] an interim use and not the final development, we thought that a reservation would be more appropriate, which staff agreed was acceptable, and so that's what we were providing there. And then to the south, you can see kind of those purple stripes and the purple and yellow as well.

[04:17:58] The yellow portion, the small yellow portion is on our site, so we were providing an on-site pedestrian connection. However, there is no safe way to cross to the Scotts Run athletic field to the south, And so we would be creating on and off-site striped crosswalks as well as completing the pedestrian connection off-site.

[04:18:18] And I believe that property is actually owned by Fairfax County. So we, the applicant, would commit to creating that pedestrian connection on the south side of the site. Could staff confirm that the ownership of that portion, is that correct? I can get back to you on that, but it is currently the fire station that runs there.

[04:18:43] If it's not ours, I know it will be soon. And so can we just confirm that the commitment is to figure out final ownership when that land is transferred that you will be committing to that? Sure. And the applicant is committed, whether it's owned by the county or owned by a private developer.

[04:18:59] We're committed to working with that party in order to implement that connection. Excellent. Thank you very much. Okay. Are there any other questions? Seeing and hearing none, this is a public hearing, and I have no speakers who have signed up in advance to testify on this matter.

[04:19:15] Is there anyone here present who would like to speak? This is a public hearing. Anyone who would like to testify? Seeing and hearing no one, let me ask if we had any speakers. No callers. I mean, sorry, callers. No callers. Assume the applicant waives rebuttal. Final check questions from board members.

[04:19:34] Seeing and hearing none, I will now close the public record and recognize Supervisor Palchuk for a motion. I'm sorry, close the public hearing and recognize Supervisor Palchuk for a motion. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you again to Karen Yee and the staff who did an excellent job on this one.

[04:19:50] Thank you to the applicants for coming in and addressing the concerns and coming in to do the correct thing. I appreciate that you were able to keep afloat during the pandemic and support so many businesses. And now that we will be bringing you hopefully into compliance and also bringing some improvements to your connections to new or upcoming adjacent properties near your location.

[04:20:15] So to that, Mr. Chairman, I do move that the Board of Supervisors approve PCA-2014-PR-021 subject to the executed proffers dated April 30th, 2025, and the requested waivers and modifications contained in the handout dated May 8th, 2025.

[04:20:37] The Chair will second that motion. Is there discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That motion carries. Thank you. Our next public hearing is a public hearing on PCA-80-P-039-010, CDPA-80-P-039-002, HB Route 29, Owner, LLC, in the Providence District.

[04:21:09] And could we please have the applicant reaffirm the affidavit? Good afternoon. I'm Scott Adams. I'm Outlandy's attorney with McGuire Woods, and I reaffirmed the affidavit dated April 8, 2025. Thank you very much. Are there any disclosures from board members? Any disclosures from board members?

[04:21:27] Seeing and hearing none, I will now recognize county staff for a staff presentation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm Katie Quinn with the Department of Planning and Development. The applicant is proposing to replace existing office buildings with new residential uses. The site is located in the Vienna Transit Station area at the intersection of Route 29 and Nutley Street. The property is zoned PDC and is currently developed with two 12-story office buildings and two parking garages. The southeastern side of the site is encumbered by resource protection area, floodplain, and environmental quality corridor. On May 13, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved

[04:22:07] a comprehensive plan amendment to permit redevelopment of the subject property with residential uses. The existing office buildings would be demolished. A new 472-unit residential multifamily building would be attached to one of the existing parking garages.

[04:22:24] The eastern side of the site would be developed with 76 stacked townhomes. The multifamily building would be five stories tall, and the stacked townhomes would be four stories. An existing eroded trail in the RPA would be removed and reforested, and a new trail connection would be constructed next to Hermosa Drive. Route 29 and both sides of Nutley Street would be improved with street trees, sidewalks, and street lighting. New crosswalks would be provided throughout the development. 1.44 acres of public park space is also going to be provided.

[04:22:58] This slide shows some perspective views of the park spaces. That concludes my presentation. Thank you. For that presentation, at this time, we'd welcome the applicant's presentation. Thank you and good afternoon again. Scott Adams with McGuire Woods and very excited to be before you this afternoon talking about this project which really provides a great opportunity to reposition a failing office site into something that's accretive to the broader community, creates really a true community that fits in with the fabric around us and really provides

[04:23:35] significant new connections to the existing neighborhoods around us, but also improves the pedestrian environment, which is really fairly substandard around this site. So we think it's going to be a very positive development for the overall community.

[04:23:53] I think like a lot of broken office buildings, this one has suffered from long-term vacancy with no real prospect of new office coming in to backfill the project. For your benefit, you know, this project, this site was with a special servicer before our client acquired it.

[04:24:12] And so, you know, the first thing we looked at was could these buildings be repositioned? I think like a lot of existing office buildings, they just did not lay out for that repositioning. And so we then pivoted to a broader reimagining of, you know, what could the site be?

[04:24:29] What's the most positive use for this site? And so landed on the project that you see before you, which is mixed use, mixture of rental housing, but also for sale housing, all within walking distance of Metro.

[04:24:46] I think as we went out and talked with the community, you know, one of the things we heard was the lack of sort of entry level housing opportunities. And I think the stacked townhouses that are being proposed here are really going to serve a good need. There are a lot of environmental constraints on this site, and we are staying out of all of those environmentally sensitive areas, in addition to doing invasive species control, taking out some of the impervious trail connections that are in that area, but then also putting a conservation easement over the stream valley to make sure that it's protected long term.

[04:25:26] One of the other things that we heard from the community and from the staff as we were going through was just the need for more enhanced pedestrian access on this site. Right now on the Nutley and Route 29 frontages, it's really narrow sidewalks, really narrow landscape amenity panels, right next to a busy road.

[04:25:47] And so we worked very closely with the staff on those frontages because there is a significant drop-off at the back of the existing sidewalk, but really figuring out solutions so that you've got much wider sidewalks, you've got wider landscape amenity panels, but I think just as importantly, new pedestrian lighting along those frontages to really create a good pedestrian environment and something that is truly connected to what's around us.

[04:26:17] And that includes a lot of new crosswalks, the fourth leg of the crosswalk at the intersection of 29 and Nutley, which we're excited about, we think the community's excited about, but also improvements to some of the existing crosswalks that are a little further up Nutley at Hermosa Drive and further down 29 at Hunter's Glen to make sure there's a lot of opportunities for people to cross and access the site to get not only to the site, but also to Metro.

[04:26:46] So overall, you know, we're very excited about this project. We think it's a great way to take a site that really is not in productive use and turn it into something great that, you know, we think will be a benefit to the community and to Fairfax County generally.

[04:27:03] So I appreciate your time this afternoon. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you very much. Questions of staff or the applicant? Supervisor Palchik. Thank you. I believe it's for the applicant. Going back to that last image of the plan, I don't know if you described them, but the red lines on there, if you could describe, I didn't see them on the legend, what those mean.

[04:27:27] Yeah, so I believe those are the retaining walls as you go into the stream valley. So the back of sort of that overlook park where we've got a lot of the play area, putting retaining walls in there to essentially make sure we can grade the site properly to stay out of the RPA and EQC.

[04:27:50] And sorry, and the new pedestrian path, the portion that's along the retaining wall, that will be publicly accessible? Correct. Yeah, that'll have public access easements on it. Okay, excellent. Thank you. Okay. Any additional questions of staff or the applicant?

[04:28:09] Seeing and hearing none, this is a public hearing. I have no speakers who signed up in advance to testify in this matter. Is there anyone here present who would like to speak? This is a public hearing. Anyone who would like to testify? Seeing and hearing no one. Do we have any callers?

[04:28:25] No callers. No callers. I assume the applicant waives rebuttal. Any closing comments and a recommendation from county staff? The Planning Commission recommended approval on June 4, 2025, and staff concurs. Thank you very much.

[04:28:41] Last check, questions from board members. Seeing and hearing none, I will now close the public hearing and recognize Supervisor Palachuk for a motion. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. I do have some remarks on this one. This one's been a big project. First of all, I really want to thank Katie and the staff for all their work.

[04:28:57] And shortly before you, the planning team, this has been quite a few months, years in the making. And going by it yesterday morning, I don't know if you've seen, but the invasives in that rain, they continue to grow. So definitely in time to help improve the RPA and the pedestrian access to this.

[04:29:18] Yeah, to that, I mean, it's down the street from Jim Scott Community Center, right? So I go by this pretty much every day, at least twice a day, if not more. And what we see today is what Scott mentioned. And it's a, I believe, near-vacant, if not vacant, outdated office building at this point.

[04:29:36] For most, an eyesore and no longer serving the community and its needs, both the adjacent community and the larger community. It is a prime location for redevelopment, a quarter mile, I believe, from Vienna Metro and soon will have better pedestrian connections, across the street from Nutley, Route 29, I-66, and across from the now-renamed Providence Shopping Seminar, formerly Pan Am, and a lot of improvements there.

[04:30:03] I sat outside and had lunch the other day. A short walk to the schools, community center, and resources, and really helps us reimagine not only what the built spaces will be, but the improvements to the natural spaces here as well. And then the big thing that we discuss quite a bit is that housing shortage.

[04:30:22] And I appreciate that here and across Fairfax County, have need for both rental and for sale units and at different price points. So I really appreciate the mix of unit types here and the ability for hopefully more of our working families and seniors to be able to live closer to where they work or to where they choose to recreate.

[04:30:46] I do believe this helps address that gap, excited about the prospect of these new homes, and especially appreciate the level of outreach that's been done i think attesting to the fact that we have zero speakers here today there has been quite a bit of work both through the sspa process and through the rezoning to work with the surrounding communities with the neighbors with former supervisor linda smith who i know requested those connections and the lighting and i think it'll be a big improvement not only for the new residents who will be moving in but as well for those who currently live here and work here.

[04:31:23] So very much appreciate, especially that fourth connection. I know getting the approval and getting through to VDOT can be a challenge. We got there. We got there in time. We got there. And I think it really shows what smart and field development can look like.

[04:31:40] Responsive to the community input, connection to transits, and rooted in a vision for what a community needs. Again, appreciate everyone's work and the neighbors and the community leaders who have spent countless hours both communicating with my office and the applicant, but also sharing that information out to the greater community.

[04:32:01] So to that, I believe I have one motion. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Board of Supervisors approve PCA-80-P-039-010 and CDPA-80-P-039-002 subject to the executed proffers dated June 5, 2025, and approval of the modifications and waivers listed in the handout dated June 4, 2025.

[04:32:34] And the chair will second that motion. Discussion on the motion? Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none. All those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? And that motion carries. Thank you. And next up, we have a public hearing on the Spot Blight Abatement Ordinance for 3106 Grofton Street, Alexandria, Virginia, 22306, in the Franconia District. And as soon as staff is

[04:33:11] ready, we would recognize county staff for a staff presentation. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, members of the board. My name is Kevin Talbot. I am a co-compliance investigator with the Department

[04:33:42] of Coke Appliance here at Fairfax County. Thank you for your time today. So the property here located at 3106 Groveton Street. It is located in the R2 District in the Franconia District.

[04:34:15] It is a 16,425 square foot parcel of land containing a 1,078 square foot, one and a half story wood framed dwelling with a 140 square foot detached shed also on the property it was constructed in 1940 according to Fairfax County tax records the property has been a lengthy lengthy complaint history dating back to 2017

[04:34:52] investigators of the property since 2017 resulted in notices of violation Being sent to the owners of record, however, on September 14, 2018, during a court hearing, the court imposed a $100 a day fine.

[04:35:12] During the next two years, multiple unsuccessful attempts have been made by the owner to address the safety concerns within this structure. During an inspection conducted on February 12, 2020, the property was deemed an unsafe structure, and a placard was posted.

[04:35:34] On October 29, 2021, during a court hearing, the judge imposed a fine of $600, increased the daily fines to $200 per day. These fines, over a course of time, have increased to an outstanding balance of over $156,000.

[04:35:53] Records indicate that the property owner applied for a building permit application for interior alterations and the permit was issued on March 15, 2022. However, the work reform did not match the scope of the work proposed and no inspections have been conducted to date. In June of 2022, the property maintenance case was transferred to a new investigator due to a retirement.

[04:36:25] The property was referred to the blight abatement program on June 17, 2022, due to the unresponsiveness of the owner to correct the maintenance issues. On April 4, 2023, the property was assessed by the Neighborhood Enhancement Task Force, and a preliminary blight determination was rendered pursuant to 36-49 of the Code of Virginia.

[04:36:56] Notice of this determination was sent to the owners of record on April 7, 2023, by certified and regular mail, with all correspondence received by the owner. To date, the owners have not submitted a blatant abatement plan as required by state statute.

[04:37:16] Recent inspections of the property conducted on December 17, 2024, show that no attempts to clear the violations to bring the property into compliance have been made by the owner. Past performance of the work of the property does not give staff confidence that this will occur.

[04:37:35] Updated notice of violations have been sent to the owner of record on March 4, 2025, by certified mail and Office of the Sheriff. While the staff continues to work with the owner to eliminate the blighted conditions should this plan be submitted, the staff feels that the submission of a plan and execution of the plan is not likely.

[04:38:02] Based on the current condition of the property and continued deterioration, staff has determined that the structure is not economically feasible to repair and recommends the demolition of the structure and the removal of all debris.

[04:38:21] Board, we also recommend demolishing the dilapidated structures and removing all debris on the property if the owners fail to cure the blighted conditions of the property after receiving written notice of the board's adoption of the blight abatement ordinance.

[04:38:39] Cost and blight abatement, including direct county administrative cost, would be collected from the property owner at that time okay uh thank you very much just want to make sure is that the end of the staff presentation okay that is the end of the staff presentation thank you very much sure um are there any questions of staff any questions of staff supervisor lusk uh thank you mr chairman i'm trying to read this note that i was just handed

[04:39:17] a few minutes ago and it notes that someone i believe passed away at least in the note that i'm reading and i thought originally that was the person that was representing them but when you look further into the document it's someone else so i guess i don't know exactly the specifics of that but i just wanted to let the person know we did receive the note we're looking at it and trying to understand it but there is a a point here that they want to try to come into compliance

[04:39:49] What is the time that we would be giving them between this action by the board for them to come into compliance with all of the outstanding code violations that they have? So, being that the property has been in violation more than four to five years, an extension I don't think would be relevant in this case.

[04:40:25] Mentioning that he was working with an attorney or something that passed away, I've never heard that directly, just an email source, so... I don't believe an extension.

[04:40:43] We've met with him a few times and gotten kind of mixed reviews on how he was going to proceed. Okay. Maybe we can get a clarification that maybe asks this a little bit different.

[04:41:01] If the board approves this today, what does that mean in terms of next step and period of time for the property owner to respond to the action the board would take today? Understood. Gabe Zakak, Director of Code Compliance.

[04:41:17] We would, if you were to approve it today, we'd give them 30 days to give us a blight plan, which would be specific detailing. He has a contractor hire, dates with plans when the construction for the repairs would go forward. We've given that opportunity, but we would allow another 30 days.

[04:41:34] Okay. No, I appreciate that answer, and that's where I was trying to go, Mr. Chairman, so thank you for the clarification. I'm looking at the second paragraph, which I can barely read, but it basically makes the point that their intention is to come into compliance and have the work done within four weeks, if I'm reading this correctly.

[04:41:52] So it's consistent. The timeline that we would be providing them is consistent with what they've articulated or noted in this letter or document. And Supervisor Lusk, we do have one speaker who just signed up, And it is Mr. Studs, who is the author of the letter that has been presented to us.

[04:42:15] So we might get some clarification on that through the testimony. Good. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wasn't aware that he was here. I was basically assuming that this was his testimony. Thank you. Sure. Any other questions at this time? Okay. This is a public hearing.

[04:42:30] And as I just indicated, I do have one speaker who signed up today to testify, and that is Mr. Gary Studs. Mr. Studs here, if you could come on down, sir, to the podium. And after Mr. Studs, is there anyone else here present who wishes to testify on this matter?

[04:42:49] Okay. Welcome, Mr. Studs. The floor is yours. Welcome. How are you doing? Vietnam veteran, and he was stating years of not doing anything to the property.

[04:43:09] I've got letters from Shirley, the county attorney, Holly Yard, sending me letters thanking me for curing some of the violations. The reason why it took a lot of time right now, I had cancer the last two years. I've been compliant, but the last time he inspected, he didn't see that there were, and some of the pictures that we're showing now was months ago.

[04:43:34] Nobody's been in the house recently to see the violations that were corrected. I'm just asking the court or whatever to give me six more months to cure the violations. I got a contractor and got a loan.

[04:43:51] The problem was finance problems. Finance and health. I had to be a resource to get me, took time to get the grants, and they're getting it together now. So I get some time I can cure the foot forest and batement in the yard.

[04:44:13] Nobody's taken pictures of recently what I've done for the last month and a half. That's all I have to say. I'd just like to have extension of more time to occur to violations.

[04:44:29] Okay. Thank you very much for your testimony. Thank you. Appreciate that. Is there anyone else here present who would like to speak on this matter? This is a public hearing. Anyone else who would like to speak? Seeing and hearing no one, let me ask the clerk if anyone has called in.

[04:44:46] There are no callers. There are no callers. Closing comments and a recommendation from county staff. Yes, I just would like to recommend that you approve the motion for the public hearing spot abatement ordinance to proceed with all the information that I have noted.

[04:45:15] Okay. Questions from board members? Mr. Chairman. Any questions from board members? Supervisor Alcorn. Yeah, just to follow up with staff. So theoretically, I mean, we heard from a speaker he needed six months, but it sounds like during the next four weeks he could put together a plan that shows, you know, hiring contractors addressing the issues that could happen over several months is that correct that that is correct that that could possibly happen okay thank you okay um and let me ask uh one question also because the speaker indicated in his mind it's been a while since the property

[04:45:51] has been inspected can you can you provide us the last date uh the last inspection date that was done on the property and what the findings were yes that was uh on december 17th 2024 reason there was no updated photos at that time that the photos that i have on record clearly matched the time frame of 2022 with no change so with with the source that we came in and we were allowed access during this visit.

[04:46:25] I didn't want to impose any undue just on him at that situation. I felt tension there while I was there, so I didn't want to intervene and take any additional photos during that time since they matched previous records.

[04:46:42] Okay. Any additional questions? Yes, Supervisor Stork. I know these situations, it's fairly unique. Could you at least identify the general process you use when we...

[04:46:57] When the board takes this approach, if you were to have this authorization, what would be your next steps in general? I realize that every situation is distinct and different. And what would you look for in terms of the process or the confidence-building process?

[04:47:18] I would imagine you would need to have to be certain that it would be addressed, consistent with what the board would be approving. Sure, good question. So if this was approved, we wouldn't do anything for 30 days, and we would allow him time to put together a formal plan outlying.

[04:47:33] Plans will be submitted, permits will be issued, contractor hired, and depending on what was provided in our comfort level, we could provide a little bit of an extension. If we don't get anything, then the next step would be to go through the procurement process and take the lowest bidding contractor. They'd have to get permits, and then we'd eventually demo the structure, but that would take months.

[04:47:54] And in the meantime, if that kind of package was put together, whether it's 40, 50 days or 60 days, there still would be an opportunity to reconsider whatever action that you would be taking related to this?

[04:48:12] Sure, yeah. Until we commit to a contractor, we could always back off and allow more time. If we saw some actual definitive action or a plan that suggests that something was happening. We've heard this line before regarding I've got plans, I've got contractors, but we just haven't seen the progress.

[04:48:34] But we'd be willing to obviously allow that time frame to see if this time is different. Thank you very much. Thank you. Any last questions from board members? Okay. At this time, I'm going to close the public hearing and recognize.

[04:48:53] Let me make sure there were no callers. I think I did that already, but I just want to make sure there are no callers. Let me now close the public hearing and recognize Supervisor Lusk for a motion. Okay. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. And I'll start by saying that this really is our last available option to address kind of the issues here in Fairfax County.

[04:49:14] And I'll note that the blight abatement is a very serious matter. We take this very serious, and we are consistent in looking at ways to help the owner's fine. other alternatives. And I'll say in this case, it's gone to court. We've seen the imposition of fines, and we've got an outstanding balance in excess of $156,000. We've also had the opportunity for the owner to make repairs. This goes back even to 2022, and we did have the

[04:49:49] opportunity to hear from him. But the problem is this property continues to be not in compliance with the county code and that creates a safety issue it also creates a blighted condition for the residents who live in this community and i feel that they've been in this position for a long time and we've we've done um a lot here to try to give the time and the opportunity for for compliance so i appreciate that we heard from the staff that there is an opportunity for the owner

[04:50:25] to submit his plans and to try to rectify this situation. So if this is true, I want to assert to you that you should do that so that you can hopefully prevent this from happening.

[04:50:41] If you're unable to, I hate to say this, but clearly the property will be blighted and we won't have an alternative in the county but to remove the structure. So I feel that we've at least explored this point clearly with the owner, and the ball is now back in your court.

[04:51:03] So with that, Mr. Chairman, I will move approval of the county executive's recommendation that the board adopt an ordinance to declare 3106 Groveton Road as blighted, constituting a nuisance, and approve the bright abatement plan for the property.

[04:51:23] You've heard the motion. I'm sorry, 3106 Groveton Street. Apologize. As blighted, constituting a nuisance and approve the blighted abatement plan for the property. So move, Mr. Chairman. You've heard the motion.

[04:51:38] It's been seconded by Supervisor Stork. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? And that motion carries. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our next public hearing is a public hearing to consider the adoption of amendments to Chapter 41.1 of the Fairfax County Code relating to animal control and care, and Chapter 82 of the Fairfax County Code relating to motor vehicles.

[04:52:09] And as soon as staff is ready, I would welcome a staff presentation. Good evening, Chairman McKay and members of the board.

[04:52:27] I'm Thomas Engel, Deputy Director for the Department of Animal Services. I'm filling in for Director Currier, who's a little under the weather today. I'm here to present proposed amendments to Chapter 41.1 of the Fairfax County Code, which addresses animal control and care, and to Chapter 82, which relates to motor vehicles.

[04:52:46] These amendments reflect organizational changes resulting from the consolidation of animal control and sheltering functions included in the FY 2025 budget. As part of this effort, we are establishing a new Department of Animal Services, which will combine to oversee both sheltering and animal control responsibilities.

[04:53:05] Currently, the county's animal shelter is operated by the Department of Animal Sheltering, while animal control is managed by the Fairfax County Police Department through its Animal Protection Police Officers. Under the new structure, these services will be unified under the new department. The proposed code changes updates definitions, position titles, and references to reflect this transition.

[04:53:28] Anywhere the code previously mentioned, the police department or the Department of Animal sheltering. It is updated to reflect the responsibilities of the new Department of Animal Services and its director. We've also revised the definition of animal control officer to include both traditional animal control officers and animal protection police officers.

[04:53:48] Additionally, we are proposing a change to section 82-5-32, the county's trespass towing ordinance. This section currently requires tow truck drivers to notify Fairfax County Police Department if a companion animal is inside a vehicle being towed.

[04:54:03] Under the new language, those notifications would go to the Department of Animal Services instead. As required by Virginia Code, these changes were reviewed by the county's Trespass Towing Advisory Board at its meeting on March 5, 2025. That board voted unanimously to recommend the amendments.

[04:54:21] Thank you. That's all I have. Thank you very much. Are there any questions of county staff? Any questions of staff? Seeing and hearing none. This is a public hearing, and I have no speakers who have signed up in advance to testify on this matter. Is there anyone present who would like to testify on this subject?

[04:54:39] This is a public hearing. Anyone who would like to testify? Seeing and hearing no one, let me ask if we have any callers. There are no callers. No callers. Any closing comments and final recommendation from county staff? We recommend to adopt the amendments.

[04:54:59] Thank you very much. Last check, questions from board members. Seeing and hearing none, I will now close the public hearing. hearing and recognize Supervisor Lusk for a motion. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move the Board of Supervisors adopt the proposed amendments to Chapter 41.1 of the Fairfax County Code relating to the animal control and care and Chapters 82 of the Fairfax County Code relating to motor vehicles with an effective date of July 1, 2025. You've heard the motion. It's been seconded by Supervisor Palachuk. Discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none. All those in favor,

[04:55:36] please say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? Parity abstain. And that motion carries 9 to 0 to 1. And that brings us to our final public hearing this afternoon, which is a public hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance to approve a joint exercise of powers agreement to authorize participation in a trust fund with other Virginia jurisdictions for the purpose of investing public funds and as soon as they are ready we would welcome a staff

[04:56:08] presentation good afternoon Chris Hartwell Department of Finance thank you for all in the public hearing today on this matter the Virginia Municipal Investment Trust or the Virginia Mint in short is a municipal trust sponsored through actions taken by the city of Danville and Henry County and is managed through Atlantic Union Bank a Virginia headquartered institution the Virginia Mint is designed to provide an additional product for a public fund

[04:56:46] investors. Its investment holdings adhere to the Commonwealth's requirements and meet our liquidity needs, as well as including options for longer durations. Similar to the Virginia investment pool, our participation in the trust requires a joint ordinance. By passing the ordinance, we believe the county will be able to utilize this product to further diversify and safeguard our investments, foster additional competition amongst our brokers, dealers, and other investment partners, and allow for an additional option to maximize yield on our investments. Once again, we thank you for your consideration.

[04:57:19] Thank you very much. Are there any questions of staff? Yes, Supervisor Alcorn. Thank you. I think this all looks fine. My question is, there are, some of the things are open-ended.

[04:57:34] Obviously, this is a new investment option for cash flow purposes and maintaining cash. Who's going to be providing the oversight, and what kind of oversight are we going to provide in terms of particularly the fees charged by this entity?

[04:57:55] Internally, the county's investment committee is going to be strictly looking towards this. We are going to be treating it as any other investment tool that we have. We will be, as one of the initial depositors in this particular product, we will also be on the trust board that currently will be there.

[04:58:15] So we'll have direct oversight in that as well. Okay, good. That was going to be my second question because, frankly, I'm not really aware of the city of Danville and County of Henry being financial capitals. the Commonwealth. So I'm glad we're going to be helping them out. Okay, thank you. Thank you.

[04:58:31] Supervisor Alcorn, are there any other questions of staff? Seeing and hearing none, this is a public hearing, and I have no speakers who have signed up in advance to testify on this matter. Is there anyone present who would like to testify on this subject? This is a public hearing. Anyone who would like to testify? Seeing and hearing no one. Let me verify there are no callers. No callers. No callers. Closing comments and a recommendation from county staff. Thank you. The recommendation is that you pass the ordinance, please.

[04:59:04] Thank you very much. Final check questions from board members. Seeing and hearing none, I will hand the gavel to Vice Chair Smith and Madam Chair, I would move approval of the county executive's recommendation. I'll second that motion along with Supervisor Alcoyne.

[04:59:20] Any discussion on the motion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Any extensions, that motion carries with Supervisor Wilkinshaw away from the board table. Thank you, Supervisor Smith. And with that, that brings us to the end of our board meeting of June 10, 2025, and the board is adjourned.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Coraggio Consulting · aguyonx.com