Announcements

Call to Order

Pat Williamson called the meeting to order at approximately 7:30 PM.

Committee Reports

Membership

Peg LeFebvre - Membership renewals are lower than normal. We are only at about ½ the number of renewals that we had at the same point last year. Encouraging news is that 10 new households have become members.

Treasurer's Report

Gary LeFebvre - Working on lining up a painter for the community house. We are $7000 in black since Oct 1 2001. The newsletter has been in the black for a while thanks to advertising revenue.

Columbia Pike

Bryant Monroe - There was great participation at the charette process. Input from Randy and Mark helped correct out-of-town planners, who will be coming back with corrections. A transportation forum on October 18th at the Sheraton will focus on transit improvements along Columbia Pike. The results of bus rapid transit and light rail studies will be presented. Bus service changes along Columbia Pike are to be made next year. The county board will be voting on December 7th on several relevant items.

Chris Miller - The Rail-volution conference on transit will be held this weekend in Crystal City. See www.commuterpage.com for more information.

Presentations

"Auxiliary Deputy" Program

Sergeant Terry Adams announced the new "Auxiliary Deputy" citizen outreach program being initiated by the Sheriff's Office. The program requires training on one evening and one Saturday and participants must be over 21 to participate. Volunteers will perform administrative tasks, assist in transporting prisoners, assist the Treasurer's Office in collecting taxes, etc. Volunteers should be available 8 hours per month or 100 hours per year. Interested persons should contact Sergeant Adams at the Sheriff's Office, 703-228-4460.



Sales Tax Referendum

Jim Hamre, Transit Program Coordinator for the Arlington County Department of Public Works (taking a neutral position) - Funds collected from the new .5% sales tax will be used to implement projects in the Master Transportation Plan. These projects include $75 million for transit improvements along Columbia Pike, funds for improvements along Jefferson Davis highway, Arlington's contribution to Metro, $25 million for the western entry to the Ballston Metro station, a second entrance to the Crystal City Metro station, and improvements along I-395.

Chris Miller, President of the Piedmont Environmental Council (taking a position opposed to the tax referendum) - The new tax will create a semi-permanent funding stream and a new regional spending authority. The county would get financial resources but these are financial resources that should come from the state. No performance measures or environmental analyses are required under state law for projects covered by the tax increase. Additionally, Arlington would be a donor county, effectively subsidizing transportation projects outside of the county. Additional points were made.

Al Eisenberg, Vice President for Government Affairs for the Greater Washington Board of Trade, and former Arlington County Board Member (taking a position in favor of the tax referendum) - In response to a point made by Mr. Miller, Mr. Eisenberg stated that there is no outer beltway included in this referendum. Loudon has taken it off its comprehensive plan. Additionally, a jurisdiction is not required to accept project it doesn't want.

[The material provided by each presenter was more extensive than what is recorded here. Persons interested in learning more about the sales tax referendum should utilize resources readily available elsewhere.]



School Bond

Larry Roberts (taking a position in favor of the school bond that will be on the ballot in November's election) - Provided more detailed information on the school bond and encouraged attendees to vote for its passage.

Community Projects Bonds (a.k.a. the "Superbond")

Tim Wise, President of the Arlington County Taxpayers Association (taking a neutral to negative position) - Had no argument that the passage of the bond would improve county life. Questioned the wisdom of combining both the individual bonds and the line items within each bond into a single entry on the ballot. Encouraged participants to learn more about the bonds and to question the process. Noted that although the Civic Federation voted to support the "Superbond" it expressed concern over the future legitimacy of the bonds process and the county's debt ceiling and recommended that a "Superbond" not again be created.

Jay Jacob Wind, vice-chair of the Vote Yes for Arlington Community Projects (taking a positive stance) - Encouraged attendees to vote in favor the Community Projects Bonds.

[As was the case with the tax referendum, much more information was provided than is recorded here. Persons seeking additional information on the bonds should check the county's web site at http://www.co.arlington.va.us/dmf/bond/bond_REF2002.htm

This page was last revised on: November 3, 2002