The Arlington County Board is scheduled to take up numerous items this month, including the financial impact of new public safety contracts, a proposed office-to-residential conversion project and closing out the fiscal year 2025 budget.
Potentially the most controversial item on the agenda could come during the Tuesday, Nov. 18 recess meeting, when Board members decide whether to move forward with a working group to consider changes to Arlington’s 93-year-old governance structure.
County Board Chair Takis Karantonis announced plans to set up the panel on potential governance changes in October. The goal is to have the body up and running by February.
As of Nov. 10, there was no staff report detailing any possible actions to be taken on the issue at the Nov. 18 meeting. A public hearing on the structure and responsibilities of the panel will immediately precede any Board action, with the hearing and consideration starting no earlier than 6 p.m.
Proposals have been introduced in each of the past two General Assembly sessions by Del. Patrick Hope (D-1) to give Arlington authority to consider changes to the number and election cycle of County Board members, and decide whether the chair should be a position elected separately by voters.
The measures fell short in 2024 owing to County Board opposition and earlier this year died when vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R).
Hope said while campaigning for re-election this fall that he will move forward with legislation in the 2026 session that opens in two months, but that may put him at odds with some County Board members and Sen. Barbara Favola (D-40). They have expressed wariness over moving forward with legislation at the state level before the county panel concludes its work.
Items to be considered at the Nov. 15 meeting — with links to staff reports where available — include:
Latest office-to-residential conversion set for approval: Board members are slated to act on a proposal to convert the existing 365,500-square-foot office building at 1320 N. Courthouse Road to an apartment complex of nearly 300 units plus ground-floor retail.
Two upper units would be added to the nine-story building, which was constructed in 1991 and is now largely empty. [Item #1]
Adoption of legislative package planned: Board members expect to adopt their 2026 package of priorities for the 2026 General Assembly session.
The seven-page draft package was made public in October. A public hearing held then attracted only a handful of speakers, and no testimony will be taken at the November meeting
The legislature goes into session Jan. 14 for what is expected to be a 60-day session. Arlington’s five-member delegation includes two senators and three delegates, all Democrats.
Board members plan to hold their annual work session with state legislators on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. The event is open to the public and will be livestreamed, but no public testimony will be taken.
Discussion set on cost of public-safety union contracts: Board members will hear staff reports and take public comment on the fiscal impact of tentative agreements reached between the county and two public-safety unions.
Under authority granted by the General Assembly, the county recognizes the Arlington Coalition of Police and the Arlington Professional Firefighters and Paramedics, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2800 as bargaining units for specified employees in those departments.
In advance of the meeting, county officials announced starting pay for county police would grow to $90,000 next year, higher for those transferring from other agencies. [Items 32, 33]
Public hearing on ‘closeout’ funding planned: Board members will hold a public hearing on the proposed use of leftover FY 2025 funding.
A final vote on allocating that available funding will be held during the Nov. 18 meeting, where no public testimony on the matter will be taken.
Fiscal 2025 ended on June 30, with the $1.69 billion fiscal 2026 budget year beginning July 1.
Hearing to be set on taxi rates: Board members plan to set a public hearing for December on potential changes to taxicab rates in the county.
The last change came in mid-2023, when Board members increased the mileage rate from $2.16 to $2.40 per mile and the initial charge from $3 to $3.50.
Any change likely would take effect on Jan. 1. [Item #26]
Hearing slated for improvements to Jennie Dean Park: Board members are expected to authorize public hearings in December to amend the General Land Use Plan for expansion of Jennie Dean Park in the Shirlington and Green Valley areas.
In 2019, county officials acquired three parcels for future expansion of the park: the WETA property at 3620 27th Street S. and properties at 3520 and 3522 S. Four Mile Run Drive. Rezoning of those parcels is needed to allow expansion to move forward.
Hearings would be held Dec. 2 before the Planning Commission and Dec. 13 in front of the County Board. [Item #23]
Park naming set for consideration: Board members are slated to consider options and decide on a name for the small park at 23rd Street S. and S. Eads Street in the Crystal City/Aurora Highlands area.
A number of advisory commissions have proposed various options for the park’s new name to accompany a renovation project. [Item #8]
Extension planned to negotiate Comcast agreement: Board members are expected to extend, for another year, the negotiation period between the county government and Comcast to come to terms on a new cable-operating agreement.
Comcast in 2019 formally requested a revised agreement. Negotiations were first stalled by Covid and have continued sporadically in recent years.
Without an extension, the operating agreement would lapse on Dec. 9. [Item #18]
