county government | ARLnow.com

JFAC Settles on Three Options For Buck, VHC Properties

Published June 28, 2017 at 3:30PM

Scenario A for the VHC site

The Arlington County Board and school board agreed Tuesday night to further study three possible scenarios for the Buck and Virginia Hospital Center sites, as recommended by the county’s Joint Facilities Advisory Commission.

Of the options, whittled down from a list of 10, two could allow for a building to be used by Arlington Public Schools. They could also provide space for the Office of Emergency Management and other public safety agencies, while some offer bus parking for both APS and Arlington Transit (ART).

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Jay Fisette Reflects on Legacy, Future Challenges in Final State of the County Address

By Chris Teale

Published June 28, 2017 at 11:00AM

County Board chair Jay Fisette gives the State of the County address

In his final State of the County address before he retires at year’s end, Arlington County Board chair Jay Fisette said he is proudest of providing stable leadership during the county’s transformation.

Fisette, in his fifth annual address before the Arlington Chamber of Commerce as chair since coming onto the Board in 1998, said he believes his legacy will be the way Arlington has become more urbanized and expanded its population while staying true to its values.

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Dedicated Lanes Unlikely for Columbia Pike ‘Premium Transit Network’

By Chris Teale

Published June 28, 2017 at 10:00AM | Updated June 28, 2017 at 12:14PM

County Board chair Jay Fisette

(Updated at 11:25 a.m.) Dedicated lanes look unlikely for the proposed “Premium Transit Network” along Columbia Pike, which is set to open next summer after delays.

Staff from the county’s Department of Environmental Services studied the feasibility of dedicated lanes along the Pike, but at a work session on Tuesday said they would likely not work.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 28, 2017 at 9:00AM | Updated June 28, 2017 at 9:17AM

APS Tells Staff to Stop Paying Sales Tax — As a public institution Arlington Public Schools is exempt from paying sales tax, but the school system’s internal auditor has found that some staff members have been placing orders for APS via Amazon without sales tax exempted. APS has since requested sales tax refunds for those orders. [InsideNova]

Arlington Resident Cited for Boating Incident — An Arlington man has been cited for operating a vessel while impaired after his 28-foot boat ran aground off the eastern shore of Maryland, south of Ocean City. [WMDT]

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Civic Association Proposes Removing Softball Fields at Va. Highlands Park

By Chris Teale

Published June 27, 2017 at 1:15PM | Updated June 30, 2017 at 11:18AM

The softball fields at Virginia Highlands Park, in 2017

(Updated at 9:35 a.m.) Neighbors of Virginia Highlands Park are accusing Arlington County of ignoring a proposal they put together for the park’s future.

Last year the Aurora Highlands Civic Association submitted a plan for the permit-only softball fields on the west side of the park at 1600 S. Hayes Street to be converted into open space, without any set programming.

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Madison Manor Park Set For Renovations

By Katherine Berko

Published June 27, 2017 at 10:00AM

The park is set for various renovations in the coming years

Madison Manor Park is getting a face-lift.

Renovations at the park at 6225 12th Road N. in the Madison Manor neighborhood will include redesigning the playground, basketball court, picnic shelter, multi-use field, water fountain, park furniture, irrigation walkways, fences and landscaping. The park will also be brought up to current standards, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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County Making New Efforts to Engage Millennials in Civic Life

By Kalina Newman

Published June 23, 2017 at 2:45PM | Updated June 24, 2017 at 4:43PM

Arlington was just named the best city for millennials in the U.S. by the website Niche. Depending on how you define the millennial generation, it makes up between 30-40 percent of the county’s population of just over 220,000.

Yet when it comes to involvement with county government and civic organizations, millennials are underrepresented. Attend a County Board meeting, or a meeting of an Arlington commission or working group, and it is older residents typically speaking out or helping to shape policy.

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Metro GM Promises Less Dramatic Hikes in Agency Funding Needs

By Chris Teale

Published June 21, 2017 at 1:15PM

Metro general manager Paul Wiedefeld

Arlington County will not be asked to pay for more from its local coffers to cover dramatic funding hikes for Metro, the agency’s general manager promised Tuesday night.

Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said he hoped to cap any requests for increased contributions from the various jurisdictions that make up the transit authority at 3 percent per year.

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Upgrades Coming to Barcroft Park With Renewed GW Partnership

By Chris Teale

Published June 21, 2017 at 10:00AM

From behind home plate at Tucker Field (Photo by Nick Wass)

More improvements are coming to Tucker Field at Barcroft Park after the Arlington County Board approved a 10-year extension to its partnership with George Washington University.

Under the agreement, unanimously approved by the Board at its meeting Tuesday, GW will fully fund the construction of a new clubhouse as well as indoor and outdoor batting cages, which are also available for community use. Earlier this year, the university received an anonymous $2 million gift to fund the new clubhouse.

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Study: Arts’ Impact on County Coffers Doubled in Five Years

By Kalina Newman

Published June 20, 2017 at 4:30PM

Arts and Economic Prosperity Study

A new study has found that nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Arlington have nearly doubled their impact on county coffers in the last five years.

The national study, “Arts and Economic Prosperity 5” by Americans for the Arts, found that nonprofit arts generate $189.2 million each year in Arlington and supports more than 5,000 full-time jobs. It also generates $13.9 million in tax revenues each year for state and local governments, the study found.

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Middle School Student Asks County Board For Stoplight at Crash-Prone Intersection

By Katherine Berko

Published June 20, 2017 at 3:30PM

Williamsburg Middle School student Andy Nogas, who emailed the County Board with his request

A local teen is trying to make a difference by lobbying for safety improvements to a crash-prone intersection.

At 13 years old, Williamsburg Middle School student Andy Nogas is too young to vote, but not too young to email the Arlington County Board and ask for members’ help.

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A-Town Bar & Grill Turns a Corner in Latest County Review

By Chris Teale

Published June 20, 2017 at 10:00AM

A-Town Bar & Grill (photo via Google Maps)

For the time being at least, A-Town Bar & Grill in Ballston appears to have turned over a new leaf after a troubled few months.

The bar had been ordered to have its permit for live entertainment and dancing reviewed by the Arlington County Board three months after its last review in March. That review took place days after a brawl nearby that ended with police officers tasing two suspects, including one dressed in a Pikachu onesie.