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From YouTube: County Board Wrap-Up: February 2018
Description
ATV's monthly conversation with County Board members on the major issues discussed at February's Board meeting.
County Board Chair Katie Cristol and Board Member Erik Gutshall discuss the FY 19 Budget; State Legislation; 11th St. N. and Vermont St. Residential Development; Affordable Housing Investment Loan for Queen's Court; and a new Bike Boulevard project on Columbia Pike.
A
B
Know
I
think
our
manager
said
it
well.
He
said
there
is
never
a
time
that
the
budget
is
easy.
This
year
is
hard
and
that
really
characterizes
what
we'll
be
talking
about
for
the
next
couple
of
months
because
of
the
challenges
of
a
high
office
vacancy
rate,
we
are
growing.
Our
revenues
slower
than
the
county
government
might
otherwise
grow
just
to
keep
up
with
demand.
Basically,
what
that
does
is
it
creates
a
gap,
20
point
5
million
dollars
to
be
precise,
so
the
manager
has
proposed
cuts
of
some
positions
and
services.
B
In
some
cases,
some
proposed
increases
in
fees
that
are
assessed
to
our
residents,
but
the
board
did
take
a
vote
on
Saturday
which
to
advertise
the
current
tax
rate,
which
basically
means
we
can
go
no
higher
than
the
current
tax
rate.
It
was
a
divided
vote
on
the
count
on
the
part
of
our
colleagues
3
to
2.
Essentially,
it's
really
kind
of
a
signal
of
how
much
appetite
we
have
to
assess
risk
or
or
or
talk
about
expansions
I
do
think.
A
Now
you
mentioned
the
office
vacancy
rate,
you
know
we're
an
era.
People
assume
Arlington
is
very
prosperous.
You
know
one
of
the
wealthiest
communities
in
Virginia.
We
have
very
low
unemployment,
that
kind
of
thing,
but
this
office
vacancy
rate.
We
hear
we've
been
hearing
quite
a
lot
about
it.
Now
it
is
down
from
its
high
point,
which
I
believe
was
21.4%
surround
that,
but
it's
a
long.
B
Process,
indeed,
it
is-
and
it's
a
great
point,
that's
exactly
where
we're
seeing
the
softness.
That's
making
this
budget
a
little
more
challenging
in
the
office.
Commercial
vacancy
rate
is
so
high.
Nineteen
point
four
percent
and
that's
the
result
of
a
lot
of
things.
We
still
think-
and
we
still
know
Arlington-
is
a
really
desirable
and
competitive
place
to
do
business.
B
As
you
mentioned,
we
have
the
lowest
unemployment
rate
in
the
Commonwealth,
which
we're
very
proud
of
about
two
percent,
but
there
are
fundamentals
in
how
this
country,
in
fact,
the
globe,
does
business
increasing
amounts
of
teleworking,
for
example,
lower
per
person,
utilization
of
office
spaces.
We
see
things
like
Hotelling
going
forward
and,
of
course,
we're
still
seeing
some
of
the
consequences
of
Base
Realignment
and
closure,
which
happened
less
than
a
decade
ago,
all
of
which
is
adding
up
to
a
sustained
vacancy
in
our
office
sector,
and
that
does
lead
to
lower
revenues
for
us
and.
A
In
Arlington
we're
very
kind
of
unique
actually
and
that
we
have
more
or
less
that
50/50
in
terms
of
Commercial
Taxes
versus
residential
property
taxes,
and
we
want
to
keep
that
because
that
keeps
things
more
affordable
for
our
residents
correct.
So
that's
what
leads
to
that
quandary.
Shall
we
say
one.
C
Of
the
main
things
we
want
to
do
is
make
sure
that
we
maintain
our
triple
triple
a
bond
rating.
This
is
very
important
because,
as
we
after
once,
we've
dealt
with
the
budget-
and
you
know
the
board
and
and
I
would
say,
I
as
a
new
board
member
I'm,
looking
very
forward
to
the
opportunity
to
really
dive
into
the
details
over
the
next
six
weeks
to
figure
out.
A
B
So
we
take
this
austere
budget
out
to
the
community.
It's
now
posted
online
people
can
follow
all
of
the
details
on
all
of
the
process
and
budget
Arlington
Va
us
the
County
Board
just
yesterday,
launched
in
our
first
of
11
work
sessions.
These
are
opportunities
for
us
to
really
take
deep
dives
with
the
departments
to
understand
their
work
and
understand
the
changes
to
their
budgets.
It's
important
to
know-
and
we
talked
about
this
yesterday
with
the
Department
of
Human
Services-
that
it's
not
just
cuts
a
lot
of
it
is
reprioritization
xandrie
allocations
and
I.
B
Think
the
department's,
along
with
the
manager,
have
done
a
good
job
to
adapt
and
adjust
not
simply
cut
in
an
untaught
--fill
way.
So
we'll
dig
in
across
these
11
work
sessions,
they're
all
available
to
watch
online
either
live
or
after
the
fact
we'll
visit
with
many
of
our
Commission's
to
get
their
advice
and
we'll
be
having
a
lot
of
conversations
with
residents.
There's
a
survey
that
people
can
find
on
that
budget
web
page,
as
well
as
on
the
county
board
web
page,
to
react
to
the
manager's
budget.
A
We'll
be
talking
about
this
for
quite
some
time
in
the
coming
coming
months,
and,
of
course,
Arlington's
budget
is
impacted
not
only
by
the
economic
conditions
in
here
in
the
county,
but
also
by
state
and
federal
economic
and
legislative
developments
in
the
General.
Assembly
was
nearing
the
end
of
its
session
and
we've
seen
a
lot
of
changes
since
we
last
spoke
last
month
about
what's
going
on
in
Richmond,
absolutely.
B
Indeed,
we
have-
and
you
know,
I-
think
the
are
ever
drooling
Tony
I
might
be
surprised
to
learn
exactly
how
much
of
our
budget
really
is
affected
by
goings-on
in
Richmond,
not
just
in
the
macro
sense,
sometimes
in
pretty
literal
ways.
A
great
example
is
the
transient
occupancy
tax.
We
were
thrilled
yesterday
to
see
that
bill
clear.
The
house,
it's
house
of
origin
was
the
Senate,
so
we're
pretty
well
on
our
way.
There
are
one
or
two
more
procedural
things
to
clear
right.
B
B
We
wish
that
money
could
be
dedicated
for
transit,
it
will
not
be
dedicated
for
transit
and
whether
there
is
money
to
be
dedicated
for
transit
is
the
big
issue
for
not
only
Arlington
but
for
the
entirety
of
the
region
with
regard
to
Metro,
so
that
is
one
of
the
bills.
We
are
following
most
closely
without
getting
too
much
into
the
legislative,
sausage-making
weaves.
The
fact
of
the
matter
is,
there
is
a
bill
out
of
the
Senate
and
a
bill
out
of
the
house,
and
we
are
now
in
the
process
of
trying
to
see
them
reconciles.
A
Hope,
because
that,
as
we
have
been
talking
about
for
what
seems
like
an
eternity
now,
that
is
really
the
big
question.
We're
going
on
right
now
is
Metro
funding
for
this
region.
Okay!
Well,
we're
gonna,
take
a
short
break
right
now
and
when
we
come
back,
a
much
needed
opportunity
for
home
ownership
is
coming
to
North
Ballston
and
the
board
board
votes
to
finance,
affordable
housing
near
Rosslyn,
metro
stay
with
us.
A
Welcome
back
to
County
Board
wrap-up,
our
monthly
chat
with
the
county
board
members
about
the
actions
they
took
this
month
that
affect
you,
your
neighbors
and
your
community
with
us
here
today
or
is
board
chair
Katie
crystal
and
board
member
gut
shell.
Thank
you
both
once
again,
let's
talk
a
little
bit
the
Ballston
development.
This
was
a
town
house,
residential
development
plan
that
the
board
approved,
and
it
was
a
little
controversial
and
talked
about
the
project
a
little
bit
and
tell
me
a
little
bit
about
what
some
concerns
were
here.
Sure.
C
Well,
it's
an
infill
development,
meaning
there
was
a
lot
of
development
that
had
happened
over
the
last
30
years
in
on
the
block
that
this
project
is
proposed
and
surrounding
it,
and
so
you
know
the
neighbors
were
concerned
about
things
that
we
always
want
to
be
concerned
about.
We
have
a
public
review
process,
our
site
plan
review
committee
that
includes
members
of
the
local
community
and
our
Planning
Commission
and
transportation
other
Commission's
that
try
to
look
at.
C
How
can
we
mitigate
some
of
the
impacts
that
come,
and
so
it
was
certainly
points
were
made
and
discussions
about
what's
the
appropriate
height?
What's
the
appropriate
density?
How
do
you
handle
open
space
because
we
want
this
infill
development
to
be
part
of
the
community
to
integrate
into
the
community
and
to
create
livable
communities
and
and
the
thing
that
I'll
the
reason
I
was
very
comfortable.
C
Supporting
this
project
was
because,
as
infill
development,
its
ownership
opportunity,
it's
a
seven
story,
condominium
building
and
some
townhomes
that
are
consistent
with
our
long-range
plan
for
the
area,
the
Ballston
sector
plan
that
was
adopted
many
decades
ago-
and
this
is
probably
one
of
the
the
last
on
this
side
of
Boston
infill
spots
that
will
be
redeveloped
under
the
under
the
sector
plan,
but
very
consistent
with
it,
so
that
we
had
the
process
that
came
through
and
I
think
the.
In
the
end
the
the
process
worked
and
we
were
able
to
look
at.
C
How
are
we
going
to
manage
traffic?
How
are
we
going
to
go
to
mitigate
some
of
the
impacts?
The
buildings
were
ended
up
a
little
close
closer
together
than
some
would
have
preferred,
and
that's
just
some
of
the
tension
and
the
tug
pool
that
we
have
to
wrestle
with,
as
we
do
this
kind
of
redevelopment
in
a
in
a
spot
that
you
can
walk
to
Metro
and-
and
so
we
had
to
to
wrestle
with
that.
And
ultimately,
we
approved
the
project
I.
A
Was
going
to
say
being
that
close
to
the
metro,
the
convenience
of
that
and
going
along
with
our
Smart
Growth
idea
of
concentrating
the
development
right
there,
but
definitely
can
understand
concerns.
Is
this
we're
seeing
a
lot
of
changes
around
Boston
right
now
we
have
with
the
mall
going
in
or
Boston
Quarter
and
a
lot
of
new
development
is
there.
A
concern
is
something
you
heard
from
the
residents
that
perhaps
the
urban
village
is
getting,
maybe
a
little
too
developed.
Sure.
B
I
think
we
hear
that
not
only
in
Boston
but
from
every
corner
of
Arlington
County.
Folks
do
worry,
of
course,
about
the
pace
of
development.
I
think
our
answer
is
exactly
what
Eric
alluded
to,
which
is
that
we
do
things
planned
fully.
We
seek
to
make
decisions
not
based
on
the
Preferences
of
the
current
or
future
or
or
other
residents,
but
rather
to
look
for
consistency
with
our
plans,
which
are
actually
developed
by
residents
and
community
voices,
and
so
that
was
the
application
that
we
applied
here
or
studi.
B
That
was
the
lens
that
we
applied
here:
consistency
with
the
Boston
sector
plan,
although
it
is
a
little
outdated
and
our
principles
of
urban
design,
that's
how
we
were
arrived
at
the
decisions
that
we
made
and
that's
how
we
arrive
at
decisions
for
future
density
throughout
the
county,
mitigating
against
the
the
concerns
Eric
talked
about,
while
also
expanding
the
ability
of
people
to
live
here
and
to
own
homes.
Here
this
is
really
important.
A
The
North
Ballston
project
wasn't
the
only
housing
plan
that
the
board
dealt
with
that
at
the
most
recent
meeting
board
also
voted
to
approve
a
7.9
million
dollar
loan
from
the
county's,
affordable
housing
investment
fund
for
a
significant,
affordable
housing
development
in
western
Rosslyn.
Let's
talk
a
little
bit
about
that
project.
Well,.
C
A
B
So,
actually,
just
last
year
we
introduced
notice
of
funding
available
a
NOFA,
it's
a
competitive
process.
Historically,
because
development
in
Arlington
is
challenging.
There
were
relatively
few
partners
that
were
able
to
take
on
that
particular
challenge
and
we
were
generally
able
to
meet
most
of
the
pipeline
of
projects
within
existing
resources.
In
recent
years,
even
though
we've
grown
the
size
of
the
affordable
housing
investment
fund,
more
partners
are
coming
to
the
table
and
projects
are
getting
more
expensive.
So
we've
started
to
have
increased
competition
for
funds.
B
A
B
The
the
county
board
gave
him
direction
back
in
the
fall
when
we
set
out
the
guidance
we
give
to
him
about.
The
kind
of
budget
we'd
like
him
to
bring
to
us
is
that
we
thought
that
we
believed
that
a
half
the
the
affordable
housing
investment
fund
needed
to
at
least
stay
steady
last
year
that
represented
a
little
bit
of
a
challenge
for
him
to
work
with.
But
because
of
the
commitment
of
this
board
and
the
manager
to
it,
he
did
proceed
and
I.
Think
the
Queen's
court
story
really
underscores
why
this
matters.
B
We
were
so
fortunate
to
have
a
couple
of
people
come
and
share
their
stories
about
living
in
committed,
affordable
housing
in
Arlington
on
Tuesday
night,
and
it's
it's
a
really
powerful
thing.
And
when
you
look
at
the
family
units,
for
example,
more
than
half
of
these
units
will
be
family
sized
and
the
opportunities
that
create
for
families
who,
by
the
way,
are
often
in
Arlington.
B
Some
of
our
analysis
suggests
that
when
you
have
a
new
project
committed,
affordable
project
like
this
as
much
as
80%
of
the
students
generated
by
that
project,
we're
already
in
ApS,
and
it's
about
providing
stability
for
their
families
and
stability
for
those
kids.
It
really
underscores
why
these
investments,
although
they're,
sometimes
challenging
to
identify
in
the
budget
or
worth
making
all.
A
Right
well,
thank
you
very
much.
We're
gonna
take
one
more
quick,
quick
break
and
when
we
come
back,
I'll
ask
the
board
members
about
how
a
contract
they
approved
to
improve
the
intersection
of
South
Walter
Reed,
Drive
and
12th.
Street
fits
into
the
bigger
picture
of
County
efforts
to
improve
transportation
options
along
the
very
important
Columbia
Pike
corridor.
Stay
with
us.
A
Welcome
back
to
County
Board
wrap-up,
where
we
chat
with
county
board
members
about
key
decisions
they
make
at
their
monthly
meetings
joining
us
today
is
County
Board,
Chair,
Katie
crystal
and
board
member
Eric
cutshall.
Thank
you
both
once
again
and
let's
talk
if
there
was
a
contract
approved
along
Walter,
Reed,
Drive
and
12th
Street
South
for
a
bike.
Boulevard
tell
me
a
little
bit
about
this.
This
sounds
very
intriguing.
Absolutely.
B
So
this
is
one
of
several
projects
we've
been
pursuing
to
basically
make
biking
more
comfortable
along
Columbia
Pike.
We
know
this
is
a
heavily
traversed
route.
We
know
it's
a
community
full
of
people
like
myself,
I
live
on
Columbia
Pike
interested
in
alternative
forms
of
transit,
it's
the
most
highly
bus
trafficked
corridor
in
the
Commonwealth
of
Virginia,
and
so
there
has
been
a
desire,
starting
in
2013,
to
make
biking
more
manageable
along
the
pike,
starting
with
the
creation
of
these
bike
boulevards.
B
B
Pike
and
so
in
some
places
we
try
to
create
the
bike
facility
within
that
main
roadway
and
the
decision
was
made
in
2013.
That's
the
best
way
to
move
people
safely
and
comfortably,
because
we
know
that's
really
important
when
it
comes
to
whether
people
choose
biking.
The
best
way
to
do
that
on
Columbia
Pike
was
through
these
parallel
bike
boulevards
rather
than
on
the
pike
itself
and.
A
Okay,
so
how
does
this
fit
in
I
know?
We
have
talked
I
feel
ad
nauseam
for
years
now
about
different
transportation.
Improvements
along
the
pike,
as
you
said,
is
one
of
the
most
heavily
traversed
areas,
not
only
in
Arlington
but
probably
throughout
the
entire
Commonwealth.
How
does
this
particular
venture
fit
into
that
I
think.
C
This
project
is
actually
exemplary
of
our
overall
approach
to
how
we
do
transportation
planning
in
which
is
it's
about
every
mode
of
transportation
that
we
can
think
of.
So
rather,
we
want
to
make
things
safer
for
pedestrians
to
walk
places,
the
more
people
that
can
walk
to
where
their
destination
or
walk
to
transit.
C
A
A
B
A
C
This
is
part
of
the
vision
of
our
Columbia
Pike
neighborhoods
plan,
right
that
we
want
to
have
this
corridor
and
we
know
that
private
investment
will
follow
public
investments.
So
this
is
just
one
of
many
projects
and
there's
a
lot
more
investment,
that's
to
come
and
the
pike,
but
as
we
go
bit
by
bit,
I
think
we're
gonna
see
that
that
the
pike
will
realize
its
future.
A
That
it
sounds
like
a
perfect
place
to
believe
it
for
this
particular
edition.
That's
it
for
this
month's
County
Board
wrap
up.
Thank
you
for
joining
us
today
for
some
of
the
behind
the
scenes,
information
on
decisions.
The
Board
took
at
its
February
meeting,
Thank
You,
Katie
and
Eric
for
walking
us
through
those
actions
and
giving
us
some
insight
into
how
you
make
your
decisions.
I'm,
Kara,
O'donnell
and
we're
gonna
be
back
next
month
with
another
edition
of
County
Board
wrap-up
and
you
can
watch
the
county
board.
Meetings
live
streamed
or
archived
on
our
website.