Arlington County Government, VA / Community Meetings, Forums, and Civic Engagment

At Arlington's most recent Digital Destiny event, Dr. Indu B Singh, President and CEO of Planet Defense, LLC, sounds a cautionary warning to any local government that aspires to be a Smart Community.

Arlington County CIO Jack Belcher hosts staff and industry leaders for a community talk on the impact that the Digital Revolution will have on shaping Arlington for a smart and secure future.

- Beverly Allen, Producer and Host, Practical Security
- Robert Duffy, Director of Planning, Arlington County Government
- Joseph N. Pelton, Ph. D., Author and Industry Thought Leader, Notable Publications
- Indu B. Singh, Ph. D., President and CEO, Planet Defense LLC

A forum hosted by the Arlington County Transportation and Planning Commissions, County Board, and Transportation Division. With keynote speaker and panelist Christopher Leinberger, noted land use strategist, teacher, developer, researcher and author.

A town hall on the opioid crisis and how it is affecting our community was held at the Arlington Public Library on October 12 2017. Moderated by NBC4's Mark Segraves, the keynote speaker was parent and Virginia Beach School Board Member Carolyn Weems and panelists included Arlington Chief of Police M. Jay Farr, Commonwealth Attorney Theophani Stamos, parent Avi Garbow, Behavioral Healthcare Division Chief Dr. John Palmieri, and Ms Weems.

For more information on opioid awareness, please visit our website https://health.arlingtonva.us/opioid-awareness/. For substance use programs and services in Arlington County, call 703-228-5150 or visit our website https://health.arlingtonva.us/behavioral-healthcare/substance-abuse/. In case of an emergency, call 911.

Arlington County Behavioral Health Div. and Arlington Peers Helping Peers in Recovery present their annual Celebrate National Recovery Month event. This year's theme is "Join the Voices for Recovery: Strengthen Families and Communities". Recorded on Sept. 27 2017 at Busboys and Poets in Shirlington.

Welcome by Ginger Brown, Vice Chair
The first of three public facility siting and programming case studies. No. 1: Fire Station #3 (Cherrydale)
Presentation by Nancy Iacomini, Fire Station #3 Relocation Task Force. Recorded May 13 2015 at Washington-Lee High School, Arlington VA.

The second of three public facility siting and programming case studies. No. 2: Arlington Mill Community Center. Presentation by Jennifer Smith, Columbia Pike Initiative Coordinator, Dept. of Community Planning, Housing & Development. Recorded May 13 2015 at Washington-Lee High School, Arlington VA.

The third of three public facility siting and programming case studies. No. 3: Proposed elementary school at Thomas Jefferson Site. Carrie Johnson, Chair, Thomas Jefferson Working Group. Recorded May 13 2015 at Washington-Lee High School, Arlington VA.

Audience question and answer period after three public facility siting and programming case studies. Moderated by vice-chair Ginger Brown. Recorded May 13 2015 at Washington-Lee High School, Arlington VA.

Arlington County VA Community Facilities Study Committee meeting #6 featured presentations on the Public Spaces Master Plan by Jane Rudolph, Director of the Arlington County Dept. of Parks & Recreation, and a Land and Facility Inventory by George May, Deputy Director for Facilities and Engineering, Arlington Dept. of Environmental Services. Recorded on April 22 2015 at Wakefield High School.

Arlington County VA Community Facilities Study Committee meeting #6 featured a presentation on Land and Facility Inventory by Lisa Grandle, Park Development Division Chief, Arlington County Dept. of Parks & Recreation. Recorded on April 22 2015 at Wakefield High School.

Arlington County VA Community Facilities Study Committee meeting #6 featured a presentation on Land and Facility Inventory by John Chadwick, Asst. Superintendent of Arlington Public Schools Facilities and Operations. Recorded on April 22 2015 at Wakefield High School.

Arlington County VA Community Facilities Study Committee meeting #6 featured an audience Q&A on the Land and Facility Inventory. Recorded on April 22 2015 at Wakefield High School.

Arlington County VA Community Facilities Study Committee meeting #6 featured a panel discussion with Jane Rudolph, Director of the Arlington County Dept. of Parks & Recreation, Greg Emanuel, Director of the Arlington Dept. of Environmental Services, Arlington County Fire Chief Jim Schwartz, John Chadwick, Arlington Public Schools Asst. Superintendent for Facilities and Operations, and Connie Skelton, Arlington Public Schools Asst. Superintendent for Instruction. Recorded on April 22 2015 at Wakefield High School.

Arlington County VA Community Facilities Study Committee meeting #6 featured a welcome and meeting overview by Committee Chair John Milliken. Recorded on April 22 2015 at Wakefield High School.

Arlington VA Community Facilities Study Committee presentation about the County’s Plan – A Comprehensive Vision by Bob Brosnan, County Manager’s Office. Recorded April 8 2015 at Wakefield High School.
http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/community-facilities-study/

Arlington VA Community Facilities Study Committee presentation about the County’s Siting Practices by Susan Bell, past director of Community Housing, Planning and Development. Wrap-up by committee chair John Milliken. Recorded April 8 2015 at Wakefield High School.
http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/community-facilities-study/

Arlington VA Community Facilities Study Committee Chair John Milliken's overview and introduction. Recorded April 8 2015 at Wakefield High School.
http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/community-facilities-study/

Arlington VA Community Facilities Study Committee presentation on Validating Forecast Methodologies with consultant Bob Scardamalia, RLS Demographics. Recorded April 8 2015 at Wakefield High School.
http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/community-facilities-study/

Arlington VA Community Facilities Study Committee presentation on Validating Forecast Methodologies with consultant Richard Grip, Statistical Forecasting LLC. Recorded April 8 2015 at Wakefield High School.
http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/community-facilities-study/

Arlington VA Community Facilities Study Committee question-and-answer period about Validating Forecast Methodologies with consultant Bob Scardamalia, RLS Demographics and Richard Grip, Statistical Forecasting, LLC. Recorded April 8 2015 at Wakefield High School.
http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/community-facilities-study/

The third meeting of the Arlington VA Community Facilities Study Committee featured Dr. Lisa Sturtevant of the National Housing Conference speaking on national and regional trends. Recorded on March 11 2015. For more information, go to http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/community-facilities-study/.

The third meeting of the Arlington VA Community Facilities Study Committee featured Robert Brosnan, Arlington County Manager's Office, offering a forecast and projection overview. Recorded on March 11 2015. For more information, go to http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/community-facilities-study/.

The third meeting of the Arlington VA Community Facilities Study Committee featured Elizabeth Hardy and Andrew D'huyvetter of the Arlington County Dept. of Community Planning, Housing and Development, speaking on County demographics and forecasts. Recorded on March 11 2015. For more information, go to http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/community-facilities-study/.

The third meeting of the Arlington VA Community Facilities Study Committee featured Lionel White and John Chadwick of the Arlington Public Schools discussing school enrollment and projections. Recorded on March 11 2015. For more information, go to http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/community-facilities-study/

The third meeting of the Arlington VA Community Facilities Study Committee featured John Milliken, Committee Chairman, setting tonight's agenda and introducing the speakers. Recorded on March 11 2015. For more information, go to http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/community-facilities-study/

Arlington is making it easier than ever to do business in the County. We'll tell you about some of our new features - including online business registration and a one-stop payment system for building permits - later in our program, but first....

The Arlington County Board and School Board are working together to engage residents in the planning process for new and existing buildings. Make sure your voice is heard by getting involved with the Resident Forum so you can find out what’s happening with schools, fire stations, storage facilities and other development around the County. Go to commissions.arlingtonva.us and search “facilities study” to learn more.

Every month, Arlington holds a public County Board meeting, where important issues involving the community are discussed and voted on. March is a busy month, as the Board is also holding public budget tax rate hearings. All meetings are open to the public. If you can’t attend, you can watch the meeting live here on ATV, or watch archived meetings online at countyboard.arlingtonva.us.

We told you in a previous episode that Arlington has made it easier to do business with the county and we’ve heard from our viewers that this is something you’d like to hear more about….Take a look...

Shannon Flanagan Watson, Arlington Business Ombudsman: we want to make it simpler and more predictable to do business in Arlington. And one of the ways that we're achieving this goal is through the implementation of several process improvements.

Ingrid Morroy, Commissioner of Revenue: In the past only existing businesses were able to register and submit their tax returns online. Now with this new system customers who have a new business in Arlington can register their business online. And existing businesses can also register additional locations online.
So this was something that the business community had asked for.

Shannon Flanagan Watson: These improvements stem from the County Manager's listening tour held last year with the business community and as a result of ongoing feedback that we have received from our customers. For example, we rolled out new payment options at our customer service counter here in the main county administration building.

Carla de la Pava, Treasurer, Arlington County: What we realized that businesses needed is when they're going for permits and zoning they had a lot of stops to make. One of the stops was to come down to the 2nd floor to make a payment. We have decided to rearrange our system to allow the 10th floor and 8th floor to take payments directly. What that means is the customer no longer has to come to the 2nd floor, that the departments can literally deposit the checks in the bank from their seats. We're getting the cash into the bank about a day faster which means more interest for Arlington County.

Shannon Flanagan-Watson: It makes it faster and easier to do business. We recognize that time is money.

For more information on doing business in Arlington, visit our Business Center website at arlingtonva.us, search business.

Arlington’s Department of Environmental Services has been busy clearing the snow and fixing those potholes. Assuming Spring eventually gets here DES is also gearing up to collect Spring Yard Waste from March 16th through April 24th! A limited number of free biodegradable bags are available at Courthouse Plaza, Lee Community Center, the Solid Waste Bureau and Thomas Jefferson Community Center, and paper yard waste bags are available at most hardware stores. Put your yard waste out on the business day after your normal trash collection day. Find out all that DES does for you at environment.arlingtonva.us.

This year, the Library’s Arlington Reads program focuses on race in America, as seen through the works of two remarkable young writers. National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward will discuss “Men We Reaped” at Central Library on April 8th, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will discuss “Americanah” at Central on May 7th. This gives you plenty of time to check out a copy of both books at one of Arlington’s libraries, and make your plans to join the 2015 Arlington Reads.

Finally, Police Chief Doug Scott will retire after a 40 year career in law enforcement, including 12 years as Arlington’s police chief. An acting police chief will be appointed, and a national search for a new chief will be conducted. He will be greatly missed. Well, that's it for now. Thanks for watching! We'll see you next time, Around Arlington.

The second meeting of the Arlington VA Community Facilities Study Committee featured Alex Iams and Victor Hoskins, both of Arlington Economic Development, speaking on Arlington's economic overview. For more information, go to http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/community-facilities-study/

The second meeting of the Arlington VA Community Facilities Study Committee featured opening remarks by John Milliken, Chair. Recorded Feb. 25 2015. For more information, go to http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/community-facilities-study/

The second meeting of the Arlington VA Community Facilities Study Committee featured Terry Clower, George Mason University, speaking on regional trends in property assessments. Recorded on Feb. 25 2015. For more information, go to http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/community-facilities-study/

Affordable housing is top of the list of human rights concerns in Arlington, that’s according to a recent forum held by the Human Rights Commission. More on that later, but first…

The January 1st County Board Organizational meeting, saw Board Chair Mary Hynes announce support for a community facilities study to identify areas that need improvement for both schools and county. The study will include community input.

To learn more about the study, you can watch her speech and read her remarks in full at countyboard.arlingtonva.us. Just click on the Members tab for Mary Hynes.

The recent winter weather is a reminder that we need to be prepared. Report a snow issue, learn how the County handles winter weather and check delays at arlingtonva.us keyword “snow.” You can also sign up for Arlington Alert to receive text or email messages, and updates in the case of an emergency.

Join us on Saturday, January 31 for a new take on the Energy Journey Game. It’s a life-sized board game for kids and adults that’s both fun and educational. You’re guaranteed to come away with some new energy-savings tips. So stop by Wakefield High School between 1 and 4pm for the free event. You can choose to RSVP or volunteer online.

And here’s another volunteer opportunity for you. How many homeless people are living on Arlington’s streets? Well the annual ‘Point in Time Count’ physically counts each one on a given night of the year. And you can take part in this extraordinary event, by signing up online at volunteer.arlingtonva.us. Or, check with A-SPAN, the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network, to find out what you can do to help end homelessness in Arlington. This year’s count will take place from sunset on January 28 to sunrise on January 29

And for those of us fortunate enough not to be homeless, are you fully aware of your housing rights? Well the Arlington Human Rights Commission can tell you. It’s focusing on the ongoing need for affordable and fair housing. And at a recent event, commissioners were keen to emphasis the difference between both affordable and fair housing. And you can find out more about your housing rights, or even get involved by visiting our website, keyword, human rights.

Do you know someone who passionately supports our parks and natural resources? Then nominate them for the Bill Thomas Award. It’s a way of honoring lifelong parks volunteer Bill Thomas and Arlington residents who support our dynamic programs, natural resources, and public open spaces. More information about the award and how to nominate an outstanding parks volunteer is on the Parks Department website.


Lastly, many residents honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the 46th Arlington annual tribute. There was art, music, and dancing, and a moving tribute to Dr. King by Judge William T. Newman, Jr.