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From YouTube: County Board Wrap-Up: March 2017
Description
ATV's monthly chat with Board Chair Jay Fisette on actions the Board took at its most recent meeting. In this edition we discuss the ongoing work on the FY 2018 budget as well as the future of the historic Stratford School and Reeves farmhouse. We also take a trip to an emotional naturalization ceremony at Central Library in which Mr. Fisette and his Board colleagues were invited to participate.
A
A
Welcome
to
County
Board
wrap
up,
I'm
your
host
kara,
o'donnell
and
joining
us
today.
As
always,
this
county
board
chair
Jay
fassett
each
month.
The
chair
answers
questions
about
some
of
the
key
decisions
the
board
took
at
its
public
meeting
that
affect
you,
your
family
and
your
community.
Thanks
for
joining
us
Jay,
as
always
nice
we're,
let's
dive
right
in
here
with
someone
for
historical
items,
shall
we
say,
and
let's
start
with
a
Stratford
school
building.
We
made
decision
this
past
meeting
to
convert
this
into
a
neighborhood
middle
school.
B
B
Well,
I
think
the
schools
have
growing
enrollment,
so
they
have
been
undertaking
a
very
significant
growth
plan.
Their
capital
plan
over
the
next
10
years
really
covers
the
projected
growth
over
the
next
10
years,
and
last
month
we
dealt
with
the
wilson
school
that
school
and
robin
will
become
the
new
home
of
HB
woodlawn.
That
opens
up
the
current
HP
Woodlawn
building
of
the
stratford
building
the
old
historic
stratford
building
to
become
a
neighborhood
middle
school
and
we'll
be
adding
an
addition.
B
Really
turned
out
to
be
a
it's
going
to
be
a
lovely
building.
The
addition
will
be
about
300
new
seats.
Most
of
the
kids
going
to
this
school
are
going
to
be
within
the
walk,
shed
area
and
that's
what
a
neighborhood
school
is.
So
many
of
them
will
be
able
to
walk
bike
and
get
to
school
without
getting
in
a
car,
and
the
the
historic
I
think
I'll
riri
emphasize
the
importance
of
that.
It
helped
guide
where
that
went,
because
the
integration
issue
the
in
Virginia.
B
This
was
the
first
school
to
be
integrated
in
the
Commonwealth,
and
it
has
a
very
important
place
in
history
so
that
where
that
edition
went
and
how
it
was
designed,
how
it
sort
of
reflected
or
complemented
the
existing
school
building
was
very
important
in
this
process,
and
we
really
applaud
the
schools
for
doing
a
good
job.
Students.
A
B
A
B
A
big
challenge
for
the
community
I
mean
where
I
say
this
all
the
time
we're
victims
of
our
own
success.
The
schools
are
so
good
that
as
new
new
folks
come
to
the
county
and
some
are
drawn
to
the
county
because
of
our
public
school
system,
we
have
to
meet
the
needs,
and-
and
we
are
one
of
our
biggest
challenges-
is
land
and
we
learnt.
B
We
know
that
we
learned
it
through
the
community
facility
study,
so
we're
looking
to
build
up
we're
looking
to
build
under
we're
looking
to
build
over
we're
looking
to
do
joint
facilities.
We
have
not
had
a
school
building
built
in
decades
that
it's
only
a
school
building.
All
of
them
are
open
to
the
community
for
a
variety
of
meetings,
whether
its
use
of
the
gym
or
the
theater
or
meeting
space
for
the
community.
A
B
Month,
we're
taking
up
another
one,
so
we
had
three
in
a
row
we
had
Wilson
School
in
February.
In
March
we
had
the
Stratford
middle
school,
and
next
month
we
will
take
up
a
use,
permit
request
for
a
new
brand
new
school
TJ
elementary
school
on
the
campus
of
the
existing
Thomas
Jefferson
middle
school,
and
that
one
has
gone
through
a
broad
community
process.
I
think
there's
a
lot
of
consensus
as
we
understand
it,
working
toward
the
board
that
she's
permit,
but
that
will
be
a
brand
new
school.
B
A
B
Yes,
collaboration.
Honestly,
there
are
very
few
communities
in
which
the
school
system,
which
is
separately
elected
and
the
county
or
city
work
nearly
as
collaboratively
as
we
do
we're
forced
into
it,
partly
because
of
limited
land.
It's
all
public
land,
so
we
have
to
make
the
best
use
of
it.
But
we
also
have
such
a
common
set
of
values
and
goals
here,
everyone,
whether
you
have
kids
in
the
school
system
or
not,
values,
public
education,
I
mean
only
fifteen
percent
or
so
of
our
adults,
have
kids
in
the
public
school
system.
B
Maybe
sixteen
seventeen
percent
now,
but
all
the
rest
still
understand
the
value
of
investing
in
public
education,
because
that
is
the
future,
whether
it's
your
kids
or
someone
else's
kids.
So
we
work
really
hard
at
it
and
that's
why
every
one
of
these
buildings
have
to
have
multiple
purposes
and
uses
to
be
able
to
sort
of
justify
that
investment,
but
also
take
advantage
of
limited
land
resources.
It's.
A
B
A
B
This
is
a
the
Reeves
farmhouse
is
something
that
the
county
put
a
beautiful
old
farmhouse
one
of
the
last
working
farms
in
the
county
and
the
family
sold
it
to
the
county
I'm
thinking
about
15
years
ago
now,
early
2000s
I,
don't
remember
the
date
exactly
and
we
have
been
figuring
out
what
to
do
with
the
property.
It's
a
significant
amount
of
acreage
and
this
older
building
in
and
out
lot,
and
you
know
the
in
the
end.
B
What
we
have
done
at
the
recommendation
of
the
manager
is
decide
that
we
will
parcel
segment
off
the
house
itself
and
sell
it
put
it
on
the
market
for
someone
to
purchase,
probably
for
a
very
low
cost,
knowing
they
will
make
a
significant
investment
in
it
to
live
in
the
home
to
protect
the
historic
character
of
the
home.
There
will
be
all
sorts
of
limitations
on
what
they
can
do
to
that
home.
B
Any
changes
would
have
to
be
approved
by
a
historical
affairs
and
landmark
review
board,
so
the
historic
integrity
the
home
will
be
preserved
with
outside
investment.
Eighty
percent
of
the
land
will
remain
parkland.
The
sledding
hill,
the
area
where
there
are
some
raised
beds
with
the
lawns
to
let
us
for
lunch
program,
the
Reeves
land,
Learning
Center-
all
of
that
will
be
protected
in
fact-
will
enhance
that
will
get
some
water
to
those
beds
build
in
the
infrastructure
for
that
able
to
adjacent
to
blumont
park.
B
There
were
definitely
they
were
definitely
those
in
the
community
that
wanted
the
county
to
purchase
and
then
run
reinvest
in
it.
Protect
the
home
ourselves
put
23
million
dollars
into
it.
We
did
not
find
the
partner,
we
really
thought
we
might
find
a
partner
to
help
raise
the
money
to
do
that.
In
the
end
we
did
not-
and
I
think
in,
however,
this
recommendation
of
the
manager
which
the
board
supported
50
will
in
fact
accomplish
the
majority
of
goals
that
we
have
this.
Not
it's
not
all
of
them.
Some
of.
B
Over
there
and
eighty
percent
of
it
will
remain
parkland,
you
know
connected
to
bluma
park
so
and
then
leave
the
building
will
be
preserved.
What's
an
outside
investor
night,
somebody
will
be
actually
able
to
live
in
it
and
enjoy
it.
So
I
think
it's.
I
think
it's
a
good
a
solution.
It
took
us
a
while
to
get
here
because
we
explored
other
options:
pre
intently,
okay,.
A
A
A
We're
here
today
with
county
board
chair,
Jay
pizzette,
as
always,
and
this
issue
is
kind
of
a
hot
topic
around
arlington
has
been
for
quit,
since
it
first
got
on
the
radar,
because
of
course
it
deals
with
our
pets
and
we
love
our
pets,
but
this
is
couldn't
dealing
with
a
different
sorts
of
pets,
so
to
speak,
the
exotic
animals
and
the
idea
of
possibly
banning
wild
and
exotic
animals
tell
me
what
we
didn't
with
the
board
decided
this
meeting.
We.
B
Didn't
decide
anything
at
this
meeting,
yet
we
punted
for
a
couple
of
months
to
get
more
information,
I.
Think
I.
Should
people
ask
me?
Why
are
you
doing
this
and
the
answer
is
we
were
asked
to
do
this
and
it
came
from
a
number
of
community
activists
and
people
who
care
about
animals
and
the
animal
welfare
league.
They
are
linked
in
animal
welfare
league
so
on
their
request
we
took
up
and
the
staff
looked
at
an
ordinance
that
would
prohibit
certain
types
of
exotic
animals
from
being
in
the
county.
B
Do
we
know
if
they're
here
now
we're
not
really
we
don't
know?
Probably
there
are
some,
but
it's
not
like.
We've
had
a
big
issue.
Arguably
this
is
about
pre-empting
a
problem
if
it
were
to
happen
and
I
think
many
jurisdictions
have
done
this
in
the
past,
including
some
of
our
neighbors
any
Fairfax
as
well.
So
that's
why
we're
doing
it?
B
We
did
hear
from
a
lot
of
people
when
the
ordinance
Draft
came
up
left
this
last
month
and
based
on
that
input,
a
lot
of
people
a
lot
more
than
I
would
have
known,
actually
knows
something
about
this
or
have
exotic
pets
or
have
dealt
with
them
in
one
form
or
fashion,
some
within
the
county
and
somewhere
outside
the
county.
So
we
decided
to
make
sure
the
staff
engaged
with
these
folks
got
the
benefit
of
their
information
to
see,
if
maybe
something
should
be
removed
from
the
list.
That's
more
common
pet!
B
A
B
A
B
B
A
Four-Legged
friends
at
home
are
happy
to
hear
that
true,
oh
now,
it's
transitioning
a
bit.
We've
talked
about
immigration
and
the
current
situation
here
in
the
country
for
several
episodes
here
now,
but
you
really
have
the
opportunity
to
witness
something
very
special
here
recently
involving
immigration.
Tell
me
a
little
bit
about
this
relationship.
B
Ended
yeah
thanks
for
asking
about
this,
because
I
think
I've
been
on
the
board
20
years
it
was
the
first
time
I
was
invited.
I
think
the
board
members
were
invited
to
participate
in
an
Immigration
and
Naturalization
Service
citizenship
program.
Where
58
folks
became
American
citizens,
they
get
their
certificate,
they
say
the
oath
of
allegiance.
B
It
was
at
our
central
library
and
Katie
crystal
the
vice
chair
and
I
John
was
there
Christian
was
there
to
enjoy
this
as
well.
Obviously,
beyond
the
58
new
American
citizens,
many
of
their
family
members
and
friends
were
there
and
it
was
a
very
emotional
moment
not
just
for
the
58
people
that
came
from
28
different
countries,
but
for
all
of
us
you
know
to
hear
the
pledge
of
allegiance
to
hear
the
national
anthem.
A
B
B
She
came
to
this
country
at
18
to
be
a
nanny,
and
this
is
35
years
ago,
and
the
woman
that
was
there
taking
her
picture
was
the
little
girl
she
came
to
be
a
nanny
for
who
had,
she
said
to
me,
pushed
her
and
pushed
her
and
helped
her
through
all
the
hoops
and
hurdles
to
actually
pursue
her
citizenship.
So
I
mean
that's
just
one
story
of
58.
There
were
58
similar
stories
there
that
morning,
wow.
B
A
Of
puts
that
human
face
on
this
whole
situation,
I
mean
it's
something
that's
been
in
the
news
again
this
week
with
different
communities,
some
of
our
neighboring
communities
voting
on
whether
to
become
sanctuary
cities,
but
this
is
really
the
kind
of
human
side
that
comes
from
that.
These
are
folks
who
come
here
want
to
be
part
of
our
community.
They
want
to
be
American
citizens
and.
B
Most
of
them
have
been
here
many
many
years.
They
are,
by
all
intents
and
purposes,
they've
accepted
embraced
what
this
country
is
and
I
guess.
One
of
my
messages
to
them
was,
you
know,
keep
keep
getting
involved
and
you're
in
your
local
community,
whether
it's
Arlington
or
fairfax,
or
our
neighboring
jurisdiction.
They
were
from
all
over
the
region,
find
ways
because
that's
what
America
is
America
allows
people
encourages
people
to
get
involved
in
their
PTA
in
the
school
and
the
neighborhood
civic
association
in
in
a
non-profit
helping
you
know,
provide
food
to
the
less-advantaged.
B
A
B
B
You
know
about
immigration
resources
that
everyone
who
has
questions
should
look
to
first
to
see
if
it
answers
your
questions
about
the
role
of
the
County
police
and
what
the
role
is,
what
the
role
isn't,
where
you
can
go
to
find
assistance
and
resources,
and
hopefully
it
will
answer
many
of
your
questions
and
because
this
isn't
moving
issue
and
we're
responding
on
a
regular
basis
that
web
page
will
be
updated
on
a
regular
basis.
Something.
A
Welcome
back
to
our
final
segment
of
County
Board
wrap
up
we're
here,
talking
with
board
chair,
Jay,
fassett
and,
of
course,
now
we're
going
to
turn
to
talking
about
the
sy
18
budget.
The
board
is
working
hard
on
refining
the
budget
before
it's
adopted
in
april
jayy.
Where
do
we
stand
right
now
with
the
budget
discussions?
Well.
B
You
know
this
is
one
of
the
big
things
you
do
every
year
we
deal
with
development
issues
and
projects,
and
we
deal
with
the
budget
on
annual
basis.
Local
governments
are
required
to
balance
the
budget.
Unlike
the
federal
government-
and
this
is
a
very
intensive
couple
of
months
for
us,
the
manager
proposes
budget
in
February.
We
had
to
at
that
point
with
very
little
lead
time,
decide
what
to
advertise
as
the
maximum
real
estate
tax
rate.
We
could
consider,
and
we
took
his
recommendation
and
adopted
something
that
was
two
pennies
higher
than
now.
B
We
don't
know
what
will
adopt
in
the
end,
but
we've
been
going
through
a
very
intensive
budget
work
sessions
with
the
various
departments
we
had
our
public
budget
hearing
heard
from
the
community
last
week
on
the
expense
side,
mostly
people
asking
for
new
services,
or
do
you
know
for
to
the
protection
of
existing
services?
We
had
a
public
hearing
on
the
tax
rate.
B
A
B
Yeah,
it's
a
good
question.
I
mean
honestly
anytime,
you're
advertising
an
increase
in
the
rate.
You
know
you
don't
want
to
increase
the
tax
rate.
You
don't
want
to
increase
the
burden
unless
you
can
justify
to
yourself
that
you
look
as
hard
as
you
can.
Staff
and
the
department
that
looked
as
hard
at
they
can
at
finding
ways
to
reduce
unnecessary
costs
or
cover
deal
with
some
duplication
of
service
or
find
more
efficiencies.
I
mean
that's
part
of
our
job
and
we
work
hard
to
push.
B
So
does
the
citizen
fiscal
affairs
Advisory
Commission,
so
when
we
advertise
the
potential
and
that
potential
increase
was
specifically
for
two
things,
one
penny
the
manager
is
recommending
go
to
metro
because
we
have
a
significant
new
cost.
That
is
new
and
the
second
is
enrollment
in
the
schools.
We
have
a
significant
growth
of
you
know
close
to
a
thousand
kids
I
believe
this
year
is
projected
as
well.
So
with
that
we
we
decided
that
we
also
needed
to
ask
him
once
again
to
go.
B
Give
us
a
set
of
optional
cuts
that
we
would
look
at
very
hard
to
determine
if
there
was
something
that
we
could
do
without,
and
so
he
gave
us
close
to
really
72
of
maybes
11
million
dollars
in
optional
reductions.
He
is
not
recommending
those,
but
he
is
saying
in
response
to
us
if
I
had
to
these
are
the
things
I
would
reduce,
and
now
it's
up
to
us
to
you
know
consider
whether
any
of
those
are
acceptable
cuts
not.
A
B
B
Have
well
it's
a
complicated
issue,
but
the
bottom
line
is
some
people.
What
is
a
reserve?
It's
not
just
a
rainy
day
fund.
What
a
lot
of
people
call
reserves
are
really
earmarked
capital
funds.
You
know
we
have
a
commercial
real
estate,
Assessment
on
commercial
property
by
state
law.
It's
dedicated
to
transportation.
You
collect
that
as
it
grows
before
the
projects
are
paid,
for
it
might
growth.
You
know,
and
there
might
be
money
sitting
in
their
20
million
50
million
100
million
dollars
as
big
projects
are
planned
down
the
road.
B
You
can't
use
that
money
to
balance
this
budget,
it's
earmarked
and
restricted
our
stormwater
fund,
our
affordable
housing
fund.
There
are
a
number
of
funds
that
are
segregated
now.
That
said,
there
are
also
funds
that
the
bond
rating
agencies
require
us
to
have.
Should
there
be
an
extraordinary
crisis
so
that
we
qualify
for
the
lowest
interest
rates
available
in
a
planet?
B
If
we
didn't
have
these
reserve
funds,
which
are
rarely
if
ever
touched-
and
you
hope
you
never
touch
them,
if
you
don't
have
them,
you
don't
get
the
interest
rates,
we
get
so
we're
having
a
work
session.
In
fact,
soon
to
better
understand
all
these
funds
and
to
see,
if
there's
anywhere
we
can
squeeze
but
good
Simon
financial
management
suggest
you
need
these
funds,
whether
for
your
bond
rating
weather
for
your
capital
projects
and
our
questions
to
the
manager
will
be.
Is
there
any
flexibility
in
here?
A
B
Know
this
is
Arlington,
there's
always
honestly,
there's
always
we're
getting
emails,
dozens
of
them
a
day
from
people
who
have
a
point
of
view
want
to
tell
us
either
about
a
concern
or
support
for
a
particular
project
that
may
be
in
that
managers
proposed
optional
cuts
or
the
additional
money
for
the
schools
or
for
Metro
they
like
it
or
they
don't
like
it,
and
we
we're
hearing
from
everyone
and
we
hear
through
email.
We
hear
through
conversations
we
have
meeting
set
up
with
larger
groups
of
people.
B
A
A
Thank
You
Jay,
that
brings
us
to
the
end
of
another
County
Board
wrap
up.
We
hope
today's
conversation
with
the
board
chair
has
given
you
some
insights
into
some
of
the
important
decisions
being
made
that
affect
you,
your
family,
your
neighborhood
and
your
County
remember
to
learn
more
about
the
budget
process
and
today's
other
topics
visit
topics.
Arlington
VA
us
flesh,
engage
on
the
county
website,
that's
our
civic
engagement
web
page
and
that's
where
you
can
share
your
ideas
and
learn
how
to
get
involved
in
the
county
issues
that
you
care
about.