►
Description
Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette delivered his New Year's remarks at the Board's 2014 organizational meeting.
A
We
go
thank
you,
everyone
for
coming
and
being
here
or
watching
on
television
at
home
to
join
tradition
of
getting
to
work
right
on
the
first
day
of
the
new
year,
and
thank
you
as
I
already
did,
but
I
want
to
reiterate
Walter
for
the
terrific
job
you
did
last
year.
As
our
chair,
you
were
a
real
champion
for
many
things:
columbia,
pike,
affordable
housing,
promoting
a
culture
of
fitness
and
always
speaking
to
the
less
fortunate
in
our
community
and
under
your
leadership.
We
made
progress
in
all
of
those
areas.
A
Thank
you
to
for
my
colleagues
for
choosing
me
to
lead
the
board
this
year.
I
look
forward
to
working
with
the
Vice
Chair
mayor,
Mary,
with
Walter
and
with
Libby
for
the
good
of
the
community.
Now,
as
for
mr.
Zimmerman,
as
you
know,
he
is
stepping
down
after
decades
of
public
service
and
many
many
accomplishments.
The
official
time
to
praise
Chris
and
to
embarrass
chris
is
set
for
late
January,
so
I'm
going
to
hold
back
today.
It's
not
news
that
2014
will
bring
changes
and
challenges.
A
Change
is
the
only
constant
in
life
we
in
Arlington
Neville
was
welcomed.
Change
carefully
managed
with
broad
community
involvement
and
thoughtful
review.
Sound
planning
and
adaptability
are
two
of
our
Civic
strengths.
It
won't
surprise
you
that
my
focus
for
the
year
will
be,
broadly
speaking,
on
sustainability,
the
ability
to
prosper
through
change.
A
Everything
we
do
should
be
judged
by
how
it
advances
our
goal
of
building
a
community
that
will
stain
sustained
Arlington
ians
for
generations
to
come.
We
have
such
a
strong
foundation
to
build
on
when
I
moved
to
arlington
in
1983
31
years
ago.
It
was
a
somewhat
sleepy
place
with
an
uncertain
future
from
my
rented
apartment
in
the
River
House
complex
I
walked
on
a
dirt
path
through
a
field
to
reach
the
newly
completed
pentagon
city
metro
station.
That
field
today
is
fashion
center
and
pentagon.
A
Row
filled
with
people
shopping,
working,
dining
and
ice
skating
on
the
plaza.
At
that
time,
the
most
common
landmark
in
the
Rosslyn
Boston
quarter
was
a
used
car
lot.
Many
of
them,
the
Sears
automotive
center,
had
not
been
transformed
into
market
common.
The
long
bridge
park
was
an
industrial
wasteland.
A
A
We
had
made
the
commitment
to
transit
as
our
prime
engine
of
redevelopment,
but
were
not
sure
how
far
it
could
take
us
now,
after
years
of
persistence
of
patience
and
sound
investment,
the
results
are
clear
between
1972
on
the
end
of
2013.
We
have
added
about
40,000
homes,
40
million
square
feet
of
office,
space
and
4
million
square
feet
of
retail
and
services,
and
yet
traffic
on
many
of
arterioles
is
decreased.
A
A
We
have
won
many
awards
for
smart
growth,
but
more
important
than
plaques
are
the
people
who
have
been
attracted
by
our
exciting
urban
villages,
our
strong
neighborhoods,
our
transportation
options
and
our
walkable
bikable
streets.
Today,
Arlington
has
the
nation's
highest
concentration
of
25
to
34
year
olds.
We
are
the
location
of
the
creative
class
I'm,
particularly
proud
that,
through
all
this
growth
and
change,
we've
maintained
the
very
best
characteristics
of
a
small
town.
A
Our
crime
rate
is
low.
Our
streets
are
safe,
neighbors
help
neighbors.
We
continue
to
embrace
diversity
and
to
care
for
the
most
vulnerable.
Among
us,
we've
maintained
that
connectedness
and
a
strong
civic
culture
where
the
Arlington
way
continues
to
thrive.
Even
through
the
worst
of
the
recession,
Arlington
maintained
a
strong
social
safety
net
and
continues
to
invest
in
our
future.
Our
development
policies
have
created
a
broad
property
tax
base
that
is
well
balanced
between
commercial
and
residential
assessments,
so
the
tax
burden
is
more
equitably
shared,
instead
of
being
disproportionately
borne
by
homeowners.
A
A
This
ensures
that
Arlington
can
borrow
money
at
the
lowest
available,
prop
interest
rate
saving
taxpayers
millions
of
dollars
on
our
capital.
Investments
in
various
projects
I
feel
confident
that
we
can
meet
any
challenge
that
comes
our
way
this
morning.
I
want
to
focus
on
the
three
largest
challenges
that
I
believe
we
faced
growing
school
enrollments,
housing,
affordability
and
economic
competitiveness.
A
The
first
is
the
growing
enrollment
in
our
public
schools.
This
is
a
symptom
of
our
success.
Families
are
settling
in
Arlington
because
our
public
schools
are
so
good,
and
that
reflects
the
fact
that
this
community
and
this
county
board
have
always
made
public
education
a
top
priority,
because
we
believe
in
the
value
of
education.
We
know
that
every
child
deserves
an
opportunity
to
succeed,
Arlington
taxpayers
again
and
again
have
voted
for
bonds
to
improve
and
expand
our
schools,
despite
the
fact
that
just
thirteen
percent
of
the
adults
have
kids
in
those
schools.
A
This
is
a
civic
commitment
that
few
communities
can
match
between
1988
and
2010.
Arlington
made
major
improvements
to
25
schools
and
entirely
rebuilt
six
elementary
and
middle
schools
and
three
high
schools.
We
have
built
one
entirely
new
school
and
another
new
elementary
school
will
open.
Next
year,
we
proudly
lead
the
region
in
our
eighteen
thousand
dollar,
plus
investment
per
student,
which
ensures
that
we
are
able
to
attract
outstanding
teachers.
A
Yet
we
must
do
more.
Over
the
next
five
years,
the
school's
project
over
4,000,
more
students
will
enroll
in
our
schools
an
eighteen
percent
increase.
They
estimate
the
need
to
complete
four
to
eight
construction
projects
in
the
next
decade,
beyond
those
already
under
construction
or
underway.
This
poses
major
challenges
both
for
our
capital
budgets
and
for
land
use.
Planning.
A
A
Thus,
it
is
essential
that
the
county
and
schools
work
together
even
more
closely
than
we
already
do.
We
will
initiate
a
monthly
joint
staff
meeting
to
ensure
good
communication
collaboration
in
developing
the
ten-year
capital
improvement
program.
Our
elected
leaders
will
also
meet
regularly.
My
goal
is
to
work
with
my
colleagues
to
identify
medium
long-term
needs
and
make
decisions
together
that
benefits
students,
families
and
the
entire
community.
A
second
and
perennial
challenge
is
to
ensure
that
persons
of
all
economic
levels
can
continue
to
live
here.
A
On
this
front
too,
we
are
victims
of
our
own
success
between
2000
and
2011.
Arlington
lost
more
than
half
of
its
remaining
inventory
of
mark
rate,
affordable
units,
those
of
those
that
are
affordable
in
the
free
market,
over
11,500
of
them
lost
high
housing
costs
are
squeezing
out
the
low
and
moderate
income
earners,
who
are
our
teachers,
our
health
care
workers,
our
store
clerks,
our
office
workers,
our
neighbors.
A
They
are
essential
to
the
fabric
of
our
community
and
to
our
economic
health.
Our
community
has
responded
aggressively
from
my
eight
years
on
the
Virginia
Housing
Development
Authority
board
in
Richmond
I
know
that
our
lling
tins
housing
efforts
dwarf
those
anywhere
else
in
the
Commonwealth
for
every
local
dollar
dedicated
to
affordable
housing.
We
leveraged
two
to
three
dollars
in
state,
federal
and
private
dollars.
These
investments
have
created
over
6,600,
committed,
affordable
units
homes,
contractually
obligated
to
stay
affordable
for
decades,
accounting
for
fifteen
percent
of
Arlington's
multifamily
housing
rental
stock.
A
Last
year,
we
adopted
our
most
ambitious
plan
to
date
to
ensure
no
net
loss
of
affordable
units
along
columbia,
pike
as
it
redevelops
into
a
more
transit
oriented,
walkable
Main
Street.
We
adopted
several
creative
tools
to
help
us
achieve
the
goal.
For
instance,
we
will
be
the
first
locality
in
America
to
use
TDRs
the
transfer
of
development
rights
to
help
preserve
affordable
housing,
because
this
is
a
novel
strategy.
We
are
starting
with
caution
and
fiscal
restraint.
A
A
We
also
expect
significant
progress
on
the
ongoing,
affordable
housing
study.
It's
working
group
is
charged
with
crafting
a
shared
vision
of
Arlington's,
affordable
housing
program
and
recommending
priorities
to
help
us
allocate
housing
resources
and,
finally,
in
this
area
this
year
we
will
celebrate
the
opening
of
our
first
year
round
homeless
services
center.
This
facility
will
provide
up
to
80
beds
and
integrated
services
to
help
many
who
have
been
living
on
the
street
to
be
more
self-reliant
and
to
rebuild
their
lives.
This
is
the
Arlington
way.
A
A
Today,
other
localities
are
learning
from
us
and
making
smarter
planning
decisions
themselves.
The
silver
line
is
bringing
rail
to
tysons
and
beyond.
Dc
is
revitalizing
and
creating
new
office
markets.
Meanwhile,
the
federal
government
is
putting
least
limits
on
federal
tenant
space
that
disadvantaged
Arlington's
properties.
The
regional
demand
for
office
space
is
also
being
reduced
by
federal
government
government
budget
shenanigans
and
uncertainty,
coupled
with
increased
teleworking
and
more
firms
using
hotelling
where
there
is
open,
shared
workspace
and
less
square
footage
per
person.
A
The
changing
workplace
means
that,
even
as
we
see
job
growth,
we
may
not
see
a
large
demand
for
office
space.
As
chair
in
2005,
we
had
a
full
frontal
assault
from
the
Defense
Department's
Base
Realignment,
and
closure
Brack
recommendations.
It
was
a
shock
we
saved
in
the
end
one
key
agency,
yet
Arlington
was
hit
harder
than
any
community
in
the
nation
losing
17,000
jobs
over
the
next
ten
years.
A
In
response,
we
took
charge
of
our
future
and
created
a
vision
for
a
new,
more
dynamic
and
appealing
Crystal
City
Brack
losses
continued,
but
we
have
shown
resilience
to
a
challenge
that
would
have
crippled
many
communities.
I
was
also
chair,
another
reminiscence,
when
2001
when
we
were
struck
by
a
terrorist
attack,
along
with
the
challenge
to
our
psyche,
there
was
a
tangible
threat
to
our
economy,
often
forgotten.
As
National
Airport
was
shut
down.
A
It
was
unclear
whether
it
would
ever
reopen
that
Airport
is
a
major
anchor
to
our
local
and
regional
economy.
We
fought
hard
developed,
a
public-private
coalition
advocated
at
the
highest
levels
and
our
airport
reopened.
The
point
is
that
Arlington
has
amazing
assets
that
will
continue
to
be
a
fundamental
part
of
our
economic
strength.
Our
location
is
not
going
to
change
national
airport
and
the
Pentagon
are
not
going
anywhere
and
our
outstanding
transportation
system.
Smart
growth
policies,
great
schools
and
creative
class
workforce
will
be
protected
and
enhanced.
A
We
have
already
shown
that
wind
challenge
we
can
step
up,
remain
and
remain
the
best
place
in
America
to
start
and
grow
a
business
we've
already
taken
some
steps,
and
this
year
we
will
do
more
so
I
plan.
We
plan
to
lay
the
groundwork
for
Arlington
to
become
a
hub
for
the
innovation
economy,
the
21st
century
economy
of
flexible
creative
enterprises
and
high
tech
services.
I
have
personally
always
described
arlington
as
a
great
place
to
do
business.
This
government
strives
to
give
great
customer
service
not
long
ago.
A
We
overhauled
and
greatly
improved
our
building
permitting
process.
Our
small
business
initiative
and
biz
launch
have
helped
businesses
establish
themselves
and
thrive.
Recently,
my
board
colleagues
and
I
joined
the
county
manager's
listening
tour
with
representatives
of
small
and
large
businesses
throughout
Arlington.
Our
goal
was
to
learn
about
their
experiences
in
dealing
with
county
government
and
hear
their
suggestions.
We
learned
that
they
love
our
community
and
they
value
the
business
opportunities
that
are
here.
We
heard
that
we
can
do
more
to
streamline
processes,
improve
predictability
and
even
improve
customer
service.
A
Arlington
is
uniquely
positioned
as
the
home
for
early-stage
technology
product
oriented
startups
with
the
potential
to
sell
those
products
to
the
federal
government,
particularly
in
the
area
of
national
security.
The
rosslyn
Boston
quarter
is
approaching
a
critical
mass
of
science
technology,
art,
research
and
education
in
2014.
We
will
accelerate
the
growth
of
that
ecosystem
of
start-up
technology.
Product
companies
through
a
new
public-private
partnership
funded
by
seven
hundred
thousand
dollars
in
combined
state
funds
and
County
matching
funds
to
will
strengthen
our
partnerships.
A
For
we'll
update
our
retail
action
plan,
we
establish
the
initial
plan
for
first
floor
retail
in
my
early
years
on
the
board
and
it's
time
for
a
refresh.
The
update
will
be
expanded
to
areas
beyond
the
rosen
boston
quarter
and
will
strengthen
support
and
opportunities
for
small
businesses
and
retailers.
Five
will
work
with
our
commissions.
The
board
relies
heavily
on
the
guidance
and
efforts
of
many
talented,
dedicated
residents
who
serve
in
our
county
commissions.
A
The
Planning
Commission
has
a
unique,
an
essential
role
and
I
want
to
support
its
efforts
to
find
efficiencies
and
improvements
in
its
own
procedures,
and
six
will
be
flexible
where
possible.
One
area
for
study
involves
our
largest
malls,
both
ballston
mall
and
Fashion.
Center
are
planning
major
makeovers
that
will
be
good
for
them,
and
good
for
the
community
and
they'll
need
our
help.
A
So,
in
addition
to
this
six-point
plan,
continued
strategic
investments
in
infrastructure,
particularly
transportation
and
technology,
will
be
critical
to
our
future
economic
health.
The
county
this
year
will
take
several
actions
to
advance
the
streetcar
system
plan
for
Crystal
City
and
Columbia
Pike.
This
board,
along
with
the
fairfax
county
board,
has
voted
multiple
times
since
2006
to
add
streetcars
to
meet
our
growing
needs
along
the
pike,
which
is
already
the
most
heavily
traveled
bus
quarter
in
northern
virginia
in
recent
years.
A
First,
the
community
planning
process
has
been
extensive
and
inclusive,
starting
in
1998,
with
the
effort
to
create
the
Columbia
Pike.
Revitalization
plan
transportation
and
land
use
planning
have
been
integrated
at
every
step.
Such
a
thorough,
broad
based
decision
making
process
should
not
be
easily
disrespected
or
reversed.
A
A
Also,
let
me
correct
what
I
believe
are
two
common
misperceptions.
First,
that
bus,
rapid
transit
or
brt
is
possible
on
columbia
pike.
This
is
not
true,
as
brt
requires
a
dedicated
lane,
at
least
for
a
major
portion
of
the
route.
Second,
that
funds
used
to
construct
the
streetcar
system
could
be
shifted
to
other
capital
needs
like
schools.
This
is
not
true,
as
the
streetcar
will
be
built
with
dedicated
transportation
funds
in
eligible
for
other
uses.
A
For
those
who
want
to
learn
more
check
the
county
website,
there
is
gobs
of
information
there
on
the
streetcar
plan,
the
FAQ
s
and
the
history.
It's
also
telling
that
in
2013,
New
Orleans
in
salt
lake
city,
open
streetcar
lines
and
10
other
cities
around
the
country
has
streetcar
projects
under
construction
with
four
do
to
come
online
this
year,
including
our
neighbor,
the
District
of
Columbia,
which
will
launch
their
initial
22
mile
streetcar
system
this
year
as
a
cyclist.
A
Switching
gears
as
a
cyclist
I,
also
want
to
note
that
we
will
continue
our
transformation
into
a
great
place
to
cycle
whether
for
work
or
for
pleasure.
In
2014,
we
will
explain,
expand
our
wayfinding
signage,
adding
500
bicycle
directional
signs
along
our
high
priority
routes.
The
county
also
will
mark
nearly
a
mile
of
protected
bike
lanes
in
pentagon,
city
and
crystal
city.
That's
where
we
separate
physically
separate
cyclists
from
moving
vehicles.
Another
important
investment
Jack
you
listening
is
nekked
Arlington,
the
most
ambitious
technology
infrastructure
investment.
A
Ok
and
finally,
let
me
speak
directly
to
environmental
sustainability
as
I
am
passionate
about
it
and
believe
that
environmental
and
economic
sustainability
go
hand-in-hand.
Our
Arlington
initiative
to
rethink
energy
builds
economic
vitality
through
smart
energy
management
and
lower
energy
bills.
Arlington's
community
energy
plan
has
made
us
a
national
leader
in
long-term
energy
planning.
A
This
means
diverting
more
than
ninety
percent
of
waste
from
landfills
or
incineration,
a
lofty
goal
that
several
other
cities
have
already
set.
When
we
adopted
our
solid
waste
management
plan.
Ten
years
ago,
we
aimed
to
increase
our
recycling
to
forty
seven
percent
by
2024.
Well,
it's
2013
nope
2014.
We
have
already
surpassed
that
goal
and
now
recycle
51-percent
of
our
communities
waste
this
year.
Our
citizen
advisory
group
is
likely
to
recommend
that
we
raise
that
goal
to
sixty
percent
by
2025.
A
We
can
do
that
in
part
by
adding
yard
and
food
waste
collection
in
coming
years.
County
government
is
also
doing
its
part.
More
than
ninety
five
percent
of
paper
county
government
buys
is
recycled
more
than
one-third
of
the
office
products
we
buy.
Our
green
and
many
of
our
contracts
include
environmental
provisions.
I
have
asked
the
manager
to
review
our
goals
and
practices
and
to
develop
a
formal
environmental
purchasing
policy
and
an
educational
campaign.
I
want
Arlington
to
lead
the
region
in
this
effort.
Okay
to
wrap
it
up.
A
I've
outlined
an
ambitious
agenda,
but
this
is
an
ambitious
community.
Arlington
ians
are
always
striving
to
help
one
another
to
learn,
to
listen
and
to
strengthen
this
community.
We
lean
forward,
and
we
are
good
at
turning
challenges
into
opportunities.
I'm,
confident
that,
just
as
we
remade
ourselves
during
the
past
decades
will
make
remake
ourselves
again
to
embrace
the
challenges
of
the
innovation
economy.
We
have
the
brains,
we
have
the
heart
and
we
have
the
drive
to
do
it.
Our
community
is
strong,
diverse,
caring,
an
incredibly
civic
minded
together.