Dear Friends,
The budget proposal from the city manager will be officially presented to city council on February 13th. After that, the council and community will have three months to go over the details. Council tasked the city manager to prepare a budget that does not require a tax rate increase. After years of property value growth, we are starting a period of flat growth in which city revenue from property taxes is projected to increase in very small increments, if at all. We want to take a close look at all city spending to ensure we are prepared for whatever happens during the next few years. This will also be the first year the city implements a performance-based budget that sets up discrete management metrics for city programs. Our three-month budget process will be one of the longest and most difficult in recent years, because of the slowdown in property tax and other revenue growth, and because of the challenges of implementing a new budget process. I know the budget is on a lot of people’s minds right now. Once the budget is presented on the 13th, I will share more information with you.
Feel free to contact me anytime.
Sincerely,
Rob
(I do not want to spam anyone. If you would like to be added to the newsletter list, simply send a message to newsletter@krupicka.com with “Add” in subject line.)
Join Congressman Moran and many Alexandria Neighbors to Watch the Inconvenient Truth this Sunday – Last month I invited you to a pot-luck dinner and screening of Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth. So many people were interested that we have moved the location of the screening. It is now at the GW Masonic Memorial on Sunday, February 11th starting at 6PM. We will do the pot-luck from 6-645 and will start the movie at 6:45 PM. After the movie, we’ll have a conversation about what we can do individually and as a city to mitigate the effects of global warming. We’d love to have you attend. If you’d like to come, please RSVP to mailto:rob@krupicka.com, so we can get a good count of people. We have plenty of space, so feel free to bring friends.
Environmental Action Plan Moves Forward
Last month the City Council approved the creation of an environmental action plan for our city. It has been almost ten years since the city-wide Quality of Life Summit kicked off our efforts to preserve open space and make other improvements to our city. Now, it is time for us to plan for the next ten years and think about how Alexandria can lead the region in thoughtful environmental planning. Councilwoman Pepper and I proposed the development of the action plan. Alexandria’s Environmental Policy Commission and VA Tech will be working together and with the community to put this together. Thank you to all who wrote in to the city council to support this proposal.
Economic Development – Your Answers to Last Month’s Question
In my last newsletter, I asked about retail and what types of stores you leave Alexandria for or what prevents you from shopping more in our city. Lost retail sales taxes to other jurisdictions impact our city budget and limited retail options harm the overall livability of our city. I heard a lot of different ideas of what stores and retail we need or don’t need.
1) Parking – Many readers commented that the reason they don’t shop in old town is parking. People mentioned that places like Bethesda have 24 hour free or very low cost parking garages. In order to free up parking, one person suggested we should charge higher fees for households with more than two cars.
2) Day to day shopping needs (groceries, office supplies, furniture, electronics and hardware) was the most frequently citied reason for leaving the city. People commented that we need more reasonably priced grocery stores in the city, convenient hardware stores and office supply stores on both the west and east end that have enough parking that people can conveniently buy the things they need. Others suggested we need a store like Costco as they often leave the city to shop at the Costco in Arlington.
3) Destinations & One Stop Shopping – A few of you suggested we need shopping destinations in Alexandria. Places where you can go, park and get everything you need. People don’t want to drive from small store to small store to buy things. Pentagon Row was a frequent example of a good mix of unique shops, restaurants and day to day needs. One person mentioned that the upgraded Foxchase shopping center with the Harris Teeter is a good model to follow.
4) Protecting our Unique Shops – A number of people expressed the desire to protect our unique, mom and pop shops in the city. Some pointed out that higher rents make it harder for those shops to make it.
5) Improved Services – A few mentioned the need to cater to the office worker in our city. A new health club near old town for the workers there was suggested. It was also mentioned by one that we have enough nice restaurants and need more inexpensive places for office workers to get lunch.
6) Other Comments – A few suggested that Old Town needs to cater to tourists a bit less and residents and office workers more. One said that we need to clean up all the old and unneeded signs and clutter in the city as they make the city a less attractive place to shop. Another person suggested that we start a “Buy Alexandria” marketing campaign.
These are all helpful ideas and give us some useful concepts to consider as we strive to create a comprehensive economic development and retail plan for our city.
Electoral Reform and Other Initiatives Pass General Assembly
Thanks to the hard work of our local representatives, many of the initiatives that I proposed as part of Alexandria’s legislative package are moving toward adoption. My proposal to change the election law so that PACs are not able to spend last minute campaign money on local elections without clearly disclosing the individuals that are financing them is sailing towards adoption thanks to the diligent work of Delegate Englin. My recommendation that Alexandria have the authority to create special arts business districts to encourage and support arts organizations and arts related tourism and economic development is also moving toward adoption thanks to the dedicated work of Senator Ticer and Delegate Ebbin. While it may be a long shot, it also looks like there is a chance for some sort of smoking legislation. A number of people have written in to ask that Alexandria ban smoking in restaurants. Unfortunately, the city does not have the power to do that without approval from the General Assembly. We are waiting to see if they will pass something this year.
‘Photo Red Light’ Back On Track
I was in Richmond last week and watched the House of Delegates move the red light camera bill forward. It looks like the photo red-light camera law is on track to become law again this year. Not to long ago, readers of this newsletter barraged the House of Delegates with requests to approve this law. I have made sure reenactment of this law was a part of Alexandria’s legislative package for the last few years. Our local officials, Delegates Moran, Ebbin and Englin and Senators Ticer and Saslaw have always supported this effort. And now it seems the majority of the General Assembly agrees. What a difference an election year makes. Instead looking for every way possible to kill the bill, legislators were busy working to find ways to ensure it could not be killed. The bill is designed to ensure it is a public safety tool, not a local revenue tool. Legislators promoting made it clear that most jurisdictions are most likely to lose some money on this technology as the ticket prices don’t offset the cost of the cameras. There is still work to do to get this done and the governor needs to sign it, but right now, things are looking good for this common sense public safety law.
A Source of Pride -- A Top 100 Kid Friendly Community
The Alliance for Youth recently announced the City of Alexandria has been selected as one of America’s 100 Best Communities for Young People for 2007. Founded by retired General Colin L. Powell, the Alliance works to forge multi-sector partnerships it believes are the most effective strategy for ensuring the well-being of all of America’s young people.
The 100 Best Communities for Young People awards celebrate outstanding, innovative efforts that improve the well-being of young people. The City of Alexandria was chosen to receive the award on the basis of the strong partnerships it has built between City agencies, the Alexandria City Public Schools and several outstanding nonprofit groups, including the Campagna Center, the Alexandria Urban League and the Art League.
I think this recognition says a lot about Alexandria’s commitment to be a family friendly community.
http://www.americaspromise.org/
City Growth
Traffic and growth are clear and understandable concerns in Alexandria and around the region. A recent report helps put some context around the population growth in Alexandria and the rest of the region. The University of Virginia says that Alexandria’s population grew 3.2% between 2000 and 2006. Arlington’s growth was 2.8%. Fairfax grew 4.8%. Loudoun County with 59% and Prince William County with 32% growth led regional growth over the last six years. Given the growth in the outlying counties, it isn’t a surprise that highway traffic is as bad as it is and that regional cut-through-traffic is getting worse. A large amount of the traffic on our roads is coming from places like Fairfax and Prince William Counties. Overall Virginia’s growth is up 8% over the last six years even with downstate population losses.
As a point of comparison, Alexandria’s recent population growth is slower than the 90s, when Alexandria’s population grew closer to 10%.
Here’s the article:
Virginia's population up 8%, most in north: http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20070128-112620-9299r.htm
Here’s the study: http://www3.ccps.virginia.edu/demographics/estimates/2006/0-main.html
Another growth statistic that is being talked about a lot recently is the fact that Alexandria’s job base has been pretty much flat for the last six years. We have lost about as many jobs as we have gained. One of the economic development questions we have to answer as a city is whether we want to be a job center. It certainly helps with the tax base as commercial space generates more revenues and requires fewer services (like schools). But some have raised concerns about how it would impact Alexandria’s character as a bedroom community. In the ideal world, the jobs in Alexandria would align with the population that lives here, so folks can have shorter commutes and spend more time with their families. But we all know it doesn’t always work that way.
What kind of commercial space and jobs do you think are right for Alexandria?
Things to Do: Support Parental Involvement in our Schools and Good Jazz -- You are invited to hear and learn about Jazz Giants and their music on Monday, February 19th from 7-9 pm at MetroStage, and support Parent Leadership Training Institute of Alexandria (PLTI), a 501 (c) (3) organization promoting community leadership development and civic participation. Will Smith, PhD (music professor at American University and local jazz musician) and his trio, The W.E.S.Group (www.thewesgroup.com), will play selections from jazz giants like Coltrane, Miles, Charlie Parker, etc. as well as a selection of their own compositions. Dr. Smith will discuss the music and take audience questions.
MetroStage is located in Old Town at the corner of North Royal and 3rd Streets in the rear building. The Parent Leadership Training Institute is helping parents get more involved in their children’s education and the community in general.
To register or learn more: http://www.plti-alex.org/jazz.html
Things to Do: Finding Common Ground: Movie Screening on Feb 22nd.
It takes time and effort to find ways for a diverse community to work with and understand each other. In order to foster community dialogue, the Alexandria Gay & Lesbian Community Association has arranged for a screening of “God & Gays: Bridging the Gap” (www.godandgaysthemovie.com). It will be held at the Alexandria Black History Museum on Thursday, February 22nd at 7:00 pm. The film takes a look at people’s struggle with sexuality and religious faith. After the move, the film makers will be there to discuss the movie with the audience.
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Friday, February 09, 2007
