Use of Force Policies on Agenda — Fairfax County’s Public Safety Committee will hear an update today from the police department on use of force policies. [Fairfax County]
COVID-19 Deaths — “State health officials reported no new deaths linked to COVID-19 in Northern Virginia in the latest daily report Sunday. It’s the first day with no new deaths reported since April 6. It does not mean that no deaths occurred in a 24-hour period — it can take days for deaths to be added to the state’s COVID-19 data.” [Inside NoVa]
Grant Deadline Extended — “The deadline has been extended to Monday, June 22 for the City of Falls Church Economic Development Authority (EDA)’s Small Business and Non-Profit COVID-19 Emergency Grant program.” [City of Falls Church]
Vienna Officials OK Budget — “Vienna Town Council adopted last night a $41 million budget for fiscal year 2020-21, which begins July 1. The adopted budget encompasses four funds, including the general, or daily operations, fund, which totals $24.8 million for the coming year, a $2.5 million decrease from the originally proposed general fund budget… Cuts to the proposed general fund are necessary in response to anticipated losses in revenue due to impacts from the coronavirus pandemic.” [Town of Vienna]
Due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has three scenarios for reopening schools this fall.
In May, a task force was created to prepare recommendations for FCPS reopening. On June 9, Gov. Ralph Northam unveiled his phased reopening plan, which provides flexibility for schools in Virginia.
The school board discussed the proposed Return to School plan, which includes three reopening scenarios, Monday afternoon.
The three scenarios are:
- virtual learning for all students
- in-school learning with health and social distancing
- online learning for students with a high risker of severe illness
In the first scenario, students would not be allowed in buildings but the staff would be. Students would have four days of synchronous learning per week and one day of asynchronous learning.
Meanwhile, the second scenario has two proposals for attendance in the buildings at any one time — 50% and 25%.
In-school learning would include cleaning of high-touch areas, daily health screening forms, social distancing in classrooms and on buses and restricting buildings to visitors.
Finally, the third scenario would make groups of students and teachers for online instruction. With the online model, students would receive four days of synchronous learning per week and one day of asynchronous learning.
Additionally, FCPS has proposals for what would happen if the pandemic prompted another shutdown. The plan also mentions shared elements of the three scenarios — middle and high school students having access to laptops via FCPSOn — and how they address equity.
Discussion during the meeting today noted that FCPS needs to prepare for the possibility that more than one scenario might happen, especially if there’s a resurgence of COVID-19.
How to keep students and staff dominated the school board’s discussion.
Gloria Addo-Ayensu, the director of the Fairfax County Health Department, said that there aren’t plans to test students prior to them coming back to school. Addo-Ayensu noted that screening forms are a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Addo-Ayensu and Benjamin Schwartz, a medical epidemiologist with Fairfax County, said that data on the impact of COVID-19 on kids is limited.
They said that the infection rate is unknown for kids and added that information is emerging on Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome of Children (MIS-C) — a rare but serious COVID-19 complication.
Input from local health data and the Fairfax County Department of Health will inform the final decisions, according to the plan.
“You’re talking hundreds and hundreds of kids coming in at once,” Superintendent Scott Brabrand said, adding that social distancing cannot be guaranteed in schools.
Brabrand said that safety procedures are also important for retaining staff: “We don’t want folks resigning.”
FCPS is looking to get face shields for bus drivers and special education teachers, Brabrand noted. Ricardy Anderson, the representative for the Mason District, called for teachers to receive face shields as well.
If FCPS decides to go with an in-person reopening that alternates days for students, childcare could become an issue for families.
Dranesville District Representative Elaine Tholen suggested that FCPS coordinate with the Fairfax County Park Authority so that families and staff have childcare options.
Tholen proposed a “creative idea” to turn outdoor space at the schools and nearby parks into childcare centers contained in tents, adding that kids could access WiFi outside the schools.
Brabrand and Hunter Mill District Representative Melanie Meren agreed that more childcare is needed, with Brabrand calling it a “great idea.”
As FCPS moves forward with plans for the fall, the school board is aware that the botched rollout of online learning this spring puts more pressure on the school system to get the reopening right.
“We can’t risk another failure like we did before,” Providence District Representative Karl Frisch said.
Brabrand addressed the criticism of the distance learning attempts, saying it’s important that FCPS does not overpromise and under-deliver: “We did that before.”
Families will have several opportunities to provide feedback on the recommendations ahead of the deadline for FCPS to announce a reopening decision on June 26.
FCPS plans to host a town hall on Tuesday, June 16, that will talk about the Return to School plans. The town hall is set to run from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and will include Brabrand, the assistant superintendent of Facilities and Transportation Services and the manager of School Health Services.
People can also submit feedback by emailing the superintendent at [email protected] and fill out a survey.
FCPS also plans to hold a virtual public hearing on the Return to School plans at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18. People can register online to speak.
Photo via Element5 Digital/Unsplash, infographics via FCPS
After opening a little more than a year ago, City Works in Tysons closed its doors, according to a company spokesperson.
Located right outside the Capital One headquarters, the American tap house and eatery (1640 Capital One Drive N.) first announced a temporary closure due to COVID-19, but a statement to Tysons Reporter today says there aren’t any plans to reopen the spot.
“With the challenges presented in the current environment, Bottleneck Management is focusing its energy into well-established City Works restaurants in other markets around the country, while remaining focused on future national expansion,” according to the statement from Bottleneck Management, which operates City Works.
It is unclear exactly when the company decided to permanently close the location or what will happen to the spot.
“City Works is proud to have served the Tysons community, and thanks their guests for their patronage,” the statement said.
Image via Google Maps
After a temporary closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 24 Hour Fitness location in Tysons is now closed permanently.
The facility at 1500 Cornerside Blvd previously offered a variety of workout membership services, according to its website.
Guests who visited the website for the Tysons location were greeted with a notice that read, “This Location Has Closed,” accompanied by a link to find other facilities in the area.
The Tysons gym is also on a list of 24 Hour Fitness location around the U.S. that are closed: “24 Hour Fitness has made the difficult decision to close the following locations.”
CNN reported today that 24 Hour Fitness has filed for bankruptcy and permanently closed 100 locations in 14 states — about a quarter of its gyms.
The gym chain now only lists two locations left in Virginia.
For people who want to take advantage of the company’s offerings, they can visit the Falls Church location (1000 E. Broad Street), which is set to reopen July 7, according to the website.
Photo via Google Maps
The Vienna Town Council has a full agenda — from the upcoming budget to solar panels to public parking for Patrick Henry Library’s renovation — for tonight’s meeting.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the items the officials will consider.
Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Budget, Tax Rate
The Vienna Town Council will consider adopting the proposed $41 million budget and real estate tax rate of $0.2250 per $100 of assessed value for FY 2020-2021.
The town staff and officials revised the budget due to challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, expecting lower revenues and “a return to more normal circumstances by Dec. 31,” according to town documents.
The changes included decreasing the General Fund by $2.5 million.
Parking at Patrick Henry Library
The councilmembers are set to vote on a design and construction agreement with Fairfax County for the public parking included in Patrick Henry Library’s renovation.
In the agreement, the town would contribute funds for the design and construction of the parking spaces with options to terminate the agreement if the town decides to not move forward with the parking spaces.
More from the town documents:
The design costs for the Town are now capped at the lesser of 30% of the total design costs or $850,000, as compared to draft agreement with the lesser of 35% of the total design costs or $1,000,000. The construction costs for the Town are now capped at the lesser of 19% of the total construction costs or $4,200,000, as compared to the draft agreement with the lesser of 25% of the total construction costs or $4,500,000.
The Town has included funds for the design phase of this project in the 2020 CIP. The intention is to fund the construction phase of the project, at least in part, with transportation grants related to commuter parking. The Town currently is in the process of applying for grants.
The county’s Board of Supervisors also needs to vote on the agreement.
Solar Panel Push
Vienna officials will decide whether or not to approve offering Solarize NOVA this year.
The program, which informs residents and businesses on how to purchase solar energy, first arrived in the town in 2015 and is run by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and the nonprofit Local Energy Alliance Program, according to town documents.
“Since 2015, 29 Solarize contracts have been signed in Vienna for over 230 kW of power. Vienna is the highest zip code for solar kW within the Solarize NOVA campaign,” according to the documents.
The dates for the program are still being finalized, but people can expect the campaign to run from June to September.
COVID-19 Challenges
Vienna officials will also consider re-adopting an emergency ordinance that makes it easier for businesses to use outdoor space.
The ordinance lets Town Manager Mercury Payton allow temporary waivers of zoning regulations to businesses so that they can operate outside.
“Under normal circumstances, business owners would be required to pursue a formal process-delaying their ability to reopen and impeding support for [the] revitalization of the local economy in Vienna,” according to town documents.
The meeting is set to start at 8 p.m.
Image via Town of Vienna
A 5K in the Town of Vienna raised more than $10,000 to help people facing food insecurity.
Hosted by Caffe Amouri and the Vienna Business Association (VBA), the “Feeding Families 5K” let people run or walk a route winding through the town during the month of May.
The VBA posted on Facebook that the race raised $10,289.
Small businesses, including Caboose Tavern, Grass Roots Fitness and PizzaRoni, provided more than 70 prizes and donated thousands of dollars to the race, according to the post.
“We also received thousands in donations from Vienna citizens, and had over 260 people participate in the run/walk!” the post said. All of the donations from the race are going to support local families facing food insecurity.
The race had four award categories: fastest time running or walking (under 60) and fastest time walking or running. Additionally, 67 prizes were awarded to people in a random drawing, the post said.
“We have such and amazing community and the generosity that has spilled out into various avenues of help during these trying times is just beautiful!” the post said.
While the race is over, people can still donate to the efforts to fight food insecurity by either contacting the Vienna VA Foodies Facebook Group or choosing the option to purchase grocery packs for families from Caboose Brewing. People can email Lydia Russo at [email protected] for more information.
Image via Caffe Amouri/Facebook
COVID-19 Hospitalizations Slow Down in Virginia — “The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association reported only 959 coronavirus patients in state hospitals, the lowest number since the organization began providing data in early April. That was down from over 1,500 patients as recently as May 29 and a high of 1,625 on May 8. Only 342 of those patients were in Northern Virginia, down from a high of 818 on April 30.” [Inside NoVa]
Calls to Rename Schools With Confederate Ties — “[The] Falls Church City’s Public School Board is faced with calls to change the names of one or both of its five schools that are currently named for men who were slaveholders at the time of the nation’s founding.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Support for Vienna Police — “Vienna Town Manager Mercury Payton usually kicks off Town Council work sessions by listing the evening’s agenda, but on June 8 he began with something from the heart: a statement addressing protests that recently have swept the nation after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Payton… signaled his support for Vienna police and said it was not the time to divest from law enforcement.” [Inside NoVa]
Unemployment Claims — “More than 100,000 Fairfax County residents have now filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic began in mid-March as the region’s job market continues to struggle to recover from business shutdowns.” [Inside NoVa]
Locals can use more indoor and outdoor facilities now that Fairfax County has entered the second phase of easing COVID-19 restrictions.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) announced today that its athletic fields have reopened for permitted use. Its basketball courts and playgrounds are also open.
“There is no special cleaning of playground equipment; visitors use at their own risk and must adhere to social distancing guidelines,” according to FCPS.
FCPS noted that the decision was based on guidelines from state and local health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
People can also start using indoor pools — outdoor pools opened during the first reopening phase — and head to fitness centers, which can open at 30% occupancy. Zoos and botanical gardens may also allow people to come back.
In the Town of Vienna, the Vienna Dog Park, tennis courts and the Community Garden reopened today and playgrounds will reopen Saturday (June 13).
Meanwhile, the City of Falls Church is now allowing people to use its playgrounds and picnic shelters. Its tennis courts are available by reservation-only for residents.
Photo by tommy boudreau on Unsplash
The Fairfax County NAACP plans to host a town hall Tuesday night on how to make police departments more accountable to their communities.
“As we watch protests and demonstrations on the streets of America, we look to move forward in our community by reforming police practices and holding police accountable to the community,” according to the event description.
Fairfax NAACP invited the police chief and sheriff in Fairfax County, along with the county’s prosecutor and elected officials, according to the Facebook event page.
Fairfax NAACP recently unveiled a series of public safety recommendations and will go over the proposals during the town hall.
Some of the ideas include:
- removing the School Resource Officer (SRO) program
- increasing data reports from the county’s police department
- continuing the rollout of body-worn cameras
- putting officer misconduct records in a public database
- reviewing Fairfax County police’s use of force policy
- preventing police from buying and using military weapons
The town hall follows global, anti-racism protests sparked by George Floyd’s death and a recent incident in Fairfax County where a white officer stun gunned an unarmed black man.
The town hall is scheduled to take place from 7-9 p.m. via Zoom, according to the Facebook event page.
Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash
Plant stands, a large pot and word search books are among the list of items reported stolen to the Vienna Police Department so far this month.
On Tuesday, June 2, a woman who lives in the 400 block of East Street NE said that someone opened an Amazon package that was on her front porch, swiping three word search books, police said.
Then, the police department received two reports of plant containers getting swiped.
In the first incident, a woman who lives in the 100 block of Lewis Street NW said that a large pot and plant stand disappeared from her front porch. The incident happened sometime between late Sunday night and Monday afternoon.
A resident in the 800 block of Cottage Street SW said a man parked his vehicle in front of her house around 10 p.m. on Sunday before taking off with two planter vases on her front porch, police said.
Photo via Facebook
