Printer
TextFairfax County Receives 8 NACo Achievement Awards
June 12, 2009
OPA 119/09
News Highlights
|
More Information |
Fairfax County received eight National Association of Counties (NACo) 2009 Achievement Awards recognizing innovative county programs. Three of the awards are for Best in Category, the most received by any county nationwide.
The NACo awards went to Fairfax County’s Office of the County Executive; Public Library and Public Schools; Park Authority; Department of Information Technology and Courts; Department of Public Works and Environmental Services and Facilities Management Department; Department of Housing and Community Development; and Department of Systems Management for Human Services.
Courtroom Technology Management System (CTMS) — Best in
Category
Department of Information Technology and Courts
This fully integrated state-of-the-art centralized courtroom audio and
video management system provides enhanced evidence presentation
capabilities and videoconferencing with simple-to-use controls. Through
the system, the courts can meet the increasing demands of an evolving
global and technology-enhanced, digitized society. The CTMS is being
phased in and ultimately will support, centrally and remotely, 43
courtrooms and ancillary facilities for all three Fairfax courts.
Silver Lining Initiative — Best in Category
Department of Housing and Community Development
The three-pronged initiative responds to the dramatic rise in foreclosed
homes and their potential damaging effect on neighborhoods. The
initiative encompasses: counseling for those at risk for foreclosure;
addressing the increasing number of vacant properties; and stabilizing
neighborhoods hit hardest by foreclosures or abandoned homes.
Tree Conservation Ordinance — Best in Category
Urban Forest Management Division, Department of Public Works and
Environmental Services
The Tree Conservation Ordinance is the first ordinance in Virginia to
focus on tree preservation. The ordinance ensures that prescribed levels
of tree canopy are provided on development sites within a 10-year time
frame. Requiring tree preservation during land development helps to
sustain existing environmental functionality and enhances the county’s
ability to conserve and manage its vital air, water, soil and ecological
resources.
Community Connections
Park Authority
To understand and manage the change that comes with a population that is
increasingly diverse, Community Connectionsis designed for equal
representation and inclusion of minority populations as customers, park
users and park supporters. It is part philosophy, part policy, part
listening post and part marketing strategy.
EXCELS: Excellence Coalition for Education, Literacy and Library
Services
Public Library and Public Schools
This project supports the educational and social needs of the Fort
Belvoir military community. Designed to encourage literacy, increase
library facilities use and improve student achievement, it also boosts
student participation in academic, social and cultural activities.
Cooperation among the Kingstowne Public Library, the Fort Belvoir
Elementary School library and the Van Noy Library on base has expanded
after-school programming, homework help, reading clubs, field trips and
early literacy programs.
Herrity Parking Garage Green Roof
Department of Public Works and Environmental Services and Facilities
Management Department
Constructed on the upper level of the five-story Herrity Building
parking garage, the vegetated roof is an innovative stormwater retrofit
project. Responding to federal and state stormwater management
regulations pertaining to water quality and improving the Chesapeake Bay,
the green roof reduces stormwater and polluted runoff. The Herrity
green roof also serves as a working model of environmentally friendly
construction for developers and residents.
Integrated Parcel Lifecycle System (IPLS)
Department of Systems Management for Human Services
The Integrated Parcel Lifecycle System (IPLS) facilitates and expands
the capabilities of all Fairfax County departments to access, integrate
and analyze demographic and land use information to make data-driven
service delivery and planning decisions. The IPLS integrates data
from across business and jurisdictional function areas into an accessible
data warehouse. In addition, the IPLS provides tools for creating
parcel level demographic estimates and forecasts and provides menu-driven
tools that allow novice users to generate customized reports and maps.
Planners, analysts and decision-makers now have access to geographically
detailed information that previously was unavailable or very difficult to
access.
Road DAWG (Don’t Associate with Gangs) Camps
Office of the County Executive
The camps, part of the county’s gang prevention initiative, deter gang
recruitment of middle-school youth by providing tools to strengthen their
resilience, develop positive decision-making skills and encourage
leadership characteristics to buffer against the potential lure of gangs.
In a time of tight budget constraints, the Road DAWG camps and ongoing
gang prevention programming during the school year, leverage and
capitalize on existing resources of county agencies and schools; partner
with community and business groups; and integrate with law enforcement
efforts.
###
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director, Office of Public Affairs
703-324-3189, TTY 711, Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
publicaffairs@fairfaxcounty.gov
To request this information in an alternate format, call 703-324-3187, TTY 711
Website Survey 