Welcome to the podcast of meeting highlights for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on September 10, 2007.
The Board approved the carryover package including administrative adjustments, the establishment of a reserve for FY 2009 requirements and funding of $100,000 for the county's support of a Pentagon memorial in honor of the victims of September 11, 2001. As a result of these actions, a reserve of $22.5 million has been identified to address FY 2009 budget requirements.
The Board approved the adoption of a living wage of $12.75 an hour for all merit, regular, retirement-eligible county employees, effective Sept. 15. The Board had previously stated that it will be the policy of the board to encourage all county vendors and employers located within the county to adopt a similar living wage for their employees. Fairfax County government cannot legally mandate a living wage for vendors and other employers. However, the following clause will be part of each county purchasing solicitation: “Fairfax County is committed to paying a living wage to all qualified county employees and encourages contractors and subcontractors involved in all county programs, services, and activities to pay a living wage to their employees.”
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors advanced its environmental agenda today by accepting an agreement to rehabilitate Pohick Creek Dam Number 4. The repairs will be partially funded from the board’s allocation of the value of one penny from the county’s real estate tax rate dedicated to stormwater management. In the past two years, this dedicated penny has amounted to more than $40 million for improving the county’s stormwater programs.
Fairfax County hosted its sixth annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony immediately following the morning session of the Board meeting at the 9/11 Memorial Grove located on the grounds of the Government Center. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly, Fire Chief Ronald L. Mastin and Police Chief David M. Rohrer delivered remarks reflecting upon the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The Fairfax County Public Safety Honor Guard lead a procession to the 9/11 Memorial Grove. The Fairfax Jubil-Aires performed patriotic music before and during the ceremony. The Fairfax County 9/11 Memorial Grove Garden, which was unveiled four years ago, was designed by National Park Service landscape architect and Fairfax County Tree Commissioner Michael McMahon.
The Board approved an amendment to the zoning ordinance addressing temporary portable storage uses by establishing new regulations for portable storage containers on lots that are developed with dwelling units.
House Bill 3202 which was enacted into law during the past session of the VA General Assembly allows the Board to adopt an additional tax rate on certain commercial and industrial property, and the funds collected from this add-on tax would be local revenue to be allocated by the Board and used for transportation purposes benefiting the county. But first, the Board was required to hold a public hearing and then adopt a new section to Chapter 4 of the Fairfax County Code related to the separate classification and taxation of certain commercial and industrial property, which it did at the meeting. The actual tax rate would be set during the FY 2009 budget deliberations next year.
The Board appointed Kenneth P. Disselkoen as director of the Fairfax County Department of Systems Management for Human Services, effective Monday, Sept 10. Disselkoen has worked for the Fairfax County Department of Systems Management for Human Services for more than ten years. Since Sept. 2006 he has been the acting director of the agency.
That’s all for this podcast of meeting highlights for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, thanks for listening. For more information about the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, including full meeting minutes and documents, visit the county Web site: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/government/board. This podcast is produced by the Fairfax County, VA, government.