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Wow, what a weekend we just had in the City, with the Riverfront Park Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony, the Launch of the Otters, and the Marine Corps Historic Half! There’s even more coming up, so let’s go ….
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REMINDER
Please do not respond directly to this email, as the email address is not monitored. If you wish to reply, please email me at my City government email address.
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On Saturday, May 28th from 8:00 to 11:00 PM, the breathtaking luminaria returns to the Fredericksburg National Cemetery (1013 Lafayette Blvd) where more than 15,000 candles will be lit by the Scouts to honor each of the soldiers buried there who died in service to this county. The Cemetery is located atop Marye’s Heights. If you go there by walking up Charlotte Street – you’ll pass through the site of the famous “Swale” where hundreds of Union soldiers fell in the December 1862 battle. There you’ll see that the folks who live along that stretch of Charlotte Street are lighting it up with their own luminarias - a tradition that started when the Pandemic forced the National Park Service to cancel the Memorial Day luminaria event. It’s a sight to see.
If you haven’t taken the walk up to the Cemetery on Memorial Day before, I promise you will be amazed by it. The program at the Cemetery includes an (optional) historical walking tour to view the thousands of lighted candles and hear remarkable stories about some of the people buried there. A bugler will play “Taps” every 30 minutes.
Parking is extremely limited. A free shuttle will run from the UMW parking lot at the corner of William Street and Sunken Road. Handicap parking is available at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center with a shuttle that runs to the cemetery.
Then on Monday, May 30th:
- National Park Service’s annual Memorial Day Commemoration at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery at 12 noon. The keynote speaker this year is Colonel Marcum L. Thompson, U.S. Air Force (Retired). The 23rd Regiment United States Colored Troops living history unit will provide the color guard for the ceremony.
- Wreath laying at the Hugh Mercer Monument on Washington Avenue at 1:00 PM
- Memorial Day ceremony at 2:30 PM at the Fredericksburg Area War Memorial Park on George Street.
- Please remember that City Offices will be closed.
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It all started in 2015 as a companion event at Old Mill Park to the American Canoe Association’s (ACA) Great Rappahannock Whitewater Canoe Race (which has been going on for 40 years). Since then (with a COVID hiatus), it’s grown to become one of the City most anticipated and fun events all year.
This year, Rock the River (RTR) is back at Old Mill Park on June 4th from 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM, with live music, games and outdoor activities, river races, trail runs, craft beer, food trucks, and something called The Odyssey that is a one-hour travel (by paddle, bicycle, or foot – you choose!) designed to take participants through the historic and natural character and charm of the Rappahannock River and surrounding ecosystems (proceeds from The Odyssey will benefit Micah). RTR is a really great time. Admission to RTR is free, but if you want to indulge in the craft beer, or participate in the races or the Odyssey, please click here to register and/or purchase beer tickets.
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The Fredericksburg Area Museum is thrilled to bring back the much beloved Summer Concert Series in Market Square every Friday Night in June, July, and August from 6:30 – 8:30 PM, and we are all here for it! The music is so good, it’s hard to believe these concerts are FREE!
Here is the lineup this year:
Be sure to bring your own folding chairs. Beer and wine are available for purchase by adults with proper ID.
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photo by Kevin Brown
Brought to you by the Historic Fredericksburg Region Antique Automobile Club of America, the super-fun Fredericksburg Antique Automobile Show is back on Caroline Street this year on Saturday, June 4th from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM. The cars are stunning, of course, but that’s not all there is to it. There will be locals you may recognize cast in a historically accurate “fashion show” in front of the Visitor’s Center around noon, along with a colorful commentary by Mayo Carter.
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After 11 public meetings and one public hearing, we passed the FY 2023 Budget at the last City Council Meeting. There are a lot of other things coming up this week.
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Tomorrow's City Council Meetings
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Work Session
5:30 PM, Council Chambers, City Hall
City Council will hold Board of Zoning and Appeals interviews, and hear about possible amendments to the Stadium Parking Ordinance and other Technical Parking Amendments, amendments to the Planned Development Mixed Use Ordinance, and harmonizing provisions of the City Code related to Dog Kennels (see Regular Session, too). The Agenda is here.
Regular Session
7:30 PM, Council Chambers, City Hall
The agenda for the Regular Session is here. Among other things, we will:
- receive an introduction to the new Main Street Executive Director (Brendan Kelly). You read about him in my last newsletter.
- consider adopting the Parks, Recreation and Events Master Plan
- vote on approving (on second read) reducing the speed limit on certain Downtown streets from 25 to 20 mph
- initiate a UDO text amendment for Planning Commission review to restate and confirm the application of the 10% rule that applies to residential developments in the Planned Development-Commercial District
- review the Proposed List of Streets to be included in the FY2023 Asphalt and Concrete Rehabilitation Program
- vote on authorizing the use of $1,407,205 in surplus Motor Fuels Taxes for various transportation projects included in the FY 2023 budget
- vote on releasing $602,202.13 in prior allocations of Motor Fuels Taxes (that are no longer needed) for future re-allocation to other transportation projects
- consider updating the City ordinance to remove the antiquated prohibition on dog kennels in order to harmonize with the Unified Development Ordinance (under the UDO, kennels are allowed uses in certain zoning areas of the City)
About Public Comments
Citizens who wish to participate in the public hearing or public comment period during a regular City Council meeting (not a Work Session) will be able to speak in person or send their comments in writing. Please click here for public comment instructions.
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- Architectural Review Board (ARB) Meeting: Tonight, May 23rd at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall. You can access the agenda here.
- Planning Commission Meeting: Wednesday, May 25th at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall. You can access the agenda here. There will be no meeting on June 8th.
- School Board Meeting: Monday, June 6th at 6:30 PM (closed session) and 7:30 PM (open session) in the School Board Chambers at the Walker-Grant Center, 210 Ferdinand Street. This is a very important meeting where the School Board and the public will receive an update on the plans for a new middle school. When available, you can access the agenda here.
- Economic Development Authority (EDA) Meeting: Monday, June 13th at 8:30 AM. Location TBD. When available, you can find the agenda here.
- After tomorrow night, the next regular City Council meetings are on Tuesday, June 14th, at 5:30 PM (Work Session) and 7:30 PM (Regular Meeting) in the City Council Chambers in City Hall. When available, you can access the agendas here.
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The Madonna House Fire:
What We Can Learn From It
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photo by Healthy Generations
You may have seen or read about the fire at Madonna House, an apartment complex for seniors off Cowan Blvd, on May 16th. Because of the very quick and capable action of our Fire Department and neighboring mutual aid partners, there were no serious injuries. |
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photos from the Fredericksburg Police Department
And just the other day, on May 19th, Officers Durham, Zecher, and Kraft came to the aid of a young girl who was choking. Their life-saving measures kept the child’s airways open until EMS got there. See the full story here.
These two incidents highlight the critical importance of meeting the needs of our first responders as our population keeps growing. You won’t know how far behind we’ve fallen until a tragedy makes it abundantly clear – which we never want to see.
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photo from fredericksburgva.gov
Earlier this year, Council approved the purchase of a “Tractor-Drawn Aerial” ladder truck. This is an articulated vehicle that has two drivers: one in the front, and the “tillerman” in the rear (pictured above). By the way, our Fire Department has a rich and fascinating history. Check it out here.
Over the years, our Fire Department has constantly evolved to meet new challenges. Today we are at a key inflection point in that evolution, because as the City keeps growing, the capacity of our public safety infrastructure must stay ahead of the curve. The City currently has two fire stations (#1 downtown, #2 Altoona), with no excess capacity for future growth. In terms of growth, we expect our population of residents to grow by around 38% to a population of nearly 40,000 residents in the next 20 years (currently our population is around 29,000).
Along those lines, building a new fire station is essential. It’s been on the radar for years, and now it’s moving forward. Council was briefed on the New Fire Station at the May 10, 2022 City Council work session (you can watch the recording here (starting at 35:09:00)). This would be a new “superstation” with the ability to run two fire companies under one roof. It would replace the Altoona Fire Station and operate in conjunction with the downtown fire station. Together, this superstation and the expanded station downtown will support current and future needs of our growing City.
Where will the new fire station go? Based upon future needs, the 2020-21 Fire Station Feasibility Study, and a review of four possible sites for the new fire station, the City has settled on a parcel of City-owned land directly behind the Police Department Headquarters on Cowan Boulevard, and next to Hugh Mercer Elementary School. This location does raise some concerns: it must not negatively impact vehicle access to HMES (school buses and cars) or impair the learning environment. Stay tuned for more on this. There will be opportunity for public input once we’re in the next phase: a preliminary engineering and design of the new fire station.
How we pay for the new fire station is a significant issue. This month, City Council approved the FY 2023 Budget, of which 27% will be spent on Public Safety (the same as our Schools). We also voted to move forward with building the new fire station next year at an estimated cost of $14M (including equipment and a new engine), and a placeholder for future (2027) renovation of the downtown fire station (est. $4.5M).
Part of paying the cost involves a new proffer system, by which developers make voluntary cash contributions to help offset the costs of certain capital impacts that their projects create. Currently, a new proffer system is under review by the Planning Commission, based upon the draft Capital Impacts Study by TischlerBise, and it will come back to City Council with recommendations in the next month or so. You can read the Capital Impacts Study here.
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Update on the Status of Displaced Madonna House Residents
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The fire at Madonna House (pictured) left dozens of folks without a home and without their belongings. That evening, 60 individuals were evacuated to the FRED Central Bus Station. There, some were able to go to the homes of friends or family. Others were able to return home to their apartments. Thirty-four residents, however, were relocated to the Clarion Choice Hotel in Central Park. The FXBG Dept. of Social Services is on site at the Clarion Hotel to continue working with many religious and community partner organizations to find alternative housing, including the Continuum of Care, Micah Ministries, Healthy Generations, and the American Red Cross.
Many local businesses pitched in too, including Best Western Fredericksburg, Wegmans, Chick-Fil-A, Wawa, and Juan More Taco.
As of May 18th, 23 individuals were re-housed with family, one was hospitalized (not fire-related), 24 were appropriately sheltered, and ten are continuing to work with DSS and Continuum of Care to find appropriate permanent living arrangements.
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Many displaced residents lost all of their belongings to the fire. If you would like to help them out, we suggest donating gift cards (money or donated goods cannot be accepted at this time). Please bring your gift cards to the FXBG Dept. of Social Services at 608 Jackson Street, during their business hours. For more information and hours, call DSS at 540-372-1032 or click here.
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What is RIFA?
(Regional Industrial Facilities Authority)
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“Regional Industrial Facilities Authority” is a mouthful, so it’s more commonly known as RIFA. More important is knowing what a RIFA is, and what it has the potential to do.
City Council recently adopted an ordinance creating our own RIFA, which is a mechanism for localities in the region to cooperate with each other on economic development projects and facilities. It sets up a framework for neighboring counties to collaborate with Fredericksburg in developing, owning, and operating needed facilities in the region. King George County is moving in the same direction, and other localities could join later, if they so choose. More here.
So you know, creating RIFA does not obligate us to partner on any given project, but it creates an opportunity to do so. RIFAs have been used for regional economic development projects in other parts of Virginia, and the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance (FRA) was instrumental in getting this one created locally. For example, RIFAs have been used elsewhere in Virginia to acquire and develop agricultural land for solar farms. RIFAs show a commitment to cooperation, rather than competition, among neighboring jurisdictions. I’m optimistic that this could be a big deal someday. Stay tuned and we’ll see where it goes. |
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Friends of the Rappahannock River Steward Award
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On May 19th, at its annual Members Meeting, Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) presented the City with the Rappahannock River Steward Award. Each year, FOR awards its River Steward Award to a partner in recognition of their work to make the Rappahannock River healthier and more scenic. This award acknowledges the City's work in 2021.
FOR felt that the City earned this award on the strength of two outstanding achievements:
- the institution of a 5-cent Plastic Bag Tax to reduce plastic pollution and eliminate that danger to wildlife in the Rappahannock River and the Chesapeake Bay, and
- the opening of the fabulous new Riverfront Park to bring the Fredericksburg community closer to the Rappahannock River
Since I was not on Council in 2021 (I started on January 11, 2022), I cannot take credit for any of the great things City Council and City Staff achieved to deserve this award. But I am very proud of the City for its bold action, nonetheless.
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photo courtesy of the Fredericksburg Area Museum
After a thorough nationwide search, FAM has enthusiastically welcomed the addition of Dr. Gaila Sims as its Curator of African American History and Special Projects. Last summer, as part of an initiative to tell a more complete story of Fredericksburg’s diverse community and history, the City of Fredericksburg and the Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) partnered to create this new FAM staff position. Dr. Sims will be responsible for leading interpretive initiatives for African American history and other special projects in the City of Fredericksburg and at FAM.
Dr. Sims has impressive credentials in her field. She received her BA in History and African American Studies from Oberlin College and her MA and PhD in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Her dissertation, “Imprimatur of the State: Interpretation of Slavery at American State History Museums”, examines representations of slavery at state history museums in Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Her research has been supported by the Texas State Historical Association, the American Association of State and Local History, and the Southern Labor Studies Association. Dr. Sims has held positions at several museums, archives, and cultural institutions, including the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, the Bullock Texas State History Museum, the Harry Ransom Center, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
Welcome to Fredericksburg, Dr. Sims! |
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Want to do some 3D printing? Use a computerized drawing tablet? Make a 3D scan of an object? How about some computerized needlework? Shoot a 4K video with a Green Screen, then add your own backgrounds? Record a music session in a soundproofed AV Booth? Look no further: it’s all available for you to use at IdeaSpace.
This is one of the coolest things in Fredericksburg. Located at 1616 Princess Anne Street in the Canal Quarter Creative Maker District, the Idea Space makes high-tech equipment (and training) available at no cost to library customers. It’s part of the Regional Library system, and major supporters include the Fredericksburg EDA and The Duff McDuff Green, Jr. Fund of The Community Foundation.
New entrepreneurs come in to create what they need to start their business. During the worst of the COVID epidemic in 2020, Mary Washington Healthcare received masks and other needed medical supplies made in the IdeaSpace. Hundreds of library customers have been trained to use the technology, earning certification badges along the way. Library staff shows you how to use the MakersLab equipment, and you can become your own maker in no time. To learn more, including hours of operation, click here.
Simon Watts recently gave us a tour of the Idea Space. I was so impressed. And we had the great pleasure of visiting with its coolest team member, “Pepper”. Pepper is learning all sorts of things. Just ask Pepper a question. But there’s more: I never saw a robot dance before (much better than I). Now … if I could just interest Pepper in playing a game of chess.
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UMW President's Prestigious Award
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photo from UMW
UMW President, Dr. Troy Paino, will receive the very prestigious 2022 President’s Award from the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA), Region III, acknowledging Dr. Paino’s commitment to the student experience at the University of Mary Washington. This is an impressive achievement. Dr. Paino is renowned for his student-centered leadership, and his personal attention to students’ concerns and diverse perspectives.
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As you know, our First Fridays are very different than they’ve ever been, what with Sip & Stroll creating a great new vibe downtown. Adults (21+) who attend First Friday can purchase alcoholic beverages from local, participating restaurants to enjoy while they stroll through the wonderful art galleries and shops of Fredericksburg. Hope to see you downtown on June 3rd for the next great experience. Click here to see which restaurants are participating in Sip & Stroll and which art galleries and shops are staying open late. This would be a good time to sign up to volunteer for First Friday. I’ll be out there and would love to see you there, too.
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photo from fxbg.com
Just in time for warmer weather, the "Around the Town" Free Trolley is back on Friday and Saturday evenings downtown. The route has expanded to include the Canal Quarter Makers District. The trolley makes a 15 to 20-minute loop of downtown and stops at six locations. Click here to see trolley stops and convenient parking locations.
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New School Community Meetings
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One of the most important dialogs between City residents and the schools going on right now happened over the last couple of weeks during the two Community Meetings about the building of a new middle school in Idlewild.
In addition to the community meetings, Mosely Architects met with the FCPS’s Steering Committee, the City’s Technical Review Committee, and spent entire days talking to Walker-Grant Middle School teachers and staff before coming up with the drawings presented at the meetings. They also met with students last week. As meetings continue, there will be lots of tweaking to balance all the various factors and interests. Mosely reports that as of last Thursday, they are about two weeks away from producing initial pricing documents.
While about 40-50 residents attended one or both meetings, the great majority of the residents in attendance live in Idlewild, which makes sense, since the school building will impact them the most. Still, I was a bit surprised that not many residents outside of Idlewild attended, since the schools impact everyone Citywide and people have been contacting me with their thoughts. But the input from folks at the meetings was extremely valuable. I learned a lot. I think everyone did.
As you can see from the image above, the project will include athletic fields, a separate entrance off Gateway Boulevard for school buses, and public access from Idlewild Boulevard. The plans include an area set aside for Stormwater management (to the left of the building), and they also include a plan for crime prevention through environmental design.
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The school is currently designed to have a core capacity for 1,100 students, with an initial classroom capacity for more than 940 students (the current enrollment of Walker-Grant Middle School is about 770 students), so there is room to grow as our population continues to expand.
There are many issues to work through, such as athletic fields, vegetative screening, a traffic study, stormwater management, CTE facilities, parking, energy sustainability, and a host of other things that go into designing a modern public school. At this juncture, City Council’s role is somewhat limited compared to the School Board’s. City Council will be looking closely at the construction costs, how much of the City’s real estate will be used for the project, and what to do with the Downman House ruins and associated outbuildings (some of which may have been slave quarters), among other things.
The next public meeting about the plans for the new school is at the June 6th School Board Meeting. Stay tuned, and I hope you will get involved and make your opinions known.
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Please feel free to reach out to me anytime. Note the email address from which this newsletter was sent is not monitored. If you wish to email me, please use my City government email address. I’d be happy to talk to you about your priorities for the City.
For instance, last week, a constituent suggested that I contact neighborhood associations to encourage them to invite their members to community meetings, since not everyone knows about such meetings. I thought that was a great idea and subsequently sent emails out to the presidents of Ward 2 neighborhood groups letting them know about the upcoming New School Community Meeting. So, please just #telljon if you have something on your mind about the City or have an idea. I welcome them all.
Please be aware that all email correspondence to and from my City government email address is subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and to the Virginia Public Records Act which may result in monitoring and disclosure to third parties.
Previous editions of my newsletter can be found here.
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As always, take care and be good to each other.
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