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Ronald Jackson (Spotsylvania), She Sang a Song No One Would Hear: Songs of Stories Untold Series, 2019 (Oil on canvas)
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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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In this edition, I am covering:
- Celebrating the 1950 Walker Grant High School Graduation Class
- An Extraordinary Art Exhibit
- UMW Students in our Community
- Tomorrow’s City Council meetings, and Other Upcoming City Meetings
- The Budget Process Begins
- Fare Free FredBus
- Transportation Improvement Plan
- New Map of City Wards
- Homeless People Count
- Downtown Greens' Free Fridge
- Sip & Stroll Review
- COVID-19 Update
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Have we gotten through the worst of Winter? Who knows? The groundhog saw his shadow last Wednesday, predicting six more weeks of winter.
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There are many ways to celebrate and experience Black History Month in the City during February. I encourage you to click here to learn about some of them. Here are just a couple:
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Celebrating the 1950 Walker Grant High School Graduation Class
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Photo by Mike Morones, Free Lance-Star
On Thursday, February 10th at 1:00 PM at the Dorothy Hart Community Center, the City is hosting a ceremony commemorating the Walker–Grant High School demonstration that occurred there almost 72 years ago.
In June 1950, the largest Walker-Grant High School graduating class chose the Dorothy Hart Community Center for their commencement ceremony, but on their important day, graduates and their families were denied access through Dorothy Hart’s front doors solely because they were Black. The graduates, instead, held their ceremony at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site). Before the ceremony, the graduates protested in front of Dorothy Hart with signs that read “This Entrance is Closed to US”. The City is honoring those students by unveiling a permanent historical marker in front of Dorothy Hart during the ceremony on February 10th.
Click here for more information.
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An Extraordinary Art Exhibit
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An exquisite art exhibition is on display in the Ridderhof Martin and duPont Galleries at UMW right now through March 24th called Healing Through the Preservation of Our Histories and Our Selves. We are so fortunate that we can experience the amazing works of Faith Ringgold, Jacob Lawrence, Ronald Jackson, Kara Walker, Sonya Clark and other renowned contemporary African-American artists in our City, borrowed from the esteemed Petrucci Family Foundation’s collection.
Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 10am to 4pm, Saturday - Sunday, 1pm to 4pm. Admission is always free.
Locations:
Ridderhof Martin Gallery, 1301 College Ave.
duPont Gallery, 1913 College Ave.
540.654.1013
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UMW Students in our Community
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Photo by Sarah Dewees
More than 80 University of Mary Washington students from the student-run organization, Community Outreach and Resources (COAR), UMW’s Center for Community Engagement (CCE), and the James Farmer Multicultural Center (JFMC) participated in the MLK Day of Service this year. These young people came together for our community in the most amazing ways, including:
- sewing scarves and blankets for FCPS schoolchildren
- sorting donations for the Bookmobile
- preparing materials for a Fairy Godmother Project fundraiser for pediatric cancer
- making teal ribbons for sexual assault survivors at the Rappahannock Counsel Against Sexual Assault
- making handmade cards for residents of an area nursing home
- making reusable grocery bags for the Fredericksburg Food Co-op
- organizing goods for the Eagle Resource Closet
- clearing tree limbs and branches along the nearby Canal Path
- creating Jared Boxes filled with small toys, art supplies, games, and other activities to entertain young patients at Mary Washington Hospital
- making personal hygiene kits for Empowerhouse clients
- working with Micah to bag 400 lunches for Fredericksburg’s homeless community
What an inspiration these people are. Perhaps we could all learn a lot from them.
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Tomorrow's City Council Meetings
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Work Session
5:30 PM, Council Chambers, City Hall
Council will be discussing proposed amendments to taxi regulations that would address the need to level the playing field between local cabs & cab drivers and Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft, with respect to public safety inspections, background checks, insurance compliance, rate notices, etc. You can access the Work Session Agenda here.
Regular Session
7:30 PM, Council Chambers at City Hall
Among other things, Council will take up:
- COVID update from Fire Chief Mike Jones
- budget amendment to appropriate a grant of $100,000 for a mental health crisis co-response police officer as part of the Marcus Alert Program and a grant of $38,544 for COVID-19 sanitizing of the police facility and vehicles
- an amendment to the FY 2022 budget to advance the acquisition of a fire ladder truck (several payment methods possible), and purchase four hybrid fuel police vehicles (using ARPA relief funds)
- the final vote on the new wards map (see discussion below)
- an amendment to the FY 2022 budget to advance the purchase of a fire ladder truck and purchase police vehicles from ARPA relief funds
- an amendment to the FY 2022 budget by appropriating various fund balances or other revenues for various City projects approved in prior fiscal years (The FY 2022 carryover budget amendment totals $9,070,928 in net spending authority and includes no new appropriations)
- an amendment to our taxi-cab regulations
You can attend the City Council meetings in person (please wear a face covering), or online. The agenda is here:
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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- FCPS School Board – Tonight, February 7th at 5:00 (Budget Work Session), 6:30 PM (closed session), and 7:30 PM (open session) in the School Board Chambers at the Walker-Grant Center, 210 Ferdinand Street. You can access the agendas here and watch the meetings online here.
- Planning Commission: Wednesday, February 9th at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall. You can access the agenda here and watch the meeting online here.
- Economic Development Authority (EDA), February 14th at 8:30 AM. When available, you can access the agenda here.
- Architectural Review Board (ARB): Monday, February 14th at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall. When available, you can access the agenda here and watch the meeting online here.
- The next City Council meetings are on Tuesday, February 22nd 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 agenda here.
- City Council and School Board Joint Meeting to discuss the Interim Agreement: Thursday, March 24th at 7:00 PM at James Monroe High School. More information can be found here.
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The Budget Process Begins
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This is the typical timeline; the actual timeframe may change.
Over the next several months, you’ll see a lot of discussion about the budget and taxes. I wanted to give you an idea of the timeline.
As happens every year at this time, the process for determining the budget for the next fiscal year (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023) has begun. All the various City Departments and Constitutional Offices have submitted their individual budgets to the City Manager’s office. The City Manager’s office has until no later than 60 days before the end of the current fiscal year (June 30, 2022) to submit an annual budget proposal to City Council for the next fiscal year. Typically, that occurs near between the middle and the end of March. After that, City Council will have a couple Work Sessions to go over the elements of the proposed budget, to be followed by several public meetings when the public can comment on the budget. Typically, in late May, City Council will pass the budget, which will include the tax levied to meet all the demands in the budget.
I encourage you to attend the City Council budget meetings or watch them online. I’ll let you know in my newsletters and on my Facebook and Instagram pages what meetings are coming up. It may seem like a boring process to some, but it really will give you an insight into how the City prioritizes and balances the various City functions.
If you’re interested, you can view the FY 2022 budget here.
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Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FRED) will begin fare free service on all routes beginning Monday, February 28, 2022. The fare-free program applies to all Fredericksburg Regional Transit routes, which can save bus riders the standard $1.25 one-way fare, or the $50 fee for a monthly pass.
Even people who use the popular shuttle between commuter lots and VRE stations will be able to take advantage of this program (a $60 per month savings for the monthly pass), once the number of those commuters tick back up.
Click here for more information.
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Transportation Improvement Plan
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You can now submit public comments about three items that may be added to FAMPO’s 2050 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) that relate to how we get around in Fredericksburg:
- FAMPO East-West Study – roadway, bike, and pedestrian changes to improve east-west mobility across the Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Spotsylvania area. Projects for the study include multimodal improvements such as a multi-use path in Central Park and Spotsylvania Town Center, better bike, pedestrian, and transit access to regional train stations, a high-capacity rapid bus route as well as roadway improvements to reduce congestion.
- Virginia Central Railway Trail Crossing Study – engineering and planning work to construct bicycle and pedestrian crossings under or over I-95, Route 3, and Route 1. To connect the existing and proposed portions of the VCR trail with bridges, tunnels, or culverts.
- Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FRED) – a variety of projects intended to benefit the safety and function of FRED transit systems.
A 16-page list of the 2050 TIP projects, which includes these, can be downloaded here as a PDF, and searched by keyword.
The current public comment period runs through February 28, 2022. To give your input, click here.
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What happens now?
On January 11th, Council approved – on first read – a Ward map that would require a second voting precinct in Ward 3, because the number of register voters in Ward 3 exceeded the allowable number of registered voters (5,000) by just five. Several Council members (including me) expressed concern about whether it was reasonable to incur the costs of a new precinct under those circumstances. City staff returned to City Council on February 8th, having tweaked the map so the need for a second precinct in Ward 3 was eliminated. City Council will take a final vote on the new ward map tomorrow.
After the new ward map is finalized, the Registrar’s Office will send out notices to registered voters explaining the changes to each person’s voting information.
Ward 2 Specifics
So you know, under the new ward map, no one is being shifted out of Ward 2 from the current Ward 2 map. The change to Ward 2 adds registered voters, including registered voters who live in UMW housing. This is a great improvement, as the current Ward maps have UMW-housed students voting in three different precincts, which, obviously, can cause a lot of confusion and voter suppression among college students.
Wards 1, 3 and 4
While Ward 4 remains the same, the ward lines for Wards 1 and 3 have changed somewhat.
This memo provides a synopsis of the specific changes to each Ward under the proposed map.
Anything else?
The new Ward 2 map opens up another good discussion to have after the ward lines are finalized. That is, whether we can eventually establish a new precinct on the UMW campus for college students. Before now, with UMW students voting in three different wards, it was not really feasible to have a dedicated precinct for UMW students. Now, however, it seems it might be possible. Stay tuned, as discussions have just begun.
If you’re curious, you can compare the old/current map with the proposed new map here. The story of the City’s redistricting process is here.
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Meghann Cotter, Samantha Shoukas and I doing the PIT count
The Fredericksburg Regional Continuum of Care (CoC) is the local planning body required by federal law that coordinates housing and services for the homeless. It’s a network of local organizations working together to end homelessness in our region of Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline, and King George. CoC volunteers conduct an annual Point-in-Time Count (PIT Count) of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. I participated in the PIT Count this year. It was an eye-opening experience to visit with folks who are homeless, hear their stories, and talk about their needs. Stay tuned for more information as local leaders continue to work toward solutions.
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Downtown Greens Free Fridge
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Downtown Greens is at it again! Fredericksburg’s first Free Fridge and Pantry is almost ready to debut. The structure, built entirely by volunteers, is a functional art installation that upholds Downtown Greens’ mission to increase food security within the community. Open 24/7, it will store and preserve vegetables that are grown in the Downtown Greens gardens, as well as donated produce, meats and non-perishables, including items donated by St. George’s Episcopal Church for its first stocking. Others are invited to sign up to help stock the fridge. It is located near the corner of Dixon and Princess Anne Streets, will be lighted and have an onsite camera for security purposes – and will provide free WIFI. This site has been chosen not only for its visibility, but also for its ease alongside the sidewalk making it opportune for wheelchair access and is conveniently placed near Downtown Greens’ “Take What You Need Vegetable Garden.”
If you would like to become a part of the “Free Fridge Heroes” team, please send an email to freefridge@downtowngreens.org.
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Last Friday evening saw the very first Sip & Stroll. It was a great seeing so many folks enjoying First Friday, even with the damp weather, and it’s a rare thing to stroll around downtown while enjoying an adult beverage. No doubt when the evenings warm up, many more folks will participate in this special First Friday attraction! Special thanks to the Sheriff’s department for providing security, the street performers for all the great music, and my fellow volunteers who helped out.
Volunteering was a lot of fun. I talked to a bunch of great people. If you can sign up to help out for a First Friday or two, I'm sure you'll have a great time. Click here to volunteer.
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Click here to get up-to-date COVID information about Testing and Vaccination resouces, case numbers, and free mask distribution.
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Please feel free to reach out to me anytime through my City government email address: jagerlach@fredericksburgva.gov. I’d be happy to talk to you about your priorities for the City. Note 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, including law enforcement.
Please also note that 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.
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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