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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March is being its typical confusing and unpredictable self.
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St. Patrick's Day in the City
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We don’t suffer from a lack of ways to celebrate the Irish. Here are a just a few:
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Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!
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March 17th (11:00 AM – 10:00 PM) and March 18th (10:00 AM – 10:00 PM). There will be music, soft pretzels, MAP Food truck, and of course – beer! Check it all our here.
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All day on March 17th from 11:00 AM until closing. Live music from 4:00 – 11:00 PM. More details here.
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March 17th from noon 'til closing with Irish-inspired food and beer, and great music, including the Mary Washington Eagles Pipes and Drums playing all afternoon and evening. More here.
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But Wait ... There's More
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And it goes way beyond the beer here. Check out these cool things some of our local shops are doing.
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Collect drinks, sweet treats, and other cool stuff from a whole host of great shops along the 700 block of Caroline Street. Click here for information and tickets.
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Show up wearing green and mention you saw this here in this newsletter, and you’ll get 25% off anything in the store! (As an added bonus, all clothing is 70% off.)
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…with its great new permanent and rotating exhibits.
And there’s so much more at FAM right now. Check it all out here.
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Tomorrow's City Council Meetings
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You can attend the City Council meetings in person. You can also watch the Regular City Council meeting online, or on Cox Channel 84 and Verizon Channel 42.
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Work Session
THERE IS NO WORK SESSION scheduled for tomorrow night, just the Regular Session shown below.
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Regular Session: 7:30 PM, City Council Chambers, City Hall
The agenda for the Regular Session is here. Among other things, we will:
- hear a proclamation about the American Red Cross, with March as “Red Cross Month”
- hear the City Manager’s presentation of the FY 2024 Budget and FY 2024-2028 Capital Improvements Plan
- vote on a resolution (second reading) to amend the FY 2023 Budget to appropriate funds to advance energy savings work on select public buildings under the Performance Contract with ABM, Inc. as part of reaching the City’s goal of powering municipal operations with 100% renewable energy by 2035 or earlier (this item is on the Consent Agenda)
- receive an update on Ranked Choice Voting
- vote on a resolution (first reading) to approve a lease of certain real property interests to VFW Post 3013 located on Princess Anne Street at Freedom Lane
- have a conversation about the future of the Renwick Courthouse (on the Council Agenda – Councilman Kelly)
- vote on a resolution (first reading) to permanently change the due dates for paying Real Estate Taxes and Personal Property Taxes to June 5th and December 5th
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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 guidelines.
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- Economic Development Authority (EDA) Meeting: Today, Monday, March 13th at 8:30 AM at the Executive Plaza, Third Floor (601 Caroline Street). You can find the agenda here.
- Planning Commission Community Meeting on ADUs: Wednesday, March 15th at 7:00 PM at Lafayette Elementary School (address: 3 Learning Lane). You can find the agenda here.
- Architectural Review Board (ARB) Meeting: Monday, March 13th at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall. You can find the agenda here.
- School Board Meeting: Monday, April 3rd 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. When available you can find the agenda here.
- After tonight, the next City Council meeting is on Tuesday, March 28th at 5:30 PM (Work Session) and 7:30 PM (Regular Meeting). When available, you can access the agendas here.
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General Assembly Legislative Update
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The 2023 Session of the General Assembly adjourned on February 25th. Here’s a quick look at a couple of new laws that were passed, heading to the Governor’s desk, and some efforts that failed. For a much more complete list with additional information, click here.
Business Development
A new bill authorizes any city or county to create a local Business Improvement and Recruitment District (BIRD), at the request of business owners. The purpose of this type of district is to attract businesses to set up shop in the district and participate in the local economy (see more on this below).
Growth
You might have heard it said that Fredericksburg cannot annex any more land from its neighboring counties. The statewide moratorium on annexing land was extended in this legislative session by eight years (2024 to 2032). Our last big annexation dates to the 1980s when we acquired the land that is now Central Park and Celebrate Virginia South.
Environment
Efforts to repeal the 2021 Clean Cars Standards failed. Accordingly, automakers will be required to build higher-mileage gas-powered vehicles, and more zero-emission vehicles, starting with the 2025 vehicle models. Virginia cannot adopt its own clean vehicle standards, but must use either the Federal tailpipe pollution standards or the more restrictive standards that the Clean Air Act authorizes for California.
Efforts to remove Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) also failed. However, RGGI is still under threat by a proposal at the Air Pollution Control Board to repeal the regulations that RGGI depends upon. You can learn more, and provide your public comment, here.
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Business Development - BIRDS in the 'Burg?
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If you’re like me, you think a lot about how the City might reduce some of its dependency on real estate taxes. One way is for the City to earn a higher share of its revenue from business development, and a smaller share from real estate taxes.
There are a lot of very smart folks working on business development in the Fredericksburg area. You have the City’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism, an Economic Development Authority (EDA), Main Street, the Chamber of Commerce, the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, and a host of other organizations (and privately owned businesses) too numerous to list here. Virginia has a reputation for being business-friendly, and our corner of the state is no exception.
We might soon have a new tool in our business development toolkit. A new bill, if signed by Governor Youngkin, would authorize Fredericksburg (either by itself or in partnership with a neighboring county) to create a local Business Improvement and Recruitment District (BIRD), at the request of business owners. The purpose of this type of district is to attract businesses to set up shop in the district and participate in the local economy. It consists of the BIRD plan itself, including any fees charged to businesses for improvements, promotions, and recruitment activities.
It's up to local businesses and local government to get a BIRD off the ground. Essentially, businesses would work together to create a BIRD district plan and a petition, and submit it to City Council. The plan would describe the location and purpose of the district, the activities for business improvement and recruiting, and how the district would operate and be financed.
Once the BIRD plan is submitted, the next step requires City Council action. In a public hearing process, City Council would determine whether the proposed district would be in the public interest. If so and the district is adopted by resolution, a companion ordinance would need to be passed by City Council. These issues and more could be addressed in the City ordinance:
- business promotion activities and services
- improvements to existing businesses
- economic development
- encouragement and recruitment for businesses to locate (or relocate) in the district
- enhancement of the district
- fees, funding, operation and maintenance of activities in the district
- potential tax reductions for participating businesses
As a person who owns, supports, and advocates for small businesses, I am curious to see what business owners think about BIRD plans. Is it something that might make sense here in Fredericksburg? It’s way too early to answer that question. After all, the bill isn’t final until it’s been signed by the Governor in April, and taken up, if at all, by a group of local businesses. In the meantime, you can read this new legislation here. Your thoughts are welcome anytime - I’m always interested in what you think.
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It’s that time of year again to focus on the City’s budget. The City Manager will present the proposed FY 2024 Budget and FY 2024-2028 Capital Improvements Plan to City Council tomorrow night. The new fiscal year begins on July 1st, and the final vote on the new budget typically occurs in late May.
After tomorrow night, the proposed FY 2024 Budget will be uploaded to the City’s website here, for public review and comment. Watch that space and this newsletter for more information as we move through the budget adoption process. By following the annual budget discussions, you’ll have a front row seat to how the sausage is made, as they say.
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If you haven’t had a chance to weigh in yet on the ADU discussion, the public outreach process is still going on. More information continues to be added here. The community meetings and public hearings continue into May.
I’ve attended every public session so far, and plan to keep it up. I hope to see you at one of these. You can also send in your written questions and comments using this webpage.
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Congratulations to Dr. Stephen Farnsworth
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photo from the University of Mary Washington
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Congratulations to Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Mary Washington. He was selected as the Spring 2024 Fulbright Distinguished Scholar in Humanities and Social Sciences at the American Studies Center of the University of Warsaw, Poland. This is an amazing and well-deserved honor. We are so fortunate that Dr. Farnsworth lives and teaches here.
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Last Saturday, folks from the Friends of the Rappahannock along with City employees rolled up their sleeves, dawned work gloves, and undertook a cleanup of the Rappahannock Canal from Princess Anne Street to Fall Hill Avenue. No less than 26 large bags of debris and trash were collected in and along the canal, thanks in part to three teams who used canoes in coordination with teams on the canal trail.
Starting this week, the cleanup emphasis will shift to the removal of trees and limbs that have fallen into the canal or along its embankments. Overall, this coordinated cleanup will take anywhere from 3 to 5 weeks. Some segments of the trail could be temporarily closed for public safety in the meantime.
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Motts Run Reservoir Cleanup Day
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On Tuesday, March 28th from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, volunteers of all ages will be cleaning up the shoreline, Nature Center, Nature Play Area, and the trails around Motts Run Reservoir. Lunch will be provided. The registration deadline is March 21st. For more information call 540-372-1086 x 0 or go here.
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UMW Health and Wellness Fair
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University Dining/Sodexo at The University of Mary Washington is hosting its annual Health and Wellness Fair from noon to 5:00 PM on Tuesday, March 14th in the Chandler Ballroom at the Cedric Rucker University Center, 1701 College Avenue. Click here for details.
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James Monroe High School DECA had an incredible weekend earlier this month when over 3,500 from around the state competed at the Virginia DECA Competitive Events in Virginia Beach. DECA is an international organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.
Fifty-two James Monroe Students competed, from which 14 students qualified for the DECA International Career Development Conference in Orlando this April by placing in the top 8 out of 50+ students in their events. Another eight students received a medal for placing in the top 8 for their role play or comprehensive test. Check out the winners here.
The JMHS DECA Chapter also received a plaque for the largest membership increase this year in Region 3, and Mrs. Dyer received an Outstanding Advisor Award.
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I just want to mention that the FCPS March Madness basketball games are a blast. The bleachers are full of enthusiasm, the cheerleading kids are charming, and the players are out there giving their all. The next game is on March 23rd between the parents and staff of Hugh Mercer Elementary School and Walker-Grant Middle School. Whoever wins that game will play the parents and staff of Lafayette Elementary School (they won their game last week) on March 29th. The games are at James Monroe High School at 6:00 PM (doors open at 5:30 PM). I’m going to go, hope to see you! Questions? Contact Sandy Gillenwater by email or phone at (540-372-1130. Learn more here.
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- Parks, Recreation and Events Summer Catalog: Whether or not you believe in Groundhog Day predictions, I think we can all agree that winter is ending soon, simply because Parks, Recreation and Events’ Summer Catalog is here!
- Play Ball: Only 25 days until the FredNats season opener at the Virginia Credit Union Stadium on April 7th. Click here for the schedule and click here for tickets.
- Fred Focus: The City’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism produces Fred Focus, an information-packed weekly e-newsletter that is emailed to subscribers every Thursday. It’s a great way to stay abreast of Fredericksburg business and tourism information and events. Check out the current Fred Focus edition here, and be sure to subscribe!
- Wall of Honor If you’ve attended a City Council meeting, or watched one on TV, you’ve probably noticed the brass nameplates on the back wall of Council Chambers. Known as the Wall of Honor, each nameplate honors a person who made significant contributions to the welfare of the City and the betterment of society. It’s a great way to give credit to the amazing people who helped pave the way forward for our remarkable community. Nominations are received from the public every year. If you have someone in mind whom you would like to nominate, you can download the form here. To be eligible for inclusion on the Wall of Honor, a nominee must have been deceased for at least one year prior to being nominated. May 13th is the deadline for nominations.
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Feel free to reach out to me anytime. I want to hear your ideas, priorities, and concerns.
One of the things I love about being on City Council is the opportunity to help folks navigate through problems to find solutions. Recently a resident told me about some stream erosion happening in his neighborhood. We met on-site and examined the damage. This matter is ongoing, and I’m not sure of how it will resolve yet, but I am working to help find solutions.
The next newsletter is scheduled to come out on March 27th. 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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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.
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 the Virginia Public Records Act which may result in monitoring and disclosure to third parties.
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