Herndon Vice Mayor Says Transparency and Longterm Planning Are Top Priorities

Cesar del Aguila, the newly-elected vice mayor of the Herndon Town Council, is emphasizing the need for transparency and more long-term planning as he laid out his priorities for his 2021-2022 term.

At a recent Herndon Town Council meeting, Del Aguila said that all closed-door meetings should be recorded and the town should make an extra effort to record meetings with developers and special interest groups, as well as offer transcripts of work and public sessions. If needed, staff could submit a summary write up of discussions.

He also encouraged staff to keep a log of all records and make records related to all decisions available to the public. He also stressed the need to make public information requests ‘as inexpensive as possible.’

‘If the public records are available, let’s make them available,’ he said.

Institutional reform and reorganization was also encouraged by del Aguila. For example, he suggested the creation of an independent heritage preservation entity. He also hopes to create an independence office of code enforcement related to crowded streets and rental properties.

In order to improve longterm planning, del Aguilda also encouraged all departments to prepare a long-term, five-year plan and create a mechanism for quarterly roundtable meetings between departments.

With a newly-elected council now taking the lead, del Aguila also noted that there is no formal on-boarding process.

Other concerns include broad-level issues like speeding in neighborhoods, unkempt properties, traffic rules in the downtown area and gun safety.

He also suggested that the town create a multicultural board to manage events like Friday Night Live and the Multicultural Folk Festival. Other suggested ideas include expanded use of the community center and the creation of a business development office.

Del Aguila is serving his second term on the council. In the past, he has served on the town’s pedestrian and bicycle committee and the interview subcommittee.

The council member was also the town’s representative to the Dulles Area Transportation Association and the Phase II Dulles Rail Transportation Improvement District Commission Board.