Reston Association’s Board of Directors is planning to move cash from its operating fund reserves in order to offset a large increase in member assessments for 2016.
Under RA guidelines, the assessment, $642 in 2015, could have jumped as high as $706 for 2016. It will now likely be $657, a $15 (2 percent) increase. The board will vote on the final budget and assessment amount in November. A public hearing on the budget will be held at RA Headquarters on Nov. 2.
At Thursday’s regular monthly board meeting, the board was was presented with three budget-related options for slowing the annual assessment fee.
The options all involve using about half of the association’s operating cash reserves for reducing the expected increase in the annual fee.
The second draft of the budget, presented to the board Thursday night, uses between $900,000 to $1.1 million of accumulated operating cash to pay down next year’s annual assessment.
- Option 1: $652 assessment ($1.1 million towards assessment reduction)
- Option 2: $657 assessment ($1 million towards assessment reduction)
- Option 3: $662 assessment ($900,000 towards assessment reduction)
The association’s Fiscal Committee recommended the board allocate $1 million (option 2) of anticipated 2015 cash surplus to the Repair, Replacement and Reserve Fund to be used toward the proposed 2016 capital projects.
Reston Association CEO Cate Fulkerson said the operating cash reserves have the surplus because of about $1 million in RA expenses in 2015 that likely won’t happen in 2016. Among them:
- $490,200 in salary adjustments, including wages due to employee promotions as well as a 12-percent rise in benefit costs, some of which has been passed on to employees, Fulkerson said.
- $148,000 in curb maintenance
- $147,500 in land use legal fees
- $105,000 in maintenance supplies and tools
- $84,000 in IT costs
- $27,000 for a new part-time volunteer assistant
- $1,400 in miscellaneous costs
Fulkerson said the Tetra purchase will not impact assessments until 2018.
Board members and RA staff said on Thursday they believe the reserve and capital accounts are adequately funded, which would allow the association to put a portion of the surplus money towards lowering assessment fees next year while also maintaining enough cash for future emergencies.
The money-saving idea was first presented to the board by North Point Director Dannielle LaRosa, the board treasurer, earlier this month.
“At the end of the year, I really would like the association to report back and say cash-wise, how much were we ahead,” LaRosa said on Thursday. “Some years it goes up and some years it goes down. I would like that to be built into something the CFO reports back to us.” Read More
Cash Influx For The Harrison — Luxury rental building The Harrison has secured $88 million in financing. [Virginia Business]
SLHS Cheer Kudos — Congrats to the South Lakes High School cheerleading squad, which won the Liberty Conference 6 Championship. It was the first Liberty Conference 6 Championship for SLHS Cheer. Coach Becky Slaight was named the Conference coach of the year, and four cheerleaders (Olivia Liddle, Madison Carens, Devon Alessandrino, and Anna Workosky) were named to the All-Conference team.
About Reston Now Pageviews — As you might have noticed, we have eliminated pageview counts on most Reston Now articles. While this has been a feature since we launched in 2013, recently it’s been buggy, slow to update and has frequently severely under-counted the actual number of views on an article. We’ll continue to show pageview counts to denote articles that are particularly “hot,” but take the numbers with a grain of salt.
Film Festival Will Honor Virginia Native — Producer Bruce Cohen, who won an Oscar for American Beauty, will be honored at the Washington West Film Festival in Reston this weekend. Cohen graduated from Fairfax County’s JEB Stuart High School [Patch]
Ready to vote on Nov. 3? If not, come to a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters at Reston Community Center on Saturday.
The Hunter Mill Candidates Forum is at 2 p.m. at RCC Hunters Woods.
Expected to appear is hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, who is running unopposed, as well as school board candidates for the Hunter Mill seat.
Running for school board is Pat Hynes, the current FCPS board chair who is seeking re-election to a second term, and challenger Mark Wilkinson, and Oak Hill businessman.
The school board race is Reston’s only contested election this fall. State Sen. Janet Howell (D) and Del. Ken Plum (D) are also both running unopposed.
The entire FCPS school board is up for re-election in the Nov. 3 race. There are nine candidates running for three At-Large seats.
Hynes, of Reston, is a former lawyer and teacher who has served on the board since 2012.
“Maintaining Fairfax County Public Schools’ world-class reputation in the twenty-first century demands visionary leadership,” Hynes says on her website. “This community expects its schools to be the best. We are preparing our students for careers that do not yet exist. What we know for sure is that our graduates will have to be flexible, creative problem-solvers who collaborate well and have strong communication skills. We must continue to build a culture that innovates from the classroom, supports our world class educators and sets high expectations for every student.”
Wilkinson says on his website he is concerned about FCPS’ budget, class sizes, and other issues.
“I believe that the children of Fairfax County must come first with any decisions made by the school establishment, particularly the School Board,” says Wilkinson. “I am well suited to be an independent and non-partisan advocate for children and sound education.
“As a parent, I know that no one knows a child and his/her needs as well as a parent. I have been troubled by the appearance, the current Board has given, that it has a disregard for parent knowledge and involvement. There is no room for a “we know best” attitude from the School Board.”
See previous Reston Now Q-and-As with Pat Hynes and Mark Wilkinson.
Photos: Pat Hynes (top) and Mark Wilkinson (bottom).
Reston Town Center’s newest store will open on Friday.
Bluemercury, located at 11924 Market St., is part of a locally founded chain of beauty product stores that feature spa services. The company is now owned by Macy’s.
Bluemercury sells brands such as Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone, Le Mer, Laura Mercier, NARS and Molton Brown. The Reston location will eventually offer spa services such as waxing, eyebrow shaping and facials.
Other local locations include the original store in Georgetown, Fairfax Corner, Clarendon and Bethesda.
While selling a selection of high-end brands not found at some stores, bluemercury will have lots of competition at Reston Town Center. Cosmetics megastore Sephora is located nearby, as is the new Joe Grooming men’s salon, an Origins store, an Aveda store/spa, L’Occitaine and two beauty salons.
Fairfax County Public Schools can proceed with the 40,000-square-foot addition at South Lakes High School, the county Board of Supervisors ruled on Tuesday.
The proposed addition will bring SLHS’ capacity to 2,500 students. That capacity appears to be needed though as current enrollment is 2,446 in a school designed for about 2,100 students.
The addition comes less than 10 years after SLHS underwent a major renovation that increased capacity by about 1,000 students.
The addition will enable the school to get rid of many of the temporary classrooms that have been added to the property in the last several years to handle overcrowding as school population, reflecting an overall trend in FCPS, has continued to grow annually.
If the trend holds, SLHS may be close to 2,900 in the next several years, FCPS officials said in the most recent FCPS Capital Improvement Plan.
The South Lakes addition will be paid for from a 2013 school bond.
A county planning staff report details what will be constructed, including Also planned: 128 new parking spaces and additional stormwater management.
The stormwater management has been a point of contention among some nearby residents. Homeowners on Wakerobin and Cedar Cove, located across the street and downhill from the school, have voiced concerns to the county about erosion as the water flows downhill towards Lake Audubon.
“There is absolutely no doubt that the classroom space that the School Board seeks is needed,” Reston 2020’s Terry Maynard testified to the board Tuesday. “What is not needed, however, is the added destruction of neighboring private properties from the increased stormwater runoff the project will create, and ultimately the added pollution of the Chesapeake Bay.”
Maynard says he is concerned that FPCS only has to meet outdated stormwater management guidelines.
“The stream from South Lakes High School’s property has turned a once-smooth ravine floor with lush plant life into a 3-6 foot deep, 6-10 foot wide gash that floods out of its banks with each major storm along its 1,000-foot length and 30-foot drop.”
Maynard urged the board to defer its decision.
Now that Metro has come to Reston, the biggest challenge is getting pedestrians, cyclists and drivers easily connected with public transportation.
That was the theme of a legislative forum sponsored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce at Reston Station on Wednesday.
Officials at the state, county and Reston level gave their thoughts on moving Reston forward as it becomes a transit-oriented community.
However, issues, even temporary ones such as a crash, affect the region overall, said Marty Nohe, chairman of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.
“There is no such thing as a Reston or Fairfax transportation problem,” he said. “At 5:15 p.m., a small fender bender in Prince William County can cause delays in Arlington. … Congestion relief is a top priority.”
Nohe said the NVTA has gotten nearly a half-billion dollars in new projects approved for Northern Virginia in the last three years.
At the county level, some of the most critical future projects include new crossings for the Dulles Toll Road; widening the Fairfax County Parkway; and implementing bus service to link this part of the county with the Springfield area, said Tom Biesiadny, director of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.
Biesiadny also said the following are of high importance: bicycle and pedestrian improvements, walkways and sidewalks on such roads as Fox Mill, Glade, North Shore, Soapstone, Sunrise Valley and Sunset Hills; and a bike/pedestrian overpass at the W&OD Trail at Wiehle and Sunset Hills.
He said the latter is currently moving forward with a design plan. Meanwhile, there will be an update on the Soapstone crossing of the Dulles Toll Road at a community meeting Monday evening at South Lakes High School.
“The Reston Comprehensive Plan, approved in 2014, includes significant enhancements in transportation,” he said. “That includes four toll road crossing areas and mixed-use development [around the Metro stations] and a grid of streets around the stations.”
Reston Association CEO Cate Fulkerson says RA is placing a high priority on “what we need to do to address connectivity” for pedestrians and cyclists using RA paths and roads.
Comstock Partners spokeswoman Maggie Parker said developers need to work together with government and RA to reach those goals.
“We need to pay attention to development, enhance the urban grid and not put impediments into that process,” she said.
Fulkerson agrees teamwork is necessary as transportation develops.
“An impediment would be not having all the people at the table when talking elements that need to go in.”
More From Kwame Alexander — An American school in Singapore caught up with Reston novelist Kwame Alexander during his visit there. [Singapore American School]
Zombies! — Special teen event at the Reston Regional Library Sunday on “How to Draw Zombies.” [Reston Regional Library]
New Bicycle Manager for Fairfax County — Fairfax County has hired Adam Lind, a current Fairfax County Department of Transportation employee, as the new bicycle manager. He replaces Charlie Strunk, who retired earlier this year. [Fairfax County]
Kudos, Herndon MS Musicians — A group of musicians from Herndon Middle School met First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House last week. [Herndon Patch]
Photo: Lake Audubon at dawn/Credit: Joy Every
Fairfax County Police have identified the pedestrian killed in an early morning crash on Wiehle Avenue Wednesday as Silvia Raquel Corella Erazo, 72, of Reston.
Police are still investigating the crash that occurred at 6:25 a.m. on Wiehle southbound near Chestnut Grove Square.
Detectives from the FCPD’s Crash Reconstruction Unit are still investigating this crash, said police.
At this point, they say a 30-year-old Sterling-area man was driving a 2005 Honda Accord south on Wiehle toward the Metro station around 6:25 a.m. when he drove past the entrance of the Chestnut Grove community complex.
At the same time and location, Corella Erazo was crossing Wiehle Avenue on foot, from east to west. She was able to cross the northbound lanes of traffic and part of the southbound lanes before she was struck by the right, front portion of the Accord.
This crash investigation is ongoing, and neither speed nor alcohol appear to be factors in the crash, police said. There are no crosswalks at this location.
The victim was transported to Reston Hospital Center with life-threatening injuries and died a short time later.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers electronically by visiting www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637)** or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477).
**Text STOP to 274637 to cancel. Text HELP to 274637 for help. Msg & data rates may apply. Go to crimesolvers.net for Terms & Conditions.
Photo: Police investigate crash at Wiehle and Chestnut Grove/Credit: FCPD
How much did Back to the Future get correct about life in 2015?
That’s what NBC Nightly News explored on Tuesday, with Reston Town Center and a time machine DeLorean as the backdrop.
Oct. 21, 2015 was the exact date Marty McFly and Doc Brown found themselves in in the second Back to the Future movie. It was a world with drones, hoverboard skateboards, flying cars, video phone calls and the Cubs winning the World Series.
Well, we’re constantly on the video calls and the Cubs, despite being down 3-0 in the National League Championship Series, still have a (slim) shot.
The tricked-out DeLorean — owned by Back to the Future enthusiast Ken Smith — has been at Reston Town Center all week as the Washington West Film Festival prepares to open tonight. A showing of the entire Back to the Future trilogy begins at Bow Tie Cinemas Reston at 7 p.m.
Reston received a proclamation from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors over the summer ceremoniously changing its name from Reston to Hill Valley, where Back to the Future took place, for the duration of the festival.
Sunday will feature a red carpet screening of the first movie, and a Q-and-A featuring star Christopher Lloyd. That event is sold out.
Check out the NBC News report.
Reston residents will finally get a chance to see Another Way of Living: The Story of Reston, VA. The 72-minute documentary by Reston filmmaker Rebekah Wingert-Jabi will be shown to the public on Nov. 19 at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods.
The screening is at 8 p.m. and will take place in both the CenterStage theater and the Community Room to accommodate as many people as possible.
Tickets are free and will be limited to four per person; they will be available from the CenterStage Box Office beginning Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 4:00 p.m. Any tickets or seats not used at 7:45 p.m. on the evening of the screening will be released to people seeking tickets the evening of the event.
Director Wingert-Jabi will introduce the film with brief comments on the process of editing and preparing it for submissions to festivals as the film has undergone significant change since its VIP screening in April 2014.
Following the screening, everyone is invited to enjoy light refreshments in the Community Room and share their impressions of the movie and the legacy of Reston’s founder, Robert E. Simon.
The movie, which Wingert-Jabi has been working on for several years, will also make its film festival debut at the Virginia Film Festival in Charlottesville next month. The movie explores founder Robert E. Simon’s quest to build a “new town” in the Virginia countryside, where people of different races and incomes could live side-by-side and how Reston developed into a groundbreaking community.
To obtain tickets, please visit the CenterStage Box Office during Box Office hours; or call the Box Office at 703-476-4500, and press “3”. For more information, please visit RCC’s website or the Reston Historic Trust’s website.
Reston may be getting closer to a bikeshare system.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday endorsed the county’s applications for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s FY 2017 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant Application.
The county hopes to get $400,000 from the state as seed money for bike share program. Other projects seeking funding are Vienna Metrorail bicycle access improvements; a cinder bed bike path near the Franconia-Springfield Metro station; and improvements for bike access on Van Dorn Street in Alexandria.
Applications for the grant program are due Nov. 1.
County biking authorities conducted a feasibility study on a Reston bikeshare in 2014. They will give an update on the progress of the bikeshare plan Oct. 29 at Dogwood Elementary School at 7 p.m.
Capital Bikeshare, which has suburban programs in Alexandria, Arlington, and Rockville, Md., would offer those who live and work in Reston an additional way to access the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station, as well as the future Reston Town Center station, Reston Town Center and other location.
The capital equipment needed for a Reston bikeshare station includes docking stations, bicycles and kiosks. The current projection is for 13 stations and 130 bicycles, which will cost about $766,000
The county will request $400,000 from TAP and pay $100,000 in county funds for the program. That would leave an additional $266,000 in funding necessary to get the program started.
The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) guidelines state applicants are required to provide a 20 percent match, with grant awards covering the 80 percent remaining. Local jurisdictions are also required to pay for any cost overruns.
VDOT’s TAP regulations require the sponsoring jurisdiction to accept responsibility for future maintenance and operating costs of any projects that are funded.
Photo: Bikesharing in Arlington/ARLnow.com file photo
It’s Hill Valley Now — It’s Oct. 21, the day Reston, temporarily and symbolically, changes its name to Hill Valley to mark the opening of the Washington West Film Festival here. Oct. 21, 2015, was the exact date Marty McFly and Doc Brown landed in the future in Back to the Future. The Back to the Future trilogy will be celebrated at the film festival, which runs through Sunday. [Reston Now]
Run With Your Dog — Sign up for the “Dirty Dogger” obstacle course race and 3K fun run Sunday at Lake Fairfax Park. Proceeds benefit Heeling House, Inc., a therapy dog organization. [Dirty Dogs Inc.]
It’s Homecoming Week — Both South Lakes and Herndon High Schools have Homecoming this week. SLHS’s Homecoming Parade begins at 5 p.m. at Hunters Woods Village Center, then will proceed down South Lakes Drive to the school. The football game vs. Langley begins at 7 p.m. HHS’ parade begins 9:30 a.m. Saturday in downtown Herndon. The game vs. Robinson begins at 1 p.m.
SLHS Volleyball’s Good Year — Checking in with the Seahawks, who are 9-3 going into Wednesday’s match. [Reston Connection]
Inmate Died of Natural Causes — The Fairfax County medical examiner says an inmate who died in custody over the weekends died of natural causes, including diabetes and heart disease. [Washington Post]
Photo: “Back to the Future” DeLorean at Reston Town Center/Credit: Shawn Wilson via Twitter
(Update, 9 a.m Wednesday) Fairfax County Police said the pedestrian hit in the crash at Wiehle and Chestnut Grove has died.
Also, all lanes were reopened by 9 a.m.
Original story: If you are traveling Wiehle Avenue southbound near Chestnut Grove Square this morning, take an alternate route. A pedestrian was struck by a car at that location this morning.
Fairfax County Police and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue are working an accident there that has closed Wiehle from Sunset Hills to North Shore.
Police said the pedestrian was struck at 7:05 am. Crews are on the scene investigating the incident.
Reston Now will update this story when more information becomes available.
Fairfax County Police say there have been three break-ins reported to the Reston District Station in the last several days.
The first was a residential burglary in the 11900 block of Winterthur Lane on Thursday at about 10:25 p.m. A resident reported an unknown person entered the residence and took property.
The other two were commercial burglaries. Both took place on Saturday.
One incident was in the 1600 block of Washington Plaza at Lake Anne. An employee reported someone entered the business and took property.
The other was in the 11500 block of Sunrise Valley Drive. Officers responded to a commercial burglary alarm and discovered someone had entered the business and taken property.
In other recent crime news reported in the Reston District:
LARCENIES
12000 block of Bluemont Way, bicycle from business.
11400 block of Links Drive, license plates from vehicle.
2300 block of Soapstone Drive, merchandise from business.
11800 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, phone from business.
11800 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, property from business.
10400 block of Van Patten Lane, property from residence
STOLEN VEHICLES
Springwood Drive/Karbon Hill Court, 2013 Honda Civic
A Reston woman was charged with felony hit and run and driving while intoxicated after she allegedly hit another car and left the scene of the crash in Sterling.
Loudoun County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene at Rt. 7 near Lakeland Drive about midnight on Saturday.
The suspect was later located in Fairfax County. Deputies charged the suspect, Karis E. Mohl, 35, of Reston, with DWI and Felony Hit and Run.
