Eight candidates are running for six seats on the Herndon Town Council for the 2021-2022 term. This week, Reston Now will publish candidate statements, which are edited for typos and formatting only. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Featured here is Signe Friedrichs. 

What would your top three priorities be as a council member? 

• Economic Recovery from Coronavirus
• Redevelopment of Downtown and Arts Center
• Transportation (public, multi-modal)

What is the top challenge the town faces currently and how do you aim to address it?

Top Challenge: Financial security–providing basic services while tax revenues plummet because of residents and businesses distress.

Solutions: Prioritizing spending, maintaining reserves and deploying county resources when possible to maintain status quo without layoffs or decreasing services.  

How does your background uniquely position you for this position?

I have served the town in many capacities. I have lived in Herndon since 1996. I have been an academic, a military spouse, a small business employee, a membership relations manager for the local chamber of commerce, and the executive director of a nonprofit. I know business owners, and Herndon residents and can represent them well. I love Herndon’s small town feel and community cohesion.

Metro Development Progress

We understand that the new metro station will be opening in Herndon this winter. Projects already funded, mainly by the State and County, will mean that building bus bays, bike lanes, sidewalks, and traffic abatement systems are underway. In addition, several attractive redevelopment projects for the 1970s and 80s style office buildings on Herndon Parkway are proposed by the developers who own them. Herndon is seen as the next part of the County to “take off”, and we want to make sure we have the infrastructure to support redevelopment on that side of the town. Rest assured, though, the neighborhoods and downtown should remain small, intimate and communal in keeping with Herndon’s personality.

Photo via Signe Friedrichs

Eight candidates are running for six seats on the Herndon Town Council for the 2021-2022 term. This week, Reston Now will publish candidate statements, which are edited for typos and formatting only. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Featured here is Sean Regan.

My wife Anne and I have lived in Herndon for 22 years and we can’t imagine living anywhere else. We have raised a family and opened a business here. Herndon embraced us – our kids received a great education in the neighborhood schools, our business has grown, and we’ve made friends who have laughed with us in good times and cried with us in hard times.  Anne and I love Herndon, it is our home. 

Over the years we’ve tried to give back.  I coached youth lacrosse, Anne was on the board of our local pool and the founding board of the Herndon Environmental Network.  I volunteered for committees to design the “It’s On!” logo and the stone markers you see when you enter Town.

 Since 2012 I’ve been proud to serve on Herndon’s Planning Commission, creating development frameworks for Downtown and the Metro area, and reviewing dozens of land-use applications in all parts of Herndon.  Through that role I’ve learned the workings of Town government and have come to appreciate the challenges of running a small town amidst the Northern Virginia sprawl. 

Running for Town Council is the next chapter for me.  I was raised in Columbia, Maryland, one of the earliest and largest planned communities in America. I grew up appreciating the beauty of an economically, racially, religiously diverse community where many voices could speak and many people could lead. That’s what I want for Herndon, and that’s why I’m running for Town Council. You can learn more about my campaign at www.ReganForHerndon.com.

Qualifications

I understand Town government from my eight years on the Planning Commission. I’ve owned a business in Herndon for 18 years, managing large scale construction projects for non-profits like Mount Vernon Estate and the Northern Virginia Children’s Science Center. I feel invested in this community and am comfortable working with people with different points of view. I think that last idea is an important one – in today’s society politics, social media and other factors have pushed people to the edges and encouraged an “us versus them” mentality which Is not good for the country.  We need to come together, find common ground in the middle, and build from there.  This strategy might not work on the national level but it can work in a small town like Herndon.

Issues

Herndon should be a welcoming town where everyone can thrive so we need to identify policies rooted in historical bias and work to change them. The next Council will be tasked with balancing the budget in light of the effects of COVID-19, which will not be easy in the short- or long-term. In addition, depending on how the “qualified immunity” issue is resolved in Richmond, the Town may have trouble attracting good police officers and could need to fund something akin to doctors’ and dentists’ expensive malpractice insurance to retain them. Finally, I’d like to work with surrounding jurisdictions on regional issues like traffic and climate change. Our 24,000 voices can be powerful if we speak as one on these broader issues.

Economic Development

We need to understand how workplaces are changing, and position Herndon’s Metro area, downtown and other office properties to take advantage of the trends. We need to understand how housing is changing and adapt our zoning code to create an adequate supply of affordable, workforce and age-in-place housing. We need to attract a major university or cultural institution to anchor the metro area and differentiate it from every other stop along the Silver Line.

Whether by mail, by early in-person voting, or at the polls November 3rd – please vote!

Photo via Sean Regan

Eight candidates are running for six seats on the Herndon Town Council for the 2021-2022 term. This week, Reston Now will publish candidate statements, which are edited for typos and formatting only. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Featured here is Jasbinder Singh. 

I served on the council from 2010 to 2012 and from 2014 to 2016.  I am back for the third time, because I want to help Herndon set a new direction.  During my first two terms I served with: integrity, ability, and an inquiring mind.

If elected, I intend to approach my job in the same manner.

Between 2013 and 2017 I wrote more than 30 articles describing how the town works or does not work.  These articles, published on my blog HerndonOpinion.com, provide a meaningful context for transforming Herndon into a vibrant town.

The experience described above, combined with my educational background in Civil Engineering & Public Policy, professional experience in policy analysis and environmental litigation, and a passion for public service uniquely qualify me to serve as a councilmember.

Have you ever wondered, “Why does it take Herndon 10 years to complete projects that would normally be completed in 1 or 2 years?  It is clear that Herndon needs to modernize, focus on excellence, and yet, retain its small-town feel.

Accomplishing this objective would be challenging during normal times.  However, these are not normal times. Municipalities across the country have laid off staff, cut capital budgets and even terminated major projects.  Economic conditions will not return to normal until at least the second half of next year.

Consequently, I have asked, “What should we do over the next two or three years to best cope with Covid-19 and its effects?

In the short-run, I believe, our first priority should be to conserve as much cash as possible, postpone or eliminate projects that are wasteful or require raising capital in the financial markets or require that we give land free to developers and/or special interests.  I propose that we take two immediate actions;

Make Town’s Current Financial Health Transparent under significant economic and development scenarios, and

Reverse anti-Transparency Policies of the last 8 years – policies that have kept the public in the dark, particularly about the economics of the proposed downtown development.

These actions should help the public to provide informed input into the Town’s decisions.

Covid-19 is highly problematic, but it has given us an opportunity to make our government nimble and efficient. In the Medium-run, we should reform regulations that delay our projects or impose unnecessary burden on our citizens.  HPRB rules and many other regulations fall in this category.  We should also implement the state-of-the-art budgetary and management practices that help governments make prudent decisions.  The budgets of all departments should be scrutinized for efficiencies.

Finally, we should keep an eye on the long-run.  For too long, we have focused on the downtown.  We should take actions that help revitalize the entire town, reduce traffic, develop a master plan for undeveloped areas, help our children learn about our environment and the wildlife around us, and create a vibrant and multicultural society. Last but not the least, we should examine whether the at-large town elections of councilmembers truly lead to policies that reflect the wishes of all the people of Herndon.

Our road to excellence will not be easy, but with the participation of our citizens in this endeavor, there will come a time when the Town of Herndon can say,

“Yes, we can!”

Photo via Jasbinder Singh

Eight candidates are running for six seats on the Herndon Town Council for the 2021-2022 term. This week, Reston Now will publish candidate statements, which are edited for typos and formatting only. Statements are published in the order in which they are received. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Featured here is Cesar del Aguila.

What would your top three priorities be as a council member? 

My top priorities are: full council decision transparency, new housing options, budget, and new town branding.

What is the top challenge the town faces currently and how do you aim to address it? 

Prioritizing the budget for the next ten years will be paramount. What we save and cut will impact services delivered and future initiatives. This will be the most important issue the new council will face. We must find areas to save taxpayer dollars and find new sources of long-term revenue.

What legislative matters or proposals do you hope to bring forward on the council? 

Major changes to the HPRB are desperately needed. Too many residents are being impacted and the ordinances need to be updated. We are creating a district where only wealthy individuals can afford to maintain their homes to a standard that is outdated. I would like to see the HPRB modified with input from the actual residents that live in the district.

I want to create an environment where new development provides a wider range of housing product options to include; workforce, studios, senior living and affordable units. We have several projects in the future and can address these needs if we value and commit to providing homes for everyone who wants to call Herndon home.

How does your background uniquely position you for this position?

I spent years in various positions with large businesses in executive roles. I understand leadership, at times, requires telling people what they need to hear, versus what they want to hear. I come from communities that invested in public schools and affordable housing. I have heard from many residents and what they desire for Herdon’s future. Change is happening and our growth depends on how well we leverage our resources to capture new businesses, residents, and investors. I welcome all views, listen to new ideas, and value the contrarian view.

The Town of Herndon is poised for transformation as Metro and the redevelopment of downtown Herndon is underway. What is your current assessment of progress made so far? How do you hope to continue ensuring the development occurs in a timely and productive manner? 

I think we are behind in terms of what we could have had. It appears previous councils decided not to look into long-term investments and leverage our town resources. It seems previous councils were waiting for projects to come to Herndon. I would have invested in large projects over the past twenty years. I would have created line items in the budget and partially funded large projects through special revenue allocations versus bonding all costs. Pay a little as we go. I understand bonding projects benefit residents in the future that can utilize new infrastructure, however, I believe we have an obligation to pay a little now, so we don’t fully burden future residents with all the project costs. I believe sharing benefits and costs.

Photo via Cesar del Aguila

Eight candidates are running for six seats on the Herndon Town Council for the 2021-2022 term. This week, Reston Now will publish candidate statements, which are edited for typos and formatting only. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

My name is Clark Hedrick and I’m running for the Herndon Town Council. I’m asking for your vote on November 3rd because I want to bring Herndon together; to build on our strengths and to fix what needs fixing. We’re living through one of the most challenging moments in our community’s history–local government has never been more important.

I am well-qualified for the task which will be entrusted to the next Council. As a member of Herndon’s Board of Zoning Appeals, I’ve worked with residents and Town officials to resolve zoning matters. I also have extensive experience working with local governments including issues of tax, business licensing, communications infrastructure, and civil disputes. I’ve devoted my career to improving government transparency, oversight, effectiveness, and responsiveness. If elected, I will bring those values to the Council. As an active member of the community, I’m committed to seeing our Town emerge stronger from this crisis.

Like many local governments, the next Herndon Town Council term will be dominated by responding to the economic and financial impact of COVID. Until the full scope is understood, the Council must exercise extreme fiscal restraint to preserve essential services and protect Town employees. The Council must also review its land use and business licensing code to reduce regulatory burdens and costs. If the budget permits, I would like to lead the Council in declaring a Meals Tax holiday to help our small business owners and patrons, and to jump start the local economy.

More broadly, Herndon is at a crossroads. As Fairfax County (and Loudoun) develops around us, the Town must work to preserve its historic and small-town feel. Likewise, Herndon will be more connected than ever before with the opening of the Herndon Metro Station–our challenge is to make sure that the Town remains an affordable and accessible place for families, retirees, and individuals at every stage of life. We benefit from being one of the most diverse communities in the region–we need to ensure that we will continue to enjoy that benefit for decades to come.

We are an epicenter of opportunity, with countless small businesses and Fortune 500 employers right here in town. We are home to Virginia’s most engaged and hard-working citizens. But more importantly, if the last few months have proven anything, it’s that we look out for each other in times of need–I am proud to be your neighbor.

You can learn a little bit more about me, my family, and my commitment to bringing Herndon together by visiting www.ClarkHedrick.com. And I want to hear from you so please connect with me on social media either at Facebook (@herndontogether) or Twitter (@clarkhedrick). I’d be honored if you voted for me, Clark Hedrick for Town Council on November 3rd.

Photo via Clark Hedrick

As COVID-19 continues to change the local and global landscape, several Town of Herndon restaurants are seeking to continue offering outdoor dining on town property for the remainder of 2020.

The Town of Herndon is considering a proposal to extend outdoor dining permits for six local restaurants and a bike shop through the end of November. The following restaurants are expected to continue offering outdoor dining on town property:

• Mile 20 at Mediterranean Breeze
• Red Kimono
• Russia House Restaurant
• Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern
• Sully’s Pour House
• Zeffirelli Ristorante Italiano
• Green Lizard Cycling

The businesses have been using town sidewalks, private property and town parking lots to allow for outdoor dining.

The council first approved the outdoor permits for 100 days in July.

The council will meet tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7 p.m. to discuss the measure. An ordinance to continue revised governmental operations due to the pandemic is also on the meeting’s agenda.

Photo via Sully’s Pour House/Facebook

The Town of Herndon is working to secure an agreement to ensure the proper use of a substantial COVID-19 grant from the federal government.

In order to keep a $4.3 million grant from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) act, the Herndon’s Town Council must approve an agreement that outlines proper uses and reporting procedures.

The funds needed to be used for “necessary expenditures due to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus disease,” according to town documentation.

Herndon received the money from the CARES act in late April, but would theoretically have to pay it back unless the council signs a “sub-award agreement” with Fairfax County, the town attorney said at a council work session on August 4.

“This agreement specifies the amount awarded to the town and lays out the terms under which specific funding uses and reporting requirements and other procedures are to take place,” the attorney said.

Funds were allocated to localities based on population from the 2019 Census, town documentation said.

According to a council member at the meeting, Herndon received the relief money quickly compared to other Virginia jurisdictions.

“There are still jurisdictions in the Commonwealth that are struggling to get funding of any sort,” the council members said, adding that it only took a “quick” email from Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay to receive assistance.

Next week, the town council is expected to approve the agreement with Fairfax County, according to a recommendation from the town’s attorney.

Image via Town of Herndon

Several businesses in the Town of Herndon can soon take advantage of outdoor dining space on town property.

The Herndon Town Council is considering a proposal to approve the use of town property and public right-of-way for temporary outdoor dining. The proposal heads to the council for a vote tomorrow (Tuesday).

Although restrictions on indoor dining have been lifted, the businesses are seeking space to expand their operations on town property. Previously, the town streamlined its temporary approvals process for outdoor dining on private property.

Here’s more from Lisa Yeatts, the town’s attorney:

Under standard town procedures, requests for a License to use the town sidewalks, streets or parking lots, must be approved by the Town Council after a public hearing causing the entire process to take several months before a License is issued. In order to expedite the process established Phase I Temporary Outdoor Dining Permits, the Town Council amended Ordinance 20-O-23, Continuity of Governmental Operations during Pandemic Disaster (COVID-19), as amended, on May 26, 2020 by Ordinance 20-0-30, authorizing the Town Manager to approve and sign instruments necessary to address the phased reopening of the town. Such instruments are subject to final consideration and ratification by the Town Council at its next available Public Hearing

Seven business plan to expand outdoor dining:

• Green Lizard Cycling
• Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern
• Mile 20 at Mediterranean Breeze
• Red Kimono
• Russia House Restaurant
• Sully’s Pour House
• Zeffirelli Ristorante Italiano

The council meets tomorrow at 7 p.m. Other items on the agenda include discussion on federal funding due to COVID-19 and restructuring the town’s debt.

Photo by George Nikolopoulos

The roster of candidates for Herndon Town Council and mayor have been finalized for the Nov. 3 election.

Sheila Olem, the town’s current vice mayor, is running against Roland Taylor for mayor. Longtime mayor Lisa Merkel said she no will not seek reelection earlier this year. Merkel, the town’s first female mayor, was elected to the position in 2012.

A total of ten candidates are seeking six seats for the 2021-2022 term, including incumbents Cesar del Aguila, Pradip Dhakal, and Signe Friedrichs. The new candidates are Clark Hedrick, Syed Iftikhar, Sean Reagon, Naila Alam, Bessie Denton, Stevan Porter, and Jasbinder Singh.

Election Day is on Nov. 3. Polling locations for town council elections overlap with locations for the national election.

Stay tuned for op-eds from each of the candidates in the coming weeks.

After revisions to its previous proposal, the Herndon Town Council formally adopted its budget for FY2021 this week.

The $61 million budget was scaled back to adapt to economic fluidity and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The town’s taxes and fees, including real estate and meals taxes, remain changed. But the town’s recycling fee doubled from $8 per quarter to $16 per quarter.

Unlike previous budgets, the document includes $11.5 million in immediately sequestered funds, $5.5 million of which will be attributed to the town’s general fund. Overall, the FY2021 budget allocates $38.8 million for the general fund.

Sequestered funds can be spent if the town achieves its revenue targets through the fiscal year. But if revenues fall below projections, the town may need to consider reductions in personnel costs.

 “While the adopted General Fund budget is $38.8 million, in practice it will be considered a $33.3 million budget,” said Mayor Lisa Merkel. “Sequestered funds may only be released if and when identified targets are met. This gives us latitude to adapt to the unstable and uncertain fiscal environment we are in. It also gives us the best chance to maintain our exceptional workforce.”

The adopted budget will be posted on the town’s website by July 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.

Photo via Herndon Town Council/Zoom

The Town of Herndon is proposing to double recycling fees, which are paid quarterly, from $8 to $16.

The Herndon Town Council will consider the proposal at a meeting tonight (Tuesday). The fee was last increased 2019 from $4 to $8 per quarter.

But since then, the recycling industry has suffered dramatic changes.

“Commodity prices are no longer as they once were and processing costs have continued to increase, while tonnages have either remained the same or increased,” Tammy Chastain, deputy director public works, wrote in a memo.

If approved, the increase would offset roughly 83 percent of recycling costs that the town bears. Currently, the recycling fee only covers 42 percent of the cost of recycling.

The fee increase would go into effect on July 1.

Photo via Patricia Valerio/Unsplash

Prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, the Town of Herndon’s revised budget for the next fiscal year proposes a half-a-million-dollar cut from the original proposal.

The $38 million proposal eliminates a planned one-cent increase in the real estate tax, a projected increase of $100,000 in revenues from the Business, Professional ad Occupational License tax, and pay increases for town staff.

Herndon Town Manager Bill Ashton II is also calling on the Herndon Town Council to immediately sequester $5.5 million that can be spent when the town achieves revenues targets int he next fiscal year.

Overall, however, the budget is not materially different from the original proposal. 

Ashton noted that the uncertain pace of economic recovery and lack of data on projected revenues creates an “extremely fluid” economic environment. If revenues fall below projections, the town will consider exploring reductions in personnel costs, the town’s largest spending category by far.

Here’s more from Ashton II on the updated plan:

“The shortcoming of this proposal is that it does not directly consider how significant changes to the economy will affect the town’s revenues moving into, and through, FY 2021. The problem with creating such a forecast is that we have limited data to support creating assumptions on which to build these projections. If we were to establish projections based on the small data sampling we have today, we would be forced into significant personnel reductions in this budget. Such reductions would cause the town to incur additional costs and would be difficult to unwind should the revenue situation materialize better than expected. “

He also noted that the town’s budgeting approach will keep the town from “over-committing in its response to a worst-case scenario,” allowing the town to adapt to a changing economic climate in the post-COVID-19 world.

A work session on the budget is set for May 5, followed by public hearings on May 12 and May 26. All meetings, which begin at 7 p.m., will be held online. In addition to comments at meetings, residents can submit comments online or by emailing [email protected].

Town of Herndon residents and businesses now have more time to file real estate property and transient occupancy taxes.

The Herndon Town Council approved two measures at a meeting earlier this week to extend due dates due to financial hardship created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first installment payment for real estate property taxes is due on August 28 instead of July 28. Transient occupancy taxes shifted based on the following schedule

• March 20 payments are now due on June 20
• April 20 payments are now due on July 20
• May 20 payments are due on August 20
• June 20 payments are due on August 20

If individuals are having trouble filing a meals tax return or paying the meals tax before the 20th day of the month, the town encourages residents to contact the county’s finance director at [email protected] for help.

Councilmember Cesar del Aguila voted against the extension for transient occupancy taxes, the financial burden of which he said would likely be absorbed by the parent companies of local hotels at the expense of delayed revenue for the town.

Image via Town of Herndon

Like other jurisdictions across the country, the Town of Herndon is shifting to essential and core services, according to town manager Bill Ashton.

At an online Herndon Town Council meeting yesterday (Tuesday), Ashton said that the town ‘s top priority is continuing essential services like police, water and sewer, road networks, and public safety.

“Our focus has been on the continuity of core services throughout this crisis and beyond so that we have the ability to serve the community,” he said.

The town is encouraging staff to telework when possible. Staff who must interact directly with the public are practicing social distancing measures and taking protective measures.

“We just want to make sure that we are staffed to meet these needs,” Ashton said.

The town has also suspended hiring unless related to public safety and frozen capital expenditures unrelated to grant-funded projects. Private home visits are also restricted unless they are related to public safety. A moratorium is in effect on overtime as well.

The council is also considering plans to delay real estate tax due date to August 28 and delay transit occupancy taxes for hotels

Photo via Town of Herndon/Facebook

(Updated to remove information about the statutory deadline)

As the U.S. experiences an economic downturn as a result of COVID19, Town of Herndon officials plan to revise the previously proposed budget for fiscal year 2021.

Herndon Town Manager William Ashton II recently decided that the budget  is no longer fitting for the town’s needs, according to a press release.

The budget will require “comprehensive changes” before a new draft is presented to the town council and public, the press release said.

To give everyone time to rethink the budget and make essential changes to the plan, Ashton suggested that required public hearings for the new budget be scheduled for May 12 and May 26, according to the press release.

“This gives staff time to adjust anticipated revenues, which are already significantly impacted by the pandemic,” Ashton said in the press release. “As a result, we expect comprehensive changes in our anticipated expenditures. Many of the assumptions in the current proposed budget are no longer valid.”

Typically, the town must adopt a budget prior to June 30, according to the press release, which added that the fiscal year typically begins on July 1.

Photo via Herndon Town Council/Facebook