Statement of Jay Fisette Arlington

County Board

January 2, 2006

Organizational Meeting

Good morning to all, and congratulations to Chris as our new Chairman and to Paul as our Vice Chairman. You've outlined some interesting proposals for the coming year, and articulated an agenda that builds on much of the philosophy and successes of recent years. I look forward to working with you.

I also want to thank each of you for your assistance in 2005. We are only five, a small board by any standard. Our ability to communicate, to share our views, express our differences and move forward with our relationships and integrity intact is an important part of our success. I look forward to continuing to work together to make Arlington even better.

And I want to express my thanks to our outstanding professional staff who make us look good day in and day out.

I have no major new, costly initiatives to propose today - unlike past years where I have proposed WalkArlington, Walking Town Meetings, Community Bike Ride and E-Government initiatives. I will identify the key challenges that I believe face our community - along with several issues and projects underway that are of special interest to me.

Development/Urban Village

One year ago, I stated that the most important strategic issue facing us was “Managing the maturing of our vision as an urban community”, and that if we are to be a world-class urban community, we must continue to grow smart.

I suggested that we demand high quality projects with substantial community benefits. In 2005, through the Affordable Housing Roundtable, we reached broad agreement on the affordable housing contribution that accrues from new developments in Arlington. This is a substantial community benefit.

However, while most projects are high quality in many regards, I think we need help in getting the notable architecture we desire and deserve. We need to inject or integrate into our review process - at an early stage - a design review that helps us achieve this end.

The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process hit us in the gut in 2005, yet we delivered a stunning counter punch by protecting all the defense research jobs in Arlington. Still, Arlington will lose many DoD jobs over the next decade - and, as Chris has discussed, we must and will plan for this transition. We have an opportunity to usher in a physical renaissance in Crystal City and for Arlington to emerge as a more diversified and stronger economy in the long run.

Affordable housing remains our most intransigent challenge, and will consume much attention. I continue to believe that we are at a point where we should aggressively explore live/work units, granny flats, and English basements as affordable alternatives.

Finally, I was pleased with our initial efforts to develop policies and explore locations for permanent kiosks to house vendors in high pedestrian areas. Per the interim report presented to the Board last month, we can expect the first of these kiosks to rise in 2006. I am also glad to hear Chris' enthusiasm for this effort, along with his other small business initiatives. My thanks to the staff, Ballston Partnership, Clarendon Alliance and Rosslyn BID for their work on this.

Fiscal Responsibility/Infrastructure

On taxes and budget issues, I will continue to promote fiscal discipline and accountability in balancing responsible tax policies with needed public investments. Last year we were able to provide serious homeowner tax relief to those most in need through homeowner grants. This program should continue.

Here I have a warning: Our appetite for new capital projects must adjust to a shrinking stomach. For several years we have made correct and important decisions to invest in our aging infrastructure and to develop several new and important facilities. These one-time obligations were made at a time when interest rates were low overall - and of course Arlington's triple triple A bond rating allows us to borrow funds at the absolute lowest interest rates available.

However, with rising construction costs and limited bonding capacity, we will need to make difficult choices and say “no” to some appealing new projects.

I am proud of a little-noticed initiative in 2005 - the Board established a Committee on Program Performance which created a new program of third party, independent performance audits. We must continue to seek efficiencies and ensure value. I look forward to continuing to work on this committee and believe it will become increasingly useful and important as audits come forward.

Our revenue-sharing agreement with the School Board enshrines our commitment to public education and the recognition that our children represent our best hope for the future. I also recently met with the Teen Network Board and left feeling comfortable that I'll be well taken care of in the years ahead!

I do, however, believe that the County and Schools can still do better in coordinating our efforts and more efficiently investing community resources. We should re-invigorate our joint-use task force.

Regionalism

Arlington should continue to play a leadership role in regional issues - a role larger than our size would suggest. Later this month, I will become the Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and will use this opportunity to (1) further progress on integrating regional land use and transportation efforts, i.e. promoting general smart growth principles; (2) raise awareness and propose policies to deal with the impending energy crisis and the need for sustainable energy alternatives and conservation (Arlington will need to develop model practices ourselves); and (3) bolster regional emergency preparedness efforts.

Finally, I will continue to work on our newly established Community Rebuilding Partnership with Biloxi, Mississippi - as we initially support Habitat for Humanity's efforts to build homes for those who remain homeless from Hurricane Katrina.

Conclusion

Arlington is special. Not perfect, but darn good. I believe that we are living proof that solid, progressive values when combined with fiscal responsibility work.

Underpinning all our decisions, whether on the budget, development, regional or other issues, are a set of values and principles that are non-negotiable.

We are a model of “good, honest government”, we encourage broad participation in the decision-making and life of our community, and we respect and celebrate the differences among us. Ours is a community that revels in the tapestry of our differences - recognizing that these differences are a source of our community's strength.

As the world gets smaller, and as the world is challenged to live by its rhetoric, Arlington will continue to live these values in our decisions every day.

Thanks for your help….and Happy New Year.