Translate[Archived] Question # 55: Please provide budget comments submitted online regarding the FY 2021 Proposed Budget.
Question:
Please provide budget comments submitted online regarding the FY 2021 Proposed Budget. (Morgan Routt)
Response:
Comment # 8
To: Yon Lambert, Director, Dept. of Transportation & Environmental Services Bob Williams, Division Chief, Natural Resources Gloria Sitton, City Clerk and Clerk of Council Re: King Street corridor from 395 to Quaker Lane Da: March 5, 2020 I am the President of Fairlington Glen which borders Alexandria at the corner of King Street and Quaker Lane. Our residents shop and eat at the Alexandria establishments in Bradlee Center and Centre Plaza. We were delighted when the City decided to beautify Quaker Lane by installing plantings along the median near the King Street interchange. And we appreciate you keeping the plantings trimmed so they do not block visibility for cars and pedestrians entering Quaker Lane from 36th Street. We understand that the City is evaluating the need for storm water management and landscape improvements along the King Street corridor. Judging by the declining health of the trees in the median between 395 and Quaker Lane, improvements in soil, water disbursement, and plantings are definitely needed. The Glen has also noticed a decline in the health of our trees inside the fence along King Street over the past few years. As we are below the level of King Street, it is possible that water, winter chemicals, etc. may be draining down onto our property and adding to the deterioration of our trees. King Street is a major thoroughfare and deserves your highest consideration in resolving the storm water issues so landscaping improvements can commence. The condition and appearance of King Street is not only important to Fairlington residents but also to enticing people to shop at the Alexandria businesses along this main roadway.
Comment # 9
I live in Fairlington, and we are regular shoppers over at Bradlee Shopping Center. The stretch of property from Quaker Lane and I395 is in dire need of improvements. Stormwater management is a problem here – in the winter runoff collects in the ditches and looks bad, and in the summer the standing water is a source of mosquitoes. In addition, trash collects on the standing water and looks bad as well. The trees along the median also are in terrible shape – they look damaged or diseased. Stormwater management needs to be improved, and both for stormwater management and appearance, landscaping is needed – preferably with native trees, shrubs, and plants suited to this difficult location. I am writing to request that funding for improvements is included in the City’s operating budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP), as well as to request that the City work with grantors to secure grant funds to lower the costs.
Comment # 10
Currently, rainwater and snow melt from the King Street roadway and nearby areas run into ditches and low-lying areas that can be unsightly after large precipitation events. Pooled water catches and holds windblown trash. In warm weather, stagnant water in the ditches breeds mosquitos. Modern stormwater Best Management Practices can catch and filter rainwater, capture pollutants that would enter the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay, and greatly improve the appearance of this area. In addition, Route 7 in this area is a gateway to Alexandria. Don’t you want the city to put its best foot forward by making this area attractive? Please include funding in the budget to make this happen.
Comment # 11
Dear Mayor Wilson and Council Members: I am writing to comment on City Manager’s proposed annual operating budget for FY21 and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for FY 2021-2030. I respectfully request that the City of Alexandria provide funding to address long-delayed stormwater management and landscaping improvements along King Street from North Quaker Lane to I-395. Adequate funding should be provided in both the City’s operating budget and the CIP. Here is a quick description of the existing situation along King Street. Rainwater and snow melt from King Street and nearby areas runs into ugly ditches and low-lying areas that are unsightly after large rain/snow events. Pooled water catches and holds windblown trash. In warm weather, stagnant water in the ditches breeds mosquitos. The old, ugly stormwater ditches date from another time. Modern stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) can catch and filter rainwater and capture pollutants that would enter the Potomac and the Chesapeake Bay. BMPs would greatly improve the appearance of this area. Examples of BMPs can be seen at: https://chesapeakestormwater.net/training-library/stormwater-bmps/. Alexandria staff have made presentations in our community and have described the beautiful and effective stormwater structures that can be installed along King Street to solve the stormwater collection problems. The landscape along King Street is also in serious need of attention. Many trees along the roadway are badly damaged, stunted, or in poor health. This “western gateway” to Alexandria should be a beautiful urban landscape with large canopy trees and plantings of flowers and native plants. It should be an area the entire city is proud of. We are aware that the city plans to spend approximately 6.1 million on stream restorations of Strawberry and Taylor Runs. Spending far less, the city could improve stormwater management along King Street, capture stormwater runoff and the pollutants that enter Taylor Run, and make King Street a beautiful urban landscape. I invite you to work with residents and homeowner organizations in both Arlington and Alexandria to make the vision described above a reality. Working together we believe something truly beautiful can be accomplished. Thank you for considering my comments.
Comment # 12
Please seriously consider funding for storm water and landscape improvements along the King Street-from Quaker Lane corridor. It is ugly, desolate, neglected. Surely Alexandria can do better than to keep this blight on our landscape. It could become an attractive gateway to the West Alex development. Won't you beautify our neighborhood! And work with the concerned communities who support this initiative.
Comment # 13
I am writing to express the views of the Fairlington Citizens Association (FCA), the civic association that represents more than 7400 households in the City of Alexandria and Arlington County, on the City Manager’s proposed annual operating budget for FY21 and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for FY 2021-2030. We urge you to include adequate funding in the budget and CIP to address long-delayed stormwater management and landscaping improvements along King Street from North Quaker Lane to the I-395 intersection. The King Street corridor from Quaker Lane to the I-395 interchange, which includes the drainage ditch between King Street and the access road next to the Bradlee Shopping Center, suffers from poor drainage, frequent trash, and damaged tress. This area has previously been identified as a potential site for Right of Way retrofits as part of the City’s larger stormwater management plan. Rainwater from King Street and nearby areas runs into ditches and low-lying areas along King Street and the adjacent service road, collecting pollutants that ultimately make their way into the Chesapeake Bay. These ditches are unsightly after large rain and snow events. Pooled water catches and holds windblown trash. In warmer months, the stagnant water in the ditches breeds mosquitos. Technical staff from the City’s Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (DTES) have told us that best management practices for managing stormwater can be installed along King Street to catch and filter rainwater. These practices will remove pollutants that would otherwise enter the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay and they would greatly improve the appearance of this area. We understand that the main impediment to implementing this work is the fact that funding for it is not identified within the current CIP. The King Street corridor will also benefit from landscaping improvements. Many trees in the King Street median and along the roadway are damaged, overgrown with vines, or in poor health. (We appreciate the recent actions by staff to address some of the immediate issues.) This “western gateway” to Alexandria could be an especially beautiful urban landscape with large canopy trees and plantings of flowers and native plants. Fairlington residents have made several presentations before the Alexandria Beautification Commission asking that the city move forward with landscape improvements. The Commission was supportive but said it was powerless to propose beautification improvements until DTES determines if stormwater projects will be constructed in the area. We believe both stormwater and landscape improvements are needed. For several years, residents of Fairlington, joined by Fairlington area gardening organizations and homeowner associations, have worked to improve the appearance of this corridor, have invested considerable volunteer hours in picking up litter, and have communicated with City staff about the need for landscape and stormwater management improvements along this part of King Street. The effort to enhance this part of Alexandria’s boundary--and make it a more welcoming introduction to the City--has enjoyed significant citizen engagement. What it now needs are the financial resources to address the underlying drainage and landscaping issues. Accordingly, we respectfully ask that the operating budget and CIP program provide adequate resources to improve this important corridor. FCA believes that these King Street improvements could provide a model of good urban landscape design, integrating strong environmental practices with attractive landscaping. We stand ready to work with the City in implementing these strategies.
Comment # 14
I strongly oppose property tax rate increases at this point. I think the city should find place to saves rather than raise taxes. It’s a double hit - both increased assessments and an increased rate, all in one year. The money makes a difference even for high income people - that’s less money to eat out, shop, and spend in the local community. I can’t even imagine how oppressive this is to lower income people trying to hold onto houses they might have owned for decades, with rapidly increasing assessments. Also it can’t be ignored that many residents are over the $10,000 cap on federally deductible local taxes, so this money is also subject to federal income tax too. This city collects plenty of tax revenue, and will get more from new development and continuously increasing property values. I see no evidence of any efforts at fiscal restraint before determining a tax increase is absolutely necessary. I wish the city would prioritize lowering taxes (vehicle taxes too!) not raising them. We have a fine city with great services, but something has to give here or people will keep choosing to live in north Arlington instead of here. (Property tax rate there is 1.026% and they also have better schools and similar services.)
Comment # 15
I am writing to you as the President of Fairlington Mews Condominium Association. Our association borders King Street in Alexandria from intersection of S. Wakefield St. in Arlington to the entrance ramp of I-395 on the south side of the overpass. Our association recently spent over $60,000 to clean up the appearance of this area along the roadside. We removed an unsightly dying hedge, installed a new wooden fence to replace a chain link one and removed many pounds of trash hiding behind the hedge. We are currently maintaining the grass on the King Street side of our wooden fence and continuing to clean up litter thrown from cars along this area (even though that property belongs to the city of Alexandria) because we take pride in our neighborhood. I was disappointed to hear that the City Manager’s proposed annual operating budget for FY21 and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for FY 2021-2030 is not addressing this area along with the sections of King Street bordering Fairlington Arbor and Fairlington Glen all the way to Quaker Lane. I respectfully request that the City of Alexandria provide funding to address long-delayed stormwater management and landscaping improvements along King Street from North Quaker Lane to I-395. Adequate funding should be provided in both the City’s operating budget and the CIP. King Street East off of I-395 is heavily used by an ever-increasing population. We are also the first thing the tourists see as they travel east on King Street after getting off I-395 heading towards Old Town. The landscape along King Street needs some attention. Many trees along the roadway are badly damaged, stunted, or in poor health. Please consider improving the appearance of this area and let us know what we can do to help. Thanks for your consideration.
Comment # 16
As the economy craters, I am stunned by the City Council’s blithe disregard of the consequences of a tax increase for Alexandria residents with middle incomes. Please stop and reconsider. That you do not view a $400-500 per household tax increase to be significant indicates how out of touch you are with your constituents. The rise in property values only puts more money in your pocket if you sell and leave the city. I encourage you to explore addressing the educational needs of Alexandria children and youth by consolidating Alexandria’s school system with the larger and higher-performing Arlington or Fairfax County school systems. A municipality as small as Alexandria does not need its own school system, particularly when we get the outcomes we’ve been getting from Alexandria Public Schools. Consolidating our schools with those of Arlington or Fairfax County will save us money and better serve our children.
Comment # 17
Hello City Council Members - I am against a property tax increase for the next fiscal year. With the news that the home valuations went up considerably on Jan 1, 2020, the City is already seeing an enormous increase in tax revenue. Raising the tax rate on top of this seems greedy and highly questionable.