Arlington 2015 Budget – Proposed Bike/Ped cuts and ABAC asks

[Starduster]

Here is a link, explaining when and where: http://budget.arlingtonva.us/events/budget-public-hearing/

I was looking for an agenda. Couldn’t find it. Yet. And I think the deadline to register as a speaker passed at 5:00pm today.

Let me amend that- you *can* register to speak on the day of the meeting. Info here: http://countyboard.arlingtonva.us/meetings/speak-budget-tax/

[PotomacCyclist]

Nice job, dasgeh. I think the road safety message is much more effective coming from you, than if it was some moderately-aggressive “middle-aged guy in Lycra” or someone who appeared to be a “Lance wannabe.” Intentionally or not, your daughter seemed to steal the show. I was watching the expressions of the Board members faces. County Manager Barbara Donnellan was particularly taken by your daughter. Hopefully the Board members keep that image in mind and think of the effects of bike planning and programming on families and all potential bike users in the County. Sometimes the visual image can be more powerful than the spoken words. In this case, we had the visual image and the words.

[dbb]

Now is the opportunity to reinforce Gillian’s comments last night with another round of emails to the Arlington County Board

Something like:

As you heard in the hearing on Tuesday night, decisions to reduce funding for Bike Arlington and bike and pedestrian staff in the Department of Environmental Services will affect safety for families and children who are cycling for transportation and fitness as well as Arlington’s lower income residents who often rely on bicycles as their primary means of transportation.

Reductions to the Arlington bicycle programs would result in lost grant funds so the impact to an affordable transportation option in the county would be magnified.

Please reject the proposed budget cuts that would reduce Bike Arlington and the DES pedestrian and bicycle staff.

CountyBoard@arlingtonva.us

jfisette@arlingtonva.us

mhynes@arlingtonva.us

lgarvey@arlingtonva.us

jvihstadt@arlingtonva.us

wtejada@arlingtonva.us

[dasgeh]

Huge, huge, huge thanks to everyone who came out. And especially to Megabeth who sounded the call, and did lots of work behind the scenes. Having the support in the audience was key. Little birdies have said there is still some skepticism on the Board for the need for these funds, so every piece of support helps.

Mark and Edgar did excellent jobs framing the issue. I was happy to bat clean up, and completely take advantage of my toddlers and belly, you know, for a good cause. (I should have this belly for another 6 weeks or so, so if you know of any places that need the visual impact, let me know. Only half kidding).

And thanks for the kind words.

Oh, and did anyone else notice in the pre-speaker presentation (available here) that the Manager sneakily called the service reductions relevant to us “bike/pedestrian program” instead of “bicycle and pedestrian safety program” as the relevant line item has been called in at least the last 2 budget cycles (and this one up until last night). So at least they heard us calling them out for cutting “safety”…?

[PotomacCyclist]

The person who spoke about bikes being the only means of transportation for many in the Latino community was also helpful. I don’t think he posts on this forum, and I haven’t seen his name in WABA posts before. (Or maybe he has appeared and I just don’t remember it.) While some of his words got lost (as he didn’t put the microphone directly in front of his mouth), most of his message was clear. I think Board Member Walter Tejada was particularly concerned and interested in that testimony.

Members Mary Hynes and Jay Fisette seemed attentive to all the speakers. Unfortunately, it appeared that Member John Vihstadt did not always appear interested in much of the testimony from anyone, or he was having difficulty staying awake. Maybe that’s just his expression or it might reveal something about his official interests. He only perked up when members of the tourism or economic development boards spoke about the return on investment for promotion of tourism in Arlington County. He took notes then, but not for any other speakers. Member Libby Garvey seemed engaged at some times, but not as engaged at other times. I didn’t stay for the entire hearing, but I did listen to about 80 minutes of the speakers.

[Steve O]

@PotomacCyclist 112288 wrote:

The person who spoke about bikes being the only means of transportation for many in the Latino community was also helpful. I don’t think he posts on this forum, and I haven’t seen his name in WABA posts before. (Or maybe he has appeared and I just don’t remember it.) While some of his words got lost (as he didn’t put the microphone directly in front of his mouth), most of his message was clear. I think Board Member Walter Tejada was particularly concerned and interested in that testimony.

I believe that was Edgar Gil Rico. He is an LCI and WABA instructor; I’ve taught with him before and know him through the WABA instructors network. He was one of the panelists at the showing of BikeSwell, the movie, back in 2013 at the Cinema & Drafthouse. I would love to get him to come to the new advocacy organization meetings that just got going. He could be a key person to help connect us with the Latino community.

Sorry I wasn’t able to be there last night, but I’m pleased to hear that a lot of you were, and that the testimony by everyone was strong. Kudos to everyone who has worked hard on this issue. As dbb points out here, we need to keep the pressure on.

[PotomacCyclist]

Yes, I believe it was Edgar Gil Rico. Now that you mention it, I remember him from the BikeSwell screening too, but not by name. I see online that he has a graduate degree from the Copenhagen Business School, which might explain his interest in cycling. Or why he chose to go to school in Copenhagen.

[chris_s]

Another useful talking point: Arlington’s Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee opposes both the elimination of one bike/ped planner and the elimination of the $800,000 in decal fee money from the bike/ped safety program.

[chris_s]

Walter and Jay came out pretty strongly against the Bike & Ped position cut at the DES budget work session. Has anyone heard a similarly strong position out of Mary, John or Libby? If not, they are the ones we should focus on.

Also it sounds like the board didn’t discuss the Decal Fee reduction at the DES budget worksession because it will be discussed at the “Pay as you Go Capital” worksession on April 7th, so there is still time to get the board asking the right questions prior to that session.

[Starduster]

As dbb has remainded us, we need to follow up- pressure on.

If I may share what I wrote to the Board after the session. Not my best writing at close to midnight, but here ’tis…

“Thank you for listening to all of us at the budget hearing. This is an addendum to testimony regarding proposed reductions to bicycle/pedestrian programs.

I have lived in Arlington since 1985. I ride, and for a time during the 80s and 90s, my career allowed me to commute by bicycle. What I have observed is that it is currently so much easier and safer to ride than even 10 years ago. Much improved infrastructure which makes it easier for automobiles, pedestrians, and cyclists to coexist. Also, treatment of the bicycle as a legitimate transportation alternative- correction- *legitimate transportation choice*. I am proud that Arlington led by example- keeping bike routes usable for commuters by plowing them this past winter. The example is rubbing off elsewhere in the region. Even Tysons Corner, as car-centric as you can possibly be, has grown sidewalks for the first time. Their first bike lanes to follow soon. We’ve had great influence, great success. That doesn’t mean we can stop now.

Besides the collateral damage coming from cuts- loss of matching grant money, loss of staff, loss of opportunity, loss of growth, there will be increased costs elsewhere. It has been noted that an environment where it is safer for a child to walk or ride to school reduces the dependence on school buses, which take their own sizable chunk of the school system budget.

Something else to consider- the demographics of our changing and evolving Arlington. The young couple with the growing family who get around via cargo bikes… are not an anomaly. They are among the leading edge of 20-30-somethings who came here precisely so they can live without so much dependence on the internal combustion engine, with all its expenses. And unless something or someone makes them feel unwelcome, they *are* the future of Arlington. Oh, yes, they also vote.

I also have friends in the bike business who not only benefit from infrastructure that makes it easier and safer to ride, they generate tax revenue for Arlington. Yet another reason…”

Mr. Tejada is with us, I have no question of that. Mr. Vihstadt… is another matter. So, time to continue to lobby. I doubt any of us has the resources to “purchase” a politician. But we have something they will always want- our vote. You would be surprised how reactive a politician can be when he needs it to stay in office.

Here, for “Lobbying 101” reference and inspiration, are the people I run with, who get *results* without the “suitcases full of unmarked bills”- http://www.protect.org/lobby

[elbows]

@dasgeh 110441 wrote:

That’s what I meant by the powers that be. You can email the entire county board at once: Countyboard@arlingtonva.us and you can email countymanager@arlingtonva.us

I don’t think DES needs the prodding.

You may also want to mention to the manager that the bac should not be excluded when other boards are solicited for input, as happened this past December (all the other commissions were invited to give input about the budget – bac and pac were left out) (still haven’t heard back from my email on the topic).

And one more talking point:
-business look for walkable and bikeable communities for their office locations, as their workers, especially millenials, seek out offices in such places. Cutting bike services hurts arlington as a business location

Is there a date by which it is recommended that people write? (Sorry if I missed it.) I wrote, but am trying to encourage others to do the same.

[dasgeh]

@elbows 112961 wrote:

Is there a date by which it is recommended that people write? (Sorry if I missed it.) I wrote, but am trying to encourage others to do the same.

Two relevant dates remain:
April 7, the Board has a work session including “Pay-As-You-Go Capital”. That’s where the $800k elimination of the “bike and pedestrian safety program” would fall. Note that this program has been called the “safety” program for at least three budget rounds. It seems that in the past month, the Manager’s office has tried to drop “safety” out of the title, probably because the Board specifically asked her not to make cuts that would negatively impact safety. The projects funded by this program would certainly increase public safety (and public health, the other thing the Manager was not supposed to cut).

They adopt the budget on April 18*, so that’s really the last date that’s relevant. (Earlier documents said the 21st, but the schedule page says the 18th)

[dasgeh]

@elbows 112961 wrote:

Is there a date by which it is recommended that people write? (Sorry if I missed it.) I wrote, but am trying to encourage others to do the same.

And thanks!

[Powerful Pete]

So, the forum’s efforts appear to have had a positive effect – no cuts to bike/pedestrian programs in this year’s budget! Thanks to Dasgeh for informing and mobilizing and for everyone who chipped in with their help!

A happy Pete [biker and Arlingtonian]

Arlington County Board: No Tax Rate Increase in CY 2015

Board marks-up FY 2016 Budget, final vote April 21
Collaborated with APS to fully fund Schools
Increasing public safety funding
Increasing economic development funding
Funding internal auditor
Maintaining social safety net, bike-pedestrian programs

The Arlington County Board today indicated it will not raise property tax rates for Calendar Year 2015 when it adopts the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget on Tuesday, April 21. All five Board members indicated during the final budget work session that they will vote for no tax rate increase.

…[snip]

Artisphere to close, other cuts planned

The Board indicated that it will accept $2.6 million of the $4.1 million in proposed optional cuts offered by County Manager Barbara Donnellan when she unveiled her Proposed 2016 Budget in February. The largest of those cuts is achieved by closing Artisphere, the County’s critically acclaimed arts and cultural center in Rosslyn; conversion of Metrobus route 3A to ART service; redirection and transitional support for the 86-slot Kids in Action program located at Drew and Carver centers to APS Extended Day; and no expansion of the County’s urban agriculture offerings.

At the same time, the Board indicated that it will fully fund pedestrian-bike programs, the Fresh Aire environmental sustainability program and cluster care for seniors aging in place.

…[snip]

The Board responded to more than 1,000 comments made by the public in two public hearings, letters, emails, phone calls and comments submitted through the County website. The Board also held a series of work sessions on the Budget. At the 6:30 p.m. session of the April County Board Recessed Meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, the Board will hold its last public discussion on the FY 2016 Budget and vote on it. The Public Hearing on the Budget is closed and the Board will not be taking any further public testimony.

The FY 2015 Fiscal Year ends June 30, 2015.

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