City Reports Revenue Gains for FY 2011, Increased Fund Balance

By GEORGE BROMLEY
Falls Church Times Staff

September 20, 2011

Falls Church CFO Richard La Condre advised the City Council yesterday evening that revenues for FY 2011 (July 2010 – June 2011) exceded estimates by $2.2 million.  He attributed the gain to increases in sales tax revenues, business licenses, and personal property and real estate taxes.

The higher revenues, combined with lower than anticipated expenses and unexpended grants, result in an increase of the City’s fund balance from by $4.1 million to $6.759 million.  The new balance is 10.2% of revenues.  The City’s goal is to raise the fund balance to its policy level of 12%.

La Condre said that he is cautiously optimistic, but that the surplus doesn’t necessarily translate into an economic turnaround.  The CFO estimated that inter-jurisdictional costs soon would increase 5% and contractor and utility costs 3%.

City Manager Wyatt Shields said that puts Falls Church in a “solid position” for the current fiscal year, but that FY 2013 is more uncertain.  He recommended devoting the gains to fund balance restoration.

Five Wards or Three?

The Council continued its discussion of a propsed ordinance that would reduce the number of voting wards from five to three.  Registrar David Bjerke and Board chair Margarette Shovlin briefed on the proposal, which was introduced at the September 6 work session.

The plan would close the Scout House (Ward 3) and the American Legion Hall (Ward 5) and leave the remaining wards with nearly equal numbers of registered voters.  Mr. Bjerke noted that since his staff is limited it would be more efficient to manage three wards, especially in case of an emergency, such as the recent earthquake on primary day.

While Thomas Jefferson School (Ward 1), Oakwood Apartments (Ward 2), and the Community Center (Ward 4) have good climate control, the Scout House does not, making it difficult for officials working a 16 hour day.  The building is also small, which sometimes forces voters to wait in lines outside the building.

Vice Mayor Dave Snyder said that he would like the public to receive more information on the proposal and recommended holding a town hall meeting before any action is taken.  Mayor Nader Baroukh and Councilwoman Robin Gardner concurred.  The mayor said that managing fewer wards makes sense, but stressed the need for a comprehensive implementation plan.

The City currently has 8,500 registered voters.  Virginia Code allows up to 5,000 in a single ward.  Ms. Shovlin said that around 3,700 Falls Church voters would be affected if the plan is approved.

Motorcycles May be Coming to FCPD

Police Chief Harry Reitze briefed the Council on a proposed ordinance that would allow the use of police-seized assets to purchase a motorcycle, a storage shed, and necessary equipment. The motorcycle would be used for traffic enforcement and calming and emergency response.  A second motorcycle may be obtained through a federal grant.

In response to a councilman’s question the chief said that the motorcycles used by the Sheriff Department are owned by individual deputies, so they cannot not be shared with the police.

Fiscal Policy Changes

The Council discussed a proposal that would update the City’s fiscal policies.  The most significant change calls for maintaining an unassigned fund balance of 17% of expenditures.  The proposal also recommends establishing capital reserves for the General Fund and the Water Fund.

A total of $10.5 million would be required for the reserves, $7.5 million for the General Fund, at the rate of $1 million per year beginning in FY 2013, and $3 million for the Water Fund in FY 2016.

Mr. Shields said that the objective is to move away from the happenstance of funding the Capital Improvements Program based on the status of the fund balance.  Mr. Snyder countered that he was concerned that the reserves would be built up only to be raided for something else.

Crime Report for September 13 – 19

By FALLS CHURCH POLICE DEPARTMENT

September 20, 2011

NOTE: This report is not a definitive list of all criminal activity and is subject to change upon investigation.

Larceny from Building, 201 N. Washington St. (Kaiser Permanente).  On Sept. 13, victim reported unknown suspect(s) stole a large dismantled stainless steel cage from a loading dock sometime between Sept. 9 and Sept. 12.

Larceny from Building, 6763 Wilson Blvd. (Planet Fitness).  On Sept. 13, unknown suspect(s) stole personal property from three victims by cutting the locks on their lockers sometime between 6 p.m. and 7:10 p.m.

Public Drunkenness, 1000 block W. Broad St.  On Sept. 13, a Falls Church man was arrested for Public Drunkenness.

Possession of False ID, 200 block Douglas Ave.  On Sept. 15, an officer conducted a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation.  The driver was wanted in both Fairfax and Arlington Counties for Failure to Appear in Court.  The driver also had a fictitious driver’s license in his possession.  A 22 year old Alexandria man was arrested for Possession of False ID.

Driving Under the Influence, 7100 block Leesburg Pike.  On Sept. 15, an officer conducted a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation.  The driver, a 23 year old Fairfax man, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

Graffiti, 200 and 300 blocks N. Cherry St.  On Sept. 15, graffiti was found on the street with white spray painted lettering and drawings.

Driving Under the Influence and Refusal to Submit to Blood or Breath Test, 6700 block Wilson Blvd.  On Sept. 16, an officer conducted a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation.  The driver, a 25 year old College Park, MD man, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Refusal to Submit to Blood or Breath Test.

Larceny of Vehicle Parts and Destruction of Property, 1101 W. Broad St. (FC Auto).  On Sept. 16, unknown suspect(s) cut a convertible’s top and stole several of its parts sometime overnight.

Stolen Vehicle, 1101 W. Broad St. (FC Auto).  On Sept. 16, unknown suspect(s) stole a black 2007 Honda S2000 convertible sometime overnight.  Vehicle was recovered in Montgomery County, MD on September 17.

Larceny from Building, 400 block S. Maple Ave.  Sometime between September 8 and 16, unknown suspect(s) cut a chain linking two unsecured bicycles in a parking garage and took one of the bikes.

Graffiti, 300 block Sycamore St.  On Sept. 16, graffiti was found on trash left for pick up.

Graffiti, 6609 Wilson Blvd. (Vietnam Supermarket).  On Sept. 16, graffiti was found on a wall with black marker lettering.

Graffiti, 400 Roosevelt Blvd. (Shurgard Self-Storage).  On Sept. 16, graffiti was found on a wall with black marker lettering.

Urinating In Public, 6757 Wilson Blvd. (Eden Center).  On Sept. 17, a 36 year old Falls Church man, was arrested for Urinating in Public.

Drug Violation, 400 block S Maple Ave.  On Sept. 17, an officer conducted a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation.  A 21 year old Woodbridge man and a 19 year old Occoquan man, were arrested for Possession of Marijuana.  A 19 year old Lorton woman was arrested for Underage Possession of Alcohol.

Smoking Violations, 6757 Wilson Blvd. (Hoa Vien Quan).  On Sept. 18, a 36 year old Silver Spring man, was arrested for Smoking in a Non-Smoking Area.

Public Drunkenness and Drinking In Public, 6700 block Wilson Blvd.  On Sept. 18, a 42 year old Alexandria man, was arrested for Public Drunkenness and Drinking In Public.

Driving Under the Influence, 6800 block Wilson Blvd.  On September 18, en-route to assist with another call, the officer observed a vehicle with severe front end damage and deployed airbags resting by a damaged guard rail.  A 24 year old Bethesda man, was arrested for Driving under the Influence.

Driving Under the Influence, 300 block E. Broad St.  On Sept. 18, an officer stopped a car being driven with a flat tire.  A 28 year old Falls Church man, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Refusal.

Larceny – Theft From Building, 300 block Lincoln Ave.  Unknown suspect(s) took victim’s personal property sometime between mid-June and Sept. 18.

Driving Under the Influence, 7100 block Leesburg Pike.  On Sept. 19, a 30 year old Sterling man, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence.  An unidentified passenger was arrested for Appearing Drunk in Public.