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6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Boards and Commissions: Annual Reports and Discussions, Part 1
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BACKGROUND SUMMARY:
In 2024, the Town Council decided to hold annual Work Session discussions with the Town’s appointed boards and commissions. The first set of those discussions were held from the late summer of 2024 through the early winter of 2025.
During the new fiscal year (FY25-26), the Town Council elected to have the annual discussions be more concentrated, rather than over the course of many months; and to have them in advance of Town Council Operating Budget work sessions. Doing so in this manner would allow the Town Council to consider any input from the boards and commissions during its budget deliberations.
OVERVIEW:
This set of Work Session discussions will be held over two meetings, with the following boards and commissions:
• Conservation and Sustainability Commission (CSC)
• Transportation Safety Commission (TSC)
• Board of Architectural Review (BAR)
• Planning Commission (PC)
• Town Business Liaison Committee (TBLC)
• Windover Heights Board of Review (WHBR)
The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is not included in these discussions because it is a quasi-judicial body whose members are, technically, appointed by the Fairfax County Circuit Court after receiving recommendations from the Vienna Town Council. Its role is to make decisions based on criteria established in the Town Code, under parameters established in State law.
The Vienna Public Arts Commission (VPAC) is not included because it is not currently functional.
Also not included in these presentations are subcommittees that report through Commissions. The activities of those subcommittees can be communicated through the Commissions.
The Chair of each board and commission is invited to make a 5-minute presentation on key points regarding the body that s/he represents, with a focus on key accomplishments of the past year and key initiatives for the coming year. Presentations are accompanied by annual reports, which are attached.
For the October 20, 2025, work session, the Town Council will hear presentations from the CSC and TSC. The CSC Annual Report is included as Attachment 1. Attachment 2 is a semi-annual report from the Tree Advocacy Committee (TAC), which is a sub-committee of the CSC.
The TSC Annual Report is included as Attachment 3. That report includes activities of its subcommittees, the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) and the Pedestrian Advisory Committee PAC).
The other four bodies will present and hold discussions with the Town Council at its November 17, 2025, Work Session.
SUMMARY/STAFF IMPRESSIONS:
This annual discussion is an opportunity for the Town Council to discuss directly with Chairs of Boards and Commissions their activities of the past year, as well as their intentions and plans for the coming year. It may be a good time for the Town Council to express their wishes for areas of focus by the Boards and Committees, and for the Chairs to express concerns or recommendations to the Town Council.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the Town Council hear 5-minute presentations from Chairs of the CSC and TSC and then hold an open dialog regarding priorities and initiatives for the coming year.