Subject:
Title
Boards, Commissions and Committees: Annual Reports and Discussions, Part 2, BAR and WHBR
Body
PURPOSE:
To hold annual discussions with boards and commissions to discuss priorities and initiatives.
KEY QUESTIONS:
1. What have been the key actions of each board/commission during FY 2025-2026?
2. What are expected activities and priorities of each board/commission for FY 2026-2027?
3. What areas of discussion or collaboration would be helpful between the Town Council and each board/commission?
BACKGROUND SUMMARY:
In 2024, the Town Council decided to hold annual Work Session discussions with the Town’s appointed boards and commissions. 2026 will be the third time that these discussions are held. Holding them in the autumn will allow the Council to get any input in advance of the next budget cycle.
OVERVIEW:
This set of discussions is scheduled to be held over three meetings: on October 19th, November 16th, and December 14th. The boards, commissions and committees who are presenting are as follows:
• Town Business Liaison Committee (TBLC)
• Planning Commission (PC)
• Board of Architectural Review (BAR)
• Windover Heights Board of Review (WHBR)
• Conservation and Sustainability Commission (CSC)
• Tree Advocacy Committee (TAC)
• Transportation Safety Commission (TSC)
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 committees that report through Commissions. The activities of those committees can be communicated through the Commissions.
The one exception to this approach is the Tree Advocacy Committee (TAC). Though Sec. 27-5 defines the TAC as a committee of the Conservation and Sustainability Commission (CSC), 27-5.7 states that the TAC shall “….report simultaneously to the CSC and to the Town Council at a joint session.” As such, after discussions with the Town Clerk, the Town Manager, and the Mayor, the TAC is included in this round of work sessions in the same evening as the CSC’s report.
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.
On October 19th, the TBLC and the PC presented and held discussion with the Town Council.
For the November 16, 2026, work session, the Town Council will hear presentations from the BAR and the WHBR. The BAR Annual Report is included as Attachment 1. The WHBR Annual Report is Attachment 2.
The TSC, CSC and TAC are scheduled to present and hold discussions at the Town Council Work Session on December 14th.
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 also 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 recommend that the Town Council hear 5-minute presentations from Chairs of the Board of Architectural Review and the Windover Heights Board of Review. Staff further recommend that the Town Council hold an open dialog regarding priorities and initiatives with the respective Chair after each presentation.