President Mark McConn called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.

Council Members:

Lewis Grimm – 2nd Vice President, Franklin Farm Foundation

Jay Johnston – Treasurer, Virginia Run

Priscilla Knight – Secretary, Sully Station II

Larry Leeds, Brookfield Civic Association

Bob Lerch, Rocky Run

Mark McConn – President, Bull Run

John E. Moore, Brookfield Civic Association

Jeff Parnes – 1st Vice President, Chantilly Highlands Homes Association

Presenters:

Sgt. Robert Alessi, Fairfax, Virginia State Police

PCA Peter Katinsky, Sully District Station, FCPD

PFC R. Wayne Twombly, Fair Oaks, FCPD

Lt. Col. James Whitley, Chief Deputy Operations, FC Sheriff’s Office

Keith Martin, Tramonte, Yeonas, Roberts & Martin, PLLC

Nadim Malik, home developer

Guests:

Mary Ann Cannon, Rep. Frank Wolf

Bonnie Hobbs, CentreView

John Litzenberger, Sully Planning Commissioner

• PCA Peter Katinsky Crime Prevention Officer, Sully District Station
  • Officer Katinsky reported on crime in the last year in the Sully District. He said Sully is one of the “slowest” stations crime-wise of the eight stations in Fairfax County. The biggest problem is property crime, such as the gold burglaries, and larceny, items stolen from vehicles. The gold burglars admitted coming from New York because they had learned that Fairfax is a county with rich residents.
  • Officer Katinsky said it’s surprising how many people leave laptop computers, GPSs, cash, wallets, etc. in unlocked cars. The police caught teenagers who were stealing just for fun; it was easy.
  • In the Sully District, there continues to be assaults and domestic violence, but the number of sex offenses dropped in half last year, including forcible rape and exposure.
  • The first homicide in Fairfax occurred in January in the Sully District. The murderer turned himself in at the police station.
  • Drunk-while-intoxicated cases dropped from 286 in 2010 to 83 in 2011.
• PFC Wayne Twombly, Crime Prevention Officer, Fair Oaks Station
  • Officer Twombly said the Fair Oaks station is even slower, crime-wise, than the Sully station. The crimes and percentages are very similar. Fraud cases, especially involving elderly victims, are rising. Larceny of trucks is up; criminals are stealing tools.
  • Fairfax Police have no traffic jurisdiction in the City of Fairfax, but they do in the towns of Vienna and Herndon. They may interact when a felony has been committed.
• Lt. Col. James Whitley, Chief Deputy of Operations, Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office
  • Lt. Col. Whitley provided some history of the sheriff’s office. He said in 1940 the County’s Sheriff’s Office needed help with the growing population. Therefore, the Fairfax County Police Department was established.
  • Today, the Sheriff’s Office has about 600 employees; a quarter are women. The workforce is diverse. Fairfax County’s court system has 36 sitting judges and 85 deputies. It has one of the largest jails in the state.
  • Like the police, officers in the Sheriff’s Office train at the police academy. They receive additional training on handling prisoners.
  • The laws of enforcement for police actually come from the Sheriff in each jurisdiction. Only once has a sheriff in the state dismissed the police in his county. That ended after the State Police arrested him and his entire staff for criminal activity.
  • The Virginia Department of Justice estimates there is about 20 percent recidivism of criminals. About 70 percent of people in jails have drug problems; the Sheriff’s Office tries to help them. At least 16 percent of inmates are mentally ill. Every U.S. jail has become in recent years the largest mental health facility in their region.
• Sgt. Robert Alessi, Fairfax, Virginia State Police
  • Sgt. Alessi said the Virginia State Police work to control traffic on I-66, the Dulles Toll Road, I-95, I-395, the I-495 Capital Beltway, and other state and interstate highways in the Commonwealth. They assist local and federal law enforcement departments and agencies. All 1,800 troopers have jurisdiction in all Virginia counties, and they can pursue traffic violators into every adjoining state except Kentucky. The State Police make recommendations to VDOT about speed limits.
  • Currently, the State Police are working on better ways to control speed on I-66. Sgt. Alessi said they are, in particular, trying to solve traffic problems on the entrance and exit ramps at the Rt. 28 and I-66 intersection. Troopers see a lot of drivers making improper lane changes across solid lines to cut in line while going east on I-66 and taking the Rt. 28 exit going north. Drivers are subject to tickets for reckless driving because they know to wait in line to make the exit. The sergeant said the State Police are recommending that the ramps be extended to facilitate traffic.
  • Mr. Johnston and Mr. Parnes said where Rt. 123 and Rt. 50 merge onto I-66 there needs to be a better sequence. VDOT should have more signs that explain how to merge.
  • The state government wants accidents moved off of roads as soon as possible, but the State Police need to see vehicle placement and evidence. They hope to have new technology that will expedite accident investigations.
  • I-66 has “Smart Lane” sensors under the pavement and the red crosses and green arrows change when the sensors detect vehicles stopping or slowing. The State Police will meet on Jan. 26 to discuss the Variable Speeds Project.
  • The law in Virginia says a driver shouldn't be in the left lane unless he or she is passing or turning left. Also, if traffic on the right is going faster than a driver in the left lane, he could get a ticket.
  • Another frequently violated law says drivers who see an emergency or VDOT vehicle alongside the road MUST move into the left lane unless there is too much traffic. If they can't safely change lanes, they MUST slow down below the speed limit. Judges are giving $1,000 fines for this violation. Blatant disregard for public safety gets the State Police’s attention first.
  • Sgt. Alessi reported that the Beltway road work should be completed in November, but VDOT will begin working in April on I-395 improvements.
• Gangs

  Virginia has done a good job of getting the gangs out of the state, but some of them are leaving urban areas and going to rural counties that have small police departments. Gang members have also gone to Maryland. The Gang Task Force is multi-jurisdictional, which helps the police track gangs.

• Illegal Immigrants

  Prince William County has gone after illegal immigrants, but Arlington has been more tolerant. Fairfax has taken the middle approach. Mr. McConn said some people complain about being uncomfortable in Centreville’s shopping centers where men are waiting for work. Note: the day labor site is open.

• Traffic Concerns near Bull Run Post Office Road and Lee Highway

  Mr. McConn noted that there are major traffic problems at Bull Run Post Office Road and Rt. 29 when Bull Run Park has big concerts and the Festival of Lights. The officers said overtime police are hired by event organizers and do what they are hired to do. Mr. McConn will meet with the Park Authority next week to discuss the concerns.

• SDC members asked about trucks coming from the quarry overloaded. State Police, funded by federal funds, and Fairfax County Police enforce laws regarding overloaded trucks. Terry Licklider is the State Police officer in charge.
• Mrs. Knight recommended visiting the emergency response center on Ox Road. Mr. Parnes said he will set up a visit.
• Fairfax Police will allow ride-a-longs so citizens can see what it’s like to be on patrol. The FCPD has a training auxiliary program for volunteers to direct traffic and perform minor duties.

1. 9:00
   • Proponent: Keith C. Martin, Tramonte, Yeonas, Roberts & Martin, PLLC, for Nadim Malik
   • Action: Variance VC 2011-SU-013 to subdivide 2+ acre parcel
   • Location: Ashburton Ave, Oak Hill, Virginia 20171
     Variance to subdivide 2+ acre parcel on Ashburton Ave. into two 1+ acre lots with 1 lot with required 150’ width and the other with 76’ width (the variance)
     Mr. Keith Martin from Tramonte, Yeonas, Roberts & Martin, PLLC, representing Mr. Nadim Malik, presented a zoning application for a variance to subdivide a two-plus acre parcel at Ashburton Avenue and Saffron Drive in Oak Hill. One of the acre lots will have a 150-foot width. The other needs a variance for just a 76-foot width. Ashburton Manor supports the application and wants to annex the two lots, see their Statement of Support from their Board of Directors. Mr. Malik has not met the “hardship” provision. The lot meets the shape factor and the County Staff like the idea of removing the driveway going to Ashburton Avenue for safety reasons.

     The SDC voted that it has no objection to the application for a variance.

• The Interstate 66 Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement I Citizen-information meetings are January 31 and February 2.
• The Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations is still accepting nominations for Fairfax County 2011 Citizen of the Year
  See the January agenda for more details concerning both items.

• Mr. McConn discussed a bill Delegate Tim Hugo introduced regarding disciplining Fairfax County students.
• Ms. Knight asked members who are NOVEC customers to contact their delegates to urge them to vote against HB 1186, which would have the probable consequence of increasing electric rates for electric cooperative customers in Virginia.
• Mr. Leeds talked about snow emergencies and shoveling roads. Mr. McConn suggested that Mr. Leeds call Delegate Hugo’s office to get help with VDOT.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

The next meeting of the Sully District Council will be on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, at the Sully District building on Stonecroft Road. The Fairfax County Public School staff and School Board representatives will present the FY 2013 school budget

Respectively submitted by,

Priscilla Knight
Secretary
Sully District Council