Falls Church News Briefs: November 12 - 18, 2009 | Falls Church News-Press Online

Falls Church News Briefs: November 12 - 18, 2009

Wednesday, November 11 2009 17:56

F.C. to Utilize VML Insurance in Water Suit

Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields confirmed to the News-Press Monday that the City will utilize Virginia Municipal League (VML) insurance to cover the cost of its legal battle with Fairfax Water, greatly relieving the burden that would otherwise be placed on users of the Falls Church water system.

The VML initially denied the City's request to be covered under its insurance plan, but on Nov. 3 Arlington Circuit Court Judge Joanne F. Alper ruled in favor of the City's protest of that decision. Shields would not comment when asked if the City would now withdraw its settlement offer to Fairfax Water, which the News-Press learned was predicated in part on the prohibitive cost of carrying through the litigation. He said it remains unclear if the VML insurance covers only court costs, or also the damages, should there be any.

Chamber Forms Development "Action Task Force"

Citing the need to take a pro-active approach to generating new economic development in the current climate of economic downtown and stagnation, the board of directors of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce authorized chair Ralph Perrino to forge an "Action Task Force" aimed at agitating and inspiring new initiatives to bring business growth to the City. The group will urge City Hall and the Chamber, as a whole, to get behind efforts to find new opportunities for development, and simply not to hunker down and wait for the recession to end, said Carol Jackson, an appointee to the task force.

F.C. Council OK's Fiscal Advisory Group

After months of discussion, a greatly-modified plan to form a group of volunteer citizens with expertise in financial management and analysis was voted into being by the Falls Church City Council at its business meeting Monday. The concept was modified from a "Fiscal Advisory Committee" to "Long-Range Fiscal Working Group" and won a 6-0 vote, with Councilman Dan Sze abstaining. Sze cautioned that if the group does not work in concert with City officials, its impact could be "disastrous." Councilman Dan Maller said he is "skeptical, but hope I am wrong," noting that the School Board remains opposed to the concept and its implementation.

BJ's Begins Construction

BJ's Wholesale Club has done extensive land infill and is beginning construction on its large warehouse store in Wilson Boulevard, Rick Goff of the City of Falls Church Economic Development Office, reported Tuesday. He said that the store hopes to be open to the public by next May, and that it is expected to contribute a 12 percent boost to the City's sales tax revenues once in business.

Hollywood Video Closes F.C. Location

Hollywood Video's location at The Broadway, 510 W. Broad St., closed on Nov. 1, leaving the commercial component of the mixed-use project with only one tenant, Huong's restaurant. The Hollywood Video location was one of 450 out of a total of 2,900 video rental stores operated by the Movie Gallery to close recently.

F.C. Car Decals Display Deadline Nov. 15

The deadline for displaying new City of Falls Church decals on vehicles, indicating that personal property taxes due Oct. 5 were paid, is midnight on Sunday, Nov. 15, City Treasurer Cathy Kaye said this week in a statement to remind citizens.

VML Honors F.C. for Tree Planting 'Innovation'

The Virginia Municipal League (VML) has honored the City of Falls Church with an "Innovation Award" among cities of 10,000 to 30,000 population, it was announced at the F.C. City Council meeting Monday. The City's Neighborhood Tree Program has "branched out" to neighborhoods after over 500 trees were planted to fill the City's public rights of way in the last 12 years.