The Honorable Barbara Favola
Chairman, Arlington County Board
2100 Clarendon Boulevard Suite 300
Arlington, Virginia 22201

Subject: Arlington County Board Meeting Process

VIA FACSIMILE

Dear Ms. Favola,

At its December 21, 2004 Executive Board meeting, the leadership of the Arlington County Civic Federation reviewed the anticipated revisions to the County Board's meeting procedures. In the course of its deliberations, Federation Executive Board members expressed concerns about possible changes to meeting rules that might impact the public's ability to interact with the County Board and make their views known. After careful review, and further assessments by Civic Federation members who participated in the forums that discussed Board meeting issues, it was understood that the County Board would be adopting new rules and procedures at its January 1st, 2005 organizational meeting - a meeting at which public comment is not permitted.

Based on the information available, the Civic Federation's Executive Committee, acting on behalf of the general membership, passed the following motion:

"Be it resolved that the Executive Committee of the Arlington County Civic Federation urges the Arlington County Board to defer adoption of revised meeting rules and procedures until an opportunity is provided for full and open comment by the broader Arlington County public before the Arlington County Board in session, including residents and those employed or doing business in Arlington. Only after such open and interactive public discourse, in the highest traditions of the "Arlington Way" should the Board take action to modify such meeting rules."

Sincerely,


Patrick Smaldore,
President, Arlington County Civic Federation

cc: Arlington County Board

This page was last revised on: December 23, 2004.