eNews

General Assembly convenes for Special Session II

This report has been updated on Aug. 3, 2021

The General Assembly returned to Richmond today, August 2, to act on the budget amendments submitted by Governor Ralph Northam to appropriate federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds.  The Assembly will also address judicial appointments.

No one is sure how long the Assembly will be in town; unlike last summer’s marathon special session, this one is not open wide to introduction of an array of bills or multiple committees meeting.

House and Senate members were both briefed on the contents of the Governor’s proposed bill, HB 7001, carried by Delegate Luke Torian and Senator Janet Howell, the chairs of the House and Senate budget-writing committees.

You can see the House Appropriations budget briefing slides here, and a line-by-line outline of the bill’s contents here.

Both budget committees reported HB 7001 today and advanced them to the floor of each chamber, where they will be taken up tomorrow.

So what’s in the bill of interest or concern to local governments?

 

BROADBAND APPROPRIATIONS

SB7001 would allocate over $700M for broadband supported through the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI), the state’s grant process for broadband. Please note the criteria below:

“Applications must be submitted by a unit of government (Towns, Cities, Counties, Economic Development Authorities/Industrial Development Authorities, Broadband/Wireless Authorities, Planning District Commissions, School Divisions, etc.) with a private sector broadband provider as a co-applicant. Eligible projects must be owned and operated by the private sector coapplicant. Publicly owned networks are eligible for the program when partnered with a private sector co-applicant, so long as the private sector applicant is serving as the customer-facing internet service provider.”

The budget bill would allow the above criteria to be adjusted to reflect the U.S. Department of Treasury guidance.

An additional $16 million for the Line Extension Customer Assistance Program would support the extension of existing broadband networks to low- to moderate-income residents. Of this amount, $8 million would be made available in FY22 and the second half in FY22-23.

The bill also requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to deliver an annual performance review for each of these programs.

 

UTILITY DISCONNECTION MORATORIUM EXTENSION

The introduced budget (HB7001/SB1701) includes a provision on page 2 in section e. on “Utility Assistance” that appropriates $120 million of state ARPA funds to provide direct assistance to residential customers who have utility accounts that are more than 60 days in arrears. Provisions of this bill will require utilities to maintain separate funds

Members should be aware that the accounting requirements of this budget item will place a new and parallel burden on municipal and local utilities. Because utilities will be required to create a dedicated fund to receive and use funds members need to be aware that complying with this provision is in addition to previous utility disconnection reporting requirements contained in the budget passed by the General Assembly this winter. These provisions are in addition to other reporting requirements in the previous budget passed by the General Assembly during the 2021 regular session.

These funds will be disbursed by the State Corporation Commission (SCC) for utilities under SCC jurisdiction and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for utilities that are not subject to SCC regulation. The SCC and DHCD will develop a process for utilities to apply for funds which are to be awarded proportionately based on total residential utility customer arrearages as of 8/31/2021. Utilities that receive funds to manage customer arrearages must maintain a separate fund for ARPA COVID-10 Utility Assistance Funds and record how funds are used in accordance with applicable accounting standards. Funds may not be used for new deposits, down payments, fees, late fees, interest charges, or penalties.

Under this provision utilities may require an attestation that customers have endured a COVID-19 related hardship but are not required to do so. The budget language states any customer nonpayment of bills greater than 60 days dating from 3/12/2020 through the effective date of the budget act it is implied that these arrearages were incurred as the result of a financial hardship created by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is intended to provide utilities with a way to use these funds to assist customers directly and more simply than previous utility relief funds.

A survey will be conducted by DHCD and the SCC to determine the extent and amounts of any unspent CARES funding for utility customer arrearages as well as to determine outstanding customer arrearages as of 8/31/2021 for a report that will be submitted to the General Assembly by 11/1/2021. If funds appropriated are insufficient to cover the identified arrearages, then it is possible that the 2022 Regular Session General Assembly will appropriate additional funds for utility arrearages.

It is important to note that this language will extend the current utility disconnection moratorium, impose new records requirements on utilities while at the same time provide new funds that can be used without the extensive paperwork previous utility relief funds required by the CARES Act. If passed utility disconnections will be paused until 7/1/2022.

Members should be aware that this budget proposal would likely leave localities who provide utility services on a contract basis or through the bulk purchasing of electricity from incumbent utilities in a position where residential customers cannot be disconnected but a municipal utility may as a result be unable to cover accrued fines, penalties or fees that may have accrued. This budget language will potentially place a new fiscal burden on these local utilities.

 

ELECTRONIC MEETINGS

The budget bill indicates that, if a state of emergency is declared by the Governor in response to a communicable disease of public health threat, the previous budget language would apply, allowing electronic meetings to occur. In the meantime, meetings convened by or on behalf of the General Assembly, including working groups and advisory committees, may meet electronically to receive or discuss information, but not to take any formal action.

 

OVERTIME COMPENSATION

As you recall, Delegate Mullin offered HB2063 during the 2021 Special Session I, which the Office of the Attorney General has since confirmed would prevent both public and private employers from offering compensatory time in lieu of overtime. The budget bill includes the following language in an attempt to “fix” the issue:

“That for the purposes of the Virginia Overtime Wage Act §40.1-29.2 the terms “Wages” and 1047 “Pay” shall also mean overtime compensatory time in lieu of wages for overtime pay by public 1048 agencies as provided by the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. §207(o). Employees covered under 1049 29 U.S.C. §213(b)(10)(A) shall be exempt from the overtime requirements set out in Code of Virginia 1050 §40.1-29.2.”

However, there is also SB7002 (DeSteph) introduced which would repeal HB2063 – stay tuned!

 

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

There is funding for the state hospitals to help address the staffing retention and recruitment issues.  There is also $10 million for the current fiscal year to continue the expansion of community-based crisis services, including mobile crisis, crisis receiving centers and Marcus Alert activities.  An additional $20 million would be included in the biennial budget for these purposes.  That bill will be introduced in December.  While this is one-time funding, ARPA also provides an 85 percent enhanced federal matching rate under Medicaid to states that cover mobile crisis intervention services over a five-year period beginning in April 2022.  That covers Virginia under the Marcus Alert legislation passed in 2020.  Medicaid funding would not cover people not Medicaid-eligible, but the enhanced match would decrease the state’s funding obligation for those Medicaid-eligible individuals receiving such services for five years. 

 

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Funding of $11.01 million is given to the Compensation Board for a one-time hazard pay bonus of $1,000 for state-supported sworn officers of Sheriff’s Departments and Regional Jails.  Note that this is state-supported, not officers that are 100 percent locally-funded.  Also glaringly absent is any type of bonus pay or acknowledge of local police departments, which provide coverage for far more Virginians.

VML will keep you informed of the progress of the special session this week, and if necessary, beyond this week.

 

RESTAURANT / HOTEL APPROPRIATIONS (this section has been updated Aug. 3, 2021)

The COVID-19 pandemic forced individuals and families to stay indoors for over a year, with significant and ongoing implications for the tourism industry in the Commonwealth.

With over $14 billion lost in revenue in 2020, one in five restaurants permanently closing, and over 200,000 jobs lost with 90,000 still vacant, the tourism industry is hurting. To support the industry, the Virginia Restaurant Lodging Travel Association (VRLTA) asking the state for $291 million to provide aid to impacted businesses.

The budget allocates $250,000,000 to the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity for Rebuild VA.  Priority for these funds shall be given to qualifying applications received on or before June 30, 2021 for which a grant has not been awarded.  New applications will be taken to allocate any remaining balance; the Department shall prioritize funding for businesses in the hospitality and tourism industry that includes but is not limited to hotel and lodging establishments, restaurants, entertainment and public amusement venues. Funds for restaurants shall be exclusively reserved for restaurants that have not received federal assistance through the Small Business Administration’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund or loan forgiveness from the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program.

For more information please see the VRLTA Request.

 

In this issue:

FOIA

• FOIA Advisory Council meets

VML News

• New episode of VML Voice podcast now available
• VML Innovation Awards: Deadline to submit entries is August 16
• VML returns to in person events with successful Mayors Institute and Newly Elected Officials Conference
• 2021 Annual Conference: Business & Sponsor membership opportunities now available!

ARPA

• ARPA: Resources now available from the Commonwealth Institute

Marijuana

• Cannabis Authority Board members appointed; Director not yet announced

Elections

• Virginia Redistricting Commission names replacement citizen member

Education

• Crumbling School Tour sheds light on school modernization needs

Transportation

• Commonwealth Transportation Board scrutinizes locally administered projects during final summer meeting

Events & Opportunities

• Grants available for public open space projects, easement assistance
• DCJS hate crimes grants: FY 2022 Round II applications and webinar
• “Laser Assault and Threat Awareness for Public Safety” webinar coming July 28
• Resilient Virginia conference happening virtually August 25-27

 

FOIA

FOIA Advisory Council meets

On July 19, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Council met in person for the first time in over a year. During the meeting, the Council introduced Lola Rodriquez Perkins, the senior deputy city attorney for the City of Hampton and newest member of the FOIA Advisory Council. Appointed by the Senate Rules committee, Perkins will serve as a member of the Records Issues Subcommittee, FOIA Advisory Council, and as a representative for local government.

Following Ms. Perkins’ introduction, the Council addressed the subcommittee reports on HB2000, HB2196, and HB1997.

HB2000 (Roem) would change the cost of a FOIA request. Under the legislation, the first two hours of required to complete a FOIA request would be free of charge to the requester. Following the subcommittee report, HB200 was sent back to subcommittee for further study.

HB2196 (Mullin) would require that law-enforcement disciplinary records be released after the investigation is closed. Prior to release, however, certain redactions (e.g., Social Security numbers) would be made for privacy purposes. This bill will continue to be studied by the Records Issues Subcommittee.

HB1997 (Murphy) changes the definition of a “meeting” from three persons to four persons. Reported from the Meeting Issues Subcommittee, HB1997 will not move out of subcommittee.

The Meeting Issues Subcommittee Chair raised the matter of continuing to study electronic meetings for consideration by the Council. The subcommittee would like to continue to study the appropriateness of conducting an electronic public meeting outside of a state of emergency, especially for regional advisory public bodies. While objections were voiced, the Council agreed to ask the subcommittee to study the issue.

In a related topic, a recent discussion from the Virginia General District Court has claimed that only “.gov” websites can be defined and utilized as an “official public government website” to provide timely notice of meetings. The Meeting Issues Subcommittee has recommended that there be further discussion regarding proposed legislation to address this issue.

VML Contact: Josette Bulova, jbulova@vml.org

Note: Delegate Kory’s office has informed VML that there will be no Counties, Cities and Towns task force related to public meetings and/or notices before the 2022 General Assembly Session.

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VML News

New episode of VML Voice podcast now available

2021 Hurricane Season Preparedness for Localities

It’s hurricane season Virginia! The VML Voice chats with Erin Sutton from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Listen to find out what localities can do to be ready and what resources VDEM can provide to help. We also discuss unique challenges that persist due to COVID and find out what VDEM is doing to ensure equitable disaster response and recovery. Finally, Erin participates in our Hurricane Quiz Game and we find out if “Herma, Herma, Hurricane” is a real song.

Listen to the episode here >.

VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org

 

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VML Innovation Awards: Deadline to submit entries is August 16

Don’t miss this opportunity to spotlight programs and individuals that have made a big difference to your residents by creating innovative solutions to address emerging needs. The deadline to submit entries is 5:00 PM ET on August 16.

More information and a link to the entry form are available on VML’s website here >.

About the 2021 Innovation Awards

Forty-five years ago, the Virginia Municipal League launched its “Achievement Awards” to recognize outstanding work being done by local governments across Virginia. The program went on to become Virginia’s highest honor in local government creativity. In 2017 the name was changed to “Innovation Awards”, but the purpose remains the same: To celebrate all that you do to make your city, town, or county a great place to live!

Appropriately this is the “sapphire anniversary” year for the awards as sapphire is often associated with healing and peace – two things we have good reason to welcome in 2021.

The awards will be presented at VML’s Annual Conference in Leesburg in October.

VML Contact: Manuel Timbreza, mtimbreza@vml.org

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VML returns to in person events with successful Mayors Institute and Newly Elected Officials Conference

The local government leaders who gathered in at the Omni Hotel in Charlottesville last week may have come from all over the Commonwealth, but they all agreed it was great to get together!

More than 60 mayors and council members from across Virginia met Thursday and Friday, July 15-16, in Charlottesville to review updated FOIA and COIA guidelines, compare experiences in leading localities through a global pandemic, and simply catch up with colleagues. Speakers included Senator Creigh Deeds, Alan Gernhardt of the FOIA Council, G. Stewart Petoe of the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council, Chief Hadezean Smith of the Charlottesville City Fire Department, Mayor Derrick Wood of the Town of Dumfries, and Mayor Bob Coiner and Town Manager Debbie Kendall of the Town of Gordonsville.

Thanks to everyone who participated! (including City of Bristol Mayor Anthony Farnum, pictured).

VML Contact: Jessica Ackerman, jackerman@vml.org

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2021 Annual Conference: Business & Sponsor membership opportunities now available!

This year’s VML annual conference at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg promises to be among the best in VML’s history. Our members are looking forward to the opportunity to learn together and share stories in-person following an extended time apart. As in year’s past, organizations and businesses are encouraged to join us at this important annual gathering.

However, please be aware that the Annual Conference will not have a traditional exhibit hall. Instead, VML looks forward to welcoming businesses and organizations to our conference as members of our Community Business Member (CBM) program.

For those businesses and organizations that would like to have a presence at our Annual Conference, becoming a VML Community Business Member is a great way to go! We have added conference-specific options to each level of CBM membership. Review the opportunities here >.

VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org

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ARPA

ARPA: Resources now available from the Commonwealth Institute

On August 2, the General Assembly will convene to appropriate some (or all) of the flexible fiscal recovery funds that Virginia is receiving from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act. The Commonwealth Institute (TCI) has developed a package of resources to help press, policymakers, and the public understand the available state and local funding.

• Infographic summarizing ARPA funds for Virginia and its localities (includes both designated and flexible funds). Click here for the infographic >.
• Blog post with further details on ARPA funds for Virginia and its localities (includes both designated and flexible funds). Click here for the blog post >.
• Facebook live recording of TCI staff discussing the ARPA funds for Virginia. Click Here for the FB Live Discussion >.

About The Commonwealth Institute

From TCI’s website: “The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis (TCI) advances racial and economic justice in Virginia by advocating for public policies that are designed in partnership with people most impacted, and shaped by credible, accessible fiscal and policy research.”

TCI Contact: Sherri Egerton, sherri@thecommonwealthinstitute.org

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Marijuana

Cannabis Authority Board members appointed; Director not yet announced

As part of the recent legislation legalizing possession of marijuana, an independent state authority known as the Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) was created to serve as the regulatory agency for the legal cannabis market in Virginia that will begin operation in 2024.

Much like the Virginia Alcohol and Beverage Control Authority (VAABC) the CCA will be led by a five-member board. The CCA board will is tasked with developing the adult marketplace for cannabis by controlling and regulating the production, distribution, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products.

Establishing this board is the first step required for Virginia to stand up its legal marijuana marketplace. Board members represent a diverse range of private and public backgrounds. They include:

• Neil Amin of Henrico, Chief Executive Officer, Shamin Hotels
• Michael Jerome Massie, Esq. of Portsmouth, Owner, Michael Jerome Massie, PC
• Bette Brand of Roanoke, Chief Executive Officer, Strategic Consulting LLC
• Rasheeda N. Creighton of Richmond, Co-Founder, The Jackson Ward Collective
• Shane Emmett of Midlothian, Co-Founder and Former Chief Executive Officer, Health Warrior

An announcement of who will be nominated to run the day-to-day operations of the CCA is expected in the coming weeks.

Other cannabis boards receive gubernatorial appointments

The five-member CCA board is only one of three cannabis boards with appointments made by the Governor.

The Cannabis Equity and Reinvestment Board is a 20-member board which will manage 30 percent of the revenues generated from sales of marijuana to provide resources to communities that experience disproportionate enforcement of drug laws including workforce development grants, apprenticeship programs, scholarships, and reentry programs. For this board, the Governor appointed five individuals with a range of experience in advocacy organizations and from the indigent defense commission.

• Jorge Figueredo, MPP of Falls Church, Executive Director, Edu-Futuro
• Amari Harris of Richmond, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Attorney, Virginia Indigent Defense Commission
• Anthony West of Roanoke, Chief Operations Officer, Virginia CARES (Community Action Re-Entry System)
• Sheba Williams of Richmond, Executive Director, Nolef Turns, Inc.
• Vickie R. Williams-Cullins of Hampton, Executive Director, OPN-Door Communications LLC

The Cannabis Public Health Advisory Board is a 21-member board which will serve as an expert advisory council to the CCA Board. The Health Advisory Board is tasked with monitoring and assessing public health trends and impacts from the retail marijuana market. The board can make recommendations for health warnings, product safety, public health awareness, programming and other resources in addition to health-related regulations that must be approved by the Cannabis Public Health Advisory Board prior to CCA Board approval. Individuals appointed by the governor are:

• Ngiste Abebe of Richmond, Vice President of Public Policy, Columbia Care
• Larry Keen II of Petersburg, Associate Professor, College of Health and Natural Sciences, Department of Psychology, Virginia State University
• Cynthia Morrow, MD, MPH, of Roanoke, Health Director, Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts
• Marcus Treiber of Leesburg, Chief Executive Officer, EMT Holdings LLC

VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org

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Elections

Virginia Redistricting Commission names replacement citizen member

Following the July 6 resignation of Marvin Gilliam, the remaining 15 members of the Virginia Redistricting Commission appointed Virginia Trost-Thornton at its Monday meeting in Richmond. Trost-Thornton, a lawyer from the Town of Forest, will serve as the Commission’s eighth Republican citizen representative. She was selected from among nominees submitted by Senator Tommy Norment.

The Commission continues to accept public comment as it awaits the September 30 census data release. Upcoming virtual and in-person public hearings are scheduled for:

• July 27 – George Mason University, Fairfax
• July 29 – Virtual, Southwest Region
• August 3 – Pocahontas Building, Richmond
• August 5 – Virtual, Valley Region

Links and details for all meetings will are posted both on the Virginia Redistricting Commission website and at the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall.

VML Contact: Jessica Ackerman, jackerman@vml.org

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Education

Crumbling School Tour sheds light on school modernization needs

The Virginia Coalition of Small and Rural Schools continued its summer series for local, state, and federal elected officials in the Towns of South Boston and New Castle this week, with groups touring Craig County High School, McCleary Elementary School, and Halifax County High School (including VML staff members Jessica Ackerman and Josette Bulova, pictured).

The Crumbling Schools Tour features at least one public school in each of the Commonwealth’s eight regions to illustrate the extreme capital improvement needs of schools across the state, with the goal of garnering attention and additional funding from state representatives ahead of the 2021 Special Session II. Thursday’s tours in South Boston and New Castle, like those before them, highlighted issues faced in buildings either constructed or renovated in the 1970s which used lower quality materials and has led to significant structural issues.

Earlier school tours this month included visits in Mattaponi, Luray, Waynesboro, and Radford. The final two school visits of the tour will feature Westview Early Childhood Center in Petersburg on Tuesday, July 27 and Kiptopeke Elementary in Cape Charles on Thursday, July 29.

The Crumbling Schools Tour has been coordinated in partnership with VML, the Virginia Association of Counties, Virginia First Cities, the Virginia School Boards Association, the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, and Fund Our Schools.

VML Contact: Jessica Ackerman, jackerman@vml.org

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Transportation

Commonwealth Transportation Board scrutinizes locally administered projects during final summer meeting

The Commonwealth Transportation Board met this week for their final summer meeting and a presentation from VDO Chief Engineer on “Development and Delivery Results” sparked a conversation among board members about how the CTB should consider improving on time performance of locally administered transportation projects that use state funds. Pages 10 and 16 of the presentation (available here) show that local project development fails to meet performance targets and fails to meet project delivery targets while exceeding project on budget targets for local projects.

Thanks to astute questions from CTB members Mary Hines (Northern Virginia District) and Carlos Brown (Richmond District) it was made clear that this data is binary and aggregate and excludes any overperformance of projects. Furthermore, this presentation only captures three fiscal years of data and VDOT performance rates have been the subject of significant and concerted efforts to meet performance standards over nearly twenty years. In FY21 VDOT administered 2/3 of project funds and locally administered projects accounted for only 1/3 project budgets. From the discussion during the meeting, there is interest among CTB board members to devise policies to improve local project administration performance.

Given that VDOT has had nearly 20 years to consistently meet project targets it is seems only fair to recognize that any effort to improve local project performance will not happen overnight. It is important that any proposal to change local project funding be done in consultation with localities and respect local authority to manage transportation projects. VML members should be aware that the Commonwealth Transportation Board will be monitoring local project performance metrics carefully and already seem eager to move towards new policies to encourage locally administered projects to meet or exceed performance metrics.

VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org

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Events & Opportunities

Grants available for public open space projects, easement assistance

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation is making $1.825 million available from its Preservation Trust Fund (PTF) and Get Outdoors (GO) programs for grants that protect open space for public benefit.

Of the total, $1.075 million is reserved for PTF Public Access grants, which may be used to acquire land, easements, rights of way, lease agreements, or other interests in real estate that result in significant public access. The real estate interest must either be acquired by a local government or conveyed to VOF to be eligible for funding, and protection must meet the requirements of Virginia’s Open-Space Land Act.

Another $350,000 is reserved for PTF Easement Assistance grants, which are available to income-eligible landowners who wish to donate an open-space easement to VOF on their property. Easements allow land to be lived and worked on while limiting development rights to protect water quality, prime farming soils, wildlife habitat, and other conservation values. Easement Assistance grants may help pay for any costs that are associated with conveying the easement to VOF, including legal fees, appraisals, processing fees, and survey costs.

The remaining $400,000 is reserved for GO grants, which prioritize projects in communities that have been inadequately served, overlooked, or marginalized by unfair zoning, housing, and land-use practices or other systemic discrimination. The grants may be used to fund infrastructure, studies, planning, and capacity building to enable safe use of, or access to, public open space, as well as for acquisition. Individual projects may receive no more than $25,000. The minimum grant amount is $500.

The application deadline for PTF Public Access and GO grants is 11:59 p.m. EST, August 20, 2021. PTF Easement Assistance grants are offering on a rolling basis as part of the easement donation process.

Application forms, eligibility requirements, and other materials may be found online at https://vof.org/ptf  and https://vof.org/go.

VOF encourages potential applicants to contact staff prior to applying to discuss eligibility and seek guidance on producing a successful application.

VOF Contact: Email grants@vof.org or call (434) 282-7054 with questions or for information on how to apply.

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DCJS hate crimes grants: FY 2022 Round II applications and webinar

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is offering a second opportunity for localities to apply for grant funds to combat hate crimes. DCJS is soliciting applications to make competitive grants to localities within the Commonwealth that have established a partnership program with institutions and/or nonprofit organizations that have been targets or are at risk of being targets of hate crimes.

The goal of this program is to minimize bias-motivated incidents by providing funding that supports institutions and/or nonprofit organizations that may be at risk based on race, religious conviction, color, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or national origin.

More information about the grant solicitation, including the guidelines and application procedures is available here >.

Webinar being offered

On August 4 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am DCJS will conduct a webinar is to aid localities with their grant application preparation. Register here today!

DCJS Contacts: Tracy Matthews, (804) 371-0635 or email Tracy. Nicole Phelps, (804) 786-1577 or email Nicole.

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“Laser Assault and Threat Awareness for Public Safety” webinar coming July 28

Laser threats and assaults are a growing concern for public safety personnel. Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) laser pointers can and have been directed against law enforcement and emergency responders to disrupt operations.

Interested local government officials and staff are invited to join VML Community Business Member American Military University (part of the American Public University system) on July 28 from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT for a review of the threats posed by commercial lasers to public safety personnel. Historical use, current threats, tactical and operational considerations, safety concerns, counter measures, legal considerations, and future threat potentials will be discussed.

Register for the webinar here >.

The presentation will also introduce American Military University’s “Laser Assault Awareness” visor card, developed by the speakers LtCol (ret) Matt Begert, Dr. Robert J. Bunker, and Dr. John P. Sullivan, as a resource for personnel in the field.

AMU Contact: Amos Nicholson, ANicholson@APUS.EDU

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Resilient Virginia conference happening virtually August 25-27

The 2021 Resilient Virginia Conference offers the opportunity to learn more about economic and social resiliency initiatives taking place in Virginia’s rural areas. The conference includes:

• Breakout sessions on economic and infrastructure resilience and community solutions
• Workshops with in-depth learning on key resiliency topics
• Virtual exhibitor booths
• New this year! Virtual Green Jobs Forum and Career Fair hosted by partner organization, Leaders in Energy.

More information and registration are available here >.

Resilient Virginia Contact: Managing Director Annette Osso, osso@resilientvirginia.org

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In this issue:

Health & Human Services

• DBHDS announces closure of five state mental hospitals
• Marcus Alert state plan posted
• VRS reaches historic performance levels

Elections

• Virginia Redistricting Commission moving forward amid vacancy announcement

VML Events

• VML events next week: Mayors Institute and Newly Elected Officials Conference
• Help us get the word out about the best things in Virginia
• VML 2021 Annual Conference happening October 3-5

ARPA

• Polco offering free ARPA community engagement webinar July 15

Opportunities for Localities

• Save the date: VDEM 2021 Hurricane Season Briefing for localities happening July 19
• Virginia Housing funding opportunities
• Nominations being accepted for the 2021 Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award
• All localities encouraged to participate in Virginia BearWise cost-share program survey for community projects

 

Health & Human Services

DBHDS announces closure of five state mental hospitals

Earlier today (July 9) the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) announced that the following state mental hospitals would be temporarily closed:

• Catawba Hospital
• Central State Hospital
• Eastern State Hospital
• Piedmont Geriatric Hospital
• Western State Hospital

Click here to view/download the full communication from Commissioner Alison Land.

Local officials and staff should ensure that their local law enforcement is aware of these closures.

VML Contact: Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org

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Marcus Alert state plan posted

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) has posted the much anticipated state plan for implementing the Marcus Alert legislation on its Marcus Alert webpage here >.

Five localities/regions were chosen earlier this year to be in the first cohort implementing the legislation, which calls for mobile crisis and community teams to respond to E-911 calls for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Localities will implement the program in stages, with every community eventually being covered by this program.

VML Contact: Janet Areson, jareson@vml.org

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VRS reaches historic performance levels

The Virginia Retirement System (VRS) announced an $18 billion increase in the value of its overall trust fund at Tuesday’s meeting of the Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission (JLARC), bringing the total value of the fund to $100 billion. The news came during a broader oversight report on the agency, which is responsible for administering retirement and benefit programs for more than 772,000 current and former government employees and teachers.

The current growth analysis for the first ten months of Fiscal Year 2021 represents a more than 22 percent increase in value from one year ago and suggests that the Board of Trustees will be able to maintain relatively stable contribution rates in its plans for the upcoming biennium. Pension contribution rates will be set in October for most employees, while the Board will set rates for local governments and other participating agencies in November.

Final data on the overall return on investment for FY21 will be available in the coming months but should maintain the positive trajectory. The state is continuing to pay down an estimated $20.8 billion in unfunded liabilities stemming from the Great Recession.

The full report and presentation are available on the JLARC website.

VML Contact: Jessica Ackerman, jackerman@vml.org

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Elections

Virginia Redistricting Commission moving forward amid vacancy announcement

Marvin Gilliam, a Republican representative on the 16-member Virginia Redistricting Commission and resident of the City of Bristol, resigned from his position at the end of Tuesday’s meeting in Richmond. Mr. Gilliam was one of eight citizen appointees and was the Commission’s only representative from southwest Virginia. He was also one of 15 nominees put forward by Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment; his replacement will be identified from among Senator Norment’s remaining submissions.

While the Commission continues to wait for final census data, which the U.S. Census Bureau plans to release by September 30, they are accepting public input on the upcoming redistricting process and will begin hosting public hearings this month. The first in-person meeting will be held in Hampton on July 20 at 2:00 p.m. (location still pending), but others will be held across the state. Additionally, the Commission will host region-based virtual hearings, the first of which is scheduled to serve the West Central Region on July 15 at 2:00 p.m.

Links and details for all meetings will be posted both on the Virginia Redistricting Commission website and by the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall.

VML Contact: Jessica Ackerman, jackerman@vml.org

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VML Events

VML events next week: Mayors Institute and Newly Elected Officials Conference

It’s not too late to register!

VML is pleased to present two in-person events at the Omni Hotel in downtown Charlottesville next week.

Mayors Institute: July 15-16 (registration closes July 12)

The first day will feature FOIA/COIA training and will conclude with an evening reception and dinner. Day 2 will include additional training and the presentation of certificates.

This will be the only Mayors Institute event of 2021. Registration for VML’s Mayors Institute closes at the end of the day Monday, July 12.

More information including pricing, a link to register, and hotel room reservations is available on VML’s website here >.

Newly Elected Officials Conference: July 15

VML’s Newly Elected Officials Conference provides a valuable opportunity for both new and seasoned public officials to learn from speakers with extensive experience working with local government officials.

The FOIA/COIA training required of elected officials will be provided in the afternoon.

More information including pricing, a link to register and hotel room reservations is available on VML’s website here >.

VML Contacts:

Mayors Institute – Jessica Ackerman, jackerman@vml.org

Newly Elected Officials Conference – Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org

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Help us get the word out about the best things in Virginia

VML invites everyone who has favorite homegrown things – from restaurants to coffee shops, from newspapers to radio stations, from dance groups to bands (and more!) – to tell us all about them for our 2021 “Virginia You Love” contest. Just take a few minutes to submit your nominations here >.

Those who do the best job explaining why their favorite things are special to them will be rewarded by seeing it featured in the next issue of our magazine.

Please share this opportunity with friends and family. We want to hear all about the best things from all over Virginia!

Deadline to submit nominations is Thursday, July 15.

For more details, visit VML’s website here.

VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org

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VML 2021 Annual Conference happening October 3-5

Attendee registration now open; Sponsor/Exhibitor opportunities to be announced next week

The Virginia Municipal League is pleased to announce a welcome return to an in-person Annual Conference this fall with a three-day event at the beautiful Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg featuring the Towns of Loudoun County.

Attendee registration is now open!

• Dates:October 3-5
• Cost:$400 for attendee / $250 for guest/spouse
• Details and Registration: Available here >

After two years apart, the 2021 Annual Conference promises to be an exceptional occasion for Virginia’s local government leaders to share lessons learned from the recent past and explore the unprecedented opportunities of the present, so that together we can create the best possible future for all of Virginia’s localities.

VML Contact: Sandra Harrington, sharrington@vml.org

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ARPA

Polco offering free ARPA community engagement webinar July 15

On July 15, VML partner organization Polco and local government keynote speakers will share citizen engagement strategies that have worked well, best practices, and resources to transform local economies with ARPA funds.

From the press release: “American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are here to aid local governments in kick-starting local economies. And even better, ARPA presents a historic opportunity for cities, towns, and counties to make a lasting economic impact – one that every leader wants to get right. Engaging the community makes the ARPA budgeting and decision-making process far more effective and successful for economic recovery and beyond.”

Webinar Details:

• Title: How Community Feedback Drives Economic Success with ARPA Funds
• Date: 7/15/2021
• Time: 3:00 PM ET
• Cost: Free
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Registration: Free registration available here >.

Polco Contact: Matt Fulton, matful@polco.us

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Opportunities for Localities

Save the date: VDEM 2021 Hurricane Season Briefing for localities happening July 19

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) invites interested local government officials and staff to attend a virtual 2021 Hurricane Season Briefing on Monday, July 19th at 11:00 AM. This will be an opportunity to hear from several key speakers on updates related to hurricane readiness, response, and recovery.

VDEM anticipate the presentations will last approximately 45 minutes with a 15 minute Q&A session at the end.

How to attend

VML will receive the Webex login information via email next week. If you are interested in attending, please send an email indicating interest to Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org with “VDEM Briefing” in the subject line and credentials will be sent as soon as they are available.

VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org

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Virginia Housing funding opportunities

The following funding opportunities are now available from Virginia Housing. Use the links to each grant to learn more.

REACH Virginia funding opportunities

Virginia Housing reinvests a portion of its net revenues into Virginia’s communities through REACH Virginia (Resources Enabling Affordable Community Housing in Virginia). This is a multifaceted resource that Virginia Housing uses to support vital housing initiatives through our Homeownership, Rental and Community Outreach programs.

• Capacity Building Grant Tier 1 (July 2021)
• Capacity Building Grant Tier 2 (July 2021)
• Capacity Building Grant Tier 3 – Program Enhancement & Evaluation (November 2021)
• Community Impact Grant – Stabilization and Deconstruction (July 2021)
• Community Impact Grant – Market Analysis (July 2021)
• Continuum of Care Capacity Building Grant Tier 1 (July 2021)
• Housing Counseling and Education Grant Credit Focus Area (July 2021)
• Housing Counseling and Education Grant Rental Education Focus Area (July 2021)

Other funding opportunities

Since 1993, Virginia Housing has hosted the Don Ritenour Charity Golf Classic in order to bring awareness to and raise funds for organizations working to end homelessness in Virginia. Funds from the Don Ritenour Charity Golf Classic make the following grants available.

Homeless Assistance Grant (November 2021)

The intent of the Virginia Housing Homeless Assistance Grant is to fund organizations that primarily serve families and individuals experiencing homelessness, individuals fleeing domestic violence as described in the HEARTH Act, and provide emergency shelter and/or permanent supporting housing services. Grant funds should be used to supplement an organization’s program, not be the sole source of funding.

Habitat Build Grant (November 2021)

The Virginia Housing Habitat Build Grant is used to assist one Habitat for Humanity affiliate in the construction, rehabilitation, and/or preservation of a single-family home designated to assist a partner family in the improvement of their shelter conditions. Grant funds should be used to supplement an organization’s program, not be the sole source of funding.

Virginia Housing Contact: Grant Programs Officer Donna M. Stallings, Donna.Stallings@VirginiaHousing.com

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Nominations being accepted for the 2021 Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award

Program recognizes nation’s top small town “heroes” for extraordinary service

The Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award (STACVA) recognizes extraordinary contributions by public service and public safety volunteers in small towns and counties with populations of 25,000 or less.

Beginning July 15, local government representatives may nominate citizens or citizen organizations for the “Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award” using an online application that can be found on the program’s website here >.

Nominators are asked to describe their candidate’s compelling story of local volunteerism and its positive impact on their community. Applications are due no later than October 15.  Winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held in November.

View/download the flyer here >.

In addition to recognizing these hometown heroes, STACVA is designed to spotlight the growing decline in the availability of citizens to fill critical local government roles, such as county boards and city councils, volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and the many advisory committees that support other key local government functions.

The Barton Russell Group has again been retained to administer and judge the 2021 program.

Contact: Bart Russell, bart@bartonrussell.com

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All localities encouraged to participate in Virginia BearWise cost-share program survey for community projects

Whether or not your community has received funding from the Virginia BearWise Cost-share program, your perspective on this program and human-bear interactions can help improve DWR’s assistance to Virginia’s localities.

Clemson University and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) invite local government elected officials and staff to take a quick survey regarding the Virginia BearWise Cost-share Program.

Please take the survey here >.

Background

The American black bear population has made a remarkable recovery across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Bears presently occur in 92 of Virginia’s 95 counties. This can pose challenges for the public in learning to coexist with their new neighbors. Local governments can help residents reduce or mitigate human-bear interactions in many ways. Did you know for instance, that each year, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) allocates funding to assist towns, cities, and counties of the Commonwealth with projects to reduce human-black bear conflicts? Proposed projects aim to secure or remove food sources, such as garbage, with equipment maintained in working order by the applicant for a specified time. This non-grant funding is made available as a cost-share; all applicants are required to contribute financially, in-kind, or in combination, for a 30 percent match of the project cost.

VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org

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