• About
  • Contact

Virginia Municipal League

Building Better Communities Through Sound Government

BETTER COMMUNITIES THROUGH SOUND GOVERNMENT

  • Organization
    • About the League
      • Strategic vision and goals
      • Benefits of VML Membership
      • Directions to the VML office
    • Board of Directors
      • Executive Meeting Packets
      • Serving on the Executive Board
      • VML Past Presidents
    • League Staff
    • Local Government Members
      • Benefits of VML Membership
    • Affiliate Organizations
    • VML/VACo APCO Steering Committee
      • VML/VACO APCo Steering Committee Board
    • Partners
  • Member Resources
    • ARPA Resources
    • Publications
    • Presentations
    • General Forum
    • Account
    • Reset Password
  • Education
    • Events >
      • 2023 Local Government Day
      • Virginia Local Elected Officials Conference
      • Annual Conference >
        • 2022 Annual Conference
        • 2021 Annual Conference
        • 2020 Annual Conference
        • Past Annual Conference Programs
        • Future Conference Dates
      • Virginia Mayors Institute >
        • 2022 Virginia Mayors Institute
        • 2021 Virginia Mayors Institute
        • 2020 Virginia Mayors Institute
      • 2022 Hurricane Season Briefing
      • ARPA Monitoring & Reporting Compliance Webinar
    • Essay Contest
      • Essay Contest Past Winners
    • Civility. Respect. Solutions.
    • American Rescue Plan Act Resources
    • Innovation Awards
      • Innovation Award Past Winners
    • Racial Inequality – Local Statements
    • Wallerstein Scholarship
  • Advocacy
    • 2023 General Assembly
      • 2022 GA Resources
      • 2021 GA Resources
    • 2023 Local Government Day
      • 2022 Local Government Day
      • 2021 Local Government Day
    • Legislative Committee
    • Legislative Program
    • Policy Committees
      • Community & Economic Development
      • Finance
      • General Laws
      • Human Development & Education
      • Infrastructure, Transportation & Environmental Quality
    • Policy Statements
  • Media
    • VTC Magazine
    • eNews Newsletter
    • VML Voice Podcast
      • Subscribe: The VML Voice
    • Get the VML APP
    • Legal Resources
    • Local Officials’ Resources Series
    • Other Publications
    • News Releases
  • Calendar
  • Classifieds
    • Job Openings
    • Create Jobs
  • Business Engagement
    • Community Business Membership
      • Community Business Members Listings
    • Advertising with VML

VML eNews, the newsletter of the Virginia Municipal League, is published every other week except during sessions of the General Assembly. During legislative sessions it is published weekly. The newsletter includes up-to-date information on activities at the state capitol, including the General Assembly, and in the U.S. Congress and within the VML family of local governments.

Editor: Rob Bullington  |  Associate Editor: Manuel Timbreza

  • eNews
  • Town and City
  • Subscribe: The VML Voice
  • Legal Resources
  • Local Officials’ Resources Series
  • Other publications
  • News Releases
Receive eNews via email >

VML members can sign-up to receive notifications of the eNews newsletter via e-mail. You will be sent an e-mail message every other week that will include a link of the latest edition.

eNews

loading...


This edition of eNews is sponsored by:

Municode

At MITRE, we solve problems for a safer world. Through our federally funded R&D centers and public-private partnerships, we work across government to tackle challenges to the safety, stability, and well-being of our nation. Read more >


In this issue:

VML News

  • VML policy committee nomination process underway
  • General Assembly update and OSHA risk mitigation training to be held in Onancock on March 29
  • Comprehensive General Assembly update from VML staff members to be offered virtually April 26 and 27
  • Broadband Together Conference registration and information now available!

Courts

  • “Fairfax County zoning revamp thrown out by Virginia Supreme Court, citing virtual meeting”

Resources

  • EPA issues best-practices memo for assessing cybersecurity risks in water and wastewater utilities
  • Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority: Best practices for local governments in the allocation of opioid settlement funding

Opportunities

  • Webinar: “Clean Energy Funding for Rural Communities” happening April 12
  • USEPA Region Mid-Atlantic Summit happening May 17
  • Electric vehicle charging infrastructure: Federal grant opportunity for local governments
  • Webinar: VDOT revenue sharing applicant training happening May 10

 

VML News

VML policy committee nomination process underway

VML full-member communities recently received information about the 2023 VML policy committee nominations process. This information was sent to the point of contact for each of VML’s member localities (typically the manager) as well as municipal clerks, who coordinate the nominations process for their community. Nominations are due by May 15.

VML has five policy committees:

  • Community & Economic Development
  • Finance
  • General Laws
  • Human Development & Education
  • Infrastructure

Each VML community may nominate two members to each of the five committees.

The policy committee will meet in late July – exact dates will be finalized in the coming days.

VML’s policy committees address continuing and emerging issues of statewide importance to its member local governments. Committees hear presentations on issues, discuss the issues and recommend policy positions for consideration by the full membership, and provide recommendations to the VML legislative committee on priority issues.

Questions about the policy process?  Email Janet Areson at the below address.

VML Contact: Janet Areson, jareson@vml.org

[top of page]

General Assembly update and OSHA risk mitigation training to be held in Onancock on March 29

VML and the Virginia Risk Sharing Association (VRSA) are pleased to offer a morning of updates about bills and budget items affecting localities from the 2023 General Assembly session including the status of proposed legislation dealing with short term rentals. This will be followed by presentations on topics critical to local risk mitigation such as cybersecurity, marijuana legislation and reasonable suspicion, and site inspections.

This is a free, in-person event. Complimentary lunch will be available following the sessions. Registration is required. Please register by Monday, March 27 (end of day).

  • Date: Wednesday, March 29
  • Time: 9:00 a.m. – Noon
  • Location: Onancock Town Hall (15 North Street, Onancock, VA 23417)
  • Registration: Available here >

About VRSA

VRSA’s experienced risk services staff provide site and security assessments to protect their members and their employees. In addition, they provide program and policy review and risk management trainings and workshops. For those entities looking for online training, the VRSA Online University provides free, unlimited courses tailored to public entities on topics such as public safety, cybersecurity, human resources, and OSHA training.

VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org

[top of page]

Comprehensive General Assembly update from VML staff members to be offered virtually April 26 and 27

What bills of interest to local governments came out of the 2023 session of the General Assembly? If there is a budget, what does it mean? If there isn’t a budget yet…well, what does that mean?

VML policy staff will address these and other issues during a comprehensive wrap-up webinar that will be free for VML members. There will be two offerings:

  • April 26 for Town Section members
  • April 27 for City and Urban Section members

Times and registration information to be announced soon!

VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org

[top of page]

Broadband Together Conference registration and information now available!

Join us May 17-18 at the Hilton Short Pump in Richmond for Broadband Together 2023. Once again, we will explore topics that help us expand broadband throughout the Commonwealth.

Registration, agenda, room reservations, and more are available here >.

This event is co-hosted by the Broadband Association of Virginia (VCTA), the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) and the Virginia Municipal League (VML).

Contact: Kimberly Voxland, kvoxland@vcta.com

[top of page]

Courts

“Fairfax County zoning revamp thrown out by Virginia Supreme Court, citing virtual meeting”

Note – This article originally appeared in InsideNoVa on March 23, 2023. It was written by the publisher Bruce Potter. It is reprinted here with permission.

The Virginia Supreme Court has voided a massive zoning modernization plan approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2021 because the board’s approval occurred during a virtual meeting.

The court’s ruling, issued Thursday, could call into question scores of routine decisions made by local governing bodies during the first 15 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of those bodies met virtually, rather than in person, as is required by Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act.

Four Fairfax County residents — David Berry, Carol A. Hawn, Helen H. Webb and Adrienne A. Whyte — challenged the Board of Supervisors’ decision in March 2021 to update and modernize the county’s zoning ordinance, a process known as zMOD. The new ordinance, which replaced one that had been in place since 1978, became effective July 1 of that year.

However, in an opinion written by Justice Wesley G. Russell Jr., the Supreme Court ruled that the board did not have the authority to approve the zoning rewrite in a virtual meeting. The ruling overturned a decision of Fairfax Circuit Court Judge David A. Oblon that dismissed the residents’ complaint.

The Supreme Court ruled that Fairfax County’s “Continuity Ordinance,” adopted in the early days of the pandemic, did not authorize the board to consider and adopt a revised zoning ordinance in an electronic meeting. It also said that the General Assembly, which tried to address the issue and allow virtual meetings in its 2020 budget act, also did not provide enough leeway to supplant the state’s open meeting requirements and allow the board to adopt the zoning modification at meetings conducted by electronic means.

The Supreme Court therefore reversed the Circuit Court decision and declared the board’s approval of zMOD void.

“By failing to hold the meetings at which Z-Mod was considered and ultimately adopted in compliance with VFOIA’s [Virginia Freedom of Information Act] open meeting requirements, the Board’s actions prevented the public from participating in the manner required by VFOIA, and thus, potentially limited public participation and input into the process,” Russell wrote in the opinion.

He compared the case to one in which a local governing body fails to provide proper public notice of a zoning ordinance before approving it.

The budget amendment approved by the legislature in 2020 allowed local governing bodies to meet virtually, rather than in person, if the purpose of meeting was to discuss or transact the business statutorily required or necessary to continue operations of the public body and the discharge of its lawful purposes, duties and responsibilities.

The Supreme Court based its ruling on the use of the word “and” in that sentence. It noted rewriting a 40-year-old zoning ordinance was not “necessary to continue operations.”

“It is not a time-sensitive matter, and its adoption is not and was not necessary to allow the County to continue operations,” Russell wrote. “The phrase ‘necessary to continue operations’ in the budget language does not encompass all that the Board may lawfully do, and thus, the budget language cannot be construed as a wholesale license to ignore VFOIA’s open meeting requirements in conducting any and all business that the Board might wish to conduct.”

In 2021, the General Assembly enacted separate legislation that allowed for virtual meetings during the pandemic. It used essentially the same language as the budget amendment but changed the word “and” to “or.”  That went into effect July 1, 2021, after the Fairfax zoning modernization was approved.

Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, said Thursday’s ruling could have major implications.

“If a locality had a continuity ordinance that was similar to Fairfax’s that limited actions to those that were somehow time-sensitive but they nonetheless voted on measures that were NOT time-sensitive in an all-electronic meeting during the period between the pandemic shut-down in March 2020 and the July 2021 legislation, there could be a massive reckoning,” she wrote in a newsletter.

View/Download the opinion here >.

VML Contact: Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org

[top of page]

Resources

EPA issues best-practices memo for assessing cybersecurity risks in water and wastewater utilities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a memorandum to states and public water systems (PWS) proposing best practices for evaluating water and wastewater utilities’ vulnerabilities to cybersecurity attacks.

The EPA’s March 2023 memo, “Addressing PWS Cybersecurity in Sanitary Surveys or an Alternate Process,” offers guidance to utilities to assess current cybersecurity practices, develop risk-mitigation plans to address identified vulnerabilities, and offer technical assistance for both evaluations and remedies to reduce risks.

Federal regulations require states to conduct periodic sanitary surveys of public water systems to protect drinking water. EPA interprets the regulations to include operational technology, such as industrial control systems and cybersecurity systems. As part of a state’s periodic sanitary surveys of public water systems, the state will assess a PWS’ cybersecurity adequacy, and if deficiencies are found then the state must require the utility to address them.

The EPA’s 100-page memo offers best practices for cybersecurity self-assessments or third-party assessments, a cybersecurity check-list, information on training and other technical assistance, and suggestions for financial assistance to assess and improve cybersecurity controls.

The EPA memo is available here >.

VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org

[top of page]

Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority: Best practices for local governments in the allocation of opioid settlement funding

Virginia has already received settlements worth more than $500 million from prescription opioid manufacturers and distributors, and that number could double. Most of these funds will flow to Virginia’s cities and counties for efforts to abate the opioid crisis. As Virginia’s cities and counties develop local and regional plans for the use of these funds, some best practices are beginning to emerge.

The first of these is establishing a local abatement committee comprised of various stakeholders including prevention and treatment specialists, public health, behavioral health, law enforcement, and people with lived experience.

Some communities are holding town hall style public meetings or listening session so that local leaders can hear from residents who have been directly affected by the prescription opioid epidemic, as well as from service providers and community-based organizations. The OAA’s Board of Directors has been following this approach, and has already conducted six public listening sessions around the state. The feedback from these sessions has been instrumental in informing the Board’s strategy for allocating grants.

Local governments are encouraged to engage with community partners, especially those that have already been fighting the opioid epidemic for years. This certainly includes the local Community Services Board, but in addition there are many non-profits, grassroot organizations, treatment providers, and recovery support organizations that want to be involved. During its listening sessions the OAA Board has heard numerous examples of such organizations that have been barely surviving financially, working off of donations and volunteer effort. These organizations often know exactly how to reach the people who are sick and suffering, and have a track record of stretching dollars for maximum impact. The OAA is only able to provide funding to cities, counties and state agencies. This means the opioid settlement  funds will not reach these non-government organizations unless there is a partnership with the local government.

The OAA is committed to providing assistance to cities and counties in developing their abatement plans. We offer planning grants and are in the process of launching a series of best-practice webinars and workshops. For more information please visit us at www.voaa.us.

VOAA Contact: Tony McDowell, tmcdowell@voaa.us

[top of page]

Opportunities

Webinar: “Clean Energy Funding for Rural Communities” happening April 12

Please join the Virginia Department of Energy and Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at UVA for a free, informational webinar to learn about the U.S. Department of Energy’s upcoming Energizing Rural Communities Prize, a funding opportunity for communities of less than 10,000 residents.

  • Date: Wednesday April 12, 2023
  • Time: 3:30-4:30pm EST
  • Registration: Click here to register

This fund is flexible and enables awardees to address the unique challenges of deploying clean energy systems in rural communities. It will award a total of $15 million to individuals and organizations to develop partnership plans and innovative financing strategies that help communities improve their energy systems and organize or finance a clean energy demonstration project.

This prize is for entrepreneurs, university faculty and student groups, community organizations, tribal and local governments, financial institutions, industry professionals and others with ideas to advance clean energy in rural communities.

Register to learn more about this and other upcoming funding opportunities for rural Virginia. Speakers will include guests from the U.S. Department of Energy and National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL).

For more information about the webinar, please visit the event website.

To learn more about this Prize opportunity and possible partnerships in Virginia, please visit the Virginia Forum on the Energizing Rural Communities Prize website.

Weldon Cooper Center Contact: Elizabeth Marshall, emm2t@virginia.edu

[top of page]

USEPA Region Mid-Atlantic Summit happening May 17

Mark your Calendars for Wednesday, May 17, 2023, for the 32nd Annual USEPA Region Mid-Atlantic Summit. This is a virtual summit for the Mid-Atlantic region across federal, state, local, tribal, and non-governmental stakeholders. A day of workshops will focus on issues including environmental justice, climate change, and other key topics in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Registration is coming soon!

The 2nd annual USEPA Region 3 Mid-Atlantic Summit will bring together a broad range of stakeholders from across the nation including federal, state, tribal, and local government partners, as well as non-profits and community-based organizations.  The day includes numerous workshops with themes around environmental justice, climate change, innovation, and much more.

See below information about last year’s summit:

  • Agenda – May 2022 Summit
  • May 2022 Summit Recordings of Sessions

VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org

[top of page]

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure: Federal grant opportunity for local governments

The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced additional opportunities for localities to obtain funds for the rollout of 500,000 electric vehicle chargers this decade. These Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants help support communities so that they can fill gaps in electric vehicle charging infrastructure with $700 million available currently. This competitive grant program will provide $2.5 billion to localities, MPOs, states, or other government entities. In particular, the Community Program provides a good amount of flexibility for localities to put infrastructure where it will be most effective.

This grant provides funding for up to 80% of the charging infrastructure which lays a strong foundation for communities of all sizes to invest in a project like this, and cost share can come from private sector or other nonfederal funds.

Applications are due by May 30th, 2023. More information can be found at www.grants.gov and at the Federal Transportation Administration website here.

Contact: CFIGrants@dot.gov

[top of page]

Webinar: VDOT revenue sharing applicant training happening May 10

The Local Assistance Division will be holding a Revenue Sharing Applicant Workshop for Local Governments and VDOT District personnel on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 from 9:00 a.m.-noon.

The webinar will review program eligibility and the application process for the upcoming application cycle which begins May 15, 2023, with the opening of the pre-applications. It is strongly recommended for localities that are interested in applying for Revenue Sharing funding.

Register here >.

Note: Webinar joining information will be sent to registered participants 24 hours prior to the webinar.

About the program

The Revenue Sharing program provides for a dollar-for-dollar match to primary, secondary, or urban improvement, reconstruction, construction, or maintenance projects being funded by counties, cities or towns. The FY 2025 application cycle has enhancements that will improve the application process for both locality and VDOT users.We will discuss the enhancements, availability of funds, project schedules/estimates, and present an overview with helpful hints of the Smart Portal application process.

For more information on the Revenue Sharing program, please refer to the Revenue Sharing webpage and guidance.

VDOT Contact: Michele Piccolomini, Michele.Piccolomini@VDOT.Virginia.gov

[top of page]

Webinars today and March 29: EPA Proposes PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on March 14 a proposed new national drinking water regulation to establish a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals.

The chemicals include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanioc acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), perflurorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS).

EPA proposes an MCL of 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS., while MCLs for PFNA, HFPO-DA, PFNA, PFHxS, and PFBS will assessed through a calculated “hazard index.”

This proposed PFAS national primary drinking water regulation may have significant treatment and cost impacts to drinking water treatment facilities.

The proposed regulation is first subject to a 60-day public comment period.

Webinars:

EPA will host webinars on March 16 and March 29. Use the links below to register:

  • March 16, 2023 (2:00-3:00 pm Eastern Time) Webinar Registration: General Overview of Proposed PFAS NPDWR
  • March 29, 2023 (2:00-3:00 pm Eastern Time) Webinar Registration: Technical Overview of Proposed PFAS NPDWR

For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas.

 


This issue is sponsored by:

 

Northeastern is a global research university with a prestigious R1 ranking, and is renowned for its experiential approach to learning. In Arlington—a hub of technical innovation, security, defense, and policy—we partner with government, industry, and nonprofits to prepare learners for leadership in jobs of the future. Learn more >.


In this issue:

VML News

  • General Assembly update and OSHA risk mitigation training to be held in Onancock on March 29
  • Broadband Together Conference registration and information now available!
  • Comprehensive General Assembly update from VML staff members coming in April

Opportunities

  • 5th Congressional District vacancy for the Commonwealth Council on Aging
  • Mayors and town/city administrators invited to participate in the March Registered Apprenticeship Challenge
  • USEPA Region 3 to hold 2nd Annual Mid-Atlantic Summit May 17
  • Free webinar on the SolarAPP+ tool being offered March 20
  • Save the Date for the National Stormwater Policy Forum

Resources

  • EPA issues best-practices memo for assessing cybersecurity risks to water and wastewater utilities
  • NLC update on rail safety and Congress
  • Virginia Tech survey to gauge how localities can attract remote workers

 

VML News

General Assembly update and OSHA risk mitigation training to be held in Onancock on March 29

VML and the Virginia Risk Sharing Association (VRSA) are pleased to offer a morning of updates about bills and budget items affecting localities from the 2023 General Assembly session including the status of proposed legislation dealing with short term rentals. This will be followed by presentations on topics critical to local risk mitigation such as cybersecurity, marijuana legislation and reasonable suspicion, and site inspections.

This is a free, in-person event. Complimentary lunch will be available following the sessions. Registration is required.

  • Date: Wednesday, March 29
  • Time:9:00 a.m. – Noon
  • Location: Onancock Town Hall (15 North Street, Onancock, VA 23417)
  • Registration: Available here >

About VRSA

VRSA’s experienced risk services staff provide site and security assessments to protect their members and their employees. In addition, they provide program and policy review and risk management trainings and workshops. For those entities looking for online training, the VRSA Online University provides free, unlimited courses tailored to public entities on topics such as public safety, cybersecurity, human resources, and OSHA training.

VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org

[top of page]

Comprehensive General Assembly update from VML staff members coming in April

What bills of interest to local governments came out of the 2023 session of the General Assembly? If there is a budget, what does it mean? If there isn’t a budget yet…well, what does that mean?

In April, VML policy staff will address these and other issues during a comprehensive General Assembly wrap-up webinar that will be free for VML members.

Date and registration information to be announced soon!

VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org

[top of page]

Broadband Together Conference registration and information now available!

Join us May 17-18 at the Hilton Short Pump in Richmond for Broadband Together 2023. Once again, we will explore topics that help us expand broadband throughout the Commonwealth.

Registration, agenda, room reservations, and more are available here >.

This event is co-hosted by the Broadband Association of Virginia (VCTA), the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) and the Virginia Municipal League (VML).

Contact: Kimberly Voxland, kvoxland@vcta.com

[top of page]

Opportunities

5th Congressional District vacancy for the Commonwealth Council on Aging

The Commonwealth Council on Aging has a vacancy for a gubernatorial appointment for a constituent residing in the 5th Congressional District (currently represented by Rep. Bob Good) for a term ending June 30, 2025.

If you live in the 5th Congressional District and would be interested in serving, complete an application on the Secretary of the Commonwealth website by doing the following:

  1. Go to the application portal here >
  2. Filter for “Aging, Commonwealth Council on”
  3. Select “Member Seat – 5th Congressional District” to proceed with completing the application.

Additional information about the Commonwealth Council on Aging can be found here. Resources on the webpage include the Council’s: enabling statutory authority (§ 51.5-127 and 51.5-128), annual reports, current membership list, and list of previous and upcoming meetings.

Commonwealth Council on Aging Contact: Charlotte Arbogast, charlotte.arbogast@dars.virginia.gov

[top of page]

Mayors and town/city administrators invited to participate in the March Registered Apprenticeship Challenge

Do you want to keep people in your town? Do you want to attract new residents through employment? Registered Apprenticeship is a toll that brings a high return on investment.

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) Division of Registered Apprenticeship is seeking out mayors and town/city administrators to start a dialogue with its regional registered apprenticeship consultants. The purpose is to bring visibility to this earn-while-you-learn, occupational training model to all hiring agents.

By partnering with DOLI you can help bring Registered Apprenticeship to your locality!

More information is available here >.

DOLI Contact: Patricia Morrison, Patricia.Morrison@doli.virginia.gov

[top of page]

USEPA Region 3 to hold 2nd Annual Mid-Atlantic Summit May 17

The 2nd annual USEPA Region 3 Mid-Atlantic Summit will bring together a broad range of stakeholders from across the nation including federal, state, tribal, and local government partners, as well as non-profits and community-based organizations.  The day includes numerous workshops with themes around environmental justice, climate change, innovation, and much more.

This virtual event will be held Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Save the date and keep an eye out for registration details.

See below information about last year’s summit:

  • Agenda – May 2022 Summit >
  • May 2022 Summit Recordings of Sessions

Region 3 Help Desk: (800) 438-2474

[top of page]

Free webinar on the SolarAPP+ tool being offered March 20

Local officials are invited to hear from the City of Harrisonburg and Culpeper County about their experience and learn from the developers of the SolarAPP+ tool that allows localities to use an automated permitting tool for residential solar installation.

This virtual event will be held Monday, March 20 from 2pm-3pm.

Free registration is available here >.

About the SolarAPP+ tool:

  • Integrates with existing permitting software
  • Designed to streamline the permitting process
  • Save time and resources for applicants and municipal staff
  • More information here >.

Contact: Aaron Berryhill, aaron.berryhill@energy.virginia.gov

[top of page]

Save the Date for the National Stormwater Policy Forum

The National Stormwater Policy Forum is a half-day event co-led by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) Stormwater Institute and the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance (NMSA), which will take place on Monday, April 24 during Water Week.

Co-hosted by the National League of Cities (NLC) and the National Association of Counties (NACo), the event provides an opportunity for WEF, NMSA, NLC, and NACo members to learn about current policy issues driving the stormwater sector today. Staff and officials from VML member localities are eligible to attend.

The 2023 National Stormwater Policy Forum will be a hybrid event with limited in-person attendance available. The event will take place at the co-located offices of NLC and NACo in Washington, D.C.

If you are interested in participating in the event in-person, please complete this registration form. There will be a separate registration for virtual participants that will be available soon.

NLC Contact: Carolyn Berndt, Legislative Director, Sustainability Federal Advocacy, Berndt@nlc.org

[top of page]

Resources

EPA issues best-practices memo for assessing cybersecurity risks to water and wastewater utilities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a memorandum to states and public water systems (PWS) proposing best practices for evaluating water and wastewater utilities’ vulnerabilities to cybersecurity attacks.

The EPA’s March 2023 memo, “Addressing PWS Cybersecurity in Sanitary Surveys or an Alternate Process,” offers guidance to utilities to assess current cybersecurity practices, develop risk-mitigation plans to address identified vulnerabilities, and offer technical assistance for both evaluations and remedies to reduce risks.

Federal regulations require states to conduct periodic sanitary surveys of public water systems to protect drinking water. EPA interprets the regulations to include operational technology, such as industrial control systems and cybersecurity systems. As part of a state’s periodic sanitary surveys of public water systems, the state will assess a PWS’s cybersecurity adequacy, and if deficiencies are found then the state must require the utility to address them.

The EPA’s 100-page memo offers best practices for cybersecurity self-assessments or third-party assessments, a cybersecurity check-list, information on training and other technical assistance, and suggestions for financial assistance to assess and improve cybersecurity controls.

The EPA memo can be found on the agency’s website here >.

Contact: Preston Bryant, pbryant@mwcllc.com

[top of page]

NLC update on rail safety and Congress

The tragic events in East Palestine, OH, have resulted in a bipartisan push to pass needed rail safety legislation in the Senate, and we know this is an issue close to home for so many communities that have rail assets in their communities.

The National League of Cities (NLC) sent this detailed rail safety letter to Congress, and we have also stood up a simple sign-on letter to ask Congress to act on rail safety so that local government leaders can show their individual support. We would like to ask for your help to amplify the letter. We’d like to get as many localities as possible to sign-on.

 Options:

  • Share this new blog – Cities Ask Congress to Act on Rail Safety – or feel free to borrow from it.
  • Consider both adding your name to this NLC rail safety letter sign-on link and sharing it with your local government colleagues.

Also, we are glad to confirm that NLC’s Rail Roundtable will return at CCC on Sunday, March 26, along with an Aviation Roundtable (with a special focus on airport noise) as we continue the process of FAA reauthorization this Congress.

NLC Contact: Irma Esparza, diggs@nlc.org

[top of page]

Virginia Tech survey to gauge how localities can attract remote workers

The Virginia Tech Economic Development Studio and the Center for Economic and Community Engagement are working with Main Street America and Virginia Main Street to study how communities attract and retain remote workers. The goal is to provide recommendations for communities across the urban-rural gradient seeking to attract and retain different types of remote workers while overcoming existing challenges and accommodating sustainable growth.

The purpose of this survey is to gather data about remote work in your community, the types of local assets that may attract remote workers and existing/anticipated challenges throughout the remote work transition. It should take you approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

Click here to take the survey.

Anything you choose to share via this survey will remain confidential and you may withdraw at any time.

Contacts: Kit Friedman, kitf420@vt.edu; Sarah Lyon-Hill, sarahlh@vt.edu

[top of page]

  • eNews: The newsletter of the Virginia Municipal League eNews March 24, 2023 This edition of eNews is sponsored by: At MITRE, we solve problems for a safer world. Through our federally funded R&D centers and public-private partnerships, we work across government to tackle…
  • eNews Special Edition March 16, 2023 Webinars today and March 29: EPA Proposes PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on March 14 a proposed new national drinking water regulation to…
  • eNews: The newsletter of the Virginia Municipal League eNews March 10, 2023 This issue is sponsored by:   Northeastern is a global research university with a prestigious R1 ranking, and is renowned for its experiential approach to learning. In Arlington—a hub of…
  • eNews Special Edition March 7, 2023 General Assembly update and OSHA risk mitigation training to be held in Onancock on March 29. VML and the Virginia Risk Sharing Association (VRSA) are pleased to offer a morning…
  • eNews: The newsletter of the Virginia Municipal League eNews March 3, 2023 This issue is sponsored by:   For more than four decades, Mattern & Craig, Inc. has provided comprehensive civil and sanitary engineering services to public, corporate and governmental agencies throughout…
  • eNews Special Edition February 21, 2023 Opioid Settlement Forms of Resolution to be completed by March 1, 2023 now available A formal communication from the National Opioids Settlements Implementation Administrator went out by email on Friday…
  • eNews: The newsletter of the Virginia Municipal League eNews February 17, 2023 This issue is sponsored by:   Segra is one of the nation’s largest independent fiber network companies. With over 1.7 million fiber strand miles and nine data centers, Segra has…
  • eNews: The newsletter of the Virginia Municipal League eNews February 3, 2023 This issue is sponsored by: TOMI Environmental Solutions, Inc. is a global bacteria decontamination and infectious disease control company, providing environmental solutions for indoor surface decontamination through the manufacturing, sales,…
  • eNews: The newsletter of the Virginia Municipal League eNews January 20, 2023 This issue is sponsored by: Dominion Energy operates in 20 states across the U.S., offering clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy to more than 7 million customers. Headquartered in Richmond,…
  • eNews: The newsletter of the Virginia Municipal League eNews January 6, 2023 This issue is sponsored by: When homes are affordable and accessible to jobs, good schools and transportation, everyone benefits. Individual lives are improved and communities as a whole grow stronger.…
1 2 3 … 45 Next »
  • About
  • Contact
Comments and questions about this website or the data provided may be addressed to Manuel Timbreza
©2023 Virginia Municipal League
Virginia Municipal League
P.O. Box 12164, Richmond, VA 23241
13 E. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23219
804-649-8471

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Terms and Conditions