Town and City

Let the sunshine in: Making localities solar-friendly

Inside: Construction eyesore = art-portunity; Benefits of community development block grants; Tips to stimulate your local economy and citizens’ health.

On the cover: With the solar industry shining brightly in Virginia, governments can attract jobs and revenue by working with solar companies. VML reports on two Virginia communities’ approach to solar, as well as state legislation addressing clean energy.

Files: Download VTC June/July 2017

Time to act: Meeting the challenges of short-term rentals in a digital economy

Inside: Innovation Awards call for entries; Become a Stairway for Success community; Active healthy seniors create a better future; Bicycling means business

On the cover: VML urges every locality to take time to review the regulatory schemes your locality currently has in place that could affect short-term rentals. here’s an overview of factors to consider. See story on page 15.

Files: Download VTC May 2017

A place that’s fit to live in: Cities and towns that shape active lifestyles

Inside: Hunger doesn’t take a summer break; What happened in the veto session?; Are you being followed?

On the cover: Designing a community to support active lifestyles will boost quality of life and economic development. See story on page 13.

Files: Download VTCApr17_web

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• Vol. 48, No. 8 – Oct 2013

  2013 Annual Conference edition: Arlington – Dynamic urban villages do the landscape About the cover: Arlington is home to a number of “urban villages” – transit-oriented neighborhoods where shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and living and working space are knitted together in one vibrant place. Files: Download VTCOct13_Web.pdf (4.18 MB)

• Vol. 48, No. 7 – Sep 2013

  2013 VML Achievement Awards – President’s Award: Virginia Beach – Planing initiative charted new direction for city About the cover: Thirty-six entries in six categories were received for judging in the 2013 VML Achievement Awards competition.  The VML awards program is conducted annually to encourage and recognize excellence and innovation in Virginia local government. This […]

• Vol. 48, No. 6 – Jul/Aug 2013

  WATER: Complicated issues require comprehensive response starting now About the cover: A host of regulatory and environmental issues related to water threaten to swamp Virginia local governments unless a comprehensive, coordinated response is forthcoming.  Illustration by Manuel Timbreza. Files: Download VTCJulAug_Web.pdf (4.66 MB)

• Vol. 48, No. 5 – Jun 2013

  Smithfield: Town gains acclaim as beautification success story About the cover: The Town of Smithfield in Isle of Wight County has won national acclaim for its numerous beautification efforts, which are reflected in this image of Hayden’s Lane, an idyllic pathway between two busy downtown streets.  The adjoining space is used regularly for small ceremonies […]

• Vol. 48, No. 4 – May 2013

  Bristol: Capturing a city’s vibe on an iPhone About the cover: An image from the City of Bristol – the Birthplace of County Music – as captured by the city’s public information official on her iPhone using a digital photography application called Hipstamatic.  The original image shown here was cropped to fit the cover.  Photo […]

• Vol. 48, No. 3 – Apr 2013

  Affordable Care Act: What local governments need to know About the cover: Local governments will confront an unwieldy new federal law next year when the Affordable Care Act takes effect.  Understanding how the act will affect local government operations is essential. Files: Download VTCApr13_Web.pdf (3.74 MB)

• Vol. 48, No. 2 – Mar 2013

  Aboutface: In review: General Assembly ends burdensome reversion program About the cover: The 2013 General Assembly saw fit to eliminate the onerous “local aid to the Commonwealth” program that had sapped $270 million from city and county budgets over the past five fiscal years.  Abolishment of the reversion scheme was the No. 1 legislative goal […]

• Vol. 48, No. 1 – Jan/Feb 2013

  Who’s growing: Estimates reflect resurgent cities, aging population About the cover: Every year, the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service produces the official population estimates for Virginia.  The most recent numbers, based on changes since the 2010 census in housing stock, school enrollment, births, deaths and driver’s licenses, revealed some significant trends of interest to […]

• Vol. 47 No. 10 – December 2012

  Money matters: Local issues will abound in 2013 General Assembly About the cover: The 2013 session of the General Assembly will convene Jan. 9 in Richmond. Local government issues, many of them tied to the state budget, will be in the spotlight. Photo illustration by Manuel Timbreza. Files: Download VTCDec12_web.pdf (3.16 MB)

• Vol. 47 No. 9 – November 2012

  VML President Ed Daley, City Manager, Hopewell Also inside: Preventing underground utility damage About the cover: Hopewell City Manager Ed Daley, DPA, Was elected the 94th president of the Virginia Municipal League at VML’s Annual Conference held in Williamsburg Sept. 23-25. Photo by David Parsons. Files: Download VTCNov12_web.pdf (6.4 MB)