County Board - Special Meeting

Thank you.

That's Takis.

Hey, everybody. Can you hear me? Takis isn't back.

Takis, we're going to have to name where you are.

Yeah, I'm in Athens.

OK. All right. I just wanted to.

Greece, not Georgia. Good afternoon.

The Arlington County Board is convening this afternoon. We will be in closed session first, and then we'll have some open session items after we are done. I move that the Arlington County Board convene a closed meeting as authorized by Virginia Code section 2.2-3711A167 and 841, discussion of the performance of one board appointee. Two, discussion or consideration of the investment of public funds where competition or bargaining is involved, where if made public initially, the financial interest of the governmental unit would be adversely affected regarding certain county loan documents. Three, consultation with and legal advice from the county attorney regarding actual and probable litigation for a matter currently pending before the state corporation commission. Four, consultation with and legal advice from the county attorney regarding one, the county's legal authority and options to participate in a matter currently before the state corporation commission. Two, the impacts to the county and its residents and visitors from recent federal law enforcement operations and civil immigration enforcement and the county's legal authority to respond to such enforcement operations and civil immigration enforcement. Three, certain county loan documents and enforcement options regarding the loan documents. Four, the proposed retention of outside counsel to represent the county. on a pending real estate matter. Five, a conflict waiver for outside counsel regarding an affordable housing transaction. Six, the county's policy regarding release of police body-worn camera footage. And seven, the county's use of a certain license plate reader technology and its contracts regarding the same. Is there a second?

Second.

Moved and seconded. Let's see. I made the motion, so is it appropriate, Mr. County Attorney, Mr. Clerk, I think we need to establish that Mr. Karantonis is participating remotely from Athens, Greece, and I think my stating that is sufficient, is that correct? Great. Mr. Carantonis, great to see you, as well as you, Mr. Samuel, and all colleagues. And with that, we have a motion and a second. All those in the room say aye if you agree.

Aye.

Mr. Carantonis, how do you vote?

I vote aye.

All five board members having voted aye, we are now in closed session. Thank you very much. I'll make the following motion. We'll need a second and then the clerk will call the roll as we return from closed session. I move that the members of the County Board certify that it just concluded closed session. One, only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under Chapter 37 Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia were discussed and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed, or considered by the Board. Is there a second?

Second.

Seconded very close by Ms. Cunningham. The clerk will call the roll.

Yes, of course. Mr. DeFranegh?

Yes.

Ms. Coffey? Yes. Ms. Cunningham? Yes. Mr. Spain, Sr.?

Yes.

Mr. Karantonis?

Yes. Thank you. We are back from closed session. We have a number of actions that we will be taking. The first, I move that the County Board authorize the County Attorney to execute the proposed conflicts waiver with Holland and Knight and Reno and Cavanaugh in a form approved by the County Attorney. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, colleagues. This is a conflict of interest process that we've gone through and the motion's been made and seconded. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Mr. Garantones also votes aye, so the motion passes 4-0. We now turn to, short briefly, Ms. Cunningham also had a preceding community commitment and so that's why she has stepped away for just this short period of time. We all agree that there's, my opinion is absolutely appropriate and totally fine. The next issue is I move that I will make the following motion. I will speak to this motion ever so briefly, unless the county attorney has any objection. After I make it, then there's a second. I move that the county board authorize and direct the county manager or his designee to accept A, accept the verified CDBG loan payment payoff, with respect to a property that is engaged with a company that is called Borromeo and that we execute a certificate of satisfaction to release the deed of trust in this particular property and that we execute a release of the deed of easement and declaration of restrictive covenants terminating the transitional housing use restriction D, that we waive the county's right of first refusal to purchase the property, and E, that we execute any other documents in furtherance of the foregoing all subject to approval as to form by the county attorney as necessary. Is there a second?

Second.

Seconded by Vice Chair Coffey. Just for context for folks, this is a CDBG process wherein we have had a right of refusal. We're being diligent and we will receive funds which is appropriate and also strategically is beneficial than engaging in a lengthy litigated legal process which would cost money. So the amount of settlement here I believe is in the 340,000 range. and don't see any reason why not to be that clear, transparent. Are there other comments, colleagues? Hearing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Mr. Karantonis also votes aye. That passes 4-0. Next, we have a motion and for should there be legions of folks and perhaps should there be any members of media, we will follow up on this likely tomorrow morning with an announcement on this. But just to be transparent, there's been much discussion in the press and certainly the governor has taken action with respect to this, with respect to a proposed merger between Dominion and NextEra. I will make the following motion and then I'll explain it just more briefly. I move that the county board authorize and direct the county attorney or any attorney employed by the county attorney's office to file a notice of participation as a respondent before the State Corporation Commission in the application of Dominion Energy Inc. et al. case number PUR2026-00112 and take such further actions as necessary to protect the interests of the county in the matter. Is there a second?

Second.

Seconded by Vice Chair Coffey. I'll speak to it briefly. Colleagues, if you want a couple of sentences, I will keep mine to a couple of sentences. I ask that you do so too. But certainly, this is a significant step. And that is part of why we would be doing press statement tomorrow on this. There's a proposed merger that has a deadline of 180 days that is a massive merger. Dominion Energy is a large company, and NextEra is based in Florida and also a large company. We have concerns as to the long-term affordability of energy, and we have most of all concerns as to the process of 180 days for such a massive merger. a very significant piece. We believe our residents and each of us, I believe, feels not only is affordability a concern, but also clean energy and our commitment to fighting climate change are also at stake. But certainly affordability is a key component that I think is a central piece of this. And that is why we have decided to intervene as a respondent in this to protect Arlington residents and Arlingtonians ideals and interests as well as pocketbooks over time, and certainly even in the short term. That is why we are intervening. Colleagues, do you have comments? Go for it. First I'll go to Vice Chair Coffey, then to Mr. Spain.

Great. I am glad we are taking this up. I know that the timing has been unfortunate with the matter being filed with the SCC on July 11th and us being in our August recess with the deadline to intervene being September 11th before our next regularly convened meeting. So I'm glad we were able to do this. It is our responsibility to protect the interests and fight for the interests of Arlington and our residents. The only way for us to do that in this case, which will shape energy in Arlington for generations to come is by being a party to the case. And so this is an imperative measure for us. And as we move forward, we will be very actively engaged and I appreciate the staff effort and board effort that has gone into getting us here. So thank you.

Thank you, Vice Chair Coffey. Mr. Spain.

Well, thank you, Mr. Chair, and also Madam Vice Chair and colleagues, county manager, you're with us, and the entire team. You know, we were coming off of August recess, but there was a lot that's been going on. And I'll try not to repeat everything that was said, but at the bottom line for me, when we think about affordability and the consequences of a failure to act on our part, I think not doing so would be uncivilized in this moment. This is a historic issue that has large scale ramifications and I believe that we as members of the County Board represented 243,000 people in Arlington. Again, it's critically important for us to lean in in this moment and be a part of the process. So I'm fully supportive of this. You know, homeowners and folks are seeing their utility and electric rates go up. No one on this council, this board, is bought and sold by utility, and I'm proud of that. We are going to fight, and I am so appreciative of our, especially our Vice Chair, while a lot of us were out, for doing a lot of this work and working with the surrounding areas. So thank you, Madam Vice Chair, and let's go forward and work on behalf of our citizens.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Spain. Mr. Karantonis.

Very briefly, Mr. Chair, I'm very supportive of this. It's also a message to all Virginians that we are in the same boat and that our interests here are the interests of our constituents. So as Mr. Vice Chair said and Mr. Spain also repeated, we are defending the interests of our Lintonians, but we strongly believe that we are defending equal interests of every Virginian in this moment. This is a merger that has not the best interests of Virginians in mind and needs to be significantly modified in order to be palatable or even discussable. for Virginians, from all points of view, not only the point of view of affordability of energy, which is a very basic expense for every household, but also from the point of view of making progress in greening up and improving the environmental quality of the production and consumption of energy.

Thank you, Mr. Karantonis, for making the point of Arlington's alignment in many ways with all Virginians as we try to address this, while also protecting Arlingtonians' specific views and specific interests, of course. So with that, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Mr. Karantonis? I vote aye. That motion passes. Our regular agenda item, we only have one, concerns those who have, it is an agreement with a nonprofit organization, Arlington Thrive, to help those families of those who have been removed or have lost income. And fantastic that Ms. Matlock magically appeared at the right I don't know if you have a presentation or any thoughts. You neither have to, nor if you have something you want to share, feel free. And I also don't know that, colleagues, we have to make questions for Ms. Matlock. But first, over to you, Ms. Matlock. Did you want to make a presentation? And maybe, Mr. Schwartz, I think it's okay that I went directly to Ms. Matlock. Any pieces that you wanted to add? Go ahead.

I don't have any specific presentation.

just that thrive is eager to get started with this project thank you very much miss matlock your work and the work of um miss cowan happened and the work of our attorneys on this happened in the month of august it is and i did engage sufficiently colleagues to make sure that um there to to make sure that this is uh within reason to share. We are valuing the families of those who have been displaced and removed. Arlington's ideals are about inclusion and our immigrant families are part of inclusion. And this investment in our families is about the urgency of what we have seen in our community in the last month. And we are going to respond with care. And we're going to respond proudly and courageously with care. and also thoughtfully with care. So that is what this 50,000 is towards with Thrive. And simultaneously, I don't want to belabor it too much. I know all colleagues share these views. I will give space so that everyone can speak shortly, but we stand with our immigrant families, and we will not quit doing so. Mr. Spain.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. And colleagues, please excuse my tardiness on a question. And Ryan, Mr. County Attorney, I did, because there was an amendment to this grant, this agreement, which I just need some clarity on, because part of the agreement is asking that Thrive be able to just issue payments by way of check. and not just by debit card. I need to understand, is the debit card option still available?

It is still available. It gives them discretion in how they would distribute the funds rather than locking them into just one prescribed way. Then I'm good.

Thank you. And Mr. Span, I want to give Ms. Matlock just a minute to walk through, because this question has come up previously about how the arrangements that Thrive has, because there is this question about, a lot of the people we're trying to assist here are unbanked. So Elizabeth, if you want to just give a minute on that.

sure um so thrive is working with a partner to set up the payment mechanism um and they had discussed debit cards originally there was some concern that doing the paperwork the debit cards might take longer than a check and given some of the urgency of the needs um thrive asked if they could have the option to do checks in addition to debit cards depending on the family's needs um thrive has identified several banks in the area throughout Arlington that are able to cash checks without any fees, even if the client doesn't have an account with that bank. And Thrive is willing to workshop with other clients if some other form of payment is needed.

I can jump in. Go ahead, Mr. Chang. So thank you, Ms. Maddock, for that update. I think you've covered it for me. I just for many years know that, you know, some folks that get a check and they may take that check to another outside of a bank and then there's fees incurred with that where, Yeah, well, instead of getting, let's say, $1,500, they may end up getting $1,300, and they may need the money. So it sounds like we got our handle on that, and I'm satisfied, team, as we move forward. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Spain. Vice Chair Coffin.

Yeah, just concluding remarks, which I'm very proud of this board for making this money available. I think we've all heard various individual or independent stories over the last few weeks especially, but I think about, you know, our kids in our community, our American citizens, APS students who are facing the loss of a parent that they depend on for, housing and food and support and ensuring that we take care of our community and our residents and our people does mean making sure that we have emergency assistance available for what is probably one of the most challenging situations that you could possibly face. So I'm very proud of us for doing this.

Thank you, Vice Chair Coffey, and I particularly appreciate your mentioning and identifying. the children of those who are impacted. Thank you, colleagues. So the question is on the motion. Let's see, I do believe we had a motion in a second, correct? If I'm not, can someone just, okay. I move that the county board authorize the county manager to design or designate to sign and amend on behalf of the board proposed grant agreement displayed on the screen a touch earlier between the board and arlington thrive in a form approved by the county attorney i further moved that the board appropriate fifty thousand dollars from the department of human services budget uh under a code that i think i'm okay not to read unless got it and to the non to the non-departmental fund for administration of the grant for arlington thrive is there a second second seconded by mr spain uh the question is on the motion all those in favor say aye aye and in this case thank you mr carantonis hadn't seen you there with that mr clerk is there anything else to come before the board no further items Thank you, colleagues. Long afternoon. Appreciate all the work. I will be touching base both with respect to the intervention, but also with respect to the Thrive piece and communications therewith. And with response to, I will not surprise you. With that, colleagues, we are adjourned for today.