Board Meeting – On January 23, 2024, President Mulston called to order the meeting of the Board of Directors (Board) of Reston Citizens Association (RCA) at 7:30 pm. This was a hybrid meeting with selected participants attending in person and three participants attending via Zoom.
Individual Attendees in person were Lynne Mulston, President; Gary Maupin, Vice-President; Shawn Endsley, Secretary; Connie Hartke; Dennis Hays; and Rich Hoffmann. Joe Leighton, Treasurer; Michele Silver; and Gerald Volloy attended via Zoom. President Mulston determined that a quorum of 9 of 9 members was present either in person or via Zoom and the meeting could proceed.
There were three guests attending via Zoom – Sarah D’Souza representing RestonStrong, John Pinkman and Stephanie Oliver.
Adoption of Agenda – President Mulston asked for adoption of the agenda. Upon motion made by Vice-President Maupin, and seconded by Director Hays, the Board unanimously approved the proposed agenda.
Approval of Minutes – President Mulston asked for approval of the minutes of the December 5, 2023, Board meeting. Upon motion made by Director Hoffmann, and seconded by Vice-President Maupin, the Board approved the minutes of the December 5, 2023, meeting by a vote of 8 to 0 with one abstention. Director Harke did not attend the December 5, 2023, Board meeting and therefore abstained.
Approval of Treasurer’s Report – President Mulston then asked for approval of the Treasurer’s Report. Upon motion made by Director Hays and seconded by Secretary Endsley, the Board approved the Treasurer’s Report by a vote of 8 to 0 with one abstention. Director Hartke abstained as she had been unable to review the Treasurer’s Report.
Welcome Special Guest – Sarah D’Souza – President Mulston introduced Sarah D’Souza to the Board. Ms. D’Souza represents RestonStrong, an advocacy group for the homeless in Reston. Ms. D’Souza described the activities of RestonStrong in providing basic humanitarian needs for the homeless in Reston. Those needs included tents, mattresses, coats, and warm clothing. Ms. D’Souza noted that homeless families are a top priority in receiving housing. The elderly and underemployed are a lower priority and constitute many of the homeless in Reston. She noted that a two-prong approach is necessary. Advocacy and a focus on longer term housing is important. Ms. D’Souza noted that once a homeless individual is in a shelter, it is important how long that individual can remain. Directors Hays, Silver, and Volloy asked questions regarding the circumstances of homelessness in Reston. Ms. D’Souza responded to all the questions. In conclusion Ms. D’Souza asked RCA to express its position on the homeless situation in Reston. President Mulston thanked Ms. D’Souza and noted that RCA would be considering a position statement later in the meeting.
Call for Nominations – 2024 – President Mulston asked Director Hoffmann to report on the 2024 Call for Nominations to the RCA Board. Director Hoffmann reported that there are four (4) open seats on the Board – a Hunter Woods District Director a North Point District Director and two (2) At-Large Directors. The Call for Nominations announcement is included as Attachment No. 1. The Candidate Application Form is included as Attachment No. 2. The Candidate Application Form is required to be completed by May 10, 2024. The Directors are expected to be selected in June 2024. Advertisements will be printed in the Reston Patch as well as other local communications. President Mulston asked for a motion to approve the Call For Nominations and Candidate Application Form. Director Hoffmann submitted the following motion:
Motion: The Board of Directors of the Reston Citizens Association approves the Call For Nominations and Candidate Application Form for use in filling the four (4) open Director positions – Hunter Woods District Director, North Point District Director and two (2) At Large Directors for 2024.
Vice -President Maupin seconded the motion. The Board unanimously approved the motion 8 to 0 with one abstention from Treasurer Leighton who had been unable to review the Attachments.
RCA Special Project Citizens Opposed to Reston Casino (CORC) Update – President Mulston reported that the Senate Bill (SB 675) filed by Senator David Marsden added Fairfax County to the list of localities eligible to host a casino in the Commonwealth and to locate the casino in Tysons. SB 675 was referred to the Subcommittee on Gaming in the Virginia Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology. On January 23rd there was limited testimony before the Subcommittee. Senator Marsden stated that he was unaware of community opposition to SB 675 which is not factually accurate. Opposition to SB 675 includes the Vienna Town Council, the Greater Tysons Citizens Coalition, the Tanglewood Community Association, the Greater Tysons Green Civic Association, the Hunter Mill Defense League, the Great Falls Citizens Association, the Sully District Council of Citizens Associations, the Western Fairfax Council of Civic Associations, and the McLean Citizens Association. The vote by the Subcommittee was tied 4-4 which means SB 675 goes to the full Committee on January 24th. President Mulston proposed that RCA approve a resolution opposing a casino in Fairfax County prior to the full Committee hearing. (See RCA Resolution: Opposition to a Casino in Fairfax County below).
Director Hartke noted that a bus for concerned residents would be traveling to Richmond for testimony before the full Committee on January 24th.
Subsequent Actions to the January 23, 2024, RCA Board Meeting – On January 24, 2024, the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology approved SB 675 by a vote of 10-4 with one abstention. SB 675 was referred to the Senate Finance Committee and then would go to the Senate floor for a vote.
RCA Resolution: Opposition to A Casino in Fairfax County – Based on the actions through January 23, 2024, President Mulston asked the Board to approve a resolution opposing a casino in Fairfax County. Secretary Endsley proposed the following motion for the Board.
Motion – The Board of Directors of the Reston Citizens Association authorizes President Mulston and such other designees to draft an appropriate resolution opposing a casino in Fairfax County. Such resolution is to be distributed to appropriate elected governmental officials and press outlets.
Vice-President Maupin seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved by the Board. (See Actions Subsequent to the Board Meeting below for the text of the approved resolution.)
Reston Town Center North (RTCN) Update – President Mulston asked Vice-President Maupin and Director Hays to update the Board on RTCN activities. There were no further activities to note.
Golf Courses Update – President Mulston and Director Hartke noted there were no recent updates on either Hidden Creek Golf Course or Reston National Golf Course.
Other Business – The following other items were discussed with the Board:
Change to Meeting Schedule – President Mulston noted that a change in the meeting date from the 4th Monday in the month was necessary. The Board agreed that the regularly scheduled meeting would be changed to the 4th Tuesday of each month unless unusual circumstances warranted.
RCA Position Statement – In response to RestonStrong’s request for a position statement from RCA. Director Hays drafted a position statement on homelessness. Secretary Endsley made the following motion:
Motion: – The Board of Directors approves the statement drafted by Director Hays as the Position Statement of the Reston Citizens Association on Homelessness.
Director Volloy seconded the motion, and the motion was unanimously approved as the RCA Position Statement on Homelessness. The Position Statement is included as Attachment No. 3.
Zoom Subscription – President Mulston noted that she had been covering the cost of a Zoom subscription for RCA and asked that the Board consider reimbursement of these costs. Vice-President Maupin proposed the following motion:
Motion – The Treasurer of the Reston Citizens Association is authorized to reimburse the President for the annual cost of a Zoom Subscription.
Director Hays seconded the motion. The Board unanimously approved the motion to reimburse President Mulston for the annual cost of a Zoom Subscription.
Adjourn – President Mulston noted the next meeting of the Board would be February 27, 2024, at 7:30 pm at Hidden Creek Country Club. The guest speaker would be Supervisor Walter Alcorn.
President Mulston then asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:31 pm. Upon motion made by Director Hays and seconded by Director Hoffmann, the Board unanimously agreed to adjourn.
Action Subsequent to Board Meeting – After the Board meeting was adjourned, President Mulston, Vice-President Maupin, Secretary Endsley, Director Hartke, Director Hays, and Director Hoffmann convened to draft the resolution opposing a casino in Fairfax County approved by the Board during the January 23, 2024, meeting. The resolution was completed and is included as Attachment No. 4. The resolution was to be distributed to the Senators on the General Laws and Technology Committee as well as the local press.
On February 1, 2024, The Virginia Senate Subcommittee on Resources voted 4-0 to carry over SB 675 to the next legislative sessions. SB 675 still faces a formal vote by the full Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. Unless the full committee goes against the subcommittee’s recommendation, SB 675 is basically dead for the 2024 legislative session. On February 1, 2024, via email President Mulston requested the Board’s approval to send the following email: “Reston Citizens Association appreciates the efforts made by our Board, volunteers from Reston and all-around Fairfax County in participating with email, phone calls and visiting Senators in Richmond. Thanks also to Supervisor Alcorn, Vienna Town Mayor Linda Colbert, and Herndon Councilmember Naila Alam for their testimony before today’s Resources Subcommittee. Finally, if it were not for the leadership of the Resources Subcommittee Chair, Senator Louise Lucas who saw the importance of further investigating the impacts of SB 675, we would not have the deferral to 2025 that we accomplished.”
On February 1,2024,via email the Board approved the above message by a vote of 8-0. Director Hartke did not vote. President Mulston’s email was published in the Reston Patch on February 2, 2024.
On February 4, 2024, President Mulston requested the Board’s approval to send the following email to Senators Deeds and McDougal:
I am writing personally to THANK YOU for your specific inquiry regarding the efficacy of SB 675 during the SFAC Resources Sub-Committee meeting. Please know the citizens of Fairfax County did not ask for, nor do they want, this horrific bill put forth by Senator Dave Marsden.
I had the honor of attending a Town Hall meeting yesterday at McLean High School hosted by Senator Boysko and I can tell you that there was anger in the room directed at Senator Marsden for daring to put forth a bill that so negatively impacts a district other than his own.
Senator Marsden’s bill that specifies a location in another Senator’s District is unprecedented. This bill does not have the support of the two Senators into whom its Districts are written, Senators Boysko and Salim. Quite the opposite.
I urge you and all Committee members to vote to Pass By Indefinitely SB 675 when it comes for a vote on Tuesday, February 6 before the Virginia Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee.
This email was approved by the Board 7-0 with Directors Hays and Silver not voting. The email message is Attachment No. 5.
On February 6, 2024, President Mulston solicited via email the Board’s approval for the following statement:
As expected, after a valiant effort by Senator Jennifer Boysko to kill bill SB 675 with a motion to Pass By Indefinitely, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee accepted the Senate Resources Sub-committee recommendation and voted to hold over Senate Bill 675 for the next legislative session. The battle that was initiated in Reston and spread to Tysons Corner will resurface later this year. Our coalition is growing and now includes citizens associations from Great Falls, McLean, Tysons, and the Vienna Town Council.
Reston Citizens Association has a proven record of ‘citizen wins’ against narrow special interests. RCA’s experience coupled with our new coalition partners will prepare us for an effective campaign of grassroots activism when bill SB 675 resurfaces.
The statement was approved by the Board 8-0 with Director Hays not voting. The RCA statement was published in the Reston Patch on February 7, 2024.
On February 20, 2024, Director Hays presented testimony to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in opposition to a casino in the County. The full text of his remarks is included as Attachment No. 6.