Manassas Housing Event on Saturday was a great success for a first such ever event! The primary objective to have lenders there brought in by my rough count at around 2:30 p.m. about 60 people to take advantage of talking to the lenders present. Was still going strong about 3:45 with people coming in – and a couple of people from the “Greater Manassas” area came in to take advantage of the lendors being there.
Plus the second objective of having Community Resources to include those groups who are working with the folks with underwater mortgages, possible foreclosure, etc. was well represented. 22 various entities signed up to be there and all showed up! Much different than my experience with the Annual Neighborhood Conference and vendors not showing after saying they would be there.
The third objective of having six sessions on housing topics went ok – not many people came to sit in them although some did. I had only three in my Livable Communities block, but I also had the “killer” session at 3:00 p.m. – “killer” because my experience in the past is when you are the last session, not a lot of people show…LOL! Still, was a nice little group and great discussion.
Neighborhood Services was represented only by one of our Property Enforcement gents; good he was there as folks were made aware we do have a City Code which homeowners should be aware of.
Cost was about nil for the City (mainly thinking salaries here and the use of OHS). Bank of America, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac contributed toward the event; and the Independence Empowerment Center offered to assist financially if there was a shortfall.
Many thanks to Councilmen Harrover, Randolph and Way for stopping in! It was a good start to which I hope will be an annual occurance. Looking forward to being on the Staff of next year’s event!
Mickey Rhoades, the City’s Housing Manager & Advocate had a great planning team, including Ken LaLonde from MCPS and all the players you mentioned. Grateful to Manassas.Patch.com for promoting it and The Washington Post covered it in Sunday’s Metro section. I’m hoping the News & Messenger plays catch-up tomorrow.
Housing counselors will be available at the Nov. 19 Neighborhood Conference at the Boys & Girls Club as well, 10 am to 2 pm. Youth participation has grown and the “no shows” in the exhibit hall last year are being wait-listed. Code enforcement is leading morning and afternoon workshops.
Take note of Item 4E on the PWC BOCS Agenda for Tuesday, October 18th. It will be to ratify the Memorandum of Understanding Between PWC Director of Finance and the PWC Schools Director of Finance to Establish a Documented Internal Control Process for the Disbursement of Appropriated School Board Funds.
I hope that someone will be asking, this evening, for the actual letter regarding the cohort instead of settling for a summary from Dr. Pope.
I’m tired of hearing that drop outs were due to long term absences (Loudon had 15) or the LEP population (Manassas Park had more) or economically disadvantaged (again MP had more). When will the leader lead and accept some responsibility? We are not hearing anyone admit poor decision making or introducing any valid change? Money would be better spent getting rid of the highest paid MCPS staff and bringing in people with fresher, research-based ideas and programs. School board and city council needs to follow the advice of certain SB members and do their own research and follow up, rather than just accepting what they are told.
I read the link you sent, Raymond. I find it ironic that the audit will be conducted by the school board’s outside auditor. Why doesn’t anyone want to go the route of using a neutral 3rd party to validate something as critical as disbursement practices or financial policy?
Passed over by a friend of mine…..the Fairfax County BOCS & Schools Joint Legislative Program. The level of detail is fascinating…and the way they use graphics to illustrate such things as Standards of Quality is great. Simply posting as an FYI as sometimes it is interesting to see what others are doing, and we sure never see the MCPS Legislative Program published like it.
The City used to have a very long and detailed legislative program but in recent years has changed to more of a simple list. For my part, I feel a simple list is best. The big ticket items are simple and have mostly to do with funding (elimination of local taxes that will force increases in property taxes) and governmental authority (soverign immunity (trial lawyers) and eminent domain).
Other stuff is important too but the fundamental truth is that if Richmond forces us to cut millions more from our budgets on top of what we have already cut (and the mandates they continue to add), we should just end the charade and let the GA run the localities.
@Tenacity
Unsure of what you are saying about the third party auditor. I am trying to figure out why, in this day and age, paper checks are passing back and forth versus EFTs. But then, the County does do some strange things in business methods.
@C. Lightner: a lot of the Committee meetings start early…and you hit on an ongoing frustration of many who want to participate, but the early start times prevent them doing so. I bump into that as Chair of one of the Commissions since we meet 10am to 12pm, and that is a bad time too. Key of course is to get the information on the web so at least those who want to participate can see what is going to happen – not as good as having a time folks can be there, but it at least is something.
@Tenacity: Not held in Council Chambers since that room is not conductive to a work group session of a Committee. But you raise a good point about documents – with two sets of elected officials there, should have posting on the web at least three days before hand. Think though maybe that is still be sorted out as to who posts???
The timing of the meetings is a balance. As a practical matter, there are so many meetings that if they were all held that late, you’d run everyone off the Council that has to work for a living. This is the lightest week I’ve had in awhile and there are 2 meetings. Most weeks there are 3. In the spring it gets up to around 4 meetings per week with the budget.
If I was getting home in between 9-10 on all those nights (and many I do anyway), I don’t know that I could sustain it. I have to get up and get my business going.
I believe that both parties should be posting and with Agendas. I suppose you are right with council chambers not being as conducive to a work group session. It sure beats the airport anyway!
The Manassas Commissioner of the Revenue’s
Annual Report – FY 2011 was distributed
in yesterday’s weekly info packet and it has a wealth
of interesting data.
For example: Table 5: Average assessed value history
residential property:
2002 – $170,301
2003 – 200,410
2004 – 228,542
2005 – 287,100
2006 – 388,800
2007 – 369,990
2008 – 301,200
2009 – 193.100
2010 – 196,100
2011 – 210,200
(The full report should be online in the near future)
Education Forward:
Andy, I wanted to get back to you to let you know that I do believe there were 2 citizens at the first meeting but who was there from the press? Although I still cannot find where the first meeting was posted and the 2nd (3rd) one was mentioned at the Jennie Dean Town Hall meeting, it is good to see that we can at least find them on the website now. I wonder if a schedule could be put in the city newsletter?
October 16, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Manassas Housing Event on Saturday was a great success for a first such ever event! The primary objective to have lenders there brought in by my rough count at around 2:30 p.m. about 60 people to take advantage of talking to the lenders present. Was still going strong about 3:45 with people coming in – and a couple of people from the “Greater Manassas” area came in to take advantage of the lendors being there.
Plus the second objective of having Community Resources to include those groups who are working with the folks with underwater mortgages, possible foreclosure, etc. was well represented. 22 various entities signed up to be there and all showed up! Much different than my experience with the Annual Neighborhood Conference and vendors not showing after saying they would be there.
The third objective of having six sessions on housing topics went ok – not many people came to sit in them although some did. I had only three in my Livable Communities block, but I also had the “killer” session at 3:00 p.m. – “killer” because my experience in the past is when you are the last session, not a lot of people show…LOL! Still, was a nice little group and great discussion.
Neighborhood Services was represented only by one of our Property Enforcement gents; good he was there as folks were made aware we do have a City Code which homeowners should be aware of.
Cost was about nil for the City (mainly thinking salaries here and the use of OHS). Bank of America, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac contributed toward the event; and the Independence Empowerment Center offered to assist financially if there was a shortfall.
Many thanks to Councilmen Harrover, Randolph and Way for stopping in! It was a good start to which I hope will be an annual occurance. Looking forward to being on the Staff of next year’s event!
October 17, 2011 at 8:32 am
Mickey Rhoades, the City’s Housing Manager & Advocate had a great planning team, including Ken LaLonde from MCPS and all the players you mentioned. Grateful to Manassas.Patch.com for promoting it and The Washington Post covered it in Sunday’s Metro section. I’m hoping the News & Messenger plays catch-up tomorrow.
Housing counselors will be available at the Nov. 19 Neighborhood Conference at the Boys & Girls Club as well, 10 am to 2 pm. Youth participation has grown and the “no shows” in the exhibit hall last year are being wait-listed. Code enforcement is leading morning and afternoon workshops.
Register on line at: http://www.manassascity.org/forms.aspx?FID=157
October 17, 2011 at 8:50 am
EDUCTION FORWARD:
Take note of Item 4E on the PWC BOCS Agenda for Tuesday, October 18th. It will be to ratify the Memorandum of Understanding Between PWC Director of Finance and the PWC Schools Director of Finance to Establish a Documented Internal Control Process for the Disbursement of Appropriated School Board Funds.
http://www.pwcgov.org/documents/bocs/agendas/2011/1018/4-E.pdf
October 17, 2011 at 8:55 am
I hope that someone will be asking, this evening, for the actual letter regarding the cohort instead of settling for a summary from Dr. Pope.
I’m tired of hearing that drop outs were due to long term absences (Loudon had 15) or the LEP population (Manassas Park had more) or economically disadvantaged (again MP had more). When will the leader lead and accept some responsibility? We are not hearing anyone admit poor decision making or introducing any valid change? Money would be better spent getting rid of the highest paid MCPS staff and bringing in people with fresher, research-based ideas and programs. School board and city council needs to follow the advice of certain SB members and do their own research and follow up, rather than just accepting what they are told.
October 17, 2011 at 9:12 am
I read the link you sent, Raymond. I find it ironic that the audit will be conducted by the school board’s outside auditor. Why doesn’t anyone want to go the route of using a neutral 3rd party to validate something as critical as disbursement practices or financial policy?
October 17, 2011 at 10:22 am
Why are these meetings so early? I am sure there are many tax paying citizens out there that would like to attend but do this crazy thing called WORK.
October 17, 2011 at 10:46 am
Why aren’t the meetings held in council chambers? Although this meeting is finally advertised on the websites, where is the Agenda?
October 17, 2011 at 11:21 am
Passed over by a friend of mine…..the Fairfax County BOCS & Schools Joint Legislative Program. The level of detail is fascinating…and the way they use graphics to illustrate such things as Standards of Quality is great. Simply posting as an FYI as sometimes it is interesting to see what others are doing, and we sure never see the MCPS Legislative Program published like it.
http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/8MEPSH644B1B/$file/FCSB%202012%20Legislative%20Program%20-%20Draft.pdf
October 17, 2011 at 12:32 pm
The City used to have a very long and detailed legislative program but in recent years has changed to more of a simple list. For my part, I feel a simple list is best. The big ticket items are simple and have mostly to do with funding (elimination of local taxes that will force increases in property taxes) and governmental authority (soverign immunity (trial lawyers) and eminent domain).
Other stuff is important too but the fundamental truth is that if Richmond forces us to cut millions more from our budgets on top of what we have already cut (and the mandates they continue to add), we should just end the charade and let the GA run the localities.
October 17, 2011 at 12:56 pm
FYI: MCPS used as a case study/tesimonial. I am in no position to comment on PD 360 but the District Profile was interesting – talk about PR.
http://www.slideshare.net/SchoolImprovementNetwork/manassas-va-new
October 17, 2011 at 1:19 pm
If you have not seen it, MCPS posted Comp Plan 2011 – 2017
http://www.manassas.k12.va.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=14978
October 17, 2011 at 1:24 pm
@Tenacity
Unsure of what you are saying about the third party auditor. I am trying to figure out why, in this day and age, paper checks are passing back and forth versus EFTs. But then, the County does do some strange things in business methods.
October 17, 2011 at 1:32 pm
@C. Lightner: a lot of the Committee meetings start early…and you hit on an ongoing frustration of many who want to participate, but the early start times prevent them doing so. I bump into that as Chair of one of the Commissions since we meet 10am to 12pm, and that is a bad time too. Key of course is to get the information on the web so at least those who want to participate can see what is going to happen – not as good as having a time folks can be there, but it at least is something.
@Tenacity: Not held in Council Chambers since that room is not conductive to a work group session of a Committee. But you raise a good point about documents – with two sets of elected officials there, should have posting on the web at least three days before hand. Think though maybe that is still be sorted out as to who posts???
October 17, 2011 at 1:51 pm
The timing of the meetings is a balance. As a practical matter, there are so many meetings that if they were all held that late, you’d run everyone off the Council that has to work for a living. This is the lightest week I’ve had in awhile and there are 2 meetings. Most weeks there are 3. In the spring it gets up to around 4 meetings per week with the budget.
If I was getting home in between 9-10 on all those nights (and many I do anyway), I don’t know that I could sustain it. I have to get up and get my business going.
October 17, 2011 at 1:54 pm
Thanks Ray B for passing on the Comp Plan link.
The concepts are there but I had a hard time getting past the “Dream Rainbow” achored by clouds. The issues are serious and the visual should match.
October 17, 2011 at 8:20 pm
I believe that both parties should be posting and with Agendas. I suppose you are right with council chambers not being as conducive to a work group session. It sure beats the airport anyway!
October 17, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Hey! You’re going to give my boys at the Airport a complex!…:)
October 17, 2011 at 10:07 pm
Okay, okay. I was only referring to the fact that the first meeting was not advertised and held ……
@ the airport!
October 18, 2011 at 6:49 am
City’s Housing Event made the front page of the News & Messenger today. http://www2.insidenova.com/business/2011/oct/18/manassas-offers-help-homeowners-ar-1388926/
October 18, 2011 at 7:28 am
I’d be shocked to discover that the meeting wasn’t advertised. The press was there as were a handful of citizens.
October 18, 2011 at 8:09 am
I will check with my source, however, I researched shortly after and could not find it myself anywhere?
October 20, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Link to Virginia Town & City magazine. Check out City of Manassas cover story
http://www.vml.org/VTC/11VTC-PDF/VTCSep11_web.pdf
October 22, 2011 at 11:54 am
The Manassas Commissioner of the Revenue’s
Annual Report – FY 2011 was distributed
in yesterday’s weekly info packet and it has a wealth
of interesting data.
For example: Table 5: Average assessed value history
residential property:
2002 – $170,301
2003 – 200,410
2004 – 228,542
2005 – 287,100
2006 – 388,800
2007 – 369,990
2008 – 301,200
2009 – 193.100
2010 – 196,100
2011 – 210,200
(The full report should be online in the near future)
2003
October 24, 2011 at 12:48 am
Education Forward:
Andy, I wanted to get back to you to let you know that I do believe there were 2 citizens at the first meeting but who was there from the press? Although I still cannot find where the first meeting was posted and the 2nd (3rd) one was mentioned at the Jennie Dean Town Hall meeting, it is good to see that we can at least find them on the website now. I wonder if a schedule could be put in the city newsletter?
October 25, 2011 at 12:29 pm
http://www.manassascity.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=4280
Interesting data “hot off the press”.