“Despite little likelihood COVID will be disappearing, the community has learned to address it, so “the need for those emergency authorities has dwindled,” the County Manager said.” ⁶³⁰ As a result of the County Manager’s action to end the emergency declaration, all Board Advisory Commissions must meet in person with minor exceptions. However, the County Manager’s Advisory Committees, which are under different guidelines, may continue to meet virtually.^631, 632, 633

⁶³⁰ https://sungazette.news/arlingtons-covid-state-of-emergency-to-end-in-mid-august/

⁶³¹ https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/2.2-3708.2/

⁶³² https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title2.2/chapter37/section2.2-3707/

⁶³³ https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/44-146.21/

The Board Changed Public Comment Requirements Which Appears to Limit Public Comment.

The Board changed public comment requirements at the County’s July 2022 Meeting, closing public comment sign up to 8:15 am the morning of Board meetings.^{634, 635}

The Sun Gazette article: Editorial: Putting the squeeze on public comment in Arlington? ⁶³⁶ notes that: “actions taken by the Arlington School Board and County Board over the summer (when nobody was looking) should be disconcerting for those who value a robust community conversation.” The article goes on to say that the action gives the appearance “that today’s elected officials don’t want to hear what the public has to say or (perhaps as importantly) don’t want others in the community to hear what their neighbors have to say. And if that’s true, it’s another sign of the growing disconnect between today’s political leaders in the community and the public they are, in theory at least, supposed to be serving.”⁶³⁷ Previously, the public could submit a public comment speaker form until “prior to the last public-comment speaker wrapping up comments, usually something that occurs about 9 a.m. or slightly later.”⁶³⁸

⁶³⁴ https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/County-Board/County-Board-Meetings/Speaking-at-a- Monthly-County-Board-Meeting

⁶³⁵ https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/arlington-county-board-adjusts-rules-on-public-comment-at-its- meetings/article_61e4c30c-18d3-11ed-ab4c-c37abd7700ba.html

⁶³⁶  https://sungazette.news/editorial-putting-the-squeeze-on-public-comment-in-arlington/

⁶³⁷ Ibid.

⁶³⁸ Ibid.

Public Comment is not allowed at some Advisory Group Meetings

In particular, the Planning and Transportation Commissions do not accept general public comment during meetings. For example, the public is required to provide written comment to inform the Advisory Groups of outcomes that may require process improvements. This may limit Commission awareness of problems experienced by the community related to their approvals and conditions which may benefit the community.