Arlington Co. Board Votes to Preserve Gulf Branch Nature Center

Michael Laris reports in today's Washington Post:

The Arlington County Board passed a budget last night that increases the real estate tax rate 2.7 cents and restores some unpopular proposed cuts.

Board members increased the general fund operating budget by $5.4 million over the one for this fiscal year to $946.8 million, officials said. The rate increase will bump the average homeowner's property tax bill from $4,501 to $4,551, based on a new rate of 87.5 cents for every $100 of assessed value, county officials said.

Board members reversed a plan to demolish the Gulf Branch Nature Center and partially or completely restored library hours for three branches. But recreation centers' hours and other services were scaled back, and officials cut 95 positions countywide. All of those employees have found other county jobs or taken voluntary severance packages, officials said.

Congratulations to the thousands of Arlingtonians who rallied to save Gulf Branch!

Sun Gazette Calls Out County on Gulf Branch

Want to make anyone involved in Arlington County government visibly uncomfortable? Bring up the proposal to close Gulf Branch Nature Center. Both County Board members and county employees get very defensive at the mere mention of Gulf Branch.

Today, the Sun Gazette calls shenanigans:

THUMBS DOWN: To those county officials who have yet to offer a cogent explanation for why Gulf Branch Nature Center is about to be closed.

Clearly, it’s not about money. The less than $150,000 budgeted for the facility is peanuts in a spending package that tiptoes up to $1 billion. There are plenty of ways to find that money, and much more, in the crevices of the county manager’s proposed spending plan.

If it’s not about money, what is the reason? The argument that there’s a nature center nearby doesn’t wash with us; that facility, Potomac Overlook Regional Park, is a fine place, but is operated by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, which has no specific duty to Arlingtonians. Comparing Gulf Branch and Potomac Overlook is like comparing apples and oranges.

Barring a better explanation, we don’t know why County Board members would move forward with the proposal to close the nature center at this point.

I have no inside knowledge of discussions on Gulf Branch, so this is complete speculation. But it was surprising that county first proposed not just temporarily closing or cutting back at Gulf Branch but demolishing it. That leap made it hard not to get the impression, as the Sun Gazette and many others have, that some in county government may not be so sad to see Gulf Branch go.

If that's the case, the county should've just said "Gulf Branch doesn't fit our long-term plans, period." That would've involved taking a small public relations hit, but now the county is setting itself up for a much bigger hit from the nearly 3,000 people who are rallying to save Gulf Branch.

Campaign to Save Gulf Branch Nature Center Kicks Off

Arlington conservationists have formed a Facebook group to Save Gulf Branch Nature Center. In just a few days, the group has grown to 849 members (and I expect by the time you read this it'll be a lot higher than that).

You can also sign an online petition here.

UPDATE: Here's a video asking to keep the Nature Center open ...

A Look at Proposed Cuts to Arlington's Environmental Services

Just got this email from Elenor Hodges, executive director of Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment:

I am sure you know that the Arlington County Board is facing a lot of hard decisions, including budgetary constraints. Some of you may have received information that the County Manager's proposed budget includes closing Gulf Branch Nature Center and cuts to the County's invasive removal program.

Some people have asked for information on the budget timeline and how to comment:

- The February 21 meeting will include a presentation of the proposed budget by Ron Carlee (CountyManager@arlingtonva.us or telephone 703-228-3120).

- Interested members of the public may comment on the proposed budget at the Tuesday, March 24 County Board Public Budget Hearing or via email at countyboard@arlingtonva.us.

- The budget will be finalized at the April 29 County Board meeting.

Visit the Arlington County web site for additional information and updates on the FY 2010 County Budget process.

I'm watching Carlee unveil his budget right now on Comcast channel 74. Considering the overall cuts under discussion, including 100 staff positions, cutting services and eliminating Planet Arlington and the Neighborhood Day parade, it doesn't seem unreasonable to ask the environmental community to give something back as well. As long as Gulf Branch park remains open, closing a less-utilized nature center seems unfortunate but not draconian.

What do you think? Did Carlee's proposed budget do a good job of protecting important environmental programs? Any other cuts that you'd object to?