Today Wednesday, February 11, the City of Winchester will join with other local beneficiaries of Charles Broadway Rouss’ contributions by hosting a series of events commemorating his impact on the community.

 

At the upcoming regular City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 10, Mayor Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Minor will officially declare February 11 2009 as Charles Broadway Rouss Day. The date coincides with Mr. Rouss’ birthday. He was born in 1836 and died on March 3, 1902.

 

In 1991, City Council adopted a resolution calling for an annual recognition to commemorate the many notable contributions to Winchester by Mr. Rouss. The Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society (WFCHS) was specifically tasked by City Council to establish procedures for an annual commemoration. Tim Youmans, who serves on the WFCHS Board and is also employed by the City of Winchester as Planning Director, has spearheaded this year’s efforts.

 

A full afternoon of events is planned on February 11.  Click the button on the left for the complete schedule of events.  All events are free and open to the public.

 

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The Winchester Natural Resources Advisory Board (NRAB) is holding a public meeting on its proposed solutions to the waterfowl issues at Wilkins Lake.  The meeting is being held to present the NRAB’s proposed waterfowl solutions to the public and seek feedback.

 

Wilkins Lake currently has an overabundance of waterfowl for various reasons. This has caused several problems that affect the quality of the environment both in and around the lake. The City of Winchester is looking for ways to resolve this issue while still providing a park that both wildlife and people can enjoy. 

 

The NRAB is a subcommittee of the Public Services Committee and reports directly to this committee. They have been tasked by the committee and the City Council to investigate this issue and provide recommended solutions. Members of the NRAB include Gerald Crowell, Chairman, Woody Bousquet, Jim Lawrence, Jim Giraytys and David Worthington. Meetings are held every second Monday of the month and are open to the public.

 

If you have any questions on this meeting please contact Mr. Gerald Crowell at 722-3496.

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The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that large projects that increases the assets or value of the city as a whole.  The City has adopted a formal capitalization policy which determines which projects qualify as capital. 

 

To be considered as capital, the item must be:

1. tangible;
2. valued over $50,000;
3. have a life expectancy of at least 7 years; and
4. increase the value of an asset or the useful life beyond that originally anticipated (if an improvement).

 

Major capital assets may include such items, or projects, as refuse truck, water line replacements, and construction of a parking garage. 

 

Below is a list of proposed City projects for fiscal year 2010:
    - Two-Way Traffic Modifications
    - Sidewalk Replacements
    - Hope Drive Extension (possible bonded project)
    - Cork/Pleasant Valley Intersection - Turn Lane
    - Public Works Equipment Replacement
    - S. Loudoun (Jubal Early - Featherbed) - Turn Lanes
    - Outdoor Pool Resurfacing
    - Timbrook Computer Equipment
    - Air Compressor - Shawnee Fire Station
    - Bridgeforth Field Lighting
    - JJC Renovations/Office Changes

 

The projected cost for these capital projects is $4,760,000 including $1,000,000 in state and federal funds.

 

The schedule for determining and approving the CIP is as follows:
November - CIP Committee reviews the program
December - Planning Director presents the CIP to the Planning

                     Commission
January - Planning Commission makes a recommendation to the City

                 Manager and the CIP is presented to the Finance Committee
March - Finance Committee reviews the CIP
April - Finance Committee approves the CIP and forwards to Council
June - Council adopts the CIP
July - CIP is printed, along with the budget, distributed to Council, City

           staff, and posted on the City's website

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As the City of Winchester moves forward with innovative ideas and strategies to improve its sustainability, extensive efforts must be made in examining the current Zoning Ordinance.  The most recent edition dates back to 1976 and so much has changed in the City since that time period.  It is anticipated that more changes will ultimately occur. 

 

With the Comprehensive Plan update underway, it is only appropriate to begin considering changes to the Zoning Ordinance.  A brief questionnaire has been developed and distributed to various members of the community to survey the public perception of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance.  The survey form is available within the Zoning & Inspections office at City Hall; as well as on the City’s website.

 

Upon completing the survey, citizens are asked to return the form as soon as possible by fax, mail, e-mail, or in-person.  The responses will be collected over the next 30 days and utilized in shaping code revisions consistent with City Council's stated goals and objectives.  As an indication of public interest, several responses were received within the first day. 

 

Questions pertaining to the survey can be directed to Vincent P. Diem, Zoning & Inspections Administrator, who can be reached at 667-1815 x 1420, or by e-mail at vdiem@ci.winchester.va.us.

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Members of the Zoning & Inspections Department participated in a one-day "Lead Safe Work Practices" training program on January 27. 

 

At the conclusion of the program, a certification test was offered, with 100% pass rate among our City staff attendees.  The purpose of the training program was to provide contractors, building officials, and inspectors with additional knowledge and awareness of the hazards associated with lead based paint and proper handling of the material, during renovation, restoration, and remodeling.  This program was not intended to be a lead abatement certification program.

 

The City of Winchester has previously been designated as a high risk community for lead-based paint hazards due to contributing factors such as the age of the structures, demographics, and lack of blood-lead level testing among pre-school aged children.

 

For more information, please contact the Zoning Department at 667-1815.

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Winchester Transit is now linked to Google Transit.  Get step by step transit directions in your web browser or in your mobile phone; or, plan your trip in advance. 

 

Passengers can now plan their trips, obtain information on bus connections, get estimated bus arrival times for a particular stop, and view bus information and schedules by entering trip information into Google.  Go to www.google.com/transit, enter your “Start Address”, your “Destination Address”, the time and date of your trip and click on “Get Directions” to obtain trip information.

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As American families look for ways to save more and maximize their budgets, riding public transportation is a fast and easy solution to save money on the cost of commuting.

 

According to the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) “Transit Savings Report” a person riding public transportation can achieve an average annual savings of $8,481 per year by taking public transportation instead of driving, based on today’s gas prices and the average unreserved parking rate. 

 

“In these difficult economic times, riding public transportation is an excellent way to stretch the family budget and save money,” said APTA President William W. Millar.  “From a consumer’s perspective, the savings recouped by taking public transportation equates to getting your food for free and having an extra $2,000 in your pocket.”

 

To calculate your individual savings with or without car ownership, go to www.publictransportation.org.

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February 6 is the American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day and City employees wanted to do their part to help support heart research and education.  Not only did employees wear red to work on that day, they also raised $275!  The Park's after-school program also got involved!

 

Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of both men and women in our country?  A few simple choices in life can make us more “heart-healthy”: 

1. get a check-up
2. get off the couch and exercise at least 30 minutes a day
3. quit smoking
4. drop a few pounds of extra weight
5. lower your intake of salt

 

Do what you can to lead a healthier life and let's change the statistics!

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The City of Winchester is proud to announce the creation of the first annual International Children's Festival to be held on October 10, 2009 in the Winchester Active Living and Recreation Center in Jim Barnett Park.

 

Now is the time to get involved!  We are looking for organizations and groups to represent their country of orgin or favorite country and set up an educational exhibit for children and their families.  We are also looking for live cultural entertainment!

 

Please visit www.winchesterva.gov/icf (or click the button on the left) for more information.  In addition, a public informational meeting will be held on March 5 at 7:00 pm in the War Memorial Building of Jim Barnett Park!

 

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Tourism in Winchester and Frederick County is still healthy despite the economic down turn. "Staycations" are a big hit and although visitation has decreased as expected, Winchester is still a favorite destination for tourists!

 

The main project of 2008 was the completion of the new Visitor Center located at 1400 South Pleasant Valley Road.  The 5,000 square foot facility was opened in January 2008 and over 16,000 people have visited the new center during its first year. The new building was made possible by partnerships between the Winchester-Frederick County Convention and Vistors Bureau (CVB), the City of Winchester, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, and Shenandoah University. 

 

Project funding came from a federal grant, administered by the Small Business Administration, in the amount of $98,723.  Private donations totaled $20,300. An opening celebration was held Monday, May 12, 2008.

 

 

Visitation (to Winc.-Fred. Co. Visitor Center specifically)  

2008 - 16,420    2007 - 17,515     (6.25% decrease)

 

Shenandoah Valley Travel Association Visitor Center, New Market Comparison:    2008 - 21,661    2007 - 30,181    (28.23% decrease)

 

Emails:       2008 - 631    2007 - 559    (12.88% increase)

 

Phone calls:    2008 - 4,777    2007 - 3,907    (22.27% increase)

 

 

Unique visitors    2008 - 87,305    2007 - 74,468    (17.24% increase)

 

Number of visits     2008 - 206,092    2007 - 169,394     (21.66% increase)

 

Number of hits    2008 - 4,837,158    2007 - 4,360,433   (10.93% increase)