The fiscal year beginning July 2012 will be very difficult. We expect revenues to continue to fall, or at least remain level, and costs to go up. Particularly, the cost of public schools and employee retirement and health insurance contribution will rise next year. As the FY 2013 budget process begins it’s essential to learn from residents what services and priorities are most important. We encourage you to be engaged in the budget process.

At williamsburgva.gov/budget you can find not only the current and previous budgets and complete budget calendar, but links to other financial information, including The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), which provides just exactly that -- a comprehensive view of the City’s financial picture. The FY 11 CAFR was presented to City Council in December and is great “required reading” to understand the City’s finances.

Other good resources are Monthly Operating and Financial Reports (williamsburgva.gov/monthlyreports) and the new Performance

Dashboards that display real time data on the City’s performance across all City operations (williamsburgva.gov/dashboards).

For updates on the Budget process and notices about opportunities for public input, sign up for City News at www.williamsburgva.gov/enotify.

City of WilliamsburgMunicipal Building401 Lafayette StreetWilliamsburg, VA 23185 757.220.6100Hours: M-F, 8am-4:30pm www.williamsburgva.gov

Comprehensive planning for the entire region January 2012 marks the beginning of a year-long process to update the City’s 2006 Comprehensive Plan, which is the City’s adopted policy guide for land use, and deals with issues such as community character, population growth, economic development, housing, environment, infrastructure and transportation. For the first time, Williamsburg, James City and

York Counties will coordinate the update of their individual Comprehensive Plans. Even though the process is coordinated, each jurisdiction will be adopting its own Comprehensive Plan. There will be three regional public forums in February (see calendar at left), and in April the three Planning Commissions will hold a joint work session to discuss issues raised at the public forums.

The Williamsburg Planning Commission will hold work sessions throughout the year, and citizen comments are invited. The public hearing on the City’s Plan is anticipated in November 2012.

To stay informed, please sign up for Planning Commission notifications on the City’s eNotify system, or contact the Planning Department at 220-6130.

FY 2013 Budget Timeline• Jan 18: Planning Commission public hearing on

Capital Improvement Budget• Mar16: Proposed Operating and Capital

Improvement Budgets delivered to Council. • Mar19-20: City Council Work Sessions--Review of

Outside Agency Requests. • May 10: Council Adopts FY 2013 Operating,

Capital, and Public Assistance Fund Budgets.

city calendar

Prefer an e-edition of the Quill? Sign up at www.williamsburgva.gov/paperless

Winter 2012

JanuaryNEW YEAR’S HOLIDAYCity Offices Closed

Jan 2

City Council Work Session - 4pmLegacy Hall, New Town

Jan 9

Economic Development Authority 3pm, Municipal Building

Jan 11

City Council Meeting - 2pm Jan 12

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAYCity Offices Closed

Jan 16

Planning Commission - 3:30pm Jan 18

City Council Retreat - 8:30amMunicipal Building

Jan 21

FebruaryComp Plan Community Forum Magruder Elementary, 7-9pm

Feb 2

City Council Work Session - 4pm Feb 6

Economic Development Authority 3pm, Municipal Building

Feb 8

City Council Meeting - 2pm Feb 9

Planning Commission - 3:30pm Feb 15

PRESIDENTS’ DAYCity Offices Closed

Feb 20

Comp Plan Community Forum Warhill High School, 7-9 pm

Feb 23

Comp Plan Community Forum Williamsburg Community Building, 7-9pm

Feb 27

MarchCity Council Work Session - 4pm Mar 5

City Council Meeting - 2pm Mar 8

Economic Development Authority 3pm, Municipal Building

Mar 14

Planning Commission - 3:30 pm Mar 14

City Council Budget Work Sessions 5pm, Municipal Building

Mar 19Mar 20

City Council & Planning Commission Meetings are held in the Stryker Building, 415 N. Boundary St. They’re broadcast live on Cable TV 48 and the website and archived at williamsburgva.gov/emeetings

A complete list of meetings and events is available at www.williamsburgva.gov

Planning for the City’s near- and long-term future Budget FY 2013 City of Williamsburg Operating Revenues vs. Expenditures FY 2003 thru FY 2011

C i t y o f

W i l l i a m s b u r g

Quarterly Quill

PRESORTED STANDARDU.S. Postage

PAIDWilliamsburg, Virginia

PERMIT NO. 14

Winter 2012

Boards and Commissions

For a large-print version, call 220-6100 or email communications@williamsburgva.gov.

Last fall, City Council approved a change to purchase dog tags for up to 3 years. The cost is $5 per year for spayed/neutered dogs and $10 per year for all others. Tags will expire December 31st of 2012, 2013 or 2014 depending on when the rabies vaccination expires. Citizens still have the option of buying an annual tag. The application is online at williamsburgva.gov/finance or call 220-6180.

The next Household Chemical & Computer Collection is Feb. 11, 8 am- 12 noon, at Lafayette High School, 4460 Longhill Road. For information visit www.vppsa.org or call 259-9850. Seventeen businesses and 50 residents have taken the City’s Green Challenge to lessen their carbon footprints. The next challenge will be in Aprill for Earth Day. More information will be available in early March, but In the meantime, check out williamsburgva.gov/green to learn about your green neighbors and what you can do, too. Sign up for our EcoGrams - Green News email notifications, williamsburgva.gov/enotify.

Finance: 2012 Dog Tags

Communications Follow City News & Stay in TouchThe City tries to provide multiple opportunities and methods for sharing information. It’s especially important during an emergency, but the time to get in the routine is before an emergency strikes. Here are some ways to stay in touch:

• The City website is www.williamsburgva.gov. • E-Mail Notifications: Sign up for email news updates by

topic and department at williamsburgva.gov/enotify • Cable Channel 48: City meetings, features, and

programs from William & Mary are broadcast daily and also stream on the website. Find the schedule at williamsburgva.gov/wmsbgtv.

• Meeting Video & Agendas: The City’s video system for meetings is integrated with the agendas. Whether you want to watch live or at your convenience, go to williamsburgva.gov/emeetings and search by subject or key word.

• Facebook: Williamsburg.Virginia• Twitter: @WilliamsburgGov • YouTube: WilliamsburgGov• CITY411 Text Messaging: Report non-emergency

issues (from a crooked stop sign to a missed trash pickup) and receive emergency texts. Register at williamsburgva.gov/CITY411

• CITY411 App for Smartphones: Report non-emergency issues using your smartphone. Include a photo and voicemail message. Download it for free from the Apple App Store and Android Market.

In 2011 City employees exceeded their goal for the United Way of Greater Williamsburg’s annual campaign, pledging $16,704.

In addition, on the Day of Caring, employees assisted an older resident with her house and yard work and delivered flowers to residents of Envoy of Williamsburg.

Quality of Life Neighborhoods

Neighborhood Council of Williamsburg (NCW) provides an opportunity for residents to discuss issues relating to City neighborhoods. NCW meets the first Saturday of the month from 8 - 9:30 am at Quarterpath Recreation Center. The Mayor and a Council member attend the meetings to share information and hear concerns. All residents are welcome. Contact Jim Joseph, NCW Chairperson, at 565-1549 or jasjoseph@verizon.net.

The City is responsible for clearing public streets of snow and ice. Please keep a safe distance of at least five seconds behind trucks that are plowing the road. Don’t pass a snowplow or spreader unless

it is absolutely necessary. Treat these as you would emergency response vehicles.

The City is responsible for clearing sidewalks surrounding municipal property, but residents and businesses are responsible for clearing their own sidewalks and driveways. Please assist your neighbors whenever possible. More winter weather safety information is available at williamsburgva.gov/emergency.

City Green Team Members Tammy Rojek (Public Works) and Elsa Korrigan (Human Services) with a recycling bin, one of the prizes for Residential Geen Challenge winners.

City Council made the following appointments to City Boards & Commissions effective January 1, 2012:

• Williamsburg James City County School Board: Elise Emanuel was reappointed for a four-year term to expire December 31, 2015.

• Planning Commission: Demetrios Florakis & Chris Connolly were appointed for four-year terms to expire December 31, 2015

• Architectural Review Board: David Stemann for a four-year term to expire December 31, 2015 ; and Joe Hertzler to fulfill Demetrios Florakis’ term to expire December 31, 2012.

• Board of Zoning Appeals: Dennis Kiser & Drew Gruber for 5-year terms to expire December 31, 2016

City residents are encouraged to apply to serve on Boards and Commissions. Applications are accepted at any time and are reviewed by Council should a vacancy arise. To learn more, visit williamsburgva.gov/boards or contact City Council Clerk Donna Scott at 220-6103 or dscott@williamsburgva.gov.

Emergency Preparedness Winter Weather Preparedness & Safety

More employee news is in Cityside at williamsburgva.gov/communications.

City Staff News

Environmental Sustainability Household Chemical Collection & Green Challenges

Lori Springsteen (Planning), Cyndee Floyd & Willie Matthews (Public Works), Sandi Filicko (City Manager’s Office) and Jackie Herrmann (Human Resources) on Day of Caring 2011.