Arlington CRA approves $108,886 request to fund temporary landscape-architect position for mandatory compliance grant program

The Arlington Community Redevelopment Agency voted 15-0 to approve hiring a temporary part-time landscape architect to support the Mandatory Compliance Grant Program, an agency presentation said. The board was told the request is for $108,886 and that the position would be funded from the CRA's Mandatory Compliance Grant Program but requires City Council action because of city personnel funding rules and ordinance limits.

Karen Nasralla of the Office of Economic Development presented the request and said the temporary hire is intended to create conceptual site plans that participating property owners can use to obtain building permits. "These plans take anywhere from 20 to 25 hours per plan and are all consuming," Nasralla said. She told the board there are 22 property owners who need conceptual plans, 15 plans waiting, and 63 conceptual plans already completed. The temporary position would be funded by the CRA grant program and end once the backlog is cleared.

Nasralla said the position must be sourced through the general-fund part-time vacancy pool, which requires council approval because the agency has no jurisdiction over that pool and because the requested amount exceeds the $100,000 threshold governed by ordinance. "This needs council action because, first of all, this hire will utilize the part time hours from the general fund vacancy pool, which the agency board has no jurisdiction over," she told the board. She referenced ordinance language that limits transfers of administrative expenses within CRA budgets.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the funding and process. Board member Arias asked whether adding employees midyear is common; Nasralla described the request as project-specific to the mandatory compliance grant program, which was mandated by council with a date-certain application deadline of April 28, 2025. She said the program was created to help property owners meet the Renew Arlington overlay requirements and that, as long as an applicant submits by the date certain, staff can work with them.

A public commenter, identified in the record as John Nooney, addressed the board during the public comment period and raised budgetary questions about the $108,886 figure and broader tree or landscaping funding. Nooney asked for information about how plant selections and plan details would be decided and said he wanted to attend meetings where the program is discussed. The board chair noted public participation was taken prior to the vote and the board proceeded to open the ballot; the recorder reported "15 yeas, 0 nays."

The approved motion directs staff to hire a temporary part-time landscape architect and to use Mandatory Compliance Grant Program funds to pay the position, subject to City Council approval required by city personnel and budget rules. The board did not record the names of the motion maker or second during the roll call; board minutes indicate a motion and second were made and a ballot vote was opened, resulting in an affirmative vote.

Nasralla told the board the temporary hire would be limited to a specified number of hours and is expected to end when existing applicants and the near-term queue are completed. She said Renew Arlington design review staff currently work part time (Brian Wheeler was named as the Renew Arlington design reviewer) and are over capacity; the temporary position is intended to produce conceptual site plans — each taking about 20—25 hours — so applicants can advance to permit-ready plans with their chosen design professional.

The board did not take other actions on the docket item; staff noted the hire will require additional City Council action before the position can be filled and funded through the part-time vacancy pool.