City Council · Jan 13, 2026

City Council Meeting

▶ Watch recording Agenda Minutes Read the transcript4h 08m · 7 agenda items · 6 votes · 14 tracked topics, 3 in the wiki

What was decided

✓6
Consent Agenda
Items included: prior meeting minutes (Nov 8, Nov 18, Dec 2, Dec 9 special, Dec 9 regular), the City of Fairfax Board, Commission, and Advisory Committee Handbook, and a resolution amending membership for the City Human Services Committee.
Passed, unanimous
Until the next chapter, names George Snyder Trail ×42, City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan ×6, Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Concession Funding ×3, Urban Forest Master Plan ×3, Conflict of Interest ×2, Fern Street Connector Path ×2 · read the transcript
- City of Fairfax Board Commission and Advisory Committee HandbookapprovedThe Handbook was approved by the City Council as part of the consent agenda.
watch 3:58
7b
Public Hearing and Council Action on an Ordinance Amending Chapter 102 (Utilities) – Sanitary Sewer Connection Fees and Wastewater Lateral Repair and Replacement Charges
Ordinance enacted unanimously. Increases maximum reimbursements for partial and full lateral replacements by 30% (to $3,250 and $6,500 respectively) and clarifies property owner responsibilities for sewer credit information.
Passed, unanimous
not chaptered
7c
Public Hearing and Council Action on an Ordinance Adopting Printed Supplement Numbers 16 to 26, Inclusive, to the Code of the City of Fairfax, Virginia
Ordinance enacted unanimously, formally adopting MuniCode Supplement Numbers 16–26 to the City Code.
Passed, unanimous
not chaptered
✓7d
Public Hearing and Council Action on an Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 (Administration) – Required Financial Disclosures / Conflict of Interest
Ordinance enacted unanimously. Amendments update City Code to conform with the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act, clarify disclosure requirements, update filing deadlines, and update violation/penalty provisions.
Passed, unanimous
- Conflict of InterestAn ordinance was enacted to update City Code provisions to conform with the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act, clarifying financial disclosure requirements and updating deadlines and penalties.
not chaptered
✕7e
Public Hearing and Council Action on a Grant Supplemental Appropriation Resolution – $4,600,000 from Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Concession Funding for the George Snyder Trail
Motion failed 3-3. The $4.6 million supplemental appropriation from Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Concession Funding for the George Snyder Trail was not approved.
Failed 3–3
- George Snyder TraildeniedwikiThe motion to approve a $4.6 million supplemental appropriation to cover construction bids exceeding the remaining $16 million project budget failed 3-3. Following the failed supplemental appropriation vote, the City Council voted 4-2 to cancel the George Snyder Trail Project in its entirety.
- Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Concession FundingThe resolution to appropriate an additional $4.6 million in Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Concession Funding for the George Snyder Trail failed by a 3-3 vote.
- Accotink CreekAccotink Creek was referenced in public testimony from a representative of Friends of Accotink Creek opposing the George Snyder Trail project.
- Chain Bridge Roadin progressA resident from Chain Bridge Road spoke in support of the George Snyder Trail project during the public hearing.
- University Drivein progressA resident from University Drive spoke in opposition to the George Snyder Trail project during the public hearing.
- Eaton PlaceThe Executive Director of the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, based at Eaton Place, spoke in support of the George Snyder Trail project.
- Northern Virginia Transportation AuthorityStaff noted that NVTA recommended approval of the $4.6 million funding request to the Commonwealth Transportation Board on November 13, and the CTB approved it on January 6, 2026, prior to the failed City Council vote.
not chaptered
✓9a
Consideration of a Resolution to Cancel the George Snyder Trail Project (VDOT UPC 112816)
Following the failed vote on item 7e, the agenda was amended unanimously to replace the construction contract award item with a cancellation resolution. The resolution to cancel the George Snyder Trail Project (VDOT UPC 112816) in its entirety was then adopted 4-2.
Passed, unanimous · 2 motions on this item
- VDOT UPC 112816deniedThe resolution to cancel VDOT UPC 112816 (George Snyder Trail Project) in its entirety was adopted 4-2 by the City Council.
- Move Fairfax City wikiNo direct action on Move Fairfax City at this item; the George Snyder Trail cancellation was the subject.
George Snyder Traildenied
not chaptered

Presented

7a
Public Hearing on the Fern Street Connector Path Project (No Council Action) · Public hearing held; no Council action taken. Public comments received from several supporters and residents with concerns.
- Fern Street Connector Pathin progresswikiA VDOT-required public hearing was held. The project will construct a 10-foot bicycle and pedestrian path in the city right-of-way between the dead-end of Fern Street south of Route 29 and Park Road; advertisement for construction is anticipated for summer 2026. No Council action was taken.
- Fern StreetFern Street is the northern terminus of the proposed connector path project discussed at the public hearing.
- Kamp WashingtonStaff noted the Fern Street Connector Path was identified in the Kamp Washington Small Area Plan.

Named in discussion

Tracked topics the transcript names that no agenda item is filed under. Their own pages and wikis do not yet record this meeting; the passages below are the only trace.

City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Planapproved6 passages, 5m
“…have a fully funded infrastructure project supported by the city's own longstanding comprehensive plan that multiplies the connectivity and utility of existing local and regional trail networks to the benefit of the city residents and visitors alike that…”
watch 68:58 every passage wiki
Urban Forest Master Planapproved3 passages, 3m
“…the loss of some 600 trees makes a mockery of our reputation as a tree city and our urban forest management plan. It is an unnecessary destruction of the environment and likely threatens the effectiveness of the recently completed Stafford area stream…”
watch 125:56 every passage wiki
Citywide Level of Service Studyin progressonce
“…FOR THE THIRD. AND I'LL JUST QUICKLY JUMP TO THE TENTH. UPDATE AND DISCUSSION ON THE CITYWIDE LEVEL OF SERVICE STUDY WHICH WILL ASSESS IMPACTS AND COST IMPLICATIONS OF NEW DEVELOPMENT ON”
watch 234:08 every passage wiki
Solid Waste Management Plan Updateapprovedonce
“…sustainability COMMITTEE AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PROGRAM. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE AND THEN A DISCUSSION WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS ON ASSIGNED STAFFING TASKS RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE ORDINANCES AND ARTICLES AND…”
watch 234:08 every passage wiki
Two-Year Transportation Programproposedonce
“…Small Area Plan, which was adopted in 2022. And then the project was advanced in the two-year transportation program. We had an open house and endorsed the funding application in 2023. And then last year we got the funding authorized and we started the…”
watch 7:35 every passage wiki
Willard-Sherwood Community Centerin progressonce
“…on the development of the green building policy, and discussion and update on the Willard-Sherwood Community Center. That's the next two meetings. Be happy to answer any questions associated with those meetings.”
watch 235:04 every passage wiki

Recording · 4h 08m

▶ Watch from the start

3:586 · Consent Agenda
Other items are not chaptered in the recording.

Topics touched · 14

City of Fairfax Board Commission and Advisory Committee Handbookapproved
The City of Fairfax Board, Commission, and Advisory Committee Handbook is a governance document establishing standards and procedures for the city's various boards, commissions, and advisory committees. It was originally scheduled for City Council consideration on December 9, 2025 (agenda item 6f), but was removed from that meeting's agenda by motion and rescheduled for January 2026.
Fern Street Connector Pathin progress
The Fern Street Connector Path is a City of Falls Church (or similar Virginia municipality) capital infrastructure project that will construct a 10-foot bicycle and pedestrian path within the city right-of-way, connecting the dead-end of Fern Street south of Route 29 to Park Road. The project was identified as an important transportation initiative in the Camp Washington Small Area Plan and has received VDOT funding.
- Construction advertisement is anticipated for summer 2026 — the formal advertisement and contractor selection process is pending.
- No Council action has yet been taken on the project following the public hearing; any required future Council approvals or funding actions remain outstanding.
This meeting in the wiki Overview
Fern Street
Kamp Washington
Kamp Washington is one of five activity centers in the City of Fairfax designated by the Planning Commission for special attention and zoning review for mixed-use development, as reported at the February 2026 PRAB meeting. It has an existing adopted Small Area Plan, which includes the Fern Street Connector Path Project — a trail project that received a public hearing at City Council in January 2026 with no action taken.
- No formal decision has been made on whether to proceed with a review and update of the Kamp Washington Small Area Plan; next steps for initiating that process are unresolved.
- The scope, timeline, and process for any Small Area Plan update for Kamp Washington have not been determined.
Conflict of Interest
The City of Fairfax has been grappling with conflict of interest policy on multiple fronts. The topic was scheduled for discussion at a June 28, 2025 City Council Retreat (alongside Code of Conduct and Social Media Best Practices), but no outcome was recorded.
- Whether a local Code of Ethics / Code of Conduct will be adopted, and what standards it would set beyond the state COIA minimum (raised at the June 2025 retreat and still unresolved as of September…
- How the Council will formally address conflict of interest situations involving family members of council members voting on appointments — a question flagged in April 2026 regarding Councilmember…
George Snyder Traildenied
The George Snyder Trail was a planned shared-use path project (VDOT UPC 112816) in the City of Fairfax aimed at improving multimodal connectivity along Fairfax Boulevard. The project received $20.6 million in I-66 Outside the Beltway concessionaire funding.
- What will the final alignment of the Wilcoxon Trail Extension (formerly George Snyder Trail Extension) be, pending the feasibility study and VDOT approval of the proposed modification?
- What public outreach will be conducted on the updated Wilcoxon Trail Extension concept, and what are the outcomes?
This meeting in the wiki Overview
Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Concession Funding
The Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Concession Funding item concerns a proposed $4.6 million supplemental appropriation for the George Snyder Trail, drawn from the Transform 66 concessionaire balance entry account held at VDOT. The City requested and received a Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) recommendation for the additional funds, with final Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approval scheduled for January 6, 2026.
- Whether the City will pursue an alternative funding path or revised proposal to secure the $4.6 million (or any amount) for the George Snyder Trail following the failed January 13, 2026 vote.
- Whether the CTB approval of the Transform 66 concessionaire funds on January 6, 2026 remains valid or reserved for the City given the Council's failure to appropriate them.
Accotink Creek
Accotink Creek is a waterway in the City of Fairfax area that has been the subject of multiple overlapping municipal initiatives related to water quality, erosion, stream restoration, and community stewardship. In September 2024, the City Council unanimously approved (4-0) a Memorandum of Agreement on a Sediment TMDL Compliance Strategy covering the Accotink Creek watershed alongside Difficult Run.
- Whether and when preliminary engineering for Daniels Run Park (segment 2) will be formally initiated or funded.
- Whether conceptual engineering and phasing for the Accotink Creek corridor from Fairfax Blvd to Pickett Rd (segments 5 and 6) will advance to a formal project authorization or funding decision.
Chain Bridge Roadin progress
Chain Bridge Road is a major corridor in the city with several concurrent and overlapping municipal matters tracked under this location. The earliest recorded action is a July 2024 public hearing on the Chain Bridge Road (Taba Cove Court to Warwick Avenue) Sidewalk and Bus Stop Improvements Project, held for informational purposes per VDOT requirements for federally funded projects; no Council action was taken at that time.
- Formal zoning/land use applications for 4085–4117 Chain Bridge Road, 3541 Chain Bridge Road, and 3570 Chain Bridge Road (Northfax West Phase IV) have not yet been submitted or acted upon — outcomes…
- Property acquisition negotiations with the three affected property owners for the Sidewalk and Bus Stop Improvement Project (UPC 119089) were ongoing as of the October 2026 public hearing; the…
University Drivein progress
University Drive is a key corridor in the City of Fairfax, appearing in multiple overlapping municipal matters. Most prominently, the University Drive Bicycle Lanes Project proposes dedicated bike lanes along the segment between South Street and Layton Hall Drive; a public hearing on the project was held February 25, 2025, where speakers expressed general support but some concerns about sharrows, with no council action taken at that time.
- VDOT authorization for the University Drive Bike Lanes construction contract awarded September 8, 2026 is listed as a contingency — confirmation of VDOT approval and construction commencement status…
- The Courthouse Plaza redevelopment proposal (which fronts University Drive) was in the post-submission/work session phase as of July 2026; no final council action on that application has been…
Eaton Place
Eaton Place is a street in the Northfax activity center of Fairfax City that has emerged as a recurring point of reference across multiple municipal proceedings in 2026, primarily in connection with transportation planning and redevelopment activity. On the transportation side, city staff have discussed and ultimately ruled out a road diet on Eaton Place, and the intersection design at Eaton Place has changed from earlier concepts in the Northfax small area plan, prompting ongoing re-evaluation of lane configurations and what improvements are feasible there.
- Whether the shared-use path on the south side of Eaton Place between University Drive Extension and Chain Bridge Road will be pursued, and whether a developer or the city will be responsible for it.
- What the revised intersection design for Eaton Place will look like, given that the earlier concept from the Northfax small area plan has changed, and what the implications are for lane…
Northern Virginia Transportation Authority
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) is a regional body that funds and coordinates transportation projects across Northern Virginia, including in the City of Fairfax. The City has an ongoing relationship with NVTA involving recurring Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) funding submissions: a $1,000,000 FY 25-30 RSTP submission was approved unanimously by Council on December 10, 2024, and a $1,000,000 FY 27-32 RSTP submission was approved unanimously on November 18, 2025.
- The George Snyder Trail $4.6 million supplemental appropriation failed 3-3 on January 13, 2026 — it is unresolved whether the City will reconsider or pursue alternative paths to accept or return…
- The NVTA BRT Action Plan's conclusions and recommendations remain in draft form as of July 2025 pending resolution of technical and policy concerns — final endorsement status and any City Council…
VDOT UPC 112816denied
Move Fairfax City
Move Fairfax City is an umbrella transportation planning project for the City of Fairfax encompassing three components: a citywide Safety Action Plan, a citywide Pedestrian Master Plan, and an Old Town Circulation Study. The project's purpose is to translate existing long-term plans into specific, prioritized implementation steps for safety and pedestrian improvements.
- December 1, 2026 work session: Council discussion of the draft Pedestrian Master Plan and draft Safety Action Plan (first review).
- December 8, 2026 meeting: Follow-up Council consideration of the Pedestrian Master Plan and Safety Action Plan — formal adoption or further direction not yet recorded.
This meeting in the wiki Overview

“This meeting in the wiki” opens the topic’s history at this date.

Documents · 27

Filed in agenda order; the agenda names the item each belongs to.