City Council Meeting

Philip LaTassapublic commentI speak tonight representing the Friends of Akedeng Creek. In the October edition of the Fairfax Independent, we read the dismaying story of how assumptions and misunderstandings regarding the contractual repayment obligations led the City Council in June to vote to proceed with the George Snyder Trail. To the contrary, the project agreement has very clear cancellation clause, as the article explains in detail. We have been pleading with the City since 2019 to spare Akedeng Creek, its forest, and its project. We have pleaded for the alternative of making nearby streets safe and inviting for people. We repeat that plea now. Together, we must atone for the sins of North Hacks West, voiding the streamside resource protection area, voiding the floodplain protections,

Shelly Vancepublic commentI'm Shelly Vance from Cambridge Station. I come to revisit the issue of the George Snyder Trail and the 4-2 vote taken by council to go forward with the trail with its environmentally destructive design. The yes vote of two of the four affirmative votes were based on misinformation about the requirement of the city to repay some $3.7 million. Both council members indicated that they were against the damaging design of the trail, but that the payback overrode those concerns. Apparently, according to the 2018 project agreement signed by the then city manager, and the VDOT chief of policy, the city is not required to pay back the concessionaire fund money it has already spent on the design if it cancels the project.

This may please many of these households, but where was the outreach to townhouse communities that were built on small courts that are essentially parking lots and that have no garages, driveways, or clear curb areas? Just as with the lack of public engagement on the George Snyder Trail, there has been no public engagement of these stakeholders on this trash cart program. As far as I can tell, no HOAs were contacted, surveyed, or involved in feedback. For townhouse communities without garages and driveways, there is no place to conveniently store these behemoths. Rolling them from enclosed back patios along rear walkways of slate pavers and gravel then up inclines, stairs, steps, and down curbs to parking lots will be impossible.

Katie Johnsonpublic commentyears ago. A city manager fired just before Christmas, fired behind closed doors in secrecy. The city manager that wanted citizen engagement and projects to be properly vetted using data and analytics. And citizens disrespected because we choose to believe all voices should be involved in making our city a better place the threat of the 3.7 million dollar payback for the george snyder trail was either gross negligence or lies and woeful manipulation taking advantage of a young council i present you tonight the comments of our change.org petition that has 3 288 signatures on it you can clearly see by these comments it's a good representation that these are your neighbors These are your

Thomas PetersonSo open space. Let's take the George Snyder Trail and that whole area back there. Is it the case that unless there were an event occurring in that area that that would not be covered?

Brian LubkermanstaffSo, and again, I may show a little bit of my ignorance. My assumption is that portions of the George Snyder Trail would meander in and out of park areas in certain areas. I may be incorrect about that, but they may go through some parks. not when it's in a park it could be prohibited if there's signage so you'd have to sign the areas of the George Snyder Trail but I do not believe the George Snyder Trail and other areas some many other areas of the city are within park boundaries so there would currently be no prohibition

Thomas PetersonSo the George Snyder Trail example.