City Council Meeting

Catherine Readat 6 56 p.m. the city council concluded its closed meeting to discuss personnel matters i move that each of us certified that to best that to the best of each council member's knowledge one only public business matters lawfully exempted from the open meeting requirements in the virginia freedom of information act and two only public business matters matters identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard discussed or considered. All council members in favor of the certification motion, please signify by voting aye. Aye. Those opposed to the motion vote nay. The motion passes unanimously. All right, and good evening. I would like to call the regular meeting of June 10, 2025 to order.

We have a packed agenda tonight. I know that we are going to be hearing from a lot of the people who are in the room, and I would like to ask everyone that we all listen carefully and quietly of the speakers so that we can hear what it is that people have to say. I think it's important for everyone's voice to be heard tonight. If you are able and so choose, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I would like to ask the Juneteenth Committee to come down for the Juneteenth Proclamation down in the well. Proclamation is my favorite time of the evening.

Catherine ReadWhereas, Juneteenth has been celebrated by the African American community since the late 1800s, marking the anniversary of the arrival of Union General Gordon Granger to Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, bringing news of the Emancipation Proclamation enacted two and a half years earlier, freeing enslaved people from bondage. And whereas this year's theme of African Americans in labor holds special significance in our city and in Virginia, where so many of our treasured historic landmarks were built by the skills and labors of African Americans over hundreds of years, the contributions of black labor from Booker T. Washington to President Barack Obama have left an indelible imprint on this country,

and the support of African Americans within our labor unions ensures we safeguard economic opportunities for all. of Fairfax, though small in geography, holds a meaningful place in Virginia's black history, with communities of free and formerly enslaved African Americans contributing to the social, spiritual, and civic life of the region since the 19th century. And whereas local landmarks such as the Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Fairfax Rosenwald School, known as the Fairfax Colored School, Germantown Cemetery, and family homesteads stand as enduring testaments to the presence, African Americans in the city of Fairfax. And whereas June 19th each year is recognized as a time to celebrate the journey of black Americans from

enslavement to full citizenship through Reconstruction, the Jim Crow era, the Civil Rights Movement, to the Black Lives Matter protests and the ongoing quest for racial justice. What began with stolen lives and stolen labor in Virginia in 1619 and spread across the southern colonies and then the western United States, culminating in a civil war over establishment of free states or slave states, reached a turning point with the ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865. Now therefore, I, Catherine S. Reed, Mayor of the City of Fairfax, in concert with the City Council, recognize June 19, 2025 as Juneteenth in the City of Fairfax, and urge our residents to join our Juneteenth celebration at Old Town Square on Saturday, June 14th at 10 a.m. Let's come

the arc of the moral universe as it continues to bend toward racial justice across our city, our commonwealth, and our country.

Speaker 42Did you want to say some words? It's a long agenda tonight, so just come on out.

Catherine ReadI'm looking for Melissa Pennant. I see Melissa. and our most esteemed and wonderful and valued workers, staff here in the city. This is no secret in the city of Fairfax at all that one of the most valued services this city provides is curbside collection. You know it, I know it. Let's not be bashful about it. It's what we love. And all of that happens because people make it happen. and we may not see them remove all of those weird things we put on the curb and we may not see what happens to it and this is where Stephanie Kupka and Melissa come in because all of the recycling and the composting we are looking at zero waste and it's really important even though you don't see it to know how committed this city is to environmental sustainability through great waste

Catherine Readmanagement and good recycling programs and without further ado whereas the nation celebrates the week of June 16 as National Waste and Recycling Workers Appreciation Week. And whereas the city employees who provide this essential service handling the solid waste in our city are often overlooked, despite their vital importance to the sustainability and sanitation of our city, demanding recognition and appreciation for their dedication and hard work. And whereas our crew members generally work very long hours and operate under all weather conditions, ensuring the efficient removal of waste and recycling, thus playing a crucial role in preventing the spread of disease, protecting our natural resources from pollution,

litter, and illegal thumping heaps, and help maintain the appearance of the community, providing an essential service and dedication to our residents and the city. And whereas committed staff members employed by the city make a significant contribution to the safety, health, and welfare of our residents, and whereas the city of Fairfax our trash and recycling workers street cleaners truck drivers and all others employed in refuse and recycling in the refuse and recycling industry to serve residents and now therefore i katherine s reid mayor of the city of fairfax do hereby proclaim june 16 to 24 2025 as national waste and recycling workers appreciation week in the city of fairfax and encourage all residents and local

businesses to participate in opportunities to thank our hard-working staff members in the sanitation industry so let's start with some applause

Speaker 4we have an absolutely incredible crew our refuse and recycling workers parks and rec our city jobs program all the private haulers who help keep their city safe and clean and free of debris We could not do it without them. So thank you Mary. Thank you members of council and let's celebrate National Waste and Recycling Workers Appreciation Week. Thank you.

Katie Johnsonpublic commentThank you. Thank you. And thank you. Thank you very much. You are so appreciated.

Catherine ReadAll right, let's move on to the adoption of the agenda. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? Council Member Hardy-Chandler. I move to adopt the agenda as presented. Second. The motion's been made and seconded. A roll call vote.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceCouncil Member Amos. Aye. Council Member Hall.

Catherine ReadAye.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceCouncil Member Hardy-Chandler. Aye. Council Member Peterson. Aye. Council Member Bates. Aye. Council Member McQuillan.

Rachel McQuillenAye.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceMotion passed unanimously. we will go on to the first initial general public comment I have 22 people who signed up by 5 o'clock p.m. today before the meeting so I'm gonna call the first speaker up which is Art Hammerschlag and

Catherine Readas we as we're waiting for mr. Hammerschlag to come up just a note we have two comment periods so this is the first comment period if there are any remaining speakers they'll be heard to item number nine. Mr. Hammerschlag.

Art Hammerschlagpublic commentThank you. Good evening. My name is Art Hammerschlag, resident at 3843 Far Oak Circle. I am speaking tonight on behalf of Fairfax City Citizens for Smarter Growth, a well-known and respected civic organization. Tonight we are asking you to support the construction of the George Snyder Trail in its entirety. We understand a compromise decision is at hand to build only the western portion of the trail, but that option still requires the city to repay an estimated $1.7 million. Our support for the George Snyder Trail is based on the following. The trail has been part of city plans for a number of years. It was included in the 2014 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan, the 2018 Multimodal Transportation Plan, the 2021 City Bicycle Plan, and the 2035 Comprehensive Plan.

The trail is fully funded. Building the entire trail is consistent with past council action and building the entire trail honors the commitment Fairfax City has made to our local government partners to complete this critical portion of the regional trail network. On the other hand, building only the western half of the trail would be a breach of the city's long-standing commitment to our regional partners to build the entire trail building half the trail will result in the city repaying an estimated 1.7 million dollars adding an obligation of 1.7 million dollars to the city budget would require an increase in property taxes a hit to other city budget items or a combination of the two. Adding a $1.7 million obligation to the city's

taxpayers is simply unacceptable. Smarter Growth thinks that building the entire George Snyder Trail is the right decision based on its own merits. However, building only half the trail with a dollar payback at $1.7 million is unreasonable and unacceptable. The residents have made their voices heard on multi-million dollar paybacks. They have said no. Please listen to them. In closing, Smarter Growth acknowledges the challenges this issue has presented, requiring you to balance a wide array of opinions and financial concerns. we are asking you to do the right thing and build the entire trail thank you

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceour next speaker is Mary McDaniel

Mary McDanielpublic commentI'm Mary McDaniel and I live in the Mosby with subdivision I have two disclaimers tonight I'm speaking as a private person not in my capacity as a member of the city's electoral board also I do not speak for my entire I'm speaking again tonight in favor of completing the George Snyder Trail in its entirety. The full build plan has been developed by a wide array of city experts, groups, professionals, and it's had extensive public hearings and input over the space of over 12 years. The halfway or Western plan has been thrown together in the past month or so by a few people with limited time to review its consequences. There's been little notice of this idea. There have been no public hearings.

This meeting is our only opportunity for input. The lack of planning for the truncated trail, I think, is going to end badly for us. Let's start with Mosby Woods. When the Snyder Trail was designed, it included a connection spur to the subdivision on the western end, and the idea was to give the neighborhood easy access to the trail. But several years ago, that spur was removed due to objections from some residents about giving easy access to non-neighborhood people. The Western Trail now dumps all the users at the entrance to Mosby Woods. The choice then is to use the sidewalks or the lanes on Route 50 or to stay away from heavy traffic to go through Mosby Woods on Cardinal Road. Now let's talk about the stream restoration project that's going on at the entrance to the subdivision.

It creates a wetlands area to help with stormwater management. That project and the full-build trail project remove unhealthy, non-native, and invasive growth from the area. If the trail is not built, as currently approved, that section of vegetation will not be rehabilitated. The city will waste the money that it plans to spend on the native plants for the restoration project because the mature non-natives and invasives that sit higher up on the hill will overtake and destroy the stream project. objection that the building the trail will be an ecological disaster no in reality failing to build the entire trail will create multiple disasters financial disasters already been talked about there's the true ecological

disaster from not linking multiple trails neighborhoods and the region it's also in destroying the stream restoration project due to eventual overgrowth finally the reputational disaster to the city is huge we made promises to the The facts around this trail have not changed. Breaking promises is a hard thing to overcome. At the polls in November, the majority of the people in this city showed support for the full build. If the voters wanted the trail canceled or substantially changed, with all due respect, there would be a different mayor sitting at the dais tonight. Please think about that, and remember, when you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Our next speaker is Mariana Fournier.

Mariana Fournierpublic commentI'm a little unsteady. I took a fall this past week. So, oh, you started already. Okay, good evening. I'm Mariana Fournier, and I've lived at 101-34 Spring Lake Terrace for 47 years. The council voted 6-0 to explore other options. I was out of town. Did this happen? At this time, our council is under pressure to vote without having important information. Deadlines and payback amounts are not carved in stone. I believe they are being used as a leverage to push for a quick decision. The cost of trails chart is useless. We do not know when it was written and who is responsible for the information. We cannot go forward without an updated, verifiable objective chart authored by an unbiased third party.

We must have in hand a realistic assessment of maintenance costs. According to our temporary city manager, the trail will not be policed. The effects of that policy could be disastrous. The proposed placement of western trails is a poor choice. According to the Fairfax City Environmental Forum, the western portion of the GST has been called an important wildlife hotspot. The forum goes on to say, we are not against trails, as some continue to say. We fully support multimodal transportation. We are against the unnecessary scope of these bikes and the unnecessary destruction of our remaining wildlife areas. A recent memorandum was sent out by Christopher Herring, the Director of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Service, and Jay Cole, the Executive Director of the Fairfax County Park Authority.

It stated that a hard surface trail should only be located in RPAs as a result of last resort because of the damage they do to the environment. They concluded that hard surface trails should not be shown in RPAs and SUPs on the countywide plan to include active transportation and trail network programs unless environmental assessments are completed beforehand and show minimal impact to water quality and resources. In the past, mistakes have been made, like flammable turf, which messed up our Fourth of July. If we take more time to truly work out other options, we will have less regrets. Maybe we should even consider the original gravel trail. There should be no vote until the council gets necessary information that is needed.

I thank you for your time and attention, and I've made it under three minutes.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceour next speakers Tom Ross

Thomas Rosspublic commentgood evening mayor and council my name is Tom Ross I'm a resident of 3520 Country Hill Drive in Fairfax City I also had the pleasure of serving where you are tonight sitting on the dais representing the city for four and a half years as a member of City Council I'm here tonight to talk about the Snyder Trail tonight you're facing three options one complete the entire George Snyder Trail is envisioned in the plans supported by a number of city councils in the past by boards and commissions by a number of citizens people you will hear from tonight and from other regional partners that we have that work closely with the city to cancel the project in its entirety that action would require the city to pay back up to as you've

heard up to 3.7 million dollars in taxpayer funds which include mine as a taxpayer and yours as a taxpayer three cancel half of the proposed trail that action would allow the construction of the trail from route 123 to fairways Parkway or Fairwoods Parkway and still end up costing the city about 1.7 million in payback funds for not completing the eastern portion of the trail. It will come as no surprise to you that I strongly urge you to support the completion of the entire project as envisioned. This project will provide a very important element to the city. It will provide opportunities for recreation and conservation in a way that will be used by thousands of people in the community, exposing young children and others to a great resource

that will connect our community. It will provide a great opportunity for us to be seen as a capable regional partner who follow through on our commitments, and that's a very important item to remember. if we cancel the project either in full or in part we will be seen as an unreliable partner in the future we will not be following through on our commitments i urge you to vote tonight to support the option that permits the entire project to be completed we can deal with the environmental impact there are steps that have been proposed and are being discussed that will mitigate the impact of the trail will there be an impact of course but I think the greater advantage is for us to fulfill our commitment complete this

project is envisioned and make it real for the future of the city of Fairfax thank you

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceour next speaker is Leslie Cullen

Leslie Cullenpublic commentGood evening. My name is Leslie Cullen. I live at 3411 Spring Lake Terrace. I've lived in Fairfax City for over 10 years, and I'm here tonight to voice my strong support for completing the George Snyder Trail and to express why it's far more valuable to our community than sending back $3.7 million in grant funding. That money isn't just dollars. It's an investment in a safer, more connected, more vibrant Fairfax. The trail would provide a safe route for walkers, runners, kids on bikes, and commuters. Right now, we lack that continuous protected path that link our neighborhoods with schools, parks, and downtown. This trail fills that gap and makes Fairfax more livable for everyone. If we give the money back, we don't just lose the trail, we lose credibility.

We applied for this grant. We told the state that this project matters. And now, with construction prices rising, we may never get this kind of funding again. This isn't just a trail. It's a statement about who we are. Do we invest in public spaces that bring people together? Do we prioritize sustainability, safety, and long-term planning? Or do we back out and pass up an opportunity we may never get again? I urge you, let's finish what we started. trail and invest in a better future for fairfax city thank you

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceour

Leslie Cullenpublic commentnext

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voicespeaker is megan james

Megan Jamespublic commenthello madam mayor council members my name is megan james i reside in the daniels runwood neighborhood the clerk has my exact address this year you have made very difficult decisions about our budget. You reduced our police department budget by $652,000. You cut more than $2.2 million in training, staffing, and incentives for our city employees. You slashed $100,000 in grants to nonprofits and effectively ended the Home Improvement Assistance Program with a $400,000 cut. There were more budget cuts than just these, but these examples alone total over $3.3 million real sacrifices that affect the services, the safety, and the support for our community. So how can you now consider walking away from the George Schneider Trail and handing back

$3.7 million, or under the partial bill, $1.7 million back to the state with nothing to show for it? That's not just money that we don't have. That's money that should be invested in our residents, our schools, our infrastructures, and our staff. VDOT believed in Fairfax City. They funded this project because they believed in our vision for a connected community where residents can move safely and easily on foot, on bike, or using mobility aids between our schools, our neighborhoods, our parks, our businesses, and our transit. This is not just about recreation, it's about resilience. It's about equity, safety, and long-term value. Finishing the George Schneider Trail as planned connects Fairfax not only to itself, but to the region beyond. It gives our

children a safe route. It helps seniors stay mobile. It gives families an alternative to traffic, and it shows that we follow through on our commitments, especially when our outside partners have stepped up. At a time when our residents and our city employees are already being asked to do substantially less, why would you make a choice that willingly make a choice that leaves our city with even less still? Let's finish what we started. Let's honor the investments we've already made. And let's build the entire George Snyder Trail. Thank you. Our next

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voicespeaker is John Cappy Russell.

Kathy Russellpublic commentMadam Mayor, members of the council, my name is Kathy Russell. I live in the Daniels Run Woods neighborhood. The clerk has my exact address. I grew up on Capitol Hill. That proximity taught me a lot about politics. I learned how to count the votes. I learned how to gauge the weight given to powerful interest groups. and I learned how a loud and organized and menacing constituency can often get what it wants even if they're small in number. I speak to you today to remind you that being loud and being motivated is not the same thing as being right. It doesn't matter how loud you are. That doesn't make it right for the city to abandon our commitments and break our word, burning our credibility with partners we may want to call upon in the future.

it doesn't matter how loud you are that doesn't make it right to shut down a recreational and commercial opportunity that is specifically designed to be accessible to all city residents certainly not just to protect access for only a select few and it doesn't matter how loud you are that doesn't make it right to waste city funds on repayment for a job not done whether you waste only half of those dollars or waste them a little bit over time. With scant two-year terms, I know it's tempting to be just a politician, counting the votes, weighing the interests, rewarding the loudest constituents. But when I knocked on doors, and when I worked the polls, and when I voted in November, I did so in support of what I hoped were leaders.

people who could see the whole board people who could think broadly about the years of careful planning that went into projects and the years of enjoyment that those projects were designed to return for residents in the future so I am watching your votes carefully hoping that you all will be leaders in preserving our city's good name and resources in doing the right thing and in building the whole of the George Snyder Trail.

David Meyerpublic commentThank you

Kathy Russellpublic commentfor your consideration.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceOur next speaker is William Niedringhaus.

Bill Niedringhauspublic commentHello, my name is Bill Niedringhaus, President of Fairfax Trails and Streams. I organized the idea of the Fairfax Cross County Trail 27 years ago and organized several hikes across the county. As we entered the city of Fairfax, then Mayor Mason would greet our enthusiastic but weary hikers with very welcome refreshments. We hiked a route close to the planned Snyder Trail as we envisioned a trail mostly away from traffic. With Jerry Conley's strong support from the top, our grassroots bottom-up effort, the trail officially opened in 2007. People love this 41-mile trail, with one glaring exception, the three miles beside fast traffic on Germantown Road and Blake Lane sidewalks. The trail bypasses the beautiful parks in the city of Fairfax, which could be its heart.

We worked closely with the city of Fairfax for the last 15 years under various elected officials to help prioritize the long-planned wooded route for the Snyder Trail. trail. We worked closely with VDOT's I-66 widening to make the trail along Route 123 as good as possible. At our urging, VDOT changed the trail's alignment from immediately adjacent to 123 to its current route that used the available open space in this huge intersection to make this route a pleasant future part of the Cross County Trail. With the Snyder Trail at 100% design, with all the needed right of way acquired and paid for, opponents or killing it. The Washington Area Bicyclist Association got it right in their letter yesterday to the city.

And I quote, we 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 city residents and visitors alike that was thoughtfully developed and revised by staff with plenty of opportunities for community input that will help alleviate congestion easier to walk and bike and that will effectively catalyze habitat restoration and address stormwater issues the george snyder trail is clearly a project with enormous net benefits to the city its residents and the larger region and must be allowed to move forward in our decades of following bike related infrastructure we cannot recall a jurisdiction backing out of a project this late

in the process with so much dedicated funding at stake to willingly hand back hard-won dollars at eyebrow raising to do so during a period of lean budgeting borders on malpractice. Thank you.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceOur next speaker is Dale Lastina.

Dale Lestinapublic commentI'm Dale Lestina. I reside at 10025 Bluecoat Drive here in the city of Fairfax. I'm speaking to you this evening as an individual citizen of Fairfax City. I support the building of the whole remaining part of the George Mason, or George Snyder Trail. In so doing, I associate my position with that of Mike Fazio's Fairfax City Citizens for Swarger Grove. They have been keenly involved with the issues of the George Mason Trail for most of its existence, which goes back 11 years. From that, they have concluded that the trail should be completed and built now. So do I. This evening, I strongly recommend that you vote to do so. Thank you for your attention.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceOur next speaker is William Pitchford.

William Pitchfordpublic commentGood evening, and thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening. My name is William Pitchford. I live on School Street in the city of Fairfax. A little later this evening, you will be asked to vote on a resolution approve and fully funded George Snyder trail I'm asking you to deny this motion and proceed with the full George Snyder trail as passed by the citizens of Fairfax in 2023 I'd like to offer a few points of why you should reject this Western half resolution and continue with the full trail as approved and funded the Western half resolution is fiscally irresponsible that's currently approved the full trail as a 21 million dollar project to improve the urban force and provide access for all city residents to this section of the

Akatine Creek much of the twenty-five million dollars comes from V dot in the i66 project the Western half resolution return almost half of that 21 million which will most likely go to the town of Vienna and Falls Church in addition the city taxpayers will be forced to pay back up to 1.7 million dollars for work that has already been done this is on the heels of an average 17% tax increase homeowners will see this year the Western half resolution reroutes the approved trail along route 50 however it does not address where the money will come from for this section of the trail V dot has said this section would represent a new project again the city taxpayers will be forced with another unnecessary tax hike the Western House resolution is bad for future economic

development in the city only the full trail as approved provides the vital link to connect city residences with Old Town North Facts and Fairfax circle and as part of the Fairfax City comprehensive plan and small area plans only the full trail will provide that vital link for the I 66 Wilcoxon and cross Kent County connector trails that will help grow tourism in the city of Fairfax the resolution is bad for the environment and local community if you walk the area today you will find a patchwork of deep rutted trails over years have washed away most of the topsoil especially along the stream the larger trees are gradually dying and being replaced with scrub oak and other invasive species the recent stream restoration project has helped however

without this section of the trail the erosion will continue and a large part of the community will be denied access to this section of acting Creek the The arguments against the trail system are the ones opposed to other successful trail systems areas such as the WND and CCC. I ask you to please deny the Western HAP motion and continue with the full George Snyder Trail as approved and fully funded. Thank you.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceOur next speaker is Phil LaTassa.

Phil LaTassapublic commentI speak tonight representing the Friends of Eketon Creek. Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of their watershed. The Accutink gravity sewer, the 495 hot lanes, the I-66 hot lanes, the Fairfax County Parkway widening at Pope's Head Road, the Franconia to Lorton Railroad expansion, Dominion expansion of transmission lines for the insatiable data centers, these projects and more, and yes, the bitter memory of our very own Northfax West that has now belatedly brought the stink eye from the Department of Environmental Quality onto this city. projects and many more one after the other year after year acre after acre after acre take away what little natural habitat we have managed to preserve any

bits not taken directly are left under degraded and diminished condition awaiting the next blow each and every one of these projects offers its own lofty and imperative justification for violating what it's been set aside for preservation each and every one of these projects claims a de minimis impact of their cumulative effect. Trails do not have a large footprint on the landscape, but small impacts that seem trivial in themselves erode the ability of the land to support wildlife and its habitat. We should not believe that our forests, which have given up so much, will somehow be undiminished by each additional impact. Forests deserve to exist for their own inherent merits, not only as venues for human modification.

Do we cherish any of our natural habitats enough to stay our hand? for preservation to prevail over pavement. Is half a loaf better than none? No. In the case of the George Schneider Trail, none of this bitter loaf is better than half. We ask the city to have the fortitude to stand firm in the heroic decision to pause the George Schneider Trail and seek an alternative path outside our wooded preserves. Thank you.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceOur next speaker is Toby Sorensen.

Toby Sorensenpublic commentHi, my name is Toby Sorenson. I live at 10137 Spring Lake Terrace. During the time I was a city school board member, I served as the board's representative to the Environmental Sustainability Committee for three years, working with people who were were truly experts on environmental matters. We discussed tree canopy, invasive plants, protecting the watershed, recycling, how to encourage developers not to clear cut when they built. We advocated for the hiring of a city arborist. I also served as the board's representative to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for five years. This was not long after the recession of 2008 when recreational funds were severely restricted. We spent a lot of time discussing how to deal with limited spending.

Under the direction of the forward-thinking director, Mike McCarty, we worked with staff to develop a strategic plan that would set priorities and outline how to accomplish them. One of these priorities was the building of the George Snyder Trail as part of the cross-county connector. The county was considering bypassing the city, which is at the midpoint of the county. We did not want that to happen. part of that ambitious plan and advocated for it. I know times change as do priorities, but I still believe that the full trail is good for our community. It will give families with strollers and people in wheelchairs access to nature. Cyclists will be able to pass through our beautiful city without having to breathe in

automobile fumes or disturb the calm of neighborhood streets. The trail plan has been worked on over many years, and many modifications have been made. There are costs and benefits to every decision local governments make. Some trees will be lost, but new trees and vegetation will be planted. Storm runoff will have to be dealt with. Hard surfaces will be added, but more people will have access because of them. I do believe the benefits outweigh the costs and that we do not have to choose between the environment and trails. A small city like Fairfax is able to accomplish many things thanks to the support from the state and partnership with the county. Please show our community that we are good managers of our finances and good partners with the state and county.

By abandoning the George Snyder Trail, we would be turning down money that would benefit the city. In fact, we would have to use tax dollars to pay back what has already been spent. Who would want to partner with us in the future if we reject a plan that has been years in the making? The environment will be temporarily affected, but the full trail will allow more people to access and appreciate nature. We live in an area that is rapidly urbanizing, and having friends and neighbors enjoy the wonders of nature is a precious thing. please support the full George Snyder trail thank you for listening

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voicenext speaker Steve Welke

Steve Welkepublic commentmayor city council thanks again for the opportunity to speak my name is Steve be woods and it's great to hear feedback even if I don't agree. So that's just encouraging. I appreciate the opportunity to view your activities online and I was glad to see that the GST issue was discussed in the last work session although I wonder how the most contentious highest impact issue in our city right now was relegated to the last item on the agenda where discussion started at 11 p.m. Observing the tones of voice and the comments shared was very enlightening. During that work session, the city manager stated, when you use someone else's money, they set the rules. A fair statement, so let me chase that. Imagine you own a home on a fully wooded lot like a five-acre property in Clifton.

If I came to you offering to pay for a gravel path deep in your woods so it was invisible from your house, I could see you agreeing to the project. But if I changed the rules 10 years later to a paved monstrosity that would strip mine most of your trees, would you still take my money? Well, that is the predicament that a prior city council has left for you. So let me chase a comment that someone made at a prior public hearing about counting on city council to keep promises made over the years. I'm not sure how a prior city council approved the current GST plan, but that was before the latest stream renovation, of which we have had several invisible efforts over the years, resulted in a travesty.

As I've asked before, if you support the current GST plan, please go to the entrance of Mosby Woods and look for yourself. It doesn't fit with the woods part of our neighborhood, and it certainly does not reflect Tree City, USA. So now you know what the current GST plan would look like. And like any government entity, you are working with the up-to-date information you have. Just because a prior administration makes a decision doesn't mean the current group can't learn from that decision citizens. I see agreement that the city wants to keep their promise to make a connection. We have learned it needs to happen a different way that is not devastating. An alternative approach that this council unanimously approved. So current city council, you have a difficult

choice to make. Please make the courageous decision to shed the burden of a curious rule maker who isn't willing to negotiate but issues ultimatums. Don't allow the current destructive project to perfect protect Fairfax City both now and for decades to come what would you do if it was your personal property thank you

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceour next speakers Val Morgan

Speaker 42just to start with there won't be any woods left and the topsoil will be long gone and you'll be planting in like horizon a or horizon b which will not support growth I sent the council members an email and I left out one word on the quote from the Nature Conservancy. The total quote is, protecting nature is vital. I also love quotes. Another one is, life isn't meant to be wasted. If you want to waste yours, that's on you, but you should not have the right to decide to waste the life of the trees, all the plants, all the critters above and below ground, destroying all the life in the woods. Sure, maybe someday in 50 years or so, we might have something. And the other problem is, you don't know what life is in the woods, most of you.

The other day I took a walk in the woods. It was much cooler than it was down on the soccer field. I finally thought of turning on my Merlin app to see what birds were there. In 25 minutes I heard 13 bird species, one hawk who was very easy to hear, 12 songbirds including two songbirds that come here during migration to breed, to raise their young. And they come here to this spot where they are every year. And one of them is a blue-gray gnat catcher. It's a very small bird, and darling as hell. You can look it up, and gnat starts with a G. That's a confusing word. The other one is the great-crested fly catcher, a lot more boisterous and larger. And you think you should kill them all. I don't think you should kill them all because you will.

They will come back, as they do year after year, to a dirt pile. They don't have plan B. In your heart and soul, you've got it. Do you think you should be judge and jury on all this life that was a total bad decision from the get-go? Because they didn't think about this. just thought first it was going to be just some dirt or some gravel. So you're going to make this choice so that we can have more asphalt. We already have a lot of asphalt. Be brave. Vote to cancel this ridiculous trail. Our next speaker is

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceEllen Pence.

Ellen Pencepublic commentMy name is Ellen Pence. I live at 3211 Adams Court, and I've been a resident of Fairfax City for 58 years. I'm speaking against the roadway construction of the George Snyder Trail. I walked through the woods at noon today. It was hot today, but it was shady and cool and quiet. up or down through the I walked along the creek bed and and and then up into the woods in Stafford Park I went up to Fairfax Boulevard and then to Stafford Drive and up on the ridge in the forest where I could see the logging process still going on below for the stream restoration. We in our group have been called names by the opposition. We have been called the minority. First of all, we are not the minority. We have several thousand supporters,

and some of us have a long history of supporting environmental causes. I never thought of myself as a tree hugger, but I guess that's what I've become. I have worked to make people aware of climate change for many years as a volunteer. But in a democracy, you should know that it doesn't matter whether you are the minority or the majority. What's important is whether you are right or wrong. This project was mucked up from the beginning. Too much so-called free money with strings attached and no consultation with the citizens of Fairfax City. The transportation staff, not the city council, was running the show for years.

Jane Kelseypublic commentthrough several city councils.

Ellen Pencepublic commentRipping out an urban forest to build an unnecessary paved road is the wrong thing to do. So please do the right thing. You can go all the way back further than some of these people have gone back to the year 2007 when this little pathway was built. it's in a very small urban forest. It's not big enough to handle a big roadway through it. That will just ruin it. There won't be any forest anymore. So please don't do that. Thank you.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceOur next speaker is Tom Blackburn.

Tom Blackburnpublic commentThank you. I'm speaking tonight on behalf of the 5,000-member Northern Virginia Bird Alliance. When this project was first conceived, it looked great. The city could have a trail for free. At the time, the trail was simply a line on the map. There was no indication that the construction would cause environmental devastation. Now, however, everybody knows how damaging the trail will be. I will give you only one example out of many. Just 150 feet after the west end of the trail starts, they'll begin excavating below grade in order to make the trail relatively level. By the time to get to 275 feet from the start of the trail, the trench will be 12 feet deep, with a 12-foot retaining wall on one side and a 22-foot wide slope on the other side

grade. By the time you get to 375 feet from the beginning of the trail, the excavation will switch to fill dirt to build a causeway up to four feet above grade and up to 22 feet wide. The damage to what's left of the city's urban forest will be enormous. The quick question here is what do you do now that you know how damaging this trail will be? At first blush, the answer is easy. build a trail with somebody else's money rather than having to give back some of the money that was spent to design a trail but these funds for the trail are not free money they come with a cost and the cost is the damage that will result to the environment from going ahead with the trail i urge you to cancel it yes you have to cover the costs that were spent the funds you would have to

pay are really a payment to protect the city's natural resources the trees the plants the topsoil the water quality of aquatine creek the birds and other wildlife the value of what you preserve by canceling the trail will far exceed the value of the funds that you have to return building only part of the trail is not a good option either damage to the forest will still be a substantial and it will also exceed the value of the funds you avoid having to return. A quick word about the people who support the trail. Don't you find it odd that on the one hand they claim that the trail will benefit the environment by reducing emissions spewing vehicle traffic, which is, by the way, speculative since it hasn't been studied,

but they don't give consideration to the amount of damage to the environment that will be caused, even though that issue has been clearly demonstrated. it. Please be good stewards of your city's environment and cancel the trail. Thank you.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceOur next speaker is Avril Garland.

Avril Garlandpublic commentThank you for letting me speak. I'm also joined the last speaker in asking you to please cancel this trail. My life is in total shambles. I canceled everything thing this week I had to do except for this event. I think what you were doing is absolutely insane. I can only call it an act of vandalism. This is a beautiful amenity, a lovely forest. It has salamanders, it has owls, it has birds, it has turtles, and it's a very narrow forest. And to think that you're just going to go through, bring in bulldozers with this 14-foot path. There's very little of this beautiful woods left and I would beg you to please cancel this this this dreadful idea thank you our

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voicenext speaker is Doug Cox

Doug Coxpublic commenthello Doug Cox Fairview I know the time is ticking yeah you know how I feel about George Snyder Trail there's already a George Snyder Trail get you to Fairwoods easy enough to get a single person never talks about going on i-66 so poof let's get that off the thing all right so i want to talk about accountability how did the city get to the point where we spent 3.7 million dollars that we would have to pay back for but nothing absolutely nothing so i'd like to know maybe from the city manager someone where can we figure out as citizens what grants have been applied for or in process so that we don't have any more of these tar baby projects that, oops, we got so far along, either the city residents pay back millions of dollars or,

hey, eat it. All right? So the next one online, besides George Snyder, is a picket, memo number eight of the budget. The response says, the city's already spent $700,000, folks. either build it or pay it back that's a terrible trail terrible trail and I'll just say it's kind of shameful how this goes so how do we figure out as citizens what grants have been applied for what projects are in the staff pipeline that we can look at you guys all have my email address if you want to let me know I would appreciate it you know people are getting upset because they want low taxes. They want a nice environment in the city. And what are we getting? The great Mosby mud hole, which the George Snyder Trail is looking like

is going to be part due of that. You can't sit there and say, oh, we want to stop sediment from going down to Akatink, ignore everything the county is talking about with Akatink, and then upstream, rip out all the trees. It's urbanization causing all this problem. It's like a push-me-pull-me government. I make a problem, and now I've got a solution over and over and over again. I keep hearing these things about, oh, a lot of buzzwords going on tonight, folks. Reliable regional partner, invasive species. Okay. How will we look? I believe, Mayor, you were saying at the last working session two weeks ago about how will we look if we turn back money. We look fine. All right? Smart scale. you know the thing that rejected the first attempt at george snyder but uh smart scale 2017 to 2020

eight to ten percent of all smart scale projects from 2017 to 2020 either get cancelled or rescored picket should be rescored know why because it's on the grant what's on this scorecard is a bunch of malarkey and we see that in several of these things. I'll send it to you.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceNext speaker, Shelly Vance.

Shelly Vancepublic commentShelly Vance, Cambridge Court. I watched the George Snyder Trail portion of the June 3 work session. I was surprised that the mayor was impressed by the quantity of emails, some 65. The council had suddenly gotten from the public to move forward with the full through the woods trail. According to the mayor, the emails were from people and addresses we know. By the mayor's thinking, a majority of the public supports building the entire trail in its current footprint. What is impressive is how far back opposition has been demonstrated through emails, by in-person walks through the affected woods, person speakers at council meetings. Why has the mayor not been equally impressed by the month after month, year after year support for moving this trail out of the woods and onto predominantly

existing infrastructure? These are also people you know, and the addresses they call home are most often in the city. What is impressive is the sheer number of student residents who turn up at every council meeting to speak against the through the woods footprint compared to the occasional speaker in support of the current design. At any given council meeting, there's hardly ever a speaker supporting the current trail design. This and previous councils and the mayor have heard from the majority of the public that has bothered to weigh in. I don't doubt that there were 65 emails to the council calling for the full through the woods trail. It has come to light form letters in an obvious campaign at this late date to

flood the zone, but they must be put into perspective against the years-long broader picture. In an email to the council, I mentioned two trail-related petitions that have been circulating for some time. At an April 2025 council meeting, I spoke about the disparity between these two petitions. As of this morning, now one has 301 signatures full Through the Woods bill. That's 16 more signatures than last week. The other petition has over 3,200 citizens who are in favor of canceling the Through the Woods trail. That's nearly 200 more signatures than last week. These citizens want a different configuration for the trail that protects our urban forests and makes use of the current infrastructure. Even if we're generous with the first petition

who emailed the mayor and council members are not among the 301 signatories on the pro-build petition. A total of 366 citizens pales in comparison to the more than 3,200 citizens who have voiced their opposition to it. The pro-build group is less than one-tenth of the opposition to this woodland-destroying trail. This is what is impressive.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceOur next speaker is Josh Silverman.

Josh Silvermanpublic commentI'm Josh Silverin and I live at 4111 Sideburn Road in the Green Acre District. at the risk of sounding repetitious. I am also going to talk about the Snyder Trail. I will not delve into the history of how it was fully funded and agreed upon over the past 11 years. Previous speakers have done that. I am going to talk about how the efforts of a small community are putting their interest over that of the entire county. And the reason I say this is that the cross-county trail, which has been alluded to already, is the primary trail through the county. It connects several other trails and gives access of multiple communities each other. But the section that goes through Fairfax goes along Blake Lane and Germantown

Road, which has a singularity of being both dreary and dangerous at the same time, particularly to bikers. And we have an alternative, that is taking the Wilcoxon Trail, which has already been well established and has been used for years and which points directly to several of Fairfax City's parks and in order to complete that connection the Snyder Trail is a vital link and in denying us that link it just ruins the the entire cross-county trail. So I urge you to vote for the completion of the entire trail as it was originally conceived. Thank you very much.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceOur last speaker for this portion of the general public comment is Judy Frazier.

Judy Frazierpublic commentHi. Good evening, Mayor and City Council. I am here tonight to speak about George Snyder Trail. I don't have any grand words. We've heard a lot of pontifications and pronouncements and grand claims for this trail. It's got a lot to live up to based on tonight's comments by some of our former city leaders and others, even improving the urban forest, which surprised me. I am here, I've been doing this because I respect the forest and its inhabitants, and I see no reason to disturb them. They have been undisturbed and unmolested for 160 years at least. Those woods have been there since probably at least the Civil War, and they certainly were mature. At the earliest aerial photos we have of the area, they were already a mature forest.

So those inhabitants have been there for a very long time. They will be disturbed and distracted and I'm distracted here, but they will be disturbed and damaged and killed by this type of construction in the forest. So I'm here because I respect the forest and its inhabitants. Now much of the cross-county trail, which I love, I've walked the whole thing from the Potomac all the way down to Fairfax City with my father and my sons. It's a lovely trail and much of it is woodland natural surface trail among the woods among the trees It's not graded. It is it is a very different trail from what is being proposed here tonight And I don't think people understand that this is a very different Animal than what the cross County Trail is in the north north part of our county

so I also wanted to mention the the memorandum from Department of Public Works director and Jake J Cole the director of the Park Authority to their transportation director so basically like David David Summers and Stacy Summerfield talking to Wendy about not doing these types of trails anymore they are saying we have over 30 years of experience with these trails these shared use paths and resource protection areas too damaging too destructive to put them in our resource protection areas has anybody reached out to mr. Harrington or miss Cole they're right there the county government center let's talk to them and find out what the issues are about these trails before we go building one let's learn from our neighbors our partners

experience with these trails last I just want to mention this letter from the Temporary city manager to to V dot saying that this hybrid will assuage community concerns I think you've heard tonight that Nobody is assuaged by this hybrid option And I think it was really outrageous that he went forward and and sent this to V dot on your behalf and then told you last week Somehow that you would be damaging the city's reputation by not bending the knee to this so please Deal with this one. Thank you

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceWe can move to the consent agenda.

Catherine ReadIs there a motion to approve the consent agenda? Council Member Hardy-Chandler.

Stacey Hardy-ChandlerI move adoption of a consent agenda for agenda item number 6A, consideration of the May 6, 2025 special meeting minutes. Agenda item 6B, consideration of the May 13, 2025 special meeting minutes. Agenda item 6C, consideration of the May 13, 2025 regular meeting minutes. consideration of appointment to boards and commissions is

Catherine Readthere a second second all right the motion has been made by councilmember Hardy Chandler and seconded by councilmember Peterson are there any items council would like pulled for additional discussion

Stacey Hardy-Chandlerseeing

Catherine Readnone a roll call vote

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voicecouncilmember McQuillan I councilmember Bates I councilmember Peterson Aye. Council Member Hardy Chandler?

Stacey Hardy-ChandlerAye.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceCouncil Member Hall?

Stacey Hardy-ChandlerAye.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceCouncil Member Amos? Aye. Motion passed unanimously. We'll go to the public hearing. We only have one public hearing tonight, which is a public hearing in Council Action on Ordinance for the Virginia Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Parence C-PACE Program. I'm going to recognize Stephanie Kupka, Sustainability Program Manager, to provide the staff presentation.

Stephanie KupkastaffGood evening, Mayor, City Council. I will pass it off to Sonia Sukar-Ferre, our climate energy manager, for the public hearing presentation. Thank you.

Sonia Succar FerrestaffGood evening, Council members. Wonderful to see you again. We were last presenting May 13th, so just a little over a month ago at our work session. So I thought it was best to maybe move through the presentation as fast as possible unless you all have any specific questions and I can pause in the middle of the presentation to address them. Just to recap here, CPACE, which is the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing, this is a statewide program that the City of Fairfax hopes to opt into, which would basically open up and allow private financing lending to take place here in the city for commercial, industrial, and multifamily projects to basically invest in green building improvements and upgrades.

Just a quick recap. I defined what CPAY stands for, the financing tool. Also, just to mention that this is also something that can support our future green building policy. Oh, excuse me. Sorry. Moving along. The future green building policy, which is in development hopefully by the fall that you all will have. So this will be something to complement that. We'll move through quickly the Virginia Pace Authority's role, which is the state administrator, the program administrator that is overseeing the program on behalf of the state. And then just to reiterate, there are 19 localities across Virginia that have already opted into the program. So this would be, City of Fairfax would be adding to this group of counties and cities

across mostly North Virginia, but also throughout the state. So just the reminder, the PACE Authority, and they're really responsible for onboarding, approving all the loans, marketing outreach. We had Matthew Easley present last time on his support for the program, and he would be working closely with our department, with Stephanie, on marketing and outreach to developers, contractors on this program. There's about $150 million in the pipeline of projects, with $16 million worth of loans closed. this is a voluntary special assessment on private property so this statewide program basically standardizes the ordinance it is not a public tax and it is not collected by the locality it's a voluntary special assessment and therefore they cannot you know provide these attractive

loans. I think this is very important, just staff time. It is very limited. The work that we've done right now is really with the city attorney, the city manager, even the city treasurer, and just identifying who of the city would be supporting the oversight, acting as a liaison with the program administrator. Again, the city would not be collecting or dispersing these CPACE loan payments, and the CPACE lien enforcement to the CPACE lenders which we've decided is the best approach so over the last 30 days we've talked with the city manager on the best approach and the city at treasurer and we feel it's best to basically delegate that enforcement to the third party which in this case are the capital

providers the lenders should there be a delinquency in any of the loans just to the council members feel strongly you know this could really support economic development the goal here is to help not just the city meet its goals but for these type of financing options available for developers and contractors so they can do these upgrades weatherization resiliency better you know basically enforcing their buildings to withstand what's happening extreme heat climate impacts flooding so a lot of these improvements would do that I think I covered that again just to reiterate the staff roles added some visuals to help basically understand who in the city is is designated so right now the city attorney has been very involved in the development of the

ordinance we've been talking with the pace authority pretty frequently to just basically review the ordinance the details there are two agreements there's a program agreement and a locality agreement that goes along with the ordinance and the way that it is written if it's passed tonight and adopted then we have about 30 days to sign these two agreements and again it's just reinforcing who of the city would be designated as the liaison when the loan the closing documents come before the city. We've also again reiterated that the treasurer basically is allowing a third party to enforce any lien delinquencies. The city manager would act as a program manager. So again, supervising the program, the liaison role, Stephanie would be working closely with him.

They foresee possibly one to two, maybe more projects every year. The more the better. The Economic Development Authority would also play a role in basically helping to identify any potential candidates that are out there. They help to promote the program. Hopefully there's some resources that we can market and promote that as well through the Economic Development Authority. These are just the eligible projects. We've spoken about this in the past. all the wonderful improvements that can be done. And again, these are the cities and the counties currently with the program in place. So we would be adding to almost 50, there's already 50% of the state population that has the CPACE program in effect

in their city or their county. so tonight we're hoping you will all adopt the ordinance once you adopt it again we can then move forward to sign you're giving authority to our city manager to then sign the program agreement and the locality agreement and basically we'll work to implement it so if you have any questions I'm happy to answer thank

Catherine Readyou for the presentation are there any questions of staff okay I will open the public hearing mission to various this public hearing been properly advertised

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceyes it has no one has signed up prior to the meeting is there anybody in this room that would like to speak on this agenda item

Catherine Readokay I will close the public hearing is there a motion council members hard Chandler I

Stacey Hardy-Chandlermoved that the city council and act an ordinance amending chapter 90 taxation Virginia, to add a new chapter, 14, creating the City of Fairfax Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy, parentheses, CPACE, financing program. I further move that the City Council approve the forms of, one, CPACE program agreement, and two, locality agreement included as part of the staff report presenting this item for consideration by the City Council with such non-substantive changes as may be approved by the City Attorney from time to time. I further move that the city manager, with the concurrence of the city attorney, be authorized to execute any documentation necessary or appropriate to fully implement this program within the city.

Catherine ReadIs there a second? Second. A motion has been made by Council Member Hardy-Chandler and seconded by Council Member Peterson. Is there any discussion on this motion? Seeing none, a roll call vote.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceCouncil Member McQuillan?

Catherine ReadAye.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceCouncil Member Bates? Aye. Council Member Peterson? Aye. Council Member Hardy-Chandler? Aye. Council Member Hall? Aye. Council Member Amos? Aye. Motion passed unanimously. We will now go on to our second general public comment period. Thank you. Have a good evening. I had four speakers sign up prior to the start of the meeting. After we go through these four speakers, if anybody else would like to speak, I would ask that you just line up by the window side, and we'll take you one by one. Okay? So our first speaker is Mike Fabio.

Mike Fabiopublic commentHello, I'm Mike Fabio, 3920 Chainbridge Road, and I'm here to ask you to build the entire George Snyder Trail. At the 2020 public hearing, at 60% completion, the plan enjoyed broad support from city and regional groups. in june 2020 it was included as a vital part of the northak small area plan in july at 100 completion the plans were reviewed by third party and revisions had been made and in january 2024 the city council rejected an attempt to alter the scope of the plan and property acquisition commenced i want to emphasize this is not a road as i've heard it's trail some is boardwalk some asphalt already exists viewing areas will be incorporated to overlook the creek and there will be educational markers

installed you will not have that if you cancel the trail trees will grow back there are 436 trees to be removed and replaced three to one with 21 native species while invasives will be removed now only a fraction of that number is in the shorter eastern half and you need to keep that in mind 14 pages in the plan earmark specific trees and methods for their protection retaining walls will limit the grading s impacts of the forest and 965 shrubs will be planted there will be bioretention basins drainage features alongside and underneath the path and boardwalks over the wetlands and rain gardens safety features include a grade suitable for all ages and abilities a line of sight and trail buffering designed to eliminate blind spots

more use of the trail more eyes on the trail to reduce crime a safer route and a more pleasant than Fairfax Boulevard and it avoids Beach Drive where there is no sidewalk and Draper Drive where there are many areas without a sidewalk the financial losses have been given you but if you include the 9.5 million for the George Snyder Trail extension that could be lost and you've already canceled nine million dollars for the Country Club Hills Add it together, this council could be responsible for the loss of $43.2 million in its first few months. That's outrageous, unacceptable, and a dangerous precedent. And by the way, I walked down Route 50 with my dog today, and it was a scary, scary way to go up Draper Drive.

Thank you.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceOur next speaker is Susan Kyler. Thank you.

Speaker 35funds already spent was removed. The decision whether to cancel or build seems to hinge on the amount of money to be repaid in the repayment schedule. I understand that after the recent budget decisions, at least two council members might not have the stomach to approve a resolution that may require the city to pay $3.7 million and that the smaller amount of $1.6 to $1.8 million for the partial build may seem more palatable. I submit to you that a good CFO can find $3.7 million and help negotiate terms favorable to the city. More importantly, I suggest that until you know the repayment terms and until you have a more realistic cost estimate for the full through-the-woods GST, you have insufficient information on which to base the decision.

How can the easier-to-build western portion with one bridge be estimated to cost $11 to $12 million and the full build, in which the eastern portion has four bridges over more difficult terrain, be only about $22 million. Most people, as you heard tonight, are for the full build or for cancellation. They are not for the so-called hybrid compromise to build only the western portion, which, like the eastern portion, is in a floodplain and a resource protection area that many wildlife call home. This partial decision the city is being asked to make is driven by the idea that half of the GST is half as bad as the original project in terms of fiscal and environmental impacts to the city. I ask you to recall the judgment of Solomon, a story from the Old Testament in which King Solomon ruled between two women who both claimed to be the mother of a child.

Calling for a sword, Solomon ordered the baby to be cut in half, with each woman to receive one half. accepted the compromise as fair. But the second woman begged Solomon to give the baby to her rival, preferring the baby to live, even without her. Solomon ordered the baby to be given to the second woman, as her love was selfless as opposed to that of the first woman's disregard for the baby's actual well-being. To this day, Solomon's approach to justice is an archetypal example of an impartial judge displaying wisdom and making a ruling. Will you then opt to destroy half this wild space for myriad species? Is $3.7 million too much for this ecosystem, but $1.6 or $1.8 acceptable? And if you do vote for the full or partial bill, will you vote then in a month or two to approve

a waiver to the Chesapeake Bay Act ordinance to build a floodplain in a resource protection area? Will you justify the waiver as passive recreational use? Please vote your conscience and common sense. Delay the vote until you have more information. The money can be found. Thank you.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceOur next speaker is Janice Miller.

Janice Millerpublic commentGood evening. It's nice to be here this evening. First, I would like to start off by thanking you for your service. I, like most of our residents, appreciate the time and effort each member spends on city business on behalf of our community. I truly believe that we appreciate what you do. My name is Janice Miller, and I am here tonight to request the mayor and council move forward with a current design to build the full George Snyder Trail. This project has lingered far too long and must be resolved this evening. There are a couple of points that I want to make. The first is the George Snyder Trail is not only a trail, but it will also become a park. It will be a park in a wooded area that is similar, but much smaller than our treasure Daniels Run Park.

Build it, and our residents will come to visit and enjoy. follow in the footsteps of your predecessors who were forward-thinking all those years ago when Daniels Run Park was established. The second thing I would like to mention is connectivity. The proposed full-build trail, both the eastern portion and the western portion, offers the connectivity that the half-trail does not. Why build only half a trail that does not offer this necessary connectivity? Please do not continue to believe that biking and walking along Route 50, Draper Drive, Beach Drive, and Cardinal Road satisfies the connectivity when those routes are a poor substitute for the real deal. Also, please remember that Route 50 is a busy federal highway spanning the continental United States from Delaware to California.

Draper Drive is in the midst of an industrial area with multiple driveways and curb cuts and an occasional sidewalk. Cardinal Road is a residential street that takes non-residents that is strangers into a neighborhood I hope you'll remember council members eliminated the CCH trail in part because CCH residents didn't want strangers in their neighborhood surely what's good for CCH should also be good for Mosby Woods, Cambridge Station, and Mosby Woods condos. As I stated earlier, this project has been going on far too long. Ongoing discussions continues the angst and division in our community. End it tonight. Please, please, please vote for the full George Snyder Trail and move on. Thank you.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceOur next speaker is Marissa Perona.

Marissa Perronepublic commentGood evening, Mayor and Councilmembers. My name is Marissa Perrone of 9892 Cardinal Road, and I'm a mom of two young kids and an avid cyclist. I'm here tonight to speak in strong support of building the entire George Snyder Trail. I know there's been pushback, mostly about trees. I understand that concern, and Mike Fabio did address some of the efforts to mitigate trees lost. But I also watched us quietly lose an enormous number of trees during the stream restoration project with no public input. Why is this trail, which has been part of our city's public posted plans, it's on every sign, for years, now being second-guessed when it offers such a lasting value to its residents? We can't lose sight of what this project adds,

safe, accessible space for residents to walk, run, bike, and connect with each other and with nature. That's especially important for families like mine. I often drive to Vienna or Falls Church with a bike trailer and bikes on the back of my car just to get my kids out on a safe bike ride. It's not sustainable, and it shouldn't be necessary. I recently joined both Fairfax Citizens for Smarter Growth and Fairfax Alliance for Better Biking because I believe in a Fairfax that's forward-thinking and family-friendly. The George Snyder Trail would be a crucial east-west connector, something we are sorely missing. Currently, on my solo bike rides, I access the Jerry Connolly Cross County Trail via Draper Drive.

Each time, I test fate through endless blind auto body shop entrances blocked by an array of ice cream trucks. The CCT is worth it. It's one of the best trails in the area, and it's amazing that the person who planned it is in the room tonight. But it would be great to not have to risk my life in order to access it. Trails are about more than recreation. They create a sense of place, helping us build community, support local businesses, and help people fall in love with where they live. My daughter's in the first grade. When I asked her what she'd do if a trail was built near our home, she didn't hesitate. Scooter to Compass Coffee. That's her dream. And it's mine, too. Living in a city where the kids of the future can safely walk or bike to school, to parks,

or to meet friends. This is the Fairfax of the next generation. Let's build it. Thank you.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceCall for the next speaker that's lined up by the window.

Beth Iannettapublic commentGood evening. My name is Beth Iannetta. I live at 10916 Berry Street in the Westmore community. I was asked to come tonight. I was actually not feeling well and in quite a bit of pain, but I decided it was important to be here tonight. And I also told my mother to watch at home, so never disappoint your mother. So hi, Mom. I have 25 years of working in local government. both in planning and project management in both transportation and parks. One thing that I came across when I was doing some research for this project is a quote that Councilman Peterverson had given is, what do we want to be when we grow up? There's been comp plans, area plans, pet and bike master plans, steering committees, design

workshops, workshop sessions, public hearings over the years. We've been telling you repeatedly in many different formats what our vision is for the city, and it includes this trail. Why would any city resident give their time to contribute to a vision which this body repeatedly asks us to do? And if at the end of years of implementation, your position is, we don't value your input at all, we'll either cancel it or cut it in half. I'm glad your timeline has actually been moved up, because I feel that you owe us all a clear decision and a justification for your decision for how you decide to move forward. in addition in listening to many of the oppositions to this trail i felt it was important to consider

what a positive outcome of this could be i had written to councilman bates and i've reached out to several people he did forward my inquiry to the park staff but i think there's an opportunity here to create a volunteer trail ranger program or ambassador program to help address the invasive management and safety concerns that have been raised. There's many successful programs. There's the Capitol Trail Ambassador Program, the D.C. Trail Ranger Program, volunteers who are on the W&OD Trail. They give their time and their effort to battle these things like many city residents do in neighborhood watch programs and or the invasive cleanups, which I've actually worked with, Friends of Accatink Creek. The headwaters is in the Westmore, which I learned several years ago.

This would be a positive outcome, I think, to the very spirited debate, and you should consider that it's not all bad. But please consider the fact that we've been telling you what we want to be for years, and this completes that vision and gets us moving on to the next vision. So don't shortchange our value for our contributions to the vision of this city. Thank you.

Sarah Peasepublic commentGood evening. My name is Sarah Pease, 10209 Shiloh Street. That's in Mosby Woods. That's at the front end of the neighborhood, the area most likely to be affected by this plan. I'm not an environmentalist. I mean, I like trees as much as the next guy, but that's not why I'm here. I'm here to talk to you about an issue that I think is really key and people aren't talking about. I've heard a few people, lots of people, that they want to walk on a trail with their kids and it's going to be a lovely and safe experience. Those woods aren't safe. A year ago next month, We had helicopters flying over our neighborhood. We had the city's version of a SWAT team supported by the county going in and raiding those woods

and pulling out two guys who murdered a guy at Fairfax Circle. One of those two individuals had already been arrested three times in the last four months before that incident for assault. And they were living in those woods. less than a month later we had shots fired into a house on Cardinal Road from those woods anybody here who lives on Cardinal the western end of it will tell you you regularly see drug deals going on at the western end of Cardinal that backs up to the entrance to the Oakton Park apartments we've asked numerous times for the fence to be put back up it doesn't matter they'll just pull it back down those woods are not safe at the work session after the last council meeting the city manager said there are no plans to patrol that

so for all the people who think this is going to be a lovely and safe place to walk and ride your bikes I mean let's let's not forget it was what three years ago when a guy was murdered at the entrance to the trail down by the Harley Davidson dealer and his body was thrown in the dumpster. Riding between Draper Drive and the ball fields. A lot of people, a lot of my friends who walk their dogs, ride their bikes, they don't feel safe till they get to the ball fields. I don't like getting on at the Draper Park. I feel safer on Route 50. I've gotten on behind the Home Depot because I didn't feel safe in the part of the trail behind Artie's and I've had homeless guys lying on the benches reaching out for you

you ride by on your bicycle. It's not going to be patrolled. You guys have already said that. The city manager has said that.

Speaker 42Thank you.

Roger Custerpublic commentGood evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Roger Custer. I live at 10131 Cardinal Road. I want to thank you for your public service because this is a very difficult decision, as is the budget every year. And being an elected official, thank you for listening to us and enjoying our right to free speech and having different opinions. So thank you for that. We all want the best for our city. That's why we're here. And I want the best for our city just like you do, and maybe we have different ways to do that. I just don't think the George Snyder Trail is best for our city for three reasons. First of all is the environmental damage. There will be trees cut down that will take 80 to 200 years to be restored to the size and beauty that they are now.

The wildlife habitat will also be destroyed and will deeply affect our city's wilderness. Second is that I don't feel like this project aligns with the urban forestry plan that we're working on as a city. There's a public meeting tomorrow night where people are coming together and you're surveying the public. Some of the items on the survey that you can choose among the priorities for the urban forestry include developing and implementing a long-term woodland and natural area management plan and conserving and expanding tree canopy citywide and working across city departments to make sure there's decision support for this kind of decision when we are going to destroy tree canopy. seem like our Tree City USA status and our urban forestry planning that most of us here

probably support and enjoy matches with the decision to build this trail and destroy these trees. The third item is that I'm a bike commuter. I bike downtown, sometimes to my job, 19 miles each way. And I often avoid paths like this because of the debris, which can be dangerous or damaging to my bike. And if the city is not regularly sweeping and maintaining the trees and the leaves and the debris that comes there every time it rains or the wind blows, it's not a place where I want to bike commute, which is the original idea for this entire trail. So thank you for taking this difficult decision. I encourage you to cancel the project and not build the George Schneider Trail.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceMay I even come forward?

Jane Kelseypublic commentThank you, Madam Mayor and members of the City Council. I'm Jane Kelsey, 4041 Autumn Court in the Autumn Woods Subdivision, which is a very small community, and I'm speaking for myself and some of the members of the community that frequently walk on the trails and ride bikes. I support what has been said in support of building the complete Snyder Trail. I worked many years in planning and zoning for Fairfax County, and there wasn't one zoning case that came up where trails were not discussed. Most of the trails were approved because that is part of the comprehensive plan. It's required that you adhere to the comprehensive plan. So we had very few people in opposition. In fact, citizens came and asked that trails be put in that subdivision.

Typically in the county, they were put in by the developer who proffered to provide those trails. So he provided most of the money, I guess, that went into building it. In this case, the city has been given the money, and I believe that you should use that money for this purpose and not lose it. In our subdivision, the developer, and it's in the city, the developer gave the land for the trail. I don't know if he built it or if the city built it. is not paved but we walk on it it's fine but I know that some people would prefer particularly those who have baby buggies do actually have it paid it's also sort of muddy so I'm sure that some trees came down when they built the trail but heaven's sakes it now if they have to cut them down to get them out of the way

And the ones that are old, they do fall and fall right over the trail. And the city has been very good to take care of that. So I believe that the other thing, that you should be physically responsible and not waste our taxpayers' money because it is us that's really going to be losing that money, I believe, and having to pay it back if you do not build the trail. So I certainly hope that you will consider that. I know that walking even is dangerous and riding a bicycle on Route 50. I certainly wouldn't want to do it and I wouldn't want any of my children to do that either. So thank you very much for listening.

Katie Johnsonpublic commentKatie Johnson, 10132 Spring Lake Terrace. I'm here tonight again to speak on behalf of the forest, the Stream Rally, its RPA, its wetlands, and all the life it supports. The trail was not in everyone's vision. This trail has been opposed since it changed from its original form of a $200,000 stonedust trail. That trail actually exists and is very well loved. I can assure you leaving a mature oak hickory beach forest a climax forest intact will not ruin the stream restoration I can assure you the very best way to deal with environmental impacts is to avoid them There is no magic wand to fix a forest that has been irreversibly damaged Or to simply wish away invasive species. I have volunteered hundreds of hours dealing with native plants and

species it is not easy work Virginia spends a billion dollars annually on invasive species removal the invasive species would be introduced by heavy equipment and creating edge habitat where invasives thrive I agree with the previous speaker that said we have beautiful parks the George Snyder Trail will not cannot improve our urban forest cyclists do not need to bypass our city There are existing connections that will preserve 600 trees. We've already lost 491. That's 1,000 trees in a very small forest patch. We live in a rapidly urbanizing area. Yes, we do, which makes our small remaining forest patches that much more important. We are a small community. We are a small, mighty community. We are the city of Fairfax.

Daniel's Run is not paved. The current George Snyder Trail is already well loved. This is a fun fact. The Cross County Trail has only 15 miles of paved path out of more than 40. It's not our responsibility. The forest is ours to take care of. The forest is ours to preserve. The forest is ours to protect. Thank you. Next speaker.

David Meyerpublic commentMayor Reed, my comments might be three minutes and 50 seconds. Is it acceptable to go over the three minutes?

Catherine ReadGiven your emeritus status, I will grant that request. Thank you.

David Meyerpublic commentAll right. David Meyer of City Resident, 3508 Cornell Road. there's an adage in city planning that adjacent communities should not be too

Summersstaffdifferent from each

David Meyerpublic commentother and this statement is the implied acknowledgement that communities should have features that make them distinctive and the these elements of distinctiveness make jurisdictions attractive strengthen neighborhoods improve public health and access to the natural environment foster public safety encourage private capital investment to boost our tax base and our economy. Public trails contribute to all of these outcomes. In our Northern Virginia region, one of the challenges of as-built jurisdictions such as the City of Fairfax is finding locations to create trails. The rapid growth between 1955 and 1980, generally with few exceptions, did not account or allocate land for trail connections. By habit stance of history, we are fortunate that

trails in the 2012 master plan did not require significant acquisitions of land. Consequently, our success in receiving funding for trails has been greatly disproportionate to our size and our population. This is something truly to celebrate. This evening, other speakers have addressed the benefits of the George Snyder Trail, and I want to speak to you in the context of our city's finances. Many of my comments have been alluded to or addressed previously. This project will be constructed primarily with funds from a concession payment by the company that built the I-66 toll lanes. These funds were available to jurisdictions, only those jurisdictions that touch the I-66 corridor, hence our eligibility for the money.

The initial funding of this project was funded with zero tax dollars. city, none from the Commonwealth of Virginia, and none from the federal sources. However, not building the trail, or not building the trail of its entirety, will require taxpayer dollars, city taxpayer dollars, to reimburse the concession payment fund. This reimbursement will result in our tax dollars being reallocated to other jurisdictions in the region. This is nonsensical, and it's indefensible. At this time there is great volatility in our regional economy. The draconian cuts and reductions in the federal employment and cancellation of federal contracts and grants have placed all local governments in a state of uncertainty. This is not the time to needlessly waste either $3 million

or $1.5 million in taxpayer money when the outcome would be unambiguously negative, both in the short term and long term. Every dollar we have is critically important in this time of uncertainty. To do otherwise could possibly put our AAA bond rating at risk and being on the cusp of some school renovations in the coming years, doing so with the loss of AAA bond rating will cost us millions in additional interest costs. I was raised in Vienna, Virginia and when I was in the sixth grade, the W&OD Railroad ran 45 miles from Alexandria to Percival. When the rail line closed, visionaries on the board of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, now Nova Parks, took the bold step to create a trail along the entire rail line.

Those visionaries, many of whom are no longer with us, created one of the first and finest trails in the entire United States. It was a catalyst for nearly all the other trails we have, both in the city and in our region. The W&OD Trail is only four blocks from the house in which I grew up. It transformed our neighborhood. It connected the neighborhoods on the north side of Mabel Avenue to the neighborhoods on the south side of the town. Property values rose significantly, and now realtors will tout the trail's presence as a key amenity. Council, you will consider all kinds of projects in your two-year elected term. Now, some of these projects are pro forma. Others, though, give you the opportunity to be

real history makers, to make our city more distinctive and truly create a legacy for future generations. This is one of those opportunities. Embrace the project in full as an affirmation for all that is good and all that the good it will bring for our city residents now and for decades to come trust me you will be glad you did it thank you

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceis there anybody else in the room that would like to speak at this time all

Catherine Readright seeing none we are going to take a five minute recess before we proceed with the agenda. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thomas PetersonThank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Speaker 40Thank you.

Jane Kelseypublic commentThank you. Thank you.

Catherine ReadThank you. we're now calling calling the meeting back to order mission a berry okay

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voicewe will move to items not requiring a public hearing our item is a consideration of a resolution on the George Snyder trail I'm going to recognize Melanie zip acting deputy city manager to provide the staff report

Melanie Zippstaffgood evening mayor and council

Marissa Perronepublic commenttonight staff is asking council

Melanie Zippstaffto take action on one of three resolutions approve the full trail approve the western half which is ai or a1 or the hybrid option or cancel the full trail next slide to quickly recap where we are in the process the latest communications came on june 2nd 2025 vdot indicated by phone its willingness to allow the city to pursue the hybrid western half a1 option and laid out the schedule and parameters which staff discussed with city council at the june 3rd work session on june 4 2025 vdot followed up by a letter indicating their support for this third hybrid option and detailing the requirements this hybrid option requires the city council to adopt a resolution requesting ctb approval for the for the change in project scope and reduction

in I-66 concession fee project allocations. BDOT reiterated in that letter that they continue to support the building of the entire trail as designed. Next slide. Before you is the updated matrix from your June 3rd work session. The project cost estimates have been updated based on the consultant's construction cost estimates. VDOT has confirmed in the letter dated June 4, 2025 that repayment of those expenditures incurred for the eastern half would be pursued and they have agreed to work with staff on the repayment plan. I would note that staff strongly recommends not financing any repayment of funds. Next slide. if council action is to adopt the resolution for the hybrid Western half also known as a one this

is the timeline that will need to be executed ensuring we meet the deadlines for NVTA and CTB approval next slide before you is just an illustration of the project as a whole and the western half hybrid section which is everything labeled a1 from Cambridge Road to Fairwoods Parkway minus a2 the Shiloh Street connection which has been eliminated eliminated from the full project plans and then the rough escalation estimate to construct either the full project or the western half

Avril Garlandpublic commentnext

Melanie Zippstaffslide to reiterate the three options three options before you this evening are to remove the pause on advertising the project for construction and reaffirm the approval of the full project as designed approve the advertisement and construction of segment a1 only the western half of the trail between chain bridge road 123 and Fairwoods Parkway or three direct staff to undertake all necessary actions to cancel the project in its entirety these are all the updates we have for you this evening staff is available to answer any questions thank you

Catherine Readare there questions of staff questions for staff oh oh okay councilmember hall

Stacy Halli'll probably have more but i just have one as a follow-up to a resident comment if does not doing the eastern portion of the trail negate what's being done for the stream restoration

Summersstaffproject no it does not

Stacy Hallokay so that stream restoration project those plants are expected to survive regardless of what gets done with the George Snyder trail

Summersstaffcorrect it's a separate project

Stacy Hallokay that's what I thought I just wanted to confirm thank you I might have more questions but I'll pause

Catherine Readother questions for councilmember Peterson well

Thomas Petersonjust a quick one now I will have

Catherine Readmore

Thomas Petersonbut I wanted to pick up on the comment that staff is recommending against any financing for repayment can we get some clarification on the rationale for that

Martinezstaffsure so councilmember councilmember Peterson in discussion with our financial advisors Davenport and myself the recommendation would be to potentially not finance either the 3.7 or the 1.7 1.8 million dollars so just very quickly if we did finance that at a 25 year term 5% interest rate which those are standard parameters we would be looking at 2.9 million dollars of interest on a 3.7 million dollar loan or conversely a 1.4 million dollar interest a 1.8 million dollar loan to us Davenport myself that does not sound reasonable ultimately would be the will of counsel that's what we wanted to do

Thomas Petersonwhat about the possibility of an interest-free loan does that change that

Martinezstaffit of course it would because it would be free money at that time but I am not aware of any interest-free loan program right now available to the city for that

Thomas PetersonI guess I would ask Director Summers whether in the past there have been terms on repayments or somewhat similar situations that have included either interest-free or alternative financing structure.

SummersstaffWell, I wouldn't really know too much about that. The finance department would. I know the only thing VDOT has said to us verbally is they would work with us on the repayment. That's the only thing they have said.

Thomas Petersonthanks I'll have some more questions in a bit

Catherine Readother questions from for the staff oh councilmember Hall

Stacy Hallso I'd sent you an email earlier today questioning the bridge and I'm having to assume that the 2.5 million number that I asked you about was the cost to construct the bridge I know you were saying that the and I'm talking about the pedestrian bridge that was built on Route 50 on the south side that I think spans about 150 feet or thereabouts. So you don't think it's reasonable that that length of bridge with the pilings and all that would have cost $2.5 million?

SummersstaffIt could. I think you said it was 150 foot long. At first, I thought you were talking about a roadway bridge. I know. We had some

Stacy Hallconfusions. I want to clarify

Summersstaffthat. You're talking about a pedestrian bridge that's 150 feet long. It's probably 15 foot wide. Typical square foot cost for something like that is probably around $1,000 a square feet, which would come to about $2.5 million. What really affects the cost of the pedestrian bridge is the foundation. And depending on how deep the foundation is, which it depends on the topography and how the soils are, and if it's a wet soil, you have to go deeper, because you have to support that pedestrian bridge, that will drive the cost up. for the George Snyder Trail some of the proposed bridges are relatively long and there could be significant foundation so that's why I know you seemed a little concerned about the bridge costs but you know these bridge bridges were designed

appropriately they were evaluated and they were value engineered so I believe those costs are relatively good for estimates

Patti Innocentistaffokay

Stacy Halland can you just remind us all of what happens if we do this was not actually sent out to bid this was estimates based upon contractors taking a look at what they know we need to do correct like we didn't send it the person that gave us the estimates that you provided earlier this week that's not like a going out to bid bid that's a slightly different way of looking at it or

Summersstaffwell that's that's the construction cost estimate when when we go through design of a project we get estimates of 30 percent 60 percent 90 percent because we want to make sure that the project stays within budget so this is the latest updated estimate to construct a project based on our engineers estimate that being said when you bid a project you never know what the bids are going to be hopefully this is an accurate estimate they put a lot of work into it but again there's a lot of factors that affect the bid the bidding climate

Stacy Hallokay and i think you had said before that there was some sort of contingency that was built into both the western portion and then if we did the full build based upon some sort of percentage of the total cost that's

Summersstaffthere's typically well on this project there's a project contingency of 10 10

Stacy Hallokay okay and and so ctb or vdot or the concessionaire fund whoever's They would pay up to that I'm blanking on the word I just used I'm sorry that the overage contingency. Thank you

Summersstaffcontingency is part of the project budget

Stacy HallOkay, and then if it were to exceed that then as you had said before at the work session We would either need to scale back some of the items or try to find alternate sources of funding to do it

Summersstaffduring a construction project There are certain line items that are bid upon that may go over because they're all based on estimated quantities if the estimated quantities exceed the estimate that line item price could go up and also vice versa certain line item quantities end up being less than what the estimate is so as you work your way through a construction project you find there are some overages and there are some savings and one of staffs responsibilities is to make sure as we get to the end of the project that it's a wash and we stay within budget

Stacy Hallokay and I think you had said before too that there were potentially some areas where if it looked like we were going to be going over budget we could potentially bring things in-house to do or try to do a little bit cheaper for some of the items

Summersstaffabsolutely I mean staff is always aware about the budget and we have quite capable in-house forces that can also contribute to things if we need to to make sure we stay as close to the budget as possible

Stacy Halland could that be done given staffing levels and already over time and things that they've already been allocated to well

Summersstaffit depends on what what it is

Stacy Hallyeah okay okay that's all for me right now thank you councilmember Amos

Anthony Amosjust a quick question before we get into the first motion if our CFO could kind of go over what the financial implications would be when it comes to our triple-a bond rating comparing the full build versus cancellation versus the western half

Martinezstaffsure so i could try to do that relatively quick so we currently do have a triple double triple a for moody's and s p that has to do with financial management planning council directive as well we have met with moody's and s p in the past seven months it was november of last year We were reaffirmed in January from both rating agencies as double AAA again We have 12 to 15 years of that track record the one of the main factors in our fund balance has on one of our main factors towards AAA has to do with our fund balance we have Been able to grow that in the last few years we are currently projected to end FY 2025 at 17.7% or thirty one point seven million dollars in fund balance if we were to cancel the

project and potentially repay back the three point seven million dollars we would have to reduce the unassigned fund balance portion by that amount which would bring the percentage down from 17.7 percent to 15.6 or about 28 million dollars doing a half build or the hybrid it would reduce the amount by 1.6 million dollars and the percentage would come down from 17.7 percent to 16.8 or about 30.1 million dollars that's about 1.8 percent above our minimum threshold which was approved by council of 15% almost three or four years ago so it's hard to say with those reductions what would happen to our rating I will say that Washington DC the state of Maryland and actually the country has also had a

reduction in ratings having to do with its performance the city's pretty conservative in how we function we would work very closely with our financial advisors davenport to try to ensure and minimize any impact that either a cancellation or a half build would do we would also work with vdot to try to see on any uh repayment options that we could arrange with them to see and try to minimize the impact of this the one caveat that i cannot get out of in the event that if we do do a full cancellation or a half and i expressed this in previous work sessions is per government accounting standards board GASB I would be required since this is within the fiscal year I would be required to either address this liability whether it's known or materially likely known

that we would have this liability I would have to set that aside and make that earmark basically from unassigned fund balance to assigned fund balance we're not paying it out it's just an accounting standard until we can have a answer from V dot of what that repayment schedule plan would look like

Catherine Readhave a follow-up question on that you know having done these trips twice and talked with both Moody's and Standard & Poor's and the conversations that we had the questions they had about the city clearly they have our balance sheet they they know what our numbers are but the conversations they have are also about all kinds of things you know someone pointed out earlier this evening we voted to summarily give back a five million dollar grant for a trail quite suddenly without being advertised or a public hearing if we were to cancel this trail or only build half of it that's that's that's not just on the balance sheet it says something about our decision-making the same with the George Snyder extension if that nine million dollar grant were to be taken away

it's an extension of a trail we're not going to build you know this starts to add up as someone pointed out now that about now the bill gets bigger not just for what's coming out of taxpayer funds it's what the city is summarily letting go so understanding that this is more I just want you to help everyone understand that the questions that are asked by rating agencies are not just whether our math adds up it's exactly how we're making decisions about what we do with investment funds

Martinezstaffcorrect so both rating agencies have a different format of evaluating one of those pieces of the pie is called governance and that's exactly what you're stating their mayor is how government governments and the actions that they take both positive and negatively and how that impacts not but the economic their residents and area and their local neighbors as well that that is a huge driving factor as well

Catherine Readother questions from the dais at this time councilmember Peterson have

Thomas Petersonyou disclosed the 9.5 million as well

MartinezstaffI'm sorry disclosed the 9.5 you

Thomas Petersonhave a smart scale funding that's at risk that the mayor just referred to has that been under GASB is that been disclosed along with a 3.7?

MartinezstaffSo we would not have to repay that back is my understanding. This would be affecting from the general fund. So I would not have to disclose that. If we did have to pay it back from the general fund, then I would be required to disclose that amount, sir.

Thomas PetersonSo we don't disclose a loss of revenue, a foregone set of revenues that

Martinezstaffare planned. We would disclose it as a reduction in revenue, but not a liability.

Thomas PetersonOkay. Thanks, there's been a lot of conversation about money and I know that's a big part of this I think there's some other parts. I do want it in a minute circle back to summer of theirs But let me just ask a little bit more while we're on this so And I shared with everybody some calculations on Cost of repayment whether it's 1.8 3.7 and what that might look like Like if it was financed, whether this is a straight loan at 25 years, 5%, or whether it's an interest re-loan, and there's certainly precedent for that, particularly with the agencies we're dealing with, but there is some figure that this could be turned into in terms of financing, which is not unlike what we do with our capital improvement projects.

It could be, in fact, part of the debt package if we were to do that. and when we look at there are three big things that are in our capital improvement project which will turn into debt and turn into real estate tax obligations that I think we know about right now one of the Willard Sherwood Center the fire station and then the rebuilding of the property yard combined I think those three I may have gotten my numbers wrong but I had them at 161 than that like 170 or something 171 million dollars for three projects an educated guess is that all three of those are two out of three at least will need to be very significantly reconfigured for a variety of reasons not the least of which is the implications they have on taxes we also

have a capital improvement budget or excuse me capital improvement project plan that involves things that it's entirely possible may need to be reordered for logistical reasons because it's tough to pull all those projects off in the period of time where they're there. I think the basic question becomes what is the probability of finding 3.7 million, let's just use the higher end here, in savings out of 171 something million that is out there With that set of projects not to mention the rest of the things that are in CIP. I would hazard to guess that probability is very high so the financing what we could be looking at here is essentially Creating a budget neutral process if we wanted to pay back

We would offset that with savings from reductions in some of these other areas Correct

MartinezstaffThat would be a potential option is reduce future liabilities and offset the either 3.7 or the 1.6 million dollars Until that's done though again, I just need to reemphasize this I would be required to list that liability whatever the amount is on the FY 25 ACFR until we can figure what the next step would be

Thomas PetersonGreat. But I think the critical point is the 3.7, just again to use the higher number, in comparison to that larger figure is like 2% or something. We would literally be looking at the opportunity and need for a 2% efficiency increase or 2% savings increase to remove the budget impact of this repayment.

MartinezstaffThat's correct, sir.

Catherine Readyou other questions councilmember hall just

Stacy Hallto piggyback on that a little bit so there's a concern over what adding the 3.7 or 1.6 or 1.8 million liability would do to our bond rating correct that was a concern of some i

Martinezstaffthink that was one of the questions correct um it's it's hard to determine exactly what that would do to the bond rating port specifically that is just one factor is a reduction in fund balance as long as we maintain above our minimum we would be in compliance we'd be going the wrong way but again that is just one factor of four or five things that both rating agencies evaluate okay

Stacy Hallbut so then if we were to move forward with one of the projects that are in the pipeline in the CIP for right now I think there was a conversation about having to go out for 25 million dollar bond issuance which essentially is debt does that then have a similar larger or smaller impact on our bond rating to have to go out for uh you know 10 times the debt or something along those lines or is that different

Martinezstaffso absolutely it it would be another factor that would be long-term capitalization and the amount of debt as a percentage that we're carrying as a city we've been very fortunate lately to have a low percentage amount with the potential schools and other CIP projects as identified by councilmember Peterson that potential debt ratio or percentage now will increase just like we have in our own personal lives the more debt that we carry the your FICO score can potentially go down because you're being leveraged and that's the best way to describe it but that is a factor not a sole determinant of how the bond ratings or the rating agencies will look at the city's overall rating

Stacy Hallokay so then just to sum it up and maybe make sure I get it right there's some concern about how a 1.8 or 3.7 million dollar loan would impact us or debt would impact us but there's not the same consideration of a 25 million dollar loan impacting us because it's seen in some other way or just in the eyes of the public potentially so

MartinezstaffI would not say that there is any difference it's just evaluated independently by the rating agencies or collectively whether both factors are going to happen or not I don't think one single factor is going to reduce our bond rating by either moody's or s p it's usually a collective of items whether it's i'm not saying this is going to happen but poor governance you're leveraged more and we have reduced revenues so at that point just like in our own personal lives if you lose your job and you max out your credit cards and you do all these other things your fico score is going to go down very similar to the city side it's a combination of things not necessarily just one okay

Catherine Readthat's

Stacy Hallvery helpful thank

Catherine Readyou I would just follow up on that to say that taking debt to invest in school renovations or the property yard or capital improvements is different than reducing your general fund balance to build nothing. So we're basically taking taxpayer dollars and we're saying we're going to spend this money for the privilege of not building a trail or not building half a trail. It's not quite the same thing is debt financing to invest in something that then ends up with value Once the thing you've invested in is complete. I think is the difference would that be correct? Mr. Martinez

MartinezstaffThere is a different weight in what would be capitalized whether it's a capital improvement or you're Financing debt with debt. That's not looked very favorably it would be better if it was there was a physical tangible asset that could potentially be repossessed or sold at a later date as a backing to this debt

Catherine Readcouncilmember Peterson

Thomas PetersonI'd love to pick up on that and maybe just to start for the benefit of everybody who doesn't sit in the inner circle here and receive the emails that go back and forth between us. There's been an awful lot of new information generated in the last two days alone, but very, very recently regarding this issue. And I'm sensitive to and sympathetic to many of the comments that were made by people just reacting to the fact that there's so much new information here. A lot of changes have happened, et cetera. and so I have looked at information and offered some information as well and I again I'm sensitive the fact that this is information that hasn't been seen or shared with the public but I think it's very important in the presentation that

we have here there is a table and it does some comparison of the options and that was the result of a request I believe from councilmember Hall I think maybe two weeks ago to try to get rolling with some sort of comparative analysis, which is a really important thing to do. I'll just say that honestly, ideally, and normally, this would have started in 2019 at the very beginning of the project. We would have framed it, and it would have looked at different options and all of the different things we would want to use for evaluating and comparing them, because typically And it's best that this happen in a collaborative manner so the public is able to be involved and we're able to reach agreements on things like costs and benefits.

But that said, when I looked at the table, there were some things that stood out that were missing. And one of the biggest things is the value of not just the forest, the watershed, the wildlife, the functionalities of this whole ecosystem. There's a whole science and a whole practice called ecosystem services valuation. And, in fact, FEMA has guidance for this. And I went to the FEMA guidance to see how that potentially would be applied for the George Snyder Trail and ran a couple scenarios. And I didn't have enough time to do what needs to be done, which would be a bonafide analysis of the estimation of the avoided cost associated with ecosystem services if you don't build but I did put together enough numbers just for purposes of illustration to

suggest they're big enough to cause a pause for concern so we're looking at for the half build just using some median values here the ecosystem services loss that would occur it's a hundred and fourteen thousand dollars per year took the median value for the full build, $228,000 a year. The high end of that is more like, for the full build, almost $380,000 a year in damages. These are not numbers that you could take to the bank because, again, this is just some very initial analysis based on benchmarking and structuring from the FEMA guidance. But these are real numbers. These are used for actual project evaluation project determinations, that's why FEMA has developed this. When you add them up over 30 years, which actually is less than you would expect the

impacts to be, you're looking at a couple million dollars of damages here, whether it's either the half-billed or the full-billed. So these losses that people have expressed concerns about repeatedly over the years can be translated into values. of the tangible asset that would be yielded from a $3.7 million payment, or for that matter, a 1.8, that is known officially as an avoided cost for ecosystem services. And that would be a documentable cost savings that would be associated with this kind of an evaluation. I just want to make the point because it didn't get done apparently in the past. And it suggests these are pretty significant impacts here that we should take into consideration and we can translate them

Into the financial implications of our decisions here

Catherine ReadOkay, so so speaking of that I think we at this time Then we can have further discussion, but we need to know what we're talking about So I'm going to ask if there's a motion to either a reaffirm modify or cancel the trail councilmember Bates

Billy BatesThank you see here I move to adopt a resolution to modify the George Snyder Trail project V dot UPC one one two eight one six to remove the portion of the project East Fairwoods Parkway segments B C and D and construct segment a one only with the understanding the repayment of project expenditures and curve will be required for the segments of the project that will no longer be included or constructed as part of the project

Anthony Amossecond a

Catherine Readmotion's been made by Councilmember Bates and seconded by council member Amos is there discussion on the motion councilmember Bates

Billy Batesthank you so back in January of 2024 I had the vote in favor of and otherwise introduced motions to remove the eastern portions of the trail and And on the other hand, I did oppose canceling the trail over the full build, and I've heard a lot of feedback from the community, and a lot of people are very passionate about their positions on the project. Personally, my position hasn't changed since then, and that was before repayment became an issue. and you know that has certainly shaken my resolve a bit frankly but I still am in favor of the western half my you know my rationale is that the eastern half as we've heard from our own staff would be you know we've heard about the impact on on the forest on that side and that the species on the western side are more common and the trees

are less established. And also, of course, the trail is mostly along the edge of the forested area as opposed to through the middle of it like it is on the eastern side. And, you know, And add on top of that the impact of the trail itself, if it's through the middle of a forest area, then we have the increased chance for that to lead to additional invasives growing. And, you know, on the one hand, we are going to be doing a lot of replantings regardless. But on the other hand, the trail itself still represents a permanent decrease trees to grow on. I certainly really rather hate the idea of paying money back to VDOT and doing away with the eastern half of the trail itself, but I just can't justify building that given the

impact and given the fact that we do have Fairwoods Parkway, which we just put in place multimodal improvements on and Cardinal Road and Draper Drive which are in the city's bike plan rated as being suitable for teens and adults with adequate bike handling skills all the way from the end of A1 to the intersection Draper Drive and Fairfax Boulevard so I just can't in good conscience cancel the entire project without any guarantee that alternative project would be funded but I am in favor of the western half over the full build but again as before I'm still in favor of the full build over canceling and that's where I am and I certainly don't hold against anybody else who's in favor of the full build or in favor of canceling and frankly I

think that we all need to do better at not taking these things personally and and not holding it against anybody for simply expressing their views and for holding a certain position on this project. At the end of the day, it's a trail. I mean, you know, it's not the end of the world if this doesn't go quite the way that you wanted to. And, I mean, at the end of the day, we need to keep things civil and respectful and respect each other's opinions and respect that we may have disagreements and we may differ in our positions and even our values but at the end of the day we need to come together as a community and and acknowledge that we're all in this together thank you

Catherine Readcouncilmember Hardy Chandler thank

Stacey Hardy-Chandleryou for those comments they make my social work heart smile to hear you talk about that to complement the comments that you made and to kind of expand a bit my is that this is about a trail, but this is about more than a trail. I think it is about our governance and our decision-making, and we have to take, the world did not start January 2025 when we took office. There's a history that we have to pay attention to, but I also think as some of the people who spoke up, there's a future that we have to pay attention to, and this is something that's a multi-generational decision that we're making there the payback is part of it I do think that paying back any portion of the money is irresponsible but that's a small portion of this larger issue of

what this decision-making means for us as a council in terms of our governance of the city I do think our commitments are important and even if it weren't specifically the people on this dais who made those commitments we inherited we took the baton of those commitments from the council members who came before us from the mayor who came before us and we will pass the baton to future council members I think that's an important piece of that's reflected in this decision I think the other piece that is critical is that even though we're certainly representing the city we're not in a vacuum it's important that we be regional partners and for that reason I absolutely cannot support cancellation of this trail just want to make those comments

Catherine Readcouncilmember Amos

Anthony Amosso I'll be completely honest I walked into this meeting thinking that getting the Western option back was a good thing and that we had reached a compromise but honestly via email the past few days and the testimony here tonight, I think from what I'm hearing, the preference is one or the other. I think people don't want half a trail. Trying to remember, I think it may have been Sue, but someone used the baby analogy that I had heard before, and I was a bit stunned because I've heard that multiple times throughout my life, and then to hear it on the dais is a very sobering perspective. and so while my original intention was to support the Western half based off of the feedback that I've received that's not what the community wants the

community wants something full or nothing at all and so I will be be reassessing that as we move on to the next motion

Catherine Readother comments council member Peterson

Thomas Petersonjust if if I might ask council member Bates are you comfortable as a part of this with the loss of the $9.5 million and smart-scale funding for the extension of the trail that we understand from staff is at risk if the full bill does not take place?

Billy BatesCertainly wouldn't say comfortable with it. I would say that given that VDOT has said, letter to us to my recollection that the western half still represents a transportation benefit to the city my you know educated guess would be that we'd be at greater risk of losing that if we were to cancel the trail then build the western half at any rate but you know certainly not ideal and something else that you know that kind of shook my resolve somewhat but you know given that we're coming out at draper drive and then crossing over to uh on the other side of fervex boulevard and then the wilcox and trail is on the other side of the harley dealership that segment as it is right now certainly doesn't measure up to shared use path standards and that's why that project was

seen as being needed but there is a much greater buffer with Fairfax Boulevard there than at other points along Fairfax Boulevard so it certainly would not be ideal but you know I've given that a lot of consideration over the past year year and a half and I think it's to me you know that part of it is um i think still worth considering the western half um but i would hope that we would do all that we can to make sure that those improvements happen you know whether under this uh that current project or a future project

Catherine Readany follow-up council member peterson no council member hall

Stacy Hallso i i'm still sitting here struggling i'm like shaking i'm feeling like physically ill this is it's a trail you're absolutely right it's a trail it's one decision it is not something that defines our entire term up here it's been made extra hard tonight i will say because you know i didn't walk in here thinking i was going to vote for the west i really didn't know, but I was happy to get the Western build back on the table. I really was. I thought it was a compromise that it seemed like residents were willing and able and happy to support. It seemed like it provided the connectivity, not as fantastic as a full build would in some views, but it also was an opportunity to continue the plan in some fashion, and it also, I think,

mirrored what the previous council had tried to get to towards the end of their term, but was unsuccessful. The payback, obviously, is a concern, whether it's a full cancel, whether it's a full build. I'm still not sure we're going to get there with the budget that's been established, which is also a concern um but i i'm i'm not sure that i can support a western build either at this point um you know i i had this conversation earlier i think with some of you sitting up here you have one vote right so you can vote you can say how you want things to go but i also think it's really important to understand where my vote falls with the rest of the dais and what that ultimately means that this council puts forward and that is where I'm really struggling because I'm trying to

see things you know three steps down the road and I'm not necessarily sure that I like where that's going to end up and so that is also weighing on me heavily as far as what my vote is going to be here so I'm

Speaker 4just trying to share some

Stacy Hallof my thoughts on how I'm trying to process all of this so yes it's a trail yes it's one vote and for those of you who you know have emailed us and said if you vote this way I'm not voting for you again if you vote this way I'm not voting for you again I would invite you to actually come set up here and try to make these decisions with us it is not easy and it is it is hard it is hard to do this it is hard to read all the emails and try to respond to them and try to do what I personally set out to do which was to get the community to be responsive to all of you and to try to understand. And I know we're not getting it from all 24,000 residents. I will not even try to kid myself into the fact that your survey has a good population

and yours doesn't and vice versa. Quite frankly, we're doing the best we can up here. We're not going to make everybody happy. We're probably going to piss off a whole lot of people tonight too in some way or another. But I would ask that you reach out to us and that you try to think beyond what it is exactly that you wanted out of tonight because that's what we're all up here trying to do too so thank

Catherine Readyou other comments council member bates thank

Billy Batesyou i want to thank council member hall for sharing that and add that she's certainly not alone and feeling uh shaky and physically ill over this i mean and i've had a an entire term behind me but you know it gets a little bit easier with time but but doesn't go away and definitely second her comments that I think that we're all doing the best that we can to to just try and do the right thing but you know again I think it's important that we all come together after this and and start the healing process any

Catherine Readother comments all right seeing none a roll call vote

Lubkemanstaffmayor

Catherine Readyes

LubkemanstaffI'm sorry I would be remiss if I didn't tell you a little that there could be a parliamentary issue depending on how this shakes out listening to the comments if there is a possibility that you would want to revisit this motion this evening one option would be for the maker to withdraw the motion and keep it as one that could be made a little later if you all don't think the Western option would pass otherwise you'd have to do a the vote goes but there is a motion on the floor i'm just alerting you to a procedural issue depending on how this shakes out

Catherine Readand thank you so much and thank you so much are we good with proceeding with the vote council member bates you made the motion council member amos you seconded the motion we're good with the roll call vote

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voicecouncil member amos May councilmember Hall no councilmember Hardy Chandler no councilmember Peterson no councilmember Bates I councilmember McQuillan

Rachel McQuillenno

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceokay motion failed is there a

Catherine Readmotion to reaffirm or cancel councilmember Hardy Chandler

Stacey Hardy-ChandlerI move to adopt a resolution to reaffirm previous approval of the George Snyder trail project V dot UPC one one two eight one six as designed

Catherine Readis there a second second a motion has been made by councilmember Hardy Chandler and seconded by councilmember Bates is there any discussion on the motion council member Peterson

Thomas PetersonI'd like to offer an amendment and I'm looking out of the corner of my eye and our city attorney for listening and helping commit this to writing I'd like to amend the resolution with a motion to cancel the trail with the following caveats and conditions the first is that hold on just one moment

Catherine Readthe the motion on the floor is to reaffirm the trail and I've offered an Your amendment is to cancel the trail? That is

Lubkemanstaffcorrect. So you're effectively offering a substitute motion. Okay. Great. Which is appropriate under Robert's Rules, just as a starting point.

Thomas PetersonSo the substitute motion, thank you, would be to ask for the assistance of our Chief Financial Officer to do a couple of things. the best possible financing of a 3.7 million dollar payment which could be any different set of approaches but the best possible or at least options for that simultaneously to identify 3.7 million dollars of savings from the 171 million dollars of capital improvement projects tied up in the three projects we spoke of earlier, and in addition to that, to examine the potential for reordering of the CIP to identify additional savings as needed to do that so that the repayment of the $3.7 million would be budget neutral. I also think that it would be helpful as we do that to clarify the costs of the repayment

just to be sure that we're all in agreement on the 3.7. And I say that simply because there's been a lot of back and forth on a bunch of cost figures, both for repayments and for cost to build in the last couple days. And I think that deserves to be cleared up as a part of this whole process. But again, the substitute motion is to do those things. I also would like to add one additional thing, and that is that this involves a rescoring and restart of the 9.5 million dollar smart scale grant so that it will not be left stranded and that it can become a part of a proposal to do the connection of the trail that would link to Fairfax Boulevard such that this last remaining segment the extension is something that could move forward and not be a stranded

asset thank you

Catherine Readokay that sounds like a really complicated thing to try to make motion around mr. Lubkeman

Lubkemanstaffit's it's certainly a motion I'm not sure that it's you've identified certain savings certain examinations and

Catherine Readhold other certain

Lubkemanstaffrescoring it's entirely possible that one or all of those items could not be accomplished which would kind of leave this whole thing in limbo certainly I understand the discussions about VDOT deadlines, but certainly not within the first deadline, which was June 30th for choosing among the binary options of canceling or proceeding with the entirety of the trail. I would turn to the CFO and Director of Public Works to see if these are items that could be examined and undertaken in any reasonable time frame.

Summersstaffas as far as the rescoring of the george snotter trail extension again it would have to go through NVTA and the CTB I'm not sure we can meet the current deadline that we are set upon for the hybrid option so I can't really answer when that would be able to happen

Martinezstaffregarding the evaluation OF FINANCING AND OR IDENTIFYING ITEMS WITHIN THOSE THREE PROJECTS THAT TOTALED 171 AND RESCORING OR REDEVELOPING THE CIP. THE FIRST TWO PARTS I THINK WOULD BE REASONABLE TO DO WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF EVALUATING THE BEST REFINANCING OPTION. I THINK THAT IS DOABLE. WE CAN WORK WITH AVENPORT WITHIN TWO WEEKS. identifying savings we could potentially do that as well within those two weeks trying to redevelop or rescore the CIP that was just approved by council that may take a little longer than beyond June 30th I would not feel comfortable sticking to that date for that one specific item but for the other two we I would be able to of June 30th

Catherine Readokay so there's a substitute motion on the floor is there anyone who captured this enough to read this back anybody anybody anybody yeah

Lubkemanstaffit would have been helpful to have it in advance I understand you may have just posited it as you were were sitting there another option is is for you to test the waters by simply making a motion to cancel the trail and it's entirely these other items could all be explored separately at a later date but

Thomas PetersonSo, thank you, but what I've heard is a lot of sensitivity from council members about the cost burden of repayment. And to be frank, I've heard on a number of occasions the statement that were it not for that $3.7 million repayment burden, they would favor a cancellation. So, in order to remove that $3.7 million burden, a method for doing that is to identify savings It would make that a budget neutral decision. And so that's why I think it's important for these things to be done together.

LubkemanstaffSo then, Council Member Peterson, I would ask that you read the motion again so that the clerk can properly capture it. And then at your all's discretion that you take action on whether the substitute is acceptable to move forward.

Thomas PetersonI guess I have one clarifying question which Chief Financial Officer raised, which is regards timing. And with respect, the first two issues, I mean, there's looking at the best financial structure for repayment. Then there's the identification of the 3.7, both of which you said can be done in two weeks or so. The third one, which is looking at potentially reordering the CIP, I would be content for that either to be followed up on separately because I think it's inevitable that that's going to happen anyway. And I do think that that will actually yield significant savings in the future But if time prohibits us from doing that as a part of this substitute motion I would remove that if we instead think we could accommodate it with some longer period of time

That's great, but I'm happy to remove that to simplify it if that is the best course forward from the standpoint of financial response to this thoughts

Catherine Readmr.

Thomas PetersonMartinez

Martinezstaffagain regarding the three potential requests in the motion refinancing options we could definitely do within a couple of weeks have a couple of different options for the manager and for council to take into consideration working in conjunction with our financial advisors Davenport option or the second potential item there was find the savings within the CIP again that we could also do within that time frame of before June 30th if need be and bring a couple of options back to council to make those considerations now that would potentially make an amendment TO THE APPROVE FY26 BUDGET THAT WAS JUST PASSED ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THAT WOULD BE WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME. BUT I STILL THINK, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE STILL KEEPING THE OTHER PORTION REGARDING

THE RESCORING.

Thomas PetersonI DO LOOK TO DIRECTOR SUMMERS ON THAT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE, SO PROJECT MODS AND CANCELLATIONS and restarts and rescoring are a matter of procedure by NVTA so

Summersstaffright the first thing would happen is we'd have to prepare the application right rescoring and then you know the last one that I'm familiar with is what we did for the Eaton 123 so my ballpark estimate would be anywhere between three and six months yeah to get it rescored

Thomas Petersonso on that given the timing that you just outlined I'm happy for that to be treated separately perhaps but I my intent here is that we make every effort to make use of the nine point five million dollar smart scale grant for this extension which is on route 50 it's a sidewalk widening project there and also to continue to pursue the completion of segments on 50 that go up to University Drive that are not yet completed but are planned in some cases they've been completed already but there's some unfinished business there part of the rationale is that corridor appears to be inevitable in terms of future pedestrian and bike development it probably depending on think how things go and I'll talk about this later this evening will become a

BRT route for the city one of the five or six BRT routes in the city and we'll have a parallel bike and pedestrian structure installed as a part of the BRT route so I think that's inevitable probably and I would just want it to be clear that the intent of this is not to leave this area unattended but to ensure that we have continued a continued effort for bike and pedestrian access there so that said that would leave us with the two things in the motion the first well three things first is the cancellation the second is to identify the best possible repayment financing structure there could be multiple and the third is to identify 3.7 million dollars in savings also that could be potentially a number of options if necessary they come back for

consideration but those would be the principal elements of the substitute motion

Lubkemanstaffso councilmember I hate to do this to you but we need precision we need an exact motion you'll need to read it again it's in its entirety so that the clerk can capture it and again we didn't have the benefit of having this in advance so that's the reason I apologize for asking you to read it read it

Thomas PetersonI I feel your pain because many of us did not have many things in advance of this meeting so we're doing our best here so

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voicecouncilmember Pearson do you have it typed up already by chance no

Thomas PetersonI don't okay all right I would be happy to type it up if that would be the most effective thing here otherwise I will rearticulate it

Catherine Readwell we're in the middle of a motion so you if you want to make a motion it has to be articulated such that it can be read back because someone has to second this so so if you would like to verbally state it so that the city clerk can capture it so that we can repeat it and we can look for someone to second this

Lubkemanstaffbut what I said a minute ago still applies so okay either either you Respectfully ask that you read the motion from the beginning again with each of the elements that you have so that we have a full motion on the floor that the clerk can capture.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceJust go a little slower so I can get everything.

Thomas PetersonI propose a substitute motion to cancel the George Snyder Trail project and to identify the best possible financing for the repayment currently estimated at 3.7 million dollars and to identify $3.7 million of savings from reductions in spending comma particularly capital improvement projects

Stacey Hardy-Chandlerthat

Lubkemanstaffnot intentionally making this difficult VDOT requires a resolution for cancellation the nowhere in the motion that you just made and that's why we have the suggested cancellation motion that begins with, I move to adopt a resolution to cancel da-da-da-da, which you could still do and add your language if you'd like the motion to read that way. I don't think if there is a desire to cancel this project that it is desired that this be done simply by a motion without a resolution attached. So if you're comfortable adding that language, I think we can take that as part of the motion.

Thomas PetersonWhere do we add that?

LubkemanstaffRight at the beginning.

Thomas PetersonAnd we add it by saying what

Lubkemanstaffwell if the clerk will read the very beginning of the motion

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voicecouncilmember Peterson moved to sub sub to motion to cancel the George Snyder trail project and to Identify the best possible financing for repayment Currently estimate at 3.7 million and to identify 3.7 million of savings from reductions and spending particularly capital improvement projects so

Lubkemanstaffmy suggestion would be that you use the language in the sample motion that reads I move to adopt a resolution to cancel the George Snyder trail project V.UPC 112816 in its entirety with the understanding of the full repayment of project expenditures incurred will be required and then add the language that you added there I think it accomplishes what you want in your motion but it assuming it gets the votes it leaves the city in a position where there's an actual resolution did

Thomas Petersonyou write all that down

Lubkemanstaffyeah

Catherine Readthat's fine yeah all right is is is there a second for this motion second a motion has been made by councilmember Peterson and seconded by councilmember Hall is there discussion on the motion councilmember Hardy Chandler

Stacey Hardy-ChandlerThere are decisions that have rippling consequences, and I am very reluctant to support a motion that has savings identification without consideration of the consequences or especially unintended consequences of projects that we don't even know at this time. remembering what we went through with the budget and how conscientious we were not only about the numbers but the potential impacts of those decisions I'm just concerned that this blanket statement does not give adequate consideration to what might be the possible unintended consequences of so called savings things have costs and what will have to be the price of those It's an unknown at this time.

Catherine ReadOther comments? Council Member Bates.

Billy BatesSo just to clarify, Mr. Martinez, the act of canceling the trail within itself is not budget neutral. In other words, we could direct you to find $3.7 million in savings regardless of whether or not we cancel the trail. Is that correct?

MartinezstaffThat would be correct, yes. Thank you.

Catherine ReadOther comments on this? Okay, seeing none, can we have a roll call vote on the substitute motion?

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceCouncil Member Amos?

Catherine ReadNay.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceCouncil Member Hall? Nay. Council Member Hardy Chandler?

Stacey Hardy-ChandlerNo.

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceCouncil Member Peterson? Aye. Council Member Bates? Nay. Council Member McQuillan? Nay. Motion failed five to one.

Catherine ReadSo we go back to the original motion made by Councilmember Hardy Chandler and seconded by Councilmember Bates regarding the reaffirmation of the original trail. Is there discussion on this motion? Councilmember Amos.

Anthony AmosI wanted to join my colleagues in expressing my conflict with this whole thing, with the George Snyder Trail. I am not a fan of encroaching on the RPA and considering that my old position, there was a significant part of RPA in our jurisdiction. It's something that the Board of Supervisors has reiterated before that they do typically during board matters to reaffirm their support for maintaining and cherishing the RPA. so that's been a frustrating part for me and part of the reasoning why for example with the triple CT trail I was not a particular fan of that one either also seeing director Harrington's letter from Public Works also expressed concern about in conjunction with the Parks Department directed to

transportation about asphalt trails in our RPA locations now it's supposed to be a last resort so it's still technically an option but not supposed to be the primary one in recognition of that I also am NOT a fan of paying back millions of dollars especially during these troubling and trying budget times where we just went through a budget process that many of us did not feel good about and next year is supposed to be worse and I don't know and my main difficulty through this process is I don't know if I can justify to myself to bed thinking that I just cost the city nearly four million dollars and potentially much more next year and so that's what I've been wrestling with these past couple months as we've learned more so those are my comments

Catherine Readother comments from the Dias Councilmember Bates

Billy Batesso again I do support the full trail over canceling the entire trail for the reasons I stated earlier however if someone else changes their mind on the western half and wants to reintroduce the motion that i introduced earlier which is under sample motions in the meeting docs i would certainly still support it but i will be voting in favor of this motion thank you

Catherine Readother comments from the dais seeing none a note council member hall

Stacy Halli this was me thinking three steps ahead right trying to think is the western a better option and i i still don't know but i will again remind people this is this is bigger than one vote it's bigger than one trail this sucks it's not a fun place to be and yeah

Catherine Readthank you other comments seeing none a roll call vote

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voicecouncilmember Amos

Anthony Amosthanks to all the residents and VDOT for your patience I

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voicecouncilmember Hall no councilmember Hardy Chandler

Stacey Hardy-ChandlerI

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voicecouncilmember Peterson No councilmember Bates aye councilmember McQuillan aye Okay motion passed forwarded to

Catherine ReadWe will now take a five-minute break before going into our work session Thank you.

Phil LaTassapublic commentThank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Speaker 40Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Catherine Readwelcome to the work session portion of our meeting this evening I will start by recognizing councilmember Anthony Amos

Anthony Amosyes I move for consensus that we defer the last two work session items and move up the willow Sherwood and the procurement work session item

Catherine Readsecond all in favor aye aye any nays and there we go mission very

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceokay our first work session item is a Fairfax City purchasing resolution updates I'm going to recognize Patti innocenti procurement manager to provide the staff presentation

Patti Innocentistaffthank you for the opportunity to give you some information about an action that we take annually. So every year when the General Assembly meets and they make changes to the Virginia Public Procurement Act, we review our own procurement policies or procedures. The code, the state code allows localities, the authority to adopt their own alternate procedures just using their language. So what I wanted to do tonight was just explain to you two changes that are material that we'll present to you at the next council meeting on the 24th. And the other changes that you'll see in the updated purchasing resolution are really just technical changes. So the first one is the result of HB 2150, which was introduced by Delegate Carr.

are this bill says that in IT contracts Virginia choice of law and venue control regardless of what the supplier provided agreement says. So a lot of times we're dealing with agreements that come particularly from IT company software licenses that have a lot of embedded language that provides for instance a venue other than Virginia. So what this act or the bill says is that no IT contract can have terms that are inconsistent with Virginia law. And I know Mr. Lubkin knows we spend a lot of time fighting over that. So I think this is quite beneficial to us. But the bill did go on to say that localities have to amend their purchasing procedures to opt in to use this protection as it is not automatic.

recommending that when we present the purchasing resolution to you on the 24th that the council approve that. And then the second procurement bill that was passed by the General Assembly this season was SB 913 that was introduced by Delegate Stanley. This one was a recommendation that he introduced or was sponsoring at the request of the Manufacturing Development Commission. And what's this about? every contract over 10,000 for goods and services to include a provision that the contractor agrees not to use products produced by child or forced labor. And then there's an enactment clause that the State Department of General Services has to promulgate regulations by October 1st of this year. So those are the two material changes that you'll see in the purchasing resolution when we come back on the 24th.

uh changes you'll see in that document are just really technical uh changes any

Speaker 42questions about any

Catherine Readof that any questions well we do want to comply so thank you so much for making sure we do that here thank you thank you

Melissa Shinaberryclerkby voiceall right our next item is a presentation on a land use application for a city of fairfax and fairfax county joint use health wellness and recreation facility at 3740 at 3750 Blenheim Boulevard in Perens Willard Sherwood Health and Community Center. I'm going to recognize Anna McClintock, city planner, to provide the staff presentation.

Anna McClintockstaffThank you, Mayor and Council Members. This is a post-submission work session for Willard Sherwood Health and Community Center. This would be a joint redevelopment project with the City of Fairfax and Fairfax County for a new health and community center located at 3740 and 3750 Blundin Boulevard. We are currently in the post-submission phase of the project as the applicant has submitted three sets of plans working through comments throughout each department. The first land use submission was submitted last summer, and we are currently on the third submission. There has been studies, public outreach, and city meetings for the site dating back to 2016. the most recent city council meeting was held on april 22nd 2025

to give an overview of the project the public engagement process floor plans budget and finances and next steps the subject property is bounded on the east by blenheim boulevard and on the south by leighton hall drive van dyke park is located north of the site fairfax county's joanne jorgensen is located to the west. The primary uses surrounding the sites include health and government uses along with public park amenities. The zoning designation on the subject property is RM, residential medium, and RH, residential high. The applicant in the city of Fairfax owns the more northern site seen on the aerial image, which is 3740 Blenheim Boulevard and is currently developed with the Stacey C. Sherwood Community Center and the City Police Department building.

The Stacey C. Sherwood building is 14,000 square feet and provides performing arts, visual arts, recreation, and related programming and was built in 2011. The applicant Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County owns a lower site which is 3750 Blenheim Boulevard. And it's currently developed with the Joseph Willard Health Center that provides health and human services for the county. That building was built in 1954. The future land use map for the subject site is Green Social Civic Network. There are goals seen in the city's comprehensive plan that are seen in the staff report for future land use community design multimodal transportation environmental sustainability and economic vitality the larger photo on this slide shows the project limit boundaries and existing

site photos along Blenheim and Lane Hall Drive the applicant is requesting to demolish the existing Joseph Willard Health Center and replace it with a new health and community center the applicant proposes a bridge connection to the existing Stacy C Sherwood Community Center with a possible addition connecting the existing building to the proposed health and community center access to the site would be via curb cut along Lane Hall Drive along with the existing entrance to the Stacy C. Sherwood site along Blenheim Boulevard both sites would be linked via inter parcel connection there would be two fenced-in playgrounds and rooftop amenity space that proposed Willard Sherwood Health and Community Center

building would serve county and city residents county operated health department programs that would be located inside of the proposed community center would include welcome and administrative areas health department district office public health clinical programs pharmacy speech and hearing infant and children nutrition program vital records and dentistry county operated infant and toddler connection programs and early childhood programs would be located inside the community center as well. There would also be city-operated community services that include gym, track, fitness, senior center, multi-purpose classrooms, administrative offices, preschool and youth programs, and potentially performing arts space. The performing arts space

currently exists in the Stacy C Sherwood Community Center but would potentially undergo upgrades and an expansion proposed site features include bike racks playgrounds a bridge connection landscaping site connections the applicant requests two special use permits and ten special exceptions total on both sides. The two special use permits would allow government use on the county-owned parcel and expanded government use on the city parcel. And then I'll be going into the 10 special exception details. The first special exception would be to allow an increase in lot coverage in the RH district to house the new community center building on the county-owned parcel. There is a 50% lock coverage maximum, and the applicant is proposing 89%.

The second special exception would be to allow an increase in maximum building height in the RH district. The zoning ordinance allows a maximum height of 35 feet, and the applicant is proposing 54 feet

Stephanie Kupkastaffat the maximum.

Anna McClintockstaffThe proposed building is seen on this slide. The facade is mainly masonry. There would be playgrounds and then entrance glass tower elements seen on both sides of the building, sunshades, and then a stone retaining wall. And then special exceptions three, four, and five would be to allow building overhangs, retaining walls, and the bridge connection to the existing Stacey C. Sherwood Center in the required front and side yards. And then special exceptions six and seven would be to reduce the amount of required parking spaces on both sites. Parking requirements are based on square footage of use types. So a total of 499 parking spaces would be required on both sites. and then the applicant proposes 316 spaces, including surface and underground parking.

This graph also shows that the maximum parking demand on site is 344 spaces, and then the applicant proposes 347, but that includes also the adjacent Joanne Laboratory site. Special exception number eight is to allow an increase for public, civic, and institutional signage use signs in a residential district. The applicant proposes a variety of wall-mounted signs and directional signage. And then special exception number nine is to allow an increase in building coverage in the RH district. The maximum building coverage allowed in the RH zone is 35 percent. provides 49 percent and then lastly special exception 10 is to allow a decrease of 10-year tree canopy requirements in the RH district with

additional tree canopy to be provided on adjacent or nearby properties right now it's discussed that this would be provided at Van Dyke Park the applicant is required to have a 10-year minimum of 20% in both zoning districts, and the applicant proposes 3% on the county-owned parcel to accommodate the new health and community center. And then that covers all the special exceptions. I'm going to now move the presentation over to Brook Harden.

Catherine ReadCouncil Member Hall, did you have a question?

Stacy HallJust to point a clarification, can you just repeat the tree canopy, what it was going to yeah I'm sorry I

Catherine Readthink it's 10% down to three

Anna McClintockstaffso they're required to have a 20% tree canopy and on the county owned parcel that would house the new community center the applicant proposes three to accommodate that

Catherine Readcouncilmember Amos

Anthony Amosassuming that the remainder is going to the Van Dyke park area okay

Catherine Readtotal 20 thank you to two different places

Brooke Hardenstaffgood evening mayor council glad to be back with you all on the Willard Sherwood Health and Community Center project there have been a number of discussions on this project over the years but as outlined in the city staff presentation use applications associated with the proposal project team will be back before the council again in the future regarding this as a capital project to review budgets funding construction and associated matters with me tonight representing the project team is Deepa Joshi with Fairfax County who will be presenting also our other representatives from Fairfax County and the city's project managers with Blue Heron leadership group as well as the design team excuse me Grimm and Parker architects urban civil engineering and

landscape architecture Grove Slade for traffic and parking and the Christman company as the construction manager at risk the team is all here should there be questions next slide please I won't spend a lot of time on this as councils has reviewed this and other discussions and city staff has covered some of this already tonight but this slide is for general information and provides an overview and background on the project. Site studies and concept evaluations by both the city and the county led to the proposed site being selected for the joint use facility and in the case of the city, a committee investigated opportunities at the current Green Acres location and provided recommendations for alternatives

early on in this process. The city and the county have been operating in partnership in this effort through a number of agreements and there's been a robust community engagement throughout the project's planning and design. The project includes spaces for programs offered by the city's Department of Parks and Recreation and the county's health department and office for children, all serving residents of the city and

Josh Silvermanpublic commentcounty.

Brooke HardenstaffAs noted earlier, the existing Willard Health Center would be removed and replaced by a building of approximately 102,000 square feet, located within this campus environment with improved pedestrian and vehicular

Roger Custerpublic commentconnectivity.

Brooke HardenstaffNext slide, please. The larger campus includes the existing Sherwood Center, Jorgensen Lab, and the police department with Van Dyke Park immediately to the north. The building would be accessible from both Blenheim Boulevard and Layton Hall Drive with direct vehicular access from Layton Hall Drive, connecting to an internal street with the entrance to an underground parking garage. The internal street connects to the existing Sherwood parking area providing access for the campus to both Layton Hall Drive and Blenheim Boulevard. Pedestrian access to the building would also be available through the existing Sherwood Center. The floor plans on the right of the screen show three floors of the building as well as one of the levels of underground parking. There

would be two levels of underground parking. Children's programming as well as the health department the gym will be located on the first floor with two outdoor playgrounds the fitness center and walking track in the gyms mezzanine would be located on the second floor along with administrative offices for parks and recreation the infant toddler connection program an additional space for the health department the building would also connect to the existing Sherwood Center on the second floor the third floor would primarily serve the Center with various indoor spaces in an outdoor rooftop space as well as some additional space for the infant toddler connection program next slide please the proposal does include an optional expansion of the existing performance

space at the Sherwood Center which could be constructed simultaneously with the new building or at a later time the addition would provide dressing rooms and costume shop, and renovations to the performance space would improve acoustics and incorporate a sound room. Improvements to the lobby area and the corridor would complement the bridge connection to the new building, linking the structures. Images on the right show a redesigned lobby area and renovations to the performance space. I will now turn the presentation over to Deepa Joshi to step through some more detail projects projects features and its relationships with policies guidelines and regulations thank

Deepa Joshistaffyou Brooke on the next few slides the project team wishes to highlight some of the important features of this project and how it complements the city's land use goals and the comprehensive plan one of the land use strategies is to reuse existing properties wherever feasible the comp mostly built out leaving few opportunities for large community developments at this scale and the need for repurposing existing properties becomes really important this location is ideal in that sense as it expands and enhances the government uses already existing on the two properties another important thing is that this location is near old town area which is an activity center and the two streets, Blenheim and Layton Hall, are identified as active streets.

Active streets connect multiple destinations and mixed-use development is encouraged on these streets. The site is pedestrian-oriented and will be connected to the surrounding areas with comfortable walking, biking paths, and public transportation. The project is sensitive to the physical character and context of the surrounding buildings and uses, and the design complies with the standards of the architectural control overlay district in which the site is located. One of the goals of the multimodal transportation is to actively plan towards connecting the street network for enhanced mobility and accessibility for all users, and this project fully supports that effort. The project has been coordinated with the Blenheim Multimodal Transportation Project,

and the two teams have been working closely together since the beginning of this project. The inter-parcel connectivity between the two properties aim to minimize traffic on the main streets. On this slide, we will emphasize some of the important design features recommended in the architectural overlay district and how they're incorporated into the project the building is designed with minimal setbacks and is closer to the streets to bring more engagement and vitality to the street corridor hence strengthening the street edge which is one of the recommendations in the comp plan the project reinforces human scale by mixing up different materials colors textures to break up the massing. The building uses red brick that matches the adjacent Sherwood

Center building and a couple others, but is also complemented with warm grayish brick, metal panels, wood-looking panels and columns to break the monotony and reduce the perceived scale. The third floor of the building is mostly set back and not really visible from the streets, reducing the effective height of the building. The massing, the material changes, window proportions, facade articulation, the trees, planters, they all emphasize the human scale. A nice corner plaza, accessible walking and biking facilities, multiple entrances enhance the public real, and really promote pedestrians to interact and enjoy activities together. The comp plan encourages that parking near the activity centers be located below grade if reasonable.

There are two parking garage levels that are located underground and completely hidden from public view. This helps reduce the height of the building and help maintain the aesthetics of the streetscape. Mechanical equipment and service areas are also hidden and discreetly integrated in the building. Expanding on some of the architectural features from the previous slide, a design featured in the ACOD guidelines that the project incorporates very well is an open corner plaza recommended on the corners of buildings. The project has distinctive corner with natural wood-looking angled columns and a large overhang that produces visual interest, sense of arrival, and almost like a landmark feature for the building.

and walking track with large windows enhance openness and accessibility and visual interaction with the outside. You can see some of the images on the right that show the double-hide gymnasium and walking track. There is wayfinding and entrance hierarchy with main building entrance accessible from sidewalks, bike paths, public transport, and a secondary entrance from the Layton Hall Drive which serves for vehicular entrance. The project uses energy-efficient LED lighting throughout and exterior fixtures will be shielded and positioned to highlight the architecture of the building while minimizing light pollution. On this slide we are going to focus on the stormwater management and tree canopy and how we

are enhancing. Currently no stormwater quantity management exists on the site. but there is an off-site pond across the Blenheim Boulevard that receives runoff from the site and Blenheim. The proposed new development will improve the existing condition by providing on-site stormwater quantity management detention wall, and the quality management will be enhanced on-site with a proposed manufacturing filtering device called a jellyfish filter. So the existing filter on the site, which is to the west of the property, is proposed to be removed. The project is designed in such a way that we saved two large trees just outside the project's property line. One of them is the historic willow oak tree in the police department property, which is towards the northwest.

The design team has done a very good job of designing the connected driveway to preserve this tree. not an easy task due to the grading differences between the two properties but we are glad it could be achieved the large beautiful magnolia tree off-site on the lab site will also remain as the project mostly reuses the existing driveway location new trees are proposed on the east and west side of the site within the property line as can be seen on the right side plan here trees are also proposed along the south but since these are just outside the property line they're not considered for the 10-year tree canopy coverage the project has offered to plant 20 deciduous trees on any off-site area suggested by the

city's urban forester and the team will continue to work with the urban Forester to identify locations for the new trees. Next slide highlights transportation and parking. The site has access to local transit services, bicycle and pedestrian routes to the neighborhood communities. Many existing and planned facilities around the area provide a good walking environment. It was determined that the walking score of the site is 70 which is pretty good. and egress out of the site will improve the inter-parcel connection. The Blenheim bus stop outside the main entrance improves options for users. Integration of multiple programs in the building reduces frequent trips. The building entrances are all AD accessible. The police

department's rear side access to the Leighton Hall Drive is also maintained with this design. addition of the northbound lane on Blenheim Boulevard which is part of the multimodal transportation plan will ease some traffic on that road our parking consultants have conducted the shared parking analysis and the city has reviewed it for efficiency of all its users total parking spaces provided on the property are 241 which includes 235 spaces in the garage and six surface parking spaces. The total parking includes ADA spaces, EV charging spaces, and also infrastructure for 24 future EV charging stations. The project will also provide 20 bicycle stations which are required for this size. Go to the next project and highlight sustainability. The new development will support county's

sustainable development policy goals, and they also complement the sustainable strategies noted in the city's comprehensive plan. The project is seeking LEED goal certification, net zero energy, and will use all electric building systems and equipment. Some of the strategies used for this goal are solar panels on the rooftop areas for renewable energy, indoor water reduction by using low flow plumbing fixtures, appliances, and other water-saving strategies. The project uses a high-performance building envelope and LED fixtures to optimize building energy. Large overhang canopies, horizontal and vertical shading devices like fins at the gymnasium, as can be seen on the bottom right picture, reduce glare and heat gain.

Yet the larger openings also enhances natural light usage. The project contributes and complements to the surrounding urban density and diverse uses around. One of the sustainability goals of the comp plan is supporting physical activities and a healthy lifestyle. Walking, biking to the community center, fitness programs at the center, they all contribute towards that goal very well. The next few slides basically just showcase the interior views of the project. On the top left is the entrance from Blenheim Boulevard. That's the pedestrian entrance. A large mural wall on the left with historic pictures from the existing project site and structures will bring memories from the past. The top right shows the front desk welcoming and checking visitors to the building.

Below are images of the art gallery display walls and cabinets and public seating areas. The next slide shows some of the city programs, the double-height gymnasium with the walking track and large windows overlooking the Blenheim Boulevard and the Pond Across. Top right shows the senior center with the calm and serene palette but fun activity spaces. Below are pictures of the fitness center and the fitness classroom, which probably has the best views overlooking the intersection of these two streets. County programs. There are some of the county program views here. The top images are the first and second floor waiting areas of the health department. Bottom left is welcoming front desk for the county's child care program.

and on the bottom right is the infant and toddler connection situated on the second floor. Now I invite Brooke again to conclude the presentation, and the project team will welcome any questions after that. Thank you very much.

Brooke HardenstaffThank you, Deepa. In conclusion, when the project team met with City Council before the conceptual design work had begun, the Council shared a vision for success that the facility should create a sense of place with design and architecture that's innovative and adds to the community, is not a standard government building, be a hub of social activity, somewhere inviting and open for people to gather, incorporate indoor and outdoor spaces and opportunities for artwork, be a safe place for those of all ages, and that the opportunity to connect health, wellness, and recreation is a unique one that we should capitalize on. So the team has been working with the community toward that vision of success.

Essential services that are being offered to the community today have been brought together under one roof in an up-to-date facility to serve city and county residents. Both children and seniors are served through numerous programs in a multi-generational environment. The facility addresses community needs from wellness with the health department and pharmacy to recreation with the gym and fitness facilities. And it's all contained within a project that is considered public and visitor safety by incorporating security measures and designing for crime prevention and healthy environments and again we're happy to answer any questions

Catherine Readquestions councilmember Hardy Chandler

Stacey Hardy-Chandlergoing back to the exceptions and I might not work this perfectly but are the exceptions aligning with the direction that the ordinance changes are heading another you know what I'm saying there's being a realignment of some of the ordinances and I'm just wondering if some of the special exceptions

Brooke Hardenstaffpotentially yes I do understand you do I don't stand what you

Stacey Hardy-Chandlerdo

Brooke Hardenstaffpotentially yes I think though what I would point back to is both of these properties are zoned single-family residential as many of the cities a city-owned property is kind of outside of Old Town are and so a number of the exceptions really relate to this site has been used for and would continue to be used for a different type of use that isn't single-family residential so So things like lot coverage, height, building coverage are all really geared toward a single-family home. The city has often, in these cases, had these types of projects approved by special use permit, which is permissible under the ordinance. But that's probably why you see the exceptions that are a part of this. But to your point, yes, those are the kind of things that we're trying

Stacey Hardy-Chandlerto work towards. in that direction and it's part of the evolution of uses it is indeed okay thank you thank you

Catherine Readother

Thomas Petersonquestions councilmember peterson the environmental improvements lead etc do they require any special exemption

Brooke Hardenstafffrom a zoning ordinance standpoint No, they don't. I think all of the elements that are special exceptions are related to location, form, size of building. I don't think any of the sustainability features have triggered any exceptions.

Thomas PetersonOne just second question, and if this is a follow-up, that's fine, but I'm just curious. for this building and any other new construction or renovation, do you conduct an analysis of the energy savings that occurs as a consequence of the standards that are adopted, for instance, the LEED standard? Is there something that says because we did this, we are going to save energy in comparison to not doing this?

Brooke HardenstaffLet me ask either one of my colleagues at the county or the architects perhaps to shine some light on that piece of the analysis.

Deepa JoshistaffWe are part of the alternative analysis for all the area.

Brooke HardenstaffCome up if you could and Councilmember Peterson if you could repeat that, that would be great. Thank you, sir.

Thomas PetersonDo you document the energy savings from the environmentally preferred alternative?

Deepa JoshistaffYeah, we do. And it's also part of the HVAC considerations and all that we do. So we do have a sustainability consultant who does do those kind of, if that's the question, I'm getting it correct.

Thomas PetersonSo the critical part of it is whether there is a calculation against baseline of energy savings, because that becomes a source of financing. You finance through savings. and their energy financing models for instance and we'll pick this up when we look at the green buildings policy but where it has to start is with some measurement that you do of the building in the first place and whether you have those numbers in place that literally you take to the bank

Tom Blackburnpublic commentthere

Brooke Hardenstaffwere there were scenarios in terms of the buildings energy usage that as as miss Joe she noted that the team went through with an environmental consultant to look at what the savings of different measures may be if that's helpful.

Speaker 42Martha Sandsworth with

Speaker 40Fairfax County. So for LEED there are obviously energy savings over the ASHRAE standard which is a baseline building but on top of that as Deepa mentioned the county requires an additional 50% savings so we have to beat that by more than 50% which this building is like at 49 almost 50% already. To look

Katie Johnsonpublic commentto

Speaker 40it. Yes so we analyze the mechanical systems. We look at the building envelope, the electricity of the all electric and all that and we calculate the energy savings and all that's incorporated. is and we are achieving that is 50% over even what ASHRAE and the baseline code requires. LEED also but we're going above that.

Thomas PetersonAnd you scored it as the critical.

Speaker 40Yes, yes. I mean obviously we submit for LEED and we're in the early process but yes that is the goal and it's the county's goal, Fairfax County's goal. It's LEED gold all electric and 50% extra in addition to the requirements. So, yes, we are savings.

Thomas PetersonThanks.

Catherine ReadOther questions? Council Member Bates.

Billy BatesThank you. First off, general question for staff as well as maybe the mayor. This item is intended to be just about the land use aspect and not the funding aspect of

Brooke Hardenstaffthis project, right? Correct.

Billy BatesOkay. In that case, I'll keep to that. So you mentioned that the 20% tree canopy requirement, 3% is on-site, 17% in total is off-site. Does that include the off-site trees to the south as well?

Brooke HardenstaffTo clarify that, and others may have some more detail, 3% on-site, located along Layton Hall Drive would not be included. So that would be additional that the project would be providing, but they wouldn't contribute toward the onsite, nor would the offsite. Currently though, to be clear, we are working with the city's urban forester on an allocation for offsite planting, but the project is not at 20% at this point, just to be very clear about that. continue to discuss with the urban forester about what the options may be on off-site planting. So we would have that definitively for the council at the time of public hearing, but it is something that we're continuing to work on at this point.

Billy BatesAll right. And in addition to that, I don't know if you have it now, but could you also get the current tree canopy on site?

Deepa JoshistaffYes, it's 25.6%. The current existing at the Joseph Willard site, it's close to 25%.

Billy BatesOkay.

Deepa JoshistaffBut, again, it's a much smaller building

Billy Bateson this lot. On the other hand, the current building is certainly not, you know, LEED certified and not, you know, in addition to Green Acres and the Willard Health Center are not LEED certified powered by renewable sources or anything all right and the the transit center that was shown is that part of this project or is that part of the Blenheim project

Brooke Hardenstaffthat's part of the Blenheim

Billy Batesokay yes

Brooke Hardenstaffproject

Billy Batesyeah

Brooke Hardenstaffso the two the two projects have been coordinating where you know where the stairs and where the ramp for example are connecting to the sidewalk in front of the building the teams have been working together to align those with with the multimodal project

Shelly Vancepublic commentmm-hmm

Billy Batesso the the ramp down to that is part of this project but correct centers transit center itself is part of the planning project correct okay yeah that's all I have for now thanks you other

Stacy Hallquestions councilmember Hall thank you mr. Harden I just want to say congrats on your graduate by the way very exciting as far I thank you for pointing out that you had not or the project itself has not yet achieved the 20% I will say from a tree canopy standpoint i want to be careful that we're not setting an expectation that it's okay to put trees elsewhere and not put them on the property in which they're being removed from um and so i would encourage the combination of of the two entities to try to make this work a little bit better my concern similar to the adu conversation is that if you put them somewhere else and then that gets redeveloped at some point or that doesn't come to fruition then now we're out in this case

percent of tree canopy or in I guess in some cases it would be 22 percent since we were at 25 and now we'd be down to three so recognizing it doesn't include the other trees that have been mentioned so just something to consider I

Deepa Joshistaffdo want to point out here that the entire campus together with the lab the Sherwood and everything we have a tree canopy of almost 37 percent so the entire campus we are able to meet and far exceed the 20 percent required but it's this particular lot because we for the lot coverage expense exception that's the only reason we are not able to meet but the campus has more than 37% just wanted everybody to be aware of that

Stacy Hallokay so we're not actually losing trees then with the canopy that we're

Brooke Hardenstafflooking at it gets a little confusing so yeah looking at the Willard parcel independently that's that three percent figure the project includes also the Sherwood property and the Sherwood property extends all the way you know behind the police department includes portions of what would be thought of as Van Dyke Park so overall looking at what the canopy coverage is as Miss Josie noted it exceeds the requirement when we look at that together but to your point we are trying to plant as much as we can on you know each parcel as we can just given the size of the building it is challenging and to your question that is something the city has been very judicious about you know from from memory I only recall one instance previously of where off-site trees have

been planted and so it is something we try to certainly be very very careful but we will look at that as part of this this effort and we will have maybe a more complete picture when we come back

Catherine Readthank you very much

Brooke Hardenstaffthank you

Catherine Readcouncil member Amos and then council member Hardy Chandler

Anthony Amosyeah just two quick questions so going back to the tree allocation so how exactly is that allocated is that in partnership with our Parks Department on where that's distributed

Brooke Hardenstaffit would be and with the city's urban forester as as was mentioned in the staff presentation van dyke park has been identified as a likely location but that's something that we would work with city staff on where that may make sense and hopefully at a location where they would be preserved and not in danger of of being removed in the future and

Anthony Amosthen second quick question just a little selfish on my part is there still going to be that little walking path uh from layton hall past uh so we can get to van dyke park more directly it would not be affected okay yes

Catherine Readcouncilmember Hardy Chandler in

Stacey Hardy-Chandleran earlier rendering was there an outdoor rooftop area also and would that have any kind of live my remembering something incorrectly or would that have some sort of life there

Brooke HardenstaffThere is an outdoor rooftop area that includes plantings. They would be container type plantings and there's been some discussion about actually how much weight load that the building could handle. I think that's something that the team is still looking at in terms of what the options are there. But there would be some degree of greenery along the edge that faces out toward Blenheim Boulevard. and then also between the area for the seniors and the area for the infant-toddler connection program.

Stacey Hardy-ChandlerI really appreciate that use of that space. My other question, and this might be getting a little bit ahead, but is there any thought? We recently, contextually, we recently had a report on parking in the city. So just wondering if there is a plan for access to parking for non-building events or for non-building uses. Just as we have ample parking, the report showed. Correct. So long as a couple of things don't happen, right? But I'm just thinking in terms of expanding that capacity broader than the building itself.

Brooke HardenstaffSo the project accounts for the existing Sherwood Center, the existing Jorgensen Lab, and the proposed building in terms of parking requirements. As you probably noticed in that parking study, in the evenings and weekends, there is a significant amount of parking that would be available because of the daytime uses. out that would be available for you know full special events that may occur at the Sherwood Center is really what that's geared toward but you know in lieu of that it could be you know visitation at Van Dyke Park or you know or something else happening on the campus there so certainly the idea is to have a shared parking relationship and that be available for all of the uses that are on that campus.

The Van Dyke Park Master Plan does contemplate additional parking being constructed in relation to the park, you know, future eventual renovation, but the project will supply, as it does now, you know, quite honestly, with Sherwood and Willard provide parking for the surrounding as well.

Catherine ReadOther questions or comments? Very thorough. I mean, the additional parking will be great. The volunteer Fairfax Awards were yesterday, and Chairman McKay made a bit of a joke about the parking. But I said, well, you could have said, we've got something coming in the future so that you won't have to. So this is a great project. Again, I know that we've talked about these long-term projects and it goes you know it goes beyond one mayor it goes beyond one council the city did approach the county about this this is a it's as a again a major infrastructure project it's not something we could feasibly have done on our own without the partnership from the county and so I just I want everyone to be aware you know that we asked for this partnership and we're invested in this

partnership and it's it's not going to get less expensive to build something of this magnitude in the future and so as we move through the process of being asked to you know approve these exceptions for land use we we continue to move forward with the county to build something that will be one of the premier marquee buildings in the city and it's right next to Van Dyke Park which is our largest most used park and it's next to our downtown which is something that we are busy developing you know and it's near combined properties and there's just a lot going on in the city and this project is a it's a cornerstone of that development that's taking place and also with the Blinnem Boulevard project as well all of this is in concert and at some point it will be

done and it will be remarkable it will be remarkable when it's all finished and so thank you very much for the presentation we appreciate the whole team staying tonight to answer our questions and with that I think I will now adjourn the work session and reconvene the regular meeting I will ask Ms. Zipp if she has any thoughts as we conclude the meeting

Melanie ZippstaffJust one announcement the Government

Janice Millerpublic commentCenter Parkway

Melanie Zippstaffproject has kicked off it was in the April city scene but they have started clearing that project it will take about a year and a half I think they said to finish it it will have bike lanes and sidewalks so that is a good thing That is all I have to report.

Catherine ReadConnectivity is a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Rachel McQuillenCouncil Member McQuillan, final thoughts? Yes. Tonight the George Schneider Trail was one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make since being on council. I did not like the alignment of this project. It's not the trail I would have designed. I share many of the same concerns that were raised about the environmental impact. However, I also recognize our responsibility to be good stewards of our taxpayer dollars. And I care deeply about our staff and their dedication. It's not fair for a project they've worked so hard on to become a source of controversy. I know those who originally supported this trail didn't expect it to come to this. Our community deserves better and we can do better.

And I want to thank all of the residents for all of their feedback and outreach. I'd also like to take a moment not just as a city council member but as a mother of a recent graduating senior from Fairfax High School and this afternoon a mother of a proud about-to-be seventh grader in middle school this time of year is full of celebration but it's also a moment to reflect on the quiet perseverance it takes for so many students to get to this point while we We often recognize the achievements that come with medals, awards, and applause. I want to speak to the students who may not have been in the spotlight, those who struggled, who weren't sure they'd make it, who pushed through, self-doubt, and kept showing up anyway.

I see you because I was you. Success doesn't always come in the form of a perfect GPA or polished speech. Sometimes it's a courage to keep going when it would be easier to give up. Sometimes it's the strength to believe in yourself when others don't. Our kids have many gifts, many of which don't fit neatly in a transcript. Some think in music. Some can fix anything with their hands. Some have a quiet wisdom or kindness that lifts everyone around them. All of that matters. So to every student who feels unseen, uncelebrated, or unsure, you are enough. You are becoming and you're just getting started. So congratulations to the class of 2025 and to every young person out there making their way forward.

Thank you.

Catherine ReadBeautifully said. Council Member Bates.

Billy BatesThank you. I just want to second Council Member McQuillan's comments and also thank my colleagues for, I think, what was a very productive and cathartic meeting today. I commend my colleagues who stuck to their guns for having courage to do that, but also my colleagues who have changed their minds. You know, that also takes courage and humility. And I'm glad that, you know, we've had some degree of a resolution to this, even if it wasn't quite the result I was looking for. Thank you.

Catherine ReadThank you. Council Member Peterson.

Thomas PetersonWell, thanks. Yes, and hopefully a few folks are still staying up and watching tonight or will see this tomorrow. But I think as some of you know, I sit on a number of regional boards and commissions, including those related to transportation. One of them is the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority has a policy committee. And one of the issues that it has been discussing has been the introduction of bus rapid transit to the region, including the city of Fairfax. And where this is going is in the not-too-distant future the hope that an application for funding could be supported by NVTA to take some initial steps towards the advancement of VRT, as we call it, bus rapid transit in the region.

Bus rapid transit, by the way, is fast, frequent, and reliable service, and it has some important nuances that residents everywhere are concerned about that need to be really discussed and understood, including, for instance, the establishment of dedicated lanes on roads. All that said, there has been some degree of outreach by NVTA, as we call them, around BRT. Sorry for all the acronyms. You know, I'm so sorry. And some of that has included the city of Fairfax, for instance, a survey, but it only included a survey of 24 people. And there were some sort of show-and-tell events as well, and they were great, and there were some people here. But I think this is a big enough issue, and it's a transformational issue in the long term for the city,

that it really deserves a little bit more attention and opportunity. I would like to recommend with the council and the mayor's support here that we have a work session, and we invite NVTA to come in themselves. Actually, it will be their consultants to do show and tell and involvement around BRT. I think it is it's very difficult to imagine that this is not going to be a very significant part of the city's future but how it happens makes all the difference so I guess my request would be that we agree to find time to do that I did have a chance to visit briefly with our transportation director she's certainly supportive of working with NVTA to arrange this session and do this So that would be my recommendation, because I really don't want the public to be caught by surprise or the council.

So I will be asked to provide a supportive position at an upcoming meeting, and I certainly don't want to do that without supportive council and the community. So I'd really prefer we get a chance to hear this through a bit. So that's my request, if it's acceptable to others. so

Catherine Readwe we will have Ms. Backman and the consultants give us a presentation in the fall when we reconvene after our August session

Thomas Petersonand I my only question about that is timing to double check because there is a schedule of consideration and approval running through this one policy committee and it may be that fall is time enough but in case it isn't I didn't want to be a getting this in front of people

Catherine ReadI can appreciate that we have things backed up for work sessions we've only got three work sessions well for work sessions before we go on August hiatus so I agree with you bus rapid transit is not only something with NVTA but it's something with NVTC as well and I'm sure it's and I know it's TPB and it's cog so we are all talking about bus rapid transit in the region but I do think NVTA presenting a work session because they've been is something that that there's not going to be an objection to it's just a matter of what work session since we're a little crunched between now and august but uh i take that we're working on that we will get a date on that anything else no

Thomas Petersonthat'll do

Catherine Readokay council member hardy chandler

Stacey Hardy-Chandlerwell i just want to express my gratitude to my colleagues um i think uh june 10th is a bit of a milestone in terms of navigating some difficult things but doing so respectfully and i also feel very fortunate that i live in a city that is so engaged and that cares about what's happening i'd much rather have that than silence we can tolerate different perspectives and that's what makes us richer so it's hard but the good things are hard sometimes i do want to encourage people to attend the juneteenth celebration that's coming up that's also symbolic of so much of our history as not only a country but certainly our history as a city so i really want to encourage everyone in fairfax city to come out and celebrate freedom because that's what this is all about that's what

allows us to even be here so those are my comments

Catherine Readthank you council member hall

Stacy Halli'd to echo what everyone else has said so far um i also do want to say congratulations to the class of 2025 i enjoyed being at your graduation and also to two of my favorite graduates tyler coats and jacob mcquillen congratulations best wishes we love you and i will certainly miss you both a lot in the fall as well my family and congratulations to my own promoting eighth grader i will now have two high schoolers next year so yay andrew hall i'm going to call you up by name and call McQuillan since you're going to go to middle school too. And I, if you all noticed, I have fairy hair because I went to the Pride Festival and they were doing hair and it was very fun. I know I go back and forth between feeling like I'm like 14

and then feeling like I'm like the 46 year old woman who's just going to own the fact that I did fairy hair and I'm really enjoying it. So yes, every time I like catches it, it just kind glitz um yeah tonight was interesting um it it was an opportunity like you have said i think to come together to have a conversation it was a whirlwind it was crazy um but you know we do rely heavily on the community and your engagement and i'm sure there will be other topics other conversations other opportunities to connect and so please again don't hold them against your council members up here it is a hard job if we did not find common ground tonight between you and I personally I will certainly hope that there's another topic that we will be

able to see eye to eye on in the future and I think that that's really important you know we we are a small microcosm of what our community is and because of that we see things differently we don't always agree we're not always going to agree with you at home and vice versa but we just like you and your own the best you can that's what we're trying to do up here too and i think that that is really important for those at home to keep in mind is that we we're just doing the best we can and it's not always going to be what you want but it's not always what we want either to be honest so thank you thank you

Catherine Readcouncilmember

Stacy Hallamos

Anthony Amosi just want to echo all of my colleagues sentiments uh obviously tonight was very interesting and but i think we handled it in a very healthy and respectful way that I think the community can appreciate. Also want to express congratulations to the class of 2026 for both Perfect High School and George Mason. Shout y'all out too. 25.

Steve Welkepublic commentOh my God.

Anthony AmosSee, this is what y'all get for doing this to me. Anyway, and want to also say please attend the Juneteenth ceremony this Saturday. In addition to that, I think if they're still hosting at Mount Calvary is also hosting their own Juneteenth event following that one. So wanted to shout them out too. And in the spirit of Juneteenth, just always remember oppression is perpetuated in silence. And so there's a lot of suffering, a lot of fear-mongering, a lot of issues going on in the world today. So don't be afraid to speak up and advocate and volunteer. And we have such a passionate community. I just want to make sure that we continue to utilize that for good because I think we can do a lot of great things together.

And treat each other well, thank your neighbor, and be kind.

Catherine ReadAll good advice. Yes, it's June 10th, and I think good work was done up here. I'm very proud of what we accomplished. It is Juneteenth. It's also Pride Month. Again, there's a lot of people in our community who need to feel seen and welcome and safe. It's some crazy times out there. I ask all of us to look out for our neighbors and to look out for the people in our community to make sure that the city really is a reflection of our values. And with that, we are adjourned at 11.26 p.m. on Tuesday.