City Council Meeting
What was decided
- 4awatch 30:02George Snyder Trail (GST) Advertising Cancellation and Project Modification Process
Council voted unanimously (6-0) that the City shall not advertise the George Snyder Trail project in its current proposed configuration, and directed City staff to work with the City Council on exploring possible modifications, noting a VDOT deadline of December 31, 2025 to advertise for construction.
Passed, unanimousDiscussed for 13m · also names Special Use Permit ×4, Budget Process, Capital Improvement Program, City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan · read the transcript
- George Snyder Trailin progresswikiCouncil unanimously voted not to advertise the George Snyder Trail project in its current configuration and directed staff to explore modifications; VDOT has set a December 31, 2025 deadline to advertise for construction.
- 4bwatch 43:43Pausing of Additional Staff Activity on Trails Projects (Country Club Hills Trail and Pickett Road Trail)
Council approved 3-2 (Amos abstained, Hardy-Chandler and McQuillen opposed) to pause the expenditure of any further funds on the Country Club Hills Trail, the Pickett Road Connector Trail, and any other trail until after the April 22, 2025 Work Session, and to eliminate any activity independent of roadway projects currently in progress.
Passed 3–2Until the next chapter, names Fall for the Book ×6, George Snyder Trail ×6, Special Use Permit ×5, City of Fairfax Theatre Company ×3, Stormwater Utility ×2, Appointments to boards and commissions · read the transcript
- Country Club Hills TraildeferredCouncil voted 3-2 to pause all expenditures on the Country Club Hills Trail until after the April 22, 2025 Work Session.
- Pickett Road Connector TraildeferredwikiCouncil voted 3-2 to pause all expenditures on the Pickett Road Connector Trail until after the April 22, 2025 Work Session.
- 5anot chapteredPublic Hearing and Council Action: Special Use Permit for Temporary Modular Classrooms at Providence Elementary School (3616 Jermantown Road)
Council unanimously approved (6-0) the Special Use Permit for the City of Fairfax School Board to allow temporary expansion of Providence Elementary School using modular temporary classrooms at 3616 Jermantown Road (Tax Map Parcel 47-3-01-040), valid for 8 years.
Passed, unanimous- Special Use Permit Providence Elementary School Modular ClassroomsapprovedCouncil unanimously approved the 8-year Special Use Permit for temporary modular classrooms at Providence Elementary School under City Code Section 110-3.3.1.
- Providence Elementary SchoolapprovedSite of the approved Special Use Permit for temporary modular classrooms; located at 3616 Jermantown Road, Tax Map Parcel 47-3-01-040.
- 3616 Jermantown RoadAddress of Providence Elementary School where the 8-year SUP for temporary modular classrooms was approved.
- 5bnot chapteredPublic Hearing and Council Action: Special Use Permit for Temporary Modular Classrooms at Fairfax High School (3501 Lion Run)
Council unanimously approved (6-0) the Special Use Permit for the City of Fairfax School Board to allow temporary expansion of Fairfax High School using modular temporary classrooms at 3501 Lion Run (Tax Map Parcel 58-1-02-003), valid for 8 years, with an additional condition requiring removal of sheds from required parking spaces.
Passed, unanimous- Special Use Permit Fairfax High School Modular ClassroomsapprovedCouncil unanimously approved the 8-year Special Use Permit for temporary modular classrooms at Fairfax High School under City Code Section 110-3.3.1, with a condition requiring removal of sheds from required parking spaces.
- Fairfax High Schoolin progressSite of the approved Special Use Permit for temporary modular classrooms; located at 3501 Lion Run, Tax Map Parcel 58-1-02-003.
- 3501 Lion RunAddress of Fairfax High School where the 8-year SUP for temporary modular classrooms was approved.
- 7anot chapteredConsideration of the March 18, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes
Approved unanimously (6-0) as part of the consent agenda.
Passed, unanimous - 7dwatch 140:51Introduction of Ordinance Amending Chapter 102, Article II, Section 102-31(b) – Wastewater Utility Rate Increase 6.0% for FY26
Approved 4-2 (Hall and McQuillen opposed). Ordinance introduced; first reading waived; public hearing set for April 22, 2025.
Passed 4–2Discussed for 8m · also names Stormwater Utility · read the transcript
- Ordinance Amending Chapter 102 Article II Section 102-31(b) (Wastewater Utility Rate FY26)proposedOrdinance introduced 4-2 to increase the wastewater utility rate by 6.0% for FY26; first reading waived and public hearing scheduled for April 22, 2025.
- 7ewatch 149:19Introduction of Ordinance Amending Chapter 102, Article V, Section 102-203(b) – Stormwater Utility Rate Increase to $34.30 per BU (6.0%)
Approved 4-3 (Hall, McQuillen, and Peterson opposed). Ordinance introduced; first reading waived; public hearing set for April 22, 2025. Note: the motion as stated in the minutes sets the rate at $34.40 per BU.
Passed 4–3Discussed for 3m · also names Stormwater Utility ×3 · read the transcript
- Ordinance Amending Chapter 102 Article Section 102-203(b) (Stormwater Utility Rate)proposedOrdinance introduced 4-3 to increase the stormwater utility rate per billing unit (to $34.40 per BU per the motion language) for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2025; first reading waived and public hearing set for April 22, 2025.
- 7fwatch 153:06Introduction of Ordinance Amending Chapter 90, Article VI, Section 90-262 – Meals Tax Increase
Approved 4-3 (Hall, McQuillen, and Peterson opposed). Ordinance introduced to increase the meals tax from 4.0% to 6.0% effective July 1, 2025; first reading waived; public hearing set for April 22, 2025.
Passed 4–3Until the next chapter, names Meals Tax ×7, FY 2026 Budget ×2 · read the transcript
- Ordinance Amending Chapter 90 Article VI Section 90-262 (Meals Tax)proposedOrdinance introduced 4-3 to increase the meals tax from 4.0% to 6.0% effective July 1, 2025; first reading waived and public hearing scheduled for April 22, 2025.
Presented
- 3aNational Library Week, April 6–12, 2025 · proclamation, Mayor presented proclamation to Suzanne Levy, Library Board of Trustee Vice Chair, and Eric Carzon, Library Directorwatch 0:48
Discussed for 4m · read the transcript
- National Library WeekProclamation acknowledging April 6–12, 2025 as National Library Week in the City of Fairfax was presented.
- 3b40th Year of Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts · proclamation, Mayor presented proclamation to the Spotlight on the Arts Board acknowledging the 40th year of Fairfax Spotlight on the Artswatch 4:44
Discussed for 24m · also names George Snyder Trail ×3, Country Club Hills Connector Trail ×2, City of Fairfax Theatre Company, Special Use Permit · read the transcript
- Fairfax Spotlight on the ArtsProclamation acknowledging the 40th year of Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts was presented to the Spotlight on the Arts Board.
- 5cPublic Hearing on the Proposed FY26 Budget (No Council Action) · Public hearing held; multiple residents and stakeholders testified. No Council action taken. Mayor announced budget adoption is scheduled for May 6, 2025 at 7 p.m.
- FY 2026 BudgetapprovedPublic hearing held with testimony from numerous residents and stakeholders on topics including public safety funding, real estate tax increase, meals tax, arts funding, and trail/infrastructure spending. No Council action taken; budget adoption scheduled for May 6, 2025. Council held a work session discussion on the proposed FY26 budget; no formal action taken at this session.
- 7bConsideration of Appointments to Boards and Commissions · Approved unanimously (6-0) as part of the consent agenda.
- 7cIntroduction of Ordinance Amending Chapter 90, Article II, Division 1, Section 90-33 – Classification and Taxation of Commercial/Industrial Real Property (Transportation Tax Rate) · Approved unanimously (6-0) as part of the consent agenda. Ordinance introduced to establish a separate tax rate on commercial and industrial real property effective January 1, 2025, with revenues used exclusively for transportation purposes.
- Ordinance Amending Chapter 90 Article II Division Section 90-33 (Commercial/Industrial Property Transportation Tax Rate)proposedOrdinance introduced unanimously to establish a separate tax rate on commercial and industrial real property effective January 1, 2025, for transportation purposes benefiting the City of Fairfax.
- 10aWork Session: Discussion and Update on Old Town Hall (3999 University Drive) Renovation Project · Rescheduled for the April 22, 2025 Work Session; no discussion held at this meeting.
- Fairfax Old Town Hall RehabilitationdeferredwikiWork session discussion on the Old Town Hall (3999 University Drive) renovation project was rescheduled to April 22, 2025.
- 3999 University DriveAddress of the Old Town Hall, subject of a renovation project discussion deferred to April 22, 2025.
- 10bWork Session: Discussion on the Proposed FY26 Budget · Work session discussion on the proposed FY26 budget was held during the recess (9:47 p.m. to 12:20 a.m.). No formal action taken.watch 179:26
Discussed for 2h 24m · also names General Fund ×12, Meals Tax ×10, Willard Sherwood ×10, Senior Center ×9, Fire Station ×5, Nonprofit Grant Program ×3 · read the transcript
Named in discussion
Tracked topics the transcript names that no agenda item is filed under. Their own pages and wikis do not yet record this meeting; the passages below are the only trace.
- Meals Tax18 passages, 9m
“…vote with their feet by leaving the city or not coming to the city at all. percent meals tax increase disproportionately burdens local restaurants and food service businesses still recovering from pandemic-related challenges and our current economic…”
“…request of the City of Fairfax School Board applicant by Dan Phillips, Agent, for a special use permit pursuant to City Code Section 110-3.1 to allow continued use of temporary modular classrooms at Providence Elementary School and the RM Residential Medium…”
- General Fund12 passages, 7m
“…the CIP, the only way to really impact the CIP is by reducing the transfer from the general fund”
“Parks and Rec plus, I think, probably zoning to discuss collectively. Willard Sherwood, please. But if there's other Parks and Rec questions for us, please feel free.”
- Fall for the Book7 passages, 6m
“…at George Mason University, a former student there and a member of the board for the Fall for the Books, which has been a partner with Fairfax City for almost 30 years. As you may know, the city of Fairfax has been a one-third owner since 1998, and this…”
- Stormwater Utility8 passages, 6m
“…an unsustainable trend, on property owners and businesses alike. In fact, the stormwater utility will have increased 19% since its 2022 introduction if the proposed rate is approved. As for the impact on economic development, these tax and fee…”
- Senior Center9 passages, 4m
“…for instance the two classroom upstairs so currently the footprint of the upstairs senior center is pretty comparable to the senior center at Green Acres, and that space overflows into a number of classrooms in the building. And so we would utilize those…”
“…our growing city, especially with the vertical development we're seeing. And our fire station. While it has served us well over the years, it is no longer suited to”
“…being frozen. and I think that that adds work to the remaining people. And the nonprofit grant program, those kinds of things. But I do think that the real estate fund is on the table, the cash transfer, the deferral of the schools for as little time…”
- City of Fairfax Theatre Company4 passages, 3m
“with the City of Fairfax Theatre Company at Veterans Amphitheater, check out the finalists of the Spotlight on the Arts contest, sponsored by Capital One Hall, displayed at the opening reception. Now, therefore, I, Catherine S. Reed, mayor of the city of…”
“…property is residential medium in the architectural control overlay district the comprehensive plans future land use designation for this site is green social civic network this place type includes public and private schools public spaces such as active…”
“…Hall so I move that the city move I'm sorry I move that the city canceled the Country Club Hills connector trail is”