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Councilmember

Billy Bates

263 × yes10 × no6 × absent

On the record

Positions recorded in minutes, by topic.

Personnel Matters

At the November 18, 2025 meeting, Bates made remarks welcoming Dan Alexander that were referenced and echoed by Peterson.

Fairfax Circle Small Area Planapproved

Voted yes on City Council adoption of the Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan on July 23, 2024.

Chain Bridge Road

Voted yes on the January 2026 George Snyder Trail supplemental appropriation (which failed 3-3); no recorded comments specific to Chain Bridge Road development items.

Fairfax High School

At the July 14, 2026 meeting, Councilmember Bates thanked staff for the 4th of July celebration and noted the prioritization of safety for staff and residents.

George Snyder Traildenied

At the March 11, 2025 work session, Councilmember Bates stated support for canceling the Country Club Hills Connector Trail and moving the Pickett Road Connector Trail to the west side. Bates attended a VDOT meeting on the GST in late March 2025 alongside Councilmember Peterson. In June 2025, Bates was the sole vote in favor of the hybrid western-half option. At the May 2026 Wilcoxon Trail Extension briefing, Bates thanked staff for their proactive approach, clarified that the Wilcoxon Trail Extension was formerly the George Snyder Trail extension project, and expressed hope for a future connection to Chambers Road and the I-66 trail.

9917 Fairfax Boulevard

Councilmember Bates seconded the motion for Resolution R-24-40 (special exceptions) and voted yes on all three motions at the December 10, 2024 meeting.

Small Area Plansin progress

At the July 14, 2026 work session, Bates expressed support for the direction of the zoning ordinance amendments, specifically endorsing review of off-street parking requirements — particularly for office uses — and emphasizing that the goal of the amendments is to bring the zoning ordinance into greater conformance with the Small Area Plans, which he characterized as the guiding policy.

Black History Month

At the February 10, 2026 meeting, Bates wished everyone a happy Black History Month.

10300 Willard Wayin progress

Councilmember Bates voted to defer on July 22, 2025 and voted in favor of approving the special exceptions on October 28, 2025, opposing both denial motions.

Country Club Hills Connector Trailwithdrawn

At the March 11, 2025 work session, Bates stated his support for canceling the Country Club Hills Connector Trail, noting that more staff time was needed before a formal work session could be held. At the April 8, 2025 meeting, Bates indicated he had expected the council to wait for a work session before acting on cancellation.

FY 2026 Budgetapproved

Bates voted no on the motion to defer to May 13, no on all three failed amendments, and yes on incorporating the Budget Change Document. Bates voted yes on the first (failed) tax rate motion and yes on final budget adoption. At the April 22 work session, Bates engaged in discussion about the pay study, noting the magnitude of the ~$500,000 cost and the importance of understanding varying degrees of inequity among affected employees.

Northfax East-West Roadwayin progress

Pulled agenda item 6i from the consent agenda on September 9, 2025 for discussion before the unanimous vote to adopt R-25-27, though no specific substantive comments by Bates are recorded in the material.

Conflict of Interest

At the November 2025 work session, Bates expressed concern about inequity in who is required to file financial disclosure forms, noting that deputies do not exist for every department and that the positions currently required to file (disproportionately police and fire deputies) may not represent the highest conflict-of-interest risk compared to roles in economic development or community development and planning.

Move Fairfax City

Voted yes on June 24, 2025 to appoint resident representatives to the Move Fairfax City Steering Committee. Voted yes on January 13, 2026 to cancel the George Snyder Trail Project.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Occupancy

Voted yes on July 22, 2025 to approve Ordinance 2025-06. No recorded verbal comments in the material.

Stacy Sherwood Community Centerin progress

Bates voted yes on all three land-use motions on Oct. 14, 2025, and yes on R-26-13 on Apr. 28, 2026.

Affordable Housing Strategic Planin progress

Voted yes on February 17, 2026 to adopt the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan as a strategic framework.

Northern Virginia Transportation Authority

Voted 'yes' on the January 13, 2026 motion to approve the $4,600,000 George Snyder Trail supplemental appropriation from Transform 66 concession funding.

Fairfax Squareproposed

Recorded in the September 9, 2025 transcript as voting aye on a preceding motion; no comments attributed to Bates on the Fairfax Square briefing itself.

Eaton Place

At the June 23, 2026 meeting, Council Member Bates noted that the concept plan for 3541 Chain Bridge Road includes a 10-foot-wide shared-use path and expressed hope that this would continue and fill gaps along Eaton Place in the future. He indicated that height should be among the considerations reviewed as part of the application process.

Courthouse Plazain progress

Bates voted yes on the July 22, 2025 deferral, and on October 28, 2025 voted in favor of approving (and against denying) the special exceptions and against denying the Certificate of Appropriateness — one of two dissenting votes on both denial motions.

Jermantown Road Corridor Improvementsin progress

At the March 11, 2025 work session, Councilmember Bates stated his support for canceling the Country Club Hills Connector Trail and moving the Pickett Road Connector Trail to the west side; his comments arose in the same session where Jermantown Road CIP improvements were flagged for follow-up, though his recorded remarks were directed at the trail project specifically.

Warwick Ave /Fairfax Blvd /McLean Ave Intersection Improvementsapproved

Voted yes on April 22, 2025 to award the construction contract to Sagres Construction Corporation. No recorded comments beyond the vote.

Capital Improvement Program FY2026 to FY2030approved

At the May 6, 2025 Special Meeting, Bates voted against deferral, against all three failed amendments, and in favor of the Budget Change Document amendment.

Pickett Road Connector Trailin progress

At the March 11, 2025 work session, Bates expressed support for moving the Pickett Road Connector Trail to the west side and merging it with the sidewalk if feasible without losing funding. He voted yes on the April 8, 2025 motion to pause the project and yes on the July 22, 2025 motion to reverse that pause.

Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendmentsin progress

In June 2026, Bates articulated an understanding of the two-track structure: that the current small area plans are informing the zoning ordinance amendment process, while the June 23 discussion is about establishing a future recurring process for reviewing and updating the small area plans — demonstrating engagement with the sequencing of the overall effort.

Voting record