Coraggio Consulting
Manassas City Council 6/2/2025

Date: Monday, June 2, 2025
Place: Manassas City Council, Virginia
Length: 0h 12m (video)
Official meeting video (Wistia / RegionalWebTV): https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/y76mxr4pbu

Machine transcript (speech-to-text) produced by Coraggio Consulting. Not an official county record. Names and numbers may be misspelled; check the video at the timestamp before quoting.
Speech-to-text: whisper.cpp, model large-v3-turbo. Produced 2026-10-17. Timestamps are [HH:MM:SS] into the meeting video.

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[00:00:00] We have the motion by Vice Mayor Wolfe and seconded. I think I heard Ashley down there. Was it you? Okay, first in my ear. Seconded. Any discussion? Oh, okay. Go ahead. So consent agenda or are there items that were voted unanimous, correct?

[00:00:24] Was that? Yes, unanimous on first reading. First reading for the personal property tax rate. That's why it's on consent. Yeah, real estate's tonight, right. Good checking, though, no problem.

[00:00:41] Any other discussion points? If not, Mr. Smith, please call the roll. Vice Mayor Wolfe? Yes. Council Member Hudson? Yes. Council Member Ellis? Yes. Council Member Smith? Yes. Council Member Osina?

[00:00:57] Yes. Council Member Vasquez-Luna? Yes. The motion carries. Okay, thank you for that. And that moves us forward to item two, the public hearing, specifically item 2.1, the public hearing for proposed fiscal year 2026 annual operating budget and five-year capital improvement program, increases in water, sewer, and electric utility rates, and increases in EMS transport fees. And City Manager, if you want to jump in and make some remarks about this whole thing. Yes, ma'am. Tonight, City Council is conducting a special meeting to finalize the adoption of the FY26 real estate and personal

[00:01:35] property tax rates, as well as conduct a public hearing and first reading of the FY26 utility rates, non-tax rates, fees, and the 2026 annual operating budget and five-year capital improvement program. The special meeting was necessary to meet the required public advertisements for the utility and non-tax rate public hearing. Conducting the second public hearing tonight ensures that our residents received sufficient notice to allow them to the opportunity to provide

[00:02:10] council with feedback about these rates. Tonight, council will receive input and consider the first reading of ordinances to establish our large power service distribution electric rate, to adopt our water sewer and electric utility rates, to set our parks, culture, and recreation fee schedule, to adopt our airport fee and rent schedule, to set our fire prevention permit fee schedule, and to adopt our emergency medical transport fees.

[00:02:40] Council will consider these utility and non-tax rates and fees again for final adoption at their June 9th meeting. Thank you to staff for developing our proposed FY26 budget, and thank you to Council for your work to assess our community's needs and provide a budget that fulfills the needs of our residents while allowing the city to advance our long-term goals.

[00:03:03] Okay. Thank you for that. There is a sign-up sheet down somewhere over there, I guess, over there, for anyone who wishes to address us for the public hearing on this item. I'll go over the procedures for public hearings. I'll read the newspaper ad certification for public hearing, then staff will present if they have anything to say for consideration, and the council has the opportunity to ask any further questions.

[00:03:31] I will then open the public hearing for public comment. We'll make sure not to miss anyone who wishes to speak regarding the public hearing item. And then the public hearing will be either closed, which requires a motion or vote, or continue to be taken up the next regularly scheduled council meeting. So with that, I will read the newspaper certification statement, which says, As the mayor, I certify that newspaper advertisements for the public hearings listed on tonight's agenda were published in conformance with the requirements of general law and city ordinances.

[00:04:00] As the mayor, I further certify that an affidavit of publication is before me, which is signed by an authorized representative of the Prince William Times newspaper, which states that the advertisements appeared on the required dates. And so the public hearing is now open, unless, Ms. Bergeron, you have anything you want to...

[00:04:22] Okay, all right. Public hearing is now open, so anyone who wishes to address counsel on this item may come forward. And there's no one signed up I'm guessing on the sheets. Okay. No one pressing. Okay. I'll entertain a motion to close. Madam Mayor, seeing and hearing no one, I move to close the public hearing.

[00:04:44] Second. We have the motion by Vice Mayor Wolfe, seconded by Councilwoman Vasquez Luna to close the public hearing on this item. Any discussion? Hearing and seeing none, Mr. Smith, please call the roll. Vice Mayor Wolfe? Yes. Council Member Vasquez Luna? Yes. Council Member Ellis?

[00:05:01] Yes. Council Member Smith? Yes. Council Member Osina? Yes. Council Member Hudson? Yes. The motion carries. All right. Thank you for that. Moving forward to item three, ordinances and resolutions. Item 3.1, uncodified ordinance number O-2025-798, setting the tax year 2026, real estate tax rates to support the fiscal year 2026, budget second reading, second reading.

[00:05:28] And Ms. Bergeron, any questions for Diane or any? Okay. I'll entertain the motion for that. Madam Mayor, move to adoption of the second reading of Ordinance 2025-798. Second. We have the motion by Vice Mayor Wolfe, seconded by Councilman Smith, to approve uncodified Ordinance No. 2025-798.

[00:05:49] Any discussion? Hearing and seeing none, Mr. Smith, please call the roll. Vice Mayor Wolfe? Yes. Council Member Smith? Yes. Council Member Ellis? No. Council Member Osina? Yes. Council Member Vasquez-Luna?

[00:06:05] Yes. Council Member Hudson? yes the motion carries okay thank you for that that moves us forward to item 3.2 ordinance number 0 2025-834 amending section 118-571 of chapter 118 utilities of the code of ordinances city of manassas first reading um motion madam mayor move adoption of ordinance 2025-834 second we have the motion by vice mayor wolf seconded by councilman vasquez luna approving ordinance number 0 2025-834 any discussion hearing and seeing none mr. Smith oh I'm sorry miss Ellis I'm

[00:06:44] Sorry, I overlooked you. Increase in our new year, it wasn't an audit.

[00:06:59] I guess it was someone that came in to just give us an update on what we need to do to get where we need to be, and that's why I do support this increase. Our utilities are very important, as you know. We have outages, we don't have what we -- our infrastructure is not where it needs to be, and it's a big problem for the city, so we need to get this up to where it needs to be.

[00:07:26] Thank you, Ms. Ellis. Mr. Burke. Madam Mayor, the ordinance that's before you is to establish the rate specifically for our large power service distribution, our larger users. We will then get to the utility rates for our general residential customers with the next ordinance.

[00:07:42] 3-3, yeah, for 3-2, yeah. Any other discussion points? Okay, Mr. Smith, you can call the roll. Vice Mayor Wolfe? Yes. Council Member Vasquez-Luna? Yes. Council Member Ellis? Yes. Council Member Smith? Yes.

[00:07:58] Council Member Osina? Yes. Councilmember Hudson? Yes. The motion carries. All right. Thank you for that. Item 3.3, Uncodified Ordinance Number 0-2025-855. Setting the water utility rates, sewer utility rates, and electric utility rates effective July 1, 2025. First reading. Is there a motion?

[00:08:20] Madam Mayor, I move to approve the Ordinance 0-2025-855. Second. I have the motion by Councilman Vasquez Luna, seconded by Councilman Tom Mosina, approving Uncodified Ordinance Number 0-2025-855. Any discussion?

[00:08:38] In the discussion, thank you, Madam Mayor. Just a reminder, as we work through the work sessions, I want to thank everyone for doing their best to try to keep it low. But as Councilwoman Coates Ellis referred to earlier, there is a necessary increases on those, and we want to continue to make sure that we maintain the best service possible.

[00:09:05] and back in the discussions we even talk about how this can impact our AAA bonding so this is the lowest possible and that's why I'm supporting it. Thank you. Any other discussion points? Okay Mr. Smith please call the roll. Council Member Vasquezuna? Yes. Council Member Osina? Yes. Vice Mayor Wolfe? Yes. Council Member Ellis? Yes. Council Member Smith? Yes. Council Member Hudson? Yes. The motion carries. Thank you. Item 3.4 Uncodified Ordinance No. 02025-856,

[00:09:42] setting the Parks, Culture, and Recreation fee schedule, effective July 1, 2025, first reading. Motion, please. Madam Mayor, I move to approve the Ordinance 02025-856. Second. We have a motion by Councilwoman Vasquez and a seconded by Councilman Smith to approve Uncodified Ordinance No. 02025-856.

[00:10:05] Any discussion? Hearing and seeing none, Mr. Smith, please call the roll. Councilmember Vasquez-Luna. Yes. Councilmember Smith. Yes. Vice Mayor Wolfe. Yes. Councilmember Ellis. Yes. Councilmember Osina. Yes. Councilmember Hudson. Yes. The motion carries. Thank you. Item 3.5, Uncronified Normance No. 2025-857, setting the airport fee and rent schedule, effective July 1, 2025, first reading. Is there a motion?

[00:10:33] Madam Mayor, I move to approve Ordinance O. 2025-857. Second. We have the motion by Councilwoman Hudson, seconded by Councilwoman Vasquez-Luna to approve Ordinance Number 0-2025-857. Any discussion? Hearing and seeing none, Mr. Smith, please call the roll.

[00:10:51] Councilmember Hudson? Yes. Councilmember Vasquez-Luna? Yes. Vice Mayor Wolfe? Yes. Councilmember Ellis? Yes. Councilmember Smith? Yes. Councilmember Osina? Yes. The motion carries. Thank you. Item 3.6 on codified ordinance number O-2025-858, setting fire prevention permits fee schedule effective July 1, 2025, first reading. Is there a motion?

[00:11:17] Madam Mayor, I move to approve the uncodified ordinance O-2025-858. Second. We have a motion by Councilwoman Vasquez and a seconded by Councilwoman Hudson to approve uncodified ordinance number O-2025-858. Any discussion?

[00:11:34] Hearing and seeing none, Mr. Smith, please call the roll. Council Member Vasquez-Loon? Yes. Council Member Hudson? Yes. Vice Mayor Wolfe? Yes. Council Member Ellis? Yes. Council Member Smith? Yes. Council Member Alcina? Yes. Motion carries.

[00:11:49] Thank you. Item 3.7, Resolution Number R-2025-860, setting the schedule of rates for emergency medical transport fees. Is there a motion? Madam Mayor, I move to approve the Resolution R-2025-860.

[00:12:04] Second. We have a motion by Council Member Vasquez-Luna, seconded by Vice Mayor Wolfe, to approve Resolution R-2025-860, any discussion. Hearing and seeing none, Mr. Smith, please call the roll. Council Member Vasquez-Luna?

[00:12:22] Yes. Vice Mayor Wolfe? Yes. Council Member Ellis? Yes. Council Member Smith? Yes. Council Member Osina? Yes. Council Member Hudson? Yes. The motion carries. Okay, thank you for that. Next time, the agenda is adjourned. If there is nothing else to come before the council, we are adjourned.

[00:12:40] Oh, thank you. - Yeah.

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