Coraggio Consulting
Manassas City Council 06/08/26, Monday, June 8, 2026

Date: Monday, June 8, 2026
Place: Manassas City Council, Virginia
Length: 3h 7m (video)
Official meeting video (Wistia / RegionalWebTV): https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/z2l8toujy1

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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[00:00:05] Mayor Davis. Present. Vice Mayor Wolfe. Here. Council Member Ellis. Here. Council Member Smith. Here. Council Member Osina. Here. Council Member Vasquez Luna. Present. Council Member Hudson. Here. Motion carried. Thank you very much. If you're able to please stand with me for the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance.

[00:00:23] Dear God, we thank you for another opportunity to gather to provide governance for the residents of the city of Manassas. We are so thankful for the beautiful weather we're having and that we all continue to enjoy the many events in the city with our families and friends. Please continue to protect this council, our staff, and our community as we strive each and every day to make this community the best it can be.

[00:00:46] Continue to also protect the men and women in uniform who selflessly put their lives on the line for us each and every day. We remain thankful for all things, amen. - Pledge to lead news.

[00:01:12] - Thank you very much. I wanna welcome everyone to the council meeting tonight. Good to see a full house. Thank you all for coming out tonight to be with us. Council members, always good to be back with you. um we're glad to see everyone out we have a lot of proclamations and presentations and we don't want to prolong anything i don't think we have any electives in the audience at least i didn't see any electives out there so if i miss somebody y'all call my attention to it we do have a pretty full agenda so with that we'll go ahead and get started and council members i want to remind you to please pull your microphones close to your mouths when you're speaking so that everyone can

[00:01:50] hear all the wonderful things you have to share about what you've been doing and with that i will We'll call on Vice Mayor Wolfe first for council time. I was going to say I wasn't even ready. I just want to welcome everyone. I know it's a busy night, Pride Proclamation and everything else we're doing.

[00:02:08] It's the start of summer, and I just want to encourage everyone to be enjoyed and be healthy. And I want to reference back to our last first Friday where we had an absolute mob, but it was a peaceful mob.

[00:02:25] everyone had a good time and enjoyable and manassas was a tremendously happening place and that's what we're looking forward to and let's keep that over the rest of the summer thank you much councilwoman Teresa Coatzellis thank you mayor oh yeah welcome everyone it's great to see a lot of new faces and faces of people that are active in the community to come to visit us often we appreciate everything that you do to keep the word out and share everything that you know and hear um i'm doing the proclamation for the pollinator month

[00:03:01] for the manassas bee festival so i'm not going to talk about that for once but um i do want to recognize some of the work that's been you know happening in the city that continues that mission to save our pollinators and just make our our city and our state and our country and our world even better and so i'm going to highlight one of our top sponsors from day one and that was the principally master gardeners um they are having a composting 101 basic and benefits of backyard

[00:03:36] composting very very important and you can just go on their website and do it online it's june 9th from 12 to 1. they have native plant sales they have tutorials for all types of ways to do responsible gardening and keeping our native plants thriving for our pollinators so that's all i have i'm really happy that they're continuing their sponsorship as well as our beekeepers which will come later thank you thank you councilman smith uh thank you i just want to um welcome everyone particularly those of you i may have met over the weekend

[00:04:12] there was one family that i met that had very new in the area they had come to first friday and i did ask them if they stayed overnight because it was early but they had come the first ride they did the family part with the kids that were near harris pavilion and so forth but they were back at the train festival and i was working the crime silence desk next to our great police department you know there's an arm left of relationship there and so that worked out real well but anyway they said they would be watching or coming in to the meeting tonight so if you're here now welcome and if you're online welcome again welcome everyone thank you

[00:04:48] thank you councilman elsina um thank you mayor uh first of all happy pride to everybody june is pride month so we'll hear more about that later on in the meeting here um i do want to do a shout out to our streets department in the course of my april neighborhood walk and talk in in the stonewall road area ran across some neighbors who share a street with weems elementary and had some concerns about one of the crosswalks there

[00:05:25] and being parked in and the kids especially not being as safe as they might be. And so the street department went ahead and did some markings in there to make it clear where that crosswalk is.

[00:05:43] I revisited with those residents and they were pleased to see that the city was responsive in taking care of that quality of life issue. and then last friday while i did not attend the first friday i was out in the industrial school area talking to residents there who had some concerns along the way i hope to be able to see what might be able to do to alleviate some of their concerns along the way and with that thank you for the time thank you councilman vasquez luna thank you madam mayor good evening and welcome

[00:06:19] everyone it's so good to see the full house and also if you're joining online or watching later Thank you for spending time and learning from this meeting what's going on in Manassas and what's coming to Manassas. First of all, I'm really, really happy that I got my book, so thank you to the department.

[00:06:38] We got our book for the Manassas 2045 Comprehensive Plan, and it was adopted in October 2027, 2025. So my advice for the great candidates that we see that are running for Manassas City Council, let's start here.

[00:06:54] if you are a resident if you are a business owner this is your book you want to know where we're going you want to know what's happening or how the maps may look like and what change is coming about please start here I think this is this was my first book and I always refer to that until we get the new one and now that it's available you know I want to thank everybody they put their time to make it happen but also I want to make sure that everybody knows this is you step one just like when we go to the budget you go to that section you know

[00:07:32] this is super important as you learn where are we going most of the decisions are made unanimous which it makes me really proud but when they are not you still can understand why some of them happen the way they happen but anyway so Thanks again to the staff and everybody for getting us the copy and for making this available.

[00:07:55] I want to say Happy Pride Month. I attended the Equality Prince William Pride here at the Harris Pavilion. And everybody that is here for the proclamation, welcome, so happy that you get to join us here.

[00:08:11] I also attended the Manassas Park flag raising and it was a really great event. Thank you to Councilmember Osina, who had a great speech for being there, for sharing.

[00:08:27] And I truly appreciate it and for the inspirational words. I know it feels like it was a long time ago, but we also have LATEXPO, which is the Latin American artisan expo where they get to sell their irons, but they also get to share the culture and the different countries.

[00:08:48] And you get to see a lot of people from Manassas, from Manassas. They are bringing, you know, their culture and their differences and how beautiful the things that they do and they share with us. So thank you for everybody who attended.

[00:09:04] So glad the weather was great. And I'm thankful for Maria Elena Guzman, who has been leading it for many years, and for her team that continue to make it grow and make a change. I also attended the Osborne High School graduation, so congratulations to everyone who graduated.

[00:09:27] It was special and meaningful for me because I always call her a thing one. My thing one graduated, and she's almost 18, so I'll be telling you her name from now on. But I'm really happy. I see, you know, a lot of them had so many opportunities.

[00:09:44] I attended a lot of the events, the honors. We had over 80 students who received their honors and they were so proud of the hard work they have put in, so inspiration for us to see how they are thriving in their own way.

[00:10:00] And congratulations. I know there's a lot of graduations. Whether you graduate from high school or from any other career, congratulations to you. Don't forget that we have Manassas Grow and you can look into free college classes, free college certificates that you can do at nova the city does for you so don't forget that it's available but you have to be 18 or older i also attended the inter-jurisdictional committee with

[00:10:35] vice mayor who was filling in for our mayor and also council member tom wasina was there there's only a couple of things that i want to say you know i wish we could not only preserve it but we could also do more uh it is uh we don't pay for their cip uh but i hope that we you know the feedback provided especially by our vice mayor it doesn't go um unheard a lot of the comments that i heard it was like how much manasa city or the other jurisdiction the two cities were willing

[00:11:11] to pay and i can tell you is that you know that belongs to all of us and i think the public needs to have a little bit more of input and i am very concerned about especially the parking and the impact they will have but i thank everybody that is working into making a difference i believe you know uh your voice is being heard and you will shape how uh ends up uh and please you know feel free to listen to the recording uh it's uh available and we have another meeting coming up

[00:11:44] in a little bit uh the uh 2026 manasa city police academy is out so if you would like to learn the ins amounts i will say my kids weren't happy when i took the class because i will go home and hug them a little bit more you learn a lot and know only about the work that they're doing but you get to respect how uh difficult it's to be to the level that they are so i don't you know i don't think everybody can qualify because they have an intense also a process for you to get in but if

[00:12:18] you able to get in it will be very very important so i will say you know please look into or share with others so they know that it's happening uh and again to those that graduated from the manasa city um academy which is uh which happened i wish they were here so we could uh you know provide them their certificate here maybe in the future it can be like that but I you know I thank them for the time and I'm sure they learn a lot too and that will be something that you can also look

[00:12:53] into for next year so thank you for that and again I want to make sure that I welcome everybody for the proclamations we have a report from the our factory we have proclamation from the alzheimer brain awareness um a prime month and uh women's veterans uh day uh welcome it's uh so great that you have uh time to be here congratulations to uh councilwoman teresa koteles for uh the bee festival which is coming up and also the proclamation uh coming up in i wear purple because

[00:13:32] we also are doing adult abuse prevention month uh so please make sure that you know we're showing up not only for our family but for our neighbors and the ways that um that we came and um that will be my remarks thank you madam mayor thank you councilman hudson thank you madam mayor good evening everyone it feels like it's been a long time since we've been here in this room with you all so good to see everyone um just a couple points i'll start with the local and then do a couple regional um as councilman vasquez luna and coach ellis have alluded to next saturday is not Not only the Bee Festival, but also the Play All Day Parks event.

[00:14:10] So starting at 10 o'clock, you can pick up your passport to the parks at the Manassas Museum, and then it will take you all over the city for various parks, recreation, arts, and history activities. So that'll be next, not this coming Saturday, but the following Saturday.

[00:14:26] I serve on the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, and last week, I believe it was, we held a planning retreat to establish focus areas for the group and how we wanted to go about diving into those focus areas. The topics of conversation were energy, AI, workforce, and housing.

[00:14:45] And lastly, the Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board is hosting their once a decade regional travel survey. And I certainly encourage all of Manassas residents to participate. I posted this link for the survey a week or so ago, but I'll post it again tomorrow.

[00:15:03] So for anyone that wants to be involved that travel survey. I highly recommend sharing your thoughts. And that is all I have. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Thank you. There's seats down front. If you all don't want to stand in the back, we have some seats down here now that everybody will turn and look at you as you come down. So I had to do it. For my time, I'm going to give up my time.

[00:15:24] First of all, I don't think we're going to see you before Father's Day. So dads always get overlooked. Happy Father's Day to all of your fathers out there. And I hope you enjoy your day with your families the second thing that I'd like to take my time to do tonight is Friday June 12th is an extra special day in this city as my friends Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Smith will

[00:15:47] be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary so I am just so he's a shining example of not only just a great man but a great husband I see how he treats her Miss Loretta something you busy you busy but congratulations coming Friday on your 60th anniversary and thank you for everything that you do and the time that you give to this city so it is appreciated and with that thank you all for being out here tonight again and

[00:16:24] with that I'll turn it over to mr. Burke city manager Tom thank you madam mayor residents can continue to use Manassas connect app or our website to submit concerns about code violations street or utility issues or any other concerns that you would want the city to investigate and using that app will allow us to you to track what any progress that's made on your concerns we are also introducing the city of an asses waste wise mobile app that will allow all of our residents to report missed collections for either yard waste

[00:17:00] or regular garbage or recycling as well as scheduled bulk item pickups request cart repairs, and then access additional information about solid waste collection in the city. June marks the start of hurricane season, so it's a good time to review your emergency plan with your family. Please visit the Virginia DEM website for information that you should include in your plan. Beginning this weekend, Stonewall Park will transition, or Stonewall Pool, will transition to daily operation from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the summer. The city business offices

[00:17:39] will be closed friday june 19th in observance of juneteenth please visit our website or social media to participate in the parks culture and recreation master plan survey we will be taking input through june 22nd so that you can let us know your thoughts on the future of city parks and then need to let all of our residents know that chantilly air will be hosting 18 army helicopters uh this week at the airport through saturday they will be conducting training so

[00:18:16] there will be increased activity in our skies that's all that i have thank you mr burke any questions for city manager councilman vasquez luna thank you madam mayor uh first uh i want to thank uh thank you for um coming back to the uh what's up uh spanish uh information um it started on the 27 i think and it's going so i appreciate it uh my ask is will there be any uh translation like last year uh for the um for these meetings um not immediately we are uh we have our new uh new

[00:18:55] person in in our public affairs office and so we are uh putting her into different aspects of outreach long term yes it would be good but uh i won't be able to provide a commitment to that But, yes, we are trying to get back into that process.

[00:19:13] Yes, ma'am. And the last question is more about the same. If residents need to get translation services when they come to the meeting, will that be available, or what will be the process for them? Yes, ma'am.

[00:19:28] Your clerk is working on that program so that we would be able to have individuals in attendance at the meeting that will provide translation. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you, sir. Any other questions? Okay. If not, we'll move forward in the agenda. Thank you, Mr. Burke, for that. For item one is our presentations, and we are so delighted to have item 1.1 on the agenda, our presentation by Art Factory, and the executive director, Talia Conroy, is here to help us with that.

[00:20:05] Already applause. Wow, I'm jealous. I paid them to do that. I paid them. Ooh, I love a good microphone. Okay, so good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much to Mr. Burke, Madam Mayor, City Council, for allowing us to present today. I truly appreciate it.

[00:20:25] Am I in control of this? Oh, okay, wow, I have the power. Okay, hold on. For now. For now. Ooh, okay. In 2002, the majority of City Council approved for the Art Factory formerly known as the Center for the Arts, to take responsibility of the Candy Factory, to be a beacon of the arts for the city of Manassas.

[00:20:48] For 24 years, the art factory has called the Candy Factory our home, and it must be stated that every success and every win for our community, for the arts, and for the art factory, is because of those council members and those that have followed that continue to say yes, continue to see something in us, and continue to acknowledge the importance of the work that we are doing. Our wins are your wins, and we would not be winning without you. Not only due to the support of the council, but the hundreds of City of Manassas employees who support us all year

[00:21:28] long. From our incredible partners at Parks, Culture and Recreation, with Matt Arcieri, Keisha, David, Brendan, Mary Helen, and Rachel, to the facilities team who take such good care of us through the year with Mr. Fitzwater, Chris Berry, and his amazing crew, to Patrick Small and Economic Development, who allows me to come in his office and say, hey, I have a crazy idea. Want to advertise that for me? Or to our dear Chief Keene, who keeps us safe all year long, and to our fire department, who comes out to help us when a fog machine goes a bit rogue. We couldn't do it without each and

[00:22:06] every one of you. Before going into the accomplishments, I thought it was important for the council and our community to see who makes up the art factory. Our board of directors is a volunteer group of 18 people who make up the very fabric of what our community stands for.

[00:22:28] We have some of the biggest employers in the city of Manassas on our board of directors and every single board of director either works or lives in the city of Manassas or the greater Manassas area. From UVA Health to the Didlake Foundation, Vanderpool, Frostick, and Nishanian, United Bank, Patriot Disposal, LLE Group, and the City of Manassas Public School System, they make up what we do. And then just a few of our supporters that you may know, Pitkins Ace, Novec Helps, the Cecil and Irene Hilton Foundation, Wind River, Micron, Irving

[00:23:05] Irving Law Firm. Just a few of those that support us, believe in us, and we would not be here without them. Now to the fun part, the numbers. This is as of a week ago, so I'm hoping these numbers go up, and I promise you they will. As of right now, the Art Factory is proud to boast that we have had over 46,000 visitors, and I think by the end it's going to be 47,000 by June 30th, to the Art Factory.

[00:23:35] We have had 18 productions over two theater companies with over 72 performances. Nine gallery exhibits, 320 classes. We have paid over 220 artists. We have supported 3,711 artists with our programs.

[00:23:56] And we have provided 7,000 people with free access to the arts and our programming. with 107 free events and 34 free wellness workshops thanks to UVA Health and other supporters. Now the most important part, City of Manassas numbers.

[00:24:16] We provided eight wellness workshops at Manassas City Community Center. We had our summer camps in 2025, which all sold out to the point where the Art Factory decided to extend the budget and provide other children of the City of Manassas to come on board as well.

[00:24:32] And we did not turn any child from the Title I schools at the City of Manassas away. for summer programming and they are well on their way to selling out again this year mr arcieri and we have been breaking our budget for you don't you worry we also thanks to jordan xm our gallery director were able to support the city of manassas parks culture and recreation with their incredible gallery events at annaberg manor which were a huge success not only for the city of manassas's parks culture and recreation but for all of the artists that were involved they were fantastic events and Jordan did a very great job of hanging all of our artwork. We're also proud to say that

[00:25:09] 80% of those 46,000 people that walk in our doors are right from home. The city of Manassas, Prince William County, and Manassas Park. Noteworthy news. Factory of Fear. Factory of Fear is where the Art Factory team decides to turn the Art Factory's four stories into a haunted house attraction for two weeks where I get a bit nervous. I'm sure Chief Keen gets a bit nervous and the fire department also gets a bit nervous. But thankfully, we passed code and we were great.

[00:25:43] It was so successful that we had over 1,550 visitors to the art factory. So the art factory has learned we do not do galas. We do haunted houses to raise funds. We have also been named third Virginia haunted house in the entire state from virginiahaunts.com. We'll get number one this year. Pied Piper Theater is proud to have said that they have done their 100th production. And this year, thanks to the Iron Horse Family Foundation, every child that got into the show was able to participate for free and be on the Hilton Performing Arts Center stage in the Merchant

[00:26:19] Hall. And it was incredible. Thanks to UVA Health, our Artful Wellness series is booming and in high demand with wait lists. And we're proud to say that we are now partnering with the Prince William County Adult Detention Center, which serves city of Manassas residents, Manassas Park residents, and county residents to ensure that their residents are getting support from us to be able to get rehabilitated back into normal life through the arts.

[00:26:45] Some other things that we're very proud of is for the fourth year in a row, Virginia Living has voted us best in summer camps and gallery. The Community Foundation of Northern Virginia awarded us with a grant to support our Actors Theatre Company, our professional theatre company, where we're able to invest in some better lighting and sound equipment for the theater upstairs we won 2025 best of prince william for inside nova we have won 2026 but i'm not allowed to tell you which ones yet but you'll see very soon now what's next for the art factory we are proud to announce that the art factory is

[00:27:21] going into partnership with the did lake foundation to bring the community artworks collaborative artworks collaborative is a joint initiative between the did lake foundation and the art Factory, designed to create meaningful opportunities for individuals with different abilities to engage in the arts, gain employment skills, and participate fully in cultural life here in the city of Manassas. Program blends Art Factory's strengths of arts education, creative learning, and community events with Did Lake's mission of creating opportunities that enrich the lives of

[00:27:56] people with disabilities through employment, training, and community inclusion. Together, The Didlake Foundation and the Art Factory opens doors for artists and art lovers of all abilities to grow their talent, build confidence, and discover new possibilities.

[00:28:13] Thank you to the Didlake Foundation, their board of directors, and their executive director, Kelsey DeWispelers, who is here, who acknowledges that the Art Factory is the place to be for this incredible organizational partnership. So on behalf of the amazing staff at the Art Factory, our board of directors, our volunteers, our sponsors, our first husband, who is here to always support me, I truly appreciate everything that the City of Manassas has done for our organization.

[00:28:41] Here's to the past 22 years, and I look forward to the next 22. Thank you so much. - Good, that's fine. Thank you, Clint, why don't you stay with me? I have to allow questions, which-- - Please be nice.

[00:28:58] - There may be a couple. Can you please have your folks stand up? Oh, yes. So Art Factory Peoples, everyone? People. Peoples. All right. Okay. Thank you. Awesome.

[00:29:15] Thank you so much for being here. Thank you, Madam Mayor. And thank you for filling us in. We see everything you're doing, and you're just amazing since you've taken over and grown it. I remember sitting in front of you, and you're like, what have I done? I had to do the accent. I didn't say, like, what have I done? I said it just like that. I couldn't help it.

[00:29:30] What have I done, Madam Mayor? Oh, my God. But you made it. You're doing good. Thank you, Madam Mayor. doing an amazing job and I love the inclusivity that you have brought to the art factory because it it was seemingly like I can't go in there I don't know what's in there and you have just opened it up so much and we're so grateful for your heart and how you are with everybody the kids from you know nine months to 99 years old you just try to make sure that everybody knows you're there and that you you're willing to listen and learn about what this community needs as far as arts are concerned that you have to have a heart for it and you're in the right place now. So thank you for everything you can do. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Council members, questions,

[00:30:07] comments? Yes, Teresa. Thank you for the presentation. You still do offer like event rentals? Like, you know, organizations want to come in and use the space? We certainly do. The problem is because of the amount of programming that we have, that line item on our books has diminished completely because of the 500 things that we do in the building. We do. We have people who inquire about weddings and we love to support any, you know, we have garden clubs, networking groups. We have everybody come out and we try to support as best we can by ensuring that the cost is very fair to them. But yeah, we're bursting at the seams at the

[00:30:45] Art Factory, Mr. Asieri. Well, we are so fortunate to have captured your energy and not just your energy, the energy of your family, your network. We've known each other for a long time. You went to school with my daughter i sure did don't age me i'm young what do you say that's true no but we are so fortunate you have really taken an opportunity to transform one of our gems in our city to be just an amazing place so i thank all of you thank you thank you thank you any other

[00:31:20] mr osina well having attended just within the last year of performance and you're very modest in not pointing out that in addition to being the CEO of the Art Factory, you actually perform too along the way, pathetic, so have no like whatsoever there, but along the way, and taking some of your art classes, and Jordan does a wonderful job with the art gallery there,

[00:31:53] and having various showings every month along the way, but I do think that the Art Factory is a good example of a decision that was made several decades ago and there were those on both council and in the city that didn't think that it should be owned by the city and it took some vision and then some hard work and over time and I think everybody would now say just like

[00:32:29] Harris Pavilion being another one of those decisions that took a while not everyone was behind at the time, nor on council. It would be hard to imagine Old Town without the Art Factory. So congratulations on your work, people who put the program together, your board of directors, your volunteers along the way here.

[00:32:52] And it's a good reminder for all of us that sometimes the decisions are made, and there isn't the payoff until many years later. But then again, they add so much more to what makes Manassas Manassas. - Thank you so much. - Thank you very much. - Thank you, Councilman Osina.

[00:33:08] - Any other comments, Ms. Beskin? - Thank you, Madam Mayor. Well, thank you for the report. - Thank you. - Numbers are always an eye-opening. I also get to see you like everywhere, and I appreciate it 'cause I know it's a sacrifice for you and your family. You're always supporting, especially our youth.

[00:33:26] So thank you for what you do. I want to say most of the colored talks or the presentations when we go there, has been so diverse and and so deep and connecting i can think of a few but i just want to you know make sure that i appreciate the um highlight that you give to the artists some of them do have a big name some others are starting but they all you know deserve to be in a wonderful place i love that you are at the uh you know their events at the uh community center because it's also showing

[00:34:02] people where to go and it takes them into all the path as well but I do worry that you might not have enough space for all the stuff that is done but thank you I know when we talk about historic heart and modern gate for my masses you know you're re-represent that and also to see everybody on your board and everybody that's been working with our factory to me it's another way to show how you know an entity can drive so anything that i can do to support i appreciate it thank you thank

[00:34:37] you any other comments or questions okay thank you very much now thank you madam mayor thank you next on the agenda we have several proclamations the first one i'll be going down front and then any council members that want to join in a particular proclamation please feel free to come down and you know the ones that you've been assigned to do or asked to do the first one is for the Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month if those folks want to come forward Ms. Harlem and

[00:35:09] your company thank you so much for being here tonight I think this is the first time we're doing the proclamation for Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month this woman is amazing she's always working so hard in the community and this was just a piece of what you do and what you wanted

[00:35:46] to highlight and bring attention to so thank you for doing this and making this happen so i'll now read the proclamation whereas alzheimer's disease and related dementias impact millions of individuals and families across the united states including residents within the city of manassas creating emotional physical and economic challenges for caregivers and communities and whereas there is a growing need to support not only individuals diagnosed with dementia, but also the caregivers who balance employment, family responsibilities, and care coordination.

[00:36:21] And whereas workplace support, education, and awareness are critical to ensuring that caregivers are able to remain in the workforce while maintaining their well-being, and whereas organizations such as My Natural Me are leading efforts within our region to provide education, resources, and community-based support for caregivers through initiatives such as the Northern Virginia Dementia Support and Workplace Alliance, and whereas the Northern Virginia Dementia Support and Workplace Alliance is working to equip employers, employees, and community partners with tools, training, and strategies to create dementia-informed and

[00:36:59] caregiver-supportive workplaces, and whereas increasing awareness and fostering collaboration between local government health care providers businesses and non-profit organizations strengthens our community's ability to respond to the growing impact of dementia now therefore i'm michelle davis mayor of the city of manassas virginia and on behalf of the manassas city council hereby proclaim the month of june 2026 as alzheimer's and brain awareness month in the city of manassas and encourage all residences residents businesses and community organizations to support efforts

[00:37:34] that raise awareness, promote education, and strengthen support for individuals and families impacted by dementia. Congratulations. Thank you all so much. Just an honor to be here and to have awareness around this topic. It's near and dear to my heart as having a mother that's living with Alzheimer's, but to see how much work goes into being a caregiver. So we're just honored as a non-profit organization to be able to bring awareness and to help those caregivers. So thank

[00:38:09] you. Oh, Sina, come on down for the LGBTQ Plus Pride Month. He will give the pleasure of reading that proclamation and having a few words to say. And any folks, you're going to call people down?

[00:38:46] Proud I am of this city and this city council for continuing to issue this annual Pride Proclamation. And I'm also proud of our LGBTQ Plus residents, families, friends, and allies who make our community stronger every day.

[00:39:21] You know, Pride Proclamation is more than a proclamation. It is a celebration. It's a celebration that says you're seen, you are heard, and you are valued. It is not, it hasn't always been this way, but we've made important progress.

[00:39:39] We have marriage equality now. We have protections under Virginia law. The City Council has issued a Pride Proclamation every year since 2018. And this year alone, we have two gay candidates who are running for local office in the city of Manassas.

[00:39:58] This proclamation also speaks to those who have not come out or who are still on their journey. And the message that they get from this proclamation is that Manassas is a welcoming community and that you belong here.

[00:40:16] So let's celebrate how far we've come. Let's continue the work of building a city where everyone feels welcome, respected, and included. Mayor? And if I might invite the president of Equality, Prince William, to come down.

[00:40:32] And anybody in the audience who is in support of this proclamation, who feels so moved and would like to join, I invite you to come down as well. Whereas the city of Manassas is committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and equitable community where all residents are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.

[00:41:06] And whereas the city affirms that every individual, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, deserves the opportunity to live openly, safely, and authentically. and whereas LGBTQ plus individuals are valued members of our community who contribute in countless ways to the civic, cultural, educational, and economic vitality of the city of Manassas, and whereas the Commonwealth of Virginia, through the Virginia Values Act, has affirmed protections

[00:41:38] against discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations for LGBTQ plus individuals, And whereas Pride Month provides an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of our community, to honor the contributions and resilience of LGBTQ plus individuals, and to reflect on the ongoing work of ensuring equality and opportunity for all.

[00:42:03] and whereas the City of Manassas recognizes the importance of promoting understanding, encouraging mutual respect, and supporting a community in which every person feels a sense of belonging, and whereas by recognizing Pride Month, the City reaffirms its dedication to the principles of equality, inclusion, and respect for all residents.

[00:42:27] Now, therefore, Michelle Davis, Mayor of the City of Manassas, Virginia, and on behalf of the Manassas City Council, does hereby proclaim June 2026 as LGBTQIA plus Pride Month in the City of Manassas and encourages all residents to join in celebrating the diversity that strengthens our community and in working toward a future of greater understanding, acceptance, and opportunity.

[00:42:57] for all Julie thank you very much this is quite it's very nice and humbling to be able to speak to you in this capacity as the president of Equality Prince William with such honorable and wonderful community partners Casa Brumar and all the other fantastic folks that are part of our thing our group and community we

[00:43:37] We just had our fifth annual prize celebration three weeks ago. We had over 47 sponsors for the event, almost 80 different vendors, organizations, governmental entities from across the spectrum there at the event.

[00:43:55] It was fantastic. It was wonderful. There was music. There was drag queens. God, I love them. All kinds of things celebrating how wonderful and welcoming the Manassas City is. We had our mayor cut the ribbon opening the ceremony.

[00:44:15] I want to give special thanks to our mayor, the city manager, and the chief of police who met with us to talk about how we could make sure that the event would continue to be a safe event. Because even though we are welcoming to all, not all, are welcoming to us, and you've seen them at First Friday, they also come to visit us at Pride, and this year was just a phenomenal event.

[00:44:44] I want to give a special shout out to Lieutenant Brett Stumpf for being there. He did a fantastic job just keeping everybody safe, everything that was going on. We have events all year long. Just since that, we had a Town of Dumfries Pride brunch.

[00:45:03] We've had the Manassas Park flag raising. They've already done their proclamation. Prince William County Proud Employee Group did an event. I was just at Culpeper Pride over the weekend. We know folks that also went to Loudon Pride.

[00:45:20] There's just so much love going on in June that we do ours in May as a pre-Pride event because we don't want to compete, but it's just wonderful to just have this little bit of acknowledgement. It doesn't cost you anything, but it means so much to us, so thank you.

[00:45:42] Next is the Women Veterans Recognition Days. I want all my lady veterans come on down so you can

[00:46:34] come up here with me. This is so special. Thank you all for being here. Thank you ladies for being here miss dolce you you know you need you down here this is this is such a special time i i really

[00:47:10] enjoy because the first time that we recognized women veterans in the in the city in the region here in the city was last year so it gives me great pleasure to be able to do it again and hopefully it will continue forward even after i'm gone because it is so important that we recognize women veterans we recognize all veterans and thank you all for being here in support of this but women are often overlooked when they are veterans and so it was just very important for me to make sure that we were doing that here in the city and I am eternally grateful for I would not be here if you guys didn't do what you do you ladies didn't do what you do so this is just a

[00:47:49] small appreciation again last year we had the big plaque and that's out in the lobby I don't know I hope you all saw it um we presented that last year but it's now hanging up in the lobby of city hall and it'll stay there um and we're just so thankful for all that you've given all your service um selflessly putting yourselves out there in whatever capacity it was um we appreciate it and it does not go unnoticed here um in the city of manassas so with that i'll read the proclamation proclamation reads we're asked throughout the history of our great nation women have courageously answered the call to serve in the united states armed forces selflessly defending our freedom

[00:48:28] and upholding the values upon which our country was founded and whereas from the battlefields of the revolutionary war to the front lines of modern conflicts in iraq and afghanistan women have served with honor skill and unwavering dedication often facing discrimination hardship and sacrifice and whereas women veterans recognition day commemorates june 12 1948 the date president harry s truman signed the women's armed services integration act into law granting women the right to serve as permanent regular members of the armed forces and whereas

[00:49:05] more than two million women have served in the u.s military and countless others continue to serve with distinction in every branch of the armed forces making invaluable contributions to national defense peacekeeping missions and disaster relief efforts around the world and whereas many women veterans continue to serve our nation and communities after military service contributing in fields such as education health care public service and business while also mentoring the next generation of leaders and whereas we pause on this day to honor the bravery patriotism and

[00:49:44] sacrifice of women veterans and to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in defense of our nation and whereas the city of manassas joins in honoring the legacy of women who have worn the uniform recognizing their services remembering their sacrifices and pledging continued support for all veterans now therefore i'm michelle davis mayor of the city of manassas virginia and on behalf of the Manassas City Council, do hereby proclaim June 12, 2026 as Women's Veterans Recognition Day in the city of Manassas and call upon all residents to join me in expressing a heartfelt appreciation

[00:50:22] for the women who have served and continue to serve in the United States Armed Forces. Thank you so much. I'm going to talk. I'm not going to talk. Nobody's going to talk. Don't say you have to talk.

[00:50:40] I was not prepared to do a speech, but I do want to say thank you to Madam Mayor. Last year was the first time, and you took time again this year to honor us.

[00:50:59] And like she said, often most people forget that women are also veterans, and we serve almost in every capacity. We were and still are part of the mission to defend this nation.

[00:51:19] So I want to thank you and this wonderful group of ladies. This lady from the Vietnam era, like myself, Iraq, and all the conflict, they have played a major role.

[00:51:35] So thank you for coming and being part of this. Most commanders here, I'd like the members of the Mayor's Veterans Advisory Board to stand if you're here.

[00:52:14] I know a couple of Jerry Martin, Mr. Triplett, Mr. Moore. Thank you for being here tonight in support of the recognition for the women. It's very much appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to be here. Oh, I didn't see Mr. Scoggins over there. How you doing? Thank you for being here.

[00:52:30] Thank you, ladies, for coming out. Please, Ms. Ellis, for the Pollinator Month and whoever you have with you.

[00:52:59] Welcome, everyone. Do we have any sponsors, volunteers, any gardeners, beekeepers, any friends of the Manassas Bee Festival?

[00:53:23] Come on down, Rosalyn.

[00:53:34] There she is. I'm going to introduce everyone after the proclamation. I actually carry these in my car because I never know. I was going to make you wear them, but she's not going to mess up her hair.

[00:53:51] Because we do education all year round, trying to bring awareness to save the pollinators and planting native. We go to schools, scouts, organizations, and you never know when you need to have your prop.

[00:54:07] So it's just hanging in there all the time. Okay, this is a proclamation for June, which is National Pollinators Month. Whereas, pollinator species such as bees and butterflies play a vital role in sustaining the production of fruits, nuts, and vegetables in our diets and robust native pollinator and bee populations that are essential to the success of agricultural industries and

[00:54:38] the national economy, contributing to an estimated $18 to $27 billion annually through crop pollination in the United States. And whereas pollinators like native bees and monarch butterflies are facing ongoing challenges due to habitat loss, limited access to forage, pesticide use, parasites, disease, and other environmental stressors, threatening the long-term viability of our food systems, making conservation efforts increasingly important.

[00:55:20] And whereas the city of Manassas has committed to pollinator conservation by joining the National Wildlife Federation's Mayor's Monarch Pledge, actively enhancing habitats on city-owned properties, such as schools and parks, through the planting of native species like milkweed and goldenrod, and engaging the community through educational outreach initiatives to support monarch butterfly recovery. And whereas, on May 10, 2021, the city of Manassas became the first city in

[00:55:59] Northern Virginia to be an affiliate of Bee City USA, committing to the creation, expansion, and maintenance of pollinator-friendly habitats and sustainable practices on both public and private lands. And whereas, as part of its Bee City USA designation, the City of Manassas hosts the annual Manassas Bee Festival at the historic Liberia House and Grounds, scheduled this year for Saturday, June 20th, 2026, from 10 to 2. It's a family-friendly event that promotes the importance

[00:56:39] of planting native, native species, and protecting pollinators through engaging educational and outdoor activities and public art. Ongoing supporters include UVA Health Prince William, Georgia Mason University, which is a bee city campus, our Master Gardeners, naturalists, and of course our beekeepers. Whereas the festival was established by members of the Friends of the Manassas Bee Festival, a nonprofit that partners with community members, local groups, and stakeholders to support

[00:57:16] pollinator awareness conservation efforts throughout the city and whereas the library house and grounds features an apiary surrounded by native plants bee houses hives along with a historic marker that highlights the legacy of beekeeping the vital role of pollinators the importance of planting native species and the city of monastas is proud designation as a bee city

[00:57:48] USA. So now, therefore, with Michelle Davis-Younger, our mayor of the city of Manassas, and on behalf of the Manassas City Council, we do proclaim the month of June, 2026, as Pollinators Month. Thank you. So I would like to have each person introduce themselves, but first I want to do an actual honey update. It's actually very important. I'm going to introduce George Ellis, who happens to be my

[00:58:23] husband. He's a beekeeper. Thank you. Real short. You got it. So Liberia House and Park and the city have literally come alive. And there's a lot of concern this year about the drought, some of the late freeze that affected the honey production, and it did. So you're going to see some of the local raw honey that everybody's looking for in somewhat of a short demand, a short supply in a heavy demand. So it is our goal as the Friends of the Manassas Bee festival in this group to make sure that everyone in this room gets this honey and we're working on

[00:59:02] it we're very successful right now we've done a good job protecting the hives and working hard to get us where we need to be i'd like to especially thank uva health which is a big sponsor and ernie gorem with sampson properties also a big sponsor of of the usa b city usa initiative and the b city manassas so also i'm going to give the mic can i pass it out to you guys. Does this come out, Jeremy? Just introduce yourself and let us know what you do at the Bee

[00:59:35] Festival. I am Christina Brooks. I am a volunteer and friend at the Bee Festival, and I have a station set up where children can get pollinators, and adults, any age, can get pollinator costumes like either like wings for pollinators, lace wings, butterflies, etc. Bats are really popular, or make little tutus so they can dance around at the pollinator parade, and it's completely free to the children, so bring your kids. My name's Ernie Gorm, and I enjoy the honey. I'm happy to sponsor.

[01:00:07] I think it's a great organization. My name's Mike Morgan. I'm a public works director, and I'm very proud of our team's efforts towards maintaining and the habitat for our butterflies and our bees. Hi, I'm Andrea Johnson. I'm the chair for the beautification committee, and we will have a booth at the festival. Hi, Colin Turner. I'm a new volunteer this year and looking forward to volunteering at the Bee Festival. Roslyn Giddens, on behalf of UVA Health, we are so proud to sponsor and support. We care about the whole person, their health and wellness, so appreciate

[01:00:45] the opportunity, and we will be there as well. Thank you, and the most important thing, please dress like a pollinator when you come. You know, you can just, you can just wear a flower shirt or some antennas or a full butterfly gear, whatever, because we have the waggle dance, and we also have the parade and i'll tell you makes amazing pictures right yes yes oh and the spelling bee

[01:01:15] so that's we'll take a picture and wrap it up last but not least we have the um adult abuse

[01:01:53] prevention month um social services department nicole and crew are here i believe good evening hello everybody in their purple looking all cute thank you for being here okay proclamation whereas there are about 5,000 residents age 65 or older who reside in the city of Manassas

[01:02:29] totaling 11.3 percent of the city's population of 43,616 and whereas during fiscal year 2026 Virginia Adult Protective Services investigated 169 reports of adult abuse neglect and exploitation and assisted with 137 adult services cases for those 60 years of age and older.

[01:02:55] And whereas the senior residents and residents with disabilities who became targets for abuse were reported in the city of Manassas, but many times these types of abuse are underreported. And whereas the city of Manassas Department of Social Services and Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Adult Protective Services Division, work collaboratively with state and local partners to help seniors and residents with disabilities live free of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

[01:03:24] And whereas there are many government-supported programs that provide vital services to seniors and residents with disabilities within the city of Manassas, including a 24-hour hotline, crisis intervention emergency shelter home-based and community services public education and legal advocacy now therefore i'm michelle davis mayor of the city of manassas virginia on behalf of manassas city council hereby proclaim the month of june 2026 as adult abuse prevention month in the city of manassas and encourage all citizens community organizations faith-based institutions

[01:04:00] health care providers and local businesses to observe this month by promoting awareness supporting prevention initiatives and advocating for the safety dignity and well-being of older adults and individuals with disabilities in our community thank you very much definitely want to say good evening everyone when it comes to department of social services you know that we're out there we actually look at our elders and know that they're trying to do the same thing

[01:04:36] they're looking out for each other they're part of our community and we'd like to support them as well. That being said, I'm going to introduce Ebony Wright, who is over the Adult Protective Services and Adult Services program that's within DSS. Thank you. Good afternoon, Madam Mayor and City Council. On behalf of the Adult Protective Services team, we are elated for this event.

[01:05:04] However, we do remain humbled by the work that we do, serving the community by protecting its vulnerable population, advocating for their needs, and ensuring their safety and well-being is a charge that we do not take for granted thus we are honored to accept this proclamation thank

[01:05:24] you thank you all for indulging us with through all of those wonderful proclamations um at this

[01:06:10] time we have public comment time on the agenda item two we welcome residents and community members who wish to speak about services policies and affairs of the city of manassas anyone who has not requested additional time four days prior to this meeting from the city manager we have a timer and your comments will be limited to three minutes we appreciate the time you have taken to be here a reminder that council does not engage in back-and-forth conversation with speakers during this time the lack of an immediate response to your comments should not be taken as a lack of interest or concern as we have staff present taking notes and we

[01:06:46] will respond to your concern and in timely manner when you approach the podium if you would give us your name and we would appreciate it if you would state if you are a city resident and you may provide your address if you so desire it is not required we ask that you please be respectful when presenting your comments to not only council members but to those residents and community members who are also present with that i have the sign-up sheet here i have one person signed up but we will not miss anyone who wants to address council during public comment time And I'll call on Reverend Mandy North first.

[01:07:25] Good evening, ma'am. Good evening. Thank you so much. If you are here in support of the Manassas Church of the Brethren, can you please just stand so we can see who's here? Thank you.

[01:07:41] You don't have to stay standing if you don't want to. It's all due. I am Reverend Mandy North. I'm the pastor at the Manassas Church of the Brethren. And last year, our congregation celebrated 130 years of ministry in the city. If you don't know, we are located on Noakesville Road, going south on 28 as you leave Old Town.

[01:08:01] And we have been at this location since the mid-1940s or so. And when we were founded in 1895, we were located at Cannon Branch, the location of our conversation this evening and where our cemetery is still located and still actively maintained and cared for.

[01:08:19] In March of last year, we received an unsolicited offer from a realtor to purchase our current property and building, which is about seven acres of land, which is zoned for light industry. Our initial gut was to decline the offer. We aren't exactly for sale. We've been in ministry for 130 years, and we still have 130 years to go. We're a vital congregation that is a community of care where relationships matter, and our Christian discipleship counts. Our building is used at about 60 hours a week by local community groups needing a space to gather. We are the home

[01:08:56] of the Alphabet Cooperative Preschool. We host 12-step recovery groups, counseling services, the Crochet Guild, the Camera Club, and even the Prince William County Beef Keepers. We are also one of the home gyms for the Northern Virginia Homeschool Athletic Association, and we have partnered with the Virginia Women and Family Support Center to house mothers and children in our former parsonage, which we have now transformed into a guest house. So when this offer came to us, our initial gut was to say no.

[01:09:24] However, we entered into a period of discernment and have spent the last year listening to the members of our congregation and the community that uses our space. During this process, several data centers were built practically in our backyard, with one towering over our parking lot when you come onto our property.

[01:09:42] Also, we learned that our neighbors at Micron received federal funding through the CHIPS Act to expand their property as well. So one of the questions we are discerning is whether our current location is the best place to continue our ministry or whether there's a better place where we can go to be in community with local residents and to serve out our mission of loving God and serving our neighbors. So the ensuing question is then, where would we go? And the answer that keeps coming back to our hearts is that we want to return home and go back to our

[01:10:15] historic roots from 1895. A return to Cannon Branch would allow us to get more closely located to our cemetery and to be in community with a growing development nearby with our neighbors at the landing at Cannon Branch, the new affordable housing project, and the other proposals that we know are being discussed tonight. We would love to find a way to work with the city to help us get home to Cannon Branch. So as you all process the amendments that are happening with that zoning tonight for this area, please keep Manassas Church of the Brethren in mind and let us continue to

[01:10:51] a seat at the table thank you thank you don't have anyone else signed up but if anyone is here to address council for public comment time please come forward good evening sir we all know each other um i think that's a great idea it's a win-win for everybody you get another data center and

[01:11:23] they get a new home um the reason i'm up here is at the second reading of our tax budget um i'm looking at i was i didn't catch it all i went on and i looked at your minutes from last meeting and there were some numbers that kind of jumped at me um there is a 1.2 million dollar city contingency fund i understand we need it you never know what's coming up um and then i hear that we

[01:11:57] have a reserve fund of 33 million dollars which is 20 of our budget and i guess your um what you really requires fifteen percent for fifteen percent of the budget so that's like a difference of eight million dollars eight and a half million dollars and another thing that was said is uh for every penny of the real estate is is eight hundred fifty thousand dollars in the budget well eight hundred fifty thousand is a small part of eight and a half million i understand we need the

[01:12:35] contingency i understand we need the reserves i think we can spare a little here i you could give the citizens the taxpayers here a little more of a break knock a penny or two off um because these data centers are coming in they're getting everyone's being offered data centers and we're going to have a lot in 10 years if you get your dream come true so anyways um once these come online, and Mark said something about how the data center operators are figuring out

[01:13:15] how to challenge their taxes. Well, maybe we've got to figure out how to challenge their challenge. When they come online, we're going to be getting more money. We're not going to be getting Prince William County money, but we're going to be getting money. I think we can afford to at least give us a break right now.

[01:13:33] I mean, everything is going up. The Dominion increase is something we have to deal with. Everyone's utilities are going up because of that. And I understand our utilities need to be maintained. We need money to maintain them, keep them going. And public safety needs to be a priority.

[01:13:53] Our fire department, our police department, and salaries for people that work for our city. I am good with that. But there are ways we can give us a break right now. And you can do it. You don't want to do it, but you can do it.

[01:14:09] And I think you should look at this, give us a little break. Even a pen would make a difference. So I'm just standing up here on the record saying you can do it. Do you want to do it? Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Plavniak. Anyone else who wishes to come forward?

[01:14:34] Hi, I'm Angelica Zakatelis, and I'm a citizen here in Manasseh City. And I'm back up here to talk about the tax rate for the real estate. I know it's already been passed, but I'd still like to see an amendment done. And I just have a little speech here.

[01:14:52] So, like many of my neighbors, I look around at our community and see people working incredibly hard just to keep up with the rising costs of everyday necessities, groceries, utilities, and housing. Families and small businesses are already stretching every single dollar as far as they can go.

[01:15:08] When the city decides to increase taxes, it isn't just a number on a budget spreadsheet. It is a direct compounding strain on the household budgets of the people who live here. For many, it means making hard sacrifices about what they can no longer afford. We understand that running a city requires resources, and we value our public services.

[01:15:28] However, before asking taxpayers to dig deeper into their pockets, we need to know that the city is doing everything it can to find efficiencies, cut unnecessary spending, and prioritize essential needs over non-essential projects.

[01:15:45] I urge this council to take a step back, scrutinize the current budget line by line, and look for alternative solutions. We need fiscal responsibility from our leadership, not just the default reliance on raising taxes. And I also want to say that I heard a lot of, you know, things about, you know, well, we need to staff our fire department and that sort of thing.

[01:16:07] And it's like that was a longstanding issue. And instead of, you know, using the funds from the reserve funds to staff that department, it was okay to just raise our taxes, but it's not okay to help not increase our taxes anyways.

[01:16:24] so i'm just asking for you guys to take a look at this again thank you thank you anyone else to come forward okay uh before i begin i actually do support the uh the church of the brethren moving back to landing landing at canaan branch but uh sorry i'm gonna go because this is a lot and it's gonna be fast i'm here once again to hold the city council accountable for decisions that affect our city my community and my neighborhood the landing at canaan branch manessa city has the

[01:17:02] second highest taxes in Virginia and is in the top 15 percent of all taxable jurisdictions in the entire United States that is not a badge of honor but a symptom of repeated and long-term failures of this council to represent the taxpayers of this city here are just a couple of examples the city bought the Apple building for ten point seven million dollars to house alternative education but it can't be used because nobody thought to check the fire code Just another $10.7 million of taxpayer money up in flames.

[01:17:35] Even that price paid seems high since the H-Mart and all of the stores in the center, that center just sold for less. We have a data center which self-identifies as a bank to avoid paying taxes. It was one of those national headlines which made the city a laughing stock. It might be worth informing the council that federal-owned equipment in data centers is also tax-free.

[01:17:54] Does anyone have the good sense to put provisions or a clause in data center approval contracts to limit the percentage of compute space used for tax-free purposes? I mean, if you're going to destroy communities with them, at least get some tax money. The city has taken my neighborhood, the Landon Cannon Branch, and abandoned its original vision, which we all invested in, and turned it into a dumping ground for expensive political projects.

[01:18:18] The Good Housing Project was rushed through in order to meet a March deadline for the Virginia Housing grant money, but they failed to even apply in time. Then at the May Planning Commission, our Economic Disappointment Director stated.

[01:19:31] Sir, can we get your name? I apologize. I didn't catch it.

[01:19:53] Okay, thank you. Anyone else? The microphone is not working, so give us a second. Good evening. My name is Susan Domer, and I'm a longtime resident of Manassas.

[01:20:12] I moved up here after I graduated from college in 1987 and have been active at the Manassas Church of the Brethren for almost that many years, one year down. I wanted to just call attention to the many comments and the many things that have been happening in this meeting. I was smiling when you did three proclamations in a row.

[01:20:29] Proclamation 3-9, the Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, 3-10, the LGBTQ applied blood, and 3-11, the pollinator month, Because all of these organizations and activities do, a lot of them meet at the Manasseh Church of the Brethren. The beekeepers meet in our fellowship hall.

[01:20:47] We have an Alzheimer's and Caregivers choir that meets in our sanctuary. And we also are planning, we did a benefit concert that was for Casa Brumar. And we're planning to help host the, what is loosely called the Gay Elevigs. We're working on the title. But we're going to be hosting activities for Casa Brumar.

[01:21:07] And we're also talking about doing some kitchen training for the kids. This is a vital, very vital part of the community. Our whole goal is to bring in members of the community without being something that is expensive for them to use, that gives them an opportunity to help their organizations grow for the citizens of the community as well as the greater community.

[01:21:29] So I just want to just say to you thank you for listening. I hope that you will really seriously consider Manassas Church of the Brethren going home to Cannon Branch. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Anyone else?

[01:21:47] Good evening. My name is Mandy Fisher, and I'm a condo owner at the Landing of Cannon Branch. I just wanted to support the Manassas Church of the Brethren and their desire to come home and be our neighbors, as well as many of the remarks by my neighbor, David.

[01:22:04] I also wanted to express my dissatisfaction with a comment that was made during the Planning Commission meeting. I believe last month, where it was stated that the neighborhood was not engaged and that residents did not show up to a meeting that only four people attended. And I wanted to publicly clarify that was not a open invitation that only went to our HOA members, which is four people.

[01:22:26] Therefore, that meeting was attended 100 percent. Our neighborhood has continued to show up, continue to ask questions, continue to express our frustration, and we have not gotten answers. And I know that what Stanley Martin proposed pre-pandemic is not going to happen.

[01:22:42] that was a vision and a plan and it was great and the city has changed the economy has changed but what we are asking for is community that is what we bought that is what we signed up for is a place to gather a place to be together a place to connect and so when you look at the public hearing tonight I ask you to just keep that in mind like I said I know the original plan is not going to go forward it's not coming back but is multiple hotels and multiple apartments

[01:23:10] really what we need to create community thank you thank you anyone else good evening good evening madam mayor and council members my name is tish balding i am also a town home owner of the landing of cannon branch and i've stood up here and poured my heart out to you all um and passionate um for the children around our community i am not a parent and that had come up like oh she wants

[01:23:44] something for her children? No, I'm not even a parent, but I am a preschool director, and I am very, very passionate about children and making sure they have a safe place to come and play and enjoy. So I personally really respect the Manassas Church of the Brethren. They have been amazing to our community. I know many children in our community attended their ABC preschool. Sorry if I got the name wrong, but, you know, they just, they really bring that sense of community from the age of two all the way to 99. And I really encourage you guys to really think about bringing

[01:24:23] them home near their cemetery, keeping the community, keeping everything that they're bringing to our community there, and also having a place where our children can go and have gym and activities and things like that. It's really, really important as data centers are going up all around us I think it's really important that they have a place that they can call home and it be near can't the landing at cannon branch thank

[01:24:48] you thank you anyone else evening ma'am hi Ray Brady also Manassas City just three quick things one I attended the coffee with the cops week or so ago and

[01:25:20] And I just want it to be publicly known how engaged they were with some of the people from Did Lake. It was just heartwarming to watch them. And from what I've understood, these people from Did Lake follow these Coffee with the Cops times.

[01:25:45] And they purposely come. and they are just a joy to watch and how our department has worked with them and talks to them and engages with them. It means so much to them.

[01:26:02] I think it means a lot to our officers also. There was a little tyke actually from Alphabet Preschool that came and he dressed in his little SWAT uniform from probably a Halloween party.

[01:26:18] And T.J. Rodriguez especially was all over that. And there's pictures of it. It just was wonderful to see. It reminded me of how small a community in some ways we really are, but not just small in numbers, but small in that old town feel, which kind of brings me to my next point.

[01:26:44] I just saw today there was a person speaking at a council meeting from Warren County, and our name came up, and not in a good way. They are fighting also the data center debacle, for lack of a better term.

[01:27:04] And she brought up how Manassas City specifically accidentally, on purpose, whatever, ended up renting, or not using the tax breaks because of the bank rate renting thing, and we all know what that's all about.

[01:27:22] And, but I thought, interesting that our name came up, not Prince William, not Loudoun, and not other places, but Manassas City, she'd named us, that we had gotten, how should I put it politely, that we had gotten fooled, okay.

[01:27:43] And so it's interesting that we're becoming famous again for some things that we don't really want to have our name known for. And for the last thing, it doesn't matter what I say, evidently.

[01:27:59] It doesn't matter what other people have said. You're going to do what you're going to do with our tax rate, and you know how much we don't want it, and you know how much it's going to impact everybody. But let me just say for the record, I oppose the way you're doing it, and I oppose the fact that you're using other money in worse ways that we may not have had to have as much of a tax rate increase as we have.

[01:28:26] Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Brady. Anyone else? Okay. Good evening. Janet Plebniak, City of Manassas president.

[01:28:42] To follow up with a couple of the comments that have already been made, the tax income from the data centers, I was at another meeting, and we were told what they did was they looked at our laws, our bylaws, our rules, or whatever, and they knew how to manipulate.

[01:28:59] That's how the attorneys are coming to say we're not going to pay. It does need to be looked into. You all need to fight fire with fire on this. We were promised they were going to make a lot of tax money, and it hasn't happened. Micron got their extended until 2035 tax break.

[01:29:17] They had record income last year. So we all can pay it, not them. Our schools, we're becoming the Silicon Valley of the East now. We pay the second highest tax rate, and our schools are on the bottom, the very bottom.

[01:29:40] One in two out of ten, they don't retain children. We just lost a very good principal over at Baldwin Intermediate School. I've heard rumors about why she left. Heard the same rumor three times. we've lost someone good she looked she wanted to retain children we don't retain children they keep on passing them through so what kind of what kind of people are we creating to stay in our town and work and work at these businesses um first friday by nine o'clock it was full of underage

[01:30:17] drinking kids and the smell of pot was disgusting looked around i saw one police officer um it's turning into a bad scene come 9 o'clock, 9.30, 10 o'clock. The street lights on the corner, the corner where there's three monkeys and the man cave and all that, it's very dark on that corner. There's not a lot of street lights there. And then with the Buchanan builder at Cannon Branch, there seems to be conflicts of interest up here. The art funds, the Manassas Ballet receives

[01:30:57] $25,000 out of our budget. Buchanan is going to be the builder of Cannon Branch and Buchanan is also a donor to the Manassas Ballet. I smell skunk. This is our tax money that's being spent and things need to be done open and above board, not in the dark, because whatever's done in the dark will be brought to the light. So I'd like to ask our Heavenly Father to once again, please look the hearts of these people look at what you're doing we see what's going on and please do the

[01:31:35] right thing because it's the right thing to do and i ask this through the name of jesus christ amen thank you miss five mayor good evening mayor and council lynn for cal green and as a city resident um i continue to be frustrated with our public engagement process and i know it's come a long way since 2019 when i got involved as a resident who was just trying to save a park

[01:32:10] um and what continues to baffle me is the fact that you ask folks to come to see you to come to this room and see you to share their feelings directly to you and then when they do you tell us how great your vision is and we don't matter so it's kind of weird um i think that residents deserve a little bit more involvement in your decisions when they are asking you to consider that they see it differently than you. And the landing at Cannon Branch has been doing that

[01:32:46] over and over again. And the developer is getting more and more participation from your ability to make choices than the residents. You have the power to make changes in what you're doing. All of you do and you only need the majority but just like this consent agenda contains an item about our budget and our tax rate that has the majority but there was one counselor who did not vote for this so I would ask that it be pulled from the consent agenda re-discussed and re-voted on again

[01:33:21] tonight so that everyone here who has asked for you to consider them when you are not going to reduce it again at least has the opportunity to hear it during the meeting and not just voted on a consent agenda vote so i would ask that you would consider doing that um teresa may be the only one willing to do that but i hope it is considered and then i would ask that when you listen to the public hearing comments tonight about the landing at cannon branch that perhaps you keep it open long enough to at least consider what people are saying maybe there needs to be a

[01:33:55] change maybe we could have a different conversation what is this going to look like now even though legally the proffer that's being asked to be changed likely shouldn't be changed for the developer just because things got different because a plan is better today than it was 10 years ago when that was decided and agreed upon however if we're going to be thoughtful then let's think about all of the items that are brought to your attention to include the church and i know that's a difficult request i do know where you are in the process but i ask that you consider it

[01:34:26] thank you thank you anyone else wish to address council okay is there anything that we need to change on the consent should be wrong it was incorrect okay yeah okay we'll move forward to item three on the agenda i'll call on vice mayor wolf for that motion madam i don't think so madam mayor moved the adoption uh that the consent agenda be approved and the reading of the

[01:35:04] ordinances dispensed with second here the motion by vice mayor wolf seconded by councilman vasquez to approve our consent agenda any discussion hearing and seeing none mr. Smith please call roll vice mayor wolf yes councilmember Vasquez Luna yes councilmember Ellis councilmember Smith yes councilmember Elasino yes councilmember Hudson yes thank you very much for that moving forward to item 4 ordinances and resolutions item 4.1 is uncodified ordinance number 0 2026 - 966 setting the tax year 2027 real estate tax rates to support the fiscal year

[01:35:43] 2027 budget second reading nobody has any questions or miss Bergeron it is the second reading so thank you madam mayor members of council this is second reading not on consent because it was not a unanimous vote of the real estate tax rate which is being reduced from a dollar 26 to a dollar 24 and I stand ready to answer any question thank you any questions madam mayor move adoption

[01:36:20] of second reading ordinance 2026-966 second may the motion by vice mayor will second by councilman vasquez luna to approve ordinance number oh 2026-966 any discussion ms ellis this is the second reading but I just want to repeat where I stand on this why I voted no for the first reading and why I continue to advocate that we take a penny off that at least $2.23 which is $850,000 that could come out of the contingency fund that we have for 1.2 million dollars

[01:36:56] when we have a reserve for 33 million dollars which is 20% of our budget 5% over what we would like to have in there so we talk about affordable attainable housing but when we continue to raise the tax bill it's gonna raise rents it's going to raise your mortgage it's going to contribute to your monthly costs which we have our utilities going up quite a bit our assessments went up quite a bit so this is the one place where we could give some type of a break

[01:37:32] to our city residents to try to keep some expenses down I know that we don't I don't have the majority on this but I'm hoping that when we do see the data center revenue come in which we know we can't depend on that to be consistent every year we know that but we can have projections and we try extremely hard as a council to bring the tax bills down in the upcoming year and on um you know we hear the data centers are trying to build wherever

[01:38:10] they can um and you know it is going to bring more revenue so instead of reallocating that money to more expenses and spending you know get the priorities in order and start thinking about the tax bill so i hope that you all will consider that whoever's sitting up here the next time we vote on our budget thank you thank you miss ellis any other miss vaskism uh thank you madam mayor i know it's a second reading but i still would like to make a couple of comments and one is you know this has almost a two million increase for the schools uh which is important for their

[01:38:48] operating for the operation. We cannot forget the changes that have happened in social services so this also provides for that and I appreciate some of the comments that were made and this has a contingency because of a dispute that is going on the moment which is this 1.2 million contingency revenue so to me it's important that we look at all these things and you know and we understand what is a priority the last thing i want to highlight is you know i was asking for you know

[01:39:22] an extra uh penny which uh to me it was important uh and like that i didn't get the support i'm i'm still you know i seconded i'm still supporting uh this vote but i want to say there's people there are no honors that they rent but they do have cars and if they have one or two cars they They are going to have a 25 per card amount also.

[01:39:47] There is no percentage, but it is a change on their fees. They will be impacting all the people that live here. So for me, that was important. Even though it's not a penny, I believe the penny is like $28 for an average.

[01:40:05] I don't know the exact number off the top of my head, but it was less than $50, which is what I believe you're alluding to, is that the average household has two cars, so the average household would save $50 versus what they would save on another.

[01:40:21] Thank you, and that was my point, that even though we're not able to secure that extra penny, we are securing that almost $50 for almost the average of the households that live in the city of Manassas.

[01:40:40] There is a lot of things. I think I can comment on when it comes to – there's a lot of conversation about the overtime. All I can say is for the fire department, they are in need of volunteers and in need of people to get ready and make a change.

[01:41:02] It takes a lot of work, a lot of support. But that's all the ways that we can give back to Manassas that has changed now has become a part of this project making sure that we have you know fun on that and I know it sounds different because it sounds like a schedule overtime but it's to make sure that everybody is safe and they are having the training that are required so I'm sorry for going too deep into it but I want to make sure that even though it's a second reading the public understands why part

[01:41:37] of the decisions and now the one of the most important is the contingency we can't like we did last year we cannot assume revenues that we don't have and make plans with something that we don't have because like on this uh in this budget we can have changes in my last comment and i just want to make sure that we uh say thank you to our former delegate michelle maldonado and especially towards Senator Donna Karam, who are actively engaged and making sure that that is changed and they are doing everything they can.

[01:42:14] And each council member who was in Richmond, that we were part of the hearing that they have to make a difference on that exemption. So if you are in Manassas, please, you know, make calls and make sure that you are bringing this issue up like we are.

[01:42:33] Any other comments, Mr. Lucina? Thank you, Mayor. So, to previous speakers, I too had ideas of how money could be spent in the budget, particularly the contingency. I was in favor of seeing that $800,000 plus be spent for an offended item for the schools involving special education.

[01:43:04] And hearing some of the things that are going on now, that seems apropos. We heard schools mentioned tonight as being at the bottom. So spending additional money for the schools, in my opinion, was a good idea.

[01:43:20] But that was not what ultimately was decided. And that's a process. You know, when we meet after our work sessions and then we finally meet to do our markup of the budget, There's give and there's take, and we come to a consensus as to what at least the majority will get behind.

[01:43:41] And I don't think any of us ever get exactly what it is we want or think is necessary, and we go from there. My belief is that it's important to, at the end of the day, vote for a budget that's going to pay our city employees, That's going to fully staff, for instance, Engine 521 now for the first time because there has been a dirt of volunteers in terms of assisting there and it doesn't seem to be getting any better along the way here.

[01:44:19] Those are just two items that I can mention in that regard. So while I voted the first time for the reading, I plan to do so a second time. It's a conclusion that at the end of the day, no matter what's happening around us, from Washington and from Richmond, we here locally have to make things work as best we can along the way here.

[01:44:46] Those are the tough decisions that come along with it here. At the end of the day, none of us on this dais get everything we would like to see in a budget. But at the end of the day, I think it's important that by having the dialogue we do, that we finally respect each other enough to recognize that all of us have the desire for a good city, because we all live here, whether we vote for the final product or not along the way.

[01:45:18] So that's Councilwoman Ellis' point of view on that regard. But at the end of the day, for me, it's more important that we move ahead and plan on having funds so that our city can operate starting July 1, 2026.

[01:45:35] Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Ms. Josina. Ms. Hudson. Thank you, Madam Mayor. One of the—I thought I would just share my perspective. One of the items that influenced me to be excited about the two-cent reduction that we are talking about tonight, The two cent reduction in the real estate tax rate was that our staff has worked collectively throughout each department to establish what their needs are.

[01:46:02] They are submitted to our finance staff, who is also professionals and with full level of integrity, who then do all of the work behind the scenes. They then shared that this tax rate would likely is projected to be able to be held for several years in the future.

[01:46:20] and I think that that's an important thing for people to know what to expect and to have some degree of consistency. So I trust our professional staff and what they're hired and what they do for our city. So the two cent reduction and hopefully being able to hold that or even decrease as data center money comes in is my hope, Madam Mayor.

[01:46:44] Thank you. Any other discussion? Mr. Wolfe? Sure. Budgeting is a process and i will assure everyone that everyone on this council wants as low a tax rate is viable and there are always more things we could spend money and i'll just give you one example um our firemen or some of our firemen would love to go to a 40-hour work week and we would probably all sit

[01:47:19] there at the front and say that's makes all the sense in the world doesn't it that would cost the city an extra six million dollars the additional 30 of the firemen that we need to implement that We're not doing that. And there's a multitude of examples like that.

[01:47:38] Ms. Brady pointed out about Warren County. Warren County is raising their tax rate by $0.09 to cover their costs. It's the other thing with using the reserve funds, and I appreciate the thought, but again, once it's gone, it's gone.

[01:48:02] And heaven forbid that we would have the need to utilize those reserve funds. They are there for two reasons. Number one is a disaster, a rainy day, a tornado. The city is self-insured. The second thing is, of course, our bond ratings, which all works to lower the cost for all the residents of the city.

[01:48:26] It's not an easy process. We do appreciate and do listen to the feedback and the comments. And at the end of the day, every member of this council has a slightly different view. And, you know, you have to have four people. The mayor is not allowed to participate.

[01:48:43] so you've got to have four people come together for a consensus. And that's just the process that we have. So good, bad, or indifferent, that's the process. The other thing I will point out is with regard to the million-two contingency, if I'm remembering correctly, that is part of that money.

[01:49:05] We are using that to eliminate the car tax, the car fees, the license fees, if I remember correctly. Am I right on that, Ms. Bergeron? No, I'm not. Okay, fair enough. I thought we were $900,000. It's been a long process.

[01:49:21] Very good. But, again, you are listened to. Disagreement does not mean you're not hurt. I appreciate that. Any other discussion? Ms. Ellis? I have a question for Diane. So we would like to have 15% in our reserves, and we're at 20.

[01:49:42] If for some reason we would go to 15, would that affect our bond rating? Absolutely. It would? Yes. okay okay so having 20 over 15 affects the bond rating the 15 is just something that we would like to have in there or is that something that's required the the 15 per the policy that is currently has currently on record with the city council is no less than 15 around 2019 during covid we asked for permission to raise it to 20 with the intention of keeping it there i will tell

[01:50:16] you that in 20 when we had 15 percent we went through a few bond bond sales where we were not upgraded in 2021 we had 21 20 we were not upgraded in 2024 we had 20 percent and the healthy capital reserves with the intention and the um of using some capital reserves for one-time projects in lieu of selling debt service and that was all communicated with the bond rating agencies so that gives me reasonable confidence that anything lower than 20 would absolutely lower

[01:50:53] that bond rating rating reasonable confidence i'm not the one who assigns the rating some other entities do but i would say based on those facts and the way that i've seen this play out that yes that would the 1.2 contingency if that was used would not affect our bond rating correct that would okay okay because we have everything all the services that we asked for in this budget are funded. The 1.2 is the extra that would actually give a reduction to a penny on this tax rate. As we talk about all the things that we wanted, we're getting that. This one

[01:51:29] penny decrease is something we can give back to the community. I just want to point that out. We're not reducing services by doing that. We're taking from a fund that is set aside for we can reduce the tax rate with it. Then I said one other comment. We were talking about schools and funding but you know there's something in the news lately that I find really interesting there's a story out called the Mississippi Mississippi Miracle and it's just something we should look at if you haven't as a council hopefully our school board looks at it

[01:52:08] it's about the Mississippi school system the schools were ranking 49 in our country and they turned it around and brought it to nine they they spent about 10,000 a year on a student and you know it's just significant very very low-income poor community that may now have their Hispanic English second language number one in the country their students they're African-American I think are number three in the country so we can turn this around so I'm hoping that we all learn from that

[01:52:45] it's a great case study. Thank you. And Ms. Bergeron, I'm going to ask you to please explain the importance of the bond rating, what that does. Should it go down? How does that affect the city?

[01:53:01] So organizations, it's like a credit, like your credit, your credit rating, like you would have personally too. The better your credit rating, the cheaper that you can borrow with. I can't quantify exactly how much because I never know until the moment we sell a bond, but AAA rated communities are sought after from bidders and that's what we are when we worked rate upgraded to the AAA in the 2024 bond issue that was sold for the school we had more bidders than we've ever had and we had a really competitive interest rate situation and right now we are currently in a high interest rate

[01:53:39] situation and that interest rate that we ended up with in 2024 was really really good given the um the the situation we're in right now higher than previous situations because back in like 2019 or some 2014 we had like a one one percent received so we were preparing for something around over four percent and we came in under three percent and we had a very very competitive market with that upgrade so that results in lower borrowing costs which results in

[01:54:16] not having to raise taxes to cover more borrowing costs, higher borrowing costs. That is why it's very important. - Thank you for that explanation. Just because people watching, people here do not know, when they hear these things, they don't understand what that is. And I wanted to make sure we got that out.

[01:54:32] And then we still do not have a state budget, correct? - Correct. - And we don't know what's going to come down the pipe. Speaking of contingencies, that's what I'm trying to get at. - We definitely do not. - And we still don't have the budget.

[01:54:47] Hopefully in July 1, we don't know. I've heard different things from different people. So there's that. We could get hit with God knows what. And then we have to be prepared as a city for that. So I just wanted to make that point as well. But thank you for that. Any other? I'll hear from Mr. Smith because we haven't heard from him.

[01:55:05] And then Ms. Vasquez and Luna. All right. One other comment that I have. I think everything before us is very important. It is difficult for me not to be able to deliver a lower rate.

[01:55:21] I wish we could afford not only to have a lower rate, but also to have, you know, a flat tax. I believe Councilwoman Kotelis has talked about it before, a flat bill, you know, without changes.

[01:55:37] And that is very difficult. But the most daunting thing for me is to even have to consider an increase. So not being able to lower that is hard, but think about an increase, it is, you know, unthinkable, at least at this time.

[01:55:54] In the last four years since I've been in this council, we have been able to appoint new leadership on the three positions, the only three positions we appoint. And that has brought changes forward.

[01:56:12] I wanna say, you know, when we're looking for employees, it's a very, a very intense process because we want the best out there. We want to normally attract, but retain. This budget also considered something which is super important and super expensive, which is the premium health, health care increases, which it was important that we were able to make that change.

[01:56:40] But all I can say is that one of the important things that was made, I believe Councilwoman Ashley Hudson made the comment that last vote. It's the staff that we have that work on this and their recommendations is they cannot assure us.

[01:56:57] If we lower more the rate, we're not gonna have to increase it next time around. So for me, you know, the comment that I made before is that at least we're going to, in different ways, decrease it even lower. Last year, I was dreaming and asking for 2 cents decrease, which we attained this year, plus, you know, that big call fee to be abolished and we're doing that now.

[01:57:23] So I'm very thankful for that. But I will say the most difficult thing is to think that in the future, we disregard all the staff work and they are saying, if we go even lower, it can be in the future an increase instead of maintaining the rate or lowering the rate, which is a lot more difficult.

[01:57:48] So I just want to make sure that I bring that to the attention. We cannot speak about all the things that are important in this budget. But I can say when it comes to us, you know, every department has tried to get more. They have their needs and they have priorities.

[01:58:04] As the staff changes, the rates are also, the salaries change, and they have to do what they have to do within the means that they have. So let's, you know, not forget the side of that, and like every member on this council, if it could lower them more, we will, but we can do it without parting different ways, without making changes.

[01:58:28] But, you know, my ask is that we continue to find ways to be creative to save so the next time around that we can do more if it's possible. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Mr. Smith, did you? Thank you, Madam Mayor.

[01:58:43] i um have stated for a long time my concern about our unknown over the next we're doing this budget season through through 27 um budget year and i um i don't think we can afford to um not confront so many hardest i won't say truths but likelihoods with regard to what the city and our residents may

[01:59:13] face I we've not spoken with an uncompromising voice we have compromised in this budget we have made some cuts we have lowered some taxes at some point there will be some appreciation that the house by housing values went up which is where the real hit and we don't get fair enough consideration for the cuts that we did make but I am very concerned about placing the city in a position

[01:59:48] Where we refuse to wrestle with the possibility, I say it's the truth, we actually will be ceding the city's future to those who manipulate the truth and activities.

[02:00:08] And I just refuse to cede our future by putting our financial status at risk for now. Yes, it's paying for our taxes. None of us have said we absolutely afford lowering taxes.

[02:00:25] Again, we compromise in lowering it. But we need to be better prepared, I think, for the financial issues that may come. Thank you. Thank you. I think we're ready. Mr. Smith, I think that was all discussion. Mr. Smith and call the roll.

[02:00:42] Me? Call the roll? Not you. Not you. Vice Mayor Wolfe? Yes. Council Member Vasquez Luna? Yes. Council Member Ellis? Council Member Smith?

[02:00:54] Yes. Councilmember Alcina? Yes. Councilmember Hudson? Yes. The motion carries. Thank you for that. That moves us forward to item 4.2 is ordinance number 02026-984 housing grant and loans. Mr. Arcieri. Your Honor, members of council, good evening. The adopted FY27 budget creates a housing investment fund for the support and development and preservation of new attainable homeownership and attainable rental options in the city in order to unlock the use of those funds ordinance 26984 is the enabling legislation that would grant

[02:01:34] the council the authority to consider these loans and or grant requests in the future the process that would be established and it has been reviewed by the Housing Advisory Board but essentially this is enabling legislation the Housing Advisory Board would look at future grant or loan requests but the ordinance before you this evening again it's enabling legislation and does not approve any specific loan or grants including the office discussion grant to the good housing folks that's not under consideration this is just the enabling legislation with that the housing advisory board has reviewed it and staff recommends adoption of ordinance 26 984 stand ready for any questions thank you very much mr. Sieri councilmembers any

[02:02:13] questions for mr. Sieri there mr. Ocina and then the zealous oh oh you have a question is Elvis okay so this is just a set of a consideration this is not directly related to good housing that's correct are we when are we going to get a presentation from the housing the the Housing Advisory Board's annual report is on track for September or October of 26 for long-term goals for housing in the

[02:02:49] city don't we hear their report before we vote on this the Housing Advisory board did actually look at this ordinance specifically and recommended its adoption this evening we haven't even heard from them yet right the housing advisory board is looking at longer-term housing discussions as part of this and we do have a need with the adoption of the fund to have a native legislation the housing advisory board decided that it was acceptable to advance this piece of legislation you'll receive a lot of other recommendations in the fall but this specific piece given some of the other projects that are out there and the creation of the fund was advanced advance of the longer what is

[02:03:24] urgency of voting on this now before we hear from them well you created a housing advisory fund in your fyi 27 budget and you do have the good housing loan coming up for consideration later this month or early july so you need enabling legislation in order to consider that okay because the housing fund is in the budget this has to be approved correct so we have the consideration yes it's enabling legislation thank you for clarifying that any other but ms vasquez And this is more for the public.

[02:03:56] I've been attending the meetings, and I know a lot of us, you know, we read the agendas and the minutes for those meetings, whether we attend or we don't. But my ask is, I believe this would have been presented regardless of the, for now, temporary housing board.

[02:04:16] So I just want to make sure, and this is the, you know, that is a true statement, is this the work of the committees and they were presented and they review it but these went through all the committees before they got it we had an op that's a good point thank you council member we had uh we had an opportunity with the creation of the housing advisory board to vet the ordinance through a board that's been created to look at housing options so we took advantage of that otherwise it would have come from staff through the city council work session process we would have had to enable it regardless of whether the housing advisory board was established or not

[02:04:55] other questions or comments motion mr ocena thank you mayor i move the adoption of ordinance 0-2026-984 second here the motion by councilman ocena and seconded by councilwoman hudson to approve ordinance number o-2026-984 any further discussion hearing and ceo ms ellis sorry um i just want to say i do believe as a council we should consider looking for grants and options

[02:05:29] that we can do to help our path to home ownership I think this is in the proposal that that I could support because I know that there's so many people struggling with that right now and there is funding available with the state I know that that's big initiative if we can help people that are trying to just get into a home I'm not a big supporter of continuing funding for profits building apartments that they are actually getting market rate with

[02:06:09] subsidies thank you any other discussion points miss miss Vasquez thank you I just want to appreciate I believe at the community center there was a training in regards to that there is information as you come into City Hall about all things like that and it is important that we know only make it better and easier for everybody to own a home if they want to but they will continue to those things and is that a coordination of the housing coordinator

[02:06:45] those are sometimes they call the classes or sometimes the colleges informational we we've taken with the creation of the housing coordinator position we've been able to amplify our publication of existing programs so cooperative extension offers a lot of programming the city already has the first-time homebuyers programs administered through Prince William County what we didn't have is a dedicated staff person who could help us get that information out and so we're using the new position she's very active in promoting those things getting the cooperative extension classes at the community center as opposed to out in the county so we're we're making small strides and then the housing advisory board again will have additional

[02:07:25] recommendations for you this fall any other questions comments when does the Housing Advisory Board meet they meet they they meet the first Tuesday of every month over at the community services room at 5:30 thank you thank you we're ready for the roll mr. Smith you can call the roll council member of Sina yes council member Hudson yes vice mayor wolf yes council member Ellis council member Smith council member Vasquez Luna yes thank you for

[02:08:01] next on the agenda item 4.3 is resolution number our 20 26 1 0 2 9 resolution to budget and appropriate state grant funding for the taxiway be widening and lighting project mr. Rivera good evening good evening madam mayor members of council and mr. Burke the resolution before you tonight is to budget and appropriate 963,000 in state grant funding for the taxiway be widening and lighting project this project is included in the approved CIP in

[02:08:37] FY 27 this will widen taxiway B from 40 feet to 50 feet to meet FAA standards for the types of narrow-body commercial aircraft we anticipate serving at the airport the project also will upgrade the existing taxiway lighting system to an LD LED system we were able to take advantage of year-end state funding which allows us to begin the project several months earlier than anticipate rather than waiting for the Virginia Aviation Board meeting for a funding

[02:09:11] request in August the state grant will fund 90% of the design costs for the project the remaining 10% or a hundred and seven thousand dollars will be coming out of the airport fund I stand ready to answer any questions you may

[02:09:26] have in regards to this appropriation. Thank you, Mr. Veyer. Any questions? Is there a motion? Second. We have a motion by Councilwoman Ellis, seconded by Councilwoman Vasquez-Luna to approve resolution number R-2026-1029. Any discussion? Hearing and seeing none, Mr. Smith, please call the roll. Councilmember Ellis? Councilmember Vasquez-Luna? Yes. Vice Mayor Wolfe? Yes. Councilmember Smith? Yes. Councilmember Osina? Yes. Councilmember Hudson? The motion carries. Thank you very much for that. Thank you, Mr. Veyer.

[02:10:08] There, that moves us forward to item five on the agenda of public hearings. We have the, I have the sign up sheets here. No one did sign up, but we won't miss anyone who wants to speak. We have three items actually. I'll go over the procedures for public hearings and the newspaper ad certification here.

[02:10:30] I'll read that for public hearings and staff will present the issue for consideration and the council then has the opportunity to ask questions and then I will open the public hearing for public comment. We will make sure not to miss anyone who wishes to speak during public comment time. And the public hearing will then be closed or continued, and action is scheduled to be taken by the council at the next regularly scheduled council meeting.

[02:10:52] So with that, I'll read the newspaper certification announcement, 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. 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.

[02:11:21] Mr. Samples is here. Item 5.1 is the public hearing R-2026-1009 for Weems Elementary School Special Use Permit. You're here. - Thank you, Madam Mayor, members of the council. Tonight I'm presenting the staff report for SUP 2026-3, Weems Elementary School.

[02:11:40] So the location is 8750 Weems Road. And what the schools are requesting is the continued use of up to six modular classrooms until July 1st of 2028. The parcel is 15.3 acres. The parcel is zoned R2S single family residential small lots and it's comprehensive plan character area is suburban neighborhood.

[02:12:00] Before use the vicinity map showing the area around Weems Elementary School, you can see the existing modular classrooms there, as well as substantial residential around it. From a land use perspective, we feel that the continued use of the portable buildings will have minimal external impacts on the surrounding land uses.

[02:12:18] There's no changes proposed. The comprehensive plan supports educational uses as they are institutional and appropriate land use. And there is no significant concerns from a mobility standpoint, as there's no increase of parking or traffic from the existing use and continued use of the modular classrooms.

[02:12:35] From a school capacity perspective, school capacity according to the Commonwealth's numbers for Manassas was at 3,665 for the 26-27 school year. Dean Elementary adds capacity to that and makes that total number.

[02:12:50] So what the schools have requested is while they are going through their new school master planning and redistricting expected from redistributing students due to the new capacity, that they are allowed to keep those portable buildings until 2028. So we do find that the requested extension has minimal external impacts.

[02:13:09] The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval at the May 6th hearing and that the continued use of the modular classrooms is again recommended by the schools until redistricting is completed. That concludes the presentation on this school and I stand for questions, thank you. - Any questions?

[02:13:26] - Mr. Samples, the use of the facilities, are they as classrooms or are they used as storage? - That's a great question. I believe the schools will have to answer that. - Russ. - Hi Russ. - Sorry Russ.

[02:13:45] - Good evening. Madam Mayor, members of the council, Burke. Yes, I heard this from the leadership this week. It's pull out and test it. It is not a classroom. - Any, Ms. Vasquez, one of them.

[02:14:00] - Ah, thank you. And this goes, how often we do this? Three years, every three years? - This has been every two years. Why this feels familiar is we did this two years ago. - Yeah, so my ask is from the last time, how many were in use and how many are in use now?

[02:14:17] - I believe it's two, but it'll stay up there, Russ. Thank you. At the last renewal, we had five trailers. We currently have two. Did we reduce how many? Because I remember, I don't know if it was the first time, a vivid conversation on reducing because they were not really being used.

[02:14:40] Yeah, after approval last time, we removed three. So right now you have in place? Two. And we want approval for six? That's just the land approval of the special use permit. Okay, but I just want to make sure there won't be added more if it's not being used.

[02:15:01] That's at the discretion of the council. The original request was for six from two years ago. That's a consistent request to now. You can certainly reduce that to two at the council's discretion. You done?

[02:15:18] Well, I wasn't ready. I haven't talked to anybody about that because I didn't know. But that's why I was asking more, like, if the last two years ago, if there was two, there was more in place. I believe, as Russ has said, that I think there was five in place at the time of approval, but the authorization two years ago for up to six.

[02:15:39] okay uh thank you and the only last comment that i'm gonna i'm gonna make a comment in regards to this so we do have a new school coming in in 2026 which is uh august 4th uh for gene dean and i believe uh the council has set it for the next one to be in 2036 and this one this might be the one and to me this is important as we make this decision to see what is uh the capacity needs and the needs right now so I wish there was no need for model or classrooms they are

[02:16:14] being used for testing not only for our children but also for our staff but as we need them you know I do want to meet that and I would like to keep that as what they need which is to if council will consider that but I I know that I'm jumping the gun it's more like a comment then yeah thank you any other questions comments oh I'm sorry mr. Cena so what caused the reduction from five to two the

[02:16:51] condition we own the two that remain the other two were much older and we were using them as storage any other questions I'm sorry public hearing is now open I do not have anyone signed up to speak on this item but if there's anyone present who wishes to speak on this please come forward at this time come on down when you're ready hi lynn for calgaryen i didn't really plan to speak on this item but because um councilwoman luna is trying to um ask the question that i'm actually curious

[02:17:30] about is i think i think these modular units are known as trailers i think there's been many discussion about not having trailers for our schools i think that this is a pre-existing you know zoning and so we're just trying to keep it the same to not get rid of these things and so the reduction from five to two probably makes a lot of sense to state a minimum number or maximum number versus just the five or six that's been historically approved so if i had any input based on what i've heard tonight because i was at the planning commission meeting and i think they were

[02:18:06] just trying to keep what the schools needed because it was already approved but i do think if the goal is to eventually phase out the trailers then we should make a change on what's approved so i hope you reduce the number thank you um yeah can we reduce them because aren't we in a new elementary school so that would cause us to redistrict so yeah um we need to start spending

[02:18:36] money yeah can we get your name please gloria gloria tandy thank you thank you anyone else that wishes to speak on this anybody anybody else okay is there a motion madam mayor move to close the public hearing scheduled for a decision at the next regular scheduled meeting of the council second the motion by vice mayor wolf seconded by councilman Smith to close the

[02:19:08] public hearing on this item and scheduled for the next meeting any discussion can i go back and ask another question to the schools sure you bring up a good point um so you reduced down to two because of the cost of maintaining the other ones is that what you said no ma'am the condition like the condition what does that mean um they they were they were very old trailers we would have had to put money into them to keep them up we took them down okay so if you're at two

[02:19:43] now and then this would be approved for six there would be a cost to get four more if needed do you know what they cost per what was the cost that for our trailer if you're leasing it's the rate of that is a that is situational to the company that's leasing the trailers at the time it used to be approximately 300 a month to lease but that was a dated number a long time ago we've

[02:20:17] owned our trailers since 2012. okay before we have our next uh vote on this could we get that information if you all would have to buy one what it would cost for the lease amount i think that's actually important to know yes ma'am thank you any other discussion point mr hudson i just have a processed question um if we were to consider reducing the number to two would we have to talk about this in our work session next week or what what would that have to look like what we'll

[02:20:57] probably work on is have two recommended motions one that would maintain the current number as originally requested and then a second motion to reduce to two or whatever number council deemed appropriate and we will reach out to the schools to make sure that there's if there's any concern about reducing that number or just sustaining the two that y'all have there did that yes okay thank you madam mayor and these will still leave them with the space that they have for storage

[02:21:32] but we're only talking about modeler classrooms so i just want to make sure that that is correct that's correct any other questions i think we're ready for the roll call right i forgot where we were roll call mr smith please vice mayor wolf yes council member smith yes council member ellis council member osina yes council member vasquez luna yes council member hudson yes motion carries thank you so much for that item 5.2 public hearing number r2026-1010 rc hayden elementary

[02:22:09] school sup mr samples thank you so i'm going to try not to repeat right so essentially the same thing um except different school over at hayden um identical situation um identical vicinity map identical analysis and whatnot so um again some very similar recommendation what from a staff perspective what we are recommending is the continued use of the existing modular classrooms until the schools complete the redistricting process they know what capacity to distribute throughout the school system and at that

[02:22:44] point then they would no longer be needed so Russ is here for any specific questions for the schools and I stand for questions from staff thank you any questions I think I'll now open the public hearing I don't have anyone signed up but if there's anyone here that wishes to address this please come forward so I just want to speak on this one from the last one basically staff is recommending that this go forth but yet there doesn't seem to be the information the council needs with regards to how many are actually needed what they're really being used for and how much they cost and so I would hope

[02:23:23] that that information comes forth in the next round just like miss Hudson was asking for primarily because I want the schools to have what they need but for many years I sat in meetings on the upper level of this building with the school board saying they did not want to have trailers so I just want to make sure that we have what is necessary in the paperwork in the resolution with what we're approving and what is being used for and why and if they are needing more money for those trailers then I would want to know what that cost is going to be versus just continuing to extend a resolution because it's there

[02:23:58] anyways thank you. Thank you, Ms. Corrine. Gloria, it's Andy. So I have a question. So the trailers for this school as opposed to the other ones, what exactly are these being used for? Because they said testing, what exactly type of testing? As a teacher, we have testing so I heard them also say like pull out. So are we testing for SOL? Are we testing for pull out for those that have special education needs that have small group? Are we talking about testing for the psychological testing? Do you test in force bed during their evaluation process? Like what type of testing?

[02:24:36] um so that means this rooms are not being the trailers are not being used that often and then um yeah so they're not really getting full use so it's a waste of money and then nobody like she said they're not well they don't know the exact cost if you come up here and ask for money and then don't have a spreadsheet or something available in order to actually present um it doesn't make sense logically thank you thank you miss tandy anyone else that wishes to speak on this public hearing item is there a motion madam mayor moved to uh close the public hearing and

[02:25:14] schedule a vote at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the council second we have the motion by vice mayor will seconded by councilman osina to close the public hearing and schedule this item r2026 1010 to the next regularly scheduled meeting any discussion hearing and seeing none oh i'm - I'm sorry, Ms. Vasquez-Luna.

[02:25:38] - I know it was stated that this is similar. Is it two, is it six? I was looking, but I couldn't. - Three. - Okay, so three, and it has been three since the last two years, and they are using the three. Is there a storage for others, or just three?

[02:25:58] - Russell, I have to clarify what exactly each one is used for. - At Hayden, they're used for all three, storage, pull-out, testing. It depends upon what the school needs are.

[02:26:15] So it's a square footage thing for you. Any other comments or questions? Mr. Smith, please call the roll. I'm sorry, Ms. Ellis, I did not see your hand. Do you know what kind of testing? Do you know the specifics of the testing?

[02:26:32] I can speak with the school administration to get that information. Thank you. Mr. Smith, go ahead and call the roll. Vice Mayor Wolfe? Yes. Council Member Alcina? Yes. Council Member Ellis? Council Member Smith? Yes. Council Member Vasquez-Luna?

[02:26:49] Yes. Council Member Husson? Yes. Motion carries. Thank you so much. Thank you, Russ, for being here. Item 5.3 on the agenda. Next, the public hearing for 0-2026-1011, Manassas Gateway Landing at Cannon Branch Proffer Amendment, REZ.

[02:27:05] Mr. Samples. Thank you. Presenting the staff report for REZ 2026-1, the Manassas Gateway Proffer Amendment. The location is what you see before you on Buchanan and Godwin and Gateway Drive, Boopin Boulevard.

[02:27:21] The scope of the request is for a proper amendment, details i'll go over in just a moment the existing zoning is um pmd with proper and is located within the airport overlay district it's comprehensive plant character areas are godwin technology gateway and corridors before he has a vicinity map showing the subject parcels as you can see before you the landing of cannon branch townhome condominium development is to the south there's the hotel stormwater pond micron the eg smith ball fields and industrial development some background on this so rezoning 2016-2 was approved april the 10th 2016 for a mixed-use development consisting

[02:27:57] of 500 residential units and commercial uses the proffer amendment has been requested to create more development viability at a waterfront park and trail and develop through a three-phase approach public outreach meetings consisted of two on 12 18 of 2025 a general update on the cannon branch development and then on january 16th of this year a revised gdp was presented so the proper amendment would permit 120 approved multi-family homes to be built alongside the waterfront instead of where the dmv site is the proper amendment would require the construction of the

[02:28:33] community park and trail concurrent with these 120 units the current proffers do not require the park and trail it advances the construction of additional 10 000 square feet of commercial building along the waterfront this proper amendment does not affect the purchase and sale of the dmv site to good housing the good housing deal would go forward regardless of the outcome of this proper amendment before you on the screen is the gdp and i'd like to just highlight that yellow green box on the screen there that is where the current multi-family component is approved so if a developer came in such as good housing they could build there so that is what's approved

[02:29:11] now before use the proposed gdp that gdp divides the multi-family component into two places towards the waterfront there is the 120 units of housing and then the 100 units of housing would be where it's current where it's the current approved properties are on the screen also is the second hotel that's currently under development and the 10 000 square foot commercial building that was discussed a moment ago it is a three-phased approach the phase one which is complete is the existing commercial phase two being the hotel and the residential and commercial component and then phase three is that purple highlighted area future development of non-residential

[02:29:50] development before you is a elevation of the waterfront park that is proposed as well as the waterfront trail that would connect noting that the proposed 120 units will be built facing that trail from a land use perspective staff feels that this amendment creates a more focused development that emphasizes the development along the waterfront and it helps connect that waterfront trail and park to the rest of the community and reduces the visual impact along godwin avenue and gateway boulevard by transferring some of those units to the back of the development

[02:30:27] no additional cash coffers can be required as all the 500 units those cash coffers were already paid back in the time of permit for those other units from the comprehensive plan land use goal or strategy 3.1 supports or promotes a balanced land-use mixture and so we feel that this particular proper amendment supports that it it supports the goals of the Godwin technology character area and the gateways and corridors as well the traffic from mobility's perspective is already accounted for in the current propers in GDP no new residential units are being added and the commercial components are being substantially expanded from the previous development

[02:31:06] the Godwin Drive and Gateway Boulevard improvements have already been completed and the pedestrian bicycle network is completed near the development from a public comment perspective we did receive a petition from property owners at the landing at cannon branch which you should have expressing their concern with the feasibility of the proper amendment public testimony at the planning commission hearing on may 6th reflected similar concerns public testimony in favor and opposition was received as well as public testimony from the church staff is recommending approval of the proposed proper amendment the planning commission

[02:31:41] voted five to one with one in opposition to recommend the project be approved that concludes my presentation and i stand for any questions thank you thank you mr samples mr smith can

[02:32:10] bring back the council members right that's a great question so without a formal proposal from them it's very difficult to answer that question i don't have a site plan or when you say the church

[02:32:37] sorry proposal from the church um sorry yeah so it's difficult to quantify it does not preclude consideration no um certainly that could be considered provided they met the requirements

[02:33:01] thank you any other ms hudson thank you madam mayor um mr sample so in 2016 when this um plan was originally constructed it was a plan for 500 residential units is that correct that is correct so when good housing came in and they are building 100 units there kind of the purpose of this proffer is because 500 units didn't go in this one first development so we needed another

[02:33:39] proffer in order to develop something else is that kind of layman's terms in in a sense so um one of the reasons behind that was that distributing the units between two locations made it more viable as well as takes visual pressure off the units across the street because effectively you have a much larger building that would be approved there that's what's approved today someone could build a 221 unit building at that location without additional council intervention so the idea is to break that up to number one allow for a better visual perspective so you don't have such a massive building and number two from a viability perspective there

[02:34:18] are likely people that want to live closer to like a waterfront type development versus living along the boulevard there and so this makes the total um 321 units at this did i do the math right so that's or 220 i mean right so is it safe to say that we will probably not see the other 270 i don't want to keep messing up math those are already built across the street oh that's part of the 500 right so that was the first phase the homes that are already there that

[02:34:55] the homeowners live in that's already built the 279 okay the remainder is what's left okay all right all right I apologize for the misunderstanding thank you mr. Osina thank you mr. Sample so looking at this man you can in partners does Buchanan partners outright own any of the land yes they do I believe they own the land with the 120 is proposed and I believe they own the commercial in

[02:35:32] the back there which is also in green bordered by the yellow and they own the the gap in between those two buildings right the existing building that's there that 10,000 square foot oh no here comes man sorry so Buchanan Partners good evening again Buchanan Partners does own the triangular parcel that includes 120 units Buchanan Partners owns the 20k building that already exists everything else is still controlled by the city the light blue building if you look directly below the 10,000 square foot building that building is owned by Buchanan that the building is already being constructed that has the Chamber of Commerce in it that that's owned by Buchanan okay the large it's important the large

[02:36:12] triangular parcel the triangular parking in the 120 units that property is already transferred from the city to Buchanan so Buchanan owned owns the land that is marked on this this one a the multi-family residential 120 units yes sir it owns the space to look as we look at it the right where a park is proposed correct that parcel is partially under that's still under city control okay the park is and then they own the piece of land for the commercial space that says 10,000 square feet correct that is still under city control as well that is yes

[02:36:51] okay so the only piece Buchanan owns is the multi-family residential that's And the parking lot to the south on this map. Right, the triangular parking lot in front of it here. Okay. And the obligation by Buchanan Partners to do a trail along the waterfront and the park is attached to the development of the apartment.

[02:37:27] Is that correct? So two things here. so currently the obligation to do a park and a trail are tied to your development agreement not to the zoning so the idea here is that in exchange as part of shifting the land uses around the park would be required to be built concurrently as well and the trail prior to that apartment building gaining occupancy so today absent the development agreement there is no requirement actually in the zoning which is what we're considering this evening for the park for the trail the proffers One of the goals of Proverbs is to lock down that obligation whether it's you can and that builds that apartment building or if

[02:38:06] You can and we're to sell that property in the future to another apartment developer by changing the zoning The idea here is that the development of the park and trail would now be required and concurrent with that apartment No matter who owned the property that is correct if this was approved here, okay All right, thank you very much. Thank you. It's Alice. Oh, I'm sorry So I've got a question about the number of residential so the good housing is a hundred units, right? Yes Yeah, so that hasn't even the contract still being worked on and that's not even final

[02:38:41] I don't I don't know if we're gonna have that before we actually go to the vote, but just say it that falls apart If we vote on this now that piece of land is Firmly a hundred units is that correct if the council for future development rates of residential?

[02:39:03] the council were to approve these proffers as they are then yes regardless if they're developed as affordable housing or not you would have 100 in the front 120 at the water side okay so um okay so then we would we could possibly only have 120 units in there like for example if good housing goes away and something comes in for commercial i know we would have to re-vote on that or something but we could do that we just would lose 100 because there's no more there's really nowhere else to go well if you approve the proffers as they are effectively what you're not entitling

[02:39:42] the affordable housing components kind of is not a part of this you're effectively entitling just 100 in the front 120 in the back regardless of the ownership so a private developer could come in and build for-profit units in the front for profit units in the back so regardless of what happens with good housing okay one other question the waterfront and the park um that is something that's going to happen with buchanan correct they're going to absorb that cost not the city is that right yes that's correct do we have a value on that like what is what is that going to what kind of funding is that just so we have an idea what they're doing we can get you some of

[02:40:21] those numbers we're still talking to buchanan about what the costs are i know that the park investment is about it it's a slightly under a million dollar investment the trail is actually a little bit higher because you're getting into some fill for the floodplain but let me get you those numbers prior to your okay it is it is a substantial investment in both and that's something absorbed by if you can and if the propers go through yeah the park is and the portion of the trail certainly and let me get some additional clarification but the portion in front of the

[02:40:50] apartment building certainly would be yes okay thank you uh thank you madam mayor i um when i I joined this council. It had already been a long time since Buchanan had the agreement, and it is disappointing that we're coming to the 10th year, I believe, or it's coming soon, with the mark that it hasn't developed to what we expect it to be developed.

[02:41:23] I believe the hotels and the good housing part, it has been an effort from the city, no from what was expected. So I do understand the changes, a lot of the comments that were made, which I want to take the time to appreciate everybody that has provided input on this.

[02:41:48] But it was about park, trails, family space, extra space, restaurants, which hasn't happened. So my ask is, I understand the numbers, which are no different. But my ask is when their right ends or their agreement and how this will change that agreement.

[02:42:13] And I'm concerned that it hasn't developed, but we are the ones trying to, you know, the city is trying to make the changes and to continue to bring the different developments there.

[02:42:30] But really, if it wasn't for, I don't think it has been perceived like that. if it wasn't for the city uh how would it be now i'm sorry for asking so many questions i think what you're may i clarify what you're asking so i think what you're asking is had there been no city intervention saying getting good housing and whatnot what would the development picture be today so from a planning perspective it's difficult for me to answer that question i can say that our economic development team has heavily marketed this property and i think patrick could answer

[02:43:01] that question a little better than i can as he knows the market component so if you want him to that's fine can you please and thank you and i'm sorry for bringing it up but i believe this is a a comprehensive approach that is really bringing all these issues it has been a long 10 years almost it has um buchanan of their own volition built the 10 000 square foot building that houses the chamber it was the city's department of economic development that attracted both of the hotels

[02:43:40] and good houses however it's important to note that buchanan's agreement expires in march they no longer have any development rights to the property after the agreement expires but it's also important to note that all that agreement really does is fix the pricing at which buchanan was able to acquire real estate out here first and secondly entitled them to a pro-rata share of infrastructure repayments for the three million dollars that buchanan invested in improving this

[02:44:19] property so when buchanan first became involved in this project the property sloped uh 45 degrees may be an exaggeration but it's sloped pretty steeply from gateway boulevard down to the water and was essentially undevelopable there were no water there was no water sewer no roads on that side of the street in exchange for the partnership that the city established with buchanan buchanan spent three million dollars of its money to put in the road infrastructure put in the water infrastructure put in the sewer infrastructure in exchange they received the rights that i mentioned

[02:44:58] before which were to buy the property at a fixed rate and to get reimbursed as pieces of property sold absent the city having attracted those three elements i first mentioned you know to christian's point it's impossible to say what buchanan might or might not have done out here otherwise over the past 10 years what we can say is we are where we are today buchanan does own that piece of property and you still have the purple uh section phase three uh in the city's possession And what's before you tonight is the decision about what you allow Buchanan to do with this property.

[02:45:38] Ms. Ellis, Patrick, don't go far. So I know that we talked about the commercial part of this and that we were trying to attract more unique mom-and-pop or entrepreneurial businesses and stay away from the franchises a bit.

[02:45:59] But have we been offered anything by franchises to come in there? like Starbucks or, you know, some kind of restaurant? Nothing beyond speculative conversation, no. We've never received a formal offer from any party that the city council has not seen.

[02:46:19] I just wondered if we changed that a bit, that we were open to looking at entertaining franchises because there are some good ones. And actually they can sometimes afford it, you know, to come in because they have many stores under them.

[02:46:35] and if one's not doing that great, there's a supplement there in the income. I don't think it's fair to say that we would reject a franchise that comes in here, and I'll use that 10,000-square-foot building as an example. So you're familiar with the one Buchanan's already built.

[02:46:51] It's multi-tenant space, has a dentistry, has a counseling service, has a chamber of commerce. If that 10,000-square-foot building were similarly divided and Starbucks wanted a space in there or Fosters wanted a space in there or another franchise wanted a space in there, yes, we would entertain allowing a franchisor to come in there.

[02:47:16] The conversation we've had about discouraging franchisees in the past has been, do you want to encourage Starbucks to knock down the DMV building and build their typical suburban footprint with a drive-thru on the hard corner of Gateway and Godwin? Those are the kinds of conversations we've discouraged.

[02:47:34] But incorporating franchisees into this project, you know, if Dairy Queen wanted to go out there, I'm sure we'd be happy to have, you know, Dairy Queen down along the waterfront. So with this proposal, we still could do that, right?

[02:47:52] Absolutely. Okay, thank you. Mr. Smooth? Yes, there were several very pertinent, interesting and very pertinent questions raised by some of the commissioners and others at their hearing. And I'm not going to bring them all up. I would like to go on the record, or get you on the record, if you will, or have for the record to reflect. One of the questions that is, was asked, how do we ensure, but also just as important, how is this consistent with the city's comprehensive

[02:48:30] plan and the goals i mean we've had some if you will fits and starts the realities of the market and all of those kinds of things but are we are we now consistent with the comprehensive plan and is there any way we can ensure that we're on track so so your comprehensive plan designates this area for mixed use development um you took one step further and developed what the county called small area. We call it a GD neighborhood. This is what was adopted by city council in 2016.

[02:49:09] There's not a substantial amount of change in this development between then and now. You're still attracting commercial, still keeping within your 500 units, and you're still hoping at some point in the future that you'll get some office. That's what the GDP allows for, and that's what we continue to pursue. And Buchanan's development of an additional 120 units

[02:49:37] It keeps us within that 500 unit cap and the building of the 10,000 square foot commercial space that they're considering undertaking as well also keeps us within the commercial framework development. So I would say to you, yes, we are substantially in keeping with what we rezone 26 total community with the project.

[02:50:01] Thank you. Any other questions for Mr. Small or Mr. Samples? Oh, we open the public hearing. Okay. Thank you. public hearing is now open i do not have anyone signed up but if there's anyone who wishes to address this item on the agenda please come forward at this time ray brady um again as a

[02:50:35] rather lay person on some of this i see two hotels i see a hotel across the street actually in the county uh next to two silos and now we need another hotel in the middle of downtown manassas when there's no traffic, I mean, the traffic would be somewhat horrendous because I saw a small rendering of that hotel just recently.

[02:51:05] There is absolutely no parking available for that, none. And from what I questioned, all I heard was there is a small amount that would be designated, and then we're expecting people who go to this hotel to park in the new parking garage and walk to the hotel i would not do that i would not feel safe because i don't know this city if i'm staying here i've done that in baltimore and i felt even less safe there so why do we need a

[02:51:40] third four-story plus hotel this one is closer to the airport which is what we seem to be wanting everybody to come from um and again the uh we're talking about the transportation idea there is none so how is that beneficial to adding another hotel and i know i'm crossing purposes here but let's face it you know all of this is bound to go on and you know nooksville road is a hard place

[02:52:18] to maneuver on a good day and now you're adding a hundred plus or maybe more just traffic of everyday people going back and forth to work and then a hotel and businesses which by the way is It's starting to look a little like Manassas Park as far as let's build it and they will come.

[02:52:40] They haven't. I mean, am I wrong? Ten years is not a lot of time to wait for a business to occupy a place that we've invested in. I don't think so. Just my humble opinion. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Brady.

[02:52:56] Anyone else wishes to speak on this item? Thought it was coming. Good evening again.

[02:53:13] This one's a lot less fiery. in fact i'm actually probably just going to talk here instead of blast through my three minutes um so i am going to actually disagree that this is the same vision and nothing has changed from when we all bought in you know the original plan promised a balanced mixed-use community this is actually right from the proper with commercial space recreation and public amenities before expanding residential units right now all we're doing is focus on residential

[02:53:46] i've lived there for uh geez it's going to be eight years in about three days and there is zero reason for me to walk across the street i mean i guess i could go get my teeth clean maybe deposit a check but there is zero reason for me to go across the street when we all bought into this neighborhood you know we were imagining restaurants when the true hotel opened up a whole group of us went over there thinking there's a restaurant in there and they're like oh we got a snack bar um you know so there's it's to say it's been disappointing is an understatement um my biggest

[02:54:23] concern here is because no matter what i say it's going to happen um you know the the proffer the original proper first of all buchanan only completed two of the original five items that were on the proffer um and and you know obviously we all know about heritage and you know the difficulties of this and that but to to just simply put the apartments in here that completely eliminates any possibility of future development and i'll tell you you know right now they're saying that um the apartment is going to use a standard of 1.5 parking spaces and they want to count

[02:55:02] existing hotel parking spaces as shared in order to reach that ridiculously low number um you know that effectively eliminates any any further possible retail or restaurant uh possibilities and it puts parking pressure on my neighborhood um you know and everyone's gonna say oh well you'll get parking passes parking passes are never a solution they are simply an admission that failure was engineered into the project from the beginning um it invites predatory towing and drastically reduces the quality of life for those that are forced to endure it um if they are actually held

[02:55:42] to build the trail before they built the apartment okay maybe but i guarantee you if they're allowed to build that apartment without building the trail they're gone the second they're done we're going going to be holding the bag so that's it look i think we've got time to spare thank you thank you jason anyone else who wishes to speak on this public hearing item hi lynn forkel green manasa city resident i too had a speech but i'll just say a few words one the planning commission meeting if you did not go back and listen to the audio i hope that you do it will be more informative than

[02:56:21] the brief notes that you may see and why is that important well one thing is that we did have to sent from one person Commissioner Sweet said no and he's an attorney and he brought up a really valid point about what the proffer agreement was that was being reviewed and so I hope that you'll go back and listen to that second when you are talking about the parking many of you up there in fact most have had to deal with Georgetown South parking and Bristow station parking and the one thing that we always hear you say and even when I was on council what we would say is if only we

[02:57:00] had been able to make these decisions before the neighborhood was here well you get to make those decisions now you get to deal with the parking problem right now before it comes to fruition and so you would be putting our city at a at a disadvantage if you didn't take that to heart when you were dealing with the 1.5 spaces now i know that it is really exciting to think about the future of transportation in monassa city and what that might mean but this is a corridor that is not going to be easily serviced for quite some time and so regardless of the public

[02:57:37] transportation desire we know that that's going to be a challenge and so i do ask that you really heavily consider the parking especially in conjunction with not having the commercial use that was promised with regards to restaurant space and i would echo it seems that in this plan buchanan is being required if you will to manage the park trail in the park before or in congruence with the building but i would want some real assurances that that needs to be completed

[02:58:13] before the finished product goes to market because those recreational spaces are part of what this community is looking for thank you thank you miss green anyone else to address this public hearing item okay uh motion yes madam mayor move to close the public hearing schedule for a decision to the next record scheduled meeting of the council second we have the motion by vice mayor will seconded by councilman osina to close the public hearing and schedule it for

[02:58:49] the next scheduled meeting any discussion miss ellis i actually do have a question um that uh multi-family residential 120 units wherever you can and is that mixed use or strictly residential because i thought we were looking at mixed use there that is proposed as strictly residential in the property yeah i thought for sure yeah we talked about that at a work session that was going to be mixed use so the building next to it the commercial did they decide to just move everything

[02:59:25] over to that like how did this all change good question i was not a part of that discussion

[02:59:41] i don't understand the point about moving so anything over the other building you're talking about the gym or the no we had a works oh actually it was our retreat we talked about that building being mixed use so that we would have residential and commercial under it so did the planning commission decide to make it 120 units just residential committed or obligated to that i know we've had lots of conversations about lots of types of proposals for strictly residents okay

[03:00:14] thanks any other discussion or questions mr smith please call the room vice mayor wolf yes council member osina yes council member ellis council member smith council member vasquez luna yes council member hudson yes the motion carried thank you for that that moves us forward to item six new business um 6.1 is a bid opening for a proposed franchise for the purpose of installing operating and maintaining telecommunications conduits facilities and equipment in the public rights

[03:00:50] of way within the corporate limits of the city of manassas and mr arcieri do you want to talk before i do my part you do your part ma'am okay yes we have a bid you have a bid so there is a bid opening so i'll kind of wait until it quiets down a little bit i want everybody to hear okay the next item on the agenda is the receipt of bids in response to a request for franchise proposals for the installation operation and maintenance of underground telecommunication conduits in public right away within the city the city has duly advertised this franchise as required by law

[03:01:28] for all franchises with the duration of more than five years the city has received one bid one sealed bid before i open the bid i'll ask if there is anyone else wishing to submit a bid for this franchise to bring it forward at this time there being no more bids i will now open the bid received and mark it for identification as required by state law winner is the bid is received from

[03:02:07] oh um itg communications llc doing business as btr fiber llc um i'll now provide the bid to mr RC area and ask for your recommendation sir thank you your honor members of council staff recommends referral bid the director of Public Works for review and evaluation with a recommendation in public hearing to present it at a later City Council meeting oh let me see the script what do I do after that staff has recommended that they be reviewed by the director of Public Works and then provide a recommendation of award to council out if you're meeting any

[03:02:45] questions or comments from members of council okay so do we don't do anything else okay and that's that item is done oh we need a motion okay so is there a motion please we have the motion by a councilwoman Hudson seconded by a councilman Vasquez Luna to accept the bid and move forward to the director of public works any discussion and seeing them mr. Smith please call the roll council member Hudson yes council member Vasquez Luna yes vice mayor wolf yes

[03:03:25] council member Ellis council member Smith yes thank you so much thank you Mr. Arthieri item 7 on the agenda is authorizing our closed meeting I'll call on mr. Smith in the absence of our interim city attorney to read the to introduce the resolution Oh madam mayor members of council for your consideration is resolution 2026 - 1 0 3 7 authorizing a closed meeting of city council to discuss the qualifications of applicants for appointment of city

[03:04:02] boards and commissions pursuant of Virginia code these discussions may take place in a duly convened closed meeting of city council we have the motion by councilman osina seconded by councilman vasquez luna to approve resolution r 2026 1031 authorizing closed meeting any discussion hearing and seeing them mr smith please call the roll councilmember osina yes councilmember vasquez luna yes vice mayor wolf yes councilmember ellis councilmember

[03:04:33] smith councilmember hudson yes the motion carried all right thank you so much resolution 2026-1039 certifying that only identified public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements were heard discussed or considered in the closed meeting by city council so moved second we have the motion by vice mayor wolf seconded by councilwoman hudson to approve resolution number r 2026 1039 certifying the closed meeting any discussion hearing and seeing

[03:05:13] none mr smith please call the roll vice mayor wolf yes council member hudson yes council member ellis yes council member smith council member osina yes council member vasquez luna the motion carries all right mr osina thank you uh i for council's uh action i'm moving resolution r-2026-1038 making the following appointments to various seats on the city boards committees and commissions reappoint allison paler to the manassas regional airport commission as a regular member for term

[03:05:49] beginning july 1 2026 and ending june 30th 2030. reappoint chris taylor to the manassas business council as a regular member for term beginning july 1 2026 and ending june 30th 2030. appoint laletta harlem to the manassas business council as a regular member for a partial term beginning june 8th 2026 and ending june 30th 2028 appoint jason doll to the historic resources board as a regular member for a partial term ending excuse me beginning july june the 8th 2026 and ending

[03:06:28] june 30th 2028 point harrison premon to the planning commission as a regular member for a partial term beginning June 8th 2026 and ending June 30th 2028 and send the following nomination to the Prince William County Circuit Court to reappoint John Lasseter to the Board of Zoning Appeals as a regular member for term beginning July 1 2026 and ending June 30th 2031 we have the motion by

[03:07:04] Councilman Osina seconded by Councilman Hudson to approve resolution R 20 26 10 38 making appointments to city boards commissions and committees any discussion and seeing them mr. Smith please call the roll councilmember Osina yes councilmember Hudson yes vice mayor will yes councilmember Ellis councilmember Smith yes councilmember Vasquez yes the motion carries thank you so much for that anything else to come before the council for the good of the residents If not, we are adjourned.

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