Following a special meeting on Jan. 21 to discuss interviews for city boards and commissions and other personnel matters, the Fairfax City Council unanimously appointed Bryan Foster to serve as acting city manager.

Foster was hired through a contract agreement with Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP, a public sector executive recruitment firm. He will begin his new role on Monday, Jan. 27.

Foster has 28 years of local government experience, most recently serving as deputy city manager for the City of Manassas, Va., until early 2024. His previous experience includes serving as director of public utilities for the City of Portsmouth, Va., county administrator for Halifax County, Va., and town manager of Altavista, Va. 

Foster will lead the City of Fairfax through the fiscal year 2026 budgeting process, which is currently underway. The FY 2026 proposed budget presentation is slated for Feb. 25, and the city council will adopt a final budget on May 6 following a series of work sessions and public hearings beginning March 4.

Please join us in person or online for the Jan. 28 city council meeting, where Mayor Catherine Read will present a Black History Month proclamation. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 10455 Armstrong St.

Prior to the meeting, at 6 p.m., a reception will be held in the City Hall Atrium. At 6:30 p.m., Reverend Jeffery Johnson Sr., Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, will recite Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, which Dr. King delivered at the 1963 March on Washington.  

Find more Black History Month events and activities. 

Fairfax City is holding a community meeting from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 30 to collect community feedback to inform the city’s Affordable Housing and Homelessness Strategic Plan.

We seek input from those who have experienced housing affordability challenges in the city. Please share your experiences and concerns to assist in shaping the city's Affordable Housing and Homelessness Strategic Plan, scheduled to be finalized this summer.

The strategic plan will build on the foundational knowledge of the housing market and conditions of Fairfax City, planned ongoing development, and community priorities and goals established in the Housing Assessment & Strategy Report (2023) and the Homelessness Task Force report (2024).

The meeting will be held from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Fairfax Presbyterian Church, 10723 Main St. Dinner will be provided (while supplies last). Please visit Eventbrite to RSVP if you will attend.

Thaiss Memorial Park is closed for renovations until spring 2026.  In the meantime, we would like to highlight the many players, parents, spectators, and community members who have made memories at the park over the years. 

Do you have photos that showcase Thaiss Park through the many uniforms, cars, hairstyles, and fashions the park has seen?

Please email your photos to Kay Kaelin at kay.kaelin@fairfaxva.gov.  Please identify people in the photos, if you can. Thank you in advance for searching your digital archives, albums, and shoeboxes to help us create this retrospective of a beloved city park. 

Due to the inability of our (former) printing vendor to secure paper stock, the February edition of Cityscene may be delivered a few days later than normal. We're hopeful this isn't the case, but it's a possibility. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we iron out any wrinkles with our new printer.