Three Nonprofits Receive Grants from Chocolate Lovers Festival
The annual Chocolate Lovers Festival supports the community by donating a portion of the event proceeds to local nonprofit organizations.
At the April 22 City Council meeting, $1,500 checks were presented to representatives from The Lamb Center (pictured), Pathway Homes, and Shelter House.
Past grant recipients include The Women’s Center, Fairfax Library Foundation, Main Street Child Development Center, Our Daily Break, Cameron’s Chocolates, Facets, and Fairfax Law Foundation.
Learn more.
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Spotlight on the Arts Starts April 25
 Attend the opening reception “Stage Door Canteen” at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 25, at the Sherwood Center. We will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the USO – an organization created to boost morale of service members at home and abroad! Purchase tickets ($50) online.
Council Reporter for the April 22 Meeting
 Pictured from left to right: Mayor Catherine Read and City Councilmembers Anthony Amos, Billy Bates, Stacy Hall, Stacey Hardy-Chandler, Rachel McQuillen, and Thomas Peterson.
The Council Reporter for the April 22 meeting includes video segments linked to agenda items. View the Reporter. A summary is provided below.
Work Session
- Discussed the community survey process. The city contracted with ETC Institute to conduct a community survey to gauge policy priorities, quality of service delivery, and customer satisfaction. View the presentation.
- Discussed the Fire Station #3 Feasibility Study. The next step is to validate the space, develop a preliminary conceptual design, and update the cost estimate to construct a new station at the adjacent George Mason University Foundation site, which the city purchased in November 2024. View the presentation.
- Discussed the Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center project. The new facility would replace the existing Joseph Willard Health Center and would connect to the existing Sherwood Center. View the presentation.
- Discussed the Virginia Public-Private Educational Facilities and Infrastructures Act and response to Request for Information regarding Fire Station 3. View the presentation.
- Discussed current trail projects: Pickett Road Connector, Country Club Commons Connector, and George Snyder Trail and extension. View the presentation.
Presentations and Proclamations
- Mayor Catherine Read presented proclamations acknowledging Earth Day (April 22), Arbor Day (April 25), May as Bike Month and National Preservation Month, and April 21-28 as International Dark Sky Week in the City of Fairfax.
- Chocolate Lovers Grants were presented to The Lamb Center, Pathway Homes, and Shelter House.
Agenda Item 4a. (Trails)
- Approved submitting a concept sketch revising the proposed alignment for the George Snyder Trail to the Virginia Department of Transportation for review.
- Approved pausing all actions with respect to the Pickett Road Connector Trail to examine alternatives. (Opposed: Amos, Hardy-Chandler)
- Approved terminating all actions with respect to the Country Club Hills Connector Trail.
Public Hearings
- Public hearing on the maximum Real Estate Tax of $1.150 per $100 of assessed value based upon an assessment ratio of 100% of fair market value, and a personal property and machinery and tools tax rate of $4.13 per $100 of assessed value based upon an assessment ratio of 100% trade-in value (No council action; tax rates will be set May 6).
- Public hearing on an ordinance amending and readopting Chapter 90 of the City Code, pertaining to classification and taxation of property zoned for commercial and industrial purposes, and to establish a separate tax rate on such real property effective Jan. 1, 2025, revenue from which would be used exclusively for transportation purposes that benefit the city. (No council action; council consideration on May 6).
- Public hearing on an ordinance amending Chapter 102 of the City Code to increase the wastewater utility rate by 6% for FY 2026 (No council action; council consideration on May 6).
- Public hearing on an ordinance Chapter 102 of the City Code to set the rate for stormwater utility service furnished by the city at $34.30 per billing unit, a 6% increase (No council action; council consideration on May 6).
- Public hearing on an ordinance amending Chapter 90 of the City Code pertaining to the levy and amount of tax on meals (No council action; council consideration on May 6).
Consent Agenda
- Awarded a construction contract in the estimated amount of $4,117,611 to Sagres Construction Corporation for improvements at the McLean Avenue/Warwick Avenue/Fairfax Boulevard intersection. The improvements include reconfiguring the six-legged intersection into a conventional four-legged intersection. The city was awarded $10,088,332 in funding through VDOT's Smart Scale program to improve several intersections along Fairfax Boulevard.
- Approved the introduction of the appropriation resolutions for the General, Capital, Wastewater, Transit, Stormwater Utility, Cable, Old Town, Transportation Tax, Debt Service and American Rescue Plan Act funds for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. Public hearing set for May 6.
Second Work Session
- Discussed the FY 2025 quarterly financial review. View the presentation.
- Discussed the proposed FY 2026 budget.
A city council meeting is slated for 7 p.m. May 6. View the agenda (subject to change).
Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday nights in City Hall. Watch meetings live on Channel 12 (COX/Verizon) and online, or catch a replay at 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Attend Fairfax HisTree Day at Historic Blenheim, April 26
 Experience living history and enjoy Earth Day activities.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission. See schedule of events.
Flowering Pear Trees to be Removed along Pickett Road
Twenty-five flowering pear trees will be removed from the Pickett Road median starting the week of May 5. Flowering pear trees are classified as non-native invasive species. They are vulnerable to pests and diseases. The trees are in poor condition and pose safety risks to traffic. All trees will be replaced with native species.
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Appeal Assessed Value of Real Estate by May 2
City of Fairfax property owners have until May 2 to file an administrative review of their real estate’s assessed value with the City of Fairfax Real Estate Assessment Office.
Completed applications may be submitted via email to realestate@fairfaxva.gov or delivered to the Office of Real Estate Assessments at 10455 Armstrong St., Room 238, Fairfax.
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Volunteer to Help Make Bike Month Successful
Join the City of Fairfax in promoting Bike Month! Students and community members are invited to sign up for one or more of the volunteer opportunities below.
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Flexible Days/Times Between April 15 and May 10 -- Bike Month Flyer Distribution. Get the word out about the city’s Bike Month events. Volunteers will be asked to pick up flyers at City Hall and deliver them to local establishments.
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Saturday, May 10, 9:30 a.m. -- Resident Ride at Old Town Square. Help facilitate our community bike ride. Volunteers will make sure no one gets separated from the group.
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Thursday, May 15, 5-10 a.m. -- Bike to Work Day at Old Town Square. Staff our ‘pit stop party’ and help set up tables, sign people in, give away treats, work our helmet exchange table, and break down the tables at the end of the event.
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Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Kids Safety Day Traffic Garden at City Hall. Support our pop-up traffic garden where kids can practice biking and walking safety on a miniature road network.
Sign up HERE or visit the city’s Bike Month page for more information about these events.
For questions regarding any of the event opportunities, email chloe.ritter@fairfaxva.gov.
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