With only five members present (Mayor Robin Gardner and Councilman David Snyder absent), the Falls Church City Council deferred votes on both the formation of a controversial new “Long-Range Financial Planning” group and the second reading of an ordinance restricting the practice of involuntary so-called “predatory” towing in the City.

After an extended discussion, the Council found itself at loggerheads on fine-tuned language on the formation of the proposed new group. On the towing issue, the deferral was without discussion, with City Manager Wyatt Shields reporting that talks were on-going between City Hall and some of the commercial property owners that have contracted for the current towing practice.