F.C. ‘Pleased’ With Fairfax Court Stay
Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields said in a statement yesterday that he is “pleased the (Fairfax Circuit) court order has been stayed,” after Judge R. Terrence Ney entered a consent order that postpones the enforcement of the court’s Jan. 6 decree prohibiting Falls Church from taking an annual “return on investment” from its water fund.
The stay is pending the outcome of Falls Church’s appeal of the decision to the Virginia Supreme Court, and the Fairfax Water Authority has dropped its initial opposition to the stay. The ruling of the Supreme Court is expected before April 6. Additional counts in the Fairfax Water/Falls Church lawsuit are scheduled to be heard in the Fairfax Circuit Court beginning Feb. 1.
F.C. Assessments Due in Homes Feb. 10
Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields reported Tuesday that a revised schedule for the issuance of annual real estate assessments in the City has been implemented, pushing back the dates when City residents can expect to receive their assessment reports in the mail to Feb. 10 and days thereafter. The assessment report will be available on the City’s web site Feb. 8. Overall, real estate assessments are down 6.6 percent, Shields said, with the deepest drop in the value of commercial properties.
Murray Announces Candidacy Vs. Moran
Alexandria resident Patrick Murray, a retired U.S. Army colonel with 24 years of active service, announced last week that he will run against Democratic Rep. Jim Moran in the 8th District of Virginia this year. Neither his announcement nor his web site indicate his party affiliation.
F.C. Officials Testify in Richmond
Falls Church City Councilmen Hal Lippman and Lawrence Webb, Police Chief Harry Reitze, and Assistant City Manager Cindy Mester appeared before the Virginia Senate’s Local Government Committee in Richmond on Tuesday to support legislation by Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple proposing that local governments have the authority to prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms in government buildings such as city halls, libraries, and recreation centers. The committee voted 9-6 against reporting the bill to the floor of the Senate.
F.C. Offers Parking Fine Waivers
The City of Falls Church Treasurer’s office is offering a one-time waiver for parking fine penalties, F.C. officials announced today. Beginning this week, City Treasurer Cathy Kaye’s office will mail courtesy notices to citizens who have unpaid parking tickets, advising them they have a 30 day reprieve from penalties if their overdue parking fines are paid by Feb. 26. Citizens who believe that they have delinquent parking fines, and do not get a letter, are advised to contact the Treasurer’s office at 703-248-5046.
Chipotle: Still No F.C. Lease Signed
The Falls Church Economic Development Office’s Becky Witsman confirmed to the News-Press yesterday that the much-anticipated opening of a Chipotle restaurant in the Broaddale Shopping Center still awaits the signing of a lease.
JanMedia Agrees to Print City Calendar
Falls Church’s JanMedia Company has agreed to donate the printing of the Falls Church City Calendar, featuring art contributions from the City’s youth, it was announced at a F.C. Chamber of Commerce social mixer Tuesday. The F.C. City Hall cut the calendar from its budget in a cost-saving move last fall.
2 Robbed Outside Merrifield Store
Two people were robbed outside a check cashing store in Merrifield last Saturday, Fairfax County police reported. A 60-year-old woman, an employee of Checks Cashed at 2929 Gallows Road, was waiting for her 68-year-old husband to pick her up at 8:30 p.m. When she got into the car, two men ran up and one of them pointed a gun. They pulled the victims out of the car and demanded money. A suspect took personal property from the male victim’s pocket. The suspects fled before they could obtain anything else. The victims did not require medical attention.
