By a vote of 6-1, the Falls Church City Council Monday approved expenditures of up to $1.2 million for the first phase of a $17.4 million renovation and expansion of City Hall. The Council was informed that it could halt the process at any point it deemed the plan was not in accord with its wishes, beginning at the point $224,000 is expended for a first schematic design component.

Numerous City Hall employees testified during the public hearing of the deteriorated and unsecured conditions of the 60-year old building with its 10 points of entry, including members of the seven-member Employee Advisory Council and the police department.