On Friday, June 14, Manassas leaders hosted a delegation of Chinese officials and business leaders from the City of Quianjiang in Hubei province. The Manassas Department of Economic Development organized the visit to encourage cultural and economic exchange. This was the first such visit since officials from the City of Shaoxing visited in 2015.
Mayor Michelle Davis Younger, who did not respond to a request for comment for this story, was initially scheduled to lead the delegation but dropped out at the last minute due to a scheduling conflict. Vice Mayor Pamela Sebesky, along with Interim City Manager Doug Keen, took over the task.
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On Monday, May 13, 2024, the Manassas City Council voted to increase keep real estate tax rates flat. Councilmember Sonia Vasquez Luna motioned for approval, and Vice Mayor Pamela Sebesky seconded it. The vote passed, with Councilmember Theresa Coates Ellis being the sole dissenting vote.
The new flat tax rate is set at $1.26 $1.28 per $100 of assessed value. Homeowners with a median home valued at $394,000 will see their average tax bill rise to about $5,070. Overall, real estate property assessments increased by an average of 5.19%.
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Manassas Town Council press release: Theresa Coates Ellis, Patron Manassas City Council Member of Manassas Bee Festival (June 22); Patricia Kouttab, Owner of Kerbobble Toys; Sherry Day, building owner of 9216 Center St.; Mark Olsen, Chair and Kristen Kiefer, Executive Director, Historic Manassas Inc., proudly announce the launch to create a new wall mural at an entrance to Historic Manassas on the wall of Kerbobble Toys celebrating the Bee City USA designation for the City of Manassas. On May 2021, the Manassas City Council voted unanimously to become a Bee City USA, initiated by Council Member Coates Ellis, a trained master gardener and beekeeper. With that designation, the City must hold public awareness activities to plant native and to save our pollinators, including bees. The 4th annual Manassas Bee Festival fulfills this requirement with a free family fun and educational event held on Saturday, June 22nd from 10am to 2pm.
Coates Ellis said, “We started a nonprofit organization, Friends of the Manassas Bee Festival, so we could give back to the community. Our goal was to contribute more public art and education to the city of Manassas with the important native plant and pollinator theme. Since 2019, we have visited many schools and groups and hosted workshops and demonstrations at the apiary at Liberia House and Grounds. This year, we are thrilled that a public art plan came together and the Friends of the Manassas Bee Festival will be donating funds for the wall mural project on Kerbobble Toys, to welcome visitors to our Historic Manassas, a Bee City USA.”
Patricia Kouttab, owner of Kerbobble Toys (opened December, 2019), is also an artist and designed the new mural. She will be painting her original work of art on the wall of her business. The building is owned by Sherry Day, who submitted her consent for the project to Kouttab.
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On Monday, May 20, 2024, the Manassas City Council will hold a joint meeting with the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to discuss the pending purchase of the Manassas Shopping Center. The City and the EDA are entering into a cooperation agreement for the acquisition and future redevelopment of the property
Tonight's meeting will focus on finalizing the details of this cooperation agreement, ensuring both the city and EDA are aligned on the purchase and future plans for the Manassas Shopping Center. Overall, Mathis Avenue, on which the shopping center sits, has long been slated for redevelopment.
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Longtime Manassas business owner Xiao Yin (pronounced Shee-ow Yin) “Tang” Byrom has announced her candidacy for the Republican ticket for Mayor of Manassas. She will challenge incumbent Michelle Davis-Younger, the Democratic Party nominee.
Highlighting her priorities, Yin emphasized two key initiatives aimed at addressing the pressing needs of Manassas residents. First, she stressed the importance of tackling turnover in key roles within the city.
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Manassas City Council held a public hearing on the city's budget, as residents once again are facing the prospect of paying more in taxes.
The hearing held Monday, April 22, 2024, focusing primarily on proposed tax increases, notably in real property taxes. The proposal suggests a flat tax rate of $1.26, sparking a range of reactions from residents, each echoing their unique perspectives on the matter.
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The Manassas City Council has voted to adopt an advertised property tax rate of $1.28 per $100 of property value, a decision that could lead to increased tax bills for homeowners and potentially higher costs for renters as landlords pass on the additional expense.
During the council session Wednesday, March 6, 2024, Interim City Manager Douglass Keen suggested a proactive approach, recommending an incremental increase to allow for flexibility in adjusting the rate before final approval. Council members engaged in a thorough discussion regarding the potential impacts of the proposed rate.
Council member Pamela Sebeksy expressed concerns about future financial stability, citing declining revenue from gas taxes and the need to prepare for unforeseen circumstances. Others, like Council member Theresa Coates Ellis, advocated for maintaining a flat tax rate, while Councilwoman Sonia Vasquez Luna emphasized the importance of raising taxes to safeguard against future uncertainties, such as another pandemic.
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Interim City Manager Douglas Keen presented the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025 to the Manassas City Council on Monday, February 26, 2024, outlining a comprehensive plan to address various community needs and priorities.
During his presentation, Keen highlighted several key achievements from the previous fiscal year, including the successful establishment of businesses like Micron and Olde Towne Inn and the commemoration of Manassas' 150th anniversary. He also referenced the findings of the 2022 Manassas Community Survey, which informed the strategic priorities outlined in the proposed budget.
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During the Manassas City Council meeting on February 13, 2024, three residents voiced their concerns about the use of horse-drawn carriages in the city, urging for a ban on the practice. The speakers, identified as Asteria, Moshe, and Prius Xena, presented arguments against the continuation of horse-drawn carriage rides, emphasizing both animal welfare and public safety.
"Horse-drawn carriages provide rides to Downtown Manassas visitors each year in December," noted Asteria, a resident living off Liberia Avenue. "But every year, these rides pose significant risks to both horses and pedestrians. Horses are prey animals, easily spooked by the noise and commotion of city streets. It's time for the council to prioritize safety and put an end to this dangerous practice."
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The Manassas City School Board and Council held a joint meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, to discuss future plans for the new Jennie Dean Elementary School following the Board’s design approval on Feb. 13, 2024.
Council and board members met to move the process along and hopefully reach an agreement on a Special Use Permit (SUP) the School Board must obtain from the City Council before school construction may begin. Obtaining an SUP will move the decision to approve the designs and construction to the Planning Commission and then the City Council for a vote.
The meeting began with School Board Chair Suzanne Seaberg fielding questions from the Council about the approved design plan, E-2.5, including the size of the open field and the ability to use it for regulation games.
Councilmember Mark Wolfe said he did not like the school’s design.
“I don’t like it, but I’m willing to tolerate things or swallow, but I think the other issue becomes, obviously … what happens to the old facility,” Wolfe said. “I, for one — I’ll put it out there — I do not see a scenario where I’m willing to go forward with the school, and we retained old Dean.”
This comment sparked a debate between the Council and Board members, which lasted nearly the entire meeting; some members hesitated to move forward with a SUP without figuring out what would be done with the existing Jennie Dean building.
It’s unclear what will happen with the current Dean Elementary School, which dates back to the early 1960s. Councilmember Tom Osina said he wants to move forward with the process.
“I think the discussion about the old Dean and everything is an issue that is separate from the actual building of the school,” Osina said. “We can have future discussions on old Dean and share our thoughts. … I’d like to see us treat the two as separate for this meeting just so we can get this going into the SUP process.”
Officials said tearing down the existing Jennie Dean building would not be possible until the new one was built. Some council members requested language be included that the old building be torn down within 18 months of occupation of the new construction.
“My kids were in this school 30-plus years ago. It was a piece of crap then,” Wolfe, a member of Council since 2008, said. “Every time we talked about building a new Dean, the old Dean was going away because it was so bad.”
City Schools Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman said he was baffled about what was being asked of him now. He expressed frustration with the city, citing the district’s compromises to accommodate requests but seemingly not pleasing the entire Council.
“Well, [design 2.5] was the compromise based on the direction that was given to staff to do,” Newman said. “So, whatever we’re doing going forward … just be clear on what you want your city manager and this superintendent to do so that we don’t have to come back in here and feel like we’re being chastised for doing what we were asked to do.”
Osina asked if the SUP could get started today and have further discussions in April when the SUP gets to Council. Councilmember Ralph Smith said tearing down old Dean is not a part of the discussion.
“All these arguments that we are hearing could perhaps — are good — arguments against tearing it down,” Smith said. “But, from what I’m understanding, that’s not the issue we’re posed at this moment of this joint [meeting].”
A new Jennie Dean Elementary School has been a sticking point between the School Board and City Council for about a decade. In years past, the City Council voted to raise taxes to fund the new school because the School Board does not have taxing authority; only the Dean replacement was put on the back burner to focus on other projects, like the purchase of 8700 Centreville Road, the city’s largest private office building, to house its administration.
Ultimately, the School Board opted not to purchase the building after a heated debate with the City Council. Some councilmembers questioned the school division’s motives for purchasing the building when it had previously inked a deal with the Council to occupy the city’s old police station on Fairview Avenue, which remains empty after opening a new public safety center in Fall 2023.
This year, the City Council transferred $200 million to the school division, equating to 47 cents on every dollar the city collected in taxes. The school transfer is the largest single allocation in the city budget.
