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Council reviews 2026 legislative priorities; changes educational "attainment" to "success," considers active-transportation language
Summary
Council reviewed a draft of the city's 2026 legislative priorities, accepted edits from local schools adding special education, directed staff to change the heading "educational attainment" to "educational success," and asked staff to consider adding "active transportation" to mobility priorities.
City staff presented a draft of the city'026 legislative priorities on Oct. 20 and said they had incorporated the council's previously stated priorities and provided a draft to the schools for review.
Mr. Burke told council the Manassas-area schools had asked that special education be added to the education bullet and that staff had incorporated that change. The schools did not ask for additional changes to the draft heading, but several council members said the title "educational attainment" felt flat and proposed alternatives.
After discussion, council coalesced around the phrase "educational success" for the education heading; a council member said "achievement sounds better than attainment" and the council requested staff make that change and place the revised draft on the Oct. 27 agenda for adoption. Council also discussed whether the word "divisions" in a breakfast-and-lunch priority meant statewide school divisions; staff clarified it referred to school divisions statewide.
Vice Mayor Wolf reported he had spoken with State Senator (name not specified in transcript) who plans to introduce legislation to close a property-tax exemption loophole for certain data centers; council noted the draft already included related economic-prosperity language. A late email requested adding "active transportation" to the advancing-mobility section; staff said they would consult with internal staff (Chloe and Matt) and could add the wording if appropriate.
Council also reviewed a draft bullet that would seek authority under Virginia law for eminent domain for transportation improvements outside the city boundary; staff and legal counsel said the cited code provision as drafted in the agenda affects larger cities and that other state code provisions exist that authorize limited uses (for example, certain public utilities and, for cities above a population threshold, transportation projects with county approval). Greg Brown summarized the legal landscape and confirmed Manassas currently has eminent-domain authority in the adjoining county for public-utility easements under existing statutes and processes; council did not adopt any statutory change at the meeting and left the draft priority language for potential inclusion in the final list.
Council members asked staff to check the document for consistency (for example, whether to say "English language learners") and to reach out to the city's legislative delegation ahead of the city's legislative breakfast to identify which items legislators might sponsor, cosponsor or support. The revised priorities will return to council for adoption at the Oct. 27 meeting.
