Manassas council reviews FY26 CIP including Mifco purchase, City Hall annex planning, Marcello staffing and EV chargers

Assistant City Manager Matt opened the City Council work session briefing on the fiscal 2026 capital improvements plan (CIP), which focused on general‑fund projects tied to downtown redevelopment, parks and public safety.

The session highlighted two downtown projects the city plans to advance over the next five to ten years: acquisition and environmental work at the Mifco property and a placeholder for a future parking deck; and a proposed City Hall annex of about 20,000–30,000 square feet intended to house social services and the city registrar with room for future expansion. "That is a combination...the purchase of the Mifco property," Matt said, describing remediation and initial planning funds in FY26 and placeholder construction funding in later years.

Why it matters: the Mifco purchase and annex planning are linked to a broader downtown redevelopment effort and to recently extended social‑services leases, giving the city time to study space needs before breaking ground.

Staff said the Mifco allocation in FY26 covers purchase and initial environmental work, including grant‑eligible remediation; a separate line for the parking deck remains a placeholder while the city explores a developer RFP for the City Hall campus. The annex description in the CIP currently notes social services and registrar space; staff agreed to update the project description to reflect the possible relocation of utility customer service and other departments as planning continues. Council had previously extended the social‑services lease for 7–10 years, staff said, which provides additional time to finalize annex needs.

Parks and recreation work identified in the CIP includes completion and ribbon‑cutting plans for Dean Park, Marcello and Annenberg facilities and a $250,000 allocation from a forfeited deposit to finish diamond field work at Dean Park. Biannual park maintenance projects are scheduled for Nelson, Walter Delisle and Oakenshaw parks this fiscal cycle.

On recreation staffing, the packet included a proposed staffing plan for the Marcello Recreation Center. Staff said one full‑time position was added in the prior budget and can support piloting expanded hours as early as April; three part‑time positions would be needed to reach the “fully staffed” schedule described in the materials. Staff described options in tiers: the current funded position can expand evening/weekend offerings, adding one part‑time hire would allow materially more hours, and three part‑time hires would deliver the full program the city previously outlined. Councilmembers pressed for evening and first‑floor customer‑facing services and asked staff to prioritize clear public information on hours and access.

Staff also summarized grant‑dependent projects. The city is showing a COG (Council of Governments) grant for EV charging in the FY26 CIP; staff said COG applied for the grant and that, if awarded, the city would place chargers in public parking lots including the PD lot, Dean Park and Stonewall Park and relocate one charger from the customer service center. Staff emphasized internal controls: the finance office will require a signed federal funding agreement before reimbursable federal money is spent.

Public safety and facility planning items were described as longer‑term projects. Fire Station 1 remains a future‑years placeholder; staff has begun size and location conversations with the fire chief. Staff said Station 21 cost estimates are placeholders at this stage. Council asked for more detailed planning and sequencing to avoid overlapping construction and service disruptions.

Staff closed the general‑government presentation by flagging related transportation projects that will require coordination as redevelopment and data‑center activity progresses, and by noting forthcoming public engagement for several park and sidewalk projects.

Ending: staff asked the council for any direction to carry forward before the city’s advertised tax‑rate discussion later in the week and offered to return with updated project descriptions and refined space‑need analyses as the annex and downtown RFP work advance.