Fairfax City Council adopts updated procedural resolutions; staff to consider codification

The Fairfax City Council unanimously approved a package of revised procedural and operational resolutions at its Jan. 28 meeting that formalize how the council interacts with staff, how public participation is handled at regular meetings and how mayor and council reimbursements and benefits are administered.

Brian Lovekaman, the city attorney, told council the revisions mostly reflect stylistic and organizational edits but also incorporate changes from recent General Assembly actions and the city’s separate remote participation policy. “What we’re trying to do is make sure that everybody gets the same information and that the items, request for information, request for research are properly briefed,” Lovekaman said, describing how councilor requests to staff are expected to be routed through the city manager to ensure consistent briefings for the full body.

Councilmember Hardy Chandler moved approval of the four resolutions as presented and Councilmember Peterson seconded the motion. A roll call vote recorded unanimous approval: Councilmember Amos, Councilmember Hall, Councilmember Hardy Chandler, Councilmember Peterson, Councilmember Bates and Councilmember McQuillan all voted aye.

Lovekaman told the council staff will return at a future work session to discuss whether the rules should be codified into city code rather than adopted every two years by resolution, and staff also plans to present options for a code of conduct or ethics for elected and appointed boards.

The action was taken as a single motion approving all four resolutions; council did not request separate votes for individual policies.