Manassas Park council bans firearms in city buildings, rezones Ivy Park and OKs RingCentral phone system

Manassas Park — The Manassas Park governing body on Oct. 21 adopted a new ordinance that prohibits the possession, carrying or transportation of firearms, ammunition and components in city-owned or -controlled buildings, approved a rezoning and associated waivers for the Ivy Park development, and authorized a contract to replace the municipal phone system.

The firearms ordinance, which includes standard exemptions for sworn law enforcement, military personnel acting in the scope of their duties and private security when performing contracted duties, was approved after council agreed to a three-tiered penalty structure and a one-year window between tiers. Council amended the ordinance’s delayed effective date during the meeting; the ordinance will take effect Jan. 1, 2026. The motion carried on a roll-call vote.

Vice Mayor Moore proposed a graduated fine scheme during debate, suggesting lower penalties for first-time, inadvertent violations and increasingly severe penalties for repeat offenses within a one-year period; council members discussed enforcement as complaint-driven rather than proactive screening. As presented in the meeting, the tiers discussed were a class 4 fine for a first offense, class 3 for a second offense and class 1 for a third or subsequent offense, with a one-year reset period between tiers.

Also on the agenda, the council approved rezoning application RZ-2025-01 for the Ivy Park project, moving the property from I-1 Industrial/PUD (planned unit development) to PUD residential subject to the applicant’s third submission and associated waiver requests. Applicant representative Janelle Cameron said the team added an 8-foot noise-reduction wall along the northern property line with a minimum STC rating of 23 to mitigate sound; some council members expressed concern that STC-23 provides only modest attenuation and urged continued review of wall materials and placement. Council approved the rezoning and waivers by roll call.

The governing body also authorized the city manager to contract with RingCentral to replace the city’s end-of-life phone system. City IT staff said the move will reduce reliance on Verizon’s copper network, add voicemail transcription and electronic faxing, and allow Teams integration for some users. The authorization covers $41,106.50 for equipment and FY26 service fees as presented, subject to final attorney review.

Staff presentations included the police department’s FY26 first-quarter crime statistics and a transportation presentation on gateway and wayfinding signage for Park Central. The police chief said overall crime remains lower than the same quarter last year but noted localized increases in some property crimes and motor-vehicle fatalities; he told council he would provide overdose statistics and any death counts on follow-up. Transportation program manager Steve Hall presented a signage plan aimed at directing traffic to downtown Park Central with a phased implementation tied to bids and available budget. “This effort is aimed at getting people into downtown,” Hall said.

Council also reviewed a draft FY26 legislative priorities packet that the city will share with state and federal representatives and the Northern Virginia liaisons group. Items discussed included SNAP and school meal program support, proposals to improve retirement benefits for dispatchers and law enforcement, constitutional amendments that could be placed on the ballot if they pass the General Assembly again in 2026, housing-target proposals and proposals affecting local governance and annexation authority.

The meeting wrapped with the city manager noting upcoming community events and that federal government shutdowns had delayed EPA participation in the city’s bird sanctuary RFP work. Council then convened a closed meeting to discuss personnel matters.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance to prohibit firearms in city buildings (Chapter 26 amendment): adopted as amended; delayed effective date set to Jan. 1, 2026; enforcement to be complaint-driven; standard law-enforcement and related exemptions retained. (Transcript discussion: SEG 1938–2323.)

- Ivy Park rezoning (RZ-2025-01) and associated waivers: approved; includes commitment to an 8-foot sound barrier (STC 23 minimum) along the northern property line; council asked staff/applicant to revisit materials/performance. (Transcript discussion: SEG 2324–2606.)

- Authorization to enter agreement with RingCentral for new phone system: authorized; equipment and FY26 service fees as presented, subject to final attorney review. (Transcript discussion: SEG 2610–2963.)

Other actions: consent agenda approved including authorization for the city manager to enter into an agreement with Cox Communications subject to attorney review. Proclamations recognizing Veterans Day, Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month were adopted.

How the votes will be implemented

Council directed staff to return with contract documents after bid or procurement steps where required, to finalize sign locations and bid packages for wayfinding signage, and to provide follow-up crime and overdose statistics requested during the police presentation. For the firearms ordinance, staff will implement signage, enforcement protocols and any administrative guidance before the ordinance’s effective date.

Key quotes

- "Your focus on us doing something other than cars is a great example for Prince William County," said Charlie Grimes of the Greater Prince William Trails Coalition in public comment, urging continued emphasis on bike/ped planning. (SEG 055–069)

- On the firearms ordinance debate, a council member argued for a tiered penalty structure to differentiate inadvertent violations from repeat, deliberate conduct; the body agreed to a graduated scheme with a one-year reset. (SEG 1971–1990; SEG 2160–2170)

- "This effort as well is aimed at getting people into downtown," said Steve Hall, transportation program manager, while presenting the gateway/wayfinding sign plan. (SEG 1350–1356)

- The police presentation concluded that "overall, crime for us is about... 65% under than what it was first quarter last year," and staff said they would provide more detailed overdose numbers on follow-up. (SEG 386–389; SEG 430–434)

What’s next

Staff will finalize procurement documents and bid packages where applicable, return to council with contract authorizations and additional details requested (noise wall materials/options for Ivy Park, overdose statistics, and timing/budget for wayfinding signage phasing). The governing body entered a closed session for personnel matters at the end of the meeting.