The Manassas City Council unanimously voted to give local restaurants a break.

In a bipartisan decision at a special meeting Monday night, leaders opted to extend the deadline for city eateries to pay their monthly meals taxes. Originally due this month on March 20, restaurants now have until June 20 to pay their meals taxes accumulated for the months of March, April, and May.

Late fees won’t be applied to those who are paying late. The grace period does not apply for meals taxes owed to the city from January and February.

City Economic Development Director Patrick Small said Manassas has 1,500 businesses and about 125 of those are restaurants. About a dozen of them in Downtown. Most of the highest tax-paying restaurants are not in the city’s core, Small added. Most of them are chain eateries such as Chick-Fil-A, Taco Bell, Starbucks, and McDonald’s.

The city charges diners a 4% meals tax collected when they pay their checks. The tax brought in just over $4.1 million in revenue for the city in 2018 and was forecast to bring in $4.3 million this year.

Manassas City Treasurer Patricia Richie-Folks said 37 restaurants that have paid taxes so far this month, netting about $87,000.

The decision to delay the tax collection came on the same day Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ordered all restaurants to close their dining rooms starting today, in the wake of the spread of the coronavirus. They may still order takeout or delivery options, per the governor’s order.

City councilmembers held the emergency meeting inside the council chamber in city hall. As they did one week earlier, leaders sat in the seats usually reserved for the audience, socially distancing themselves, adhering to new federal mandates that require people to keep at least six feet apart in public. Two staff members phoned into the meeting, attending it virtually.

Councilman Ian Lovejoy noted the much talked about Federal Government response to the coronavirus being debated in Washington that night.

If approved by Congress and signed by the president, it could be a multi-trillion deal that would send cash to citizens in an effort spur the U.S. economy that ground to a halt when President Donald Trump closed the country’s borders and ordered citizens to stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus.

With no federal stimulus package approved, and with uncertainty as to how the state will use its $1.8 billion rainy-day funds in the recovery of the coronavirus, the meals tax is a tax that leaders can control, said Lovejoy.

Councilwoman Pamela Sebesky said the amount of tax collected will surely be will be lower than normal as restaurants have been forced to close their dining rooms.  

“Yes there will be an impact,” replied Manassas City Manager Patrick Pate said.

How much of an impact? He’s not sure because the highest-paying taxpayers are mostly fast food places, Pate said.

And those fast-food restaurants, most of them still serving customers at drive-through windows, will still pay on time, added Councilman Mark Wolfe.

“The risk of losing $350,000 a month, times three, is lower,” said Wolfe.

It’s more likely the city will lose about $100,000 over the next three months in delayed meals tax collections, he added.

In an eerie and nearly empty city council chamber, Manassas leaders moved ahead with the city’s annual budget process in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

The City Council on Monday, March 16, 2020, chose to advertise a property tax rate of $1.48 per every $100 of the assessed Real Estate property value for its budget for Fiscal Year 2021, which begins July 1.

A tax levied on Real Estate is the key funding source for the city’s proposed $253 million budget. The council took the vote during an emergency meeting called by Mayor Hal Parrish II.  

At that advertised rate, the average homeowner in the city would see a $4,295 property tax bill that’s about $22o more than the previous year.

The tax rate the City Council chose to advertise is higher than the $1.44 rate initially proposed by City Manager Patrick Pate, who, just a week earlier, told the City Council that the city had a ‘banner year’ of accomplishments, which heralded the largest number of private investments in the city’s 147-year history.

On March 9, Pate showed the City Council a video that highlighted those investments, which include a deal to build a new Tru by Hilton hotel near the Manassas Regional Airport, the opening of a Didlake Document Imaging Center, the expansion of Chantilly Air at the regional airport, the continued building at Landing at Cannon Branch, and the location of Applied Materials, a microchip maker. 

Then, of course, there’s the continuing work on the $3 billion expansion of computer chipmaker Micron, which was the largest economic development deal in Virginia history when it was announced by Gov. Ralph Northam in 2018.

“As you saw in the video, the city has seen remarkable growth over the past year,” Pate said. “Major public and private economic development projects are underway, including $133 million that is shown in new assessment construction in this budget. This is the largest increase as far as we know in private development in the city’s history…” Pate said. 

Taxable Real Estate values in the city increased over the last year, from just over $5 billion to just over $5.4 billion, including $133 million in new construction, Pate said. 

The $253 million budget Pate proposed on March 9 showed funding increases in nearly every funding category. The city’s school division would receive about $1 million more than it did the year before, while the city’s capital projects fund would get an additional $7.3 million — the largest annual increase of any category.

The city’s list of capital projects includes the construction of a new Fire Station 21, near the intersection of Dumfries Road and Hastings Drive. The $14 million fire station is scheduled to open by the end of June 2021. When complete, it will enhance the city’s ability to respond to 911 calls, said Pate.

In addition to the new firehouse, since 2013, the city has promised to replace four aging fire engines, fund two paramedic units, and a new tower ladder truck, said Pate.

A new $49.1 million Public Safety Center is also on this list and will be built in the old Grant Avenue Shopping Center next to the Georgetown South neighborhood. The new facility will serve as the city’s new police station. Additionally, it will provide offices for fire and rescue staff, and house the city’s IT department, Pate said.

At the March 16 emergency meeting, council members sat several feet apart from each other as they discussed the budget and voted on the advertised tax rate. The meeting was held on the first day of a two-week self-isolation quarantine ordered by President Donald Trump due to the spread of the coronavirus. 

Trump urged U.S. citizens to stay home, avoid public spaces, and maintain a six-feet distance from strangers, all to prevent the spread of the virus.

Parrish called the meeting in first-floor council chambers inside the city hall. Using the seats normally reserved for the audience, Parrish stood before the councilmembers who were seated apart from each other based on “social distancing” recommendations from the CDC.

Councilman Mark Wolfe motioned for the advertised tax rate of $1.48, and Councilman Ian Lovejoy seconded it.

Councilwoman Pam Sebesky said the needed to come up with a higher rate due to the unknowns surrounding the coronavirus and how it might affect their budget next year in the face of the national crisis.

Council members have been talking with the city’s firefighters, who are seeking higher salaries.

“We also had a long discussion about the needs of the firefighters,” Sebesky said.

While the city council can agree to lower the advertised tax rate, now that it’s been advertised at $1.48, it cannot raise it. Following that meeting, the city closed all of its buildings to the public in the wake of the coronavirus spread.

As of now, a public hearing on the tax rate is set for April 27, and the council is expected to take its final vote to approve the budget on May 11

But all of that is now dependent on what happens with the coronavirus, said city spokeswoman Patty Prince.

The city must approve a new budget by June 30, when the fiscal year ends.

The City of Manassas Park has declared an emergency as the city has closed its offices, and is implementing safety protocols in the light of the coronavirus outbreak, including a food hotline for the senior community.

In accordance with the Governor’s order to limit public gatherings, the City is complying to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and to protect our residents. Effective today, City Hall will be closed to the public, except by appointments only. See: https://t.co/KmNNySJNFH pic.twitter.com/gGwMQXPe5K

— CityofManassasPark (@ManassasParkGov) March 18, 2020

According to the City’s website, as of March 18, 2020, the Offices of the City Treasurer, City Commissioner of Revenue, Registrar, Community Development (Inspections/Permits), and Department of Social Services are closed to the public. Residents are also able to conduct business online, by email, by phone, or by the drop-box located outside of City Hall.

According to a document from the city, they have established an emergency food hotline for senior citizen residents. The hotline website encourages seniors in need of food during the pandemic to email CMP-food@manassasparkva.gov or call them at their food hotline at 703-335-8802. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from noon to 4 p.m.

The Community Center will be closed until April 14 to protect the most vulnerable population (seniors) who are active users.

The city’s community center will remain open for religious worship services currently renting space. The city will be freezing memberships for community center members while closed.

According to recommendations from Manassas City Manager Laszlo A. Palko, the city is working with Paypal and Merchant services to waive online fees for residents until April 14.

This will help facilitate online payments of water and trash bills, according to the city. If these vendors will not waive the fee, the city will take on these expenditures for residents- an estimated $12,000 to $20,000 over the next 30 days, city documents state.

With the closure of the community center, the Palko recommends continuing to pay their part-time employees while they are working fewer hours in order to preserve their employee base, reduce income burdens resulting from this pandemic, and to ensure the city limits the economic impact of this pandemic.

Palko has requested spending authority up to $10,000, and to seek FEMA reimbursement post-Pandemic. In order to be able to secure FEMA reimbursements, Palko, along with the city’s Governing Body, declared a Local Emergency. This was ratified on Tuesday, March 17, Manassas Park Mayor Janette Rishell confirmed.

Palko has also authorized the extension of the Elderly Tax Relief deadline from April 1 to May 1 so that senior citizens can practice social distancing during the pandemic.

Mary Washington Healthcare is hoping to ward off the spread of coronavirus by no longer allowing visitors at area facilities.

According to a press release, to minimize the risk to their patients and staff, Mary Washington Healthcare is taking extraordinary measures. Effective Sunday, March 15, 2020, at 8:00 p.m., Mary Washington Healthcare facilities, including Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital, will no longer allow visitors.

Mary Washington Healthcare will allow laboring mothers to have one designated support person during their hospital stay. Patients who are minors will be allowed two parents or guardians to remain with the patient.

This unprecedented protocol will be in place until further notice. By taking this step now, the health system hopes to minimize risk to patients, their families and their healthcare providers. The public should continue to practice frequent handwashing and stay home when feeling ill.

For the most current and up-to-date information on their visitation policy and COVID-19, please visit their website.

It’s business as usual at Occoquan Town Hall.

The Town web site contains links to the Prince William County Emergency Management website and to the Virginia Department of Health which contains information and updates on COVID-19 in our area. If you still have questions about COVID-19 after visiting these sites, you may call (877) ASK-VDH3 (877-275-8343) to speak with a public information representative.

The 21st annual Manassas St. Patrick’s Day Parade will not proceed as planned.

Inisfail Inc., the organizing body of the Greater Manassas Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, announced Friday that it would cancel the event due to coronavirus concerns.

“The decision has been made to cancel the 2020 Greater Manassas St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This decision was made in coordination with local City and County Leaders,” the organization posted to its social media page.

Shortly thereafter, officials inside the city government started spreading the news, asking local news outlets like Potomac Local News to help spread the word of the parade’s cancelation.

Glendell Hill, Sheriff of the Prince William County Police Department, had been named Grand Marshal of the 2020 Greater Manassas Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. He was slated to lead the parade down Center Street in Downtown Manassas on Saturday, March 14, 2020.

“We thank Sheriff Hill for his many years of public service to Prince William County and for his annual participation in, and support of the Manassas St. Patrick’s Day Parade,” said Vincent Fitzpatrick, parade organizer states in a press release.

The parade had been scheduled to start at 11 a.m.

More people are overdosing on heroin in Manassas.

City Police Chief Douglas Keen reports there have been 56 total heroin overdoses in the city in the past year. That’s an increase of 70 percent over the previous year.

A total of 12 people died in the city as a result of an overdose this past year.

Keen told elected city leaders that, sometimes, the police department can track where the fatal heroin is coming from when it has fentanyl — a powerful opioid used to treat pain, and one that can be dangerous to law enforcement officers and rescue personnel who are engaged in life-saving actives when trying to resuscitate an overdose victim.

Manassas police have bee issued Narcan to use if they are first to the scene of an overdose, they can administer it a victim. Police also partner with UVA Prime William Medical Center twice a year for community drug-take backs, where residents can come to dispose of old or unused drugs safely for free, said city spokeswoman Patty Prince.

Inside the Prince William Regional Jail, officials run a program for addiction rehabilitation. “Sometimes that is the only way to get help for those with issues with addiction,” added Prince.

In 2017, there were 1,241 drug overdose deaths involving opioids in Virginia—a rate of 14.8 deaths per 100,000 persons, compared to the national rate of 14.6 deaths per 100,000 persons, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Despite the uptick in drug use, the overall crime rate in the city has decreased by 3 percent to the lowest its been in a decade. Keen credits his officers’ ability to work with residents to police the community.

“I still believe we are fortunate, in times that many other communities struggle with relationships with law enforcement…” said Keen.

Where people once used to go hit the links, they’ll now be hitting the books.

Manassas Park agreed to $3.1 million deal with Maryland-based Library Systems & Services to create and manage a new library at the site of the old Generals Ridge Golf Course, now called Bloom’s Park, over the course of 10 years.

With that, the city will leave the Prince William County Public Library System, of which it’s been a member since 1979.

“We were supposed to be in negotiations with Prince William, and I guess we weren’t,” Manassas Park City Council member Donald Shuemaker told members of the Prince William Library Trustees board at their February meeting.

The new transitional neighborhood library at Blooms Park will open by July 1, when the city’s current contract with the Prince William library system expires. The library will be located in the 2,000 square foot section of the building, will be open 48 hours per week, and will provide city residents with access to up to 1,000 printed books, digital books, and audiobooks, as well as magazines.

Library Systems & Services will furnish the materials, and the city will pay a $30,000 handling fee for those materials staring in the second year of the contract.

City leaders said the transitional library is a temporary fix while a more long-term solution is considered. A permanent facility is envisioned near Manassas Park’s City Center development on Manassas Drive, near the city’s Virginia Railway Express station.

It has been dubbed the “downtown” library, and it could open as early as 2023 and would be 8,000 square feet, according to Shuemaker, 300% larger than the transitional facility.

City leaders say the move to leave the county’s library system is a cost-saving measure. During the discussion process, they wasted no time reminding residents the city is, essentially, broke.

“We are struggling financially – we need to reduce expenditures over the next two years after this current fiscal year. We have controlled or reduced spending across the board to deal with our high annual debt payments from debt incurred in the 2000s. The city is living lean until these annual debt payments fall in Fiscal Year [2023]. Debt will still be at relatively high levels after FY [2023], but much more manageable,” city documents state.

Much of the city’s incurred debt came from the construction of the city’s community center at 99 Adams Street. Despite the debt, a library is something government officials say they want.

“We want our own library in our jurisdiction and eventually in our downtown. We believe that our [eventual] downtown library will be heavily used by our own residents and residents of Prince William County as well due to it being part of a new and exciting commercial town center with other commercial elements that will draw people beyond just our City borders. Thus this library will be an amenity for county residents and our own residents,” city documents state.

Central Libary, located at 8601 Mathis Avenue in Manassas has been the closest library for residents of both the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park to use. While upgrades for that library are underway now, Manassas Park leaders it’s too little, too late.

“We do not believe that Central Library has seen the same type of investment as other libraries in the system (it is the oldest library in the system),” city documents state.

Manassas City is also a current member of the Prince William County Public Library System and has been since 1976. But it too is exploring its options of leaving the system in favor of its own library.

That city has yet to decide what it will do, however, it has explored a similar option of working with a contracted firm that would operate a library at the Wellington Station shopping center at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Wellington Road. It has until the end of June to make a decision.