Jim Parajon | ALXnow

City Council to consider nonprofit lease renewals, receive Torpedo Factory operator proposals

Published May 11, 2026 at 3:45PM

Casa Chirilagua at 4109 Mount Vernon Avenue (via Facebook)

Alexandria City Council will consider extending leases to allow nonprofits and other programs to keep operating at its meeting on Tuesday (May 12).

City Council will consider setting a public hearing for Saturday (May 16) on a new five-year lease agreement with nonprofit Casa Chirilagua at 4109 Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria, as well as three-year lease extensions for the Alexandria Boxing Club at Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street) and the Child and Family Network Centers at Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center (25 West Reed Avenue).

News

PHOTOS: APD honors fallen officers for Alexandria Police Week

By James Cullum

Published May 6, 2026 at 3:45PM

Alexandria Police Department officers at the fallen officers memorial wreath laying outside police headquarters, May 6, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department honored its fallen officers in an annual wreath laying ceremony today (May 6).

The wreath laying is part of Alexandria Police Week, which included a memorial church service this morning. There will also be a wreath-laying at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 7, at Waterfront Park in Old Town.

News

ACPS board weighs staffing and program cuts to address $5.6M budget gap

By James Cullum

Published May 6, 2026 at 2:45PM

Alexandria School Board Chair Michelle Rief speaks at Alexandria City High School's 25th anniversary celebration of the film Remember The Titans, Sept. 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City School Board Chair Michelle Rief says the school system will have to look toward its own resources, and not the city, to fill a $5.6 million funding gap.

In a blog post last week, Rief addressed City Council’s decision to not fill the $5.6 million gap the school system needs to fund its proposed $12.7 million collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Council approved the city’s $979.1 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget on April 29, after some councilmembers expressed surprise that the proposed CBA was not part of a multi-year agreement.

News

City Council approves $979.1M budget with unchanged real estate tax rate but eyes tougher choices ahead

By James Cullum

Published April 30, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated May 6, 2026 at 11:43AM

Alexandria City Council on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council unanimously approved City Manager Jim Parajon’s $979.1 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget with a few changes Wednesday night.

The budget represents a 2.4% increase over the FY2026 budget and maintains the real estate tax rate of $1.135 per $100 of assessed value, although some City Council members expressed caution about a potential tax increase in next year’s budget. Property owners whose assessment values increased could still see higher tax bills under the unchanged rate.

News

Parking fees and fines to rise after Alexandria City Council budget approval

By James Cullum

Published April 30, 2026 at 10:30AM | Updated April 30, 2026 at 1:11PM

Parking meter in Old Town (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Alexandria City Council on Wednesday (April 29) approved City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposal to increase metered parking fees and parking ticket fines.

Without discussion, City Council approved raising parking meter rates from $1.75 to $2.75 and parking ticket fines from $40 to $55. The approvals were part of Parajon’s $979.1 million Fiscal year 2027 budget, which Council approved Tuesday night without a real estate tax increase.

News

City manager proposes $135M financing deal to develop former Old Town North power plant

By James Cullum

Published April 29, 2026 at 2:45PM

Rendering of development at the former Potomac River Generating Station property in Old Town North (via City of Alexandria)

On Tuesday, City Manager Jim Parajon unveiled a plan to catalyze a two-phase development of the former Potomac River Generating Station in Old Town North with a $135 million city investment.

The $135 million, 30-year tax increment financing agreement would be funded by projected future tax revenues at the 19-acre mixed-use site through the creation of a Community Development Agency. Under the proposal outlined to City Council, Parajon said the $135 million investment would spark more than $2 billion in private sector investment and generate more than $770 million in tax revenues.

News

City Council axes Sunday paid parking proposal, increases other parking fees

By James Cullum

Published April 23, 2026 at 2:15PM

Parking meter in Old Town (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Alexandria City Council torpedoed City Manager Jim Parajon’s plan for paid metered parking on Sundays, but balanced a $726,000 shortfall by raising parking meter fees from $1.75 to $2.75 and parking ticket fines from $40 to $55.

Last week, City Council directed Parajon to consider a number of alternatives to his Sunday parking plan. After deliberation, a majority of members endorsed Option E at Tuesday night’s add/delete work session, as the final touches are being put on the city’s $977 million Fiscal Year 2027 Budget. The move will generate $1.1 million in funding — covering an approximately $726,000 shortfall from removing the Sunday parking fee proposal and adding about $329,000 to the city’s general fund.

News

Alexandria Library Board faces backlash after ousting member over city takeover study

By James Cullum

Published April 21, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated April 22, 2026 at 4:35PM

Image via Alexandria Library/Facebook

Criticism has been leveled against the Alexandria Library Board after Libby Bawcombe, a voting member, was expelled earlier this month for supporting a study on converting the library system into a city department.

At a special meeting of the Alexandria Library Company on April 8, Bawcombe was expelled by a secret ballot for voting with three other Library Board members in February to direct Alexandria Library Director Rose Dawson to work with city staff on assessing the library system’s transition into a city department.

News

City Council to hold public hearings on Sunday parking fees, more budget decisions

By James Cullum

Published April 17, 2026 at 3:45PM

An Alexandria parking enforcement vehicle (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council has a full docket at its upcoming meeting Saturday as final budgetary decisions approach.

City Council will conduct a number of public hearings, including setting the real estate and personal property tax rates for the next fiscal year, additions and deletions to City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposed $977 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget, an increase to the stormwater utility fee, new parking fees and the addition of paid metered parking on Sundays.

News

Sunday paid parking proposal opposed by majority of Alexandria City Council

By James Cullum

Published April 15, 2026 at 1:45PM

An Alexandria parking enforcement vehicle (staff photo by James Cullum)

A majority of Alexandria’s City Council won’t support City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposal for paid parking on Sundays, but the door to increasing parking meter rates and fines is still open.

City Council had first reading on a number of parking-related ordinances yesterday (Tuesday), which, if approved later this month, would increase parking meter rates and parking ticket fines and add paid parking to metered spots on Sundays.

News

Alexandria City Council moves forward with stormwater utility fee increase

By James Cullum

Published April 15, 2026 at 11:45AM

A truck drives through a flooded area of Union Street in Old Town, October 29, 2021. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council unanimously approved moving forward with an increase to the city’s stormwater utility fee yesterday (Tuesday).

City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposal increases the city’s stormwater utility fee rate from $340.30 to $357.40 per billing unit, equating to a roughly $26 addition to tax bills. City Council’s first reading vote sets the ordinance to go before a public hearing on Saturday, April 18, followed by a second reading before Council at its budget adoption meeting on Wednesday, April 29.