Oct 16, 2024 8 min read voting

City of Falls Church Gov't Updates, Week of Oct. 16, 2024

Entrance to City Hall for the City of Falls Church at 300 Park Ave. Photo by Chris Jones.

The following is based on press releases, social media and website postings from the City of Falls Church.

Events

Halloween Carnival

Oct. 26, 1 - 5:30 p.m. at Cherry Hill Park. Enjoy the spooktacular Halloween Carnival. This event includes carnival games, inflatables, candy, fall snacks, and more – all outdoors in Cherry Hill Park. Admission is $1 and free for kids 11-and-under in costume. Compete in the costume contest for an awesome prize!

New this year, the final Sunset Cinema will take place after the Halloween Carnival at 7:00 p.m. Grab some dinner and come back to continue the Halloween Fun! More Details.

Farmers Market

October 19, and 26, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at City Hall Parking Lot. Shop the award-winning market every Saturday, year-round! More Details.

Early Voting

Through Nov. 2 residents of the City of Falls Church can vote early. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26 and 27 residents can vote on the weekend. See the City’s information for voting to learn more about locations, hours, ways of voting early, and precinct locations for Election Day – Tuesday, November 5: https://fallschurchva.gov/135/Voter-Registration-Elections.

Below are key deadlines for the November 5 Presidential General Election:

Friday, Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. is the deadline to apply for an absentee by-mail ballot.
Saturday, Oct. 26, First Saturday, Early voting, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 27, Sunday Early voting, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 30, Early Voting stays open late until 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2, Last Day of Early Voting, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 3: Closed.
Monday, Nov. 4: Emergency Voting Only, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 5: Election Day, Polls are open at your assigned polling place 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

City Council Special Election

A Writ of Election has been ordered to fill a vacancy on the Falls Church City Council for a term expiring December 31, 2025, and will appear as a Special Election on the November 5, 2024, ballot. The deadline for candidates to file for ballot access was Friday, August 30, at 5 p.m. The following candidates qualified to be on the ballot:

John B. Murphy
Laura T. Downs

For an in-depth article on the two candidates' views see our piece below:

Polling Place Changes in 2023 will continue in 2024 and beyond

Ward 2 now votes at the Falls Church Community Center at 223 Little Falls Street.
The former polling place at Falls Green Apartments (formerly Oakwood Apartments) will no longer be a polling place.
Both Ward 2 and Ward 3 vote at the Falls Church Community Center.
Ward 1 remains unchanged and will continue to vote at Oak Street Elementary School.
Updated Map (PDF)
Voter Pocket Guide - November 5, 2024 Color
Voter Pocket Guide - November 5, 2024 Black and White
Voter Pocket Guide - Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese translations

Early in-person voting is at City Hall, 300 Park Ave. The Drop Box for by-mail ballots is in front of City Hall.

Important notice: By-mail voters: Due to a recent law change, your Envelope B "Statement of Voter" no longer requires a witness signature. Instead, you are required to write the last four digits of your social security number and your birth year.

Accessible Voting for Virginia Citizens: Virginia Department of Elections -See Accessible Voting Information.
Download a flyer "Accessible Voting for Voters with Disabilities."

Community Symposium on Aging Well

City staff from the Housing and Human Services (HHS) Department and the Mary Riley Styles Public Library will be at the Community Symposium on Aging Well organized by the Kensington on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Berman Park Trail Improvements

Construction will begin on Monday, Oct. 28, on the Berman Park Trail Improvements Project, starting with the Ellison Street and Kent Street Crossing. Learn more about the improvements on the project webpage: https://fallschurchva.gov/2096/Berman-Park-Trail-Improvements.

For an in-depth article on the Berman Park Trail Improvements see our piece below:

Options for Falling Leaves

Residents can "leave the leaves" or participate in the Fall Leaf Collection which begins on Monday, Oct. 28. Learn more about leaving leaves, mulch mowing, backyard composting, or how to participate in leaf collection and dates and zones for collection: https://www.fallschurchva.gov/397/Leaf-Collection.

Following is the City's 2024 to 2025 Leaf Collection Schedule:

Do you know which zone you're in? Courtesy City of Falls Church.

Oct. 28 - Nov. 1: South of Broad St. (Zones 1 and 2)
Nov. 4 - 8: North of Broad St. (Zones 3 and 4)
Nov. 11 - 15: South of Broad St. (Zones 1 and 2)
Nov. 18 - 22: South of Broad St. (Zones 1 and 2)
Nov. 25 - 29: North of Broad St. (Zones 3 and 4)
Dec. 2 - 6: North of Broad St. (Zones 3 and 4)
Dec. 9 - 13: South of Broad St. (Zones 1 and 2)
Dec. 16 - 20: South of Broad St. (Zones 1 and 2)
Dec. 23 - 31: North of Broad St. (Zones 3 and 4)
Jan. 2 - 7: North of Broad St. (Zones 3 and 4)
Jan. 8 - 10: City-Wide – All zones for cleanup.

City Calendar for Oct., 2024

Library Board of Trustees Meeting

Oct. 16, 6 - 8:00 p.m. in the Upper Floor Conference Room. Regular Library Board Meeting, More Details.

CANCELLED: Public Utilities Commission Meeting

Oct. 16, 7 - 8:30 p.m. in the Laurel Room. More Details.

Planning Commission Meeting

Oct. 16, 7:30 - 10:00 p.m. in Council Chambers/Court Room. More Details.

Urban Forestry Commission Meeting

Oct. 16, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. in the Dogwood Room, A and B. Regular monthly Urban Forestry Commission meeting. More Details.

Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church Meeting

Oct. 17, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. in the Dogwood Room, A and B. Regular meeting of the Arts & Humanities Council of Falls Church. More Details.

Human Services Advisory Council Meeting

Oct. 17, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Dogwood Room, A and B. More Details.

Environmental Sustainability Council & Energy Transition Subcommittee Meeting

Oct. 17, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. in Council Chambers/Court Room. More Details.

Electoral Board Meeting

Oct. 21, 3 - 5:00 p.m. in the Oak Room. More Details.

Rescheduled to 10/22: West Falls Community Development Authority Meeting

Originally, Oct. 21, 12 - 1:00 p.m. in the Dogwood Room, A and B. More Details.

West Falls Community Development Authority Meeting

Oct. 22, 12 - 1:00 p.m. in the Oak Room. More Details.

Historic Architectural Review Board Meeting

Oct. 24, 7 - 9:00 p.m. in City Hall, Dogwood Room, A and B. More Details.

Economic Development Authority Meeting

Oct. 29, 7 - 10:00 p.m. in the Laurel Room. Regular monthly EDA meeting. More Details.

Electoral Board Meeting

Oct. 31, 3 - 5:00 p.m. in the Oak Room. More Details.

City Council

City Council Budget and Finance Committee Meeting

Oct. 18, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. in the Oak Room. More Details.

City Council Work Session

Oct. 21, 7:30 - 11:00 p.m. in the Dogwood Room, A and B. City Council Work Sessions are held the first and third Monday of the month, with the exception of August and December when only one meeting is held. These meetings are open to the public and are conducted to allow Council Members to discuss upcoming legislation and policy issues; the public is not generally invited to speak. Watch the meeting at www.fallschurchva.gov/CouncilMeetings or FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35). Video will be available after the meeting both online and on FCCTV. More Details.

City Council Economic Development Committee Meeting

Oct. 22, 1 - 2:30 p.m. in the Oak Room. More Details.

Alexandria-Arlington-Falls Church Eat and Greet

Oct. 23, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. More Details.

City Council Government Operations Committee Meeting

Oct. 23, 9 - 10:00 a.m. in the Oak Room. More Details.

Mayor's Agenda Meeting with Staff

Oct. 23, 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. in the Oak Room. The Mayor will meet with staff to determine the agenda schedule for future City Council meetings. Other members of City Council may also participate in this meeting. More Details.

City Council Meeting

Oct. 28, 7:30 - 11:00 p.m. in Council Chambers/Court Room. The City Council meets the second and fourth Monday of the month, with the exception of August and December when only one meeting is held. The public is welcome to address the City Council on any topic during the public comment period. Sign up to speak at www.fallschurchva.gov/publiccomment. All members of the public may view the meeting at www.fallschurchva.gov/CouncilMeetings. The meeting may also be viewed on FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35). Video will be available after the meeting both online and on FCCTV. More Details.

Mayor's Agenda Meeting with Staff

Oct. 30, 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. in the Oak Room. The Mayor will meet with staff to determine the agenda schedule for future City Council meetings. Other members of City Council may also participate in this meeting. More Details.