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Councilmember

Billy Bates

263 × yes10 × no6 × absent

On the record

Positions recorded in minutes, by topic.

Personnel Matters

At the November 18, 2025 meeting, Bates made remarks welcoming Dan Alexander that were referenced and echoed by Peterson.

Accotink Creek

Voted yes on the January 2026 George Snyder Trail supplemental appropriation; was absent for the September 2024 sediment TMDL MOA vote.

Fairfax High School

At the July 14, 2026 meeting, Councilmember Bates thanked staff for the Fourth of July celebration, specifically noting the prioritization of safety for staff and residents.

George Snyder Traildenied

At the March 11, 2025 work session, Bates stated his support for canceling the Country Club Hills Connector Trail and moving the Pickett Road Connector Trail to the west side. Bates attended the VDOT meeting with Councilmember Peterson in late March 2025. Bates voted yes on the April 2025 motions to not advertise the current configuration and to submit a revised concept to VDOT, then voted yes on the June 10, 2025 motion to build only the western half (the only member to do so, 1-5 failure), and voted no on both the full cancellation and the reaffirmation motions on that same date. Bates voted yes to introduce the December 2025 supplemental appropriation and yes on the January 2026 supplemental appropriation vote. At the May 26, 2026 briefing, Bates thanked staff for their proactive approach on the Wilcoxon Trail Extension and expressed hope for a future connection to Chambers Road and the I-66 trail.

Small Area Plansin progress

At the July 14, 2026 work session, Bates expressed support for the direction of the zoning ordinance amendments, specifically endorsing review of off-street parking requirements — particularly for office uses — and emphasizing that the goal of the amendments is to bring the zoning ordinance into greater conformance with the Small Area Plans, which he characterized as the guiding policy.

Budget Process

On April 7, 2026, Councilmember Bates noted that the budget process already includes numerous work sessions and public hearings that allow public feedback on CIP items, and acknowledged that Virginia also allows for periodic votes on related matters.

Willard-Sherwood Community Centerin progress

Voted no on the May 2025 amendment to defer the project to FY 2027, and voted yes on all October 2025 land use approvals and the April 2026 resolution to proceed to construction.

Black History Month

At the February 10, 2026 meeting, Council Member Bates wished everyone a happy Black History Month.

Davies Propertyapproved

Councilmember Bates voted yes on all three approval motions at the July 22, 2025 City Council meeting.

10300 Willard Wayin progress

Councilmember Bates voted to defer on July 22, 2025 and voted in favor of approving the special exceptions on October 28, 2025, opposing both denial motions.

Country Club Hills Connector Trailwithdrawn

On March 11, 2025, Bates stated his support for canceling the Country Club Hills Connector Trail, noting that more staff time was needed before a formal work session could be held. In the April 8 transcript, Bates indicated he had expected to wait for a work session before acting on a cancellation motion.

Ordinance Amending Chapter 90 Article VI Section 90-262 (Meals Tax)proposed

Voted in favor of introducing the ordinance on April 8, 2025.

FY 2026 Budgetapproved

Bates voted no on the deferral motion and all three failed amendments, and voted yes on incorporating the Budget Change Document. Bates voted yes on the final adopted budget and tax rates.

Conflict of Interest

At the November 18, 2025 session, Bates noted a potential inequity in who is required to file financial disclosure forms, observing that deputy positions do not exist in every department and that departments like economic development or community development and planning may pose greater conflict of interest concerns than police or fire deputies. At April 28, 2026, Bates's position on sequencing the appointments was not explicitly recorded in the excerpts.

Affordable Housing Strategic Planin progress

Voted yes on February 17, 2026 to adopt the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan. No recorded commentary beyond the vote.

Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Concession Funding

Bates voted yes at both the December 9, 2025 introduction and the January 13, 2026 final vote, consistently supporting the appropriation.

Northern Virginia Transportation Authority

Voted 'yes' on the January 13, 2026 motion to approve the $4.6 million George Snyder Trail supplemental appropriation.

Special Use Permitapproved

At the July 28, 2026 meeting, Bates noted that the proposed height and setback requirements for detached ADUs are already stricter than those for non-dwelling accessory structures, and raised concerns about the burden the $600 SUP fee might place on homeowners seeking to add ADUs, drawing a distinction between ADUs (which provide housing) and other SUP uses like chickens or daycare.

Circle Gatewayproposed

On June 2, 2026, Bates asked a question about the Circle Gateway project that was coming up for review, indicating awareness and interest in tracking it. Bates also noted not having attended a recent community meeting and expressed that a report-out discussion would be valuable.

Eaton Place

At the June 23, 2026 meeting, Bates noted that a 10-foot-wide shared-use path is included in one project and expressed hope that it would continue along Eaton Place to fill gaps, indicating support for connected active transportation infrastructure in the corridor. Bates voted yes on the January 13, 2026 George Snyder Trail appropriation (which failed 3-3).

Courthouse Plazain progress

Bates voted yes on the July 22, 2025 deferral and voted against denying the special exceptions and Certificate of Appropriateness on October 28, 2025 (i.e., was one of the two dissenting votes on both denial motions).

Jermantown Road Corridor Improvementsin progress

At the March 11, 2025 work session, Councilmember Bates expressed support for canceling the Country Club Hills Connector Trail and moving the Pickett Road Connector Trail to the west side; his comments arose in the same discussion in which Jermantown Road CIP improvements were raised, though his recorded remarks focused on the trail connectors.

Warwick Ave /Fairfax Blvd /McLean Ave Intersection Improvementsapproved

Voted yes on April 22, 2025 to award the construction contract to Sagres Construction Corporation. No recorded verbal comments.

Capital Improvement Program FY2026 to FY2030approved

On May 6, 2025, voted against deferral to May 13, against the $1.75 tax rate amendment, against deferring Willard-Sherwood, and against the split pay study amendment; voted in favor of the Budget Change Document amendment. Ultimately voted yes on final budget adoption including the CIP.

Pickett Road Connector Trailin progress

At the March 11, 2025 work session, Councilmember Bates expressed support for moving the Pickett Road Connector Trail to the west side and merging with the sidewalk if feasible without losing funding. On April 8, 2025, he voted yes to pause expenditures. On July 22, 2025, he voted yes to reverse the April 8 pause.

Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendmentsin progress

In the June 2026 discussion, Bates articulated his understanding that the current small area plans are informing the zoning ordinance amendment process, while the separate review discussion is about establishing a recurring process for future updates to the small area plans themselves — similar to the comprehensive plan cycle.

Voting record