GIS Day
GIS Day is an annual global event celebrated on the third Wednesday of November, and the City of Fairfax has developed a recurring presence at George Mason University's GIS Day celebration, led by Commissioner/Professor Matt Rice.
In 2024, Mayor Catherine S. Reed issued a proclamation recognizing November 20, 2024 as GIS Awareness Day in the City of Fairfax, and city staff — including members from planning, stormwater, and multimodal transportation — presented at George Mason's event in Exploratory Hall. The 2025 GIS Day was likewise held on November 20, 2025 (1–4 pm, Exploratory Hall, George Mason University), with city planning, GIS, and stormwater staff presenting; Chair Feather subsequently congratulated Commissioner Rice on the event's success at the November 24, 2025 Commission meeting.
A December 2025 recap noted seven city staff and leaders attended, that the session was well-received but generated demand for more depth, and that an opportunity was created for George Mason students to design a map for the city's Fact Book, with submissions due in late December 2025. The 2026 GIS Day is planned for November 19, 2026 at George Mason University, with a student map design component themed around bike paths and trails, again targeting a potential Fact Book contribution — with organizers noting they are starting the student component earlier than in 2025 to improve timing.
Still open
- Status of George Mason student Fact Book map submissions due in late December 2025 — outcome not yet recorded in available material (a March 9, 2026 transcript excerpt asks for an update but no answer is captured).
- Outcome and recap of the 2026 GIS Day event (scheduled for November 19, 2026) — not yet reported.
- Whether the student bike paths/trails map designs will successfully be incorporated into the Fact Book in 2026, given noted timing difficulties in 2025.
What members have said
- Commissioner Rice (Matt Rice)
Rice has been the primary organizer and champion of city participation in GIS Day at George Mason University across multiple years. At the November 10, 2025 meeting he announced the 2025 event details (November 20, 1–4 pm, Exploratory Hall, city's portion 3–4 pm, open to the public). At the November 24, 2025 meeting he thanked city staff and a city intern for their contributions and mentioned potential Fact Book content from George Mason students. In a December 2025 transcript excerpt he reported seven city staff attended, the session was well-received but generated demand for more depth, and described a new student map-design opportunity for the Fact Book with submissions due in late December. In October 2026 he previewed the November 19, 2026 GIS Day, noting the student component is being run earlier that year with a bike paths and trails theme.
Feather has been a recurring co-host and participant in GIS Day events. At the November 24, 2025 meeting he congratulated Commissioner Rice on the success of the 2025 GIS Day event. A December 2025 transcript excerpt names Feather as one of those who helped run the event, and the October 2026 preview notes he has been part of the GIS Day celebration for several years.
Lockhart is not recorded as commenting on GIS Day directly, but is mentioned peripherally in the November 24, 2025 meeting in an unrelated context.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
councilcommissionMinutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting, Nov 12, 2024 onward.
History
Filled dots are actions on this topic; open dots are mentions.
- Nov 10, 2025Planning Commission · item 10Commission Comments
Commissioner Rice announced GIS Day at George Mason University on November 20, 2025, from 1–4 pm, open to the public, with city staff presenting.
- Nov 24, 2025Planning Commission · item 11Commission Comments
Chair Feather congratulated Commissioner Rice on the success of the GIS Day event; Rice thanked city staff and a city intern for their contributions and noted potential Fact Book content from George Mason students.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.