City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 7, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: HASHIM TAYLOR, DIRECTOR, RECREATION, PARKS & CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Three (3) Year Lease Agreement Renewal with Child and Family Network Centers at Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center Located at 25 West Reed Avenue.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Three (3) year lease agreement renewal with Child and Family Network Centers (CFNC) at Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center located at 25 West Reed Avenue.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council authorizes the City Manager to:
1. Receive this report recommending a three-year lease agreement renewal between Child and Family Network Centers and the City of Alexandria for the use of one (1) classroom to conduct a pre-school program for children from low-income families; and
2. Schedule for public hearing on May 16, 2026, and after the public hearing is concluded authorize the City Manager to execute the lease agreement (Attachment).
BACKGROUND: The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA) has provided classroom space for CFNC since 1992. CFNC is an Alexandria-based network of 8 free, high-quality bi-lingual preschools that provide 138 low-income children with the skills needed to begin kindergarten on par with their peers. The network also assists the whole family by providing educational and supportive services that support their children’s education including health services to ensure children have physicals, vaccinations, and medical screenings necessary to enter kindergarten.
DISCUSSION: The terms of the draft lease agreement is the same as the previous agreement and includes a term of three years unless terminated by either party. The terms provide the CFNC exclusive use of one (1) classroom in the facility Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. during the school year. The City’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities has use of the classrooms during the remaining operating hours for the recreation center and in the summer. This lease agreement supports the ongoing commitment of the CFNC to provide high-quality pre-school programs to Alexandria children.
RENEWAL GRANT PERIOD: September 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City will receive $10,000 annually for the classroom from CFNC for the term of the lease. Payments are made in three installments (January, February and March). As a nonprofit partner, CFNC's rental of the space would fall under Tier 3 (50% of direct costs recovered) in the City's adopted Resource Allocation and Cost Recovery Policy. The nonprofit organization supports the City' Council’s Priority to Reduce Community Disparities through the provision of and access to early childhood education.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Child and Family Network Centers Lease 2026-2029
STAFF:
Jim Parajon, City Manager
Alethea Predeoux, Deputy City Manager
Hashim Taylor, Director, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
Laura Durham, Deputy Director, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
Randy Little, Division Chief/Recreation Services
Faye Maslaki-Morgan, Division Chief/Finance
Consuella Barbour, Department of Management and Budget