Back to FY Dockets


Office of the City Clerk
September 15, 2010

City Council Participated in a Naturalization Ceremony
for New American Citizens at Market Square at 6:00 p.m.


Regular Meeting
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 - - 7:00 p.m.

* * * * *

1. Calling the Roll.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Euille, and the City Clerk called the roll; all the members of Council were present, with the exception of Vice Mayor Donley, who was absent.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

2. Moment of Silence and Pledge of Allegiance.

City Council observed a moment of silence and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

3. Reading and Acting Upon the Minutes of the Following Meetings of City Council:

(a) The Public Hearing Meeting Minutes of June 12, 2010;

(b) The Regular Meeting Minutes of June 22, 2010; and

(c) The Special Meeting Minutes of August 19, 2010.

City Council approved the public hearing meeting minutes of June 12, 2010, the regular meeting minutes of June 22, 2010 and the special meeting minutes of August 19, 2010.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

None.

PROCLAMATIONS

New Business Item No. 1: Presentation of a Proclamation Recognizing National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

CONSENT CALENDAR (4-9)

(Resignations and Uncontested Appointments)

4. Receipt of the Following Resignations From Members of Boards, Commissions and Committees:

(a) Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee
Jayne Clancy
Joseph Slye

(b) Alexandria Transportation Commission
Jayme Blakesley

(c) Citizen Corps Council
Marian Pegram, Alexandria School Board designee

(d) Commission on HIV/AIDS
Patricia Dickson
Chris Jones

(e) Commission on Information Technology
Bob Soltys

(f) Commission on Persons with Disabilities
Chet Avery

(g) Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors
Nick Gregory

(h) Emergency Medical Services Council
James Vafier

(i) Human Rights Commission
Nancy Turner

(j) Waterfront Committee
Mike Geissinger

5. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:

(a) Alexandria Transportation Commission
1 Member From the Alexandria Transit Company Board of
Directors, Nominated by the Board
1 Citizen Member, Who Shall Be a Resident of the City
Possessing Qualifications in Land-Use, Transportation and/or
Municipal Finance, Who Shall Reside West of Quaker Lane

(b) Commission on Persons with Disabilities
3 Citizen Members

(c) Economic Opportunities Commission
1 Alternate Representative For Councilwoman Hughes

(Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager)

6. Consideration of Grant Renewal Application to the United States Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Care Food Program for the At-risk After School Snack Program.

7. Acceptance of United States Department of Homeland Security National Capital Region (NCR) Grant Funds for Hazardous Material Equipment for the Fire Department.

8. Receipt of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Urban Area Initiative Grants Funds for Public Safety Equipment.

(Ordinances for Introduction)

9. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend the City Code to Authorize Meters on the 100 Block of King Street in the Context of Installing Such Meters on the 100 and 200 Blocks of King Street.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the consent calendar, with the exception of docket item #8, which was considered under separate motion. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows:

4. City Council accepted the following resignations with regret: (a) Jayne Clancy and Joseph Slye, Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee; (b) Jayme Blakesley, Alexandria Transportation Commission; (c) Marian Pegram, Alexandria School Board designee, Citizen Corps Council; (d) Patricia Dickson and Chris Jones, Commission on HIV/AIDS; (e) Bob Soltys, Commission on Information Technology; (f) Chet Avery, Commission on Persons with Disabilities; (g) Nick Gregory, Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors; (h) James Vafier, Emergency Medical Services Council; (i) Nancy Turner, Human Rights Commission; and (j) Mike Geissinger, Waterfront Committee.

5. City Council made the following appointments: (a) appointed Justin Wilson as the 1 member from the Alexandria Transit Company Board of Directors, nominated by the Board, and Louise Ward as the 1 citizen member who shall be a resident of the City possessing qualifications in land-use, transportation and/or municipal finance, who shall reside west of Quaker Lane, to the Alexandria Transportation Commission; (b) appointed Joseph Delfico, Douglas Goist and Beverly Hoffman as the three citizen members to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities; and (c) appointed Sean Rough as the 1 alternate representative for Councilwoman Hughes to the Economic Opportunities Commission.

6. City Council authorized the City Manager to: 1. submit the at-risk after school grant renewal application to the United States Department of Agriculture for Fiscal Year 2011 (due date September 1, 2010); and 2. execute all documents that may be required.

7. City Council accepted the grant funds for the Fire Department's Haz Mat Team and authorized the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required: 1. grant-funded hazardous materials equipment totaling $120,297.01, which will enhance incident management capabilities in the National Capital Region (NCR); and 2. a grant-funded decontamination trailer and ancillary equipment totaling $58,730.45, which will improve the NCR's mass decontamination capabilities.

8. City Council accepted the grant funds. The funds will reimburse the City for expenses incurred previously to purchase 120 portable radios and 89 radio chargers for the Police and Fire Departments and for replacement computers and equipment for the City's Emergency Operations Center. (separate motion)

9. City Council passed the ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, September 25, 2010.
Council Action: ________________________________________________________

CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS

10. Commission for the Arts
1 Member Who Represents Art Education or Business Expertise Relative
to Arts and Cultural Development, Including Such Perspectives as
Marketing, Finance/Funding, Tourism Promotion and Organizational
Development

City Council reappointed Jeannie Hodges as the one member who represents arts education or business expertise relative to arts and cultural development, including such perspectives as marketing, finance/funding, tourism promotion and organizational development to the Commission for the Arts.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

11. Commission for Women
1 Citizen Member

This was deferred to September 28, 2010.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

12. Commission on Information Technology
1 Citizen-at-Large Member
1 Member Representing an Institution of Higher Education Located in
Northern Virginia

City Council appointed Margorie Conner as the one citizen-at-large member and waived the residency requirement and appointed Margaret Leary as the one member representing an institution of higher education located in Northern Virginia to the Commission on Information Technology.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

13. Economic Opportunities Commission
1 Representative of a Public Official Currently Holding Office, or Their
Representatives Appointed by City Council (Commonwealth's Attorney
Representative)

City Council appointed Karin Riley as the one representative of a public official currently holding office, or their representatives appointed by City Council (Commonwealth's Attorney representative) to the Economic Opportunities Commission. Council Action:_________________________________________________________

14. Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission
1 Citizen Member

City Council reappointed Derek Manning as the one citizen member to the Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

15. Public Records Advisory Commission
1 Citizen Member

City Council reappointed Virginia Arnold as the one citizen member to the Public Records Advisory Commission.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

16. Urban Design Advisory Committee
1 Qualified Professional Skilled in Urban Design, Architecture or
Landscape Architecture

City Council reappointed Daniel Straub as the one qualified professional skilled in urban design, architecture or landscape architecture to the Urban Design Advisory Committee.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

17. Waterfront Committee
1 Representative of the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association
1 Representative of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

City Council appointed Jody Manor as the one representative of the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association and appointed Charlotte Hall as the one representative of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce to the Waterfront Committee.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION

18. Oral Report by the Office of Historic Alexandria on City Planning for the Civil War Sesquicentennial.

The Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria made a presentation on the Civil War Sesquicentennial.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

19. Consideration of Allocation of Funds from Contingent Reserve for the Installation of New Multi-Space Parking Meters in the Old Town Area.

City Council allocated $1,250,000 from the contingent reserve account, previously designated for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority operating subsidy increase, to the City's Capital Improvement Fund for the acquisition and installation of multi-space parking meters in Old Town, and whatever monies are gained as a result of surplusing the single space meters be placed in fund balance.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

20. Consideration of an Application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant for the Fire Department.

City Council: 1. approved the submission of the grant application (due September 17, 2010); and 2. authorized the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

21. Consideration of Application for Virginia Department of Health, Rescue Squad Assistance Grant Funds for the Fire Department.

City Council: 1. approved the submission of the grant application (due September 15, 2010); and 2. authorized the City Manager to execute any necessary documents that may be required.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

22. Consideration of Modification to the Terms of City Loans to Home for America, Inc. for Brent Place Elevator Modification.

City Council approved a modification to the terms of the City loan to Homes for America for elevator modification at Brent Place to: 1. include language required by HUD-FHA (the proposed new senior lender) to allow City funds to be repaid only out of a portion of residual receipts; and 2. extend the loan period to 40 years, rather than the previously approved 20 years, to be consistent with HUD-FHA requirements.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

23. Consideration of Ratification of a Certificate of Consistency with the Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development for the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s (ARHA’s) Application for Rental Assistance for Non-elderly Persons with Disabilities.

City Council ratified the administratively-issued certificate of consistency for the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority's application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for rental assistance for non-elderly persons with disabilities.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

24. Consideration of FY 2012 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program(CMAQ ) and Regional Surface Transportation Program Project Funded Requests.

City Council: 1. approved transportation projects discussed as those projects for which the City of Alexandria will request CMAQ and RSTP grant funding totaling $4.19 million for FY 2012, as recommended by the City's Transportation Commission; and 2. authorized the City Manager to apply for these grants and gave him permission to enter into necessary agreements with the State to accept any of these grants that are provided by the Commonwealth.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

None

ORAL REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
and
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Councilwoman Pepper noted an article in the Washington Post indicating that Alexandria had a huge number of library cards compared to its population, and that made Alexandria number one in the region. There were 172,504 Alexandria library cards issued in 2009.

(b) Councilwoman Pepper said she was afraid the City would lose out on the Scottish Christmas Walk, and she understands that the Campagna Center has been able to secure two major sponsors for this year. There was also concern about the St. Patrick's Day parade, and one of the things that's been worked out has been that they will shorten the walk so the cost will not be as considerable.

(c) Councilwoman Pepper said that on June 22, City Council endorsed the new technology that the monitoring group for Mirant and staff had endorsed, which is to have a bag house for Mirant. She spoke of the City staff going to Richmond on September 10, and she noted the agreement from the Board, so progress is being made. She said with the blessing of the Board, they will be adding the bag houses as soon as it can make the engineering plans and get the construction going.

(d) Councilman Smedberg said there was an Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board meeting last night, and one item in particular was the success it had with Restaurant Week this year. He noted that 60 restaurants participated in the August restaurant week, up from 50 in the winter and 29 went with the option of open table reservation system. There were 85,330 visits to the website and 24,584 specifically to the restaurant week page. There were 875 open table reservations, with 2,410 covers, for an estimated revenue intake of $84,747.

(e) Councilwoman Hughes updated Council on the Governor's Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring in Richmond on September 13. She noted the four subcommittees on customer service transparency performance and accountability, a consolidation of shared services committee, an inter-governmental relations committee, and a simplifications and operations committee. There will be another committee meeting on October 4. She noted guiding principles that were passed in the consolidation of shared services committee, and it was concerned at looking at the consolidation of administration of certain taxes, shared services agency agreements and doing more work in terms of fleet management. She said one of the nine recommendations of the customer service transparency performance and accountability subcommittee was to make sure it had a one-stop shop and also making sure there are incentives for people to use e-commerce for taking care of as many things as possible on-line. She said there was a budget transparency initiative, recommendation #6, which was to reform the budget rules, regulations and laws to change the budget cycle, developing an inventory of all real property owned by the Commonwealth and publishing the information on-line, and a value for money criteria, where it recommended that value for money information be applied as a pre-cursor to spending decisions. Councilwoman Hughes said she is on the inter-governmental relations subcommittee, and there are over 1,100 recommendations that have come over the website, and they looked at two issues. One was the concept of regionalism and it talked about mandates. She noted an article in the Washington Post today on the recommendation of the simplifications and operations committee to move to a four-day, ten hour work week.

(f) Councilman Fannon commented on the success of the annual Arts Festival in Alexandria this past weekend.

(g) Councilman Fannon encouraged people to work with Meals on Wheels to deliver meals to homebound seniors.

(h) Councilman Krupicka congratulated staff on two big public art installations that were unveiled over the summer. One was in Del Ray and another was on King Street.

(i) Councilman Krupicka said Inova Alexandria Hospital is holding free prostate screening on September 23.

(j) Councilman Krupicka thanked staff and the Partnership for a Healthy Alexandria for the help with the Charles Houston healthy food event over the summer.

(k) Councilman Krupicka said September 19 is Talk Like a Pirate Day in Old Town, and Historic Alexandria will have a lot of different talk like a pirate events in Old Town.

(l) Councilman Krupicka said this week is bicycle and pedestrian awareness week, and he encouraged everyone to ride their bike and walk this week.

(m) Councilman Krupicka thanked the Chiefs and representatives from the Sheriff, Police and Fire Departments for the great 9-11 ceremonies on Saturday. He said he hoped that Alexandria would play an active role in planning for the ten year anniversary commemoration in 2011.

(n) Councilman Krupicka said if citizens are interested in managing their energy use in their home and want to get a sense of how many kilowatts they are using, they can go to library branches and check out a kilowatt meter, which can be plugged into the home to gauge their energy use.

(o) Mayor Euille said the U.S. Conference of Mayors has awarded the City of Alexandria honorable mention for being one of the most livable cities in America under their 2010 City livability awards competition.

(p) Mayor Euille gave kudos to the City School Superintendent, School Board and Administration for an outstanding opening day last week. Schools opened without any major glitches on the first day.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER

None.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

25. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First and Second Reading of an Ordinance to Adopt Supplement Number 94 of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council passed the ordinance to adopt supplement number 94 of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia on first and second reading. (ORD. NO. 4679)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

26. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First and Second Reading of an Ordinance to Adopt Supplement Number 53 of the Zoning Ordinance. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council passed the ordinance to adopt supplement number 53 of the Zoning Ordinance on first and second reading. (ORD. NO. 4680)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

27. Consideration of Resolution Reaffirming the City of Alexandria’s Support for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council adopted the resolution reaffirming the City of Alexandria's support for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service. (RES. NO. 2415)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

OTHER

28. Consideration of City Council Schedule.

City Council: approved the calendar which includes the schedule of Council legislative and public hearing meetings for September 2010 - June 2011; scheduled the following fall work sessions at 5:30 p.m. before Council's legislative meetings: Tuesday, September 28, work session on Potomac Yard Transit; Tuesday, October 12, work session on parking issues; Tuesday, October 26, work session on the Beauregard Plan; Tuesday, November 23, work session on land use and Planning work plans for Planning and Zoning, the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, and other related departments; and Tuesday, December 14, work session on the Carlyle Retail Study; scheduled a joint meeting with the Arlington County Board to discuss transportation planning and other issues on Thursday, October 14, and for Council to get back with the Deputy City Manager on dates for special work sessions on budget issues in October and November.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

EXECUTIVE SESSION

29. Consideration of a Closed Meeting to Discuss Legal Matters.

At 10:12 p.m., City Council convened in executive session, pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(a)(7) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of consulting with counsel and briefing by staff regarding litigation, potential litigation and/or specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice.

At 11:30 p.m., City Council reconvened the meeting.

City Council adopted a resolution pertaining to the Executive Session. (RES. NO. 2416)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

The meeting adjourned at 11:31 p.m.


Note: The action docket is a summary of Council's meeting deliberations prepared largely for staff follow-up. Formal minutes of the meeting, when approved by Council become the official record of the meeting and of Council decisions made at the meeting.



This docket is subject to change.

* * * * *

Full-text copies of ordinances, resolutions, and agenda items are available in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of the Council. Meeting materials are also available on-line at alexandriava.gov/council
* * * * *

Individuals with disabilities who require assistance or special arrangements to participate in the City Council meeting may call the City Clerk and Clerk of Council's Office at 703-746-4550 (TTY/TDD 838-5056). We request that you provide a 48-hour notice so that the proper arrangements may be made.

City Council meetings are closed-captioned for the hearing impaired.
* * * * *