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 Councilman Smedberg, who was absent. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 2. Public Discussion Period. (a) Jack Sullivan, 4300 Ivanhoe Place, said he had intended to speak about a high speed boat that National Harbor was going to put on the Potomac - the Seadog, which has some concerns for Alexandrians and for those south of the bridge. He said it has not been deployed to National Harbor and when it is and if it poses a problem, he'll come back. (b) Lucy Nahim Odo, 5375 Duke Street, member of the Patrick Henry Advisory Board, said the Patrick Henry Recreation Center is in great need of renovations. She said the center was placed in the budget of 2003 for the renovations and upgrade, and for whatever reason, the City removed the rec center from the budget in 2008, placing Charles Houston in place of it. She said the Patrick Henry Recreation Center is deplorable and she noted the concerns with the restrooms and the small space, and she asked that the budget include Patrick Henry. (c) Shawtae Sanders, 505 E. Howard Street, #404, spoke of the space need issue at Patrick Henry Recreation Center and said it houses more adolescents than any other recreation center in the City and noted they turn down 50 plus kids in the summer because of the lack of space. She noted concerns with the gym space and asked for Council's support to get Patrick Henry back on the 2009 budget for renovations and expansion. (d) Noah Williams, 6728 Duke Street, member of the Patrick Henry Advisory Board, spoke of removing the Patrick Henry Recreation Center from the budget and said Patrick Henry has many more children than Charles Houston on the average of 300-500 annually. Mr. Williams said they would appreciate Council's vote in reinstating Patrick Henry Recreation Center in the 2009 budget. (e) Amanda S. Henderson, 109 S. Jordan Street, president, Patrick Henry Advisory Board, spoke of the things not at Patrick Henry that are at other recreation centers, such as adequate space for tutoring of the kids or for them to do homework, the bathrooms are not handicapped accessible, there are no services for adults, there is no activities for the senior citizens, no basic computer labs, and all the kids are in three rooms and they need more space in order to accommodate the kids, and they have one meeting room, which is not adequate, the gym is not regulated, the weight room is inadequate. She urged Council to go to Patrick Henry to look at what they have been dealing with. (f) Clarice Chandler, 108 N. Gordon Street, vice president, Patrick Henry Advisory Board, said the staff is located in the side rear of the building and the staff should be visible to anyone entering the building. A stranger can walk into Patrick Henry without being seen by the staff and anyone can pick up the children without staff being aware. She said the children are crammed together and they would appreciate Council looking at the facility. She said Alexandria has failed to honor their statement to present a safe and vibrant City of opportunity through the development of effective and efficient recreation programs and with the Americans With Disabilities Act. She asked for Council's support in reinstating Patrick Henry to the 2009 budget. (g) Shocona Frazier, 4271 Duke Street, Apt. B5, member of the Patrick Henry Advisory Board, spoke of the need for renovation of the Center and accommodations need to be made for the disabled, and safety measures need to be put in place for their children. (h) Van Van Fleet, 26 Wolfe Street, president, Old Town Civic Association, spoke about concerns regarding traffic - the largest issue is the uncontrolled number of tour buses on the streets. The five drivers who no longer can have the metered spaces in front of City Hall, which are now dedicated to tour buses, are adding to the traffic woes on one of the residential areas. Five is not a big number, but other discussions have been held regarding additional spots, perhaps on The Strand. This will all add up, and he said he didn't see approval of the five spaces out front of City Hall by the Traffic and Parking Committee. He said that as the Old Town Civic Association's representative on the Collaborative, he has asked repeatedly at every meeting that three issues be addressed: tour buses, parking and motorcycles. He said these were all given the once-over and no solutions were presented on any of them. Mr. Van Fleet said that during the last year, they have known that they were going to get bombarded by the large increase of tour buses not only from National Harbor but in general, and they now agree that the warnings have been a self-fulfilling prophecy. He said the Mayor and City Manager are appointing a task force and he has great faith that the individuals they appoint will be able to answer the mail on the issue - as they wasted two years previously and it was a disaster. Mr. Van Fleet said the parking issue was addressed by the plans director only to the extent that they now know where all the parking spaces are up and down King Street and now what they need to do is talk to all the businessmen who own the parking lots that are not used at night and on weekends, and he noted the parking lot across from Bilbo Baggins as a perfect example, when it converts to public parking at 5 p.m. every night and on weekends. Mr. Van Fleet said former Councilman David Speck presented a plan several years ago to move motorcycles off of King Street, which were defeated by Council, and the City should reserve parking spaces for motorcycle parking only, as the motorcycles are backed up against the sidewalk, spew out exhaust over diners, and it is an unhealthy situation. (i) Gary Carr, 216 Aspen Street, spoke of the need for tracks at Mt. Vernon and Hammond Middle Schools, and he spoke of a member of the T.C. Williams track team who was hurt and on crutches from running on the concrete. He said when it rains, part of the Hammond field gets flooded and is unusable. He said one of the responsibilities of adults is the nurturing of children, to bring them from potential to achivement, and if they don't have the facilities to do that, then it can't be obtained. He asked Council to look at the issue, use economy of scale, and if they can't do it in a true surface, do it with asphalt and paint. (j) Sarita Schotta, 104 Prince Street, said she has lived on the 100 block of Prince Street for the final quarter of the 20th Century and is still there, and said they have been concerned, as they thought when the water taxis were coming, they all supported it on the waterfront, as it was to be in lieu of buses. Now they are finding out from tour bus operators that that is not the end of the story, that buses will be numerous and they are coming for a reason. Ms. Schotta said this is bad news for them. She said she brought it to the attention of the Collaborator, who said they are just going to use Route 1 and go down Prince Street, as it is non-residential. Ms. Schotta said she thought Prince Street was residential, even though the Collaborator said they would turn on Royal Street or Fairfax Street and park at City Hall. She said it impacts those on lower Prince Street, as that is their main route across town. She said she would like to have further talks with whoever is coordinating this that this is not the time to have unrestricted buses and they don't think its sound policy and there is no place for them. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR Planning Commission 3. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2008-0007 (A) ENCROACHMENT #2008-0001 (B) 220 NORTH LEE STREET OVERWOOD RESTAURANT Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for a special use permit to reallocate the number of indoor seats to allow outdoor seating, and a request for an encroachment into the public right-of-way for outdoor seating; zoned CD/Commercial Downtown. Applicant: Atlas Partners PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 6-0 END OF ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR City Council adopted the consent calendar, as follows: 3. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER 4. Public Hearing on the One-Year Action Plan For Housing and Community Development for City Fiscal Year 2009. City Council held the public hearing. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued) Planning Commission (continued) 5. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2008-0010 2000 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY YOUR DOG'S BEST FRIEND Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for an expansion and parking reduction; zoned CSL/Commercial Service Low. Applicant: Paul Haire PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval w/amendments 6-0 City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation, with the agreement for the four foot wide utility strip, the six foot wide sidewalk against the parking area, the driveways onto Route 1 are being eliminated, and the entrance will be off of Howell, as discussed with City staff. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS 6. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Adopt the New Braddock Road Metro Small Area Plan Chapter of the City of Alexandria Master Plan. (#15, 4/8/08) [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council passed the ordinance to adopt the new Braddock Road Metro Small Area Plan Chapter of the City of Alexandria Master Plan. (ORD. NO. 4524) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 7. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Adopt the New Transportation Chapter of the City of Alexandria Master Plan. (#16, 4/8/08) [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council passed the ordinance to adopt the new Transportation Chapter of the City of Alexandria Master Plan, with an amendment to the wording to Section T6.B. (ORD. NO. 4525) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 8. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Establish a Transportation Advisory Committee. (#17, 4/8/08) [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council passed the ordinance to establish the Transportation Advisory Committee. (ORD. NO. 4526) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 9. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Ordinance to Establish a New CDD No. 15 (Braddock Gateway.) (#18, 4/8/08) [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council passed the ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance to establish a new CDD No. 15 (Braddock Gateway.) (ORD. NO. 4527) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 10. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Amend the Eisenhower East Small Area Plan Chapter of the City of Alexandria Master Plan to Add “Waste Water Treatment Facility” as a Public Utility Use on Blocks 29 and 30 of the Small Area Plan. (#19, 4/8/08) [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council passed the ordinance to amend the Eisenhower East Small Area Plan Chapter of the City of Alexandria Master Plan to add "Waste Water Treatment Facility" as a public utility use on blocks 29 and 30 of the Small Area Plan. (ORD. NO. 4528) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 11. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance Making Supplemental Appropriations For FY 2008. (#27, 4/8/08) [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council passed the ordinance making supplemental appropriations for FY 2008. (ORD. NO. 4529) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 12. Public Hearing on a Report on Changing the Election of the Mayor, Members of the City Council and Members of the School Board From the May General Election Cycle to the November General Election Cycle, and of a Resolution Proposing an Advisory Referendum On This Issue During the November 4, 2008, General Election. (#31, 3/11/08) City Council held the public hearing on the election cycle. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ OTHER 13. Consideration of Referral to the Planning Commission for processing of a text amendment to Potomac Yard. This item was deferred. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued) DEFERRAL/WITHDRAWAL CONSENT CALENDAR Planning Commission (continued) None. END OF DEFERRAL/WITHDRAWAL CONSENT CALENDAR Council Action:_________________________________________________________