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Office of the City Clerk
February 3, 2009

There Was a Work Session at 5:30 p.m.
in the City Council Work Room on the
Waterfront Plan and Wayfinding Program.


Regular Meeting
Monday, February 2, 2009 - - 7:00 p.m.

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OPENING

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.
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 Meeting of City Council:

(a) The Regular Meeting Minutes of January 13, 2009.

City Council approved the regular meeting minutes of January 13, 2009.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

None.

PROCLAMATIONS

None.

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:

5. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager)

6. Consideration of the Monthly Financial Report for the Period Ending December 31, 2008.

7. Consideration of Authorization of Recommended Capital Project Allocations and Planned Expenditures.

8. Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Commission for the Arts for Funds for a Local Government Challenge Grant for the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities.

9. Consideration of Acceptance of the Donation of a “Bait Car" to the Police Department for a Crime Prevention Program.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the consent calendar, with the exception of docket item #6, which was considered under separate motion. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows:

4. City Council accepted the following resignations with regret: (a) Thomas A. Downey, Jr., Alexandria Building Code Board of Appeals; and (b) Lisa Burnard, Alexandria Commission on Aging.

5. City Council made the following appointments: (a) reappointed Robert Wilson as the one representative of the Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations to the Alexandria Emergency Medical Services Council; and (b) appointed E. Jon Sargeant as the one citizen member to the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board.

6. City Council received the monthly financial report for the period ending December 31, 2008. (separate motion)

7. City Council authorized the capital project allocations and planned expenditures for the capital projects as detailed in the Capital Improvement Expenditure Summary.

8. City Council authorized the City Manager to: 1. submit a grant application, in the amount of $5,000, to the Virginia Commission for the Arts' Local Government Challenge grant program; and 2. execute all necessary documents that may be required.

9. City Council accepted the donation of a "bait car" from the National insurance Crime Bureau and thanked them and Allstate Insurance Company for their donation. This offer of donation expires on January 31, 2009.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS

10. Alexandria Building Code Board of Appeals
2 Citizen Members

City Council appointed Joshua Carpenter and Robert DiBernardo Emard as the two citizen members to the Alexandria Building Code Board of Appeals.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

11. Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission
1 Member From the Field of Environmental Sciences (e.g.
Environmental/Sanitary Engineering, Ecology, Geology, Botany,
Hydrology, Chemistry)
1 Citizen-at-Large

City Council appointed Ernest Lehmann as the one member from the field of environmental sciences (e.g. environmental/sanitary engineering, ecology, geology, botany, hydrology, chemistry) and reappointed Jennifer Hovis as the one citizen at large to the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

11.1 Reconsideration of a Motion Made at the January 13, 2009 City Council Meeting on the Following:

Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners
1 Citizen Member

City Council rescinded the motion made at the January 13, 2009 City Council meeting and, in addition, directed the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance for introduction at the next legislative meeting to reconstitute the ARHA Board of Commissioners as described, and City Council appointed Albert Melvin Miller to the ARHA Board.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION

12. Recommendations and Status Report on Legislation Introduced at the 2009 General Assembly Session.

City Council approved the legislative positions included in attachment 1 (recommended positions on bills of importance to the City) as recommended by the City Council Legislative Subcommittee (Mayor Euille and Councilman Smedberg.)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

13. Receipt of Report on the Proposed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Federal Stimulus Package).

City Council received the report.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

14. Receipt of Development Update for DSUP #2008-0011 for Mt. Vernon Commons.

City Council received the update.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

None

ORAL REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Mayor Euille congratulated Councilman Krupicka, as Governor Kaine announced appointments to the Virginia Board of Education and has appointed Councilman Krupicka. Governor Kaine also appointed Patricia Beattie of Alexandria to the Vocational Rehabilitation Council for the Blind and Vision Impaired.

(b) Councilman Krupicka said they had their monthly City School meeting last month. He said they handed out a chart with enrollment and enrollment continues to show an increase over last year and is not showing any signs of moving away from that trend. The schools are close to finishing its strategic plan and it will be done by March. One of the things that is clear in the plan is the emphasis on an international baccalaureate plan, and three schools who have interest in it, but most likely it will move forward with two in the initial stages, and that program is 18 months to two years out. The School Board will most likely include access of preschool as an important component of their strategic plan, and they have had discussions with the School Administration on better ways for the City staff and School staff to align the staff efforts as relates to preschool efforts. Councilman Krupicka noted that the School Board chair asked for participation in the Community Read program. Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Mayor Euille said there will be a fundraiser February 12 at the Fish Market Restaurant to raise money for the family of murdered Yellow Taxi Cab driver Khalil Siddiqi.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Director of Transportation and Environmental Services gave an update on HOV Bus HOT Lanes.

Director Baier gave an update on the City's response to the snow event last Tuesday.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

15. Consideration of a Resolution Requesting that a New City of Alexandria Project Be Established in the Commonwealth Transportation Board Six-Year Improvement Program. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council adopted the resolution requesting that the Commonwealth Transportation Board establish a new project in the Six-Year Improvement Program to fund the purchase of buses for the Alexandria Transit Company. (RES. NO. 2317)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

16. Consideration of Grant Application and Resolution for FY 2010 Funding for the Continuation of the Alexandria Transportation Demand Management Program and to Fund a Public Transportation Intern Position. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council: 1. adopted the resolution for FY 2010 funding for the continuation of the Alexandria Transportation Demand Management Program and to fund a public transportation intern position; and 2. authorized the City Manager to: A) submit a grant application and the resolution to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for FY 2010 funding, (1) in the amount of $228,240 which will be matched by $57,060 of City funds, for a total program of $285,300, for the continuation of the City's transportation demand management services (formerly Rideshare); and (2) in the amount of $26,600, which will be matched by $1,400 of City funds, for a total of $28,000 to continue the public transportation intern program; B) approve the continuation of two full-time grant-funded positions (transit specialist I and transit services assistant I) to administer the on-going Alexandria transportation demand management program. Continuation of these positions is contingent upon continuation of funding from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation or other non-City sources; and C) execute all necessary documents that may be required under this program. (RES. NO. 2318)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

17. Authorization of City Comments to the National Capital Planning Commission Concerning the Washington Headquarters Service BRAC-133 Project at the Mark Winkler Site and a Resolution for the Establishment of a Project Advisory Committee. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council ratified the comments and recommendations to the National Capital Planning Commission concerning the Washington Headquarters Services BRAC-133 office building complex at the Mark Center and the rest of the item will come before Council on February 10.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

17.1 Consideration of a Resolution Establishing a Braddock Metro Neighborhood Plan Implementation Advisory Group. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council: 1. adopted the resolution establishing a Braddock Metro Neighborhood Plan Implementation Advisory Group, with an amendment to #2 to read "20" members instead of "19" and in the first bullet, it should be "six" instead of "five;" and 2. authorized the City Manager to appoint the members of the group. (RES. NO. 2319 )
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

OTHER

18. Consideration of City Council Schedule.

City Council: 1. scheduled the annual meeting of the Alexandria Transit Company Stockholders at 6:45 p.m. before Council's Tuesday, February 24 legislative meeting in the Council work room; 2. changed the date of the ACVA/AEDP work session from before the Tuesday, March 24 legislative meeting to 5:30 p.m. before the Tuesday, April 14 legislative meeting (subject to confirmation by the ACVA and AEDP Boards); 3. scheduled a work session on the Fire Department budget issues at 5:30 p.m. before Council's Tuesday, March 24 legislative meeting in the Council work room (subject to changing the date of the ACVA/AEDP work session to April 14); 4. scheduled a work session on the Waterfront planning process at 5:30 p.m. before Council's Tuesday, May 21 legislative meeting in the Council work room; and 5. received the revised calendar which includes the Mayor's State of the City Address, which will be on Saturday, February 21 at 8:30 a.m., at the Charles Houston Recreation Center Gymnasium, 9056 Wythe Street, which then will push back the ribbon cutting dedication of the Charles Houston Recreation Center, and then to move the 9:30 a.m. start of the City Council public hearing to 10:30 a.m.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

18.1 Consideration of a Motion to Amend Condition #13 of the Development Special Use Permit Previously Adopted as Part of Item #7 at the January 24, 2009 City Council meeting:

DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2007-0022
ENCROACHMENT #2008-0003
COORDINATED SIGN PROGRAM SUP #2008-0090
2801 MAIN STREET AND 2900 MAIN STREET
POTOMAC YARD - TOWN CENTER (LANDBAY G)
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for: (A) a development special use permit, with site plan and modifications, for development of the Potomac Yard Town Center to include various residential, hotel, office and retail uses, as well as, requests to allow a grocery store and fitness center/spa over 20,000 square feet each, sales trailers, an increase in penthouse height, a parking reduction, and approval to convert office square footage to retail square footage; (B) a request to allow encroachments into the public right-of-way; (C) a request for a coordinated sign program; zoned CDD-10/Coordinated Development District. Applicant: RP MRP Potomac Yard, LLC by M. Catharine Puskar, attorney

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION:
DSUP Recommend Approval w/amendments 7-0
ENC Recommend Approval 7-0
SUP Recommend Approval w/amendments 7-0

City Council directed staff to put together a comprehensive policy to determine best practices, with endorsement from the Parks and Recreation Commission, so Council would not take any action on changing the special use permit.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

EXECUTIVE SESSION

19. Consideration of Convening An Executive Session Closed to the Public to Discuss with Legal Counsel Utility and Cable Franchise Issues and Whether to Ask for an Interpretation of State Law by the Virginia Attorney General; and to Discuss Personnel Matters Related to the Vacant City Attorney Position.

At 10:03 p.m., City Council convened in Executive Session, pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A)(1) and (A)(7) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of consulting with legal counsel regarding seeking an opinion from the Virginia Attorney General's Office, to meet with legal counsel to discuss the terms of a public utility and cable franchise, and to discuss personnel matters related to the vacant City Attorney position.

At 10:48 p.m., City Council reconvened the meeting.

City Council adopted the resolution pertaining to the Executive Session. (RES. NO. 2320)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

The meeting adjourned at 10:49 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.

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