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Office of the City Clerk
October 12, 2011

City Council held a Work Session at
5:30 p.m. in the Council Workroom to
Discuss the Human Services Fund and
to Discuss Legislative Issues.


Regular Meeting
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 - - 7:00 p.m.

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1. Calling the Roll.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Euille, and the City Clerk called the roll. All 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 Meetings of City Council:

(a) The Public Hearing Meeting Minutes of September 17, 2011; and

(b) The Regular Meeting Minutes of September 27, 2011.

City Council approved the public hearing meeting minutes of September 17, 2011 and the regular meeting minutes of September 27, 2011.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

3.1 Recognition of Students from Polk Elementary School for Artwork at City Hall.

City Council recognized the students.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

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:

(a) Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee

(b) Citizen Corps Council (c) Commission for the Arts
(d) Traffic and Parking Board 5. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:

(a) Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee
5 Citizen Members

(b) Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee
1 Citizen Member

(c) Beautification Commission
1 Citizen Member

(d) Carr/Norfolk Southern (Carlyle) Design Review Board
1 Citizen Member

(e) Commission on Aging
1 Representative of Older Persons

(f) Commission on Employment
1 Representative From Such Organizations as Educational
Agencies, Organized Labor, Rehabilitative Agencies,
Community-Based Organizations, Economic Development
Agencies and the Public Employment Service

(g) Commission on Persons with Disabilities
2 Citizen Members

(h) Community Criminal Justice Board
1 Citizen Member

(i) Environmental Policy Commission (j) Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
1 Member at Large From Planning District II

(k) Public Health Advisory Commission
1 Representative of the Alexandria Community Services
Board, Nominated by the Board

(l) Real Estate Assessment Review Board
1 Citizen Member Appointed by City Council

(m) Waterfront Committee
1 Representative of the Pleasure Boat Lease Holders at
Alexandria Marina (Ordinances for Introduction)

6. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend and Reordain Sections 3-2-353 and 3-2-354 To Add Code Sections Not Previously Included, To Clarify How a Parking Citation Can Be Contested, and To Provide a Deadline For Contesting a Citation.

7. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend and Reordain Section 5-7-58 of Article C, Chapter 7 of Title 5, Creating a Prohibition Against the Confinement of Animals in Unattended, Enclosed Vehicles.

8. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend and Reordain Sections 5-7-31, 5-7-33.1, and 5-7-35 to Clarify the Definition of a Dog Running at Large.

9. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance Authorizing the Tenant of the Property located at 608 Montgomery Street in the City of Alexandria, Virginia to Construct and Maintain an Encroachment For Outdoor Seating at That Location.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the consent calendar. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows:

4. City Council accepted the following resignations with regret: (a) Holly Hemphill, Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee; (b) Amy Olson, Citizen Corps Council; (c) Terrell Ambrose, Commission for the Arts; and (d) E. Jon Sargeant, Traffic and Parking Board.

5. City Council made the following appointments to boards and commissions: (a) appointed Charles Mandolia, Kitty Montie, Jennifer O'Keefe and reappointed Jennifer Reading and Nicole Tousley as the five citizen members to the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee; (b) appointed Malvina Vartania as the one citizen member to the Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee; (c) reappointed Cathleen Curtin as the one citizen member to the Beautification Commission; (d) reappointed Alvin Boone as the one citizen member to the Carr/Norfolk (Carlyle) Design Review Board; (e) reappointed Carol Downs as the one representative of older persons to the Commission on Aging; (f) waived the residency requirement and reappointed Amy Bell as the one representative from such organizations as educational agencies, organized labor, rehabilitative agencies, community-based organizations, economic development agencies and the public employment service to the Commission on Employment; (g) appointed Patrick Gaffney and reappointed Ruth Soto as the two citizen members to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities; (h) reappointed Adam Pearlman as the one citizen member to the Community Criminal Justice Board; (i) reappointed Rebecca Jablon and Philip Voorhees as the two members from the field of environmental sciences (e.g., environmental/sanitary engineering, ecology, geology, botany, hydrology, chemistry) or who have Alexandria waterfront expertise to the Environmental Policy Commission; (j) reappointed William Hendrickson as the one member at large from Planning District II to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission; (k) reappointed Mary Ann Weber as the one representative of the Alexandria Community Services Board, nominated, by the board, to the Public Health Advisory Commission; (l) appointed Anne Rector as the one citizen member appointed by City Council to the Real Estate Assessment Review Board; and (m) reappointed Douglas Gosnell as the one representative of the pleasure boat lease holders at Alexandria Marina to the Waterfront Committee.

6. City Council introduced the ordinance, passed it on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, October 15, 2011.

7. City Council introduced the ordinance, passed it on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, November 12, 2011.

8. City Council introduced the ordinance, passed it on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, November 12, 2011.

9. City Council introduced the ordinance, passed it on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, October 15, 2011.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS

10. Human Rights Commission
1 Citizen Member

City Council appointed Monika Jones as the one citizen member to the Human Rights Commission.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

11. Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority
1 Citizen Member

City Council appointed Karl Sandberg as the one citizen member to the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION

12. Consideration of Monthly Financial Report For the Period Ending August 31, 2011. (Staff Presentation)

City Council received the monthly financial report for the period ending August 31, 2011, and the sense of City Council was to affirm the City Managers recommendations to set aside the end of the year surplus in the manner he described.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

13. Consideration of a Proposal to Conduct a Bikeshare Program in Alexandria. (Staff Presentation)

City Council authorized the City to join the Regional Capital Bikeshare network utilizing federal CMAQ/RSTP grant funds, beginning implementation with six bikeshare stations with 54 bikes as a pilot program, and expanding when additional grand funding becomes available as discussed in the memorandum.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

14. Receipt of Report on the Proposed Renewal of the City’s Cable Television Franchise and the Fiber Use Agreement Between the City of Alexandria and Comcast of Virginia, Inc. and Setting the Public Hearing on These Documents for Saturday, October 15 and Council Consideration on Tuesday, October 25. (Staff Presentation)

City Council: 1. received the report and set the public hearing on the proposed five-year cable television franchise, and fiber use agreements for Saturday, October 15, 2011.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

15. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an of an Ordinance to Amend and Reordain the City’s Cable Communications Code Chapter 3 (Alexandria Cable Communications Code) of Title 9 (Licensing and Regulation) of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia 1981, as Amended, to Comply With Changes in Federal and State Law.

City Council introduced the ordinance, passed it on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, October 15, 2011.
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) Councilman Krupicka said he mentioned in June and subsequent to then the fact that termination of the traffic calming program during the recession has led to increased neighborhood complaints and concerns about speeding traffic on residential streets. Staff provided a memo to Council last week and he highlighted that it talks about the cost of reinstating the traffic calming program, they have a long way to go between now and budget adoption and a lot of economic uncertainty to work through between now and then as well. He said he would be looking for and advocating for ways to implement or reinstate part of the traffic calming program.

(b) Councilman Krupicka said they have been contacted by commercial retailers in Old Town about Black Friday and whether the City would do a parking waiver or respite on Black Friday, and the City Manager indicated it may be possible. He asked if they have confirmed that they will be able to do that.

Acting City Manager Johnson said yes, he has authorized free parking in the City lots on Friday and the suspension of parking meter fees for that day.

(c) Councilwoman Pepper said this weekend was a special weekend for Ben Brenman Park and the West End. They had an art and wine festival October 8-9 and it was quite successful. There were a number of participants and it was a wonderful event. She recognized West End Productions.

(d) Councilwoman Pepper said Council went to the Virginia Municipal League recently and it was very nice. She said one of the sessions she attended was the paperless community.

(e) Vice Mayor Donley said congratulations go to Inova Hospital and the opening of their new breast imaging center on Beauregard. He said that last Monday, Secretary of Human Services Kathleen Sebelius was there, along with the Vice President's wife Jill Biden, and special guest Jennifer Aniston. He said the facility is quite impressive.

(f) Vice Mayor Donley congratulated the Chamber of Commerce and the businesses that were nominated for the business of the year awards. They had a very successful dinner last Thursday and a lot of Alexandria businesses were showcased and a number received awards.

(g) Vice Mayor Donley said he and the Mayor were at the DASH Express ribbon cutting today at BRAC-133, and it promises to be a positive transit alternative which gives them additional service in the West End and helps get cars off the road. The BRAC task force that he chaired came up with the idea, and they want to thank the task force and the West End Citizens and the Washington Headquarters Service for working together to come up with what will be a step in the right direction to help alleviate many of the traffic congestion associated by BRAC.

(h) Councilman Fannon said that this Friday night, the Alexandria Rotary Club is having its fourth annual Taste for Giving, which will be at the Torpedo Factory from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. and it will have about 15 Alexandria restaurants. It is $75 a ticket and all the money raised is given back to the community to Alexandria charities. Last year it raised over $20,000.

(i) Councilman Smedberg reminded Council that there was a lot of attention when the GenOn Corporation announced it was going to close the Mirant Plant, but he wanted to make sure everyone saw the announcement that came out that the plant was actually given approval by the GRID, saying the Plant was not necessary and could shut down. It is not the final approval, but it is the key approval it needed to make sure that happens.

(j) Councilman Smedberg said on the DASH bus ribbon cutting, it would be helpful in the future to accommodate those who cannot leave mid-afternoon to have events in the morning or later afternoon.

(k) Councilwoman Hughes acknowledged that Dr. Tammie Mann, the new president CEO of the Campagna Center was in the Chambers earlier in the evening.

(l) Councilwoman Hughes said she enjoyed the Virginia Municipal League conference and in one of her last sessions, she came across a program she wanted to get a sense of Council about, and it was the National League of Cities prescription discount card program, and there are currently seven jurisdictions in Virginia taking part of it. She asked that it be docketed for consideration at its next legislative session.

Deputy City Manager Evans said this had previously come to City Council and it was looked into.

Acting City Manager Johnson said they would re-present what it worked on before for Council's information.

(m) Councilwoman Hughes said on the Local Government Mandates Task Force that has been established, she is the Governor's liaison to the Government Reform Commission and the first meeting is scheduled for November 7 in Richmond at 1:00 p.m. She said she will share everything with Council. She said she hoped they could get input about mandate measures that they believe could be stricken off the books.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER

City Engineer Baker, Transportation and Environmental Services, and Deputy Director/Operations Lambert, T&ES, gave a report on the situation at Holmes Run with the sewage leakage.

Acting City Manager Johnson said he was planning to request of City Council approximately $1.6 million to improve their emergency response capabilities using a portion of the surplus funds from 2011. Previously he had promised to give Council details on it. He asked that Council allow him an additional two weeks to develop the proposal and he will bring it back on October 25. Shortly thereafter, Council will have a budget work session on November 1 on public safety and it will see how the $1.6 million fits with other requests and needs in the public safety area. Later in November it will have a supplemental appropriation ordinance where they will ask to release the funds.

Acting City Manager Johnson reported back on steps taken to review the City's systems of checks and balances - internal controls - to prevent the type of alleged embezzlements that came to light in August.

16. Discussion of a Draft Resolution Increasing the Fee for Removing a Boot from a Vehicle from $75 to $120. (Staff Presentation)

City Council accepted the report, with the understanding that Finance will get further input from the City Attorney's Office prior to bringing it to Council for adoption.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

OTHER

17. Consideration of City Council Schedule.

City Council received the updated calendar.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

EXECUTIVE SESSION

18. Consideration of Convening a Closed Meeting for the Purpose of Consulting with Legal Counsel Regarding Potential and Pending Litigation.

City Council convened in closed executive session at 9:54 p.m., pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(a)(3) of the Code of Virginia, for the purpose of consultation with legal counsel and briefing by staff pertaining to actual or probable litigation where such consultation in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating and litigating posture of the public body, and for consultation regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice.

City Council reconvened the meeting at 11:14 p.m.

City Council adopted the resolution pertaining to the Executive Session. (RES. NO. 2474)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________
The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 p.m.

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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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