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. (Councilwoman Hughes arrived at 9:55 a.m.) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 2. Public Discussion Period. The following persons participated in the public discussion period: (a) Andrew Macdonald, 217 N. Columbus Street, spoke to the Waterfront Plan, noting he was disappointed in the comments from the Planning Commission about the Plan. He spoke about the Plan, speaking to what the foundation of the Plan should have, and the fact that it should prevent further pollution of the Potomac, increase affordable public access to the waterfront and shoreline, the town's history should be the foundation for the modest attempts to commercialize the waterfront, and the revenue to pay for the restoration should not be tied to development plans like hotels. A Plan should support the local businesses and be cost effective, and it should include a Maritime museum, a large new park, a new arts district, and a new small boat recreation center. (b) Denise Freeland, 917 Crestwood Drive, expressed gratitude from the arts community for Council's support of its activities. She asked that the funding of the Commission for the Arts be maintained at the 2010 levels, at a minimum. (c) Carolyn Griffin, 1201 N. Royal Street, artistic director of Metro Stage, spoke in support of arts funding being maintained at a minimum at the current funding level. (d) George Chadwick, 2930 Holly Street, with Alexandria Performing Arts Association, spoke about what the City gets for its art money, and he urged that the level of funding for the arts be maintained at its current level. (e) Linda Hafer, 105 N. Union Street, executive director of the Art League, spoke in support of funding of the arts, and she hoped Council would recognize the value of maintaining funding for the Arts Commission and its grants program, and she encouraged Council to fund a public art funding policy to ensure funding in the future. (f) June Whelan, 400 Madison Street, vice president and musician in the Washington Balalaika Society, spoke in support of funding for the arts, and she asked Council to continue its support of the Arts Commission. (g) Matthew Harwood, 1755 North Cliff Street, co-chair, public art committee, spoke in support of funding for two additional arts initiatives--establishing and staffing a new public art manager position in the Office of the Arts, and maintaining funding levels for the Alexandria Commission for the Arts grant program. (h) Lisa Hawkins, 1801 N. Quaker Lane, executive director of Convergence, spoke in support of arts in Alexandria, and she asked Council to support the vital role of arts in Alexandria. (i) Tom Berkey, P. O. Box 11274, with the Alexandria Harmonizers, spoke in support of the arts in Alexandria and said they cannot continue its program without the support of the City Council. (j) Leisa Collins, 1200 Braddock Road, member, Commission for the Arts, spoke in support of funding for the arts and asked that it be maintained and increased. (k) Ulysses James, 4009 Gibbs Street, member of the Metropolitan Philharmonic Association, spoke in support of funding for the arts, and said the investment in the arts will bring more to the City for less money than anything else. (l) David Denardo, 922 S. Washington Street, president, Alexandria Firefighters Local 2141, reiterated their position on the proposed one percent increase contribution in the retirement pensions, noting they are opposed to any increase in contributions. Although a market rate adjustment is needed, it does not guarantee any future salary adjustments to off-set the increase in the employee retirement contributions. Mr. Denardo asked that Council vote for option A and does not implement the one percent employee retirement contribution increase in FY2012. (m) Jean Antone, 704 S. Fairfax Street, said that last year, she spoke about street cleaning and pothole repair, and to date, not one pothole has been repaired and street cleaning is sporadic, at best. She spoke of the increase of salaries for City employees and for the schools. She spoke of her concern of the City's debt financing, and she asked if the City's tax base could support its level of borrowing, and asked if it needed another Metro Station when it already has four, without financial analysis or analysis of ridership. She asked Council to set firm priorities on spending. (n) Lonnie Phillips, 221 Randolph Avenue, president, Alexandria Medics Association, said asking employees to pay employees to pay one percent into the retirement is ill-advised. He said it will have a negative impact on employees, after years of having no cost-of-living increase or merit and an increase in health insurance. He said the pension ad-hoc committee is looking at the retirement plan for the employees, and it seems like the logical way to balance the needs of the employees and the City for retirement. He said Alexandria is one of the richest cities with real estate that has fared much better than others, and yet it has some of the lowest paid employees in the region. He urged Council to vote for option A. (o) Melynda Wilcox, 403 Jackson Place, requested Council to fully fund the schools CIP budget for two new elementary schools, a K-8 school to replace Jefferson Houston and an additional K-8 school on the Patrick Henry site. She said partial funding would put the school board in the position of having to chose from the two schools, and it would divide the community and both are needed to reduce overcrowding. She said an investment in the schools is an investment in the community. (p) John Gosling, 208 S. Fayette Street, president, Old Town Civic Association, spoke about the Waterfront Plan, noting that there is still significant frustration with the planning process, which has not adequately presented a range of alternative options for review or taken into account numerous concerns of the Old Town community. Mr. Gosling submitted their modifications in a letter submitted today and he highlighted three issues of concern: the planning process should slow down; make a stronger commitment to historic and cultural amenities; and set limits on the type of allowable commercial uses in the waterfront area. He said the City has asked for public comment on the plan and they see no reason to hurry the process and request a delay in the adoption timetable to allow more time to work with the City. (q) Ed Didian, 112 Princess Street, spoke of the cruise ships he brought into Alexandria in the 1990's, noting that there are no more cruises since the river is not deep enough. Mr. Didian spoke about the DASH bus service and he said there are only two, three or four people on the buses. He said the transit subsidies for 2010 was shown at $7.5 million for DASH, and the last three years showed a subsidy of $24 million. He asked why it operates a bus service that is not used. (h) Poul Hertel, 1217 Michigan Court, spoke in response to the letter to the editor regarding bicycle issues in which it was pointed out that it assumed six riders a day, and he spoke to the number of trips and riders per day, and if Council is to pursue it further because it allocated $400,000, he urged Council to strongly look and work through it more meticulously. Mr. Hertel said regarding the waterfront plan, there are outstanding issues, and the Plan seems to be reinterpreted in such a manner about density and revenue to the point that the projected revenue has become meaningless, and that needs to be solved. Mr. Hertel said the Boat Club wants to move and wants the City to pay for it, but what happens to the site if they do and what are the collateral damages. He said that until the discussions are ready for public domain, the whole Plan needs to be deferred. (i) Kathleen B. Landrith, 4603 S. 36th Street, Arlington, said she rides the DASH buses a lot and she heard the #2 and 10 may be lost. She said they need the buses, they are good, and the drivers are friendly, helpful and caring. (j) Meredith MacNab, 408 S. Royal Street, said they have a fabulous City and she said it takes money to have a qualitative way of life. She said paying taxes is a necessary thing to do and they are blessed to have a lot of incredibly dedicated professionals in the City. She said they need a dedicated funding source for implementation of plans. She said she and her husband use DASH and Metro and it is a fabulous system (k) Ed Milner, 2003 Mill Road, vice president, Alexandria Police Association and a board member of the Police Union, said that in the past, employees have asked for financial compensation and the response has been that a study had to be performed and a decision to give the compensation would be based on the outcome, and when the studies have favored City employees, the City retracted its promise and never gave the compensation. He asked Council to treat its employees with the same careful thought and respect it treats the property tax rates. Mr. Milner asked Council to afford the ad-hoc retirement advisory committee the opportunity to present its findings to Council prior to any implementation of any proposed increase to the pension, strike the increase from the proposed budget and the debate. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR (3-6.1) Planning Commission 3. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2010-0087 4740 EISENHOWER AVENUE DOG DAYS OF OLD TOWN Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to operate a dog day care facility with overnight boarding and a request for a parking reduction; zoned OCM-100/Office Commercial Medium (100). Applicant: Kathryn Rollins (Deferred from March docket. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 5-0 4. DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2011-0005 1701 DUKE STREET EDMONDSON PLAZA Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for an amendment to development special use permit #2010-0005, to decrease allowable retail use and increase office use; zoned OCH/Office Commercial High. Applicant: 1701 Duke Street, LLC represented by Kenneth Wire, attorney PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 5-0 5. TEXT AMENDMENT #2011-0006 INFILL REGULATIONS Public Hearing and Consideration of a text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to revise Section 7-2503 regarding infill threshold height requirements as they apply to certain properties affected by the new floodplain regulations. Staff: Planning and Zoning PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 6-0 6. TEXT AMENDMENT #2011-0008 BAR ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS Public Hearing and Consideration of a text amendment to revise section 10-113, 10-213 and 10-316 of the Zoning Ordinance to allow administrative approval of BAR cases for minor architectural elements. Staff: Department of Planning and Zoning PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 6-0 6.1 Consideration of an Application to the Commonwealth of Virginia State Homeland Security Grant Program on Behalf of the Northern Virginia Hospital Alliance to Acquire New Radios For the Hospitals Participating in the Alliance. END OF ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR City Council approved the consent calendar, with the exception of docket item number 6, which was considered under separate motion. The approval was as follows: 3. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation. 4. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation. 5. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation. 6. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation. (separate motion) 6.1 City Council: 1. approved the application to the Commonwealth of Virginia State Homeland Security Grant Program (due April 18, 2011); and 2. authorized the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER 7. Public Hearing on an Ordinance to Establish the Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Rates for Calendar Year 2011. (Adoption of the ordinance will occur May 2, 2011.) (#7, 3/12/11) City Council held the public hearing and noted that adoption is scheduled for May 2, 2011. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 8. Public Hearing on an Ordinance to Codify the Tier 1 Potomac Yard Metrorail Station Special Services District as a Separate Classification For Real Estate Tax Purposes and to Establish the Tax Rate for Calendar Year 2011. (Adoption of the ordinance will occur May 2, 2011.) (#8, 3/12/11) City Council held the public hearing and noted that adoption is scheduled for May 2, 2011. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 9. Public Hearing to Obtain Community Input on the Recruitment Profile for the New City Manager. City Council held the public hearing to obtain community input. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 10. Public Hearing on the Draft Fiscal Year 2012 Action Plan for Housing and Community Development. City Council held the public hearing on the draft FY 2012 action plan for Housing and Community Development. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS 11. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Make Supplemental Appropriations for the Support of the City Government for Fiscal Year 2011. (#12, 4/12/11) [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council adopted the ordinance to make supplemental appropriations for the support of the City government for Fiscal Year 2011. (ORD. NO. 4714) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 12. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Amend and Reordain Section 6-300 (Floodplain District) of Article VI (Special and Overlay Zones) of the City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance, in Accordance With the Text Amendment Heretofore Approved by City Council as Text Amendment No. 2011-0004. (#13, 4/12/11) [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council adopted the ordinance to amend the floodplain district and special and overlay zones. (ORD. NO. 4715) 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:_________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SESSION 13. Consideration of a Closed Meeting For the Purpose of Consulting With Legal Counsel Regarding Potential and Pending Litigation and Real Estate Acquisition Matters. City Council convened in closed executive session at 1:14 p.m, pursuant to Sections 2.2-3711(A)(3) and (7) of the Code of Virginia,for the purpose of discussion or consideration for the acquisition of real property for a public purpose or the disposition of publicly held property, and consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members pertaining to actual or probable litigation regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice. City Council reconvened the meeting at 2:04 p.m. City Council adopted a resolution pertaining to the Executive Session. (RES. NO. 2447) Council Action:_________________________________________________________