Special Meeting
Wednesday, June 30, 1993 - - 6:00 pm
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Present: Mayor Patricia S. Ticer, Vice Mayor William C. Cleveland, Members of Council Kerry J. Donley, T. Michael Jackson, Redella S. Pepper, Lonnie C. Rich, and David G. Speck.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Mrs. Lawson, City Manager; Mr. Sunderland, City Attorney; Ms. Evans, Assistant City Manager; Ms. Steele, Deputy City Manager; Mr. Brannan, Assistant City Manager; Mr. Gitajn, Director of Financial and Information Services; Mr. Neckel, Director of Finance; Mr. Lynn, Director of Planning and Community Development; Ms. Boyd, Director of Citizen Assistance; Ms. Davis, Director of Housing; Ms. Tyson, Comptroller; Judge Rideout, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court; Ms. Godfrey, School Board Chair; and Sergeant Mason, Captain George and Officer Ray, Police Department.
Recorded by: Susan K. Seagroves, Deputy City Clerk and Clerk of Council.
OPENING
The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Ticer, and the City Clerk called the Roll; all Members of City Council were present.
(It was noted that a Notice of this Special Meeting had been previously served upon each Member of Council, pursuant to a provision of the City Charter, a copy of the Notice certified by each Member of Council being on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council.)
New Business Item No. 1: WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT, City Council received a presentation from Judge Rideout of the Alexandria Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court about some ideas he has been developing to take advantage of the Police Youth Camp late this summer for a special one-week pilot program for youth in trouble.
(General Discussion. Members of Council, Judge Rideout and the City Manager participated in the discussion of this item.
The City Manager will work with Judge Rideout in helping to organize the City as well as community-wide civic, business, and religious sectors for volunteers to staff the camp and for financial contributions.)
WITHOUT OBJECTION, City Council took Docket Item No. 8 out of order.
8. Presentation of Gift to the City to Be Used for the Disadvantaged of Alexandria from the Alexandria Washington Lodge #22. (Councilwoman Pepper)
(The Mayor and Councilwoman Pepper received the gift on Council's behalf and extended their appreciation for this gift.)
WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT, City Council received the gift of a $1,000 check from the Alexandria Washington Lodge #22 for the poor of the City, the use of which is at the discretion of the Mayor and Council.
New Business Item No. 2: WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT, City Council received a presentation from Councilman Jackson announcing WMATA's three new Metrorail trip passes: the Short Trip Pass, the 28-Day Pass, and the Bus/Rail Super Pass.
(A copy of the handout/overhead presented by Councilman Jackson is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of New Business Item No. 2; 6/30/93, and is incorporated herewith as part of this record by reference.)
City Council returned to Item No. 2 and the following transpired:
CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS
2. Alexandria School Board
(The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Board:
NAME ENDORSED BY:
Toni Ali
Vernon Collins, Sr. Elaine P. Crowley
Northern Virginia Urban League NAACP
Susan J. Johnson
Alice P. Cannon
Patricia A. Sugrue
Anne R. Lipnick
Lynn Smith
Edward Fader
Carl Feusahrens
Pamela Kicak
Edward Moses
Peter Nelsen
Joyce Rawlings Northern Virginia Urban League
NAACP
Anne Haynes
John Travis Melvin Bergheim
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NAME ENDORSED BY:
Paul Van de Water Walter W. Wendt
Mary E. Wendt
Douglas Wade
Jacklyn Borthwick
R. Bruce Borthwick
Patrick Chisolm, Jr.
Nancy H. Chisolm
Fowler West
James Hoben
Michael R. McAdoo
Sandra Levy
Roderick Vawter
Bob Mereness
Victoria R. Beam
James T. Currie
Kathy Kyger
Anne and Russ Bailey
Libby and Bruce Johnson
Steven O. Denne
William R. Monson
Barbara M. Monson
David W. Brown
John Wilmer, Jr. Peter Smeallie
Rev. Karen P. Evans
Carol Stackhouse
John and Molly Bailey
V. Britt Richardson, Jr.
The Rev. Geoffrey M.
St. J. Hoare
Lawrence and Pamela Melton
Nancy Carson
Paul M. Rhodes, Jr.
Michael R. McAdoo
Adrienne Seisler
Jeffrey M. Seisler
Tom Hewson
Deborah Hewson
Julian T. Burke
Betty Burke
Chancy Schmick
Jeanne and Clark Hamilton
Bill and Sally Brierre
John F. Robinson
Emily K. Alexander Robinson
J. N. Hauhart
Rev. John O. von Hemert
(Material pertaining to the above appointment is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked collectively as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 2; 6/30/93, and is incorporated herewith as part of this record by reference.)
Whereupon, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and the ballots tallied with the following result: City Council appointed Vernon Collins, Sr. as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria School Board. The voting was as follows:
Ticer - Collins
Cleveland - Collins
Donley - Collins
Jackson - Collins
Pepper - Collins
Rich - Van de Water
Speck - Van de Water
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ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
3. Public Hearing. Second Reading and Final Passage of AN ORDINANCE to amend the regulations of the POS/Public Open Space and Community Recreation Zone to authorize ornamental structures, as defined to be constructed to a maximum height of 40 feet, with a special use permit, and to exempt from the special use permit requirement the ornamental topiary structure in the Gateway Park approved by City Council on June 11, 1991. (#50 6/22/93)
The City Clerk read the docket item.
It was noted that there were no speakers on this item; therefore, the public hearing was concluded.
WHEREUPON, upon motion by Council Member Rich, seconded by Councilman Donley and carried on a unanimous ROLL-CALL vote, City Council finally passed the ordinance upon its Second Reading. The voting was as follows:
Rich "aye" Cleveland "aye"
Donley "aye" Jackson "aye"
Ticer "aye" Pepper "aye"
Speck "aye"
The ordinance finally passed reads as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 3654
AN ORDINANCE to amend and reordain Article II (DEFINITIONS) by adding a new Section 2-197.1 (STRUCTURE, ORNAMENTAL), and to amend and reordain Section 6-106 (BULK, SPACE AND YARD REQUIREMENTS) under Section 6-100 (POS/PUBLIC OPEN SPACE AND COMMUNITY RECREATION ZONE), of Article VI (SPECIAL AND OVERLAYS ZONES), all of the City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF ALEXANDRIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
Section 1. That Article II of the City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance be, and the same hereby is, amended by adding thereto a new Section 2-197.1, to read as follows:
Section 2-197.1 Structure, Ornamental.
An individual structure fixed to the ground having a purely decorative or commemorative quality or value, or designed exclusively for the outdoor display of an object having a purely decorative or commemorative quality or value, and containing no storage, mechanical, habitable or occupiable space.
Section 2. That subsection (A) of Section 6-106 of the City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance be, and the same hereby is, amended to read as follows:
(A) The maximum permitted height of a building or structure is: 15 feet; provided, that with a special use permit the height may be increased to an amount not to exceed 30 feet for a building or structure or, in the case of an ornamental structure as defined in section 2-197.1, to an amount not to exceed 40 feet.
Section 3. That Article II and Section 6-106 of the City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance, as amended by this ordinance, be, and the same hereby are, reordained as part of the City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance.
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Section 4. That this ordinance shall become effective upon the date at the time of its final passage, and shall be applicable to all land, buildings and structures in the City of Alexandria, including all applications for land use or land development approval provided for under the City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance which on such date are pending before any city department, agency or board, or before city council, or on judicial review; provided, however, that the ornamental topiary structure in the Gateway Park, at King Street and Daingerfield and Diagonal Roads, sometimes also known as the King Street Garden Park, as approved by city council on June 11, 1991, shall be permitted to be constructed, without any special use permit, in strict accord with such approval, and thus to a height no greater than approximately 36.4 feet, and upon completion shall be deemed a special noncomplying structure; shall not be physically enlarged or expanded, and, if destroyed, demolished or otherwise removed, shall not be reconstructed, but may be renovated, maintained and repaired in accordance with the approved plans.
Introduction: 6/22/93
First Reading: 6/22/93
Publication: 6/24/93; 6/25/93
Public Hearing: 6/30/93
Second Reading: 6/30/93
Final Passage: 6/30/93
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OTHER
4. City Council will convene an executive session, at its meeting on June 30, 1993, for the purpose of discussing, pursuant to section 2.1-344(3) of the Virginia Code, the disposition of certain publicly held real property by the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, such discussion to be limited to the financing, fiscal and other financial aspects of proposed disposition of the Samuel Madden homes, and discussing, pursuant to section 2.1-344(3) of the Virginia Code, the acquisition of certain real property by the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority as sites to replace some of the ARHA housing lost as a result of the disposition of the site of the Samuel Madden homes.
NOTE: This executive session was set by Council at its meeting held on June 22, 1993.
(A copy of the Presentation by ARHA to City Council dated June 30, 1993, is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 4; 6/30/93, and is incorporated herewith as part of this record by reference.
A copy of a written statement from Jacqueline Muskelly, President of the Samuel Madden Residents Federation, is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 2 of Item No. 4; 6/30/93, and is incorporated herewith as part of this record by reference.)
WITHOUT OBJECTION, Mr. McLaughlin, Chairman of the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, made a presentation on the actions recently taken by the Housing Authority Board regarding the Berg, as a professional courtesy to the Council as the City's elected officials. This is the beginning of a long process, and there will be many public hearings held. No decisions have been made. ARHA has simply voted to begin the process of the redevelopment of the Samuel Madden community.
Mr. McLaughlin announced plans to appoint a task force comprised of representatives from, but not limited to, the Urban League, Hopkins House, the NAACP, residents of Samuel Madden and other communities, and the clergy, to meet with ARHA and hold public forums.
Mr. McLaughlin requested withdrawal of ARHA's request for an Executive Session.
(General Discussion. The Mayor and Members of Council participated in the discussion, and Mr. McLaughlin responded to questions.
Mayor Ticer recommended that ARHA include the Network Preschool Board to sit on the task force to be formed this summer.)
WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT, City Council agreed to the withdrawal of ARHA's request for an Executive Session. No public hearing was held.
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WITHOUT OBJECTION, City Council next considered Docket Item Nos. 6 and 7, prior to adjournment (Item No. 5).
6. Consideration of Council authorization for City Staff to participate over the Summer, if invited, in discussion with RF&P Corporation, the National Park Service and others regarding access from the George Washington Parkway to the Potomac Greens site and related development matters affecting Potomac Greens and Potomac Yard. (Vice Mayor Cleveland)
(A copy of a letter from Vice Mayor Cleveland dated June 24, 1993, is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 6; 6/30/93, and is incorporated herewith as part of this record by reference.)
(General Discussion. Members of City Council, the City Attorney and City Manager participated in the discussion on this item.
Councilman Speck requested that the Retreat agenda include a discussion of certain Charter matters relating to Council land use decisions.
Vice Mayor Cleveland requested that this matter be docketed for discussion during the Council Retreat on September 11.)
WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT, City Council authorized participation by the City Attorney and Staff in any meetings held with regard to Potomac Greens and Potomac Yard to which they are invited by the Park Service. The City Attorney and Staff will have no advocacy or negotiating role for any access to the George Washington Memorial Parkway, but will attend solely to observe and receive information on behalf of the Council. The City Manager will provide Council with advance notice of any meeting and a written report afterwards.
7. Receipt of Report in Response to Council Member Rich's Proposal. (#38 6/22/93; Orals (d) 2/23/93; #11 2/20/93; Retreat 10/31/92) (Council Member Rich)
(A copy of a letter and report from The National Conference of Christians and Jews dated June 25, 1993, is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 7; 6/30/93, and is incorporated herewith as part of this record by reference.)
(General Discussion. Council Member Rich requested that the issues of welfare reform supported by this group be put on the September Retreat agenda, and he hopes that they would respond at that time more specifically to that particular issue, as well as any others.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, Mr. Lambert, President of the Urban League, addressed City Council. He apologized for Lynwood Campbell who was unable to be here to officially present the report. All the participating groups, the NAACP, Hopkins House, National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, representation from the Alexandria Public Schools, and many of the churches as well, were delighted to work on it.)
WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT, City Council received the letter from The National Conference of Christians and Jews in response to Council Member Rich's proposal and thanked the groups that participated.
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New Business Item No. 3: Mayor Ticer introduced Ewa Grohs from Krakow, Poland, who is visiting Virginia on a cultural exchange program through the auspices of VML and the Virginia Local Government Managers Association.
New Business Item No. 4: Mayor Ticer announced that the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) is holding a public listening session at Kenmore Middle School, 200 Carlin Springs Road, in Arlington, from 7 through 10:30 p.m. on July 13 to receive comments on aircraft noise from Northern Virginia citizens.
(A copy of the letter from the FAA dated June 22, 1993, is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of New Business Item No. 4; 6/30/93, and is incorporated herewith as part of this record by reference.)
New Business Item No. 5: WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT, City Council authorized Mayor Ticer to sign a letter to the National Park Service relating to the use of vacant space at Canal Center.
(General Discussion. Members of Council, Mr. Flaherty, Executive Director of the Alexandria Economic Development Program, and Mr. Lynn, Director of Planning and Community Development, participated in the discussion on this item.
Staff supports this request.)
New Business Item No. 6: WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT, City Council authorized the City Attorney to continue participating in the amicus brief to the Supreme Court in the case of the municipal incinerator "ash" case, at a cost of about $300. The issue has been run by the Environmental Policy Commission again.
(A copy of the memorandum from the City Attorney dated June 28, 1993, is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of New Business Item No. 6; 6/30/93, and is incorporated herewith as part of this record by reference.)
5. Consideration of Adjournment.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO BE CONSIDERED, upon motion by Councilman Donley, seconded simultaneously by Vice Mayor Cleveland and Councilwoman Pepper and carried unanimously, at 7:42 p.m., the Special Meeting of June 30, 1993, was adjourned. The voting was as follows:
Donley "aye" Ticer "aye"
Cleveland "aye" Jackson "aye"
Pepper "aye" Rich "aye"
Speck "aye"
APPROVED BY:
__________________________
PATRICIA S. TICER MAYOR
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Susan K. Seagroves, Deputy City Clerk
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This docket is subject to change.
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