Regular Meeting
Tuesday, September 24, 1996 - - 7:30 pm

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The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Donley, and the City Clerk called the Roll; all Members of City Council were present.

The Invocation was pronounced by Reverend Gil Cloud, Pastor, Alexandria Free Methodist Church.

City Council approved the Minutes for (a) the Special Public Hearing Meeting of September 7, 1996; and (b) the Regular Meeting of September 10, 1996.

City Council received the report of the City Clerk.

New Business Item No. 1: Councilman Euille spoke to the reception held tonight honoring the businesses who participated in the Summer Youth Employment Program. He called on Beth Fujishige who introduced some of the students and employers who participated in this summer's program.

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OPENING (continued)

New Business Item No. 2: Mayor Donley introduced a group of visitors from Japan being sponsored by EuroCenters and who are studying state and local government.

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City Council endorsed the proclamation.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.

8. Acceptance of the 1996 International Association of Fire Chief's Award of Merit for the City's Fire Station Management Program.

City Council accepted the award on behalf of the City.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, City Council considered Docket Item No. 29 at this time.

Virginia Allen
Maureen Dowling
Brigitte Lever
Annette Pruss

City Council approved the Consent Calendar with the exception of Docket Item No. 13 which was considered under separate motion. The City Manager's recommendations are as follows:

9. City Council received the following resignations with regret: (a) Virginia Allen, Maureen Dowling, Brigitte Lever, and Annette Pruss from the Alexandria-Caen Exchange Committee; (b) Gail Landgraff from the Alexandria Consumer Affairs Commission; (c) Norman R. Briere from the Alexandria Human Rights Commission; and (d) Timothy Sullivan from the Alexandria Waterfront Committee; requested the Executive Secretary for Boards and Commissions to send the appropriate letters of appreciation and to advertise the vacancies in the usual manner.

10. City Council made the following appointments: (a) reappointed Sara Masterson as a Representative from Planning District I and Philip Brooks, Jr. as a Representative from Planning District III to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission.

11. City Council authorized the City Manager to: (1) submit a grant application to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Litter Prevention and Recycling Program, for funding in the amount of $10,053 for the Adopt-a-Park Program; and (2) execute all necessary documents that may be required.

12. City Council (1) approved the FY 1997 Area Plan for Aging Services; (2) authorized the City Manager to: (a) submit the plan which includes application to the Virginia Department for Aging for continuation funding for the Alexandria Agency on Aging in the amount of $265,303 ($179,743 for federal Older Americans Act Title III funds; $4,000 for federal Health Care Financing Administration funds; and $81,560 for additional State Program funds); (b) sign contracts with the Governor's Employment and Training Department for: $27,533 for Title V (Seniors In Community Service Employment Program) and $12,438 for the Job Training Partnership Act/Older Workers Program; (c) submit grant applications totaling $35,020 to the USDA for reimbursement for congregate, home-delivered and adult day care meals; (d) execute all necessary documents; and (3) approved the continuation of one full-time and four part-time grant-funded positions which administer and operate the Older Americans Act programs and associated services. The positions were established 12 years ago and the full-time position is included in the City's approved FY 1997 full-time position count. Continuation of these positions is contingent upon continuation of funding from the Virginia Department for the Aging.

13. Councilman Cleveland directed questions to Financial and Information Technology Director Gitajn.

City Council (1) received the Financial Report for the period ending August 31, 1996; (2) authorized the City Manager to award a contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the construction of the Mount Vernon Recreation Center renovation; (3) approved a $17,228 (ten percent) reduction in the FY 1997 capital contribution to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, from the requested amount of $172,282 to $155,054, which is comparable to the ten percent reduction approved by the Fairfax County Board for the County's contribution to the Park Authority for FY 1997. The $17,228 is recommended for reallocation to increase the
available funding for the planned renovations of the City's recreation centers, including the William Ramsay Center; and (4) requested that the City's representatives to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority Board and the Northern Virginia Community College Board ask staff of these two agencies to work with member jurisdictions to develop and formally adopt capital funding agreements with all member jurisdictions for future budget cycles. These two regional agencies have relied on informal capital funding agreements that have not been formally adopted by the member jurisdictions; and for FY 1997, the Fairfax County Board reduced the County's requested contribution to both regional agencies by ten percent. (Separate Motion)

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

Councilman Speck directed questions to Legislative Director Caton and Chief Samarra concerning this program. He requested staff to provide brief monthly updates on the pilot project in Fairfax City and other jurisdictions with respect to this issue. Councilman Speck requested staff to get a copy of the New York City News video concerning this program.

City Council received the report.

Council Member Rich directed questions to Transportation and Environmental Services Director O'Kane. Mr. O'Kane explained what staff is doing and indicated that staff will be meeting with the community to listen to their concerns.

Members of City Council participated in the discussion.

City Council received the report, and after the staff holds community meetings, that this report be set for public hearing before the City Council.

Mayor Donley directed questions to Police Sergeant Gibson and Office on Women Director Gattsek.
City Council decided to exceed its budget cap on the number of full-time and part-time City positions. Approval of this request will increase the number of grant-funded positions by one (1.0) full-time Victim Witness Specialist II and one (.50) part-time Law Clerk. The Office on Women and the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office will directly supervise these positions. City Council (1) approved the submission of the grant application to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services for funding in the amount of $91,183; (2) contingent upon the award of the grant, approved the establishment of one part-time (.50 FTE) grant-funded position and one full-time (1.0 FTE) grant-funded position reflected above; and (3) authorized the City Manager to execute all documents that may be required. These grant-funded positions would terminate upon the expiration of the grant and the individuals who are to fill these positions would be notified of this condition of employment.

City Council deferred this item to the October 8 Council Meeting.

City Council approved the continuation of two previously grant-funded positions for 30 hours per week (0.75 FTEs), for a period of one year, from October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1997. These positions will be funded with available Gadsby's Tavern Museum donations.

Councilman Cleveland expressed concern about the top two delinquents. City Manager Lawson spoke to this concern.

City Council received the listing of delinquent 1991 through 1995 real estate taxes and authorized the list of 1995 delinquencies, less any payments received prior to publication, tax exemption appeals or real estate tax adjustments, be published once in a newspaper having general circulation in the City.

(a) Vice Mayor Pepper expressed sadness on the recent death of Chip Whitton who made many contributions to the community. A service will be held on Thursday, at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Church.

(b) Vice Mayor Pepper also announced the recent passing of John Williams, a former civic activist.

(c) Vice Mayor Pepper spoke to the groundbreaking on Friday, September 20, for the new Division of Motor Vehicles on Eisenhower Avenue at Mill Road.

(d) Councilman Cleveland was saddened by the loss of Yaw Boama of Jones Intercable. He was very active with The Untouchables and will be sorely missed. His funeral will be Wednesday morning at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Jezreel, 317 North Payne Street.

(e) Councilman Cleveland invited interested citizens to attend the City Council Retreat which will be held on Saturday, September 28, 1996, at 8:30 a.m. in the Council Workroon at City Hall.

(f) Mayor Donley informed Council that he recently attended a VML Legislative Committee meeting in Richmond. He was happy to announce that all of the items brought forth as a result of the Karen Mitsoff murder were unanimously endorsed by the Committee.

(g) Councilman Euille invited everyone to attend the "Art on The Avenue" multicultural arts and crafts festival to be held on Saturday, October 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mount Vernon Avenue from Bellefonte Avenue to Oxford Avenue. He also encouraged everyone to attend the other venues throughout the City.

(h) Councilman Euille announced that the Alexandria Red Cross is holding a fundraiser on Friday, October 4, 1996, Waterfront Park, for "An Evening Along the Potomac" with tours of the U.S. Sequoia beginning at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person for the cocktail party and boat tour and $125 per person for the cocktail party, boat tour, and the champagne/dessert cruise. Please make checks payable to the Alexandria Red Cross.

(i) Councilman Euille spoke to the great success of the first Alexandria Works! Employment Job Fair held on September 17. He thanked those who made it possible.

(j) Council Member Rich announced, with respect to Welfare Reform, that Project Opportunity had its first graduating class from the child care demonstration project which teaches persons to become professional child care providers.

City Council (1) approved the grant applications and adopted a Governing Body Resolution to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development for $22,106 to fund continuing operations of the Alexandria Community Shelter and $6,809 to support operations at the Office on Women's Battered Women's Shelter from the Federal Shelter Grant component of the State Homeless Housing Assistance Resources (SHARE) grant program. It should be noted that the State released the FY 1997 Request for Proposal in early August, with a due date of August 23. Staff submitted applications for continued funding, contingent on City Council's approval in September 1996; (2) approved the Certification of Local Approval for the submission of grant applications for continuation funding by the seven non-profit organizations currently receiving Federal Shelter Grant funding -- ALIVE!, Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless, Catholic Charities/Christ House, Carpenter's Shelter, Community Lodgings, Inc., (formerly Carpenter's Lodging, Inc.,) Friends of Guest House, and The Salvation Army -- under the State Homeless Housing Assistance Resources (SHARE) program; and (3) Authorized the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.
RES. NO. 1800
Councilman Cleveland noted that there is a problem with roaches at the Carpenter's Shelter.

City Council adopted the resolution as recommended by the Alexandria Industrial Development Authority at its meeting on September 10, 1996.
RES. NO. 1801

City Council scheduled the joint work session with the School Board on Wednesday, October 2, at 7:30 p.m. at the School Administration Building. City Council set a tour of the new airport terminal for Saturday, November 9, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

1 Member Who Has Expertise in the Arts Either as a Practitioner or Professional Administrator Working In the Field

City Council appointed Margene Berry as a Member Who has Expertise in the Arts Either as a Practitioner or Professional Administrator Working in the Field to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.

City Council reappointed Ruth Cleveland and Katherine Hoffman as Citizen Members to the Alexandria Commission for Women.

City Council reappointed Doris Ablard as a Member-at-Large to the Alexandria Early Childhood Commission.

City Council reappointed Thomas Hill as a Representative From Planning District II to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission.

City Council deferred these appointments at the Saturday, Public Hearing Meeting; therefore, they were not before the Council.

At 9:25 p.m., City Council convened an executive session at the conclusion of this meeting for the purpose of consulting with legal counsel pertaining to the following litigation involving the City, pursuant to Virginia Code Section 2.-1-344(A)(7): Mark Center Properties, Ltd., Partnership v. City of Alexandria, a case pending in the Circuit Court for the City of Alexandria, which involves the real estate tax assessments, for 1991, 1992 and 1994, on 55.5 acres of undeveloped land owned by the petitioner, and located between North Beauregard and I-95, and west of Seminary; Hamlet North Associates v. City of Alexandria; Herman v. City of Alexandria; Herman South Associates,

Ltd., v. City of Alexandria; and Herman v. City of Alexandria, four cases pending in the Circuit Court for the City of Alexandria, which involve the real estate tax assessments, for 1992 and 1993, on four separate residential rental complexes owned by petitioners, and located generally along and off of North Beauregard, west of Seminary and north of I-95; Hamlet Shopping Center Associates Limited Partnership v. City of Alexandria, a case pending in the Circuit Court for the City of Alexandria, which involves the real estate tax assessments, for 1991, 1992 and 1993, on the Hamlet Shopping Center; Barbara Gibbs v. Numa J. Landry, Jr, a case pending in the Circuit Court for the City of Alexandria, which involves a motor vehicle accident involving a city employee.

At 10:15 p.m., City Council reconvened the Meeting.

City Council authorized the City Attorney to settle the suits identified in the motion to convene this evening's executive session, in accordance with the terms and conditions recommended by the City Attorney in the executive session.

City Council adopted the resolution pertaining to the executive session. RES. NO. 1802

City Council endorsed the proclamation.