Back to FY Dockets


Special Public Hearing Meeting
Monday, April 7, 1997 - - 7:00 p.m.


* * * * *

Present: Mayor Kerry J. Donley, Vice Mayor Redella S. Pepper, Members of Council William C. Cleveland, William D. Euille, Lonnie C. Rich, David G. Speck, and Lois L. Walker.

Absent: None.

Also Present: Mrs. Lawson, City Manager; Mr. Sunderland, City Attorney; Ms. Evans, Assistant City Manager; Ms. Steele, Deputy City Manager; Mrs. Godwin, Director of Management and Budget, and members of her Staff; Mr. Brannan, Assistant City Manager; Mr. Gitajn, Director of Financial and Information Technology Services; Mr. Sanderson, Director of Real Estate Assessments; Mr. Neckel, Director of Finance; Mr. O'Kane, Director of Transportation and Environmental Services; Mr. Lynn, Director of Planning and Zoning; Ms. Chis, Acting Director of Human Services; Ms. Anderson, Deputy Director of Transportation and Environmental Services; Ms. Boyd, Director of Citizen Assistance; Ms. Federico, Director of Historic Alexandria; Dr. Claiborn, Director of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse; Mr. Robinson, Director of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities; Ms. McComish, Acting Director of Personnel Services; Fire Chief Hawkins, Dr. Lipsman, Director of Health Department; Ms. Davis, Director of Housing; Ms. Gattsek, Director of Office on Women; Ms. Fayne, Special Assistant to the City Manager; Mr. Eiffert, Director of Agency on Aging; Mr. Schott, Director of General Services; Mr. McMahon, Deputy Director of General Services; Police Chief Samarra; Mr. O'Brien, Director of Library; Members of the School Board; and Lieutenant Crawford, Police Department.

Recorded by: Mrs. Beverly I. Jett, CMC, City Clerk and Clerk of Council.
* * * * *

OPENING

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

(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.)

2. Public Hearing on The Proposed Annual Operating Budget for FY 1997-98 (including Schools) and The Proposed Capital Improvements Program for FY 1998-2003 (including the Schools CIP). (#2 3/18/97)

The following persons participated in the public hearing on this item:

Chet Avery, 16 East Linden Street, representing the Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities, spoke in support of the DOT program;

George Caddy, 212 West Windsor Avenue, representing the Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities, spoke in support of the DOT program;

John Kling, 700 North Fairfax Street, chair, Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission, spoke to the need for renovations at the Health Department; a copy of Dr. Kling's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of this item;

Fay Menacker, 101 South Whiting Street, #405, member, Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission, spoke to the need for renovations at the Health Department; a copy of Dr. Menacker's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 2 of this item;

Pam Miller, 2916 Argyle Drive, teacher, urged full funding of the Four-Year-Old Program at Mount Vernon Elementary School; a copy of Ms. Miller's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 3 of this item;

Janet Coldsmith, 16 West Mount Ida Avenue, urged full funding of the Four-Year-Old Program at Mount Vernon Elementary School;

Keysi Villalobos, 521 North Armistead Street, parent, spoke in support of full funding of the Four-Year-Old Program at Mount Vernon Elementary School;

Kenneth King, 2 East Spring Street, teacher, spoke in support of full funding of the Four-Year-Old Program at Mount Vernon Elementary School; a copy of the statement of Mr. King is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 4 of this item;

Leonor Alberto, 627 Notabene Drive, #9, parent, urged full funding of the Four-Year-Old Program at Mount Vernon Elementary School;

Marvin Rankin, 111 East Spring Street, pastor, spoke in support of funds for the Four-Year-Old Program at Mount Vernon Elementary School; a copy of Reverend Rankin's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 5 of this item;

Regina Oliver, 406 East Nelson Avenue, president, Del Ray Citizens Association, spoke in support of the Four-Year-Old Program at Mount Vernon Elementary School;

Matthew H. Merkle, 318 Lamond Place, spoke in support of funds for St. Martin's Senior Center; a copy of Mr. Merkle's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 6 of this item;

William Clay, The Hermitage, spoke in support of funds for St. Martin's Senior Center; a copy of Mr. Clay's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 7 of this item;

Anthony Stefanac, resident of Alexandria for twenty-one years, spoke in support of funds for St. Martin's Senior Center; a copy of Mr. Stefanac's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 8 of this item;

Tim Gleeson, 2003 Mill Road, spoke in support of funds for competitive pay for police officers;

Eric Ratliff, 2003 Mill Road, spoke in support of funds for competitive pay for police officers;

Earl Cook, 2003 Mill Road, spoke in support of funds for competitive pay for police officers;

Charles Samarra, 2003 Mill Road, Chief of Police, spoke in support of funds for competitive pay for police officers;

Beverly Beidler, 647 Oakland Terrace, spoke to employee compensation; a copy of Ms. Beidler's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 9 of this item;

Myra Addison, 8204 Aspen Glen Court, spoke to employee compensation for general City employees; a copy of Ms. Addison's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 10 of this item;

Raymond T. Johnson, 505 South Henry Street, spoke to employee compensation for general City employees; a copy of Mr. Johnson's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 11 of this item;

Wayne Bass, 11742 Cardamon Drive, Woodbridge, VA, spoke to employee compensation for general City employees; a copy of Mr. Bass' statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 12 of this item;

Donna Warren, 10403 Outlook Court, Fort Washington, MD, spoke on behalf of general City employees and requested equal treatment in compensation considerations;

Sandra McCabe, 1204 South Washington Street, Apt. 123-W, spoke in support of equal compensation for general City employees;

Brent Minor, 2910 Sycamore Avenue, member, Alexandria Task Force on AIDS, and representing Food & Friends, requested support for Food & Friends, a non-profit agency that provides meals and groceries to people living with HIV/AIDS and their families in Alexandria; a copy of Mr. Minor's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 13 of this item;

Sally Campbell, 5249 Duke Street, representing Healthy Families in Alexandria, encouraged Council to think about increasing funding for this program;

R. Mark McLindon, 801 North Fairfax Street, representing the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, endorsed the City Manager's proposed budget;



Judy R. Guse-Noritake, 605 Prince Street, member, Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission, requested Council to include in the CIP enough money to build a soccer or softball field on the eight acres set aside for a recreational facility at Cameron Station; a copy of Ms. Noritake's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 14 of this item;

Anthony Spada, 2003 Mill Road, spoke in support of increased compensation for Public Safety Record Clerks;

Val Martin, 4600 Duke Street, #305, president, Education Association of Alexandria, spoke in support of funds for teachers' pay and benefits; a copy of the statement of Ms. Martin is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 15 of this item;

Mark Wilkoff, 4658 Kirkpatrick Lane, spoke to the School Board budget and in support of the ESL program;

Tracy Rickett, 23 West Glendale Avenue, representing the School Board's Budget Advisory Committee, spoke in support of full funding for the School Board's budget; a copy of the School Board's Budget Advisory Committee statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 16 of this item;

Michele Reday Cook, 2724 King Street, president, Alexandria PTA Council, spoke in support of full funding for the School Board's budget; a copy of the statement of Ms. Cook is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 17 of this item;

Pam Walkup, 1562 Mount Eagle Place, teacher, spoke in support of the School Board's budget; a copy of Ms. Walkup's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 18 of this item;

Henry Hart, 510 King Street, president, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary, spoke in support of the budget request for $40,000 for the museum; a copy of the statement of Mr. Hart is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 19 of this item;

Anne Kelly, 230 South Fairfax Street, member and director, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary, spoke in support of the budget request for $40,000 for the museum;

Lee Tupman, 309 Clover Way, member, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary, spoke in support of the budget request for $40,000 for the museum;

Jim McIntyre, 1411 Mount Vernon Avenue, chair, Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee, spoke to the committee's report outlining its analysis of the City Manager's proposed budget; a copy of Mr. McIntyre's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 20 of this item;

Carolyn Merck, 324 North Royal Street, spoke to the need for more analysis of benefits for public safety personnel; a copy of Ms. Merck's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 21 of this item;


Lynn Jordan, 3814 Vermont Avenue, vice chair, Women's Commission, spoke to pay issues and gender gap and equality;

James Reaves, 13742 Mapledale Avenue, Woodbridge, VA, speaking on behalf of the Alexandria Coalition of Employees, spoke in support of equal treatment for all City employees; a copy of Mr. Reaves' statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 22 of this item;

Jim Wilson, 5716 Overly Drive, spoke to fair compensation for all City employees; a copy of Mr. Wilson's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 23 of this item;

Luis Baquedano, 1900 North Beauregard Street, #102, president, Bienvenidos, spoke in support of the Four-Year-Old Program at Mount Vernon Elementary School; a copy of Mr. Baquedano's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 24 of this item;

Robert McCray-Brown, 2001 Mill Road, spoke to pay parity for Deputy Sheriffs;

Karen Kelly, 228 South Pitt Street, member, Board of Directors, spoke in support of funds for Community Lodgings;

Terence McCarthy, 228 South Pitt Street, executive director, Community Lodgings, spoke in support of $41,000 grant request; a copy of Mr. McCarthy's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 25 of this item;

Isiah Speller, 3074 Antrim Circle, Dumfries, VA, spoke in support of equal treatment to all City employees;

Kim Koch, 1611 Kenwood Avenue, chair, Early Childhood Commission, spoke in support of restoring Early Childhood Specialist position; a copy of the statement of Ms. Koch is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 26 of this item;

Gerry Doon, 720 North Saint Asaph Street, chair, Community Services Board, spoke to additional funding need; a copy of Ms. Doon's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 27 of this item;

Philip Leventhal, 4023 Cool Brooke Way, spoke in support of parity between public safety and civilian City employees;

Lois Kelso Hunt, 310 Park Road, representing Taylor Run Civic Association, spoke in support of more parkland and trees; eliminating $230,000 from CIP for toilets at Chinquapin Park; and requested that the City stop mowing the triangle at the Duke Street and Telegraph Road interchange;

Ellen Pickering, 103 Roberts Lane, spoke in support of more trees and land acquisition; and




Julie Crenshaw, 816 Queen Street, 2nd floor, spoke to more land requisition and stated that Transportation and Environmental Services should not be deciding park issues.

The staff will be bringing back budget memoranda regarding the following items:

Mayor Donley requested that any additional budget memo requests be in to Management and Budget within ten days of the adoption of the budget.

City Council held the public hearing and closed it. City Council will take final action on the Proposed Budget on May 1, 1997.

3. Public Hearing on the Draft One-Year Action Plan of the Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development, and the City's Application for FFY 1997 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnerships Program Funds (HOME) for the Period July 1, 1997-June 30, 1998.

(A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated March 27, 1997, is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 3; 4/7/97, and is incorporated herewith as part of this record by reference.)

The following persons participated in the public hearing on this item:

Gerry Doon, 720 North Saint Asaph Street, chair, Community Services Board, expressed concern that the Board's Five-Year Housing Plan was not included and not affirmed; however, she learned from City staff that language to this effect will be restored; and

Loyd Lamois, 15 West Uhler, expressed the same concern raised by Chairman Doon.

City Manager Lawson stated that the language will indicate that they are working toward their five-year goals and that the individual projects must be brought back on a case-by-case basis for Council approval.



City Council held the public hearing and closed it. City Council will take final action on the above on May 1, 1997.

4. Public Hearing of AN ORDINANCE to Establish the Real and Personal Property Tax Rates for Calendar Year 1997 (#14 3/25/97).

(A copy of the Planning Commission report dated March 20, 1997, is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 4; 4/7/97, and is incorporated herewith as part of this record by reference.

A copy of the ordinance referred to in the above item is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 2 of Item No. 4; 4/7/97, and is incorporated herewith as part of this record by reference.

A copy of an Informal Memorandum explaining ordinance is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 3 of Item No. 4; 4/7/97, and is incorporated herewith as part of this record by reference.)

There were no speakers on this item. City Council will finally pass an Ordinance establishing the real and personal property tax rates for calendar year 1997 on May 1, 1997.
* * * * *

WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Pepper, seconded by Council Member Walker and carried unanimously, at 11:30 p.m., the Special Public Hearing Meeting of Monday, April 7, 1997, was adjourned. The voting was as follows:

Pepper "aye" Cleveland "aye"
Walker "aye" Euille "aye"
Donley "aye" Rich "aye"
Speck "aye"
* * * * *

APPROVED BY:




__________________________________________
KERRY J. DONLEY MAYOR


ATTEST:




______________________________________________
Beverly I. Jett, CMC City Clerk






This docket is subject to change.

* * * * *

Full-text copies of ordinances, resolutions, and agenda items are available in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of the Council.
* * * * *

Individuals with disabilities who require assistance or special arrangements to participate in the City Council meeting may call the City Clerk and Clerk of Council's Office at 838-4500 (TTY/TDD 838-5056). We request that you provide a 48-hour notice so that the proper arrangements may be made.
* * * * *
Public Notice

A meeting of the City Council Committee on the Watson Wyatt Report is scheduled for Wednesday, April 16, 1997, at 5:00 p.m., in the City Council Workroom, Room 2420, City Hall, 301 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia.
* * * * *
Public Notice

There will be a City Council Work Session on the Proposed Budget on Wednesday, April 16, 1997, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council Workroom, Room 2420, City Hall, 301 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia.

Individuals with disabilities who require assistance or special arrangements to attend the City Council Work Session may call the City Clerk and Clerk of Council's Office at 838-4500 (TTY/TDD 838-5056). We request that you provide a 48-hour notice so that the proper arrangements may be made.
* * * * *