Office of the City Clerk
May 14, 1997
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, May 13, 1997 - - 7:30 p.m.
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OPENING
1. Calling the Roll.
The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Donley, and the City Clerk called the Roll; all Members of City Council were present, with Vice Mayor Pepper arriving at 7:40 p.m.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
The Invocation was pronounced by Father Carroll of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
2. Invocation. By:_________________________________________________________
3. Reading and Acting Upon the Minutes of the Following Meetings of City Council:
(a) the Special Meeting of April 29, 1997 [in lieu of the Regular Meeting of April 22, 1997]; and
(b) the Special Meeting of May 1, 1997 [Budget Adoption].
City Council approved the Minutes of (a) the Special Meeting of April 29, 1997 [in lieu of the Regular Meeting of April 22, 1997]; and (b) the Special Meeting of May 1, 1997 [Budget Adoption], as submitted.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
4. Report of the City Clerk.
City Council received the report of the City Clerk.
Council Action;_______________________________________________________________
5. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming the Month of May as the Kick-off for the Summer Jobs for Alexandria Campaign. (Councilman Euille)
Councilman Euille presented a check, on behalf of himself and William D. Euille and Associates, in the amount of $5,000 for the Summer Jobs for Youth Program.
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OPENING (continued)
6. Presentation of Proclamation Honoring Ellyn Williams Chisley Carpenter for Her Outstanding Service to the City and Citizens of Alexandria. (Council Member Walker)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
7. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming the Month of May as Older Americans Month in the City of Alexandria. (Vice Mayor Pepper)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
8. Presentation of Proclamation Declaring May 12-16, 1997, as "TRY TRANSIT WEEK" in the City of Alexandria. (Council Member Walker)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
9. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming the Week of May 11-17, 1997, as Historic Preservation Week in the City of Alexandria.
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
10. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming the Week of May 18-24, 1997, as Emergency Medical Services Week in the City of Alexandria.
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
11. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming Saturday, May 17, 1997, as Earth Day and Arbor Day in the City of Alexandria. (Vice Mayor Pepper)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER
CONSENT CALENDAR (12-18; 21)
12. Receipt of the Following Resignations From Members of Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Alexandria Commission for Women
Katherine Connelly
(b) Alexandria Industrial Development Authority
Ronald F. Cornelison
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
13. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Ad Hoc City of Alexandria 250th Anniversary Commission
1 Member Designated by the Alexandria School Board
1 Member Designated by the Alexandria Archaeological Commission
1 Member Designated by the Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black Heritage
1 Member Designated by the Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission
1 Member Designated by the George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee
1 Member Designated by the Alexandria Waterfront Committee
1 Student Member Designated by the Alexandria Youth Services Commission
1 Member Designated by the Alexandria Friendship Fire Engine Association
1 Member From the Retail Business Community With Background in Product Design and Retail Sales
(b) Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
1 Employer Member
(c) Alexandria-Caen Exchange Committee
1 Representative From the Business Community
(d) Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee
1 Citizen Member
(e) Alexandria Archaeological Commission
1 Member From the Alexandria Historical Society
(f) Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors
1 Representative of the Chairman of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
1 Representative of the Old Town Civic Association
(g) Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
1 Representative From Planning District I
(h) Alexandria Potomac West Alliance Board of Directors
2 Representatives Nominated by Potomac West Civic Associations
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
14. Consideration of Request to Vacate a Position on the Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities.
15. Consideration of Application to the Federal Administration for Children and Families for Continuation of the Alexandria Head Start Program for Fiscal Year 1998.
16. Consideration of Application to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles for a Highway Safety Project Grant.
17. Consideration of Application to the Virginia Department of Social Services for the Office on Women's Domestic Violence Program.
18. Consideration of Submission of a Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services for Funding to Provide Additional Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services at the Alexandria Detention Center and to Provide Services for Adolescents at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council approved the Consent Calendar as presented, with the exception of Docket Item No. 12, which was considered under separate motion. The City Manager's recommendations are as follows:
12. Councilman Speck directed questions to Executive Secretary for Boards and Commissions Boyd and the City Attorney with respect to residency waiver for Ronald F. Cornelison.
City Council received the resignations of (a) Katherine Connelly from the Alexandria Commission for Women; and (b) Ronald F. Cornelison from the Alexandria Industrial Development Authority; and requested the Executive Secretary to send the appropriate letters of appreciation and to advertise the vacancies in the usual manner. (Separate Motion)
13. With respect to the appointment in 13(f), City Attorney Sunderland stated that the current by-laws of the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors provide that that person is to be the chair of the Chamber. At the next meeting of the Association, they are going to amend the by-laws to make it permissible for the chair or the designee. He further stated that Council has appointed a designee tonight, so the appointment tonight is subject to that revision or amendment of the by-laws that will occur next month.
City Council (a) appointed Henry Brooks as a Member Designated by the Alexandria School Board; Bernard Brenman as a Member Designated by the Alexandria Archaeological Commission; Carlton Funn, Sr. as a Member Designated by the Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black Heritage; Kenneth Foran as a Member Designated by the Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission; Robert Klausing as a Member Designated by the George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee; Daniel Straub as a Member Designated by the Alexandria Waterfront
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
Committee; David Sachs as a Student Member Designated by the Alexandria Youth Services Commission; Ferdinand Day as a Member Designated by the Alexandria Friendship Fire Engine Association; and Frank Fannon, IV as a Member from the Retail Business Community with Background in Product Design and Retail Sales to the Ad Hoc City of Alexandria 250th Anniversary Commission; (b) reappointed Diane Crawford-Batt as an Employer Member to the Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee; (c) appointed Maxim Kishmir as a Representative from the Business Community to the Alexandria-Caen Exchange Committee; (d) appointed Sharon Bruce as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee; (e) reappointed Paula Massouh as a Member from the Alexandria Historical Society to the Alexandria Archaeological Commission; (f) reappointed Andrew Blair as a Representative of the Chairman of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and appointed Jean Knarr as a Representative of the Old Town Civic Association to the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors; (g) reappointed
John Hynan as a Representative from Planning District I to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission; and (h) appointed John Brooks and Stephen Kindrick as Representatives Nominated by Potomac West Civic Associations to the Alexandria Potomac West Alliance Board of Directors.
14. City Council declared as vacant one of the citizen positions on the Commission on Persons with Disabilities and authorized the Executive Secretary for Boards and Commissions to advertise the vacancy.
15. City Council (1) authorized the City Manager to submit the school year 1997-1998 Alexandria Head Start grant application to the Federal Administration for Children and Families Head Start Bureau for $957,098 to continue operation of the existing program for 184 children (including $899,819 for the basic grant; $26,095 representing a 2.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment; $17,945 for quality improvements; and $13,239 for training and technical assistance); (2) authorized the City Manager to submit a competitive proposal for $202,312 in FY 1998 expansion funds to establish a new Head Start classroom and teaching staff for 17 additional children (as discussed in Budget Memo #14 on the Mt. Vernon Program for Four-Year-Olds), add two staff positions (a family service worker and a mentor teacher) to support program expansion, and improve services for working families by extending services in 3 classrooms at the Jefferson-Houston Center to year-round, full-day operation with extended child care services; and (3) authorized the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.
16. City Council authorized the City Manager to (1) submit a renewal grant application to the Department of Motor Vehicles for funding in the amount of $21,504 for the Police Department to operate an aggressive driving interdiction program; and (2) execute all necessary documents that may be required.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
17. City Council (1) approved the submission of the grant application to the Virginia Department of Social Services for funding, in the amount of $106,378; (2) contingent upon the award of the grant, approved the increase of a part-time (.25 FTE) grant-funded position to a full-time Social Worker I position for a period of one year; [The grant-funded positions reflected in the City Manager's memorandum dated May 5, 1997, would terminate upon the expiration of the grant and the individuals who fill these positions would be notified of this condition of employment.]; and (3) authorized the City Manager to execute all documents that may be required.
18. City Council (1) authorized the submission by the Alexandria Community Services Board of two grant applications to the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services; and (2) approved exceeding the budget cap on the number of full-time grant-funded City positions. [Approval of this request (if the grants are awarded) could increase the number of grant-funded City positions by up to two full-time equivalent Psychological Counselors III and one full-time Psychiatric Social Worker II. These grant-funded positions would appear in the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse budget and would terminate upon the expiration of the funding. All persons who fill these positions will be notified of this condition of employment.]
21. City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on First Reading; set it for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Saturday, May 17, 1997.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
19. Receipt of the Status Report on Nuisance Abatement Activities in the Arlandria West Area.
There was considerable discussion on this item. Members of Council asked questions of Citizen Assistance Director Boyd, Fire Chief Hawkins, Assistant Police Chief George, and Housing Director Davis.
Council Member Rich requested staff to send copies of this report to the citizen leadership in the Arlandria area, Sunnyside, Hume Springs, members of the Arlandria Work Group, and ask for (1) their opinion of what is being done so far, particularly with regard to the sense of whether this is having any impact or not; and (2) requested staff to provide statistics going back to the beginning of last spring and come forward. If everything is basically the same by the time when we get back into this in the fall, it is fine if it has improved and maybe this is all we need to do is to focus on this and keep doing more of this. If it is not, then we need to figure out what else we are going to do.
Mayor Donley requested staff, to what extent we can, to get some statistical information, at least in summary form, on the progress that has been made to date.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
19. (continued)
Between now and the end of June, Mayor Donley requested that staff try to provide Council with something that would at least give Council what kind of effect that the City has had thus far. This can be used as a further comparison when Council takes it up in the fall.
With respect to posting, Councilman Speck suggested that Council talk more about whether there is a way to let the people in the neighborhood know that the City is making an effort about this issue and assuring that everyone knows that.
Councilman Euille spoke to the City's recent grant request for a Weed and Seed Program which was denied. He requested staff to report back with some suggestions and recommendations in terms of how we can locally attempt to implement some of the components of a Weed and Seed Program that is cost effective and has some meat to it, so that while we are trying to work on this issue, we can parlay that into what we are trying to do to hopefully meet with some form of success.
Mayor Donley asked staff to report back on who applied for and who received the Weed and Seed Grant.
Councilman Speck suggested that this is something that our legislative delegation might look into, especially Delegate Van Landingham who sits on the appropriations committee.
Council Member Walker suggested that Code Enforcement distribute the brochures or posters to Citizen Associations and report to the Associations the statistics about citing properties and the status of what is being done.
City Council received the report and requested staff to send the report to civic leaders and the Arlandria Work Group and that they report back with their comments in September with the staff's follow-up report.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
20. Consideration of Bicycle Transportation and Multi-Use Trail Master Plan.
Mayor Donley requested one map that delineates where the trails are in the City.
Council Member Walker suggested that when this Plan comes back in a year or so, that we should not continue to look at biking as only a recreational activity, but it should be used as a commuting activity. Every effort should be made to see if DASH can have bike racks and make sure that every facility for bus or rail has bike parking facilities. We should try to make sure our transportation management plans have bike facilities and bike racks. Biking should be looked upon as much more a part of our inter-modal transportation system.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
20. (continued)
City Council (1) received the updated BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION AND MULTI-USE TRAIL MASTER PLAN, hereafter referred to as the PLAN; (2) thanked all members of the Alexandria Bicycle Study Committee for its production of the PLAN, and especially its principal authors, Bruce Dwyer, Jim Wamsley and Geoff Mohney; (3) released the PLAN for further public comment; and (4) requested staff to redocket the PLAN in the fall for consideration by City Council including referral to the Planning Commission for processing as an addition to the Alexandria Comprehensive Plan.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
None
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
(a) Councilman Speck asked staff when it will report back on the policy designating certain areas in City Hall to place plaques. Staff will come back at the next meeting.
(b) Councilman Speck requested that staff seek alternatives for the current City trash cans which would be more attractive and better mechanically.
(c) Councilman Speck received Council's concurrence to set the issue of political signs in the public rights-of-way as an item for public hearing at the June 14, 1997 Public Hearing Meeting. He encouraged wide publicity that this is an open-ended item and invite members of the public to come in and make any comment that they wish to relative to this issue.
Vice Mayor Pepper congratulated all of her colleagues on their re-election.
(d) Councilman Cleveland spoke to a recent fire that he helped put out at Delaney and Jamison Avenues due to dry brush, and suggested that persons be very careful with disposing of lighted items. It is very, very dry and we need rain.
(e) Councilman Euille announced the three public hearing dates for the Samuel Madden Homes Downtown Redevelopment Process: Tuesday, May 13, 1997, at 7:00 p.m., for ARHA residents, Ladrey Highrise, 300 Wythe Street; Tuesday, May 20, 1997, 7:00 p.m., for general public, at City Hall; and Tuesday, June 3, 1997, at 7:00 p. m., for general public, at Charles Houston Recreation Center.
(f) Councilman Euille indicated that the proposal brought forward by the Seaport Foundation for a maritime facility will be an item before the City Council before the June recess.
(g) Councilman Euille spoke to a recent tour of Potomac Yard. He encouraged those who have not toured the property to do so.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (continued)
(h) Mayor Donley congratulated his colleagues on their re-election to office. He looks forward to working with each member over the next three years. He indicated that the new Vice Mayor will be Councilman Euille since he received the highest number votes among the Council Members.
(i) Mayor Donley spoke to the problem of graffiti along King Street from Bradlee to Old Town which involves both public and private property.
Citizen Assistance Director Boyd spoke to what the City is doing to combat this problem.
Mayor Donley also indicated that there are a number of tags on City property located at Mt. Vernon Avenue and Braddock Road.
Mayor Donley requested, especially after a property owner has gone through and cleaned up his property, that staff be responsive and empathetic to that person.
Councilman Cleveland spoke to a graffiti problem on the underpass on Duke Street at Carlyle.
Police Lieutenant Crawford, Assistant Police Chief George and Transportation and Environmental Services Director O'Kane participated in the discussion of this item.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
CONSENT CALENDAR (21)
21. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of AN ORDINANCE to authorize an encroachment into the public right-of-way along the south side of the 600 block of Pendleton Street for a gate and screening of a transformer.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its First Reading; set it for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Saturday, May 17, 1997.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS (continued)
22. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First and Second Readings of AN ORDINANCE to adopt Supplement 51 of the Alexandria City Code. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
City Council finally passed the Ordinance on its First and Second Readings.
ORD. NO. 3925
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS (continued)
23. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First and Second Readings of AN ORDINANCE to adopt Supplement 13 of the City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
City Council finally passed the Ordinance on its First and Second Readings.
ORD. NO. 3926
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
24. Consideration of Resolution Authorizing the Formation of the Regional Partnership of Northern Virginia. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
City Council adopted the resolution. Staff will report back with details of the Partnership and this program as they are finalized. RES. NO. 1826
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OTHER
25. Consideration of City Council Schedule.
City Council received the updated calendar and scheduled a work session with the Alexandria Commission on Employment at 6 p.m. before the Tuesday, June 10 City Council meeting.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
CONTESTED APPOINTMENT
26. Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities
1 Representative of the Business Community
City Council reappointed Mary McDonald to the Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
EXECUTIVE SESSION
27. Consideration of Convening of an Executive Session to Consult with Legal Counsel Pertaining to Pending Litigation that Involves the City of Alexandria, Pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.1-344(A)(7).
At 10:03 p.m., City Council convened an executive session at this time for the purpose of consulting with legal counsel pertaining to the following litigation involving the City, pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.1-344(A)(7): Institute for Defense Analyses, Inc. v. City of Alexandria, At Law No. CL952228, a case pending in the Circuit Court for the City of Alexandria which challenges the assessment of computer business personal property owned by the plaintiff for tax year 1992.
At 10:17, City Council reconvened the meeting and adopted the resolution pertaining to the executive session. RES. NO. 1827
City Council authorized the City Attorney to settle the suit 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.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
This docket is subject to change.
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