Office of the City Clerk
February 12, 1997
There Was A City Council Work Session
On Plans For Recreational Uses At Cameron
Station In The Council Workroom At 6:00 p.m.
The Annual Stockholders Meeting Of The Alexandria
Transit Company Was Scheduled At 7:15 p.m. In
The Council Workroom.
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, February 11, 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.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
The Invocation was pronounced by Reverend Dr. Gregory Atkins, Pastor of Washington Street Methodist Church.
2. Invocation. By:_________________________________________________________
3. Reading and Acting upon the Minutes of the Following Meetings of City Council:
(a) The Public Hearing Meeting of January 25, 1997; and
(b) The Regular Meeting of January 28, 1997.
City Council approved the Minutes for (a) the Public Hearing Meeting of January 25, 1997; and (b) the Regular Meeting of January 28, 1997, 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 Recognizing Library Employee Gladys Davis for Her Fifty Years of Service to the Alexandria Library. (Vice Mayor Pepper)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OPENING (continued)
6. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming the Month of February 1997 as American Heart Month in the City of Alexandria. (Mayor Donley)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
7. Discussion with Congressman James P. Moran on Federal Initiatives Coming Before the New Congress. (Note: The Congressman is scheduled to arrive after 8 p.m.).
Congressman Moran discussed the issues contained in the City Manager's memorandum dated February 7, 1997.
Congressman Moran requested that Mayor Donley send him a letter with respect to the federal requirement to have retail on the ground floor on developments along the river. Mayor Donley indicated with this requirement there are too many buildings where there is a retail requirement largely because the Park Service wanted the retail requirement and that space is now vacant. The letter will explain the details and request Congressman Moran to do something about it. The Congressman will have a meeting with the Interior Department. Congressman Moran will also meet with a Member of Council and the City Attorney to talk about this, as well as the resolution of the foot of King Street. He indicated that he is in a position to move them along now.
Council Member Walker stated that the Waterfront Committee has been meeting trying to work on revising long-range planning. It has been working with the National Park Service on the Old Town Yacht Basin site, the foot of King Street and the other few sites which have not been resolved in the suit. She indicated that the Park Service has been helpful and she would like to be sure that we can keep them moving along.
Mayor Donley thanked the Congressman for his appearance before the Council.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER
CONSENT CALENDAR (8 -13)
WITHOUT OBJECTION, City Council removed Docket Item Nos. 11 and 13 from the Consent Calendar and considered them under separate motions.
8. Receipt of the Following Resignations from Members of Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities
James Donald Moorehead
(b) Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors
Jolee Rubin
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
(c) Alexandria Public Records Advisory Commission
Veronique Gresham
(d) Alexandria Urban Design Advisory Committee
Roger Machanic
9. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Alexandria-Caen Exchange Committee
1 Representative from the Arts with Expertise in Music
(b) Alexandria Commission on Aging
1 Member with Leadership Experience in a Volunteer Organization
(c) Alexandria George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee
1 Member Nominated by a Veterans Organization Other Than the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars
(d) Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board
1 Tenant Member
(e) Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission
1 Member from Planning District III
(f) Alexandria Public Records Advisory Commission
1 Citizen Member
(g) Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners
1 Representative from the Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board
10. Receipt of the Alexandria Sanitation Authority's Annual Report and Financial Audit for Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 1996.
11. Receipt of the Alexandria Commission on Aging's Safety Needs Report.
12. Receipt of the Annual Report of the Alexandria Board of Zoning Appeals.
13. Consideration of Accepting an Art League Class Project Play Sculpture Donated by Michael Curtis to be Incorporated into the Simpson Park Renovation Project.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council approved the Consent Calendar as presented except for Docket Item Nos. 11 and 13, which were considered under separate motions. The City Manager's recommendations are as follows:
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
8. City Council received the following resignations with regret: (a) James Donald Moorehead from the Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities; (b) Jolee Rubin from the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors; (c) Veronique Gresham from the Alexandria Public Records Advisory Commission; and (d) Roger Machanic from the Alexandria Urban Design Advisory Committee; and requested the Executive Secretary to send the appropriate letters of appreciation and to advertise the vacancies in the usual manner.
9. City Council (a) appointed Ann Stephens as a Representative from the Arts with Expertise in Music to the Alexandria-Caen Exchange Committee; (b) appointed The Reverend Margaret Faeth as a Member with Leadership Experience in a Volunteer Organization to the Alexandria Commission on Aging; (c) appointed Joseph Shumard as a Member Nominated by a Veterans Organization Other Than the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars to the Alexandria George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee; (d) Richard Sforza as a Tenant Member to the Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board; (e) reappointed Kenneth Foran as a Member from Planning District III to the Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission; (f) appointed Maida Loescher as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria Public Records Advisory Commission; and (g) reappointed Debra Zusman as a Representative from the Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board to the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
10. City Council received the Alexandria Sanitation Authority's Annual and Financial Reports.
11. Councilman Euille directed questions to Transportation and Environmental Services Director O'Kane regarding the cost of bus shelters, and requested that the Commission's request for a shelter at the Foxchase Shopping Center be given priority.
City Council received the report and thanked the Commission on Aging and especially Ralph Thompson and the Public Safety Committee for their work. (Separate Motion)
12. City Council received the report and thanked the Board of Zoning Appeals for its efforts on behalf of the City.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
13. Council Member Rich directed questions to Landscape Architect Brownstein.
City Council: (1) approved the recommendation of the Alexandria Commission for the Arts (ACA) to accept the Art League class project of a Michael Curtis play sculpture as part of the Simpson Park renovation project; (2) requested the City Attorney to prepare a written agreement between the City of Alexandria and the artist, Michael Curtis, outlining that the City will pay for materials up to $3,000, and transportation and installation expenses estimated at $500, and authorized the City Manager to sign the agreement; and (3) expressed gratitude to Michael Curtis, the artist, for providing his time on a gratis basis while supervising the Art League class project and working with the City of Alexandria in providing this unique play sculpture. (Separate Motion)
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
14. City Council Discussion of the City's Policy for Displaying Plaques in City Facilities re the Request by the Ripening to Vintage Foundation. (Councilman Speck and Vice Mayor Pepper)
City Council referred this item to staff for a recommendation regarding the displaying of plaques or other public recognitions to community groups with the request that staff report back.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
15. Consideration of the Staff Response to the Recommendations from the Cameron Station Recreational Task Force on Recreational Uses in the East End Park of Cameron Station.
City Council approved the City Manager's recommendation, as amended, which reads as follows: (1) thanked Cameron Station Task Force Chairman Bernard Brenman and the other members of the Task Force for their efforts and the Task Force's report; (2) endorsed, in concept, a plan to construct, within an estimated period of four to six years, a multi-use, multi-purpose, multi-generational recreation facility on the East End Park in Cameron Station; (3) approved the interim development and use of the future recreational facility location as additional playing fields for day time use, with no lighting, to meet the current demand for fields in the City, reserving a portion of the East End Park for a recreational facility and maximizing the East End Park for playing fields both on an interim and a permanent basis [staff will look at potential siting issues]; (4) authorized the City Manager to contract out for the detailed design, preliminary engineering, project management and cost estimates required to proceed with the development of the approved elements of the West End and East End Parks, using monies already allocated for the Cameron Station development; (5) directed staff to develop a plan for the implementation of the program elements recommended by the Cameron Station Task Force, with the exception of the indoor track, within existing recreation facilities during the period prior to the construction of the new recreational facility; REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
15. (continued) and (6) bring back to City Council a Request for Proposal for a consultant study to assist staff with the development of a needs assessment for an indoor track facility at Cameron Station or elsewhere in the City, and other City-wide recreational program planning. The cost of this study would be absorbed within the FY 1997 departmental budget.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
16. City Council Discussion of the City Having an Advisory Referendum on Proposed Changes in Local Elections. (Councilman Speck)
After a lengthy dialogue, a motion was made by Councilman Speck, seconded by Council Member Walker, to have the decision on a referendum in the May election presented to the Court for certification which would require a final decision at the February 25 meeting. The essence of the motion would be to have a referendum on whether Council would move to four-year terms, staggered elections. The change would be effective with the Council election in the year 2000. The first staggered election, however, would be the year 2002; which motion FAILED on a vote 3-to-4. (Pepper, Cleveland, Euille and Rich voting no.)
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
17. Consideration of the Human Services Committee's Recommendation Regarding the Human Services Contributory Budget Process. (Councilman Euille and Council Member Rich)
City Council: (1) received this report, which was prepared by the Human Services Committee; and (2) docketed this report for public hearing on Saturday, February 22, 1997.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
18. Consideration of Report on the Red-light Camera Enforcement Program. (Councilman Speck)
WITHOUT OBJECTION, City Council noted the deferral to the February 25, 1997 Legislative Meeting.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
19. Consideration of a Transfer of $20,000 from Contingent Reserves to Fund the Operation of the Women's Empowerment Program in the Alexandria Detention Center Through June 30, 1997.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, City Council noted the deferral to the February 25, 1997 Legislative Meeting.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
Planning Commission
20. TEXT AMENDMENT #96-13 -- NONCONFORMING USES --City Council Discussion of an amendment to Section 12-200 (Nonconforming uses) to add new provisions (1) requiring that all nonconforming uses abate within seven years unless a special use permit is approved before that time, (2) providing new rules for the repair of structures housing nonconforming uses, and (3) changing the status of certain uses from nonconforming to noncomplying. Staff: Department of Planning and Zoning. (#23 10/19/96) (Councilman Euille)
COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0
City Council remanded this item back to the Planning Commission and requested that a task force be created that would include the stakeholders involved [such as representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, the residential and business community, Planning and Zoning staff and affected property owners] to examine the import of the proposed text amendment.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
(a) Vice Mayor Pepper announced that yesterday the announcement of the Technology Achievement Week was made as well as the five firms that were named as finalists to be receiving the Alexandria Technology Achievement Award that will be given during the week of March 10. The five finalist firms, out of twenty-six nominations, in alphabetical order are: Jones Communications of Alexandria, MPR Associates, Inc., Society for Human Resource Development, UUcom, Inc., and VSE Corporation. In addition, the judges decided that they wanted to recognize the Alexandria Public Schools for its technology initiative.
(b) Vice Mayor Pepper made comments with respect to the success of the City Employee Black History Month luncheon which was recently held. She thanked Rose Boyd who chaired this major endeavor and those who served on the committee.
(c) Vice Mayor Pepper spoke about an upcoming public hearing on air quality and handed out copies of the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee's report regarding "Proposed State Implementation Plan (SIP) Revision, Phase I Attainment Plan, and Revision to the SIP to Achieve a Fifteen Percent Reduction in Volatile Organic Compound Emissions, and Revision to the 1990 Base Year Emissions Inventory for Stationary Anthropogenic, Biogenic Sources and Highway Vehicle Emissions of Ozone Precursors for the Washington DC-MD-VA Nonattainment Area".
(d) Councilman Euille announced that the YMCA will hold its Partner In Youth Initiative on Tuesday, February 18 from 6-to-8 p.m. at the YMCA.
(e) Councilman Cleveland spoke to his recent visit with the Alexandria Fire Department.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (continued)
(f) Mayor Donley noted the sudden and unexpected passing of Interim Director of Code Enforcement, Bill Hughes. He was a very able and very likable person and expressed best wishes and condolences to his family.
(g) Mayor Donley handed out copies of the National League of Cities' overview and analysis of the President's Budget.
(h) Mayor Donley spoke to the recent Metro Regional Mobility Summit and his appointment to the Regional Mobility Panel.
(i) Mayor Donley also indicated that Council was saddened to learn of the death of Vola Lawson's mother and expressed its condolences to Mrs. Lawson and her family.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
None.
OTHER
21. Consideration of City Council Schedule.
City Council received the updated Council Calendar, noting the addition of Monday, March 24, the Women's Commission's Annual Awards Banquet. Reception from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., Dinner at 7:00 p.m., at the Radisson Plaza Hotel.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS
22. Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee
2 Citizen Members
City Council appointed Suzanne McLaughlin and Carolyn Pritchyk as Citizen Members to the Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
23. Alexandria Archaeological Commission
1 Member from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
City Council waived the residency requirement and appointed Mark Fields as a Member from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce to the Alexandria Archaeological Commission.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
24. Alexandria Beautification Commission
1 Citizen Member
City Council reappointed Jean Caldwell as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria Beautification Commission.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS (continued)
25. Alexandria Board of Zoning Appeals
2 Citizen Members
City Council reappointed Warren Almquist and appointed Linda Kung as Citizen Members to the Alexandria Board of Zoning Appeals.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
26. Alexandria Early Childhood Commission
1 Representative of the President of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
City Council waived the residency requirement and appointed Victoria Youcha as a Representative of the President of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce to the Alexandria Early Childhood Commission.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
27. Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission
1 Member from the Field of Environmental Sciences
City Council reappointed Christopher Ros as a Member from the Field of Environmental Sciences to the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
28. Alexandria Library Board
2 Citizen Members
The City Attorney was requested to look into the possibility of expanding the Library Board.
City Council reappointed Louise Forstall and Lelia Saunders Bailey as Citizen Members to the Alexandria Library Board.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
29. Alexandria Planning Commission
3 Citizen Members
City Council reappointed Donna Fossum, William Hurd, and appointed J. Lawrence Robinson, as Citizen Members to the Alexandria Planning Commission.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
30. Alexandria Task Force on AIDS
1 Student from T.C. Williams High School
City Council appointed Katherine Riddile as a Student from T.C. Williams High School to the Alexandria Task Force on AIDS.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
31. Consideration of Update Report on Items Before the 1997 General Assembly.
Mayor Donley asked questions regarding federal prison funding issues.
City Council (1) received the report, and (2) requested the City's legislative delegation to work to eliminate any State budget provisions relating to federal prisoners that would reduce State funding for the Alexandria Detention Center.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
New Business Item No. 1: Council Member Rich requested a status report on CET.
The Meeting was adjourned at 10:43 p.m.
This docket is subject to change.
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Full-text copies of ordinances, resolutions, and agenda items are available in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of the Council. Meeting materials are also available on-line at https://alexandriava.gov/council.
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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.
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Public Notice
There will be a City Council Work Session to discuss the Watson Wyatt Report on Wednesday, February 12, 1997, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Workroom, Room 2420, City Hall, 301 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia.
You may call the City Clerk's Office at 838-4500 to see if there is any information available for the work session.
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Individuals with disabilities who require assistance or special arrangements for the City Council Work Session may call the City Clerk'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.
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