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Office of the City Clerk
February 2, 2000



Special Meeting
Tuesday, February 1, 2000 - - 7:30 p.m.
[In lieu of the Regular Meeting of January 25, 2000, which was
canceled due to inclement weather.]


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Please take notice that there was a Special Meeting of City Council held on Tuesday, February 1, 2000, at 7:30 p.m. [in lieu of the Regular Meeting of January 25, 2000] in the Council Chamber of City Hall, Alexandria, Virginia, for the purpose of considering the following items.

/s/Vola Lawson, City Manager

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 Councilman Cleveland.
2. Invocation. By:_________________________________________________________

3. Reading and Acting Upon the Minutes of the Following Meeting of City Council:

(a) The Regular Meeting of January 11, 2000.

City Council approved the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 11, 2000, as submitted.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

4. Report of the City Clerk.

City Council received the report of the City Clerk.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

5. Presentation by The Chesapeake Bay Local Government Advisory Committee, on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay Program, of its Chesapeake Bay Partner Community Award to the Mayor and Members of City Council

Gloria Fisher presented the Chesapeake Bay Partner Community Award to the Mayor and Members of City Council.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

OPENING (continued)

6. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing Retiring Registrar of Voters Beverly Beidler for Her Service to the City of Alexandria and Its Citizens.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

7. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming the Month of February as George Washington Birthday Celebration Month in the City of Alexandria.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

CONSENT CALENDAR (8-13)

8. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:

(a) Alexandria Sanitation Authority
1 Citizen Member

9. Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Transportation for Funding "The Eisenhower Greenway Project", Phase 1 of The Eisenhower Avenue Multi-Use Trail Enhancement/Expansion Project, Through the Transportation Enhancement Program.

10. Consideration of Acceptance of Grant Funding from the Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant (JAIBG) for Programs Administered by the Court Service Unit.

11. Consideration of Allocation of Housing Funds.

12. Receipt of the Alexandria Commission for the Arts FY 1998-1999 Annual Report.

13. Consideration of the City's Monthly Financial Report for the Period Ending December 31, 1999.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the Consent Calendar as presented with the exception of docket item nos. 9, 10, 11 and 12 which were considered under separate motions. The City Manager's recommendations are as follows:

8. City Council appointed David Nichols as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria Sanitation Authority.

9. Council Member Walker commended Bruce Dwyer and the Bicycle Committee for their work on this.

Vice Mayor Euille noted that this is important as it addresses vision and planning on behalf of the City.

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

In addition, Mayor Donley thanked the Bicycle Committee for its good work.

City Council authorized the City Manager to: (1) submit a grant application to the Virginia Department of Transportation in the amount of $648,200, for "The Eisenhower Greenway Project," Phase I of the Eisenhower Avenue Multi-Use Trail Enhancement/Expansion Project, through the Transportation Enhancement Program; and (2) execute all necessary documents that may be required.

10. Director of Court Services Brooks responded to questions directed to her by Vice Mayor Euille with respect to the success of this program.

Vice Mayor Euille requested Ms. Brooks to provide Council with a statistical report with respect to the success and validity of this program.

City Council (1) approved the acceptance of the City's allocation of $48,134 of grant funding from the Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant Program (JAIBG); (2) approved the continuation of one half-time position for pre-trial services in the Court Services Unit for calendar year 2000. The individual who has filled this position has signed an agreement of understanding that the position would terminate upon expiration of the grant funding; (3) approved the addition of a half-time instructor position to teach a court-suspension class for juveniles on probation who have been suspended from school due to behavior or truancy problems. This grant-funded position would be authorized from the time of receipt of funds and be operational when school is in session during the calendar year 2000. The grant-funded position would terminate upon the expiration of grant funding and the individual who fills this position would be notified of this condition of employment at the time he/she is hired and would sign an agreement of understanding with regard to the condition; (4) approved $4,000 from the City's allocation of $48,134 to the Seaport Foundation to assist in funding an environmental community service program for the juveniles in the Day Reporting Center; (5) approved $2,500 from the City's allocation of $48,134 for the purchase of bicycles and safety equipment for Neighborhood-based Probation Officers and an Intensive Parole Officer; and (6) authorized the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.

11. Vice Mayor Euille spoke to the Fair Share Task Force's recommendation pertaining to special needs housing. Dr. Claiborn, Director of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse, stated that the replacement plan, as adopted by the Community Services Board and approved by City Council, is that any new housing added whether it be condominiums or group homes would be placed first in the areas with the least density. So, in fact, it would be totally consistent with the notion of going to the least impacted areas of the City.










REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

City Council: (1) approved funding allocations for housing and community development initiatives totaling $139,805, as follows: (a) allocated $100,665 in CDBG funds to the Alexandria Community Services Board to acquire a three-bedroom condominium unit for use under the supervised apartment program for persons with mental illness; (b) allocated $7,000 in CDBG funds to Christmas in April of Alexandria, to assist in implementing its Year 2000 program of home renovation and repairs for elderly, disabled, and low-income individuals; (c) allocated $32,140 in non-federal program income to intensify the efforts of the City's Rodent Control Program within three program target areas; (2) authorized the following budget transfers to fund the activities in Recommendation #1:

From:To:
Blighting Influences $100,665Community Services Board $100,665
Blighting Influences $ 7,000Christmas in April $ 7,000
Non-federal Program income $ 32,140Rodent Control Program $ 32,140

(3) authorized the City Manager to submit program amendments to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to amend the current year CDBG Program to include the activities in Items 1.a-b above.

12. Vice Mayor Euille spoke to the financial statement and requested that from time to time that the Commission solicit contributions and donations to support the arts programs.

Administrative Officer Powalisz and Director of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities Whitmore spoke to the Vice Mayor's concerns.

Councilwoman Pepper complimented Sherry Brown of the Art Forum on her presentation at the Agenda Alexandria meeting on January 24. She would like staff to get the slides to show what the addition of art can do to improve proposed structures.

City Council received the report and thanked the Alexandria Commission for the Arts for its efforts on behalf of the arts and the City.

13. City Council (1) received the Monthly Financial Report for the period ending December 31, 1999; (2) authorized the capital project allocations and planned expenditures for the capital projects as detailed in the Capital Improvement Expenditure Summary; and (3) delegated to the City Manager, or her designee, authority to award contracts to the lowest responsible bidders for the following projects: (a) installation of new street lights; (b) undergrounding of utilities; (c) installation of fencing; and (d) Barrett Library modifications.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________






REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

14. Consideration of Recommendations of City Naming Committee on (a) Names for Streets at Cameron Station School and (b) Naming of Fire Station #204.

City Council adopted the recommendation of the Naming Committee to name Fire Station #204 in honor of the late Alexandria Fire Chief Bernard J. Padgett, who served as the City's Fire Chief for 23 years from 1947 to 1970.

With respect to naming two streets, Councilman Speck noted that Harold Secord was the first Principal of T.C. Williams High School. He indicated that Ferdinand Day was the first African-American Chairman of the Alexandria School Board. Councilman Speck stated that both men are worthy of this recognition. He noted that the new Samuel Tucker School will carry the address of the street named after Ferdinand Day.

City Council recommended to the Planning Commission that the two streets adjacent to the new Samuel Tucker School be named after Harold Secord and Ferdinand Day.

City Manager Lawson stated that the School Board has recommended two very valiant young Alexandrians who gave their lives in the Vietnam Conflict. The Naming Committee has talked about having a memorial to those 40+ Alexandrians who lost their lives in Vietnam, and certainly would be a way of honoring those two gentlemen. She stated that staff will forward the School Board's recommendations to the Planning Commission along with the Council's action because under the Code it is up to the Planning Commission to determine what will be done. She noted that the Planning Commission will act on this in March.

Councilman Speck presented the binder of letters honoring Harold Secord to Mrs. Secord.

Councilwoman Pepper stated that the nominating committee received a recommendation from Dr. Hawes, speaking for the veterinarians of Alexandria, and also from Jack Steele of the Alexandria Animal Welfare League, recommending that the new animal shelter be named "The Vola Lawson Animal Shelter."

City Council approved naming the new animal shelter "The Vola Lawson Animal Shelter."

Councilman Speck indicated that when Council created the Naming Committee a little over a year ago, we were under the impression that because there were only two Members of Council that were a part of this committee in conjunction with the City Manager that it could be a committee that could appropriately meet privately to discuss individuals, their credentials and other matters that are of some sensitivity. After we created that committee, the City Attorney advised us that because it was technically a standing committee that it must meet the FOIA requirements, so immediately we changed the identification and operation of it to be a Manager's committee with two Members of Council participating. Since that time, the meetings have been called by the Manager, held in the Manager's Office and we've operated that way, but we realized that the actual language creating the committee needed to be amended to reflect that it was a Manager's committee.

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

Vice Mayor Euille requested that future recommendations be forwarded in a memorandum to Council or that there be some discussion with Council in advance of docketing the recommendations.

City Council directed the City Attorney to prepare the appropriate amendment to make the Naming Committee the City Manager's Naming Committee.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

15. Consideration of Update Report on Items Before the 2000 General Assembly.

City Council approved the following as recommended by the Council's legislative subcommittee: (a) adopted the positions on legislation that has been introduced in the 2000 General Assembly Session as noted in Attachment 1 of the memorandum; (2) supported additional State funding for programs to combat domestic violence; and (3) supported State funding for the Virginia Council on the Status of Women.

City Council took no position on House Bill 908.

City Council opposed House Bill 1416.

Council Member Rich spoke to the proposed budget amendment concerning the Woodrow Wilson Bridge which would prohibit funding for the bridge until after the Department of Transportation, in consultation with some of the other transportation bodies, has done a feasibility study on a 12-lane Beltway and made some judgments about it as compared to some of the other transportation needs in the region.

Members of Council participated in the discussion.

Council Member Walker requested a status of what the widening of the Beltway is.

Council took no action with respect to this proposal.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

16. Consideration of a Report on Performing Animal Shows.

General Discussion. There was considerable discussion on this item by Members of City Council. Animal Shelter Director Pullen also participated in the discussion.

City Council directed the City Manager to review the material Council has received; to seek outside counsel if necessary, to give Council as much as possible of an independent analysis of the information Council received by the reconvening of Council in September at which time the Council will take up this issue or not; but, during this period of time the City and Council will not entertain any applications for a permit for any circus or circus-type activity until the City Manager returns with a recommendation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________


REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

17. Consideration of Chronology of Actions Taken to Remove the Pilings at the Old Town Yacht Basin and Consideration of Improvements to Windmill Hill Park.

There was considerable discussion on this item between the Members of City Council and staff as to what improvements can be done within the FY 2000 budget.

Mayor Donley requested staff to come back in the context of the upcoming budget to take a look at some of the other improvements such as straightening out the Wilkes Street tunnel trail.

City Council adopted the staff recommendation
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

18. Consideration of the Fiscal Year 1999 City of Alexandria Applicant Tracking Report and Workforce Utilization Analysis.

Personnel Director Sudduth stated that the Commission on Persons with Disabilities had made a recommendation that was not included in the report, and he wanted to go on record that staff endorses and supports the concept of the establishment of a special day entitled "Disability Mentoring Day - Career Development for the Twenty-first Century. Staff supports participating with the Commission on developing that day which is scheduled nationwide for October 25.

Mayor Donley stated that this recommendation will be incorporated into the report.

City Council received both reports and thanked the members of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities, the Commission for Women, the Human Rights Commission, and the Commission on Aging for the assistance and input they have provided on both reports.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

None

ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Mayor Donley spoke to snow removal throughout the City. He also suggested that staff might want to have a plan to make sure cars are not parked on the streets during snow storms.

Staff was requested to come back to Council with a report including ways to improve the snow removal in the future.

City Manager Lawson spoke to this.

In addition, Mayor Donley and Council thanked Acting Director of Transportation and Environmental Services and the City employees involved for their hard work.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (continued)

(b) Councilwoman Pepper also addressed the snow removal issue. She noted that Venerable Avenue was not plowed within 72 hours after the storm.

(c) Councilman Cleveland spoke to a suggestion that he received from a constituent with respect to placing a plow on our trash trucks. Another one indicated that Farm Road was not plowed. He commended the staff on its efforts during the second storm.

(d) Councilman Speck spoke to the most recent Agenda Alexandria meeting which addressed public art. He hopes that people will watch it at the repeat on cablevision.

Councilman Speck requested staff to look into the possibility of locating benches on a trial basis on the 100 and 200 blocks of King Street.

(e) Councilman Speck spoke to the appearance of Duke Street from South Quaker Lane to Roth Street. He requested that staff put together a list of property owners and convene a meeting with the property owners, Alexandria Economic Development Program, Planning Staff and a Member of Council to discuss how the area could be improved.

(f) Councilman Speck brought up open space and indicated that Council may want to begin to look at a true land bank, and suggested a possible work session or docket item to discuss the issue.

City Manager Lawson noted that this would be addressed in the upcoming budget.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

None

OTHER

19. Consideration of City Council Schedule.

City Council scheduled the following meetings and work sessions and made the following additions to the Council calendar: (1) noted that on Friday, January 28, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Gadsby's Tavern a Retirement reception was held for Registrar of Voters Beverly Beidler; (2) Tuesday, February 22, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Workroom a Work Session to discuss the proposed Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) project to reconstruct the King Street Railroad Underpass; (3) Tuesday, February 22, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Workroom the Annual Meeting of the Alexandria Transit Company Stockholders; (4) Tuesday, April 11, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Workroom a Work Session on the 1999 Needs Assessment of the Hispanic Community; (5) Technology Week events: (a) Thursday, March 16, the Chamber of Commerce Networking breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Radisson Hotel (formerly the Ramada) in Old Town, 901 North Fairfax Street; and (b) Friday, March 17, the Technology Award luncheon at noon at the Radisson Hotel in Old Town, 901 North Fairfax Street; (6) Tuesday, March 28, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Workroom, the Work Session with OTHER (continued)

representatives of the INOVA Alexandria Hospital Board; (7) Scheduled a Council Work Session on PTO on Monday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber; and scheduled a Council Public Hearing and consideration of PTO on Tuesday, March 21, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber; and (8) changed the date of the February 17 Community Meeting at Cora Kelly to Wednesday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m. at the Cora Kelly Recreation Center.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS

20. Alexandria Social Services Advisory Board
1 Citizen Member

City Council appointed C. West Huddleston, III as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria Social Services Advisory Board.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

City Council announced and moved that, within the next 15 days, the Council convene an executive session for the purpose of interviewing prospective candidates for the position of City Manager, all pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.1-344(A)(1) and 2.1-344.1(B).

The Meeting was adjourned at 11:12 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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