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Office of the City Clerk
May 24, 2000



Regular Meeting
Tuesday, May 23, 2000 - - 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 Councilman Speck.
2. Invocation. By:_________________________________________________________

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

(a) The Regular Meeting of May 9, 2000; and

(b) The Public Hearing Meeting of May 13, 2000.

City Council approved the Minutes for (a) the Regular Meeting of May 9, 2000; and (b) the Public Hearing Meeting of May 13, 2000, as submitted.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

4. Report of the City Clerk.

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

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

CONSENT CALENDAR (5-8)

5. Receipt of the Following Resignations From Members of Boards, Commissions and Committees:

(a) Alexandria Board of Architectural Review - Parker-Gray District
Mary B. Schukraft




REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)


6. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:

(a) Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee
1 Citizen Member

(b) Alexandria George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee
1 Member Nominated by the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Society

(c) Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
1 Representative From the Alexandria Archaeological Commission

(d) Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission
1 Representative of the Alexandria Dental Society

(e) Alexandria Waterfront Committee
1 Representative From the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

7. Receipt of the City's Monthly Financial Report for the Period Ending April 30, 2000.

8. Receipt of Annual Report from the Ad Hoc City of Alexandria 250th Anniversary Commission.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the Consent Calendar as presented. The City Manager's recommendations are as follows:

5. City Council received the resignation of Mary B. Schukraft from the Alexandria Board of Architectural Review - Parker-Gray District, with regret; requested the Executive Secretary for Boards and Commissions to send the appropriate letter of appreciation and to advertise the vacancy in the usual manner.

6. City Council: (a) appointed Joyce Warner as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee; (b) reappointed Hugh Barton as a Member Nominated by the Gadsby's Tavern Museum Society to the Alexandria George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee; (c) reappointed William Hranicky as a Representative from the Alexandria Archaeological Commission to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission; (d) reappointed John Kling as a Representative of the Alexandria Dental Society to the Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission; and (e) appointed Martin Zorn as a Representative from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce to the Alexandria Waterfront Committee.

7. City Council: (1) received the Monthly Financial Report for the period ending April 30, 2000; and (2) authorized the capital project allocations and planned expenditures for the capital projects as detailed in the Capital Improvement Expenditure Summary.

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

After consideration of docket item no. 11, Council Member Rich acknowledged the tremendous work of the 250th Anniversary Commission and thanked the Members for their hard work and for a job well done. He meant to bring it up at the time the Consent Calendar was considered.

Council Member Walker requested that everyone who made this a success be notified and thanked for the excellent work that they all did.

Mayor Donley asked staff to docket a proclamation recognizing the Commission for its accomplishments which is to be docketed for the June 27, 2000 Regular Meeting.

8. City Council received the Final Report of the Ad Hoc City of Alexandria 250th Anniversary Commission, thanked the members for their efforts and disbanded the Commission as of June 30, 2000.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

9. Consideration of Approval of Two Agreements Required by the Workforce Investment Act: (1) the Chief Local Elected Officials Agreement Between the City of Alexandria and Arlington County and (2) the Workforce Investment Board Agreement Between the Chief Local Elected Officials and the Local Workforce Investment Board.

City Council authorized the Mayor to sign the agreements required by the Workforce Investment Act as follows: (1) The Chief Local Elected Officials Agreement between the City of Alexandria and Arlington County; and (2) The Workforce Investment Board Agreement between the Chief Local Elected Officials and the Local Workforce Investment Board.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

10. Consideration of a Request from the Alexandria Electoral Board for Authorization to Proceed with the Process of Securing Relief from the Pre-clearance Provisions of the Voting Rights Act (Section 5).

City Council received this report and scheduled it for public hearing on Saturday, June 17, 2000.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________










REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

11. Consideration of the 2000-2005 Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development. (#14 4/15/00)

City Council: (1) approved the summary of citizen comments with staff responses (Attachment 1 of the City Manager's memorandum) as an appendix to be included with the Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development; (2) approved changes already made to the draft Consolidated Plan (which was before Council at the April 15, 2000, public hearing), as a result of Council input, citizen comments and technical corrections, as summarized in Attachment 2 (of the City Manager's memorandum) and reflected in the revised copy of the Draft Consolidated Plan provided as Attachment 3 (of the City Manager's memorandum); (3) authorized staff to make additional changes to the text of the Consolidated Plan, incorporating narrative that broadens the reasons for which Council may wish to consider approving proposals for additional assisted rental housing, as reflected on page 5 of the City Manager's memorandum; (4) authorized the City Manager to submit to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) the Draft Consolidated Plan (Attachment 3 of the City Manager's memorandum), as amended by the changes referenced in paragraph 3 above, including the City's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) program applications for the 2000-2001 program year; and (5) authorized the City Manager to schedule a work session early in FY 2001 for Council to review the City's affordable housing policies and programs.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

12. Consideration of Entering into a Lease for 421 King Street.

City Council authorized the City Manager to execute, on behalf of the City, and to deliver the lease, in substantially the form presented to the Council with such changes as approved by the City Manager and the City Attorney. The execution of these documents by the City Manager shall constitute conclusive evidence of his approval, and that of the City Attorney, of any and all changes from the documents made available to the City Council. The lease is for fifteen years from July 2000 to July 2015, for 12,132 square feet, on the fourth and fifth floors of the building located at 421 King Street.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

13. Receipt of Recommendations of the South Union Street Parking Study Group Concerning Parking Expansion Options and District 1 Parking Permit Status for Ford's Landing Residents.

City Council received this report on the recommendations of the South Union Street Parking Study Group and set it for public hearing on Saturday, June 17, 2000.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

None





ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Councilman Speck questioned Transportation and Environmental Services Director Baier on what is it going to take to have the King Street underpass sandblasted, cleaned, painted a lighter color and lighted?

Director Baier responded that staff has spoken with CSX and indicated that they are willing to entertain that and issue a permit to the City to accomplish this. He indicated that the City would have to pay 100% of the cost as CSX does not wish to share in the cost. Director Baier stated that the City also would like to do some minor abutment repair and request CSX to pay for it and push for them to pay a portion of maintaining its own structure.

Councilman Speck queried what it was going to take from Council to make it happen as far as participating in the sharing of expenses and have the work done sooner rather than later? From the standpoint of Council, what can it do to expedite this?

City Manager Sunderland stated that Council should make the appropriate public statement. He indicated that then he should make some calls to CSX to push things along. He noted that if that is not successful, the Mayor may need to make a call or two, as CSX certainly should be contributing to cleaning up its own property.

Council Member Walker appreciated what the City Manager has said. She indicated that CSX has been historically non-compliant in doing anything to improve its property or to aid the City in improving it. Council Member Walker called for a little pressure to be put on CSX to contribute.

Mayor Donley summed up that the City Manager will make some calls regarding the items which Councilman Speck has brought up about the King Street underpass and CSX, and will followup accordingly.

(b) Councilman Speck made remarks concerning improvements in the traffic flow during the afternoon with the absence of gridlock.

Police Captain Spruill gave Council an overview of the experience with the Gridlock Reduction Intervention Project (GRIP).

Members of Council directed questions to Captain Spruill and commended the officers for the job that they are doing.

Councilman Speck would like the City to explore, during this trial period, the issue of using the PEO or some other form of civilian traffic enforcement officers to have the authority to issue citations that are not moving violations which may require General Assembly action. This would be helpful. In addition, he suggested that penalties be posted at the intersections in the manner in which it is done in New York where it is a $200 fine for blocking a box.

City Manager Sunderland noted that staff is going to do this through the end of June. He further noted that staff will study it over the summer and come back to Council with the results of the study sometime in September.


ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (continued)

(c) Councilman Speck noted that there are certain naming facility issues that need to be addressed before the Council adjourns for the summer. His recommendation was that the City Manager, Councilwoman Pepper and he determine an appropriate time to meet and have that made public so that anyone can attend. He noted whatever recommendations they make to Council will then be docketed for public hearing and interested persons can speak. After the public hearing, Council would take action.

(d) Councilwoman Pepper pointed out several recent newspaper and magazine articles highlighting Alexandria.

(e) Councilwoman Pepper raised an issue brought to Council's attention by Holmes Run Park Committee chair West concerning a community center at Ben Brenman Park. In his letter dated May 5, 2000, he stipulated that the Holmes Run Committee would like to see a task force report to Council in time to allow budgeting of planning funds for the next fiscal year. He suggested that Council may want to re-establish the Cameron Station Recreational Task Force so that appointments could be made in June and begin its work by September.

Mayor Donley pointed out that there is $25,000 budgeted for FY 2000, set aside for preliminary architectural and engineering studies. It has always been Council's intent to work with the community once the Ramsay Recreation Center is opened. He suggested that Council take this recommendation under advisement and wait until the Ramsay Recreation Center opens to do an assessment of it and how the parks at Cameron Station are working.

Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities Director Whitmore reported that the City is looking for the end of September or the beginning of October for the opening of Ramsay Recreation Center.

Councilman Speck signified that there are several things that are really significant to this planning that Council has not yet addressed. The monies that have been set aside may very well be used, when Ramsay is complete and some other facilities have completed all of their changes and modifications, to do a very thorough, very professional needs assessment of the whole area to determine what needs there are and what needs are being unmet.

WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilwoman Pepper, seconded by Councilman Cleveland and carried on a vote of 6-to-0, that Council examine again the possibility of forming a task force in January 2001 that would look into a community center at Ben Brenman Park.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________












ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

14. Consideration of a Resolution Providing for the Sale of Consolidated Public Improvement General Obligation Bonds, Series 2000, and Providing for the Terms of such Bonds. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council adopted the resolution, which sets the terms for the sale of up to $55.0 million in General Obligation Bonds and which delegates to the City Manager and the Director of Finance the authority to establish the details of the bond sale and to accept a bid for the purchase of the bonds. RES. NO. 1967
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

15. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of An Ordinance Authorizing and Empowering the Issuance, Sale and Delivery of General Obligation Bonds to Finance Various Public Improvements.

City Council introduced and passed on first reading and scheduled for public hearing, second reading and final passage on June 17, 2000, an Ordinance authorizing and empowering the issuance, sale and delivery of bonds not to exceed $15.0 million to finance various public improvements.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

OTHER

16. Consideration of City Council Schedule.

City Council has tentatively rescheduled the City Council Installation to Monday, June 26. It will be decided on Wednesday if this is a firm date or not.

City Council received the updated Council calendar.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS

17. Alexandria Ad Hoc Carlyle/Patent and Trademark Office Livability Task Force
7 City Representatives From Civic Associations, Homeowners Associations or Condominium Associations Who Are Adjacent or Near-Adjacent to PTO

3 Business Representatives From Organizations or Businesses With An Interest In or Business In PTO or Carlyle

City Council appointed Gordon Bratz, Sherry Brown, David Harre, Charles Hansen, Joseph Liu, Peter Newbould, and C. Ashley Spencer as City Representatives from Civic Associations, Homeowners Associations or Condominium Associations Who Are Adjacent or Near-Adjacent to PTO, and appointed Agnes Artemel, Carol Dodd, and Gerald Hay as Business Representatives From Organizations or Businesses With An Interest In or Business In PTO or Carlyle to the Alexandria Ad Hoc Carlyle/Patent and Trademark Office Livability Task Force.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________




CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS (continued)

18. Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
1 Representative From A Civic Association

City Council appointed Leah Fried as a Representative From a Civic Association to the Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

19. Alexandria Commission for the Arts
1 Member of the Public-at-Large as an Art Consumer and Participant

City Council appointed Susan Buchan as a Member of the Public-at-Large as an Art Consumer and Participant to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

20. Alexandria Human Rights Commission
2 Citizen Members

City Council reappointed Jimmie McClellan and appointed Susan Rumberg as Citizen Members to the Alexandria Human Rights Commission.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

21. Alexandria Waterfront Committee
1 Citizen Representative Who Resides East of Washington Street and South of King Street

City Council appointed Miriam MacDonald as a Citizen Representative Who Resides East of Washington Street and South of King Street to the Alexandria Waterfront Committee.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

22. Receipt of Staff Report on the Holmes Run Bridge to Ben Brenman Park.

City Council: (1) affirmed the location of the current Holmes Run pedestrian bridge; and (2) requested staff to meet with the Wakefield/Tarleton Civic Association and interested individuals residing near the bridge to discuss the options for the final design of the multi-use trail which runs along Holmes Run and of the landscaping in the area around the bridge, and then to proceed with finishing the site work at the bridge.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________












REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

23. Receipt of the Report from the Ad Hoc Alexandria Washington Street Task Force.

Council Member Walker presented Council with an overview of the report.

Without objection, Don Mela addressed a need for a comprehensive traffic impact study and also suggested a change to Recommendation 1 which he provided in an e-mail to the Members of Council; a copy of which is on file in the office of the City Clerk and made part of the record.

Council Member Walker spoke to Mr. Mela's suggested change.

Acting City Attorney Pessoa stated that Council has the report of the Task Force before them, and suggested that Council receive the comments from Mr. Mela and note them for the record as a qualification in receipt of the Task Force report, but the report cannot be changed without going back to the Task Force.

Council Member Walker would like Mr. Mela to be consulted as Transportation and Environmental Services Director Baier does begin to look at the traffic aspects of the City.

City Manager Sunderland spoke to the issue of traffic and what is being done with it. He addressed the effects of PTO which we have begun to address tonight, the Route 1 issue, and the traffic-calming measures which will be coming to Council in June. He noted that a study group within the City has been formed to put together a comprehensive traffic policy and program for the City which will come to Council as a Retreat item in the fall.

City Council: (1) received the report of the Ad Hoc Washington Street Task Force and thanked the members of the Task Force for their work on behalf of the City; (2) referred the Task Force recommendations on Revised Ordinance Standards and Changes in Historic District Boundaries to the Planning Commission for text amendment and rezoning and requested the Boards of Architectural Review, the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission and other interested groups to review these recommendations and forward their comments to the Planning Commission; (3) referred the Task Force recommendation on the Streetscape Plan to staff for preparation of the necessary plan which will be done with public input and review by the two Boards of Architectural Review, the Planning Commission and City Council; and (4) referred the Task Force recommendation on Concept Review by the Board of Architectural Review to the Old and Historic Alexandria Board of Architectural Review for preparation of a policy statement on its process for concept review, and included the e-mail from Mr. Mela as part of the document, but not change the language as suggested.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________









REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

Planning Commission

24. DEVELOPMENT SITE PLAN #99-0050
City Council rescinded its action to deny the appeal on May 13, 2000, and set it for public hearing and consideration at the Tuesday, June 13, 2000 Public Hearing Meeting.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

25. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #99-0108
City Council rescinded its action to deny the special use permit on May 13, 2000, and set it for public hearing and consideration at the Tuesday, June 13, 2000 Public Hearing Meeting.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 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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THE CABLECAST SCHEDULE OF GOVERNMENT MEETINGS ON CHANNEL 11 FOLLOWS:

As of 5/15/2000

CABLECAST SCHEDULE OF GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
ON
CHANNEL 11
MAY 2000

• May 17, Board of Architectural Review - Old & Historic District, 7:30 p.m. - Live

• May 18, School Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. - Live

• May 20, City Council Public Hearing, 6:00 p.m. - Replay of the May 13 Meeting

• May 23, City Council Meeting, 7:30 p.m. - Live

• May 24, Board of Architectural Review - Parker-Gray District, 7:30 p.m. - Live

• May 25, City Council Meeting, 6:00 p.m. - Replay of the May 23 Meeting
Note: This Schedule is Subject to Change.