Action Docket for Regular Meeting (05/22/2001)

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Office of the City Clerk
May 23, 2001

There was a work session on JobLink,
the Metro Tech Grant, and the Youth
employment Program at 6:00 p.m. in the
Council Workroom.

Regular Meeting
Tuesday, May 22, 2001 - - 7:30 p.m.

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OPENING

1. Calling the Roll.

The Meeting was called to Order by Mayor Donley, and the Deputy City Clerk called the Roll; all Members of City Council were present.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

The Invocation was pronounced by Major Owen Gilliam, Commanding Officer, Alexandria Salvation Army.
2. Invocation. By:___________________________________________________

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

(a) The Special Meeting [Budget Adoption] for May 7, 2001; and

(b) The Regular Meeting of May 8, 2001.

City Council approved the Minutes, as submitted, for (a) the Special Meeting [Budget Adoption] for May 7, 2001; and (b) the Regular Meeting of May 8, 2001.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

4. Report of the City Clerk.

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

5. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming June 2, 2001, as Alexandria Earth Day and Arbor Day.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

6. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming the Week of May 25 through May 31, 2001, as Week of Remembrance of the Freedmen's Cemetery.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

OPENING (continued)

7. Presentation of Proclamation Declaring Wednesday, June 13, 2001, to be Old Town Civic Association Day in the City of Alexandria.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

CONSENT CALENDAR (8-15)

Without Objection, City Council removed docket item nos. 10, 11, 14 and 15 from the Consent Calendar and considered them under separation motions.

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

(a) Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
Ardith Collins

(b) Alexandria Community Services Board
Matthew Berg

9. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:

(a) Alexandria Ad Hoc Recreation Needs Assessment Steering Committee
1 Representative From the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

(b) Alexandria Archaeological Commission
1 Citizen Member From Planning District III

(c) Alexandria Commission on Employment
1 Business Representative From Among Recognized Area Businesses Including Minority-Owned and Small Businesses

(d) Alexandria Waterfront Committee
1 Representative From the Alexandria Archaeological Commission

10. Consideration of a Grant Application for a School Resource Officer Under the Federal COPS Grant Program.

11. Consideration of Home Rehabilitation Loan Program Revisions to Address Lead-Based Paint Requirements.

12. Acceptance of Grant Funding from the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) for the Truancy Outreach Program Administered by the Alexandria City Public Schools.

13. Receipt of the City's Monthly Financial Report for the Period Ending April 30, 2001.

14. Consideration of Authorization of Recommended Capital Project Allocations and Planned Expenditures.

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

15. Receipt of the FY 2000 Annual Report from the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the Consent Calendar as presented with the exception of docket item nos. 10, 11, 14 and 15 which were considered under separate motions. The City Manager's recommendations are as follows:

8. City Council received the following resignations with regret: (a) Ardith Collins from the Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee; and (b) Matthew Berg from the Alexandria Community Services Board; and requested the Executive Secretary for Boards and Commissions to send the appropriate letters of appreciation and to advertise the vacancies in the usual manner.

9. City Council: (a) appointed Steve Nearman as a Representative from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce to the Alexandria Ad Hoc Recreation Needs Assessment Steering Committee; (b) appointed Chanley Mohney as a Citizen Member from Planning District III to the Alexandria Archaeological Commission; (c) reappointed James Shank as a Business Representative Member from Among Recognized Area Businesses Including Minority-Owned and Small Businesses to the Alexandria Commission on Employment; and (d) reappointed Pete Peterson as a Representative from the Alexandria Archaeological Commission to the Alexandria Waterfront Committee.

10. Councilwoman Eberwein raised her concern that these funds will have to eventually be picked up by the City. She asked how much thought the School system put into this request and how much flexibility is available in this grant. She does not see the need to put them at the elementary level, but there is a critical need to add another Resource Officer at the high school level.

Lieutenant Dickinson, Police Crime Prevention Section, responded to the inquiries and will return to Council on the issues raised. Assistant City Manager Jinks explained that in general the COPS grants require that you carry it for one year with totally local funding after the federal grant is totally expired. After that full one year of local funding, then the City is free basically to make a local choice.

City Council: (1) approved the grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice for a total of $125,000 in federal funds for a 3-year period. The City share of funding is approximately $64,037 over the same period, to fund part of salary and benefit costs and one vehicle; (2) authorized the addition of one Police Officer position if the grant is approved; and (3) authorized the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required to receive the grant and release the grant funds to the City for expenditure. (Separate Motion)

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

11. Councilwoman Woodson directed questions to and participated in discussion with Housing Director Davis.

City Council approved the following changes to the Office of Housing's Home Rehabilitation Loan Program: (1) granted the City Manager the authority to approve loans exceeding the $90,000 construction loan limit in order to accommodate extensive rehabilitation work in compliance with recently enacted federal lead-based paint regulations; (2) authorized loan-to-value ratios of up to 110% when necessary to comply with lead-based paint requirements; (3) for loans made under Recommendation 2, authorize the forgiveness of lead-based paint compliance costs, up to the original excess loan-to-value amount, upon resale of the property to the extent that the owner's equity at the time of resale is insufficient to cover the repayment of this amount. (Separate Motion)

12. City Council: (1) approved the acceptance of $64,499 of grant funding from the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). There is a $32,250 in-kind match provided by the Alexandria City Public School System; (2) approved the continuation of grant funding for a full-time Alexandria Public Schools (ACPS) Truancy Outreach Specialist. This grant position has been administered through ACPS since July 1999, and DCJS recently provided notification that the grant must be submitted through the City. This grant-funded position will terminate upon the expiration of the grant funding and the individual who is in the position has been notified of this condition of employment and has signed an agreement of understanding with regard to this condition; and (3) authorized the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.

13. City Council received the Monthly Financial Report for the period ending April 30, 2001.

14. Councilwoman Eberwein questioned Mr. Krause, ACPS Facilities staff, about the School Board's plans to replace the T.C. Williams career wing roof. City Council discussed the project and whether to delay it for further information.

Councilman Euille has learned that there may be some potential cost overruns that will exceed the budgeted funding due to some soil conditions and some other site conditions at Hammond Middle School and perhaps at George Washington Middle School and, if that is true, asked that the School Board provide a staff report to the City Manager for Council's information. Mr. Krause reported that soil reports have been done on both sites, and there are no soil problems at either location in terms of the foundation work for the additions at each location.

A motion was made to approve the entire authorization for the projects listed in the City Manager's memorandum.

A motion to amend the main motion was made to delay consideration of the T.C. Williams career wing roof replacement to get additional information, which amendment failed on a vote of 3-to-4.

City Council returned to the main motion and authorized the capital project allocations and planned expenditures for the capital projects as detailed in the Capital Improvement Expenditure Summary, which motion passed unanimously. (Separate Motion)

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

15. Mayor Donley asked that the Environmental Policy Commission take up the issue of flow control. There is an environmentally friendly bill pending before Congress which would help our situation regarding flow control, and he would like the Commission to take up the matter and communicate to Congress its position as the Environmental Policy Commission.

City Council received the FY 2000 Annual Report from the Environmental Policy Commission and thanked the Commission members for their efforts on behalf of the City. (Separate Motion)

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

16. Consideration of Status Report on Brenman Park Drive.

Councilman Euille and Councilwoman Pepper directed questions and participated in the discussion with Transportation and Environmental Services Director Baier. Mr. Baier reported that he has discussed this deferral with the civic association but not the homeowners' associations. They understand and their biggest concern is that we continue to address the problem. They see the issue is more one of speed and not so much of volume. He clarified that the speed bumps on the streets that haven't yet been turned over to the City were installed by the developer without any authorization by the City. Before the final paving is put down, they will remove those speed bumps, and they will be replaced by speed tables as discussed.

City Council: (1) kept Brenman Park Drive in Ben Brenman Park in its current configuration as a two-way road open to vehicular traffic; and (2) requested staff to return to City Council in September with the results of a traffic and pedestrian study of Brenman Park Drive, at which time Council would determine whether to make any changes to the existing road configuration.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

17. Consideration of the One-Year Action Plan of the Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development for the Period July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2002, has been deferred to the June 12, 2001 Legislative Meeting. (#13 5/12/01)

City Council deferred this item to June 12, 2001.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

18. Consideration of a license agreement to extend for three years the authorization previously granted to Williams Communications to utilize the public right-of-way of Metro Road for telecommunications facilities.

City Council approved the three-year license agreement with Williams Communications of Virginia, Inc., and authorized the City Manager to execute the license agreement and to take any other actions that are necessary to implement the agreement.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

None

REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Councilwoman Pepper discussed the Alexandria Works! summer youth job program and shared the information Council received during the earlier evening's work session and encouraged the City's employers to step forward and find some jobs for our youth. Contact Lissette Pippy of JobLink at 703-838-4316.

(b) Councilwoman Pepper reported on the Information and Technology Commission on which she and Councilwoman Woodson serve, and she distributed a report with statistics indicating the number of visits to the City's web site and number of pages accessed. (A copy of this report is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)

(c) Councilwoman Woodson thanked the office on Housing and all other offices involved in the very successful Affordable Housing Summit held on Saturday, May 19.

Councilman Euille echoed Councilwoman Woodson's thanks to staff and to all those working behind the scenes.

(d) Councilwoman Woodson introduced Brooke Robert Stoddard and listed some of his many achievements. She specifically commended Brooke for his self-guided walking tour for upper Old Town that he compiled as his Eagle Scout project. The Upper Old Town Self-Guided Walking Tour brochure is available in City Hall and at some of Alexandria's historic sites. (A copy of the brochure is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)

(e) Mayor Donley noted that during the General Assembly's legislative session there was a fair amount of discussion by Council of the creation of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. A number of bills were submitted in the General Assembly and the Roger McClure bill that was passed and signed into law was not necessarily one that was supported by local governments in Northern Virginia. The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission unanimously approved a letter to be sent to the Berry commission, on which he and Delegate Moran are members, to work to get amendments through the commission and then reported to the General Assembly.

(f) Mayor Donley reported that a number of meetings continue on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. He, City Manager Sunderland and Transportation and Environmental Services Director Baier meet with representatives of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Design Center once a month to go over many issues, and he reported on some important decisions that have been made beneficial to the City.

(g) Councilman Euille, Woodrow Wilson Bridge Task Force co-chair, related that the Task Force meets monthly and will continue to meet throughout the construction program. He discussed the brochure being sent to 6,000 citizens living in the areas most affected by the bridge construction project. Councilman Euille announced that on the third Tuesday in June, at the Task Force's request, the contractor performing the foundation phase of the project has agreed to participate and answer questions as well as to highlight some of the good-neighbor policies they will agree to abide by. Also, at the request of City Council the City Manager has hired a full-time, dedicated Woodrow Wilson Bridge Coordinator named Reed Winslow, who can be reached at 703-548-3180. (A copy of this brochure is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)

REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (continued)

(h) Councilwoman Eberwein reported that she has been appointed as a representative to the COG Chesapeake Bay Metropolitan Development Policy Committee. They are putting together some regional activity maps which will show noncentralized urban core areas that have a lot of both employment, housing and transit activities. They are also considering getting into the planning process in an advisory capacity in regard to local development projects that they feel have cross-jurisdictional implications.

(i) Councilwoman Eberwein complimented Assistant Manager Godwin for her presentation on teen pregnancy at Agenda Alexandria last night. One of the points raised was that there is no one answer for all communities and that there needs to be a strong message by public officials that teen pregnancy is not a good choice. She iterated that this City Council wants teenage girls to reach their unlimited potential, and the best way to do that is to avoid becoming a teenage mother.

(j) Councilwoman Eberwein reported on the design charette she attended on Thursday regarding secondary school facilities.

(k) Councilman Speck stated that he left the Agenda Alexandria meeting feeling both enlightened and disturbed with some of the information he received, and he urged people to view the Comcast broadcasts of these meetings. The next broadcasts are scheduled for June 20 at 9 p.m. and June 22 at 5 p.m.

(l) Mayor Donley reported that on May 30, he and Vice Mayor Cleveland will be at Chirilagua in the Hispanic community talking to parents and teens in continuation of their campaign that teenage pregnancy is not right and is the wrong course for our young people.

(m) Vice Mayor Cleveland asked the City Manager about the Master Plan process and was informed that this is on the Council docket for June 12 with a work session on June 26.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Councilwoman Pepper distributed an Information Bulletin from the National Drug Intelligence Center and made inquiries of Deputy Police Chief Hilleary about the use of the drug OxyContin in Alexandria. He reported that there have been no reports this year of any usage, no seizures and no intelligence which would indicate that it's a problem in Alexandria. (A copy of this bulletin is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)

(b) Councilman Euille expressed his thanks to staff for the public work sessions on Windmill Hill Park. Citizens have complimented him on the openness of this process, and he hopes that this approach can be applied to future planning initiatives.

(c) Mayor Donley reported that Council has received a request to rename Waterfront Park after Colonel John Fitzgerald and asked that the naming committee take this up and report back to the Council.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (continued)

(d) Councilman Speck addressed a situation involving the proliferation of parking of motorcycles on lower King Street, and he commended Deputy Chief Hilleary for the assigned Police officers' constructive and positive education process. There has been a reduction in the number of motorcyclists and a lowering of the level of activity.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

19. Second Reading and Final Passage of an ordinance to amend Section 9-12-132 of the City Code to increase taxicab fares. (# 21 5/12/01; #18 5/8/01) [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

Councilman Speck suggested that some of the rules that we have imposed on how certain extra charges are incurred are confusing and difficult to administer. He requested that the City Manager communicate to staff and Traffic and Parking Board to specifically look at the age of an extra passenger. He suggested the City follow the way airlines and other systems operate, that if you occupy a seat, you pay a fee, regardless of age; and to have a flat dollar fee if there is anything loaded in the trunk, whether it's one bag or three. He asked that both staff and the Traffic and Parking Board come back to Council to see if these things can be made easier to administer.

Councilwoman Eberwein requested that the City Manager have Legislative Director Caton look into how we might structure legislation in Richmond so that the City might have some role in establishing stand dues. She also requested to receive a report in six months and another report in a year as to whether the stand dues indeed went up and by what amount the stand dues went up.

City Attorney Pessoa asked that before the City goes down to Richmond, he will take a look at the existing authority of the City to see if that is necessary.

City Council received the report and enacted the proposed ordinance.
ORD. NO. 4203
City Council: ___________________________________________________________

OTHER

20. Consideration of City Council Schedule.

Councilwoman Woodson advised that she has a conflict on Wednesday for the joint meeting but will be attending the community session on Thursday.

Vice Mayor Cleveland reported that he will be in Richmond and will unable to attend the Wednesday joint meeting.

City Council received the updated calendar and noted the following addition: Thursday, May 24, community presentation by the Youth Policy Commission of the youth development asset survey at 7:00 p.m. at the Minnie Howard Ninth Grade Center.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS

21. Alexandria Commission on Employment
1 Representative From An Organization Such As Educational Agencies, Organized Labor, Rehabilitation Agencies, Community-Based Organizations, Economic Development Agencies and the Public Employment Service

City Council waived the residency requirement and appointed Nancy Dean as a Representative from an Organization Such as Educational Agencies, Organized Labor, Rehabilitation Agencies, Community-Based Organizations, Economic Development Agencies, and the Public Employment Service to the Alexandria Commission on Employment.
Council Action: _________________________________________________________

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Public Notice

The Members of Council will attend a joint meeting with the Youth Policy Commission and the School Board on Wednesday, May 23, 2001, at 7:00 p.m. in the Minnie Howard Ninth Grade Center Auditorium, 3801 West Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA. Refreshments will be available at 6:30 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting is a briefing on the results of the developmental asset survey, which was conducted with secondary school students in December 2000.

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Public Notice

On Thursday, May 24, 2001, at 7 p.m. at Minnie Howard Ninth Grade Center Auditorium, 3801 West Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA., the Youth Policy Commission will be hosting a community presentation of the youth developmental asset survey, which was conducted with secondary school students in December 2000. Parents, teachers, students and other members of the community will be invited to this community briefing, and more than two members of City Council may be in attendance.

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Public Notice

On Wednesday, June 6, 2001, City Council will hold a Special City Council Work Session to discuss plans for Windmill Hill Park, at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Workroom, City Hall, 301 King Street, Alexandria, VA.

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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 5/14/2001

CABLECAST SCHEDULE OF GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
ON
CHANNEL 11

MAY 2001

C May 14, City Council Budget Adoption, 6:00 p.m. - Replay 5/7

C May 16, Board of Architectural Review - Old & Historic District, 7:30 p.m. - Live

C May 17, School Board, 7:30 p.m. - Live

C May 19, City Council, 9:30 a.m. - Replay 5/12

C May 22, City Council, 7:30 p.m. - Live

C May 23, Board of Architectural Review - Old & Historic District, 7:30 p.m. - Live

C May 24, City Council, 7:30 p.m. - Replay 5/22

JUNE 2001

C June 5, Planning Commission, 7:30 p.m. - Live

C June 6, Board of Architectural Review - Old & Historic District, 7:30 p.m. - Live

C June 7, School Board, 7:30 p.m. - Live

C June 12, City Council, 7:30 p.m. - Live

C June 14, Board of Zoning Appeals, 7:30 p.m. - Live

C June 15, City Council, 6:00 p.m. - Replay 6/12

C June 16, City Council Public Hearing, 9:30 a.m. - Live

C June 20, Board of Architectural Review - Old & Historic District, 7:30 p.m. - Live

C June 21, School Board, 7:30 p.m. - Live

C June 23, City Council Public Hearing, 9:30 a.m. - Replay 6/16

C June 26, City Council, 7:30 p.m. - Live

C June 27, Board of Architectural Review - Parker-Gray District, 7:30 p.m. - Live

C June 28, City Council, 6:00 P.M.. - Replay 6/26