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Office of the City Clerk
April 9, 2002

All Persons, Including Applicants, Wishing
to Speak Before City Council Must Fill Out A
Speaker's Form (Which May Be Found in The
Rear of the Council Chamber) and Present It
to the City Clerk.

Please Present A Copy of Your
Statement to the City Clerk.


Special Public Hearing Meeting
Monday, April 8, 2002 - - 4:30 p.m.


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Please take notice that City Council held a Special Public Hearing Meeting on the Proposed Budget on Monday, April 8, 2002, at 4:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 301 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia, for the purpose of considering the following items.

/s/Philip Sunderland, 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 with Councilwoman Eberwein arriving at 4:47 p.m.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

2. Public Hearing on The Proposed Annual Operating Budget for FY 2003 (including Schools) and The Proposed Capital Improvements Program for FY 2003-2008 (including the School CIP). (#12 3/12/02)

Mayor Donley reported that he has discussed with the City Manager the specific matter regarding the added step increase for teachers with the Superintendent of Schools and the chairman of the School Board. They have made a formal request, and the Council will be considering it as it works through the budget.

Councilman Speck noted that there is a budget memo pending with respect to the Arts Commission funding. Apparently, there is some confusion about what was intended last year when the Arts Commission's budget was increased by approximately $35,000 against its approximately $100,000 budget. His recollection is that was to be year one of a three-year plan to get the budget doubled over the three years. He thought it was the Council's intent to do that and somehow or another, we just did not get it pinned down that precisely. Depending upon what comes back from the budget memo, if it has to be an add/delete, we're just going to have to find the money for that, and he is confident that Council will. But, Councilman Speck would like to know as a matter of record if we, in fact, do that and he thinks that there is a consensus on the Council's part to do so, that this would then be year two of a three-year plan to get the budget up to approximately a double against what it was from $100,000 to approximately $200,000 for the Arts Commission to fund all of these different arts organizations.

Mayor Donley requested staff to provide Council with a summary of the items discussed with the citizens regarding proposed improvements on Braddock Road from the railroad bridge west to Mount Vernon Avenue. This will give Council a basis for determining what potentially are the costs and whether we can do something this year or whether we would have to potentially add into the CIP for future years.

Councilman Euille stated that the issue of improvements being made to the Duncan Library has been around long enough. This Council will be working with staff and with the community to try to address those needs and others to try to tighten up the time tables and the funding years within the CIP budget. It is important that we bring closure to projects that have been around for at least three, four or five years.

Councilwoman Woodson recommended that Council take five minutes to go to look at how crowded the Duncan Library is at this point and note how much they get done in such a small space which is really telling.

With respect to the approximate $670,000 needed for an additional step increase for teachers, Vice Mayor Cleveland noted that he has sent an e-mail and will do a formal budget memo asking for that. He will also submit another budget memo requesting some extra money for extra books for the Burke Library.

Regarding the Alexandria Child Care Director's Association's request that the Council raise the City's reimbursement rate and eligibility scale for subsidized child care to the level of Fairfax County's, Mayor Donley requested staff to provide Council with a dollar figure on what the increase would be if we raised the reimbursement rate to the level of Fairfax County, and then if we raised the eligibility scale to 250 percent of poverty. Mayor Donley also requested staff to give the Council some historical perspective when the last time we made any adjustments to both the eligibility and the rate itself.

There was an extensive discussion regarding funding to support the vocational and day support services our special education graduates will need to ensure a smooth transition from school to work and independent living. Councilman Speck requested a budget memo with a little bit more detail on what's involved and what it will cost.

Mayor Donley spoke to the SABRE funding which was effectively zeroed out at the state level and asked Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Director Claiborn what the impact would be at this point. Director Claiborn will provide Council with that figure.

Councilwoman Woodson questioned whether speaker Jack Taylor, who spoke in support of a skateboard park, had any land behind his building that could be used for a skateboard park.

Mr. Taylor indicated that he would be happy to discuss with the City the possibility of using some of his property for a skateboard park provided it does not take away from his open space requirement.



The public hearing was held and concluded. City Council will adopt the budget on Monday, May 6, 2002.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

3. Public Hearing on AN ORDINANCE to establish real estate and personal property tax rates for calendar year 2002. (#17 3/26/02)

The public hearing was held and concluded. Second Reading and Final Passage of the Ordinance will be held on Monday, May 6, 2002.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
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Note: The action docket is a summary of Council's meeting deliberations prepared largely for staff follow-up. Formal Minutes of the meeting, when approved by Council, become the official record of the meeting and of Council decisions made at the meeting.
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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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