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Office of the City Clerk
November 18, 2001

At 8:30 a.m., Council attended
the Re-dedication of Fire Station 204,
900 Second Street.


Public Hearing Meeting
Saturday, November 17, 2001 - - 9:30 A.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 with Councilman Speck arriving at 10:05 a.m.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

New Business Item No. 1: At this time, Mayor Donley, on behalf of City Council, wished the citizens of Alexandria a very Happy Thanksgiving. Given the events of September 11, he stated that he can't think of a Thanksgiving that is probably more important then this one because we have a lot in this Country to be thankful for, and this is clearly a unique American holiday.
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2. Public Discussion Period.

(a) Sammie Jones, P. O. Box 90254, Washington, D.C., spoke to homelessness in the City and asked for a suitable place for homeless persons to live. He noted that the homeless community is a resource that is untapped and is willing and able to work.

Mayor Donley explained that the City does have two emergency shelters in Alexandria, i.e., Carpenter's Shelter and the City's shelter on Mill Road that do provide housing for homeless people. In addition, he noted that the City also has the JobLink Department which is there to get people employment.

Mayor Donley asked that staff speak with Mr. Jones and perhaps convene a meeting with folks who he is aware of in a homeless situation to get them into one of our shelters and then work to get some employment for them. He noted that there are employment options available, and we need to connect Mr. Jones and the people he represent with the services the City has already in place.






OPENING (continued)

(b) Dale Dover, 228 South Washington Street, private practitioner in the City, offered to place a headstone at the gravesite of Katelyn Frazier who would have been 4-years-old this coming December, and she met a tragic death just about a year ago. He and Mr. Adam would like to rectify the fact that she has no marker on her grave. He stated that if Council will refer to the Department of Social Services, they can verify that in his official capacity, as a matter of record, he has standing and status to make this petition to Council. Mr. Dover reported that the money will come from his own funds, time is of the essence because we will be celebrating her fourth birthday.

(c) Bruce Charles Adam, 616 South Washington Street, Guardian Ad Litem of Katelyn Frazier at the time she died, indicated that they would like to have a headstone for her since she is buried without one at this time. There is no one in her family or anyone else who appears to have any funds or interest to do so. He joined with Mr. Dover in asking for the authority to provide a headstone for this child, and they are willing to do so from their own funds.

Mayor Donley asked whatever is necessary to honor the request and to assist them that we go ahead and do so.

City Attorney Pessoa stated that he will work with the Department of Social Services to see that this goes forward if it's the will of Council.

Mayor Donley requested Mr. Dover and Mr. Adam to contact the City Attorney Pessoa if they need any assistance.

(d) A. Melvin Miller, 3928 Colonel Ellis Avenue, representing the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, provided Council with an update as to where ARHA is with the Samuel Madden redevelopment. ARHA met in special meeting on Monday night and approved the RFQ and also the contract for the Hope VI Program Manager. They have submitted it to HUD, and currently are working on the announcements which have to go out to begin the process which should be no later then December 1.

Mr. Miller publicly thanked and commended the City Council, the City Manager and his staff, as well as ARHA staff for the way we worked through this process.

He suggested that City Council, ARHA, and respective staffs sit down, not around contentious issues, but around where we want to go for housing in this City to try to see if we can work to do something about it.

Mr. Miller reported that ARHA has been working very diligently with its residents and resident groups to work out and correct the problems that were identified in the past.

Mayor Donley commented and thanked Mr. Miller and the ARHA Board for working with the City on this specific project, the Samuel Madden Homes, and noted that they will be able to work together to make sure that the process works, and we do get a quality redevelopment that is focused on serving the residents and providing improved housing for them.

Vice Mayor Cleveland thanked the City Manager, staff and ARHA for the information that he received which was very enlightening and truly hopes that everything will go very wonderfully for all concerned.

OPENING (continued)

(e) Joanne Tomasello, 511 North Pickett Street, commended the City Council for its continued support of great causes and needs in this City, and the time and attention that Council lends to many concerns related to health issues of its citizens and the quality of life issues. She expressed concern about the images and accessibility created by the Foxchase Theaters and the video shop. Ms. Tomasello asked Council to please consider jurisdictional ordinance recommendations which speak to the quality of life to this community in the future given its proximity to schools and the parks.

Councilwoman Pepper reported on these issues. She indicated that she is trying to explore what the best option is in how Council wants to move forward with this. She stated that she is working with the City Attorney and the Mayor. Ms. Pepper stated that a conclusion has not been reached, but we're still looking into and investigating it.

(f) Mariella Posey, 915 Second Street, stated that the citizens often criticize or complain about City staff, and she is guilty of it. She said that if the citizens complain that they also should acknowledge a job well done. She thanked the Office of the Mayor, the Office of Planning and Zoning and Barbara Ross for a rapid response she received in resolving an issue she had with the City.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR (3-8)

Planning Commission

Without objection, City Council removed docket item no. 7 from the Action Consent Calendar and considered it under separate motion.

3. DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2001-0016
4109 DUKE ST
CROWN STATION
COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0

4. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2001-0096
1026 KING ST
SPEEDY'S CHICKEN PLACE
COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0





REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

5. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2001-0097
814-816 FRANKLIN ST
GREENE FUNERAL HOME
COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0

6. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2001-0098
1767 KING ST
SEAGAR'S RESTAURANT
KING ST METROPLACE HILTON
COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0

7. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2001-0099
73-75 S BRAGG ST
COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0

8. ENCROACHMENT #2001-0008
1102 KING ST
COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0

END OF ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the Action Consent Calendar as presented with the exception of docket item no. 7 which was considered under a separate motion. The Planning Commission recommendations are as follows:

3. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation.

4. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation.

5. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation.


REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

6. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation.

7. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation, with condition no. 5 amended to read as follows: 5. The applicant shall construct curb/gutter, sidewalk and driveway aprons along the frontage of the property within twelve months of approval or if the applicant submit plans for redevelopment of the lots within twelve months of approval, then at the time of redevelopment of the lots. All construction shall meet current city design standards. (Separate Motion)

8. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation.

END OF ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

9. Public Hearing on Recommendations Making Old Dominion Boulevard North of West Glebe Road and Notabene Drive One-Way Streets, Changing the Existing Parallel Parking to Diagonal Parking on the West Side of Each of These Streets. (#17 10/23/01)

Mayor Donley suggested that a task force or an ad hoc group be established which would include North Ridge, Lenox Place, Sunnyside, Arlandria, Hume Springs, apartment owners and then some outreach for representatives who are renters who all need to be part of the solution. One of the things that he would like the task force to evaluate in addition to parking, would be the advisability of traffic calming measures, whether it's speed tables, or whether it's delineated parking lanes on Elbert Avenue, particularly.

Councilman Speck suggested that the Manager consider, after this particular program is actually physically in place, approximately a year after it's done, docketing a public hearing to make sure that everyone has a forum for talking about whether it has worked, whether it hasn't, what changes need to be made or anything else. With respect to Code Enforcement, he suggested that we need to be even more visible or vigilant in showing that we are not letting the little things get beyond us. Councilman Speck expressed concern about Elbert Avenue. We need to be on top of that. If it needs Council to be thinking about more direction in terms of capital resources or anything else, Council needs to know that. Finally, on the point about a task force or committee or whatever, he stated that clearly there needs to be some mechanism that brings all of the people that have a stake in this and staff and departments to sit and talk about a lot of these little issues that sort of percolate and get bigger and get blown up. When we try to bring people together early on and regularly, some of the little things do begin to get tackled quickly and become a part of a solution that is Holistic and does, in fact, have some real meaning to it.

Councilwoman Pepper indicated that some kind of solution needs to be figured out for the impact that this is going to have on Elbert Avenue.

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

Councilwoman Woodson supported the establishment of a task force suggested by the Mayor which covers all of the communities that abut this area.

Councilwoman Eberwein noted that Presidential Greens may be changing hands soon which may provide an opportunity for the City to work directly with the new owners with respect to some of the alleys for parking. She requested that a special look be taken at Elbert Avenue because it is narrow. With regard to speed tables, Ms. Eberwein indicated that she would hope staff would review it after putting in the parking and the one-way signage because that may significantly reduce the speed. Councilwoman Eberwein stated that staff may end up wanting to put those speed tables some place else such as on Glebe Road which might be more helpful for residents who live there to cross Glebe Road.

City Council affirmed the recommendations of staff and the decision of the Traffic and Parking Board as follows: (a) make Old Dominion Boulevard one-way south between the Lenox Townhome driveway entrance and Four Mile Run Drive; (b) make Notabene Drive one-way north between Old Dominion Boulevard and Four Mile Run Drive; and (c) change the existing parallel parking on the west side of Old Dominion Boulevard and the east side of Notabene Drive to diagonal parking; in addition, established a task force to continue to address these issues, working with staff and the affected neighborhoods for a Holistic approach to solving the quality of life challenges, to include Code Enforcement, seeking additional parking spaces, leased and/or otherwise, to address the traffic calming measures that are needed and to include enhanced police and parking enforcement presence and enforcement in those affected neighborhoods.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

10. (a) Public Hearing on the Proposed City Legislative Package for the 2002 General Assembly Session. (#18 10/23/01)
(b) Public Hearing on the City of Alexandria's Proposed 2002 Charter Bill.

Charles Trozzo, 209 Duke Street, representing the Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission, requested to amend its original legislation that formed the Commission as follows: to enable the Commission to preserve properties and open space having local, state or national historical significance dating back at least fifty years.

Sue Capers, 311 Wolfe Street, representing the Virginia Coalition for the Homeless, requested support and inclusion in the City's legislative package in response to the lack of affordable rental housing in Virginia and urged passage of an Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Staff requested that a position be incorporated in our legislative package for additional state funding for public health to respond to bioterrorism and other threats.

Mayor Donley added a support item which is to support continued funding for the Northern Virginia Regional Partnership at its current funding level.

City Council closed the public hearing, referred the matters that were brought up today to staff for consideration in the final package which will be before Council on Tuesday, November 27, following Council's work session with the General Assembly delegation.
Council Action:________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

11. Public Hearing on the Final Report of the City Manager's Affordable Housing Task Force. (#16 10/23/01)

City Council held the public hearing.

Mayor Donley spoke to the resolution adopted by the Council of Governments pertaining to affordable housing. When this item is brought back for final consideration, the Mayor would like staff to include with it, the resolution that was adopted by the Council of Governments, and he would like Council to endorse that resolution
.
City Council accepted the recommendations of the Affordable Housing Task Force, and requested that it be docketed for final acceptance as soon as possible.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

12. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2001-0051
4603 DUKE ST
FOXCHASE CENTER
PINES OF FLORENCE RESTAURANT
COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Denial 6-0

City Council revoked the special use permit.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

13. DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2001-0014
COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 5-2

By the end of February, Mayor Donley asked staff to provide Council with a full report on light signalization and optimization, i.e., what it is planning to do, and when it hopes to have it completed. Staff was requested to send a copy of that report to the respective civic associations so that they know what the City is doing as well.





REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

Councilwoman Pepper suggested that some of the people in the audience who are sort of left with unresolved feelings about the sewers and other issues, get together with our staff and the applicant for maybe a three-way conversation so that they feel comfortable that it is all being worked out.

Councilwoman Woodson encouraged staff to continue to be proactive in reaching out and including our citizens and neighbors at the beginning of a process.

City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation, with an amendment to condition no. 65 to reflect the modifications to the affordable housing units by increasing the number of units from 22 to 25 (two efficiencies; thirteen one-bedrooms; and 10 two-bedrooms.)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

14. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2001-0100
4103-4107 DUKE ST
COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0

Mayor Donley noted that the applicant made a representation that they will work with the abutting property owner with respect to its fence, i.e., material and height, and bring back to the Planning staff for approval.

City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation, with an amendment to condition no. 19 by changing "one year" in the last sentence to "six months."; and amended condition no. 20. to read as follows: "20. No noise generated by or in connection with an automobile detailing business shall be audible at the residential property line."
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

15. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2001-0093
1321 LESLIE AV
COMMONWEALTH ACADEMY
COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0

City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________










REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

16. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2001-0102
4500 WHEELER AV
COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0

Mayor Donley highlighted condition no. 19 to Attorney Puskar emphasizing that she discuss this particular condition with her client.

City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation, with an amendment to include the standard language for condition no. 20 (b) which should read: ........ "(b) the director has received a request from any person to docket the permit for review as a result of a complaint that rises to the level of a violation, or"............
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Board of Architectural Review
Old and Historic District

17. CASE BAR-2000-0081
619 SOUTH SAINT ASAPH STREET
BOARD ACTION: Denied portion, deferred portion for restudy 4-1

City Council denied the appeal.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

18. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to amend Title 5, Chapter 7 of the City Code to establish specific regulations for dogs in public parks and playgrounds, and to amend Section 1-1-11 to clarify the civil penalty enforcement authority of City officers and employees. (#14 11/13/01) [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council closed the public hearing and scheduled final passage of the ordinance for the December 11, 2001 legislative meeting which includes instructions to staff to simplify the fine structure and to tighten up the language relative to defining enforcement personnel.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________


ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS (continued)

19. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to amend Section 11-1302 of the Zoning ordinance to expand the type of cases that the Board of Zoning Appeals may hear as Special Exceptions. (#15 11/13/01) [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council finally passed the ordinance upon its Second Reading and Final Passage. ORD. NO. 4226
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

20. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to vacate a portion of the public street right-of-way at 109 Franklin Street. (#17 11/13/01) [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council finally passed the ordinance upon its Second Reading and Final Passage. ORD. NO. 4227
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

DEFERRAL/WITHDRAWAL CONSENT CALENDAR (21-25)

Planning Commission (continued)

21. DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2001-0015
3216 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY
CROWN STATION
22. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2001-0061










REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

DEFERRAL/WITHDRAWAL CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

23. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2001-0069
24. ENCROACHMENT #2001-0007
25. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2001-0068
3100 JEFFERSON DAVIS HY
MARINO'S RESTAURANT
COMMISSION ACTION: Deferred (Inadequate Notice) 7-0

END OF DEFERRAL/WITHDRAWAL CONSENT CALENDAR

Without objection, City Council noted the deferrals.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 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

The Alexandria Planning Commission held the first in a series of workshops on the East Eisenhower Small Area Plan, on Thursday, November 15, 2001, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., in the Founder's Room, Society for Human Resources Management Building, 1800 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA (Parking is available in the garage at King Street Station which is across Duke Street.)

For additional information, please contact Kimberley Fogle, Planning and Zoning Department at 703-838-4666.
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