19. Alexandria Board of Zoning Appeals 2 Citizen Members (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Board) NAME: ENDORSED BY: Mark Allen Jennifer Lewis Matthew McKinnis Clinton Robinson Michael Zito (Material pertaining to the above appointment is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked collectively as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 19, 2/27/04, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and the ballots tallied with the following results: City Council reappointed Mark Allen and appointed Jennifer Lewis as the two citizen members to the Alexandria Board of Zoning Appeals. The voting was as follows: Euille - Allen, Lewis Pepper - Allen, Lewis Gaines - Allen, Lewis Krupicka - Allen, Lewis Macdonald - Allen, Lewis Smedberg - Allen, Zito Woodson - Allen, Zito 20. Alexandria Commission for the Arts 1 Member Who Has Expertise in the Arts, Either As A Practitioner of Various Art Disciplines or As A Professional Administrator Working in the Field 2 Members Who Represent Arts Education or Business Expertise Relative to Arts and Cultural Development, Including Such Perspectives As Marketing, Finance/Funding, Tourism Promotion and Organizational Development (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY: David Roane Robert VanderZee Mary Brooks Mary Jackson Patricia Miller Colette Wachtel (Material pertaining to the above appointment is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked collectively as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 20, 4/27/04, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and the ballots tallied with the following results: City Council appointed David Roane as the member who has expertise in the arts, either as an practitioner of various art disciplines or as a professional administrator working in the field, and reappointed Mary Brooks and appointed Patricia Miller as the two members who represent arts education or business expertise relative to arts and cultural development, including such perspectives as marketing, finance/funding, tourism promotion and organizational development, to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts. The voting was as follows: Euille - Roane, Brooks, Miller Pepper - Roane, Brooks, Miller Gaines - Roane, Brooks, Miller Krupicka - Roane, Brooks, Miller Macdonald - Roane, Brooks, Wachtel Smedberg - Roane, Brooks, Miller Woodson - Roane, Brooks, Miller 21. Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board 3 Citizen Members (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Board) NAME: ENDORSED BY: John Laychus David Siler Amy Slack Patrick Warren, Sr. (Material pertaining to the above appointment is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked collectively as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 21, 4/27/04, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and the ballots tallied with the following results: City Council John Laychus, Amy Slack and Patrick Warren, Sr., as the three citizen members to the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board. The voting was as follows: Euille - Laychus, Slack, Warren Pepper - Laychus, Slack, Warren Gaines - Laychus, Slack, Warren Krupicka - Laychus, Slack, Warren Macdonald - Laychus, Slack, Warren Smedberg - Laychus, Slack, Warren Woodson - Laychus, Slack, Warren REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION 22. Update on the Duke Street Concourse. (Staff presentation) City Engineer Baker and Director of Transportation and Environmental Services Baier provided an update on the Duke Street Concourse. Mayor Euille requested that a police officer be put at the intersection where the road narrows to help the congestion and to keep traffic flowing. 23. Consideration of City Comments on the Proposed Virginia American Water Company Rate Increase. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 21, 2004, is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 23, 4/27/04, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) Finance Director Neckel made a presentation of the report. Mr. Bill Walsh, vice president and manager, Virginia American Water Company, and Mr. Baier answered questions of Council. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Pepper, seconded by Councilman Gaines and carried unanimously, City Council authorized the City staff to provide comments to the State Corporation Commission in opposition to the proposed 8.15% increase in the Virginia American Water Company's Alexandria District rates. The voting was as follows: Pepper "aye" Krupicka "aye" Gaines "aye" Macdonald "aye" Euille "aye" Smedberg "aye" Woodson "aye" 24. Consideration of a Request to Permit an Exception to the City's Major Events Policy to Allow the Addition of Up to Seven Venues East of Washington Street for First Night Alexandria. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 22, 2004, is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 24, 4/27/04, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Pepper, seconded by Councilman Gaines and carried unanimously, City Council permitted an exception to the Major Events Policy to allow for the addition of up to seven First Night Alexandria venues east of Washington Street. Each venue would be subject to the City Manager's approval. This recommendation is in response to a request by First Night Alexandria to permit additional venues for their annual New Year's Eve celebration, and is supported by the Old Town Civic Association. The voting was as follows: Pepper "aye" Krupicka "aye" Gaines "aye" Macdonald "aye" Euille "aye" Smedberg "aye" Woodson "aye" REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES None ORAL REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (a) Vice Mayor Pepper said she represents the Council on a group called The Part 150 Study, which is a noise compatibility study, and Reagan National Airport has to update its own noise compatibility study for the airport and the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority has partnered with the Council of Governments. They are looking at aircraft noise exposure and the committee is to recommend how they can mitigate some of the noise. The Group will have a public meeting at the Lee Center, April 30, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (a) Vice Mayor Pepper reminded the public that invitations have gone out for the Community Forum to be held May 11 and May 20 at the Lee Center, 7:00 p.m., Exhibit Hall. Copies of the draft statement are available in the City Clerk's Office, on the City's website and is in Alexandria Libraries. (b) Councilman Smedberg said the Arts Commission will celebrate its 20th anniversary May 10 at the Mark Hilton. (c) Councilman Krupicka said he attended two events yesterday related to a national planning conference in the D.C. area. A number of planners from across the country toured Alexandria and he had an opportunity to talk to the group. As part of the conference, last night the City's Planning staff won an award designating them as being the best at managing growth in Virginia, with the primary focus on the Eisenhower East plan approved by Council last Fall. City Manager Sunderland stated that the award was for Best Master Plan Project in Virginia for 2004, given by the Virginia Chapter. The Plan was a group effort that included Planning, Recreation, Code Enforcement, Transportation and Environmental Services, Council, the Planning Commission and the community. Councilman Krupicka noted that as part of the conference, the Council of Governments had a video presentation they were displaying, which speaks of Smart Growth and how it needs to manage growth in the region, and Councilwoman Woodson is the narrator of the video and she does a fantastic job. (d) Councilman Krupicka said Earth Day was a fantastic success and everyone who helped organize it deserves kudos. (e) Councilman Krupicka said the Christmas in April rebuilding project was fantastic and he commended all members of City staff who participated. (f) Councilman Krupicka asked if the Naming Committee's recommendation on the skatepark naming was coming to Council soon. City Manager Sunderland said the meeting is scheduled within the next week and it will be brought to Council in May. (g) Councilman Gaines said Councilman Krupicka and the City Manager captured well the significance of the planning award for best master plan project in Virginia, as he remembered the amount of work that went into that plan, the Planning Commission was proud, and the community was involved tremendously. (h) Councilman Gaines said he had the opportunity last year to attend and participate in the Keith Burns football camp at T.C. Williams, and he noted that Keith Burns was a product of T.C. Williams High School and is currently a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. He said Mr. Burns provides a camp for over 300 local youth. (i) Councilman Macdonald echoed the comments about Earth Day, as it was a great event. (j) Councilman Macdonald said that after the City's Earth Day event, he went to the Anacostia where they had been cleaning up the river. (k) Councilman Macdonald said the Pride of Baltimore was in Port, and he hoped Alexandria could build one like it to replace the one it lost and is something the Seaport Foundation could do. He said he hoped they could build a Maritime Museum as well. Councilman Macdonald said the cruise ships need enough depth in the river channel to come up, the channel has dropped a bit, and he hoped the City Manager and the Mayor could speak to their Congressional Delegation and work to make sure the Army Corps dredges downriver near Maryland point, so the vessels can continue to come to Alexandria. (l) Councilman Macdonald said he went to the Titan Expo on Sunday, an event put on by the kids in the school system. (m) Mayor Euille said with regard to the incident involving School Superintendent Rebecca Perry, it was an unfortunate incident, but it's an opportunity for Alexandria to turn the negative into a positive. People should talk about the public school system and what is right and good about the system, and everyone should embrace the public school system and work with the School Board, teachers and parents to continue to make Alexandria the quality school system they want it to be. He said Council will be adopting as one of its goals to make Alexandria one of the finest school systems in the State. Mayor Euille noted that the Superintendent has made a public apology today, not only to the students, but a public statement of apology to the citizens. (n) Mayor Euille said the Washington Post Weekly edition last Thursday had a section on Alexandria, and there was a wonderful article on both Alexandria and Arlington County. (o) Mayor Euille noted that Council had a lengthy meeting last night on the budget add-delete items and further reducing the tax rate and with the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Commission. Formal budget adoption will be Monday, May 3, 2004. The Senate Finance Committee yesterday approved $1.3 billion in bi-annual revenues and it was approved by the entire Senate today. It now moves to the House and a lot of discussion ensued. He said there was also a reflection on the proposed half-cent sales tax where half of the half-cent would be dedicated to public schools. Assistant City Manager Jinks noted that the Senate passed the tax bill, and they also passed some car tax relief cap bills, which is the negative side for the City over the long term. The House passed the tax bill and took up the car tax cap bill. The House Appropriations Committee met and they voted 13-12 to approve the car tax cap bill, and that is important because the general tax bill the House and Senate will take up requires the car tax cap bill, which caps the amount of the State appropriation about $950 million a year. The House was just going into session to take up the last piece of the tax part of the package. If that passes, then the House and Senate will know how much money they have and the next step will be a determination of how those dollars will get allocated. (p) Councilman Krupicka said the open space bus tour will occur on May 8, he noted that buses will leave at 9 a.m. from the Lee Center parking lot and will return at 11:30 a.m., and the tour will include ten sites. ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER The City Manager reported that: (a) the cheerleading competition was held this past weekend at T.C. Williams, and the winners were Charles Houston varsity and Ramsey Rec JV; (b) there were 70 plus people for Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work last week; and (c) there is a promotion ceremony tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at the Lee Center for the Police Department. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS 25. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Revise the Membership of the Environmental Policy Commission. (Deferred from the April 17, 2004 meeting.) (#20, 4/13/04, #16, 4/17/04) [ROLL-CALL VOTE] (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum, dated April 7, 2004, is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 25, 4/27/04, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference. A copy of the informal memorandum explaining the ordinance is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 2 of Item No. 25, 4/27/04, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference. A copy of the ordinance referred to in the above item, of which each Member of Council received a copy not less than 24 hours before said introduction, is on file in the office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 3 of Item No. 25, 4/27/04, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Krupicka, seconded by Councilman Gaines and carried unanimously, City Council adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute. The voting was as follows: Krupicka "aye" Pepper "aye" Gaines "aye" Macdonald "aye" Euille "aye" Smedberg "aye" Woodson "aye" WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Krupicka, seconded by Councilman Gaines and carried unanimously, City Council closed the public hearing and passed the substitute ordinance on final passage. The voting was as follows: Krupicka "aye" Pepper "aye" Gaines "aye" Macdonald "aye" Euille "aye" Smedberg "aye" Woodson "aye" The ordinance reads as follows: