Action Docket for Special Meeting (05/03/2004)

Office of the City Clerk
May 4, 2004

Special Meeting
Monday, May 3, 2004 - - 7:30 p.m.

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Please take notice that the City Council will hold a Special Meeting (Budget Adoption) on Monday, May 3, 2004, at 7:30 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 Euille, and the City Clerk called the Roll; all Members of City Council were present.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

2. Consideration of the Proposed Annual Operating Budget for FY 2005 (including Schools) and the Proposed Capital Improvements Program for FY 2005-2010 (including the School CIP.)

City Council adopted the proposed operating budget of expenditure levels of $432,850,876 and revenue levels of $428,516,876, with the following amendments to the City Manager’s Proposed Budget: The first group of amendments are Revenue Adjustments, as follows: Reduction in Appropriation from Fund Balance as proposed by City Manager, Decreased $1,787,000; Real Property Tax Revenues (reflecting an additional 1 cent reduction in the tax rate to $0.995), Decreased $2,296,000; Appropriation from Fund Balance of additional FY 2005 revenues, Increased $1,787,000; Appropriation from Fund Balance from City Manager’s designation for Public Safety Overhires, Increased $509,000; Business License Tax Revenue, Increased $1,600,000; Personal Property Tax Revenue, Increased $300,000; Transient Lodging Tax Revenue, Increased $300,000; Restaurant Meals Tax Revenue, Increased $300,000; Intergovernmental Revenue, Increased $300,000; Local Sales Tax Revenue, Increased $100,000; Motor Vehicle License Tax Revenue, Increased $50,000; Other Miscellaneous Tax Revenue, Decreased $500,000; Utility Tax Revenue, Decreased $400,000; Real Property Tax Revenue (due to increased cost of Elderly and Disabled Tax Relief Program), Decreased $200,000; and Fines and Forfeitures, Decreased $63,000.
The second group of amendments are Expenditure Adjustments, as follows: Sheriff and ERT retirement income plan (to correct budgeting error), Decrease $200,000; Campagna Kids Program, Increase $152,000; WMATA operating subsidies, Increase $48,000; Tree Maintenance, Increase $65,000; Gateway Landscaping and Maintenance and Street Trash Cans, Increase $35,000; Pedestrian and Bicycling Alternative Transportation Coordinator, Increase $74,000; Increase Affordable Home Ownership Protection Program Income Limit to $61,000, Increase $245,000; Burke Library Books, Increase $50,000; Alexandria Commission for the Arts, Increase $25,000; Sister Cities, Increase $10,000; USS Alexandria, Increase $5,000; Senior Taxi Fare Equalization, Increase $5,000; Companion Aides for Elderly, Increase $100,000; Land Use and Zoning Education and Seminars, Increase $10,000; Regional Street Smart Pedestrian and Bike Safety Program, Increase $5,000; Summer Youth Employment, Increase $25,000; Service Audits and Benchmark Studies, Increase $350,000; Sign Plan Coordinator, Decrease $70,000; Cash Capital Contribution to CIP, Decrease $424,000; and Transfer to the Alexandria City Public Schools, Decrease $2,000,000.
The following changes in the Contingent Reserves were made: ACPS Education Contingent funded by reduction in appropriation to ACPS, Increase $2,000,000; Increase in Undesignated Contingent funded by decrease in cash capital appropriation for CIP, Increase $190,000; and Net change in contingent reserves due to all other added items or deletions, Decrease of $748,000.
The following designations in the Contingent Reserves were made: $2,000,000 for Education Aid Contingent; $15,000 for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness; $300,000 for a loan to the Tenant and Workers Support Committee; $25,000 for home health aides for ARHA Ladrey House; $50,000 for grant for Lee-Fendall House Repairs; and $40,000 for Code Enforcement Staff. (These designations are made understanding that further Council action is required prior to appropriation.)
The following change in the Fund Balance designations was made: $509,000 from fund balance designated for Public Safety Overhires for appropriation.
The motion further includes: Approval of a COLA of 2.0 percent COLA for City employees, including the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and for City Council Aides and the Mayor’s Aides; Approval of merit step increases for all eligible employees; Approval of an increase of employer share of health care benefits; Approval of an increase in funding for the City Supplemental Retirement Plan; and Approval of an increase in funding for the employer share of the Virginia Retirement System.
The proposed amendments result in an appropriation from Fund Balance in the amount of $4,334,000. The elements of the motion result in a real property tax rate of $0.995, with $0.01 being designated for the cash capital contribution to the capital projects fund for Open Space, and personal property tax rate of $4.75.
City Council adopted the proposed FY 2005 to FY 2010 Capital Improvement Program of $302,599,029 in total, with $75,650,407 in FY 2005; $60,051,888 in FY 2006; $44,297,400 in FY 2007; $86,248,838 in FY 2008; $18,868,515 in FY 2009; and $17,481,981 in FY 2010, with the following changes to the City Manager’s proposed Capital Improvement Program: Use of CIP funds designated for Open Space to provide an Open Space Coordinator overhire position for 3 years (est. FY 2005 cost of $75,000); Increase in cash capital for Playground Renovations and Drainage Improvements as follows: $100,000 per year from FY 2005 through FY 2010; Decrease in cash capital for the Residential Sign Program as follows: $24,000 in FY 2005, $36,000 per year from FY 2006 through FY 2010; Decrease in cash capital for the Coordinated Sign and Wayfinding System as follows: $300,000 in FY 2005; Decrease in cash capital for Athletic Field Lighting Improvements as follows: $200,000 per year from FY 2005 through FY 2010; Decrease in cash capital for the Wilkes St. Tunnel Restoration Study as follows: $40,000 in FY 2005; and Decrease in cash capital for the Revenue Collection Management System as follows: $150,000 in FY 2005.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

3. Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Establish the Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Rates for Calendar Year 2004. (#18, 4/13/04, #14, 4/17/04) (ROLL-CALL VOTE)

City Council set the City's 2004 real property tax rate at $0.995 (99 1/2 cents) on each $100 of assessed value a reduction of $0.04 (4 cents) from the 2003 rate. Personal property tax rates are unchanged from 2003. The sum of $0.01 (one cent) on each $100 of assessed value, out of the $0.995 (99 1/2 cents) real property tax rate, continues to be dedicated to the Open Space Trust Fund Account. ORD. NO. 4347
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

4. Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Increase the Sewer Line Maintenance Charge Imposed by Section 5-6-26 of the City Code. (#19, 4/13/04, #15, 4/17/04) (ROLL-CALL VOTE)

City Council finally passed the ordinance to increase the sewer line maintenance charge to increase the charge to $0.60 (60 cents) for every 1,000 gallons of water supplied per quarter from the current $0.40 (40 cents.) ORD. NO. 4348
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

5. Consideration of a Resolution Increasing the Annual Fee, Assessed Under Section 5-1-34 of the City Code, for the City's Collection and Disposal of Solid Waste, Yard Debris and Recyclable Material from $185 to $205. (ROLL-CALL VOTE)

City Council adopted the resolution to increase the residential refuse fee by $20, from $185 per household to $205 per household, to continue the City's policy of 100 percent cost recovery of the full cost of residential refuse collection and disposal. RES. NO. 2104
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

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The meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.

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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Budget Memo #117

This docket is subject to change.

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