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Office of the City Clerk
February 10, 2004

There was a Reception
at 6:00 p.m., in Room 2000 at
City Hall for Black History Month
and the Buffalo Soldiers.

There was an Alexandria
Stockholders Meeting at
6:45 in the Council Workroom.


Regular Meeting
Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - - 7:00 p.m.

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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. Moment of Silence and Pledge of Allegiance.

City Council observed a moment of silence and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

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

(a) The Public Hearing Meeting of January 24, 2004.

City Council approved the Minutes of the Public Hearing of January 24, 2004.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

4. Recognition of Unique Praise Dancers.

City Council recognized the Dancers.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

PROCLAMATIONS

5. Presentation of a Proclamation Declaring the Month of February as Black History Month.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

6. Presentation of a Proclamation Supporting the Earned Income Tax Credit Campaign.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

7. Recognition of Fire and EMS Workers Involved in December 21, 2003 Incident.

City Council recognized the Fire and EMS personnel.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

CONSENT CALENDAR (8-16)

(Resignations and Uncontested Appointments)

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

(a) Alexandria Archaeological Commission
Wendell George Brown

(b) Juvenile Detention Commission of Northern Virginia
Marvin H. Wagner

(c) Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
Lynette M. Hart

(d) Alexandria Sister Cities Committee
Serena Leland

9. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:

(a) Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
1 Representative of An Employer in the City Who Employs
At least 100 Employees

(b) Alexandria Archaeological Commission
1 Member-at-Large

(c) Alexandria Beautification Commission
1 Citizen Member

(d) Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities
1 Representative From the Business Community Designated
by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

(e) Alexandria Community Policy and Management Team
1 Representative of A Private Organization or Association of
Providers of Children’s or Family Services Which Provides
Such Services Within the City On a Continuing and
Consistent Basis

(f) Alexandria Community Services Board
1 Citizen Member

(g) Alexandria Consumer Affairs Commission
1 Local Consumer Action Organization Member

(h) Alexandria Early Childhood Commission
1 Citizen-At-Large

(i) Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission
1 Member From The Field of Engineering

(j) Alexandria George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee
1 Member Nominated by the Friendship Veterans
Fire Engine Association
1 Member Nominated by the Alexandria Jaycees

(k) Juvenile Detention Commission of Northern Virginia
1 Citizen Member

(l) Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission
1 Non-Health Professional

(m) Alexandria Sanitation Authority
1 Citizen Member

(n) Alexandria Waterfront Committee
1 Citizen Representative Who Resides East of Washington
Street and North of Pendleton Street

(Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager)

10. Consideration of Grant and Loan Allocations From the Housing Trust Fund to Facilitate the Reopening of Guest House.

(Ordinances for Introduction)

11. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Establish George Washington Middle School (in lieu of Immanuel Lutheran Church), Chinquapin Recreation Center (in lieu of Minnie Howard School), and St. Martin de Porres Senior Center (in lieu of Patrick Henry School) as Polling Places in the City of Alexandria.

12. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Approve the Vacation of the Public Alley Adjacent to 801-833 South Washington Street.

13. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Approve the Vacation of a Portion of the Public Street Adjacent to 700 South Royal Street.

14. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Approve an Encroachment For Light Poles Into the Public Street Landscape Buffer Adjacent to 3216 Jefferson Davis Highway.

15. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Reduce the Abatement Period for Nonconforming Day Labor Agencies from 18 to 12 Months.

16. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First and Second Reading of an Ordinance to Adopt Supplement No. 72 to the City Code.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the Consent Calendar, with the removal of items 9i, 10, 11, 12 and 13, and considered them under separate motion. The City Manager's recommendations are as follows:

8. City Council received the following resignations with regret: (a) Wendell George Brown, Alexandria Archaeological Commission; (b) Marvin H. Wagner, Juvenile Detention Commission of Northern Virginia; (c) Lynette M. Hart, Historic Alexandria Resources Commission; and (d) Serena Leland, Alexandria Sister Cities Committee.

9. City Council: (a) waived the residency requirement and appointed Kenneth Kozloff as the representative of an employer in the City who employs at least 100 employees to the Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee; (b) reappointed S. Kathleen Pepper as the member at large to the Alexandria Archaeological Commission; (c) reappointed Jill Chiarello as the citizen member to the Alexandria Beautification Commission; (d) waived the residency requirement and reappointed Donald Misner as the representative from the business community designated by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce to the Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities; (e) waived the residency requirement and reappointed Francesca Creo as the representative of a private organization or association of providers of children's or family services which provides such services within the City on a continuing and consistent basis to the Alexandria Community Policy and Management Team; (f) waived the residency requirement and appointed Tiffeny Sanchez as the citizen member to the Alexandria Community Services Board; (g) waived the residency requirement and appointed Luke Macaulay as the local consumer action organization member to the Alexandria Consumer Affairs Commission; (h) appointed Anisa Latif as the citizen-at-large representative to the Alexandria Early Childhood Commission; (i) postponed for 90 days the appointment of the member from the field of engineering to the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission (separate motion); (j) waived the residency requirements and reappointed Quentin Tabscott as the member nominated by the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association and Sharon Sobel as the member nominated by the Alexandria Jaycees to the Alexandria George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee; (k) appointed Michael Strutzel as the citizen member to the Juvenile Detention Commission of Northern Virginia; (l) appointed Arlene Hewitt as the non-health professional to the Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission; (m) reappointed David Nichols as the citizen member to the Alexandria Sanitation Authority; and (n) appointed Engin Artemel as the citizen representative who resides east of Washington Street and North of Pendleton Street to the Alexandria Waterfront Committee.

10. Council approved the allocation of $140,400 from the Housing Trust Fund to Guest House, as follows: 1. A grant of $41,000 to include: (a) $23,000 to pay for materials used by Habitat for Humanity in renovating the property; and (b) $18,000 for a new security system, contingent upon approval by the State Board of Corrections of Guest House's plan to substitute this system for certain staff, with the understanding that, if such approval is not obtained, some or all of these monies may be used for rehabilitation material in excess of $23,000; 2. A secured, no-interest, 99-year deferred payment loan of $99,400 to retire the first trust mortgage on the property, subject to the following conditions: (a) Guest House may not add any additional debt secured by the property unless it is specifically for the purpose of capital improvements on the property, including soft costs; (b) Cumulative additional debt secured by the property greater than $50,000 will require City administrative approval; (c) If Guest House ceases operations at the property without opening another facility in Northern Virginia, the City or its designee has the option to purchase the property for the portion of the property's current secondary financing ($80,000) then outstanding (if any), plus any new debt secured by the Property that is consistent with the terms of this award, plus $25,000. In the event the property is purchased pursuant to this provision, the City would forgive the $99,400 loan; and (d) If Guest House ceases operations at the property and the City does not exercise the option to purchase the property (if it exists), Guest House will repay the City's $99,400 loan. (separate motion)

11. City Council introduced and passed the ordinance on first reading; set it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, February 21, 2004. (separate motion)

12. City Council deferred this item. (separate motion)

13. City Council deferred this item. (separate motion)

14. City Council introduced and passed the ordinance on first reading; set it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, February 21, 2004.

15. City Council introduced and passed the ordinance on first reading; set it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, February 21, 2004.

16. City Council introduced and passed the ordinance on first and second reading.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS

17. Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission
1 Member From Planning District III

City Council appointed Kaj Vetter to the Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

18. Alexandria Youth Policy Commission
1 Representative of the Business Community

City Council reappointed Lisa Lombard to the Alexandria Youth Policy Commission.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION

19. Consideration of Recommendations and Status Report on Legislation Introduced at the 2004 General Assembly Session.

City Council supported the alternative residential inspection legislation as preferable to HB 828, as introduced, and adopted a resolution in support of Living Wage (RES. NO. 2095)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

20. Consideration of the Proposed City Policy for Vacating City Rights-of-way. (#24, 12/8/03 and #10, 1/24/04)

City Council approved the General Policy Guidelines for the valuation of City right-of-way proposed to be vacated; requested that staff advise Council of vacation applications soon after they are made; requested that staff reports on vacations include an analysis of public benefits and valuation; established a policy to allocate proceeds from right-of-way vacations to the City's Open Space Fund account within the Capital Projects Fund; and Directed staff to plan and to implement systems to encourage and enable voluntary contributions to the City's Open Space Fund capital account.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

21. Presentation on the Alexandria Justice Information System (AJIS.)

Council heard a presentation on the AJIS.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

22. Consideration of Approval of the Gateway Initiative Program to Renovate the Entrances to the City.

City Council approved the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities Gateway Initiative to upgrade, starting with the spring of 2004, the portals at 15 major entrances to the City through landscaping; and allocated $41,000 from contingent reserves to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities for FY 2004 costs for materials, bed preparation, installation and maintenance of the gateways.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

23. Consideration of Amending the Lease for the Torpedo Factory Acts Center With The Torpedo Factory Artists Association and Extending the Lease For a Period of Five Years.

City Council authorized the City Manager to execute, on behalf of the City, and to deliver the lease amendment, in substantially the form presented to the Council with such changes as are approved by the City Manager and the City Attorney. The execution of these documents by the City Manager shall constitute conclusive evidence of his approval, and that of the City Attorney, of any and all changes from the documents made available to the City Council.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

24. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Provide a Defined Benefit Plan, Including Disability Benefits, For Firefighters and Police Officers Employed by the City of Alexandria, To Be Known as the "City of Alexandria Firefighters and Police Officers Pension Plan."

City Council introduced and passed the ordinance on first reading; set it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, February 21, 2004.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

None

ORAL REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Councilman Gaines said he distributed a memo on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Street Smart Program, which is a pedestrian and bicycle safety campaign, and he recommended that they continue with the second year the program will be in effect in a funding level comparable to what they did in the first year, which was $5,000. He requested that staff come back at the next meeting with a funding recommendation.

(b) Councilman Smedberg and Councilman Krupicka spoke about the closing of the Alexandria Hospital Psychiatric Hospital at Inova and said they would have information in 30 days.

Mayor Euille requested a formal meeting with Inova Alexandria Hospital administrators at the hospital and to put in writing a formal letter to the chair of the Board of Directors of Inova Health System stating the City's position and where it is today and that it is their preference that the psychiatric unit remain open.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Councilwoman Woodson asked to have docketed (or part of the City Manager's report) in the next 30 days a report from the Electoral Board on the facility of the use and the public's comment on the new election machines that were used in today's primary election.

(b) Councilwoman Woodson asked for an update on the Citizens Academy.

City Manager Sunderland gave the update on the Academy.

(c) Councilman Gaines noted that serious crime in the City is down from 2003.

(d) Councilman Gaines said there was an article in Monday's Style Section of the Washington Post highlighting the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra's event in which Branford Marsalis was featured.

(e) Councilman Macdonald said there was a nasty pothole at King Street and Russell and the City employees got out very quickly and filled the pothole.

(f) Councilman Macdonald said he sees cigarette butts all over the City streets and he asked for the City Manager and staff to come back with ideas on how to get some of them off the streets.

(g) Councilman Macdonald said there was an article in the New York Times about mercury, which is toxic to unborn children and is another chemical that they need to look at as they look at controlling and doing what they can to prevent pollution in the City.

(h) Councilman Macdonald said the City needs to do more to delineate pedestrian crossings, as it is difficult to see pedestrians in some intersections.

(i) Councilman Macdonald said the City's webpage is showing marked improvements and is getting more user friendly. He encouraged proofreading, as well as on Comcast.

(j) Councilman Macdonald said there was an article in the Arlington Environment Newsletter on Magnolia Bogs, written by Rod Simmons, who works in Parks and Recreation.

(k) Councilman Macdonald said auto theft is a real problem and he asked for a report on what the City is doing about it.

(l) Vice Mayor Pepper spoke about an e-mail received from a visually impaired person that wrote about using the accessible voting machines for the first time.

(m) Vice Mayor Pepper said she attended an event at the Lyceum where it was a competition of three performers, who were critiqued by Branford Marsalis.

(n) Vice Mayor Pepper said Council received a memo from the City Manager which answers some of the questions she asked on the Second Presbyterian Church site. She asked for an update and answers on whether the Council had an opportunity at any time to buy the site for $3 million, why so much was done in a work session, and she asked who would conduct the community meeting at Bishop Ireton February 25.

City Manager Sunderland said the City never had the chance to buy it for $3 million, it was done in executive session, not work session, as it always does with the potential acquisition of property, and the meeting is a City meeting with a staff presentation and it is not intended to be a public hearing. The community itself is scheduling another meeting at some point.

(o) Vice Mayor Pepper said that roughly two years ago, Council reopened the Burke Library and it was stated at that time that Council would revisit that issue to see how well it was doing. She asked if Council would be getting a report. She said the library needs more books, more tables, there are potholes in their driveway and there are limited bicycle racks.

City Manager Sunderland said a report will be coming in the budget work session.

(p) Councilman Krupicka said the Second Presbyterian site meeting is the same night as the Federation meeting, and he suggested that they try not to schedule the meetings on the same night.

(q) Councilman Krupicka said there was great news on the Police statistics and crime going down, and asked for a report on the violent crimes such as assault, rape and murder, which all showed increases.

Police Chief Samarra gave a report on the crimes.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER

City Manager Sunderland reported on: (a) T. C. Williams has been fully accredited; (b) February 23 in the Four-Mile Run Sewershed it will begin construction of the first phase of the Inflow and Infiltration sanitary sewer work; (c) Real Estate assessment notices will be mailed out this week, and he asked the Director of Real Estate Assessments to highlight the assessment changes.

Ms. Smith-Page went over the residential and commercial assessments changes from this calendar year to last calendar year.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

25. Consideration of a Grant Application and Resolution in Support of the City's Participation in the Preserve America Community Program. (ROLL-CALL VOTE)

City Council adopted a resolution to accompany the City of Alexandria's application to become a Preserve America Community and approve the submission of the application. (RES. NO. 2094)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

OTHER

26. Consideration of City Council Schedule.

City Council adopted the schedule of Council's regular City Council meetings for February 2004 through June 2004, with the following additions and changes: 1. schedule a work session to discuss the Youth Policy Commission's strategic plan at 5:30 p.m. before Council's Tuesday, April 27 legislative meeting; 2. schedule a work session with the Open Space Steering Committee at 5:30 p.m. before Council's Tuesday, May 11 legislative meeting; and 3. received the revised calendar, which includes a reception for the National Recreation and Parks Association Accreditation Visitation Team on February 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lee Center Exhibit Hall, 1108 Jefferson Street; the work session with Retreat facilitator Lyle Sumek to continue discussion of Council's Retreat visioning materials on February 19 at 6:00 p.m., in the Fire Training Room at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson Street; the Samuel Madden groundbreaking ceremony is the morning of March 10; the Alexandria Technology Achievement Awards reception on March 15 at 6:00 p.m. at the Patent and Trademark Office; the Alexandria Technology Achievement Awards breakfast on March 18 at 7:30 a.m., at the Mark Center Hilton, 5000 Seminary Road; the Alexandria Technology Achievement Awards luncheon on March 19 at noon; the annual Flora Krause Casey Public Health Award reception in the Vola Lawson Lobby at 6:00 p.m., before Council's April 13 legislative meeting; and the City's Day of Remembrance at noon on April 23 at Market Square. (The meeting with the administrators at the Alexandria Hospital should be a breakfast meeting at the hospital.)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

EXECUTIVE SESSION

27. Consideration of Convening An Executive Session Closed to the Public For Discussion of Settlement of Pending Litigation, Pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A)(7) of the Code of Virginia.
At 10:19 p.m., City Council convened in executive session, pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A)(7) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of consulting with legal counsel and briefing by staff with respect to actual or probable litigation concerning the worker's compensation claims of John Marshall and Robin Cleveland and the personal injury claim of Venus Roman.

At 10:26 p.m., City Council reconvened the meeting.

City Council moved to authorize the City Attorney to settle the claims which were the subject of the closed executive session along the lines discussed in the executive session.

City Council adopted the resolution pertaining to the Executive Session.
RES. NO. 2096
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

The meeting was adjourned at 10:26 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.

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 who require translation services to participate in the City Council meeting may call the City Clerk and Clerk of Council's Office at 703-838-4500. We request that you provide a 48-hour notice so that the proper arrangements may be made.