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Office of the City Clerk
December 10, 2003

There Was a Work Session
With the Planning Commission
at 6:00 p.m. in the Council
Workroom.


Regular Meeting
Monday, December 8, 2003 - - 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; Councilwoman Woodson was absent.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

New Business Item No. 1: Mayor Euille asked everyone to remember Nancy Dunning in their thoughts and prayers.

2. Moment of Silence and Pledge of Allegiance.

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

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

(a) The Public Hearing Meeting of November 15, 2003.

(b) The Regular Meeting of November 25, 2003

City Council approved the minutes for (a) the public hearing meeting of November 15, 2003; and (b) the regular meeting of November 25, 2003.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

4. Recognition of the Titans Youth Football League.

City Council recognized the Titans Youth Football League and presented a proclamation to the group.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

New Business Item No. 2: The Lord Provost of Dundee, Scotland presented the Mayor and Council with a gift.

PROCLAMATIONS

5. Proclamation to Andrea Dimond, former member of the Board of Assessments.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

6. Proclamation Declaring December as Human Rights Month.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

7. Presentation of the Social Services Advisory Board and the Department of Human Services Resource Guide for Families.

The SSAB and the DHS presented the Resource Guide for Families to the Council.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

CONSENT CALENDAR (8-19)

(Resignations and Uncontested Appointments)

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

(a) Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
Teresa Williams

(b) Alexandria Commission on HIV/AIDS
Ryan A. Allain

(c) Alexandria Commission on Information Technology
David A. Lantzy

(d) Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission
Heather Wishart Shriner

9. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:

(a) Alexandria-Caen Exchange Committee
1 Representative From the Alexandria Sister Cities Committee

(b) Alexandria Commission for the Arts
2 Members Who Have Expertise in the Arts, Either As Practitioners of Art Disciplines or As Professional Administrators Working in the Field

(c) Alexandria Early Childhood Commission
1 Representative of the Alexandria Child Care Directors Association

(d) Alexandria Economic Opportunities Commission
1 Representative of State Senator Patricia Ticer
1 Representative of the Commonwealth’s Attorney
1 Representative of Councilman Paul Smedberg

(e) Alexandria George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee
1 Member Nominated by the Masonic Fraternity

(f) Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
1 Representative From the Alexandria Public Records Advisory
Commission

(g) Alexandria Human Rights Commission
1 Representative From the Alexandria Commission on Aging

(h) Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board
1 Low-Income Tenant

(i) Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission
1 Non-Health Professional Member

(j) Alexandria Public Records Advisory Commission
1 Citizen Member

(k) Alexandria Waterfront Committee
1 Member From the Old Town Civic Association

(l) Alexandria Youth Policy Commission
1 Member From the Alexandria School Board

(Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager)

10. Receipt of the Alexandria Community Services Board's Fiscal Year 2003 Annual Report.

11. Receipt of the 2003 Annual Report and Plant Survey From Comcast Cable Communications, Inc.

12. Receipt of the 2003 Comcast Cable Communications, Inc., Annual Subscriber Survey Report.

13. Consideration of Acceptance of a Grant Award From Virginians Against Domestic Violence For the City's Domestic Violence Intervention Project.

14. Consideration of Approval of an Application to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to Reimburse the City for Costs Associated With the Heightened State of Alert Resulting From the Iraq War in the Spring of 2003.

15. Consideration of Submission of a Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management for the Fire Department to Establish Community Emergency Response Teams in Alexandria's Hispanic Community.

16. Report on the Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission.

(Ordinances for Introduction)

17. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to amend the North Ridge/Rosemont Small Area Plan Chapter of the Master Plan by changing the land use designation of property at the intersection of West Glebe Road and Martha Custis Drive from Utility and Transportation to Residential Medium.

18. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to rezone property at the intersection of West Glebe Road and Martha Custis Drive from UT/Utility and Transportation Zone to RB Townhouse Zone with proffers.

19. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to approve an encroachment into the public sidewalk right-of-way at 122/124 North Fayette Street.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the Consent Calendar, with the removal of item #12. The City Manager's recommendations are as follows:

8. City Council received the following resignations with regret: (a) Teresa Williams, Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee; (b) Ryan A. Allain, Alexandria Commission on HIV/AIDS; (c) David A. Lantzy, Alexandria Commission on Information Technology; and (d) Heather Wishart Shriner, Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission.

9. City Council: (a) appointed Frederica Dunn as the representative from the Alexandria Sister Cities Committee to the Alexandria-Caen Exchange Committee; (b) reappointed Sharon Ksander and appointed Robert Mosher as the members who have expertise in the arts, either as practitioners of art disciplines or as professional administrators working in the field, to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts; (c) waived the residency requirement and reappointed Saskia Swider as the representative of the Alexandria Child Care Directors Association to the Alexandria Early Childhood Commission; (d) appointed Lauren Smither as the representative of State Senator Patricia Ticer, Bryan Porter as the representative of the Commonwealth's Attorney, and Gwen Underwood as the representative of Councilman Paul Smedberg to the Alexandria Economic Opportunities Commission; (e) waived the residency requirement and appointed George Seghers as the member nominated by the Masonic Fraternity to the Alexandria George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee; (f) appointed Charles Ziegler as the representative of the Alexandria Public Records Advisory Commission to Historic Alexandria Resources Commission; (g) appointed David Horne as the representative from the Alexandria Commission on Aging to the Alexandria Human Rights Commission; (h) appointed Geraldine Baldwin as the low-income tenant representative to the Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board; (i) reappointed Lori Cooper as the non-health professional member to the Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission; (j) reappointed Clarence Henley as the citizen member to the Alexandria Public Records Advisory Commission; (k) reappointed Susan Pettey as the member from the Old Town Civic Association to the Alexandria Waterfront Committee; and appointed Melissa Luby as the member from the Alexandria School Board to the Alexandria Youth Policy Commission.

10. City Council received the Alexandria Community Services Board's FY 2003 Annual Report and thanked the Board for its work on behalf of the City.

11. City Council received the Comcast 2003 Annual Report and Plant Survey.

12. City Council received the 2003 Annual Subscriber Survey Report from Comcast. (separate motion)

13. City Council approved the acceptance of the grant to Virginians Against Domestic Violence in the amount of $14,550 for participation in the Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancement and Leadership Through Alliances (DELTA) project for the first year.

14. City Council approved the submission of the application for a reimbursement of $62,474 to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) for Fire and Police overtime expenditures.

15. City Council approved the grant application to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, totaling $85,653, which would allow the Fire Department to establish Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) in the City's Hispanic community, and Council authorized the City Manager to execute all documents that may be required.

16. City Council received the report of the Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission and thanked the members for their efforts on behalf of the City.

17. City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its first reading; set it for public hearing, second reading and final passage for Tuesday, December 16, 2003.

18. City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its first reading; set it for public hearing, second reading and final passage for Tuesday, December 16, 2003.

19. City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its first reading; set it for public hearing, second reading and final passage for Tuesday, December 16, 2003.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS

None.

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION

20. Update on the Duke Street Concourse Project. (verbal report)

Staff made a presentation of the Duke Street Concourse Project.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

New Business Item No. 3: An update was given by the Health Department Director on the flu season.

21. Oral Report on the Alexandria Arson Linked to the Multiple Arsons In Prince George's County, Maryland and Tips on Arson Prevention.

Staff made a report on the arson fires.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

22. Receipt of Staff Recommendations of the Visitors Center Study Report, and Scheduling the Report for Public Hearing for January 24, 2004 With Action at the January 27, 2004 Legislative Meeting.

City Council received the report and the following recommendations and docketed the report for public hearing on Saturday, January 24, 2004 and consideration on Tuesday, January 27: removed the Market Square and the expanded Ramsay House Visitors Center options from further consideration; maximized the benefit of Ramsay House for visitors by improving its interior programming of space; pursued initiatives regarding improved signage, marketing, kiosks, parking, tour bus management, and a new King Street Metrorail station visitor information area; and did not pursue the leasing of a retail site in the Market Square area at this time.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

23. Consideration of a Request to Reconstitute the Alexandria Citizen Corps Council to Enhance Citizen Involvement in Emergency Preparedness.

City Council approved the reconstitution of the Citizen Corps Council as the vehicle to increase citizen involvement in the emergency preparedness process.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

24. Consideration of Proposed City Policy for Vacating City Rights-of-Ways.

City Council received the City Manager's recommendation, with an amendment to grandfather all projects currently in the pipeline from any new policy regarding the valuation of vacations and any new application of existing policy regarding the valuation of vacations, and set the item for public hearing.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

25. Deferral from November 15, 2003 - VACATION #2003-0006, 700 SOUTH ROYAL STREET AND A PORTION OF FRANKLIN STREET


City Council adopted the Planning Commission recommendation, with the addition of the following condition: "The property owners may not construct any buildings or improvements on the vacated area other than approved perimeter fencing and may not use the vacated land area to derive any increased floor area, subdivision rights or additional dwelling units for the lands adjacent to the vacated area. This restriction shall appear as part of the deed of vacation and shall also appear as a note on the consolidation plat, both of which shall be approved by the Director of Planning and Zoning prior to recordation."
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

26. Receipt of Housing Trust Fund Report to the Planning Commission.

City Council received the report.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

None.

ORAL REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Councilman Macdonald said he serves on the Waterfront Committee, and it had a report several weeks ago from the Blue Plains Sewage Treatment Plant on its plan to reduce smell and collect sludge and they discussed their substantial capital improvements.

(b) Councilman Krupicka said he serves on the Council of Governments Airport Noise Abatement Committee (Conaanda) and they went through an update on its website.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Vice Mayor Pepper said Alexandria was featured in Virginia Living Magazine.

(b) Vice Mayor Pepper congratulated Michael Conner, Chief Fire Marshal, for receiving the Rose (Recognition of Service Excellent) Award for his 28 years of service to the Alexandria Fire Department and for his work as president of the Friendship Fire House Association.

(c) Vice Mayor Pepper said she was delighted to get the memo from the City Manager on the teleworking initiative and they are able to expand the program and there will be a committee that will be set up.

(d) Vice Mayor Pepper said sympathy goes to the family of Nancy Dunning, who was a wonderful, self-sacrificing person.

(e) Councilman Gaines thanked the citizens who came to his community office hours November 17 at the Beatley Library, and his next office hours will be December 15 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Beatley Library.

(f) Councilman Gaines asked if the Council was planning to go out into the community for public meetings.

Mayor Euille said he and the City Manager have spoken and they are trying to find a couple of dates that would be feasible.

City Manager Sunderland said they will have some follow-up materials from the retreat and will have that town meeting, so they will be in the neighborhood some time in the Spring.

(g) Councilman Gaines said Nancy Dunning was a wonderful person and she will be deeply missed. He said a reward fund has been established in Nancy's name, in coordination with the Potomac West Business Association.

(h) Councilman Smedberg said that on Saturday, December 13, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Community Partners for Children will have their annual toy organization and distribution day at T.C. Williams.

(i) Councilman Smedberg said he and Councilman Krupicka have initiated their first Let's Talk Business breakfast where they have invited small business owners.
(j) Councilman Macdonald said the Mirant Power Plant Company has offered to do another tour of their facility for Councilmembers who have not been to their facility, and he thought it should be put off until they have had further analysis.

(k) Councilman Macdonald said there were articles in the Washington Post and New York Times about the unknown trace element in coal mercury that is not captured when coal is burned, and the Federal Government thinks it would be better to do less capturing and more permit trading.

(l) Councilman Macdonald said he attended the Potomac River History Conference sponsored by the Office of Historic Alexandria, the National Park Service and others at The Lyceum, and it was a great conference.

(m) Councilman Macdonald said the Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission has their annual report in the docket, and they worked hard to try to have people put easements on their property in Alexandria, and that is a way to preserve open space and the character of Old Town.

(n) Councilman Macdonald sent his condolences to Sheriff Dunning on the loss of his wife. He also noted the passing of another friend of Alexandria, Dan Cochran, who died after the Thanksgiving holidays, and he will be missed in the community.

(o) Councilman Macdonald said the Alexandria Choral Society had a great concert last night, and they did an ambitious Christmas concert.

(p) Councilman Macdonald said that in reference to the fireworks at the last Council meeting on Quaker Ridge, he regretted that his comments may have led people on staff or Council to feel that he thought their efforts to come to a solution was not valued or wanted. He said he regretted his remarks, emotional as they might be, led people to believe otherwise.

(q) Councilman Krupicka said the Black History Resource Center has an exhibit about Haitian Vodoun flags. He said the travelling art exhibit is phenomenal, and he encouraged those in the City to look at it.

(r) Councilman Krupicka said that he and the Mayor met with a number of dignitaries and elected officials from Columbia last week who came to learn about how government in the United States works, and it was a fantastic exchange and dialogue.

(s) Councilman Krupicka said that last year he tried and did all of his holiday shopping along Mt. Vernon Avenue and while he is not doing it all on Mt. Vernon Avenue this year, he is also trying to do some on King Street, the West End and other areas of the City. He pointed out that the Potomac West Business Association are doing their first ever shop Del Ray theme and there will be a lot of activities this coming Saturday, to include Santa Claus, carollers, the lighting of luminaries up and down the Avenue and candle lighting.

(t) Councilman Krupicka said Nancy Dunning had worked hard and was an active participant on the project to do that candle lighting along Mt. Vernon Avenue, and as it looks for ways to remember Nancy, he said that taking a stroll down Mt. Vernon Avenue on Saturday night is one way that people could reflect and remember on the great things she did for Alexandria.

(u) Councilman Krupicka commended staff for helping very quickly to pull together a community gathering at the Mt. Vernon Rec Center on Friday evening, and he appreciated the fact that Parks and Rec and the City Manager were able to pull together that opportunity. It was a very important part of a very long grieving process.

(v) Councilman Krupicka said he is at a loss for words for what happened to Nancy Dunning on Friday. He said he had known Nancy for a long time and she was a big part of his involvement in the Del Ray Citizens Association and a big part of encouraging him to run for City Council. He said she will be missed by him and the entire community.

(w) Mayor Euille said the death of Nancy Dunning was a major tragedy for the City, and this will leave a big hole, not only in the Del Ray Community, but the City. He said Nancy was one of the first persons he sought out in 1994 when he was thinking of running for City Council, and Nancy leaves a long legacy for the City. He said their prayers and sympathy goes out to the Dunning family. He said he will not be at the service this week, as he is scheduled to leave tomorrow to be in Nashville, Tennessee for the National League of Cities Conference, but his heart and prayers will be with those at the service.

(x) Mayor Euille said Alexandria continues to be a safe City, and the Del Ray neighborhood is safe, crime is at an all time 30-year low, and people should always be concerned about their safety and what they do, but he asked the citizens to not feel that they need to keep their children indoors and that they should conduct their lives in a normal manner. He said the Police Department is investigating what happened and will bring this tragedy to a close, and the individuals involved will receive due justice.

(y) Mayor Euille said he was selected by the U.S. Mayor's Conference and the John F. Kennedy Institute for Politics at Harvard University to attend a new Mayor's education retreat, which took place in Cambridge two weeks ago. He said there were 23 new mayors in attendance, as well as veteran mayors from across the country from major cities. He said that while rewarding, refreshing and educational, it is so refreshing to know how well they do things in the City, but also how financially successful and stable they are in comparison with cities and towns across America. He said it makes him proud to serve the City as its Mayor but to know they have a Council, staff and citizens that are committed and dedicated to self-sufficiency and progress that they do things right.

(z) Councilman Krupicka noted that the Citizen Emergency Response Team class starts in January, and for those interested in participating, they may call (703) 838-5095x709.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL REPORT BY THE CITY MANAGER

City Manager Sunderland said the City Clerk has been accepted into the Master Municipal Clerk Academy Program of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.

27. Presentation of the 2003 Annual Report.

The City Manager presented the Annual Report.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

None.

OTHER

28. Consideration of City Council Schedule.

City Council: Noted the National League of Cities Annual Conference from
December 9 through December 13 in Nashville, Tennessee; there will be a reception February 10 at 6 p.m. in the Vola Lawson Lobby to recognize Black History Month and the Buffalo Soldiers; the meeting with Congressman Moran should be on Monday, January 12 at 8 a.m.; and the 27th Annual Hanukkah celebration at Alexandria Hospital is Monday, December 22 at 5:30 p.m. in the Atrium.

Mayor Euille noted that Councilwoman Woodson has an excused absence for this meeting, as she left today to go to Nashville for the start of the convention.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

New Business Item No. 4: City Manager Sunderland mentioned the Energy Share Program, run by Virginia Dominion Power, which is a program for those who in colder weather come upon a desperate need for continuation of heating utilities and is a source of money to keep those utilities going. The contributions go into a fund that is then distributed throughout the Metropolitan area.

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The meeting adjourned at 9:47 p.m.


Public Notice:

Three Members of City Council will be attending the National League of Cities conference to be held in Nashville, Tennessee, December 9-13, 2003.



This docket is subject to change.

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