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Office of the City Clerk
May 26, 2005

City Council held a work session
with the Alexandria Public Health
Advisory Commission on the Community
Health Assessment, at 5:30 p.m., in the
Council Work Room.

At the Conclusion of its May 25 Legislative
Meeting, City Council held a joint
work session with the Planning Com-
mission on Planning Priorities and
Development Issues at approximately
8:30 p.m. in the Council Workroom.


Regular Meeting
Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - - 7:00 p.m.

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OPENING

1. Calling the Roll.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Euille, and the Deputy 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 Meetings of City Council:

(a) The Special Meeting Minutes of May 2, 2005;

(b) The Regular Meeting Minutes of May 10, 2005; and

(c) The Public Hearing Meeting Minutes of May 14, 2005.

City Council approved the minutes of the following meetings of City Council: (a) the special meeting minutes of May 2, 2005; (b) the regular meeting minutes of May 10, 2005; and (c) the public hearing meeting minutes of May 14, 2005.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

None.

PROCLAMATIONS

4. Presentation of a Proclamation Recognizing William Hurd for Receiving the Virginia Transit Association's Public Service Lifetime Achievement Award.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

5. Presentation of Certificate by American Style Magazinefor the City of Alexandria Being Named One of the Top 25 Arts Destinations in the Category of Mid-Sized Cities in the United States.

City Council received the certificate from American Style Magazine.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

6. Presentation of a Proclamation Recognizing Arthur Dahlberg, Al Cox, Peter Mensinger, James Sullivan, Mary Johnson, Duane Perry, Sarah Caron, Antonio Arnold, Kathy Connett, A. Maurice Jones, Joseph Blethen, Lynn Hepler, Paul Mitchell, Keena Keith, Ray Overkott and Donald Mackall as City Employees of the Month for April for Their Work on the USPTO Project.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

7. Presentation of a Proclamation Recognizing the 25th Anniversary of Los Amigos.

` City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

CONSENT CALENDAR (8-14)

(Resignations and Uncontested Appointments)

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

(a) Alexandria Board of Architectural Review - Parker-Gray District
William Cromley

(b) Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission
Kyle Lynch

(c) Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission
Elise Venusti

(d) Alexandria Waterfront Committee
James H. McIlhenny

(e) Alexandria Youth Policy Commission
M. Catharine Puskar

9. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:

(a) Alexandria Archaeological Commission
1 Citizen Member From Planning District III

(b) Alexandria Commission for Women
3 Citizen Members

(c) Alexandria Community Services Board
1 Consumer (Current or Former Direct Recipient of Public or
Private Mental Health, Mental Retardation, or Substance
Abuse Treatment Rehabilitation Services) or Family Member
(Immediate Family Member or the Principal Caregiver
Who Is Not Paid) of the Consumer

(d) Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
1 Representative of the Alexandria Society For the
Preservation of Black Heritage

(e) Alexandria Waterfront Committee
1 Representative From the Alexandria Park and
Recreation Commission

(Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager)

10. Submission of a Grant Application to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing, For Equipment for the Police Department.

11. Consideration of a Grant Award from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management - State Homeland Security Grant Program.

12. Consideration of an Authorization of Recommended Capital Allocations and Planned Expenditures.

13. Consideration of the Monthly Financial Report for the Period Ending April 30, 2005.

14. Receipt of the 2003-2004 Annual Report for the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the action consent calendar with the exception of docket item #10, which was considered under a separate motion. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows:

8. City Council accepted the following resignations with regret: (a) William Cromley, Alexandria Board of Architectural Review -- Parker-Gray District; (b) Kyle Lynch, Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission; (c) Elise Venusti, Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission; (d) James H. McIlhenny, Alexandria Waterfront Committee; and (e) M. Catharine Puskar, Alexandria Youth Policy Commission.

9. City Council made the following appointments: (a) reappointed Janice Magnuson as the citizen member from Planning Distict III to the Alexandria Archaeological Commission; (b) reappointed Joan Dodaro, Mary Catherine Gibbs, and Laura Mandala as the three citizen members to the Alexandria Commission for Women; (c) appointed Lenwood Harris as the consumer (current or former direct recipient of public or private mental health, mental retardation, or substance abuse treatment rehabilitation services) or family member (immediate family member or the principal caregiver who is not paid) of the consumer to the Alexandria Community Services Board; (d) appointed Charles Nelson as the representative of the Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black Heritage to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission; and (e) reapppointed Henry S. Brooks as the representative from the Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission.

10. City Council approved the grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice for a total of $394,000 for one year, for which there is no required City match and authorized the City Manager to execute all necessary documents. (separate motion)

11. City Council accepted the grant funds totaling $131,734 from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to fund equipment for first responders to better prepare for potential acts of terrorism and authorized the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.

12. City Council authorized the capital project allocations and planned expenditures for the capital projects as detailed in the Capital Improvement Expenditure Summary.

13. City Council received the Monthly Financial Report for the period ending April 30, 2005.

14. City Council received the report from the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department and thanked the volunteers for their contributions to the City and the Fire and EMS Departments.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS

15. Alexandria Human Rights Commission
1 Citizen Member

City Council reappointed Andrew Hyman as the citizen member to the
Alexandria Human Rights Commission.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION

16. Consideration of Changes to the City's Moderate Income Homeownership Assistance Program to Facilitate Assistance to Residents Affected by Condominium Conversion.

City Council: (1) approved an increase in the maximum loan amount in the City's Moderate Income Homeownership Program (MIHP) from $20,000 up to $30,000 provided that the limit shall be $40,000 for residents buying in a condominium complex in which they currently reside; (2) approved an increase in the income limits for eligibility for the MIHP program increasing the limit for one person households from $68,700 to $71,440, for two person households from $68,700 to $80,370, and for households of three or more from $79, 500 to $89, 300; and approved the allocation of up to $822,500 from the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) to the MIHP program, as needed, with the understanding that this allocation would not exceed 50% of revenue received by the HTF in 2006. Council requested that staff return a memo on prioritization of how the 1 cent dedication of the real estate tax would be used for affordable housing.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

None

ORAL REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Councilman Gaines reported that the upcoming Council of Governments (COG) Transportation and Planning Board Street Smart Campaign will be launched on June 1, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. Councilman Gaines noted that the Street Smart Campaign targets reduction of pedestrian and bicycle injuries and promoting pedestrian and bicycle safety.

(b) Councilman Gaines noted the base closures in the area and how the COG Transportation and Planning Board is examining the impact the closures will have on the entire region.

(c) Councilman Gaines said he attended a Community Policy and Management Team event where he represented the City as the keynote speaker at an awards ceremony.

(d) Councilwoman Woodson said she attended a National League of Cities (NLC) - Finance, Administration, and Intergovernmental Relations (FAIR) Steering Committee retreat in Nevada last week and noted that the following issues were discussed at the meeting: (1) there was a session on reading and using budgets with author Lyn Wood and she recommended bringing the author to conduct a workshop for the City on the topic; (2) there was a session on tax reform and the impact it has on municipalities; (3) there was a discussion on telecommunications and local government and the taxation of the industry in a fair and equitable manner; and (4) the committee worked on revisions of the NLC Policy for the FAIR section of the NLC policy book.

(e) Councilwoman Woodson said she attended a VML Finance Steering Committee meeting in Richmond today and she noted that the major issue of discussion was real estate tax relief and how it is being handled on the State level.

(f) Councilman Smedberg reported that the COG Public Safety Committee discussed the airspace security breach that occurred recently in DC. COG expressed concern with how the situation was handled and would be receiving recommendations from the community on how to handle such situations in the future. Councilman Smedberg also noted that the committee discussed the regulations for returning general aviation to Reagan National Airport.

(g) Vice Mayor Pepper noted that COG and Northern Virginia Regional Commission is working on a respone to the base closures in the area and are working closely with delegations to figure out the best tactics for the areas affected.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Vice Mayor Pepper reported that the City was named Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

(b) Vice Mayor Pepper reported that she attended the Cherry Blossom Tree planting held in Ben Brenman Park last Saturday and noted that 150 cherry blossom trees were sold. Vice Mayor Pepper noted that the trees are still for sale for $75 from Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Vice Mayor Pepper also commended Cindy McCartney and Jean Kelley for helping with the planning of the event.

(c) Vice Mayor Pepper reported that she participated in the Bike to Work Day event on last Friday and noted that there were 140 participants, including Councilman Krupicka. Vice Mayor Pepper pointed out that some of the bike trails in the City were in disrepair and needed some attention for safety purposes.

(d) Councilman Gaines reported that he attended Adoption Saturday and noted that 16 children were adopted.

(e) Councilman Gaines reported that councilmembers had received numerous emails from citizens about unsolicited newspapers and Police was working on letters to civic associations about how to address the problem. Councilman Gaines thanked Police Lt. Uzzell for his work on this issue.

(f) Councilman Gaines reported he attended a session of Honor Court with Councilman Smedberg and Vice Mayor Pepper and he congratulated James Norwood and Matthew Deter on becoming Eagle Scouts.

(g) Councilman Gaines noted that May is Older Americans Month and pointed out that literature is available through the City to help elderly citizens protect themselves for consumer scams.

(h) Councilman Gaines reported that he attended the Clover/College Park Civic Association meeting and they discussed the plans for the proposed City Complex.

(i) Councilman Macdonald requested an update on the status of the condemned house at the corner of Duke and Royal Streets. In response to Councilman Macdonald, City Attorney Pessoa noted that the house was still on the spot blight list and the City was working with the owner's attorney.

(j) Mayor Euille reported that he attended a 12th Anniversay celebration for the National Senior Health Fitness Day at the Fountains community.

(k) Councilman Krupicka reported that the the Del Ray movie night was a success and there are plans to have more movie nights throughout the summer. Councilman Krupicka inquired whether City staff could assist in the promotion of the upcoming movie nights.

(l) Councilman Krupicka also mentioned the onslaught of unsolicited newspapers in citizens' yards recently and noted that Citizen Assistance has been helpful in resolving some issues concerning this problem.

(m) Councilman Krupicka reported that he attended an Alexandria Economic Development Partnership meeting and the issue of base closure was discussed.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER

City Manager Hartmann reported on the following: there will be a community meeting held on May 31, 2005 at Bishop Ireton High School at 7:30 p.m. about the proposed plans for the City Complex which will include a new Police facility, bus facility and recreation fields.

City Attorney Pessoa reported that the Alexandria Circuit Court dismissed the lawsuit against the City and others concerning the proposed Gateway project.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

None.

OTHER

17. Consideration of City Council Schedule.

City Council adopted the City Council Schedule for the months of May through June, 2005, with the following additions and changes: (a) schedule a special meeting of Council in order to hold a public hearing on the proposed plans for Jones Point Park at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 27, in the Council Chambers and received the revised calendar which includes (a) a memorial service and tour of the LST 325 on Friday, May 27 at 10:00 a.m. at Robinson Terminal, located adjacent to the Potomac River at Union Street and Oronoco Street and (b) the 24th Annual Alexandria Red Cross Waterfront Festival on Saturday, June 18 and Sunday, June 19 at Oronoco Bay Park.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

18. Appointment of Alternate City Member to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission.

City Council appointed Councilman Paul Smedberg as the City's alternate member to the
Northern Virgina Transportation Commission.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

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The meeting was adjourned at 8:44 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.

At the Conclusion of its May 25 Legislative Meeting, City Council will hold a joint work session with the Planning Commission on Planning Priorities and Development Issues at approximately 8:30 p.m. in the Council Workroom.


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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