1. Calling the Roll. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Euille, and the Deputy City Clerk called the Roll; all the Members of Council were present, except Councilman Smedberg, who had an excused absence. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ New Business Item No.1 Planning and Zoning Director Eileen Fogarty made a presentation to Council, the Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority Board and Eakin-Youngentaub, of an award from the American Planning Association for Housing, Affordability and Choice in the region for the Chatham Square project. 2. Public Discussion Period. (a) Patricia Soriano, 5405 Barrister Place, representing the Mount Vernon Chapter of the Sierra Club, announced that the Sierra Club has named Alexandria as one of the "Coolest Cities" in the nation by moving forward with solutions to reduce heat trapping, global warming pollution. Ms. Soriano reported that the Sierra Club thanked Mayor Euille for signing the U. S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and the Alexandria City Council for pledging to reduce the City's heat trapping, global warming pollution by 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. (b) Ann Rollins, P.O. Box 1662, Washington, D.C., spoke about issues with Human Rights and requested assistance from the Mayor's office. (c) Bert Ely, 200 South Pitt Street, spoke in opposition to the proposed Old Town Business Improvement District (BID) and requested that the Council appoint a committee to study the BID concept further, whether a BID should be created, and the form it should take. (d) Michelle L'Heuroux, 1120 South Alfred Street, Apt. 203B, spoke about the sale of Hunting Terrace and Towers, which will be sold in February 2006 and how all residents did not receive the option of renewing their lease at the property. Ms. L'Heuroux stated that Council has not stated clearly its intention to preserve affordable housing at this site. Ms. L'Heuroux requested that Council provided residents with some assistance in maintaining residency at Hunting Terrace and Towers. Mayor Euille requested that the City Manager have the Office of Housing work with the Virginia Department of Transportation to gain lease extensions for those residents of Hunting Terrace and Towers who were not offered extensions. (e) Amy Slack, 2307 East Randolph Avenue, spoke about trees that were purchased at the Urban Forestry Steering Committee tree sale and suggestions about where to place trees on their property. Ms. Slack requested that Council investigate ways to improve the forestry programs that are in place now instead of creating new programs. (f) Poul Hertel, 1217 Michigan Court, thanked Council for the leadership that the City is providing in dealing with the Mirant Power Plant. Mr. Hertel stated that Mirant has restarted unit number one and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has not required compliance with the modeling protocol. Mr. Hertel requested that Council reported the activities that Mirant is undertaking to Governor Mark Warner, so that the situation can be rectified immediately. (g) Pat Troy, 310 Wolfe Street, thanked the City for replacing the lights throughout the City. Mr. Troy requested that the trash pick-up schedule be modified so that there would not be trash on the streets in Old Town until Monday. (h) Gina Cerasani, 10007 Commonwealth Boulevard, Fairfax, Virginia, spoke on behalf of Social Action Linking Together (SALT) and requested that Council support the Virginia Fair Wage Act as part of the City's Legislative Package. (i) Robert McConnell, 823 South Columbus Street, requested that Council include the neighboring residents in the plans for Gunston Hall and how the acquisition will affect the residents in that area. Mr. McConnell requested that neighborhood meetings be part of the process. (h) Maureen Dugan, 816 Green Street, president of the Old Town/Hunting Creek Civic Association, spoke on the Gunston Hall issue and requested that the surrounding neighborhoods be part of the potential acquisition process. Ms. Dugan stated that other construction of rental unts, as well the prospect of keeping Gunston Hall rental property, changes the character of the neighborhood to a rental area. Ms. Dugan also pointed out that traffic and parking were becoming a problem. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR1 (3-5) Planning Commission 3. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2005-0101 5715 EDSALL ROAD (Parcel Address: 5725 Edsall Road) AFGHAN MARKET Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for a special use permit to operate a restaurant in an existing retail use; zoned CG/Commercial General. Applicant: Raffiullah Habibi PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0 4. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2005-0102 1007 KING STREET MASSAGE THERAPY Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for a special use permit to operate a massage therapy business; zoned CD/Commercial Downtown. Applicant: Rany Srey and Caroline Pirtle PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0 5. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2005-0106