OPENING
1. Calling the Roll. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Euille, and the City Clerk called the roll; all the members of City Council were present. 2. Moment of Silence and Pledge of Allegiance. City Council observed a moment of silence and recited the Pledge of Allegiance and heard a choral rendition of America The Beautiful by the All-City Chorus. 3. Reading and Acting Upon the Minutes of the Following Meeting of City Council: (a) The Regular Meeting Minutes of April 11, 2006. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Macdonald, seconded by Vice Mayor Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council approved the regular meeting minutes of April 11, 2006. The voting was as follows: Macdonald "aye" Gaines "aye" Pepper "aye" Krupicka "aye" Euille "aye" Smedberg absent Woodson "aye" RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL 4. Presentation by the All City Chorus. Council heard a series of musical selections from the Alexandria All City Chorus. * * * * * * Councilman Smedberg arrived at this time (7:20 p.m.) * * * * * * 5. Recognition of the Alexandria City Public Schools Stars Male Mentor Group. City Council recognized the Alexandria City Public Schools Stars Male Mentor Group. PROCLAMATIONS 6. Presentation of a Proclamation Declaring April 23-29, 2006, as Crime Victims Rights Week. (A copy of the proclamation is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 6; 4/25/06, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Pepper, seconded by Councilwoman Woodson, City Council endorsed the proclamation. The voting was as follows: Pepper "aye" Gaines "aye" Woodson "aye" Krupicka "aye" Euille "aye" Macdonald "aye" Smedberg "aye" 7. Presentation of a Proclamation Declaring May 7-13, 2006, as Building Safety Week. (A copy of the proclamation is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 7; 4/25/06, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Krupicka, seconded by Vice Mayor Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council endorsed the proclamation. The voting was as follows: Krupicka "aye" Gaines "aye" Pepper "aye" Macdonald "aye" Euille "aye" Smedberg "aye" Woodson "aye" 8. Presentation of a Proclamation Declaring May 14-20, 2006, as National EMS Week. (A copy of the proclamation is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 8; 4/25/06, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Smedberg, seconded by Vice Mayor Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council endorsed the proclamation. The voting was as follows: Smedberg "aye" Gaines "aye" Pepper "aye" Krupicka "aye" Euille "aye" Macdonald "aye" Woodson "aye" REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER CONSENT CALENDAR (9-14) (Resignations and Uncontested Appointments) 9. Receipt of the Following Resignations From Members of Boards, Commissions and Committees: (a) Alexandria- Gyumri Sister City Committee Christopher Born Mirana Der Ohanian Sheila McCurley Mari Stull Natalie Topa (b) Alexandria Economic Opportunities Commission Lauren Elisabeth Smith (c) Alexandria Human Rights Commission Lauren Elisabeth Smith (A copy of the above resignations is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked collectively as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 9(a-c); 4/25/06, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 10. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees: (a) Alexandria Citizen Corps Council 1 Member in Good Standing of the CERT Program (b) Alexandria Commission on HIV/AIDS 1 Member From and Representing the Alexandria Chapter of the American Red Cross (A copy of the above appointments is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked collectively as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 10(a-b); 4/25/06, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) (Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager) 11. Submission of Assistance to Firefighters Grant Application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to Fund the Installation of a Sprinkler System at Fire Station 208, Located on North Paxton Street. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 20, 2006, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 11; 4/25/06, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 12. Submission of a Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services for Funding for the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office for the Victim/Witness Assistance Program. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 12, 2006, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 12; 4/25/06, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 13. Consideration of Monthly Financial Report for Period Ending March 31, 2006. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 18, 2006, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 13; 4/25/06, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 14. Consideration of Authorization of Recommended Capital Allocations and Planned Expenditures. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 18, 2006, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 14; 4/25/06, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) END OF CONSENT CALENDAR WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Gaines, seconded by Vice Mayor Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council approved the Consent Calendar. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows: 9. City Council accepted the following resignations with regret: (a) Christopher Born, Mirana Der Ohanian, Sheila McCurley, Mari Stull, and Natalie Topa, Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee; (b) Lauren Elisabeth Smith, Alexandria Economic Opportunities Commission; and (c) Lauren Elisabeth Smith, Alexandria Human Rights Commission. 10. City Council made the following appointments: (a) appointed Christina Richardson-Jones as the one member in good standing of the CERT program to the Alexandria Citizen Corps Council; and (b) waived the residency requirement and appointed Lester (Grev) Hunt, III as the one member from and representing the Alexandria Chapter of the American Red Cross to the Alexandria Commission on HIV/AIDS. 11. City Council: (a) approved the submission of an electronic grant application totaling $100,000 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to fund the installation of a fire sprinkler system at Fire Station 208; and (b) authorized the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required. 12. City Council authorized the City Manager to: (a) submit a grant application to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services for funding in the amount of $192,541 for FY 2007 and $173,287 for FY 2008, for continued funding of the Victim/Witness Assistance Program; (b) approved the continuation of four full-time grant-funded positions (one Collections Specialist II position, two Victim-Witness Specialist I positions, and one Victim-Witness Specialist II position) covered by the Victim/Witness Assistance Grant. These grant-funded positions would terminate upon the expiration of the grant, and the individuals who are to fill these positions would be notified of this condition of employment. It should be noted that there are no funds available in the City budget to continue these activities once the grant funds are expended; and (c) execute all necessary documents that may be required. 13. City Council received the Monthly Financial Report for the period ending March 31, 2006. 14. City Council authorized the capital project allocations and planned expenditures for the capital projects as detailed in the Capital Improvement Expenditure Summary. The voting was as follows: Gaines "aye" Krupicka "aye" Pepper "aye" Macdonald "aye" Euille "aye" Smedberg "aye" Woodson "aye" CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS 15. Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee 1 Homeowner in the City The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission: NAME: ENDORSED BY: Michael Beresik Derek Hyra Paul Kangas Pat Phibbs Patrick Traylor (Material pertaining to the above appointment is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked collectively as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 15; 4/25/06 and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and the ballots tallied with the following results: No one received a majority vote; therefore, there had to be a second balloting. The voting was as follows: Euille - Traylor Pepper - Phibbs Gaines - Phibbs Krupicka - Traylor Macdonald - Hyra Smedberg - Traylor Woodson - Beresik WHEREUPON, ballots were again distributed, tellers were again appointed and the ballots were again tallied with the following results: City Council appointed Pat Phibbs as the one homeowner in the City to the Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. The voting was as follows: Euille - Traylor Pepper - Phibbs Gaines - Phibbs Krupicka - Traylor Macdonald - Phibbs Smedberg - Traylor Woodson - Phibbs 16. Alexandria Citizen Corps Council 1 Representative of the Emergency Medical Services Council, Medical Reserve Corps, or A Person With Emergency Medical Response Experience The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission: NAME: ENDORSED BY: Byron Dixon Francis Hoang (Material pertaining to the above appointment is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked collectively as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 16; 4/25/06 and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and the ballots tallied with the following results: City Council appointed Francis Hoang as the one representative of the Emergency Medical Services Council, Medical Reserve Corps, or a Person with Emergency Medical Response Experience to the Alexandria Citizen Corps Council. The voting was as follows: Euille - Dixon Pepper - Hoang Gaines - Hoang Krupicka - Hoang Macdonald - Hoang Smedberg - Hoang Woodson - Dixon 17. Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission 1 Citizen-at-Large The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission: NAME: ENDORSED BY: Heidi Meinzer Jessica Miller Joy Pochatila Erica Rossi Giles Strickler Sarah Sturtevant (Material pertaining to the above appointment is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked collectively as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 17; 4/25/06 and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and the ballots tallied with the following result. No one received a majority vote; therefore, there had to be a second balloting. The voting was as follows: Euille - Miller Pepper - Strickler Gaines - Pochatila Krupicka - Pochatila Macdonald - Miller Smedberg - Sturtevant Woodson - Meinzer WHEREUPON, ballots were again distributed, tellers were again appointed and the ballots were again tallied with the following results: City Council appointed Joy Pachatila as the one citizen-at-large to the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission. The voting was as follows: Euille - Pochatila Pepper - Pochatila Gaines - Pochatila Krupicka - Pochatila Macdonald - Miller Smedberg - Pochatila Woodson - Miller 18. Alexandria Human Rights Commission 2 Citizen Members The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission: NAME: ENDORSED BY: Betty Morrison Timothy Ramsey Andrew Rivera Nancy Turner (Material pertaining to the above appointment is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked collectively as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 18; 4/25/06 and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and the ballots tallied with the following results: City Council reappointed Andrew Rivera and Nancy Turner as the two citizen members to the Alexandria Human Rights Commission. The voting was as follows: Euille - Rivera, Turner Pepper - Rivera, Turner Gaines - Rivera, Turner Krupicka - Rivera, Turner Macdonald - Rivera, Turner Smedberg - Rivera, Turner Woodson - Rivera, Turner 19. Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board 3 Citizen Members The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission: NAME: ENDORSED BY: Nathan Macek Jeffrey Miller Kevin Posey Amy Slack Charles Stulb Patrick Warren, Sr. (Material pertaining to the above appointment is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked collectively as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 19; 4/25/06 and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and the ballots tallied with the following results: City Council appointed Kevin Posey and reappointed Amy Slack and Patrick Warren, Sr., as the three citizen members to the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board. The voting was as follows: Euille - Slack, Posey, Warren Pepper - Slack, Posey, Warren Gaines - Slack, Posey, Warren Krupicka - Slack, Posey, Warren Macdonald - Slack, Posey, Stulb Smedberg - Slack, Macek, Warren Woodson - Slack, Macek, Warren REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION 20. Consideration of a Report on Establishment of a Poet Laureate for Alexandria. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 20, 2006, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 20; 4/25/06, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) Councilman Gaines said he would pledge to work with staff to provide corporate or private funding for the fiscal impact of $3,500 plus $500 for the honorarium to erase any fiscal impact. He said for the honorarium, he would publicly pledge $500 to cover the first year of the honorarium. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Gaines, seconded by Councilman Krupicka and carried unanimously, City Council: (a) received the Poet Laureate proposal submitted by the Steering Committee; (b) thanked the members of the Steering Committee for their efforts on behalf of the City Council; and (c) set this item for public hearing and consideration at Council's May 20 public hearing meeting. The voting was as follows: Gaines "aye" Pepper "aye" Krupicka "aye" Macdonald "aye" Euille "aye" Smedberg "aye" Woodson "aye" 21. Receipt of Revised Personal Data Form for Applicants to Boards and Commissions. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 20, 2006, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 21; 4/25/06, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) Mayor Euille suggested that on the front page, the question is asked does the person now live in the City of Alexandria, but it never asks how long they have lived in the City. He said on the back of the form, there is a question that asks if the person has been a resident of the City for at least one year for some of the board positions. He said it is helpful to know how long an applicant has lived in the City. Councilman Krupicka said the statement of interest of why one should be appointed is short and Council is looking for a clear statement on what the applicant's interest is. There was discussion among Council on attaching additional pages, both on line and on paper. Councilman Macdonald said in certain cases, particularly on the two BAR's, he would like to see some of the applications reviewed by some of the historic commissions. Councilman Smedberg said on the sentence of applicants being encouraged to contact Council, he asked to have that statement in blue or italics to highlight it a little more. WHEREUPON, motion by Councilman Smedberg, seconded by Councilman Krupicka and carried unanimously, City Council received the updated Personal Data Form for Applicants to City Boards, Commissions, Committees and Authorities. The voting was as follows: Smedberg "aye" Pepper "aye" Krupicka "aye" Gaines "aye" Euille "aye" Macdonald "aye" Woodson "aye" 21.1 Consideration of City Council Findings in Relation to the Board of Architectural Review Appeal for Case No. BAR 2006-0002 and BAR 2006-0001. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 24, 2006, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 21.1; 4/25/06, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Pepper, seconded by Councilman Krupicka and carried 6-1, City Council affirmed the BAR decision to deny the petitioners' appeal on April 22, 2006, and found: 1. This townhouse dates from 1954, and none of the criteria in Section 10-105(b) of the Zoning Ordinance have been met; 2. Accordingly, the decision of the BAR to grant the Permit to Demolish is affirmed, subject to the conditions as stated by the BAR; 3. The proposed addition is visible from the public right-of-way, and fully subject to the jurisdiction of the BAR, and Council on appeal, as argued by the petitioners, although the rear part of the addition has limited visibility from the right-of-way; 4. The length of the rear addition is approximately 50 percent of the existing length of the house. The height of the rear addition is lower than the height of the existing house with the added, third story addition. The subject property sits lower than the adjacent properties to the north, which are most impacted by the addition. The property retains a substantial rear garden and yard area; 5. The architectural design, detailed materials; the height, mass and scale, and the site design and arrangement of the proposed addition are compatible with the existing house and with the surrounding area in the historic district, including with other additions which have been approved over time. The proposed addition meets the requirements of Section 10-102(A)(2) of the Zoning Ordinance; and 6. Accordingly, the decision of the BAR to grant the Certificate of Appropriateness is affirmed, subject to the conditions as stated by the BAR. The voting was as follows: Pepper "aye" Gaines "aye" Krupicka "aye" Macdonald "no" Euille "aye" Smedberg "aye" Woodson "aye" Councilman Gaines noted for the record the presence of a document that outlines clearly City Council's findings and grounds for denial. 21.2 Deferral from April 24, 2006, the Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Increase the Real Estate Tax Assistance Available to Limited Income Residents. (#5, 4/24/06, #13, 4/22/06, #18, 4/11/06) [ROLL-CALL VOTE] (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 4, 2006, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 21.2; 4/25/06, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilwoman Woodson, seconded by Councilman Gaines and carried unanimously by roll-call vote, City Council passed the ordinance to increase the real estate tax assistance available to limited income residents, with the following amendments: 1. Page 7, line 21: Strike $72,000 Insert $100,000 2. Page 8, line 4 through line 15: Strike: Sec. 3-2-176 Same - amount; limitation. (a) The amount of each grant under this division shall be $675 $1,000, for an applicant with household income which does not exceed $40,000. (b) The amount of each grant under this division shall be $475 $700, for an applicant with household income of more than $40,000, but which does not exceed $50,000 $55,000. (c) The amount of each grant under this division shall be $275 $325, for an applicant with household income of more than $50,000 $55,000, but which does not exceed $62,000 $72,000. (d) Only one grant under this division shall be made per household. Insert: Section 3-2-176 Same - amount; limitation; one member household. For a household of one member: (a) The amount of each grant under this division shall be $1,200, for an applicant with household income which does not exceed $40,000. (b) The amount of each grant under this division shall be $875, for an applicant with household income of more than $40,000, but which does not exceed $55,000. (c) The amount of each grant under this division shall be $375, for an applicant with household income of more than $55,000, but which does not exceed $72,000. (d) Only one grant under this division shall be made per household, and in no event shall the amount of the grant exceed the taxes owed for the year. 3. Page 8, Line 16: Insert: Section 3-2-176.1 Same - amount; limitation, two member household. For a household of two members: (a) The amount of each grant under this division shall be $1,200, for an applicant with household income which does not exceed $40,000. (b) The amount of each grant under this division shall be $875, for an applicant with household income of more than $40,000, but which does not exceed $55,000. (c) The amount of each grant under this division shall be $375, for an applicant with household income of more than $55,000, but which does not exceed $72,000. (d) The amount of each grant under this division shall be $200, for an applicant with household income of more than $72,000, but which does not exceed $87,000. (e) Only one grant under this division shall be made per household, and in no event shall the amount of the grant exceed the taxes owed for the year. Section 3-2-176.2 Same - amount, limitation, three or more member household. For a household of three or more members: (a) The amount of each grant under this division shall be $1,200, for an applicant with household income which does not exceed $40,000. (b) The amount of each grant under this division shall be $875, for an applicant with household income of more than $40,000, but which does not exceed $55,000. (c) The amount of each grant under this division shall be $375, for an applicant with household income of more than $55,000, but which does not exceed $72,000. (d) The amount of each grant under this division shall be $200, for an applicant with household income of more than $72,000 but which does not exceed $100,000. (e) Only one grant under this division shall be made per household, and in no event shall the amount of the grant exceed the taxes owed for the year. 4. Page 8, Line 21: Insert: Section 2. That Section 3-2-171 of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended, be, and the same hereby is, amended by adding thereto a new definition to read as follows: (9) Household member. The applicant, the applicant's spouse, any relative of the applicant who resides in the dwelling, and any other person who is an owner of and resides in the applicant's dwelling. The voting was as follows: Woodson "aye" Pepper "aye" Gaines "aye" Krupicka "aye" Euille "aye" Macdonald "aye" Smedberg "aye" The ordinance reads as follows: ORDINANCE NO. 4444 AN ORDINANCE to amend and reordain Section 3-2-173 (GRANT – ELIGIBILITY, RESTRICTIONS GENERALLY), Section 3-2-176 ((SAME – AMOUNT LIMITATION) and Section 3-2-179 (SUNSET DATE), of Division 2 (AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP PRESERVATION PROGRAM), Article L (REAL ESTATE TAX RELIEF), Chapter 2 (TAXATION), Title 3 (FINANCE, TAXATION AND PROCUREMENT) of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended.