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 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 Regular Meeting Minutes of June 12, 2007; and (b) The Public Hearing Meeting Minutes of June 16, 2007. City Council approved the regular meeting minutes of June 12, 2007 and the public hearing meeting minutes of June 16, 2007. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL None. PROCLAMATIONS 4. Presentation of a Proclamation Recognizing Employees of the Alexandria Office of the Sheriff as City Employees of the Month for May. City Council endorsed the proclamation. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 5. Presentation of a Plaque by Representatives of Virginia Tech to Recognize the Mayor and City Council for the Assistance and Support Provided by the City in April. Representatives from Virginia Tech presented a plaque to the Mayor and City Council. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER CONSENT CALENDAR (6-16) (Resignations and Uncontested Appointments) 6. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees: (a) Alexandria Beautification Commission 1 Citizen Member (b) Alexandria Board of Architectural Review - Old and Historic District 1 Citizen Member (c) Alexandria Board of Architectural Review - Parker-Gray District 2 Citizen Members (d) Alexandria Carr/Norfolk Southern (Carlyle) Design Review Board 1 Citizen Member (e) Alexandria Citizen Corps Council 1 Representative of the Emergency Medical Services Council, Medical Reserve Corps or A Person With Emergency Medical Response Experience (f) Alexandria Commission on HIV/AIDS 1 Member From and Representing the Hospice of Northern Virginia (g) Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities 1 Representative of the Alexandria Commission on Aging (h) Alexandria Community Services Board 2 Citizen Members 3 Consumers (Current or Former Direct Recipients of Public or Private Mental Health, Mental Retardation, or Substance Abuse Treatment Rehabilitation Services) or Family Members (Immediate Family Member or the Principal Caregiver Who Is Not Paid) (i) Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors 1 At-Large Member 1 Retail Business Owner/Manager Representative 1 National or International Trade or Professional Association Executive (j) Alexandria Emergency Medical Services Council Alexandria’s Operational Medical Director (k) Alexandria Waterfront Committee 1 Citizen Representative Who Resides East of Washington Street and North of King Street (Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager) 7. Receipt of the FY 2005 and 2006 Annual Reports and the Strategic Plan 2007-2015 From the Alexandria Archaeological Commission. 8. Submission of a Grant Application to the Keep America Beautiful, Inc., Graffiti Hurts National Grant Program. 9. Consideration of the Alexandria Community Service Board's Amended FY 2008 Plan of Services, Which Includes the FY 2008 Performance Contract With the State and a Report on the Status of the Board's FY 2004-2008 Housing Plan. 10. Consideration of Monthly Financial Report for the Period Ending May 31, 2007. 11. Consideration of Authorization of Recommended Capital Project Allocations and Planned Expenditures. 12. Submission of a Renewal Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for FY 2008 Pass-Through Funding From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the City of Alexandria Air Pollution Control Program. 13. Consideration of Alexandria Fund for Human Services FY 2008 and FY 2009 Grant Awards. 14. Consideration of a Grant Application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, State and Tribal Assistance Grants Program for a Bioretention Area at Four Mile Run and a Green Roof at Cora Kelly Magnet School. 15. Consideration of Results of the FY 2007 Fair Housing Tests. 16. Consideration of Membership Changes for the Alexandria Commission on HIV/AIDS and Request for the City Attorney to Prepare the Necessary Ordinance Change. END OF CONSENT CALENDAR City Council approved the consent calendar, with the exception of docket items #6i and 13, which were considered under separate motions. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows: 6. City Council made the following appointments; (a) appointed Robert Freedman as the one citizen member to the Alexandria Beautification Commission; (b) reappointed Arthur Keleher as the one citizen member to the Alexandria Board of Architectural Review - Old and Historic District; (c) reappointed Douglas Meick and Philip Moffat as the two citizen members to the Alexandria Board of Architectural Review - Parker-Gray District; (d) reappointed Edward McKinney as the one citizen member to the Alexandria Carr/Norfolk South (Carlyle) Design Review Board; (e) appointed Cynthia Lake 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; (f) reappointed Bonita Bernstein as the one member from and representing the Hospice of Northern Virginia to the Alexandria Commission on HIV/AIDS; appointed Mary Parker as the one representative of the Alexandria Commission on Aging to the Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities; (h) reappointed Ruth Chamowitz and appointed Joseph Dunn as the two citizen members, and reappointed Mary Morrow-Bax, Dana Payne and Mary Weber as the three consumers (current or former direct recipients of public or private mental health, mental retardation or substance abuse treatment rehabilitation services) or family members (immediate family members or the principal caregiver who is not paid) to the Alexandria Community Services Board; (i) waived the residency requirement and reappointed Charlotte Hall as the one at-large member, waived the residency requirement and reappointed Robert Lorenson as the one retail business owner/manager representative, and appointed Suzanne Cook as the one national or international trade or professional association executive to the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors (separate motion); (j) waived the residency requirement and reappointed James Vafier as the Alexandria Operational Medical Director to the Alexandria Emergency Medical Services Council; and (k) reappointed Jay Atkinson as the one citizen representative who resides east of Washington Street and north of King Street to the Alexandria Waterfront Committee. 7. City Council received the report and Strategic Plan of the Alexandria Archaeological Commission and thanked the Commission for their efforts on behalf of the City. 8. City Council authorized the City Manager to: 1. submit a grant application, in the amount of $2,000 to Keep America Beautiful, Inc.'s Graffiti Hurts National Grant Program; and 2. execute all necessary documents that may be required. 9. City Council approved the Board's amended FY 2008 Plan of Services, which includes approval of the performance contract with the State and a net increase of 1.75 revenue-supported FTE's. 10. City Council received the monthly financial report for the period ending May 2007. 11. City Council authorized the capital project allocations and planned expenditures for the capital projects as detailed in the Capital Improvement Expenditure Summary. 12. City Council authorized the City Manager to: 1. submit a renewal grant application to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for FY 2008 pass-through funding from EPA, in the amount of $39,630 for the City of Alexandria Air Pollution Control Program; and 2. execute all necessary documents that may be required. 13. City Council: 1. received the report of the Alexandria Fund for Human Services grant awards, which includes the Children's Fund, Youth Fund and Community Partnership Fund for FY 2008 and FY 2009 grant awards; and 2. thanked the members of the citizen review panels of the Early Childhood Commission, Youth Policy Commission and Community Partnership Fund for their leadership in the allocation process. (separate motion) 14. City Council authorized the City Manager to: 1. submit a grant application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for State and Tribal Assistance Grant (STAG) funding in the amount of $192,850, to be matched by City funding in the amount of $157,786 for implementation of these best management practice retrofits; and 2. execute all necessary documents and agreements that may be required to receive this funding under this grant program. 15. City Council accepted the results of fair housing tests conducted in fiscal year 2007 for discrimination in rental apartments based on race and national origin. 16. City Council: 1. approved the membership change which: (1) deletes the designated positions for members representing the Alexandria Interfaith Association, Inova Visiting Nurses Association Home Health Care, Public Health Advisory Commission, and Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority; and (2) broadens the qualification for the high school member to allow for students from any high school within the City limits; and 2. request the City Attorney to prepare the necessary ordinance for introduction and first reading at the September 10 legislative meeting. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ OTHER 17. Receipt of Report and Verbal Update on the Historic Preservation Conference and Update on the Status of the Historic Preservation Initiatives. City Council received the report from the Alexandria Historic Preservation Conference Committee and thanked them for their efforts on behalf of the City. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS 18. Alexandria Board of Architectural Review - Old and Historic District 2 Architects City Council appointed Wayne Neale and James Spencer as the two architects on the Alexandria Board of Architectural Review - Old and Historic District. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 19. Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee 3 Citizen Members City Council reappointed Mark Feldheim, Dennis Jones and Matthew Tallmer as the three citizen members to the Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 20. Alexandria Commission on Employment 2 Business Representatives From Among Recognized Area Businesses, Including Minority-Owned and Small Businesses City Council reappointed Jacqueline Woodard as the one business representative from among recognized area businesses, including minority-owned and small businesses to the Alexandria Commission on Employment. (The second business representative appointment will be made at the first legislative meeting in September.) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 21. Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission 2 Citizens-at-Large City Council reappointed Jerome Casagrande and Patrick Hagan as the two citizens-at-large to the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ PUBLIC HEARING 22. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Provide for Smoke-Free Restaurants. (#19, 6/16/07) [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council held the public hearing and passed the ordinance to provide for smoke-free restaurants. (ORD. NO. 4493) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION 23. Deferred from the June 16, 2007 Council Meeting: TEXT AMENDMENT #2007-0004 OUTDOOR DINING Public Hearing and Consideration of request to amend Section 6-800 of the Zoning Ordinance, the King Street Outdoor Dining Overlay Zone. Staff: Department of Planning and Zoning. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 5-0 City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation, with the following amendments: addition of a fee of $100 with $1.50 per square foot for new applications and renewals, to use the definition of furniture colors and what "vivid" colors mean, and to follow staff's guidance on banning bar stools, tall chairs and tables, which doesn't start until the next season. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 24. Introduction, First and Second Reading, Public Hearing and Final Passage of an Emergency Ordinance to Amend the City’s Zoning Ordinance by Adopting Amendments to the King Street Outdoor Dining Regulations. [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council passed an emergency ordinance to amend the City's Zoning Ordinance by adopting amendments to the King Street Outdoor Dining Regulations, making the end date the Monday before Thanksgiving and keeping the uniformity rule for existing encroachments. (ORD. NO. 4494) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 25. Receipt of the Report of the Committee to Review the Election Process in Alexandria for City Council and the School Board. City Council: 1. received the report and thanked the Committee for its work, and 2. scheduled it for comment at Council's public hearing meeting on October 13, 2007, along with asking for a staff analysis of the cost of going to full-time aides or at least two part-time aides when it comes back in October. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 26. Allocation of Funds from the FY 2008 Contingent Reserves for the Child Day Care Fee System. City Council allocated $577,000 to the Department of Human Services from funds designated in FY 2008 contingent reserve to hire a Social Worker I in the Office for Early Childhood Development and to begin clearing the fee system waiting list. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 27. Receipt of the Report of the City Manager's Small Business Task Force. City Council received the final report, thanked the Small Business Task Force for their work, and requested that the City Manager report back to Council before the end of 2007 with an update on the status of the action recommendations. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 28. Consideration of Report from the City Council's Naming Committee on Naming Opportunities to Recognize the Late Former Alexandria Mayor Frank E. Mann. City Council: 1. approved the recommendation of the Naming Committee to expand the use of the entrance to City Hall at Market Square as a place to locate plaques honoring important Alexandrians such as the late Frank E. Mann, former mayor and to place a plaque honoring Mayor Mann in the entryway across from the plaques honoring City police officers, sheriff's deputies and firefighters who have died in the line of duty; 2. set for public hearing on September 15 the recommendation of the Naming Committee to name the City baseball field at Four Mile Run Park in honor of the late former Mayor Mann; and 3. request the Park and Recreation Commission to provide Council with its recommendation on the naming of the field before the September 15 public hearing. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 29. Consideration of a City Bridge Loan to the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) to Pay Off the Mortgage for ARHA'S Glebe Park Property, To Prevent HUD Foreclosure. This item was deferred. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 30. Consideration of Funding Application for the Construction of Beasley Square, an Affordable Senior Housing Project, by Harambee Community and Economic Development Corporation. City Council approved a new loan allocation of $806,500 to Harambee for the construction of Beasley Square, an eight unit affordable rental development to serve low income seniors, as follows: a. the loan will be funded from City Housing Opportunities Fund (HOF) and will be combined with previous funding of $232,500 for a total loan of $1,039,000; b. the City's total loan will be converted to an interest-only loan at 2 percent interest with interest and principal to be repaid on a residual receipts basis, with the first payment to the City beginning five years after Harambee closes on permanent financing; c. the property shall remain affordable to senior households at or below 60 percent of the Washington area median income for the length of Harambee's ownership, but in no event less than 40 years. It is anticipated that the project will serve seniors (62 years or older) with Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers; d. The City's loan is contingent upon Harambee demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Director of the Office of Housing, that it has secured sufficient additional construction and permanent financing commitments from other sources to successfully complete construction of the project. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 31. Consideration of Funding Application for the Acquisition of Longview Terrace Apartments by Robert Pierre Johnson Housing Development Corporation (RPJ.) City Council approved a loan of $3,200,000 to RPJ for the acquisition of the 41 unit Longview Terrace Apartments, as follows: a. the loan will be an interest-only loan at two percent interest for the first five years after RPJ closes on permanent financing, with interest and principal to be repaid on a residual receipts thereafter (given the property's projected cash flow, RPJ estimates full loan payoff would occur around year 24); b. the property shall remain affordable to households at 60 percent of the Washington area median income for the length of RPJ's ownership, but in no event less than 40 years. To avoid displacement, when current tenants who earn more than 60 percent of the median income vacate the property, they will be replaced by income-qualified households; c. in the event RPJ elects to sell the property, RPJ shall offer the right of first refusal to the City, or its designee; and d. authorized the loan to be funded by City issued general obligation bonds financed by the revenues from the one-cent in real estate taxes dedicated for affordable housing. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 32. Consideration of a Request to Provide Funding to Continue Youth Programs at Essex House. City Council allocated $40,000 from the FY 2007 General Fund Contingent Reserves to provide funding to the Alexandria Olympic Boys and Girls Club so that their Essex House Youth Program can continue. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 33. Consideration of Staff Report on the National Park Service Jones Point Park Report and Their Schedule for Receipt of Comments. City Council authorized the Mayor to respond on behalf of the City, to the National Park Service (NPS) draft Jones Point Park Environmental Assessment (JPP EA) and reiterate the City's position as reaffirmed at the City Council meeting on October 10, 2006. The Draft Environmental Assessment is scheduled to be released on June 27, 2007, with slightly longer than a 30-day NPS-set comment period that will end July 30, 2007. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 34. Consideration of a License Agreement to Permit Fibergate of Virginia, LLC, to Install Fiber Optic Cable in Existing Conduits in the Public Right-of-way. City Council approved the five-year license agreement with Fibergate of Virginia, LLC., and authorized the City Manager to execute the license agreement and to take any other actions that are necessary to implement the agreement. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 34.1 Approval of the Authority of the City Manager to Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Alexandria City Public Schools for the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities to Provide Outdoor Maintenance Services at City Schools. City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding substantially in the form as attached with the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) for the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities to provide outdoor maintenance services to ACPS if such a final agreement can be reached with the ACPS before City Council's next legislative meeting in September of 2007. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES None The following two items were heard together: ORAL REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (a) Mayor Euille reported on his attendance at the U.S. Mayor's Annual Convention in Los Angeles last week, noting that the main theme of the conference was to focus on their ten point plan they developed in January, and there was a lot of discussion and presentation on greenhouse gas reduction, passing resolutions on immigration, climate agreements, tourism, economic development, transportation funding, funding for the arts and education issues. He said he hears from so many mayors from across the country that when they come to Washington, they stay in Alexandria and note how beautiful the City is. (b) Mayor Euille noted the tragic fire in Charleston, South Carolina, and said the City's Fire Department will be collecting donations until July 7, which will be forwarded to a memorial fund, and checks can be sent to box 24, attention Lt. David Bogozi. (c) Vice Mayor Pepper said she and Councilman Smedberg co-chair the workgroup that monitors the activities of the Mirant Plant. She said she received a phone call on Tuesday from David Paylor, the director of the Virginia DEQ to alert her that an engineering analysis had just been completed and it appeared that no permit would be needed to approve the stack merger plans that Mirant had brought forward. She said it wasn't even a month earlier that the State Air Pollution Control Board had granted an interim operating permit and part of that was not allowing for the stack merger plans at this time. Vice Mayor Pepper said it was amazing because there would be no public input and was told that on the following Monday (yesterday) that in Richmond, the decision would be made after a conference with the Governor's representatives in Richmond. She said she hoped the City Attorney would give an account of what happened since then and also an account of a court case where Mirant has sued the State Board, as well as DEQ as concerns the operating permit. She said one of the nice things that happened was that there was a rally on Saturday, and they were able to have a rally that was reasonably well attended. City Attorney Pessoa said that on May 23, the State Air Pollution Control Board voted to impose a rather strict permit on the operation of the Mirant Plant that limits that plant to emitting 3,800 tons per year of So2 and declined to approve for the third or fourth time the stack merger which Mirant is proposing. Mr. Pessoa said that last Tuesday, the staff, the Mayor and the Vice Mayor were notified that DEQ intended to completely circumvent the Air Board process and issue a determination that no permit was required for the stack merge to proceed. He said there was a meeting yesterday with the representative from the Governor's Office and the Attorney General's Office and the City argued that: 1. the agency had absolutely no authority to take this action, as the Air Board had divested the agency of that discretion when it elected to take direct control of the permitting process; 2. that the engineering report that the agency was proporting to rely on was completely inadequate and was issued by a person who has a track record of opposing environmental regulation; and 3. that the manner in which this was done involving a unilateral and precipitous and without any public opportunity for comment or input was completely arbitrary and capricious. Mr. Pessoa said that as a result of the meeting yesterday, they were informed that the department was reviewing those arguments and issues the City raised and was not going to issue a determination yesterday as originally forecast and would get back to the City in the future with their response. In addition, he said, Mirant filed a lawsuit challenging the merits and the authority of the Air Board to issue its decision, and the City has intervened in that action to defend the action of the Air Board, which was favorable to the City. Mr. Pessoa said the Mirant propaganda group has issued an attack on the Air Board, which calls the Air Board members a bunch of environmental extremists who are prejudiced against power plants, completely denigrating the efforts they devote largely on their own to protecting the health of the citizens in Virginia. Those arguments they have come forward with mimic the arguments in the storm engineering report that was the basis for DEQ's action. They also say that the Air Board came to the decision with minimal discussion, notwithstanding that they had five days of hearings and five meetings to discuss the issue over the course of time. That is representative of the reaction of the power company to the decision by the Air Board and it is indicative of the need for the City's continued vigilance to protect and defend the decision of the Air Board. Vice Mayor Pepper said they did just about everything they possibly could - putting in a call to the Governor and contacting all of the legislators from Alexandria as well as Arlington. Councilman Smedberg said he put in a call to Mark Reuben, the Governor's counselor, on Friday. Mayor Euille said he signed a letter today that went to the Governor and said he will be in scheduled meetings on Tuesday, July 3 with the Governor on two other items, and this will be added to the agenda. Councilman Smedberg said that after talking with Mr. Reuben for some time, there was a point that stuck with him, and he gave him a chronological history of the City's and the resident's experiences over the last four and a half to five years. Councilman Smedberg said he gave Mr. Reuben numerous examples of residents and staff having to do what should be the DEQ's own work. (d) Councilmember Lovain said the Human Services Policy Committee of the COG began a study of the foster care in the region, and he was struck that the Virginia reimbursement rate for foster care families is way below that of D.C. and Maryland. For example, for a child four and under, it is $326 a month where it is $826 in D.C. He said he hoped it would be included in the legislative package for Richmond. He said it was noted that Arlington, for many years, has supplemented the State reimbursement by $100 a month, and maybe that is something the City should consider. Mayor Euille noted that the City does a supplemental to the child care. Councilmember Lovain said they should try to encourage Alexandria families to participate in foster care. (e) Councilmember Lovain said the Transportation Planning Board has MATOC, a program for Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination, which requires Virginia, Maryland, D.C. and Metro to talk to each other when they have a major incident, so it is now in someone's job description to consult with each other and to be sure they are coordinated. That agreement is now in place and that coordination will happen. (f) Councilmember Lovain said they were briefed on the Co2 numbers that are being collected by COG in anticipation of addressing the climate change problem. The number one source of Co2 emissions in this country are electricity generating power plants, and the worse offenders are the dirty coal ones. (g) Councilmember Lovain said they also had a briefing on the 14th Street project, which is now in an EIS phase, and they are looking at all possibilities to improve that corridor. (h) Councilmember Lovain said he received a communication about half day preschools and whether there are things they can do to try to do, either through zoning changes or other creative thinking, to help out the preschools, as they don't have enough preschool space for the kids and the demand. He said he hoped they could look into some of those possibilities to see if there is more the City can do. Mayor Euille said he would be bringing up this summer a suggestion that a couple members of Council can work with staff on just what he is suggesting, as it has gotten to be very critical. (i) Councilman Smedberg said on the issue of buses, now that they have the National Harbor group in place, he was surprised that buses were not listed on it as an item of concern. He said they should start looking at that issue, as they are getting more complaints. It is not only the number of buses and where they are going but the size of the buses. He said Alexandria seems to be the only historic area that allows buses to go anywhere they want. Councilman Smedberg said they need to look at that issue over the summer and early fall. (j) Councilman Smedberg said one thing that came up last night at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge meeting was the whole issue of trucks and jake-breaking. It was also mentioned that Tennessee and a number of other states have enacted legislation that gave localities the ability to put up signs, so maybe that is something the City should look at and talk to the State about having signs for that. (k) Councilman Smedberg said when looking at the board and commission situation, as it looks at residents and at-large slots, they need to look at groups like the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association or the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership and look at their enacting legislation, to see how they can better promote residents and get interest among residents to be part of the process. He said he wasn't sure how far they are reaching out into the community, or, if someone in the community sees the advertisement and has an interest, are they considered by the groups. Ms. Boyd, Director of Citizen Assistance, noted that someone must be a member of the ACVA to be considered as a representative of their organization. Councilman Smedberg said this needs to be stepped up and look at the enabling legislation, particularly given the fact that they have a new executive director coming on board and there are other issues that the marketing sub-group are looking at in terms of how they promote themselves. Mayor Euille said they need to schedule a work session in early September/October with staff and invite the chairs and executive directors of both organizations and it should have a discussion. (l) Councilman Krupicka updated Council on the City/School Board meeting last evening. The Schools reported back on the issue of track facilities at T.C. Williams, and the Schools intend to build a new track, but work will not start until next Spring and not be completed until next Summer. In the meantime, students will do satellite track usage with the partnering private schools in the City. (m) Councilman Krupicka said that as related to the budget process, all have made comments to the Schools about the need for them to improve their budget format and make it more clear and understandable to the community. The answer is they are doing it and making real progress. (n) Councilman Krupicka said they discussed last night with the Schools the receipt of the Governor's School Evaluation Report, and the highlights were very favorable to the current School administration and the work they are doing and the way they are organizing Schools. The report includes recommendations for efficiency improvements and management changes and areas of emphasis to change. He said that while they did identify efficiencies, this report is the first audit of its kind by the Governor's Office that proposed more spending as opposed to less. He said the School Board chair said they would use it to guide their strategic planning and decision making. He said the Mayor has proposed having a work session with them early this year, in September, to start talking about budgets. (o) Councilman Krupicka said that October 14 is the grand-opening of T.C. Williams, and a committee is working to create an amazing community event. (p) Councilman Krupicka said that in talking with a number of residents on the West End, reading the economic sustainability draft report they received a week or so ago, with the Chamber, the business community and citizens, there is a very strong feeling that they are not making as much progress on the West End planning efforts as they would like to be making, and it struck him that they could be doing a better job in that area. He said a lot of the issue does come down to resources and capacity. Councilman Krupicka asked the City Manager to bring forward to the Council in September a proposal that would allow them to speed up the Eisenhower West planning process by adding additional staff and resources as necessary to make that happen. He said he believed Landmark and Van Dorn are on track to get done this year, but they also want to make sure Eisenhower West gets started as quickly as possible and finished as quickly as possible. (q) Councilman Krupicka said that Carolyn Casson, who is a resident of Alexandria, applied for and received a $2,000 grant from the Sierra Club to provide high efficiency light bulbs to affordable housing projects. He said Ms. Casson should be recognized for the hard work she's put into it. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER City Manager Hartmann reported that: he has appointed Adam Thiel as the new Fire Chief and he will begin work August 6; and he has appointed Stephen Gordon as the Director of Procurement and he will begin work June 29. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS 35. Consideration of a Resolution Establishing a City Position on Proposed Federal Legislation Providing Additional Flights and Changes to the Perimeter Rules at Reagan National Airport. [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council adopted a resolution opposing additional slots and perimeter rule changes at the Reagan Washington National Airport by supporting the position taken by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG.) (RES. NO. 2238) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 36. Consideration of a Resolution on Developing a Fee Policy and Fee Increases For the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Activities for FY 2008. [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council adopted a resolution for the recommended fee increases of non-programmatic fees and fees for youth sports participation and nonresident participation fees of RPCA, effective July 1, 2007, and allowing for future inflation related adjustments, with an amendment that any fee over the regional inflation rate, as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the CPIU, be brought back to City Council. (RES. NO. 2239) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 37. Deferred from the June 16, 2007 Council Meeting. Final Passage of an Ordinance to Codify the 2006 Change in Funding Level of the Open Space Trust Fund Account at One Percent of the Total Real Estate Tax Assessment in the City. (#20, 6/12/07, #28, 6/16/07)) [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council passed an ordinance to codify the 2006 change in funding level of the Open Space Trust Fund Account at one percent of the total real estate tax assessment in the City, with an amendment to subsection (d), to add the words "and capital expenditures including, but not limited to, demolition, clean-up, grading, engineering and design work, and the acquisition and installation of furniture, structures, landscaping, apparatus and facilities, for such use and improvement of the site." (ORD. NO. 4493) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 38. Consideration of a Resolution Extending the Term of the Affordable Housing Initiatives Work Group. [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council adopted a resolution extending the term of the Affordable Housing Initiatives Work Group through December 31, 2008 and repealed Resolution No. 2195 which established a work group on affordable and workforce housing, now known as the Affordable Housing Initiatives Work Group. (RES. NO. 2240) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 39. Consideration of Transfer Resolution for the FY 2007 General Fund Operating Budget. [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council adopted a resolution for the FY 2007 General Fund Operating Budget, which transfers $4,064,000 in budgeted funds to eight departmental accounts from seventeen departmental accounts. (RES. NO. 2241) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ OTHER 40. Consideration of City Council Schedule. City Council: 1. scheduled the Charles Houston groundbreaking ceremony at 8:30 a.m. before Council's Saturday, September 15 public hearing meeting; 2. tentatively scheduled Council's annual retreat on Saturday, November 3 (location to be determined); and 3. received the revised calendar which includes the City's annual USA/Alexandria Birthday Celebration on Saturday, July 7 from 4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Oronoco Bay Park (rain date Sunday, July 8, fireworks only.) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SESSION 41. Consideration of Convening An Executive Session Closed to the Public to Discuss threatened and pending litigation and the performance reviews of the City Manager, City Clerk and City Attorney, and compensation review of the Commonwealth Attorney. At 11:00 p.m., City Council convened in Executive Session, pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A)(1) of the Code of Virginia,for the purpose of discussing the performance during the past fiscal year of the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk, and the compensation of the Commonwealth's Attorney; and pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(a)(7) to discuss litigation involving the Mirant Power Plant and LCOR/PTO real estate taxes, and in lieu of an executive session, that Council approve the settlement of the workers' compensation claims of: Tommy Pasley (T&ES), Keiko Crummedy (Police), Walter Craven Powell (Police), Kathleen Mary Bryand (Fire) and Kenneth Claggett (Fire) as outlined in the memoranda from the City Attorney. At 11:55 p.m., City Council reconvened the meeting. City Council approved the receipt of the performance reviews; authorized the Mayor to meet with the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk for the purpose of reviewing performance; and authorized the Mayor to designate an appropriate merit increase along the lines discussed in the executive session for the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk, and that City Council approve an increase in salary for the Commonwealth's Attorney, and that City Council authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to settle the LCOR/PTO real estate tax case along the lines discussed with Council. City Council adopted the resolution pertaining to the Executive Session. (RES NO. 2242) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ * * * * * * The meeting adjourned at 11:57 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.