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Office of the City Clerk
December 12, 2007

There was a Work Session at 5:30 p.m.
in the City Council Work Room on the
Early Childhood Commission.


Regular Meeting
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - - 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 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 Meeting of City Council:

(a) The Regular Meeting Minutes of November 19, 2007;

(b) The Public Hearing Meeting Minutes of November 19, 2007; and

(c) The Regular Meeting Minutes of November 27, 2007.

City Council approved the regular meeting minutes of November 19, 2007; the public hearing meeting minutes of November 19, 2007 and the regular meeting minutes of November 27, 2007.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

4. Installation of Officers and Committee Chairs of the Alexandria Youth Council.

Mayor Euille installed the officers and committee chairs of the Alexandria Youth Council.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

PROCLAMATIONS

5. Presentation of a Proclamation Recognizing E. Sanders Partee, Eakin/Youngentob Associates and John Milner Associates, Inc., as the winners of the 2007 Ben Brenman Awards.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

6. Presentation of a Proclamation Declaring December 31, 2007 as Fair Weather Day Throughout the City of Alexandria.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

7. Presentation of a Proclamation Declaring December as Human Rights Month in the City of Alexandria.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

CONSENT CALENDAR (8-17)

(Resignations and Uncontested Appointments)

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

9. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:
2 Citizen Members
1 Citizen Member Who Is 60 Years of Age or Older
1 Representative of Older Persons
1 Citizen Member

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

(k) Alexandria Waterfront Committee
1 Representative From the Old Town Civic Association
1 Representative From the Alexandria Environmental Policy
Commission
1 Representative From the Founders Park Community Association

(Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager)

10. Appointment of Participant Representatives and Alternates to the City of Alexandria Firefighters and Police Officers Pension Plan Retirement Board.

11. Receipt of the Alexandria Community Services Board FY 2007 Annual Report.

12. Consideration of Authorization for Grant Submission to the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to Support Initiatives of the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria.

(Ordinances for Introduction)

13. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Permit Hotels to Offer Massage Services to Registered Guests, Subject to Licensing and Regulation By the City.

14. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Require the Submission and Approval of Drainage Plans and Related Information in Connection With Certain Types of Infill Development.

15. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Revise Taxicab Fares.

16. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Prohibit Through Trucks on a Portion of West Taylor Run Parkway.

17. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Extend the King Street Outdoor Dining Regulations Until March 31, 2008.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the consent calendar, with the exception of docket items #11 and #14, which were considered under separate motions. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows:

8. City Council accepted the following resignations with regret: (a) Robert Freedman, Alexandria Beautification Commission; (b) David Zuckerkandel, Alexandria Board of Architectural Review - Parker-Gray District; (c) Susan J. Cluff, Historic Alexandria Resources Commission; and (d) Ari Gerstman, Alexandria Sister Cities Committee.

9. City Council made the following appointments: (a) reappointed Vikash Mohan as the citizen member to the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee; (b) appointed Phyllis Ahlman and reappointed Amanda Gordon as the two citizen member to the Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee; (c) reappointed William Harris as the citizen member who is 60 years of age or older and appointed Carol Downs as the one representative of older persons to the Alexandria Commission on Aging; (d) appointed Nadine Eads and Christine Jones and reappointed Brent Minor as the three citizens to the Alexandria Commission on HIV/AIDS; (e) appointed Louise Harrison as the citizen with a disability to the Alexandria Commission on Person with Disabilities; (f) appointed Saida Musse as the member of the Alexandria Social Services Advisory Board to the Alexandria Early Childhood Commission; (g) appointed W. Scooter Slade as the citizen member to the Alexandria Emergency Medical Services Council; (h) waived the residency requirement and reappointed George Seghers as the member nominated by the Masonic Fraternity to the Alexandria George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee; (i) reappointed Jerome Cordts and appointed Kathryn Taylor as the two non-health professionals to the Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission; (j) reappointed Clarence Henley as the citizen member to the Alexandria Public Records Advisory Commission; and (k) reappointed Susan Pettey as the representative from the Old Town Civic Association, appointed Peter Pennington as the representative from the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission, and reappointed Charles Hamel as the representative from the Founders Park Community Association to the Alexandria Waterfront Committee.

10. City Council appointed the following individuals to the City of Alexandria Firefighters and Police Officers Pension Board (the "Board") effective January, 2008: participant representatives and alternates nominated and elected by Firefighters: Michael Cross, Christopher Lockwood and Patrick Evans (alternate) and participant representatives and alternates elected by Police Officers: Albert Tierney, Edward Milner and Shirl Mammarella (alternate).

11. City Council received the Alexandria Community Services Board's Fiscal Year 2007 Annual Report. (separate motion)

12. City Council authorized the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS) to submit a grant (due January 31, 2008), and if awarded, accept a one-time award up to $15,000 from DMHMRSAS for developing the capacity of Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria (the Coalition).

13. This item has been deferred.

14. City Council approved the ordinance on first reading and set it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on December 15, 2007. (separate motion)

15. City Council approved the ordinance amending the City's taxicab regulations to increase taxicab fares, passed it on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, December 15. If City Council approved the ordinance, the increase in fares would become effective on January 1, 2008.

16. City Council approved the ordinance on first reading and set it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on December 15, 2007.

17. City Council approved the ordinance on first reading and set it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on December 15, 2007.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS

18. Alexandria Marketing Committee
1 Citizen-at-Large

City Council appointed Roger Parks as the citizen-at-large to the Alexandria Marketing Committee.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

OTHER

19. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Designate Certain Commercial and Industrial Property as a Separate Classification For Real Estate Tax Purposes.

City Council passed the proposed ordinance on first reading, and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, December 15, 2007.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION

20. Consideration of Staff Report on the City's Snow Removal Policies.

City Council received the staff report on the City's snow removal policies.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

21. Consideration of Alexandria Human Rights Commission Report on Citizen Appointments to the City Boards and Commissions For FY 2005-2007.

This item has been deferred until January 2008.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

22. Receipt of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government's Report on "Greening the Washington Metropolitan Region's Built Environment."

This item has been deferred until January 2008.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

None

***Please note the following items were heard together.***

ORAL REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Vice Mayor Pepper reported that the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) held its 60th Anniversary Celebration last Friday and presented awards to jurisdictions for outstanding programs. Vice Mayor Pepper noted that Alexandria received four Regional Partnership Awards. Vice Mayor Pepper presented Council with the following awards: Regional Partnership Award to Employment and Day Support Services for People with Mental Retardation and Mental Illness; Regional Partnership Award to Regional Data Exchange Hub Project; and Regional Partnership Award to Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners Stormwater Education Campaign.

(b) Vice Mayor Pepper reported that the week of December 3-7 was proclaimed Employees Training Week and the American Society for Training and Development presented the City with an award and book for recognizing Employee Learning Week.

(c) Councilman Smedberg stated that several jurisdictions submitted applications and the awards were to highlight successful programs that have had an impact on the community. Councilman Smedberg stated that the awards the City received were from applications submitted to NVRC by Arlington, Fairfax and other jurisdictions. Councilman Smedberg noted that Alexandria did not submit any applications, to his disappointment. Councilman Smedberg stated that the City should have press releases sent out to highlight the awards and requested that the news be highlighted on the website.

(d) Councilman Smedberg presented the City with a Regional Partnership Award to Four Mile Run Restoration Project from the Northern Virginia Regional Commission.

(e) Councilman Smedberg stated that several parents contacted Council about not receiving notices of school closings during inclimate weather. Councilman Smedberg also stated that some announcements should be sent to everyone.

Mayor Euille reported that he spoke with the E-Government Manager about the school announcements situation and noted that it did not affect many but those affected did not respond to an update in the school's alert system. Mayor Euille stated that he was assured the system was working properly and hopefully those types of problems can be avoided in the future.

(f) Councilman Smedberg stated that he received a resolution from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network concerning the new coal burning plant that is proposed for Wise County. Councilman Smedberg requested that the City of Alexandria consider endorsing the resolution and requested it be placed on the docket for the Saturday, December 15 meeting.

(g) Councilman Smedberg stated that over a month ago, the City considered an issue concerning historic preservation and renovation concerning the trophy shop on King Street. Councilman Smedberg reported that he has viewed the Board of Architectural Review (BAR) and Planning Commission meetings since then and pointed out that there are issues with how the projects are currently reviewed and gives the community the perception that the work will lead to approval. Councilman Smedberg stated that he believed the two processes (demolition and renovations) should be separate processes and the issue should be addressed soon. Councilman Smedberg requested that the Planning and Zoning Department present Council with a recommendation on how to proceed with these types of projects in the future.

Mayor Euille requested the members of Council refrain from discussing this issue any further because there will be a docket item on Saturday pertaining to this matter.

(h) Mayor Euille reported that the Alexandria Country Day School will be submitting a text amendment to the Planning and Zoning Department and Planning Commission for increased density for private schools for expansion of their existing school to include a new gymnasium and cafeteria. Mayor Euille noted that the Planning Director will be bringing this forward at a future date for consideration.

(i) Councilman Krupicka congratulated the businesses along King Street for the outstanding Christmas decorations and noted that Old Town is incredibly festive this year.

In response to Councilman Smedberg's request on additional information about historic preservation procedures, City Manager Hartmann clarified that there was a specific request to have a recommendation from Planning and Zoning regarding demolitions and renovations and he would check with the Planning Director on the status of the request. City Manager Hartmann noted that the recommendation would explain why the current system is in place and what type of modifications could be considered by Council.

Councilman Krupicka requested that the recommendations be prepared for the Saturday public hearing.

Vice Mayor Pepper stated that at the very least staff, should notify applicants of the history of demolition of historical buildings.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER

None.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

23. Consideration of a Resolution to Amend the City of Alexandria Firefighters and Police Officers Pension Plan.

City Council adopted the resolution which amends the City of Alexandria Firefighters and Police Officers Pension Plan to: (1) maintain the tax-free status of non-service partial disability benefits; (2) maintain the employee's total contribution rate at 8.0 percent; (3) provide greater flexibility in making needed contribution rate changes and time funding decisions with the City's annual budget process;and (4) amortize all elements of the unfunded liability consistently. (RES. NO. 2260)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

24. Consideration of a Resolution on the No Child Left Behind Requirements.

City Council adopted the resolution and requested the City Clerk to forward copies to the School Board and the Congressional delegation. (RES. NO. 2261)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

OTHER

25. Consideration of City Council Schedule.

City Council: (1) changed the time of the work session with the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association to 5:00 p.m., on Tuesday, March 11 to include a separate discussion with the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership as part of the agenda; (2) scheduled a work session to discuss the Alexandria Community Environmental Health Assessment at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Workroom before Council's March 25 legislative meeting; and received the revised calendar which included: the annual joint dinner with the Arlington County Board and the legislative delegations from Alexandria and Arlington as part of the Virginia Municipal League (VML) Day on Thursday, February 7 at 6:00 p.m., at the Jefferson Hotel, 101 West Franklin Street and a "Blue Jean" Philanthropy Summit Kick-off Breakfast at 8 a.m., on Friday, April 25, sponsored by the City, the Alexandria Volunteer Bureau, the Alexandria Community Trust and the Chamber of Commerce. The breakfast will be followed by a community service event that morning, concluding with a rally on Market Square in early afternoon (time to determined) to congratulate and recognize participants in the three-day community wide service event that concludes with the Rebuilding Alexandria Together program on Saturday.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

EXECUTIVE SESSION

26. Consideration of Convening An Executive Session Closed to the Public To Discuss Potential Litigation.

At 8:50 p.m., City Council convened in Executive Session pursuant to Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711(A)(7) for the purpose of discussing actual litigation involving (1) the Old Dominion Boat Club property and (2) the King Cab Company certificate of public convenience and necessity and potential litigation with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) involving Jones Point Park and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge settlement agreement.

At 9:52 p.m., City Council reconvened the meeting.

City Council directed staff to pursue all available remedies involving potential litigation with FHWA and the National Park Service involving Jones Point Park and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge settlement agreement.

City Council adopted the resolution pertaining to the Executive Session. (RES. NO. 2262)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________
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The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 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.




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 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.

City Council meetings are closed-captioned for the hearing impaired.
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THE CABLECAST SCHEDULE OF GOVERNMENT MEETINGS ON CHANNEL 70 FOLLOWS:



Updated 11/29/07
DECEMBER

December 1, City Council and Public Hearing - *Replay of 11/19 Meeting*
December 4, Planning Commission, 7:30 p.m., *LIVE*
December 6, Board of Architectural Review – Old & Historic District, 7:30 p.m., *TAPED*
December 6, School Board Meeting, 7:30 p. m. *LIVE*
December 7, Board of Architectural Review – Old & Historic District, *Replay of 12/06 Meeting*
December 11, City Council Meeting, 7:00 p.m., *LIVE*
December 12, Board of Architectural Review – Parker Gray District, 7:30 p.m., *LIVE*
December 13, Board of Zoning Appeals, 7:30 p.m., *LIVE*
December 14, City Council Meeting, *Replay of 12/11 Meeting*
December 15, City Council Public Hearing, 9:30 a.m., *LIVE*
December 19, Board of Architectural Review – Old & Historic District, 7:30 p.m., *LIVE*
December 20, School Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m., *LIVE*
December 22, City Council Public Hearing, *Replay of 10/13 Meeting*