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. New Business Item No. 1: Mayor Euille wished everyone a Happy New Year and asked everyone to be safe. He also reminded everyone of First Night on December 31 in Alexandria. Vice Mayor Pepper noted the exhibit in the Vola Lawson Lobby today on the 50th anniversary of NICE - National International Cultural Exhibits. It is an exhibit of the contributions and achievements of African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and women. Mayor Euille noted that Council was at the groundbreaking for the Potomac Yard Fire Station this morning. 2. Public Discussion Period. (a) Gary Carr, 218 Aspen Street, spoke about his meeting with staff regarding the construction of an eight-lane track or the reconstruction of a track at Hammond and George Washington Middle School and noted the synopsis of the meeting was that if an eight-lane track was going to be built, the only site available is at the George Washington site. He said he was informed of construction difficulties to build it at that site, but it is an argument worth having. Mr. Carr said that in the absence of the building of the eight-lane track at George Washington, a six-lane track could be built at the Braddock Road field site and at the Hammond upper field site. The only impediment to doing that, he said, is money. He said this is a health issue and said childhood obesity has reduced life expectancy of children, it is a safety issue in that the track coach doesn't have a place to practice, and it will be two years if Council doesn't take any action on some kind of immediate basis. (b) Amy Slack, 2307 E. Randolph Avenue, addressed tradition and said that traditional is happy holidays and it used to be Merry Christmas. They have heard what is tradition - tradition is what they make it and is not something that is set in stone and is subject to change as life and circumstances change. Ms. Slack said in the new Transportation Master Plan (TMP) and the economic sustainability report, there were a couple of things they have traditionally not given a great deal of look at, and that is how do they get transportation moving around other than cars. Ms. Slack said the TMP has addressed that nicely and she was amazed at how much work has gone into it. One of the things they haven't looked at as they have tried to calm traffic and make it more pedestrian friendly is how do they still move goods and services through the community. If they make streets narrower, how do the trucks navigate those streets, and how do they help the small businesses get the goods they need in a timely fashion where they need to have them? It is important that as a City, they also look at how do they help their small businesses and medium businesses and growing technologies with getting them those goods and services in a safe fashion that is compatible with the other plan, and in an expedited fashion. (c) Maria Nieto, 422 N. Armistead Street, #202, on behalf of the Linden LaRouche group, requested Council to implement the Homeowners and Bank Protection Act of 2007 to avoid more deeply people being out on the streets and said the crisis will be deeper than the 1930's. Mayor Euille said they would ask staff in the Office of Housing and others to track it and bring it to Council's attention as necessary. (d) Deborah T. Johnson, 907 W. Glebe Road, with local government affairs for Dominion Resources, said they became aware yesterday that Council was considering action on a power station they have proposed in Wise County, Virginia and said they were not able to have one of the experts or project managers to be at this meeting and she asked Council to delay its vote to afford Dominion the opportunity to give Council a detailed briefing on the project. With regard to timing, she said it is their understanding that there is concern about a State Corporation Commission public hearing on the project in January and she would observe that matters in this resolution primarily concern the projects air quality permit, which is within the purview of the State Air Pollution Control Board, not the State Corporation Commission. Ms. Johnson said the Department of Environmental Quality has not yet published the permit for public comment and expects to do so in the next few weeks, and once this occurs, there will be a 45-day period for public comment, so there is no urgency for Council to act today on this matter, and she requested a delay of this resolution. (e) Julie Crenshaw Van Fleet, 26 Wolfe Street, spoke about a matter that requires Police Chief Baker's attention, in that the other night, she went to the Saul Center to use Kinko's. She said she had parked in the parking garage because she understood tow trucks are towing people from the no parking circle in front. When she got near her car, she heard yelling and screaming and someone rushing around, so she got in the car and locked it and called the Police. Ms. Crenshaw Van Fleet said she said to the fellow on the phone that she was in the upper parking garage on North Washington Street at the Saul Center and there is someone running around who sounds like they are a nut and said she was by herself. She said the response she received was if she knew if the person was homeless or drunk. She said she wondered why they didn't ask her if she was okay or what is the proximity of this person and if she thought the person was dangerous. She said he was at the window of the car, so she couldn't drive off, as she could hit the person and didn't look at him. She said she didn't know if he was armed and didn't care. Ms. Crenshaw Van Fleet said she couldn't tell him the number block or exact block address, but only that it was North Washington Street at the Saul Center, behind Starbucks and Kinkos, but was told by the person she was talking to that he had to have the number address or he couldn't help her. She said the Police need training for instances such as this and said she was very dissatisfied with the Police Department. She said she would park in the no parking zone from now on and she dared them to bring a wrecker to tow her car. She said there is a problem with the Police Department and they do not know how to address these issues and she said she will write about this. REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR (3-9) Planning Commission 3. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2007-0111 1432 DUKE STREET COMMERCIAL SCHOOL Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to operate a commercial school; zoned OCM(50)/Office Commercial Medium. Applicant: Alexander Atwood PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 6-0 (A copy of the Planning Commission report dated December 4, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 3, 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 4. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2007-0109 502 JOHN CARLYLE STREET (Parcel Address: 520 John Carlyle Street) MOE'S SOUTHWEST GRILL Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to operate a restaurant; zoned CDD-1/Coordinated Development District. Applicant: A Guy Named Moe At Carlyle, LLC by Duncan Blair, attorney PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 6-0 (A copy of the Planning Commission report dated December 4, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 4, 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 5. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2007-0120 2411 MT VERNON AVENUE (PARCEL ADDRESS: 2401 MT VERNON AVE.) CHEESTIQUE Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for an amendment to an existing restaurant to allow the off-premise sale of alcohol; zoned CL/Commercial Low. Applicant: Phillippa Jill Erber PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval w/amendments 6-0 (A copy of the Planning Commission report dated December 4, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 5, 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 6. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2007-0104 1743 KING STREET ERNIE'S CRAB HOUSE Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for an amendment to increase the hours and the seating at a restaurant; zoned OCH/Office Commercial High. Applicant: James Mao (Deferred from November docket) PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0 (A copy of the Planning Commission report dated December 4, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 6, 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 7. TEXT AMENDMENT #2007-0007 INFILL REGULATIONS Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to amend Section 7-1002 of the Zoning Ordinance to extend interim regulations on threshold height and the subdivision criteria. Staff: Department of Planning and Zoning PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0 (A copy of the Planning Commission report dated December 4, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 7, 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 8. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2007-0110 1023 DUKE STREET SALES AND INFORMATION TRAILERS Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for an information and sales trailer; zoned CL/Commercial Low. Applicant: Van Metre Residential Investments, LLC by M. Catharine Puskar PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval w/amendments 7-0 (A copy of the Planning Commission report dated December 4, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 8, 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 9. STREET NAME CASE #2007-0002 BARECROFT PLACE OAK GROVE DEVELOPMENT Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for a street name change; zoned R-20/Residential. Applicant: City of Alexandria, Department of Planning and Zoning PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0 (A copy of the Planning Commission report dated December 4, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 9, 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) END OF ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Pepper, seconded by Councilman Gaines and carried unanimously, City Council adopted the consent calendar, with the removal of items #3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 and considered them under separate motions, as follows: 6. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation. 8. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation. The voting was as follows: Pepper "aye" Krupicka "aye" Gaines "aye" Lovain "aye" Euille "aye" Smedberg "aye" Wilson "aye" 3. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2007-0111 1432 DUKE STREET COMMERCIAL SCHOOL Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to operate a commercial school; zoned OCM(50)/Office Commercial Medium. Applicant: Alexander Atwood PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 6-0 (A copy of the Planning Commission report dated December 4, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 3, 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) The following person participated in the public hearing on this item: (a) Jim Mysliwiec, 7626 Trail Run Road, Falls Church, property manager for 1432 Duke Street, Merrifield Properties, and he spoke for denial of the application. There were questions from City Council about the trash and problems outside the building, along with yearly review of the application, which were answered by Planning and Zoning Department staff. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Wilson, seconded by Councilman Gaines and carried unanimously, City Council closed the public hearing. The voting was as follows: Wilson "aye" Pepper "aye" Gaines "aye" Krupicka "aye" Euille "aye" Lovain "aye" Smedberg "aye" WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Wilson, seconded by Councilman Krupicka and carried unanimously, City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation. The voting was as follows: Wilson "aye" Pepper "aye" Krupicka "aye" Gaines "aye" Euille "aye" Lovain "aye" Smedberg "aye" 4. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2007-0109 502 JOHN CARLYLE STREET (Parcel Address: 520 John Carlyle Street) MOE'S SOUTHWEST GRILL Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to operate a restaurant; zoned CDD-1/Coordinated Development District. Applicant: A Guy Named Moe At Carlyle, LLC by Duncan Blair, attorney PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 6-0 (A copy of the Planning Commission report dated December 4, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 4, 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) There was discussion among Council on the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership roundtable discussion on a model for retail development in Carlyle and how the Planning staff report was written, as it misstated what happened at the roundtable. There was also discussion of a need for an update and clarity on the roundtable discussion and on any landuse changes in Carlyle. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Smedberg, seconded by Vice Mayor Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation. The voting was as follows: Smedberg "aye" Gaines "aye" Pepper "aye" Krupicka "aye" Euille "aye" Lovain "aye" Wilson "aye" 5. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2007-0120 2411 MT VERNON AVENUE (PARCEL ADDRESS: 2401 MT VERNON AVE.) CHEESTIQUE Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for an amendment to an existing restaurant to allow the off-premise sale of alcohol; zoned CL/Commercial Low. Applicant: Phillippa Jill Erber PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval w/amendments 6-0 (A copy of the Planning Commission report dated December 4, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 5, 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) The following persons participated in the public hearing on this item: (a) Maria Wasowski, 306 Hume Avenue, speaking on behalf of the Potomac West Business Association, spoke in favor of the request. (b) Amy Slack, 2307 E. Randolph Avenue, spoke in favor of the request. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Wilson, seconded by Vice Mayor Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council closed the public hearing. The voting was as follows: Wilson "aye" Gaines "aye" Pepper "aye" Krupicka "aye" Euille "aye" Lovain "aye" Smedberg "aye" Questions were asked by City Council regarding the administrative process for review, which were answered by Planner Bray. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Wilson, seconded by Vice Mayor Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation. The voting was as follows: Wilson "aye" Gaines "aye" Pepper "aye" Krupicka "aye" Euille "aye" Lovain "aye" Smedberg "aye" 7. TEXT AMENDMENT #2007-0007 INFILL REGULATIONS Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to amend Section 7-1002 of the Zoning Ordinance to extend interim regulations on threshold height and the subdivision criteria. Staff: Department of Planning and Zoning PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0 (A copy of the Planning Commission report dated December 4, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 7, 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) Questions were asked by Council about the timeframe of the recommendations coming from the task force and if they might see it before the projected Fall of 2008 timeframe, which was answered by Planner Peterson that they are on schedule. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Smedberg, seconded by Vice Mayor Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation. The voting was as follows: Smedberg "aye" Gaines "aye" Pepper "aye" Krupicka "aye" Euille "aye" Lovain "aye" Wilson "aye" 9. STREET NAME CASE #2007-0002 BARECROFT PLACE OAK GROVE DEVELOPMENT Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for a street name change; zoned R-20/Residential. Applicant: City of Alexandria, Department of Planning and Zoning PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0 (A copy of the Planning Commission report dated December 4, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 9, 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) Questions were asked by Council with regard to the reasoning for using the word "president" in the name, which was answered by Planner Farner and Deputy City Manager Evans. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Wilson, seconded by Councilman Gaines and carried unanimously, City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation. The voting was as follows: Wilson "aye" Pepper "aye" Gaines "aye" Krupicka "aye" Euille "aye" Lovain "aye" Smedberg "aye" Mayor Euille said that at the point in time that they will move forward with it, he asked that it is a program/ribbon cutting dedication and they invite the Ford family. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER 10. Public Hearing and Consideration of Adoption in Principle of the Recommendations of the Mayor's Economic Sustainability Work Group. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated December 11, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 10; 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) The following persons participated in the public hearing on this item: (a) Rick Dorman, 2724 Kenwood Avenue, representing the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, spoke in support of adoption of the report and recommendations. (b) Elizabeth Moon, 1110 W. Mason Avenue, chair-elect of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, spoke in support of the work group plan in full. (c) Lonnie Rich, 1199 N. Fairfax Street, representing the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and a member of the workgroup, spoke in support of the report and he also spoke about Metrorail and the waterfront. (d) Jack Sullivan, 4300 Ivanhoe Place, said that he is not speaking on behalf of the Seminary Hill Association, he is reflecting the views of that organization, and said he was concerned about the proposal to revisit the zoning laws and SUP process once again and by endorsing the report, they are making a significant shift in the City's development philosophy. He said affordable housing remains a goal, but this report suggests it cannot be allowed to trump other important objectives, which include revenue returns to Alexandria. He urged adoption of the report. (e) David M. Martin, 1400 King Street, president of Old Town Business and Professional Association, spoke in full support of adoption of the Plan. (f) Leslie Zupan, 1309 Queen Street, president-elect, Inner City Civic Association but speaking on her own behalf, spoke in support of adoption of the Plan and said she was concerned with the Braddock Road Metro area and the proposed development there. She also spoke about the potential of return to the community through the redevelopment of public housing, property of which is owned by ARHA. (g) Maria Wasowski, 306 Hume Avenue, spoke in support of the Plan. (h) Larry Grossman, 1123 Powhatan Street, spoke in support of the Plan and spoke of renaming Metro stations, Zoning Ordinance compliance with the Master Plan, and the building of a new Metro station. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Pepper, seconded by Councilman Krupicka and carried unanimously, City Council closed the public hearing. The voting was as follows: Pepper "aye" Gaines "aye" Krupicka "aye" Lovain "aye" Euille "aye" Smedberg "aye" Wilson "aye" WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Pepper, seconded by Councilman Gaines and carried unanimously, City Council adopted in principle the recommendations of the Economic Sustainability Work Group. The voting was as follows: Pepper "aye" Krupicka "aye" Gaines "aye" Lovain "aye" Euille "aye" Smedberg "aye" Wilson "aye" 11. Public Hearing and Consideration of the Proposed Gypsy Moth Suppression Program For Spring 2008. (#15, 11/27/07) (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated November 20, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 11; 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) Questions were asked by Council concerning notice of the spraying, which was answered by City Arborist Noelle and Arborist Dieruf. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Krupicka, seconded by Councilman Gaines and carried unanimously, City Council closed the public hearing and moved approved the Gypsy Moth Suppression Program for Spring 2008, as follows: 1. aerial application of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) over one spray block totaling 100-acres that includes 427 properties located in the Beverley Hills community bounded by South Overlook Drive and Pulman Place on the north, Old Dominion Boulevard and Washington Circle on the east, Allison Street on the south and Wellington Road on the west in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS); 2. declaration that the aerial and ground spray programs are to be voluntary, that a 200-foot buffer zone will be maintained around the property of any resident or property owner objecting to the aerial application over their residence or property; 3. notification of all residents and property owners within the proposed spray block and wind-drift buffer area; 4. voluntary ground spray of B.t. for susceptible tree species located on properties within the 200-foot buffer zone created by an objecting property owner; 5. authorization for the City Manager to submit the State and federal funding applications and to enter into the required agreements for the Gypsy Moth Suppression program and file the required congested area flight plan; and 6. implementation of other gypsy moth suppression measures to include the distribution of burlap for banding trees and educational materials in cooperation with VDACS. The voting was as follows: Krupicka "aye" Pepper "aye" Gaines "aye" Lovain "aye" Euille "aye" Smedberg "aye" Wilson "aye" 12. Consideration of Proposed Authorization to Acquire Properties at 4530 and 4600 King Street and 3451 North Beauregard Street. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated December 12, 2007, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 12; 12/15/07, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Pepper, seconded by Councilman Krupicka and carried unanimously by roll call vote, City Council: 1. authorized the City Manager to execute an acquisition agreement for 4530 and 4600 King Street and 3451 N. Beauregard Street as outlined in the Principal Terms of Agreement; 2. authorize funding on a temporary basis the acquisition of these six parcels ($5.0 million) and the demolition of the existing medical office building ($0.8 million) from previously appropriated pay-as-you-go cash capital funds; 3. authorize funding on a permanent basis the $5.8 million from the proceeds of a future general obligation bond or general obligation note sale; and 4. adopted the resolution declaring the City's intent to reimburse itself the $5.8 million temporary cash funding source from the proceeds of a future general obligation bond or note sale. The voting was as follows: Pepper "aye" Gaines "aye" Krupicka "aye" Lovain "aye" Euille "aye" Smedberg "aye" Wilson "aye" The resolution reads as follows: