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 Meeting of City Council: (a) The Regular Meeting Minutes of September 25, 2007. City Council approved the regular meeting minutes of September 25, 2007. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL None. PROCLAMATIONS 4. Presentation of a Proclamation Declaring October 2007 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. City Council endorsed the proclamation. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 5. Presentation of a Proclamation Declaring October 13-14, 2007 as Titan Pride and Homecoming Weekend and October 14 as Titan Pride Day. City Council endorsed the proclamation. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 6. Presentation of a Proclamation Declaring October as National Arts and Humanities Month. City Council endorsed the proclamation. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 7. Recognition of Greg Wyshynski as an Honorary Citizen of Alexandria. City Council recognized Mr. Wyshynski and his wife. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER CONSENT CALENDAR (8-15) (Resignations and Uncontested Appointments) 8. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees: (a) Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee 1 Citizen Member (b) Alexandria Beautification Commission 1 Citizen Member (c) Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee 1 Representative of Vice Mayor Redella S. Pepper (d) Alexandria Commission on Aging 2 Citizen Members (e) Alexandria Commission on Employment 2 Representatives From Such Organizations As Educational Agencies, Organized Labor, Rehabilitation Agencies, Community-Based Organizations, Economic Development Agencies, and the Public Employment Service (f) Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission 2 Members From the Field of Environmental Sciences (e.g. Environmental/Sanitary Engineering, Ecology, Geology, Botany, Hydrology, Chemistry) (g) Alexandria Local Emergency Planning Committee 1 Representative of A Community Group (h) Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission 1 Member From Among the High School Youth of the City of Alexandria (i) Alexandria Public Records Advisory Commission 1 Citizen Member (j) Alexandria Woodrow Wilson Bridge Neighborhood Task Force 1 Representative From the Eisenhower Valley Residential Community (k) Alexandria Youth Policy Commission 1 Member of City Boards, Commissions or Other Organizations Having An Interest in Youth Issues (l) Alexandria Economic Development Partnership 3 Citizen Members (Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager) 9. Consideration of a Grant Application by the Office on Women to the Virginia Department of Social Services to Continue the Healthy Marriage and Stable Families Initiative. 10. Consideration of Change to the Route of the 2007 Scottish Christmas Walk Parade. 11. Consideration of Two Grant Applications for a Training Mini-Grant and a Computer Hardware Grant From the Virginia Fire Services Board. (Ordinances for Introduction) 12. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Modify the Composition of the George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee. 13. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Modify the Composition and Functions of the Alexandria Marketing Committee, and Establish a New Standing Committee to be Known as the Alexandria Marketing Coordinating Council. 14. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend the City's Sanitary Sewer Pretreatment Regulations to Conform to State and Federal Law. 15. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Authorize the Establishment of Roadway Work Zone Speed Limits, and Prescribe the Penalty For Violating Such Limits. END OF CONSENT CALENDAR City Council approved the consent calendar, with the exception of docket item #15, which was considered under separate motion. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows: 8. City Council made the following appointments: (a) appointed Nicole Tousley as the one citizen member to the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee; (b) appointed Cathleen Curtin as the one citizen member to the Alexandria Beautification Commission; (c) appointed Michael Wenk as the one representative of Vice Mayor Redella S. Pepper to the Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee; (d) appointed Robert Eiffert and reappointed Mary Parker as the two citizen members to the Alexandria Commission on Aging; (e) waived the residency requirement and reappointed Amy Bell and appointed Brent Eastwood as the two representatives from such organizations as educational agencies, organized labor, rehabilitation agencies, community-based organizations, economic development agencies, and the public employment service to the Alexandria Commission on Employment; (f) appointed David Evans and reappointed Joy Pochatile as the two members from the field of environmental sciences (e.g. environmental/sanitary engineering, ecology, geology, botany, hydrology, chemistry) to the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission; (g) appointed Andrew Duncan as the one representative of a community group to the Alexandria Local Emergency Planning Committee; (h) appointed Amara Vogt as the one member from among the high school youth of the City of Alexandria to the Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission; (i) reappointed Louis Gioia as the one citizen member to the Alexandria Public Records Advisory Committee; (j) appointed Harold Hernly as the one representative from the Eisenhower Valley residential community to the Alexandria Woodrow Wilson Bridge Neighborhood Task Force; (k) appointed Charniele Herring as the one member of City boards, commissions or other organizations having an interest in youth issues to the Alexandria Youth Policy Commission; and (l) appointed Barbara Bennett, Donald Simpson, Jr., and Joyce Woodson as the three citizen members to the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership. 9. City Council authorized the Office on Women to submit a grant (due October 12, 2007) and if awarded, accept up to $22,500 from the Virginia Department of Social services (DSS) for the continuation of the Healthy Marriage and Stable Families Initiative: 1. approve the submission of the grant application to the Department of Social services to fund a portion (0.25 FTE) of a full-time Outreach and Prevention Specialist position under this initiative. The position falls under the auspices of the Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Program, and provides presentations and outreach to students, grades 5-10 on health relationships and domestic and sexual violence; 2. if this grant award was reduced or the program was discontinued, the individual who fills the position has been notified their position may be reduced or eliminated, was notified of this stipulation at the time of employment, and has signed an agreement of understanding with regard to this condition; and 3. authorized the City Manager to execute all documents that may be required. 10. City Council approved the requested change to the 2007 parade route for the Annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade scheduled for December 1, 2007. 11. City Council approved the submittal of two grants (due August 31, 2007 and September 30, 2007) and if awarded, accept up to $10,125 from the Virginia Fire Services Board (VFSB) for the following: 1. VFSB funding in the amount of $9,125 to purchase three laptop computers, two desktop computers, two podiums, and three mid-sized CRT TVs for the Fire & EMS Training Academy at Lee Center; 2. VFSB funding in the amount of $1,000 to purchase computer hardware for fire incident reporting, which mirrors the national reporting format required by the Commonwealth to report injuries and losses of life or property caused by fire and similar hazards; and 3. authorized the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required. 12. City Council approved the proposed ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, October 13, 2007. 13. City Council approved the proposed ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, October 13, 2007. 14. City Council approved the proposed ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, October 13, 2007. 15. City Council approved the proposed ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, October 13, 2007. (separate motion) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS 16. Alexandria Commission on Employment 1 Business Representative From Among Recognized Area Businesses, Including Minority-Owned and Small Businesses City Council appointed David Svec as the one business representative from among recognized area businesses, including minority-owned and small businesses, to the Alexandria Commission on Employment. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 17. Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission 1 Citizen Member City Council appointed Peter Pennington as the one citizen member to the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 18. Alexandria Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee 2 Members Representing the Potomac East Area (Northeast and Inner City) City Council deferred this item so that it could be readvertised. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 19. Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners 1 Citizen Member City Council reappointed Carlyle Ring, Jr., as the one citizen member to the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 20. Alexandria Youth Policy Commission 1 Individual Who Has An Interest in Issues Affecting Youth in the City City Council appointed Catherine Lada as the one individual who has an interest in issues affecting youth in the City to the Alexandria Youth Policy Commission. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION None. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES None ORAL REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (a) Vice Mayor Pepper noted that she and Councilman Smedberg monitor the activities at the Mirant Plant, and the State Air Quality Board will have its meeting tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. in Richmond at the General Assembly Building, and they will talk about the permits. City Attorney Pessoa said the DEQ put out two proposed permits they will present to the Board tomorrow. One permit involves the five existing stacks, and the second permit is for the two merged stacks. They see no legitimate reason for the DEQ to present the two stack permits to the Board tomorrow, they have written to the board stating the City's vehement objection to that, and they will reiterate that tomorrow. With respect to the five stack permit, the experts are reviewing that and it is certainly heading in the right direction, but it is not there yet. He said he was not sure whether the board will publish a permit for public comment and formal consideration tomorrow or whether they will desire to retain it and work on it a little bit more before they publish it for formal deliberation. (b) Councilman Smedberg said the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission met and discussed the proposed Metro fare increases and parking increases, and there will be a resolution coming forward on that. He noted they had a presentation on the evaluation of the Ride Free program for free bus rides on forecast Code Orange or Code Red Air Quality Days. They are looking at various options, and there is new money coming into the system and how to best use that money. They did a study, are evaluating the data, and are almost complete with that, so there will be a final report next month and a recommendation from the Commission to see what else can be done with the Ride Free programs. (c) Councilman Smedberg noted that Mayor Euille was elected vice president of the Virginia Transportation Association. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (a) Vice Mayor Pepper said that after 35 years with the City, Janet Barnett, the deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department, will be the new executive director of Senior Services of Alexandria. Vice Mayor Pepper said Ms. Barnett will be leaving the City on October 17, and she has been an outstanding worker and was everywhere doing everything and was really an extraordinary member of the Parks and Recreation Office, and she will be missed. (b) Vice Mayor Pepper said T.C. Williams High School has been called the Project of the Year in the education category of Mid-Atlantic Construction Magazine's Best of 2000 Awards Program. (c) Vice Mayor Pepper said she and Councilman Wilson attended the ride your bicycle or walk to school day and it was spectacular and they were delighted at the number of people who participated. She said there was an interesting concept that it was not just meant to be a one day event. This was trying to change habits and to do something special about getting people to walk more frequently. (d) Councilman Wilson said he wanted to follow-up on an email received from Legislative Director Bernie Caton on dangerous dogs. He said he was contacted by a resident whose dog was maimed by a dangerous dog in Arlington County and in trying to deal with that situation, she ran into a bureaucratic quagmire in trying to work through that. Back in 2006, the General Assembly made a number of changes to the State Code to provide for a more organized approach to dealing with dangerous dogs and created a state registry for them to be recorded. He said he is pleased that they have been working on the issue and there are a number of changes that will come to Council over the next few months. At the staff level, they will be training staff to exercise the new authority under the Code and will now use the Code provisions to deal with dangerous dogs in the City. They will also develop a list of all the dangerous dogs. The State Code allowed local jurisdictions to adopt local ordinances to enforce what is in the State Code and they have the opportunity to regulate the dogs. The City Attorney will be bringing forward a couple of amendments to the City Code. Councilman Wilson said the final thing is once they figure out what the policy will be, they will put out signs at the dog parks to reflect that policy. City Attorney Pessoa explained the definition of dangerous dogs. Councilman Wilson said that in future dog parks, there should be a set-aside area for small dogs versus large dogs. (e) Councilman Krupicka congratulated the Art on the Avenue Committee and all the volunteers for putting together the most successful Art on the Avenue they have had. It was the 12th Annual Art on the Avenue. He said his hat is off to the Art on the Avenue folks and everyone on City staff who helped - Parks and Recreation, Police, and a number of other departments. He said for an event that brings thousands of tourists to Alexandria, it is not a City-sponsored event and it keeps getting better. (f) Councilman Krupicka said they received comments from businesses in Old Town and have asked the president of KSMET to look into the issue of when trash is picked up in Old Town. As it gets ready for National Harbor and how it starts thinking about how to make sure it is an inviting place for tourists, a number of businesses would like Council to review or reconsider ways to address trash that gets left out Friday night for a Monday morning pickup. To have those bags of trash on the sidewalk on the weekend when tourists are walking around creates issues. He suggested they sit down with the business groups and maybe the collaborative to talk about how to address the issue, so that King Street looks nice on weekends. (g) Councilmember Lovain said this Thursday morning is the kick-off for the United Way campaign for the 2007-08 United Way campaign and he encouraged all to be there. He encouraged people to donate to the Community Impact Fund, as that money goes to a committee of Alexandrians who are familiar with the social needs of the City. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER Deputy City Manager Evans reported that Retired Circuit Court Judge Franklin Backus died on Sunday at the age of 93. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS 21. Consideration of Alexandria Human Rights Commission Resolution on Immigration Issues. (#18, 9/25/07 [ROLL-CALL VOTE] City Council adopted the revised resolution on immigration issues. (RES. NO. 2246) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ OTHER 22. Consideration of City Council Schedule. City Council: 1. adopted the Council meeting schedule for October 2007 through June 2008, as follows: 1. scheduled a meeting of the Alexandria Transit Company Stockholders at 6:45 p.m. before Council's Tuesday, October 23 legislative meeting in the Council work room; 2. scheduled the annual work session with the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association at 5:30 p.m. before Council's Tuesday, March 11 legislative meeting in the Council work room; and 3. received the revised calendar, which includes: the Mayor's annual Unity Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 21, at the Mark Center Hilton, 5000 Seminary Road; the dedication of the Sister Cities Conference Center at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 1; a formal dinner for the Sister City delegations and chairs of our Sister City Committees at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 1; the 15th Annual Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day on Thursday, April 24. The kickoff will begin at 8:00 a.m. in the Vola Lawson Lobby; scheduled a meeting with BFAAC at 5:30 p.m. before the January 8, 2008 legislative meeting; and with a notation that the date has changed for the grand-opening of the new Westin Hotel, and that has been moved from November 1 to Wednesday, November 7, at 12:00 noon. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ * * * * * * The meeting adjourned at 8:32 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.