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Office of the City Clerk
November 21, 2008

There was a Work Session on the
DASH Long-Range Plan at 5:30 p.m.
in the City Council Work Room.


Regular Meeting
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - - 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 Meetings of City Council:

(a) The Public Hearing Meeting Minutes of October 18, 2008;

(b) The Regular Meeting Minutes of October 28, 2008; and

(c) The Special Public Hearing Meeting Minutes of October 30, 2008.

City Council approved the public hearing meeting minutes of October 18, 2008, the regular meeting minutes of October 28, 2008 and the special public hearing meeting minutes of October 30, 2008.
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 Declaring November as America Recycles Month.

City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

CONSENT CALENDAR (6-11)

(Resignations and Uncontested Appointments)

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

(a) Alexandria Commission for the Arts
Morgan Hilton

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)

CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

(b) Alexandria Commission on HIV/AIDS
Tomas Cabrera

(c) Alexandria Early Childhood Commission
Carol Freeman

(d) Woodrow Wilson Bridge Neighborhood Task Force
Ardith Dentzer

(e) Alexandria Youth Policy Commission
Michele Brandon

7. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:

(a) Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee
1 Member Designated by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

(b) Alexandria Commission on Employment
1 Business Representative From Among the Recognized Area
Businesses, Including Minority-Owned and Small Businesses

(c) Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
1 Member Who Serves As A Volunteer at An Historic Property
or Attraction Which Is Open to the Public on A Regular Basis
1 Representative From the Alexandria Historical Restoration and
Preservation Commission

(d) Alexandria Waterfront Committee
1 Representative From Founders Park Community Association

(Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager)

8. Consideration of Acceptance of a Funding Allocation From the National Capital Area Region (NCR) Urban Area Security Initiative.

9. Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services to Enhance Existing Mental Health Jail Diversion Efforts Within the City of Alexandria.

10. Consideration of an Application to Renew a Grant to Fund a Mentoring Program Administered by the Alexandria Court Service Unit.

11. Authorization for City Participation in a Grant-Funded Project to Update the Northern Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the Consent Calendar. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows:

6. City Council accepted the following resignations with regret: (a) Morgan Hilton, Alexandria Commission for the Arts; (b) Tomas Cabrera, Alexandria Commission on HIV/AIDS; (c) Carol Freeman, Alexandria Early Childhood Commission; (d) Ardith Dentzer, Woodrow Wilson Bridge Neighborhood Task Force; and (e) Michele Brandon, Alexandria Youth Policy Commission.

7. City Council made the following appointments: (a) reappointed Margaret Gullen as the member designated by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce to the Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee; (b) reappointed Paul Wilmot as the business representative from among the recognized area businesses, including minority-owned and small businesses to the Alexandria Commission on Employment; (c) reappointed Ellen Stanton as the member who serves as a volunteer at an historic property or attraction which is open to the public on a regular basis and reappointed John Sprinkle as the representative from the Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission; and (d) appointed Christine Bernstein as the representative from Founders Park Community Association to the Alexandria Waterfront Committee.

8. City Council authorized the City Manager to: (1) accept the funding through the Urban Area Security Initiative in the amount of $250,000; and (2) to execute all the necessary documents that may be required.

9. City Council: (1) authorized the Alexandria Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse (DMHMRSAS) for expansion of the City's jail diversion initiatives (the grant application has actually been submitted contingent on Council approval, since notification of the opportunity came too late for prior Council approval); and (2) authorized the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required.

10. City Council: (1) authorized the submission of a grant application in the amount of $18,000 (the grant application is actually being submitted on November 17, the grant deadline, contingent on Council approval, since notification of the grant opportunity came too late for prior approval); and (2) authorized the City Manager to execute the necessary document for the grant.

11. City Council authorized: (1) the City's participation in the grant-funded regional hazard mitigation planning project to be managed by Arlington County on behalf of the Northern Virginia region; and (2) City staff to participate in the regional hazard mitigation planning process over the next three years to the $13,750 in-kind grant match assigned to Alexandria for this plan; and (3) the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS

12. Alexandria Law Library Board
1 Citizen Member

City Council appointed Marilyn Bromley as the citizen member to the Alexandria Law Library Board.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________


13. Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee
1 Citizen Member

City Council reappointed Kathleen Barnett as the citizen member to the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

14. Alexandria Commission for the Arts
1 Member Who Has Expertise in the Arts, Either as A Practitioner of
Various Art Disciplines or As A Professional Administrator Working
in the Field

City Council appointed Sydney-Chanele Dawkins as the member who has expertise in the arts, either as a practitioner of various art disciplines or as a professional administrator working in the field to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

15. Alexandria Commission on Aging
1 Citizen Member Who Is 60 Years of Age or Older

City Council waived the residency requirement and appointed Eileen Longstreet as the citizen member who is 60 years of age or older to the Alexandria Commission on Aging.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

16. Alexandria Community Criminal Justice Board
1 Representative of Local Education Nominated by the Superintendent
of Schools

City Council waived the residency requirement and reappointed Lawrence Jointer as the representative of local education nominated by the Superintendent of Schools to the Alexandria Community Criminal Justice Board.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

17. Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
1 Representative From Christ Church

City Council waived the residency requirement and reappointed Eleanor Wilson as the representative from Christ Church to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

18. Alexandria Human Rights Commission
1 Citizen Member

City Council appointed John Ates as the citizen member to the Alexandria Human Rights Commission.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION

Please note: The following item was heard after docket item #21.

19. Consideration of City Manager's Recisions to the City's FY 2009 Budget and Resolution Establishing FY 2010 Budget Guidance for the Alexandria City Government and the Alexandria City Public Schools.

City Council: (1) reviewed the six scenarios provided for FY 2010 budget guidance and discussed the attached resolutions regarding the FY 2010 budget guidance; and (2) set the adoption of those resolutions which will establish FY 2010 budget guidance for the Alexandria City Government and the Alexandria City Public Schools at Council's November 25 legislative meeting. City Council requested the preparation of a Guidance Resolution containing the following characteristics: (1) the City Manager shall evaluate which of the FY 2010 cuts could be implemented prior to the end of FY 2009 and shall be prepared, with the release of the City Manager's proposed budget, to implement an additional $2 million of sustainable (able to be carried forward in FY 2010) cuts to the approved FY 2009 Operating Budget. These cuts shall be identified as part of the budget presentation in February; (2) the City Manager shall present the FY 2010 Operating Budget and FY 2010 - FY 2015 Capital Improvement Program that includes the following characteristics:
a. A proposed real estate tax rate that will provide for the average homeowner to pay the same amount of real estate tax paid in 2008. Based on current staff projections, this will reflect approximately a 5 cent increase in the Real Estate Tax rate.
b. A decrease in the City transfer to the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Operating Budget of 2% from the Current FY 2009 Approved Budget.
c. The budgeting of no new CIP (City & ACPS) spending aside from those expenditures meeting the following exceptions:
i. Expenditures relating to the new Public Safety Center.
ii. Expenditures subject to contractual obligations or other situations where cancellation or deferral would cause significant financial loss for the City.
iii. Expenditures to maintain existing infrastructure and those that are deemed emergency in nature.
iv. Expenditures that may be funded using prior-year unallocated balances already within the CIP.
d. An alternative CIP budget option for the Council and community to consider that allows for an additional one cent in the Real Estate Tax fully allocated to capital improvement projects.
e. Aside from the use of prior-year surpluses, we request that the City Manager's proposed budget not include the use of unreserved, undesignated fund balance.

We fully expect that there will be substantial service reductions in the proposed budget. We furthermore recognize that this proposed budget will likely contain significant reductions in the City workforce. We must all approach this effort with full clarity, aggressive communication and above-all, compassion.

In addition to the guidance we have offered, we offer the following principles to help shape this unprecedented undertaking:

Public Safety: The City Manager should propose a budget that provides for the public safety of our residents.

Safety Net: The City Manager’s proposed budget shall strive to maintain critical health and safety net services for the most vulnerable in the community.

Education: The City Manager should work closely with the Superintendent to minimize any program cuts that would harm classroom education and the progress we have made in recent years. The Manager is also asked to identify and execute on opportunities to combine additional programs or services with ACPS.

Property Values: The City Manager should work to avoid reductions in areas where cuts would directly harm property values or would diminish Alexandria’s ability to recover from this economic downturn.

Economic Sustainability: The City Manager should work to avoid reductions to spending that generate additional commercial tax revenues to the City—including economic development and business retention efforts.

Credit Rating: The City Manager’s proposed budget shall not make any material changes that may threaten the City’s AAA/aaa bond rating.

City Workforce: City employees should be competitively compensated. The City Manager should closely monitor regional employee trends to ensure Alexandria is not at a competitive disadvantage in our efforts to attract and retain our workforce. In addition, the Council encourages the City Manager to identify creative forms of compensation to reward employees, including additional vacation accrual, reduced evening meetings, and opportunities to work from home.

During FY 2010, using the input from the completed Watson Wyatt study, the City Council shall adopt revisions to its Compensation Philosophy as well as a multi-year plan for implementation.

Transportation: Transportation provided during peak-travel times should not be diminished.

Regional Cooperation: The City Manager is encouraged to work with his counterparts in the region to determine if there are inter-jurisdictional initiatives that could yield savings for Alexandria taxpayers—including the creation of regional authorities to provide critical services.

Fees and New Revenues: The Council encourages the City Manager and Staff to identify new and creative revenue sources and to make any such proposals to the Council that he deems appropriate.

Civic Partnerships: We encourage the City Manager to look for new ways for civic associations, service clubs and residents take over some municipal responsibilities— for example, expansion of the Adopt-A-Park program, utilization of CERT volunteers for Special Events, the expansion of neighborhood public safety programs, etc.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

20. Consideration of the City's Legislative Package For the 2009 General Assembly Session. (#7, 10/28/08, #5, 11/15/08) This item is being deferred to November 25, 2008.

This item is deferred to the November 25, 2008 Legislative Meeting.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

21. Consideration of Proposed Amendments to the Residential Permit Parking Program.

City Council: (1) received the recommendations of the Traffic and Parking Board for changes in the City's permit parking program; and (2) requested the City Attorney to docket an ordinance implementing the recommended changes. Council issued a directive to staff to review the plan for the inclusion of some creative alternatives for allowing parking for daycare workers during the day.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

None

ORAL REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Vice Mayor Pepper reported that the City held an open house for Eco-City Alexandria to get input and prioritized the actions of the plan. Vice Mayor Pepper also noted that there is a survey on-line about the action plan that will available to citizens until December 1. Vice Mayor thanked all the participants for their hard work on the action plan.

(b) Vice Mayor Pepper reported that the Council of Governments (COG) passed its final draft of the Climate Change report for the region and she noted that the report is one of the first available for any region. Vice Mayor Pepper noted that this report will address the air quality for the region. Vice Mayor Pepper stated that the report proposed that governments, businesses and residents cut greenhouse gases by ten percent of the 2005 levels.

(c) Councilmember Lovain reported that the Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative Advisory Council discussed some initiatives happening in Maryland and the District of Columbia, including the recycling of rigid plastics in Prince Georges' County, Montgomery County includes the Potomac River Watershed Trash Treaty with their municipal stormwater permit, and the District having a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Anacostia River. Councilmember Lovain noted that the City should be cognizant of the environmental advances happening in the region that could be helpful to the City.

(d) Councilmember Lovain reported that the Transportation Planning Board approved forwarding to the WMATA Board a report on the Metro Access Program. Councilmember Lovain pointed out that Human Services Transportation Task Force oversaw the report, noting the significant improvements along with problems that still need to be resolved. Councilmember Lovain noted that the report outline improvements for the future of the Metro Access Program.

(e) Councilman Gaines reported that he represented the City at the National League of Cities (NLC) Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida and he noted that the City received two awards: the Digital Cities Award and Legacy Award for 50 Years of Service and Membership. Councilman Gaines congratulated the E-Government staff for the work on the website and he noted that Alexandria was one of five cities to receive the Legacy Award. Councilman Gaines stated that his aide is compiling all the information he gathered at the conference to share with other members of Council.

(f) Councilman Gaines reported that as a member of the NLC Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee, there was a discussion with respect to lobbying for Federal legislation in regard to giving jurisdictions greater input with the siting of ethanol transloading facilities in communities. Councilman Gaines noted that the NLC Spring Meeting in the District of Columbia gives members a chance to lobby Federal representatives and this meeting helped lay the groundwork.

(g) Mayor Euille reported that the Alexandria Sanitation Authority received the National Biosolids Partnership Certification and became the first facility in the state of Virginia to receive certification.

(h) Mayor Euille congratulated President-Elect Barack Obama on winning the recent historical election and he noted the random act of kindness of an Alexandria citizen who gave sandwiches and sweets to the many people waiting outside of the Voter Registration office for early voting. Mayor Euille thanked the good samaritan for her kindness.

(i) Councilman Smedberg reported that he and Councilman Krupicka held a meeting with the Economic Sustainability Task Force yesterday and had a presentation from the Small Business Development Center focusing on retention of business and attraction of business to the City. Councilman Smedberg stated that the Task Force also discussed board structures, future initiatives, efficiencies and the economic development activity in the City. Councilman Smedberg noted that there was also an update of the Landmark Mall plan.

Councilman Krupicka stated that the Task Force spent a lot of time addressing the challenges that General Growth is facing regarding the Landmark Mall plan.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Councilman Wilson requested that the "do not deliver" ordinance be re-docketed for the January 13th Legislative Meeting and for public hearing and second reading on January 24th Public Hearing Meeting. Councilman Wilson stated that he hoped a meeting can be scheduled with representatives of the industry to discuss the proposed ordinance and other options to obtain compliance.

Councilman Krupicka noted that Council continues to hear complaints from citizens about unwanted newspapers and any alternative to the previous ordinance would be helpful in resolving the situation.

(b) Councilman Krupicka requested that the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) appointment be postponed until the first legislative meeting in January. Councilman Krupicka requested that the Executive Secretary for Boards and Commissions schedule interviews with the applicants during an Executive Session following the Public Hearing meeting in December.

(c) Councilman Krupicka stated that staff will introduce an emergency ordinance to allow businesses to place one sign directing patrons during the holiday shopping season.

Councilman Gaines noted that he and Mayor Euille have met with business owners in the Old Town area facing similar problems and this would be a good short-term solution for the holiday season. Councilman Gaines stated that he hoped staff is working on a long-term solution to the wayfinding problem in the City.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER

None.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

22. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading and Second Reading of an Ordinance to Adopt Supplement Number 87 of the City Code. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council approved an ordinance to adopt Supplement Number 87 of the City Code. (ORD. NO. 4564)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

23. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading and Second Reading of an Ordinance to Adopt Supplement Number 47 of the Zoning Ordinance. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council approved an ordinance to adopt Supplement Number 47 of the Zoning Ordinance. (ORD. NO. 4565)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

OTHER

24. Consideration of City Council Schedule.

City Council received the revised calendar which includes: the joint work session on the FY 2010 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Budget (revised topic) with the School Board on Monday, November 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fire Training Room at Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson Street (revised location); the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Employees Program on Thursday, January 15 at noon at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson Street; and the Living Legends of Alexandria "Meet the Legends" Reception on Sunday, February 9, 2009 from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the Carlyle Club, 411 John Carlyle Street.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

25. Consideration of a License Agreement To Permit FiberLight of Virginia, LLC., To Install Conduits and Fiber Optic Cable in the Public Right-of-way.

City Council approved the five-year license agreement with FiberLight of Virginia, LLC., and authorized the City Manager to execute the license agreement and to take any actions that are necessary to implement the agreement.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

EXECUTIVE SESSION

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

At 10:20 p.m., City Council convened in Executive Session, pursuant to Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711(A)(7) for the purpose of discussing the status of pending litigation involving the City and potential litigation concerning 900 Prince Street.

At 10:40 p.m., City Council reconvened the meeting.

City Council adopted the resolution pertaining to the Executive Session (RES. NO. 2302)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________
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The meeting was adjourned at 10: 42 p.m.

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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 deliberations made at the meeting.

Public Notices:

The Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Friday, November 28, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. at Market Square.

The Mayor's Annual Unity Breakfast will be held on November 26, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. at the Mark Center Hilton.

The Scottish Christmas Walk Parade will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2008, at 11:00 a.m.


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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City Council meetings are closed-captioned for the hearing impaired.
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