Back to FY Dockets



Regular Meeting
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - - 7:00 p.m.

* * * * *

Present: Mayor William D. Euille, Vice Mayor Kerry J. Donley, Members of Council Frank H. Fannon, Alicia Hughes, K. Rob Krupicka, Redella S. Pepper and Paul C. Smedberg.

Absent: None.

Also Present: Mr. Hartmann, City Manager; Mr. Banks, City Attorney; Ms. Snow, Assistant City Attorney; Ms. Evans, Deputy City Manager; Mr. Jinks, Deputy City Manager; Ms. Blackford, Communications Officer, City Manager's Office; Mr. Gates, Assistant City Manager, City Manager's Office; Mr. Lerner, Deputy Director, Transportation and Environmental Services; Mr. Johnson, Chief Financial Officer; Mr. Spengler, Director, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities; Mr. Browand, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities; Ms. Durham, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities; Mr. Mortiz, Planning and Zoning; Ms. Collins, Assistant City Manager/Director, Human Services; Police Captain Ogden; Police Lt. Uzzell; Deputy Police Chief Aden; Fire Chief Thiel; Dr. Gilmore, Director, Mental Health/Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse; Ms. Wixson, Mental Health/Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse; Sheriff Lawhorne; Mr. Mallamo, Director, Office of Historic Alexandria; and Mr. Lloyd.

Recorded by: Jacqueline M. Henderson, City Clerk and Clerk of Council.

* * * * * *

City Council held a work session with the Commission on Employment at 5:30 p.m., in the City Council Work Room.
* * * * * *

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.

2. Moment of Silence and Pledge of Allegiance.

City Council observed a moment of silence and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. Reading and Acting Upon the Minutes of the Following Meeting of City Council:

(a) The Regular Meeting Minutes of April 13, 2010.

WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilwoman Hughes, seconded by Vice Mayor Donley and carried unanimously, City Council approved the regular meeting minutes of April 13, 2010. The voting was as follows:

Hughes "aye" Fannon "aye"
Donley "aye" Krupicka "aye"
Euille "aye" Pepper "aye"
Smedberg "aye"

RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

None.

PROCLAMATIONS

None.

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

CONSENT CALENDAR (4-9)

(Resignations and Uncontested Appointments)

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

(A copy of the above resignation is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked collectively as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 4 (a); 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 5. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:

(a) Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee
1 Citizen Member

(b) Alexandria Transportation Commission
1 Traffic and Parking Board Member

(c) Commission for the Arts
3 Members Who Represent Arts Education or Business
Expertise Relative to Arts and Cultural Development,
Including Such Perspectives as Marketing, Finance/
Funding, Tourism Promotion and Organizational
Development

(d) Commission on HIV/AIDS
1 Alexandria Gay and Lesbian Community Association
Member

(e) Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
1 Alexandria Archaeological Commission Member

(f) USS Alexandria Liaison Committee
1 Citizen-at-large Member

(A copy of the above appointments is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked collectively as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 5 (a-f); 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.)

(Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager)

6. Consideration of Authorization of Recommended Capital Project Allocations and Planned Expenditures.

(A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 12, 2010, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 6; 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.)

7. Consideration of a Renewal Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to Continue Funding for the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program in the City of Alexandria.

(A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 19, 2010, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 7; 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.)

8. Consideration of Designation of City Manager as the City’s Agent and Authorization to Submit Application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the December 2009 Snow Storm.

(A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 14, 2010, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 8; 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.)

9. Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management for Equipment Acquisition to Support the Northern Virginia Regional Hazardous Materials Team.

(A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 15, 2010, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 9; 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.)

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Krupicka, seconded by Councilwoman Hughes and carried unanimously, City Council adopted the consent calendar.

Councilwoman Pepper noted that Kathleen Pepper, who was running for the position on the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission, is no relation to her or anyone in her family.

The City Manager's recommendations were as follows:

4. City Council accepted the following resignation with regret: (a) Patricia Morris and Kathleen Sander, Commission for Women.

5. City Council made the following appointments to boards and commissions: (a) appointed Danielle McGowan as the one citizen member to the Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee; (b) reappointed Kevin Posey as the one Traffic and Parking Board member to the Alexandria Transportation Commission; (c) reappointed Pat Miller and Ross Simons and appointed Reba Winstead as the three members who represent arts education or business expertise relative to arts and cultural development, including such perspectives as marketing, finance/funding, tourism promotion and organizational development to the Commission for the Arts; (d) appointed Thomas Suydam as the one Alexandria Gay and Lesbian Community Association member to the Commission on HIV/AIDS; (e) reappointed Kathleen Pepper as the one Alexandria Archaeological Commission member to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission; and (f) appointed Sean Cronin as the one citizen-at-large member to the USS Alexandria Liaison Committee.

6. City Council authorized $425,000 for capital project allocations and planned expenditures for the capital projects as detailed in the Capital Improvement Expenditure Summary.

7. City Council authorized the City Manager to: 1. submit the grant submission (due April 30, 2010) and, if awarded, accept the one-time award up to $44,129 to fully implement the Crisis Intervention Team program in Alexandria; 2. affirm that there are no funds available in the City budget to continue these activities once the grant funds are expended; and 3. execute all necessary documents that may be required.

8. City Council: 1. designated James K. Hartmann, City Manager, as the designated agent on behalf of the City for the purpose of filing application with federal agencies; 2. authorized the City Manager to sign the FEMA application for Federal Assistance for the December 2009 snow storm; and 3. authorized the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required.

9. City Council: 1. approved the submission of a grant application (due may 6, 2010) for an allocation of monies from VDEM totaling $55,000; and 2. authorized the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.

The voting was as follows:

Krupicka "aye" Donley "aye"
Hughes "aye" Fannon "aye"
Euille "aye" Pepper "aye"
Smedberg "aye"

The following item was heard out of turn:

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION

14. Consideration of Proposal to Hold a Portion of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon Race in Old Town on September 19, 2010.

(A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 20, 2010, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 14; 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.)

Mr. Spengler, Director, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Activities, along with Mr. Browand, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Activities, made a presentation of the report and responded to questions of City Council.

WHEREUPON, a motion was made by Councilman Krupicka, and seconded by Vice Mayor Donley, to approve option 3, but to keep in place the stipulations of the City Manager.

WHEREUPON, a substitute motion was made by Councilman Smedberg, seconded by Councilwoman Pepper, that City Council: 1. support the recommendation of the Special Events Committee to deny the applicant's proposed 2.5 mile route in south Old Town as discussed previously (option 4); and 2. make an exception to the Special Events Policy and permit the September 19 race to take place from our southern border on South Washington Street to the entrance of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge bike/pedestrian trail (option 1.) This option enables the race to move north on the Parkway from Mt. Vernon across the City line to South Washington Street to the entrance to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge bike path. Option 1 would require the City to close South Washington Street at Green Street from approximately 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and is estimated to cost $3,000 - $5,000.

Mr. Steve Nearman, race director, responded to questions of City Council in regard to speaking to citizens, Poul Hertel and Van Van Fleet, about the race.

WHEREUPON, a second substitute motion was made by Councilwoman Hughes, to approve option 4. The motion failed for lack of a second.

The voting on the substitute motion was as follows:

Smedberg "aye" Donley "aye"
Pepper "aye" Fannon "aye"
Euille "aye" Hughes "aye"
Krupicka "aye"

* * * * * *

NEW BUSINESS ITEM #1: REPORT FROM BFAAC:

Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee member James Butler, speaking on behalf of the BFAAC, made a presentation on an executive summary of the City's budget and he responded to questions of City Council.

Vice Mayor Donley said he previously made a recommendation to staff that BFAAC work with staff on a policy to bring back for Council's consideration - on debt burden on current taxpayers versus future taxpayers and amount of debt ultimately carried and the ability for them to use cash capital to reduce that debt. He reminded staff and BFAAC that development of the policy is very important. Vice Mayor Donley said when it adopts the budget on Monday, he urged that if it has surplus dollars that it give strong consideration to applying some of those dollars to cash capital and it should be established as one of Council's goals.

CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS

10. Commission for the Arts
1 Member Who Represents the Public-at-large, as an Arts Consumer
and Participant

(The following person volunteered for appointment to the above Commission)

NAME: ENDORSED BY:

Lisa Hester
Marla Howell
Lisa Robillard

(Material pertaining to the above appointment is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 10; 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.)

WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and the ballots were tallied with the following results: City Council reappointed Marla Howell as the one member who represents the public-at-large, as an arts consumer and participant, to the Commission for the Arts. The voting was as follows:

Euille - Howell
Donley - Howell
Fannon - Howell
Hughes - Howell
Krupicka - Howell
Pepper - Howell
Smedberg - Hester

11. Community Services Board
1 Consumer Who Is Currently Receiving Services

(The following person volunteered for appointment to the above Commission)

NAME: ENDORSED BY:

Elizabeth Coffey
Isacc Green

(Material pertaining to the above appointment is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 11; 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.)

WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and the ballots were tallied with the following results: City Council appointed Elizabeth Coffey as the one consumer who is currently receiving services to the Community Services Board. The voting was as follows:

Euille - Green
Donley - Coffey
Fannon - Coffey
Hughes - Green
Krupicka - Coffey
Pepper - Coffey
Smedberg - Coffey

12. Human Rights Commission
2 Citizen Members

(The following person volunteered for appointment to the above Commission)

NAME: ENDORSED BY:

Micki Aronson
Megan Berry
Nicole Davies
Marsha Dionne
Collette Harrell
Manh Nguyen
Sean Rough
Patricia Spurlock

(Material pertaining to the above appointment is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 12; 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.)

WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and the ballots were tallied with the following results: City Council reappointed Patricia Spurlock as the one of the two citizen members to the Human Rights Commission. There was no winner on the second appointee so another vote was taken. The voting was as follows:

Euille - Spurlock, Harrell
Donley - Spurlock, Nguyen
Fannon - Aronson, Rough
Hughes - Aronson, Davies
Krupicka - Spurlock, Harrell
Pepper - Spurlock, Harrell
Smedberg - Spurlock, Nguyen

WHEREUPON, ballots were again distributed, tellers were again appointed and the ballots were tallied with the following result: City Council reappointed Collette Harrell as the second of the two citizen members to the Human Rights Commission The voting was as follows:

Euille - Harrell
Donley - Harrell
Fannon - Rough
Hughes - Aronson
Krupicka - Harrell
Pepper - Harrell
Smedberg - Nguyen

13. Traffic and Parking Board
3 Citizen Members

(The following person volunteered for appointment to the above Commission)

NAME: ENDORSED BY:

Gregory Cota Thomas Y. "Jay" Johnson,
Chair, Traffic and Parking Bd.
Christopher Der
Darryl Dugan
Siddharth Gejji
Michael Lyons
Kevin Posey Thomas Y. "Jay" Johnson,
Chair, Traffic and Parking Board
Michael Sites
Amy Slack Thomas Y. "Jay" Johnson,
Chair, Traffic and Parking Board

(Material pertaining to the above appointment is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 13; 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.)

WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and the ballots were tallied with the following results: City Council reappointed Gregory Cota, Kevin Posey and Amy Slack as the three citizen members to the Traffic and Parking Board. The voting was as follows:

Euille - Cota, Posey, Slack
Donley - Cota, Posey, Slack
Fannon - Cota, Posey, Slack
Hughes - Cota, Der, Slack
Krupicka - Cota, Posey, Slack
Pepper - Cota, Posey, Slack
Smedberg - Cota, Posey, Slack

* * * * * *

Mayor Euille recognized Boy Scout Troop 604 who were in the audience.

* * * * * *

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION

15. Consideration of Staff Update on the Targeted Area Plan for Substance Abuse in the Arlandria Community.

(A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 19, 2010, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 15; 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.)

* * * * * *

Councilwoman Hughes left at this time - 8:10 p.m.

* * * * * *

Ms. Collins, Assistant City Manager/Director, Human Services, along with Deputy Police Chief Aden, Dr. Gilmore, Director, Mental Health/Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse, Ms. Wixson, Mental Health/Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse, and Sheriff Lawhorne, made a presentation of the report and responded to questions of City Council.

WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Donley, seconded by Councilwoman Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council received the report. The voting was as follows:

Donley "aye" Fannon "aye"
Pepper "aye" Hughes absent
Euille "aye" Krupicka "aye"
Smedberg "aye"

16. Consideration of Update on Ft. Ward Park and Museum Area Activities and Planning.

(A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 15, 2010, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 16; 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.)

Mr. Spengler, Director, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, along with Mr. Mallamo, Director, Office of Historic Alexandria, along with Mr. Tom Fulton, chair, Ft. Ward Stackholders Advisory Committee, made a presentation of the report and they, along with other members of the Advisory Committee, responded to questions of City Council.

WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Donley, seconded by Councilwoman Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council received the report. The voting was as follows:

Donley "aye" Fannon "aye"
Pepper "aye" Hughes absent
Euille "aye" Krupicka "aye"
Smedberg "aye"

17. Oral Report on Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC-133) Project at Mark Center and the Beauregard Corridor Small Area Plan Process.

Mr. Jinks, Deputy City Manager, Mr. Lerner, Deputy Director, Transportation and Environmental Services, along with Mr. Mortiz, Planning and Zoning, made a presentation of the report and responded to questions of City Council.

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

None

ORAL REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

and

ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Vice Mayor Donley thanked members of City Council and City staff who came out Saturday and worked on a Rebuilding Together Alexandria. He thanked City Manager Jim Hartmann, Deputy City Manager Michele Evans, Assistant City Manager Debra Collins, Legislative Director Bernie Caton, Assistant City Manager Tom Gates, Deputy City Clerk Gloria Sitton, and Councilwoman Hughes' Aide Sharon Annear was there and teamed up with Ms. Evans in the garden. Councilmembers Smedberg, Fannon, Mayor Euille were there and Councilman Krupicka came at the end, he said.

(b) Vice Mayor Donley said he has spoken to members of the Planning Commission, City Manager and Council about the policy it has regarding handling a rezoning request but only taking it up as part of the small area plan. He asked if the policy is a valid policy and is it a good policy going forward, as it can point to exceptions they have made to the policy, and if they are coming out of the recession and they get a request for a rezoning and will turn it down because its not part of a small area plan, they are not going to process it as part of the small area plan, they will be missing opportunities that will be scarce opportunities. He said he would like staff to bring forward the policy for consideration, first to the Planning Commission, and then to City Council. Vice Mayor Donley asked that it be brought back before the last meeting in June.

Councilman Krupicka added two specific elements of what they are asking staff to do at the Planning Commission. Not only reevaluate the policy and bring potentially a new policy to consider, but as part of that, to tell them what is the right criteria so they know when its appropriate to consider a rezoning and when it's not. It should have a smart set of criteria that says it is near a Metro, is consistent with certain planning principles it has as a community, consistent with the strategic plan and environmental policies. While it does plan in the early part of next year to start working on an Eisenhower West Plan, it is entirely possible during the next couple of months that they will find out the Victory Center has been rented out and they will start seeing interest in activity in that site relative to the Victory Center that would warrant moving faster and not waiting 18 months for a plan to be done.

(c) Councilman Krupicka thanked everyone who worked on Earth Day. It was rainy but was really successful and the ACPS did a fantastic Earth Day edition of their student newspaper. He said it is amazing to see what the schools are doing as relates to the environment.

(d) Councilman Fannon said that this past Thursday the Office on Women sponsored the Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day and it was a great experience. They had students from Minnie Howard that gathered at City Hall, and he had a young woman from Sierra Leone who came to his office for the whole day. At lunch they got together with other students, and it was amazing to him that in Alexandria they have 90 different ethnicity's at their schools and students from all over the world come to Alexandria. That goes with the meeting it had tonight with the Alexandria Employment Commission, and it was heartwarming to find out how the Employment Commission is working with T.C. Williams to help the students find jobs.

(e) Mayor Euille highlighted where WMATA was. He said Council will set aside a subsidy contribution to WMATA, which will have an impact on what the final dollars to the budget will be, but will have an impact on the tax rate. He said WMATA is getting close in terms of dealing with its $189 million shortfall. The latest proposal is for a combination of fare increases, less service reductions on bus and rail, there is a proposal to borrow from the capital maintenance fund program, $30 million, which is a one-time deal, and the bottom line is subsidy increases that the Compact members would be paying. He said Metro adopts it budget May 25.

ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER

None.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

None.

OTHER

18. Consideration of a License Agreement with Metropolitan Network Services, Inc. to install Conduits and Fiber-optic Cable in the Public Rights of Way.

(A copy of the City Attorney's memorandum dated April 19, 2010, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 18; 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.)

Ms. Snow, Assistant City Attorney, made a presentation of the report and responded to questions of City Council. She introduced Mr. Jones, the principal of the company, who also responded to questions of Council.

WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Krupicka, seconded by Councilwoman Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council approved the five-year license agreement with Metropolitan Network Services, Inc., and authorized the City Manager to execute the license agreement and to take any other actions that are necessary to implement the agreement. The voting was as follows:

Krupicka "aye" Donley "aye"
Pepper "aye" Fannon "aye"
Euille "aye" Hughes absent
Smedberg "aye"

19. Consideration of City Council Schedule.

(A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated April 20, 2010, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 19; 4/27/10, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.)

Mayor Euille said Deputy City Manager Evans has given two dates for a meeting with the Arlington County Board to talk about issues of mutual interest, and the two proposed dates are Saturday, June 19 or Saturday, June 26. He noted that this would be brought forward on the next docket for consideration.

WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Donley, seconded by Councilman Smedberg and carried unanimously, City Council received the revised calendar which includes: a work session on the Information Technology Study (not the Strategic Plan as mentioned on April 13) at 5:30 p.m. before Council's Tuesday, May 11 legislative session; and an arts reception on Tuesday, May 25 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in room 2000. The voting was as follows:

Donley "aye" Fannon "aye"
Smedberg "aye" Hughes absent
Euille "aye" Krupicka "aye'
Pepper "aye"


* * * * * *
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO BE CONSIDERED, upon motion by Councilman Krupicka, seconded by Councilwoman Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council adjourned the regular meeting of April 27, 2010, was adjourned at 10:25 p.m. The voting was as follows:

Krupicka "aye" Donley "aye"
Pepper "aye" Fannon "aye"
Euille "aye" Hughes absent
Smedberg "aye"



APPROVED BY:

___________________________________
WILLIAM D. EUILLE MAYOR

ATTEST:

_______________________________
Jacqueline M. Henderson

City Clerk and Clerk of Council



This docket is subject to change.

* * * * *

Full-text copies of ordinances, resolutions, and agenda items are available in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of the Council.
* * * * *

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 703-746-4550 (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.
* * * * *