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Office of the City Clerk
March 16, 2010



Public Hearing Meeting
Saturday, March 13, 2010 - - 9:30 a.m.

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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. (Councilwoman Hughes arrived at 9:43 a.m.)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

2. Public Discussion Period.

(a) Christopher Der, 5405 Duke Street, Apt. 312, spoke about funding solutions for WMATA and DASH, asking City Council to demand that the State picks up their end of transportation funding. He commended Vice Mayor Donley for proposing a legislative package that includes a Northern Virginia gas tax with revenues being dedicated to WMATA. He said it must push again for a gas tax in 2012. Mr. Der said that without dedicated funding, WMATA will spiral into disarray and the region's roads will be more congested than they can imagine. Mr. Der asked Council to advertise a tax rate high enough to devote additional funding for WMATA, as Arlington and Fairfax Counties have already done this. If they are willing to accept some of the largest fare increases in the history of WMATA, then it is only fair that the local jurisdictions pick up their share as well. Mr. Der said he would like Council to restore all funding for the DASH bus system in 2011, noting the buses on Duke Street are routinely crowded. DASH needs to provide transit options for the base realignment and closure developments, and none is possible without appropriate funding.

(b) Nicole Davies, 5405 Duke Street, spoke about funding for WMATA and DASH in 2011, urging Council to contribute more funding for WMATA, for Council to advertise a rate that is high enough to accommodate additional funding for WMATA. She said without WMATA and DASH options, people would be forced to drive more. She asked Council to restore full funding to DASH for 2011, as without DASH, people will lose their primary source of transportation. (c) Lisa Miller (no address given), spoke on the budget and the 84 percent growth of the budget over the past ten years with only a 17 percent increase in population. She spoke of the Federal tax liability and its impact on the economy, businesses and individuals. She noted that WMATA's ridership dropped 11 percent in the last quarter of 2009. She said that rather than increasing the subsidy, she urged WMATA to bring its pensions and health care benefits in line with the private sector. It also addresses government and the monopoly system it creates, as it has uncompetitive, highly attractive salary and benefits, but it deprives her of talent in the private sector and economic opportunity. She said they are about to be flooded with stimulus money for a charter school, but that is a continuation of a monopoly, and she noted that she had to pull her child out of public school and get a scholarship until she could afford to pay it herself. She said she feels it is unfair for her to pay the burden of taxes for wealthy people to send their kids to public school, and that is unfair to impoverish her so someone else can get a better benefit that doesn't suit her needs, so her solution was to go to tax credits. It should not give subsidies or grants to businesses or not for profits that puts them at an unfair advantage to anyone else in the market for providing those services. She said she is being deprived of her right to determine her own life. (d) Laura Plaze, 402 Cambridge Road, speaking on behalf of Friends of Winkler, said they previously asked Council for help, and Council has seen the children, teachers, and parents of those who love Winkler. She said they are grateful for Council's support and for its decision in December opposing transportation alternatives that would harm the Preserve, and they are relieved that VDOT has finally seen that Alternative d, which would build the highway straight through the Preserve is unacceptable. Ms. Plaze said everyone is alarmed at the prospect of those commuters hitting the roads without a viable traffic plan in place.

(e) Katy Cannady, 20 E. Oak Street, president, Alexandria League of Women Voters, spoke of the election referendum resolution on the docket, noting that it has great merit. She said when this first came up, Councilman Wilson proposed having it be a referendum, and Council can rectify it by having it on the 2010 ballot, and the suggestion to turn it over to the Hobson Committee is excellent. The individuals on the committee could produce some clearly presented questions for the voters. A referendum is something the League looks upon favorably. She asked Council to schedule the resolution for public hearing first to bring the citizens into the discussion.

(f) David Wynne, 3330 King Street, social worker at T.C. Williams High School, spoke in favor of the moving of the existing adolescent clinic from its location on Braddock Road to T.C. Williams High School, noting that it is a matter of access to healthcare, especially for those who are under or uninsured, and it is convenience. He said school based health centers reduce inappropriate emergency room use, minimize inappropriate Medicaid expenditure and reduce absenteeism. He said it would also be one more tool to help them with the struggle to help with the number of unwanted pregnancies.

(g) Marianne Hetzer, 604 N. Mansfield Street, speaking as a member of the school based health care initiative planning group, spoke in favor of the moving of the adolescent clinic to T.C. Williams High School. She said the school based health centers are authorized providers in the state children's health insurance program. She said the students need to be ready to learn, and the population will benefit the most from free, accessible, confidential health care services. They already transport them, teach them, feed them and now they have the opportunity to heal them using existing resources in a more effective and efficient manner. Ms. Hetzer said because the health center is part of the Alexandria Health Department, its services are available to all adolescents in the City between the ages of 12 and 19 and positioning it in T.C. will allow access from both inside and outside the building. She said the location is down the hall from the current school nurse and where the guidance and scholarship offices are. A survey from students has reported that 40 percent used the building on Braddock Road and 81 percent said they would use it in T.C. She said the president of the Alexandria PTA Council asked for PTA support and received support from 11 of the 16 PTA's and no one declined to support it.

(h) David Fromm, 2307 E. Randolph Avenue, spoke on changing the municipal election process back to the public forum. He urged Council to adopt the resolution as proposed. He urged Council to state the degree to which they are willing to abide by the preferences expressed by the voters. Mr. Fromm said assuming the referendum passes, he would ask the Hobson Commission to draft a sufficient number of referendum questions, and that sufficient public workshops be held to be sure it is free of unintended consequences as possible. Mr. Fromm asked Council to adopt the resolution as proposed, letting it embody the will of the voters of Alexandria.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

3. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Establish the Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Rates for Calendar Year 2010. (The public hearing on the ordinance establishing the real property tax rate will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.)

City Council set the maximum possible residential property tax rate not to exceed nine cents, from $.90.3 to up to $.99.3 per $100 assessed value, added to the advertisement a three cent ($.03) per $100 assessed value for commercial add-on tax as the rate to be advertised, and to advertise the personal property rate on vehicles and business personal property at $4.75.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

4. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2009-0071
107 STEWART AVENUE
SUBSTANDARD LOT CONSTRUCTION
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to construct a single family home on a substandard lot; zoned R2-5/Single and Two-Family Residential. Applicant: Daniel Quigley
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval w/amendments 7-0

City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

5. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2009-0081
601 HOLLAND LANE
CARLYLE-BLOCK O
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to convert designated retail space to residential, for approval of additional residential space, and approval of a density bonus for affordable housing in accordance with Section 7-700 of the Zoning Ordinance; zoned CDD-1/Coordinated Development District 1. Applicant: Post Carlyle II, LLC represented by M. Catharine Puskar, attorney

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0

City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

6. THIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY - NO APPROVAL NEEDED
CITY CHARTER SECTION 9.06 #2010-0001
600 NORTH HENRY STREET
Consideration of a request to acquire the property at 600 North Henry Street, pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.06 of the City Charter; zoned CRMU-M/Commercial Residential Mixed Use Medium.

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Approved 7-0

City Council received the report.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

Board of Architectural Review

7. Public Hearing and Consideration of an Appeal of the Board of Architectural Review's decision denying alterations at 211 N Patrick St, Zoned RB Residential, BAR 2009-0295. Applicant and Appellant: Duncan W. Blair, Esquire, for Patrick Street Associates, LLC.

City Council remanded this back to the Board of Architectural Review for consideration of the substitute synthetic slate material, and that it go to the BAR as soon as possible, but no later than the second meeting in April.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

8. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Amend and Reordain Chapter 11 (Aquatic Health Ordinance) of Chapter 11 (Health, Environmental and Sanitary Regulations) of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as Amended. (#11, 3/9/10) [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council adopted the ordinance to amend and reordain the aquatic health ordinance. (ORD. NO. 4649)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

8.1 Deferral from March 9, 2010: Consideration of a Resolution to Submit Election Reform Matter to a Citizen Commission. (This is not a public hearing item.) (#23, 3/9/10) [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council did not pass the resolution.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

DEFERRAL/WITHDRAWAL CONSENT CALENDAR

Planning Commission (continued)

9. CDD CONCEPT PLAN #2009-0002
MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT #2009-0002
DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2009-0004
TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT PLAN SUP #2009-0063
STREET NAME CASE #2009-0002 and #2009-0009
2210 EISENHOWER AVENUE
HOFFMAN BLOCKS 11 AND 12
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for A) an amendment to the CDD Concept Plan for the Hoffman properties B) an amendment to the Eisenhower East Small Area Plan to increase height limits on Blocks 11 and 12; C) a development special use permit, with site plan and modifications, for a mixed-use residential and retail development, approval of a density bonus for affordable housing in accordance with Section 7-700 of the Zoning Ordinance, increased penthouse heights and to construct more than one penthouse; D) approval of an amendment to the transportation management plan for Blocks 2-5, 9A & B, 11, 12, 24 and 25A; and E) approval of two street names; zoned CDD-2/Coordinated Development District-2. Applicant: Hoffman Company, LLC represented by Jonathan Rak, attorney
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Deferred (Applicant's request)

END OF DEFERRAL/WITHDRAWAL CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council noted the deferral.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

EXECUTIVE SESSION

10. Consideration of Convening a Closed Meeting For the Purpose of Consultation With Legal Counsel Regarding Specific Legal Matters.

At 12:40 p.m., City Council convened in executive session, pursuant to Sections 2.2-3711(a)(7) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of discussing specific legal matters.

At 12:51 p.m., City Council reconvened the meeting.

City Council adopted the resolution pertaining to the Executive Session. (RES. NO. 2389)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________


The meeting adjourned at 12:52 p.m.


Note: The action docket is a summary of Council's meeting deliberations prepared largely for staff follow-up. Formal minutes of the meeting, when approved by Council become the official record of the meeting and of Council decisions made at the meeting.


This docket is subject to change.

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Full-text copies of ordinances, resolutions, and agenda items are available in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of the Council. Meeting materials are also available on-line at alexandriava.gov/council
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