The meeting was called to order by Mayor Euille, and the Deputy City Clerk called the roll; all 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 16, 2010; and (b) The Regular Meeting Minutes of October 26, 2010. City Council approved the public hearing meeting minutes of October 16, 2010 and the regular meeting minutes of October 26, 2010. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL None. PROCLAMATIONS None. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER CONSENT CALENDAR (4-18) (Resignations and Uncontested Appointments) 4. Receipt of the Following Resignations From Members of Boards, Commissions and Committees: (a) Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee Tracy Rickett (b) Sister Cities Committee Mary Frances O'Brien 5. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees: (a) Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee 1 Citizen Member (b) Beautification Commission 1 Citizen Member (c) Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee 1 Member Designated by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce (d) Citizen Corps Council 1 Citizen Designated by the Alexandria School Board (e) Commission on Employment 1 Citizen-at-Large Member (f) Community Policy and Management Team 1 Parent Representative Who is Not an Employee of any Public or Private Program Which Receives Funds From the Comprehensive Services Act (Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager) 6. Receipt of Listings of Delinquent Taxes and Consideration of Authorizing Advertising the Listings and Writing Off Balances Less than $20.00. 7. Consideration of a Grant Application to the Get Alarmed Virginia Grant Program, Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Health for Smoke Alarms and Associated Equipment for the Fire Department. 8. Consideration of Acceptance of Funding from the National Capital Region Urban Security Initiative for City Planning for Emergencies. 9. Receipt of Annual Committee Attendance Report for FY 2010. 10. Vacation #2009-0001 - 3110 Mt. Vernon Avenue. Receipt of Viewers' Report For a Request For Vacation of the Public Right-of-Way at 3110 Mt. Vernon Avenue, zoned CRMU-M/Commercial Residential Mixed Use Medium. Applicant: UDR Developers Inc., represented by Duncan Blair, Attorney. (#9, 9/25/10) (Ordinances for Introduction) 11. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance Modifying Code Language Concerning the Short-term Rental Tax. 12. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to amend and Reordain the "Official Zoning Map, Alexandria, Virginia" Adopted by Section 1-300 (Official Zoning Map and District Boundaries) of the City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance, by Rezoning the Property at 3110 Mount Vernon Avenue from CRMU-M/Commercial Residential Mixed Use (Medium) With Proffer to CRMU-M/Commercial Residential Mixed Use (Medium) in Accordance With the Said Zoning Map Amendment Heretofore Approved by City Council as Rezoning No. 2009-0003. 13. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend and Reordain the 1992 Master Plan (1998 ed.) of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, by Adopting and Incorporating Therein the Amendment Heretofore Approved by City Council to Such Master Plan as Master Plan Amendment No. 2009-0005 and No Other Amendments, and to Repeal All Provisions of the Said Master Plan as May Be Inconsistent With Such Amendment. 14. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend Section 9-104 (Prohibited Signs, Marquees and Awnings and Exceptions) to Article IX (Signs, Marquees and Awnings), of the City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance, in Accordance With the Text Amendment Heretofore Approved By City Council as Text Amendment No. 2010-0003. 15. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend the Requirements for Snow Removal From Sidewalks By Residents. 16. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Change the Implementation of Snow Emergency Plans and Routes Within the City. 17. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance To Amend the Taxi Fare Snow Surcharge To Comport With the Amended Snow Emergency Procedures. 18. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend the City Code to Update the Composition of the Gang Task Force. (THIS ITEM IS BEING DEFERRED TO DECEMBER.) END OF CONSENT CALENDAR City Council approved the consent calendar, with the exception of docket items #7, #14 and #16, which were considered under separate motions. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows: 4. City Council accepted the following resignations with regret: (a) Tracy Rickett, Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee; and (b) Mary Francis O'Brien, Sister Cities Committee. 5. City Council made the following appointments to boards and commissions: (a) appointed Lora Jerakis as the citizen member to the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee; (b) appointed Michelle Annand as the citizen member to the Beautification Commission; (c) appointed Jermaine Mincy as the member designated by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce to the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee; (d) appointed Amy Olson as the citizen designated by the Alexandria School Board to the Citizen Corps Council; (e) appointed Bishop Garrison as the citizen-at-large member to the Commission on Employment; and (f) appointed Philip Giarraputo as the parent representative who is not an employee of any public or private program which received funds from the Comprehensive Services Act to the Community Policy and Management Team. 6. City Council: (1) received the listings of delinquent local property taxes; (2) authorized that those parts of the delinquent real estate and personal property tax listings deemed advisable by the Director of Finance be published in the newspaper and on the City of Alexandria website; and (3) authorized the Director of Finance to write off uncollected tax balances less than twenty dollars each for which the Director of Finance has determined that the cost of collecting such balances would exceed the recoverable amount, provided that the Director of Finance will not include any balance for which she has reason to believe the taxpayer has intentionally paid less than the amount due and owed. 7. City Council: (1) approved the submission of the grant application (due November 15, 2010); and (2) authorized the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required. (separate motion) 8. City Council authorized the City Manager to: (1) accept $75,000 in funding through the Urban Area Security Initiative; and (2) execute all the necessary documents that may be required. 9. City Council: (1) received the report; (2) vacated the 13 positions listed on pages one and two of the report; and (3) authorized the City Clerk and Clerk of Council to advertise the vacancies. 10. City Council received the viewer's report for the vacation of the public right-of-way at 3110 Mt. Vernon Avenue. 11. City Council passed the ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, November 13, 2010. 12. City Council passed the ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, November 13, 2010. 13. City Council passed the ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, November 13, 2010. 14. City Council passed the ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, November 13, 2010. (separate motion) 15. City Council passed the ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, November 13, 2010. 16. City Council passed the ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, November 13, 2010. (separate motion) 17. City Council passed the ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, November 13, 2010. 18. This item was deferred. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS None. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION 19. Consideration of Addendum to the Proposed City Legislative Package for the 2011 General Assembly Session. City Council: (1) received these additional proposals for the City's 2011 Legislative Package, as recommended by Council's Legislative Subcommittee; and (2) included these items, with the other legislative package proposals, for public hearing on Saturday, November 13, 2010. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 20. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Change Parking Meter Rates in the Downtown Area. City Council passed the ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, November 13, 2010. City Council agreed to have the multi-space meters installed at the rate of $1.75. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 21. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Require Holders of Handicap License Plates or Placards to Pay for Parking in Metered Zones. City Council deferred the ordinance on first reading for at least 30 days and requested that staff notify interested parties that the matter will not be discussed at Saturday's public hearing meeting. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 22. Consideration of Staff Report on the City’s 2010/11 Winter Weather Preparedness. City Council received the report. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 23. Consideration of the Monthly Financial Report. City Council received the Monthly Financial Report for the period ending September 20, 2010. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 24. Discussion of Proposed City Council Budget Guidance for Fiscal Year 2012. City Council noted that the key provisions for discussion for budget guidance for FY 2012 are as follows: (1) total general fund budget cap; (2) restrictions on revenue sources; (3) provide a cap to the transfer to schools; (4) City staffing levels should not increase over the FY 2011 staffing level, giving the City Manager discretion to change staff levels if it helps efficiency and results in savings; (5) City employee pay, both merit and benchmark adjustments; (6) City employee health benefits, 20% employee contributions phase-in plan; (7) City employee retirement benefits; (8) CIP Funding; (9) Transportation Add-on Tax; and (10) linking the Budget and the Strategic Plan. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 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) Councilman Krupicka reported that the group working on realigning all the youth commissions are making progress, publishing their draft mission statement and their draft responsibilities list on the City's website this week. Councilman Krupicka stated that the group would like to present a draft governance structure by early December. Councilman Krupicka noted that Council should receive draft documents in December or January and the issue will be discussed at the City Schools meeting in two weeks. (b) Councilman Krupicka reported that he represented the City at the Film Festival Awards Ceremony last week. Councilman Krupicka noted the following winners of Film Festival awards: Best of Fest Award, Fred and Vinnie; Jury Prize, Ride the Divide; Audience Award, Race to Nowhere; and Best Foreign Film Award, Bodhisattva. Councilman Krupicka thanked all the venues for hosting the Film Festival. (c) Councilman Krupicka acknowledged that the City was using some its Energy Sustainability funds to install green roofs on City Hall. (d) Councilwoman Pepper reported on the success of the Alexandria Film Festival and acknowledged the participation of Sarah Sherman, Superintendent Sherman's daughter, at the screening at the Lyceum. Councilwoman Pepper thanked Pat Miller and the Office on Cultural Affairs for making the Festival a success. (e) Vice Mayor Donley announced that the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria had a successful telethon on Sunday, raising over $92,000 for T.C. Williams students. Vice Mayor Donley extended a special thanks to Councilman Fannon, Councilwoman Pepper and Councilman Krupicka for working the telephones during the telethon. (f) Vice Mayor Donley requested a report from staff about the power outage at Southern Towers recently. Vice Mayor Donley stated that he was interested in the reasons for the initial outage and the reason for the potential delays getting the power back online. Vice Mayor Donley noted that the outage affected a significant number of constituents. (g) Councilwoman Hughes congratulated the Alexandria Chapter of Top Teens for receiving numerous awards at the regional conference in Baltimore recently. Councilwoman Hughes also acknowledged that Kendra Gillespie, Rising Star for the Commission of Women, was selected to be the Regional Director for the Top Teens. (h) Councilwoman Hughes reported that the Governor's Commission for Reform and Restructuring will be meeting next week in Richmond and she asked that anyone with suggestions submit them to her to take to the Commission. Councilwoman Hughes noted that the new Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) call center has opened in Roanoke to promote greater efficiencies in the system and that there is another recommendation for personalized license plates for businesses to help generate revenue for the Commonwealth. (i) Mayor Euille reported that the Top of the Town Walk Around will be held on Saturday, November 13 from 8 a.m. to Noon at the Masonic Temple. (j) Mayor Euille congratulated Cora Kelly Elementary School on receiving The Healthier U.S. Schools Challenge Gold Award from the United States Department of Agriculture for meeting the standards in terms of school nutrition, physical education and nutrition education. Mayor Euille noted that the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture came to present the award to the school. (k) Councilman Fannon reported that the United Way will be holding an open house Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., for the Learning Center donated to the United Way facility by Bill Gates and his family. (l) Councilman Fannon reported that on November 17 at 7 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel on King Street, Congresswoman Sue Myrick from North Carolina will hold a conference on Home Grown Terrorism. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER Director of Transportation and Environmental Services Baier gave an update on the new recycling bins and responded to questions from Council. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS None. OTHER 25. Consideration of City Council Schedule. City Council noted that: (1) the start time for the Monday, November 8 Budget Work Session changed from 7 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; and (2) the calendar has been revised to reflect: the location of the Joint Work Session with the School Board (Tuesday, November 16) will be at the Alliance for Leading and Learning Center on the third floor of George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mt. Vernon Avenue at 7 p.m.; and three community meetings to discuss the Transportation Add-On Tax: Thursday, November 11, 2010, 7 p.m. (City Hall, Sister Cities Conference Room); Wednesday, December 8, 2010, 7 p.m. (Charles Beatley Central Library); and Thursday, January 13, 2011, 7 p.m. (Mt. Vernon Recreation Center) Council Action:_________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SESSION 26. Closed Meeting For the Purpose of Discussing Personnel Matters and for Consultation with Legal Counsel for Legal Advice. At 9:05 p.m., City Council convened in executive session, pursuant to Sections 2.2-3711(A)(1) & (7) of the Code of the Virginia, for the purpose of discussing performance and salaries of specific public officers and consulting with legal counsel and briefings by staff members pertaining to actual and probable litigations and to consult with legal counsel for advice regarding specific legal matters. At 10:02 p.m., City Council reconvened the meeting. City Council adopted a resolution pertaining to the Executive Session. (RES. NO. 2423) Council Action:_________________________________________________________