Absent: None.
Also Present: Mr. Young, City Manager; Mr. Banks, City Attorney; Ms. Evans, Deputy City Manager, Mr. Jinks, Deputy City Manager; Ms. Collins, Assistant City Manager; Mr. Gates, Assistant City Manager; Mr. Johnson, Chief of Staff; Ms. Boyd, Special Assistant to the City Manager; Mr. Baier, Director, Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES); Mr. McPike, Director, General Services; Ms. Triggs, Acting Chief Financial Officer/Finance Director; Mr. Routt, Assistant Director, Office of Management and Budget (OMB); Mr. Braedan, Budget Analyst, OMB; Ms. Dawson, Director, Library; Mr. Trobridge, Director, Information Technology Services (ITS); Ms. Marks, Division Chief, T&ES: Mr. Ortiz, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator, T&ES; Ms. Williams, Principal Planner, Planning and Zoning (P&Z); Mr. Moritz, Deputy Director, P&Z; Ms. Griffin, Director, Aging and Adult Services; Ms. Luddington, Coordinator, Aging and Adult Services; Mr. Faust, General Services; Ms. McLean, ITS; Ms. Brewer, ITS; and Police Captain Ogden.
Recorded by: Gloria Sitton, Deputy City Clerk and Clerk of Council.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Euille, and the Deputy 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 Meetings of City Council: (a) The Regular Meeting Minutes of December 13, 2011; and (b) The Public Hearing Meeting Minutes of December 17, 2011. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilwoman Hughes, seconded by Councilwoman Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council approved minutes of the following meetings of City Council: the regular meeting minutes of December 13, 2011 and the public hearing meeting minutes of December 17, 2011. The voting was as follows: Hughes "aye" Donley "aye" Pepper "aye" Fannon "aye" Euille "aye" Krupicka "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) Commission on HIV/AIDS Alancia Wynn (b) Commission on Persons with Disabilities Mike Purkey (c) Community Services Board James Lewis Kathleen Dewey (d) Library Board Thom Downing (e) Park and Recreation Commission Jeff Murphy (A copy of the above resignations 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-e); 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 5. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees: (a) Affordable Housing Advisory Committee 1 Landlord of Residential Property in the City Member (b) Beautification Commission 3 Citizen Members (c) Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission 1 School Employee (d) Commission on Aging 4 Citizen Members 60 Years of Age or Older (e) Commission on Employment 1 Citizen Member (f) Commission on Persons With Disabilities 2 Citizen Members (g) Historic Alexandria Resources Commission 1 Representative From the Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission (h) Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission 1 Citizen Member (i) Human Rights Commission 1 Commission on Aging Representative (j) Landlord-Tenant Relations Board 1 Low-Income Tenant Representative (k) Sister Cities Committee 1 Citizen Member (l) Social Services Advisory Board 1 Parent Member 3 Citizen Members (m) Waterfront Committee 1 Representative from the Alexandria Archaeological Commission (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-m); 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) (Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager) 6. Receipt of Summary of Annual Reports from City Boards and Commissions. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated January 4, 2012, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 6; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 7. Receipt of the Alexandria Strategic Plan on Aging and Setting it for Public Hearing on Saturday, February 25, 2012. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated January 4, 2012, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 7; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 8. Consideration of Application to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for One-time Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Funds to Strengthen School-Age Youth Development Team Programming. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated January 4, 2012, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 8; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 9. Consideration of an Application for U.S. Department of Environmental Protection Agency Small Urban Waters Grant Funds. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated January 6, 2012, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 9; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 9.1. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Sell City-owned Property at 716-718 N. Columbus Street. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated January 6, 2012, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 9.1; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference. A copy of the informal memorandum explaining the ordinance is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 2 of Item No. 9.1; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference. A copy of the ordinance referred to in the above item, of which each Member of Council received a copy not less than 24 hours before said introduction, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council marked Exhibit No. 3 of Item No. 9.1; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) END OF CONSENT CALENDAR WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Krupicka, seconded by Councilwoman Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council approved the consent calendar, with the exception of docket item #7, which was considered under separate motion. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows: 4. City Council accepted the following resignations with regret: (a) Alancia Wynn, Commission on HIV/AIDS; (b) Mike Purkey, Commission on Persons with Disabilities; (c) James Lewis and Kathleen Dewey, Community Services Board; (d) Thom Downing, Library Board; and (e) Jeff Murphy, Park and Recreation Commission. 5. City Council made the following appointments to boards and commissions: (a) appointed Michelle Saylor as the landlord of residential property in the City to the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee; (b) reappointed Oscar Martin and Ruth McKenty and appointed Denise Tennant as the three citizen members to the Beautification Commission; (c) appointed Rosario Casiano as the school employee to the Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission; (d) reappointed Janet Barnett, Cedar Dvorin, Bernard Kellom and Patricia McBride as the four citizen members 60 years of age or older to the Commission on Aging; (e) appointed Kendra Gillespie as the citizen member to the Commission on Employment; (f) reappointed Mary Danforth and Kent Fee as the two citizen members to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities; (g) appointed Derek Manning as the representative from the Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission; (h) reappointed Mary Heiden as the citizen member to Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission; (j) reappointed Geraldine Baldwin as the low-income tenant representative to the Landlord-Tenant Relations Board; (k) appointed Renee Branch as the citizen member to the Sister Cities Committee; (l) reappointed Jason Dechant as the parent member and reappointed Adrienne Barr and Susan Newell and appointed Clarence Tong as the three citizen members to the Social Services Advisory Board; and (m) appointed James McCall as the representative from the Alexandria Archaeological Commission to the Waterfront Committee. 6. City Council received the reports and thanked the boards and commissions for their hard work over the past year. 8. City Council: (1) authorized the submission of a grant application, not to exceed $25,000; and (2) authorized the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required. 9. City Council authorized the City Manager to: (1) submit a grant application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Urban Waters Small Grants funding in the amount of $41,250, for the City Water Quality Control Program; and (2) execute all the necessary documents and agreements that may be required to receive this funding under this grant program. 9.1 City Council passed the ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for second reading and final passage at Council's public hearing on Saturday, January 21. The voting was as follows: Krupicka "aye" Donley "aye" Pepper "aye" Fannon "aye" Euille "aye" Hughes "aye" Smedberg "aye" 7. Receipt of the Alexandria Strategic Plan on Aging and Setting it for Public Hearing on Saturday, February 25, 2012. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated January 4, 2012, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 7; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) Vice Mayor Donley requested that staff provide more information on accessory dwelling units and aging in place, particularly how other jurisdictions have addressed the issues and the policies that encourage single level development. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Donley, seconded by Councilman Smedberg and carried unanimously, City Council: (1) received the draft Strategic Plan for Aging; and (2) docketed the draft Plan for public hearing on Saturday, February 25; and adoption on Tuesday, March 27. The voting was as follows: Donley "aye" Fannon "aye" Smedberg "aye" Hughes "aye" Euille "aye" Krupicka "aye" Pepper "aye" *** Councilman Smedberg was excused from the meeting at 7:28 p.m*** CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS 10. Public Health Advisory Commission 1 Citizen Member Who Is Not a Health Professional (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY: Michael Farrier Arlene Hewitt (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; 01/10/12, 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 Arlene Hewitt as the citizen member who is not a health professional to the Public Health Advisory Commission. The voting was as follows: Euille - Hewitt Donley - Hewitt Fannon - Farrier Hughes - Hewitt Krupicka - Hewitt Pepper - Hewitt Smedberg - Hewitt 11. Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission 1 School Employee (The following person volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY: Gregory Hutchings, Jr. (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; 01/10/12, 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 waived the residency requirement and appointed Gregory Hutchings, Jr., as the school employee to the Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission. The voting was as follows: Euille - Hutchings Donley - Hutchings Fannon - Hutchings Hughes - Hutchings Krupicka - Hutchings Pepper - Hutchings Smedberg - Hutchings 12. Commission on Information Technology 1 Citizen Member (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY: Phillip Acosta Matthew Hussey Edward Schmitt Alan Shark (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; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and ballots were tallied with the following results: City Council appointed Phillip Acosta as the citizen member to the Commission on Information Technology. The voting was as follows: Euille - Acosta Donley - Acosta Fannon - Hussey Hughes - Acosta Krupicka - Acosta Pepper - Acosta Smedberg - Acosta 13. Law Library Board 1 Citizen Member (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY: David Chamowitz Corie Driscoll (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; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and ballots were tallied with the following results: City Council reappointed David Chamowitz as the citizen member to the Law Library Board. The voting was as follows: Euille - Chamowitz Donley - Chamowitz Fannon - Chamowitz Hughes - Driscoll Krupicka - Chamowitz Pepper - Chamowitz Smedberg - Chamowitz 14. Library Board 1 Citizen Member (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY: Laura McQueen Kathleen Scholoeder Martha-Helene Stapleton Karen Mah-Chamberlain Renee Boudreau Carolyn Harris Loretta Pressnall Brian Reardon Ed Ablard Ginny Richards Janet Mccubbin Kelia Hernandez (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. 14; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and ballots were tallied with the following results: City Council appointed Kathleen Schloeder as the citizen member to the Library Board. The voting was as follows: Euille - Schloeder Donley - Schloeder Fannon - Schloeder Hughes - Schloeder Krupicka - Schloeder Pepper - Schloeder Smedberg - Schloeder 15. Park and Recreation Commission 1 Member From Planning District II (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY: Stephen Beggs Kelly Booz (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. 15; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and ballots were tallied with the following results: City Council appointed Stephen Beggs as the member from Planning District II to the Park and Recreation Commission. The voting was as follows: Euille - Beggs Donley - Beggs Fannon - Beggs Hughes - Beggs Krupicka - Booz Pepper - Booz Smedberg - Beggs 16. Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee 1 Member Representing the Potomac Yard Area (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY: Jason Albers Ryan Jones (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. 16; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, ballots were distributed, tellers were appointed and ballots were tallied with the following results: City Council appointed Jason Albers as the member representing the Potomac Yard Area to the Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee. The voting was as follows: Euille - Albers Donley - Albers Fannon - Jones Hughes - Jones Krupicka - Albers Pepper - Albers Smedberg - Albers ** Please note this item was heard before the Contested Appointments. ** REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION 17. Receipt of the Waterfront Plan Work Group Report and Setting the Waterfront Small Area Plan for Public Hearing on Saturday, January 21, 2012. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated January 6, 2012, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 17; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) Council thanked the Waterfront Plan Work Group for all their work on the plan and the recommendations they have submitted to Council. Councilman Smedberg thanked the Work Group and City staff for their work and time on the Waterfront Plan and all the efforts to bring this report to Council for consideration. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Smedberg, seconded by Councilwoman Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council received the Waterfront Plan Work Group Report and set the Waterfront Small Area Plan for public hearing on January 21, 2012. The voting was as follows: Smedberg "aye" Donley "aye" Pepper "aye" Fannon "aye" Euille "aye" Hughes "aye" Krupicka "aye" 18. Consideration of the Monthly Financial Report. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated January 4, 2012, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 18; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) Acting Chief Financial Officer Triggs presented the monthly financial report and responded to questions from Council about the economic health of the City. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Donley, seconded by Councilwoman Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council received the monthly financial report for the period ending November 30, 2011. The voting was as follows: Donley "aye" Fannon "aye" Pepper "aye" Hughes "aye" Euille "aye" Krupicka "aye" Smedberg absent 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) Mayor Euille wished everyone a Happy New Year and highlighted some of the upcoming projects and issues that the City Council will be discussing during the remainder of the year: the City Manager's Proposed Budget for FY 2013 in February; Housing Initiatives and Housing Report in February; redevelopment of the Landmark Mall property and the Waterfront Plan will be considered; and upcoming elections, both local and national. Mayor Euille noted the success of public safety efforts in the City and how it has enhanced quality of life in the City. (b) Councilman Fannon announced that the United Way raised approximately $600,000, with the City of Alexandria employees being the biggest contributors to the campaign. Councilman Fannon noted that the employees donated $70,000 and a recognition ceremony will be held on Friday, January 13 at City Hall to thank them. (c) Councilwoman Hughes reported that the City of Alexandria received an inaugural award from the National Society for Historical Archaeology for the great work that the City has done in the area of Archaeology, particularly at Freedmen's Cemetery and Fort Ward Park. (d) Councilwoman Hughes reported that the Governor's Task Force on Local Government Mandates would be making a recommendation to eliminate the give back legislation which focuses on local governments helping to balance the state's budget. Councilwoman Hughes noted that the Task Force would also be recommending fifty additional recommendations for mandate elimination. Councilwoman Hughes stated that the group would meet again on January 16 to adopt the interim report. (e) Councilwoman Hughes stated that she met with the parking attendants about the Alexandria City Council living wage ordinance and requested an explanation of the repeal of the living wage from staff. Councilwoman Hughes reported that she referred the parking attendant group to the City Manager for more information on the living wage, as it is part of budget considerations. Mr. McPike, Director, General Services, gave an overview of the ordinance that changed the living wage from $13.65 per hour to $13.13 per hour and noted that the living wage affected multiple contracts throughout the City. Mr. McPike noted that a review of all City contracts would be needed in order to give Council a more accurate view of how it would affect the budget if the living wage was changed. (f) Mayor Euille noted that the First Night Alexandria event was a first class and very successful event this year and thanked Vice Mayor Donley and those who planned the event for the all their hard work. ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER City Manager Young reported that the Police Department held a promotion and elevation ceremony today at the Masonic Temple for officers promoted to the rank of sergeant and lieutenant, civilian promotions and patrol officers advancing along the career ladder. Mr. Young congratulated all who were honored at the ceremony. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS 19. Consideration of Grant Application and Resolution for FY 2013 Funding for the Continuation of the Alexandria Transportation Demand Management Program and a Public Transportation Intern Position. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated January 4, 2012, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 19; 01/10/12, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) Director Baier, Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES), and Mr. Ortiz, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator, gave a presentation on the status of the LocalMotion program and status of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) transportation outreach and responded to questions from Council. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Donley, seconded by Councilwoman Hughes and carried 6-0, by roll-call vote, City Council: (1) adopted the resolution; and (2) authorized the City Manager to: A) submit a grant application and resolution to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) for FY 2013 funding: (1) in the amount of $228,240, which will be matched by $57,060 of the City funds, for a total program of $285,300, for the continuation of the City's Transportation Demand Management (TDM) services (formerly Rideshare); and (2) in the amount of $28,500, which will be matched by $1,500 of City funds, for a total of $30,000 to continue the public transportation intern program; B) approve the continuation of two full-time, grant-funded positions (Transit Specialist I and Transit Services Assistant I) to administer the ongoing TDM program. Continuation of these positions is contingent upon continuation of funding from DRPT or other non-City sources; and C) execute all necessary documents that may be required under this program. The voting was as follows: Donley "aye" Fannon "aye" Hughes "aye" Krupicka "aye" Euille "aye" Pepper "aye" Smedberg absent The resolution reads as follows: