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Office of the City Clerk
January 25, 2012

City Council attended an event at 6 p.m. at
Fire Station 201, 317 Prince Street, to Recognize
the Commencement of Four-Person Fire
Suppression Staffing in the Fire Department.


Regular Meeting
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - - 7:00 p.m.

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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, with the exception of Councilman Smedberg, who was absent.
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:_________________________________________________________

RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

None.

PROCLAMATIONS

3. Presentation of the Digital Cities Award by Government Technology Magazine.

City Council received the award on behalf of the Department of Information Technology.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

4. Presentation of the Daniel Roberts Excellence in Public Archaeology Award by the Society for Historical Archaeology.

City Council received the award on behalf of the Archaeology Commission and Department.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

CONSENT CALENDAR (5-10)

(Resignations and Uncontested Appointments)

5. Receipt of the Following Resignations from Members of Boards, Commissions and Committees:

(a) Commission for the Arts
Richard Fowler

(b) Commission on Information Technology
Daniel Brooks

(c) Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
Frances Burke

(d) Human Rights Commission
Collette Harrell

(e) Industrial Development Authority
Lauren Garcia

6. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:

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

(b) Commission on HIV/AIDS
1 Citizen Member

(c) Community Services Board
1 Citizen Member

(d) Economic Opportunities Commission
1 Public Sector Representative

(e) Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
1 Member at Large From Planning District III

(f) Local Emergency Planning Committee
1 Representative of a Community Group

(g) Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee
1 Member Representing the Potomac Yard Area

(Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager)

7. Consideration of Authorization of Recommended Capital Allocations and Planned Expenditures.

8. Consideration of a Grant Application by the Department of Community and Human Services for a One-Time Block Grant Award by the DBHDS to Strengthen Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment for Adults.

9. Consideration of Acceptance of a Funding Allocation from the National Capital Region, Urban Area Security Initiative for Police Department Emergency Notification Equipment and for Fire Department Digital Vehicular Repeater Systems to Enhance In-Building Coverage by the City’s Public Safety Radio System.

10. Consideration of Acceptance of Grant Funds from the National Capital Region, Urban Security Initiative to Support City Involvement in Regional Emergency Management Exercises, Volunteer Recruitment and Training and National Incident Management Compliance.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the consent calendar. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows:

5. City Council accepted the following resignations with regret: (a) Richard Fowler, Commission for the Arts; (b) Daniel Brooks, Commission on Information Technology; (c) Frances Burke, Historic Alexandria Resources Commission; (d) Collette Harrell, Human Rights Commission; and (e) Lauren Garcia, Industrial Development Authority.

6. City Council made the following appointments to boards and commissions: (a) reappointed Nicholas Kuhn as the one citizen member to the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee; (b) appointed Julia Baker as the one citizen member to the Commission on HIV/AIDS; (c) appointed Jan Inscore-Boswell as the one citizen member to the Community Services Board; (d) appointed Adam Ebbin as the one public sector representative to the Economic Opportunities Commission; (e) appointed Travis Anderson as the one member at large from Planning District III to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission; (f) appointed Karen Helbrecht as the one representative of a community group to the Local Emergency Planning Committee; and (g) reappointed Christopher Bellanca as the one member representing the Potomac Yard area to the Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee.

7. City Council authorized $267,000 for capital project allocations and planned expenditures for the capital projects as detailed in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) expenditure summary.

8. City Council: 1. authorized the submission of the grant application, not to exceed $50,000; and 2. authorized the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required.

9. City Council: 1. authorized the City Manager to accept the funding through the Urban Area Security Initiative in the amount of $77,250; and 2. authorized the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required.

10. City Council: 1. authorized the City Manager to accept the funding from the Urban Area Security Initiative in the amount of $280,184; and 2. authorized the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS

11. Park and Recreation Commission
1 Member From Planning District III

City Council appointed Robert Brian McPherson as the one member from Planning District III to the Park and Recreation Commission.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

12. Sanitation Authority
1 Citizen Member

City Council appointed John Hill as the one citizen member to the Sanitation Authority.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION (45 min.)

13. Receipt of Report on Items Before the 2012 Virginia General Assembly. (Staff Presentation).

City Council: 1. approved the legislative positions included in attachment 1 (recommended positions on bills of importance to the City) as recommended by City Council's Legislative Subcommittee (Vice Mayor Donley and Councilman Smedberg); 2. opposed proposals by the Governor to transfer general fund revenues, which are traditionally used for core programs that have little or no dedicated funds (such as education, mental health, and public safety) to the transportation budget, which is funded primarily by motor fuel, motor vehicle sales tax and the special sales tax created for transportation in 1986; and 3. supposed amendments to the Governor's proposed budget that will address reductions to City programs listed in attachment 2 (proposed budget reductions affecting City programs) as also recommended by City Council's Legislative Subcommittee.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

14. Consideration of a New Waste Disposal Service Agreement for the Waste-to-Energy Facility (5301 Eisenhower Avenue) Among the City of Alexandria, Arlington County and Covanta Alexandria/Arlington, Inc.

City Council authorized the City Manager to execute the agreement subject to review and approval of the agreement by the City Attorney.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

15. Oral Report on Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC-133) Project at Mark Center. (Staff Presentation).

City Council received the report.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

16. Presentation of Report on City Real Property Values as of January 1, 2012. (Staff Presentation).

City Council received the report.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

17. Consideration of Report on Results of Installation of Signs Discouraging Smoking in City Parks and Recommendations on Installation of Similar Signs in City Bus Shelters.

City Council: 1. received the report; and 2. authorized the Alexandria Health Department to work with the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services and Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Activities staff to continue installation of signs that discourage smoking in 122 City bus shelters and 86 City parks at this time. Staff recommends that the signs read (as approved previously): "For everyone's health, thank you for not smoking in our parks and playgrounds" and "For everyone's health, thank you for not smoking" for bus shelter signs; and and 3. to encourage staff to use the remaining funds for temporary signage and the balance of the funds can be used for the permanent replacement signage that will be developed over the next year.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

None

ORAL REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

(a) Vice Mayor Donley spoke about Saturday's deliberation and approval of the waterfront, however, there were a number of elements in the public discourse which he found troubling. Opponents mischaracterized the plan, there was advertising which bordered on slander of public officials, there was testimony which characterized staff as trained seals and equated the decision to genocide, and there was a robo call or push poll which carried a racial bent. He said it was unfortunate that the group that was opposed to the plan used such tactics and distortions, and they had the effect of galvanizing the support of the plan from citizens and members of Council. He said it as disheartening that the efforts were led by a former elected official and by a person purportedly wanting to seek public office. He said he hoped in the future that the public debate and discourse would be conducted on a higher and more honorable level. Vice Mayor Donley congratulated the staff, particularly the Planning staff, for their patience and professionalism. The debate should have been on the merits of the proposal and on a much higher level than what they witnessed. He said it was a total distortion of a good hearted professional effort by staff.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

None.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER

None.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

18. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of General Obligation Refunding Bonds. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council adopted the resolution to: 1. authorize the issuance and sale of the General Obligation Refunding Bonds; 2. approved the form and other details of such bonds; 3. authorized the City Manager and the Director of Finance to take all actions as shall be required in connection with the issuance, sale and delivery of such bonds; and 4. provide details with respect to the issuance of such bonds. (RES. NO. 2488)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

OTHER

19. Consideration of City Council Schedule.

City Council received the updated Council schedule.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________
The meeting was adjourned at 9:23 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 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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