Absent: None. Also Present: Mr. Johnson, Acting City Manager; Mr. Banks, City Attorney; Ms. Evans, Deputy City Manager; Police Captain Ogden; Fire Chief Thiel; Mr. Baier, Director, Transportation and Environmental Services; Mr. Grover, Transportation and Environmental Services; Mr. Caton, Legislative Director; Ms. Boyd, Special Assistant to the City Manager, City Manager's Office; Mr. Routt, Office of Management and Budget; Mr. Cochran, Office of Housing; Mr. McPike, Director, General Services; Mr. Wanamaker, Deputy Director, General Services; Mr. Castrilli, Director, Office of Communications; Mr. Spengler, Director, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities; Ms. North, Planning and Zoning; Mr. Colevas, Department of Information Technology; and Mr. Lloyd. Recorded by: Jacqueline M. Henderson, City Clerk and Clerk of Council. * * * * * * City Council held a work session at 5:30 p.m. with the General Assembly Delegation on the City's 2012 Legislative Package.
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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 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 November 9, 2011; and (b) The Public Hearing Meeting Minutes of November 12, 2011. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Donley, seconded by Councilwoman Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council approved the regular meeting minutes of November 9, 2011. The voting was as follows: Donley "aye" Fannon "aye" Pepper "aye" Hughes "aye" Euille "aye" Krupicka "aye" Smedberg "aye" WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Donley, seconded by Councilwoman Pepper and carried 6-0-1, City Council approved the public hearing meeting minutes of November 12, 2011. the voting was as follows: Donley "aye" Fannon "aye" Pepper "aye" Hughes "aye" Euille "aye" Krupicka "aye" Smedberg abstained RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL City Council recognized Scout Troop 129, who were in the audience working on their citizenship in the community merit badges. PROCLAMATIONS 4. Presentation of a Proclamation Declaring December 3, 2011 as the 41st Anniversary of the Campagna Center's Scottish Christmas Walk. (A copy of the proclamation is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked collectively as Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 4; 11/22/11, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Krupicka, seconded by Vice Mayor Donley and carried unanimously, City Council endorsed the proclamation. The voting was as follows: Krupicka "aye" Fannon "aye" Donley "aye" Hughes "aye" Euille "aye" Pepper "aye" Smedberg "aye" REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER CONSENT CALENDAR (5-9) (Resignations and Uncontested Appointments) 5. Receipt of the Following Resignations from Members of Boards, Commissions and Committees: (a) Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Eric Bonetti (b) Alexandria Gang Prevention Task Force Saira Cabrera (c) Commission on Employment Bishop Garrison (d) Commission on Persons with Disabilities Beverly R. Hoffman (e) Sanitation Authority Joshua Dickerson (f) Sister Cities Committee Susan Doherty (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. 5 (a-f); 11/22/11, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 6. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees: (a) Archaeological Commission 1 Member from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce (b) Building Code Board of Appeals 1 Citizen Member (c) Commission for the Arts 1 Member Who Represents the Public at Large, as an Arts Consumer and Participant (d) Commission on Aging 1 Citizen Member (e) Commission on Persons with Disabilities 1 Citizen Member 1 Commission on Aging Representative (f) Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee 1 Member Representing the Potomac West Area (g) Sister Cities Committee 1 Citizen Member (h) Torpedo Factory Art Center Board 2 torpedo Factory Artists Association Representatives (i) Waterfront Committee 1 Representative from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce 1 Representative from the Park and Recreation 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. 6 (a-i); 11/22/11, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) (Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager) 7. Consideration of Authorization of Recommended Capital Allocations and Planned Expenditures. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated November 14, 2011, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 7; 11/22/11, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 8. Receipt of the Alexandria Head Start Annual Report Submitted by the Campagna Center. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated November 10, 2011, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 8; 11/22/11, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) 9. Consideration of Acceptance of a Funding Allocation from the National Capital Region, Urban Security Initiative (UASI) for Emergency Management Planning. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated November 14, 2011, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 9; 11/22/11, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) END OF CONSENT CALENDAR WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilwoman Hughes, seconded by Councilwoman Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council approved the consent calendar. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows: 5. City Council accepted the following resignations with regret: (a) Eric Bonetti, Affordable Housing Advisory Committee; (b) Saira Cabrera, Alexandria Gang Prevention Task Force; (c) Bishop Garrison, Commission on Employment; (d) Beverly Hoffman, Commission on Persons with Disabilities; (e) Joshua Dickerson, Sanitation Authority; and (f) Susan Doherty, Sister Cities Committee. 6. City Council made the following appointments to boards and commissions: (a) reappointed Ellen Hamilton as the one member from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce to the Archaeological Commission; (b) appointed Joseph Berchenko as the one citizen member to the Building Code Board of Appeals; (c) reappointed Margaret Wohler as the one member who represents the public at large, as an arts consumer and participant, to the Commission for the Arts; (d) reappointed Laura Macone as the one citizen member to the Commission on Aging; (e) reappointed Douglas Goist as the one citizen member and reappointed Mary Parker as the one Commission on Aging representative to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities; (f) reappointed Jennifer Taylor as the one member representing the Potomac West area to the Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee; (g) appointed Bruce Marsh as the one citizen member to the Sister Cities Committee; (h) appointed Rosemary Covey and reappointed Marian Van Landingham as the two Torpedo Factory Artists Association representatives to the Torpedo Factory Art Center Board; and (i) reappointed Charlotte Hall as the one representative from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and appointed Gina Baum as the one representative from the Park and Recreation Commission to the Waterfront Committee. 7. City Council authorized $4,255,000 for capital project allocations and planned expenditures for the capital projects as detailed in the Capital Improvement Program expenditure summary. 8. City Council received the Alexandria Head Start annual report as submitted by the Campagna Center. 9. City Council authorized the City Manager to: 1. accept the funding through the Urban Area Security Initiative in the amount of $125,000; and 2. execute all the necessary documents that may be required. The voting was as follows: Hughes "aye" Donley "aye" Pepper "aye" Fannon "aye" Euille "aye" Krupicka "aye" Smedberg "aye" CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS 10. Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee 1 Citizen Member (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY Henry Brooks Susan Doherty Jennifer O'Brien (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; 11/22/11, 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 Henry Brooks as the one citizen member to the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee. The voting was as follows: Euille - Brooks Donley - Brooks Fannon - Brooks Hughes - Brooks Krupicka - Brooks Pepper - Brooks Smedberg - Brooks 11. Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee 1 Citizen member (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY Peter Melkonian (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; 11/22/11, 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 Peter Melkonian as the one citizen member to the Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee. The voting was as follows: Euille - Melkonian Donley - Melkonian Fannon - Melkonian Hughes - Melkonian Krupicka - Melkonian Pepper - Melkonian Smedberg - Melkonian 12. Commission on Information Technology 1 Citizen Member (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY Phillip Acosta 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; 11/22/11, 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 Phillip Acosta as the one citizen member to the Commission on Information Technology. The voting was as follows: Euille - Acosta Donley - Acosta Fannon - Acosta Hughes - Acosta Krupicka - Acosta Pepper - Acosta Smedberg - Acosta 13. Community Criminal Justice Board 1 Citizen Member (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY Jason Bruno Raighne Delaney (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; 11/22/11, 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 Raighne Delaney as the one citizen member to the Community Criminal Justice Board. The voting was as follows: Euille - Delaney Donley - Delaney Fannon - Delaney Hughes - Bruno Krupicka - Delaney Pepper - Delaney Smedberg - Delaney 14. Environmental Policy Commission 1 Citizen Member (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY Peter Pennington Alison Rausch (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; 11/22/11, 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 Peter Pennington as the one citizen member to the Environmental Policy Commission. The voting was as follows: Euille - Pennington Donley - Pennington Fannon - Pennington Hughes - Pennington Krupicka - Pennington Pepper - Pennington Smedberg - Pennington 15. Waterfront Committee 1 At-Large Citizen Representative Other Than From Any Group or Area Already Listed (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY Nathan Macek Thomas Walczykowski (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; 11/22/11, 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 Nathan Macek as the one at-large citizen representative to the Waterfront Committee. The voting was as follows: Euille - Macek Donley - Macek Fannon - Walcyzykowski Hughes - Macek Krupicka - Macek Pepper - Macek Smedberg - Macek 16. Torpedo Factory Art Center Board 1 Citizen Member (The following persons volunteered for appointment to the above Commission) NAME: ENDORSED BY Charlotte Hall (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; 11/22/11, 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 Charlotte Hall as the one citizen member to the Torpedo Factory Art Center Board. The voting was as follows: Euille - Hall Donley - Hall Fannon - abstained Hughes - Hall Krupicka - Hall Pepper - Hall Smedberg - Hall REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION 17. Consideration of the Proposed Legislative Package for the 2012 General Assembly. (#11, 10/25/2011, #4, 11/12/2001) (A copy of the City Manager's memorandums dated November 14, 2011 and October 18, 2011, are on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 17; 11/22/11, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) Mr. Caton, Legislative Director, made a presentation of the report and responded to questions of City Council. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Donley, seconded by Councilman Smedberg and carried 6-0-1, City Council adopted the Legislative Package, with the removal of item #6, which will be voted on separately. The voting was as follows: Donley "aye" Fannon "aye" Smedberg "aye Hughes abstained Euille "aye" Krupicka "aye" Pepper "aye" WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Donley, seconded by Councilman Smedberg and carried 5-2, City Council moved to oppose #6, eminent domain, as written. The voting was as follows: Donley "aye" Fannon "no" Smedberg "aye" Hughes "no" Euille "aye" Krupicka "aye" Pepper "aye" 18. Oral Report on Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC-133) Project at Mark Center. (Staff Presentation) Mr. Grover, BRAC Coordinator, Transportation and Environmental Services, made a presentation of the report and he, along with Mr. Baier, Director, Transportation and Environmental Services, responded to questions. 19. Receipt of Staff Update on Proposed Disposal of City Real Estate. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated November 16, 2011, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 19; 11/22/11, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) Mr. McPike, Director, General Services, and Mr. Wanamaker, Deputy Director, General Services, made a presentation of the report and responded to questions of City Council. City Council asked that when it puts anything out for the 912, 916 and 920 King Street properties that it list the need for a parking facility. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Vice Mayor Donley, seconded by Councilman Smedberg and carried 6-0, City Council received the report. The voting was as follows: Donley "aye" Fannon absent Smedberg "aye" Hughes "aye" Euille "aye" Krupicka "aye Pepper "aye" 20. Consideration of Proposal to Modify the City’s Proposed Use of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Grant Funds and Energy Management Capital Improvement Funds and the Financial Model for the City’s Revolving Loan Fund Project for Use of These Funds. (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated November 15, 2011, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 20; 11/22/11, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) Mr. Cochran, Office of Housing, responded to questions of City Council. WHEREUPON, upon motion by Councilman Krupicka, seconded by Councilwoman Pepper and carried unanimously, City Council approved: 1. the transfer of $91,800 of federal energy efficiency and conservation block grant revolving loan funding to the City's energy management Capital Improvement Program project account; 2. transferred $91,800 of City funds from the City's energy management Capital Improvement Program project account to the previously approved energy conservation revolving loan program; and 3. the change of the revolving loan fund to a loan loss reserve, and authorization for the City Manager to execute an amended agreement with the Northern Virginia Regional Commission consistent with the terms outlined in the report. The voting was as follows: Krupicka "aye" Donley "aye" Pepper "aye" Fannon "aye" Euille "aye" Hughes "aye" Smedberg "aye" 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 invited Gayle Terry, vice chair of the Commission on HIV/AIDS, to make a presentation requesting the immediate appropriation of funds. Ms. Terry, vice chair, Commission on HIV/AIDS, along with Debby Dimon, Public Health Supervising Nurse at the Alexandria Department of Health, spoke of being charged with developing a feasible way to reach the African-American gay and bisexual male population. She said they hope to present a budget memo to Council in the budget cycle, and their current recommendation is to fund a part-time outreach worker from the community who will reach out to the men in the community. She spoke of the events and actions they will take. (b) Councilman Krupicka wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. (c) Councilwoman Pepper reminded everyone that on Thanksgiving Day there will be the Alexandria Turkey Trot, which will be at the George Washington Middle School. The Turkey Trot is a five-mile race with registration at 8:30, the race begins at 10:00, and the beginning of the awards is at 11:00. She said Jay Johnson is being honored as the grand marshal, and he has worked 25 years on the Turkey Trot. (d) Councilwoman Hughes said she went to the William Ramsay PTA Thanksgiving luncheon and open house. She said they are having student council elections. (e) Councilwoman Hughes said she learned that there will be a new opening of the ACPS Center for the Performing Arts, and they are having a performance starting on November 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium. (f) Councilman Fannon said a reminder that tomorrow morning is the Mayor's Annual Unity Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Hilton Mark Center. (g) Councilman Fannon said this Friday will be the annual tree lighting on Market Square and all the parking garages will be open for free for shoppers on Friday. Saturday is Small Business Saturday, and they encourage citizens to support the small businesses on Saturday. (h) Vice Mayor Donley reported from the Transportation Planning Board meeting at COG, noting that at the last meeting they considered amendments to the constrained long-range plan, they were asked to approve the revised hot-lane project. He said he proposed an amendment to the approval requesting that VDOT undertake additional studies to include more bill alternatives, including additional transit options and an alternative that would include a D.C. terminus. Vice Mayor Donley said the amendment was passed unanimously by the TPB. (i) Vice Mayor Donley thanked Acting City Manager Johnson and staff for a fairly professional and thoughtful analysis of the alternative Waterfront Plan. He said they need to have information on fiscal impacts, legal opinions, and comments on land use implications and ultimately it is Council's decision. He said he was disheartened to read in the Washington Postin the article on the City's analysis a quote attributed to former vice mayor Andrew Macdonald regarding the re-election of members based upon their vote on the Waterfront Plan. He said it is important to consider all elements of the various alternatives. Council has worked with staff to eliminate a lot of the more objectionable aspects. He said it is unfortunate that it has to inject political threats into the equation. Vice Mayor Donley said they know about accountability, which is why they have elections. He said that perhaps Mr. Macdonald might want to take a lesson from his own comments and be accountable to the citizens about why he resigned from Council and cost the City probably $100,000 in a special election to find his replacement. (j) Councilwoman Hughes noted that Saturday was Adoption Day and it had eight families adopting children, and she said thanks to the families involved. (k) Councilwoman Hughes noted the dedication of Thurman Alley on Saturday. ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER Acting City Manager Johnson said an issue has come up about the three parades and the City's support for those parades. The Campagna Center people has asked that they waive the requirement that 50 percent of the cost of the parade by borne by the Campagna Center and 50 percent by the City and want it to be 100 percent by the City. There are two other parade requests, the George Washington Birthday Parade and the St. Patrick's Day Parade. He asked for Council guidance from small changes to back to 100 percent. City Council did not change the policy but requested information from the Acting City Manager. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS 21. Consideration of a Resolution Establishing FY 2013 Budget Guidance for the Alexandria City Government and the Alexandria City Public Schools. [ROLL-CALL VOTE (A copy of the City Manager's memorandum dated November 18, 2011, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 21; 11/22/11, and is incorporated as part of this record by reference.) Acting City Manager Johnson went over the resolution and responded to questions of City Council. WHEREUPON, a motion was made Councilman Krupicka, seconded by Councilwoman Pepper, City Council moved adoption of the resolution establishing FY 2013 budget guidance for the Alexandria City Government and the Alexandria City Public Schools, to add an additional #19 to the resolution to read: Given the expectation that City revenues will be constrained for a number of years and a concern that year by year tightening runs the risk of lowering City service quality into the future, the Council requests that the City Manager propose significant reforms, consolidations, reorganizations, or program changes that would enable us to maintain the quality of core services into the future. WHEREUPON, Vice Mayor Donley asked for a friendly amendment to amend #15 to read: The City Manager shall preserve operating budget allocations at current levels for public infrastructure improvements, such as street paving, street maintenance and sidewalk maintenance. The amendment was acceptable to the maker and seconder of the motion and becomes part of the original motion. WHEREUPON, Councilman Smedberg asked to amend #5 to clarify and put in parenthesis several of the other taxes/parentheticals. The amendment was acceptable to the maker and seconder of the motion and becomes part of the original motion. WHEREUPON, Councilman Smedberg asked to amend Councilman Krupicka's new #19, to read, in the third line: "the Council requests that the City Manager evaluate and propose significant reforms to City departments that may include consolidations, reorganizations, or program changes that would enable us to maintain the qualify of core services into the future. The amendment was acceptable to the maker and seconder of the motion and becomes part of the original motion. The motion, as amended, carried unanimously by a roll-call vote and is recorded as follows: Krupicka "aye" Donley "aye" Pepper "aye" Fannon "aye" Euille "aye" Hughes "aye" Smedberg "aye" The resolution reads as follows:
WHEREAS, the ASA has expressed a concern about future constraints on their ability to expand should the need arise in response to future capacity needs or regulations; and
WHEREAS, should the City choose to sell the Properties in the future, ASA should be considered first as a potential purchaser in the event that the Properties could be used to fulfill their expansion needs; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA: