The meeting was called to order by Mayor Euille, and the Deputy City Clerk called the roll. All the members of Council were present.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________
2. Moment of Silence and Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Euille recognized Veterans Day and asked that everyone remember members of the Armed Services and their service to this country. 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 15, 2011; (b) The Special Meeting Minutes of October 24, 2011; and (c) The Regular Meeting Minutes of October 25, 2011. City Council approved the minutes of the following meetings of City Council: the public hearing meeting minutes of October 15, 2011; the special meeting minutes of October 24, 2011; and the regular meeting minutes of October 25, 2011. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ RECOGNITION OF YOUTH BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL None. PROCLAMATIONS None. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER CONSENT CALENDAR (4-8) (Resignations and Uncontested Appointments) 4. Receipt of the Following Resignations from Members of Boards, Commissions and Committees: (a) Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors Ben Timashenka (b) Building Code Board of Appeals Joshua Carpenter (c) Citizen Corps Council John DuVall (d) Waterfront Committee William Cromley 5. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees: (a) Beautification Commission 1 Citizen Member (b) Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee 1 Member Designated by Councilman Smedberg (c) Commission for Women 1 Citizen Member (d) Environmental Policy Commission 1 Member From the Field of Urban Planning (e) George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee 1 Member Nominated by the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association (f) Sister Cities Committee 2 Citizen Members REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued) CONSENT CALENDAR (continued) (Reports and Recommendations of the City Manager) 6. Consideration of an Application for Center for Disease Control and National Association of City and County Health Officials Action Communities for Health Funds for the Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network Program. (Ordinances for Introduction) 7. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend and Reordain Sections 3-2-185(a) and 3-2-187, of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as Amended, To Require Appeals of Real Property Tax Assessments To Be Filed With the Board of Equalization by June 1. 8. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance Making Supplemental Appropriations for FY 2012. END OF CONSENT CALENDAR City Council approved the consent calendar. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows: 4. City Council accepted the following resignations with regret: (a) Ben Timashenka, Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors; (b) Joshua Carpenter, Building Code Board of Appeals; (c) John DuVall, Citizens Corp Council; and (d) William Cromley, Waterfront Committee. 5. City Council made the following appointments to boards and commissions: (a) appointed Tom Walczykowski as the citizen member to the Beautification Commission; (b) appointed Benjamin Klein as the member designated by Councilman Smedberg to the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee; (c) appointed Rebekah Bakewicz as the citizen member to the Commission for Women; (d) appointed Josh Sawislak as the member from the field of urban planning to the Environmental Policy Commission; (e) reappointed Joseph Shumard as the member nominated by Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association to the George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee; and (f) appointed John Scales and Scott Gordon as the two citizen members to the Sister Cities Committee. 6. City Council: (1) approved the submission of the grant application (submission deadline was November 7, 2011); and (2) authorized the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required. 7. City Council passed the ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, November 12, 2011. 8. City Council passed the ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, November 12, 2011. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS 9. Commission on Employment 1 Representative From Such Organizations as Educational Agencies, Organized Labor, Rehabilitation Agencies, Community Based Organizations, Economic Development Agencies, and the Public Employment Service City Council waived the residency requirement and appointed Christopher Applegate as the representative from such organizations as educational agencies, organized labor, rehabilitation agencies, community based organizations, economic development agencies and the public employment service to the Commission on Employment. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 10. Environmental Policy Commission 1 Member From the Field of Environmental Sciences (e.g., Environmental/Sanitary Engineering, Ecology, Geology, Botany, Hydrology, Chemistry) or Who Have Alexandria Waterfront Expertise City Council appointed Kristen Nelson as the member from the field of environmental sciences (e.g., environmental/sanitary engineering, ecology, geology, botany, hydrology, chemistry) or who have Alexandria waterfront expertise to the Environmental Policy Commission. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 11. Historic Alexandria Resources Commission 1 Lee-Fendall House Representative City Council waived the residency requirement and appointed Kara Marshall as the Lee-Fendall House representative to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR DISCUSSION 12. Receipt of Status Report from the Alexandria Waterfront Plan Work Group. City Council received the status report from the Alexandria Waterfront Plan Work Group. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 13. Presentation of the Report of the City of Alexandria Ad Hoc Retirement Benefit Advisory Group to the City Council and City Manager. (Committee Presentation) City Council received the report and thanked the members of the Advisory Group for their efforts on behalf of the City. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 14. Consideration of the Monthly Financial Report for the Period Ending September 30, 2011. (Staff Presentation) City Council received the Monthly Financial Report for the period ending September 30, 2011. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 15. Receipt of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2011. (Staff Presentation) City Council received the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ 16. Receipt of the Listings of Delinquent Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes and Consideration of Recommendation to Advertise the Listings and Write-off Balances Less than Twenty Dollars. 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; (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; and (4) authorized the Director of Finance, in accordance with retention regulations pursuant to the Virginia Public Records Act, to dispose of records associated with real estate taxes paid in calendar year 2005 and prior years in accordance with Code of Virginia Section 58.1-3129(A). 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) Vice Mayor Donley recognized the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria and those who participated in the Scholarship Fund Telethon on Sunday. Vice Mayor Donley noted that $65,000 in pledges were raised for the Scholarship Fund. (b) Vice Mayor Donley congratulated Rebuilding Together Alexandria and Washington Gas on the weatherizing project that they participated in at the Chirilagua Housing Cooperative on Saturday. (c) Councilwoman Pepper reported that the new Alexandria Police Headquarters was dedicated today and she noted how nice the building looked and looked forward to the great public safety opportunities the new headquarters will foster. (d) Councilman Fannon thanked the Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities Department and the Arts Commission for sponsoring the Alexandria Film Festival this past weekend, noting that over sixty movies were shown throughout the City. Councilman Fannon requested that the schedule be published earlier next year to encourage participation. (e) Councilman Fannon reported the United Way Campaign is trying to raise $800,000 for Alexandria charities and nonprofits and pointed out that the United Way is half way to the goal. Councilman Fannon thanked all the City employees for their strong participation in the campaign. (f) Councilman Fannon invited everyone to attend the Veterans Day programs in the City on Friday: at 11:00 a.m., there will be a Veterans Day ceremony at the Rocky Versace Plaza at Mount Vernon Elementary School on Commonwealth Avenue, recognizing the 67 Alexandrians who lost their lives during Vietnam, and the Alexandria Black History Museum will sponsor a Veterans Day program from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 902 Wythe Street. (g) Councilman Krupicka requested that information about parking districts and the rules and regulations for the parking districts be compiled and posted on the City's website. (h) Councilman Krupicka recognized the Alexandria City Public Schools for receiving a couple of awards, one relating to financial planning and professionalism of their financial documents and the other award recognizing the thirteen City schools that are Energy Star certified. (i) Councilwoman Hughes reported that the Local Government Mandates Task Force will meet on November 19. Councilwoman Hughes also reported that at the past meeting, there were three subcommittees established to work on particular issues related to mandates including educational mandates, unfunded mandates and suggestions for mandates elimination legislation. (j) Councilwoman Hughes read a tribute to Alexandria attorney Bobby Stafford, who passed away on Tuesday morning and expressed condolences to his family during their time of bereavement. (k) Mayor Euille announced that the Mayor's Unity Breakfast would be held on November 23, 8:00 a.m., at the Hilton Mark Center, with the theme "Building Our Strength Through Diverse Abilities." Mayor Euille reported that for more information about the event please contact Nancy McCormick. co-chair, at fam1stalex@aol.com and the tickets cost $40. (l) Mayor Euille mentioned that the Alexandria Mentoring Partnership is always recruiting adults to volunteer to help a student and he noted that there is a shortage of mentors. Mayor Euille stated that anyone interested in volunteering should contact Alexandria Mentoring Partnership or contact the Mayor's office. (m) Mayor Euille reported that the Housing and the Region's Future report was presented by Dr. Sturtevant and Dr. Fuller of George Mason University at the Council of Governments Board meeting today and the report focused on the metropolitan area's need to increase the housing units to accommodate the growing population and workforce over the next twenty years. Mayor Euille noted that the City will examine the housing needs more in depth when the Comprehensive Housing Study is presented to Council in January. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ ORAL REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER Acting City Manager Johnson reported that the Office of Management and Budget received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and he noted that City received 41% of the ratings in the Outstanding category. Mr. Johnson reported that the budget guidance will be a docket item at the upcoming legislative meeting. Mr. Johnson stated that in preparation for the guidance and the budget presentation, he has requested that City departments generate options that would reduce the City's operational budget by 6% in order to address the projected revenue shortfall. Mr. Johnson also has requested that the Strategic Goal groups prioritize the bottom 10% in each of the goal areas. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS None. OTHER 17. Consideration of City Council Schedule. City Council: (1) received the updated calendar; and (2) noted that the dedication of the Duke Street alley named in honor of the late Douglas Thurman will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 19. Council Action:_________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SESSION 18. Consideration of Convening a Closed Meeting For the Purpose of Consulting With Legal Counsel Regarding Potential and Pending Litigation. City Council convened in closed executive session at 8:55 p.m., pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A)(7) of the Code of Virginia, for the purpose of consulting with legal counsel regarding pending and potential litigation. City Council reconvened the meeting at 9:45 p.m. City Council adopted the resolution pertaining to the Executive Session. (RES. NO. 2479) Council Action:_________________________________________________________