Office of the City Clerk
March 11, 1998
At 6:45 p.m., There was a Reception
for the Technology Achievement Award
Finalists in Room 2000, City Hall.
There was not an Executive Session at
the Close of This Meeting. Please see
Docket Item No. 28.
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, March 10, 1998 - - 7:30 p.m.
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OPENING
1. Calling the Roll.
The Meeting was called to Order by Mayor Donley, and the City Clerk called the Roll; all Members of City Council were present, Council Member Rich arrived at 7:40 p.m.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
The Invocation was pronounced by Reverend William J. Metzger, Principal, Bishop Ireton High School.
2. Invocation. By:_________________________________________________________
New Business Item No. 1: Mayor Donley announced that he had the privilege of wearing a red and white Dr. Seuss hat and reading at Polk Elementary School for the Campagna Kids After School Day Care Center. He had a great time with a great bunch of kids. He will read tomorrow at Charles Barrett Elementary School.
3. Reading and Acting Upon the Minutes of the Following Meetings of City Council:
(a) The Public Hearing Meeting of February 21, 1998; and
(b) The Regular Meeting of February 24, 1998.
City Council approved the Minutes of (a) the Public Hearing Meeting of February 21, 1998; and (b) the Regular Meeting of February 24, 1998, as presented.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
4. Report of the City Clerk.
City Council received the report of the City Clerk.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OPENING (continued)
5. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming March 15-21, 1998, as Tall Cedars Week. (Councilwoman Pepper)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
6. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming March as Red Cross Month in the City of Alexandria. (Mayor Donley)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
7. Presentation of Proclamation Declaring March 9-13, 1998, as Alexandria Technology Achievement Week. (Councilwoman Pepper and Council Member Walker)
Council Member Walker and Councilwoman Pepper made presentations concerning the five finalists.
Mayor Donley also noted that five T.C. Williams High School students had won the Virginia regionals of the National Science Bowl by defeating Fairfax County's Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER
CONSENT CALENDAR (8 - 11) (16 - 22)
WITHOUT OBJECTION, City Council removed Docket Item No. 11 from the Consent Calendar, and considered it under separate motion.
8. Receipt of Resignations from Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee
Donal Goff
(b) Alexandria Consumer Affairs Commission
Robert Lopez
(c) Alexandria Task Force on AIDS
Emilie Deady
9. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Ad Hoc City of Alexandria 250th Anniversary Commission
1 Member Designated by the Alexandria Archaeological
Commission
(b) Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association
Board of Governors
1 Restaurant Owner/Manager Representative
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
(c) Alexandria Commission on Employment
1 Business Representative From Among Recognized
Area Businesses, Including Minority-Owned and
Small Businesses
(d) Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities
1 Representative of the Business Community
(e) Alexandria Potomac West Alliance Board of Directors
1 Member Representing the Owners of Potomac Yard
1 Representative Designated by the Potomac West
Business Association
10. Receipt of the 1996-1997 Annual Report of the Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission.
11. Consideration of a Request for the Installation of Traffic Signals at North Washington Street and Oronoco Street.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
8. City Council received the following resignations of (a) Donal Goff from the Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee; (b) Robert Lopez from the Alexandria Consumer Affairs Commission; and (c) Emilie Deady from the Alexandria Task Force on AIDS; requested the Executive Secretary for Boards and Commissions to send the appropriate letters of appreciation and to advertise the vacancies in the usual manner.
9. City Council (a) appointed Lea Fowlie as a Member Designated by the Alexandria Archaeological Commission to the Ad Hoc City of Alexandria 250th Anniversary Commission; (b) appointed Balraj Bhasin as a Restaurant Owner/Manager Representative to the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors; (c) appointed Jennifer Thompson as a Business Representative From Among Recognized Area Businesses, Including Minority-Owned and Small Businesses to the Alexandria Commission on Employment; (d) appointed Timothy Sullivan as a Representative of the Business Community to the Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities; and (e) appointed Jeffrey Sofferman as a Member Representing the Owners of Potomac Yard and Gayle Reuter as a Representative Designated by the Potomac West Business Association to the Alexandria Potomac West Alliance Board of Directors.
10. City Council received the report and thanked the Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission for its efforts on behalf of public health and the City.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
11. Vice Mayor Euille directed questions to Transportation and Environmental Services Director O'Kane with respect to the length of time it has taken to get to this point, and regarding costs.
City Council approved the recommendation of the Traffic and Parking Board to install a traffic signal at the intersection of North Washington Street and Oronoco Street.
16. City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its First Reading; set it for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Saturday, March 14, 1998.
17. City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its First Reading; set it for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Saturday, March 14, 1998.
18. City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its First Reading; set it for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Saturday, March 14, 1998.
19. City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its First Reading; set it for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Saturday, March 14, 1998.
20. City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its First Reading; set it for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Saturday, March 14, 1998.
21. City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its First Reading; set it for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Saturday, March 14, 1998.
22. City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its First Reading; set it for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Saturday, March 14, 1998.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
12. Consideration of Update Report on Items Before the 1998 General Assembly.
City Council received the report.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
13. Consideration of Report on the Status of the HIV/AIDS Administrative Technician Position Budgeted in the Alexandria Health Department.
Council Member Walker requested that a quarterly status report be given to Council indicating what staff is finding to be effective and what progress has been made.
Mayor Donley suggested implementing a work plan.
City Council (1) received this status report; (2) converted the 0.50 FTE part-time HIV/AIDS Administrative Technician position budgeted in the Alexandria Health Department to full-time status, at an estimated cost of $20,000; and (3) approved the transfer of $20,000 from contingent reserves (account #103556-2707) to the Health Department budget for the increased cost of this position.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
14. Consideration of Adoption of the Concept Plan for the East and West End Parks of Cameron Station.
Mayor Donley spoke to the placement of parking in relation to the potential school in the West End Park Concept Plan. He indicated that he has been contacted by the School Board and attorneys representing Greenvest regarding the location of parking. Mayor Donley stated for the record that the school system is not necessarily in agreement with the current depiction on the Plan, and would like it understood that as we move forward from conceptual design to "site plan or final design", that we would still work on trying to resolve the parking issue. Mayor Donley indicated that Mr. Calley, attorney for Greenvest, is present to say that they are willing to work with City staff and school staff to resolve the issue as well. He stated that one possibility might be to set the parking back a little bit and put some type of buffer in relation to the other development where it was originally sited, which is a potential option.
The Mayor's characterization of the concerns were agreed to by Chairman Kenealy and Attorney Calley.
Chairman Kenealy indicated that the school system is more than willing to work cooperatively with staff. The issue for them is so long as the cross hatched area allows room for a double-loaded parking lot and they are basically okay with buffering and the rest. It is their preference to have the parking in the cross hatch area contiguous to the school property rather than in other areas of the park and rather than at the other end of the baseball field.
Mayor Donley indicated that the respective staffs will work on that particular issue and reach a compromise that is acceptable to all parties.
Councilman Speck noted that the viewing audience might think that Council is sort of fine tuning this concept and that the issue of a school has already been decided. He indicated that it is important to note that over the next few weeks Council has a lot of heavy lifting to do on this budget and one of the decisions that Council has to make is the capital decision about a new school which has not been made yet.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
14. (continued)
J. Brown, Landscape Architect, with Dewberry Davis spoke to the proposed design.
Members of City Council participated in the discussion on this item.
Deputy City Manager Steele stated that the plan that is before the Council essentially takes all of the money that is available and that $600,000 is no longer available for the multi-generational facility based on this concept plan. The costs are outlined in the memorandum.
Mayor Donley stated that as this moves forward into site plan review potentially elements could be deleted that could alter the mix in terms of funding.
City Council (1) approved the conceptual plan for the East End Park; (2) approved the conceptual plan for the West End Park and directed the staffs of both the Department of Recreation and the School Board, in conjunction with the City's contracted park designer, Dewberry & Davis, to continue to work together to refine the design for the area between the approved park elements in the West End Park and the new school facility such that it serves as a city park as well as meets the outdoor needs of a school facility abutting a future residential community; (3) directed staff to file a Special Use Permit with the Planning Commission for the East End Park and initiate the Site Plan Review Process for both the East End and West End Parks and prepare all the required documentation; (4) directed staff to engage Dewberry & Davis to provide architectural and engineering services, using monies already allocated for the project, to design the restroom/concession facility (a City Council approved element in the East End Park), as permitted by the interjurisdictional contract and approved by the Purchasing Agent, requested that an alternative site plan be developed that would include a youth soccer field in the southwest corner, and with the request that the site plan(s) be processed not only by the Planning Commission, but also back to City Council.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
15. Consideration of Report on Employee Compensation Issues.
Mayor Donley and Councilman Speck asked questions of Personnel Services Director Sudduth. Assistant City Manager Evans and Vice Mayor Euille participated in the discussion.
With respect to the $500,000 reserve to address City employee pay adjustments, Councilman Speck requested the City Clerk to provide to Personnel Director Sudduth the specific language that he thinks Council used in Council's identification of that item on the budget, and ask, through the City Manager, to come back to Council at the next legislative meeting with any further opinion, advice or information as to whether what we think we did has been satisfied in this, or whether there is more to be done, and if so, when.
City Council (1) received the Personnel Services Department staff report on City employee compensation, which covers 79 City job classes and 893 City employees, or about 43% of the City workforce.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
15. (continued)
Based on staff's review of minimum, mid-point and maximum salary data comparing Alexandria to our five comparator jurisdictions as discussed in the City's Pay Philosophy, staff found that average mid-point and maximum salaries of all but one of 79 classes surveyed are above 90% of our comparator jurisdictions' average and maximum salaries. Only one class, Recreation Specialist, a class occupied by one person, has a mid-point salary that is 85.3% of the camparators' average mid-point salary and a maximum salary that is 85.6% of the camparators' average maximum salary. Two classes, Information Technology Services Director and Recreation Specialist, have minimum salaries that are below the comparators jurisdictions' average minimum salary.
As a result of Council's actions in the FY 1998 Budget to increase employee salaries by a total of 8% through January 1, 1998, staff has found that overall, with the exceptions noted above, for the City job classes included in Attachment 1 of the memorandum, the City is very competitive with the average minimum, mid-point and maximum salaries for similar job classes found in our five comparator jurisdictions (Arlington, Fairfax, Montgomery, Prince George's and Prince William Counties).
Staff will complete the work on the remaining City employee job classes between now and June, and we will provide Council with a follow-up report at its June 8 legislative meeting;
(2) approved the career ladder program for T&ES Inspectors I/II; (3) approved the proposed classification and salary for the Aide to the Mayor; (4) approved the proposed revision to Section IV.A. of the Special Regulation for City Council Administrative Aides which changes the language in the Special Regulation regarding the salary of the Administrative Assistant to the Mayor; and (5) approved the recommendation in the City Attorney's March 6, 1998 memorandum which calls for the establishment of a career ladder and restructuring of positions in the City Attorney's Office.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
None
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
(a) Councilwoman Pepper announced the award-winning Nannie J. Lee Hornets Cheerleader squad is once again competing for the championship. They will be in Ocean City on April 4 and 5, and in Chicago on April 10 and 12. There are 30 cheerleaders and $700 per cheerleader needs to be raised to send them to the competition. Vice Mayor Euille presented a check for $600 and Councilwoman Pepper presented a check for $100 to Mr. and Mrs. Green to sponsor one cheerleader. Donations can be made by calling Mrs. Green, Chair of the Parents Advisory Board, at 703-518-5041. The Co-chair is Cheryl Bell who can be reached at 703-549-7634. The donations can also be sent to the Nannie J. Lee Center in care of the Director.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (continued)
(b) Councilwoman Pepper indicated that next Sunday is the last day that we will be having "Creativity Has No Age Program", which is at the Colasanto Center.
(c) Councilman Cleveland spoke to the upcoming budget process and available funds.
(d) Vice Mayor Euille spoke to the scholarship established in the name of Ben Brenman with the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria. Subsequent to that, the Chamber of Commerce publicly announced that it also had created a scholarship fund in honor of Ben Brenman. He stated that after talking with the Scholarship Fund staff and the Chamber, it was decided that all sources of funds received in the name of Ben Brenman will go into one pool instead of two separate ones. The selection and criteria for awarding scholarships will be decided by the Scholarship Foundation Review Committee.
(e) Vice Mayor Euille noted that volunteers are needed to participate in a City-sponsored "My Pal Mentoring Program", which is under the auspices of the Alexandria Division of Social Services. Please call Theresa Gardner Williams at 838-0768.
(f) Councilman Speck asked the City Manager to do everything possible to move forward with the work schedule as fast as possible at Ramsay House.
(g) Councilman Speck requested staff to be creative and report back on various traffic calming methods or measures; how we can address the problems of speeding in an ongoing way; and what traffic equipment or devices could work.
(h) Councilman Speck asked the City Manager in conjunction with the City Attorney and Ms. Boyd to tell us what exactly is in the contract that says that there is a "contractual obligation" to have a programming channel owned by the provider of the cable on two different stations.
(i) Mayor Donley announced that the issues on Fillmore Avenue have been resolved. He pointed out that the City Manager and Transportation and Environmental Services Director O'Kane met with two citizen associations and came to an agreement. The Mayor and Council congratulated them on a job well done.
City Manager Lawson will give Council a written report.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
CONSENT CALENDAR (16 - 22)
16. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of AN ORDINANCE to amend the city code by including the sheriff or the sheriff's designee as a member of the Alexandria Community Services Board.
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
17. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of AN ORDINANCE to amend Section 5-303 of the Zoning Ordinance to allow homeless shelters in the CRMU-H/Commercial Residential Mixed Use-High zone with a special use permit.
18. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of AN ORDINANCE to amend Section 11-410 of the Zoning Ordinance to clarify and modernize the landscape requirements for site plan approval consistent with the adoption of official landscape guidelines.
19. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of AN ORDINANCE to amend the city's master plan for the property at 2201 Eisenhower Avenue, Mill Race-Old Town Commons, which is within the Coordinated Development District-Eisenhower Avenue.
20. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of AN ORDINANCE to vacate a portion of the public right-of-way at 2310-2318 Mill Road.
21. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of AN ORDINANCE to vacate a portion of the public right-of-way at 5005 Duke Street.
22. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of AN ORDINANCE to authorize a temporary encroachment into the public right-of-way for a sales trailer at 302-304 Princess Street.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council introduced and passed the ordinances on their First Readings; and set them for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Saturday, March 14, 1998.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS (continued)
23. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First and Second Readings of AN ORDINANCE to adopt Supplement No. 53 to the city code. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its First and Second Readings. ORD. NO. 3978
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
24. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First and Second Readings of AN ORDINANCE to adopt Supplement No. 16 to the Zoning Ordinance. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its First and Second Readings. ORD. NO. 3979
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OTHER
25. Consideration of City Council Schedule.
City Council scheduled the awards ceremony for National Youth Services Day on Tuesday, April 28, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, followed by a reception in Room 2000 at 6:30 p.m. Councilman Speck requested an audio tape of the Budget Work Session only on March 26.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS
26. Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association
Board of Governors
1 Attraction Representative
City Council waived the residency requirement and appointed Charlene Duryea as an Attraction Representative to the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board of Governors.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
27. Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission
1 Member From the Field of Sanitary/Environmental
Engineering
City Council appointed Jeffrey Mosher as a Member From the Field of Sanitary/Environmental Engineering to the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
EXECUTIVE SESSION
28. Convening an Executive Session for the Purpose of Consulting with Legal Counsel Pertaining to Pending Litigation Involving the City, Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 2.1-344(A)(7).
It was not necessary to have an executive session.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
The meeting was adjourned at 10:38 p.m.
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 https://alexandriava.gov/council.
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