Office of the City Clerk
February 25, 1998
There was a Work Session with the
Alexandria Sanitation Authority at 6:00 p.m.
in the City Council Workroom.
The Annual Meeting of the Alexandria Transit
Company Stockholders was held at 7:15 p.m.
in the City Council Workroom.
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, February 24, 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 Council were present.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
The Invocation was pronounced by Reverend Stephen H. Wade, Rector, Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill.
2. Invocation. By:_________________________________________________________
3. Reading and Acting Upon the Minutes of the Following Meeting of City Council:
(a) The Regular Meeting of February 10, 1998.
City Council approved the Minutes for the Regular Meeting of February 10, 1998, as submitted.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
4. Report of the City Clerk.
City Council received the report of the City Clerk.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
5. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming Saturday, March 7, 1998, as St. Patrick's Day Parade Day in the City of Alexandria. (Councilwoman Pepper)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OPENING (continued)
6. Presentation of Proclamation and Key to the City Recognizing 1990 T. C. Williams Graduate, Keith Burns, a Member of the Denver Broncos Football Team, Who Played in the 1998 Super Bowl. (Mayor Donley)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
7. Recognition of Five Eagle Scouts Whose Projects Have Been with City Agencies, and Recognizing the City Employees Who Have Worked with These Young People. (Mayor Donley)
City Council recognized the following Eagle Scouts: Edward Bauserman, Andrew Terlitzky, David Jones, Mark Hill, and Christopher Anderson. The following City Employees were recognized for working with the Eagle Scouts: Mark Kelly, Ramsay Nature Center; Judy Jurkowski, MH/MR/SA; Hector Campos, Alexandria Community Shelter; Buffie Brownstein and Aimee Vosper, Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
8. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming March as Women's History Month in the City of Alexandria, and a Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Women's Rights Movement.
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER
CONSENT CALENDAR (9 - 16)
WITHOUT OBJECTION, City Council removed Docket Item Nos. 12 and 13 from the Consent Calendar and considered them under separate motions.
9. Receipt of Resignations from Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Alexandria Commission on Employment
Beth Fujishige
(b) Alexandria Potomac West Alliance Board of Directors
Jeff Sherman
10. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board
1 Low-Income Tenant
1 Landlord or Representative of A Landlord
(b) Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission
1 Member From Planning District I
(c) Alexandria Social Services Advisory Board
1 Parent Member
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
11. Receipt of the Monthly Financial Report for Period Ending January 31, 1998.
12. Receipt of the 1997 Annual Report and Plant Survey from Jones Communications, Inc.
13. Receipt of the 1997 Jones Communications, Inc. Annual Subscriber Survey Report.
14. Consideration of Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Social Services for Funds for the Office on Women's Domestic Violence Program.
15. Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services for Funds for the Development of an Employment Initiative for Persons with Disabilities.
16. Consideration of a Grant Application to the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association for Funds for Therapeutic Activities at the Adult Day Health Care Center.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council approved the consent calendar as presented with the exception of Docket Item Nos. 12 and 13. The City Manager's recommendations are as follows:
9. City Council received the following resignations with regret: (a) Beth Fujishige from the Alexandria Commission on Employment; and (b) Jeff Sherman from the Alexandria Potomac West Alliance Board of Directors; requested the Executive Secretary to send the appropriate letters of appreciation and to advertise the vacancies in the usual manner.
10. City Council (a) appointed Luther Murphy as a Low-Income Tenant and reappointed Joann Poladian as a Landlord or Representative of a Landlord to the Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board; (b) appointed Ann Ross as a Member From Planning District I to the Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission; and (c) appointed Linda Hester as a Parent Member to the Alexandria Social Services Advisory Board.
11. City Council (1) received the Financial Report for the period ending January 31, 1998; and (2) approved the requested capital project expenditures detailed in the Capital Improvement Program Planned Expenditures Summary, and authorized the City Manager or her designee to contract for installation and engineering services and the acquisition of equipment to process and to route incoming I-NET transmissions within five library and 19 school facilities.
12. Vice Mayor Euille directed questions to Director of Citizen Assistance Boyd and Jones Intercable General Manager Schuler.
Council Member Walker and Councilman Cleveland participated in the discussion.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
12. (continued) City Council received Jones Communications 1997 Annual Report. (Separate Motion)
13. Councilman Speck directed questions to Director of Citizen Assistance Boyd, Jones Intercable General Manager Schuler, and Cable Administrator Barbash.
Staff was requested to come back with suggestions of what can be broadcast on Channel 11, and better coverage in the Washington Post of what is available on cable.
City Council received the 1997 Annual Subscriber Survey Report from Jones Communications, Inc. (Separate Motion)
14. City Council authorized the City Manager to: (1) submit the grant application to the Virginia Department of Social Services in the amount of $107,763; (2) approve the continuation of two full-time grant-funded positions (one 1.00 FTE Social Worker I and one 1.00 FTE Outreach/Prevention Specialist) to administer the grant-funded activities of the Office on Women's Domestic Violence Program. These grant-funded positions would terminate upon the expiration of the grant and the individuals who currently fill these positions were notified of this condition of employment at the time they were hired and will sign an agreement of understanding with regard to this condition. It should be noted that there are not funds available in the City budget to continue these activities once the grant funds are expended; and (3) execute all documents that may be required.
15. City Council authorized the City Manager to: (1) submit the grant application to the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services in the amount of $10,614; (2) approve the establishment of one part-time (0.4 FTE) Employment Training Specialist position in the Department of Human Services/Office of Employment Training to administer the grant-funded activities should the grant be awarded. This grant-funded position would terminate upon the expiration of the grant and the individual who is to fill this position would be notified of this condition of employment at the time that they are hired and would sign an agreement of understanding with regard to this condition. It should be noted that there are no funds available in the City budget to continue these activities once the grant funds are expended; and (3) execute all documents that may be required.
16. City Council authorized the City Manager to (1) submit the grant application to the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc., Northern Virginia Chapter, in the amount of $1,800; and (2) execute all documents that may be required.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
17. Receipt of the Alexandria Sanitation Authority's Annual and Financial Reports for 1997.
Mayor Donley spoke to this item.
Councilman Cleveland would like Alexandria's rate to be equal to Arlington and Fairfax Counties.
City Council received the Alexandria Sanitation Authority's Annual and Financial Reports.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
18. Consideration of Update Report on Items Before the 1998 General Assembly.
City Council approved the following as recommended by the City Council's legislative subcommittee (Mayor Donley and Council Member Walker): (1) seek repeal of the amendment to HB 957 (Telecommunications Rights-of-Way legislation) which would require the City to spend revenues from this legislation on school construction and reconstruction, so that the City can determine the purposes for which this revenue should be spent; and (2) support passage of HB 941 (the Assistive Technologies Warranties Act) which creates a "lemon law" for assistive technology devices used by persons with disabilities.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
19. Consideration of the Updated Bicycle Transportation and Multi-Use Trail Master Plan.
Mayor Donley spoke to this item.
Council Member Walker thought registration of bicycles was a good idea, and requested that the Bicycle Committee look very carefully at our transportation plan.
City Council (1) received the updated Bicycle Transportation and Multi-Use Trail Master Plan, hereinafter referred to as the Plan; (2) thanked the members of the Bicycle Study Committee for their work on the Plan and for their continued efforts to refine the Plan based on comments received from community groups; and (3) referred the Plan to the Planning Commission for processing as an addition to the Alexandria Master Plan.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
None
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
(a) Councilwoman Pepper announced that the City Council docket materials are now on-line as of this evening. Future dockets and materials will be available prior to the Council Meetings.
Council Member Walker personally expressed thanks to City Clerk Jett for her many hours of hard work and individual effort of coming up with the concept of putting together the docket on-line.
The City's web site address is http:\\ci.alexandria.va.us.
Financial and Information Technology Services Director Gitajn made comments.
(b) Councilman Cleveland noted that the political sign text amendment will be on for public hearing on the March 3, 1998 Planning Commission agenda.
(c) Councilman Cleveland spoke to the upcoming budget process, and various statistics from the CAFR.
(d) Councilman Speck announced that he attended on Saturday, February 21, 1998, at George Washington Middle School, drama productions of two one-act fairy tales, i.e., "The Lost Half Hour" and "Twice Upon a Time." He indicated that he was staggered by the talent of these young children. Mary Reuter was a participant.
(e) Councilman Speck spoke to the February 22, 1998 fund raiser for Rapid Action Food Team (RAFT) sponsored by the Great Harvest Bread Co. in Alexandria, VA, and organized by John Mennell, Executive Director of RAFT. Members of City Council who participated in rolling up their sleeves to knead bread and provide free samples to shoppers from the store's breadboard were Mayor Kerry Donley, City Council Members Pepper and Speck. Council Member Walker was represented by Aide Gloria Flanagan. Councilman Speck noted that 100% of the profits, $3000, were donated to RAFT.
(f) Vice Mayor Euille announced that on March 2, the schools will celebrate Read Across America. The purpose of this day is to focus on the importance of reading to children and encouraged everyone to volunteer to read to children throughout the school system on that day. He noted that this is also the birthday of Dr. Seuss.
(g) Mayor Donley noted the recent visit of First Lady Hillary Clinton to the City. The City hosted her at the Hamlets as part of the President's initiative for child care and child day care. It was focused on Northern Virginia Family Services and its Healthy Families Program which provides intensive visitation to families, particularly expectant mothers or young mothers, about parenting skills.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
20. Consideration of Grant Application and Resolution to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for FY 1999 Funding for the Continuation of the Alexandria Rideshare Program. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
Council Member Walker made comments on this item.
City Council adopted the resolution and authorized the City Manager to: (1) submit a grant application and resolution to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for funding, in the amount of $156,200, for the continuation of the City's ridesharing service, ALEXANDRIA RIDESHARE; (2) approved the continuation of two full-time grant-funded positions (Transit Specialist I and Transit Services Assistant I) to administer the ongoing ALEXANDRIA RIDESHARE program (these positions were originally established with the Office of Transit Services and Programs' first ALEXANDRIA RIDESHARE grant in the early 1980's). These grant-funded positions would terminate upon the expiration of the grant and the individuals who currently fill these positions were notified of this condition at the time that they were hired, and will sign an agreement of understanding with regard to this condition. It should be noted that there are no funds available in the City budget to continue these activities once the grant funds are expended; and (3) execute all necessary documents that may be required under this program. RES. NO. 1860
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
21. Consideration of a Resolution to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for Urban Funds for the Purchase of Land and Minor Site Improvements for Alexandria Transit Company (DASH). [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
Council Member Walker directed questions to City Manager Lawson and Transportation and Environmental Services Director O'Kane.
City Council adopted the resolution and authorized staff to forward it to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. RES. NO. 1861
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
22. Consideration of Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of Bonds by the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Alexandria for the Young Men's Christian Association of South Hampton Roads. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
Mayor Donley explained this item.
City Council adopted the resolution as recommended by the AIDA at its meeting and public hearing on January 12, 1998. RES. NO. 1862
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OTHER
23. Consideration of City Council Schedule.
Councilman Speck requested the budget staff to provide him with an update of what occurs at the March 26 budget work session since he has a commitment and will not be present.
Staff indicated that on March 26, there will be a budget work session and a waste-to-energy work session.
City Council scheduled a budget work session with the School Board at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1 at the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center Gymnasium. This date has been agreed to by the School Board and is in addition to the previously scheduled Wednesday, March 18 budget work session with the School Board at the Time Life Building, which time has been changed from 7:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS
24. Alexandria Commission on Aging
1 Citizen Member
City Council appointed Flora Chappell as a Citizen member to the Alexandria Commission on Aging.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
25. Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities
1 Citizen Member
City Council reappointed Roosevelt Peebles as a Citizen member to the Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
26. Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board
1 Citizen Member
City Council appointed Edward Lenhoff as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
27. Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board
1 Resident Member Who is Neither A Landlord Nor a Tenant
City Council reappointed Fletcher Johnston as a Resident Member Who is Neither A Landlord Nor A Tenant to the Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board.
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 9:55 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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