Office of the City Clerk
November 24, 1998
There was a Work Session at 6:00 p.m.
with the City's Legislative Delegation to Discuss
the City's 1999 Legislative Package.
There was an Executive Session at the Close
of the Meeting. Please see Docket Item No. 30.
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, November 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 City Council were present.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
The Invocation was pronounced by Reverend Faye S. Gunn, Associate Pastor, Alfred Street Baptist Church.
2. Invocation. By:_________________________________________________________
3. Reading and Acting Upon the Minutes of the Following Meeting of City Council:
(a) The Regular Meeting of November 10, 1998.
City Council approved the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 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 "After The Walk." A Print of an Original Lithograph of Old Town Alexandria to be Used as a Benefit for MetroStage which is to be Presented by Carolyn Griffin. (Councilman Speck)
Councilman Speck introduced Carolyn Griffin who spoke to the sale of the prints to benefit MetroStage. Councilman Speck presented each Member of Council a copy as a Thanksgiving gift from him.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OPENING (continued)
6. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming December 5, 1998, as Scottish Walk Day in the City of Alexandria. (Councilwoman Pepper)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
7. Presentation of Proclamation Honoring Hubert Hoffman for His Dedication and Commitment to the Community. (Vice Mayor Euille and Members of City Council)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
8. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming November 22 - 28, 1998, as National Family Week in the City of Alexandria. (Mayor Donley)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
9. Presentation of Proclamation Declaring December 1998 as Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month.
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
10. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming the Week of December 1 to December 7, 1998, as HIV/AIDS Awareness Week in the City of Alexandria.
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER
CONSENT CALENDAR (11 - 14)
11. Receipt of Resignations from Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Alexandria Early Childhood Commission
Victoria Youcha
12. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Ad Hoc Alexandria Year 2000 Census Complete Count Committee
1 Member Nominated by the Strawberry Hill Civic Association
1 Member Nominated by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
(b) Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee
1 Member Designated by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
(c) Alexandria Commission on Aging
1 Citizen Member Who Is 60 Years of Age or Older
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
(d) Alexandria Commission on Information Technology
1 Member From and Representing the Alexandria
Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee
1 Member Representing the Alexandria City Library Board
(e) Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission
1 Lawyer With Experience in Federal or State
Environmental Statutes, Regulations and Procedures
(f) Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board
1 Resident Who Is Neither A Landlord Nor A Tenant
(g) Alexandria Youth Policy Commission
1 Citizen 18 Years of Age or Younger
13. Receipt of the Monthly Financial Report for Period Ending October 31, 1998.
14. Receipt of the Alexandria Industrial Development Authority's (AIDA) Annual Report for the Period of July 1, 1997 through June 30, 1998.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council approved the Consent Calendar as presented. The City Manager's recommendations are as follows:
11. City Council received the resignation of Victoria Youcha from the Alexandria Early Childhood Commission with regret; requested the Executive Secretary to send the appropriate letter of appreciation and to advertise the vacancy in the usual manner.
12. City Council appointed (a) Kenneth Billingsley as a Member Nominated by the Strawberry Hill Civic Association, and Renata Varmall as a Member Nominated by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce to the Ad Hoc Alexandria Year 2000 Census Complete Count Committee; (b) reappointed William Rosello as a Member Designated by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce to the Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee; (c) reappointed Donald Fowler as a Citizen Member Who Is 60 Years of Age or Older to the Alexandria Commission on Aging; (d) reappointed Tara Hardiman as a Member From and Representing the Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee, and Patrick O'Brien as a Member Representing the Alexandria Library Board to the Alexandria Commission on Information Technology; (e) reappointed Thomas Tyler as a Lawyer With Experience in Federal or State Environmental Statutes, Regulations and Procedures to the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission; and (f) Ludwig Gaines as a Resident Who Is Neither A Landlord Nor A Tenant to the Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board; and (g) reappointed Robert Morrison as a Citizen 18 Years of Age or younger to the Alexandria Youth Policy Commission.
13. City Council (1) received the Monthly Financial Report for the period ending October 31, 1998; and (2) authorized the capital project allocations and planned expenditures for the capital projects as detailed in the Capital Improvement Program Planned Expenditures Summary.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
14. City Council received the report.
END OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
15. Consideration of the City of Alexandria's Proposed Legislative Package for the 1999 Session of the Virginia General Assembly. (#15(a) 11/14/98; #13 10/27/98)
City Council (a) adopted items 1 through 30, listed in the report and with the exception of Item 7 which was considered after Item No. 17, as the positions in the City's legislative package for the 1999 General Assembly Session with the note that items 26 through 30 have been added since the meeting at which the package was introduced; (b) did not include the following: item 31 which would change the appeals process for decisions of the Boards of Architectural Review (BAR), so that future appeals of BAR decisions go directly to the Circuit Court, rather than to City Council; item 32, which would amend State law to require the disclosure of certain information about financial relationships between local government officials and applicants for permits, variances, or ordinance amendments relating to land use; and item 33, grandfathering restaurants, a proposed amendment to the City Charter, which was addressed in docket item no. 16.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
16. Consideration of the City of Alexandria's Proposed 1999 Charter Bill to Provide Express Authority for the City to Regulate and Prohibit the Intensification of Nonconforming, Noncomplying, "Grandfathered" and Other Uses Which Do Not Comply with Current Zoning Law. (#16 11/14/98)
City Council accepted the definitions and amendments for the charter bill and scheduled the charter bill for public hearing at the Public Hearing Meeting on Saturday, December 12, 1998; and requested that individual notices of the public hearing be sent to the grandfathered restaurants identified in the attached list of restaurants.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
17. (a) Public Hearing on a Request by Goodwin House, Inc. for a City Council Resolution in Support of Special State Legislation to Confer Tax Exemption by Designation for Property Taxes.
City Council held the public hearing on this proposal.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
17. (b) Consideration of a Resolution in Support of Tax Exemption for Goodwin House, Inc. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
City Council adopted the resolution and authorized the City Manager to execute the attached agreement, which provides that Goodwin House will make a payment in lieu of taxes to the City, in an amount equal to 15 percent of the assess value of the new addition, in recognition of City Council's endorsement of Goodwin House's request of the General Assembly for exemption from real and personal property taxation, and included in the legislative package legislation to designate Goodwin House, Inc., as a charitable organization and exempt its existing property (4800 Fillmore Avenue) from local taxation, provided it makes a payment in lieu of taxes to the City [Item 7 in the legislative package].
RES. NO. 1898
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
18. Receipt of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for Period Ending June 30, 1998.
City Council received the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
19. Consideration of Follow up Report on Accessibility of City Offices After Hours. (Councilman Speck) (#13 10/14/98)
Without Objection, it was decided to provide extended hours of operation at City Hall Treasury and Revenue counters on Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to Noon beginning in January. Staff was requested to provide wide notification of the extended hours, and report back to Council.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
20. Consideration of the Allocation of Capital Funds for the Development of the Ben Brenman Park and West End Park at Cameron Station and Presentation of the Staffing/Maintenance Plan for the Operation of the Cameron Station Parks.
City Council (1) approved the allocation of the remaining budgeted funds of $3,351,668 to pay for the development of the plans for the two Cameron Station parks as approved by City Council on June 2, 1998 for the Ben Brenman Park and September 8, 1998 for the West End Park; (2) directed staff to proceed with developing the bid package for the construction of the Cameron Station parks with bids anticipated to be issued in winter, 1999; and (3) delegated to the City Manager, or her designee, authority to award a contract for the construction of the Cameron Station parks to the lowest responsive bidder.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
21. Consideration of Request to Permit an Exception to the Major Events Policy to Allow Tartan Day to be Held on April 3, 1999 at Market Square. (Mayor Donley and Councilwoman Pepper)
Mr. Morrison indicated that among the activities that they would like to do is plant a tree, perhaps a Scottish pine, some place at an appropriate area if that is acceptable.
City Council permitted a one-time only exception to the Major Events Policy to allow Tartan Day to occur from Noon to 4:00 p.m. at Market Square, only, on the first Saturday in April (April 3, 1999).
The Old Town Civic Association endorses this one-time exception to the Major Events Policy with the understanding that the event involves no parade and that this event will not be repeated after 1999.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
None
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
(a) Council Member Rich noted that the first City Manager of Alexandria was Wilder Rich.
(b) Council Member Rich spoke to the successful City Council/School Board Work Session on Monday, November 23, relating to standards of learning.
(c) Council Member Rich stated that he attended a tribute to George White who was bandleader at George Washington Middle School, as well as the director of the Redskins Band.
(d) Councilman Cleveland also agreed that the work session with the School Board was very good.
(e) Councilman Cleveland announced that effective January 6, 1999, he will be begin 12-hour shifts at work. He expressed concern that he will not be able to work as much with the youth.
(f) Councilwoman Pepper noted that the Turkey Trot, sponsored by the Potomac West Business Association, will be held Thanksgiving Day at 10:00 a.m. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the entrance fee is $5 and two cans of non-perishable goods.
(g) Councilwoman Pepper also spoke highly of George Washington Middle School Bandleader White. He was an excellent tutor to her son Murphy.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (continued)
(h) Councilwoman Pepper reiterated that the City Council/School Board Work Session was outstanding. She was startled by the fact that the largest group of students who are entering our English as a second language classes are students who were born in the United States. Councilwoman Pepper stated that this issue will be addressed again as part of future discussions, but she would like staff to be working on that problem, as well as, and maybe even the appropriate commissions.
(i) Vice Mayor Euille announced that the Francis Hammond Middle School PTA will be hosting a Call to Community Program on Tuesday, December 1, 1998, at 7:00 p.m. at the Middle School in the auditorium, and would encourage our community to participate in that event.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
22. Consideration of a Resolution to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Endorsing the Issuance of Northern Virginia Transportation District Bonds. (Mayor Donley) [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
City Council (1) adopted the resolution endorsing the issuance of these transportation bonds contingent upon the State committing to pay 50 percent of the total annual debt service on the bonds; (2) requested staff to forward the resolution to the Virginia Department of Transportation and authorized the City Manager to sign any related documents; and (3) authorized the City Manager to enter into a contract with the Commonwealth Transportation Board (TCB) to dedicate available local revenues to pay the City's share of debt service on Alexandria's project bonds. As indicated in the FY 1999 Approved Budget, the local revenues that will be pledged to pay the City's local share of debt service for these bonds will be revenues from the newly adopted telecommunications right-of-way fee of 50 cents per telephone line per month. RES. NO. 1899
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OTHER
23. Consideration of City Council Schedule.
City Council: (1) added to the Council Calendar First Night Alexandria on Thursday, December 31, 1998, with a program from 6 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.; (2) rescheduled the work session on historic preservation/Boards of Architectural Review issues from 6: p.m. on Tuesday, January 12 to 6 p.m. on February 9, before Council's regular meeting (because of a conflict with a Call to Community event at George Washington Middle School); (3) included on Council's calendar Wednesday, April 21, at 7 p.m. as the date for Council's second night for the public hearing on the budget, if needed, in addition to the Tuesday, April 20 meeting; and (4) scheduled a work session with the Planning Commission to discuss master plan issues at 6 p.m. before Council's Tuesday, March 23 legislative meeting.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS
24. Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee
1 Citizen Member
City Council appointed Christine Mitchell as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
25. Alexandria Commission for the Arts
1 Member Who Represents the Public-at-Large as an
Arts Consumer and Participant
2 Members Who Have Expertise in the Arts, Either
as A Practitioner of an Art Discipline or as A
Professional Administrator
City Council reappointed Jennifer Archer as a Member Who Represents the Public-at-large as an Arts Consumer and Participant and Margene Berry and appointed Donna Carter as Members Who Have Expertise in the Arts, Either as A Practitioner of an Art Discipline or as A Professional Administrator to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
26. Alexandria Commission on Information Technology
2 Citizens-at-Large
City Council reappointed Michael Brookbank and appointed Michael Cassidy as Citizens-at-Large to the Alexandria Commission on Information Technology.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
27. Alexandria Community Services Board
1 Citizen Member
City Council appointed Nancy Turner as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria Community Services Board.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
28. Alexandria Sister Cities Committee
6 Citizen Members
City Council reappointed Valda Anderson, Chris Beatley, Susan Brooks, Frederica Dunn, and Jacqueline Manley, and appointed Neil Ivey as Citizen members to the Alexandria Sister Cities Committee.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
29. Alexandria Youth Policy Commission
1 Member of City Boards, Commissions or Other
Organizations Having an Interest in Youth Issues
City Council appointed Robert Sennewald as Member of City Boards, Commissions or Other Organizations Having an Interest in Youth Issues to the Alexandria Policy Commission.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
EXECUTIVE SESSION
30. Consideration of Convening of an Executive Session to Consult with Legal Counsel Pertaining to Actual and Pending Litigation that Involves the City of Alexandria, Pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.1-344(A)(7).
At 10:50 p.m., City Council convened an executive session at this time for the purpose of consulting with legal counsel pertaining to actual and probably litigation, pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.1-344(A)(7), including City of Alexandria v. Slater, a case pending in the US District Court for the District of Columbia involving the replacement for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
At 12:25 a.m., Wednesday, November 25, 1998, City Council reconvened the meeting and adopted the resolution pertaining to the executive session.
RES. NO. 1900
At 12:27 a.m., City Council adjourned 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 https://alexandriava.gov/council.
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Individuals with disabilities who require assistance or special arrangements to participate in the City Council meeting may call the City Clerk and Clerk of Council's Office at 838-4500 (TTY/TDD 838-5056). We request that you provide a 48-hour notice so that the proper arrangements may be made.
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Public Notice
City Council and the Alexandria School Board will hold a Joint Work Session to discuss Standards of Learning on Monday, November 23, 1998, at 6:30 p.m., at the Fire Department Training Center, located at the rear of the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, Virginia.
Individuals with disabilities who require assistance or special arrangements to attend the City Council Work Session may call the City Clerk and Clerk of Council's Office at 838-4500 (TTY/TDD 838-5056). We request that you provide a 48-hour notice so that the proper arrangements may be made.
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Public Notice
The Alexandria Call to Community will hold a forum on Tuesday, December 1, 1998 at 7:00 p.m. at Francis C. Hammond Middle School, 4646 Seminary Road, Alexandria, Virginia.
It is anticipated that more than two Council Members will be in attendance.
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Public Notice
The Commission on the Condition and Future of Virginia's Cities is holding a Meeting on Wednesday, December 2, 1998, at 1:00 p.m. at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, Virginia.
It is anticipated that more than two Members of Council will be attending this meeting.