Office of the City Clerk
May 6, 1999
City Council held a Budget
Work Session at 6:30 p.m. in the
Council Workroom.
Special Meeting
Wednesday, May 5, 1999 - - 7:30 p.m.
* * * * *
/s/Vola Lawson, City Manager
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:_______________________________________________________________
2. Consideration of The Proposed Annual Operating Budget for FY 1999-2000 (including Schools) and The Proposed Capital Improvements Program for FY 2000-2005 (including the Schools CIP). (#2 4/20/99)
City Council approved the City Manager's proposed FY 2000 General Fund Operating Budget with a number of additions, deletions, designations and details to follow: to-wit, increased the estimate of General [Fund] Sales Tax [Revenue] by $559,000; increased the [General Fund] Recordation Tax Revenue by $203,000; increased the [General Fund] Tobacco Tax Revenue by $95,000; increased the Cable TV Franchise Revenue by $30,000; reduced the anticipated Utility Tax Revenue by $363,000; reduced the Penalties and Interest Revenue by $356,000; reduced the Admission Tax Revenue by $200,000; and approved a 2 percent COLA for all City employees, including the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Council Aides and the Mayor's Aide; approved merit [in-step] increases for all eligible City employees, including the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk, conditioned on satisfactory performance; and approved enhanced employee benefits for regular part-time employees who are expected to work at least 20 hours per week next year; designated $100,000 in Contingent Reserves to be used for either a City-sponsored Development Office or as one-time "seed monies" for a private community foundation; approved a transfer of $69,000 from Contingent Reserves [to the Other Public Safety and Justice Activities budget] to be used for funding the continued operation of the 70-bed Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Home; approved a transfer of $38,000 from Contingent Reserves to General Services for enhanced security patrols at the City's marina and waterfront; approved a designation for up to $50,000 within Contingent Reserves to be used as a challenge grant for possible [capital] grant support to MetroStage dependent upon them raising $150,000 in cash contributions, in-kind
materials, supplies, labor, equipment or professional services in direct support of the capital project, and subject to other limitations and conditions as Council may require; designated $25,000 within Contingent Reserves for preliminary design for the multi-purpose/multi-generational community center at Cameron Station. These monies [are] to remain in Contingent Reserves until the completion of the Ramsay Recreation Center; increased funding to the Police Department by $75,000 for a supervisory position for the School Resource Officers with a corresponding reduction in non-departmental budget; additional funding for Human Services for a public relations campaign directed at teenage pregnancy [prevention] in the amount of $25,000; increased funding for the [Alexandria] Commission for the Arts $7,041 for its arts grants; made an appropriation from General Fund balance in order to balance the [FY 2000] Budget [as amended], in the amount of $409,198; such that, there will be a total expenditures in the FY 2000 [General Fund] Budget of $288,228,198, of which $92,360,410 will go to the Alexandria City Public Schools; and we'll have anticipated balancing revenues of $288,228,198, based on the [real] property tax rate that we currently have [of $1.11] and personal property [tax rate] will stay the same as well [at $4.75].
City Council adopted the City Manager's proposed FY 2000 to FY 2005 Capital Improvement Budget, with one change to reallocate $15,000 from unallocated monies for the repair of the kennel [runs] to be used for additional tree planting.
Councilman Cleveland requested that specific guidelines be developed pertaining to the procedures that Council needs to follow with respect to the add/delete list.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
3. Second Reading and Final Passage of AN ORDINANCE to establish the real estate and personal property tax rates for calendar year 1999. (#3 4/20/99; #23 3/23/99) [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
City Council finally passed the Ordinance upon its Second Reading and Final Passage. [The tax rates will remain at the current levels of $1.11 for real estate and $4.75 for personal property.] Ord. No. 4043
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
4. Second Reading and Final Passage of AN ORDINANCE to reduce the transient lodging tax rate from 5.65%, to 5.50%, of the total amount paid for transient lodging, and to levy an additional transient lodging tax of $1.00 for each day of such lodging. (#4 4/20/99; #24 3/23/99) [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
City Council finally passed the Ordinance upon its Second Reading and Final Passage. Ord. No. 4044
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
5. Second Reading and Final Passage of AN ORDINANCE to levy an admission tax of 5% on the gross admission fee paid to gain entry to events held within the city, with an effective date of September 1, 1999. (#5 4/20/99; #25 3/23/99) [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
As discussed in the work session, Mayor Donley noted that City Council would like to consider potential changes to the admission tax in the future, and Council directed the City Manager and the Mayor to appoint a working group to work with the business community about the ramifications of an admission tax as well as seeking additional legislative changes.
City Council tabled this ordinance.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
6. Second Reading and Final Passage of AN ORDINANCE to amend the city code to increase the ambulance transport fee to $200 for city residents and $250 for non-residents. (#6 4/20/99; #26 3/23/99) [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
City Council finally passed the Ordinance upon its Second Reading and Final Passage. Ord. No. 4045
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
7. Consideration of a resolution increasing the annual fee, assessed under section 5-1-34 of the city code, for the city's collection and disposal of solid waste, yard debris and recyclable material from $160 to $185.
City Council adopted the Resolution. Res. No. 1915
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
The Meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
This docket is subject to change.
* * * * *
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.
* * * * *
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.
* * * * *
Public Notice
City Council will hold a Work Session on Thursday, May 6, 1999, at 7:30 p.m. at George Washington Middle School Auditorium, 1005 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia, to discuss plans for Potomac Yard.
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.
* * * * *