Office of the City Clerk
March 13, 1999
Special Meeting
Friday, March 12, 1999 - - 2:30 p.m.
[in lieu of the Regular Meeting of March 9, 1999]
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Please take notice that there was a Special Meeting of City Council held on Friday, March 12, 1999, at 2:30 p.m. [in lieu of the Regular Meeting of March 9, 1999] in the Council Chamber of City Hall, Alexandria, Virginia, for the purpose of considering the following items.
/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 City Council were present.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
The Invocation was pronounced by Bert Ransom, Special Assistant to the City Manager for Human Relations.
2. Invocation. By:_________________________________________________________
New Business Item No. 1: Mayor Donley recognized former Vice Mayor Lionel Hope.
3. Reading and Acting Upon the Minutes of the Following Meetings of City Council:
(a) the Public Hearing Meeting of February 20, 1999; and
(b) the Regular Meeting of February 23, 1999.
City Council approved the Minutes of (a) the Public Hearing Meeting of February 20, 1999, as submitted; and (b) the Regular Meeting of February 23, 1999, as amended in the City Clerk's memorandum dated March 3, 1999, with the inclusion under docket item no. 16, page 9, Councilman Speck's acknowledgment for the record that the parent company of his employer may choose to competitively bid on these bonds. He stated that he has no financial interest in those decisions and feels qualified to vote.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OPENING (continued)
4. Report of the City Clerk.
City Council received the report of the City Clerk.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
5. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming March as Women's History Month in the City of Alexandria. (Council Member Walker)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
6. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming the Week of March 15-21, 1999, as Brain Awareness Week in the City of Alexandria. (Councilman Cleveland)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
7. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming March as Red Cross Month in the City of Alexandria. (Mayor Donley)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
8. Presentation of Proclamation Declaring March 8-12, 1999, as Alexandria Technology Achievement Week.
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER
CONSENT CALENDAR (9 - 13) (17)
9. Receipt of Resignations from Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Alexandria Commission for the Arts
Tiffany Larbalestier
(b) Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities
George K. Caddy
(c) Alexandria Emergency Medical Services Council
Sandra Seim
10. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Ad Hoc Alexandria Year 2000 Census Complete Count Committee
1 Member Nominated by the Warwick Village Citizens
Association
(b) Alexandria-Caen Exchange Committee
2 Representatives From the Alexandria Sister
Cities Committee
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
(c) Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee
1 Citizen Member
(d) Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities
1 Citizen Member
1 Representative of the Alexandria Commission on Aging
(e) Alexandria Community Services Board
1 Citizen Member
(f) Alexandria Human Rights Commission
1 Representative From the Alexandria Commission on Aging
1 Representative From the Alexandria Landlord-Tenant
Relations Board
(g) Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board
1 Landlord or a Representative of a Landlord
(h) Alexandria Local Emergency Planning Committee
1 Representative of a Community Group
(i) Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority
Board of Commissioners
1 Representative From the Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board
(j) Alexandria Transportation Safety Commission
4 Members of the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board
11. Consideration of Submission of a Grant Application to the Virginia Commission for the Arts for Funds for a Local Government Challenge Grant for the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities.
12. Consideration of a Grant Application to the State Department of Criminal Justice Services for Community-Oriented Justice Multi-Disciplinary Partnerships for Enhancements for the City's Digital Mugshot System.
13. Receipt of the Alexandria Commission for the Arts (ACA) FY 1997-98 Annual Report.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council approved the consent calendar as presented, with the exception of docket item nos. 13 and 17, which were considered under separate motions. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows:
9. City Council received the following resignations with regret: (a) Tiffany Larbalestier from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts; (b) George K. Caddy from the Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities; and (c) Sandra Seim from the Alexandria Emergency Medical Services Council.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
10. City Council (a) appointed Jayson Ilic as a Member Nominated by the Warwick Village Citizens Association to the Ad Hoc Alexandria Year 2000 Census Complete Count Committee; (b) reappointed Chris Beatley and appointed Henry Brooks as Representatives from the Alexandria Sister City Committee to the Alexandria-Caen Exchange Committee; (c) appointed Candace Lightner as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee; (d) reappointed Abbie Moore as a Citizen Member and appointed F. Jane Cotton as a Representative of the Alexandria Commission on Aging to the Alexandria Commission on Persons With Disabilities; (e) appointed Linda Turpin as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria Community Services Board; (f) appointed Justine Rowe as a Representative From the Alexandria Commission on Aging, and reappointed Raymond Johnson as a Representative From the Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board to the Alexandria Human Rights Commission; (g) reappointed Anthony Brooks as a Landlord or a Representative of a Landlord to the Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board; (h) reappointed Bernard Kellom as a Representative of a Community Group to the Alexandria Local Emergency Planning Committee; (i) reappointed Debra Zusman as a Representative From the Alexandria Landlord-Tenant Relations Board to the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners; and (j) reappointed Thomas Johnson, Edward Lenhoff, Lawrence Ruggiero and Converse West as Members of the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board to the Alexandria Transportation Safety Commission.
11. City Council authorized the City Manager to (1) submit a grant application in the amount of $5,000 to the Virginia Commission for the Arts' Local Government Challenge grant program; and (2) execute all necessary documents as may be required.
12. City Council (1) approved the submission of a grant application to the State Department of Criminal Justice Services for funding in the amount of $83,658, for computer programming and hardware to enhance the City's criminal justice agencies' ability to capture, locate, display and share digital mugshots. Due to the short turnaround time provided by the State, the grant application was forwarded to the State in February, contingent upon City Council's approval of the March 9 legislative meeting; and (2) authorized the City Manager to execute all documents that may be required.
13. Vice Mayor Euille asked the status of the research for private grants and funding sources for placing in City projects.
Chair Herzog stated that we do have a listing of corporations and foundations that do give funding to the arts.
Vice Mayor Euille spoke to the King Street Gardens Park. He stated that the current planting/landscaping is not pleasing to the eye. He indicated that we need to do whatever needs to be done to correct it as whatever it is supposed to be is just not working. We should try to come up with something that will be everlasting because what's there is horrible looking. Vice Mayor Euille is willing to work with whomever on the KISMET group or any other organization to help us find a better vegetation or planting plan because what's there now, certainly cannot continue.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
City Manager Lawson stated, after the budget is presented, she would like to give Council a report and perhaps some recommendations to this park, because she thinks there are fundamental and problematic issues with this park.
Council Member Walker stated that she would like to see a positive look at the park. Some people have talked about using it as a room and actually having some gauze drapery type things put on it so that it becomes a room. She indicated that she has talked with St. Elmo's who would like to bring coffee and additional tables in so that we could actually treat it as a place where you could get a cup of coffee in the morning as you leave the Metro. She noted that these were ideas suggested to her and maybe the Arts Commission could come back with some plans for King Street Gardens Park that would make it really function better as a piece of art and also as a garden. Council Member Walker indicated that that would be helpful to Council.
Mayor Donley said that that was a good suggestion. He indicated that perhaps providing some amenity or draw would increase the usage of the park. Mayor Donley agreed to Vice Mayor Euille's comment about the vegetation at this park. He would look forward to any input that the Commission on the Arts would have about the ongoing maintenance of that park as well as an increased vitality of it.
City Council received the report and thanked the Alexandria Commission for the Arts for its efforts on behalf of the arts and the City. (Separate Motion)
17. City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its First Reading, and set it for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Tuesday, March 23, 1999. (Separate Motion)
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
14. Final Update Report on Items Before the 1999 General Assembly Session.
Legislative Director Caton provided Council with a final report on the 1999 General Assembly Session, as did Delegate Van Landingham.
City Council complimented and thanked Mr. Caton for his hard work and thoroughness.
City Council received this final status report on the 1999 General Assembly Session.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
15. Consideration of Amendment to the City's Naming Policy Regarding School Facilities. (Mayor Donley)
Mayor Donley explained this item.
City Council amended the Authority and Scope of the Council's City Facilities Naming Policy to delete the reference to the naming of schools by Council, and recognizing that the School Board will name the new public schools in the City of Alexandria and that the Council will be represented on the Naming Subcommittee established by the School Board.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
16. Consideration of Community Development Block Grant Funding for a City-wide Micro Loan Program to be Administered by the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC).
Members of Council participated in the discussion on this item. Alexandria Economic Development Partnership Executive Director Riley, a representative from the Ethiopian Community Development Council, and Housing Director Davis answered questions.
City Council (1) allocated $50,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) monies as a grant to the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) to be used for loan loss reserve and/or operating funds for its new City-wide Micro Loan Program for small businesses in Alexandria; (2) approved a budget transfer of $50,000 in CDBG funds for this purpose from the following sources: $24,528 Potomac West Business Assistance Loan Program (previously approved for Potomac West micro loan program) and $25,472 Fayette Court program income; (3) authorized the submission of a program amendment to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to amend the current year Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to add a City-wide Micro Loan Program; and (4) authorized the City Manager to execute all necessary documents in connection with this program, and initiated a deadline of June 30, 1999, for banks to commit to participate in this program, and if a sufficient number do not sign up then this appropriation would not be authorized.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
None
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
(a) Council Member Walker spoke to a request from the Virginia Municipal League pertaining to Coca-Cola of Roanoke suit against a number of localities, including Botetourt County, claiming that its Coke vending machines are not taxable as personal property.
(A copy of the Virginia Municipal League's request for a law suit contribution is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)
Vice Mayor Euille stated for the record that he personally owns some Coca- Cola stock, but he feels qualified to vote on this issue.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (continued)
City Council agreed to participate in this matter and authorized the City Manager to administratively support this up to $1000 from Contingent Reserves.
(b) Vice Mayor Euille spoke to the After School Drop-in Programs Task Force. He stated that there is a need for that task force to have a work session with the City Council to bring it up-to-date in terms of what has or has not been accomplished to date, the issues at hand and obtaining some guidance from City Council.
City Manager Lawson stated that a tentative date has been set for April 27, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Workroom.
(c) Mayor Donley announced that the Old Colony development site scheduled for public hearing tomorrow, March 13, 1999, has been deferred until April 17, 1999.
(d) Mayor Donley spoke to the recent NVTC Retreat which Council Member Walker and he participated with their fellow commissioners from the other jurisdictions. The purpose was to clarify the mission and role as an organization at the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, and got into some fairly specific debate and suggestions about objectives, goals and action steps. He and Council Member Walker consistently promoted more transit and more transportation subsidy particularly by the state government.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
CONSENT CALENDAR (17)
17. Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of AN ORDINANCE to revise the City's regulations governing discharges into the sanitary sewer system and ultimately into the wastewater treatment facility operated by the Alexandria Sanitation Authority, and the treatment of such discharges before their entry into the sewer system.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council introduced and passed the Ordinance on its First Reading; set it for Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage on Tuesday, March 23, 1999.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS (continued)
18. Consideration of Resolution Expressing the City Council's Opposition to the Federal Legislation Sponsored by Senator John McCain Changing the Federal High Density (Slot) and Perimeter Rules at Reagan National Airport. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
City Council adopted the resolution and requested the City Clerk to forward it to the members of our Congressional delegation, other members of the Washington area's Congressional delegation, and the Chair of the Senate Committee (Senator John McCain, who is also patron of the legislation to change the Slot and Perimeter Rules) considering this issue. RES. NO. 1913
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OTHER
19. Consideration of City Council Schedule.
Council Member Walker added to the Council Schedule, "A Public Forum on Metro at Potomac Yard, on Monday, April 5, 1999, at 7:30 p.m. at George Washington Middle School. This will be sponsored primarily by the Del Ray Civic Association and other Associations with several speakers. Mayor Donley requested staff to provide Council with a separate notice to make sure it gets on their calendars.
It was suggested that the work session on Potomac Yard be held on Thursday, May 6. Staff will bring this back on March 23, to formally add this to the Council's Schedule.
Mayor Donley stated that we go back to the drawing board with a date for the Economic Summit and did not add it to the Council's Calendar at this point.
City Council received the updated Council Calendar.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS
20. Alexandria Commission on Aging
1 Representative of Older Persons
City Council appointed Bonnie Staley as a Representative of Older Persons to the Alexandria Commission on Aging.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
21. USS Alexandria Liaison Committee
1 Representative From the U.S. Navy League
City Council waived the residency requirement and appointed Suzanne Williams as the Representative from the U.S. Navy League to the USS Alexandria Liaison Committee.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 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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