Office of the City Clerk
February 24, 1999
There Was a Work Session with
Congressman Moran on Federal
Legislation at 6:00 p.m. in the Council
Workroom.
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, February 23, 1999 - - 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 Chaplain John Poffenberger of Good News Mission, Alexandria Jail.
2. Invocation. By:_________________________________________________________
3. Reading and Acting Upon the Minutes of the Following Meeting of City Council:
(a) The Regular Meeting of February 9, 1999.
City Council approved the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 9, 1999, 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 6, 1999, as St. Patrick's Day Parade Day in the City of Alexandria. (Councilwoman Pepper)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER
CONSENT CALENDAR (6-13)
6. Receipt of Resignations from Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee
Diana Papazian
(b) Alexandria Board of Zoning Appeals
Joseph W. Lee
(c) Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee
Donald C. Casey
(d) Alexandria Community Services Board
Michael R. Bond
Marvin Skolnick
7. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Alexandria Archaeological Commission
1 Member From the Alexandria Association
(b) Alexandria Commission on Employment
1 Business Representative
(c) Alexandria Industrial Development Authority
1 Citizen Member
(d) Alexandria Juvenile Detention Commission
1 Citizen Member
8. Receipt of the 1998 Annual Report of the Alexandria Board of Zoning Appeals.
9. Receipt of the Annual Report of the Alexandria Resources Commission.
10. Receipt of the Annual Report of the Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission.
11. Consideration of Submission of Two Grant Applications to the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association to Expand Therapeutic Activities at the Alexandria Adult Day Health Care Center and the Alexandria Residential Care Home.
12. Receipt of the Monthly Financial Report for the Period Ending January 31, 1999.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
13. Receipt of the Alexandria Sanitation Authority's Annual and Financial Reports for 1998.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council approved the Consent Calendar as presented. The City Manager's recommendations were as follows:
6. City Council received the following resignations with regret: (a) Diana Papazian from the Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Committee; (b) Joseph W. Lee from the Alexandria Board of Zoning Appeals; (c) Donald C. Casey from the Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee; and (d) Michael R. Bond and Marvin Skolnick from the Alexandria Community Services Board; and requested the Executive Secretary to send the appropriate letters of appreciation and to advertise the vacancies in the usual manner.
7. City Council (a) appointed John Roberts as a Member From the Alexandria Association to the Alexandria Archaeological Commission; (b) reappointed Jacqueline Woodard as a Business Representative to the Alexandria Commission on Employment; (c) appointed Randal Kell as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria Industrial Development Authority; and (d) reappointed Marvin Wagner as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria Juvenile Detention Commission.
8. City Council received the report and thanked the Board of Zoning Appeals for its efforts on behalf of the City.
9. City Council accepted the report and thanked the members of the Commission for their work.
10. City Council received the report of the Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission and thanked the members for their efforts on behalf of the City.
11. City Council authorized the City Manager to: (1) submit two grant applications to the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association: $1,800 for the ADHCC and $3,900 for the ARCH, both totaling $5,700; and (2) execute all documents that may be required.
12. City Council: (1) received the Monthly Financial Report for the period ending January 31, 1999; (2) authorized the capital project allocations and planned expenditures for the capital projects as detailed in the Capital Improvement Program Planned Expenditures Summary; and (3) delegated to the City Manager, or her designee, authority to award the following contracts to the lowest responsible bidders: (a) renovation of the tennis courts at George Mason Elementary School; and (b) interior renovations at the Torpedo Factory Art Center.
13. City Council received the Alexandria Sanitation Authority's Annual and Financial Reports.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
14. Consideration of Report on the Real Estate Tax Relief Program for Senior Citizens (Councilman Speck)
Councilman Speck questioned on what basis staff is making the projections for the substantial levels of program applicability there would be. He stated that it's possible that if we had a program in place that extended some modest degree of tax relief for people beyond just the normal $20,000 income limit, that there may be relatively few that would be affected by this and that the resulting costs would be less than projected. He indicated that the basis upon which we're being asked to turn down this extension is based on an assumption that there is going to be a substantially increased cost. Councilman Speck asked is the cost increasing because we're not capping the amount of the relief so that if your tax bill is higher, we relieve without restriction? Why wouldn't we be looking at something that continues to move the benchmark up slightly to insure that we are providing relief for the people that we intended it to provide relief? He stated that we may want to take a look at why it's increasing and determine whether we want to build in some caps on those that are currently eligible to insure that we're not overdoing it, but while we're also providing coverage that's being a little bit more inclusionary for those that may need it that are sort of in between the income levels where obviously it's affordable and the income levels where it's really becoming a struggle. He further stated that he thinks right now because we're capping this at $20,000, we're really not building in any inflationary effect at all for people who are on fixed incomes. They have modest COLAS to their pension, they may be over the number and then they lose that eligibility. He suggested that in the course of looking at this further that since there is a relatively finite number of people that are eligible, it might be useful to just do a little bit more analysis of their circumstances in terms of particularly their house values and what's happening then to determine whether we're providing more relief than necessary under some circumstances and missing some others. He expressed his particular concern that we may be missing some people or dropping some people out just by eligibility requirements and the fact that we kept that target flat at a time when there is some modest increase in income.
Management and Budget Director Godwin and City Manager Lawson addressed some of his concerns. Staff would like to address this in the context of a budget work session.
Council Member Walker stated that the goal would be to prevent elder or handicapped citizens from having to move out of their homes due to taxes.
It was noted that no Council action was necessary on this item. It will be addressed in a budget memo and at a budget work session.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
New Business Item No. 1: Mayor Donley introduced Michael Mays from the American Academy of Otolaryngology, who presented the City with a framed 250 Years of American Medicine in honor of the City's 250th Anniversary. Mayor Donley thanked him and stated that it will be displayed prominently in the City Council Office.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
15. Consideration of Update Report on Items Before the 1999 General Assembly.
Legislative Director Caton updated Council on the legislative items.
City Council received the status report on the 1999 General Assembly Session.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
None
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
(a) Mayor Donley spoke to Alexandria's Successful Aging Luncheon to be held on May 13, 1999, at Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, 625 First Street.
Without Objection, Lois Van Valkenburgh, Chair, Alexandria Commission on Aging, addressed Council on the luncheon and asked for its sponsorship.
City Council passed a motion stating that it would be delighted to be a sponsor for this luncheon and gave permission to use the City of Alexandria on its program.
(b) Councilwoman Pepper congratulated City Manager Lawson for receiving the 1999 Inner Light Award from the Old Dominion Commandery, #11 Knights Templars. The award was presented at a dinner at the George Washington Masonic Memorial.
(c) Councilwoman Pepper noted that she and Vice Mayor Euille participated today in the American Diabetes Association fund-raiser at Bertucci's Restaurant. She raised her bail to get out of jail.
(d) Councilwoman Pepper announced that there will be a kickoff meeting of the One Thousand Friends of Alexandria, on Saturday, February 27, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, at Minnie Howard Middle School. It's a follow-up to the Quality of Life Summit, and they will be discussing many priorities that were set at that time.
(e) Councilman Cleveland reported that last August he was appointed to the Governor's New Partnership Commission, and reported on its activities. He has introduced the Institute for Responsible Fatherhood and Family Restoration, not only to the Governor's Commission, but also to the Members of Council, the City Manager as well as churches in the City. The Institute is a nonprofit agency which seeks to create and maintain an environment in which fathers can develop the skills needed to provide better lives for their children and the mothers of their children. The program also provides services to children, mothers, grandparents, and significant others in an effort to strengthen and support the overall family structure. It is a real hands on, grassroots program that places a family in a residential community and helps it become a self-sustaining unit. It is his hope that this model can be brought to the City of Alexandria. He will try to get some resources from the state.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (continued)
(f) Council Member Walker announced that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is going to be expanding its rehab bus program into other jurisdictions. They have developed a way of rehabbing buses sort of from inside out so that you really cannot tell if you get on the bus whether it's a new bus or an old bus.
Council Member Walker indicated that the second new initiative that WMATA is doing is forming an apprenticeship program for entry-level training in technical electronics, hydraulics, pneumatics, diesel engine and other technical skills which are needed to operate the vehicles and the stations of the authority. This program will start in September.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
16. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of AN ORDINANCE Authorizing and Empowering the Issuance, Sale, and Delivery of General Obligation Bonds not to exceed Sixty Million Dollars, to Finance Various Public Improvements. (#12 2/9/99) [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
City Council finally passed the Ordinance upon its Second Reading and Final Passage. ORD. NO. 4034
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
17. Consideration of Submission of a Grant Application and Resolution to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for FY 2000 Funding for the Continuation of the Alexandria Rideshare Program. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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 $136,000, for the continuation of the City's ridesharing service, ALEXANDRIA RIDESHARE; (2) approve 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. 1910
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
18. Consideration of Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of Bonds by the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Alexandria for The Nature Conservancy. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
City Council adopted the resolution as recommended by the AIDA at its meeting on February 9, 1999. RES. NO. 1911
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS (continued)
19. Consideration of Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of Bonds by the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Alexandria for the Fishburne-Hudgins Education, Inc. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
City Council adopted the resolution as recommended by the AIDA at its meeting on January 12, 1999. RES. NO. 1912
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OTHER
20. Consideration of City Council Schedule.
City Council approved the City Council Schedule and added to the Council calendar the following events: the Youth Council reception and installation of officers on Tuesday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m., in Room 2000 of City Hall; the Days of Remembrance of the Holocaust Program on Wednesday, April 14, at noon on Market Square; the open house for the JobLink and the Alexandria Northern Virginia Community College Work Force Development Center on Thursday, April 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; the Birthday Ball, sponsored by the 250th Anniversary Commission on Friday, July 23 from 7:00 p.m. to midnight at the Radisson Plaza Hotel; and added the AEDP Economic Summit on Saturday, June 19, 1999, from 8:00 a.m. to Noon.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS
21. Alexandria Archaeological Commission
1 Member-at-Large
City Council reappointed Susan Hathcock as a Member-at-Large to the Alexandria Archaeological Commission.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
22. Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board
4 Citizen Members
City Council reappointed Thomas Johnson, Edward Lenhoff and Converse West and appointed Lawrence Ruggiero as Citizen Members to the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OPENING (continued)
23. Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming February as Boy Scout Month in the City of Alexandria. (Mayor Donley)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 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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