Office of the City Clerk
September 23, 1998
At 5:15 p.m., City Council Interviewed
Applicants for the Vacancy on the Alexandria
Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board in
the Council Workroom.
There was a City Council Work Session
at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Workroom to
discuss the Marketing Plan.
There was No Executive Session at the close
of the Meeting. Please see Docket Item No. 28.
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, September 22, 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 Columbus Watson, Pastor of Beulah Baptist Church.
2. Invocation. By:_________________________________________________________
New Business Item No. 1. WITHOUT OBJECTION, Phil Brooks and Pat Butler of the 250th Anniversary Celebration Commission addressed the Council and presented t-shirts celebrating the 250th Anniversary which will be sold for $12 at various locations throughout the City. It was noted that the commemorative license plate design has been approved, and Council encouraged citizens to purchase them as part of this promotion--450 people have signed up so far.
3. Reading and Acting Upon the Minutes of the Following Meeting of City Council:
(a) The Regular Meeting of September 8, 1998.
City Council approved the Minutes of (a) the Regular Meeting of September 8, 1998, as submitted.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
4. Report of the City Clerk.
City Council received the report of the City Clerk.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OPENING (continued)
5. Presentation of Proclamation Honoring the Alexandria Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on Its Sixty-Fifth Anniversary and Declaring the Week of October 11, 1998 as NAACP Week in the City of Alexandria. (Mayor Donley)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
6. Presentation of Proclamation Honoring Mr. Carlton A. Funn, Sr. on Being Selected the 1998 Mid-Atlantic Region Recipient of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc.'s Excellence in Teaching Award. (Vice Mayor Euille)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
7. Presentation of Proclamation Establishing Saturday, October 3, 1998, as "Read To Me Alexandria" Day in Alexandria Sponsored by the Education Association of Alexandria (EAA). (Vice Mayor Euille)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
8. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing the Month of October as National Arts and Humanities Month in the City of Alexandria.
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
9. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing October as Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the City of Alexandria. (Councilwoman Pepper)
City Council endorsed the proclamation.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER
CONSENT CALENDAR (10 - 17)
10. Receipt of Resignations from Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Alexandria-Caen Exchange Committee
David Lapan
(b) Alexandria Task Force on AIDS
Brenda Trask
11. Uncontested Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees:
(a) Ad Hoc City of Alexandria 250th Anniversary Commission
1 Member Designated by the Alexandria George Washington
Birthday Celebration Committee
(b) Alexandria Community Services Board
1 Consumer Member
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
(c) Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission
1 Member From the Field of Intergovernmental Relations
(d) Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia Board of Directors
1 Health Care Provider Member
(e) Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
1 Member From Planning District I
(f) Alexandria Industrial Development Authority
2 Citizen Members
12. Receipt of the Monthly Financial Report for the Period Ending August 31, 1998.
13. Consideration of a Grant Application to the State Department of Criminal Justice Services for Community Oriented Justice - Multi-disciplinary Partnerships.
14. Consideration of the Grant Application to the Virginia Department for the Aging for the Federal FY 1999 Area Plan for Aging Services.
15. Consideration of a Grant Renewal Application for the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program, and Setting the Grant Application for Public Hearing on Saturday, October 17, 1998.
16. Receipt of the Fiscal Year 1998 Annual Report of the Landlord-Tenant Relations Board.
17. Consideration of Career Ladder Program for the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council approved the Consent Calendar as presented, with the exception of docket item no. 12 which was considered under separate motion. The City Manager's recommendations are as follows:
10. City Council received the following resignations with regret: (a) David Lapan from the Alexandria-Caen Exchange Committee, and (b) Brenda Trask from the Alexandria Task Force on AIDS; requested the Executive Secretary to send the appropriate letters of appreciation and to advertise the vacancies in the usual manner.
11. City Council (a) reappointed William Hendrickson as a Member Designated by the Alexandria George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee to the Ad Hoc City of Alexandria 250th Anniversary Commission; (b) appointed Megan Contakes as a Consumer Member to the Alexandria Community Services Board; (c) appointed Douglas MacMillan as a Member from the Field of Intergovernmental Relations to the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission; appointed John Kling as a Health Care Provider Member to the Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia Board of Directors; appointed Kleber Masterson, Jr., as a Member from Planning District I to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission; and appointed Roger Machanic and Stephen Norwood as Citizen Members to the Alexandria Industrial Development Authority.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)
12. Councilman Cleveland thanked F&IS Director Gitajn for providing a monthly annual report for the month of August which he had asked for.
City Council (1) received the Monthly Financial Report for the period ending August 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. (Separate Motion)
13. City Council (1) approved the submission of a grant application to the State Department of Criminal Justice Services for funding in the amount of $71,556, for computer programming to enhance the City's Criminal Justice Agencies' ability to capture, locate, display and share, digital mugshots of criminal suspects, inmates and defendants. Due to the short turnaround time provided by DCJS, the grant applicant was forwarded to DCJS in accordance with the August 17, 1998, deadline, contingent upon City Council's approval in September; and (2) authorized the City Manager to execute all documents that may be required.
14. City Council (1) approved the federal FY 1999 Area Plan for Aging Services grant application; (2) authorized the City Manager to: (a) submit the Area Plan application to the Virginia Department for the Aging for continuation funding for Alexandria Aging Services in the amount of $295,374 ($184,610 for federal Older Americans Act Title III funds; $4,000 for federal Health Care Financing Administration funds and $106,764 for additional State program funds); (b) execute all necessary documents; and (3) approved the continuation of one full-time and three part-time grant-funded positions which administer and operate the Older Americans Act programs and associated services. There are no funds available to continue these positions after the grant expires.
15. City Council (1) approved the submission of the grant application, in the amount of $195,215, of which 90 percent, or $175,694, will be federal funds, and 10 percent, or $19,521, will be provided from the FY 1999 Police Department operating budget for the local match; (2) set the grant application for public hearing on October 17, 1998, to receive comments on the grant, as required by the U.S. Department of Justice; and (3) following the public hearing, authorize the City Manager to execute any documents that may be required to receive the grant and release the grant funds to the City for expenditure.
16. City Council received the report.
17. City Council (1) approved the establishment of attorney and legal secretary career ladders in the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office as described in the City Manager's report effective October 1, 1998; and (2) authorized the Commonwealth's Attorney to initially place individuals on the career ladders on an internal promotional basis in accord with criteria he has developed.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER (continued)
18. Receipt of the City of Alexandria, Virginia 1998 Annual Report, and Setting It for Public Hearing. (#19 9/12/98)
Councilman Speck questioned City Manager Lawson about the Annual Report's cost and distribution, and the Members of City Council participated in the discussion. The City Manager will respond to Council with answers to the questions raised.
City Council received the City Manager's 1998 Annual Report and docketed the report for public hearing on Saturday, November 14.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
19. Consideration of Proposal for an Alternative Scottish Christmas Walk Parade Route on Saturday, December 5, 1998.
City Manager Lawson and staff responded to questions from Councilman Speck about the completion of renovations to Market Square garage and their impact on the Christmas Walk and the Christmas tree lighting. There is no guarantee that the work will be done by the first Saturday in December; the contract completion date is December 11, 1998. The Christmas tree lighting will be held at the Waterfront Park.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, Katherine Morrison, Executive Director of the Campagna Center, addressed Council Member Walker's concern about the effects on the success of the Christmas Walk by this change in the parade route. Considering the options, this parade route will help them the most because the crowds will be down on Wolfe Street by the Campagna Center where the heather and greens normally sold at Market Square will be sold.
City Council approved the alternate parade route for the 1998 Scottish Christmas Walk Parade on Saturday, December 5, 1998.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
None
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
(a) Councilman Cleveland stated that the Scottish Christmas Walk on December 5 is not on the Council calendar.
(b) Councilman Cleveland had previously stated that he could not be here for the October 17 Council meeting because of a conference. He will not be going to the conference because of his fiduciary duties to the people of the City, and he will be here on October 17 for the public hearing.
(c) Councilwoman Pepper reported on the "We Marched Too" forum at the Alexandria Black History Resource Center and a number of residents from our Black community, like Shirley Tyler, Eudora Lyles, Helen Miller, Ferdinand Day, Melvin Miller, Elsie Thomas, and others, were there. It was an outstanding forum. The forum was filmed by Jones Communications, and there will be one showing of this on October 2 at 5 p.m. on Channel 10.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL (continued)
(d) Councilwoman Pepper announced that City Council attended the groundbreaking ceremony at Carpenter's Shelter's new site. Randy Kell from the Winkler Company has been spearheading this project and has been able to get contributions of supplies and work at cost or free from a large list of people who have generously given. On behalf of all those who will be served at the shelter, they would want all these people to be thanked, particularly Randy Kell for his generous time and effort and commitment to this project.
(e) Mayor Donley announced that on Saturday, October 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the First Alexandria Adoption Awareness Day will be held at Blessed Sacrament Community. This is a program being sponsored by a number of folks including the Alexandria United Way and the United Methodist Family Services to talk about the issues regarding adoption--private placement, international adoptions--and hopefully make good decisions about adoption.
(f) Mayor Donley announced that this Saturday, September 26, in Washington, "The March" to fight cancer will occur beginning at Noon on the Mall. The honorary committee includes Vice President Gore, General Norman Swartzkopf, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Michael Bolton, Crosby & Nash, and Cindy Crawford. Fliers regarding The March are available at the City Clerk's office, and there are key chains and buttons available as well.
(g) Mayor Donley reported that the City is receiving nominations for the Third Annual Technology Achievement Award. The Technology Achievement Week, which is a week designed to focus on Alexandria technology and our technology companies, is co-sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, the City and the Economic Development Partnership. This award was the idea of our Ad Hoc Task Force on Information and Communication Technologies which was co-chaired by Councilwoman Pepper and Council Member Walker. Past winners have included UUCom and Jones Communications. This year's winner will be announced during Technology Week, March 8-12. Approximately 1600 letters are going to go out soliciting nominations. Deadlines for submitting nominations is October 30, and nomination forms are also available on the City's web site. Nominations can be mailed to Financial and Information Technology Services Director Gitajn at City Hall, 301 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; e-mailed to arthur.gitajn@ci.alexandria.va.us; or call 838-6420 with questions.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
20. Consideration of a Resolution approving the inducement resolution passed by the Industrial Development Authority of Arlington County authorizing the issuance of bonds to assist in the financing of the air pollution control retrofit of the Alexandria/Arlington waste-to-energy facility. [Roll-Call Vote]
City Attorney Sunderland explained this issue, and participated in a discussion with City Council as did Director of T&ES Director O'Kane, and Director of F&IS Gitajn.
Councilwoman Pepper commended Director of T&ES O'Kane for an excellent job in working with Ogden and the Eisenhower Partnership neighbors around the facility.
City Council adopted the resolution which (1) affirms council's approval of the federally-required Retrofit of the Facility, (2) approves the inducement resolution passed by the Arlington IDA on September 10, 1998, in which the IDA authorized the issuance of up to $50 million in tax exempt bonds to assist in the financing of the Retrofit and other Facility improvements, and (3) authorizes the director of finance to conduct a public hearing on the issuance of such bonds, as required by federal law. RES. NO. 1891
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
21. Consideration of Resolution Establishing a Year 2000 Census Complete Count Committee to Promote Public Participation in the Year 2000 Census. [Roll-Call Vote]
City Council discussed with Director of Planning and Zoning Lynn and Director of Citizen Assistance Boyd the groups to be invited to join this committee, and it was stressed that any organization that wants to be involved, in particular the groups representing people who are least likely to be counted, will be included.
City Council (1) adopted the resolution establishing a Year 2000 Complete Count Committee; (2) authorized the Mayor to select a person to serve as Chair of the Committee; (3) requested the Executive Secretary for City Boards and Commissions to advertise the vacancies and request that the groups listed in Attachment 1 to the City Manager's report designate a representative to serve on the committee; and (4) approved the transfer of $20,000 from a contingent reserve account (103556-2707) to the Planning Department to fund the City's share of the Complete Count Committee's activities. RES. NO. 1892
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
OTHER
22. Consideration of City Council Schedule.
City Council (1) added to the Council Calendar the Annual Fire Memorial Service and Wreath Laying Ceremony on Thursday, October 8, 1998, at 6:30 p.m. at Ivy Hill Cemetery, 2823 King Street; (2) noted that the City Council Fall Retreat will be on Saturday, October 10 (instead of Saturday, November 21) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Fire Department Training Center located in the rear of the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson Street; (3) scheduled a work session at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Workroom before Council's Wednesday, October 14, 1998, legislative meeting with representatives of the Boards of Architectural Review and the Historic Restoration and Preservation Commission; and (4) deleted the work session at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Workroom before Council's Tuesday, December 8, 1998, legislative meeting. The City Manager will address the Year 2000 (Y2K) computer issues by memo; and (5) added the Scottish Christmas Walk for Saturday, December 5, and the Annual Tree Lighting for Friday, November 27, at Waterfront Park.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
CONTESTED APPOINTMENTS
23. Alexandria Commission for the Arts
1 Member-At-Large Who Is an Arts Consumer or Participant
City Council appointed Jill Wiley as a Member-at-Large Who Is an Arts Consumer or Participant.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
24. Alexandria Commission for Women
3 Citizen Members
City Council reappointed Mary Hartzler and appointed Laura Mandala and Jenny Wade as Citizen Members to the Alexandria Commission for Women.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
25. Alexandria Consumer Affairs Commission
1 Citizen Member
City Council appointed William Torrans as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria Consumer Affairs Commission.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
26. Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
1 Member From Planning District II
City Council appointed Patrick Butler as a Member From Planning District II to the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
27. Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners
1 Citizen Member
City Council appointed Antoine Cobb as a Citizen Member to the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
EXECUTIVE SESSION
28. 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)
It was noted that an Executive Session was not needed.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________
The meeting was adjourned at 9:48 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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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
The Lyceum Company is planning a forum discussion for the public on the status of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The forum is scheduled for October 6, 1998, at 7:30 p.m., at The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street, Alexandria, Virginia.
It is anticipated that more than two Members of Council will be in attendance.* * * * *
Public Notice
The Mayor and certain Members of City Council will be attending the 1998 Virginia Municipal League (VML) Annual Conference which will be held October 4-6 at the Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Virginia.
Recently, Mayor Donley and City Manager Lawson met with the Mayor and Deputy City Manager of Roanoke to explore the establishment of a City to City exchange between the City of Alexandria and the City of Roanoke. The Mayor and Members of the Alexandria City Council attending the VML Conference will be meeting with Members of the Roanoke City Council to discuss this program during the course of the conference.* * * * *
Public Notice
The Commission on the Condition and Future of Virginia's Cities is holding a Summit on Tuesday, October 13, 1998, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the OMNI Hotel in Charlottesville, Virginia.
It is anticipated that more than two Members of Council will be attending this Summit.* * * * *