The Alexandria City Council will hold its legislative meeting on Tuesday, April 8. The meeting will begin with public hearings on tax rates and budget proposals before moving to a packed agenda of appointments, ordinances, and reports.
The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. with a public hearing on the proposed real and personal property tax rates for the calendar year 2025, which will fund the fiscal year 2026 budget. This hearing will be immediately followed by a public hearing on the preliminary add/delete proposals to the city manager’s proposed FY 2026 budget.
The regular legislative meeting will commence after these two public hearings conclude.
The meeting agenda includes two proclamations: one recognizing Alexandria Earth Month and Arbor Day and another acknowledging National Library Week.
Council members will provide oral reports from various boards and commissions, including the Children, Youth, and Families Collaborative Commission, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission.
The consent calendar features numerous appointments to city boards and commissions, including the Archaeological Commission, Beautification Commission, Commission on Employment, and several others. The council will also consider resignations from various committees, including mine from the Board of Zoning Appeals (it would have been a conflict of interest to continue to serve on the Board and serve as Publisher of ALXnow).
Several grant applications are on the agenda, including:
– An application for the National Recreation and Park Association’s Out-of-School Time Youth Mentoring Program
– A grant application to the Virginia Department of Education for the United States Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program for Children
– An application for the 2025 Inova Community Health Opportunities Grant
The council will consider a first amendment to a license agreement between the city and the George Washington Masonic Memorial Association to use space at 110 Callahan Street as a public safety radio facility.
The monthly financial report for the period ending February 28, 2025, will be presented for council review.
Multiple ordinances will be introduced for first reading, including:
– An ordinance to make supplemental appropriations for the support of city government for fiscal year 2025
– An amendment to the stormwater utility fee section of the city code
– Changes to parking permit issuance regulations
– Several zoning ordinance amendments related to floor area definitions, coordinated development districts, and sign regulations
The contested appointments section includes openings on the Alexandria Gang Prevention Task Force, Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee, Commission on Persons with Disabilities, George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee, Sister Cities Committee, and the Traffic and Parking Board.
A significant item on the agenda is the Alexandria Police Department Public Safety Review and Plan, which will be presented as part of the city manager’s reports and recommendations.
The meeting will conclude with oral reports from council members and consideration of the city council schedule.
The public can access the meeting through multiple channels, including:
– In person at the Council Chamber (301 King Street)
– Government channel 70
– Streaming on the city’s website
– Via Zoom webinar (ID: 937 2243 9374, Passcode: 112671)
– By phone at 301-715-8592
The full meeting docket and supporting materials are available online at alexandriava.gov/council and in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of the Council.
