The Alexandria City Council met Tuesday evening (May 27) for a Legislative Meeting, where they discussed and voted on several key initiatives, including lease extensions for Torpedo Factory artists, funding for Inova Alexandria Hospital, and updates to the city’s strategic priorities framework.
The meeting began with proclamations recognizing Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Sex Education Month.
During the meeting, the council received a presentation on the 2025-2027 City Council priorities, which include housing opportunities, economic strength, eliminating community disparities, and employee attraction and retention.
Dana Wedeles, Strategic Initiatives Officer in the City Manager’s office, presented the framework that organizes these priorities into a strategic plan.
“We’ve developed the strategic plan framework and incorporated the strategic priorities from Council within this framework,” Wedeles explained. “The framework starts at the top, which is our why. This includes our organizational mission, our vision and core values.”
Several council members expressed concerns about how certain priorities were framed. Mayor Gaskins noted that the “eliminating community disparities” section needed refinement.
“I’m struggling with this because I think the framing of this is maybe different than what we were hoping for,” Gaskins said. “I think this was more when we look at the data… it’s not necessarily an issue of more communication.”
Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley echoed these concerns, suggesting that the focus should be “less about continuing to emphasize communication and more about delivering the services where we see the greatest disparity.”
Council members also discussed the need to include infrastructure investments and housing pipeline financing strategies more explicitly in the framework.
The council unanimously approved a one-year lease extension for artists and arts organizations at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Vice Mayor Bagley, who moved the item, emphasized that this extension provides stability for artists.
“I want to give some ease and comfort to our community that is very passionate about this space that no lease is ending this year,” Bagley said. “We’re hoping to get an update before we take our summer recess on the status of that process.”
The council also approved the release of $490,575 in contingent reserve funds allocated for Inova Alexandria Hospital. Representatives from Inova presented data showing they served 1,727 Medicaid and underinsured obstetric patients in 2024, a 6.4% increase from 2023.
“Nearly one-third of our OB volume consists of Medicaid and underinsured/uninsured patients,” explained Melissa Riddy, Director of Government and Community Relations for Inova’s east region.
Dr Rina Bansal, President of Inova Alexandria Hopsital, assured the council that despite the increase in Medicaid patients, the hospital has not experienced capacity challenges due to an overall 10% decrease in delivery rates nationally.
The council also approved a resolution for submission to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority for regional transportation funding for the FY 2030 program.
During oral reports, council members shared updates from various boards and commissions:
Councilman Canek Aguirre reported that Alexandria received $80,000 for the Beauregard Trail feasibility study and another $80,000 for Braddock Road safety improvements from the Transportation Planning Board.
Councilman John Chapman provided updates from the Stormwater Advisory Committee, noting that many infrastructure projects will take longer than initially expected.
“These projects aren’t going to be completed in the next five years, probably not the next 10. It’s probably going to be a much longer time frame,” Chapman said.
Councilman Kirk McPike reported that the Citizen Corps Council received an update on the recent storm that caused 17,000 Alexandrians to lose power, with winds peaking at 70 miles per hour.
Councilwoman Jacinta Greene highlighted upcoming events from the Eisenhower Partnership, including movie nights and happy hours designed to build community engagement.
The council also approved its upcoming schedule, with Vice Mayor Bagley highlighting the June 12 town hall at 6 p.m. at Beatley Library.
“Please come out and join us for our second quarter town hall,” Bagley encouraged residents.
The next regular meeting of the Alexandria City Council is scheduled for June 10, when they expect to receive an update on the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s future management structure.
