5 Alexandria City Council Actions From Sept. 13 Meeting

ALEXANDRIA, VA — After a break from meetings in August, Alexandria City Council returned Tuesday to make several actions.

Below is a recap of key agenda items. Full video and the agenda are available on the city's website.

Flood mitigation and stormwater utility advisory group to be reestablished

Alexandria City Council voted to reestablish the Ad Hoc Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Group. The group was originally created in January 2021 and first met in June 2021 to discuss funding, timing, and implementation of flood mitigation projects. In recent years, flash flooding from intense rain storms prompted the city to accelerate flood mitigation projects.

In the last year, the group helped the city implement the Flood Action Alexandria program, a comprehensive initiative to address flooding. The group is also responsible for advising on flood mitigation activities, monitoring progress on proposed flood mitigation efforts and providing recommendations on stormwater utility operating and capital budgets.

The group's appointment expired in June 2022, but city staff recommended the group reconvene as the city continues to fund and implement flood mitigation efforts. The same members would be asked to participate if they wish to serve.

Allowing auxiliary dwellings in commercial zones

Alexandria City Council approved on first reading amendments to the zoning ordinance to allow auxiliary dwelling units in commercial zones. This finalizes City Council's approval of text amendments related to auxiliary dwelling units in commercial zones on July 5. The auxiliary dwelling units are defined as up to four dwelling units on ground floor or floors above retail or commercial uses. Second reading and final passage are scheduled for Saturday.

Estate of former Alexandria Registrar Anna Leider benefits Historic Alexandria

The city will accept a bequest from the estate of Anna Leider, the former Alexandria registrar who died in February from brain cancer. Leider had retired from the city's registrar position in June 2020.

The beneficiaries of Leider's estate are the Office of Historic Alexandria as well as the Holocaust Museum. The bequest to Office of Historic Alexandria goes to its special revenue fund "without diminution by the City of its normal funding level."

Pride of Baltimore docking at City Marina in October

City Council allowed the city manager to create a docking agreement so the tall ship Pride of Baltimore II can dock at the City Marina from Oct. 21 to Oct. 24. Pride of Baltimore is a replica sailing vessel that makes visits around the U.S. and world to share Baltimore's maritime history.

Check back for more details on the visit to Alexandria from the Pride of Baltimore website.

Latino Heritage Month and more recognitions

Councilmember Canek Aguirre introduced a proclamation to recognize Latino Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. According to Census data, an estimated 16.4 percent of Alexandria's population is Hispanic or Latino. The city is also home to a largely Latino neighborhood called Arlandria/Chirilagua, the latter reflecting the neighborhood's immigrant population from El Salvador.

This is the fourth straight year Aguirre introduced the resolution, and it was passed unanimously. Aguire was joined by Latino business owners, commissioners, and city staff.

"Latino Heritage Month is a time to reflect on the invaluable contributions Latinos and Hispanics have made to the fabric of our society," said Aguirre via a news release. "As the first Latino to serve on the Alexandria City Council, I am honored to introduce this proclamation each year to recognize and celebrate the contributions of the Latino community to the City of Alexandria, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and our nation."

City Council also recognized September as International Underground Railroad Month and Sept. 20 as National Voter Registration Day.

City Council's next meeting is a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. A few of the agenda items include minor changes to the King Street commercial parklet program for outdoor dining in on-street parking spaces, continuation of outdoor dining and trailer use at Stracci Pizza, 24 units of apartments above retail on King Street, an appeal of the Traffic and Parking Board decision to remove nine parking spaces on Polk Street, and more.