City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: DECEMEBER 4, 2024
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: CHERAN CORDELL IVERY, CITY ATTORNEY
GLORIA SITTON, CITY CLERK
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Creation of two new subcommittees and reactivation of the boards and commissions subcommittee.
BODY
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ISSUE: Creation of three subcommittees that seek to improve efficiency, performance, and decision-making for City Council.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council create the following subcommittees:
(1) Subcommittee for the Review of Standing Committees;
(2) Subcommittee on Personnel; and
(3) Subcommittee on Boards and Commissions.
BACKGROUND: At the November 12, 2024 Legislative meeting, Councilwoman Gaskins requested that the above referenced subcommittees be established prior to the appointment of councilmembers to boards, commissions, committees, subcommittees at the installation ceremony on January 2, 2025. City Council should approve the request so that the subcommittees would be established before the installation of the incoming Council on January 2, 2025.
Below is an overview of the proposed subcommittees and their scope of work:
1. Subcommittee for the Review of Standing Committees
• This subcommittee will review the current standing committees and determine if Council should move to a different standing committee structure and what impact on staffing and current advisory committees a change may have.
2. Subcommittee on Personnel
• City Council is responsible for the performance evaluation of the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and the Independent Police Review Auditor. This subcommittee would be responsible for establishing clear metrics for successful management and evaluation of these positions.
3. Subcommittee on Boards and Commissions
• This would be a reactivation of a previous subcommittee established pre-pandemic. The new goal of this subcommittee would be to review the process of creating and structuring existing boards and commissions, while making recommendations on the viability and necessity of all active boards and commissions.
The composition of each new subcommittee would include two to three council members and would be supported by key staff members to be determined by the City Manager. Each subcommittee would have a specified time to complete the work.
FISCAL IMPACT: No fiscal impact currently.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
STAFF:
James F. Parajon, City Manager
Cheran Cordell Ivery, City Attorney
Gloria Sitton, City Clerk