City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 23, 2015
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Resolution Establishing an Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Confederate Memorials and Street Names. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: The purpose of this memorandum is to recommend a process for establishing an Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Confederate Memorials and Street Names, and to delineate the functions of and process to be followed by this Advisory Group.
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the proposed Resolution (attached) establishing an Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Confederate Memorials and Street Names ("Advisory Group").
BACKGROUND: At Council's September 8 meeting, staff made a presentation on actions that Council may wish to consider with respect to various symbols of the Confederacy on City property. These included the Appomattox statue on South Washington Street, the name of Jefferson Davis Highway, the names of other City streets that have been named after Confederate military leaders, and the flying of any flags of the Confederacy.
Council instructed staff at that meeting to discontinue flying the flag of the Confederacy at the intersection of Prince and Washington Streets on Robert E. Lee's birthday and Confederate Memorial Day which were the only two days flying the flag of the Confederacy in the City right-of-way by the City was previously authorized. It also directed staff to return at a later meeting with recommendations on the creation of a citizens' advisory group to consider these issues and make recommendations to Council.
RESOLUTION: The proposed Resolution (attached) will create a seven member Advisory Group, made up of two citizens-at-large, as well as one representative each from the following: the Alexandria Human Rights Commission, the Historic Al...
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