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:
TITLE
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 Alexandria Resources Commission, the Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black Heritage, the Planning Commission, and the Transportation Commission. Members of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group will be appointed by the City Manager and after he receives recommendations from these entities, as well as self-nominations for the two citizen-at-large positions.
The purpose of the Advisory Group will be to develop recommendations on actions, if any, that it believes City Council should consider with respect to (1) the status of the Appomattox statue on South Washington Street; (2) the name of Jefferson Davis Highway in the City of Alexandria; (3) the names of the many streets within the City that are named after Confederate generals and military leaders; (4) a specific policy on flying of any flags on property owned or under the control of the City. In regard to this last study and while Council has made it clear that the flying of the Confederate flag by the City would no longer be authorized, a new overall City flag flying policy will need to be established that meets legal requirements. The Advisory Committee will be asked to propose such a policy.
All meetings of the advisory group will be public meetings. The Advisory Group will hold one or more public hearings. Staff support for the Advisory Group will be assigned by the City Manager.
The Resolution requests that the Advisory Group complete its work and report back to Council no later than March 15, 2016.
ATTACHMENT: Resolution
STAFF:
Bernard Caton, Legislative Director
James Banks, City Attorney
Craig Fifer, Director, Office of Communications and Public Information
Lance Mallamo, Director of Historic Alexandria
Yon Lambert, Director, Department of Transportation and Environmental Services
Emily Baker, Deputy City Manager