City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 2, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of AN ORDINANCE to amend and reordain Section 2-1-3 (TERM OF MEMBERS) of Article A (GENERAL PROVISIONS) of Chapter 1 (THE CITY COUNCIL) of Title 2 (GENERAL GOVERNMENT) and Section 12-1-4 (ELECTION OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS; DATE AND MANNER OF ELECTION) of Chapter 1 (SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SCHOOL BOARD) of Title 12 (EDUCATION, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND WELFARE) of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended.
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ISSUE: Consideration of an ordinance to revise the commencement date for newly elected members of the Alexandria City Council to January 1 every three years and change the election of the Alexandria City School Board to the November general election cycle every three years.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council introduce the ordinance, pass the ordinance on first reading and set the ordinance for second reading, and public hearing on Saturday, June 19, 2021, and after the public hearing, adopt the proposed ordinance.
BACKGROUND: In 2014, the General Assembly of Virginia amended portions of the Alexandria City Charter governing elections and terms of office for member of the Alexandria City Council and the Alexandria City School Board. Section 10.01 was amended to move the election for the Mayor and Members of City Council from May to the November general election every three years. Additionally, Sections 10.01 and 15.10 were amended to change commencement of the terms of office for the Mayor, Members of City Council, and Members of the School Board from July 1 to January 1 following the election.
The Alexandria Code of Ordinances was amended in 2018 and 2019 to reflect some of the needed changes made to the Charter, but not all needed changes were made. However, Section 2-1-3 of Code still states that members of city council shall serve “terms of three (3) years from July 1 following their election.” Likewise, Section 12-1-4 says the election for all school board members “shall be held on the first Tuesday in May.”
Due to the conflicting directives of the Code and Charter, the City has conducted recent elections only in conformance with the superseding authority of the amended Charter.
DISCUSSION: The attached amended ordinance makes two changes to the Alexandria Code of Ordinances. First, the term “July 1” is removed from Section 2-1-3 and replaced with “January 1.” This change brings Section 2-1-3 of the Code into conformance with Section 10.01 of the Charter by moving the start of the term of office for members of city council to January 1 following the triennial election.
Second, the term “first Tuesday in May” is removed from Subsection (a) of Section 12-1-4 and replaced with “day of the November general election.” This change brings Section 12-1-4 of the Code into conformance with Section 15.10 of the Charter by moving the election for members of the school board from May to the November general election.
Together, these amendments will reconcile Sections 2-1-3 and 12-1-4 of the Code with Sections 10.01 and 15.10 of the Charter.
None of these ordinance changes will impact the City’s practice of when the Mayor and Members of City Council and School Board members are elected and take office.
FISCAL IMPACT: There would be no fiscal impact associated with this ordinance change.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance Cover Sheet
2. Proposed Ordinance
STAFF:
Joanna C. Anderson, City Attorney
David E. Lanier, Assistant City Attorney