City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 3, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: JOANNA C. ANDERSON, CITY ATTORNEY
DAVID LANIER, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on first reading of an ordinance to amend Article A (GENERAL PROVISIONS) of Chapter 4 (COMMITTEES, BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS) of Title 2 (GENERAL GOVERNMENT) of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of an ordinance to amend the application of Article A, Chapter 4, Title 2 of the Code of the City of Alexandria to allow City Council appointees to standing committees to also serve on certain committees, boards, or commissions and add the Visit Alexandria Board of Governors to the list of groups excepted under Section 2-4-3.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council pass the proposed ordinance (Attachment 2) on first reading on May 10, 2022 and schedule it for second reading, public hearing and final passage on May 14, 2022.
DISCUSSION: The City Code prohibits any person from serving on more than one standing committee, or more than one standing committee and one temporary committee, at the same time unless they are a designated representative of the second committee. However, Section 2-4-3(b) of the City Code excludes regional committees, the Alexandria School Board, the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the Alexandria Sanitation Authority, and the Alexandria Industrial Development Authority from the provisions of Article A, including the prohibition from serving on more than one standing committee at the same time.
Visit Alexandria is a 501(c)(6) entity organized through the State Corporation Commission. While the Visit Alexandria Board of Governors is a standing committee subject to the regulations of Article A, Chapter 4, Title 2 of the City Code, the formation and organization of the group is similar to the groups exempted under Section 2-4-3(b). Given the similarities, we believe the Visit Alexandria Board of Governors should also be exempted under Section 2-4-3(b) from the provisions of Article A. The proposed amendments would add the Visit Alexandria Board of Governors to the list of committees exempt from most provisions of Article A, Chapter 4, Title 2 of the City Code in Section 2-4-3(b) and would amend Section 2-4-7(f) to clarify the prohibition on being appointed by city council to more than one standing committee, or to more than one standing committee and one temporary committee, at the same time does not apply to the committees exempted under Section 2-3-4(b).
FISCAL IMPACT: There would be no fiscal impact associated with this ordinance change.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Ordinance cover sheet
Attachment 2: Ordinance
STAFF:
Gloria Sitton, City Clerk