City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 14, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: JACK BROWAND, STAFF LIAISON, CITY COUNCIL NAMING COMMITTEE
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing and Consideration to Name the City Facility at 4850 Mark Center Drive to honor former Councilwoman Redella S. "Del" Pepper.
BODY
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ISSUE: City Council Consideration to Name the City Facility at 4850 Mark Center Drive to honor former Councilwoman Redella S. "Del" Pepper.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council hold a public hearing for Saturday, June 18, 2022 and after closing the public hearing, approve the recommendation of the City Council Naming Committee to name the City Facility at 4850 Mark Center Drive to honor former Councilwoman Redella S. "Del" Pepper as the Redella S. “Del” Pepper Community Resource Center.
BACKGROUND: On December 14, 2021, City Council unanimously voted to name the City Facility at 4850 Mark Center Drive after Councilwoman Redella S. “Del” Pepper, who retired after serving on City Council since 1985 by Resolution No. 3037 (Attachment 1). Councilwoman Pepper was a long-time champion of the city’s West End, and an advocate for older adults and youth employment. Councilwoman Pepper was the longest serving member of Alexandria City Council.
4850 Mark Center Drive will include services offered by the Department of Community and Human Services, Alexandria Health Department and Neighborhood Health; and a West End Service Center that will include a permit center, Finance Department transaction functions and limited Clerk of Court services. This unified setting aims to ensure increased access, equity, collaboration, privacy and safety for all residents who use the facility. It is expected that the facility will serve as a community hub, offering opportunities for residents to access resources, providing space to convene meetings and events, and promoting the health and well-being of all Alexandrians.
DISCUSSION: In response to City Council action on December 14, 2021, a staff group comprised of representatives from the Department of Community and Human Services, Alexandria Health Department and Neighborhood Health, Office of Code Enforcement Department of Finance and Court services identified two names for the community to consider (1) The Redella S. Del Pepper Community Resource Center and (2) The Redella S. Del Pepper Resource Center.
From April 26, 2022 through May 6, 2022, the Department of Community and Human Services conducted community engagement to receive comments on the two proposed names, and participants had the option to provide an alternative (Attachment 2). In total, 241 individuals participated in selecting a name. The majority at 54 percent of participant votes, selected Redella S. “Del” Pepper Community Resource Center. No other option received more than 14 percent of participant votes.
The City Council Naming Committee, comprised of Councilman John Taylor Chapman, Chair, Councilperson Sarah Bagley, and Councilwoman Alyia Gaskins, met on May 25, 2022 and unanimously endorsed the naming of 4850 Mark Center Drive to Redella S. “Del” Pepper Community Resource Center. The City Council Naming Committee recommended that City Council consider their recommendation at the City Council meeting on June 14, 2022 and schedule the naming for public hearing on Saturday, June 18, 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 3037
2. Community Engagement
STAFF:
Laura B. Triggs, Deputy City Manager
Kate Garvey, Director, Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS)
Jennifer Cohen Cordero, Communications Manager, DCHS