February Membership Meeting Notes

Posted onAuthordelraycitizens

DRCA – February 11, 2015

Meeting Called to Order at: 7:27PM        By: President Jay Nesterlode

  1. Scott Ogden – Alexandria Police Department
    1. [email protected]
    2. 332 to 353 city wide crime increase year over year; 14 -19 del ray crime increase year over year.
    3. Home Robbery – Monroe Avenue; officer arrested suspected
    4. Other crime increases – shoplifting at CVS and Walgreens
      1. Fairfax County experiencing same type of crime; working on charges on two individuals of all larcenies.
      2. Additional car break-ins account for the remaining increases in crime
  • Practice crime prevention – lock your doors, no valuables in plain sight
  1. Alexandria Police Foundation – Alexandria Police Fallen Officers Memorial
    1. March 28, 2015; 5PM-9PM at Alexandria City Police HQ – Opening Ceremony
  1. John Chapman – Alexandria City Council
    1. Budget released in March; open for comment following that time
      1. Add and delete section of the process – have to look at the entire program over the course of five years
      2. Three council members must agree to bring something to the floor/budget process
    2. School budget is 30% of City’s general fund budget
      1. Largest student population ever in the system, largest gains since 1970s
      2. Capacity problems exist
  • Public/Private partnerships at schools for rehabilitation and expansion into community space.
  1. Expansion of access in city services when located in school communities
  2. Schools will relocate during reconstruction or renovation – where alternate school site will be and how will it work
  1. Revenue Growth – Economic Development
    1. Replacement of jobs lost in recession are lower wage than those lost
      1. Restaurants and hotels – lower wage earners compared to taxes gained from the actual business
      2. Bring higher earning jobs to the city
    2. Pedestrian lights – increasing walkability in Del Ray (support from Chapman) – into CIP
    3. Other large portions of budget – salaries of employees, transportation/transit
  1. Mary Anne – For Children’s Sake of Virginia;
    1. Foster care for children in Northern Virginia; non-profit/also looking for mentors/volunteers
    2. Adoption services as well; work with families without the large fees associated with some adoption routes. Licensed foster parents who are interested in adoption are contacted, initial foster placement for 6-12 months
      1. Orientations are 1 hour and held twice a month
      2. PRIDE training in State of Virginia – 27 hours, free of charge
    3. Children from birth to 21 years old
    4. Looking for interested parties in foster families and partnerships for fundraising.
    5. Toy Drive every November
  1. Dominion Virginia Power – 230V Transmission Line
    1. Will wait for submission in June; possibly it goes away
    2. City is skeptical of project use and need
  1. Land Use Update – Lisa Quandt
    1. March 10, 2015 – next Land Use meeting
      1. Historic town of Potomac and how to determine if your house is part of that history
      2. Pattern book development
  • Redevelopment of Arlandria Floors Building
  1. Special Use Permit – 822 Russell Road; teardown-rebuild
  2. Stephen Koening – voted onto Planning Commission
  1. DRCA Chili Cook Off – February 21, 2015
    1. Event will be held at the New Commonwealth Academy Gym (1321 Leslie Ave.)
    2. 5PM-8PM; free to DRCA Members
    3. Non Members – $10 donation
    4. All proceeds will be donated to MVCS playground improvement project
    5. Judges – John Chapman, Pat Miller
  1. Upcoming Events/Announcements
    1. Heart of Del Ray until February 12, 2015, voting is open – so when you are reading this, I hope you voted.
      1. Visit Del Ray website
      2. Suggestions for events – contact Gayle or the Visit Del Ray website
    2. Del Ray Artisans – Elements, Dream on, partnership with Animal Welfare League – Rescue Me open until February 24, 2015. Paws and Claws begins on February 27, 2015.
    3. Alexandria Citizens Academy begins March 12, 2015 – open for applications

Meeting adjourned at 9:13PM