Membership Meeting Minutes-April 13, 2022

  • Welcome, Virginia Bush, Immediate Past President
  • Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Sean Casey
    • ASO overview: Manage jail, protect courthouse, serve process, act as auxiliary law enforcement
    • Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)-ASO’s reaccreditation pending, thanks to Gayle Reuter :Accreditation Officer
    • ASO opens its books every year: meeting standard for best practices 
    • City-wide drug take-back day: 4/30
      • In Del Ray, every day at Neighborhood Pharmacy
      • Drug Take Back on April 30th from 10AM to 2PM. Locations at the Neighborhood Pharmacy, Alexandria Police Department, First Baptist Church, Fire Station (5255 Eisenhower Ave.) No needles accepted at these locations.
  • Alexandria Police Department, Captain Dennis Andreas
    • Good news bad news
      • City wide up crime, but in Del Ray a reduction
    • First burglary at 25 West Del Ray
      • Landscaping employee had belongings removed from truck.
    • 10 larcenies
      • Many at YMCA: Lockers, vehicles
    • Traffic:
      • We’re at 2021 levels, in term of enforcement
      • Focus on speeding on north-south routes: Route 1, Mount Vernon Avenue
      • Effort is complaint-driven (so report via 311)
  • Land Use Committee: No update this month
  • Parks Committee, Peter Garafola 
    • Adopt-a-Park
    • Grant Program
      • Smallest grant $10K. Funds to be disbursed in November
      • Deadline: Next meeting (6/26)
    • Question: Spray Park
      • As a follow up to the spray park question – here is the link to the project page from the City: https://www.alexandriava.gov/rpca/project/del-ray-gateway
  • Special Guest, Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker
      • Follow Delegate Bennett-Parker –
        • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EBPforVA
        • Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/ebpforva
        • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebpforva/
        • Website: https://www.elizabethfordelegate.com/        
        • Sign up for newsletter: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-up-for-delegate-elizabeth-bennett-parkers-newsletter
  • Special Guest, Senator Adam Ebbin
    • Sen. Ebbin was DRCA’s last guest when we met in-person before the pandemic
      • You can check out Senator Ebbin’s legislation here:
        • https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+mbr+S85C          
      • Follow Senator Ebbin –
          • Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EbbinCampaign
          • Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AdamEbbin
          • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adampebbin/
          • Website: www.adamebbin.com        
          • For constituent service requests please contact the district office – 571.384.8957 or [email protected]
  • Announcements
    • GardenFest (1st Annual?)
      • April 24, 12noon-5pm
      • Many garden and nature-oriented organizations to be represented
      • Raffle to benefit Charles Hill Fund, organized by Katie Waynick
        • Gift cards from DRBA businesses, etc.
    • Rebuilding Together Alexandria
      • This year’s project, Friends of Guest House on April 30
      • Still need 5 volunteers
      • Painting, landscaping
      • https://rebuildingtogetherdca.org/get-involved/national-rebuilding-day/
    • Elections & Nominations Committee
      • Volunteer now! (4/30)
      • Slate of candidates to be announced in May
      • Elections at June meeting
    • DRBA Announcements…
  • Motion to resume holding membership meetings in person: Rod Kuckro
    • Seconded: Peter Garafola
    • DISCUSSION
    • No quorum for vote
  • Agenda Alexandria
    • April 30: Surviving the cost of living in Alexandria
  • First Thursday resumes (after rain delay)
    • April 21, with spotlight non-profit the Spitfire Club
    • Come dressed as your favorite book character
  • Special Farmers Market on International Firefighter Day
    • At Windsor Avenue station,  May 4, 12noon-3pm
  • POP Club begins at Del Ray Farmers Market
    • April 23 
    • To engage 4-12 year olds
    • More info: https://delrayfarmersmarket.com/kidsclub/