Alexandria City Council Legislative Meeting, January 13, 2026

The Alexandria City Council held its first legislative meeting of 2026 on January 13, 2026, at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center. The meeting began at 6:00 PM with an executive session on public safety and cybersecurity, followed by the regular session at 7:00 PM. The council addressed a wide range of items, including a proclamation for Mentoring Month, the State of the Economy report, adoption of the ALX Forward economic growth framework, approval of three collective bargaining agreements with police, fire, and administrative unions, and a lengthy public hearing and appeal regarding the City Hall and Market Square renovation. The meeting adjourned at 11:26 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Resignations from seven board/commission members were accepted with regret.
• Uncontested appointments were made to multiple boards and commissions, including the Alexandria Gang Prevention Task Force, Housing Affordability Advisory Committee, Commission on Employment, Commission on Persons with Disabilities, George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee, Historic Alexandria Resources Commission, Park and Recreation Commission, Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee, and Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee. The appointment to the Visit Alexandria Board of Governors was deferred.
• A resolution designating temporary City Council Chambers was adopted.
• A grant application to the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth for fentanyl education was retroactively approved.
• A resolution supporting FY 2032 CMAQ/RSTP funding requests was approved.
• The monthly financial report for November 2025 was received.
• First readings of ordinances were approved for the Torpedo Factory Arts Center lease/management process, the Tall Ship Providence franchise amendment, zoning text amendments for commercial uses, and the rezoning of 598 South Alfred Street. All were scheduled for public hearings on January 24, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• City Hall Renovation Appeal (Item #23): Approximately 10 speakers addressed the council. Eight speakers, including Al Cox, Melissa Cuneo, Christine Roberts (Historic Alexandria Foundation), Carol Black, Yvonne Callahan (Old Town Civic Association), Robert Adams (BAR member), Margaret Miller (former BAR member), John Patrick (Historic Alexandria Resources Commission), Stephen Malone, and Dino Drudy, urged the council to uphold the BAR's conditions. They argued that the BAR process is essential, the design details matter for the historic district, and the city should be treated like any other applicant. Two speakers (Melissa Cuneo and Carol Black) emphasized the importance of using quality materials and not creating a false sense of history. Speakers also noted the lack of detailed plans presented by the city and the conflict of interest of city staff overseeing their own project.

Discussion Items

• Proclamation: Recognized January as Alexandria Mentoring Month. The Alexandria Mentoring Partnership serves over 700 youth and 500 mentors.
• Oral Reports: Council members reported on ARHA redevelopment, NVTA, Legislative Subcommittee, Commission on Aging, NVTC, and LEPC. Highlights included Samuel Madden North being on time and on budget, 83% of hours worked by Section 3 workers, and the vice mayor being elected chair of NVTC.
• State of the Economy (City Manager Parajon): National unemployment edged up to 4.4%, inflation at 2.7%, and job growth slowing. Local real estate sales down 11% year-over-year, average days on market rising to 32, and average sales price dropping to 97.6% of asking. The city manager emphasized continued uncertainty and a cautious approach to the FY 2027 budget, with the proposed budget presentation on February 24, 2026.
• ALX Forward Strategic Framework (Item #19): The council adopted the resolution with a minor amendment to include "community partners" in the implementation language. The framework aims to grow and diversify the tax base through economic development.
• Collective Bargaining Agreements (Items #20-22): Three public hearings were held for tentative agreements with the Southern States Police Benevolent Association (SSPBA), International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2141 (IAFF), and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). All three agreements were approved unanimously. The council expressed strong support for labor and committed to appropriate funding, subject to annual appropriation. The AFSCME agreement is the city's first with administrative and technical employees.
• City Hall Renovation Appeal (Item #23): The council heard an appeal of the Board of Architectural Review's (BAR) November 19, 2025, conditional approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness for the City Hall and Market Square renovation. The applicant (City of Alexandria) appealed three specific conditions: the requirement for decorative chimneys (condition #5), the colonial-style window muntins on doors (condition #4), and the arched entryways (condition #3). The BAR chair argued the conditions were appropriate and based on the city's own submitted options. The city's director of general services argued the conditions violated the Secretary of Interior Standards and would jeopardize historic tax credits. After extensive deliberation, the council voted to modify the BAR's decision.

Key Outcomes

• ALX Forward: Resolution adopted unanimously with amendment.
• Collective Bargaining: All three agreements (SSPBA, IAFF, AFSCME) were approved unanimously (7-0).
• City Hall Renovation Appeal: The council voted 6-1 (Councilman Chapman dissenting) to adopt a motion that:
  • Affirmed most BAR conditions where agreement existed.
  • Struck condition #4 (requiring study of 1871 elements in market square structures).
  • Modified the fifth-floor lighting condition to allow lighting for life safety and code compliance.
  • Reversed condition #1 (pilasters material) to allow brick instead of stone/precast (aligning with 4A).
  • Struck condition #3 (arched entryways) as a recommendation.
  • Reversed condition #4 (colonial-style windows/doors) to allow the applicant's proposed aluminum framed doors without muntins.
  • Struck condition #5 (decorative chimneys) – chimneys will not be retained or reconstructed.
  • Modified condition #5 (market square granite) to be conditional on the shade structure being constructed.
  • Directed the applicant to work with historic preservation staff on final detailing for pilasters and entablature.
• Contested Appointments: The council approved majority vote-getters for the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee (Michael T. Perry), Commission for the Arts (Anne Evenhaugen), Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee (Angelique Moss), Commission for Women (Lexi White), Environmental Policy Commission (Jordan K. Eccles), Public Records Advisory Commission (Maoria K. Andrews), and Sister Cities Committee (David Anderson III and Alina Launchbaugh).
• City Council Schedule: Approved the look-ahead calendar including VML Local Government Day (Feb 5), FY 2027 Budget Calendar and work sessions, and the official calendar through June 2026.