Alexandria City Council Public Hearing Summary - April 20, 2026
Alexandria City Council Public Hearing - April 20, 2026
The Alexandria City Council held a public hearing on Saturday, April 20, 2026, at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center. The meeting covered a wide range of items including proclamations, a consent calendar, public discussion, and numerous public hearings on budget, taxes, development permits, and zoning amendments. Key themes included funding for the Sheriff's Office, rental assistance, school board reform, and development incentives. The meeting lasted from 9:32 AM to 2:47 PM with a lunch recess.
Proclamations & Recognitions
- Councilmember Aguirre presented a proclamation recognizing National Library Week (April 19–25, 2026). Library Director Rose Dawson and Deputy Director Luis Labra spoke, highlighting the library's 90th anniversary in 2027. The proclamation passed unanimously.
Public Discussion Period
- Michael Morris (Environmental Policy Commission) reported on March meetings focused on housing, sustainability, and the Housing 2040 Master Plan.
- Nicole Radshaw (resident) compared Alexandria to Disney World, advocating for safer bike infrastructure, free bus service, and pedestrian improvements.
- Jacob Wolf Barnett (parent) presented a petition with over 260 signatures calling for city council leadership on school board reform, specifically reducing board size and increasing compensation.
- Aaron Probes (parent) criticized ACPS for budget increases without improved outcomes, citing low test scores and principal turnover.
- Ellis Orin Brown (8-year-old resident) asked for safer streets on Braddock Road so he can bike independently.
- Bill Dickinson (Futureport) announced the organization's charter and urged council feedback on a vision for Potomac Yard.
- Kathy Hoekstra (resident) requested that city boards and commissions improve public access and transparency, citing examples from COG meetings and NOVA Parks.
Consent Calendar (Roll-Call Votes)
- Items 5, 7, 9, 10 were approved on a consent agenda (moved by Councilman Chapman, seconded by Councilwoman Green). These included:
- Development Special Use Permit #2026-10002 (Elbert Avenue Residences)
- Development Special Use Permit #2025-10032 (300 North Lee Street townhomes)
- Supplemental Appropriations for FY2026
- VDOT Administrative Project Agreements
Discussion Items
- Vacation of Kent Place and Russell Road (Item 6) – Planning and Zoning staff presented a request to vacate 7,620 square feet of unimproved right-of-way to adjacent property owners for subdivision and single-family homes. Public speakers opposed (Patrick McLaughlin, Susan Robinson) and supported (Amanda Rudolph, David Chamowitz). After debate, Council approved 5-2 (Vice Mayor Bagley, Councilman Aguirre, Mayor Gaskins, Councilwoman Green in favor; Councilman Chapman and Councilman El Nuby opposed).
- Address Renumbering Ordinance (Item 8) – Public hearing with one supporter (Darren Tillingas). Council passed unanimously.
- FY2027 Budget Add/Delete Proposals (Item 11) – Extensive public testimony on a proposed $200,000 cut to the Sheriff's budget to fund a jail efficiency study. Undersheriff Dan Gordon, Sergeant Angela Spate, Sheriff Sean Casey, and many deputies opposed the cut, arguing it duplicates existing studies and harms operations. Community members from ICE Out of Alexandria coalition supported the cut as a response to Sheriff Casey's voluntary cooperation with ICE. Council also heard from tenants and workers advocating for increased rental assistance. The public hearing was closed; a work session is scheduled for April 21 with budget adoption on April 29.
- Property Tax Rates (Item 12) – No speakers; public hearing closed.
- Parking Citations (Item 13) – No speakers; public hearing closed.
- Stormwater Utility Fee (Item 14) – John Hill (AlexRenew commission) spoke, recommending expansion of flood proofing grants and revisiting project priorities. Staff confirmed ongoing planning. Public hearing closed.
- Parking Meters Sunday (Item 15) – Maria Shirocky (Chamber of Commerce) opposed Sunday meter charges, citing economic softness. Council discussed alternatives (raising ticket fees or meter rates). Public hearing closed; further discussion on April 21.
- Fire Prevention Code Changes (Item 16) – No speakers; public hearing closed.
- BPOL Tax on Financial Services (Item 17) – Joe Haggerty (Chamber) and Josh Baverka (NVAR) opposed increasing the tax from $0.35 to $0.40 per $100 of gross receipts, arguing it would make Alexandria less competitive. Councilman Aguirre noted the category hasn't been raised in 30 years and is well below the legal maximum. Public hearing closed.
- Eisenhower Pointe Phase 2 DSUP (Item 18) – Staff presented a 117-unit townhouse and back-to-back dwelling project at 4701 & 4801 Eisenhower Avenue. Applicant requested a 50% credit (approx. $300,000) for constructing Cumberland Street, similar to Phase 1. Staff did not support the credit, noting the street is required per the small area plan. Council debated; a motion to approve with the credit (Vice Mayor Bagley, seconded by Councilwoman Green) passed 4-3 (Mayor Gaskins, Councilman El Nuby also in favor; Councilman Aguirre, Councilman Chapman, Councilwoman Green? Wait, roll call: Vice Mayor Bagley aye, Councilwoman Green aye, Mayor Gaskins aye, Councilman El Nuby aye; Councilman Aguirre nay, Councilman Chapman nay, Councilman? Actually transcript says Vice Mayor Bagley, Councilwoman Green, Mayor Gaskins, Councilman El Nuby in favor; Councilman Aguirre, Councilman Chapman opposed. So 4-3).
- Commercial Uses Zoning Text Amendment (Item 19) – No public speakers; Council closed public hearing and approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Vacation of Kent Place/Russell Road (5-2), Address Renumbering Ordinance (unanimous), Eisenhower Pointe Phase 2 DSUP with credit (4-3), Commercial Uses ZTA (unanimous).
- Consent Items 5,7,9,10 approved via roll-call.
- Deferred/Continued: Budget add/delete work session on April 21; final budget adoption April 29. Parking meters and BPOL tax to be discussed further at the work session.
- Appointed Vacate Viewers for the Kent Place vacation: Don Solomon, Janet Skew, Michael Porterfield.
- Notable: The council heard extensive public comment on Sheriff's budget and ICE cooperation. No final decision was made on the $200,000 cut.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, it's 9:32. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our Saturday public hearing. Madam Clerk, please call the role. Vice Mayor Bagley. Councilman Aguirre. Here. Councilman Chapman. Councilman L Newby. Here. Councilman McGreen. Here. Hey, Madam Clerk, next item. Public discussion. Oh, excuse me, proclamations, presentation of proclamation recognizing National Library Week. Okay, I've asked Councilman Aguirre to begin with our proclamation recognizing National Library Week. If you are here joining us for this proclamation, we ask that two representatives come to the front and then we'll recognize everyone who is joining at the end of the proclamation. Yeah, Ms. Gross, are you in here? Oh come on up. Come on up. All right, good morning, everyone. So libraries have a great place in my heart, and I wanted to be on the library board the first go around, but I didn't get to do that second term though. I made sure to make it a point to get onto the library board. Um and we will go ahead and jump into this and then I'll pass the mic around, let everyone introduce themselves. Um and uh if our library director has a few words to say, we'll let her say that. All right. Whereas the residents of this city have acted upon this principle to create and support a system of library and information services through the Alexandria Library, library media centers of the Alexandria City Public Schools, a number of special libraries, as well as libraries and private and parochial schools and institutions of higher excuse me, of higher education, and whereas these libraries serve as a gateway to information and technologies that support the preservation of our democratic traditions and cultural heritage. And whereas libraries have long served as trusted institutions for all members of the community, regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socioeconomic status. And whereas libraries of today function as much more than repositories of knowledge, helping residents keep up with changing technology, offering audio books, e-reader materials, free computer classes, hotspots, and laptops, community meeting spaces, access to free online resources, passport services, English language classes, adult programs, story hours, and as you can tell, our libraries do a whole lot. And whereas the nation and the city of Alexandria celebrate America's 250th anniversary, libraries are ensuring that all the nation's history is told. As prominent Virginian James Madison stated, knowledge will forever govern ignorance. And whereas libraries, library workers, and library supporters across the United States will celebrate National Library Workers' Day on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026. Now, therefore, I, Kanik Agar, on behalf of Elia Gaskins, mayor of the city of Alexandria, Virginia, and on behalf of the Alexandria City Council, do you hereby recognize and proclaim the week of April 19th through April 25th, 2026 as National Library Week in the City of Alexandria. This year's theme is Find Your Joy, an invitation for people of all backgrounds to explore and discover what brings them joy in their library. I encourage all residents to support the library's mission to be a bastion of intellectual freedom where all views are represented and everyone is welcomed. Further, the city council expresses its appreciation to the dedicated staff of the Alexandria Library and urges residents to reach out via the library's website, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms to thank library workers for the essential services they provide. A witness whereof I have here on two set my hand and cause the seal of the city of Alexandria, Virginia to be affixed this 18th day of April 2026. My name is Luis Labra. I'm the deputy director of the Alexandria Library. Um I am I have the pleasure of serving as the library's director. My name is Rose Dawson, and yes, the Titanic name. And I just want to say for any of you who are all in the overflow room or who are in this room, I'd like for you to stand up and you can do a super silent cheer or whatever, recognizing your support for the library. Um, uh, as the board chair stated, I'd like to thank the council, the city manager, and my staff who are amazing, amazing public workers and public servants who make sure that the community gets what it is they need and they deserve. And so I would like to, while we've been celebrating the America 250th, I would like to make you all aware that in 2027, the Alexandria Library turns 90. We will be celebrating. The staff have already begun to prepare to celebrate our 90th anniversary. And that just shows you how much Alexandrians love their public library, that we have had one since 1937. So on behalf of the staff, the board, the foundation, and the library friends, I thank you all. Thank you. Thank you.
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