Alexandria City Council Legislative Meeting - May 28, 2026
Alexandria City Council Legislative Meeting - May 28, 2026
The Alexandria City Council held its second legislative meeting of May 2026 on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The meeting included multiple proclamations, committee reports, policy discussions on the Duke Street land use plan and school resource officer MOU, and action on the Go Alex Strategic Plan. No public comments were heard.
Proclamations
- D-Day 82nd Anniversary Commemoration Month: Councilwoman Marks read a proclamation recognizing June 2026 as the 82nd anniversary of D-Day Commemoration Month. The Alexandria-Khan Sister City Committee organized events including a May 31st commemoration at John Carlyle Square and a June 4th lecture at the Lyceum. Council members expressed gratitude and highlighted the unique relationship with the sister city of Caen, France. The proclamation passed unanimously.
- Sex Ed for All Month: Vice Mayor Bagley read a proclamation declaring May 2026 as Sex Ed for All Month, recognizing the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP) for 35 years of work. Peer advocates and ACAP members introduced themselves. Council praised youth leadership and the importance of comprehensive sexual health education. The proclamation passed unanimously.
- Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Councilman El Nubi read a proclamation declaring May 2026 as AANHPI Heritage Month, with the national theme "Power in Unity, Strengthening Communities Together." Participants included peer advocates and city leaders. Councilwoman Green thanked attendees and noted remaining community events. The proclamation passed unanimously.
Reports from Boards, Commissions, and Committees
- Council of Governments (COG): Mayor Gaskins reported on the regional point-in-time count of unhoused persons. In Alexandria, 104 households without children were identified (3% increase from 2025). Households reporting homelessness due to fleeing domestic violence decreased 26% (from 23 to 17). 19 individuals experienced unsheltered homelessness (up from 2025). Families with children experiencing homelessness increased. A presentation from nonprofits (Goodwill, United Way, Community Foundation, Melwood) focused on workforce development and economic mobility.
- City-School Board Subcommittee: Councilman Chapman reported on youth workforce development, including summer youth employment and a new city internship program. A presentation covered student generation rates: most student population comes from housing over 30 years old. Mayor Gaskins noted these rates feed into planning and zoning decisions.
- Commission on Aging: Councilman Aguirre reported on new commissioners, police liaison report, and a presentation on the assisted living model.
- Transportation Planning Board (TPB): Councilman Aguirre reported on presentations on transportation-land use connections, regional roadway safety, congestion analysis, and performance measures.
- Citizen Corps Council: Councilwoman Green praised the council's work with Medical Reserve Corps, Radio Club, Red Cross, Volunteer Alexandria, and CERT, preparing for disasters like COVID and snowstorms.
City Council General Updates
- Bridge Closures: Vice Mayor Bagley reminded the community of Amtrak/VRE station closures May 29–June 2 for bridge replacement. The new bridges will be higher to prevent bridge strikes and improve pedestrian/cyclist experience underneath. This is part of a larger corridor improvement before the Long Bridge opens.
- Community Events and Shout-outs: Councilman Aguirre announced Hank's Pasta Bar reopening, Bike to Work Day, library all-staff day, Clerk of Circuit Court Greg Parks' "Love Boat" weddings, Speed & Style Festival, Old Dominion Boat Club flag raising, Mary and Van Landingham tribute (support for naming Torpedo Factory after her), La Pluma Cafe anniversary, VTA conference re-election, Visit Alexandria summer social, Code Administration property management forum, and senior experience students Darwin Salazar, Sama Hamid, and Zayn Steppy who met Senators Kaine and Warner.
- Senior Experience: Councilwoman Green thanked Career Planning Center for the senior experience program; her students Isat Adries and Jamila Solano will attend VCU. Councilman Chapman spoke at the Black Scholars Awards and ribbon-cut Lifestyle & Performance Fitness and Department of Beer and Wine (new location).
Discussion Items
- Mayor's Requests – School Board Items:
- Communities in Schools (CIS) NOVA Funding: Mayor Gaskins raised a request from the school board to use contingency parking revenue (estimated $329,000) for CIS NOVA, which receives $350,000 from ACPS. Council discussed timing: revenue collection won't be clear until fall, and CIS needs funding upfront. Council directed the manager to return with a memo including options and tiered funding levels, with support from all members.
- School Board Election Reform Ad Hoc Committee: The school board requested a joint committee to implement a resolution on adjusting the school board election cycle (staggered terms, board size, district boundaries, representation). Council supported creating a committee with two council members, but debated scope – whether to include broader election reforms (compensation, staff aides). Councilman Alnubi emphasized alignment with the school board on scope to avoid past disagreements. Council directed the manager to draft a resolution with purpose, scope, timeline, and deliverables, and to get school board buy-in before voting. Councilman Chapman withheld support pending further discussion.
- Waterfront Temporary Bathrooms: Mayor Gaskins asked the manager to explore cost-effective temporary restroom options for the summer's many events (Salute 250, Jazz Fest, City Birthday). Council suggested investigating options beyond portable toilets (e.g., self-cleaning units, trailers). There was support to include feedback from the waterfront commission.
- Duke Street Land Use Plan Update: Planning staff (Jeff Farner, Carrie Beach) presented the framework plan for the 3-mile corridor (three times the size of Potomac Yard). Key elements: land use, building heights, open space, mobility. They heard community concerns on cohesion, safety, affordability, grocery store access, and traffic. The plan focuses on opportunity sites (commercial areas) for new housing with no displacement of existing residents; retaining small businesses via limited height increases; preserving market-rate affordable housing at Fox Chase and Mason/Van Dorn; and creating a city campus (55 acres) with operational uses and public-facing space. Open space maps show neighborhood parks needed. Mobility improvements include transitway, pedestrian/bike connections, and grid expansion. Council discussed the Eisenhower Avenue Connector – staff suggested adding a placeholder for future study. Councilman Chapman emphasized addressing traffic congestion at Alexandria Commons. Council requested overlays of DASH routes and performance standards for open space. A traffic study will be presented in June, with a draft plan in September and Council hearing in December.
- School Resource Officer (SRO) Memorandum of Understanding: Deputy City Manager Jan Lambert and Assistant Chief Tina Laguna presented the MOU (effective July 1, 2026–June 30, 2028), which the school board approved unanimously on May 7. Major changes: SROs are no longer designated as school officials, reducing access to student records; principals must report felonies but not minor possession offenses (alcohol, under-1-pound marijuana); new section prohibits SROs from asking about immigration status, consistent with state law and APD policy. Council discussed quarterly reporting, immigration enforcement near schools (coordinated with ACPS emergency plans), ongoing training (DCJS summer conference), and monitoring equitable application – concerns about disproportionate referrals. Councilwoman Marks asked about off-campus questioning authority; APD cited existing juvenile directives. No action required; MOU will take effect as planned.
- Go Alex Strategic Plan FY2027–2031: The five-year plan aims to connect residents, employees, and visitors to transportation options. Goals: inform/educate, enhance/invest, prove/celebrate. Target markets: students, everyday travelers, employees, visitors. Programs include youth bike safety, e-bike lending library/incentives, events, and yard signs for project storytelling. The plan was funded through grants and city funds. Council commended the team and passed a resolution to adopt the plan and forward to DRPT. The vote was unanimous.
Key Outcomes
- Proclamations: Three proclamations (D-Day, Sex Ed for All, AANHPI Heritage Month) approved unanimously.
- Council Schedule: The upcoming council schedule was approved unanimously.
- Roll Call Consent Items (12–13): Approved on a roll call vote (7-0).
- Go Alex Strategic Plan: Resolution to adopt the FY2027–2031 Strategic Plan was approved on a roll call vote (7-0).
- CIS Funding: Council directed the city manager to prepare a memo with recommendations for funding Communities in Schools NOVA from contingency parking revenue, with options at different funding levels and timing considerations.
- School Board Election Reform: Council directed the city manager to draft a resolution for an ad hoc committee (two council members, two school board members) on school board election reform, including staggered terms, board size, boundaries, representation, and compensation. The resolution must include scope, timeline, and deliverables; school board input on scope is required before council votes. The mayor requested the manager to also provide a separate memo on broader charter reform considerations.
- Waterfront Bathrooms: Council supported directing the manager to investigate temporary restroom options for summer events, considering aesthetics and accessibility.
- Duke Street Plan: Staff will incorporate council feedback on open space, mobility connections (including Eisenhower Avenue Connector study placeholder), and traffic mitigation. A community meeting on affordable housing will occur this week; transportation/parks discussion in June; draft plan in September; Council hearing in December.
- SRO MOU: No vote; the MOU as presented will take effect July 1, 2026. Council noted ongoing concerns about monitoring equity and reporting.
- Meeting Adjournment: The meeting adjourned after a motion by Vice Mayor Bagley and second by Councilwoman Green.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. We are going to begin our second legislative meeting of May. Okay. Uh Madame Clerk, please call the role. Councilman McCurry. Councilman Chapman. Councilman Elmuby. Councilwoman Green. Here. Councilwoman Marks. Okay. Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us tonight. Madam Clerk, please call the next item. Moment of silence and pledge of allegiance. Okay, it is our practice to begin each meeting with a moment of silence followed by the pledge. If you are able to stand, we ask that you please rise at this time. Okay, I have asked Councilwoman Mark to read this proclamation. If you are here joining us for the recognition of the eighty-second anniversary of D Day, we ask that you please come to the front. Um this is my right, your left, the front corner at this time. Khan City Motors visited Alexandria to participate in events commemorative of Lafayette's visit to Alexandria. And Alexandria City Winners visited Khan for that city as a winning celebration last year. And was the assault on the beaches of the Nazi occupied France for our sister City Khan on the June 6th, 1944 by the United States and its allies, popularly known as D-Day, was one of the most important efforts of World War II. And the success of the landings led to the defeat of Nazi Germany, the liberation of Western Europe, and the advancement of freedom, democracy, and shared prosperity between the United States and Western Europe in the post-war post-war world. And whereas the sons and daughters of the City of Alexandria participated in that great operation and in the larger war effort of which it was a part, in some cases, making the ultimate sacrifice. And whereas this year's commemoration of D-Day recognizes the 82nd anniversary of this historic operation, and whereas this year, the City of Alexandria's 16th annual commemoration remembers this critical moment in world history, educates our community, honors our veterans, strengthens Sister City camaraderie, and recognizes this time when the endeavors of our two nations overlapped and changed the course of history. And whereas the city or whereas the Alexandria Khan Sister City Committee has organized several programs to recognize this 82nd anniversary of D-Day, including a flagship event on Sunday, May 31st, 2026 in Alexandria's John Carlisle Square, and a June 4th lecture at the Lyceum by Rear Admiral Samuel Cox, U.S. Navy retired, Director of the Naval History and Heritage Command on Operations Tiger and Neptune, D-Day at Sea. Now, therefore, I, Sandy Marks, on behalf of Mayor Oleah Gaskins, Mayor of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, and on behalf of the entire Alexandria City Council, do hereby proclaim the month of June as 82nd anniversary of D-Day Commemoration Month in the City of Alexandria and call upon the city and the citizens of Alexandria to participate in public commemorations of the heroic events of D-Day and reflect upon Alexandria's post-war relationship with our sister city con. In witness hereof, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the seal of the city of Alexandria to be affixed on this day, the 26th of May, 2026. Thank you very much. I'm Kari Anderson. And I'm Diana Garcia. So Mayor Gaskins, members of the City Council, thank you for issuing this proclamation. This year is the 16th year that the Alexandria Khan Sister City Committee has commemorated D Day to strengthen bonds between our city and our sister city of Caen in Normandy, France, by recognizing the heroic events of that day. On behalf of the Alexandria Khan Sister Com Uh Sister City Committee, we hope people will join us at the commemoration on May 31st in John Carlisle Square and for a June 4th lecture at the Lyceum. Thank you very much. Thank you. And with that, I move that our council accept this proclamation. Okay, there has been a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Councilman Chapman. Thank you. Um just again, thank you to uh the committee for continuing to put this effort together for all of us. Um please uh let's roll up our sleeves and help them because as you know, uh the committee knows this is the first time they're gonna be at John Callal. Uh so uh folks are kind of nervous about turnout just because we're moving it from Market Square. Um, but we are excited that you guys are putting this on again. Thank you. I too just want to echo my thanks to the committee and to both of you having seen your work up close and personal, but also I know Councilman Chapman and I had the honor of traveling to our sister city for the millennium, and one of the things they talked about was just how special and unique our relationship is, and how they always appreciate the committee coming up with new ways for us to do exchanges for us to learn from each other, and they talked about at a time when so much is going on in the world to know they have a friend in Alexandria, is really special. So I too would just echo what my colleagues said. I really hope if you have some time either this weekend or the next, please come out and support our committee and join their events, and also if you're interested in serving our sister city committee, I think, as one of our most active boards and commissions.
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