Alexandria City Council Legislative Meeting – September 8, 2026

The Alexandria City Council held a legislative meeting on September 8, 2026, beginning with a closed executive session at 6:08 p.m. and reconvening in open session at 7:17 p.m. The meeting included proclamations, oral reports, consent calendar actions, consideration of several ordinances, contested appointments, and a discussion of Flock camera technology. The meeting adjourned at 10:31 p.m.

Proclamations and Recognitions

• City Council proclaimed September 2026 as Sickle Cell Awareness Month and Suicide Prevention Month. Speakers included Melanie Pearson Hurley (sickle cell advocacy), Alan Lomax, Rebecca Keisling, and Jim Page (suicide prevention). Vice Mayor Bagley emphasized responsible gun ownership and the 988 crisis line.

Oral Reports

• Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) (Councilman Aguirre, Vice Mayor Bagley): Reported on commuter choice changes, extension of DASH route to Orlando Chidilawa, and a DRPT study on potential consolidation of Northern Virginia bus services (Dash, Q, Fairfax Connector, ART). A public forum is planned for October 21.
• Virginia Railway Express (VRE) (Vice Mayor Bagley): Updated on King & Commonwealth bridge replacements (18–24 month project), accessibility improvements at the station, Pause for Progress tunnel closure (Oct 19–23), Rail Safety Week (Sept 21), and the Tour de VRE fundraiser (Oct 3).
• City Council General Updates: Councilman Aguirre reported on the ad hoc school board governance group, which reached consensus on four-year terms and will discuss staggering and board size on September 15.
• State of the Economy (Visit Alexandria CEO Todd O'Leary): Presented tourism recovery metrics. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) turned from a 10% deficit in January to a 3% gain by June, driven by the “Unlock Your Story” campaign, the World Cup (hosting Croatia), and America 250 events (tall ships, July 4). Alexandria ranked first or second in RevPAR growth among Virginia submarkets from March onward. Average length of stay increased from 2.0 to 2.3 days, and overnight visitor share rose from 77% to 82%.
• Update on City/ACPS Budget Category Process (City Manager, Finance Director, Budget Director): Outlined a new process for FY28 ACPS appropriations, including more detailed budget submittals, earlier staff-to-staff information sharing, and a transfer threshold of $500,000 (above which City Council approval is needed). Only 2 of 29 ACPS transfers in FY26 would have required Council action. Council discussed the add/delete process and need for clarity.
• Update on City Hall Construction Impacts (Director of Communications Ebony Fleming): Presented a three-pronged approach: collaborate, promote, connect. Measures include monthly meetings with adjacent businesses, promotion of car-free options, parking banners, wayfinding, a farmers market no-cost space for businesses, and a wayfinding fee waiver in January 2027. Council discussed the definition of “adjacent” (one block around City Hall) and the potential for tour bus parking adjustments.
• Update on Flock Cameras (Police Chief Tarrick McGuire): Reported 61 fixed ALPR cameras, funded largely by grants. Data is purged every 21 days unless associated with a criminal case. Internal audits have found no malicious misuse. Steps taken: published online dashboard, pursuing third-party audit (Dr. Robin Ingle), and exploring alternative vendors. Council members raised concerns about vendor Flock, data sharing with other jurisdictions (especially those with 287(g) agreements), camera density, and the need for community engagement. Mayor Gaskins stated the community supports moving away from Flock but wants a deliberative process.

Consent Calendar

• Uncontested Appointments: Approved appointments to 10 boards/commissions (e.g., Archaeological Commission, Beautification Commission, Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission, Commission for the Arts, Commission on Aging, Commission on Employment, Economic Opportunities Commission, George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee, Public Health Advisory Commission, Social Services Advisory Board).
• Resignations: Accepted resignations from 11 members of various boards/commissions.
• Removal: Approved removal of Tameia Low (Historic Restoration and Preservation Commission) for failure to meet attendance requirements.
• Minutes: Approved minutes for eight meetings (May 12, May 16, May 26, June 9, June 13, June 23, July 1, July 29, 2026).
• Closed Meetings Report: Received report.
• Monthly Financial Report: Received for period ending June 30, 2026.
• Ordinances (First Reading): Approved amendments to city code for bad check fees (Section 3-2-301) and personal property tax due date for furloughed federal employees (Section 3-2-230); scheduled public hearings for September 19, 2026.
• Grant Applications: Authorized submissions/acceptances for:
  • SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework: $1,250,000 (5-year, no match), funding 2 FTEs.
  • DCJS Sexual Assault Services Program: $65,000 (0.5 FTE).
  • Supreme Court of Virginia Universal Drug Testing Grant: up to $45,696.
  • Supreme Court of Virginia Specialty Dockets Grant: up to $75,000 (retroactive).
  • Office of Violence Against Women: $500,000 (36 months, no match), supporting 1 FTE and six peer advocates.
  • FTA Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility: up to $1,000,000 (Resolution No. 3401).

Discussion Items

• Vacation of Right-of-Way (Kent Place): Approved first reading for two ordinances to vacate portions of the public right-of-way at the southern end of Kent Place (adjacent to 2702 Russell Road and 2800 Russell Road); public hearings set for September 19.
• Contested Appointments: Council appointed members to 15 boards/commissions after roll-call voting. Noteworthy outcomes:
  • AlexRenew: Mark Schofield appointed (unanimous).
  • Board of Zoning Appeals: Council voted to readvertise the position.
  • Children, Youth, and Families Collaborative Commission: Martha Davis, Dan Edwards, Annie Reiney appointed.
  • Commission for the Arts: Robin Jordan reappointed.
  • Commission for Women: Ashley Edmiston and Yvette Jiang appointed.
  • Commission on Aging: Alan Dinsmore and Jane King (citizen members 60+), Marshall Hespe (volunteer leadership), Thomas Miles (supportive service provider).
  • Commission on Persons with Disabilities: Rachel Dixon reappointed.
  • Environmental Policy Commission: Dan Beattie reappointed.
  • Historic Alexandria Resources Commission: Donna DeBlasio reappointed.
  • Human Rights Commission: Jennifer Topping appointed.
  • Independent Community Policing Review Board: Christopher Lewis reappointed (one seat); the other seat deferred.
  • Local Emergency Planning Committee: William Kehoe appointed.
  • Public Records Advisory Commission: Candice DeNardi appointed.
  • Sister Cities Committee: Victoria James, Patricia Miller Scherschel, Elisabeth Poppen appointed.
• City Council Schedule: Approved FY2027 look-ahead calendar and September–December 2026 official calendar.

Key Outcomes

• Proclamations: Unanimously adopted for Sickle Cell Awareness Month and Suicide Prevention Month.
• Consent Items: All 14 items (13–26) approved en bloc by roll-call vote.
• Ordinances (First Reading): Four ordinances (bad check fee, personal property tax, two right-of-way vacations) passed first reading; public hearings and final passage set for September 19, 2026.
• Grants: Six grant applications authorized, totaling over $2.86 million in potential funding.
• Flock Cameras: Council directed staff to:
  1. Publish answers to all questions and a updated online information portal.
  2. Move away from Flock as a vendor, with a timeline for evaluation and community engagement.
  3. Finalize a third-party audit agreement (anticipated within a week).
  4. Produce a map of all city-operated ALPRs and clarify camera counts.
  5. Report back on options for gating data access and retention policies.
• Contested Appointments: Completed for 14 boards; Board of Zoning Appeals will be readvertised; one ICPRB seat deferred.
• Council Schedule: Approved as presented.
• Closed Session: Council reconvened in executive session at 9:38 p.m. and adopted Resolution No. 3402 regarding the closed session.