Sort by: Category | Date Delivered

Budget Process & Citywide Budget Issues by Focus Area Teams

Accountable, Effective and Well Managed Government

• City Council
  • History of Council stipend changes and comparison to other jurisdictions
• General Services  
  • The City Hall HVAC and Infrastructure Replacement project would appear to be misnamed as it would appear most of the funding covers the “complete renovation of City Hall.” Can we get a full detailing of the costs of this project, the goals that it fulfills and the suggested timing of each component? Would it be more appropriate to separate the HVAC work and the City Hall renovation into separate capital projects?
  • I noticed that the proposed budget includes the addition of an energy management specialist. Have we looked to see if there is any savings by contracting our energy management out? What would those savings be?
  • I am requesting a budget memo concerning the request by ALIVE! for $55,000 to expand their space at 801 South Payne St. Please see the attached memo from Allen Lomax, chair of Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria and a board member of ALIVE! for details. That memo explains the project, but because of the high cost of S70,000, they are considering the minimum they would need and therefore at this time they are requesting $55,000 and not the original $70,000.
    Just this morning, Tricia Rodgers, Diane Charles, and Allen etc. met with Jeremy to see what the minimum expense would be to safely use the expanded space. They are now interested in dividing the expansion into two phases. Phase One would cost $55,000 and would cover the costs for new flooring , the wall separating space on the first floor between and ALIVE! And Archivist space, and a security system. Under a separate e-mail I will be sending you Allen’s account of this morning’s decision to ask for the lesser amount.
  • Is the additional $76,000 for Stormwater BMP repair and maintenance funded by General Fund or Stormwater funds?
• Human Resources
  • What would be the fiscal impact and policy implications of fully funding all remaining obligations of the closed “Pension Plan for Fire Fighters and Police Officers,” and satisfying remaining commitments through purchase of annuities or lump sum distributions?
  • How many employees currently fully utilize the $100 transit benefit? What is the average benefit provided? Are employees offered Transportation Flexible Spending Accounts? What would be the cost of offering such accounts?
  • What are the differences in premiums between United Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente?
  • How does the change to police compensation impact cumulative earnings model?
  • Respond to the Medics letter to Council and incorporate it into a budget memo
  • What makes up the 38% turnover in Police? What has this turnover been like historically?
  • What are other benefit techniques that other jurisdictions are using to attract/retain (e.g. dry cleaning uniforms)?
  • What are retention/turnover statistics for Sheriff and Fire to help educate as to the criticality of funding YOSAM?
  • What is implementation plan for YOSAM?
  • Please prepare a response to the IAFF 2141 Letter.
  • Follow up to question on the closed firefighters and police pension
• Management and Budget
  • Response to comments on the website
• Non-Departmental 
  • Insurance Debt Service
    • Breakdown of the Non-D insurance costs
  • Employee Compensation
    • What is the cost of a market rate adjustment?
    • What are the differences in premiums between United Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente? 
• Performance and Accountability
  • Do we have other, more useful and extensive, performance measures that we apply to OPA?

Healthy and Thriving Residents

• Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS)
  • The School Board included funding in their approved Capital Improvement Program in furtherance of public-private partnerships for playspace improvements at Maury Elementary and Mt. Vernon Community School. 
    Advocates for the Maury Schoolyard Initiative have requested additional funding from the City CIP for the stormwater and recreation components of that plan.  1) What is Staff's recommendation for the appropriate process for evaluation of public-private partnership opportunities on ACPS property? 
    2) Given the requests being made in support of this initiative, what existing CIP funding sources could be utilized to support components of the overall proposal? 
    3) In the event Recreation CIP dollars are utilized to support playspace development at Maury, what type of Memorandum of Understanding would staff recommend to govern use and ensure City leveraging of recreation value?"
  • How would the City Appropriation for ACPS change if all non-enrollment related expenditures grew by the same rate as expenditures for City agencies?
  • Given the status of the Patrick Henry project within the ACPS Capital Budget, would it feasible to delay all or some of the $5.9 million of City CIP dollars currently planned for FY 2016 for the Patrick Henry Recreation Center?
  • Are we able to put some or all of ACPS CIP money into contingency until their full CIP (and long range plans) are released publicly and approved?
  • Joint Session Follow-Up regarding Purchased Services
• Community and Human Services
  • Significant savings were realized in the CSA funding by placing children in non-residential treatment settings. Can you please provide additional details in these changes and what treatment considerations were made?
  • Can you please provide a detailing of the number of children served across the Early Childhood Program Area, the cost breakdown of each service area, and estimates of the current waiting lists for service in each area (quantity and duration)? Do we have performance measures available beyond simply passage of the PALS?
  • Can you please detail the addition of 2.17 FTE to the JobLink Employment Services Program Area? What outcome does this addition support?
  • Could DCHS require our local subsidy early child care providers to achieve accreditation, and if so what is the feasibility of doing so?
• Health
  • What progress has been made in the negotiation and finalization of a Memorandum of Understanding governing the $1,011,150 that the budget proposes in appropriation to Inova Alexandria Hospital? What are recommended next steps?
• Library
  • What are the sources of the Library materials 50-50-50 funding and how do materials fit into the Library’s strategic plan?
  • We received the attached from the Library in response to the question from the Safe Community work session about their priorities and what it would cost for them to assume the Law Library. What is the cost of the library managed option?

• Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA)
  • Planning & Zoning has determined that there is no regulatory impediment to lighting the basketball courts at Potomac Yard Park (as the tennis courts currently are). What would be the estimated cost of lighting the basketball courts in Potomac Yard Park? Is there an existing CIP project that could be utilized (or expanded) to accomplish this?
  • In October, Council requested, in concurrence with the delivery of the proposed CIP, to be provided with alternatives for advancing the Warwick Pool work in FY 2016. What alternatives within the CIP would allow the project to advance in FY 2016? If Council chose not to commence capital work until FY 2017 as proposed, what would be the fiscal impact of opening Warwick Pool during FY 2016?
  • What is the criticality of the planned Recreation Facilities Security Review? Why is it necessary to perform a “professional analysis” of the assessment performed by the Alexandria Police Department? What are the implications or cancelling or delaying this effort?
  • What are options in CIP to change in order to fund 50M pool?
  • What are the next steps for Chinquapin? What are the utilization figures (numbers of meets and participants, etc.) for 50M pools?
  • What is the scope of work and management of the $25,000 budgeted Torpedo Factory Strategic Planning Effort?
  • I understand that the City provides $50,602 annually to the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust from the Capital Improvement Program under a recently approved MOU.
    • 1) What services does the City receive for this MOU?
    • 2) What performance standards are associated with the appropriation of this money?
    • 3) During the past 5 years, what land conservation (fee simple acquisition or conservation easement) activities have NVCT performed within the City of Alexandria?
    • 4) Is this money more appropriately provided via the Operating Budget versus the Capital Improvement Program?
  • What is the cost breakdown of the reduction to rec center hours between Sunday hours and holidays?
  • Are there opportunities to staff low usage hours with volunteers or through partnerships with private use functions?

Livable, Green & Prospering City

• Economic Development
  • Reductions were made to the ACVA regional advertising and advertising design budgets. Reductions were also made the AEDP marketing efforts and the SBDC counseling service. These reductions were used to pay for the addition of a new professional associate within AEDP. Can Staff please detail the reasoning that went into proposing this trade-off and what the impacts are believed to be?
• Project Implementation
  • What percentage of the Capital Project Management program personnel costs (within DPI) are funded by the capital budget and what percentage are funded by the Operating budget? Do we have greater opportunities to shift those positions currently assigned to the Operating Budget to individual capital projects?
  • How much money could the City spend on design, etc. for Old Cameron Trail in FY16?
• Transit Subsidies
  • DASH
    • Federal law allows paratransit fares to be set at twice the applicable fixed route service fares. With DASH fares proposed to increase, what additional revenue can be realized by setting the DOT Paratransit fares at twice the proposed DASH fare?
    • Would one DASH bus for $675,000 still be practical?
  • WMATA
    • There were fairly dramatic changes as to how the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) dollars were utilized, including a near-depletion of new capital investment due to inclusion of WMATA Operating costs as a TIP funding beneficiary. Can Staff provide a detailing of the transportation improvements that were removed as TIP funding beneficiaries as a result of this decision?
    • The reservation of 2.2 cents of real estate tax was designed to fund new and enhanced transportation service in the City. With over a third of these costs now being utilized to maintain existing service with WMATA, does Staff now recommend structural changes to the TIP to reflect the re-purposing of these funds?
    • Staff recently prepared a series of alternatives to reduce City reliance on the Metrorail Blue Line. Can you provide the full fiscal impact of those bus alternatives with the assumption that WMATA would fulfill those service needs? Alternatively, please provide that fiscal impact if DASH were to fulfill those needs.
• Transportation & Environmental Services 
  • Federal law allows paratransit fares to be set at twice the applicable fixed route service fares. With DASH fares proposed to increase, what additional revenue can be realized by setting the DOT Paratransit fares at twice the proposed DASH fare?
  • What is the service impact of reducing preventative fire hydrant maintenance?
  • How many employees currently fully utilize the $100 transit benefit? What is the average benefit provided? Are employees offered Transportation Flexible Spending Accounts? What would be the cost of offering such accounts?
  • There were fairly dramatic changes as to how the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) dollars were utilized, Including a near-depletion of new capital investment due to inclusion of WMATA Operating costs as a TIP funding beneficiary. Can Staff provide a detailing of the transportation improvements that were removed as TIP funding beneficiaries as a result of this decision?
  • The reservation of 2.2 cents of real estate tax was designed to fund new and enhanced transportation service in the City. With over a third of these costs now being utilized to maintain existing service with WMATA, does Staff now recommend structural changes to the TIP to reflect the re-purposing of these funds?
  • Staff recently prepared a series of alternatives to reduce City reliance on the Metrorail Blue Line. Can you provide the full fiscal impact of those bus alternatives with the assumption that WMATA would fulfill those service needs? Alternatively, please provide that fiscal impact if DASH were to fulfill those needs.
  • Can I get a refresh of Budget Memo 7 from FY 2008? Specifically, I would like some detailing of how the proposed Citywide Street Lighting capital project could be utilized or expanded to include the funding of new pedestrian scale lighting as detailed in approved Small Area Plans that did not included designated funding sources (Mount Vernon Business, Arlandria, etc.). Please ensure that the memo addresses potential public/private partnership opportunities to accomplish these initiatives.
  • In light of Arlington’s cancellation of the Streetcar effort, why does the “Transit Corridor “A” – Crystal City/Potomac Yard Streetcars” project remain funded for planning/feasibility?
  • Can you detail the sources and uses of all funds related to the King Street Metrorail Station Area Improvements Project, as well as possible alternative uses for the funds currently programmed for it (including the new $3.7 million in the proposed CIP)?
  • How much General Fund support is going towards stormwater (provide over the next 5 years)?
  • Could you let me know the fiscal impact of implementing the attached policy? Specifically the 3 hour parking in part of old town and Carlyle?
  • Provide information on Capital Bikeshare
  • What would be the fiscal impact to revert parking in the Carlyle area back to the FY 2013 parking policy?
  • How much money could the City spend on design, etc. for Old Cameron Trail in FY16?
  • Would one DASH bus for $675,000 still be practical?

  • Is the additional $76,000 for Stormwater BMP repair and maintenance funded by General Fund or Stormwater funds?

  • With regard to $160,000 in operating funds for new Bikeshare stations---in addition to the long-term operating costs assumed, are there other considerations in deciding how many new Bikeshare stations should be funded (op funds)?
  • How much money could the City spend on design, etc. for Old Cameron Trail in FY16?

  • The proposed budget indicates that increased utility fees will partially offset the increased Utility Site Inspection staffing. Budget Memo 2 does not show utility fee increases. What fees are being increased? How much revenue do they generate? Why are they not being increased in a manner to fully cover the cost to provision these services?

Safe, Secure, & Just Community

• Fire
  • What would be the fiscal impact and policy implications of fully funding all remaining obligations of the closed “Pension Plan for Fire Fighters and Police Officers,” and satisfying remaining commitments through purchase of annuities or lump sum distributions?
  • What is the service impact of reducing preventative fire hydrant maintenance?
  • Respond to the Medics letter to Council and incorporate in into a budget memo
  • What are retention/turnover statistics for Sheriff and Fire to help educate as to the criticality of funding YOSAM?
  • What is implementation plan for YOSAM?
  • What are options to fund 210? How much is needed for overhires? What are pros/cons of options?
  • Can the SAFER grant be used to increase dual-role Firefighters given that within the current structure there are single role medics?
  • Are any of the comparable jurisdictions structured like ours with single role medics?
  • Please prepare a response to the IAFF 2141 Letter.
  • What are other alternatives to staff Fire Station 210?
  • What is the multi-year cost of Fire overhire staffing in FY 2016?
  • Follow up to question on the closed firefighters and police pension
• Law Library
  • We received the attached from the Library in response to the question from the Safe Community work session about their priorities and what it would cost for them to assume the Law Library. What is the cost of the library managed option?

• Other Public Safety
  • Who owns the NVJDC building? What are their development opportunities? What capital investments are they planning?
  • What is the formula used and what has been the City’s utilization?
• Police
  • What would be the fiscal impact and policy implications of fully funding all remaining obligations of the closed “Pension Plan for Fire Fighters and Police Officers,” and satisfying remaining commitments through purchase of annuities or lump sum distributions?
  • The proposed budget provides for $172,710 of funding to restore 2 motor officer positions. These positions leverage an additional $200,000 of revenue. Would the addition of another 2 motor officers provide a similar revenue yield?
  • How does the change to police compensation impact cumulative earnings model?
  • What makes up the 38% turnover in Police? What has this turnover been like historically?
  • What is implementation plan for YOSAM?
  • Follow up to the question on the closed firefighters and police pension
• Sheriff
  • What are retention/turnover statistics for Sheriff and Fire to help educate as to the criticality of funding YOSAM?
  • What is implementation plan for YOSAM?
  • How does our jail fines stack up to neighboring jurisdictions? What would they have to be to recover the cost of associated staff?

Budget Process & Citywide Budget Issues by Remaining Topics

• Add/Delete
  • Preliminary Add/Delete List
  • Revised add/delete list for distribution on Friday May 1st
  • List of approved add/delete items for council to be distributed May 5
  • Technical Adjustments for Add/Delete
• BFAAC
  • BFAAC report
• Budget Development
  • Produce a list of all City Service changes in the FY2016 budget
  • Budget Development Timeline and Add/Delete Process memo. Copy version from FY 2013.
  • Can I get an updated version of FY 2015’s Budget Memo 2?
  • How did we eliminate the $31 million funding gap?
  • What efficiency savings were included in the proposed budget?
  • Indirect costs charged to special revenue funds
• Capital Improvement Program
  • The School Board included funding in their approved Capital Improvement Program in furtherance of public-private partnerships for playspace improvements at Maury Elementary and Mt. Vernon Community School. 
    Advocates for the Maury Schoolyard Initiative have requested additional funding from the City CIP for the stormwater and recreation components of that plan. 
    1) What is Staff's recommendation for the appropriate process for evaluation of public-private partnership opportunities on ACPS property? 
    2) Given the requests being made in support of this initiative, what existing CIP funding sources could be utilized to support components of the overall proposal? 
    3) In the event Recreation CIP dollars are utilized to support playspace development at Maury, what type of Memorandum of Understanding would staff recommend to govern use and ensure City leveraging of recreation value?"
  • Update on the King Street/Quaker Lane/Braddock Road Intersection Improvements Project
  • Can I get a refresh of Budget Memo 7 from FY 2008? Specifically, I would like some detailing of how the proposed Citywide Street Lighting capital project could be utilized or expanded to include the funding of new pedestrian scale lighting as detailed in approved Small Area Plans that did not included designated funding sources (Mount Vernon Business, Arlandria, etc.). Please ensure that the memo addresses potential public/private partnership opportunities to accomplish these initiatives.
  • Planning & Zoning has determined that there is no regulatory impediment to lighting the basketball courts at Potomac Yard Park (as the tennis courts currently are). What would be the estimated cost of lighting the basketball courts in Potomac Yard Park? Is there an existing CIP project that could be utilized (or expanded) to accomplish this?
  • In October, Council requested, in concurrence with the delivery of the proposed CIP, to be provided with alternatives for advancing the Warwick Pool work in FY 2016. What alternatives within the CIP would allow the project to advance in FY 2016? If Council chose not to commence capital work until FY 2017 as proposed, what would be the fiscal impact of opening Warwick Pool during FY 2016?
  • What is the criticality of the $350,000 of Marina Seawall Repairs scheduled for FY 2016 and FY 2017? Can this work be delayed and addressed as part of Waterfront Plan Implementation in later years?
  • What is the criticality of the planned Recreation Facilities Security Review? Why is it necessary to perform a “professional analysis” of the assessment performed by the Alexandria Police Department? What are the implications or cancelling or delaying this effort?
  • Given the status of the Patrick Henry project within the ACPS Capital Budget, would it feasible to delay all or some of the $5.9 million of City CIP dollars currently planned for FY 2016 for the Patrick Henry Recreation Center?
  • Given the future plans for the City Marina (in particular the settlement agreement with the Old Dominion Boat Club) what is the necessity for City funding of the $1.25 million of FY 2016 and FY 2017 funding for the City Marina Utility Upgrades? If this project is still considered a necessity even in light of the pending changes, what opportunities are available to recoup the costs of this investment from the tenants of the marina?
  • The City Hall HVAC and Infrastructure Replacement project would appear to be misnamed as it would appear most of the funding covers the “complete renovation of City Hall.” Can we get a full detailing of the costs of this project, the goals that it fulfills and the suggested timing of each component? Would it be more appropriate to separate the HVAC work and the City Hall renovation into separate capital projects?
  • Replacement of Public Safety Center Elevators 1 and 2 in the FY 2015 CIP was $500,000. Replacement of Public Safety Center Elevators 3 and 4 is $1,040,000. Please explain the difference in cost.
  • In light of Arlington’s cancellation of the Streetcar effort, why does the “Transit Corridor “A” – Crystal City/Potomac Yard Streetcars” project remain funded for planning/feasibility?
  • The proposed CIP indicates that the new CAD system was deployed in January 2015. Why is there an additional $2.3 million programmed for FY 2017-FY 2020 for this project? What scope of work does that funding provide for?
  • Can you detail the sources and uses of all funds related to the King Street Metrorail Station Area Improvements Project, as well as possible alternative uses for the funds currently programmed for it (including the new $3.7 million in the proposed CIP)?
  • How much General Fund support is going towards stormwater (provide over the next 5 years)?
  • Can we fund more existing staff time to existing capital projects (not implementation)?
  • What are options in CIP to change in order to fund 50M pool?
  • What are the next steps for Chinquapin? What are the utilization figures (numbers of meets and participants, etc.) for 50M pools?
  • I understand that the City provides $50,602 annually to the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust from the Capital Improvement Program under a recently approved MOU. 
    • 1) What services does the City receive for this MOU?
    • 2) What performance standards are associated with the appropriation of this money?
    • 3) During the past 5 years, what land conservation (fee simple acquisition or conservation easement) activities have NVCT performed within the City of Alexandria?
    • 4) Is this money more appropriately provided via the Operating Budget versus the Capital Improvement Program?
  • Provide information on Capital Bikeshare
  • Are we able to put some or all of ACPS CIP money into contingency until their full CIP (and long range plans) are released publicly and approved?
  • How much money could the City spend on design, etc. for Old Cameron Trail in FY16?
• Taxes/Revenues
  • Please prepare a list of all of the revenue changes proposed in the FY2016 budget.
  • What would be the financial impact of eliminating both the vehicle personal property tax decal and the personal property tax decal fee? If the loss of that revenue was absorbed by an increase in the vehicle Personal Property Tax rate, what rate increase would be necessary?
  • The proposed budget provides for $172,710 of funding to restore 2 motor officer positions. These positions leverage an additional $200,000 of revenue. Would the addition of another 2 motor officers provide a similar revenue yield?
  • How does our jail fines stack up to neighboring jurisdictions? What would they have to be to recover the cost of associated staff?
  • Can you draft a short revenue re-estimate memo that summarizes what we are revising for FY15 and FY16 and why?