Manager's Report - April 27, 2012

Top News

Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Process Update

City Council and City staff will continue to work on the City Manager’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2013 General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program. The preliminary Add-Delete Budget Work Session will be held on Monday, April 30 at 7 p.m. in Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, in City Hall. The final Add-Delete Budget Work Session will be held in City Hall on Monday, May 7, at 6 p.m. in the Council Workroom, followed by Council’s adoption of the FY 2013 Budget at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers. To view the latest budget documents and information, visit alexandriava.gov/Budget.

Regional Housing Event Hosted by Alexandria Receives Award

The Northern Virginia Housing Expo, hosted by the City of Alexandria, has been selected as the 2012 Best Government Housing Initiative by the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND).  The first Northern Virginia Housing Expo was held at T.C. Williams High School in June 2011 and was the first time that the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church; the counties of Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun; and the Town of Herndon had jointly organized a housing event targeting renters and potential homebuyers. The Expo required no financial support from taxpayers and was paid for entirely by corporate sponsorships and exhibitor fees, with in-kind contributions and staffing assistance from participating local governments. The Housing Expo will be recognized at the HAND Annual Meeting on June 13 in Washington D.C.

Update: Report on City Employment Policies, Procedures and Background Check Process

The Department of Human Resources concluded a comprehensive review of its employment procedures and background check practices. The attached report contains reviews of 1) background check policies in neighboring jurisdictions, 2) current background check processes in each City Department and 3) background check best practices.  The Department of Human Resources recommends the continuation of the current Civil Service-based hiring process, with the adoption of a two-level background check system to be used with final candidates selected for hire throughout the City.

• Attachment: City of Alexandria Employment Policies & Procedures & Background Check Process

Valor Award Winners Announced

The 26th Annual Chamber of Commerce Valor Awards were presented at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Thursday, April 26. Alexandria law enforcement personnel were selected and honored for their acts of heroism this past year. Among Alexandria’s public safety groups, 12 employees were recognized from the Police Department, 4 employees were recognized from the Sheriff’s Office, and 14 employees were recognized from the Fire Department.

• Attachment: Valor Awards Program

Upcoming Events

• Absentee Voting Begins 
  Apr 27, 2012 - 8:00 AM
• Spring Clean Up Area 3 
  Apr 28, 2012 - 7:00 AM
• Rebuilding Together Alexandria Rebuilding Day 
  Apr 28, 2012 - 8:00 AM
• Carpenter's Shelter-Run for Shelter 10K 
  Apr 28, 2012 - 8:00 AM
• Annual Citywide Cheerleading Competition 
  Apr 28, 2012 - 11:00 AM
• City Council Budget Work Session 
  Apr 30, 2012 - 7:00 PM
• Jones Point Park Comm. Liaison Group Final Meeting 
  May 1, 2012 - 7:00 PM
• Planning Commission Regular Public Hearing 
  May 1, 2012 - 7:30 PM
• Freedmen's Cemetery Construction Meeting
  May 3, 2012 - 7:00 PM
• Planning Commission Public Hearing Special Meeting 
  May 3, 2012 - 7:30 PM
• For more events, visit alexandriava.gov/Calendar