So we're heading all the meeting of Truth Day September 9th to order. Let me welcome everybody to the City Council meeting if you would stand for a brief presentation and then we'll go into the plight of allegiance. And I think it'd be very appropriate this Thursday where I actually going to have our traditional September 11th Memorial Service and our Ampli Theater, it's always a wonderful highlight and a great opportunity for the community to get together. And certainly the spirit of that is to remember the folks that certainly died on September 11th, but just as importantly the men and women that are stationed all around the world that are out there keeping our backside and making sure we have a free and open and just society. So let's have a moment of silence on their behalf. Thank you. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all. Please be seated. We have two presentations actually before we start the official business of our city counseling and I'd like to invite representatives of the senior center. I see Karen Bixler here if you all would come forward. This is actually senior center month in the city of Fairfax. And for those of you who know anything about our wonderful community, the heart and the soul and the strength has always been the moms and dads of us sitting up here on the dius. And certainly our senior community that that we like to think of as thriving and surviving in our wonderful communities they said earlier. And so it is certainly with great pride that I read the following proclamation. Whereas older Americans are significant members of our society investing their wisdom and experience to help enrich and better the lives of younger generations. And whereas the City of Fairfax Senior Center has acted as a catalyst for the mobilizing the creativity, energy, vitality, and commitment of the older residents of the City of Fairfax and the surrounding areas. And whereas through the wide array of services, programs, and activities, the City of Fairfax Senior Center empowers the older citizens in the city to contribute to their own health and well-being and the health and well-being of their fellow citizens of all ages. And whereas the City of Fairfax Senior Center affirms the dignity, self-worth, and independence of older persons by facilitating their decisions and actions, tapping their experience of skills and knowledge and enabling their continued contributions to the community. Now therefore, I, Robert F. Letter, and Mayor in concert with the City Council of the City of Fairfax do hereby proclaim September 2008 as Senior Center Month and the City of Fairfax and call upon all citizens to recognize the special contributions of the Senior Center participants and special efforts of the staff and the volunteers who work every day to enhance the well-being of older citizens of our community. Let me say to both of you, while this is the Bixlers who certainly have been from the standpoint of both staffing and sort of the inspirational leaders of this senior community in our center, we thank you to for everything you do and certainly to everybody who participates in the program. Congratulations. The next one, if I can have your representatives, our one-er wonderful fire department to come for for National Preparedness Month. And I'd like to read the following proclamation. Whereas National Preparedness Month creates a significant opportunity for every American to learn more about ways to prepare for all types of emergencies from the potential terrorist attacks to the natural disasters, and whereas emergency preparedness is a personal responsibility of every American. And whereas the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal state and local officials and the private sector are working to deter, prevent, and respond to all types of emergencies. And whereas those activities along with the active American community contribute to a level of national preparedness that is critical to securing the homeland. And whereas we observe the fifth annual national preparedness month, I urge citizens and children to participate in the citizen preparedness activities and to visit our website at www.fairfaxva.gov for more information on emergency preparedness. Now therefore, I, Robert F. Letterman, mayor of the City of Fairfax, do hereby proclaim September 2008 as national prepared in the month in the city of Fairfax and encourage our citizens to recognize the importance of preparing for all potential emergencies. And I will just simply say for those of us I know who are elected officials and certainly the staff would concur. You know, there's a reason we all are proud to say we live in the City of Fairfax. And certainly at the top of that list is the wonderful men and women in both our police and fire departments. They do a tremendous job every day making sure we're safe as a community and planning for disasters and things like we just saw a week or so ago that almost turn to the steps I down. And let me say on behalf of our community, thank you all very much for everything you do on our behalf. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mayor Letter, and members of Council. As the Proclamation State September is prepared this month, we have displays in the library in the lobby of City Hall and a couple of other places where you can pick up brochures and other information that will help you to get a plan together, assemble a kit of disaster supplies and be prepared for what comes along. We had a little warm up this weekend, tropical storm hanna. It can't get much worse than that. People just need to be prepared to have the power out for a couple of days, to have emergency supplies, water, a plan for getting a hold of your family and the event that communications are disrupted. Thank you very much and be safe. If I could, and with the indulgence of my fellow members of the council, I think it'd be very appropriate for me to just start off our meeting tonight and just say a few words about the national presidential campaign activity that's going to be held here in the City of Fairfax. Tomorrow I have to admit as a mayor of what I consider to be a nonpartisan community and one who's worked very hard to not look at anything Republican or Democrat, but what's best for this community and what's best for each of us as neighbors. When I got the phone call on Sunday afternoon that we were even remotely being considered by a site on any presidential campaign into what I considered to be certainly the most historical campaign at least in my lifetime, I was thrilled and I would have felt the same way regardless of which side of the aisle that particular phone call had come from. I am thrilled. I think it's a wonderful thing for our small community to be thought of. I'm very proud that we have been thought of and I look forward to the event which now will be held at Envandite School. I know if you read any of the newspapers and a lot of the discussions, the issue between the school and the not school quite frankly is a not an issue. I'm to comment on. That's not something that's in our realm as elected officials on the city council. That's an issue at the school board level, and certainly they control and own the buildings that they have. But I will say, and I hope is a community that we all feel very, very proud that our small little community is going to be on the national stage tomorrow and in the limelight and as I said in a very historical presidential campaign and I'm very proud to have been part of that. I would just tell you I'm also proud and I'm going to say this our senator, state senator, chap Peterson for those of you who have gone on his blog today, set it better than I can ever say. And I want to just take two seconds. He doesn't know I'm going to do this, but to read to you what was on his blog. And it says, today the Republican Party of Virginia announced that its presidential ticket, Senator McCain and Governor Pailin will appear Wednesday at Fairfax High School School gym. Although I'm not a voter for that ticket, I'm excited to see the National candidates visiting my all more moderate a place that not always noted for profound oratory. Some many think that the city is playing politics by accepting the RVP's request to appear at our local school. Trust me, it's not. I talked to Mayor Letterer tonight. He told me that if Senator Obama came to Fairfax City tomorrow, he closed down Main Street Forum and give him the same courtesy that he's done for this particular event. I hope to see the Obama Biden follow-up on that offer. It's exciting that we're getting so much attention in this race. Yes, I know who I'm voting for, but a lot of people don't. So bring on the candidates in and let them make their speeches. And I'm proud to say Chaps are free, but I'm also proud to say that Chap Peterson is my state senator, and I think this says it all on behalf of all of us. With that, we will go ahead and start our agenda that is now down to item number four, which is a presentation by the public and any item related to the City Council agenda for tonight September the ninth that does not call for a public hearing. So if you're here to speak to us on any of the items that are outlined on the agenda, which will come in just a few minutes. But if you're here to talk to us about any of the items on the agenda, now would be your opportunity to do that. If you're here to talk to us about an item that is not on tonight's agenda, that opportunity will come up and just a little while later on in the agenda. Nobody has previously signed up under this with anybody like to address the City Council. Keringon will go on to item number five, which is the adoption of the agenda. So moved by Mr. Greenfield, seconded by Mr. Rasmussen, any discussion? All in favor of the motion, signify by voting aye. Opposed? In a passing an anemone, see, I'll accept the motion for the approval of the consent agenda, Mr. Greenfield? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I move adoption of the consent agenda for agendaom number 6B, consideration of a resolution, reaffirming that the city fairfax provides its employees with tax deferral treatment pursuant to section 414H, internal revenue code with respect to their member contributions to a Virginia retirement system. VRS 55316, the permissible purchase of past service credit by picking up member contributions to the VRS. Agenda item number 6c, introduction of an ordinance, amending chapter 110, article 2, section 367 of the code of the City of Fairfax Virginia. Regarding residential rental occupancy permits, agenda item number 6d, introduction of an ordinance, amending Chapter 38, Article II of the Code of the City Fairfax Virginia regarding enforcement of the abatement of public health and safety menaces. An agenda item number six, e, introduction of an ordinance, amending Chapter 98, section 98, dash 147 of the Code of the City Fairfax Virginia regarding parking of commercial vehicles and certain non-commercial vehicles and residential zones. And for agenda items number 6-8 in B, I move to approve the suggested motion in the staff report. And for agenda items 6-c, d, and e, I move to wave the first reading and set the public hearing for September 23rd, 2008. Move by Mr. Greenfield. Seconded by Mrs. Cross. Does anybody wish to object or abstain from the handling of any of these items on the consent agenda? Hearing none, all in favor of the motion. Signify by voting The injector abstain from the handling of any of these items on the consent agenda. Here we none. I'll in favor of the motion signify for voting aye. Aye. Opposed? And it passed unanimously. We're now down to items seven, which is our public hearing, seven A, as a public hearing and council action. An supplemental appropriation for $150,000 for the purchase of six hybrid Q buses. This has been properly advertised. Staff report, please. This public hearing is for the adoption of resolution for $150,000. Alex Versosa has a staff report. The City Council had previously appropriated $3.1 million as a budget for the purchase of this six hybrid diesel buses. 3 million of which is a state grant. And unfortunately the proposal that we received from the bus manufacturer exceeded the budget by 150,000 hence the need for this supplemental appropriation. However, the 150,000 from the general fund is reimbursable through the city's NVTC trust fund. Any questions or staff? So the bottom line is the net cost of the city will be zero. Yes, you have the money back. Okay. Mr. Stonvary. Just wanted to understand that their bike racks for these buses will be included at no cost of the city. Yes, sir. Thank you. Mr. Meyer. Is the grant specifically for hybrid diesel buses? Yeah, is it is the grant specifically for hybrid diesel buses? That was the application that We submitted to the state. Yes sir. Was there any consideration by staff to use buses with other alternative Energy at the time we did look at CNG and electric buses however we did not go with CNG because of the need to remodel the maintenance facilities that we have. We have to raise the roof put in monitors for any vapors that might come out during the maintenance process and it's going to be too disruptive, not only for the maintenance of our buses, but also for the rest of the city's fleet. We don't have any space to relocate the maintenance that will go on while we're not able to use those bays. And we need to also have a, install a specific gas, see, NG pumping station. And we don't have the space in the property I right now to locate a pumping station in the natural gas. The compressed natural gas. With respect to these hybrids, what percentage reduction from a 100% diesel engine would you be achieving with these hybrids? The experience of the industries that they save anywhere from 30 to 40% in fuel. So that's how much emissions save as well. Well my reason what happens is if I can explain further, the electric engine actually drives the bus for speeds lower than 45 miles per hour and that's how you're able to save on fuel. The speed limit in the city is no higher than 35 miles per hour, so the buses really don't go beyond 35 miles per hour, which means most of the time either the buses are idling or they're running on electric motor. The diesel engine is just there to generate and repower the batteries. The reason why I was asking is that in the last ten years there has been significant study on the impact of diesel particular matter on human beings and their health consequences. on human beings and their health consequences. DPM is known to be a carcinogen and in certain concentrations with certain exposure amounts, I recognize that there is more nuance than that. But while the hybrid is a step in the right direction and I understand the infrastructure requirements to switch to CNG. CNG and ultimately that would be a far superior alternative. I was really hoping that we would see something a little more significant. But what is the life cycle of life expectancy of these vehicles? All our buses, we replace them every 10 years. The lifecycle usually go anywhere from 12 to 15. But by the time they get to 10 years, the maintenance costs start to creep up. So we've been replacing our buses every 10 years. Now after these six are acquired, what would it, would it, is this an incentive for the city to continue in this direction? And but the next, the next purchases, the next additions to the previous one are. Yes, sir, we'll apply again for another grant so that we can replace our six diesel buses with hybrid. Or if the technology on say electric buses have really substantially improved, we can consider electric buses at that point in time. One more question is what is the currently, what is the price difference between a hybrid and a standard 100% diesel bus? It's around 200,000. Difference? Yes. No. 425 is against 525,000. 100,000 are different being that the hybrid is more expensive. Yes, sir. So this, this, if we go down this path, this commitment, we are, in fact, spending some more, more money to reduce the amount of these. There's an initial investment, yes, sir, of 100,000 per bus, more. The offsetting factor there is the savings in the fuel and the savings in the emissions. Now I recognize that this is the pass through in terms of the financing so it's not, doesn't have a significant impact on our budget, but money has to come from somewhere. I would hope, and I commend the staff for moving in this direction. It's always a good thing to work towards energy efficiency and improving our environment, but I would have liked to have seen a little more activist consideration of other alternatives, although I wasn't on council at the time that this was started. So don't take this as a criticism. It's just a I might I might not be a point of view on there. Montgomery County that has more than 300 buses started with CNG but they are facing their CNGs now and are going fully hybrid diesel. Really? Yes sir. Okay. Well thank you for answering my questions. I appreciate it. Thank you Mr. Mayor. Mr. Cross. Thank you Mr. Mayor. Because we have exceeded the amount that was originally appropriated for this expense, is it possible that we can buy one less bus and still keep our numbers within the appropriated amount? The problem with that is we need to keep a spare. If we got rid of the six or if we keep one of those as a spare, we are back into that maintenance mode of increasing maintenance cost for whatever we do not surplus. How much would you say that a 10-year-old bus requires in the way of maintenance cost wise? Well, one bus is around 525,000. So you'd save that much. Right, and we'd be within our number that we had planned for. But that wasn't the question. How much say you have a 10-year-old bus? What would be your estimate of the maintenance repairs to that bus in its 10th to 15th year. It will probably be an additional of maybe 10 to $20,000 a year. To the regular maintenance call. Into 20 per year. So if it's 20, we hope we carry that for five years. For $100,000. However, what we cannot quantify is the reliability of this process. If we need to maintain them more, it means that more often we're taking them out of service. And whenever we take a bus out of service, it disrupts the service that we provide to the community. And they're left waiting at the bus stop, you know, for a substitute bus. And it's not a very acceptable way of running a bus system. So we have no backup buses. We have no bus that's a standby for without function. We do, we have four. So in the event that this older bus should break down, we do have buses that can fulfill the schedule. But these four buses are not just used, unfortunately, for as a spare and as a reserve for bus breakdowns. We get a lot of requests for special trips as well. And sometimes the four buses are not always available, because if there's a major breakdown, sometimes two or two of them are out of commission because we need to replace a major part of the buses. So we're left with just a few spares. We need to make sure that we always have a bus running on the published schedule that we share. I understand that. If I may add, most of the times when these buses break down, we don't fix them in-house, we have to send them out. And sometimes we're not sure when we're going to get them back. And a lot of times, especially when it's a transmission-related repair, which happens a lot in the 10 to 15-year window, it can be very expensive and we can wait a long time to get the bus back. Do you know if we are contractually locked in to the purchase of six buses or do we have the flexibility of reducing our order by one? I believe we do have the flexibility. I would also add all the maintenance costs on the buses is also reimbursed through our NVTC account. This is, excuse me, I think also another key point here is that the costs of the buses are reimbursed. So even though the additional cost is 100,000, that is also reimbursed for the city. Well, and I think it's important to know that it's reimbursed to us by the MBTC and Mr. Greenfield certainly is our kind of council now expert on this, but those are funds that we put in that we then compete with the region on how it's gonna be spent. And so this is not a short funds that we put in that we then compete with the region on how it's going to be spent. And so this is not a shortfall that will end up being paid for unless I miss something out of our general fund or our surplus fund. And we see money down. We put in along with everybody else in the region, hybrid buses have risen to the state, excuse me, and that's where this money's coming from. The grants that we apply for, yes, but the funds that we have, the trust fund that we have, NBC comes from formula grant. Right. From the state. We don't have to compete for that. It's driven by a formula. It's bottom line, it's state monies. Yes. We have available to us, and we're using it to purchase these six buses. Yes. We have available to us and we're using it to purchase these six buses. Yes. There is a shortfall right now that we need to allocate $150,000 to, for which we will be completely reimbursed on the back end. So we're not out anything. No. I mean, the, I know I mean to digress here, but, you know, the importance of, I can't tell you this is extremely important for the city that we move forward with this. Take this issue aside, if you look at what's happening in Richmond with transportation funding, we're about broke in organizations like NVTC and TPP, you're not going to be able to have the monies available to buy rail cars for Metro. That's how dire things are. And I would not want to step out of line and make a change to the funding for these buses disillate in the game. I appreciate where you're trying to go. But I think it's more complicated than how it may seem on the surface. I was only concerned about the $150,000 up front, I assume, money that the city would need to write the check for and then receive reimbursement. Do they turn around that money pretty quickly? received reimbursement. Do they turn around that money pretty quickly? Well, we don't get to spend it until we pay for the buses, which is next year. Okay. But we need to, for us to sign a contract with the bus manufacturer, we have to have the money appropriated. I got it. Okay. Appreciate your answers. Thank you. Okay. If there are any other questions or staff, this is a public hearing. Thank you, Mr. Vrso, so I'll go ahead and open the public hearing. First, this sign up is Douglas Stewart. So here. Okay. Nobody else to sign up with anybody else like to address the city council on this item. If not, we'll close the public hearing. I'll entertain a motion. The screen fill. Mr. Mayor, I move to adopt an appropriation resolution in the amount of $150,000 for additional funds to purchase six new hybrid diesel buses for Q for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008. Second. Moved by Mr. Greenfield, seconded by Mr. Rasmussen, any discussion? All in favor of the motion, signify by voting aye. Aye. Opposed and it passed unanimously. And now brings us down to item number 7b, which is a public hearing and council action on an ordinance authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute agreements for purchase and and sell a variety of residential, to a variety of residential home owners on Confederate Lane and Atlanta Street, located in the Moesie Woods neighborhood. Is this been properly advertised? Yes. Staff report, please. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for members of Council. This item relates to a piece of property that the city had acquired back in 2005. As part of that acquisition we received a strip of land, a thin strip of land located behind 13 residential houses in the Mosby Woods neighborhood. The council had direct and staff at that time to look into the possibility of selling that parcel to those to the neighbors in Mosby Woods. And we have moved forward with that. And at this point, we would like to ask the council to, or we recommend to the council, that they authorize a city manager to negotiate and sell these properties to the Jason home owners of the Mosby Woods properties. Well, Mr. Hodgkins, if I could, if you could just for the purpose of the community, if you could back up just a few steps in that dialogue, this land, which is landlocked that we can't even get to, was actually part of a package of properties that we bought, as I understand it, that's back behind the Daniels run, not Daniels run, but the, what's the Accadien Creek area can, can, and it was really just tacked on by the owner who wanted to also get rid of that property and the goal was from day one is then resell it to the community since its landlocked and can't be named name. But can you give us a little background on the other property that we actually bought that we actually came with? And we actually, the, um, and part of it was a contribution by the Fairfax Motel Association. They actually gave us these property valued at about $350,000. We paid $100,000 for that, but as part of the deal, we also received this strip that's connected, but as Mayor described is landlocked. And there isn't, we cannot develop that property either. And it was the feeling of the council and the staff agreed that this property could be sold to the owners of the adjacent houses if they were interested in increasing the status of the New York and giving themselves a buffer against the apartment complex behind them. And again, we did receive this land at a very reasonable cost. The land that we were interested in was not this strip, but the Motel Association made sure that it was part of the deal that we received this property because they could not. There's nothing they could do with it either. And the thought was this is something that could be a win-win for the neighbors because they could increase the size of their lot, assure that they have a buffer in the future. And also it takes this land off of the city rolls in which we would not have to maintain or be liable for it in the future. And again, as you said, this is landlock. There is not, we cannot develop the property. And it is kind of, it's a strange piece of property because it's a long thin strip that goes, it divides the neighborhood and apartment complex. And where we are right now is we had sent an MOU, actually had an MOU signed by the city in the 13 adjacent property owners. And we have come to a memorandum of understanding where they have shown interest, a strong interest in actually purchasing the property. And of course we have agreed to sell it to them provided that the council does approve the transaction. Any questions or staff? Hearing none, this is a public hearing and nobody has previously signed up when anybody would like to address the city council on this item. Hearing none, we'll close the public hearing. I'll entertain a motion. Mr. Restman, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I moved to approve and enact an ordinance authorizing the city manager to negotiate and execute agreements of purchase and sale with those property owners of budding said property is listed in the ordinance. On behalf of the city, signify by voting. All in favor of the motion, signify by voting aye. Opposed and it passed unanimously. That now brings us down to item number eight, which are items not requiring a public hearing. 8 a.d. as a consideration of proposed zoning tax amendment to revise the regulations of order, respect to hotels and motels, and to provide for extended stay hotel staff report, please. Very briefly Mayor Letter, members of the council. July 22nd, the City Council held a public hearing on this issue, which is to amend the zoning ordinance to allow for extended stay hotels to be reviewed on a case by case basis as a special use permit. The City Council had pretty much looked at all of the various factors in this ordinance. We're concerned that we needed to tighten up a bit on the language having to do with making sure that these extended stay facilities were used for transient uses, appropriate legitimate transient uses, and not serving as transitional housing. To that extent, you have language in both the ordinance and in the memo in front of you in the staff report that adds a section 13 to the list of criteria on which you review these extended stay hotels. That section 13 talks about the types of extended stays we would expect as transient uses to be people that are remodeling their house for example, who are house hunting, who've had a house fire and need to be there for a short period of time, or are there on some kind of TDY for a work assignment. This reiterates the fact that this is not housing. It also gets that the issue which was raised by the Marriott Corporation at your last hearing, that there are legitimate uses that might be longer than 90 days in a 180 day period, which was the second sentence in number 10. That sentence has been struck. Number 13 has been added. The Planning Commission recommended approval and the staff recommends approval of this text amendment. Questions, the staff? No questions? Then I believe we're down to entertain a motion. Mr. Require. Okay. No. Miss Cross. I move that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance as recommended by the planning commission on June 9th, 8th and modified through September 9th, 8th. Mending chapter 110 zoning of the Code of the City of Virginia, City of Fairfax, Virginia, specifically Article 1, Section 110-4, Article 2, Section 1110-155 and 110-156. Article 9, Section 110-631-110-632 and 110-635. Article 11, Section 110-701-102, and 1, 1, 0, 705, an article 14 sections 1, 1, 0, 7, 81, 1, 1, 0, 7, 82. And creating a new section, 1, 1, 0, 3, 7, 3 to revise the regulations with respect to hotels and motels and to provide for extended stay hotels. to provide for extended stay hotels. Second. Move by Ms. Cross, seconded by Mr. Stombries, discussion. Mr. Mayor. Ms. Cross. I would just say that this has been a rather prolonged process and I appreciate the patience of everyone involved. A special thanks goes to the Planning Commission who have worked hard on this and certainly providing guidance to Council on matter. Look forward very much, look forward to having Mariotics and stay with us and thank everybody that's worked so hard on it. Other discussions? All on favor of the motion. Signify by voting aye. Opposed and oppressed unanimously. That now brings us down to item number 9, which are presentations by the public and any item that is not on tonight's agenda. Nobody has previously signed up with anybody like to address the city council. Yes, sir. So, the previous he signed up with anybody like to address the City Council. Yes, sir. It even Gary Perryman, 1-1008-Westmore Drive. Two items that were brought to my attention. We had our picnic yesterday, so naturally everybody come to give their beef. One has to do with the Jeep dealership that we're considering allowing additions done to it. And person brought this up and they had a good point. We're requiring everybody that's building along route 50 corridor to fit into a certain style and look for the city to improve the look. Yet with the Jeep dealership, we're not requiring them to overdo with the brick and they're going to keep that same stucco finish. So they thought, you know, if they're going to do this and you allow the addition now, it'll be another 30 years before they do an upkeep on that and you'll be looking that much further ahead to try to get this to look in the style that you won around 50 quarter. The second thing had to do with the daycare on Germantown. Several people in our community said that even though you were made a requirement for these people so they don't back out on Germantown Road, several accidents has almost happened on Germantown Road where the people are backing out. It's 35 through there, most people are doing near 50 and it's just a matter of time before one of them gets clocked for kids in the car backing out on Germantown Road. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else like to address the City Council? Hearing none, we'll close agenda item number nine. We'll go to item number 10, which are approval of the July 22nd and July 8th minutes. So moved by Mr. Greenfield, seconded by Mr. Rasmussen. Any discussion? All in favor of the motion signify by voting aye. Aye. Opposed. And it passed unanimously. That now brings us down to item number 13, which are comments by the City Council. Mr. Greenfield. Thank you, Miss Mayor. Just briefly, I thank all of our staff who were available and at the ready for the hurricane over the weekend. A tremendous job and it was nice to see the quick cleanup come one day morning with all of the storm damage that was out on the street that people had placed out on the street that was gone by the end of the day. And we certainly appreciate the attention that you provided to get us back in shape. So, personally, thank you very much for job well done, but I'm sure all of my colleagues would agree with it. Ms. Cross. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Two things. I would like for us to consider a commendation for Tina Cunningham, who recently had librarian at the city's regional library. She was very instrumental in planning our new building and getting a library moved. And I think her contribution to the city will be remembered for a very, very long time. So I would ask that we recognize her. The other thing I had was a request also that that Mayor and Council asked the Planning Commission to do a study on housing in the city and the ratios of apartments, condos, to single family, so that we have a better picture when we're considering applications for large housing complexes to know exactly what our composition is and what we'll be doing to that balance when we approve or disapprove a project. The other useful part of that is to look at ratios and other communities in the region so that we know what the ratios in Arlington and Alexandria, all of those cities are. Renal rates and the implications to salaries of those people who would be using the properties would also come into play as well as the impact to our schools and our taxes. So I would hope that the council would direct the planning commission to make some recommendations to us along those lines. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Cross. Mr. Hudson, I would assume that that kind of information would already be available. And probably if not through your department, through our real estate office, who certainly would have those demographics, is that correct or? It would have to be pulled together. The raw information is out there and it is available. One thing that I'm not sure that we do have our current rental rates for existing apartment complexes and how they compare. Regionally and also with respect to the impacts on schools and the fiscal impacts, the impacts on the city tax, tax rate, tax base. I mean, we would have to look at that as well. That's not readily available. Well, I mean, I don't know that that is that complicated. We know what it costs the city per student who goes to our schools. Right. And I would guess there's demographics on school age, number of school age kids, and other certainly are, in typical condo, new condos, and rental apartments, and things like that. I would think that's something we would have certainly within our resources at the staff level to pull together. Am I correct in saying that? Yeah, we can pull this together, yes. Well, what I would suggest then, consistently, Mrs. Crosses without objection, Mr. Sissinif we could ask staff. I'm not sure the role of the planning commission certainly can be shared with them, but I assume it would be shared with us as well, but I would assume this would be a staff-generated collection, data collection as opposed to anything else. And I know you guys have a lot on your plate, but certainly if we could have things. I just want to highlight my appreciation for Karen Bixler in the senior center. As we remember, September as the senior center month, this is a fabulous asset for our community. We have a vibrant community center, a senior center that draws residents from the city and folks from the county is a really great asset for our community. And it's wholly appropriate that we remember that on senior center month. And particularly the fine work that Karen does out there for our community. I also want to just take a moment to encourage the residents of the city to come out for a Patriot Day ceremony this Thursday. September 11, 2001 is a day that I think our nation will always remember. The victims of September 11th, it is very appropriate that we remember them and their families this Thursday. But also it brought to the greater awareness to the role that our first responders play here in our community around the country, our dedicated fire, policemen do an amazing job every day, and it is very appropriate that we thank them. And members of the military who have served or are serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, nobody more than they and their families understand what a burden it can be to serve in a time of war and families who are separated right now. It really does make a difference to know that the people in this community are behind them and support them. And so I would encourage everyone to come out for a Patri day on this Thursday. And finally, I look forward to hearing from the staff, Mr. Rousseau, about as we appropriate the funding for the next Q bus, the next six Q buses that we also explore with NVTC, the ability to purchase additional bike rack to retrofit the rest of the fleet, so that we, you know, citizens of the community can be assured that if they're going to ride their bike to a bus station, that a bus with a rack will be there when they get there. So thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Rasmussen. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'd like to follow up on Councilman Greensfield's comments about the storm on Saturday. The city staff, I thought thought really did a terrific job. I talked to one resident who had actually made a call to 911 because she was concerned about flooding and the fire and EMS staff delivered sandbags for her and assured her that she was safe. However, though, there were a couple of areas in the city that had significant run-off at construction sites, most particularly the new building at University Drive and Layton Hall Drive. I would ask the staff with the Convergence of Council to maybe take another look at our requirements for protecting construction sites from run-off because we get it fairly frequently in this area. And secondly, I would just like to thank Mr. Hodgkins and the planning staff and the city attorney for all the work that they did on this little effort to sell this land. We took care of it in five minutes, but Mr. Hodgkins has been working on it for a year and a half now and a lot of paperwork. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Mr. Mayor Mack Meyer. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would also like to echo Mr. Rasmussen's comments about the city staff. On Sunday morning after the storm appeared to be over. I got up before 7 a.m. and went outside and started collecting the sticks and limbs that are all over the street and in my yard. And as I was doing this, a city truck came up my street very slowly and the driver was looking to side to side and looking up checking the utility lines and people's trees in their front yards and he waved to me and I gave him a thumbs up and he went on but I paused to think about that most people were sleeping and I do appreciate the fact that we had dedicated staff out there early in the morning on a post storm follow-up that was very pretty. Also, I also received some comments about the runoff of the construction site at Layton Hall and University as well. And so I appreciate Mr. Russ Musins comments on that. I do hope the staff will follow up on that. This time of year, it's pickback time in the city of Fairfax, and all of us participated in some of many picnics, Oldie Hills Civic Association a week ago. I had their annual Labor Day picnick, and then this past weekend, the Burgess is hosted the barbecue for our band. The Westmore Civic Association had their annual pick Mac as did the Cambridge Station Association and I want to thank all of those organizations for remembering the council and putting up for these politicians that show up and in a rep conversations by shaking hands with people but we do appreciate those opportunities to meet with people informally. Those picnics always remind me that neighborhoods are indeed the key vertebrae in the strength of our city. So we appreciate your reaching out to us and keeping us as part of your neighborhood association. And in particular, I want to thank a young man named Blake Flynn, who was an eighth-grader of one year, Liz and Wes Moore. He graciously agreed to be conscripted to do a three-legged sack race with me, which I will never do again. We came in second. We wanted to come in first. We took a dive on the finish line and felt like the Australians against Michael Phelps. But anyway, I woke up the next morning feeling quite sore, but he was a good support about it. So if you'll pass that on to Blake, I'd appreciate it. But thank you very much for the support of the Civic Association in the city. Strombling. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. First, a couple things. I want to remind people that the fall for the book Festival starts on September 21st and I encourage people to look in there. Most recent cities seen to get information about all the great events, wonderful partnership the city has with George Mason University. The second thing is, next week we will be hosting a hotlands briefing on September 17th with the Zee Wednesday here at 730 in City Hall. I hope everybody can come to attend to learn more about what's going on with this transportation project that will inevitably have an impact on citizens' life. Both those who drive around metropolitan, Washington region, but also those who just drive around the city of Fairfax's construction is going to be occurring along the Beltway and affecting Braddock Road into 36. The third thing is I want to go back to some comments that the mayor made at the beginning regarding the event that's coming out tomorrow. First let me say I appreciate the mayor's comments in terms of non-partisanship. I believe is because of our non-partisanship here in the city that we're able to be effective, we're able to do the things that we do. Sometimes when you have disagreements with individuals and sometimes when disagreements are aired and the court of public opinion and on the pages of the newspaper or in this case the website, some things come across, shouldn't come across. And I just want to state to three individuals and three friends, my utmost respect and admiration that is Dr. Jack Dale, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, Janice Miller of Fairfax City Public Schools, and Mayor Letter. The reality of it is that we here in the City of Fairfax are at the epicenter of the exciting presidential campaign I've ever been a part of. And I'm the young Whippersnapper here, even though I just had a birthday this past weekend. But it is very exciting. And I certainly hope that we will continue to have open arms to anyone who comes here who wants to express himself freely using the first amendment that our Constitution provides for us and that our soldiers and our sailors and our airmen as Councilman Stonbray has mentioned are fighting so hard to protect. And finally, let me say that I'm not going to be here tomorrow because I'm going to be attending award directors meeting for the Metropolitan Washington Council Governments. But the city will do a fine job of welcoming Senator McCain and Governor Palin. And I hope that we'll do everything to roll the red-white and blue carpet and make sure also that our neighborhoods are not as impacted. And I also understand from the mayor that the city will be reimbursed for its time and for its efforts, which is definitely a plus. So again to the mayor, Chairman Miller, and Superintendent Dale, I want to express my appreciation, my utmost respect. I apologize if any comments that were made were either taken out of context or were offended because that was not my tent and never would be my tent. My tent so we here represent the City of Fairfax in a nonpartisan way and to ensure that we have the best jurisdiction of our size in the United States of America. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Drummond. If there aren't any other comments, we'll entertain a motion for a German. Second, moved by Mr. Greenfield, second by Mr. Rasmussen. All of them ever signify by voting aye. Aye. Opposed and it passed unanimous. Thank you all.