Alexandria council holds closed session, approves consent items and a zoning ordinance on first reading

The Alexandria City Council moved into a closed executive session under Virginia Code and later adopted a certification resolution after returning to open session, the council said at its first legislative meeting of 2025.

The action followed a motion "to discuss plans to protect public safety as it relates to terrorist activity or specific cybersecurity threats or vulnerabilities" made by Councilmember Aguirre during the meeting's opening business. The council voted, by roll call, to adopt the resolution certifying the closed session; all members present voted in the affirmative.

Why it matters: The council used a statutory exemption that permits closed discussion of security-related topics; the adoption of a certification resolution upon reconvening is the formal step required to confirm that the closed session remained within the statutory scope.

Other formal actions taken at the meeting included approval of the consent calendar with one item pulled for separate consideration, multiple contested appointments and passage on first reading of a zoning map amendment for 2811 King Street.

The zoning item was approved on first reading after a motion by Vice Mayor Bagley and a second by Councilmember McPike. The measure rezones the property at 2811 King Street on the city's official zoning map; the council recorded a 6-1 vote in favor on the first reading. The council did not debate the proposal further on the dais during the meeting.

Several contested board and commission appointments were decided by the council by recorded voice or roll-call votes. Highlights: Rizwan Chaudhry was appointed to the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) by a 6-vote majority; James R. Beal was reappointed to Alexandria Renew Enterprises with all seven votes; Paul Painter, Don Rogala and the nominee listed as Anala Angelay were each confirmed to seats on the Commission for the Arts with unanimous support. Cecilia Hunter was appointed to the Commission for Women with five votes. Matthew Taylor was appointed to the Community Criminal Justice Board with seven votes; a nominee identified as Maud Johnny was appointed to the Community Services Board with four votes.

What the council recorded as motions and votes at the meeting:

- Motion to enter an executive session pursuant to Virginia Code section 2.2-3711(a)(19) to discuss plans to protect public safety related to terrorist activity or cybersecurity threats and related briefings; mover: Councilmember Aguirre; second: Councilmember Chapman; outcome: entered executive session (roll call taken on later certification resolution). (Motion text appears verbatim in the meeting record.)

- Motion to adopt the certification resolution concerning the closed executive session previously circulated to the council; outcome: approved by roll call (all members present voted "Aye").

- Motion to approve the consent calendar except for item 15 (item 15 pulled for separate vote); outcome: consent calendar approved as amended.

- Motion to approve item 15 (rezoning at 2811 King Street) on first reading; mover: Vice Mayor Bagley; second: Councilmember McPike; outcome: passed on first reading, 6-1.

- Roll-call approval of consent calendar item numbered 19; mover: Councilmember Aguirre; second: Councilmember McPike; outcome: approved (recorded as unanimous "Aye" in roll call).

- Multiple contested appointments to boards and commissions were decided by recorded votes; the clerk read voting totals for each appointment and announced the appointees as listed above.

Council members did not take additional final readings or ordinances to adoption during the meeting; the zoning item passed on first reading and will require a later hearing or second-reading action as prescribed by the city's legislative process.

Ending: The council adjourned the meeting after the scheduled agenda items; the clerk recorded the meeting as lasting approximately 38 minutes.