Goring the Ox

For many residents of Old Town, the ever-present motorcoaches that constantly traverse the city streets are a major drag. The noisy oversized buses create traffic congestion and generally gunk up the scenery. But they also need a place to park, creating tension between the city’s tourism industry and neighborhood groups.

One recent proposal to solve the problem would designate the south side of Jamieson Avenue as short-term motorcoach parking. The idea would remove 26 parking spaces and line the buses up between Holland Lane and South West Street, giving bus drivers access to nearby commercial venues in the Carlyle neighborhood. But that would also block the view from Old Town Village. The proposal will be taken up by the city’s Traffic and Parking Board before being considered by the Motorcoach Task Force and ultimately City Council.

"There is not a good short-term solution that doesn’t put the problem in somebody else’s yard," said Councilman Rob Krupicka. "This is kind of a game of whose ox is going to get gored."

Candygram Census

One year from now, the next U.S. Commerce Department will conduct a constitutionally required census. But will it count everyone in Alexandria?

City officials say the 1990 census undercounted 3,281 people — about 3 percent of the 1990 population. As was the case with other jurisdictions across the county, the undercount was highest among minorities, with a 9 percent undercount of Hispanics and a 5 percent undercount of the city’s black population. Because incorrect numbers could mean fewer federal dollars, city officials are eager to make sure the count is as accurate as possible. So the City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to create a Complete Count Committee to ensure an accurate count.

"I remember I had somebody literally knock on my door," recalled Vice Mayor Del Pepper, who lives in a highrise condominium on the West End.

"How did they get in your building?" asked Councilman Paul Smedberg.

"Moving right along," the vice mayor responded.

"Candygram," joked Smedberg, referring to a famous Saturday Night Live skit about a cunning landshark who tricks women into opening their doors.

Clang, Clang, Clang

Some people look at the King Street Trolley and fume with anger at wasted tax dollars. Others see the rubber-tire vehicles as a great way to get around. Yet as City Council members slog through this year’s budget, they’ll have to make some decisions about the service.

The original version of the trolley service was budgeted at $1 million a year, with four trolleys serving King Street every 15 minutes. Then the hours were cut back, and one trolley was removed from the equation, reducing the price tag to $700,000 for service every 20 minutes. Yet according to City Manager Jim Hartmann, cutting the trolley too much could be problematic.

"It represents something that one could posit is similar to a ‘soft’ dedication of the tax revenue," Hartmann wrote in a recent memorandum on the issue. "However, funding for the trolley is part of an understanding with the city’s hospitality industry in return for the higher hotel tax rate approved in FY 2009."

Surveys show peak hours for the trolley service are in the evening from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. when average ridership is 28. According to one recent budget memorandum, City Council members could consider extending service hours on Friday and Saturday evenings to midnight — an option that would cost $35,000 in next year’s budget.

"There has been some interest from the Lower King Street business community in offering service during this period to encourage additional commerce during peak time," Hartmann said.