STAFF SUPPORT

The Office of the City Manager (703-838-4300) is responsible for providing a linkage between the Council and City staff, and disseminating information about the City to the public. The Office also oversees and coordinates all work of the City government, and sees that the policy directives of the City Council are implemented.

The Citizen Assistance Office (703-838-4800 or TTY 703- 838-5056) provides citizens with an easily accessible point of contact within City government. The Office responds to individual citizen requests for information or complaints about City services and strives to make local government more responsive to the needs of citizens. It maintains the public information center for the City and stocks all city publications. The Office also processes all requests for materials and documents under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, and includes the following additional staff functions:

Consumer Affairs (703-838-4350) resolves citizen complaints alleging unfair, fraudulent, or dangerous business practices and works to prevent unfair trade practices through educating the community;

Cable Television (703-838-4533) is responsible for the day-to-day regulation of cable television in the City. It monitors cable operator performance in meeting the requirements as outlined in the franchise agreement and the City Code, resolves subscribers' complaints, and develops programming for the government access channel. (Local origination/community programs appear on Channel 10. Meetings of City Council, the School Board, Planning Commission, Board of Architectural Review [both panels] and Board of Zoning Appeals are shown on Channel 11.) The Office also conducts evaluations of the cable system and prepares an annual report for the City Council; and;

Executive Secretary for Boards and Commissions (703-838- 4691) provides administrative staff for Council-appointed boards, committees, and commissions; establishes and reviews uniform procedures and formats for the preparation of the attendance records, annual and other reports, and minutes of committees; assists, as requested, a committee in preparing its budget; and maintains and publishes, on a semi-annual basis, a roster of committee members.

The Office of Management and Budget (703-838-4780) prepares the annual operating budget and capital improvement program; performs on-going fiscal and management analyses of City programs; and is responsible for budget review and analysis during the course of the fiscal year. This Office also coordinates State and federal aid applications and monitors issues and legislative developments in federal and state agencies that may affect the City. OMB staff provide support to the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee and other task forces and advisory groups.

The Finance Department collects and manages all City funds. It purchases materials and services for the City, collects revenues and taxes, issues business licenses, assesses personal property taxes, and provides assistance to citizens in filing State income tax returns. The department' s five divisions and their functions are listed below.

• Administration Division (703-838-4755) is responsible for the overall management of the Finance Department and provides administrative support to other divisions.
  
• Accounting Division (703-838-4750) maintains records on the financial operations of the City, prepares financial reports, prepares checks to fulfill City obligations to vendors, and monitors expenditures and revenues to determine budgetary compliance.
  
• Purchasing Division (703-838-4944) is responsible for centralized City procurement, including the processing of purchase orders and vendor list control. All City purchases exceeding $15,000 are made by the Purchasing Division through both formal and informal competitive bidding procedures. Vendors interested in being placed on the City's Bid List should contact the Purchasing Division by phone or register online at http://alexandriava.gov/purchasing/instruct.html."
  
• Revenue Division registers vehicles, assesses personal property taxes, meal sales taxes and transient lodging taxes (703-838-4560), issues business and professional licenses (703-838-4680), and provides general personal property tax and state income tax information and prepares state income tax returns for City residents. This Division also administers the City's "Real Estate Tax Relief/Rent Relief for the Elderly and Handicapped" programs (703-838-4570) and enforces a delinquent tax collection program (703-838-5069).
  
• Treasury Division (703-838-4777) is responsible for the investment, disbursement, and collection of all City monies, including personal property tax, real estate tax, business license tax, and parking fines; and sells such items as vehicle decals, residential parking permits, and bus passes.

The Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) (703-838-4950) is responsible for most electronic information processing in the City and is the primary resource for the planning and implementation of new data processing technology. ITS is composed of ten components and their functions are listed below.

• The Administration Section plans, coordinates and monitors the activities of the department.
  
• The Applications Programming Section is responsible for production systems, application software troubleshooting and support, software maintenance and changes to all computer applications; and for the design, development, testing, implementation, and support of new computer systems.
  
• Network Management and Engineering is responsible for coordinating Alexandria’s activity on Arlington County’s mainframe; managing LAN servers located in the Network Center; and for the installation and maintenance of the City’s LAN and WAN software and hardware.
  
• The Operations Division is responsible for the coordination of Alexandria’s activity on Arlington County’s mainframe; supporting the City’s LAN/WAN which consist of 69 I-Net primary sites and 21 secondary sites; and maintaining the City-wide data and telecommunications network including the I-Net, which provides connectivity between City schools, libraries and major general government facilities.
  
• The Customer Services Division is responsible for the installation repair of all computer workstations and peripherals, computer user support (Help Desk) and the Computer Training Center. The Help Desk provides rapid response to computer problems for the 1,800 City staff computer users. The Training Center is responsible for conducting and/or coordinating training on the use of computers and software applications for City employees.
  
• Telecommunications Management is responsible for coordinating, planning, developing, integrating, analyzing, testing, modifying, monitoring, troubleshooting, administrating, and managing the telecommunication systems, facilities and services for all City departments and agencies.
  
• The Electronic Publishing Office provides a variety of services to City Council, and City departments which includes CityNet support, desktop publishing, print and media production, and word processing.
  
• The Enterprise Data Division provides City-wide database access and reporting services that allow agencies and departments to directly analyze and report on appropriate data sets using a common tool.
  
• The Project Planning and Management Officer is responsible for enterprise-wide planning, management and assessment of internal and external IT projects, including preparation of the annual Information Technology Plan.
  
• The IT Security Officer is responsible for planning and managing the City’s information security program.

The Department of Real Estate Assessments (703-838-4646), as required by State law, annually appraises all parcels of real estate in the City at 100 percent of their estimated fair market value as of January first. Assessment notices are mailed to property owners in late February or early March each year. There are three levels of appeal for a citizen who feels the appraisal is inaccurate: first, the Department of Real Estate Assessments; second, the Board of Equalization and Assessment Review; and third, the Circuit Court of Alexandria. At each level of appeal, the burden of proof is on the property owner to prove that the assessment is incorrect. The Department maintains information on the characteristics of all property ownership in the City and has appraisers who will provide general information, as well as an explanation of the methods used to assess the value of a property.

The Department of General Services (703-838-4770) maintains physical facilities and provides communication and logistical support for the City government. The Department' s five divisions and their functions are:

•The Administration Division is responsible for providing overall planning, direction and management of the department; scheduling meetings and events at City Hall and Market Square; and negotiating and monitoring building leases, facilities planning, and budgeting.

•The Facilities Maintenance Management Division is responsible for maintaining over 75 City buildings, including City Hall, the Alexandria Courthouse, Beatley Library, the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter and the Public Safety Center; providing maintenance of heating and cooling systems; supporting events on Market Square, including the weekly Farmer's Market; coordinating changes in facility utilization; overseeing contractor operation of City parking facilities, security and custodial services; and maintaining the waterfront plaza and piers.

•The Capital Projects Division is responsible for providing overall construction management for new City facilities, capital building repairs and renovation projects, and tracking City utility usage.

•The Fleet Services Division procures, maintains, and manages all motor equipment, such as police cars, dump trucks, refuse trucks, graders, sweepers, and motor pool cars; and auctions vehicles at the end of vehicle life. The Division operates the City’s two primary fuel sites on Wheeler Avenue and the Public Safety complex at 2003 Mill Road.

•The Communications Division provides mail services, copying, postage, and messenger service support for City agencies. The Print Shop is responsible for graphic arts and the printing of City publications and forms.

The Personnel Services Department (703-838-4425 or TTY 703- 838-5035) is responsible for City employee recruitment, selection, training, benefits, records, classification, and compensation. It develops City personnel policies and procedures, and administers City employee relations programs.

City employment openings are published in local newspapers and are accessible through the 24-hour "Jobline" by calling 703-838-4422. TTY users should call 703-838-5035 for information on City job opportunities. Application forms and listings of City vacancies are available at fire stations, public libraries, police headquarters, and at the Personnel Services Department, Room 2500, City Hall. Applicants can review all City vacancy announcements and obtain an application form and submit a completed application electronically via the City’s website.

The Personnel Services Department adheres to and promotes the City' s Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity policy.

The Human Rights Office, located at 421 King Street, Suite 400, (703-838-6390 or TTY 703-838-5030) enforces the non-discrimination provisions of the City's Human Rights Code and ensures that all citizens have equal opportunity in the areas of employment, housing, education, public accommodations, credit, health and social services, and City procurement activities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, marital status, age, disability, or sexual orientation. The Human Rights Office contracts with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to investigate employment complaints against Alexandria' s employers. Additionally, staff provides technical assistance to employers, realtors, landlords, and others in such areas as rental policies and practices, cultural awareness, and compliance with Title VII and Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Office on Women, located at 421 King Street, (703- 838-5030 Voice/TTY) empowers women and their families by promoting equality, and access to opportunities and services through advocacy and education. Initiatives include the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP), Project STEPOUT & MANHOOD youth programs, a Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) course and 24- hour domestic violence and sexual assault response programs, as well as community education and employment counseling. Services are confidential and free of charge to Alexandria residents. Office hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Please contact the Office on Women by phone or via the web at www.alexwomen.com.

The Domestic Violence Program (703-838-4911), offers 24-hour crisis intervention, counseling, emergency housing, court advocacy and support groups to victims of domestic violence, and their family and friends. The Sexual Assault Response and Awareness Program (703-683-7273), offers 24-hour crisis intervention, counseling, medical and court advocacy and support groups to survivors of sexual violence, and their family and friends.