[Archived] Alexandria City Manager Announces Plans to Step Down

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

Alexandria City Manager Announces Plans to Step Down

Philip Sunderland, Alexandria’s City Manager, informed the City Council tonight (June 9) that he is stepping down from the manager’s post to pursue other professional opportunities. Sunderland has been Alexandria’s manager since March 2000. For the 14 years before his appointment as manager, Sunderland served as the Alexandria City Attorney.

“Phil’s decision is a deep disappointment,” said Mayor Bill Euille. “Phil’s integrity, intellect and commitment have earned him the respect of the entire Alexandria community. His departure will be a tremendous loss to the Council, the City government and our employees, and all Alexandrians. He will be very hard to replace.”

The City Council will immediately launch a national search for a new City Manager. Euille said he hopes to have a selection made for the City’s top executive position in the fall. Sunderland is expected to remain as City Manager until a replacement is selected.

“I have had 18 wonderful years with Alexandria, lawyering and managing, and experiencing local government from just about every angle,” Sunderland said. “But now it’s time to pursue the personal and professional interests that the demands of these jobs have not permitted. Among many other things, my desire is to teach, ideally at the college or law school level, and to return to lawyering.”

Before his appointment as City Attorney in 1986, Sunderland was a partner in a public interest litigation law firm in Washington, D.C., from 1975 to 1986. He litigated in federal and state courts, specializing in environmental, civil rights and employment law.

From 1973 to 1975, Sunderland served in the Office of General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

As the City’s chief executive officer, Sunderland has been responsible for overseeing a budget of over $500 million and a workforce of more than 2,500 employees.

City of Alexandria Accomplishments
Under the Leadership of City Manager Phil Sunderland

During Phil Sunderland’s four years as City Manager:

• The City’s real estate tax rate was reduced every year for the past three years, making it currently at 99.5 cents the second lowest rate among major jurisdictions in Northern Virginia.

• The City’s crime rate decreased to all time lows, with the rate for Part I crimes in 2003 being at its lowest point in 34 years.

• The City engaged in a strategic planning process and, for the first time, the Council will adopt a long-term Vision for Alexandria and a Strategic Plan to achieve that vision.

• The City returned to community-based land use planning with extensive planning activities in many areas, including Eisenhower East, Arlandria, the Mt. Vernon corridor and King Street.

• The City developed and implemented a new, more thorough and community-focused process for the review of major development projects.

• The City approved the move of the 7,100 employees of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to Alexandria, worked extensively with PTO architects to produce an outstanding design for the project’s five-building campus, and worked closely with the PTO construction team to minimize the impacts of the 2.5 million square-foot project on the adjacent community.

• The City worked to acquire significant public benefits from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge project, including acquisition of Freedmen’s Cemetery, construction of an urban deck at Washington Street, purchase and development of over 13 acres of new athletic fields, and construction of an exit/entrance ramp to the Beltway at Mill Road. By closely monitoring the project, the City has kept the construction impacts on adjacent neighborhoods to a minimum.

• The City made major advancements in expanding Alexandria’s open space policy and activities, including adoption of an open space master plan and open space acquisition plan, establishment of an open space acquisition fund, and the addition or planned addition of over 10 new athletic fields..

• The City made substantial improvements to its affordable housing policy and programs, including creation and funding of a Housing Development Corporation that will focus exclusively on the delivery of affordable housing in Alexandria, establishing a Housing Opportunities Fund to assist non-profits provide affordable housing in Alexandria, providing financial and operational support for the Samuel Madden public housing redevelopment project, and establishing the Homeownership Opportunities Program which provides real estate tax relief to low and moderate income households in Alexandria.

• The City expanded and provided new leadership to its Emergency Preparedness program, including new state-of-the art equipment, improved community education, advanced staff training and enhanced security throughout Alexandria.

• The City retained its AAA bond ratings and remained fiscally strong and sustainable, even while its multi-year capital improvement program for critical infrastructure needs of both the City government and the public schools nearly doubled to over $300 million.

• The City expanded its service delivery facilities for the first time to the west end with the upcoming relocation of the Health Department and the Mental Health Clubhouse program to 4480 King Street.

• The City acquired land and provided funding for a new DASH maintenance facility to support an expansion of its local bus system.

• City departments made substantial progress towards professional accreditation, with Police, Sheriff and Historic Alexandria obtaining re-accreditation from their respective professional accreditation bodies. Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities has been recommended for accreditation, and Transportation and Environmental Services has taken a major step towards preparing for the accreditation process.

• The City expanded and improved communication with residents and businesses with the bimonthly newsletter, FYI Alexandria (in English and Spanish), the “eNews You Can Use” e-mail information program, major upgrades and enhancements to the City’s web sites, publication of a City Annual Report, and introduction (this fall) of a residents academy.

• The City won many awards, including The American Planning Association - Virginia Chapter Outstanding Master Plan Award for the Eisenhower East Small Area Plan (2004); Achievement Award, Virginia Municipal League (2003) for the Police Department’s Tactical Computer System; Tree City USA Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation; One of America’s Best Cities, Ladies Home Journal (2002), and Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards and Certificates of Excellence in Financial Reporting.