City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 7, 2017
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Reestablish and Reconvene the Ad Hoc Combined Sewer System Plan Stakeholder Group. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Resolution to Reestablish and Reconvene the Ad Hoc Combined Sewer System Plan Stakeholder Group.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Adopt the resolution to reestablish and reconvene the Ad Hoc Combined Sewer System Plan Stakeholder Group (Attachment); and
(2) Request the City Manager appoint members to the Stakeholder Group as detailed in this memorandum.
BACKGROUND: On June 23, 2015, City Council established the Ad Hoc Combined Sewer System Plan Stakeholder Group (Stakeholder Group). This Stakeholder Group was comprised of 13 members that met typically on a monthly basis from October 2015 through April 2016 to provide input to staff as it developed the Long Term Control Plan Update (LTCPU) for the Combined Sewer System (CSS). The LTCPU was submitted to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) for approval in December 2016.
Staff will be revising the LTCPU in order to address the recent legislation signed by the Governor that requires the City to address all four of its combined sewer outfalls by 2025. Because of the impacts to the community of having to complete construction for all outfalls by 2025, staff is proposing to reconvene the Stakeholder Group, with two changes to the membership, in order to have revised geographic representation with respect to the outfall into Oronoco Bay (CSO-001). There are no changes envisioned at this time in the plans for the storage tunnel project for the Hooffs Run outfalls (CSO-003/004) that Council has previously endorsed. Staff is therefore proposing that the new members of the Stakeholder Group be from areas near the Oronoco Bay (CSO-001) outfall and will replace members that previously represented the neighborhood in the vicinity of the Hooffs Run outfalls (CSO 003/004). There will be ongoing opportunities for engagement with residents from all impacted areas as the City nears implementation of these projects. The City also expects to work closely with Alexandria Renew Enterprises. Therefore, staff is also proposing one non-voting ex officio member from Alexandria Renew Enterprises Board of Directors nominated by its Chair.
DISCUSSION: Staff is recommending a 14-member Ad Hoc Combined Sewer System Plan Stakeholder Group, with 13 voting members including a Chair appointed by the City Manager. The group will meet on an as-needed basis, anticipated to be monthly, with meetings starting in September or October 2017.
The proposed charge of work for the Stakeholder Group would be as follows:
a. Provide staff of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES), Department of Project Implementation (DPI), Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA), Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA) and Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew) with recommendations on how a primary combined sewer system control strategy can accomplish the City’s environmental goals and permit requirements while minimizing impacts to the community;
b. Review and monitor the preparation of the Long Term Control Plan Update, including ongoing permit and other regulatory issues, engineering and analysis of potential locations of future combined sewer infrastructure facilities, and consideration of an implementation plan schedule and funding strategy;
c. Serve as a central information-receiving/dissemination body related to the City’s Long Term Control Plan Update;
d. Receive input from the public during development of the Long Term Control Plan Update.
Staff is proposing the Stakeholder Group comprised of persons who may be significantly impacted by future infrastructure investments related to the Combined Sewer System, who have relevant professional experience, or who are members of key City Commissions whose scope of responsibility may overlap with implementation of future projects. Membership of the group is proposed to be appointed by the City Manager based on the following categories:
a. Two members nominated the Old Town Civic Association
b. One member who is a resident of Hunting Point or Porto Vecchio
c. One member nominated by North Old Town Independent Citizens’ Association (replacing a previous member nominated by the Carlyle Community Council)
d. One member who is a resident of Tobacco Quay, Oronoco Waterfront Residences or Rivergate Townhomes (replacing a previous member who was a resident of the Carlyle community)
e. Two “at large” members who have engineering, environmental, public finance or related knowledge and experience
f. One member nominated by the Chamber of Commerce
g. One member who is nominated by a local environmental advocacy group
h. One member nominated by the Environmental Policy Commission
i. One member nominated by the Park and Recreation Commission
j. One member nominated by the Alexandria Archaeological Commission
k. One member nominated by the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee (BFAAC)
l. One non-voting ex officio member from Alexandria Renew Enterprises Board nominated by its Chair
T&ES will provide primary staff to the Stakeholder Group with support from DPI, OMB, RPCA and OHA as needed. The subsequent evaluation of the proposed combined sewer control strategies will be conducted in close coordination with AlexRenew, which may end up owning and/or operating future combined sewer infrastructure facilities. Staff also proposes to involve representatives from the National Park Service in Stakeholder Group meetings as there is the potential for impacts to Jones Point Park (owned by the NPS) and Oronoco Bay Park, which the National Park Service holds a scenic easement.
Upon approval by City Council and followed by outreach to potential members, the City Manager will appoint the Stakeholder Group members in time to allow the first meeting to occur in September 2017. Pursuant to City Code Section 2.4.8, temporary committees can be created for a term no longer than one year from the date of its initial meeting. City Council can extend the term of a temporary committee for additional one-year terms, up to a total duration of three years. Staff proposes that the Stakeholder Group continue for one year following its establishment. It is anticipated that the final document will be submitted to VDEQ in 2018 with the goal that City Council be asked to authorize the framework of the revised LTCPU in summer of 2018.
FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed FY 2018 to FY 2027 CIP includes $370 million for the City to comply with the recent combined sewer legislation, including $1 million in FY 2018 for planning and early implementation of CSO remediation. The Long Term Control Plan Update will make more specific recommendations on funding strategies, an implementation schedule and costs.
ATTACHMENT: Resolution
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, AICP, Director, Transportation & Environmental Services
Mitchell Bernstein, P.E, Director, Department of Project Implementation
Lance Mallamo, Director, Office of Historic Alexandria
Morgan Routt, Director, Office of Management and Budget
James Spengler, Director, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities