City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: DECEMBER 5, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: TERRY SUEHR, DIRECTOR, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Establish the Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of an Ordinance to Establish the Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee and terminate the Ad Hoc Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Group.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council pass the proposed ordinance to establish the Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee as a permanent committee and terminate the Ad Hoc Stormwater Utility Flood Mitigation Advisory Group as a temporary committee on first reading on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, and schedule it for second reading, public hearing and final passage on Saturday, December 16, 2023.
BACKGROUND: The Ad Hoc Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Group was established via resolution in January 2021 and first met in June 2021 to assist in the funding, timing, and implementation of flood mitigation projects in response to frequent flash flooding due to intense storms caused by climate change. Since its inception, the group has served a fundamental role in the successful implementation of the Flood Action Alexandria Program (“Program”) by fostering communications among the residents affected by flooding, City leadership, and departmental staff to create and carry out program objectives.
In addition to serving as liaison between City staff and the community regarding the Program, the Committee’s functions include review of relevant Program documents and products developed by staff, review of recommendations for Program funding and, as appropriate, support funding requests, monitoring and dissemination of relevant Commonwealth of Virginia legislation that may affect the Program, and participation in public hearings of the City Council as needed.
DISCUSSION: Pursuant to City Code Section 2-4-8 (b). a temporary committee must cease to exist by three years from the date of its initial meeting. Given that the continuing work to fund and implement flood mitigation efforts by performing system maintenance and delivering capital stormwater infrastructure projects under the Program is expected to extend for at least the next ten years, staff is recommending that City Council establish the Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee as a permanent committee until such time that City Council decides to dissolve the committee. A committee format is appropriate to accomplish the committee’s functions given the need for diverse points of view as well as the individual skills among committee members. Because the temporary group will be terminated when the permanent committee is created, there will be no duplications or conflicts between the proposed Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee and any other committees. Members of the permanent committee shall be appointed as specified in the attached ordinance. Current members of the temporary committee shall be eligible to serve on the permanent committee.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is minimal direct fiscal impact from this resolution. Staff coordination support for the committee will continue to be conducted within the approved operational budgets for each of these departments. Based on previous years of operation, it is estimated that support for group activities is approximately 170 hours of staff time annually. Contractors may be asked to provide logistic support for meetings, which amounts to approximately 30 hours annually. The committee can accomplish its functions with this level of support, utilizing existing staff.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance Cover
2. Ordinance to establish the Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee as a permanent committee.
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Adriana Castañeda, Director, T&ES
William J. Skrabak, Deputy Director, T&ES
Daniel E. Medina, Stormwater Program Manager, DPI
Jesse E. Maines, Division Chief Stormwater Management, T&ES