City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 22, 2014
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER/s/
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Consideration of a September 16, 2014 Letter from the Alexandria Waterfront Commission Asking City Council to Reaffirm its Commitment to Maintain an Active Waterfront with Recreational Boating Opportunities, to Include Pleasure Boat Slips, in the Design and Implementation of the Planned Waterfront Small Area Plan.
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ISSUE: Consideration of September 16, 2014 Letter from the Alexandria Waterfront Commission.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council reaffirms its commitment to maintain an active waterfront with recreational boating opportunities, including the provision of pleasure boat slips, in the design and implementation of the planned Waterfront Small Area Plan.
BACKGROUND: On June 14, 2014, City Council approved the Waterfront Small Area Plan (WSAP) Phase I Landscape and Flood Mitigation Design. During the public hearing, participants raised the question of the City's commitment to ensuring recreational boater opportunities, including the provision of pleasure boat slips, as part of the design and implementation of the Waterfront Small Area Plan. As a result, City Council directed City staff to work with the Waterfront Commission to identify and determine the feasibility of maintaining publically managed recreational boater opportunities.
DISCUSSION: Subsequent to Council's direction, multiple studies, including a Marina Operations Study, for Phase II of the WSAP design process are planned. As directed by City Council, recently, the Waterfront Commission's Marina Subcommittee, working with City staff, engaged in preliminary discussions to identify potential locations on the waterfront, from Jones Point Park to Marina Towers, for recreational boating opportunities. The outcome of these meetings is further discussed in the attached letter from the Waterfront Commission.
Consistent with the WSAP Phase II design process, staff will be undertaking in 2015 a Marina Operations Study to identify recreational boating and slip options for City Council consideration in maintaining recreational boating opportunities as part of the WSAP implementation. Preliminary plans for the study include, but are not limited to, identify Marina and slip configurations; Marina amenities; recreation/commercial mix; permitting considerations; economic benefits and impacts; and governance options. The Waterfront Commission and its Marina Subcommittee will provide input and feedback as this study proceeds. It is expected that this study will be completed sometime in the fall of 2015.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding to complete the planned Marina Feasibility Study is available in the approved FY 2015 CIP for Phase II of the Waterfront Plan implementation design process.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: September 16, 2014 Alexandria Waterfront Commission Letter
STAFF:
Mark Jinks, Deputy City Manager
James Spengler, Director, Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA)
Jack Browand, Division Chief, RPCA