City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 16, 2019
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of Reinstatement of the Ad Hoc Open Space Steering Committee.
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ISSUE: Consideration of Reinstatement of the Open Space Steering Committee.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Receive the recommendation from the City Manager to reinstate the Ad Hoc Open Space Steering Committee to assist staff in the development of an Open Space Policy Plan as described below; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to appoint members to the Ad Hoc Open Space Steering Committee as described in this memorandum to serve a term beginning January 2020 and not longer than December 31, 2022.
BACKGROUND: In 2002, City Council approved an Open Space Master Plan. A Council appointed Ad Hoc Open Space Steering Committee advised staff on the development of the plan, including policies and open space goals. Since then, the City has achieved its goal of adding 100 additional protected acres of open space and has maintained a ratio of 7.3 acres of publicly accessible open space per 1,000 residents. Subsequently, in 2017, Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities updated the plan to evaluate our current open space situation and consider additional recommendations. The City also approved the Environmental Action Plan 2040, which includes open space recommendations (action items 4.2.1 and 4.2.3).
As the City increases in population and building density with finite land constraints, there is greater challenge in increasing the publicly accessible open space quantity. Reinstating the Open Space Steering Committee will bring together community stakeholders to advise staff on reconsidering open space policies and evaluating methods of open space acquisition, as outlined in the scope of work to follow, in order to e...
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