City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 16, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Establish an Ad Hoc RiverRenew Stakeholder Advisory Group in Support of RiverRenew. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a resolution to establish an Ad Hoc RiverRenew Stakeholder Advisory Group in support of RiverRenew, the combined sewer mitigation program being led by Alexandria Renew Enterprises.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Adopt the resolution to establish an Ad Hoc RiverRenew Stakeholder Advisory Group in support of RiverRenew (Attachment); and
(2) Request the City Manager and General Manager of Alexandria Renew Enterprises to appoint members to the Ad Hoc Stakeholder Advisory Group as detailed in this memorandum.
BACKGROUND: In April 2017, the Virginia General Assembly passed a new law requiring the remediation of the City’s four combined sewer outfalls by July 1, 2025. The City, working with Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew), submitted to a Long Term Control Plan (Plan) to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) in 2018, which called for the construction of an underground tunnel system to bring combined sewage to the AlexRenew wastewater treatment facility, thus significantly reducing both the number and volume of combined sewer discharges into City waterways. As of July 1, 2018, VDEQ had approved the Plan and the City transferred ownership of the combined sewer outfalls to AlexRenew. AlexRenew is implementing the Plan as part of its RiverRenew program.
In October 2018, an Ad Hoc Stakeholder Advisory Group (Group) to review and monitor the program’s progress was established. This Group met six times from February to December 2019. This resolution authorizes the establishment of a new Ad Hoc RiverRenew Stakeholder Advisory Group to monitor construction activity associated with the RiverRenew tunnel system.
DISCUSSION: Staff is recommending an 9-member Ad Hoc RiverRenew Stakeholder Advisory Group, with 9 voting members including a Chairperson. The proposed charge of work for the Ad Hoc Stakeholder Advisory Group would be as follows:
1. Review and monitor the progress of RiverRenew through the final design and construction phases;
2. Communicate the progress of RiverRenew to the community by leveraging existing networks and serve as spokespeople for RiverRenew;
3. Serve as a central information-receiving/dissemination body for RiverRenew; and
4. Review and provide recommendations to minimize community impacts.
Staff is proposing that members of the Ad Hoc Stakeholder Advisory Group be a balanced and diverse group of citizens representing neighborhoods, businesses, and environmental groups who commit to being active and engaged in the stakeholder process. Particular focus is given to neighborhoods most directly impacted by the proposed construction. Membership of the group is proposed to be based on the following categories:
(1) One (1) member that is nominated by the North Old Town Independent Citizens’ Association
(2) One (1) member that is a resident or representative of a business near Tobacco Quay, Oronoco Waterfront Residences, or Rivergate
(3) One (1) member that is nominated by the Old Town Civic Association
(4) One (1) member that is a resident, representative of a business, or representative of a non-profit near South Royal/Green Streets
(5) One (1) member that is nominated by the Eisenhower Partnership
(6) One (1) member that is a resident or business of the Carlyle community or Duke Street corridor
(7) One (1) at-large member that is a resident of the City with and interest in the RiverRenew project
(8) One (1) member that is a resident with engineering, environmental, financial, or related experience; However, the resident cannot be a member of any firm involved with or in pursuit of work associated with RiverRenew.
(9) One (1) member with interest or expertise in diversity, race and social equity and inclusivity issues.
Identification of potential members of the Ad Hoc RiverRenew Stakeholder Advisory Group will be conducted via nominations, print media, online (via the RiverRenew and City of Alexandria websites and social media), City’s eNews service, as well as community and business association meetings. Outreach will be conducted to identify potential members from October to December 2020. Once a pool of applicants has been identified, the AlexRenew General Manager and City Manager will select members and appoint a Chairperson. The group will meet on an as-needed basis, anticipated to be monthly, with meetings starting in January to February 2021. AlexRenew will provide primary staff to the Stakeholder Advisory Group with support from the City.
Pursuant to City Code Section 2-4-8, temporary committees can be created for a term no longer than one (1) year from the date of its initial meeting. City Council can extend the term of a temporary committee for additional one (1) year terms, up to a total duration of three (3) years. Staff proposes that the Stakeholder Advisory Group continue for one year following its establishment. The Stakeholder Advisory Group membership will be revisited and updated as needed on an annual basis.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact to the City of Alexandria if Council adopts this resolution.
ATTACHMENT: Resolution
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director, Transportation and Environmental Services
Erin Bevis-Carver, P.E., Acting Division Chief, Sanitary Infrastructure Division, Transportation
and Environmental Services