Flooding Advisory Group Extension Set For Vote In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The advisory group formed to advise Alexandria's accelerated flood mitigation efforts could continue its work.

On Wednesday, Alexandria City Council will consider extending the Ad Hoc Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Group. The advisory group was formed in 2021, helping city leaders and city staff with the Flood Action Alexandria program. The group's main goals are to review and advise the city on flood mitigation activities, monitor progress on flood mitigation efforts, and provide recommendations on stormwater utility fee and capital budget funding related to flood mitigation.

"Given that the continuing work to fund and implement flood mitigation efforts by performing system maintenance and delivering capital stormwater infrastructure projects under the Flood Action Alexandria program is expected to extend for several years, staff is recommending that City Council extend the term of the temporary Ad Hoc Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Group," reads a memo to City Council.

SEE ALSO: Cautious Optimism On Flood Mitigation Work: Alexandria Advisory Group

Without an extension, the advisory group's appointment expires on Sept. 13, 2023. Per city code, City Council can extend terms of temporary committees by one year at a time.

Members of the group include chair John Hill, vice chair Katie Waynick and Cheryl Leonard, who are representatives of flood-affected civic associations; Dino Drudi of the Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations; Charlotte Hall of Old Town Business; technical representatives Brian Sands and Christine Thuot; Howard "Skip" Maginniss of the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Committee; equity expertise representative Janette Shew and City Council member John Taylor Chapman.

The anticipated extension of the group will come as the city is planning large stormwater capacity projects to address flooding as well as smaller spot improvement projects. The large Commonwealth Avenue, E. Glebe Road and Ashby Street project has 30 percent design completion, and the Hooffs Run Culvert Bypass project began the design phase in June. Stormwater capacity projects like these were accelerated through the city's capital budget as flash flooding events in recent years have surpassed what the stormwater infrastructure can handle.

Patch will update this story the day after City Council's meeting.