The Week Ahead: City Council's Agenda, Earth 2100 Conference and More

This week, Fairfax City Patch kicks off new briefs that will offer readers a quick snapshot of the daily news.

Each Monday, we'll offer 'The Week Ahead,' to help set up your week and plan for key news and events.

1. Earth 2100 Conference - Are you passionate about preserving the environment? Looking for ways to get involved and help kick-start real change worldwide? This week at George Mason University marks the Earth 2100 Conference: Effecting Change, Defining Our Futures, and Healing Earth. Those of high-school age or older who are passionate about becoming effective environmental leaders are invited to network with GMU undergraduates and alumni as well as representatives from the United Nations Environmental Programme, Global Footprint Network, Earth Policy Institute, Worldwatch Institute, and Millenium Institute to help come up with solutions for the greatest challenges of conservation concern of this century. The conference takes place this Saturday and Sunday, July 27 and 28 at GMU. The cost is $50 for both days of the conference and includes snacks. Click here for more information and to register.

2. On the City Council's Agenda - At its meeting this Tuesday, July 23, the Fairfax City Council will discuss a number of important issues. First, whether to demolish a small building at 10415 North St., which is currently classified as "contributing to the historic character" of Old Town, in order to make way for a small urban park the City wants to construct between Old Town Hall, the Ratcliff-Addison House, and Kitty Pozer Garden. Second, is a public hearing over whether to use $65,000 in grant funds to team up with Robert Stafford and Associates - who have their own $65,000 in grant funds they will bring to the table - to design and construct a trail west from Plantation Parkway and south of the Central Fork of Accotink Creek and finishing to the western edge of the Fairfax Boulevard Marketplace. Third, the Council will conduct a work session to review public comments and subsequent changes to plans for improvements to the Northfax Intersection (Rte. 29/50/123) and Storm Drain Improvements Project. The Council is eager to keep this project moving forward in order to comply with Virginia Department of Transportation funding deadlines.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 10455 Armstrong St., and the public is invited to attend. The meeting is also televised on Cityscreen-12 and can be streamed from the City's website.

3. Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Meeting in Fairfax City - The public is invited to attend the next meeting of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), to take place this Wednesday, July 24 at 6 p.m. in the City Hall annex at 10455 Armstrong St. Attendees can learn about proposed transportation projects for 2014 for all over northern Virginia. Comments on proposed projects are accepted at the public hearing and via e-mail at fy14projects@thenovaauthority.org. The meeting will also be televised on Cityscreen-12.  Read more about the meeting and get a sneak peek at the proposed projects here.

4. This Week's Summer Concert - The 2013 Summer Concert Series continues this week with the "Beach Concert" by the City of Fairfax Band. These concerts are free and open to the public. The Beach Concert will begin at 8 p.m. at the Veterans Amphitheater next to City Hall, 10455 Armstrong St. If it looks like rain, or the heat is too severe, the concert will be moved to the Sherwood Community Center at 3740 Old Lee Hwy. To see if the concert will be moved, check here before heading out.

5. Don't Forget, Farmers Market Season is Underway - Thanks to the folks at the Downtown Fairfax Coalition, Fairfax City residents and those nearby are treated to TWO farmers markets each week. They both take place at the corner of West and Main streets behind the Wells Fargo Bank and adjacent to the Historic Fairfax County Courthouse. They are Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, read our article here.


Have an item for our daily news briefs? E-mail Editor Jennifer van der Kleut at jennifer.vanderkleut@patch.com.

FOLLOW FAIRFAX CITY PATCH FOR THE LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS!