November 28 - December 4, 2009

For Immediate Release: November 27, 2009 

Monday, November 30 – Potomac Yard Planning Advisory Group Meeting
The Potomac Yard Planning Advisory Group will meet from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Sister Cities Room 1101, City Hall, 301 King St. The Potomac Yard Planning Advisory Group was established by City Council to identify and study the issues, challenges and opportunities presented by the redevelopment of Potomac Yard. For more information, contact Valerie Peterson at 703.746.3858.

Monday, November 30 -- Strategic Planning Forum for Transportation 
Residents are invited to a roundtable discussion by members of a stakeholder panel about the City of Alexandria’s strategic goal for Transportation, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Charles Barrett Elementary School, Media Center/Multi-Purpose Room, 1115 Martha Custis Dr.  Opportunities for resident comments will begin at 8:30 p.m. William D. Euille and Councilman Paul Smedberg will lead the discussion. Residents are encouraged to give feedback in advance by submitting their comments online at alexandriava.gov/StrategicPlanning, by fax to 703.519.3356 or in writing to the Department of Transportation, Room 4100, City Hall, 301 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314. For more information, contact Yon Lambert, Principal Transportation Planner, at 703.746.4081 or Yon.Lambert@alexandriava.gov.

Tuesday, December 1- Strategic Planning Forum for Health & Environment
Residents are invited to participate in a public meeting about the City of Alexandria’s strategic goal for Health & Environment, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at George Washington Middle School Cafeteria, 1005 Mount Vernon Ave. An informal open house will be held from 6:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. to give attendees an opportunity to review proposed strategic objectives and initiatives and discuss them with City staff. A formal meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m., which will provide an overview of the strategic planning process and obtain input from the community. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/StrategicPlanning.

Wednesday, December 2 – Strategic Planning Forum for the Success of Children, Families and Youth
Residents are invited to participate in a structured public input process focused on City Council’s strategic goal for the Success of Children, Families and Youth, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. The purpose of this meeting is to gain meaningful information on objectives, initiatives, and performance measures regarding City Council's Strategic Planning Goal #4: "Alexandria is a community with public schools amongst Northern Virginia’s best and where our recreational programs provide youth the opportunity to succeed." Council Members Rob Krupicka and Alicia R. Hughes will lead the discussion. Residents are encouraged to provide input in advance by submitting their comments online at alexandriava.gov/StrategicPlanning, by fax to 703.684.6826 or in writing to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, Attn: James B. Spengler, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria, VA 22314. For more information, contact Mr. Spengler, Director, Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.746.5500 or James.Spengler@alexandriava.gov.

Friday, December 4 – Deadline to Submit Comments to the Alexandria's Park and Recreation Commission on Recommendations for New and Increased Fees for Programs and Services
Individuals who were unable to attend Alexandria's Park and Recreation Commission’s public hearing on recommendations for new and increased fees for programs and services can view the fee recommendations at alexandriava.gov/Recreation, and send written comments to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, Attention: William Chesley, 1108 Jefferson St., or e-mail william.chesley@alexandriava.gov. The deadline to submit comments is 5 p.m. on Friday, December 4.

Coming soon!

Saturday, December 5 – Fort Ward Park History Group Meeting
Interested participants are invited to the Fort Ward Park History Group meeting at Fort Ward Museum, 4301 W. Braddock Rd., from 10 a.m. to noon. Workgroup members are recording family history, identifying features such as graves, documenting historical photographs including family and landscape images, and helping with other projects related to the history of the site and in particular, to the African-American community that existed at Fort Ward. For more information, please visit www.fortward.org or call 703.838.4848.

Wednesday, December 9 - Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee meeting will be held  at 7 p.m. in a location yet to be determined. For further information, contact Kristen Mitten at 703.746.3813.

Wednesday, December 9 - 2010 Census Complete Count Committee Meeting
The 2010 Census Complete Count Committee Meeting will convene at 7 p.m. in a location yet to be determined. City Council established a Complete Count Committee to help develop a strategy to ensure an accurate count and promote participation by all residents in the 2010 Census. For more information, contact Ralph Rosenbaum at 703.746.3859.

Wednesday, December 9 - Infill Task Force Meeting
The meeting will convene at 7 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, Activity Room 2, 901 Wythe St. For more information, contact Clair Gron at 703.746.3858.

Ongoing! 

FY 2011 Budget Process
The City of Alexandria expects Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 to be another challenging year based on early economic forecasts. As the City begins the budget process, we would like your input regarding the FY 2011 Operating Budget and Capitol Improvement Program. Residents are encouraged to submit their comments online at alexandriava.gov/Budget.

Alexandria Marketing Fund Now Accepting Applications 
Applications are now being accepted for the Alexandria Marketing Fund, a program administered by the Alexandria Marketing Committee. The program is designed to encourage public-private partnerships that promote the City as a destination for visiting, shopping, dining and doing business. City Council appropriates monies for the fund on an annual basis and the Marketing Committee reviews and approves applications for funding. Information, guidelines, and an online applications are available at alexandriava.gov/MarketingFund. The deadline for applications is Monday, January 18. For more information, contact Andrea Blackford at 703.746.3959 or andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov.

For more information, contact Natasha Duggal, Communications Intern, Office of Communications, at 703.746.3962 or natasha.duggal@alexandriava.gov.

PIO#278-09