[Archived] Official Announcements for the City of Alexandria: March 6 – March 12, 2010

Saturday, March 6 – Park and Recreation Commission Retreat
The Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission will hold a retreat from 8 a.m. to noon in the Community Room at the Station at Potomac Yard, 650 Maskell St. At the retreat, the Commission will discuss and determine priority actions for the next 12 to 24 months. The retreat is open to the public. For more information, call 703.746.5501.

Saturday, March 6 – Fort Ward Park History Group Meeting
Interested participants are invited to the Fort Ward Park History Group meeting at Oakland Baptist Church, 3408 King St., 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. Meeting attendees should park at T.C. Williams High School, 3330 King St. For more information, visit www.fortward.org or call 703.746.4554.

Wednesday, March 10 – Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee Meeting
The Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee will meet from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at City Hall, 301 King St., in the Sister Cities Conference Room #1101. The Committee’s role is to review preliminary development plan approvals for compliance with the Potomac Yard Urban Design Guidelines and to send its recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council for their consideration. For more information, call Gwen Wright at 703.746.3811.

Wednesday, March 10 – Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Public Hearing
The City of Alexandria will hold a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2011 budget at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 301 King St. Individuals wishing to speak on the proposed budget may sign up prior to the public hearing by calling the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of Council at 703.746.4550.  Presenters are requested to provide a copy of their text to the City Clerk and Clerk of Council.

Thursday, March 11 – Ad Hoc Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting
The City of Alexandria's Ad Hoc Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Stakeholder Advisory Group will meet at 7 p.m. at the Fort Ward Museum, 4301 W. Braddock Rd. Established by City Council resolution in June 2009, the Advisory Group advises City staff on Fort Ward Park and Museum use and management. For more information, call Laura Durham at 703.746.5493.

Thursday, March 11 – Alexandria Waterfront Committee Marina Meeting 
The City of Alexandria's Waterfront Committee Marina Subcommittee will meet at 6 p.m. in Conference Room 2 at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Established by the Waterfront Committee, the subcommittee studies issues related to the City Marina and makes recommendations to the Waterfront Committee. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/recreation or call Laura Seidler at 703.746.5494.

Thursday, March 11 – Contrabands & Freedmen’s Memorial 
The City of Alexandria invites residents, stakeholders, and members of the public to attend the Contrabands & Freedmen’s Cemetery Memorial information meeting from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. This meeting will be an opportunity to residents to provide feedback and input regarding the proposed design. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Freedmens or contact Emily Baker, Emily.Baker@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.4054.  

Coming Soon!

Tuesday, March 16 – Census Complete Count Committee Meeting
The Census Complete Count Committee will meet at 7 p.m. at the Durant Center, 1605 Cameron St. The committee was established to help develop a strategy to ensure an accurate census count in 2010 and promote participation by all residents. For more information, call Ralph Rosenbaum at 703.746.3859.

Tuesday, March 16 – Potomac Waterfront Flood Mitigation Study
The City of Alexandria invites residents to attend a public information meeting on the Potomac Waterfront Flood Mitigation Study from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St. This is an opportunity for residents to get more information about the study, which is currently in the final stages of production. For more information, e-mail Craig Perl at Craig.Perl@alexandriava.gov, call 703.746.4057, or visit alexandriava.gov/waterfront.

Wednesday, March 17 – BRAC-133 Advisory Group Meeting
The BRAC-133 Advisory Group will meet at 7 p.m. at the Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St. The City Council established the BRAC-133 Advisory group to serve as a forum for developing ideas and recommendations related to transportation improvements and other issues associated with the BRAC relocation at the Mark Center. For more information, call Pat Escher at 703.746.3812.

Thursday, March 18 – Carlyle Design Review Board
The Carlyle Design Review Board will meet at 7 p.m. in Room 2000, City Hall, 301 King St. The Design Review Board is a five-member board established by City Council to review concept and final design proposals for development site plans and development site plans. The Board also reviews requests for signs and additions/alterations to building exteriors visible from publicly accessible areas surrounding the building. For more information, call Katye Parker at 703.746.3819.

Saturday, March 20 – Mayor’s State of the City Address
Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille delivers his annual State of the City Address at 9 a.m. at the Station at Potomac Yard, 650 Maskell St. Mayor Euille will outline the City's accomplishments and future challenges during his address. After the State of the City address, residents are invited to tour The Station at Potomac Yard, an award-winning development that combines a fire station, 64 units of affordable and workforce rental housing, and retail space. For more information, call 703.746.3969.

Ongoing!

2010 Applications Now Available for Elderly and Disabled Tax Relief 
The City of Alexandria has mailed applications for the City’s Tax Relief Programs for the Elderly or totally and permanently disabled to all previous participants and those who have requested applications. If you are at least 65 years of age or permanently and totally disabled by November 15, 2010, you may qualify for a full or partial exemption and/or deferral for your 2010 real estate taxes and/or an exemption from your 2010 personal property taxes on one vehicle. For more information or to obtain an application, visit alexandriava.gov/TaxRelief, e-mail Tax Services at taxrelief@alexandriava.gov, or call 703.746.3901, Option 6.

Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award - Call for Entries 
Do you know someone in the City of Alexandria that should be nominated for their efforts to create an environmentally sustainable Alexandria?  The City of Alexandria, the Alexandria Sanitation Authority, and the Environmental Policy Commission announce the City's second annual award program to select to formally recognize outstanding residents who have demonstrated their commitment to protecting the natural environment and promoting environmental sustainability. Nomination criteria and guidelines are available at www.alexearthday.org. Nominations should be submitted to the Office of Environmental Quality, 301 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314 by Friday, April 3. The award will be presented at Alexandria Earth Day on April 24 at Ben Brenman Park.  

Free Tax Preparation Assistance for Low-Income Residents
The City of Alexandria is offering free tax preparation assistance to low-income residents during the 2010 tax season. Tax preparation sessions begin at 9 a.m. on Saturdays, and at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, through April 13. Sessions are held in the lobby of the Alexandria Department of Human Services, 2525 Mount Vernon Ave. For more information, call Suzanne Kratzok, Coordinator of Community Resources, at 703.746.5663.