The Old Town Civic Association

Program

7:00 PM: Socialize with Neighbors and

meet the City Council Candidates

7:30 PM: Program Starts:



• Brief presentation and questions from available

City Council Candidates

• Update from the President
• Update and Q&A from Sergeant Blackwell
• Presentation from and Questions for the City's 
  Natural Resources Managers

Last Minute Addition!



Meet the Candidates

We have invited all 3 of the candidates to attend our April meeting. We offered them all the opportunity to come to our social half hour and then to address the membership for 5 minutes and answer questions for an additional 5.

Unfortunately, there is another campaign event being held at the same time. So, we invited them to come to any part of our meeting that was possible for them.

So far, Alison O'Connell and Frank Fannon have agreed to come to the social half hour from 7:00 to 7:30 to talk with everyone informally. The timing worked for Frank Fannon to stay and speak at the beginning of our meeting. It also worked for Sandy Marks to come at the end of our meeting (approximately 8:30) after her participation at the other event. Unfortunately, the timing did not work for Alison O'Connell to speak at our event.

So, please come right at 7:00 and plan to stay to the end to meet the candidates.

Meet the Natural Resources Managers:



Raychel Frye and Katrine Napora

The Natural Resources Division of the Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities has two new leaders: Raychel Frye and Katrina Napora. They will share with us their work on Alexandria’s natural resources, the ecosystem services provided, current challenges, and potential solutions. They will also share their first-year progress, upcoming projects, and other community engagement events. 

Raychel Frye received her bachelor’s degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology from Arizona State University. Her previous work experience includes a stint with the U.S. Forest Service in Arizona as well as work with the Gila River Indian Community, also in Arizona.

​Katrina Napora holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology from Christopher Newport University and a master’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy from George Mason University. Before joining RPCA, she spent three years with the U.S. Geological Survey, focusing on streams and wetlands research. 

The RPCA Natural Resources Managers team will explain their mission, provide us with new approaches to our world of nature, and educate us in the process.



On the list of topics being discussed for this meeting, we look forward to learning more about spotted lanternfly egg removal, which is becoming a serious issue in Virginia.

Pump Station Now Off the Table:



 What’s Next? 

​Last week, at its Tuesday night legislative session, Council received a project briefing from staff on flood mitigation. 

​Beginning with the major news, staff noted that the Interior Department and the National Park Service had “changed position and intent”.  Once again, no documents were forthcoming, but staff asserted that the “NPS has stated support for the flood mitigation project since 2017” and that Deed modification and NEPA process were underway. However, it was acknowledged—forthrightly—that the pump station was considered an impermissible use, and that the NPS and DOI would not change current height restriction (15’) or otherwise consent to modification.  

As we outlined last month, in a letter to the City Manager dated February 20, 2026, the Department of Interior reiterated in the clearest of terms that a pump station in Waterfront Park was inappropriate. The letter stated:

The 1981 Settlement granted Alexandria fee simple title to Waterfront Park, subject to an estate, interest and scenic easement in gross retained and currently held by the United States.4 The 1981 Settlement imposed restrictions on the uses of Waterfront Park. Specifically, the parties agreed, and the Judge decreed, that Waterfront Park would remain “an open space public park area” in perpetuity with only specifically permissible uses authorized. The authorized uses all relate to park activities and are limited to: “pedestrian walkways, bicycle trails, seating, landscaped areas, fountains, gardens, play areas, plazas, and temporary facilities for special events.” No other uses were authorized or permitted. The deed also specified that all of Waterfront Park “shall be and remain accessible to the public, and any and all facilities located on [it] shall be open to the public.” The deed also imposed a 15-foot height restriction on any park-related buildings or structures erected in the park. These rights, limitations, and obligations are binding on the City and its successors and assigns, and run with the land as covenants in perpetuity.

Thus, staff is now acknowledging that a door had been shut and that Council was ready to take the new decision from the government as final and work towards a solution that did not include a pump station in Waterfront Park, or anywhere else at present. Furthermore, while a pump station somewhere else could be raised again, the current cost estimates make this a pretty heavy lift going forward. 

The City’s recent cost estimates, presumably completed before the letter from the DOI, made it clear that the project price estimate has increased significantly. The project estimated cost has now increased from 118 million dollars to 189 million dollars. Driving that increase were market and price impacts from tariffs, inflation, and increasing labor costs. So, if a pump station were to be built anywhere, the overall price tag is now in excess of the current funding by 60 to 80 million dollars.

Staff outlined three alternatives: 

• Move operations to 1 Prince. ($100 million to $130 million, or over budget),
• Explore what is called an “enhanced gravity-storm sewer system” (probably within budget; might also defer improvements to Point Lumley and bulkhead), 
• Minimal infrastructure improvements (within budget).

In an outline of “Performance & Benefits”, the various options outline what would, and would not, be accomplished under each scenario. Council appears to be leaning towards the minimal infrastructure improvements to stay within budget. 

Sunny-day flooding will be eliminated, we are told, and there will be major improvements to lessen street flooding. There will be a partial elimination of tidal influence on the storm sewer system, but only if the River is 1.5 feet above sea level. In other words, given that sea level rise is continuing, the “anticipated one to two foot of that rise will significantly impact performance of the storm sewer system.”  

Next steps?  Stakeholder outreach and community feedback will occur. The staff report specifically references the Old Town Civic Association as one of those stakeholders, along with our allies the Alexandria Waterfront Alliance, the Old Dominion Boat Club, and the neighboring businesses.

Old Town Civic will definitely stay engaged here and work with others who are seeking both stormwater control as well as park improvements to make every effort to bring the Olin Plan forward to fruition.

In a quick review of the City's websites, they have not to date updated these sites to outline their current thinking.

This Just In:



Price Reduction in Cost of

Curbside Food Waste Composting

The City of Alexandria has been conducting a pilot curbside food waste composting collection for residents receiving City trash and recycling services. Until recently, the costs throughout the pilot program was $20 a month for every interested resident.

Now, the program will be administered by a private company called Compost Crew. The City will subsidize 75% of the collection cost, bringing the total cost for resident participants to only $5 per month.  The City will also cover the cost of a 7-gallon airtight bin and BPI compostable bags. In addition, you will also get a complimentary bag of finished compost once per year, if requested. 

For only $5 per month, you can place items such as fruit and vegetable scraps, meat, and bones in a dedicated bin for food waste collection instead of putting these materials in the trash. Less stuff in the landfill, and more mulch for our green spaces.

If you go to the City website, in the search box type in composting, and you’ll be directed to register.  

Do that soon—there is a maximum capacity limit to the number of households that can be serviced.  You may cancel at any time, and, if you choose not to join this program you can still use the free composting services at the farmers' market every weekend.

The Old Town Civic Association

P.O. Box 1213, Alexandria, VA 22313

(202)-568-9353