Alexandria Stormwater Management Committee Meeting - May 6, 2026

The Stormwater Management Committee held a regular meeting on May 6, 2026, at 6:35 PM. The meeting included project updates, discussion of the flood resilience plan, budget analysis, and deliberation on the committee's three guiding questions: whether city investment is directed to the most urgent problems, whether sufficient progress is being made, and whether planned expenditures are adequate. No public comments were received. The committee lacked an in-person quorum for formal votes, so all discussion was advisory.

Discussion Items

• Project Updates:
  • Commonwealth Avenue culvert project: Waterline relocation underway (February 23) with construction expected summer 2027; Capital Bikeshare temporarily relocated to West Reed.
  • Nethergate combined sewer project: 30% design received in December; NPS permit obtained for utility investigation along GW Parkway, field work scheduled March 23–April 8.
  • Flood Grant Program pilot areas (Pitt-Gibbon and Hoofs Run): Analysis ongoing through December 2026 to develop an equitable program framework for property-level flood mitigation. Residents expressed frustration with delays, noting potential challenges with the Board of Architectural Review and city council easement approvals for historic properties.
  • Multiple spot improvement projects reported at various design stages: Belfont (60% design), Clifford Fulton/Manning (100% design, fiber relocation avoided), Edison Street (right-of-way phase), Four Mile Run/Hoofs Run inlet enhancements (30% design), Hume Avenue bypass (final design), Mount Vernon/Edison dual culvert (100% design), Mount Vernon cold-sack inlets (90% design), Valley Drive (90% design), West Reed/Dale Street (final design approved, public meeting April 7).
  • New project: Buddy Ford outfall and staircase rehabilitation (erosion control near William Ramsey Elementary School).
  • New project: Sky Hill Road storm drain extension (planning phase).
• Sanitary Sewer Projects:
  • Trenchless lining of sanitary sewers in Dairy East area (lateral rehab construction May–June 2026); Dairy West mainline lining begins June–August 2026.
  • Several sewer upsizing and separation projects completed or nearing completion (Ashby, Columbus, Madison/Asaph, Wolfe Street, Colony Avenue).
• Flood Resilience Plan:
  • Approximately 8% complete; hybrid public meeting scheduled April 16 at Charles Houston Recreation Center. Draft public comment period planned for June, with council adoption anticipated by September.
• Budget and Financial Analysis:
  • Staff reviewed the proposed FY27–36 CIP: large capacity projects now have phased funding (design first, construction later) to better match delivery schedules. The shift from front-loading all funds was highlighted as improving transparency.
  • The $24 million originally planned for Pitt-Gibbon (sanitary sewer fund) was reallocated toward Alex Renew wastewater treatment plant capacity upgrades due to growth demands; stormwater utility funding is now being used for the pilot analysis.
  • Committee member Dino noted the need for more systematic financial data to answer the committee's three guiding questions, citing the gap between $107 million (unappropriated but unexpended) and the clarified figure of less than $8 million.
• Other Items:
  • Stormwater utility credit program closed its off-year cycle with 126 applicants (double previous), awarding $47,000 in credits; Park Fairfax HOA covered 1,600 condos.
  • A federal earmark request for $2 million was submitted for Key Drive concrete channel repair (tributary near Quaker Lane). The committee discussed a possible letter of support to be sent to Senator Warner's office.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken due to insufficient in-person quorum.
• Staff will circulate the budget spreadsheet from fall 2025 to the committee.
• The committee will receive information on the Taylor Run infrastructure webinar (March 26) and West Reed/Dale Street public meeting (April 7).
• A letter of support for the Key Drive federal earmark will be drafted by the vice chair and circulated individually to members for sign-off.
• The discussion points from the three guiding questions will be summarized and forwarded to the committee chair.