TRCA Community Blog

Following the Eco-City cafe held on March 19, 2009, the Environmental Policy Commission has considered all public comment received at this event and throughout the Eco-City process in finalizing the Draft Final Environmental Action Plan. The Plan incorporates the short-term actions covering FY2009-2011 set forth in the Phase I Environmental Action Plan adopted by Council in January 2009, with medium and long term actions planned for 2012-2030, to form one final action plan for the City and its citizens. This Draft Final Environmental Action Plan will be released for public comments on April 25, 2009, at the Alexandria Earth Day celebration being held at Ben Brenman Park from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm.

The EPC is organizing an Open House on May 11, 2009, to discuss and obtain direct public input on the Draft Final Environmental Action Plan. This Plan will establish the path toward achieving a sustainable future for Alexandria. The EPC needs your participation and input to ensure that this Plan represents the voices and ideas for a sustainable Alexandria from all its citizens.

Event             Environmental Action Plan Open House

Date:               May 11, 2009

Time:              6:30-9:00 PM

Location:        Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street, Alexandria

On behalf of the EPC, I would like to invite you attend this meeting to help us formulate an environmental action plan that addresses concerns facing our community and residents.

I look forward to your attendance at this important event for the environmental future of Alexandria.

Yours sincerely,

Danielle C. Fidler

Chair, Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission

__________________________

Note:   Here’s the link to the draft action plan.  TRCA will attend this meeting.   If you have any comments that you would like us to share with the EPC, please forward them to rdelgado@taylorrunalexandria.com.

 The City of Alexandria has established an online parking questionnaire allowing residents to voice their approval and/or disapproval on City parking matters.  City staff will read every response and use them as a tool to better manage parking throughout our great city.  The URL for the Questionnaire is http://apps.alexandriava.gov/ParkingQuestionnaire2009.

Congratulations to Evan Metz and Jessica Raugitinane!  Evan and Jessica  have been selected as the 2009 TRCA Scholarship awardees.  Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship to help them continue their education.

Evan and Jessica were selected via an anonymous process by a committee from the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria (SFA) based on academic record, extracurricular activities, community service, and other attributes.

The TRCA scholarship is one of four sponsored by civic associations in Alexandria.  SFA  will award over 200 scholarships valued at $359,000 to help members of the T.C. Williams Class of 2009 continue their education.  For more information about SFA, see http://alexscholarshipfund.org

The ceremony is on May 28, at 7pm in the T.C. Williams Auditorium.

General Information

Spring Clean up is an additional refuse collection service to residential solid waste customers, those who pay for solid waste collection on the real estate bill.  Participants are able to set out eligible items on designated Saturdays during the spring.  All businesses and those residents who receive private refuse collection are not eligible to participate in the Spring Clean Up.  Items are disposed of at Covanta and other local landfills.  Please consider donation before setting out items for the Spring Clean Up program. 

New! - In the spirit of Alexandria’s Eco-City Initiative and to achieve a 35% recycling rate, residents are asked to segerate metal items and electronics.  All large and small metal items and electronics will be recycled. 

Ineligible Materials and Material Preparation Information

Ineligible Items include:

• Concrete
• Improperly prepared paints 
• Hazardous Materials
• Unbundled brush or loose yard waste
• Incorrectly prepared sharp items 
• Building materials (such as drywall, shingles and lumber)

Material Preparation Information:

• Please consider donating items before placing them out for Spring Clean Up or Regular collection.
• Check the map below to determine your assigned collection area and date of collection.
• Place your materials at the CURB (no alley collections) no later than 7 a.m. on the day of collection and no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before collection.*
• Separate all metal, electronics, appliances furniture, brush and other miscellaneous items for easy collection.  Large and small metal items and electronics will be recycled
  • Large metal item examples: file cabinets, grills (not including propane tank), lawn mowers (empty gas tank), metal sheds, wire fencing, ladders, etc.
  • Small metal item examples: wire hangers, pots and pans, toasters, chairs, metal pipes, tire rims (no tire), etc.
  • Appliances including: stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, hot water heaters, freezers and dish washers will still incur a $20 per item collection fee. 
• All brush tied in bundles no longer than four (4) feet.  Containers and bundles should not weigh more than 75 pounds. 
• Correctly prepare sharp items for collection.

*NOTE: Please ensure all materials are set out at the correct time.  Crews will not make second trips into areas after the first pass, these materials, which are eligible, will be collected with reguler weekly refuse collection. 

The Soft Playroom in the Chinquapin Recreation Center is close to becoming a reality.  The Soft Playroom is an indoor playroom for children ages 0-5.   It is being developed by a group of parents and the non-profit Natural Exploreum.  The space and its maintenance have been graciously donated by the City of Alexandria but private funds are needed to purchase soft toys, padding, flooring, and to make room improvements.  Visit http://www.supportthesoftplayroom.com for additional information.

Join City archaeologists and trained volunteers for an exciting program for kids of all ages at Alexandria Archaeology Family Dig Days! Be part of the fascinating archaeological investigation and discover firsthand the hidden clues left behind by the people who lived and worked there hundreds of years ago, by helping screen excavated soil.

Monthly Family Dig Days will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, in Alexandria. The 2009 dates are:

Saturday, July 18

Saturday, August 15

Saturday, September 12

Saturday, October 17

Participants are encouraged to wear hats and sunblock. Cold water will be available, but each person should bring a personal container. Closed-toe shoes are required (no sandals, please!). Though tools are supplied, participants may wish to bring their own gardening gloves.

The Dig Day program is presented in three parts, beginning with an introduction to the history of the site, followed by a tour of the archaeological site, and finally, families gather around the screens to sift through the excavated soil to collect and bag artifacts that will then be sent to the laboratory for processing.

This event is open to the general public, and children under 16 must be accompanied by a participating adult. The cost is $5 per person; advance payment is required and can be made by mailing a check to Alexandria Archaeology, 105 North Union Street, #327, Alexandria, VA 22314. Sessions fill quickly, so be sure to call and confirm space is available for the Dig Day you wish to attend.

For additional information, please call the Alexandria Archaeology Museum at 703.838.4399 or visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org.

Civic Association, 

In the news media there has been a lot of discussion reference Guantanamo Bay prisoners being moved to Alexandria Detention Center. 
Sheriff Lawhorne wanted to make sure that the Alexandria community stays informed so attach you will find a letter reference his position on the issue. 

Deputy M. Edwards
Alexandria Sheriff’ s Office 
Community Relations Unit 
703-746-5017 office
703-926-4166 nextel

The membership voted to adopt the amended and restated TRCA Constitution effective April 2, 2009.

The following are some of the more significant provisions of the new  TRCA Constitution:

Vice President of Membership — The Vice President for Membership is a new position responsible for marketing TRCA to maintain and increase membership, and to develop and monitor the actions of the Executive Committee (EC) to suggest activities that enhance its and TRCA’s relevance in the community.

Email and telephone EC polling — The Constitution now permits the President to poll the EC via email or telephone provide the EC a greater opportunity to timely address issues important to the community.

Amendments to the Constitution — The process for amending the Constitution reflects the larger membership base and changing times by revising the process and  formally recognizing  the TRCA website as a means of notifying the community.