News

Alexandria needs to fill dozens of board, committee and commission vacancies

By James Cullum
Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Civic-minded Alexandria residents who want to help lead their city have an opportunity to serve on a board or commission, and the deadline to apply is approaching soon.

Applicants must be city residents, and otherwise a special waiver will need to be approved by City Council. Committee assignments can last between two and five years, and residents can only apply for one committee at a time. The online application deadline is 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, and the following openings are available:

Alexandria Gang Prevention Community Task Force

  • Three-year term
  • Quarterly meetings
  • There are five vacancies: One at-large youth member, one member from and representing Alexandria middle schools, one member from and representing Alexandria City High School, one member from and representing the Alexandria Interfaith Council, and one member representing the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority or a resident of an ARHA–managed property

Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee

  • Three-year term
  • The committee meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
  • There are five vacancies: One city employee or ACPS employee, one person who represents housing consumers under 30 years of age, one ARHA board commissioner, one representative of an organization that promotes and maintains affordable housing and one representative of the city’s small business community

Alexandria Transportation Commission

  • Three-year term
  • The commission meets the  third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.
  • There are two vacancies: One member nominated by the Alexandria Transit Company Board of Directors and one member nominated by the Planning Commission

Alexandria-Caen Sister Cities Committee

  • Two-year term
  • The committee meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m.
  • There are three vacancies open to Alexandria residents

Archaeological Commission

  • Four-year term
  • The commission meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.
  • There are three vacancies: One Visit Alexandria representative, one member from the Historic Alexandria Foundation and one citizen member from Planning District II

Beautification Commission

  • Two-year term
  • The commission meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
  • There is one vacancy for a member with expertise in landscape architecture or design

Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee

  • Two-year term
  • The committee meets the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
  • There are three vacancies: Two members designated by City Council as representatives and one member designated by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

Building Code Board of Appeals

  • Five-year term
  • The board meets when appeals are filed
  • There are two vacancies for alternate members, due to a resignation and an expired term

Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission

  • Three-year term
  • The commission meets the second Wednesday of each month from 6:30-8 p.m.
  • There are three vacancies: One city staff member identified by the City Manager and two high school students (one-year term)

Citizen Corps Council

  • Three-year term
  • The council meets the fourth Monday of every other month
  • There are three vacancies for consideration: One representative of the business community, one representative from Commission on Persons with Disabilities, one citizen designated by an Alexandria City School Board member

Commission on Aging

  • Three-year term
  • The commission meets the second Thursday of every month at 4 p.m.
  • There are two vacancies: One representative from the Commission for Women and one citizen member

Commission on Employment

  • Two-year term
  • The commission meets the second Tuesday of each month at 8 a.m.
  • There are four vacancies: Two representatives from a recognized area business, including minority-owned and small businesses, and two members representing educations agencies, organized labor, rehabilitation agencies, community-based organizations, economic development agencies or public employment

Commission on Information Technology

  • Three-year term
  • The commission meets the second or third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
  • There is one vacancy for a member representing the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

Commission on Persons with Disabilities

  • Two-year term
  • The commission meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month
  • There are six vacancies: One representative of the Alexandria Commission on Aging, one Chamber of Commerce business representative and four citizen members

Community Criminal Justice Board

  • Two-year term
  • The board meets the first Thursday of each month at 4 p.m.
  • There are four vacancies: One person appointed by City Council to serve as its representative, one representative of the business community recommended by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, one representative of local education to be nominated by the Superintendent of Schools and one representative of nonprofit organizations recommended by Alexandria United Way

Community Policy and Management Team

  • Two-year term
  • The team meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m.
  • There are two vacancies: One parent representative who is not an employee of any public or private program which receives funds from the Children’s Services Act, one representative of a private organization or association of providers of children’s or family services which provides such services within the City on a continuing or consistent basis

Community Services Board

  • Three-year term
  • The board meets the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
  • There is one vacancy for a consumer member currently receiving services

Economic Opportunities Commission

  • Two-year term
  • The commission meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.
  • There are three vacancies: One Category I – elected officials currently holding office, or their representative, and two Category II – representatives of residents living with low-income and/or from historically marginalized communities certified by the Commission

Environmental Policy Commission

  • Two-year term
  • The commission meets the first Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
  • There are two vacancies: One member from the field of urban planning, one member from the field of environmental sciences or someone who has Alexandria waterfront expertise

George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee

  • Two-year term
  • The committee meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m.
  • There are four vacancies: One member who attends high school in Alexandria, the city manager or their designee, one member to be nominated by the City of Alexandria Pipe and Drums and one citizen member

Historic Alexandria Resources Commission

  • Two-year term
  • The commission meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
  • There are eight vacancies: One Planning District I representative, one Planning District III representative, one Alexandria Society for Preservation of Black Heritage representative or an equivalent organization, one OHA Friends Group representative, one representative from George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association, one representative who serves as a volunteer at a historic property or attraction which is open to the public on a regularly scheduled basis, one community group representative, one historic house of worship – congregations, or sites which have played a significant role in the diverse cultural, social, and religious history of the city

Human Rights Commission

  • Three-year term
  • The commission meets the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
  • There are two vacancies: One Landlord Tenant Board representative and one Economic Opportunities Commission representative

Local Emergency Planning Committee

  • Two-year term
  • The committee meets quarterly
  • There are five vacancies: Two owners/operators of facilities subject to the federal emergency planning requirements of Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), one community group representative and two representatives of broadcast and print media

Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee

  • Two-year term
  • The committee meets at the call of the chair
  • There are five vacancies: One member who represents the Potomac East area, two members who are professionally skilled in landscape architecture, architecture or urban design, one National Park Service representative and one member who represents the business community, due to a resignation

Public Health Advisory Commission

  • Two-year term
  • The commission meets the third Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m.
  • There are two vacancies: One physician who practices in Alexandria and is nominated by the Medical Society of Northern Virginia, and one citizen member who is not a health professional

Public Records Advisory Commission

  • Two-year term
  • The commission meets the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
  • There are two vacancies for citizen members

Real Estate Assessment Review Board

  • Three-year term
  • The board meets three times per week from June to December at the call of the chair
  • There are two vacancies for citizen members

Sister Cities Committee

  • Two-year term
  • The committee meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m.
  • There are two vacancies for citizen members

Social Services Advisory Board

  • Three-year term
  • The board meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m.
  • There is one vacancy for a client of the Department of Social Service

Visit Alexandria Board of Governors

  • Three-year term
  • The board meets the third Monday of the month in January, March, May, June, July, October, and November
  • There are two vacancies: One hotel owner/manager representative, and one member to represent any of the four categories — Hotel, Restaurant, Association or Retail

Waterfront Commission

  • Two-year term
  • The commission meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 a.m.
  • There is one vacancy for a citizen member who resides East of Washington Street and North of King Street

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.