Review Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 4/9/2021 - 7:00 PM
Category: Facilities and Operations
Type: Info
Subject: Joint Facilities Master Plan
ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 4: Strategic Resource Allocation
ACPS will strategically provide differentiated resources and supports to schools and departments.
Policy: FB - Facilities Planning
Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
File Attachment:
210409_Board_Brief_JFMP_v1.pdf
210409_ATT_1_210301_JFMP_March_Community_Meeting.pdf
210409_ATT_2_200914_JFMP_Needs_Assessment_Summary.pdf
Agenda Item Summary: Development of the Joint City-ACPS Facilities Master Plan (JFMP) has been in progress since 2019. The first phase of the planning process developed the framework of the plan. It verified decision-making criteria, common goals and standards for capital projects and defined the stages of capital project development. In February of 2020, a Community Open House was held to begin initial goal-setting and gather community input to establish the Guiding Principles of the JFMP.

The second phase of the JFMP planning process was the assessment of Alexandria’s public facility needs. Needs assessments were collected and analyzed across all City departments and ACPS. Information was synthesized into the Needs Assessment Summary demonstrating that despite recent investments, there are urgent community needs, but also opportunities to improve and optimize existing sites. The community was invited to participate in a Virtual Community Engagement session in September 2020 and provided feedback on materials through October. The Needs Assessment Summary and community feedback informed the third phase of the planning process to identify project options and develop an implementation plan.

A Virtual Community Meeting was held in March 2021 to present the Roadmap and Strategic Framework for the JFMP. The Roadmap provides conceptual scenarios for future project planning and assigns one of three themes to each City or ACPS asset. These three themes are Invest, Optimize, and Transform. All projects include commonalities and these themes are a tool to help organize resources and focus planning efforts. To achieve the Roadmap, the strategic Framework is the tool that outlines a clear process for master planning, project planning, and project implementation.

At present, staff is reviewing and refining the draft of the JFMP. We expect the Consultant for this project, Brailsford and Dunlavey, to present staff with a layout draft of the JFMP the first week in May for further refinement. A second Board brief and/or Board Meeting agenda item is anticipated in May to include the Executive Summary, Key Findings, and other materials. We anticipate that the JFMP will be presented for information to the School Board in early June.
Background: In May 2017, City Council adopted Resolution 2775 establishing the Ad Hoc Joint City-Schools Facility Investment Task Force to oversee the development of a Joint City-Schools Facility Capital Improvement Plan and provide recommendations related to further capital project implementation. One of the priorities resulting from subsequent Visioning Sessions was the development of a Joint City-ACPS Facilities Master Plan to guide informed decision making by creating a roadmap for future investment in City and ACPS facilities based on identified existing and projected needs.

The Joint City-ACPS Facilities Master Plan (JFMP) has been in development since October 2019 and will deliver a long-range, integrated, citywide blueprint for public facilities to benefit Alexandria residents. The plan will guide City and ACPS leaders in making informed decisions about planning and funding of future community facilities. Information has continued to be updated on the the JFMP webpage
Recommendation: The Superintendent recommends that the School Board reviews the attached materials to remain current with project progress.
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Dr. Alicia Hart - Executive Director of Facilities and Operations
Signed By:
Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. - Superintendent