February Town Hall Meeting Planned for City’s Watershed Management Plan

City of Falls Church City Council and Public Works Director Bill Hicks agreed Monday night to hear from the public before moving forward on a new watershed management plan.

In the first reading of the plan at the City Council meeting Monday night, Hicks said it would be a good idea to discuss the plan in detail with the public first. A town hall meeting is slated for Feb. 13 before a regular City Council meeting. Mayor Nader Baroukh said he wants to hear from the public before voting on the plan on Feb. 27.

“The plan is a good one but the way we fund it is another discussion,” Baroukh said at the meeting. “I look forward to hearing public comment on this.”

The watershed management plan will be referred to the Planning Commission, the Environmental Services Council, the Tree Commission, the Chamber of Commerce, the Village Preservation and Improvement Society, and to the public for comment before being voted on at the Feb. 27 Council meeting. The plan focuses on three goals: Reducing flooding to improve safety and protect property, restoring and maintaining a healthy local aquatic ecosystem, and to address flooding citywide.