Highlights of major activities and other notable developments.
City Teams Support Annual Polar Plunge
Members of the Fire Department, Volunteer Rescue Squad and Parks, Recreation and Events provided support for the 10th Annual EOD Warrior Polar Plunge. The event took place on February 4th at City Dock, and drew approximately 300 participants this year with an additional 200 spectators that watched from shore. Three Ice Rescue Technicians from the Fire Department were able to stay in the 37 degree water for prolonged periods due to the special suits that simultaneously provide insulation and flotation, while members from the Volunteer Rescue Squad and one Medic from the Fire Department provided support on the shore.
Editor’s Note: Read more at Photos: 10th Annual Polar Bear Plunge
Information Technology Meeting
The IT Department recently hosted a VaLGITE (Virginia Local Government IT Executives) meeting. This professional community is dedicated to sharing information and addressing issues of importance to local government technology service organizations in the state. Thirty IT Executives from localities of all sizes from Fairfax and Chesterfield to Essex and Louisa, including our regional partners in Stafford, Spotsylvania and King George met in Fredericksburg to discuss current legislative issues impacting municipal broadband and GIS, NG911 or Next Generation 911 (which allows voice, photos, videos and text messages to be received by the public through the 911 network), Northrop Grumman’s disentanglement from state IT Support, and FirstNet (a broadband network serving local, state, tribal and federal public safety needs), as well as other pivotal technological issues facing local governments today.
Daddy Daughter Dance
Approximately 75 girls plus their dads danced the night away at the Second Annual Daddy Daughter Dance. The Parks and Recreation sponsored event was held on Friday, February 3 at the Dorothy Hart Community Center. Although a photographer was on site to take portraits, the girls also enjoyed a ‘selfie station” that staff had set up. AmeriCorps provided six volunteers who helped at the dance before heading to Gloucester on Sunday.
Collaborative Efforts with UMW
Economic Development and Tourism staff are collaborating with UMW Professor Kashef Majid and his International Marketing students to develop creative iterations designed to attract new international visitors to the City of Fredericksburg. EDT staff lectured at UMW on Friday to explain existing domestic and international tourism efforts and basic tourism marketing principals. Students will then work with Professor Majid on their versions of new electronic ads or videos. In early March, those designs will be vetted by EDT, and several will be selected for implementation on social
media and Fredericksburgva.com. Students will then monitor for international response to the advertising
Caroline Street Water/Sewer Improvement Line Project
Work will continue in the 500 block of Caroline Street on the water line improvement project. The sanitary sewer work will begin in early March in the 500 block which will require closing the street (between Wolfe Street and Lafayette Boulevard) to traffic during work periods (daylight hours, Monday through Friday, with the closure remaining in place periodically during overnight hours as well) for a period of approximately five weeks. See Council memo Item #11C in the February 14 Council Packet for more details.
Editor’s Note: Mr. Baroody prepares a City Manager’s report for each City Council meeting.
More
City Manager’s Update 01/05/17
Fredericksburg City Council 2017 Schedule
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