Alexandria’s mayor has appointed seven members to a new Waterfront Plan Work Group who will be charged with identifying plan consensus areas and disagreements as the city strives to redevelop that area.

Meetings are expected to begin this month and are open to the public.

“The appointed Waterfront Plan Work Group is an exceptional group of community leaders, uniquely qualified to provide guidance on the most challenging areas of the Waterfront Plan,” said Mayor Bill Euille. “I received a strong list of candidates from throughout the city, and I am confident that the appointees that were chosen are dedicated to narrowing our differences, building towards a consensus, and offering solutions."

The group is expected to make some sort of recommendations to council this fall.

The following individuals have been appointed to the Waterfront Plan Work Group:

• Christopher Ballard, principal at McWilliamsBallard, a residential real estate and marketing firm focused on the East Coast;
• Bert Ely, head of Ely and Company, a financial institutions and monetary policy consulting firm;
• Melinda "Mindy" Lyle, President of Connections Marketing Associates;
• Elliot Rhodeside, Principal, Rhodeside & Harwell, a firm offering urban planning and landscape design with a focus on revitalization and sustainability;
• Nate Macek, a transportation consultant representing the Waterfront Committee;
• David Olinger, a realtor, representing the Old Town Civic Association;
• Lt. Gen Bob Wood (ret), served as the Army’s senior strategic planner in developing and implementing the Army’s strategic response plan for combating worldwide terrorism in the wake of 9/11; and
• City Councilman Paul Smedberg, who will serve as a non-voting council representative and convener of the Work Group.