Waterfront Group Member Defects to Write His Own Report

The Waterfront Plan Work Group marched efficiently through the final meeting of its six-month confab on Wednesday only to unravel in its last minutes when a member announced he intends to draft his own, separate report.

During the final 30 minutes of the four-and-a-half hour meeting, Bert Ely said: “I’m going to be drafting a separate minority report on my own just to summarize in a holistic way my perspective on the waterfront plan."

After a brief moment of stunned silence, fellow group members began voicing their concerns.

The usually diplomatic Elliot Rhodeside said: “Coming up with a minority report denigrates this whole process.”

Ely said he intended to attach his report to the work group’s final document, but backed down after outcry from other group members.

“I’m going to write something not to disrespect what Bob (Wood) and Nate (Macek) have put together. … I’m getting up to a higher altitude with issues in the report,” said Ely.

Rhodeside said Ely’s work should be done separate of the committee to which Ely responded he would identify himself as a member of the Waterfront Plan Work Group.

Macek, Mindy Lyle and Chris Ballard said they also objected to putting Ely’s report into the body of the group’s report.

The report represents “a group view. We don’t agree with everything,” said Lyle. “Council is not getting seven separate reports.”

David Olinger said he felt comfortable putting his dissenting view into footnotes in the group’s report.

Rhodeside asked Ely: “Do you feel your voice has not been heard?” to which Ely responded: “It’s been heard. It’s a matter of trying to restate what the issues are in a manner that’s all encompassing.”

Ely said he will circulate his report that reflects his outlook as well as those of other members and supporters of Citizens for an Alternative Alexandria Waterfront Plan.

“That’s such a poor approach. … It seems so counterproductive, so non-collaborative. There are different points of view around the table,” Rhodeside said.

Ballard concluded the meeting with a bit of levity: "Does this mean we're not going to get WPWG tatoos?"

The group plans to present its report on Jan. 10 to City Council, which is expected to vote on the city’s waterfront plan Jan. 21.