In looking ahead for what Alexandria will be facing in 2014, a number of issues have carried forward from last year
: New Superintendent: Now that taxpayers have handed over $300,000 to let former school Superintendent Morton Sherman out of his contract early, School Board members are looking for another chief administrator to run the city's 19 schools. City residents can participate in a survey until Jan. 19, and School Board members are expected to make a selection in the early months of the year. Jefferson-Houston School: After years of failing test scores, state leaders are poised to take control of Jefferson-Houston School, which offers Kindergarten through 8th grade under the newly created Opportunity Educational Institution. The takeover will coincide with the opening of a $45 million new facility currently under construction. City leaders say they will fight the takeover, although they declined to participate in a lawsuit challenging the law. Potomac Yard Metro: The coming year will see the completion of a long-awaited environmental impact statement for a proposed new Metro station at Potomac Yard. The station could cost anywhere from $200 million to $500 million, depending on the location and design that emerges from the environmental impact statement process — if city leaders decide to move forward with it. The new debt would cause the city to exceed its own debt limits, and the National Park Service has raised concerns that a station would violate a scenic easement from the George Washington National Parkway. Sewage Solution: In the next few years, Old Town will be required to do something about the 10 million gallons of raw sewage the city dumps into the Potomac River each year. The problem is the "combined" sewer system that was installed in the 1800s, cutting edge in its day but outdated now. The system mixes storm-water runoff with untreated sewage. One option would be digging up 540 acres of Old Town streets, which would cost about $200 million and take years to complete. A more likely option is building underground storage units similar to ones in the District of Columbia, which would cost anywhere from $100 million to $200 million. * Eminent Domain: In 2014, Washington's Birthday won't be merely a celebration of the hometown Founding Father. It will also be the deadline for some kind of agreement between city officials and leaders of the Old Dominion Boat Club. Back in November, members of the Alexandria City Council adopted a motion setting a 90-day deadline for a resolution of a long-running conflict. If no agreement is struck, City Council members have indicated they are willing to move forward with steps to take a parking lot at the foot of King Street using the power of eminent domain.* Waterfront Hotel: Now that that the controversial waterfront plan is cleared of most of the legal hurdles standing in the way, developers are eager to benefit from the increased zoning. The new zoning approved by members of the Alexandria City Council almost triples density at three waterfront sites compared to what's there now. One of the developers is Carr Hospitality, which is seeking approval to develop a 120-room hotel at the Cummings property, which is located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Union and Duke streets. Members of the Board of Architectural Review have been critical of the project, although members of the Planning Commission may have a more favorable opinion when it comes before them early in the year. Another Election: The 2014 mid-year election will feature two congressional races. One is 11-term U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8), a former Alexandria mayor who was first elected in 1990. In the last election, Moran had three challengers: Republican Patrick Murray, Independent Green Party candidate Janet Murphy and independent candidate Jason Howell. Moran won with 65 percent of the vote. The other race on the ballot this year will be U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, an Old Town resident and former governor who was first elected in 2008. That was the year he beat former governor Jim Gilmore with 65 percent of the vote. The Republicans have decided that they will choose their Senate candidate using a statewide convention rather than a primary. Hold Your Wallet: Members of the Alexandria City Council have directed City Manager Rashad Young to deliver a budget that does not raise the tax rate, launching the annual budget season that will heat up in February. That's when the city manager will present his proposal, which will be amended by City Council members before they approve a final spending plan in May. The last budget had a historic four-cent increase in the tax rate, the largest tax hike in recent memory. * New Prosecutor: In January, longtime Commonwealth's Attorney Randy Sengel will step down after almost two decades in office. He will be replaced by Bryan Porter, son of former T.C. Williams Principal John Porter. Sengel was appointed commonwealth’s attorney in February 1997, when John Kloch became a Circuit Court judge. He ran for office later that year and won, eventually serving four four-year terms at the city courthouse.