Advisory Neighborhood Commission
6D
Ron McBee, Chair
April 12, 2010
Business Meeting
St. Augustine’s Episcopal
Church
April Minutes
As Approved by ANC 6D May 10, 2010
Commissioner McBee called the meeting to order at 7:14 p.m.
Present: Commissioners McBee, Hamilton, Jorgensen, Litsky, McBee, Moffatt, Siegel,
and Sobelsohn.
1. Agenda.
From his proposed agenda Commissioner McBee deleted Avon Walk for Breast Cancer,
Pump for Park at 6th and Eye, Nationals Update, and the proposed Adjournment
“Start Time.” Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Litsky seconded
to approve the agenda as modified with two additional changes: correct the
spelling of Guy Bergquist’s last name, and add extension of the Maine
Avenue/Water Street parking-meter times. The motion passed 7-0.
2. March Minutes.
Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded to approve the proposed
March 8, 2010 minutes. The motion passed 6-1, with Commissioner Moffatt
opposed.
3. Public Space.
a. Arena Stage Stop Signs.
Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Jorgensen seconded to send a letter urging
the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) to erect permanent all-ways stop
signs at each of the corners of K and 6th Streets, SW. The motion passed
6-0. Commissioner Hamilton did not vote.
b. Army 10-Mile Race.
The US Army’s annual 10-mile race will come through a non-residential portion of
ANC 6D on Sunday, October 24, between 7:50 and 10:40 a.m. A copy of the
proposed 2010 route is attached to these minutes. George Banker, Operations
Manager, reported that the DC police received no complaints about the 2009
race, which had the same route. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner
Siegel seconded to express support for the 2010 Army Ten-Miler based on its
proposed route. The motion passed 7-0.
c. King Greenleaf Irrigation
System.
Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded to send a letter to
the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation supporting the DC Department of Parks
and Recreation (DPR) application for a grant to install an irrigation system at
the King Greenleaf Recreation Center ballfield. The motion passed 7-0.
d. Waterfront Parking Meters.
Commissioner Litsky moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded to send a resolution to
DDOT to support “the Petition for Modification of Parking Meter Operations submitted
by the Washington Waterfront Association on behalf of the business owners,
tenants and property owners living adjacent to the SW Waterfront,” requesting
that DDOT “modify the parking meters along Maine Avenue and Water Streets, SW
in Ward Six, from 2 (two) hours to 4 (four) hours.” The motion passed
6-0. Commissioner Hamilton did not vote.
4. Committees and Task Forces.
a. Southwest Safeway Task
Force.
Southwest Safeway Task Force chair Robert Sockwell reported that the task force
had helped to improve the previous Safeway and to bring on-line the new Safeway,
and that the task force had further work to do, particularly in the next two
months as the new Safeway begins operations. Commissioner Jorgensen
moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded to dissolve the task force immediately. Commissioner
Sobelsohn moved to table the motion. The motion to table died for want of
a second. The motion to dissolve the task force passed 4-3, with
Commissioner Hamilton, Siegel, and Sobelsohn opposed.
Commissioner Moffatt moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded “to address this situation
again with this task force in 60 days and with the specific addition that all business
in ANC 6D will be concerned.” The motion passed 4-3, with Commissioners
Jorgensen, Litsky, and Sobelsohn opposed.
b. Alcohol Beverage Control
Committee.
ANC 6D Alcohol Beverage Control Committee chair Coralie Farlee reported the imminent
opening of Justin’s, the pending renewal of the Mandarin Oriental’s liquor
license, her ongoing negotiation of a “side contract” with Shulman’s, an upcoming
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC Board) hearing regarding Ziegfeld’s
license, and her committee’s support for a stipulated license for DC Harbor
Cruises. Commissioner Siegel moved/Commissioner Litsky seconded to recommend,
to the ABC Board, a stipulated license for DC Harbor Cruises LLC t/a Patriot
II, reserving the right to protest the full application. The motion passed
6-0. Commissioner Sobelsohn abstained.
5. Other Announcements and Presentations.
a. Officer Reports.
1) Treasurer’s Report.
Commissioner Jorgensen moved/Commissioner Moffatt seconded to approve a quarterly
report covering January-March 2010. A copy of the report is attached to
these minutes. The motion passed 6-1, with Commissioner Sobelsohn
opposed.
2) Chair’s Report.
Commissioner McBee reported that ANC 6D will hold its next public meeting on Monday,
May 10, starting 7 p.m., at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church.
600 M St., SW. He also reported the Safeway opening April 15;
Nationals Neighborhood Night April 23; DDOT’s meeting April 27 on the Nationals
Park Traffic Operations and Parking Plan; and the start July 2010 of construction
on a 17th Street levee.
b. City Council.
At-Large DC Councilmember Phil Mendelson spoke about issues before the DC Council,
including the mayor’s proposed budget.
c. Community Garden.
Camille Cook of ANC 6D spoke about community gardens in Southwest, including a proposed
garden across the street from the Amidon-Bowen Elementary School.
d. Community Playground.
Southwest residents Melody Webb, Felicia Couts, Jamila Bey, and Jessica Lindeman
spoke about the need to create a community playground in Southwest.
e. CSX Railroad Tunnel.
CSX Corporation Federal Affairs Director Stephen Flippin and AECOM Senior Transportation
Engineer Daniel Worke spoke about plans to enlarge the railroad tunnel
underneath Virginia Avenue, SE, between 2d and 11th Streets. This major
construction project could take from 2011-2014. Flippin promised CSX will
hold a town meeting sometime this summer to discuss the project.
f. Randall Pool Rehabilitation.
DPR aquatics manager Sean Link reported that DPR is renovating the Randall Pool,
including the locker facilities, and will reopen the pool on May 29.
g. Water Taxi.
Shaun Guevarra, president of American River Taxi, reported plans this June to launch
his water-taxi service between Georgetown and Alexandria, with its hub at the
Gangplank Marina on the Southwest Waterfront. His taxis will run every
day year-round from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., cost $8 per ride, and accommodate 30 passengers
each.
6. Adjournment.
Commissioner Siegel moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded to adjourn. The
motion passed 7-0. The April meeting adjourned at 10:45 p.m.