Chair Roger Moffatt called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.

Present: Commissioners Hamilton, McBee, Moffatt, Siegel, Skolnik, Sobelsohn.
Absent: Commissioner Litsky.

1. Agenda.

Commissioner Siegel moved/Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to approve the proposed agenda. Without objection, the following commissioners moved to amend the proposed agenda as follows: McBee--add discussion of letter to DDOT requesting a TOPP meeting; Skolnik--add discussion of a stipulated license for a new restaurant on the H2O site; Sobelsohn--add a motion regarding the SunTrust National Marathon, and two announcements under “Community Concerns.” Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded a motion to amend the proposed agenda by adding discussion of the June 2008 minutes. The motion to amend the agenda passed 4-2, with Commissioners Moffatt and Skolnik in opposition. Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded a motion to extend the meeting’s adjournment time to 10:50 p.m. The motion passed 6-0. The motion to approve the agenda, as amended, passed, 6-0.

2. Community Concerns.

Gene Solon, of Harbor Square, thanked Commissioner Skolnik for his service on the ANC.

Commission Sobelsohn made two announcements: on December 16-18, near the Navy Yard metro station at M St. and New Jersey Ave., SE, the Riverfront Business Improvement District will hold a holiday art market; and in 2009 the annual Art-O-Matic art festival will take place in ANC 6D07.

3. Liquor Licenses.

a. Single-Sales Ban Exemptions.

Coralie Farlee, chair of ANC 6D’s ABC Committee, presented requests, from CAP Liquors, Friendly Food Market, and Shulman’s Liquors, for exemption from the new Ward 6 Single-Sales Moratorium. The owners of CAP Liquors and Friendly Food Market were present; the owner of Shulman’s was not. Both CAP Liquors’ and Friendly’s owners agreed verbally that (a) they would make single sales only in transparent plastic bags and (b) they would not make single sales after one year after their exemptions begin, unless and until ANC 6D re-approves the exemption. Representatives of Syphax Gardens and James Creek Residents’ Councils supported all three licensees’ requests for exemption.

Motion: Commissioner Hamilton moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to support a one-year exemption, from the Ward Six Moratorium on Single Sales, for the Friendly Food Market, conditioned on a pledge from the licensee not to sell single servings thereafter unless and until ANC 6D re-approves the exemption. The motion passed 6-0.

Motion: Commissioner Hamilton moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to support a one-year exemption, from the Ward Six Moratorium on Single Sales, for CAP Liquors, conditioned on a pledge from the licensee not to sell single servings thereafter unless and until ANC 6D renews the exemption. The motion passed 5-0-1, with Commissioner Moffatt abstaining.

Motion: Commissioner Hamilton moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to support a one-year exemption, from the Ward Six Moratorium on Single Sales, for Shulman’s Liquors, conditioned on a pledge from the licensee not to sell single servings thereafter unless and until ANC 6D renews the exemption. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved to table the motion until the next ANC 6D meeting. The motion to table failed for want of a second. The motion to support a waiver passed 4-2, with Commissioners Moffatt and Sobelsohn in opposition.

b. Stipulated License: Hogate’s by Kristina.

Kristina Noell, prospective lessee of the former H2O site at 800 Water St., SW--property controlled by the DC government--presented plans to open, on the site, Hogate’s by Kristina, to include a restaurant, catering establishment, and coffee bar. She proposes to serve tour groups and corporate clients, and to host private events such as weddings. She also denied any continuing connection to her former employer, the owner of H2O, Abdul Khanu. Nina Albert, of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, encouraged ANC 6D to support Ms. Noell’s request for a stipulated alcoholic-beverage license.

Motion: Commissioner McBee moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to support the stipulated license conditioned on execution of a voluntary agreement to address issues like peace, order and quiet. The motion failed 2-3-1, with Commissioners Skolnik, Hamilton and Moffatt in opposition, and Commissioner Sobelsohn abstaining.

Motion: Commissioner Skolnik moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded a motion to send a letter to ABRA opposing a stipulated license because the applicant has presented neither a security plan nor any visible changes from H2O. The motion passed 3-2-1, with Commissioners Siegel and McBee in opposition, and Commissioner Sobelsohn abstaining.

4. Capper/Carrollsburg Hope VI Project.

     a. Trash Enclosures.

The DC Housing Authority’s David Cortiella gave a brief update on the status of trash enclosures for Capper/Carrollsburg town houses (see minutes for November 10, 2008). Motion: Commissioner Moffatt moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to send a letter to the Zoning Administrator asking to reopen the PUD for the Capper/Carrollsburg Hope VI project because placement of trash enclosures at the corner townhouses violates the PUD. The motion passed 6-0.

     b. PUD Modification.

Kyrus Freeman, of Holland and Knight, presented the request of EYA (the project’s developers) for support of modifications to the PUD for the Capper/Carrollsburg Hope VI development. These modifications include extension of the PUD until 2012, reduction in the number of commercial parking spaces, and an increase in the number of market-rate apartments and of the square feet in the office-building part of the development.

Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded a motion to table discussion of this request until ANC 6D’s next business meeting. Commissioner Sobelsohn/Commissioner Siegel moved to withdraw his motion to table. The motion to withdraw the motion to table passed by a vote of 4-2, with Commissioners Hamilton and McBee in opposition. Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to send a letter to the Zoning Commission asking that a hearing on the issue not be held before ANC 6D has an opportunity to act on it at on its January 12 meeting. The motion passed 6-0.

5. Architectural Review: 25 M St., SE (WMATA Garage).

Paul Tummonds, of Pillsbury, Winthrop, representing the Ackridge Company, appeared with a group of architects and other Ackridge representatives to seek ANC 6D support for a Zoning Commission Capitol Gateway Zoning Overlay architectural review of a mixed-use project Ackridge plans to build at 25 Half St., SE. The review is scheduled at the Zoning Commission on January 29th.

The project will have 363,000 sq. ft. of commercial space, 275,000 sq. ft. of residential space, and 56,000 sq. ft. of retail space. The retail space--to include both national and local businesses--will take up only 69% of ground-floor space, rather than the Overlay-mandated 75%. The loading docks, all on Van St., will take trucks no longer than 45’. The buildings will be LEED certified.

Motion: Commissioner McBee moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded a motion to postpone discussion of this project until the ANC’s next business meeting. The motion failed 2-3 with Commissioners Siegel, Skolnik, and Sobelsohn in opposition. Commissioner Moffatt did not vote on this motion.

Motion: Commissioner Siegel moved/Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to write a letter to the Zoning Commission supporting the Ackridge Company’s application for design revisions for 25 M St., SE. Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to amend the Siegel motion to support the Ackridge Company’s application for design revisions for 25 M St., SE, but also to urge the Zoning Commission to press the applicant on its request to reduce the ground-floor retail space to 69%, on the grounds that the Overlay’s 75% requirement will benefit the community and is consistent with the architectural requirements of the project. The motion to amend passed 4-0-2, with Commissioners Hamilton and McBee abstaining. As amended, the Siegel motion failed 3-3, with Commissioners Hamilton, McBee, and Moffatt in opposition. Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded a motion to establish an ad-hoc task force to work with Ackridge Company and its representatives between this business meeting and ANC 6D’s next business meeting to resolve outstanding issues, task-force members to be appointed by the ANC 6D Chair. The motion passed 5-1, with Commissioner Skolnik in opposition. Commissioner Moffatt appointed, to the task force, himself and Commissioners McBee and Siegel.

6. Street Closings.

    a. 5K Brain Tumor Race.

Nicola Beddowes, of the Cassidy Pinkard 5K Brain Tumor Race for Hope, presented plans for the May 2, 2009, race’s incursion into ANC 6D. Motion: Commissioner McBee moved/ Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to support plans for the race. The motion passed 6-0.

    b. Suntrust Marathon.

Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded a motion to include, in our letter regarding the route of the SunTrust National Marathon (see minutes for November 10, 2008), our concern that the route will cut off access to the 70 bus route and will pose a hardship on local residents with disabilities because they may be unable to walk to the Metro stop. The motion passed 6-0.

7. Letter to Arena Stage.

Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to send a letter of thanks to Arena Stage for installing spotlights on its 6th St., SW, construction site. The motion passed 6-0.

8. Transportation Letters.

     a. Supporting Nationals’ RFK Express Buses.

Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded a motion to send a letter to Councilmember Wells and DDOT urging the retention of the free express bus service between RFK Stadium and Nationals Ballpark during the baseball season. The motion passed 6-0.

b. Requesting TOPP Meeting.

Motion: Commissioner McBee moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded a motion to send a letter to DDOT requesting that a promised meeting on the TOPP and performance parking in ANC 6D take place. The motion passed 6-0.

     c. Requesting Prompt Mailing of Visitor Parking Permits.

Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to send DDOT’s Damon Harvey a letter requesting that DDOT mail out 2009 visitor-parking permits to Ward 6 residents as soon as possible; further requesting that DPW, MPD, and DDOT honor 2008 permits at least until January 31, 2009; and suggesting that DDOT place an ad in the Southwester explaining the visitor-parking-permit situation to the community. The motion passed 6-0.

9. Walk-In Clinic at Child and Family Services.

Dr. Cheryl Williams, Medical Director at DC Child and Family Services, asked for support for a Certificate of Need for a walk-in clinic, to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the agency’s headquarters, 400 6th St., SW. CFS will use the clinic to examine children being placed in foster care. Each child requires an examination. CFS has about 50 placements and between 100-150 replacements per month. Motion: Commissioner Skolnik moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to support the Certificate of Need for an on-site clinic for Child and Family Services. The motion passed 4-2 with Commissioners Hamilton and McBee in opposition.

10. Randall School Project.

Commissioner Sobelsohn reported on a meeting at Councilmember Wells’s office with the Corcoran’s new Chief Operating Officer, Sam Sweet, regarding the Randall School Project. Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion that, in the event ANC 6D cannot intervene in Sobelsohn and McBee v. Zoning Commission, ANC 6D file an amicus brief instead. The motion passed 4-0-1, with Commissioner Skolnik abstaining.

11. Minutes.

      a. June 2008.

Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded a motion to replace the June 2008 minutes, on the ANC 6D website, with a revised version (attached to these December 2008 minutes). The motion passed 4-1-1, with Commissioner Moffatt opposed and Commissioner Skolnik abstaining.

      b. October 2008.

Motion: Commissioner Skolnik moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to approve the October 2008 minutes, as presented. The motion passed 6-0.

      c. November 2008.

Without objection, Commissioner Sobelsohn moved to amend the proposed November 2008 minutes by deleting the first three sentences under “Agenda.” Motion: Commissioner Hamilton moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to approve the November minutes as amended. The motion passed 5-0-1, with Commissioner Moffatt abstaining.

12. Treasurer’s Report.

Commissioner Skolnik presented the Treasurer’s Report. The opening balance in the checking account was $33,600.37, and in the savings account $5,164.30. There was an interest payment of $1.06, for a closing balance of $5,165.36. Checks were written in the amount of $734.18 to Roberta Weiner for salary (Check #425); $170 to St. Augustine’s Church for meeting space rental (Check #426); $149.95 to U-Haul for storage space rental (Check #427); $400 to Syphax Garden Residents Council for rent (Check #428); $42.99 to Verizon for telephone service (Check #429); and $120 to The Southwester for an ad (Check #430). The closing balance of the checking account was $32,146.24. Motion: Commissioner Skolnik moved/Commissioner McBee seconded a motion to approve the November 2008 Treasurer’s Report. The motion passed 6-0. Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded a motion to send a letter of thanks to Commissioner Skolnik for his four years of service as Treasurer. The motion passed 5-0, with Commissioner Skolnik abstaining.

13. Adjournment.

Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 10:50 p.m.