Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D
Business Meeting
St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church
December 14, 2009
Andy Litsky, Chairman

December Minutes

As Approved by ANC 6D, January 11, 2010


Commissioner Litsky called the meeting to order at 7:02.

Present: Commissioners Hamilton, Jorgensen, Litsky, McBee, Moffatt, Siegel, Sobelsohn.

1.  Agenda.

Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Moffatt seconded to approve the agenda as proposed.  Without objection, and at the motion of the following commissioners, the motion to approve the agenda was amended as follows:

     a.  Commissioner Litsky: create the category “Old Business,” to come before “New Business” and to include the proposed Safeway Voluntary Agreement.

     b.  Commissioner Sobelsohn: add, to the category “Old Business,” reports on the Randall Junior High School project and on the Old Friendship Baptist Church.

Commissioner Sobelsohn moved to amend the agenda to delete “Start Times” & “Allocated Times,” which have the meeting ending at 9:35.  The motion failed for want of a second.  The motion to approve the agenda, as amended, passed 7-0.

2.  November Minutes.

Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded to approve the proposed November 9, 2009 minutes.  The motion passed 5-0.  Commissioners Hamilton and Moffatt abstained.

3.  Alcoholic-Beverage Licensing.

     a.  Safeway.

Safeway has applied for a class B liquor license, permitting it to sell beer and wine at its new location in the Waterfront Station project.  With Safeway representatives, and acting on behalf of the ANC, Commissioner McBee and ANC 6D Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Committee chair Coralie Farlee have negotiated a voluntary agreement, committing the ANC to support Safeway’s license application.  Commissioner McBee moved/Commissioner Jorgensen seconded to support Safeway’s class B liquor-license application, in exchange for Safeway’s execution of that voluntary agreement, a copy of which is attached to these minutes.  The motion passed 6-1, with Commissioner Sobelsohn opposed.

     b.  Single-Sale Exceptions.

Farlee reported that the ANC 6D ABC Committee, after considering changes to voluntary agreements with three liquor licenses in ANC 6D, has unanimously recommended that the ANC support these licensees’ continued exceptions from the Ward Six ban on sales of single containers of alcohol.

4.  Public-Space Permit.

In fall 2007, the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) Public Space Committee granted Potbelly Sandwich Works permission to set tables and chairs on the sidewalk in front of 409 3d St., SW.  In exchange for Potbelly’s promises under a benefits agreement, the ANC supported that permit.

Under its 2007 agreement, Potbelly promises 150 free-sandwich coupons each year to a designated ANC 6D recipient.  Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded to designate, for 2009, 100 coupons to go to the Amidon-Bowen Elementary School Parents Teachers Association (PTA), and 50 coupons to go to the Jefferson Middle School PTA.  The motion passed 6-0.  Commissioner Litsky abstained.  Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded to make the same designation for 2010 (100 coupons to the Amidon-Bowen PTA, 50 coupons to the Jefferson PTA), unless by its September 2010 meeting the ANC has made a different designation.  The motion passed 4-0.  Commissioners Litsky, Moffatt, and Siegel abstained.

Under its 2007 permit, Potbelly can keep tables and chairs on the sidewalk each year from April through October.  Potbelly recently applied for permission to keep its tables and chairs on the sidewalk year-round.  Commissioner Sobelsohn reported that negotiations have progressed but not concluded to secure ANC support for that application.  Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/
Commissioner Hamilton seconded to adopt a resolution, to send to the Public Space Committee (PSC), advising the PSC to delay its final decision until after January 11, 2010, and to grant the application in the interim limited to December 2009 and January 2010.  The motion passed 5-0.  Commissioners McBee and Moffatt did not vote.

5.  Federal Law: the Hatch Act.

Under a Justice Department interpretation of the federal Hatch Act, ANC commissioners cannot engage in partisan political activities.  Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a resolution to support overturning this interpretation and enactment of a local DC Hatch Act that leaves ANC Commissioners free to engage in political activity to the same extent as other elected DC officials.  A copy of that resolution is attached to these minutes.  The motion passed 6-0.  Commissioner Hamilton did not vote.

6.  Announcements, Presentations, and Reports.

     a.  Next Public ANC Meeting.

Commissioner Litsky announced that ANC 6D’s next business meeting will start 7 p.m. Monday, January 11, in the sanctuary of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 600 M St., SW.

     b.  Zoning.

          1)  Waterfronts: Travis Parker and Stephen Varga, both of the DC Office of Planning (OP), presented plans for updating DC’s zoning code regarding city waterfront areas.  The new code would let waterfront developers keep the “Waterfront” designation but also permit them to seek approval of Planned Unit Developments.  Changes would not directly affect the Southwest Waterfront.

          2)  Car sharing: Parker, Varga, and Zipcar’s Ellice Perez presented plans to amend the zoning code to permit building owners to rent spaces to car-sharing programs such as Zipcar.

     c.  Flood-Control Map.

OP’s Anita Hairston, DC consultant Mary Wiedorfer, DDOT’s Jeffrey Seltzer, and Phetmano Phannavong and Timothy Karikari, both of the DC Department of the Environment, gave an update on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s proposed new Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map for Southwest Washington.  This new map’s adoption would place many ANC 6D homes in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).  Federal law requires most SFHA homeowners to purchase flood insurance.  But a new levee on 17th Street, NW, would reduce the flood risk enough to keep ANC 6D homes out of an SFHA, and avoid the federal requirement to buy flood insurance.  Phannavong, Seltzer, and Wiedorfer promised to send ANC 6D a list of ANC 6D addresses the proposed new map would include in an SFHA.  Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded for ANC 6D to send a letter to DC Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton expressing concern about the proposed flood map, the urgency of building the 17th Street levee, and ANC 6D support fo
r her efforts to delay the new map’s adoption to allow time to secure levee funding.  The motion passed 7-0.

     d.  Safeway Task Force.

Commissioner Sobelsohn reported on recent work of the ANC 6D Southwest Safeway Task Force.  Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded to name, to the task force, Southwest Neighborhood Assembly president Carolyn Mitchell and ANC 6D resident Susan Henriques-Payne.  The motion passed 6-0.  Commissioner Siegel did not vote.

     e.  City Council update.

Naomi Mitchell, staff for Councilmember Tommy Wells (D-Ward Six), reported on matters before the DC City Council.

     f.  Treasurer’s Report.

Commissioner McBee moved/Commissioner Moffatt seconded to accept the treasurer’s report for December 2009, a copy of which is attached to these minutes.  The motion passed 6-0.  Commissioner Siegel did not vote.

     g.  Chairman’s Report.

Commissioner Litsky reported his interchange with DC Delegate Norton about the Southwest Post Office’s recent stamp shortage.

     h.  Community Concerns.

Lenwood Coleman spoke about upcoming youth-oriented events in ANC 6D and gave, for more information, his telephone numbers (488-4301 (work) and 679-6500 (cell)).

7.  Adjournment.

Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Litsky seconded to adjourn.  The motion passed 4-0.  Commissioners Jorgensen, McBee, and Siegel did not vote.  The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.


 

Stars & Bars Red 

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D

PO Box 71156    Washington, DC  20024-9998

ANC Office: 202 554-1795 n FAX: 202 554-1774

office@anc6d.org

 

 

 VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT

 THIS VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made on this 14th day of December 2009 by and between Safeway, 1100 4th Street, S. W. (“Applicant”), and Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D (“Protestant”), (collectively, the “Parties”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, Applicant has applied for a Retailer's Class B License for a full service grocery store business  establishment (“Establishment”) that sells food and alcoholic beverages for consumption off the premises.  These premises are located at 1100 4th Street, S. W., Washington, D.C. (“Premises”);

WHEREAS, Protestant is ANC6D which filed a timely protest (the “Protest”) against the issuance of the Applicant’s license application pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 601(4);

WHEREAS, the Parties have agreed to enter into this Agreement and request that the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (“ABC Board”) approve the Applicant’s license application conditioned upon the Applicant’s compliance with the terms of this written Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Parties are desirous of entering into a Voluntary Agreement pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 25-446 for the operation and maintenance of alcoholic beverage sales in such a manner as to minimize the effect on the peace, order and quiet of the neighborhood and to eliminate the need for a Protest Hearing regarding the  license application.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals set forth above and the mutual covenants and conditions set forth below, the Parties agree as follows:

1.         Recitals Incorporated. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein by reference.

2.         Nature of the Business.   

a.  The Applicant will manage and operate a full service grocery store with an emphasis on food in which sale of alcoholic beverages constitutes no more than 15 (fifteen) percent of the total volume of the gross receipts on an annual basis.  The beer and wine department will be in an area of the Establishment which will occupy approximately 2500 square feet of the total store square feet of 54,769, or 4.5 percent of the total floor area of the Establishment. 

b. If the Establishment desires to have wine or beer tasting events, the Establishment will notify the ANC at least 7 (seven) days in advance of the proposed event. 

            c. The Applicant shall not sell single containers of beer or single serving containers of wine of 70 ounces or less.  The Applicant shall not sell the following malt beverages such as “Country Club,” Colt 45,” and “Schlitz Malt Liquor.”  In addition to domestic products, Applicant agrees to sell premium and imported beers and wines. 

d. In the event that the Protestant finds objectionable certain beer and wine products that the Applicant sells, the Applicant will make itself available to meet with the Protestant to discuss its concerns and the possibility of withdrawing such items.

 

e. The Applicant will place warning signs indicating that “alcohol can cause birth defects” and make available alcohol awareness and anti-drug literature in the store.

 

f. The Applicant will not have signs visible from the outside of the premises indicating that beer/wine is available for sale.

 

g. Any change from this model shall be considered by the Parties to be a substantial change in operation of great concern to residents and require prior approval by the ABC Board.

 

3.         Hours of Operation.

            The Applicant’s current hours of operation are:

            Sunday 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight (m)

            Monday through Saturday 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 m

            Applicant may increase or decrease hours of store operations at its discretion.

 

            The Applicant’s hours for selling alcohol shall be as follows:

            Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and

Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m.to 12 midnight or as otherwise ordered by the ABC Board.

 

4.         Control of Sales.

 

            a. Applicant will not sell alcoholic beverages to minors.  Applicant shall program scanners to prompt cashiers to check the identification of all persons seeking to purchase alcoholic beverages who appear[s] to be 30 years of age or younger.  Such persons must produce a valid identification document issued by an agency of local, state, or federal government.  Such document must contain the name, date of birth, signature, and photograph of the bearer. Cashiers may request the customer to produce a second form of identification.  Applicant shall post signs at each register advising patrons that two (2) forms of identification may be required for the purchase of alcoholic beverages.  If a cashier is offered an identification document that he/she believes to be fake, fraudulent, or a misrepresentation of the holder’s true identity, cashier shall call the ABC manager on duty for a determination of its validity, and, if appropriate, contact applicable law enforcement personnel.  Applicant is encouraged to evaluate the utilization of an ID card reader at the check-out location to ferret out false, forged, and fraudulent identification and take reasonable steps, as required by law, to prevent sales of  beer or wine to minors. 

            b. In the self check-out area, Applicant shall ensure that all attempts to purchase beer or wine are supervised and checked by an ABC manager, cashier, or clerk, as well as by electronic monitoring of the purchase.

            c. The Applicant shall program its checkout scanners to prompt its sales clerks to refuse a sale when a purchase of an alcoholic beverage is attempted outside the authorized hours of sale.

            d. The Applicant agrees to have personnel who may be required to be in charge of the store at any given time participate in an ABC Board-approved course in alcoholic beverage sales within thirty (30) days of assuming the position. The on-duty store manager has ultimate responsibility for implementation of this Voluntary Agreement and ABRA laws and requirements.  The Applicant shall not sell alcoholic beverage products at any time when a licensed ABC Manager is not on duty. 

            e. The Applicant agrees to establish and maintain an alcohol awareness training program (or to arrange for its employees to attend such a program administered by others) for all appropriate staff, including Store managers, other supervisory personnel, and cashiers. 

            f. Applicant will not sell alcoholic beverages to any person who appears to be         intoxicated.

 

5.         Floors Utilized  and Occupancy.   The Applicant will operate its establishment on the first floor of the building.   

6.         Parking Arrangements.  It is a concern of the Protestant that the Applicant’s operation of the Establishment does not create or exacerbate parking problems within the ANC boundaries. An underground parking garage is available for customers’ use.

7.         Noise and Privacy.  The Applicant will abide by the DC Noise Control Act of 1977 and any subsequent amendments.

 

8.         Public Space and Trash.  Applicant shall keep the sidewalk (up to and including the curb), tree box(es), curb, and alley clean and free of litter, bottles, and other debris in compliance with D.C. Code and Municipal Regulations.  Applicant shall police these areas sufficiently to assure that refuse and other materials are promptly removed.  The Applicant agrees to obtain a dumpster to be placed in the rear of the building.  Applicant shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the area immediately around the dumpster is kept clean at all times and the dumpster is placed such that it does not encroach on the abutting property and so that no garbage is placed on the abutting property.  Further, Applicant agrees that it shall take reasonable measures to ensure that other establishments at the site of the former Waterside Mall are not negatively affected by litter from the Establishment.

 

9.         Rats and Vermin Control.  The Applicant shall provide rat and vermin control at the Establishment.  Applicant shall provide proof of its rat and vermin control contract upon the request of the Protestant.  Applicant shall take steps to ensure that its premises are cleaned on a daily basis.

10.       Security Cooperation in Stemming Sale of Alcoholic Beverages, Availability of  Illegal Drugs and Public Drinking. 

a. Protestant is concerned that the type of business and large number and variety of patrons will pose security and crime issues.  Applicant will take reasonable steps to minimize such problems, including, without limitation, designating a sufficient number of employees, special police officers,  or employees of a security contractor to enhance security and to appropriately control patrons, whether inside or in the immediate outside area; maintaining contact and cooperating with MPD and other enforcement officials when known or suspected illegal drug activities occur.

b. The areas of display of beer and wine will be monitored by human and/or electronic surveillance at all times for control and security. 

c.  Applicant shall to the full extent permissible by law discourage loitering in and around the Premises and shall post signs to that effect. This shall include inside and outside cameras which record and store activity for a 30-day period. Applicant will become familiar with the Metropolitan Police Department’s “barring notice” process used for shoplifters, disorderly people and/or intoxicated persons who need to be barred from the premises for the next twelve months.  Applicant will work with its landlord and with the Commander of First District, MPD or a designee to ensure that loiterers are barred from the area surrounding the premises.  This will include providing an appropriate number of security officers, at all times when the Establishment is open to the public, who shall be responsible for ensuring that any individuals who are loitering are asked to move along.  Applicant agrees to post or provide the security firm specific instructions regarding how to handle incidents such as disorderly conduct, loitering, etc.  Applicant will abide by current statutes for merchants which outline specific actions for retailers.

 

 

d. Applicant will cooperate with MPD in the investigation of criminal offenses within and immediately around the Establishment.  The Applicant shall secure all crime scenes to the best of its ability and shall endeavor not to contaminate, destroy, alter or clean any crime scene until authorized to do so by the lead MPD official on the scene of the offense.  Within 30 days after the license is granted by ABC Board the Applicant shall review security measures and security plan with the Commander of the First District or a designee and will work to the best of its ability to comply with the recommendations. 

 

e.  Applicant will work with landlord, Commander First District MPD, ANC6D, and community groups to promote and ensure public safety and security in the area of the Establishment

 

 

11.       License Ownership and Compliance with ABRA Regulations.  Applicant will abide by all applicable Alcoholic Beverage Regulations Administration (ABRA) regulations regarding the ownership of the license and all other provisions applicable to liquor licensees, and agrees that Protestant shall have standing to ask the ABC Board to enforce the terms of this Agreement.  Applicant will be the sole owner of the ABC license.

 

12.       Participation in the Community.

            a.  Applicant agrees to seek to maintain open communication with the Protestant, and the community for which the ANC acts.  To this end, Applicant shall appoint a community representative who will, at least quarterly, attend ABC Committee meetings, and  ANC6D public meetings which currently occur on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 6th & M Streets, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024 [there is no meeting in August, and the October meeting is on the third Monday].  Applicant, upon notice from the ANC shall send a representative of the Establishment to a meeting(s) to confer and deal in good faith with issues raised under this Agreement.

            b.  Applicant will cooperate with ANC6D in its efforts to alleviate alcohol abuse problems, and loitering by participating in above and other community meetings as appropriate.  The Applicant shall cooperate, as much as feasible, with ANC6D to improve the overall environment in and immediately around the premises to make a more pleasant, safe area for residents, customers and other businesses.

 

            c.  As employment opportunities arise, the Applicant will make job announcements in the ANC 6D neighborhood and will work with non-profit group(s) to sponsor job-readiness workshops.  Applicant will endeavor to provide support to improve the quality of life for residents of the neighborhood, including support to civic and cultural organizations in the ANC6D area of the SE/SW community.

 

13.       Notice and Opportunity to Cure.  In the event that either of the parties is in breach of this Agreement, it shall be entitled to reasonable notice and opportunity to cure, as a condition precedent to the Protestant seeking enforcement of the Agreement. Unless the breach is of an emergency nature or is a repetition of a prior breach, reasonable notice and opportunity shall provide for a cure within 30 days of the date of such notice.  If Applicant or the licensee fails to cure within the 30-day period (or, with respect to a breach which reasonably requires more than 30-days to cure, fails to commence cure of such breach and diligently pursues such cure) failure shall constitute a cause for seeking a Show Cause Order from the ABC Board pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 25-447.  Unless otherwise noted above, any notices required to be made under this Agreement shall be in writing and mailed via certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or hand-delivered, to the other party to this Agreement at the following addresses.  Notice shall be deemed given as of the time of receipt or refusal of receipt:

If to Applicant:           Safeway, Inc.

4551 Forbes Boulevard

                                    Lanham, MD 20706

                                                ATTN:  Regional Vice President

                                                (301) 918-6870

                                                Fax (301) 918-8941

 

If to Protestants:         Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D

                                    P. O. Box 71156

Washington, DC  20024

Attn: Chair

                                                (202) 554-1795

                                                Fax (202) 554-1774

 

Failure to give notice shall not constitute waiver or acquiescence to the violation, but notice shall be a prerequisite to the filing of a complaint with the ABC Board or any other enforcement action. 

14.       Withdrawal of Protest.  Upon execution of this Agreement by the Parties and its acceptance by the ABC Board, Protestants shall withdraw the Protest.


 

 

PROTESTANT

Chair, ABC Committee, ANC6D        

                                                                   

___________________________________

Coralie Farlee                              Date

 

 

ANC6D03

 

__________________________________

Commissioner Ron McBee          Date

 

 

ANC6D

 

__________________________________            

Andy Litsky, Chair                    Date

ANC6D                                                               

APPLICANT:                                   

 

Safeway, Inc.

4551 Forbes Road

Lanham, MD 20706

301-918-6870

 

 

___________________________________

By: Steve Neibergall                        Date

       President, Eastern Division

 

 

 

 

                                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#19, 12/9/09

 


 

 

                                                     ANC 6D Hatch Act Resolution

WHEREAS, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), United States Department of Justice, has interpreted the federal Hatch Act to apply to ANC Commissioners; and--

WHEREAS, applying the federal Hatch Act to ANC Commissioners prohibits them from engaging in many otherwise lawful partisan political activities, such as standing as a candidate in a partisan election, or even raising funds for partisan political candidates; and--

WHEREAS, ANC Commissioners are elected officials and not administrative government employees, and therefore limiting their political activity does not serve the purposes of the federal Hatch Act and raises serious questions under the first amendment to the United States Constitution;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that ANC 6D emphatically supports legislation overturning the OSC interpretation of the federal Hatch Act, and also supports enactment of a local DC Hatch Act that leaves ANC Commissioners free to engage in political activity to the same extent as other elected DC officials; and--

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that ANC 6D authorizes the sending of letters reporting this resolution to Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mayor Adrian Fenty, members of the DC Council, and United States Senators expected to vote on Hatch Act reform.


Andy Litsky
Chairman, ANC-6D
December 14, 2009

 


 

ANC Treasurer's Report - Nov 2009

s Report - Dec 2009

 

 

 

 

 

Opening

Reconciliation

Checking:

$26,671.98

$26,671.98

c

514

11/9/2009

Roberta Weiner

$775.74

$25,896.24

 $25,896.24

c

515

11/9/2009

St Augustime's

$170.00

$25,726.24

 $25,726.24

c

516

11/9/2009

Syphax Gardens Residence

$400.00

$25,326.24

 $25,326.24

c

517

11/9/2009

Robert Siegel

$18.96

$25,307.28

 $25,307.28

c

518

11/9/2009

Verizon

$42.99

$25,264.29

 $25,264.29

c

519

11/9/2009

Bert Randolph

$823.00

$24,441.29

 $24,441.29

c

520

11/9/2009

Ron McBee

$2,145.73

$22,295.56

 $22,295.56

 

$22,295.56

 $22,295.56

 

$22,295.56

 $22,295.56

 

$22,295.56

 $22,295.56

 

$22,295.56

 $22,295.56

 

$22,295.56

 $22,295.56

 

$22,295.56

 $22,295.56

 

$22,295.56

 $22,295.56

 

 

Savings Account Activity:

Interest:

$0.43

Date:

11/30/2009

 

 

 

 

 

Checking Balance:

$22,295.56

 

 

Savings Balance:

$5,170.85

 

 

Petty Cash Balance:

$134.44

 

 

Total Current Funds:

$27,600.85

11/5/2009

 

 

Expenses Submitted for Approval:

 

 

521

12/2/2009

Bert Randolph

Office supplies

$205.21

 

 

522

12/2/2009

U.S. Postal Service

Postage

$44.00

 

 

523

12/8/2009

Bert Randolph

Salary

$823.50

 

 

524

12/8/2009

Verizon

Phone

$1,615.08

 

 

525

12/8/2009

Verizon

Internet

$42.99

 

 

526

12/8/2009

Ron McBee

Office Cleaning

$30.00

 

 

527

12/8/2009

St. Agustrine

Meeting Space

$170.00

 

528

12/8/2009

Greenleaf Residents Council

Office Rental

$400.00

529

12/14/2009

Robert Siegel

Office Equipment

$18.01

TOTAL

$3,348.79