Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D
Business Meeting
St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church
July 13, 2009
Andy Litsky, Chairman

Minutes

As Proposed by ANC 6D Secretary

Commissioner Litsky called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

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

1. Agenda.

Commissioner Litsky modified his proposed agenda to replace Ruth Hamilton’s presentation with a discussion of Southwest Safeway’s liquor-license application; and to add Juanita Jones’s request for ANC support of a Health Fair and Commissioner Jorgensen’s report regarding a bus stop. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded to approve the agenda as modified. The motion passed 5-0. Commissioners Hamilton and McBee abstained.

2. June Minutes.

Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded to approve the proposed June 8, 2009 minutes. The motion passed 5-1, with Commissioner Moffatt opposed. Commissioner Litsky abstained.

3. Liquor Licenses.

a. Safeway.

Safeway, Inc., has applied for a Class B liquor license for its supermarket to open spring 2010 in the Waterfront Station development (former site of the Waterside Mall). The Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board will hear the application August 24. To reflect commissioners’ concerns about management of this Safeway, and to permit time to negotiate a voluntary agreement, Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded to protest the application on the grounds a license would threaten the community’s peace, order, and quiet. The motion passed 7-0. Commissioner Jorgensen moved/Commissioner Moffatt seconded to appoint Commissioner McBee to represent ANC 6D at the ABC Board hearing August 24. The motion passed 6-0. Commissioner McBee abstained. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded to hold a town meeting, before September 15, 2009, to discuss Safeway’s liquor-license application, management of its current 401 M Street supermarket, and its likely management of the new supermarket, with an announcement by August 15 of the date, time, and location of the town meeting. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded to amend the motion so that the town meeting will take place before September 30, 2009. Without objection, the motion was so amended. The motion to hold a town meeting passed 4-2, with Commissioners Jorgensen and McBee opposed and Commissioner Litsky abstaining.

b. Parkway Wine & Spirits.

Parkway Wine & Spirits has applied for a license to sell liquor at 156 L St., SE. The ABC Board will hear this application August 3. To permit time to determine the status and terms of any applicable voluntary agreement, and if necessary to negotiate a new voluntary agreement, Commissioner Siegel moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded to protest the application on the grounds a license would threaten the community’s peace, order, and quiet. The motion passed 7-0.

c. Bullpen.

In April, across N Street from Nationals Park’s centerfield gate, Fairgrounds LLC opened an open-air beer garden it calls the Bullpen. ANC 6D voted to support Fairgrounds’ liquor-license application conditioned on inclusion in the license of a specific voluntary agreement. Several ANC 6D commissioners have expressed concern that the Bullpen is violating its agreement, particular regarding parking and the presence of trash, debris, and a visible on-site manager. At the July meeting, Commissioner Siegel agreed to prepare a check list for enforcement of the voluntary agreement.

4. Public-Space Permits.

a. AIDS Walk 2009.

Whitman-Walker Clinic’s Kevin Reynolds, Logistics Coordinator of AIDS Walk 2009, made a presentation about this year’s AIDS Walk, scheduled for October 3. It will follow the identical route for the third consecutive year, will enter no residential portion of the neighborhood, and has generated no previous complaints from ANC 6D residents. A copy of the proposed route is attached to these minutes. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Moffatt seconded to support the 2009 AIDS Walk with its proposed route. The motion passed 6-0. Commissioner McBee did not vote.

b. Health Fair 2009.

Juanita Jones, of the South Washington/West of the River Family Strengthening Collaborative (SWWR), made a presentation about SWWR’s Health Fair 2009. The Health Fair will take place September 12 at King-Greenleaf Recreation Center, and will require temporary closing of Canal St. between First St. and Delaware Ave., SW. Everything will be identical to last year’s Health Fair except that the organizers will block Canal St. with water barriers instead of yellow police tape. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded to send letters to the DC Emergency Management Agency and to the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs supporting the Health Fair and the temporary closing of Canal Street. The motion passed 6-0. Commissioner Moffatt abstained.

c. Courtyard by Marriott.

At its June meeting, ANC 6D voted to support the public-space permit application of Courtyard by Marriott (CBM) to set up outdoor dining tables at the corner of L St. and New Jersey Ave., SE--conditioned (in part) on CBM’s addressing the concerns of residents who live above that corner. Residents had objected to tobacco smoking on New Jersey Ave., SE. Commissioner Siegel reported that CBM promised to prohibit smoking on the New Jersey Ave. portion of its outdoor seating, and that nevertheless CBM customers continue to smoke there.

5. ANC Elections.

DC City Council Bill 18-345 would move ANC elections from the November general election to the September primary election. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a resolution opposing moving the date of ANC elections. A copy of the resolution is attached to these minutes. The motion passed 7-0.

6. Announcements and Reports.

a. Announcements.

1) Upcoming ANC Meeting.

Commissioner Litsky announced that the ANC will hold its next public business meeting starting 7 p.m. Monday, September 14, in the second-floor Admiral Rooms of the Courtyard by Marriott, 140 L St., SE.

2) Picnic and Reception.

Commissioner McBee announced Councilmember Tommy Wells’s Ward Six Family Day picnic, scheduled for 12-4 p.m. at Lansburgh Park Saturday July 18; and the Community Benefits Coordinating Council’s Wine-and-Cheese reception, scheduled for 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, August 12, at Hogate’s (the former H2O), 800 Water St., SW.

b. Reports.

1) Public-Safety Report.

a) ANC 6D.

Officer Dustyn Hugee, of the Metropolitan Police Department’s First District, reported that, in Police Service Area (PSA) 104, violent crime rose 33% from July 1-12, 2009, over the same period in 2008; but that compared to the previous year overall crime in that period dropped 4%. He also reported an arrest for a homicide committed near the corner of N and First Streets, SW, between July 6 and 11, 2009. First District Officer Raj Dohare reported on a recent juvenile altercation near the Southwest Safeway.

b) Washington, DC.

Stephanie Ng of the Polaris Project reported on human trafficking in Washington, DC. The Prohibition Against Human Trafficking Act of 2009 (Bill 18-70) is pending in the City Council. Polaris plans a September 26 DC walk to raise awareness.

2) Appropriations.

a) Treasurer’s Report.

Commissioner Jorgensen moved/Commissioner Moffatt seconded to approve the treasurer’s monthly report for July 2009. A copy of that report is attached to these minutes. The motion passed 7-0.

Commissioner Jorgensen moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded to approve the treasurer’s quarterly report for April-June 2009. A copy of that report is attached to these minutes. The motion passed 7-0.

b) Community-Outreach Grants.

Commissioner Litsky reported that ANC 6D has exceeded its Fiscal Year 2009 budget for awarding community-outreach grants.

c) Off-Budget Appropriations.

At its June meeting, ANC 6D voted to appropriate up to $2,700 to purchase bookbags for free distribution August 22 to ANC 6D youth. Commissioner McBee reported that the bookbags will be distributed to “anyone who would like to use them” on either August 22 or 23, and that Fort McNair and SWWR will participate. Commissioner Jorgensen moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded to describe ANC 6D’s plans to the DC Attorney-General and ask him whether this appropriation complies with ANC law. The motion passed 7-0.

3) Bus-Stop Letter.

At its May meeting, ANC 6D voted to urge the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) to move a WMATA bus stop from the southeast corner of 7^th and G Streets, SW, to the northeast corner. Commissioner Jorgensen reported that DDOT has rejected the suggestion on the grounds that moving the bus stop would slow down two bus lines and interfere with their schedules.

4) Chairman’s Report.

Commissioner Litsky reported on testimony, regarding the E Street Fire Station Project, before the DC City Council Committee on Economic Development; on meetings with the DC Office of Planning regarding development across the city’s waterfront; and that to prevent the spread of West Nile Virus--recently discovered in mosquitoes at Fort McNair--the city may temporarily drain stagnant pools in the park at 6^th and I St.

7. Community Concerns and Audience Time.

ANC 6D resident Gene Solon spoke about ANC 6D minutes and ANC 6D testimony, and reported a recent Washington Post article about office vacancies.

Former ANC 6D Commissioner Mary Williams reported on the ongoing community protest against renewal of Cap Liquors’ liquor license, scheduled for a status hearing July 29.

ANC 6D resident Jay Dintaman spoke about the need for neighborhood playgrounds, and also about street cleaning on G St., SW.

8. Adjournment.

Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded to adjourn. The motion passed 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:53 p.m.