Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D

Business Meeting

St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church

June 8, 2009

Andy Litsky, Chairman

Minutes

Approved by ANC 6D July 13, 2009

In the absence of the Chair, Vice-Chair Robert Siegel called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.

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

Absent: Commissioner Litsky.

1. Agenda.

Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Jorgensen seconded to approve the agenda proposed by the Vice-Chair. Commissioner McBee moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded to delay discussion of Marriott’s public-space permit application and the Dextro Energy Triathlon until just after Committee Reports. Without objection, the motion to approve the agenda was so amended. As amended, the motion to approve the agenda passed 4-0. Commissioner Hamilton and Moffatt did not vote.

2. Announcement of Upcoming Meetings.

Vice-Chair Siegel announced that the ANC will hold an administrative meeting Monday, July 6; and that the ANC will hold its regular July business meeting starting 7 p.m. Monday, July 13, at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 600 M St., SW.

3. Community Concerns.

ANC 6D resident Gene Solon spoke about ANC 6D minutes and ANC 6D testimony.

4. May Minutes.

Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Jorgensen seconded to approve the proposed May 11, 2009 minutes. The motion passed 4-1, with Commissioner Moffatt opposed. Commissioner Hamilton did not vote.

5. Public-Space Applications.

a. Courtyard by Marriott.

Courtyard by Marriott (CBM), 140 L St., SE, has applied to the Public Space Management Administration (PSMA), DC Department of Transportation, for a permit to set up 10 outdoor tables, half on L St., SE and half on New Jersey Ave., SE, to seat 40 diners. The application will come before the Public Space Committee on June 25, 2009. CBM Assistant General Manager Ellwood Reid reported CBM’s February 2008 promise, to residents who live directly above the proposed outdoor tables, to provide “smokeless ashtrays” for those tables. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded to send a letter to PSMA opposing this public-space permit on the grounds that (1) ANC 6D has heard nothing on this application from the residents who live above this public space; (2) unlike other cases of ANC 6D restaurants that wanted to put outdoor seating on public space, CBM has promised no community benefits specifically for ANC 6D residents; and (3) the ANC Commissioner whose district includes this public space has been unable, prior to our June 8 meeting, to discuss his concerns with the applicant. The motion failed 3-3, with Commissioners Jorgensen, Moffatt, and Siegel opposed. Commissioner Jorgensen moved/Commissioner Moffatt seconded to send a letter to PSMA supporting this public-space permit on the stipulation that CBM agree to prohibit patron smoking on the New Jersey Ave. side of the outdoor seating area. The motion failed 3-3, with Commissioners Hamilton, McBee, and Sobelsohn opposed. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded to send a letter to PSMA supporting this public-space permit on the condition that, by June 18, CBM work out, with an ANC 6D task force, (1) a community-benefits agreement covering this application and (2) an agreement addressing the concerns of the residents who live above the public space in question. The motion passed 6-0. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded to appoint Commissioners McBee, Moffatt, and Siegel to the ANC 6D task force charged with negotiating an agreement on these points with CBM. The motion passed 5-0. Commissioner Hamilton did not vote.

b. Dextro Energy Triathlon.

Ira Brody presented the Dextro Energy Triathlon’s request for permission to have its race come through a portion of ANC 6D on Sunday June 21. A copy of the race-route map is attached to these minutes. Brody promised that the race would require closing ANC 6D streets only from 6-9:15 a.m. that day. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Jorgensen seconded to send a letter of support for the Dextro Energy Triathlon. The motion passed 6-0.

6. Appropriations.

a. Treasurer’s Report.

Commissioner Jorgensen moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded to approve the treasurer’s monthly report for May 12-June 8. A copy of that report is attached to these minutes. The motion passed 6-0.

Acting Community Outreach Committee chair Dr. Beryl Rice reported her committee’s recommendation that the ANC grant $1,000 to the SouthWest Comm-Unity Forum for renting portable toilets during its 3rd Annual Unity Day, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., August 1, 2009, at the King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N St., SW. No one from SouthWest Comm-Unity Forum attended either the committee meeting at which the committee decided to recommend the grant, or the June 8 ANC meeting. Commissioner McBee moved to appropriate the $1,000 for portable toilets conditioned on the attendance, at an ANC meeting, of someone from SouthWest Comm-Unity Forum. The motion failed for want of a second. Commissioner Hamilton moved/Commissioner McBee seconded to appropriate the $1,000 for portable toilets. The motion passed 5-1, with Commissioner Sobelsohn opposed.

Commissioner Jorgensen moved/Commissioner McBee seconded to adopt, as ANC 6D policies, (1) not awarding community-outreach grants unless the applicant appears before the ANC to answer questions, and (2) not awarding a second community-outreach grant to the same applicant until, after the applicant has used its first grant, the ANC receives a written report and invoice regarding that first grant. Commissioner McBee moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded to amend the motion by adding, to the ANC 6D grant-application form, the requirement that applicants appear before the ANC and that the ANC receive a written report and invoice regarding a prior grant before considering a subsequent grant. The motion to amend passed 4-2 with Commissioner Jorgensen and Moffatt opposed. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Jorgensen seconded to table the main motion, as amended, until the ANC’s July business meeting. The motion to table passed 6-0.

c. Off-Budget Appropriations.

Commissioner McBee moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded to appropriate, for the ANC office, up to $700 for a new hard drive and new computer software. The motion passed 6-0.

Commissioner Hamilton moved/Commissioner McBee seconded to appropriate up to $2,700 to purchase 260 book bags for free distribution, by the ANC August 22 at the King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N St., SW, on a first-come first-served basis to ANC 6D youth. The motion passed 5-0. Commissioner Sobelsohn abstained.

7. Other Reports.

a. Alcohol Beverage Control Committee.

Committee chair Dr. Coralie Farlee reported on status hearings regarding license-renewal applications by Cap Liquors (1301 S. Capitol St., SW; hearing June 1) and Shulman Liquors (1550 1st St., SW; hearing June 22); the impending reopening of Hogate’s (800 Water St., SW); and the opening of the Bullpen on Half Street, SE, across N Street from Nationals Park’s centerfield gate. She agreed to check if the Bullpen is complying with city health laws and with its voluntary agreement with ANC 6D.

b. Public-Safety Report.

Commissioners Hamilton, McBee, and Moffatt reported DC Metropolitan Police parking in various parts of the neighborhood, particularly in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Delaware Ave., SW.

8. Audience Comment.

On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union, Sarah Ramuta and Chantal Khalil expressed opposition to a pending Emergency Crime bill, introduced by Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward Two) and under consideration by the DC City Council.

ANC 6D resident Nancy Masterson questioned the status of waterfront as public space.

ANC 6D resident Grace Daughtridge spoke about tour buses driving down G St., SW and also about flooded homes on G St.

Noting that 10 p.m. had passed without a motion to extend the time of the meeting, Commissioner Sobelsohn made a point of order, which the Vice-Chair did not recognize.

ANC 6D resident Gene Solon spoke about ANC 6D minutes.

9. Adjournment.

Commissioner Moffatt moved/Commissioner Jorgensen seconded to adjourn. The motion passed 5-0. Commissioners McBee and Sobelsohn did not vote. The meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m.

ANC 6D Treasurer's Report – June 2009

Opening Reconciliation

Checking: 29,250.04 $29,250.04

c 470 5/11/2009 Roberta Weiner $734.18 $28,515.86 $28,515.86

c 471 5/11/2009 St. Augustine's $170.00 $28,345.86 $28,345.86

c 472 5/11/2009 Syphax Gardens Resid. $400.00 $27,945.86 $27,945.86

Savings Account Activity: Interest: $0.44 Date: 5/31/2009

Petty Cash Disbursements: Opening: $120.00 Closing: $90.00

Cleaning $30.00

Checking Balance: $27,945.86

Savings Balance: $5,168.69

Petty Cash Balance: $90.00

Total Current Funds: $33,204.55 6/8/2009

Expenses Submitted for Approval:

473 6/8/2009 Roberta Weiner Admin. Salary $748.04

474 6/8/2009 St. Augustine's Space Rental $170.00

475 6/8/2009 Syphax Gardens Resid Space Rental $400.00

476 6/8/2009 SWNA Web Site $300.00

477 6/8/2009 Verizon Phone $85.98

478 6/8/2009 US Treasury Quarterly Tax $371.80

479 6/8/2009 DC Treasurer Tax $36.45

5/15/2009 Bank Fee New Checks $41.81

TOTAL $2,154.08