Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D

Ron McBee, Chair

May 9, 2011

Business Meeting

 

Minutes

As Approved by ANC 6D on June 13, 2010

 

 

 

Present Commissioners: Bob Craycraft, Cara Shockley, Ron McBee, Andy Litsky, Roger Moffatt, Rhonda Hamilton, and David Garber.

 

Also in attendance:  Bert Randolph, Staff Assistant.

 

Commissioner McBee called the meeting to order 7:10 p.m.

 

1.  Redistricting Presentation

 

Prior to the start of the monthly business meeting, Council members Michael Brown and Phil Mendelsohn, members of the District of Columbia’s Redistricting Committee, made a presentation to the Commission and community attendees on the redistricting process. 

 

Questions and Community concerns were voiced about the proposal by Councilmember Marion Barry to move ANC6D into Ward 8.  Next steps in the process include:

            - May 25 – Initial “mark-up” from Redistricting Committee, to be followed by community comment

            - July 14 -  Ward redistricting completed

            - December 30 – ANC redistricting completed

 

2.  Approval of the Agenda

 

Following items were removed by Chair

- Item 2, Introduction of the Commission was skipped to allow for the Redistricting Discussion

- Item 11, Waterfront Associates Update

 

An agenda item was added for Team2EndAIDS Endurance Training Program

The agenda was approved as amended by vote of 7- 0.

 

3.  Public Safety Report

 

No one from MPD was present to make the report.

 

4.  Announcement of June Meeting

 

Chairman McBee announced the June meeting as June 13 at 7:00pm in the Arena Stage, Mead Center for American Theater at 1106 Sixth Street, S.W.

 

 

5.  Meeting Announcements

 

- May 12 – DC Department of Planning community meeting on the SW EcoDistrict/Maryland Avenue SW Redevelopment, 6:30pm, 1101 Fourth Street, S.W., 4th Floor

- May 14 – Port of Washington’s Blessing of the Fleet, 12:00noon at 7th Street landing

 

6.  Approval of March and April Minutes

 

Secretary Craycraft advised the March and April minutes were still in revision and requested approval be delayed until the June 13 meeting.

Motion passed without objection.

 

7.  Retirement of Commander David Kamperin, First District, MPD

 

Announcement of a retirement observance May 21 for Commander Kamperin was made by Chairman McBee, who also noted that the District One Metropolitan Police Department office responded 25% of all the District’s calls.  Commander Kamperin recently received several accolades and awards for the work the First District has shown in crime reduction and closing cases.  Commander Groomes will be at the June ANC 6D meeting to discuss MPD’s redistricting and will bring the new Commander for the First District.

 

8.  Resolution on Redistricting

 

Commissioners Garber and Litsky made a motion in support of a resolution to oppose the redistricting of ANC6D into another Ward and it was seconded by Commissioner Shockley.  The vote was   (7 to 0).  Commissioner McBee made the motion (seconded by Commissioner Shockley) to send copies of the Resolution to the Mayor and all DC Councilmembers.  The vote was   (6 to 0).  Commissioner Litsky had left the meeting.

 

9.  Consolidated Forensic Laboratory

 

Allam Al-Alami, City Project Manager for the District’s Consolidated Forensic Laboratory, gave a community update that noted the 287,000 sq. ft. facility on Fourth and D Streets, S.W., is on schedule and on budget.  The project is meeting or exceeding all District local hiring and procurement goals.  An on-site tour of the facility, to show some specific enhancements before they are covered up, will be scheduled with ANC 6D. Major upcoming dates include:

-          November 1 – Exterior completed

-          December 1 – Landscaping completed

-          January 1 – Construction fencing removed 

-          June – Move-in of approximately 270 employees begins with ultimate staffing level of nearly 400 anticipated

 

A concern was raised about DDOT’s reluctance to approve a Public Space Permit to allow the current sidewalk tunnel to be moved into the westernmost lane of Fourth Street for a two-month period starting sometime in June.  Commission Craycraft, who represents the SMD, offered ANC’s support of the District’s Department of Real Estate Services in requesting DDOT to maintain pedestrian traffic on this important commuter and visitor pedestrian byway.  Allam Al-Alami expressed his appreciation and agreed to contact Commissioner Craycraft if DDOT did not grant the request.

 

10.  Fourth and M Streets, S.W., Intersection

 

Chairman McBee advised the reworking of the Fourth and M Streets, S.W., intersection by DDOT had been delayed due to the lack of a letter of intent “to remove the left-turn signal” going south on 4th Street at M Street, SW, heading east on M Street toward South Capitol Street, as recommended by DDOT and approved by ANC 6D..

 

Commissioner McBee noted that Mr. Cheeks had finally gotten approval from the other departments in DDOT to issue the letter of intent.  Additionally, Commissioner McBee mentioned that several SW residents commented on the issue of “seeing” the single left-turn arrow at the NW corner on 4th Street directing traffic West onto M Street.  This problem is a result of the inside second lane drivers having their view of the signal arrow blocked by traffic in the lane to their left.  Having a second arrow at the intersection on the NE corner for those drives would alleviate the visibility issue for drivers.  Mr. Cheeks requested that this request be sent to him in writing for analysis by the DDOT engineers.

 

11.  Metrobus Routes 70/71

 

Commissioner Hamilton presented the following resolution:  The ANC  opposes the replacement of Metrobus Routes 70 and 71 with a new Route 74 which would only run 5am-8pm weekdays and offer no weekend service.  Both Commissioners Hamilton and Shockley noted the vital importance of Routes 70 and 71 for their constituents to commute to jobs in the Silver Spring area, including on weekends.  Commissioner Hamilton made then moved the motion (seconded by Commissioner Garber) to support the Resolution as offered.  The resolution was approved, the vote was  (7 to 0).  Commissioner Hamilton and Chairman McBee are authorized to testify on behalf ANC 6D regarding keeping Routes 70 and 71 intact.

 

12.   Hoffman-Madison Interim Uses Program

 

Bob Rubenkonig represented Hoffman-Madison Waterfront (HMW) in an update on the Farmers Market to be launched Thursdays 5pm-8pm in the7th Street Landing beginning in June.  Produced in cooperation with the Neighborhood Restaurant Group and Arcadia Farms, the market will include live jazz coordinated by Westminster Presbyterian Church, table seating, and beer and wine sales.  Commissioner Shockley confirmed with Mr. Rubenkonig that food stamps would be accepted at the market.  Security and alcoholic beverage approvals have been secured.  Commissioner Litsky made the motion and was seconded by Commissioner Garber to support the plan as discussed.  The resolution was approved, the vote was   7 to 0

 

13.  Team2EndAids Endurance Training Program

 

Tisha Vaska, Associate Program Director, presented her organization request to the Department of parks and Recreation to use the Town Center East Park, commonly referred to as the Southwest Library Park, at Third and I Streets, S.W., as a staging area for 200-400 marathon training participants on Saturday mornings from May 21 through December 3.  Commissioners expressed concern over the 7:00am starting time and the requested use of a megaphone in a heavily residential area in a park that is targeted for conversion to a playground.  Bob Rubenkonig on behalf of HMW offered the use of 7th Street Landing.  Ms. Vaska, Mr. Rubenkoening, and Commissioner Craycraft will have further dialogue on staging the Saturday events in 7th Street Landing and report back to the Commission.  In order to not impede the project in the short term, the Commission Garber made the motion and was seconded by Commissioner Moffatt  to allow the use of Town Center East Park starting May 21 through June 4, and then to review the issue at the June 9th regular ANC meeting.  The resolution was approved, the vote was 6 to 1.  Commissioner Litsky voted no.

 

14.  ABC Committee

 

The ABC Committee, at its March 30 meeting, recommended approval of a CR license for Kabob of India, Inc., t/a Lucky Kabob, at 1548 First Street, S.W.  Commissioner Hamilton and Committee Chair Farlee subsequently met with the applicant and neighbor(s) and Commissioner Hamilton indicated opposition to the request for a dancing endorsement.  The Commission voted   (7 to 0) to recommend approval of a Class CR alcoholic beverages license for the applicant. The applicant has signed a Voluntary/Cooperative Agreement and a Community Cooperative Side Agreement.  Although the applicant had initially applied for an endorsement for dancing, he agreed to remove that request.

 

15.  Quarterly Financial Report

 

Treasurer Shockley presented the 1Q2011 financial report.  Commissioner Shockley made the motion to approve the quarterly report as submitted and was seconded by Commissioner Litsky.  The resolution was approved, the vote was   (6 to 0).  Commissioner Hamilton was out of the room at the time of the vote.  The Commission has ended the quarter with a cash balance of $13,778.42.

 

16.  Chairman’s report

 

Chairman McBee forewent his report due to the heat in the room and the  length of the meeting.

 

17.  Community Concerns

 

Rikki Kramer, of River Park, spoke to the Commission to express her concern over her perceived lack of communication on The Wharf Waterfront development PUD process, in particular the critical timelines for community input.  Commissioner Craycraft asked Ms. Kramer what she felt the most effective form of communication would be to reach the community.  Ms. Kramer advised she felt an e-mail list serve was most effective. 

 

Gene Solon left the meeting before this segment, but he provided the Commission a copy of his printed comments for the record.

 

18.  Adjournment

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.