Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D

Minutes – November Business Meeting

At St. Augustine’s Church

November 10, 2008

Roger Moffatt, Chair

 

 

The meeting was called to order by Chair Roger Moffatt at 7:00 p.m.
 
Present: Commissioners Hamilton, Litsky, McBee, Moffatt, Siegel, Skolnik, Sobelsohn.  
 

1.    Agenda

 

Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/ Commissioner Hamilton seconded a motion to add discussion of the June minutes to the agenda.  The motion failed 3-3-1, with Commissioners Sobelsohn, Hamilton and McBee in favor, Commissioners Litsky, Moffatt and Skolnik opposed, and Commissioner Siegel abstaining.  The agenda was accepted 5-1-1, with Commissioner Sobelsohn in opposition and Commissioner Hamilton abstaining.

 

2.    Community Concerns

 

Barbara Ehrlich announced the Parade of the Boats on Saturday, December 6th.

 

Leah Rubalcaba of Ft. McNair announced the signing of their Covenant program with the Southwest community and army families on November 25th.

 

3.    Public Space Permit – Capper/Carrollsburg Town Houses

 

Adam Hayes, representing EYA, the developer of the Capper/Carrollsburg Hope VI town houses returned to the Commission to present a revised design for the trash enclosures for nine corner buildings that will house low-income residents at 900 4th Street SE and other addresses in that area.  The revised design shows a brick wall with staggered bricks to provide ventilation and more landscaping, but did not meet the ANC’s request to relocate the enclosures, provide covers for the enclosures or make them less obtrusive.  According to Mr. Hayes, the DC Housing Authority will maintain the landscaping.  The pad under the garbage cans will be graded, so that water from cleaning the pad will drain into the planted area.  Motion:  Commissioner Skolnik moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded a motion to oppose the public space permit on the ground that the trash enclosures unfairly single out the low-income housing units, intrude on the aesthetics of the development, create unsanitary conditions, and other reasons.  The motion passed 5-1-1, with Commissioner Siegel in opposition, and Commissioner Sobelsohn abstaining.

 

4.    Modification of 70 Bus Route Terminus

 

Gilbert Williams, of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) presented several proposed options for alternate terminus points for the 70 bus route, which currently ends at Half and O Streets SW. Four alternatives, including the existing terminus, were presented.  Councilmember Wells is neutral on the issue, and the DDOT Administrator says it should be left where it is.  Motion: Commissioner Litsky moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to delay a decision on the issue of the 70 bus terminus for at least one month.  The motion passed 6-0-1 with Commissioner Sobelsohn abstaining.

 

5.    Franchise Agreement between District and Verizon for FIOS Service

 

Sharon Robinson, representing Verizon, presented information on the franchise Verizon is seeking to provide its FIOS (fiber optic) high speed cable service in the District.  There is currently legislation pending before the City Council, which will be voted on in December by the Committee of the Whole.  

Southwest would be wired in the second phase of the introduction of the service.  There will be basic service available, and Verizon will wire the District’s recreation centers, as well as government buildings.  Motion: Commissioner Litsky moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to send a letter to the City Council supporting Verizon's application for a citywide franchise to install FIOS service in the District.  The motion passed 4-2-1, with Commissioners Sobelsohn and Skolnik in opposition, and Commissioner McBee abstaining.

 

6.    SunTrust National Marathon

 

Diane Thomas and Chris Brown, representing the SunTrust National Marathon, presented information on the proposed route for the marathon, which will take place on March 22, 2009.  The route will close P Street SW and 6th Street SW between the hours of 8:30 and 11:30 am on the race date.  Motion: Commissioner Litsky moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded a motion to urge the Emergency Management Task Force and Councilmember Wells to oppose the race route because it travels down 6th Street and should be moved to Water Street.  The motion passed 7-0.

 

7.    Corcoran/Randall School

 

Commissioner Sobelsohn reported that he and Commissioner McBee had filed a petition with the DC Court of Appeals to review the decision by the Zoning Commission to unilaterally approve the modification of the agreement for community benefits between the ANC and the Corcoran School, delaying implementation of several parts of the agreement.  He reported that while the ANC could not bring legal action, he believed it could become an intervener in his petition. Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion that ANC 6D file a motion to intervene in the Court of Appeals case, Sobelsohn and McBee v. Zoning Commission for the District of Columbia, an appeal of Zoning Commission order #07-13A.  Commissioner Sobelsohn is to draft the motion to intervene, together with Commissioner McBee and Commissioner Moffatt.  The motion passed 7-0.

 

(Commissioner McBee left the meeting at 10 p.m)

 

8.    Potbelly Benefits

 

Commissioner Sobelsohn reviewed the status of the community benefits agreement between the ANC and Potbelly Sandwich Works.  Motion:  Commissioner Hamilton moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion that under paragraph 9 of the ANC’s April 2007 agreement with Potbelly Sandwich Works, Potbelly is instructed to distribute its promised 150 sandwich coupons (under that paragraph) for this year (2008) as follows: 75 coupons to the Community Benefits Coordinating Coalition for use at their meetings, and 25 each to the Resident Councils of Syphax Gardens, James
Creek Houses, and Greenleaf Gardens. The motion passed 4-2, with Commissioners Litsky and Skolnik in opposition.

 

9.    Committee Reports

 

Alcoholic Beverage Control

 

Chair Coralie Farlee reported on the status of H2O and Zanzibar.  She reported on the confusion generated by incorrect letters sent to local merchants about the implementation of the Single Sales Moratorium legislation, which will go into effect in January.  She said that CAP liquor has written to ABRA requesting an exemption from the ban, and that she is working with Friendly’s grocery on developing a voluntary agreement.

 

10.  Minutes

 

Motion: Commissioner Skolnik moved/Commissioner Litsky seconded a motion to accept the September minutes.  The motion passed 6-0.

 

Motion: Commissioner Siegel moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded a motion to table the October minutes until the December meeting.  The motion passed 5-1, with Commissioner Moffatt in opposition.

 

11.  Treasurer’s Report

 

Commissioner Skolnik presented the Treasurer’s Report.  The opening balance in the checking account was $38,410.09.  The opening balance in the savings account was $5,163.20.  There was an interest payment of $.95, for a closing balance of $5,164.30.  Checks were written in the amount of $734.18 to Roberta Weiner for salary (Check #415); $90 to St. Augustine’s Church for meeting space rental (Check #416); $149.95 to U-Haul for storage space rental (Check #417); $400 to Syphax Garden Residents Council for rent (Check #418);  $37.13 to the DC Treasurer (Check #419); $378.68 to the US Treasury (Check #420); $1,601.05 to Commissioner Siegel for office equipment (computer) (Check #421); $165.90 to Roberta Weiner for office supplies (Check #422); $252.23 to Verizon for telephone service (Check #423); and $1000 to Kid Power for a grant (Check #424). The closing balance of the checking account was $33,600.37.  Motion:  Commissioner Skolnik moved/Commissioner Hamilton seconded a motion to approve the November Treasurer’s Report.  The motion passed 6-0.

 

Motion: Commissioner Skolnik moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to approve the revised ANC budget for FY 09.  The motion passed 6-0.

12.  Audience Comment

Coralie Farlee commented on the inconvenience being caused by the Jersey barriers on M Street in front of the CVS and the bank.

Naomi Mitchell announced that there will be substantial meeting space in the new 1st District police station at the Bowen School.

13.  Adjournment

 

Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting.  The motion passed 6-0.  The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 pm.