June 2011 Minutes

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2C

Public Meeting

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2C convened at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library, 1630 7^th Street, N.W., Washington, DC, on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.   Chair Alexander M. Padro presided.

Present:

Alexander M. Padro, Chair, ANC 2C01

Rachelle P. Nigro, Vice Chair & Secretary, ANC 2C04

Kevin L. Chapple, Treasurer, ANC 2C02

Doris L. Brooks, ANC 2C03

1. I.              CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

   Commissioner Padro called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.  Commissioner Nigro called the roll and the presence of a quorum was noted.

2. II.            APPROVAL OF AGENDA

   MOTION:  Commissioner Chapple moved and Commissioner Nigro seconded that the Agenda be approved as submitted.  The Motion passed unanimously, 4 – 0 – 0.

3. III.           PSA 308 REPORT: LT. JEFFERY CARROLL

   Lt. Jeffery Carroll of Police Service Area 308 reported on crime activity in the area for the period May 2-31, 2011 as follows:
   
   Robberies:                                                       4
   Burglaries:                                                       2
   Thefts from Vehicles:                                    8
   Stolen Autos:                                                              2
   Thefts:                                                           10
   Assaults with Dangerous Weapons:         5

   Lt. Carroll reported that 102 arrests were made within Police Service Area 308 and that thefts from automobiles are still on the rise.  Commission Brooks asked about the incident in which a disabled man had been pulled out of his wheelchair.  Lt. Carroll responded that the police involved were Metro Transit Police.

   Commissioner Padro reported hearing gunshots occasionally.  Lt. Carroll responded that things have been slowing down because of the summer crime initiative.

4. IV.          IMPACT OF WARD REDISTRICTING ON ANC 2C

   Ruth Werner, Committee Clerk for DC City Councilmember Jack Evans, reported that the redistricting effort was focused on equalizing the wards first and then the ANCs.

   The redistricting of the Wards will be effective January 1, 2012, followed by the ANC Commissions on January 1, 2013.

   Chair Padro explained that most of ANC 2C’s jurisdiction north of Mount Vernon Square was proposed to be shifted from Ward 2 to Ward 6.  This did not include the six city blocks occupied by the Washington Convention Center and several small apartment buildings owned by United House of Prayer for All People, and the block bounded by 9^th, 10^th, L and M Streets, NW.  The portion of the “chimney,” an area that protrudes into the current boundaries of Wards 2 and 5 on either side of New Jersey Avenue, NW, is proposed to be moved from Ward 6 to Ward 5. The current version of the redistricting proposal approved by the DC Council’s Redistricting Subcommittee also includes a provision for Ward 2 residents living in areas transferred to Ward 6 to continue to be issued Ward 2 Residential Parking Permits, addressing a frequent objection raised to the redistricting plan.

   Residents present at the meeting urged the Commission to consider asking that the apartment buildings on the west side of the 1200 block of 7^th Street, NW be included in the transfer to Ward 6, so that they could continue to be represented by the Commission.  Commissioner Brooks, who represents that block, agreed with the recommendation.

Other residents asked that the Commission recommend that the entire “chimney” be part of Ward 6.  Others asked that the blocks of Ward 1, where Progression Place, the Howard Theatre, and the Dunbar Theatre are located, be returned to Ward 2.

MOTION:  Chair Padro moved and Commissioner Chapple seconded that ANC 2C support the proposed ward redistricting plan resulting in a portion of the Commission’s jurisdiction being shifted from Ward 2 to Ward 6; that the blocks  bounded by 7^th Street, 9^th Street, M & N Streets be transferred to Ward 6 so that the residents of apartment buildings on the west side of the 1200 block of 7^th Street, NW, would be in Ward 6; that the blocks on both sides of New Jersey Avenue that form part of the “chimney” be kept in Ward 6; and that these recommendations be issued in writing to the Council of the District of Columbia.

Friendly Amendment:  Commissioner Chapple offered a friendly amendment which was accepted by Chair Padro that the two blocks of Ward 1 bounded by S Street at the south, 7^th Street at the west, Florida Avenue at the north, and Wiltberger Street at the East, formerly in Ward 2, be reunited with the adjacent neighborhood by shifting them to Ward 6.

The Motion passed unanimously, 4 – 0 – 0.

1. V.           CITYMARKET AT O, 1400 7^TH STREET, NW:  REQUEST FOR SUPPORT OF MINOR MODIFICATION TO PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT

Susan Linsky, project manager for Roadside Development, requested the Commission’s support for a minor change to the approved Planned Unit Development for the CityMarket at O project, to reflect the fact that parking spaces originally proposed to occupy underground vaults under public space on the site had been deleted from the plans several years ago.

MOTION:  Chair Padro moved and Commissioner Nigro seconded that ANC 2C support the request of Roadside Development for minor modifications to the Planned Unit Development for the CityMarket at O project, and that said support be communicated in writing to the Zoning Commission.   The Motion passed unanimously, 3 yeas – 1 nay (Commissioner Brooks) – 0 abstentions.

1. VI.          915 RHODE ISLAND AVENUE, NW:  REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR OFFICE USE

   Lenda Washington, one of the owners of 915 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, a three-story building next to the Phyllis Wheatley YMCA, requested the Commission’s support for having the Zoning Administrator allow the building, which has a Certificate of Occupancy for medical offices, to be used as professional office space. Washington noted that she is actively marketing the building at this time, is preparing to renovate the building, and would like to have the law firm of one of her business partners occupy part of the building.

   MOTION:  Chair Padro moved and Commissioner Chapple seconded that ANC 2C support the request to the Zoning Administrator to allow professional office space to be included in the allowable uses of the building at 915 Rhode Island Avenue, NW.  The Motion passed unanimously, 4 – 0 – 0.

2. VII.         1547 7^TH STREET, NW/THE WARRENTON GROUP:  CONSIDERATION OF ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST BLIGHTED PROPERTY

   Duane Oates, GSN Development, spoke on behalf of the owner, Warren Williams, owner of the property at 1547 7^th Street, NW.  Mr. Oates advised that his firm had been retained by Williams for a period of six (6) months to provide some solutions to the issues surrounding the property as follows:
   ► Security of the property:  the boarding over the windows will be re-secured;
   ► The graffiti will be removed from the roll down doors;
   ► The property will be monitored in order to promptly remove or paint over graffiti;
   ► A contract with a pest control company has been signed.

In addition, the Commission and the community requested the following:
► That new lighting on the building be installed to deter crime;
► That the temporary wall on the southernmost point of the property be repaired;
► That DPW install a new trash receptacle at the corner of the block;
► That DPW be asked to trim adjacent trees on 7^th and Q Streets, NW in order to improve the ability of existing street lighting to reach the sidewalk around the property.

MOTION:  Commissioner Chapple moved and Chair Padro seconded that ANC 2C formally ask Warren Williams to install lighting and repair the wall on the 7^th Street side of his property at 1547 7^th Street, NW to deter crime.

Amendment:  Commissioner Chapple amended his motion, which was accepted by Chair Padro, in that ANC 2C ask the DC Department of Public Works to install a trash receptacle on the SE corner of 7^th & Q Streets, NW and that this be communicated in writing to DPW.  The Motion passed unanimously, 4 – 0 – 0.

1. VIII.       LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY’S LIGHT THE NIGHT WALK, OCTOBER 15, 2011:  REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR STREET CLOSURES

   Jewell Hanson appeared on behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk to be held on October 15, 2011 and requested support for street closures.

   MOTION:  Chair Padro moved and Commissioner Nigro seconded that ANC 2C support the street closures required to conduct the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk on October 15, 2011, and that ANC 2C communicate this in writing to the Mayor’s Special Events Task Force and to the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.  The Motion passed unanimously, 4 – 0 – 0.

2. IX.          DV LEAP 10K RUN FOR JUSTICE, OCTOBER 1, 2011:  REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR STREET CLOSURES

   MOTION:  Chair Padro moved and Commissioner Chapple seconded that ANC 2C support the street closures in ANC 2C’s jurisdiction required to conduct the DV Leap 10K Run for Justice on October 1, 2011 and that ANC 2C communicate this in writing to the Mayor’s Special Events Task Force and to the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.  The Motion passed unanimously, 4 – 0 – 0.

3. X.           DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH LIVE WELL DC! WARD COMMUNITY COACHES CAMPAIGN:  PRESENTATION ON SERVICES AND PROGRAMS

   Rachelle Nigro (Ward 2), Sheila Cutchlow (Ward 4) and Christina Alexander (Ward 6), Community Coaches for the District’s Department of Health, spoke on behalf of Live Well DC, the city-wide media campaign dedicated to educating the public and increasing public awareness of the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices.

4. XI.          REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR ANC 2C WEBSITE, BRANDING AND NEWSLETTER:  PRESENTATIONS BY RESPONDING VENDORS
   
   Kimberly Zingale and Phillip Zelner appeared on behalf of Poccuo.  The company has been in business for three years.  Poccuo developed Councilmember Jack Evans’ website.  Their scope of work includes:  (1) options for logo; (2) banner that could be used as a template; (3) developing a website (static or one using a content management system).

   Commissioner Nigro added that a newsletter, design and branding are needed.

5. XII.         OTHER NEW BUSINESS

   Correspondence has been received from DDOT in which they responded positively to ANC 2C’s request to install a stop sign at 5^th & R Streets, NW.

   MOTION:  Commissioner Chapple moved and Chair Padro seconded that ANC 2C communicate to DDOT that it supports the placement of a stop sign at the south corner of the intersection of 5^th & R Streets, NW. The Motion passed unanimously, 4 – 0 – 0.

6. XIII.       OLD BUSINESS

   None.

7. XIV.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 05/04/11 MEETING

   MOTION:  Commissioner Nigro moved and Chair Padro seconded that that the Minutes of the ANC 2C Public Meeting on May 4, 2011 be approved subject to technical and conforming amendments.  The Motion passed unanimously, 3 yeas – 1 nay (Commissioner Brooks) – 0 abstentions.
   

8. XV.        APPROVAL OF EXPENSES

   A.  MOTION:  Chair Padro moved and Commissioner Chapple seconded that invoices that have been paid by Commissioner Nigro in the amount of $14.97 for the hosting of the ANC 2C website for three (3) months be approved.  The Motion passed unanimously, 4 – 0 – 0.

   B.  MOTION:  Chair Padro moved and Commissioner Chapple seconded that expenses incurred by Commissioner Nigro for registering the URLs ANC2C.org and ANC2C.us with Go Daddy.com for one year in the amount of $29.33 be approved. The Motion passed unanimously, 3 yeas – 1 nay (Commissioner Brooks) – 0 abstentions.

   C.  MOTION:  Commissioner Chapple moved and Commissioner Nigro seconded that expenses incurred by Chair Padro in the amount of $312.00 to restore ANC 2C Post Office Box be approved.  The Motion passed unanimously, 3 yeas – 1 nay (Commissioner Brooks) – 0 abstentions.

9. XVI.      ANNOUNCEMENTS

   A.  Chair Padro announced that the 11^th Annual American Classic Woman of the Year Pageant will be held on June 12, 2011 at Lincoln Theatre from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

   B.  The White House Rally for DC Democracy will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Lafayette Park, 16^th &  H Streets, N.W.

10. XVII.     ADJOURNMENT

    MOTION:  There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Chapple moved and Commissioner Nigro seconded that the meeting be adjourned.  The Motion passed unanimously 4 – 0 – 0.  Chair Padro  adjourned the meeting at 8:17 p.m.
    

NEXT ANC 2C MEETING:            Wednesday, July 6, 2011, 6:30 p.m.,
Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library

1630 7^th Street, NW