Advisory
Neighborhood Commission 6D
65
I Street SW
Washington,
DC 20024
Minutes
February
14, 2005
Chairman Andy Litsky called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.Present: Commissioners Assalaam, Litsky, Moffatt, Siegel, Skolnik, Sobelsohn, and Williams.1. Approval of agenda
Commissioner Skolnik moved to amend the proposed agenda by adding presentations from representatives of the Office of Planning and the Department of Transportation. Without objection, the agenda was so amended.Commissioner Williams moved to amend the proposed agenda by adding, under "Commission Operations," "Approval of new agenda outline." Without objection, the agenda was so amended.Without objection, the amended agenda was approved.2. Community concerns
No one from the community spoke under this agenda item.3. Police report
No one from the police department spoke under this agenda item.4. Approval of minutes of January 10 meeting
Commissioner Williams moved to amend the minutes, as proposed, by adding, under “Commissioner Concerns”, and after “Commissioner Williams expressed her concern about people stapling or otherwise marring trees by posting flyers and advertisements.” "Commissioner Williams stated that stapling anything to trees is against the law and people should report such activity to the police." The motion to amend passed without objection.Commissioner Moffatt made/Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to approve the minutes as amended. The motion passed, 5-1-1, with Commissioner Assalaam voting no and Commissioner Williams abstaining.5. Fannie Mae Foundation
Beverly Wilbourn of the Fannie Mae Foundation thanked the community for its support of Fannie Mae's cancelled plans to relocate to the site of the Waterside Mall. She offered "no hope" that Fannie Mae would reconsider, but expressed Fannie Mae's continued commitment to Southwest and the near Southeast communities.
6. Health Outreach Information Network
Former DC Councilmember Nadine Winter made a presentation on behalf of the Health Outreach Information Network. The Network has an office in the Greenleaf Gardens. She asked for volunteers and for artwork for the Network's pamphlets and to beautify the Southwest clinic. The Network's telephone number is (202) 863-3888.
7. Road races
Rick Freedman made a presentation about three upcoming foot races that will cross into ANC 6D on the mornings of Saturday, March 12; Sunday, April 17; and Sunday, May 1.
8. Office of Planning & Department of Transportation
Cindy Petkac and Chris Delfs introduced themselves. Ms. Petkac ((202) 442-7617) is the new Ward 6 Neighborhood Planning Coordinator for the DC Government's Office of Planning (OOP). She pledged that she will coordinate with ANC 6D on plans for the new baseball stadium, as well as, more generally, the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative. Mr. Delfs ((202) 671-1598) is the new Ward Six transportation planner for the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT). He indicated that he is working on transportation plans for the new stadium, to include parking, Metrorail, and bicycle access.
9. L'Enfant Plaza redevelopment
At the January 10 ANC 6D meeting, representatives of JPG Construction presented of their concept design for the redevelopment of L'Enfant Plaza. Commissioner Skolnik made/Commissioner Litsky seconded a motion to send a letter of support for approval of the JBG concept. Without objection, it was agreed both that the letter would express concern for more definite plans regarding bus parking, also that the letter would not conflict with ANC 6D support for the proposed Benjamin Banneker memorial at L’Enfant Plaza. The motion passed 5-2, with Commissioners Moffatt and Sobelsohn voting no.
10. Trash transfer station zoning appeal
Commissioner Siegel reported that Eastern Trans-Waste of Maryland has filed an appeal to the DC Board of Zoning Appeals regarding a license to renovate their transfer station at N and First St., SE. Commissioner Siegel made/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion that the ANC support this appeal. The motion failed: Commissioner Siegel voted yes, Commissioners Litsky and Skolnik voted no, and the remaining four commissioners abstained.11. Alley closings in ANC 6D07
Commissioner Siegel reported that an application has been filed on behalf of the owners of five different properties in his single-member district to close several alleyways. Commissioner Siegel made/Commissioner Moffatt seconded a motion to send a letter to the Office of the Surveyor and to members of the City Council opposing this application. The motion passed 7-0. Commissioner Litsky offered to help draft the letter.
12. Four housing bills pending before the City Council
Commissioner Sobelsohn reported on four bills up for a hearing before the DC City Council on February 16, 2005. The bills (1647, 1648, 1650, and 1651) would (a) extend rent control 5 years; (b) require landlords to disclose the basis for their rent ceilings; (c) restore to tenants their rights to notice and purchase of their rental-apartment buildings when landlords try to sell those buildings; and (d) permit tenants to challenge any rent increases since filing of the original base rent on their apartments. Commissioner Sobelsohn made/Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to support Bills 1647, 1648, and 1650. (The text of the motion is attached to these minutes). The motion passed 7-0. Commissioner Sobelsohn made/Commissioner Williams seconded a motion to support Bill 1651. (The text of the motion is attached to these minutes). The motion passed 5-1-1, with Commissioner Moffatt voting no and Commissioner Assalaam abstaining. Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn made/Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to authorize Commissioner Sobelsohn to testify at the February 16 hearing on behalf of ANC 6D. The motion passed 7-0.
13. Support for DC Campaign for Inclusionary Zoning
Inclusionary zoning policies require new or rehabilitated residential developments to include housing units affordable to low and moderate-income residents. A text amendment filed with the Zoning Commission in case no. 04-33 would establish a citywide inclusionary-zoning overlay. Commissioner Williams made/Commissioner Assalaam seconded a motion that the ANC support a resolution drafted by the DC Campaign for Inclusionary Zoning. (a copy of the resolution is attached to these minutes). It ends with two "Resolved" clauses. The first would read "RESOLVED, that ANC 6D urges the Zoning Commission to schedule a public hearing on Case No. 04-33 as quickly as possible." The second reads "RESOLVED, that ANC 6D urges the Zoning Commission to adopt the text amendment submitted in Case No. 04-33 as quickly as possible." Commissioner Moffatt moved to table the motion until the March 14 ANC 6D meeting. The motion to table failed for want of a second. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Moffatt seconded a motion to divide the motion into two, the first urging the Zoning Commission to schedule a public hearing on case 04-33, and the second urging the Commission to adopt the text amendment submitted in case 04-33. The motion to divide passed, 6 votes in favor, with Commissioner Skolnik abstaining. The motion to urge the Zoning Commission to schedule a public hearing as quickly as possible passed 7-0. The motion to urge the Zoning Commission to adopt the text amendment submitted in case 04-33 failed in a tie vote, with Commissioners Assalaam, Williams, and Skolnik voting yes; Commissioners Litsky, Moffatt, and Siegel voting no; and Commissioner Sobelsohn abstaining.
14. Liquor license negotiations
Commissioner Litsky reported that he has met twice both with the owners of Zanzibar and also with the owners of Cantina Marina; and that he has scheduled a meeting with the management of H2O.15. Commission operations
a. Proposed committee structureAfter some discussion of ANC committee structure, the Chair withdrew this item from the agenda. b. Staff positionCommissioner Sobelsohn made/Commissioner Moffatt seconded a motion to extend the contract of the current administrative assistant to March 30. The motion passed 5-0-2; Commissioners Assalaam and Williams abstained. Without objection, the ANC decided that, from the applicant materials circulated by Commissioner Williams, each commissioner, by the close of business February 17, would send his or her up to three applicant choices to Commissioners Litsky and Williams; that Commissioner Litsky, as ANC 6D Chair, would then contact the three candidates receiving the most votes; and that the commissioners would meet to interview and discuss those top three candidates from 6:30-8 p.m. at the ANC office on Thursday, March 3. c. Two proposals regarding the Southwest Neighborhood AssemblyUnder the first of these proposals, the ANC would contract with the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly (SWNA) for management of ANC 6D's website. Pending learning the extent to which the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions will assist with ANC websites, the Chair withdrew this proposal from the agenda.Under the second of these proposals, ANC 6D would appropriate funds to help the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly publish the Southwester newspaper. The Chair also withdrew this proposal from the agenda pending (1) a meeting with the SWNA board of directors; (2) receipt of a Southwester business plan, including information about current advertising solicitation and other fundraising measures; and (3) citation of a specific city law regarding whether an ANC legally can fund the operations of another organization.
d. Business meeting datesCommissioner Williams moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to set ANC 6D’s 2005 business meeting dates as follows: January 10, February 14, March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, August 8 (conditional; in past years the ANC has not met in August), September 12, October 17, November 14, and December 12. The motion passed 6-0-1; Commissioner Sobelsohn abstained.
e. Approval of new agenda outlineCommissioner Assalaam made/Commissioner Williams seconded a motion to refer this issue to an ANC administrative meeting. The motion passed without objection. The administrative meeting will take place from 8-9:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, at the ANC 6D office.16. Chairman's report
The Chair had no report.17. Treasurer's report
Commissioner Skolnik, as ANC 6D treasurer, gave a treasurer's report (attached to these minutes). ANC 6D has approximately $36,343 in current funds. The report included $747.56 in expenses, for the period January 10-February 14, 2004. These expenses cover (a) office supplies ($24.41), (b) Internet fee (89.70), (c) staff wages (443.28), (d) telephone (72.37), and (e) advertising (118). Commissioner Sobelsohn made/Commissioner Litsky seconded a motion to approve these expenses. The motion passed 6-1, with Commissioner Assalaam voting no.
The treasurer's report also included a proposed quarterly report for the first quarter of fiscal year 2005. Treasurer Skolnik agreed to shift one item in the quarterly report: he will switch $150, under item 9, "Office Rent," to item 23, "Other (Attach explanation)." The amount for "Office Rent" will be zero. Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Williams seconded a motion to approve the proposed quarterly report, as corrected. The motion passed 7-0.
Treasurer Skolnik also submitted a proposed fiscal year 2005 budget. Without objection, the commissioners agreed to send their comments, on the proposed budget, to Commissioner Skolnik by March 7; and to vote on the proposed budget at our March 14 business meeting.18. Audience comments
Audience comments related to the role of the secretary, the names of current ANC 6D committees, and whether the ANC should or should not vote to approve an unaudited treasurer's report. 19. Adjournment
Commissioner Sobelsohn moved to adjourn. Without objection, the meeting adjourned at 10 p.m.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D
65 I Street SW
Washington,
DC 20017
554-1795 n FAX 554-1774
office@ anc6D.org