Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D

St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church

 

Minutes

November 18, 2007

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m.
Present: Commissioners Hamilton, Litsky, McBee, Moffatt, Skolnik, Siegel, Sobelsohn
 
 1.    Approval of agenda
  Motion: Commissioner Siegel moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to amend the minutes to move discussion of ANC committees further up in the agenda under New Business. It was accepted by consent.  Approval of the agenda, as amended, passed 7-0.
 2.    Community Concerns
Gene Solon, of Harbor Square spoke on several issues
Ken LaCruise, of P Street SW, spoke about the Community Benefits Task Force, and announced a meeting on November 29th at SEU.
3.         Public Safety
New First District Commander David Kamperin introduced himself and Lt. Nick Gallucci, who is in charge of PSA 104, and presented recent crime statistics for the First District.  Lt. Gallucci shared his phone number: 698-0380.
 4.    Presentation by Deputy Mayor Neil Albert
Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Neil Albert introduced the staff members who accompanied him: Sam Young, Nina Albert, who is his liaison to the Southwest waterfront redevelopment and Conrad Schlatter, who is working on the Waterfront project.  
He said that the projects that moved to his office after the shutdown of the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation (AWC) and the National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC) are “very critical projects” and are continuing to move forward.  
Points he made included:
·       The good environmental standards that had been put in place by AWC are being continued and included in all RFPs they put out.  
·       The framework for job development and creation that AWC had created to connect Southwest/Southeast residents with jobs is still in place.
·       AWC has set a goal of 30% for affordable housing within any residential project, and they are looking at how to implement that goal within a mixed-income setting—not separate buildings, but integrated into developments.  He said he checks weekly on all his office’s projects to see how the mix of affordable housing is maintained.  There will be both workforce housing – 60% of AMI, and affordable housing – 30% of AMI.
·       The Shuttle Bug funding is still up in the air.  He thought it was resolved, but the developer and his office have not reached a meeting of the minds on funding the cost of $500,000 over five years.  He said the District is willing to pay its share, but the developer needs to take its responsibility as well.  He said the goal is to have it done by the first of the year.
·       There are no plans to displace the tenants in James Creek, Greenleaf Gardens or Syphax Gardens.  There are no plans for any development in those areas.  He said that the DC Housing Authority has a good record on making commitments that those people who want to come back to projects after redevelopment, can.
·       The redevelopment of the waterfront will not begin until 2010, and will start at the Fish Market and 7th Street SW, and be completed by 2013.  In the interim, there is a Land Disposition Agreement that has to be completed before the PUD can be applied for, and the design process is proceeding.  The developers are making good progress negotiating with the current owners of the properties on the water.  He said that the environmental goal for the waterfront project is LEED Silver.
·       Nina Albert said that they were still working on plans for the residents of the Gangplank Marina, and they will still be at the waterfront, but perhaps moved to an area of their own because they are expanding the marina area.  She said that they are trying to understand how the waterfront will come together and how to manage it, and she mentioned the possibility of a Waterfront Authority in the future to manage the whole riverfront area.
·       He would like to have his own meeting with Southwest residents to hear what their concerns are with the Master Plan for the waterfront redevelopment. 
·       The remaining land exchange with the Federal government is complicated by the fact that there are two agencies involved, and the one with GSA is going faster.  The exchange with Interior should be completed by the third week in January, except for Poplar Point.
·       The former NCRC property at the Mall will be developed through an RFP process, and there will be a community meeting prior to putting out the RFP.
·       He wants to have a community meeting with residents in the ballpark area to discuss issues such as the loss of neighborhood retail, gas stations, etc. as well as affordable housing, and he wants to be involved in the parking situation for the stadium.
·       The District has applied for a new round of Hope VI funding from the Federal government.

 5.    National Marathon

Chris Brown, representing the National Marathon, presented plans for the race, which will be held on March 29th.  The route through Southwest has been changed and will go across P Street to Water Street and up 9th Street SW.  Concerns were expressed that P Street is a residential street and people will be cut off from entering and leaving the area during the race. Mr. Brown also announced a program, to be run out of King Greenleaf Rec Center, to get Southwest youth involved in the race.  Motion: Commissioner Litsky moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to write a letter of support to the Emergency Management Office supporting the race.  The motion passed 3-2-2, with Commissioners McBee and Moffatt in opposition, and Commissioners Hamilton and Sobelsohn abstaining.

 6.    Support of Request for Police Protection for St. Augustine’s Church

Motion: Commissioner Litsky moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to send a letter to the 1st Police District, urging that they provide extra patrols in the area around St. Augustine’s Church, which has been troubled by loitering homeless people.  The motion passed 7-0

 7.    Resolution on ANC Participation in Redrawing Zoning Maps
Commissioner Litsky presented a resolution urging that the input of ANCs be included in upcoming discussions of redrawing the zoning lines of the District, and that ANC representatives be invited to serve on any Task Forces or Commissions formed to undertake the rezoning project.  Motion: Commissioner Litsky moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to support the resolution (attached) urging ANC be allowed to have input into the redrawing of the City’s zoning maps.  The motion passed 7-0.
 8.    Committee Reports

 

Alcoholic Beverage and Licensing

 

Alan Holland reported that there would be a hearing on the request by the Marriott Courtyard for an outdoor cafe on January 16th.  Commissioner Siegel said he was working on a voluntary agreement with the hotel.

Mr. Holland reported that Commissioner Skolnik and Coralie Farlee had met with Michelle Williams at Zanzibar, and informed her that the ANC wants to work out a formal voluntary agreement instead of the MOU they now have.  A hearing on Zanzibar’s request for a change in status from restaurant to nightclub, which will eliminate a requirement that 45% of the establishment’s revenues come from food, is scheduled for December 6th.

He reported that a voluntary agreement is also being sought with Jenny’s, which is seeking an entertainment endorsement from ABRA.

 A roll call hearing was held on H2 O, at which Robert Woodson, the establishment’s lawyer, attempted to disqualify the ANC and a group of residents from having status.  The ABC denied his attempt and a hearing will be held on the renewal of their license on December 12th.

Baseball Park License

Michael Fonseca, attorney for Volume Services, Inc. (part of CenterPlate, the firm that will oversee the food services at the stadium) presented information on the application for a license covering all alcohol consumption at the new stadium, from sales at seats to the stadiums restaurants and sky boxes.  The ABC hearing on a CX arena license will be held on January 2, 2008. 

The application asks for hours from 8 am to 3 am for liquor services, and Mr. Fonseca said that is to cover private events, and the 3.am. closing would not be needed.  He said that CenterPlate would be responsible for all employee training required by ABRA.

Motion: Commissioner Siegel moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to protest the CX license for the stadium, with further discussion of the issue at the December ANC meeting.  The motion passed 7-0.

Mr. Fonseca. was requested to return in December with representatives of the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission who have oversight over the stadium to discuss the license as well as how hiring for the food and liquor service will be designed to include residents of Southwest/Near Southeast.

There were no reports from the Development Committee or the Community Outreach Committee.

 9.                      Old Business

Corcoran Gallery

Commissioner Sobelsohn reported that the Zoning Commission hearing on the Randall School/Corcoran Gallery Project had been continued to December 6th, and the ANC’s testimony had not yet been presented.

He announced the Randall Neighbors Day at the Corcoran Gallery, when admission to the gallery will be free for residents of the area, on Thursday, December 27th from 10 am to 9 pm.

 10.                  October Minutes

Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to approve those parts of the minutes needed for Commissioner Skolnik to file the Quarterly Report.  The motion failed 3-3, with Commissioners Siegel, Sobelsohn and Moffatt in favor.. Commissioner Litsky was not present for the vote.

Motion:  Commissioner Skolnik moved/Commissioner McBee seconded a motion to approve the October minutes. The motion passed 3-2, with Commissioners Siegel and Sobelsohn in opposition.  (Commissioner Litsky and Hamilton were out of the room for the vote) 

 11.Treasurer’s Report

Commissioner Skolnik presented the Treasurer’s Report. (attached).The report shows that the opening checking account balance was $37,906.50, and that the savings account balance was $5,144.39.  There was an allotment of funds from the District of $4,873.05, and there was an interest payment to the savings account of $2.19.  There were disbursements of $900.41 to Roberta Weiner (Check #342); $11.20 to Verizon for telephone service (Check #343); $90 to St, Augustine’s church for rental (Check #344); $33.30 to the DC Treasurer for employee taxes (Check #345); $339.66 to the US Treasury for employee taxes (Check #346); $998.08 to Roberta Weiner for petty cash replenishment (Check #347); $97.80 to Bob Siegel for office supplies (Check #348); $90 to Computer Weenies for printer repair (Check #349); and $1,000 to the Southwest Neighborhood Association for a grant (Check #350). At closing, there was $40,116.30 in the checking account, and $5,146.58 in the savings account. 

Motion: Commissioner Skolnik moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report.  It was seconded by Commissioner Siegel, and approved 5-0-1 with Commissioner Sobelsohn abstaining. (Commissioner Litsky was out of the room for the vote.)

Motion: Commissioner Skolnik moved/Commissioner Litsky seconded a motion to approve the Quarterly Report to the Auditor for the 4th Quarter of FY 06. (attached)  The motion passed 6-0-1 with Commissioner Sobelsohn abstaining.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 pm.