Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D

St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church

Minutes

October 15, 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
Approval of the change in November meeting date, discussion of Stadium parking, and discussion of Zanzibar’s liquor license were added to the agenda, which was approved, as amended, without objection
 2. Community Concerns
Chair Roger Moffatt announced that the ANC would hold a presentations meeting, at which no votes will be taken, on Monday, November 5th, at 25 M Street SW, at 7 p.m.
Ahmad Nurriddin, president of the Jefferson JH PTA, expressed his concerns about after school programs at the school.
Mary Williams, of Carrollsburg Place SW talked about the ANC’s history with community benefits packages 
Nancy Masterson, of the Gangplank Marina, speaking as a member of the SWNA History Task Force, said that several call boxes near the baseball stadium had gone missing over the previous weekend. They are at 1st and N Street, 1st and O Street (Potomac Avenue). Judy Greenberg, of the Deputy Mayor’s Office suggested that DDOT could have removed them.
Gordon Fraley of Waterfront Associates announced that there would be a “Demolition Party” on Thursday, November 1st, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the rear of Waterside Mall to celebrate the start of construction on the Waterfront project.
3. Councilmember Phil Mendelson/Relocation of 1D Police Station
Councilmember Phil Mendelson addressed the ANC on the relocation of the 1st District Police Station as a result of the construction of a new forensic laboratory for the District. His priority, he said, is to get the lab built because it is badly needed, and there is a 30-month construction timeline. He said they are considering the possibility of consolidating the students at Amidon and Bowen, and re-using one of them as the station. However, he feels that having to wait until the end of the school year to start construction is too long. Commissioner Litsky suggested that a new building could be constructed where the current fire department is located. The Councilmember responded that it was a feasible solution except for the cost, because it would necessary to have an interim location for the police. Commissioner Litsky said that he had heard that 1 Judiciary Square was a possibility, and that OPM Director Lars Etzkorn had said that there is money budgeted for swing space. The Councilmember said that 225 Virginia Avenue is ready to move into, and he is troubled by the indecisiveness about using the building on the part of the City. He added that there had not been enough community outreach on the part of the City, and ended by saying that he doesn’t care where the 1st District station goes, as long as it is responsive to the needs of the community.
 
 4. Treasurer’s Report

Commissioner Skolnik presented the Treasurer’s Report. The report shows that the opening checking account balance was $38,934.48, and that the savings account balance was $5,142.18. There was an interest payment to the savings account of $2.11. There were disbursements of $831.13 to Roberta Weiner (Check #339); $106.81 to Verizon for telephone (Check #340); and $90 to St. Augustine’s Church for meeting space (Check #341) The closing balance for the checking account was $38,020.51. The closing balance for the savings account was $5,144.29. Motion: Commissioner Skolnik moved/Ms. Hamilton seconded a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. It was approved without objection. (Report attached)

Motion: Commissioner. Skolnik moved/Commissioner McBee seconded a motion to approve the expenditure of up to $2500 for a computer for the ANC 6D office. It passed 7-0.

Motion: Commissioner Skolnik moved/Ms. Hamilton seconded a motion to approve the ANC 6D budget for FY 08. The motion passed 7-0-1 with Commissioner Sobelsohn abstaining. (Budget attached.

5. Additional Ballpark Parking Lots

Judy Greenberg, of the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, presented plans to further amend the recent amendment to the Capitol Gateway Zoning Overlay to add eight additional squares—these on Buzzard’s Point—to the proposed spaces to be used for parking for season ticket holders of the Nationals. The addition will not increase the current cap of 3375 spaces, but will only increase the number of potential lots available for parking. She said she would return to the ANC before the issue comes before the Zoning Commission, which hasn’t been scheduled yet.

 6. Resolution in Support of Funding Restoration for CYITC

Commissioner Skolnik offered a resolution in support of the restoration of eliminated funding to the DC Children & Youth Investment Trust Corporation (CYITC), which funds out-of-school and summer programs for children in the District. He said the Mayor’s budget had cut funds for the program, and the resolution requests that $6 million be allocated from the District’s announced surplus to make the program whole at full funding.

Motion: Commissioner Skolnik moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to send a letter to Mayor Fenty and relevant members of the City Council, including the resolution (resolution attached), urging the restoration of funds to CYITC. Commissioner Skolnik announced that his program, KidPower, received funds from CYITC and recused himself from voting on the resolution. The motion passed 5-0-1, with Commissioner Sobelsohn abstaining.

 7. Change in November Meeting Date
Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded a motion to approve changing the date of the November ANC 6D business meeting from November 11 to November 19, due to the Veteran’s Day holiday. The motion passed 7-0.
(Commissioner Skolnik left the meeting)
 8. Corcoran Gallery/Randall School
Carolyn Brown of Holland + Knight introduced a presentation on the modifications that have been made to the design of the PUD for the Corcoran Gallery and apartment project that will come before the Zoning Commission on November 8th, and before the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB). 
She introduced Shalom Baranes, the project architect who presented the changes that have been made in the project: eliminating the two large bays extending over H Street SW and replacing them with a 10th story on the rear (H Street residential building); moving the loading bays closer to 1st Street, and designing them so that no truck longer than 44’ will fit into the space; and modifying the materials being used in the buildings. He said that he has met with the HPRB staff, and they seem to like the project. The project will be done in two phases, the first will be to develop those parts of the buildings that will get the Corcoran up and running, after which the apartment buildings will be completed. The demolition will begin at the rear of the 1st Street building. While the project will not be LEED certified, it will have 18 LEED points.
Commissioner Sobelsohn outlined the benefits package that has been negotiated with the Corcoran Gallery and Monument Realty (agreements attached), which include a wide range of benefits to serve the Southwest community. Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded a resolution (resolution attached) supporting the project and outlining the community benefits package.
Commissioner Litsky thanked the negotiating team and Councilmember Wells and his staff, who helped in the process. He expressed his concern about an implicit threat by Monument Realty to delay completion of the Navy Yard Metro entrance in retaliation for not being given a contract to purchase the property adjoining it. Russell Hine, of Monument replied that while the problem with the property is very complex, it is a separate issue, and the Metro entrance is on schedule. Commissioner Litsky responded that he had spoken with WMATA and they agree that the project is on schedule, and Monument will abide by its agreement.
The motion passed 5-0-1, with Commissioner Litsky abstaining.

7. Committee Reports

Community Outreach and Grants

Motion: Commissioner Litsky moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to approve a $1,000 grant for the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly to erect an additional 10 newspaper bins for the Southwester, on the condition that SWNA
1. Provide a complete list of box locations;
2. Provide statistics on the use of each box by location; and
3. Agree that ANC 6D may periodically use these boxes for ANC communications

The motion passed without objection.

Alcoholic Beverage and Licensing

Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Litsky seconded a motion to protest the request by Zanzibar for a change in its license from CR to CN, as incompatible with the neighborhood. The motion also authorizes Max Skolnik to represent the Commission in this matter. The motion passed 6-0.

Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Litsky seconded a motion to protest the request by Jenny’s for an entertainment endorsement to permit dancing and entertainment on Monday through Saturday, from 9 pm to 12 am. The motion also authorizes Max Skolnik to represent the Commission in this matter. The motion passed 6-0.

Committee chair Alan Holland said he is working on a group of recommendations for the ABL committee that will be presented at the next meeting. Coralie Farlee reported that she has been researching the licenses in the area and has discovered that there are supposedly 30 licenses in safekeeping.

 9. Minutes
Motion: Commissioner Litsky moved/Commissioner McBee seconded a motion to accept the July minutes. It passed 3-2, with Commissioners Siegel and Sobelsohn in opposition.
Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner McBee seconded a motion to approve the September minutes. It passed. 4-1, with Commissioner Siegel in opposition.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 pm.