Meeting Minutes
February 9, 2017, 7:30 pm
The meeting convened at 7:30 PM. Commissioners Bender, Hall, McHugh, and Quinn were present.
Announcements / Open Forum– opportunity for members of the community to raise issues of concern or importance to the 3E neighborhood
Ruth Wattenberg, State Board of Education Representative for Ward 3 stated that the DC Office of State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) released its draft Consolidated State Plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act. She believes that the proposed school ratings system relies too heavily on standardized test scores and encouraged residents to review and comment on the document.
Ian Maggard, the Ward 3 Liaison to the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations announced that Mayor Bowser will hold a Budget Engagement Forum on February 23, from 6:30 pm -8:30 pm at Wilson High School.
An attendee asked if ANC 3E would weigh in on the Hearst park renovation. Commissioner Bender stated that the Commission would consider it.
Another attendee asked if the Commission would weigh in on the elimination of the 37 Metro bus. Commissioner Quinn stated that WMATA does not give the ANC great weight and a member of the audience added that the comment period had already closed.
Presentation by 2nd District Police
Lt. Hill from the 2nd District provided an update on crime trends in the area. Questions were asked about the robberies that occurred along Reno Rd this past month. MPD has increased patrols in the area. The police had a report of a stolen auto in the First District that matched the description of the vehicle used in the Reno Road robberies. The vehicle was located and arrests were made in connection with the stolen vehicle. Hill stated that charges should be forthcoming for the robberies.
Attendees asked questions about: The Private Security Camera Incentive Program; the use of key fob boosters to break into autos; what MPD can do about panhandling and crimes committed by homeless people in Tenleytown; MPD helicopters in the area; and the new HAWK signal on Nebraska Ave by AU.
Commissioner Quinn asked about traffic enforcement at 41stSt and Western Ave. Commissioner Bender asked if the police can announce to the neighborhood listserves the arrests for the robberies in the area. Hill replied that they can make the announcement after warrants for the robberies are signed, though they sometimes withhold announcements while negotiating with suspects about admissions to other crimes. Lt. Hill reminded the audience that if you witness a crime or see something suspicious call 911. For any other questions, email alan.hill@dc.gov.
Presentation of grant request for uniforms and equipment repair for Wilson HS band
Brian Cohen, Wilson HS PTSO Vice President and two students in the band, Patrick Mulderig and Elena Bagnoli, presented a grant request for $2245to support the Wilson HS Marching Band to purchase uniforms ($1878) and to repair and purchase instruments ($367). Commissioner Quinn asked if DCPS would normally cover any of these costs as the Commission cannot provide grants for items that the DC Government ordinarily funds. Cohen stated that DCPS does not provide uniforms and they occasionally provide instruments to the school. He is unsure about DCPS funding for instrument repairs and will check on that. If he learns that instrument repair cannot be covered, the grant request will be considered to be amended to remove that funding.
A vote on the request will be taken at the next ANC meeting.
Discussion of and possible vote on DDOT Notice of Intent to permit limited parking on the north side 4100 Yuma Street, NW
Commissioner McHugh stated that the ANC received a Notice of Intent (NOI) from DDOT to change the parking restrictions on the north side of the 4100 block of Yuma St, NW. The NOI sated the north side of the street currently does not allow parking and the proposal would allow for 15-minute parking during school drop off and pick up times (7 to 9 am and 3 to 6 pm). An attendee noted that parking is restricted to two hours on the north side of Yuma St and is not allowed on the south side of Yuma except on Sunday mornings. She said that she believes that DDOT actually intends to change parking on the south side, and mistakenly substituted “north” for “south” on the NOI. Commissioner McHugh stated that he would prefer to table the discussion and ask DDOT for clarification as to whether they were proposing allowing parking on the south side of Yuma or changing the parking regulations on the north side of Yuma.
Commissioner McHugh moved and Commissioner Bender seconded a motion to direct Commissioner McHugh to write DDOT for clarification on the NOI. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0
Discussion of and possible vote on DDOT Notice of Intent to change traffic patterns at 39th St. and Reno Rd., including conversion of portion of Ingomar St to one-way
DDOT began evaluating safety at the intersection of Reno Rd, 39th St and Ingomar St in April. There are limited sight lines at this intersection due to elevation changes and a bend in Reno Rd. Some residents had originally asked for a traffic signal or an all-way stop sign at this intersection. The intersection forms part of the border between ANC3E and ANC3/4G. A representative of DDOT stated that because of the uneven volume of traffic at this intersection, the intersection did not meet the warrants for an all-way stop sign or traffic signal. Among other changes, DDOT is proposing changing 39th St between Reno Rd and Jenifer St to one-way going northbound, make the intersection of 39th and Jenifer Streets an all-way stop, and change Ingomar St between 39th and Reno into a one-way street going eastbound.
Attendees were split regarding the DDOT proposal; residents west of Reno Rd (ANC 3E) were inclined to support the proposed changes, while residents east of Reno Rd (ANC 3/4G) tended to oppose them. Arguments against the proposal included: the lack of pedestrian safety measures and traffic calming measures along Reno Rd; the belief that making 39th St one-way between Reno and Jenifer would shift the problem to the intersection of Reno Rd and Jenifer St; and the belief that trimming vegetation at the intersection would improve the sight lines. Some attendees requested copies of the engineering report from DDOT.
Commissioner Quinn noted that the proposed changes are simple and inexpensive; if they do not reduce accidents, DDOT could undo the changes. Commissioner Bender was concerned that the proposal only seemed to address crashes between cars going in one direction across Reno at 39th, among other things. He offered an amendment requesting DDOT collect traffic volume and accident data on that intersection and surrounding intersections and report back to the Commission on the resulting effects.
Commissioner Quinn moved and Commissioner Bender seconded a motion to approve the amended resolution. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0
Presentation by DDOT regarding proposal to replace traffic signal at 46th and Van Ness with 4-way stop sign
Commissioner McHugh stated that DDOT would like to remove the traffic light at 46th and Van Ness Streets, as the intersection does not have enough traffic to warrant a traffic signal. Commissioner Bender asked about replacing the traffic light with a HAWK signal. Commissioner Quinn inquired about the installation of bulbouts to slow traffic down. This item will be revisited at a later meeting.
Discussion of and possible vote on a resolution supporting WMATA’s Tenleytown-AU Access Study Part II.
Commissioner Bender stated that the Commission has received a final report from WMATA that outlines proposed improvements to the area around the Tenleytown-AU Metro station which includes the intersection of Albemarle St, 41st St and Ft Drive. Bender noted that WMATA has not offered to fund any of the improvements; DDOT would pay for any improvements made to the area. The resolution states that while the study had some omissions, the Commission supports the study in principle and hopes that DDOT will work closely with stakeholders on outstanding issues and that an equitable allocation of the project’s costs among the stakeholders could be found.
Commissioner Quinn moved and Commissioner Bender seconded a motion to approve the resolution in support of WMATA’s Tenleytown-AU Access Study Part II. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0
Discussion of and possible vote on application seeing historical designation for the “Perna Houses” at 4112-18 Chesapeake Street, NW
Carolyn Long and Peter Sefton from Tenleytown Historical Society provided a history of the “Perna houses,” located at 4112-4118 Chesapeake St, NW. These are the oldest surviving stone houses in the area. Commissioner Bender noted that neither owner objects to the designation and the owner of three of the houses actively supports the designation.
Commissioner Bender moved and Commissioner McHugh seconded a motion to approve the resolution in support of historical designation of the Perna Houses. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0
Discussion of and possible vote on resolution regarding qualifications for party status before the Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment
Commissioner McHugh stated that there was an attempt to alter the AU Community Liaison Committee (CLC) membership at a Zoning Commission meeting in which improper notice was given was given to ANC 3E. The resulting change to the CLC would have disenfranchised ANC 3E in favor of a community group that appeared to be composed primarily of two related individuals. This event highlighted gaps in Zoning Commission’s process for granting party status. McHugh’s proposal would require neighborhood groups to provide the group’s bylaws, procedures and membership to obtain party status.
Attendees and representatives from neighborhood groups were concerned the proposal would limit their role in zoning discussions and hearings. Commissioner Bender stated he has seen instances in which organizations with few members and groups with overlapping membership gain party status. Commissioner Quinn noted that in Denver, groups are required to register each year. Registration provides groups with status at alcohol control board hearings, zoning hearings, etc. Commissioner McHugh agreed that the draft resolution needs additional consideration and agreed to table it until a later meeting.
ANC Business
- Approval of January 2017 meeting minutes – Commissioner Quinn moved and Commissioner Bender seconded a motion to approve the January 2017 meeting minutes. The motion was approved 4-0-0.
- Approval of expenditures – Commissioner Quinn moved and Commissioner Bender seconded a motion to approve payments of $381.25to Sherry Cohen for administrative support. The expenditures were approved 4-0-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:40 PM.