Meeting Minutes
September 13, 2016, 7:30 pm
The meeting convened at 7:35 PM. Commissioners Bender, Hall, McHugh, Quinn and Wallace were present.
Announcements / Open Forum– opportunity for members of the community to raise issues of concern or importance to the 3E neighborhood
An attendee stated that a house on the 4300 block of Fessenden St has been a health and safety hazard for over 40 years and is now abandoned. The owners have been fined by the city and a clean-up has begun. The speaker was worried that the abatement and condemnation process is not proceeding quickly enough and might stall. She asked for help in navigating and coordinating services between the various city agencies responsible for such properties. Commissioner Bender and Ian Maggard, the Ward 3 Liaison to the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations both offered to help with whatever efforts are needed.
An attendee asked if the Commission can record and post meetings online for residents who are unable to attend. Commissioner McHugh replied that he is investigating the technologies available to do so.
Brooke Katzen, Vice President of Development with UIP announced that 4000 Brandywine St will soon undergo interior demolition and construction permits have been applied for. Katzen also provided an update on their project at 4620-4624 Wisconsin Ave. He also stated that the owner of 4624 Wisconsin Ave decided not to sell the property to UIP. UIP is in process of revising the design – the footprint has decreased by 12%, the mixed-use building will be 8 stories high and include approximately 150 apartments and 12,000 sq. ft. of retail.
Leigh Catherine Miles, Executive Director at Tenleytown Main Street (TMS) announced that on September 16 from 9 AM to 4 PM, TMS will host a temporary mini-park on Albemarle St near Wisconsin Ave as part of Parking Day. Miles also announced that Tenleytown will be one of the neighborhoods participating in Art All Night, on September 24, featuring local artists at various establishments in Tenleytown. Details about the events can be found on http://tenleytownmainstreet.org
Ian Maggard announced that DC will be rewarding students and schools that improve attendance this year. Details can be found at http://attendance.dc.gov
An attendee asked about problems Chick-fil-A is having with students after school. There were no representatives from Chick-fil-A in attendance but Ms. Miles said Chick-fil-A released a statement in which they stated they were experiencing high demand for services during the after school hours and established a walk-through policy so they would not exceed occupancy limits.
Commissioner Quinn announced that there will be an unofficieal meeting, jointly hosted with members of ANC3/4G on Monday, September 19 at 6:30 PM at the Chevy Chase Community Center to discuss DDOT’s suggestions for improving safety at three intersections along Reno Road: Reno Rd/39th St/Ingomar St, Reno Rd/Chevy Chase Pkwy/Fessenden St and Reno Rd/38th St/Harrison St.
Commissioner Bender announced that Valor Development is conducting a traffic study around the old Superfresh site and they plan on attending next month’s meeting to present their findings. Bender also announced that GDS is considering moving forward with the lower and middle school on the old Safeway property via a special exception and are re-evaluating how to proceed with regard to the planned mixed-use building at the Marten’s Volvo site.
Presentation by 2nd District Police
Cmdr. Gresham and Lt. Hill from the 2nd District provided an update on crime trends in the area. Hill stated that violent crimes were down in PSA 202 in the last 30-day period. The 2nd District recently held outdoor, public safety seminars in each of the PSAs. Hill urged residents to be aware of their surroundings. Hill stated that the District rebate program for video cameras has provided the police with a lot of video footage and the police hope the program will be renewed. Hill stated that they were able to deploy Officer Santos to various traffic enforcement details last month.
Attendees asked questions about a problem at Chick-fil-A after a Wilson HS football game and about a stabbing at the Metro station a few months ago. Leigh Catherine Miles announced The Citizens Advisory Council for the MPD Second District will hold an Awards Banquet on Wednesday, September 28, at Maggianos and tickets are still available. Commissioners asked questions about traffic enforcement and bicycle thefts at schools. Commissioner Bender announced a Safety Task Force meeting on Wednesday, September 21 at 3:15 PM at the Tenleytown Metro. The public is welcome to come and listen.
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 by Lisner Louise Dickson Hurt Home of grant application for Zoo Day
Debbie Lyle, Development Coordinator of Lisner-Louise-Dickson Hurt Home presented a grant request to support their annual fun-fest day. The event is open to residents of the home, their families and the community. They are asking for a $1458.48 grant to help fund the art supplies for the event on October 29, 11 am – 2 pm. The event is co-hosted by Northwest Neighbors Village and Friendship Children’s Center. A vote on the request will be taken at the next ANC meeting.
Discussion of and possible vote on application for sidewalk cafe at District Taco, 4600 Wisconsin Ave.
District Taco would like to install an outdoor patio area which would include 6 2-seat tables with no umbrellas. The restaurant will close at 10 PM each night. Attendees asked questions regarding limitations on patios in public space, whether they would install trashcans outdoors, when they plan to open and if they will be serving alcohol.
An attendee asked Commissioners Bender and Wallace to recuse themselves from voting on the resolution as they sit on the Board for TMS and District Taco is an occupant of a building owned by Douglas Development, an employee of whom is a board member TMS. Commissioner Bender stated that the attendee is expecting the Commissioners to hold themselves to a standard higher than that followed by federal and local judges. He noted that he is a board member of a non-profit on which both judges and lawyers from large law firms serve as board members. So far as he knows, Commissioner Bender continued, the judges do not routinely recuse themselves when other board members or their law firms appear before them. Likewise, he noted, judges serve on bar committees, American Inns of Court groups, and elsewhere, without recusing themselves when lawyers who serve with them on these groups appear before them. Both Commissioners Bender and Wallace declined to recuse themselves.
Commissioners asked if District Taco had plans for high demand after school, if there will be railings to enclose the patio and if they will bring the tables in at night. Commissioner Bender moved and Commissioner Hall seconded a motion to support the resolution for a sidewalk café for District Taco. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Discussion of and possible vote on resolution regarding MPD plan to consolidate several Patrol Service Areas into one “sector” commanded by a single lieutenant
Commissioner Bender stated that there have been reports that MPD was planning to consolidate the current PSA system into a Patrol Sector system. Cmdr. Gresham stated that under the proposed system the PSAs would still be intact. PSAs would be organized into Sectors that would be managed by three Lieutenants (1 per shift). He stated that the reorganization would mostly impact the internal operations and would make more officers available for patrol. Gresham further stated that the reorganization plans are on hold for now and changes will be announced at a later date.
Commissioner Bender stated that the resolution urges MPD to seek input on any reorganization from the public and ANCs before implementation. Commissioner Bender moved and Commissioner Quinn seconded a motion to support the resolution. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Presentation by David Bardin regarding statehood for the District of Columbia
David Bardin gave a presentation on DC Statehood efforts. He explained that there are two items regarding statehood that are being considered, a referendum on the ballot in November asking residents if the DC Council should petition Congress to enact a Statehood Admission Act and the approval of a State Constitution. Under the current plan, most of DC will become a state except for a federal enclave which would include the White House, Capitol, Supreme Court, Mall, etc. There will be DC Council hearings on September 27 and October 6 on these issues. Questions were asked by attendees and Commissioners regarding the proposed government structure, the Statehood admission process, the draft constitution, the process for amending the constitution after statehood is approved, the cost of the statehood process, and the federal enclave.
ANC Business
- Approval of July 2016 meeting minutes – Commissioner Bender moved and Commissioner Hall seconded a motion to approve the July 2016 meeting minutes. The motion was approved 5-0-0.
- Approval of expenditures – – Commissioner Quinn moved and Commissioner Bender seconded a motion to approve payments of $543.75 to Sherry Cohen for administrative support and $736.99 to Sherry Cohen for reimbursement for the purchase of a portable projector.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:46 PM.