ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on March 25, 2015. Below are highlights.

Education

At-large Councilmember David Grosso spoke about his work chairing the council’s education committee. A few priorities for him are providing wraparound services in schools, examining disciplinary practices, and making sure students get mental health services more quickly.  He mentioned a bill that will require the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to annually gather data on suspensions and expulsions.

He also highlighted a bill to seal the record of nonviolent marijuana offenders. The benefit of having a record sealed is that it will not have to be disclosed on employment applications asking about criminal history.

In response to a question, Grosso spoke about his support to build a new all-boys public school to be located east of the Anacostia River as part of the District’s Empowering Men of Color initiative. (An aside: DC Attorney General Karl Racine reportedly weighed in recently with no legal objection to a public all-boys school).

MBT

Jim Sebastian of DDOT provided a look at the preliminary design for extenstion of the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) between Brookland and Takoma. The commissioners raised concerns about public safety, particularly with respect to the narrow off-road section planned next to the trash transfer station. Sebastian noted DDOT welcomes comments about all aspects of the trail, including suggestions for lighting, security cameras, and a call box. More information about the trail is available on the project website. Comments may be sent to jim.sebastian@dc.gov.

Brookland/Edgewood livability study

DDOT is undertaking a six-month livability study for Brookland and Edgewood to increase safety and improve transportation connectivity and accessibility in the area. A tiny part of ANC 5A is in the study area. Those in ANC 5A who live close to the study area, but not within the boundaries of the study area, are still able to be part of the conversation to address concerns that any recommendations for the study area may have. There will be a public meeting on April 9, 2015, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, at Trinity Washington University Main Hall-O’Connor Auditorium (125 Michigan Avenue NE). For more information about the study and public meetings, visit the project website.

Totten Mews townhomes

Comstock Development and their counsel gave a brief presentation on Totten Mews, the planned townhome subdivision to be located near the Capital Area Food Bank and Emerson Park. They submitted a planned unit development (PUD) application and are in discussion with neighboring residents about community benefits. There was some back-and-forth about whether 6th Street will be opened up (as approved in the now expired PUD submitted by the previous landowner) and the perceived safety issue with having only one way in and one way out of the proposed development. Emerson Park and some nearby residents do not want the street opened because they do not want to deal with car traffic, while other nearby residents believe opening up the street will relieve traffic on other streets and allow a more direct route for people to reach their homes. The compromise included in the new PUD application is to open the street for bike and pedestrian access, but not vehicle access. For more information about the development, contact ANC 5A08 commissioner Angel Alston.

Miscellaneous items

The commissioners accepted the new grant procedures introduced by Commissioner Alston.

Councilmember McDuffie’s deputy chief of staff announced that arrests have been made for the recent robberies that took place on or near the MBT in Edgewood. He also mentioned that DC Water is hosting its annual ward town hall meetings during the month of April. The Ward 5 meeting will be April 9 at 6:30 pm at Noyes Education Campus (2725 10th Street NE).