On January 27, 2016, ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting. All commissioners were present. The meeting primarily consisted of ANC business. The commissioners elected new officers:

• Chair: Angel Alston (5A08)
• Vice Chair: Adrian Jordan (5A03)
• Treasurer: Sandi Washington (5A07)
• Secretary: Jasmine White (5A06)
• Parliamentarian: Isaiah Burroughs (5A04)

The commissioners voted to participate in the ANC security fund. They voted to support payment of up to $2,000 to have an electrical outlet installed in their new office for their copier. ANC 5A does not pay rent for its office at UDC-CC Backus. The ANC’s old office in the school had an appropriate outlet to support a copier, but the school moved them into a different room that does not.

Public Safety

PSA 405 Lieutenant Ashley Rosenthal presented a crime report. Generally, violent crimes are up; property crimes are down. Lt. Rosenthal reminded residents that officers are not able to provide a lot of detail about ongoing investigations, which is understandably frustrating for residents who think crime is not being addressed.

PSA 405 Crime Stats Jan 2016 and Year End Report

Elected Officials Reports

Ronan Gulstone, chief of staff to Ward 5 Councilmember McDuffie, discussed the markup of the councilmember’s public safety bill, the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results Act of 2015 (or NEAR Act). He stated some of the proposals in the mayor’s public safety bill are included in this bill. The councilmember supported a measure to continue the prohibition on smoking marijuana in private clubs. Gulstone also mentioned that DC’s Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants is responsible for promulgating regulations to implement the recently passed security camera incentive program. He believes regulations should be out soon.

Ward 5 school board member Mark Jones stated he was pleased the board passed a resolution to give GED holders after January 2014 a state high school diploma. He said having a diploma would better position GED holders as they apply for jobs or seek higher education.

Mamie D. Lee School Building

A community flyer was available with updates on construction progress for Briya Bridges Public Charter School and Mary’s Center, which will occupy the former Mamie D. Lee school building at 100 Gallatin Street NE. The flyer also contains contact information for construction employment and construction activity inquiries.

Briya Bridges St. Mary’s Community Letter Jan 2016

Community Concerns/SMD Reports

There was protracted discussion about the EYA 12th and Allison project, also known as the St. Joseph Seminary project. In response to a question about Councilmember McDuffie’s lack of engagement, Ronan Gulstone stated Councilmember McDuffie’s office is listening to residents’ concerns about the project, but until the developer submits a planned unit development (PUD) application, there is not really anything the councilmember can do except listen. Once a PUD is filed, and the developers indicate one will be filed in the spring, then the councilmember along with residents will have clearer information about the project.

The commission tabled support of the Brookland/Edgewood Livability Study after Commissioner Jordan and a resident expressed concern that the study area excluded residents in ANC 5A who live on the outer edges of Brookland.

Commissioner Alston noted the Zoning Commission approved Comstock’s proposed development for approximately 40 townhomes near the Capital Area Food Bank and Emerson Park. See Zoning Commission Order No. 15-04 (Comstock). To comply with inclusionary zoning requirements, two homes will be set aside for households earning up to 50 percent of the area median income (AMI) and two for households earning up to 80 percent of the AMI. The developer is also setting aside an additional home beyond the IZ requirement for a household earning up to 80% of the AMI. The development will include a paved, lighted pedestrian/bicycle path for people to more easily access Fort Totten metro station and other community benefits:

• $4,000 towards a vibration study
• $40,000 for repairs of homes of senior citizens in North Michigan Park, with $10,000 reserved specifically for senior citizens living in the 4700 and 4800 blocks of 6th Street NE
• $35,000 towards the renovation of UDC-CC Backus, with a provision permitting use of space by ANC 5A and the communities represented by ANC 5A08 60 times over a 2-year period
• $12,500 to help establish the Friends of Totten Mews
• $5,000 to North Michigan Park Civic Association to support their annual scholarship program and back-to school supply giveaway
• $10,000 to Capital Area Food Bank to service providers operating in Ward 5, specifically ANC 5A

Finally, the commissioners acknowledged they need to be better about communicating with residents. To that end, they have set up an ANC 5A twitter account (@ANC5A). And they pledged to do a better job of keeping the website up to date. Notably however, Commissioner Burroughs (ANC 5A04), who set up the twitter page, is still not listed on ANC 5A’s website. The position is still listed as vacant. Burroughs became ANC 5A04 commissioner on November 18, 2015.