Guest post

On June 14, 2017, ANC 5A held a special meeting, which also served as its monthly meeting for June. Notice was given two days beforehand. There was no notice that this special meeting would serve as the monthly meeting, so if there is something residents wish the ANC to address before the summer break, let your commissioner know.

All commissioners were present except Commissioner Isaiah Burroughs (5A04). No financial report was given. The ANC might hold a special meeting in July to approve the third quarter financial report.

DC Public Charter School Board/Mundo Verde 

Ms. Tomeika Bowden, Senior Communications Director, and Ms. Nicole Newman, Community Engagement Specialist, of the DC Public Charter School Board (Board) responded to a meeting request from ANC 5A Chairman Ronnie Edwards (5A05).  Chairman Edwards raised two concerns: The significance the Board gives to ANC recommendations in general and the recent Mundo Verde Public Charter School agreement. He stated that the Board must provide the ANC with an explanation of its decision making process.  [Note: The DC Code says “In all cases the government entity is required to articulate its decision in writing. The written rationale of the decision shall articulate with particularity and precision the reasons why the Commission does or does not offer persuasive advice under the circumstances. In so doing, the government entity must articulate specific findings and conclusions with respect to each issue and concern raised by the Commission. Further, the government entity is required to support its position on the record.” Please see DC Code §1-309-10, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions – Duties and responsibilities; notice; great weight; access to documents; reports; contributions, for more information.]

Ms. Newman and Ms. Bowden explained the Board’s process. Anytime a school wants to change what is in its existing charter agreement, the Board must notify the ANC and open a 30-day comment period. Mundo Verde requested an enrollment ceiling increase and to locate at 4401 8th Street NE. The 30-day comment period started on May 22, 2017 and ended on June 19, 2017. The Board’s analysis includes the ANC recommendation in addition to information from the school community such as occupancy permits, traffic data, a completed DCPCSB pre-opening checklist, etc. This information is then compiled, commented upon by DCPCSB staff, and summarized for a vote. [Editor’s Note: The Board approved Mundo Verde’s petition on June 19, 2017]. Legal opinions are handled by the general counsel. An individual (or the ANC) may request the Board to explain its decision, but current Board practice is not to automatically explain its decision.

The discussion shifted to Mundo Verde. Mr. John Breyer, Mundo Verde Chief Operating Officer, said the school wants to increase the student population from 458 to 600. He said from a financial perspective, the school can operate at 4401 8th Street NE with 458 students, but the school will not commit to a ceiling of 458 students at the existing facility because of future needs. The school will explore having a satellite location for grades 4 and 5 and will not seek to enroll more than 458 students at the exiting facility without further discussion. Commissioner Edwards (5A05) cited the current traffic problems and objected to the increase. Commissioner Edwards stated the ANC would alert the board that the ANC wished to withdraw its agreement with Mundo Verde. Ms. Newman and Ms. Bowden noted it is the school’s responsibility to negotiate things like traffic management plans with the surrounding community, not the Board’s.

Fort Totten Mews

Mr. John Dapogny, Fort Totten Mews Project Manager, discussed the status of community benefits associated with development of the project.

• Contributed $40,000 for senior home repair coordinated by the Concerned Citizens of North Michigan Park;
• Contributed $35,000 to UDC Foundation for renovation at Backus in return for community space for meetings;
• Earmarked $12,500 for Block Grant Fund for 5 blocks surrounding the project area ($2500 each) to spend on approved items;
• Contributed $10,000 to the Capital Area Food Bank;
• Contributed $5,000 to North Michigan Park Civic Association for Scholarships/Back-to-School Program; and
• Funded a vibration study of the railroad traffic parallel to Puerto Rico Avenue and Sixth Place NE.

A community member cited a home suffering vibration damage, seeking resolution.  While the cause of the damage was debated, Commissioner Fletcher (5A08) will follow-up on this matter.  Other issues raised were:

• More rodents are present (the individual was directed to call 311 for relief)
• Three sources of vibration were identified in the area:
  • Fort Totten Mews Construction – now completed.
  • WMATA investigation – status unknown.
  • CSX Railroad – trees are planted, but status of new window installation is unknown.

[Editor’s Note: Mr. Dapogny noted that the lottery is open for one affordable townhome at Totten Mews. Search the DC housing search website for home sales of 3 bedroom homes in zip code 20017. If an individual is not already registered for the lottery, it is probably too late to participate in the lottery for this particular home. Individuals must complete a housing counseling program in order to register. Individuals interested in taking advantage of the lottery to purchase a below market rate home should be sure to complete the requirements to register as soon as possible because additional Totten Mews townhomes will be available in the lottery in the near future.]

ANC Website

Upon the recommendation of Commissioner Gordon Fletcher (5A08), the ANC approved a resolution to contract with Startup Design Solutions for an ANC website. For $750, the company will design the site and maintain it for one year. The ANC hopes the website will be available beginning in September 2017. Commissioner Fletcher envisions that commissioners will be trained on website maintenance to avoid future cost after the one-year maintenance period by Startup Solutions has ended. Residents raised two issues. First, some commissioners have email lists and those lists are not passed on to successor commissioners. However, the email list should be the property of the ANC not the individual commissioner. Second, due to the shortcomings of the existing DC website, a better performing alternative was sought.

ANC Cell Phone Guidelines

The ANC approved a resolution adopting the cell phone guidelines issued by the DC Auditor.

Cafritz Foundation/Art Place at Fort Totten

Mr. Mark Regulinski of the Cafritz Foundation discussed the Foundation’s response to a recent Zoning Commission inquiry on the status of Buildings A (first phase) and B (second phase). The Foundation is seeking a conditional (or temporary) certificate of occupancy for Building A to permit residents to move into the residential portion of the building while it deals with relocation of cable wires and other issues that have delayed opening. Pre-leasing for the apartments (called the Modern) is ongoing.

Commissioner Fletcher (5A08) asked Mr. Regulinski to attend the ANC’s September meeting to provide a status update on Building B.

Mayor’s Office

Mr. Lionell Gaines from the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations & Services (MOCRS) discussed the Free Summer Meals program and a the Mayor’s recent accomplishments. For a list of free summer meal locations, click here and here.

UDC-CC Backus Facility

Commissioner Frank Wilds (5A01) informed everyone that reserving space at UDC-CC Backus has become more stringent. Each requester must now apply 30 days in advance to the main campus and have insurance coverage.

Parking lot & curb cut for 22 Gallatin Street NE

Commissioner Sandi Washington (5A07) reported on the construction of a parking lot for six condominiums at 22 Gallatin Street NE. In order to have a curb cut, the developer must first notify the ANC, which it did not do before beginning construction on the parking lot. Commissioner Washington is opposed to the curb cut because she said it would be less than 15 feet from a four-way traffic light that is being installed by DDOT. The light is being installed to address traffic generated by the opening of Briya and Bridges Public Charter School and Mary’s Center. The ANC approved a resolution to oppose the curb cut.

DC Comprehensive Plan Amendments

DC’s Office of Planning has extended the call for amendments to the Comprehensive Plan to June 23, 2017. Upon the recommendation of Commissioner Fletcher (5A08), the ANC passed a resolution to support the amendments being proposed by a coalition of affordable housing advocates and for-profit developers. Last month, the ANC heard from Greater Greater Washington’s Housing Program Coordinator David Whitehead about the housing coalition’s priorities. For the complete list and explanation of the coalition’s priorities, see http://dchousingpriorities.org and Coalition Comp Plan Amendment Priorities Statement (pdf). [Editor’s Note: It would be interesting to know how many commissioners actually took the time to read all of the coalition’s priorities. Given some of the positions taken by the ANC over the years, it is not entirely clear that the priorities are aligned with the ANC’s positions, but it is gratifying to know that the ANC supports these priorities.]