ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on October 28, 2020. Commissioners present: Grace Lewis – Parliamentarian (5A02); Emily Singer Lucio – Secretary (5A03); Ronnie Edwards – Chair (5A05); Claudia Barragan (5A06); Sandi Washington – Treasurer (5A07); Gordon Fletcher – Vice Chair (5A08)

The ANC used this meeting primarily to discuss ANC business.

ANC Budget

The ANC is supposed to prepare a budget for the new fiscal year. They have to get public input, so there could be a special meeting in the next couple of weeks for that. Think about if you have specific ideas for how the ANC should use its funds.

ANC Annual Report

The ANC is supposed to prepare an annual report. The ANC did not submit a 2018-2019 report, so this year’s annual report will cover activities from 2018 to 2020.

Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan)

Chair Ronnie Edwards (5A05) thanked the residents who worked on the ANC’s resolution to the DC Office of Planning (OP) regarding the proposed Comp Plan amendments (see part one and part two of ANC 5A’s submission). OP responded to the ANC’s submission back in April of this year. OP accepted two of the ANC’s comments for inclusion in OP’s draft plan, acknowledged around thirty-five comments as consistent with and already incorporated elsewhere in the draft plan, and rejected around nine comments as either inconsistent with or out of the scope of the plan. OP’s response letter stated the agency would be interested in talking with the ANC about its submission (language included in responses to all of the ANCs), so Chair Edwards mentioned having OP at a meeting to do so. (Given that OP’s response was sent in April and the Council is having a hearing on the proposed amendments on November 12 and 13, I am not sure when a conversation will realistically happen). The ANC plans to testify at the Comp Plan hearing.

ANC 5A Website

Commissioners Gordon Fletcher (5A08) and Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) are leading the project to revamp the ANC’s website. The ANC will secure at least three bids for the design. Commissioner Claudia Barragan (5A06) implored the ANC to contract with someone who lives in the District (preferably in Ward 5). After all, she noted, the ANC often asks developers to hire Ward 5 residents and do business with local companies so it only makes sense for the ANC to hold itself to the same standard. If you or anyone you know may be interested in designing a website for the ANC that can be easily maintained, reach out to Commissioners Fletcher and Lucio for a scope of work.

ANC Office Space

The saga that is the ANC office space at Art Place at Fort Totten continues. The developer is requesting a self-insured document from the ANC so that the ANC may occupy the space free of charge. Getting that document is turning out to be a little difficult. During the meeting, Commissioner Fletcher, who represents the SMD where Art Place sits, displayed a document that other ANCs have received from District government for a similar purpose to explain what he needs. Director of the Office of ANC Gottlieb Simon was in the meeting and seemed to suggest that getting a similar document to ANC 5A would require jumping through a little more hoops for some reason. But they are working on it.

Art Place at Fort Totten

An item not on the agenda was a public space application for curb cuts for the second phase of Art Place at Fort Totten. The permit expediter handling the application for the developer appeared at the meeting to explain that the request is for two curb cuts on Ingraham Street NE and one curb cut on Kennedy Street NE. The full commission was not aware of the application so they will review it for the next meeting.

Miscellaneous

The ANC will work on recording its public meetings.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be on November 18 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.