ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on April 27, 2022. Commissioners present: Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) – Secretary; Diego Rojas (5A04); Ronnie Edwards (5A05) – Chair; Derrick Holloway (5A06); Sandi Washington (5A07) – Treasurer; Gordon Fletcher (5A08) – Vice Chair

DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) was on the agenda, but no one from the board showed up at the meeting.

MPD Police Report (MPD 4D Lt. Patrick Schaut)

MPD did not have an update on the homicide that took place in the 5000 block of South Dakota Avenue NE on April 25, 2022. It is still under investigation. Police were called to the scene for a traffic crash and discovered that an individual had been shot. The few details available about that shooting are in the police release at https://mpdc.dc.gov/release/homicide-5000-block-south-dakota-avenue-northeast.

Continue to be vigilant about not leaving cars running unattended.

Car wheel thefts continue to be a problem across the city. (Note: MPD occasionally publishes tips on how to make it harder to steal car wheels).

Taylor Street NE Projects (5A03)

There are two condo projects by two different developers happening on Taylor Street NE – 824 Taylor (BZA case number 20648) & 828 Taylor (BZA case number 20678), which are currently vacant, semi-detached apartment buildings. Both developers were present at the ANC meeting to present. These projects border ANC 5B. The developers previously attended single member district meeetings of ANC Commissioner Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) and ANC Commissioner Colleen Costello (5B05).

The projects will require BZA special exception relief. The developers are proposing to tear down the existing structures and build completely detached condo buildings with a common staircase from the sidewalk to a common courtyard with entrances to each building off the courtyard. Residents in that area had previously asked if the developers could work together a bit to coordinate design so that there would not be two completely different looking buildings. They also asked the developers to coordinate construction and trash pickup to the greatest extent possible. Note there is another building in that row of apartment buildings on Taylor Street currently for sale.

824 Taylor

• Eight 2-bedroom units, each approximately 900 square feet
• 4 proposed parking spaces in rear (only 1 required under zoning)
• Trash in rear
• Opting into inclusionary zoning, will have one below market-rate unit
• Bay element

828 Taylor

• Eight 2-bedroom units, each approximately 850 square feet
• 5 proposed parking spaces in rear (only 1 required under zoning), including 1 ADA compliant space
• Trash in rear
• Opting into inclusionary zoning, will have one below market-rate unit
• Balconies

Someone brought up traffic concerns. (Note: DDOT submitted its reports on the projects after the ANC meeting. Looks like DDOT anticipates minor increase in vehicle, bike, and pedestrian trips, and impacts to on-street parking from these projects). The commissioners voted to support both projects. I was not able to get a final count, but sounded like one commissioner opposed and one abstained, but do not quote me on that.

Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2023 Budget (MPD Chief Contee)

DC Police Chief Robert Contee presented on Mayor Bowser’s FY2023 budget. (The director of the Mayor’s Office of Latino Affairs was scheduled to present, but Chief Contee took his place at the last minute). See highlights at http://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-presents-fiscal-year-2023-budget-proposal. See ward-specific investments at FY 2023 Ward 5 Budget Sheet.

Chief Contee mentioned the mayor’s proposed incentives for hiring and retaining more police officers, including incentives for housing. Currently there are roughly 3,500 MPD police officers. Chief Contee and Mayor Bowser state that the ideal number to serve DC is 4,000 officers. There is money proposed to hire over 300 new officers. With expected attrition, the mayor expects a net gain of about 47 officers. Chief Contee said it would be irresponsible to try to hire 600 officers at one time. I pointed out that there is already a housing incentive program for District government employees. Chief Contee acknowledged such a program exists and said this police-specific proposal could also help with rental housing as opposed to purchasing housing.

Commissioner Gordon Fletcher (5A08) brought up the orange hats again and asked if MPD officers would be willing to participate in community walks. Chief Contee stated that he would be willing to have police support communities in the manner that communities want. Some communities do not want police officers walking with orange hat-type community walks. Many of the commissioners present let it be known that they personally welcome having more police in the community.

In response to a comment that there are lots of police in this city if you count federal law enforcement, Chief Contee stated that when someone calls 911, MPD is the responding agency, not the Park Police, Metro Transit Police, or any number of federal law enforcement agencies present in the city.

In response to my comment that there should be a firm statement from the top that police need to respect the constituional rights of residents and that serving as an officer is a privilege that should come with certain values that are demonstrated every day, Chief Contee said he reiterates that message all of the time with cadets and MPD officers.

Ward 5 Council Report (Laisha Dougherty, Chief of Staff)

Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie is focused on finishing up the committee budget report for the Committee on Business & Economic Development.

Mayor’s Office Ward 5 Report (Ward 5 MOCR Nokomis Hunter)

Ward 5 MOCR Nokomis Hunter stated homelessness is down in DC based on the latest point in time count.

Mr. Hunter is planning an event with North Michigan Park Civic Association president Carmen Williams for May 12, 2022.

Commissioner Sandi Washington (5A07) raised the issue of many residents with housing vouchers being placed in the apartment buildings along Fort Totten Drive NE, where there have been a few shootings recently. Commissioner Washington stated that she had a walkthrough of the area with representatives from District government and that more needs to be done to provide services for individuals.

(I also asked about the extent to which DC government provides services to residents placed in housing through the rapid rehousing program. It is not realisitic tome to expect individuals to be able to pay market rent after 12 months.)

Miscellaneous

Commissioner Lucio will have an SMD meeting on May 5, 2022. On the agenda is the zoning change being requested by McDonald’s (along with a couple of other items). (The zoning case number for that matter is ZC 22-19. Details about the requested change are available in their application). If you are interested in attending, please reach out to Commissioner Lucio.

Commissioner Washington is in touch with the developer of the 1 Hawaii Avenue NE project to assist with relocation of residents as needed. The developer has reached out to nearby apartment communities such as The Modern and Brookland Ridge to assist with temporary relocation of residents. The residents must move from the Hawaii Avenue building by July 1. Commissioner Washington plans to invite the developer to ANC 5A’s May meeting.

Chair Ronnie Edwards (5A05) stated that some commissioners across the city are circulating a template resolution to get buy-in to request reducing the number of petition signatures required to run for ANC in the general election from 25 signatures to 10 signatures. Most of the ANC 5A commissioners present stated that they did not think getting 25 signatures was onerous, so it does not sound like the ANC will be bringing forth this issue for a resolution.

Finally, shoutout to Commissioner Lucio for spending her birthday at an ANC meeting.