ANC 5A Special Public Meeting
June 16, 2021
6:45 pm

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81549540629?pwd=UXhvTW1QTjNTY0V4QXFteHovYUM0dz09

Meeting ID: 815 4954 0629    
Passcode: 640842
Dial In: 301 715 8592

Agenda Items

1. Hybrid ANC meetings
2. ANC 5A website update
3. ANC 5A Public Safety Neighborhood Assessment Plan
   

ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on May 26, 2021. All commissioners were present: Damion McDuffie, Sr. (5A01); Charles Lockett (5A02); Emily Singer Lucio – Secretary (5A03); Ronnie Edwards – Chair (5A05); Derrick Holloway, Sr. (5A06); Sandi Washington – Treasurer (5A07); Gordon Fletcher – Vice Chair (5A08). ANC 5A04 remains vacant.

Quick note on the agenda. Once again there was not anyone present to discuss the residential parking permit (RPP) fee increase that was on the agenda. Seems there was confusion again about who was responsible for getting the proper District officials there. District Department of Transportation (DDOT) staff were present, but they were there to discuss the visitor parking pilot program, which was not on the agenda. DDOT is not the agency responsible for the RPP fee increase; the DC Department of Motor Vehicles is. So the commission decided not to have DDOT present at all on the parking pilot and said they will try again to get someone at a meeting to discuss the RPP fee increase. All in all, definitely sounds like there will not be any discussion of this issue before June 1, the effective date of the fee increase.

The meeting was running long for reasons, and nature decided to intervene. The thunderstorm Wednesday evening made people’s internet connection unstable. The commission had to end the meeting at around 9:15 pm and could not get to a couple of items on the agenda, including discussion of two proposed bikeshare locations in ANC 5A03 (12th Street NE and on Decatur Street NE).

MPD Police Report

I missed the first few minutes of the meeting while I was waiting to get the link to join. I joined in the middle of a discussion with MPD 4D Inspector James Boteler about police officers getting out of their police vehicles to speak with and interact with residents. This is a recurring conversation. Inspector Boteler said he was interested in an adopt-a-block program in which officers would be charged with focusing on a particular block and getting to know 10 to 15 residents of that block. Commissioner Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) was the first to offer up her SMD for this challenge. (I guess do not be surprised if officers start randomly talking to you and waving at you on the street).

ANC 5A03 Traffic Calming on 10th Street NE

View the draft resolution here.

The commission voted unanimously to approve a resolution from Commissioner Lucio (5A03) regarding traffic calming in the 4200-4300 blocks of 10th Street NE (between Taylor and Varnum). This area is the border between ANC 5A and ANC 5B. The resolution opposes DDOT’s proposal to open the currently one-way street to two-way vehicular traffic by removing parking on one side of the street. Instead, the resolution requests other measures such as speed humps, signage, and flexiposts. ANC 5B has considered a similar resolution.

ANC 5A08 Public Safety Task Force Update

ANC Commissioner Gordon Fletcher (5A08) will be soliciting input from residents in ANC 5A08 to complete a community questionnaire from the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement to identify ways to address community safety.

The next ANC 5A public safety meeting will be in June.

Ward 5 Mayor’s Office Report

Ward 5 MOCR Nokomis Hunter noted that Mayor Muriel Bowser will present her FY2022 budget to the Council on May 27, 2021 (find the full budget here and see the mayor’s presentation to the Council here).

DC residents 12 years of age and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Homebound residents who would like to receive the COVID-19 vaccine should contact (855) 363-0333 to register for an at-home appointment.

DC will run a ticket amnesty program from June 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021. Penalties will be waived for outstanding tickets for certain violations issued prior to September 30, 2021, so that individuals will only have to pay the original ticket amount. Details at ticketamnesty.dc.gov.

DC residents can get assistance with paying rent and utilities through https://stay.dc.gov.

Ward 5 Council Report

Jonathan McNair, Director of Community Engagement for Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, noted CM McDuffie previously sent a letter with a number of budget requests to the mayor, some of them ostensibly designed to address equity in DC.

ANC Commissioner Damion McDuffie (5A01) noted that adjustments will be made to COVID-19 vaccination site locations beginning in June due to reopening of recreation centers for summer camp. To find the nearest vaccine location, visit vaccines.gov or text your zip code to GETVAX (438829).

The DC Council unanimously passed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan (Bill 24-1). The Comp Plan guides how the city should grow and develop.

DC Health Link: Health Insurance Resources

See presentation here.

With funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, DC residents have new health insurance resources available:

1. New temporary benefit for laid off workers: health insurance for as little as $2/month

2. New lower health insurance premium for more residents: individual and family coverage on DC Health Link

3. New temporary benefit for laid off workers: free COBRA premiums (employer health insurance continuation coverage)

For information and details, visit DCHealthLink.com.

NAF Academy at Roosevelt High School

See presentation here.

Roosevelt High School has two career academies, foreign policy/diplomacy and culinary arts. Benefits of enrolling in the NAF Academy include academic supports, paid internships, mentoring, career exploration, and college preparation. Complete the interest survey here. Part of ANC 5A07 is zoned for Roosevelt High School. In-boundary students can enroll in person or online. Out-of-boundary students can apply for enrollment using the My School DC lottery.

Roosevelt NAF Academy is also accepting volunteers. Complete the volunteer interest form here.

For questions, contact Roosevelt NAF Academy Director Julian Hipkins at julian.hipkins@k12.dc.gov.

Defund MPD Coalition

See presentation here.

Organizers with the Defund MPD campaign presented the coalition’s goals for consideration for ANC resolution support. The goals include ideas for legislation, MPD’s budget, and investment in community resources. Some of the commissioners expressed uneasiness at the thought of fewer police in the community and opined on the name of the coalition.

(Commentary: I think it is worth taking a look at the presentation to view the list of concrete goals from the coalition, which is comprised of various community and labor organizations in DC. Some of the goals align with the recently released report from the DC Police Reform Commission, which was created by the DC Council to explore improvements and alternatives to policing. To me, there is value in engaging with the ideas presented).

This issue will be discussed more at the ANC’s public safety meeting in June.

EYA Michigan Park Townhome Project Update

See presentation here.

Construction continues on the Townhomes at Michigan Park project located near Sargent Road NE and Allison Street NE (view construction updates at https://www.eya.com/townhomes/washington-dc/michigan-park/construction-updates). The first residents are scheduled to move in starting this fall. The developer EYA has started implementing community benefits associated with the project. A housing counseling organization will soon begin marketing grants available to residents affected by higher property tax bills in the area. Construction of a playground for the project will begin in the next 60 days in time to be open by fall. Look for meeting information for residents with the artist and design team regarding the playground. There will be 10 homes available below market rate that will be going on sale soon. Individuals interested in the below market rate homes have to qualify through the city.

A couple of residents raised construction issues, such as trucks using residential streets and water/sewer prep work occurring at 2:00 am. Commissioner Lucio has regular meetings about this project for residents in that area. Please reach out to her if you live in that area and need to receive notices about her single member district (SMD) meetings.

At this point, the meeting was adjourned due to the storm.