ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on April 22, 2026. Commissioners present: Keith Sellars (5A01); Timothy Thomas (5A02); Emily Singer Lucio (5A03); Jack Hermes (5A04) – Vice Chair & Parliamentarian; Derrick Holloway (5A06); Valeria Sosa Garnia (5A07) – Chair; Elaine Alston (5A08) – Secretary; Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) – Treasurer.

Commission Business

Chair Soca Garnica stated the ANC signed a communications contract with an individual to work up to 10 hours/week for the ANC to do things like update the website, send out the newsletter, etc. I did not hear or follow everything about this contract. Commissioner Alston asked if the ANC could also have someone sit in the ANC office 20 hours/week to answer phones. Sounded like that is not something the ANC will do.

Boys Town (5A02)

Commissioner Lucio (5A03) moved and the ANC supported an amendment to the ANC’s letter of support for the Boys Town public space application. The ANC does not support DDOT’s request to install flex posts at South Dakota Avenue and Crittenden Street NE.  

DC 2050 Committee

The ANC’s DC 2050 (Comprehensive Plan rewrite) committee will be chaired by Commissioners Sellars (5A01) and Dyanna Weston (5A05). They did not share any updates.

Commissioner Updates

5A03

Commissioner Lucio (5A03) stated that DC Office of Planning (OP) will present at North Michigan Park Civic Association’s next meeting on May 6 and encouraged residents to attend that meeting.

5A04

Commissioner Hermes (5A04) stated that he planned to submit comments for just his single member district on OP’s draft Future Land Use Map (FLUM) to Councilmember Zachary Parker’s office or the Office of Planning (could not really hear). That led to other Commissioner Lucio and others commissioners stating that the ANC should submit a letter from the ANC as a whole in order to get great weight. Sounded like Commissioner Hermes agreed to draft the letter for the ANC. Unclear if residents will have the opportunity to see the letter and weigh in beforehand.

Commissioner Lucio reminded residents that there is an ANC 5A/5B Taylor Street Bike Lane joint committee for the Taylor Street bike lane project. A resident asked the ANC to form just a 5A committee, stating that ANC 5B supports bike lanes. Commissioner Lucio and Chair Sosa Garnica noted that the ANC voted some time ago to create the joint committee and that it is up to 5A commissioners to join that committee to represent 5A interests.

5A09 

Commissioner Bocoum (5A09) stated that she and Commissioner Sellars (5A01) met with city officials to review the art installation proposals for the new Riggs & South Dakota Park.

5A01

Commissioner Sellars stated that he is working to have a walkthrough on Riggs Road with District officials to address the gravel that has been in the cycletrack since it was constructed, the constant bird mess on the sidewalk, and the lack of lighting under the bridge.

NPS has cut the grass at Fort Circle Park and DPW has cut the grass at the green space on South Dakota & Riggs.

Commissioner Sellars stated that he continues to work with UDC on a new 9/11 memorial at the Lamond-Riggs campus. At that point he invited UDC’s community engagement director Juanita Gray to give updates.

Ms. Gray stated that the old 9/11 memorial has been removed and given to DCPS archives for preservation. UDC President Maurice Edington has been given the mockup for the new memorial and they are just waiting for his approval and signature. Once they get the signoff, it should take about 6-8 weeks to arrive.

UDC is working with Events DC on an embassy tour at the student center on May 2.

UDC is hosting a DC Delegate candidate forum on May 4, moderated by Kojo Nnamdi.

There is a food pantry at the Van Ness campus on Sundays, 1pm-3pm (?).

UDC’s budget oversight hearing was April 23.

There is a farmers market at UDC’s Lamond-Riggs campus every Friday, 4pm-8pm.

The ANC hopes to have President Edington at the ANC’s May meeting to discuss the Lamond-Riggs campus. 

5A08

Commissioner Alston (5A08) thanked Faith United Church for holding a mobile market every month and for the foot clinic held earlier this month. I could not hear or follow everything she said after that point. Sounded like some discussion about the lights in the McDonald’s parking lot. McDonald’s said they do not and will not keep the lights on 24/7. Also sounded like McDonald’s has told its employees not to park in the lot while they are at work. Later on in the meeting, a resident asked Commissioner Alston to clarify because residents would rather have employees park in the parking lot rather than on the street all day in front of residents’ homes.

5A04 

Commissioner Hermes (5A04) stated that Catholic wants to present at the next ANC meeting about the Marist Hall historic preservation issue as well as the 2027 campus plan process.

DC Office of Campaign Finance (Kalvanetta Peete, OCF)

OCF gave overview of the fair elections program as well as ANC campaign expense reporting requirements. It was pretty much the same presentation they gave at the ANC’s October 2025 meeting.

Ward 5 Mayor’s Office Report (Lacy Davis, Ward 5 MOCR)

Ward 5 MOCR Lacy Davis stated Mayor Bowser has submitted her budget proposal. At budget.dc.gov, you can see Ward 5 highlights (and highlights for other wards). Citywide spring clean events took place April 25. Mr. Davis recognized resident Bill Smith for his efforts cleaning up the lots by Faith United Church.

Ward 5 Council Report (Andrianna Lovelace, Constituent Services Coordinator for Councilmember Zachary Parker) 

Budget oversight hearings began April 20. Regarding OP’s draft FLUM, CM Parker stated that he appreciates opportunities along Rhode Island Avenue NE but has concern about continued concentration of industrial uses in Ward 5.

Metro held a bus town hall at Metro headquarters on April 28.

MPD’s 5th District has a new foot beat initiative and they are asking residents for input on where they should patrol by foot.

Commissioner Alston asked for an update on the dispensary seeking to locate near the McDonald’s on South Dakota Avenue. Ms. Lovelace said she will get an update and report back.

The next ANC meeting will be May 27, 2026.