MINUTES

ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 3F

NORTH CLEVELAND PARK, FOREST HILLS & TENLEYTOWN

PUBLIC MEETING

 

February 12, 2007

Capital Memorial Church

3150 Chesapeake Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C.  20008

 

 

 

1.         CALL TO ORDER [7:38 PM]

            Chair Wiss called the meeting to order and, finding Commissioners Daniel Klibanoff, Frank T. Winstead, Karen Perry, Cathy Wiss, Mital Gandhi, Jane Solomon, and Susan Banta present, declared a quorum.

 

2.         AGENDA

            Chair Wiss presented the meeting agenda and moved its adoption. Commissioner Klibanoff seconded. The agenda was adopted 7-0-0.

 

3.         MINUTES

            Commissioner Gandhi presented the minutes of the October 16, 2006, meeting and moved approval. This was seconded by Commissioner Perry and the minutes were approved, 6-0-1. Commissioner Klibanoff was not at the meeting therefore voted present.

 

            Commissioner Klibanoff presented and moved the minutes of the November 20, 2006, meeting.  Commissioner Winstead seconded.  The minutes of the November 20, 2006 meeting were adopted 7-0-0 with amendments to indicate that a vote to request DCRA investigation of compliance with zoning requirements for parking at 4215-4221 Connecticut Avenue failed 2-2-1 before the resolution was withdrawn; that the ANC Annual Report was prepared and moved by Commissioner Maudlin; and that there were two votes on the Coat of Arms liquor license:  4-0-0 to withdraw the protest and enter into a voluntary agreement, and 4-0-0 not to object to a stipulated liquor license.

           

4.         ANNOUNCEMENTS

A.     Announcements by Commissioners:

            Commissioner Perry announced the Emergency Preparedness Exercise for Cluster 12, North Cleveland Park and Forest Hills would be held on February 17, 2007 from 4 -7 PM in the social room of the Van Ness South Building, 3003 Van Ness St NW. 

 

            Commissioner Klibanoff announced a happy belated birthday to Commissioner Gandhi. His birthday was last Friday.

 

            Commissioner Wiss announced that Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh and the Department of Parks and Recreation would be holding a meeting about rebuilding the Wilson Pool at the 2nd District Police HQ on Thursday, February 15, 2007 from 7 -9 PM.

 

B.  Announcements by members of the community:

Jeff Jennings of DDOT, Ward 3 Transportation Planner, announced that former Chief Traffic Engineer Doug Noble has left the agency.  Soumya Dey will be the Acting Associate Director of DDOT for Traffic Services until a replacement is found.  Emeka Moneme, Acting Director of DDOT, is reviewing the traffic studies that DDOT has conducted to decide which ones to act on.  Please contact Mr. Jennings at Jeffrey.jennings@dc.gov or 202-673-2377 with concerns.

 

 

5.         OPEN FORUM

            Bill Coe of Van Ness Street informed the commission that DDOT’s pedestrian survey is up on the web. The deadline was February 9, 2007 but it appears to have been extended to the 15th.

 

            Sally Gresham of Davenport Street informed the commissioners and Jeff Jennings that there are traffic problems in the Forest Hills area and would like to get a project tracking in the area.  Jeff would like guidance on what Sally is looking for and he will look into it. 

 

            Councilmember Mary Cheh announced that she will be holding oversight hearings on DCRA.  The acting Director of DCRA is Lisa Morgan.

     

6.         MPD SECOND DISTRICT REPORT

            The police report was presented by Officer LoConte of PSA 203.  Between January 13, 2007 and February 11, 2007, there was one robbery; one assault with a deadly weapon, which occurred at the Van Ness Giant; one burglary (unfortunately it was one of the commissioners); eleven thefts; four thefts from auto; and one stolen auto.

 

            Officer LoConte informed the commissioners that most assaults in our area are domestic.  Crime is down because of patrolling and good deployment.  Burglaries in the area are down 83% from last year, but can occur during the day and when people are home.  Officer LoConte recommended reporting all suspicious activities (even if you are unsure) and not leaving anything in cars (no matter what it is).  Commissioner Solomon thanked all for the kind words. To conclude, upgrade older homes.

 

7.                  ELECTION OF ANC SECRETARY FOR 2007

            Commissioner Winstead nominated Commissioner Wiss, but she declined because she is already chair.  The DC Auditor does not approve of the same commissioner serving in two offices unless there are not enough commissioners to fill all offices.

 

            Commissioner Gandhi nominated Commissioner Banta as ANC secretary for 2007, seconded by Commissioner Winstead.  Commissioner Banta accepted, but noted that her time is limited because she has two young children to care for, a full time job, and is secretary of the Local School Restructuring Team at Murch Elementary School.  She requested that the commission find someone else to take the minutes.            The nomination was approved 6-0-1, with Commissioner Banta voting “present”.

 

8.                  RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE D.C. VOTING RIGHTS ACT, H.R. 328 

            Daniel Solomon, a founder of D.C. Vote, explained that last year the D.C. Voting Rights Act, to give the District a seat in the House of Representatives and Utah an additional seat, was voted out of the House Government Reform Committee 29-4, but did not come to the floor of the House.  This year, the measure has been reintroduced, and DC Vote is making a concerted effort to win its passage.  In the long run, though, he believes that the District also has a right to representation in the Senate.  On February 15, “Congress Day”, hundreds of District residents plan to visit Capitol Hill to advocate passage of the legislation.  If the bill does not pass by April 16, Emancipation Day, Mayor Fenty and District residents will march on Capitol Hill.  About 5,000 residents are expected to show up.

 

            George Clark of 28th Street asked about the constitutionality of District representation in Congress.  Mr. Solomon replied that DC Vote expects a challenge, but believes arguments can be made for its constitutionality.

 

            Commissioner Solomon moved a resolution supporting passage of H.R. 328, which has been approved by other ANCs.  Commissioner Winstead seconded.  Friendly amendments were accepted to remove a reference to wars District residents have fought in, to indicate that last year a bill identical to H.R. 328 was passed by the House Government Reform Committee, and to reword the second and third resolution clauses to clarify that the Senate should pass legislation identical to the language of H.R. 328.  

 

            Resolution 07-04 passed 7-0-0.  Commissioner Wiss, seconded by Commissioner Gandhi, moved to have all commissioners who voted in favor of the resolution sign it.  This motion passed 7-0-0.  Commissioners agreed to send the resolution to DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mayor Fenty, the DC Council, as well as others involved in passage of H.R. 328.

 

9.                  RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE’S MARCH ON APRIL 16, 2007

            Commissioner Solomon then moved a resolution supporting the People’s March on April 16, 2007.  This was seconded by Commissioner Winstead.  Commissioners agreed to amend the draft to make it consistent with the amendments to Resolution 07-04 and to change “ANC” to “ANC 3F” in the resolution clauses.  Resolution 07-05 passed 7-0-0, with all commissioners agreeing to sign it. 

 

10.       RESOLUTION SUPPORTING FULL VOTING REPRESENTATION FOR DC CITIZENS

            Commissioner Solomon next moved a resolution supporting full voting representation for the citizens of the District of Columbia.  Commissioner Winstead seconded.  Commissioners agreed to make the wording of this resolution consistent with Resolutions 07-04 and 07-05 and to remove wording in the fourth resolution clause regarding protesting payment of federal income taxes.  Resolution 07-06 was approved 6-1-0, with Commissioner Perry opposed.    All commissioners who voted in favor of the resolution agreed to sign it.     

 

11.       MOTION TO DISMISS ZONING CASE NO. 06-37

            Commissioner Wiss described this petition by the DC Office of Planning to zone lots on the north side of the 4000 block of Chesapeake Street.  She presented new information, including documents commemorating a 1957 agreement to transfer portions of these lots from the National Park Service to the District for street purposes as well as tax records showing that the remainder of these lots is still owned by the United States.  Commissioner Wiss moved a motion to dismiss the case, seconded by Commissioner Solomon.  

           

            Commissioner Perry moved an amendment to remove the second paragraph in section 2. This was seconded by Commissioner Winstead.  The amendment failed 3-4-0, with Commissioners Banta, Solomon, Gandhi, and Wiss opposed.  Commissioners then agreed to remove the third sentence in the second paragraph in section 2, but encouraged Commissioner Wiss to present the information at the hearing.

 

            Document 07-01, motion to dismiss Zoning Case No. 06-37, was approved 7-0-0.     

 

12.       QUARTERLY REPORT FOR THE 1st QUARTER OF FY 2007

            Commissioner Solomon presented and moved approval of the quarterly report for October 1 to December 31, 2006.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Perry.  Commissioner Solomon raised the concern that she has not seen the deposit for the quarterly allotment from last quarter. Commissioner Winstead commented that it may be because the District’s FY 2007 budget has not been approved.  Commissioner Solomon will find out from the DC Auditor when the money will be deposited into the ANC’s bank account.  The quarterly report was approved 6-1-0, with Commissioner Winstead opposed.

 

13.       DISCUSSION AND ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR THE ANC

            Commissioner Perry moved that the ANC form a committee to consider and give a report at the next public meeting on the duties, number of hours, amount to budget, and whether this should be an employee or contractor relationship with the ANC, as well as to ask Hollie Nelson to return to do the minutes of the next ANC meeting on March 19th.  Commissioner Gandhi seconded the motion.  Commissioner Winstead moved, seconded by Commissioner Solomon, that the motion be broken into two parts to be voted on separately, (1) to form the committee, and (2) to engage Hollie Nelson for the March 19 meeting.  The amendment failed 2-3-2, with Commissioners Banta, Gandhi, and Perry opposed, and Commissioners Klibanoff and Wiss “present”.  The original motion was approved 6-1-0, with Commissioner Winstead opposed.  Hollie Nelson agreed to take minutes at the March 19th meeting.

 

            Commissioners Perry, Gandhi, Solomon, Klibanoff and Wiss agreed to serve on the committee.


14.  CHANGE OF MEETING DATE FOR APRIL:   

            Commissioners agreed by consensus to change the April meeting date to April 17 because the third Monday, April 16, is the DC Emancipation Day holiday.

 

15.       ADJOURNMENT [Time: 9:41 PM]

            Commissioner Gandhi moved to adjourn meeting, and Commissioner Klibanoff seconded.  The vote passed 7-0-0.

 

 

 

These minutes were approved 7-0-0, with a quorum present, at a duly noticed public meeting of ANC 3F on March 19, 2007.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Susan Banta, Secretary

 

Attachments:

Agenda with brief reports

Res 07-04, Supporting Passage of H.R. 328

Res 07-05, Supporting the People’s March for Full Voting Representation in Congress

Res 07-06, Supporting Full Voting Representation for the Citizens of the District of                                Columbia

Doc 07-01, Motion to Dismiss Zoning Case No. 06-37

ANC 3F Quarterly Report for the First Quarter of FY 2007