Advisory  Neighborhood   Commission  3F FOREST HILLS & NORTH CLEVELAND PARK

Meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Perry at 8:00 p.m. Commissioners present were Strauss, Saccocio and Collins. Commissioner Perry held Chairman Malcom's proxy for administrative matters. (He has seen the disbursement report for September, the minutes for September and the Auditor's report for the 4th quarter.)

Announcements- Candidates' Forum Oct. 20th 6:30 to 8-45 Cleveland Pk. Library. Mayoral Candidates Forum Oct. 22nd Forest Hills Citizen Assoc. at 7:30 pm at 3150 Chesapeake St. Fall Murch School Fall Fair Oct. 25th 12:00 noon and 4:00 pm.

Adoption of Agenda- (1) Move item C, Murch School Extended Day Program, to item A.(2) The addition of an emergency request from the Public Service Commission concerning an application requesting installation of outdoor public pay phones at 4215A Conn. Av. and at 4422 Conn. Av. A motion was made to adopt the agenda. The motion carried 4-0-0.

Open Forum- ANC 3F candidates' statements by Phil Kogan, 3FO 1. Doug Mitchell, 3FO5. David Bardine, 3FO4. Commissioner Karen Perry, 3FO2. Statements are transcribed verbatim.
 

"I would like the thank the current Commission for the opportunity to come here tonight and say a few words to some of the neighbors and I think that 3FO I, from what I can tell from the map, almost looks like a gerrymander district. We've got a small few-block segment over on the western side of Conn. Ave. between Upton or, I guess, Tilden where the boundary line is up to Yuma and a couple blocks there between 37th and Conn. The bulk of 3FOI is over on this side of Conn. and that's where most of the residents are. I live on the western side of Conn. on Veazey St. and when I thought about coming over here I thought I'd just tell you a couple of things about what motivated me to seek this non-partisan, non-paid and difficult decision. I think,... I've been a district resident now for 24 years and I've been a resident in this district 3FOI for 5 years. My wife, who has lived here as long, and I have a house that we live in. We love the neighborhood, we love the city and we're interested in making the city, we think the city is a great place it's a very livable place, we want to make it even better and we want to do what we can... and I want to do what I can to make the city even more livable. I think we are here at a good moment because we see that things are getting turned around in the District. The financial situation is better than it has been in a number of years, and the city government, I think, is showing signs of recovery, I think it has a long way to go... it's gone a long way down, but I think it's got a long way to go to come back up and I think it's started on that road up. Since I've been a home owner here in 3FO 1, I think my biggest priority and the concern I hear most often from my neighbors and the concern I've heard in getting my petition signatures involves the whole range of city services. I think the most basic services--trash, snow removal-is clearly still an important one, a personal one I have--tree service. I think so much of the city and particularly this section of the city, so much the look and feel of the city, is represented by our trees and yet I think the city in that area really failed us during this difficult financial period we have been in and I have worked directly with the tree division. I've got some response out of them but I think they have a real long way to go and I think that the Chief Management Officer also needs to put more emphasis on that. My goal here basically with arranging services in the District with the ones I mentioned, and the rest are police, traffic control, and education. I think this Ward has done some real good work in the area of education in terms of letting the City agencies know what the interest of the neighborhood is, and I think that's what I'd like to continue to do--let the city know that we have needs that we care about and we care about our services and we want to improve the level of service. I think, again looking at the priorities in terms of what I'd like to try and work on here, and I talked to Michael Carter the other day and he said, 'Well, 'just remember the things you can do are limited. You are an advisor. You can only advise.' I think that's important for all of us to keep in mind when we work as a Commission and as a neighborhood. We can only advise the city on what some of the things are we'd want the City to react to. The other two areas in addition to services, I know this Commission also with the existing members have focused on the traffic issue on Conn. and on Wis. The city just got authority to award a full contract to install a new computer controlled traffic light system in the city. I think that is, from my point of view, is really crucial to our neighborhood in terms of the Conn. Ave and Wis. Ave. corridors, The traffic out there... we all deal with it as pedestrian and as drivers, on the weekends, and very much so on the week days and sometimes feel it's strangling our neighborhood, so what I will try and do is make sure the city understands that when they put in this new traffic control system that we are up there on the list and that it is a priority in our neighborhood in the theses traffic corridors. The last point I want to make, and again this Commission has done a lot of work here, the Conn. Ave. corridor between Albemarle and Van Ness, the retail corridor... where... and I'm not an expert on economic development... and I don't have a lot of answers... but I know I hear a lot of concern among my neighbors... and what I hear is that we don't have the kind of shopping amenities that other neighborhood have and when you go on the red line, when you follow the red line up along Conn. Ave. and over to Wis. and you look, clearly Dupont Circle has always been a very vibrant area, but Dupont, Woodley, Cleveland, Friendship... and you get off at Van Ness. We have some places to go and some places to shop, but my neighbors and I feel that we don't have the amenities that other neighborhood have and I think... I would like to work with some of the neighbors ask that question why and what can we do to improve that situation. So those are the thoughts I have and the areas I hope to do some work on. Thank you."
 

"I'm David Bardin. The district in which I am a nominated candidate consists of four blocks right in the heart of the ANC, 3 blocks on this side of Conn. Ave. running from Brandywine to Elliott and I block on the other side of Conn. Ave. from Elliott to Davenport. We have apartment houses with some 2,000 constituents... a large majority who live in apartment houses. I have a dear neighbor letter which I make available to my neighbor... I left a bunch out on the table to save time so you'll know about my background. I lived 32 years in the District and some of the details are here... I've got 3 points I make here. If I'm elected, my intentions are to give close attention to the needs and views of my own constituency. Second, if elected, my intention is to work with the other 6 Commissioners--I hope we have 6 Commissioners--in preserving and enhancing the quality of our whole neighborhood, a Commission that is supposed to serve all of the 7 single member districts combined. And finally, I'd work with the neighborhood institutions such as Much School, UDC and others and with the business in this neighborhood as well as with other ANC's and other aspects of the city government to realize the potential and possibilities for making Washington, DC a better place as Phil Kogan suggested- I have personally lived in apartments. I live in an apartment now, and I've lived in houses. I've been a renter and I've been an owner, and I think I can fairly consider all of the views and all of the needs that are expressed by the people who come to this ANC. With that, I will give the time back to the Chair and the Commission and leave my paper in back for those who want one."
 

"Good evening. My name is Doug Mitchell and I have 4 years of experience as a member of this Commission up until 2 years ago. 3FO5 is the area from Albemarle to Nebraska on the west side of Conn. and sort of zigzags along to Nebraska, and there are a few blocks on the east side of Conn. including the Methodist Home and the 3400 blocks of Fessenden St. and Garrison St. On Garrison it's just the south side. I'll keep my remarks brief. We know that nationally the ANCs are under some attack and I want to express my appreciation for your support in being here tonight. I think it is an important signal to our national leaders that this is an important part of the District of Columbia, of our government, and I appreciate all the work Eleanor Holmes Norton has done in securing what looks like funding for another period of time. I want to say to you that I appreciate your support and I pledge my support to the neighborhood. Having served on the Commission, I'm familiar with the issues that come before us and the work that is involved and I will be a diligent Commissioner. Thank you. I appreciate your support."
 

"I'm the only one of our Commission that's running again. I've also been a Commissioner for 4 years and have enjoyed the experience. I represent the Van Ness area which included the 3 Van Ness buildings--North, South and East--and it also includes UDC, Howard and goes down around Levine. It goes up Conn. Ave. with some of the businesses along the commercial strip. I think I am also very concerned about traffic and we need to look at new ways to mitigate some of the traffic. We have 2 new 100 unit high rises going up. We have a condo building with 30 units and were going to have more townhouses on Tilden St. It's now a nightmare for a lot of the people in the neighborhood to get home at night, especially along Conn. Ave. and Porter St. As well, I'm very concerned about safety and emergency vehicles with all the congestion. The other morning I was driving down Porter and an ambulance came and could not get through the traffic. It was bumper to bumper and with its siren on it could not move. Another thing I'd like to do is change our emphasis. I know we have a small Connecticut Ave. businessman's association that has tried under Sirius Coffee and Andrew Frank, and I'd like to see us take a different approach and maybe work with some of the owners of the high rise buildings to solicit businesses that people in the neighborhood will support... new restaurants... Cleveland Park has done it. They went out and looked for what they wanted and brought it in. I think we need to try and do a little bit more of that. We need to do something about pedestrian safety. Conn. Ave. is now almost all construction and with everything else that's going on it's going to get even worse. One possibility I think might work is the idea of pedestrian bridges. That would be easier and safer for people to get from side to side. We do need more parking. always an issue. Over the last 4 years I have developed a lot of good contacts within the administration to work on these type of neighborhood projects and continue to work on improving the neighborhood."

Comments from the audience included a challenge to Commissioner Perry's.'s effectiveness with respect to tenant matters at Van Ness Towers, the acoustics in the meeting Hall and the possibility of a different room within the Capitol Memorial Church or providing a sound system, more advanced notice of meeting matters, maps being made available as to the SMD's exact boundaries, how the write-in process works and disappointments over Commissioner Strauss not seeking re-election.

Regular Business:

Much School Extended Day Relocation Plans. Murch Principal Mary Gill and Extended Day Program Director Fern Chamberlain gave a presentation to the ANC concerning their plans to relocate the Pre-K Extended Day Program across the street from the Murch campus to the basement of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. The move requires Murch to get a zoning variance for the new space. Ms. Gill indicated that the school will meet with the parents of the children currently enrolled in the program to ensure any concerns they may have are taken into consideration. Ms. Gill indicated that the move probably will not take place in the near future because the zoning variance will take some time. No date has been set for the hearing at BZA Ms. Gill told the Commissioners that she and Mrs. Chamberlain will keep the ANC apprised of any new developments including parents' reactions. An update on this matter is scheduled for the next meeting.
 
 

Fr. George Dennis of the NYA appeared before the Commission in September to request consideration of a grant to help support the activities of the group. The grant would help fund existing youth programs in job training, after school educational and social events and family orientated summer concerts at Fort Reno Park. After calling for questions and comments from the audience and Commission, Commissioner Saccocio made a motion to approve a grant in the amount of $500.00. The motion carried 5-0-0. A copy of the original grant request is enclosed.
 
 

At the September meeting, the Commission heard Mr. Woody Tongrugs' plans to open and operate a restaurant at 4231 Wisconsin Ave. Mr Tongrugs is seeking the Commission's approval for a full liquor licence. The Commission voted 5-0-0 not to oppose the class "CR" provided he signs a voluntary agreement outlaying operating conditions. A signed copy of the agreement is enclosed.
 
 

Application by Federal Communications, a private telecommunications firm, to install a pay phone on the exterior wall of an existing business at 4215A Conn. Ave. dated September 22, 1998 and not received by Commissioner Perry until after the holiday weekend of October 10, 1998 was discussed. After discussion it was learned that such pay phones (1) break easily and go unrepaired; (2) allow users no refunds; (3) the business owner was unwilling to have the pay phone inside her store; and (4) less than 100 feet away an all-night mini mart offers pay phones. The Commission voted 5-0-0 to oppose the application.

Secretary's Report- Commissioner Saccico moved that the minutes for September be approved. The motion carried by a vote of 5-0-0.

Treasure's Report- Commissioner Strauss reported that the disbursement report for September was in order. The prepared DC Auditor's Report was also in order and is ready to be signed. A motion was made to adopt the report and the motion carried by a vote of 5-0-0.

Future Meeting- November 16, 1998

Adjournment.