Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A Chair Phil Toomajian called the meeting to order at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St. NE, with Commissioners Calvin Ward, Sondra Phillips-Gilbert, Marie-Claire Brown, Patrick Malone, Stephanie Zimny and Amber Grove in attendance.
Following a community presentation by Monument Academy Public Charter School, Emily Bloomfield, its founder and CEO, briefed the commission on the recent arrest of a student for carrying a BB gun to the Capitol Hill campus on Dec. 11. According to Fox 5 News (www.fox5dc.com/news/299640714-video), two students were involved in the incident. Both have been removed from the institution. One of the students has been charged with making threats. Police recovered the gun on the lawn of a neighborhood row house.
Community members at the meeting registered many general concerns with the security situation at the school. Students, they said, were throwing trash and rocks over the schoolyard walls. There was also concern over the admittance of uniform police to the campus.
Monument representatives discussed the measures the school is taking to tighten security. In response to comments from the audience, they explained that the DC fire code prevents them from locking the building’s exterior doors to prevent student egress. They promised to institute better procedures for monitoring the playground.
Transportation and Public Space Report
The Transportation and Public Space Committee held extensive discussions concerning traffic safety on the 400, 500 and 600 blocks of 10th St. NE. Concerns include speeding, traffic volume, honking and the narrowness of the roadway. In addition, the presence of a signal at 10th Street and Maryland Avenue has prompted motorists to speed up to make the light. Possible solutions include speed humps, raised crosswalks, making sections of 10th Street NE one-way, limiting the road to local traffic, reaching out to companies that maintain traffic guidance apps to request they exclude the road, “No Trucks” signs, curb bump outs and placing a mirror at the alley in the 400 block.
Chair Toomajian expressed his readiness to organize a petition of 10th Street neighbors to move matters forward. He thinks the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) is ready to conduct a traffic study. The study will result in a proposal of traffic measures that the community will have 30 days to comment on.
The commissioners approved the committee’s report. Pointing out there had been a recent pedestrian death, Brown requested the addition of the 700 block to the traffic study. Toomajian suggested a separate meeting on matters concerning that block. An audience member commented that the committee meeting had convinced him that speed humps were not the right answer.
Commissioner Reports
Ward stated he had received several emails about abandoned vehicles in his single-member district. He has reached out to DDOT and the DC Department of Public Works. “They are doing a good job towing,” he said. He also cautioned residents to be vigilant about package theft. Toomajian offered praise for the UPS deliveryman. Ward mentioned that thieves were driving down streets and jumping out to snatch packages.
Grove asked residents to phone 311 to register complaints about neighborhood alleys. Such requests are used by the city to target repairs and improvements. She briefed the commission on the new rat abatement legislation and asked residents to register their support with the DC Council. The commissioner has been working on rodent issues involving Linden Court. She also mentioned complaints that Airbnb renters had been using DDOT visitor parking passes.
Grove reminded everyone that there would be new student pedestrian patterns when Maury School moves into its temporary quarters near Eliot-Hine Middle School in January. She advised parents to walk. The school is trying to establish a kiss-and-ride on C Street NE; and there are 10 dropoff spots on Constitution Avenue, she added.
Brown has organized a traffic calming petition for the 900 block of 10th St. NE. She also reported on working with a local developer to prevent staging work from disrupting the neighborhood before 7 a.m.
Toomajian reported on discussing 10th Street traffic calming measures with constituents. He expressed concerns about School Within a School’s not locking exterior doors. This is a simple measure that protects against active shooter situations, he said.
Phillips-Gilbert reported on the successful Hood Basketball Classic. Amazing Love Health Clinic had donated 70 turkeys. She promised to hold community meetings about the issues at Monument Academy and the 17th Street NE traffic circle.
Malone called Maury’s move the biggest issue facing his constituents. He reiterated that package theft was a major problem. He had a package of pillows with his dog’s photo on them stolen. He managed to recover them after a neighborhood canvass. “If you order terrible presents, look in nearby garbage cans and you will probably find them.”
Other Reports
The commission approved its November minutes.
Zimny delivered the fiscal year 2017 fourth-quarter treasurer’s report. A check was reissued to the DC Department of General Services for meeting security costs when it appeared the original remained uncashed. The beginning balance was $6,656.83. There was $2,655.09 of disbursements. The ending balance was $4,001.74. The District’s disbursement has been received. The commission approved the report.
The commission approved the Community Outreach Committee’s November report. According to the report, the committee spent time sharing memories of Dana Wyckoff. It discussed its next meeting dates: Jan. 22, Feb. 26, March 19, April 23, May 21, June 25 and July 23. It also discussed the Eliot-Hine Middle School modernization schedule. The Community Outreach Committee will next meet on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Eastern Senior High School Parent Center at 1700 East Capitol St. NE.
The Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee did not meet in November. Its next meeting was held on Dec. 19.
The Economic Development and Zoning Committee did not meet in November. Its next meeting was held on Dec. 20.
ANC 6A meets on the second Thursday of every month, usually at Miner Elementary School.
The 6A committees meet at 7 p.m. on the following schedule:
- Alcohol Beverage and Licensing, third Tuesday of each month, Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th St. NE
- Community Outreach, fourth Monday of each month. New venue: Eastern Senior High School, 1700 East Capitol St. NE
- Economic Development and Zoning, third Wednesday of each month, Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th St. NE
- Transportation and Public Space, third Monday of every month, Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G St. NE
Visit www.anc6a.org for calendar of events, changes of date/venue, agendas and other information.
