Phil Toomajian, chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A, called the meeting to order at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St. NE, with Commissioners Sondra Phillips-Gilbert, Marie-Claire Brown, Mike Soderman, Patrick Malone, Stephanie Zimny, Calvin Ward and Amber Gove in attendance.
The meeting opened with community presentations.
Metropolitan Police Department
Key points from the presentation by Capt. John McDonald of the Fifth District were:
- The best way to prevent theft from auto is, don’t leave anything in your car.
- Residents are sometimes concerned about contacting the police because they don’t want their identity known. Although the 911 operator will ask for a name and phone number, you are not required to give it. Anonymous texts can be sent to 50411.
- The Fifth District is hosting a series of meet and greets so that officers can meet the residents they serve. These take place weekly in different parts of the neighborhood.
- Small motor-scooters are augmenting the fleet of police mountain bikes used in the First and Fifth districts.
- The MPD 5D Listserv is a good source of up-to-date information on criminal activity and police response within the Fifth District. groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MPD-5D/info
- McDonald can be reached at John.Mcdonald2@dc.gov.
Sgt. Nelson, of the First District, represented Lieut. Kevin Harding, who was unable to attend. Nelson recommended the Capital Shield program, a public-private partnership between the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and commercial property owners. Participants provide MPD with direct access to their security cameras, enabling first responders to quickly assess the situation in emergencies. Visit www.capitalshield.org for more information.
Rodent and Vector Control, Department of Health
Gerald Brown, program manager of Rodent and Vector Control, Department of Health (DoH), provided the following information on his office’s activities.
- New funding will allow a large increase in personnel – both in code enforcement and pest control. One goal is to reduce response time. Currently there is a mandate to respond within 14 days, but that will soon be reduced to three.
- Call 311 to schedule an inspection. Generally, the inspection will take place the following day. Code enforcers check for underlying conditions, typically poor trash handling practices, but in most cases can’t go onto private property without permission. There is a $500 fine for failure to properly maintain trash cans.
- There were 2,000 more rat complaints this year than last year. Brown attributes the increase to the mild winter; rats are not succumbing to the cold as they do when temperatures are lower.
- In addition to gassing the varmints with dry ice, DoH is experimenting with the use of birth control.
Mayor’s Office of the Clean City
Julie Lawson, director of the Mayor’s Office of the Clean City, spoke about programs her office supports:
- Her office works closely with Brown at DoH on litter, rats and pet waste issues.
- Residents are encouraged to participate in the Adopt-a-Block program and a revamped Adopt-a-Park program.
- In an effort to make it easier for neighbors to pick up litter, bags are available at recreation centers.
- The agency is working to establish curbside composting
- Grants are available to assist restaurant businesses in the purchase of trash compactors. This is expected to reduce the negative effects of restaurant waste by reducing the number of containers and the associated odors and rodents.
- Lawson can be reached at Julie.Lawson@dc.gov or 202-442-8150.
Transportation and Public Space Actions
ANC 6A voted, unanimously, to send a letter of conditional support to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) for Loaf Coffee’s (101 15th St. NE) public space application for a sidewalk cafe. Conditions include these requirements:
- Outdoor hours not to exceed 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
- Noise kept within the sidewalk cafe space.
- Outdoor space used only for food and drink service, not entertainment.
- Adjacent tree boxes, sidewalk and gutter regularly maintained.
- Fencing that meets DDOT specifications.
- Chairs and tables moved to the side and secured when not in use.
- No trash containers stored on public space. This is a DDOT requirement as well.
Alcohol Beverage Licensing Actions
In two unanimous decisions, the ANC voted not to protest the license renewal of 7 River, LLC t/a 7 River Mart (250 11th St. NE) but will protest the license renewal of Sky Globe, Inc., t/a Grand Liquors (409 15th St. NE) (ABRA-108840), unless the ANC’s Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee recommends not protesting at its April 17 meeting.
Other Actions
The ANC will send a letter to DDOT, in response to Maury Elementary School’s public space permit application, outlining their concerns, primarily with public safety issues but also with aesthetic concerns. Sections of the sidewalks on 13th Street NE do not meet the “Safe Routes to School” standards. Traffic patterns around the school are also concerning, especially at the intersection of 13th Street, Constitution Avenue and Tennessee Avenue. A four-way stop for a pedestrian crossing, which is proposed at said intersection, is referred to as a “barn dance” in DDOT parlance.
Reports & Announcements
A Friends of Lincoln Park group is forming. It will serve as partner to the National Park Service, which has jurisdiction. Those interested in participating, particularly those who would like to serve on the board of directors, should contact Jeni Schoemaker, jeni@schoemakerdesign.com. She is hoping to recruit a diverse group who “enjoy the park for various reasons like exercise, playing with the dogs, picnics or playing with their children.” Find them at www.facebook.com/lincolnparkdc.
The Miner Elementary School playground has been vandalized – again. This is an ongoing problem made worse by poor security and a lack of cameras.
Businesses along the 15th Street corridor have been sponsoring neighborhood cleanups at 10 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month. The businesses provide equipment and supplies and sometimes a “treat.”
ANC 6A meets on the second Thursday of every month (except August), usually at Miner Elementary School.
The 6A committees meet at 7 p.m. on the following schedule:
Alcohol Beverage and Licensing, third Tuesday of the month, Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th St. NE.
Community Outreach, fourth Monday of the month, Eastern Senior High School, 1700 East Capitol St. NE.
Economic Development and Zoning, third Wednesday of the month, Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th St. NE.
Transportation and Public Space, third Monday of the month, Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G St. NE.
Visit www.anc6a.org for calendar of events, changes of date/venue, agendas and other information.
