Chair Amber Gove (6A04) convened the July 8, 2021 meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A via Zoom with Commissioners Keya Chatterjee (6A01), Laura Gentile (6A05), Robb Dooling (6A06), Sondra Phillips-Gilbert (6A07) and Brian Alcorn (6A08) in attendance. Commissioners Phil Toomajian (6A02) and Mike Soderman (6A03) were absent.
DC Police Reform Commission Report
The Police Reform Commission was formed as part of the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2020. This Commission, comprised of 20 DC residents with varied areas of relevant professional and personal experiences published a 259 page report in April 2021, that included 90 recommendations for de-centering police in an effort to improve overall public safety. The list of recommendations includes large, structural changes such as reducing the total responsibilities of the Metropolitan Police Department coupled with reallocating a portion of the MPD budget towards addressing pressing social issues as well as simpler suggestions like giving out citations in lieu of arrest for low-level offenses. Some of these recommendations have already been put into action via legislation and policy change while others are still under consideration. The full report and much more information can be found by visiting dccouncil.us/police-reform-commission-full-report.
Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to amend the Settlement Agreement (SA) for Dangerously Delicious DC LLC t/a Pie Shop at 1339 H Street, NE (ABRA #087422) as follows:
- Strike the prohibition in the current SA against allowing live and prerecorded music in the summer garden
- Strike the current restrictions on hours of operation for the summer garden
- Add the following requirements
- Any speakers installed on rear exterior shall not be directed toward the rear alley
- The operation for the summer garden shall end by 12:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, excluding the eve of Federal holidays and shall end by 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and on the eve of Federal holidays.
- There shall be no entertainment in the form of live bands and/or DJs in the summer garden after 8:00 p.m.
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to amend the SA for the Gold Room Bar and Lounge, LLC t/a The Gold Room Bar/Lounge at 1370 H Street, NE (ABRA #114757) as follows: strike the prohibition in the current SA against prerecorded on summer garden; require that any speakers installed on the summer garden shall not be directed toward the rear alley; and designate Mr. Alberti, Mr. Samburg, the Chair and Vice-Chair of ANC 6A to represent the ANC 6A in this matter.
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to appoint Mona Hatoum as Chair and Ian Stanford as a member of the ANC 6A Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee.
The Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00 pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month.
Transportation and Public Space (TPS) Committee
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to approve a letter be sent to Councilmember Charles Allen and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Everett Lott supporting naming the alley fronting Sq4546 Lot018 in Rosedale in honor of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson. The proposed name is “Mamie Peanut Johnson Court.”
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter to DDOT requesting that they install radar feedback signs and other traffic calming measures on D Street and East Capitol Streets during the C St improvement project, expedite traffic calming on C Street NE from the 1500 block to 800 block, and work to clarify connectivity for cyclists at the western end of the C Street project scope.
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to support the application of Capitol Square Bar and Grill (1500 East Capitol St. NE) for the unenclosed sidewalk café. Some of the conditions for approval:
- The dimensions of the public space at the corner of 15th and East Capitol Street NE be physically validated and agreed to by the applicant, a member of the Committee and Commissioner Brian Alcorn.
- That the dimensions of the passageway on 15th Street NE abutting the west side of the cafe be 13 feet as measured from 15th Street beginning at and inclusive of the curb line to the cafe perimeter.
- That the occupancy of the cafe be 35 seated and no more than 40 total between standing and seated guests.
- That the hours of the sidewalk cafe be no later than 7:00 am – 10:00 pm, Sunday thru Thursday and 7:00 am – 11:00 pm Friday and Saturday.
- That the 20×25 foot (estimated) umbrella be replaced with individual table umbrellas
- The Commissioner voted, unanimously, to send letter to DDOT requesting an urgent response to several outstanding requests, including to take traffic calming measures on H Street NE, including curb extensions and speed cameras, and to address pending all-way stop sign requests previously made by the ANC6A to DDOT for 14th and A Streets NE; 15th and A Streets NE, 15th Street and Constitution Avenue NE; and 13th and I Streets NE.
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter to the Department of Public Works, (DPW) requesting that, due to health and safety concerns, they move the trash collection for the 800 block of West Virginia Avenue NE, the 1000 block of 9th Street NE, and 800 block of K Street NE to the rear alley of those blocks from its current location on West Virginia Avenue NE. If this change in trash collection location is not possible, the letter will request that DPW present options to ANC6A for how to address the current health and safety issue on the 800 block of West Virginia Avenue NE.
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter of support to DDOT for traffic calming measures for the 1000 block of 10th Street NE (intersection with Florida Avenue), including consideration of speed bumps and raised crosswalks.
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter to DDOT requesting that they provide consistent parking signage on the 200 and 300 blocks of 8th Street. NE.
The Transportation and Public Space Committee meets at 7:00 pm on the third Monday of each month.
Economic Development and Zoning
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter of support to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) for a special exception from the lot occupancy restrictions, the minimum rear yard requirements, and the rear addition restrictions to raze an existing rear addition and construct a new, two-story, rear addition to an existing, attached, two-story principal dwelling unit at 1226 Duncan Place NE (BZA #20514) in the RF-1 Zone.
The Economic Development and Zoning Committee meets at 7:00 pm on the third Wednesday of each month.
Community Outreach Committee
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter to the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development requesting that the decision regarding Hill East Redevelopment Phase II/Reservation 13 prioritize housing for seniors and that at least 50% of the units be designated as deeply affordable housing as defined by 30% AMI.
The Community Outreach Committee meets at 7:00 pm on the fourth Monday of each month.
Other Business
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter to owners regarding maintaining physical control and sanitary upkeep of the alley lot between 15th &16th and C &D Streets NE.
Visit www.anc6a.org for a calendar of meeting times, meeting agendas and other information.
