Minutes - October 23, 2008 - Adopted on November 20, 2008

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B

.

 

The meeting was held at Emery Recreation Center, 5701 Georgia Avenue, NW.

It began at about 6:40 p.m., Chair Douglass Sloan (4B09) presiding.  Also present were Commissioners Sara Green (4B01), Faith Wheeler (4B02), Frederick Grant (4B03), Judi Jones (4B07), and Yvonne Jefferson (4B08).

 

Actions and Votes

 

1.  The agenda was adopted as amended in a unanimous show-of-hands vote, following a motion made by Commissioner Wheeler.  A report from Council Member Muriel Bowser on the Emery Ballfield and a question and answer period with her, along with a report on the Commission's public hearing on gun control, were added to the agenda.

 

2.   Following a motion from Commissioner Wheeler and in a unanimous show-of-hands vote, the minutes for September 25 and October 6, 2008 were adopted with several corrections and additions, including changing all references to "DC DoT" to "DDOT."  

 

In the September 25, 2008 minutes, the fifth paragraph on page two will read: "Commissioner Wheeler noted that the 2003 Takoma Transportation Study concluded that only one new bus bay will be needed at the Takoma Metro Station, supporting a proposal to build townhouses on much of the remaining open space. The study was based on out of date and incomplete data which means that the resulting recommendations are less likely to generate effective solutions, she said."

 

Also, the first two sentences on the last page of the September 25, 2008 minutes will read: "Commissioner Green noted that DDOT has refused to install the stop signs despite many meetings and repeated community requests.  Also, illegal truck traffic on Blair Road is increasing."

 

3.  In a unanimous show-of-hands vote following a motion made by Commissioner Grant, the Commission supports a petition submitted by James Burrell for speed bump(s) for the 100 Block of Tuckerman Street, NE.  The document Mr. Burrell submitted shows that 65 percent of the residents signed the petition.

 

Mr. Burrell was supported by his neighbor, James Gaskin.  Mr. Gaskin said that speed bumps had been particularly effective on his street.

 

4. In a unanimous show-of-hands vote following a motion made by Commissioner Wheeler, the Commission supports a petition submitted by Ms. Ernestine Bartley, of 5704 4th Street, NW, for speed bump(s) on Madison and Marietta Streets and nearby streets. The resolution supports accepting Ms. Barley's presentation of the issues and accepts that Ms. Bartley collected the appropriate number of signatures, pending the petitions' physical attachment to the Commission's resolution. The Commission notes Ms. Bartley's statement that she delivered the petitions to the ANC 4B office on Eastern Avenue, NW with the required number of signatures. The signatures are from residents who live in on three streets, 4th Street NW from Madison to Marietta, Madison between 3rd Place and 4th Street NW, and Madison between 4th and 5th Street.

Adopted Minutes - October 23, 2008 - Page 2

 

Commissioner Green agreed to contact Ms. Barley for a copy of the petition if it cannot be located at the ANC 4B office and to forward the petition to DDOT for action.

 

5.  The Commission informally agreed to invite Jason Turner, the chief of planning and capitol projects for the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, to the November public meeting to give a follow-up report on the replacement of the Emery Community Center Ballfield and repairs to the Lamond Community Center Basketball Court.

 

Mr. Turner discussed the Department's plans to rebuild the ballfield following several years of promises to do so. The work will be accomplished in two phases. The Emery outdoor basketball facility will get lights and bleachers. The Forrester Construction Co. will begin next week to rebuild the football practice field. The field will be completed by Memorial Day Weekend 2009, Mr. Turner said.

 

In response to questions from Seth Engel, a parent of a youngster who plays on one of the Emery teams, and from Nathaniel Catlett, of the Friends of Emery Community Center, and from another parent, Turner said that a written timeline for the Emery contract will be delivered to ANC 4B and to the parents during the week of October 27, 2008.  Mr. Turner also said that the contract with Forrester is being written to include penalties for delays in the completion of the work.

 

The floor of the Lamond Community Center's indoor basketball court is buckling due to water damage from broken air conditioning pipes in the roof, Mr. Turner said.  He said that crews will begin work on the floor on Monday and are also going to repair the air conditioning.   He said that the Department is going to press the original contractors to fix the mistakes made when the center was built several years ago.

 

Discussions and Reports

 

1. Commissioner Green gave a status report on Salmeron's Restaurant's request to extend its hours of operation and add entertainment.  The case is set for a Dec. 10 2008 public hearing before the DC Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

 

2.  Chair Sloan reported on a discussion with the DC Auditor. He learned that, unknown to him, Kids First gave their written report on their $1,000 grant to Commissioner Jones, who forwarded it to the DC Auditor within the required 60-day period.  However, some or all of the receipts may not have been submitted.

 

3.  Chair Sloan reported on the Sept. 20 public hearing on the repeal of the DC Gun Ban by the Supreme Court.  The hearing was sponsored by ANC 4A, 4B, 4D and 4G.

 

4.   Ward 4 City Council Member Muriel Bowser discussed a recent court decision on the Ward 4 ban on the sale of single bottles of beer, ale, and malt liquor, legislation to exempt grocery stores from a ban on new alcohol licenses in Ward 4, and answered questions.