Bloomingdale Civic Association
General Membership Meeting
Monday, March 21, 2016, 7:00 PM
St. George’s Episcopal Church, 160 U Street NW
Minutes
Executive Board in Attendance: Teri Janine Quinn, Sherry Howard, Horacio Sierra, Derrick Jones, Bertha Holliday, and Scott Roberts.
Meeting Commenced at 7:06 pm
NON-VOTING ITEMS
1. We received a Public Safety Report from Lieutenant Carlos Mejia. He said PSA501 has seen an increase in property and violent crime, which is reflective of all districts. There has been a small increase in robberies, assault with dangerous weapons has been flat, burglaries have decreased, and thefts of property and automobiles have increased. Citizens asked about what appears to be illegal drug sales activity on the NE corner of 1st and U Street NW. Officer Mejia explained the logistics about how the police facilitate such investigations. He said citizens can call 911 not just for emergencies but also for loitering. Citizens can speak to any officer or email him at carlos.mejia@dc.gov. 50411 is the text tip line, which is not for emergencies, but for providing tips.
2. Bertha updated us on the Bloomingdale Village Square (BVS). Phase I has been completed and the group is now starting Phase II with the recommendations made by the Phase I committees. The group met with the DC Office of Planning last week to present them with their plans for Phase II. The Office of Planning was impressed by the details and comprehensiveness of the project’s plans. Bertha wants to hold a community forum in May about BVS plans. The DC Office of Planning would work with DDOT and the Department of Energy to review the feasibility of various aspects of the plan.
3. The Historic Preservation Coalition presented on upcoming plans. The representative from the coalition talked about Tiber Creek, which used to run through what is now Bloomingdale until the government purchased it and manipulated it to become the McMillan Reservoir. He talked about some of Bloomingdale’s history.
4. Teri said that one volunteer said she would chair the Scholarship Committee and that three others volunteered to serve on the committee.
5. Teri said that Beautification Day would be on April 23 and that three ANC 5E Commissioners are donating their funds for the day’s events – Commissioners Holliday, Pearl, and Quinn – for an approximate total of about $3,750. Chris Rodousakis said he would like to get information from citizens and block captains as to what the goals are for certain blocks. He said we need more volunteers. Bertha reminded us that these plants must be planted in public spaces.
VOTING ITEMS
1. Derrick updated us on DPW Street Sweeping suspension for certain Bloomingdale blocks. There was a report from residents of U Street that cars were being ticketed once again. Derrick is following up with DPW as to how street sweeping suspensions will work as construction continues in the area. A citizen in the audience reported that a ticket from last year has yet to be cleared even though DPW said they would do so. Teri suggested that the ticket numbers for these outstanding infractions should be given to Derrick so he can discuss with DPW. A motion was made and seconded to use the original map for street sweeping suspension. The motion passed with 15 votes in favor and none in opposition.
2. We heard about the ABRA application license for 251 Florida Avenue NW from the proprietor, Matt Weiss. There will be some food, but no cooking on premises. The requested hours of inside operations will be from 11:00 am to 2:00 am Sunday-Thursday and 11:00 am to 3:30 am on Friday and Saturday. The outside operation hours will be from 11:00 am to Midnight Sunday-Thursday and from 11:00 am to 1:00 am on Friday and Saturday. There will be about 40 seats inside and fewer outside. The possible names for the bar are “Truxton Inn” or “Three Points Inn.” Teri mentioned one neighbor on the Truxton Circle side, Chris, who was concerned about noise, loitering, and the possibility of adding a crosswalk. Matt reached out to him to address his concerns but did not hear back. A motion was made and seconded to support the business application. There were 13 votes in favor and none in opposition.
RETURN TO NON-VOTING ITEMS
6. Teri said that Colin from Boundary Stone expects us to make $3,300 from the Dine Out Bloomingdale event, but the numbers have not been finalized.
7. The DC Water/First Street Tunnel forum will be at 7 pm next Thursday at St. George’s Episcopal Church. Sherry said one of the main topics is the restoration of the tree box areas.
8. Chris Rodousakis said that the Get Fit Bloomingdale project should begin next month with a pilot involving the use of pedometers and fitness classes at St. George’s Episcopal Church.
9. Laiesha Dougherty from Councilman McDuffie’s office said she’d be happy to advocate for us on the Street Sweeping suspensions. The William H. Jackson Street renaming bill is in the Committee of the Whole, which is in the process of reorganizing district codes. She said we are in the season for Budget Oversight so if anyone wants to offer comments they can do so in the next month as the meetings will take place in April.
A citizen discussed the exponential increase in property tax assessments for homes. He asked if there was talk about lowering the property tax rates. Laiesha said there has been no such talk from the City Council, but that OTR could give a presentation at a BCA meeting on how assessments are made. Bertha said that the Homestead exemptions and Senior exemptions should be increased to go along with these property tax assessment increases.
Kirby asked if the Council has received Mayor Bowser’s recommendation for DPW chief. The representative from the Mayor’s office said it will be Chris Shorter. The representative also added that the Mayor’s budget should be presented on time to the council.
Donna addressed concerns about graffiti, broken windows, etc. at the old Brass Knob building. Laiesha said that it is important to report such incidents to 311 because when it’s budget time, the District looks at the frequency of such reports when allocating funds.
10. Tommy Jones, the Ward 5 liaison for Mayor Bowser’s office, said that the Mayor’s State of the District will be this week. He mentioned summer.dc.gov has information about the District’s summer events. He reiterated Laiesha’s comments about the importance of using 311 to report issues. He said DPW only has two graffiti teams for the city. Thus, if there are more requests for graffiti cleanup then it is more likely to get additional support.
Teri said she’d like to hear from Tommy next time about how the District plans to combat mosquitos this summer with the recent Zika scare. She talked about citizens complaining about a large hole at a lot along Richardson Place NW and how it could become a breeding ground for mosquitos.
A resident asked about why Noyes Recreation Center does not have more clearly posted hours and why it is not open longer for people to use.
RETURN TO VOTING ITEMS
3. Alex Garcia, an attorney representing the owner of 2026 North Capitol Street, said they came to an agreement with Commissioner Pearl about the privacy concerns with the proposed decks. The solution is to add screens on the decks. She reported that the BZA said the owner should return to the BCA and ANC to get support. The ANC voted to approve the decks contingent on approval of the community. A citizen who is not a neighbor of this unit but rather a neighbor of another unit, 46 Sherman Street, being built by the developer with a high pop-up, 46 Sherman Street, spoke in opposition of the proposal for 2026 North Capitol Street.
A motion was made and seconded to not support the zoning application. The construction request is to construct two decks, one on the second floor and one on the third floor. The motion to oppose the zoning application was passed with 13 votes in favor and none in opposition.
RETURN TO NON-VOTING ITEMS
11. ANC Commissioner Barnes reported that the ANC approved Glenwood Cemetery’s application to be designated as a Historical Landmark. She reported that the ANC also approved a request for reinstituting a bus stop on Bryant and 2nd Street NW. Commissioner Holliday said that as a private citizen, not an ANC Commissioner or BCA Board Member, she provided testimony to reopen the record approving Parcel 4 of the McMillan project because of concerns that it appears segregated on an economic basis because of the separate entrances and elevators for the affordable units. The request was successful. Commissioner Quinn mentioned that cars are speeding along the 1700 block of NW 2nd Street, thus she has requested that the police monitor these blocks for speed enforcement. She reminded us that the ANC5E meetings are now held at the Friendship Charter School.
Meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m.
Minutes recorded by Horacio Sierra