MINUTES of February 7, 2012 ANC 4A MEETING

Fort Stevens Recreation Center, Van Buren and 13th Streets, NW, Washington, DC




Roll Call: In attendance were Commissioner Black, Bennett, Toliver, and Whatley. Absent were Commissioners Kennedy, Wilson, Boyd, and Snow-Israel.



Approximately 15 persons were in attendance from the community.



Commissioner Toliver called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m.



I. ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS

a. Approval of January 3, 2012 minutes were tabled subject to corrections.

b. Commissioner Black provided the ANC 4A quarterly report covering October 1 through December 31, 2011 with an ending checking account balance of $56,675.32. Commissioner Black also provided the commission with the 2010 outline of various disbursements for the city and ward 4. The quarterly report is due to the auditor no later than the end of the month. Commissioner Black moved for approval of the quarterly report, however vote was tabled due to lack of quorum.

c. Commissioner Black reported that the Zoning Commission has asked ANC 4A to reconsider the resolution requesting the Office of Zoning certify any page changed in the online zoning map, and that amendments be initialed and dated. The Zoning Commission is holding their action until they receive our approval. Given the absence of a quorum, no vote was taken by the commission.

d. Commissioner Whatley would like to propose a motion at the March meeting that the tax increase currently proposed by the DC Council be considered for recension.

e. Commissioner Toliver motioned for a letter of support to the DC Council to symbolically designate the 1400 block of Roxanna Road, NW as Hilda H.M. Mason Way. Given the absence of a quorum, no vote could be taken.

f. Commissioner Toliver reported that ANC 4A’s bylaws are still under review and that language will be modified accordingly concerning conflict of interest.

g. Commissioner Toliver reported that on Tuesday, February 21, DCHD will host an educational series on rent control from 10am – 12pm. This event will be held at the Silver Spring Resource Center on 1800 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. For more information, visit www.dhcd.dc.gov.

h. Commissioner Black made mention of Joanna Shreve being reappointed as Chief Tenant Advocate for the city and that she does an outstanding job.

II. PRESENTATIONS

a. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency’s, Kim McCall, gave a presentation on the their role and distributed disaster prevention manuals. Community members were advised to visit www.72hours.dc.gov, a site that instructs residents on how to react if a major disaster struck the District.

b. Mr. Alex Sanders of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, appeared before the commission with a grant request for $1935. This grant would cover the cost of 20 trail signs (approved by the National Park Service) for the portion of Rock Creek Park within the commission’s boundaries. Commissioner Whatley will request an opinion from the Office of Attorney General on whether the commission can allocate funds toward federal government property. The matter was tabled until a decision was received from OAG. Commissioner Black was not inclined to vote in favor of the grant request.

c. Max Skolnik appeared before the commission requesting support of a proposed November ballot initiative banning corporate donations to political campaigns and related council member funds. The initiative backers must get approximately 23,000 valid signatures to have the measure placed on the November ballot. Given the lack of a quorum, ANC 4A was unable to support the proposed resolution.

III. COMMISSIONER DISCUSSIONS/PRESENTATIONS

a. Commissioner Toliver reported that the Walter Reed Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) has supported building 75 housing units for disabled veterans, two charter schools, 6,000 square feet of office space for non-profits, housing for the elderly, and a fire station on the city’s portion of the campus.

IV. COMMUNITY CONCERNS

a. Former commissioner, Joudinia Brown, complained that the DC Department of Transportation has failed to talk with neighbors about plans for approved signage at 14th Street and Leegate Road, NW. Commissioner Toliver will follow up (via email) with DDOT representatives and copy Ms. Brown on the correspondence.

b. Michael Sindram renewed his request for a candidate forum sponsored by ANC 4A.





Meeting adjourned at 8:54pm.





























ANC 4A COMMISSIONERS



ANC 4A01 Commissioner Karl Kennedy

North Portal Estates, Colonial Village, and portions of Shepherd Park



ANC 4A02 Commissioner Dwayne Toliver, Chair

Shepherd Park



ANC 4A03 Commissioner Stephen A. Whatley, Treasurer

Portions of Shepherd Park and Brightwood



ANC 4A04 Commissioner Marian C. Bennett, Vice Chair

Brightwood



ANC 4A05 Commissioner Habieba Snow-Israel

Fort Stevens and Brightwood



ANC 4A06 Commissioner Kim Boyd, Secretary

Brightwood



ANC 4A07 Commissioner Dave Wilson

16th Street Heights



ANC 4A08 Commissioner Gale Black

Crestwood, Crestwood North and portions of 16th Street Heights



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Respectfully Submitted by,

Kim Boyd (ANC 4A06), Secretary