Brian Flahaven

Around 50 residents attended last night’s 3+ hour ANC 6B meeting at the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS. We had a pretty packed agenda but managed to get through everything. Here are the highlights:

• The commission finally approved a resolution opposing a moratorium on new liquor licenses for Barracks Row on a 10-0 vote. An amendment that clarified that ANC 6B could reconsider a moratorium if circumstances change helped make the vote unanimous. The commission also approved principles for considering new liquor licenses that will be included in ANC 6B’s project checklists.
• I announced that the first Hill East Task Force meeting will take place Wed., July 27, 7 pm at St. Coletta’s School, 1901 Independence Avenue. I’ll post an agenda for the meeting soon.
• The commission unanimously supported a special exception for a Chipotle restaurant at 413 8th Street SE (fast food restaurants are prohibited by zoning on Barracks Row). ANC 6B’s letter to the Board of Zoning Adjustment will ask that they approve the exception only for Chipotle so that any future fast food restaurants that want to open at that location will also have to ask for a special exception.
• Representatives of the Capitol Hill Animal Alphabet Art Project (CHAAP) asked the commission for a letter endorsing their concept of creating animal sculptures that coincide with the lettered streets on Capitol Hill. CHAAP, which is being sponsored by the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, also hopes to benefit from funds generated by the Performance Parking Pilot Program on Capitol Hill.  The commission voted 10-0 to write a letter endorsing the concept and referred the project to the ANC 6B Transportation Committee for further consideration. The Transportation Committee is developing a process for recommending projects for performance parking funds.
• Also on the Performance Parking Pilot, Commissioner Brian Pate (6B05) introduced a motion to ask DDOT to hold quarterly meetings of the Performance Parking Pilot Advisory Group and to release a delayed report on how FY11 funds were used.  Commissioner Dave Garrison (6B01), who is ANC 6B’s representative on the group, noted that the group has not met in the last six months. The commission approved the motion 7-3 (I voted in support).
• In response to yesterday’s unprecedented mid-year shuffling of DC Council committee chair assignments by Chairman Kwame Brown , the commission voted 7-2-1 to send a letter to the Chairman expressing our disappointment at his decision to remove Councilmember Tommy Wells as chair of the Committee on Transportation and Public Works (I voted in support).
• The commission voted to support Pitango Gelato’s application to place public benches in front of their new location on the 7th Street SE side of 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE.
• ANC 6B voted to hold another Special Call Meeting on the Hine Jr. High School Development on Tuesday, July 26, 7pm at a location to be determined. The Historic Preservation Review Board is scheduled to consider portions of the proposed development at its July 28 meeting.
•  There will be no ANC 6B meeting in August. The next full commission meeting will be on Tuesday, September 13.

• The July ANC 6B meeting is on Tuesday, July 12, 7 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS, 522 7th Street SE. A final vote on a resolution opposing a liquor license moratorium for Barracks Row, a special exception for a Chipotle restaurant on 8th St. SE and a variance to allow an alley dwelling to be built behind Safeway are a few of the items on the agenda. Note that ANC 6B will not hold a meeting in August.
• As I mentioned in an previous post, the Ward 6 ANC Redistricting Task Force is meeting on Monday, July 11, 6:30 pm at Miner Elementary School (601 15th Street SE). The task force will be hearing from the DC Office of Planning and the Board of Elections & Ethics on Ward 6 census data.
• Save the Date! On Wed., July, 20, 7 pm, I plan to hold a 6B09 Neighborhood Outreach Meeting at the Historic Congressional Cemetery Chapel (1801 E Street SE). More information on this meeting to come.
• If you haven’t seen it, the Washington Post had a great article on DC United’s Clyde Simms and why he loves living in Hill East.

Have a great weekend!

Hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July weekend!

With the new ward boundaries officially approved by the DC Council, the next phase of redistricting – redrawing ANC boundaries – is set to begin.  Next Monday, July 11, the Ward 6 ANC Redistricting Task Force will hold its first meeting on redrawing of the ANC single member district (SMD) boundaries for our ward. During the meeting, which will take place at 6:30 pm at Miner Elementary School (601 15th Street NE), task force members will hear from the Board of Elections and Ethics and the Office of Planning on the data to be used in the Ward 6 ANC redistricting process. The first meeting is open to the public, though the task force will not seek comments from the community.

A little background. The Subcommittee on Redistricting (whom we know well) has asked each Ward Councilmember to assemble a task force to draw new boundaries for ANCs and ANC SMDs. At-Large Councilmembers, including Council Chairman Kwame Brown, can also select one task force member in each ward. Each task force must draw SMD boundaries that are roughly equal to 2,000 residents. As with the ward redistricting process, SMDs are allowed a deviation of + or – 5 precent above or below 2,000 – 1,900 on the low end and 2,100 on the high end.

Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells has asked Joe Fengler, former chair of ANC 6A, to chair the Redistricting Task Force. In addition to former Commissioner Fengler, Councilmember Wells has selected the following individuals to serve on the task force:

• Antonette Russell (former commissioner for my current SMD,  ANC 6B09)
• Marge Francese
• Tyler Merkley
• Cody Rice
• Raphael Marshall
• Ken Jarboe
• Donna Scheeder
• Skip Coburn

Note that no sitting ANC commissioners have been asked by Wells to serve on the task force, an attempt to avoid conflicts of interest. Councilmember Wells has also asked that all task force proceedings and meetings be transparent and open to the public.  

Currently, I represent SMD 6B09 and serve as one of ten commissioners on ANC 6B (SMD 6B11, which represents the DC Jail, is vacant). While I’m not a member of the task force, I will urge task force members to keep the following two principles in mind during the redistricting process:

• The East-West orientation of Ward 6 SMDs should be preserved. Currently, all Ward 6 ANCs – 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D – have an east-west orientation. For example, ANC 6B represents southeast Capitol Hill and stretches from the Capitol Building to the Anacostia River. Since Hill East residents view Barracks Row and Eastern Market as their “Main Street,” Hill East residents should continue to be in a commission area with their primary commercial corridor.
• Hill East SMDs should be united the in same commission – It is important that Hill East have a strong, collective voice on the same commission. I have a great, collaborative working relationship with my Hill East colleagues on ANC 6B. Together, we ensure that issues affecting Hill East are on the commission’s agenda. Splitting Hill East SMDs between commissions would dilute our collective voice.

I encourage you to attend the public meetings and to make your voices heard during this process. If you can’t make Monday’s meeting, be sure to attend one of the task force’s community listening sessions, including the Monday, Aug. 1 listening session in ANC 6B (location to be determined).  

Please post any thoughts and comments on the ANC redistricting process below.

The new Blue Star Memorial sign at Congressional Cemetery, where we began our June 22 walk.

Thanks again to Brittney Wright and Chris FitzGerald, Mayor Gray’s Ward 6 Community Outreach Specialists, and Mark Bjorge of DDOT, for joining me on a walk around my single member district last Wednesday. I also want to thank Jim, Roger, David and Jennifer for participating in the walk and to the many residents who e-mailed me with issues to discuss with city staff. We covered a lot of territory in two hours.

Here are some of the highlights:

• 17th Street SE – We began the walk with a discussion of speeding along 17th Street SE and some potential traffic calming ideas. I asked again for a permanent electronic speed display sign between Mass. Ave. SE and Potomac Ave. SE as a short term measure to slow vehicles down. Mark also suggested a few other traffic calming ideas, including painting white lines along the parking areas, which slows traffic by making the street appear narrower than it actually is. Since 17th Street SE is an evacuation route, stop signs and speed bumps are out.

An unwanted guest at an open window of the Eastern Branch Boys and Girls Club building (261 17th St. SE)

• Eastern Branch Boys & Girls Club Building – When walking on the Mass Ave. side of the building, we noticed an open window and birds flying in and out. We also found some debris and trash in various stairwells and an unsecure window off the alley. The grass around the building was cut, though trees and shrubs need trimming. Tonight I’m meeting with Brian Hanlon, Interim Director of the DC Department of Real Estate Services, to discuss these issues. DRES is responsible for building maintenance.  
  

  A sidewalk in need of repair on the 400 block of 15th Street SE

• 400 Block of 15th Street SE – I showed Brittney, Chris and Mark the sorry state of the sidewalk on the 400 block of 15th Street SE. Mark said that it appears that the major damage is in areas where trees used to be planted. We also discussed the unique placement of trees along this block (large trees right next to the sidewalk) and whether homeowners or the city is responsible for maintaining the trees. Mark said that DDOT would look into this.
  

  The group examines the alley between the 1600 blocks of G Street SE and Potomac Ave. SE

• Alley Walking – We walked down a number of alleys –  the alley between the 1700 blocks of C and D Streets SE (home of the Hill East Community Garden), the alley behind the Board of Child Care Day Care Center between the 1500 blocks of C and D Streets SE, and Freedom Way SE, the “alley” between the 700/800 blocks of Kentucky Ave. SE and the 700 block of 15th Street SE. While the northern end of Freedom Way was in good shape, there was some debris on the southern end. We also noted that the alley between the 1600 blocks of G Street SE and Potomac Ave. SE needs to be cleaned. DPW is scheduled to clean all alleys in the neighborhood around August 2nd.
  

  Checking out the alley by the Hill East Community Garden, between the 1700 blocks of C Street SE and D Street SE.

• Crosswalk at G St. SE and 17th St. SE – I asked Mark if it would be possible to have a crosswalk painted across 17th St. SE where G Street SE meets the western gate of the Congressional Cemetery, an area that is used by quite a few dogwalkers. Mark said that DDOT would look into it and noted that DDOT may have to add curb cuts for the crosswalk ADA compliant. He also agreed to look into repainting the crosswalk where 18th St. SE, Potomac Ave. SE and E Street SE meet…another popular crossing point for dogwalkers.

• The Birds on Potomac – We ended the walk with a discussion of the bird problem on the 1600 block of Potomac Ave. SE. Every year, starlings visit the large trees on southside of the 1600 block, making life miserable for residents who have to constantly clean their sidewalks and cars. And, as if on cue, a large flock of starlings were flying around the trees overhead as we walked along the block. I plan to continue working with DDOT, the Dept. of Health and Councilmember Wells’ office on a solution to the problem. Note that the birds do tend to leave by early July.

What other issues are out there? Please post below. And plan on joining us the next time we walk the neighborhood, probably some time in Sept./Oct.

A beautiful view of the Historic Congressional Cemetery (still in Ward 6!)

• Thanks to everyone who participated in last night’s neighborhood walk with Brittney Wright and Chris Fitzgerald from Mayor Gray’s office. I’ll post a recap of the walk (with pictures!) in the next day or so. And, of course, a big thanks to Brittney and Chris for taking time out of their busy schedules to join us.
• MPD PSA 107 and Hill East residents are hosting a sprinkler party for kids tomorrow evening (Fri., June 24) from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Spielberg Park (17th St. SE, Mass Ave. SE, C St. SE). Come out, bring your kids, meet your neighbors and talk to MPD. Should be a great time!
• Councilmember Tommy Wells is hosting the 5th Annual Ward 6 Family Day this Saturday, June 25, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm at Yards Park in near Southeast (Water St. SE, between 3rd and 4th Streets SE). Free food, music games and activities. You can read more about the event on the Councilmember’s website.
• The DC Department of Public Works has released its street and alley cleaning schedule. Our neighborhood is scheduled to be cleaned around August 2 and September 21. View the cleaning map and calendar below:
• Ward 6 Street and Alley Cleaning Map
• 2011 DPW Street and Alley Cleaning Calendar
• Finally, the ward redistricting plan is now official. On Tuesday, the DC Council held its second and final vote on the plan, which passed 8-5. There were no major changes to Hill East – everybody west of 19th Street SE will stay in Ward 6 while Reservation 13 and the DC Jail will go to Ward 7. Councilmembers Alexander, Barry, Bowser, Orange and Thomas opposed the final plan, mainly due to the passage of a last minute amendment that put Ward 3 at the top of the range of allowable ward size. Thanks again to all who weighed in during the redistricting debate. It is nice to have this issue behind us!