ANC 2B DUPONT CIRCLE ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION MEETING SUMMARY - SEPTEMBER 10, 2003

Below is a summary of the actions taken by the Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission (Commission or ANC 2B) at the September 10, 2003, meeting. Please note that this summary does not constitute an official record of the meeting. Contact the Executive Director or appropriate Commissioner for additional information.

Public Safety Issues

-- The new Commander of the Third District of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Larry McCoy, was introduced. During remarks, Commander McCoy noted that since he assumed command of the Third District he faced an increase in three crime categories robbery, auto theft, and theft from autos. He encouraged the public to become involved in the Citizens Advisory Council as a way to participate in problem solving for public safety. He announced that Chief Ramsey has tentatively set January 31, 2004, as the target date implementation of the newly redrawn Police Service Area (PSA) boundaries, the latest version of which ANC 2B supports, as they are largely contiguous with ANC boundaries.

-- It was announced that the Dupont Circle Public Safety Committee will meet Tuesday, September 16, 2003, 7 pm at the Third District Headquarters (17th & V Streets NW); that PSA 309 (East Dupont/Logan Circle neighborhoods) will meet on Thursday, September 18, 2003, 730 pm at the DC Jewish Community Center (16th and Q Streets, NW); and that the MPD Third District Citizens Advisory Council will meet on Thursday, September 25, 2003, 730 pm at the Third District Headquarters.

General Items

-- It was announced that Commissioner Stuart Dwyer resigned his office due to relocation out of his Single Member District. Interested candidates may seek petitions from the DC Board of Elections and Ethics. Candidates will be provided an opportunity to speak at a special meeting of ANC 2B to be held on September 30, 2003. (2B06)

-- Chris Shaheen, Ward 2 Planner in the Office of Planning, announced that the P Street Streetscape project is awaiting final approval from the Federal Highway Administration. A meeting will be held to gather further community input on the project later this year. (2B02)

-- ANC 2B heard a presentation by Greenspaces DC, a not-for-profit organization established to promote the beautification of neighborhood streets. Greenspaces DC is concentrating its initial efforts on Connecticut Avenue between R and S Streets, NW, and expects to expand its efforts to other areas of the city later. (2B01, 2B02)

-- Crystal Palmer, Director of the District Office of Motion Pictures and TV, announced that Touchstone Pictures is planning to film a major motion picture in the Dupont Circle neighborhood beginning September 29, 2003, for a duration of 3 or 4 days. Dupont Circle will be closed from 8 pm until 6 am for filming. The production company does not anticipate closing any residential streets, however, it may use parts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire Avenues for staging areas. Affected businesses and residents are being contacted with additional details about the closing. The Office of Motion Pictures and TV is encouraging Touchstone Pictures to hire locally to help with its production. (Various Single Member Districts)

-- Representatives of the DC Water and Sewer Authority (DC WASA) announced that they will soon commence a 30-day study of select areas in the Dupont Circle neighborhood to determine the cause of storm-related flooding both this year and as far back as August 2001. Residents requested that special attention be directed to portions of Corcoran Street, Riggs Place, R Street and New Hampshire Avenue. DC WASA intends to determine whether something happened in August 2001 that has affected the system's ability to accommodate the volume of water it is expected to handle. The Commission will hold a Special Meeting with DC WASA representatives on Tuesday, September 23rd, 7 pm, to focus on water and sewer issues. The public is strongly encouraged to attend. (Various Single Member Districts)

-- ANC 2B heard a verbal report by Denise Wiktor, Executive Secretary of the DC Public Space Committee, in response to the Commission's recent request for a compliance study within the boundaries of ANC 2B. Preliminary results of the study suggest that various establishments are not in compliance with their permits. Ms. Witkor noted that Public Space permits can be withdrawn at any time by the Committee in cases where violations are persistent. The Chair request a written report in the near future. (Various Single Member Districts)

-- ANC 2B heard a verbal report from Tchako Ngandjui, Project Manager for the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT), on transportation projects. On P Street Bridge, trucks are not consistently following the detour, adding to the problems associated with temporarily narrowed traffic lanes. On R Street, where street lights and curbs and gutters are being replaced and the street is being resurfaced, he addressed residents' concerns about tree boxes which are not being adequately protected. He reported that he could not force the city's contractor to respect or protect "enhancements" made by residents in those tree boxes. DDOT anticipates that the R Street project will be completed by May 2004. DDOT has a small amount of money which may be used for repair of "non-functioning" sidewalks. (Various Single Member Districts)

Regulatory Items

-- ANC 2B considered an application for tree removal by the Mark Winkler Company at 1815 & 1819 H Street, NW. Trees are being removed to accommodate new construction. The space remaining after construction will not accommodate trees as large as those being removed, so the Commission approved the application on the proviso that the developer re-plant trees in the Dupont Circle residential neighborhoods equal to the aggregate size of the trees being removed. (2B06)

-- ANC 2B considered a Public Space Application by Zuckerman-Gravely for an Unenclosed Sidewalk Café at 1900 L Street, NW. Commissioners noted that the establishment now occupies the public space without a permit, so the Commission voted to support the application contingent on the applicant's closing the existing sidewalk café between now and the time of the September 18, 2003, Public Space Committee hearing during which this matter will be considered. (2B06)

-- ANC 2B considered and supported a Public Space Application by 1801 PA Ave. Associates for an Unenclosed Sidewalk Café at 1801 H Street, NW. (2B06)

-- ANC 2B considered and supported a Public Space Application by Blue Chair Design for Planters at 1725 K Street, NW. (2B05)

-- ANC 2B considered the a request by the Public Space Committee for retroactive approval for existing pay phones on Public Space at 1025, 1120 and 1350 Connecticut Avenue, NW. Each of the subject phones is located in a commercial area of the Dupont Circle neighborhood. ANC 2B supported the retroactive applications. (2B02 & 2B06)

Single Member District Issue Updates

-- Commissioner Giese announced that the owners of Larry's Lounge, located at 1840 18th Street, NW, met with neighbors recently in an effort to maintain open lines of communication on matters of mutual interest. (2B08)

-- Commissioner Halligan announced that Visions Cinema, 1927 Florida Avenue, NW, has withdrawn its recent request for certain changes to their voluntary agreement related to the hours of service in the "summer garden" and other matters. (2B01)

-- Commissioner Micone announced that he has met with counsel for Kozy Korner, 1253 20th Street, NW, with regard to the Commission's opposition to its application to expand its hours of operation. (2B02)

-- It was announced that a voluntary agreement with Paradise Liquor, 1900 14th Street, NW, had been negotiated, and that Commissioner Estrada will meet with the owners of Jojo Restaurant & Bar, 1518 U Street, NW, and neighbors in the affected area in the matter of Jojo's application for a new ABC license at that location. (2B09)