DUPONT CIRCLE ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION (ANC 2B) MEETING SUMMARIES FOR MEETINGS HELD IN LATE SEPTEMBER AND EARLY OCTOBER

Below is a summary of the actions taken by the Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission (Commission or ANC 2B) at the October 8, 2003 Regular Meeting. Please note that this summary does not constitute an official record of the meetings. Contact the Executive Director or appropriate Commissioner for additional information.

Public Announcements

-- It was announced that the Casey Tree Foundation (www.caseytrees.org) will sponsor a tree planting on Saturday, November 8, 2003, from 9 am until noon. Interested volunteers should meet at the park located at the intersection of 17th Street, T Street, and New Hampshire Avenue, NW. Call (202) 833-4010 for additional information.

-- It was announced that the Mayor’s Office is sponsoring the third citizens’ summit (www.citizensummit.dc.gov) on Saturday, November 1, 2003, at the Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW, from 8 am until 4 pm. The summit seeks to address neighborhood and citywide concerns, and bills itself as the “largest ongoing town hall meeting in the U.S.”

-- It was announced that the Dupont Circle House Tour will take place on Saturday, October 19, 2003, from noon until 5 pm, followed by a Tea at the House of the Temple, Supreme Council 33. Volunteers are needed for various activities. (http://www.dupont-circle.com/housetour.htm)

Public Safety Issues

It was announced that the Dupont Circle Public Safety Committee would meet on Tuesday, October 21, 2003, 7 pm, at the Third District Headquarters (17th & V Streets, NW) and that PSA 309 (East Dupont/Logan Circle neighborhoods) would meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2003, 7:30 pm at the DC Jewish Community Center (16th and Q Streets, NW).

The Chair announced that the DC Auditor’s report on the Public Safety Call Center’s Response to the Fatal Fire of January 15, 2003, at1617 21st Street, NW, has been released and confirms many of the Commission’s concerns about the inadequate response. A copy of this report is available at www.dcauditor.org. (2B02)

General Items

-- Tchako Ngandjui, Ward 2 Project Manager for the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT), reported that the complete reconstruction portion of R Street, between 15th and 18th Streets, NW, will be finished by early 2004; a neighborhood meeting regarding the reconstruction of the Scott Circle underpass will be convened in conjunction with Commissioner Mitten later this month; and that the P Street Bridge project will be completed by May 2004, perhaps earlier depending on changes in traffic patterns. Mr. Ngandjui answered questions, particularly about alley reconstruction projects.

-- ANC 2B adopted a resolution extending its condolences to the family of John Jacob Wiebenson, an architect whose community projects throughout the area contributed much to this neighborhood, who recently died while volunteering with a community service organization.

-- ANC 2B adopted election guidelines for the vacancy Single Member District 2B06. Candidates Michael Beidler, George Britton and Mike Silverstein have been certified by the Board of Elections and Ethics. Residents of 2B06 may cast ballots from 6 – 8 pm at the November 12, 2003, at the DC Jewish Community Center (16th and Q Streets, NW).

-- The owner of building at1732 Connecticut Avenue, NW, presented plans for a new store front and restaurant at this property. It was announced that the owner plans to open a 54-seat Greek restaurant at the location which was formerly Peter’s Passion. The Commission will consider an ABC license application for this property at a future meeting. (2B02)

-- ANC 2B approved a continuing budget resolution for FY 2004 at FY 2003 levels through the December meeting.

ABC Issues

-- ANC 2B considered an application by Panache for a new restaurant license for a 110-seat restaurant serving lunch and dinner with live music accompaniment located at 1725 Desales Street, NW. The Commission unanimously supported this application. (2B05)

-- ANC 2B voted to support the ABC Renewal Application for Freedom Market, located at 1901 New Hampshire Avenue, NW. (2B09)

Public Space Issues

-- ANC 2B considered a Public Space Application by the Jones Family Foundation for 56-seat Unenclosed Sidewalk Café at 1666 Connecticut Avenue, NW (on R Street). The Commission voted to support the application subject to hours of operation which conclude at 11 pm Sunday – Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday. (2B02)

-- ANC 2B considered a Public Space Application by Urban Adventures for an Unenclosed Sidewalk Café at 1612 U Street, NW. As the application does not conform to the city’s requirement of a minimum of ten feet of unobstructed space, the applicant is seeking a variance to this requirement. The Commission voted to protest this application due to the limited space on the sidewalk at this location. (2B08)

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Area Flooding & Sewer Issues – September 23, 2003

-- The DC Water and Sewer Authority (DC WASA) representatives presented an overview of the combined sewer system and heard public testimony on persistent storm-water overflow, storm drain failures, and sewer backups in multiple Single Member Districts, most severely noted since August 2001. In response, DC WASA proposed a neighborhood walk-through in the hardest hit areas of the ANC. A DC WASA Resident Worksheet form was distributed to the public on which details of flooding and sewer problems should be recorded for analysis by the Authority. In October, DC WASA will perform a study of water and sewer flow in ANC 2B. Following this initial study, DC WASA will commence a 3-4 month physical inspection of the sewers. DC WASA will come before the Commission on a periodic basis to discuss the findings, beginning with the November 12, 2003, meeting.

-- At this special meeting, ANC 2B voted to request that the Department of Health provide the Ward 2 Vector Control inspector with an automobile so that the inspector will no longer have to share a vehicle with the Ward 1 inspector. ANC 2B also voted to request that DDOT and the Department of Public Works suspend mechanical street sweeping and initiate a program of hand-sweeping for the duration of the construction project along R Street between New Hampshire and Connecticut Avenues in order to preserve scarce street parking.

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Underground Trolley Facility at Dupont Circle – September 30, 2003

-- Aimee Occhetti, representing the Office of Property Management (OPM), reported that an appraisal of the space has been received by OPM. The appraiser values the annual lease at $54,500, $2 per square foot. The appraisal will be a factor in the city’s negotiations with the new lessor, Kalorama Sports Management, represented by Paul London (psllondon@aol.com). Commissioners heard public testimony on potential uses of the space, and expressed great dissatisfaction with the structures erected over two entrances, one near the Dupont Circle Resource Center, and one near Riggs Bank. The Commission noted that various government entities have jurisdiction over parts of the land and space, and urged OPM to consult with the Corporation Counsel’s office to ensure that all parties are brought into negotiations as appropriate. The Commission voted to request that OPM include in its negotiations a provision which calls for the expeditious removal of the unpermitted structures. (Commissioner Mitten, who has been nominated by the Mayor for the position of Director of the Office of Property Management, was recused from this matter.)

-- At this special meeting, ANC 2B heard and approved a request by the Governor’s House Hotel, located art 1615 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, for a lane closure not to exceed 9 months to accommodate construction on the site. The lane closure would remove 3 parking spaces from the parking lane and will not impede traffic in the traffic lanes. (2B05)

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Next Meeting

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2B normally meets the second Wednesday of each month. There is an open forum at each meeting for discussion of issues not on the regular agenda. For further information, call (202) 296-7333 or send a message to email@DupontCircleANC.net.

The next regular meeting of ANC 2B will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2003; 7 p.m.; DC Jewish Community Center, Q & 16th Streets, NW.