NEWS: May 2014 “Votes of the ANC 2B”

This new blog, “Votes of the ANC” will be posted on the next day after our meeting to explain the votes that took place the night before. The language in resolutions will still be up to final review and some change may be made.  Last night at our monthly ANC meeting the following votes occurred:

 

Public Announcements 

1. Pride Parade, 6/7/14. Passed 8-0.

2. Resolution to support Beer Garden. Passed 8-0-1.

Alcohol Applications 

3.Request for substantial change to existing settlement agreement for Heritage India (#90050) located at 1901 Pennsylvania Ave NW. Update to promoter language and inclusion of a security plan. (2B06). Passed 8-0.

 

Marijuana Dispensary Applications

4.Application for Medical Marijuana Dispensary at 1710 Rhode Island Avenue, NW 20036. [Note: At May 2012 meeting, ANC 2B approved this business for another address (1147 20th St NW)] Applicant Ms. Jen Brunenkant, Managing Member, Herbal Alternatives II, LLC (2B05). Passed 8-0. The resolution reads as follows:

Whereas, on May 20, 2012, ANC 2B voted to support an earlier application by the same provider at a different address which did not work out.

Whereas ANC 2B does not have concerns regarding potential adverse impact of the proposed location to the neighborhood.

Whereas, ANC 2B does not have concerns about the over-concentration and acknowledges a lack of dispensaries in Ward 2; and

Whereas, ANC 2B does not have concerns regarding the proposed location’s proximity to substance abuse treatment centers, day care centers, or halfway houses.

Therefore, ANC 2B supports this application.

 

5.Application for Medical Marijuana Dispensary at 1718 Connecticut Avenue, NW 20008. Applicant Mr. Michael Bobo, National Holistic Healing Center (2B01). Passed 8-0. The resolution reads as follows:

Public Space 

6.Application for Valet Staging Area by Al Tiramisu (2014 P St NW) Tracking Number: 10125949 (2B02).  Passed 8-0.

7.Application for Valet Staging Area (renewal) by Vidalia. 1990 M Street NW. Tracking Number: 10126022 (2B06). Passed 8-0.

8.Application for Valet Staging Area for Kellari Taverna, 1700 K Street NW. Tracking Number: 10127113 (2B05). Passed 8-0.

 

General

9.Resolution regarding expansion of DPR early childhood programs. Passed 8-0-1.

Whereas the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) runs a popular early childhood education program called the Cooperative Play (COOP) Program at various DPR recreation centers across the District;

Whereas sustained community appeals resulted in DPR increasing the number of COOP program locations in the District from 9 to 12 for the 2014-2015 school year;

Whereas the demand still exceeds the supply of available COOP program seats, as evidenced by the the fact that the 50 new slots that were available for enrollment at 10am today, May 14, were filled within 15 minutes of the enrollment website going live;

Whereas parents have been asking for more affordable childrens programs in the District and only one COOP program is located outside the Northwest quadrent of the District;

Whereas many parents have complained that the current online system for COOP program enrollment is no longer adequate or fair, with those parents who can afford high-speed internet and multiple computers, and can afford to take time off from their workday, having a distinct advantage; and

Whereas certain families cannot afford to fully pay the monthly fee charged by DPR, or to volunteer one day per week every single week of the month, as is the standard requirement for enrollment in a COOP program;

Therefore, ANC2B requests that the DC Council, Mayor, and DPR consider expanding the number of COOP programs in the District, consider establishing COOP programs in all four quadrants, and consider making the programs more accessible for parents struggling to overcome economic hardship.

ANC2B also calls on DPR to review the current online enrollment system for the COOP program and to consider alternative enrollment systems, such as some form of randomized lottery, that may be more fair. DPR should also consider reviewing the online enrollment system for its summer camp programs, about which many parents have similar complaints.

 

10.Declaration of a Vacancy in ANC 2B02 and Appointment of Liaison. Passed 9-0.

11.Resolution Supporting the Repeal of Prostitution-Free Zones. Passed 9-0.

12.Revisions to Policies & Procedures Manual. Passed 9-0

 

Committee & Liaison Reports

13.Resolution to ensure quality neighborhood schools. Passed 9-0. The resolution reads as follows:

Whereas, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) were created to “advise the Council of the District of Columbia, the Mayor, and each executive agency…with respect to all proposed matters of District government policy,” including with respect to education;

Whereas, the government of the District of Columbia is obligated to accord “great weight” to advice from ANCs;

Whereas, the purpose of the District of Columbia Public Schools’ (DCPS) is “to ensure that every student attends a great school, and that every school meets high standards in all areas that affect student achievement;”

Whereas, the Deputy Mayor of Education (DME) is currently leading “a comprehensive review of its (the District’s) student assignment policies, including school attendance boundaries and feeder patterns;”

Whereas, ANC 2B recognizes the importance of a quality public education to the health and vitality of all communities;

Whereas, ANC 2B values quality matter-of-right public schools from pre-school through high school and will work to ensure that all residents have access to this option within our community and throughout the city;

Whereas, ANC 2B recognizes that many parents desire clear and predictable pathways through the public school system and would prefer a school within the community;

Whereas Ward 2 demographics are rapidly changing, resulting in an increasing number of families with young children;

Whereas, Ward 2 does not have a comprehensive high school to serve children of high school age, and Ward 2’s by-right high school options are either overcrowded, of low quality, and/or several neighborhoods away;

Whereas Ross Elementary and School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens are the only two DCPS elementary schools, and School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens is the only DCPS middle school within the boundaries of ANC2B;

Whereas, students within the attendance boundary of Ross Elementary currently are also in the middle school attendance boundary of School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens;

Whereas, School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens is the closest middle school to Ross Elementary;

Whereas, the parents of Ross Elementary students, through their PTA and LSAT, have
expressed a preference for their children to attend School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens for a middle school;

Resolution

Therefore, be it resolved, that ANC 2B recommends that School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens middle school attendance boundaries remain unchanged to serve those living within the Ross Elementary attendance boundary.

And be it further resolved that ANC2B encourages study and exploration of the creation of a new high school to serve Ward 2.

14.Voting on new Public Safety Committee Committee. Passed 9-0. The resolution reads as follows:

Whereas, the Commission has for the last several years designated 1 or 2 persons as “public safety liaisons” to foster relationships with local police, to keep track of important public safety matters, and to host or co-host meetings from time to time on public safety issues ranging from pedestrian and bike safety to street crime and burglaries;

Whereas, the liaisons have been successful in helping the Commission keep abreast of these important matters;

Whereas, the Commission has now established a transportation and public infrastructure committee to handle, among other things, pedestrian- and bicycle-related matters;

Whereas, one of the benefits of establishing a committee is to involve more non-Commissioner community members in matters that are important to the neighborhood;

Whereas, there has been substantial change-over in MPD personnel since the revision of PSA boundaries in the Dupont Circle area;

Therefore be it resolved that the Commission hereby establishes a Public Safety Committee, the purposes of which are as follows:

• To build and foster better relationships between and among Commissioners, community members, MPD representatives, and other public safety officials;
• To involve more community members in public safety matters affecting the neighborhood;
• To establish regular or semi-regular meetings with MPD and other public safety officials;
• To make recommendations to the Commission on public safety policies, legislation, regulations, and other actionable items;
• To work with other ANCs on common safety concerns;
• To organize preparation of community impact statements for relevant sentencing hearings; and
• To carry out such other tasks as may be delegated by the Commission.

 

15.Voting on Commissioner Putta as chair of  new Public Safety Committee Committee. Passed 9-0.

 

Administrative Matter

Treasurer’s Report

16.Approval of Quarterly Report. Passed 9-0.