Bates Area Civic Association

Monday, October 6, 2014 – Meeting Minutes

7:05  Geovani A. Bonilla, President – Meeting Called to Order

7:05-7:13 Christa Fields, Secretary – Review of Last Meeting Minutes (detailed re prior developer presentations to compare with 3^rd developer presentation tonight), update Uncle Chip’s has ABRA placards on doors now so see there for more

7:14-7:15 Kyle Thomas, Treasurer’s Report – $3,636 including $200 donation from Eagle Bank due to participation in National Night Out and other amounts; expenses were mostly from neighborhood flyers; 501(c)(3) finally approved

• Geo noted if anyone is grant writer and would like to help with those in future
• Please pay dues – $20 per person per calendar year, needed for officer elections etc

7:16-7:17 resident and member of Mt. Sinai – they held smooth jazz night back in June and doing a second one 10/24 (Friday) – free with light refreshments, doors at 6:15, concert at 7:00

7:18-7:40 ANC Terry Janine Quinn community updates

• Humanities Council having grant writing clinic – thinks it’s free, sign up on FB
• Big Bear Café is applying for substantial change – wants change in occupancy on sidewalk from 30/40 to 99, not sure if will be much more different at night than now, discussion re Big Bear’s possible ideas for expansion within building
• Art All Night – first time our neighborhood has been involved, was well attended, residents including Jason had booth there, parking was problem but also didn’t know at all how many people would show up and Circulator and foot traffic helped, it was ery loud but had only 2 specific complaints re noise mostly when band came back on then quieter after midnight, Bates resident complained no prior notice given but ANC Quinn noted lots of notifications via meetings but next time probably better to do other type of notice, lots of diversity in attendants and overall good feedback
• Shannon at Uncle Chip’s got on last ANC agenda but will return back in future to present more info now that she has ABRA placards
• Q and Florida property spans both SMDs (3 lots combined as one offering) – she heard from these and another developer, next process for all developers is independent review board, she’s willing to write letter summarizing some points from each developer and express appreciation for reaching out to community so early in process, Geo noted want review board to get more info as to what our community wants even if not all in one project – applications are due on Oct. 10 but she needs more info on rest of timeline
• First St from V St will continue to be closed for 16-18 months more

 7:41-7:45  Election of BACA officers – David Hall and Jason Johnson committee members; received several new dues paying members, nominations announced and ballots collected

 7:46-8:04 Martin Lucero, President PML Real Estate, Presentation re Proposal to Develop Q and Florida Avenue into Mi Casa, Inc. Affordable Housing Development (non-profit)

• Over 22 years experience with affordable and green housing here in DC and Baltimore – proposing 4 story (vs maximum 5 story) 27 unit building for multigenerational options and more flexibility with 2 and 3 BRs, types of materials to be used, environmentally friendly materials, rooftop deck and common use spaces etc, market rate down to 30% of AMI, similar building under construction on Georgia Ave and they have letter of commitment from lender
• Re parking plan to build it “by right” meaning can build under current zoning laws which will need to incorporate 13 spaces, vs variance if were trying for less parking; request to consider more parking spaces in plan but that would probably require zoning variance
• Would be entirely residential without retail on first floor because they think it’s good transition from single family residential to their building to retail buildings
• They have completed DC projects such as one on Kennedy St near the one on Georgia

  8:05-8:14 Kate Mitchell from Coucilmember McDuffie’s office – legislative updates

• 2 months until end of legislative session, very busy with various bills, early voting coming
• Introducing bill to get all DC gov’t employees 8 weeks of paid leave – discussion of whether this bill going to cost taxpayers given that DC employees also have other leave and paid vacations/holidays etc, there is Federal FMLA 12 wks unpaid leave vs DC 16 wks of unpaid leave, she says has no fiscal impact
• Major bill on waste facilities to help with environmental limits
• Noted that only 30% of DC employees are DC residents

 8:14-8:50  panel of ANC Candidates (3 for south of Q all long time residents, north of Q unopposed) – BACA does not endorse any candidate as organization and this is just for informational purposes, statement by each followed by 5-min Q&A per person

• Miles Holloman – discussion of beliefs and focus on children, he is withdrawing nomination b/c was recently nominated as chair at Perry School/Community Center, gave more info re Perry history of reaching out to underprivileged
• Joyce Robinson-Paul (current ANC) – noted has been good partner working with DPR and as advocate for DC statehood, lifelong in DC and 30 yrs in Truxton Circle, overall 18 yrs ANC experience but just recently 2 yrs after many changes, ANC now has less weight and not getting 30-day review as required and she has been trying to change that, currently there is home rule charter that affects review process and therefore affordable housing and homelessness and she is also working for statehood, her key focuses are and have been children and families and seniors and then other residents, also wants us community to be respected by local representatives and also as state
  • Question re quality of life e.g. odors and now large dumpsters from CAPCS, what was her position in terms of blacktop being tarred despite community signatures saying we wanted green space and were against parking lot? Responds that she does care about environment and neighborhood but says she was not involved in those events and Mr. Amos decided he would help Dunbar with the parking, she didn’t know he didn’t get the permits beforehand and doesn’t think she could have done anything after the fact
  • Question re Dunbar track now with gate around it vs in past when community could use track – are we going to have access now and what is she doing to help with that? She has meetings scheduled with mayor etc to get access
• Bradley Ashton Thomas – noted is at-large member of BACA and member of N. Capitol Main Street, he has 30 yrs experience as trial attorney, thanks to other candidates for their public service, supports Joyce Robinson Paul’s stance on local autonomy and DC statehood although they disagree on other matters, family is important to him, native Washingtonian and has lived in neighborhood 23 yrs, he was our ANC prior to redistricting 2 yrs ago, he is running because long-term residents and brand new residents want clean streets and safe community where neighbors engage with each other, believes he has skills to bring communities within our boundaries together instead of separate them and help collaborate with each other and neighboring communities
  • Question what was most proud accomplishment from when he was ANC? He was very prominent and persistent in getting BACA area to be funded as part of small area plan instead of being ignored as in past years and having lots of social services concentrated in our area instead of diverse growth
  • Resident expressed thanks to Bradley re keeping Slater and Langston buildings historic, also thanks to Joyce re keeping M.M. Washington building historic
  • Comment re recent article comparing our area to neighboring communities and saying we are best kept secret “but” – noted concerns re enviro and dumpster, requested dumpster to be moved to back of school, also noted changes in timing
• Geo noted that even though ANCs will be elected they are not paid and are volunteers because they want to serve community so thanks to them for running and serving

 8:50-8:51 new BACA officer results:

• David Hall President, Geovani Bonilla Vice President, Kyle Thomas Treasurer, Christa Fields Secretary
• At Large officers Harold Gist, Jason M. Johnson, Annetta Nicholas, Bradley Thomas
• Noted others are invited to actively participate in committees and events

8:52-8:54 General Announcements

• Please bring a neighbor to the next meeting
• Please bring a neighbor to the polls on election day, make sure they are registered to vote, early voting starts 10/20, noted can be problems with early voting ballots
• Feel free to host meet-and-greet for candidates, don’t forget ANCs have great weight

8:55 Adjournment