Bates Area Civic Association

This meeting was short and sweet, with lots of new faces!  See you all next month.

BACA Meeting Minutes – Monday, 11/3/14, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church at 3^rd & Q St, NW

7:03 pm David Hall, new president – Meeting called to order, discussion of anticipated changes in how meetings etc are run

• will be changing to 7-8:30 regular meeting time to allow time for socializing before 9pm
• plan to post/email agenda 2 wks in advance along with last meetings minutes
• may do committee to update bylaws since they’re very outdated

Treasurer’s report, Kyle Thomas:

• balance $3,448.51
• there are some IRS and maybe DCRA issues re 501(c)(3) status because appears to have been overlap in application and renewal of 501(c)(4) from last year, he will double check those and have it straightened out by next meeting and will give update then

Secretary, Christa Fields – review of last meeting minutes

7:10 pm MPD no presenter tonight, but any concerns to bring up?

• question re about 1.5 weeks ago vehicles at 3^rd and P with quite a few arrests – what was that?
• appreciate that they were doing drive-thrus on Halloween on fairly regular basis
• noted that craps games on Q street appaer to have stopped – due to police or colder weather

7:12-7:32 pm ANC Commissioner Teri Janine Quinn:

• developers for Florida and Q – 4 proposals have been turned in, she’ll get official list and find out more about process especially with upcoming elections, if more time may try to arrange group presentation to be able to express support before independent review board decision
• electronics store at 301 Florida Ave – have been selling synthetic marijuana for awhile, it has effects similar to PCP, results in a lot of loitering that has escalated to sitting on people’s property and some resistance, neighbors are afraid of retaliation, has been some progress in that DCRA is pursuing independent action, previously legislation had to list precise makeup of drug so fairly easy for producers to get around that, new regulation effective about 6 months ago focuses on indicators on packaging and pricing not just ingredients but notice process is just now wrapping up, businesses have now been notified and warned so should be able to start making progress on revoking business license, this will be first action like this so being careful
• McMillan development project: there was hearing today and more upcoming hearings
• unit block of Q Streeet: prior question about people being picked up to help do evictions (resident noted was about 15 people and now up to 50 people), must go through US Marshall’s office and will contact them soon, theyr’e either doing evictions illegally w/o using marshall or they’re authorized and marshall should be able to determine if being paid fair rate, discussion re prior lawsuit on whether workers were being paid fair wage by contractor
• updates re restaurants on N. Capitol: Firehouse is open and planning on being closed on Mondays, Pub & People is making good progress and possibly opening in 4-5 months, wine bar (her business) is working with DCRA re architectural/engineering drawings
• Uncle Chip’s did not do ANC presentation yet because rescheduled for November meeting
• Big Bear request for changes to expand sidewalk cafe from 38 to 99 seats: residents had special meeting on Saturday but did not have quorum so didn’t vote on that yet, she hopes residents will negotiate with owner such as lowering number of requested seats to avoid formal protest, in past Big Bear has been good about reaching out to residents but they didn’t do that this time
• re 2^nd and Florida space – may be action at big condo building there
• please vote tomorrow because elected leaders pay attention to which precincts vote and gives her more leverage when try to talk to them about issues

ANC Comm’r Robinson-Paul did not appear

No one here from Councilmember’s office although not really expected due to elections tommorrow

Nno one has come from mayor’s office in long time, anticipate someone will come after election

Noted still a lot of commercial spaces not being used in our boundaries, need to work on people who own them and see what’s the hold up such as are they charging too much

Not sure re what’s going in at P and North Capitol where buildling was razed but it is Douglas Development, Comm’r Quinn noted there will be presentation at ANC in next few months

Noted rumors that medical marijuana dispensary may be closing due to lack of business

Treasurer explained membership basis since lots of new people in attendance – on calendar year basis, please pay for next year at next meeting and encourage neighbors to join, allows you to vote on issues, helps funds help with Flower Power and neighborhoood beautification/clean-up days

7:38 pm question by 6-yr resident but new to BACA: have we looked into power capabilites with increased density and development since we’ve lost power several times in recent years, transformer by church affects him at NJ & Q, trucks come to work on underground transformer at 4^th and Q

• Comm’r Quinn noted they made some upgrades after recent transformer blow-up, she will check on what updates were for our area
• noted Pepco is merging with Exelon so will be hearings about this, her background is in energy law so she may eventually be involved in those issues but isn’t right now, should be pay attention to commitment in terms of reliability not just environment or benefits pkg
• noted People’s Counsel filed formal protest to merger this morning, pay attention to proceedings

David noted might also want to get agencies who deal with Comcast and Verizon to come speak, could clean up wires in alleys, also Fios apparently just skipped our neighborhood so can have options – Comm’r Quinn noted People’s Counsel may be able to negotiate with Verizon but not sure re Comcast

Noted street cleaning is done now as of 10/31, also can pile leaves into tree boxes for pickup starting today 11/3, please put Christmas tree out shortly after Christmas but look for posting about that later

Next meeting is Monday 12/1 and also holiday party so will have treats and non-alcoholic drinks

Quick introductions around room to get to know each other since new faces and new officers

7:48 ADJOURNED