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Why Not More Community Grants?
ANC 6A REPORT
by Nick L. Alberti
Chair Amber Gove (6A04) convened the March 11, 2021 meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A via Zoom with Commissioners Keya Chatterjee (6A01), Phil Toomajian (6A02), Mike Soderman (6A03), Laura Gentile (6A05), Robb Dooling (6A06), Sondra Phillips-Gilbert (6A07) and Brian Alcorn (6A08) all in attendance.
Residents Say ANC Grant Funding Inadequate
During last October’s ANC6A meeting, the Commissioners approved a proposed budget for the coming scal year that included $5,000 for community grants. By the March 2022 ANC 6A meeting, this money had already been allocated to community organizations, but ANC6A had failed to communicate to the public, or even to the members of their own Community Outreach Committee who continued to eld grant applications despite the lack of available funds. This breakdown in communication led to an application being considered for a local non-pro t, Serve Your City, that, due to the zero balance in grant funding, had to be rejected, or at least tabled until further funds become available. During the ensuing conversation between Commissioners and the public, some referenced the healthy savings of ANC6A with an account balance north of $23,500 and questioned why more of this money has not been o ered to community causes, especially in light of the overwhelming negative e ects the pandemic has had on many 6A residents.
Commissioner Alcorn, treasurer for 6A explained that the DC government has not yet released this year’s funding and has not con rmed when the ANCs can expect to receive their respective allotments. Because of this, ANC6A must currently fund all of its monthly exthis, ANC6A must currently fund all of its monthly expenses out of its savings and given the current budgetary penses out of its savings and given the current budgetary delays within the DC government, Commissioner Alcorn delays within the DC government, Commissioner Alcorn suggested preparing for a worst-case scenario in which suggested preparing for a worst-case scenario in which the ANC must pay for all expenses without additional the ANC must pay for all expenses without additional funding for another 12 months. Multiple meeting attendfunding for another 12 months. Multiple meeting attendees argued, however, that even if the ANC does end up ees argued, however, that even if the ANC does end up paying it’s bills out of pocket for the next 12 months, it paying it’s bills out of pocket for the next 12 months, it will still have many thousands of dollars that could be will still have many thousands of dollars that could be made available to the community during a time when resmade available to the community during a time when residents need every bit of assistance. In response, Commisidents need every bit of assistance. In response, Commissioner Gove committed the Commissioners to reexaminsioner Gove committed the Commissioners to reexamining the ANC’s budget and grant allocations for the future ing the ANC’s budget and grant allocations for the future and to readdress this issue soon. and to readdress this issue soon.
The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter to ANC 6A ABRA licensees via mail to physical addresses and/or e-mail regarding recent amendments to ANC 6A’s template settlement agreements as well as ANC 6A’s intent to cease enforcement of anti-loitering provisions in existing settlement agreements, and further authorize expenditure up to $150.00 for the costs of paper, printing, and postage. The Alcohol and Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00 pm on the third Tuesday of each month. ing Committee meets at 7:00 pm on the third Tuesday of each month.
Transportation and Public Space (TPS) Committee
The Commissioners voted unanimously to send a joint letter with ANC6C to the District Department of Transportation, (DDOT) requesting a comprehensive review of safety and tra c concerns on H Street NE from North Capitol to 15th Street NE.
The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to co-sign a letter with ANC 6C to Mayor Bowser, the DC Council, DDOT, and the District of Columbia Office of Planning (DCOP) regarding solutions for H Street NE. • The Commissioners voted to designate ANC 6A Chair Amber
Gove, or another Commissioner authorized by the Chair, to provide testimony on behalf of ANC 6A at the March 23, 2021 roundtable “Transportation in the District After the Pandemic”, sponsored by the DC Council. The vote was 6 in favor with Commissioner Phillips-Gilbert in opposition and Commissioner Gove abstaining. Commissioner Phillips-Gilbert voiced her concern that allowing any one Commissioner to speak on behalf of them all may lead to a misrepresentation of individual opinions. In response, Commissioner Gove committed to sharing her proposed talking points via e-mail in the week before the roundtable discussion. • The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter to DDOT requesting an extension on the review date for Public Space
Permit Application #361713 for 424 11th Street NE, replacement of retaining wall, until after the
April 8, 2021 ANC meeting, to provide adequate time for public notice and review. The Transportation and Public Space Committee meets at 7:00 pm on the third Monday of each month.
Economic Development and Zoning Committee
• The Commissioners voted not send a letter to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) opposing the Application for a special exception from the rear addition requirements to construct a twostory with basement addition to an existing, nonconforming, twostory with basement, principal dwelling unit at 1637 D Street,
NE (BZA Case #20414) in the
RF-1 Zone. Commissioners
Chatterjee, Dooling and Toomajian voted in favor, Commissioners Soderman, Alcorn, Gentile and Phillips-Gilbert voted against and Commissioner Gove abstained. • The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter of conditional support to BZA for a special exception for constructing a second dwelling unit at 135 13th Street, NE (BZA Case #20471) in the RF-1 Zone with the caveat that the owners make best efforts to get a letter of support from 1326 North Carolina
Avenue NE. • The Commissioners voted to send a letter of conditional support to BZA for a special exception under the new building development requirements and an area variance from the loading berth requirements to permit the construction of a new mixed-use residential building at 1101 H
Street, NE (BZA Case #20455) in the NC-17 zone with the caveat that the trash management and traffic management plan be provided before the March 2021
ANC 6A meeting; the trash management plan is responsive to the neighborhood’s concerns; that there be Resident Parking Permit (RPP) restrictions added to the condo bylaws and sales documents; and that the plans include 39 indoor bike parking spaces and eight outdoor bike parking spaces. The vote was six in favor with Commissioners Chatterjee and Dooling in opposition. The Economic Development and Zoning Committee meets at 7:00 pm on the third Wednesday of each month.
Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, Rosedale, and H Street communities
ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, virtually on Zoom. www.anc6a.org
ALL ARE WELCOME
The Next meeting is 2nd Thursday, May 12, 7:00 p.m. Economic Development and Zoning Committee meeting 3rd Wednesday, May 18, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via Zoom Transportation & Public Space Committee meeting 3rd Monday, May 16, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via Zoom Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meeting 4th Tuesday, May 24, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via Zoom Community Outreach Committee meeting 4th Monday, May 23, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via Zoom
Instructions for accessing the meeting via Zoom have been posted under Hot Topics at anc6a.org. Call in information will be posted under Community Calendar at anc6a.org 24 hours prior to the meeting. You will be able to enter the meeting no earlier than 15 minutes prior to its scheduled start time.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C
P.O. Box 77876 • Washington, D.C. 20013-7787 www.anc6c.org • (202) 547-7168
Next meeting Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Information will be posted on the ANC 6C website.
ANC usually meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm, 214 Massachusetts Ave, N.E. Please check the ANC 6C website for dates.
ANC 6C COMMISSIONERS
ANC 6C01
Christine Healey 6C01@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C02
Karen Wirt 6C02@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C03
Jay Adelstein 6C03@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C04
Mark Eckenwiler 6C04@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C05
Joel Kelty 6C05@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C06
Drew Courtney drewcourtney.anc @gmail.com ANC 6C COMMITTEES
Alcoholic Beverage Licensing
First Monday, 7 pm Contact: anc6c.abl.committee@gmail.com
Grants
Last Thursday, 7 pm Contact: torylord@gmail.com Twitter: @ANC_6C_Grants
Environment, Parks, and Events
First Tuesday, 7 pm Contact: 6C06@anc.dc.gov
Transportation and Public Space
First Thursday, 7 pm Contact: anc6c.tps@gmail.com
Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development
First Wednesday, 6:30 pm Contact: 6C04@anc.dc.gov Twitter: @6C_PZE
