RCA October 2009 Meeting Minutes

RCA October 2009 Meeting Minutes
October 05, 2009 @ 7pm
Langston Bar & Grille, 1831 Benning Road, NE, 2nd Floor

Special Guests in Attendance:

• Joshua Hopkins, Ward 6 Outreach & Service Specialist, Mayor’s Office of Community Relations & Services (joshua.hopkins@dc.gov)
• Alex Rotan, Ward 6 Outreach & Service Specialist, Mayor’s Office of Community Relations & Services (alex.rotan@dc.gov)

President/Vice-President's Report

Thanked everyone for attending.

Treasurer's Report

1. RCA General Account: $208.77
2. RCA KPCG Account: $6,138.24

Transportation Committee Report

1. C Street, NE - DDOT’s C Street, NE Traffic Calming Study and Preferred Design has begun, more information to follow, please visit the C Street, NE Project blog. (cstreetne.blogspot.com) for updates and ways to participate.
2. C Street, NE - At the request of RCA, Council Member Tommy Wells and ANC6A have both sent separate letters to MPD to request a permanent speed-camera on C Street, NE. Both letters are posted on the C Street, NE Project blog (cstreetne.blogspot.com).
3. 17th & 19th Street two-way conversion - DDOT's Transportation Policy and Planning Administration has completed the two-way conversion study and analysis, 17th Street from Benning Rd to Potomac Ave and 19th Street from Potomac Ave to C Street. The project has now moved to DDOT's Infrastructure Project Management Administration for final design and implementation. The conversion time-line has not been set, but multiple sources note that it will probably be in concert with the completion of the 11th Street Bridge project. Hopefully we can convince DDOT to expedite the conversion before then.
4. Benning Rd Reconstruction Project - if you see any unsafe conditions for pedestrians, cyclist or motorists, due to construction activities, please contact Mr. Nerdahl, MACTEC Project Manager for the project, at cberdahl@mactec.com or 703.609.4667

Outreach Committee Report

1. RCA OC was a major influence in successfully having the Rosedale library wing shell constructed with the new Rosedale Community Center. A special thanks to Brit Wyckoff who has been a champion of this effort for the last 3 years!


Garden Committee Report

1. Kingman Park/Rosedale Community Garden committee is actively pursuing the purchase of the garden property (and the adjacent south lawn property). They are in discussions with the current property owner, DC's Office of Property Management and Wiper Corporation (purchasing garden property through DC back-tax-sale). For more information refer to Pat Jordan’s through update on the RCA Member and KPRGarden Listservs. If you are interested in helping, please email us – rosedaledc@gmail.com

Crime & Safety Report

1. RCA is looking for someone to provide a brief report from the PSA 103 monthly meetings, if regularly attend and are interested, please let us know, email us - rosedaledc@gmail.com.
2. Citizens are encouraged to call 311 if they see dumped trash in the streets/alley
3. Note - MPD's PSA 103 (Police Service Area) monthly meeting (2nd Wednesday evening @ 7PM at Miner E.S., 601 15th St. NE) - discuss crime and safety issues directly with the MPD officers that serve the Rosedale neighborhood.
4. Note - ANC6A Public Safety Committee monthly meeting (3rd Thursday evening @ 7PM at Sherwood Recreation Center, 10th & G Streets, NE) - discuss crime and safety issues directly with committee members, including ANC6A08 Commission Kelvin Robinson, Co-chair

Old Business

1. Hanna Lewis is looking to start a support group, to meet regularly or as necessary, for community members grieving from the loss of a family-member, a friend or a loved-one. If you or someone you know needs someone to talk and would like to get together, please email RCA - rosedaledc@gmail.com - to get in touch with Hannah
2. Rosedale Community Center and Library groundbreaking ceremony was on September 30 and included Mayor Adrian Fenty, Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells and Acting DPR Director Ximena Hartsock. Brit Wyckoff, shovel in hand, represented RCA.

New Business

1. RCA will put together a short punch-list (trash in alleys, abandoned cars, overgrown vegetation, vacant/nuisance properties, missing sidewalks, etc.) of Rosedale neighborhood issues for Ward 6 Co-Outreach & Service Specialists Joshua Hopkins and Alex Rotan. If you have items to contribute, send them to rosedaledc@gmail.com
2. RCA invites the community to submit neighborhood and community information, photos, events, happenings or inquiries to post on the RCA blog, please send them to rosedaledc@gmail.com
3. RCA plans on preparing appreciation letters to PSA 103, previous Co-Ward 6 Outreach & Service Specialists Forest Hayes and Chris Taylor, Rosedale Recreation Center Site Manager Brian Williams and Jacquelyn R. Glover, Project Manager, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development.

Adjourn

RCA's March 2009 Meeting Minutes

President/Vice-President's Report

None.

Treasurer's Report

1. No expenditures in February or March.
2. Annual Membership fees ($10) are now due.
3. RCA and Garden Accounts' information are available, please see Pat T., Treasure, for details.

Transportation Committee Report

1. H Street Shuttle now in operation
2. Service Request has been submitted to revise the destination sign at C & 17th Streets, NE, to change the text from "Downtown" to "Lincoln Park" and "Eastern Market" and "RFK" & "Armory" to "Anacostia Riverwalk Trail".
3. Committee plans to collaborate with ANC6C Transportation Committee to request DDOT implement 2003 Motor Carrier Management and Threat Assessment Study recommendations for strict motor-coach and commercial-truck routes through the Greater Capitol Hill community.

Outreach Committee Report

1. Committee now has the complete 'Chronicles of Narnia' and are still accepting books, especially ‘Teen’ focused fictions and non-fiction, for the Rosedale Community Lending Library RCA OC established in the Rosedale Recreation Center. Please contact RCA, rosedaledc@gmail.com, for further information on how you can contribute.

Garden Committee Report

1. For the last year the committee, led by Pat J, has actively discussed and pursued the land-purchase, northern half of the land that the Kingman Park/Rosedale Community Garden (KPRCG) is currently on, from the current private owner. Currently, the owner allows RCA to use the land for the garden in exchange for KPR Garden members maintaining the site (cutting-grass and vegetation, collection on-site trash, etc.). KPRCG is pursuing the purchase to ensure the garden’s future endeavors and to ensure the viability of the financial and labor investments to garden improvements and infrastructure. This would also allow the garden to pursue permanent utility water service.
2. A $2,500 grant has been pledged by Capitol Hill Community Foundation (CHCF) to go towards the land’s purchase. A big thanks CHCF for their pledge and belief in the KPRCG’s efforts!

Crime & Safety Report

1. The Rosedale community is encouraged to attend MPD's PSA 103 (Police Service Area) monthly meeting (2nd Wednesday evening @ 7PM at Miner E.S., 601 15th St. NE) to discuss crime and safety issues directly with the MPD officers that serve the Rosedale neighborhood.

Old Business

1. Capitol Hill Restoration Society will host a Rosedale neighborhood "Historical Walking-tour" on May 30, 2009. The Rosedale community is encouraged to participate. Please contact RCA, rosedaledc@gmail.com, to learn how you can volunteer! More information about this exciting event to follow...
2. RCA members are planning to testify and submit a letter to the Library Oversight Committee, chaired by Harry Thomas, meeting on Monday, March 16, at 10am, to urge DC Public Library to commit and allocate funds for a new public library-wing within the new Proposed Rosedale Community Center project since 2 neighborhood library kiosks are scheduled to be closed, R.L.Christian kiosk at 13th & H Streets and
Langston on Oklahoma Ave & Benning Road.
3. It appears the much anticipated new Rosedale Community Center ground-breaking ceremony, scheduled for April 12, 2009, for has been postponed to May. If anyone has more information please post or contact RCA, rosedaledc@gmail.com.

New Business

None.

General Discussions

1. Gladys Mack, ANC6A07, who was in attendance, stated the Pinnacle Apartments is currently under renovation and units are being sold under HUD's "Housing Choice Voucher Program". For further information contact the property manager, Ms. Richardson (no contact info provided)

RCA February 2009 Meeting Minutes & Photos

RCA President Necothia Bowens (standing far left) introduces and welcomes Mayor Fenty to the RCA Meeting. Included are RCA Vice President Karen Young (left center) and ANC6A07 Commissioner Gladys Mack (right center)



Mayor Fenty Answering RCA's Rosedale Community Related Questions (refer to meeting minutes below)




Mayor Fenty addressing attendees (background includes recently created book-lending program sponsored by RCA's Outreach Committee)

RCA's February 2009 Meeting Minutes

Monday, February 2, 2009, 7:30-9PM
Rosedale Recreation Center, Multi-purpose Room

Special Guests:
Adrian Fenty, Mayor
Forest Hayes, EOM, Co-ward 6 Outreach& Service Specialist
Chris Taylor, EOM, Co-ward 6 Outreach& Service Specialist
Bridget Stesney, DPR Planner
Jason Turner, DPR Chief of Planning & Capitol Projects
Afro News

The meeting was exclusively dedicated to discussions with Mayor Fenty. February meeting agenda items will be differed to the RCA's March meeting.

Topics discussed with Mayor Fenty:

1. Proposed Rosedale Community Center
a.. Ground breaking May 13 (construction through Sept. 2010)
b. Jason Turner, DPR Chief of Planning & Capitol Projects will work with Director of Public Libraries (PL) James Turner(?) to incorporate Public library space within the allotted 16,000sq.ft.facility. Ask PL to contribute funds to support PL programming
c. Athletic Fields will also be reconstructed at the same time
d. Citizens request a small room/office be dedicated in the new facility for MPD as a on-site presence
e. The current pool is staying and will be incorporated into the final design layout. However, it will be closed during construction, dates have not been established

2. Shuttered Gibbs Elementary
a. As far a the Mayor is aware, Chancellor Rhee doesn’t have specific plans for the facility to date.
b. Some citizens recommended converting the space to a community-wide art gallery and art-studios available to local artists and school programs
c. Citizens recommended using Gibbs as a transition space for Rosedale Recreation Center programs while the new facility is being constructed. Mayor Fenty thought this was a good idea and will have DPR coordinate

3. Benning Road Reconstruction Project
a. RCA inquired about time-line for completion. Mayor Fenty was unaware that the time-line had been extended to June 2010. He stated he would ensure DDOT completed the project on schedule for December 2009

4. Hechinger Plaza Site/future of National Wholesale Liquidators tenant space
a. The Mayor was unaware of any potential “big-box” tenants for recently closed Modell Sports store
b. The Mayor is open to providing incentives for a right-fit government and private partnership to develop the Hechinger’s Plaza site

5. Recently closed Café Roma (411 18th Street, NE)
a. The Mayor stated his office would draft a support letter for a zoning special exemption if Café Roma needed it to include a bakery as part of their business-plan.
b. The Mayer also recommended Café Roma submit a letter to ANC6A requesting a support letter for a zoning special exemption to include a bakery on premises
c. Forest Hayes and Chris Taylor have contact RCA for Café Roma’s contact information, The Mayor’s Office of Community Relations & Services is going to have a member of the Department of Small and Local Business Development work with Café Roma.

6. C Street, NE (between 21st to 16th Streets)
a. RCA asked for the Mayor’s support for transforming C Street from a minor arterial commuter & commercial cut-through corridor to a green, multi-modal, residential gateway for the Greater Capitol Hill community. Mayor is open to the idea. Asked for more information once DDOT had a scope-of-work and proposed designs
b. Requested Mayor support RCA request for MPD-SOD to erect a permanent speed camera for east- & west-bound traffic lanes. Mayor did not specifically address
c. Requested the Mayor support reducing one west-bound traffic lane immediately after the Benning Road reconstruction project is completed. As is RCA’s intent, the Mayor would support it as long as it did not adversely affect adjacent neighborhood street traffic volumes

7. Future of RFK Stadium
a. Mayor stated he has not been in any formal discussions with anyone about potential uses for the property, any type of redevelopment would be a long, long way into the future and would go through the proper community review

8. Mayor’s thoughts on how President Obama may or may not support DC during his term
a. Mayor is confident the President will support DC voting rights if it makes it to his desk
b. Mayor is hopeful the President will support DC’s efforts to fix it schools, how is to be seen.

Minutes for the Jan 7 Meeting

Below are the preliminary minutes for the Jan 7 meeting subject to approval:

RCA
January 7th Minutes
Location: SOVA Café, 1359 H Street

Rick Uzes, President gave welcome, room did introductions.

Pat Jordan reported that the 501C3 application process is underway.
$10 annual dues start date at next meeting in February

Frank Hankin introduced as owner of SOVA Café. He informed us that should also be a wine and beer bar by the second week of February, with 16 varieties of wine.

Officer Sakulich was our guest officer from PSA 103.

Construction has started on the “starburst” intersection of H, Benning, Maryland, etc. and an intersection meeting will be included in the January 10th Ward 6 ANC meeting held at Miner Elementary School.

Café Roma on 18th and D Streets should be opening soon but the owner is currently out of town.

Ken Granata update on area improvements.
Traffic calming, parking delineation, hydrants, bike lane all proceeding apace on C Street from Oklahoma to 15th Street. Also there is a new radar camera in effect on C Street. Usual hours from 4-8pm in evenings, but occasionally in the morning.

11th Street Bridge project (http://www.11thstreetbridgeseis.com/studyteam.asp ) will become an issue soon along with possible conversion of 17th and 19th Streets into two way streets.

Guest Speakers:

Joseph Cotton

of the Rosedale Youth Institute based at Rosedale Recreation Center. It has non-profit status, was started in 1990, is a mentoring program for youth. He is hoping to get all the neighborhood groups to work together on the new Rosedale Community Center planning and implementation. To that end, Rick Uzes (RCA) and Mr. Cotton (RYI) are applying to the Ward 6 ANC for a $4000 grant to equip football teams. Typical kids are 5—15 years of age. RYI has approx. 70 kids in basketball and 75—200 kids in football.

There is a meeting on Jan. 21st with the grant committee to apply to the local ANC which is referred to the full ANC at their February meeting.

Would like ideas to set up Rosedale Community Center fundraisers. Any volunteers to help with after school programs are welcome.
Hiram Brewton

Neighborhood Services Coordinator for Ward 6.
202-727-7975 Office phone 202 340 7954 Cell phone
Hiram.Brewton@dc.gov

Organized a “Fix-It” at 16th and Isherwood. Core team tours an area and notes problems, strategize on methods to cure issues. Fix-Its are determined by the number of calls for service for a specific area. The more calls for service to 311 (or 911) the easier it becomes to get a Fix-It set up. Example was the recent walk-thru of 17th and Kramer. Benches were installed in the small park at 14th Street. Rick Uzes has a PowerPoint developed by the Mayor’s office relevant to the 17th and Kramer walk-thru.

May be future efforts to do joint Fix-Its between Wards 5, 6, and 7. Mr. Brewton will forward RCA a copy of the Core Team newsletter.

Mandie Yanasak
myanasak@gmail.com

Spoke on the Kingman Park/Rosedale Community Garden. She is assuming an active role as head organizer for the garden. As the Vice President of DC Urban Gardeners her job is to pull together the community gardens. She will be setting up an RCA garden subcommittee with a possible meeting in January 14th at her home, email her for the address. The garden is located in the center of 20-21st and D-E Streets NE. North end.

Brit Wyckoff
Wyckoff@aol.com

Update on Rosedale Community Center efforts. January 16th meeting with Mayor Fenty. RCC has been awarded $24 million for new center and possible $8-10 million for library.

An hour of the February 4 RCA meeting will be devoted to brainstorming vision for Community Center. Rick Uzes will post a list of questions on the listserve for folks to use to develop personal vision to share with group at the February meeting.

Dec. 3 Meeting Minutes

The minutes from the December RCA meeting are now published, approved and available for all to see.

Short Summary:

Notable attendees: Robert Pittman Linden Neighborhood Association and Brenda Artis, PSA 103 Citizen Coordinator

Explanation of Operation Full-Stride police initiative; young officers will start on foot patrol to gain experience

Neighborhood Service Coordinator (NSC): Hiram Brewton

Owners of the new Café Roma soon to open at 411-18th Street

Sondra Gilbert Philips spoke as the new coordinator for the Rosedale Recreation/Community Center redevelopment project: Please see complete minutes for notes on this important undertaking.