May 2016 Minutes

Community Meeting – Saturday, May 14, 2016, 9:30 AM
Providence Hospital Lecture Room, 1150 Varnum Street, NE

Agenda:

• Officers Present:
  • Dan Schramm – Vice President
  • Teresa Fleming – Membership Director
  • Lamont Bessicks – Acting Reporting Secretary
  • Ian MacFarlane – Member-at-Large

Vacancies and Elections:

• Anita Hariston has resigned as President of BNCA.

Treasurer’s Report

• Beginning balance of $3…
• Ending balance of $3,028.38
• Budget approved

Yard Sale and Membership:

• Preparations start in January
• Major vendors: Atlantic Electric & Menkiti
• Total of 110 sites, multiple households and vendors
• Goal for 2017 is above 125 sites
• 80-100 members
• FaceBook page activity has tripled from last year.

Recording Secretary Election:

• Dan nominated Lamont Bessicks as permanent Recording Secretary
• Nomination voted and approved

Redevelopment of Howard U. Divinity Campus (Update):

• Mabel Bennett and Derrick Neic-Williams
• BOT will bring in a panel of experts (06/012-06/17) to determine how best to use the area.
• A final report will be produced.
• Community concerns will be addressed, with members being a part of the interview process.
• Urban Land Institute has assembled a panel of exports for an urban design scheme for the 23 acre site. Planning and scoping purposes.
• ULI will walk the site. Interview residents. Produce a read-out of findings. Recommendations provided within 90 days of read-out.
• Findings go the H.U. Board. Board will reveal to the community for additional input.
• Question: (Peter ) Who is funding the ULI report? Would like to get the H.U. President involved. Has not been contacted for participation.
• Answer: (DNW) Myths dispelled – tear down, sold. President of H.U. has toured the site. Earthquake damage. Div. School relocated to West Campus. H.U. has intention of returning the building back into use as a divinity school. Many avenues for public participation. H.U. has been engaging the community. No undercover grand plot or scheme. Third party solicitation was issued with no public participation. H.U. President rejected those proposals. There will be full community participation from all effected ANC’s.
• Question: (Ian Fleming) How does BNCA provide input
• Answer: (DNW) ULI & HU will choose groups and/or individuals have particular weight with whom they will spoke to as representatives.
• Answer: (BW) HU will have number of slots for interview, but must include institutional stakeholders.
• HU was in process of designating the building as a historic building. HP already initiated the process, saving HU several thousand dollars.
• The home on the site is in disrepair and will need major.
• Question: (Gigi Bessicks) Do you know who is on the panel?
• Answer: (DNW) the panel has not been assembled to date.

Crime Prevention/Neighborhood Watch: Samantha Nolan, CNWT

• Crime prevention available through change in behavior.
• Packet of information distributed for reading purposes.
• Visual presentation given showing examples of what criminals look for and how to prevent burglaries and thefts in homes, cars and when out in public.
• Presentation shows that most instances are crimes of opportunities.
• Robberies are not random, but selective in nature.
• Make sure address number on the house is clearly visible from the street.
• The address number should also be in numeric form, contrasting colors (preferably black on white), by a light.
• If the home has an alley, write the address number at the back of the house, and on the super cans.
• Report all suspicious activity and call to have street lights repaired (yellow number on the pole).
• “VIN etching” is a good way to prevent auto theft.
• Graffiti is a sign of neighborhood crime – call 311 and report graffiti.
• Be aware of internet and telephone scams.
• MPD List Serv reports crime activity on a daily basis. Can receive updates through email.
• Important description of suspicious individuals: a) head to waste; and b) shoes.

Hon. Franklin Garcia, Shadow Rep, U.S. Congress – D.C. Statehood:

• 2014, DC Council formed a commission for DC Statehood.
• “New Columbia Statehood Commission” pamphlet distributed. [draft constitution]
• Tennessee Plan is being revisited.
• Advisory Referendum likely to be presented at the November election on whether DC should be the 51st State.
• Convention on June 17 & 18, 2016.
• Two proposals have been submitted in both Houses; no Republican support.
• Ward 5 Town Hall Meeting – Thursday, June 2, 2016, at Birdy Bakkus.
• Question: Will there be a chance to amend the draft constitution at the convention?
• Answer: There should be. There are, currently, five working committees. One additional committee should directly represent the community.

Community Concerns: None.

Meeting Adjourned: 11: AM