080607 CPCA Minutes

MINUTES

CLEVLAND PARK CITIZENS ASSOCIATION

SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2008

George Idelson, President of the Cleveland Park Citizens Association (CPCA) convened the meeting at 10:15am.  He introduced Joshua Hart and Carol Phelps, candidates for a vacancy on the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 3C04.  Hart and Phelps gave introductory statements and encouraged residents to vote at the ANC 3C04 meeting on June 16 (7:15pm at the 2nd District Police Station). 

Idelson then distributed ballots for the election of CPCA Officers.  (The ballots were tallied after the meeting and the following individuals were elected: George Idelson, President; Peter Espenschied, 1st Vice President; Len Oliver, 2nd Vice President; Joan Buchanan, Recording Secretary; Jean van der Tak, Corresponding Secretary, and Barbara Goff, Treasurer.  Also elected were: Idelson and Ann Hume Loikow, as Delegates to the Federation of Citizens Associations of DC; and Idelson, Greg New, and Carol Phelps, as Delegates to the DC Federation of Civic Associations.)

Idelson then introduced Paul Strauss, who has been one of DC’s two Shadow US Senators for nearly 12 years.  Strauss gave an historical overview of shadow appointments, noting that “shadow” is a parliamentary term meaning “in waiting.”  In the US, many territories had Shadow Senators until they achieved statehood.  Although Strauss has no vote and no funding, aside from funds provided by DC (through a voluntary income tax check-off system), he is admitted to the Senate chamber, where he sits in the Vice President’s gallery, and he is a super delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.  He said he plans to lobby Obama on DC voting rights.  Strauss noted that the last voting rights effort failed in 1993, when DC was in financial straits, but he feels more optimistic about the current effort since the city is in a stronger financial situation.  He noted that the strategy to designate two new House seats (one in Utah, another in DC) may politically neutralize the issue.  Strauss added that Democratic gains in the White House and the Congress would offer new hope for meaningful DC representation in both the House and the Senate.  He further noted that currently much of the Senate’s work on DC is limited to the appropriations process.   DC votes in the Senate would give us a role in appropriations and the power to participate in filibusters.

Idelson thanked Strauss and reported on several neighborhood issues.  Stop and Shop has filed a zoning application on plans for the proposed new Giant project at Newark Street and Wisconsin Avenue.  Giant/Stop and Shop would hold a public meeting at 6:30pm on June 11 at the Washington Hebrew Congregation.  Idelson also reported that the McLean Bible Church asked the BZA for a continuation of their appeal to use the Uptown Theatre on Sunday mornings.  The hearing, he noted, had been moved to July 29.

Participants thanked Idelson for his efforts on behalf of CPCA.

Following adjournment at 12:30pm, the guest speaker and ten or so attendees had an end-of-year lunch at the nearby Nam Viet restaurant. 

Respectfully Submitted,

Joan Buchanan, CPCA Recording Secretary

080510 CPCA Minutes

MINUTES

CLEVELAND PARK CITIZENS ASSOCIATION

Saturday, May 10, 2008

CPCA President Idelson convened the meeting of 30 attendees at 10:30 am and introduced the main speaker, At-Large Councilmember Kwame R. Brown. Idelson noted that it had been 4 years since then candidate Brown had addressed the CPCA, where concerns included water quality and other environmental issues, Klingle Road, the schools, and vocational education. 

Brown advised that vocational education has been one of his major concerns. To that end, he oversaw the passage of a bill that established the Phelps High School, slated to open in September, as the first secondary school in the country concentrating on architectural and engineering construction. Brown also hopes to convert MM Washington High School, soon scheduled for closure, into a vocational program for adults (age 19 to 45). Brown noted that there are existing vocational programs at Roosevelt and Cardoza High Schools and at McKinley Technical High School. The challenge is linking the training programs to jobs. Brown advised that the Philadelphia vocational program does this through a public-private partnership.

Brown advised that over the past four years he has taken CPCA’s advice on a number of issues, including opposing the re-opening of Klingle Road and Wisconsin Avenue development and supporting the reorganization of the public schools. He has also been instrumental in establishing a new Department of Environment. In response to audience questions regarding public transportation, he advised that there is a need to educate the public about transit systems and to expand funding and coverage for both the Metro and Metrobus systems. When the audience mentioned that one Senator opposes dedicated funding for Metro, Brown advised that he would call the Senator at the earliest opportunity. In closing, Brown said that he will always welcome CPCA feedback. 

Idelson then introduced Mark Carter, the new Commander of the 2nd DC Metropolitan Police District. Carter advised that he hopes to have a close working relationship with CPCA, like his predecessor Andrew Solberg. He is joining the Cleveland Park listserve and encourages people to contact him by email (mark.carter@dc.gov). During his first 20 days as 2nd District Commander, Carter has made some personnel re-assignments, based on staff feedback and in the interest of encouraging officers to perform a range of functions (e.g., not just traffic enforcement). Carter responded to a number of audience questions about ticketing and removal of foliage obscuring traffic signs (which is ultimately the responsibility of the Department of Transportation).  He urged all resident to lock and remove anything of value from their cars. Nancy McWood advised that there is a monthly meeting with 2nd District Officer Ralph Neal and advised that she will send the schedule to the listserve.  McWood also urged Commander Carter to reassign Officer Baker to traffic control.

Idelson reported that a sample ballot of candidates for CPCA officers had been mailed to all members and asked for additional nominations. No names were offered. The vote will take place at the June meeting.

Noting the current interest in the closed Klingle Road issue, Peter Espenschied said that CPCA was on record in favor of keeping Klingle closed. 

Espenschied introduced for ratification by the members, a proposed resolution on Neighborhood Commercial Overlay and the McLean Bible Church (see attachment A) approved by the Executive Committee on April 28, 2008.  The resolution was unanimously approved.

Idelson adjourned the meeting at 12:15 am

Respectfully Submitted,

Joan Buchanan, CPCA Recording Secretary

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080510 CPCA Resolution on the McLean Bible Church, ratified 15-0 on May 10, 2008.

Attachment A

CPCA RESOLUTION

Neighborhood Commercial Overlay and McLean Bible Church

WHEREAS the McLean Bible Church, in 2007, made arrangements with the Upt6own Theatre to conduct regular Sunday morning religious services in the theatre, and

WHEREAS the DC Zoning Administrator has ruled that such a use would violate Chapter 13 of the Zoning Regulations, which reserves the ground floor space in the Cleveland Park Neighborhood Commercial Overlay District (CPNCOD) exclusively for retail services and sales (plus the theatre and library), and

WHEREAS the McLean Bible Church has appealed the ruling of the Zoning Administrator that prohibits use of the theatre for church purposes, and

WHEREAS this appeal is to be heard by the Board of Zoning Adjustment, and possibly thereafter in court, and

WHEREAS the Cleveland Park Citizens Association has consistently defended the Overlay Districts as important instruments of protection for the quality and balance of the neighborhood business districts in our community, and has been intimately involved in efforts to refine and clarify the applicable regulations, and

WHERAS it is clear that the Zoning Regulations restrict ground floor space in the CPNCOD to uses that appear on the prescribed list of uses, and religious establishments are not on that list, and

WHEREAS Neighborhood Commercial Overlay Districts are a few small enclaves in DC’s zoned land, and are the only areas in all of the residential and commercial zones in the city in which churches cannot locate as a matter of right, and thus cannot be construed as a burdensome constraint on churches, now therefore be it

RESOLVED that the Cleveland Park Citizens Association strongly supports the position of the Zoning Administrator as legally correct, and necessary to maintain the integrity of the Zoning Regulations, and be it further

RESOLVED that the Cleveland Park Citizens Association authorizes its officers to petition the Board of Zoning Adjustment to accept the Association as an intervenor in the appeal case and any related litigation, and to testify in accord with this Resolution.

ADOPTED by the CPCA Executive Committee by a vote of 6-0 on April 28, 2008 and approved unanimously by CPCA members at he May 10, 2008 meeting.

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