Minutes September 2016

Michigan Park Citizens Association
6 September 2016
Ross Auditorium, Providence Hospital

President David Conrad opened the meeting at 7:08 p.m.

Treasurer Beulah Sutherland read the treasurer’s report.  Beulah highlighted the increase in membership and dues payments over the summer resulting from outreach efforts.

Opportunities for Cooperation with Neighboring Associations. President Conrad noted that that boundaries of several neighborhood civic associations overlap with that of the Michigan Park Citizens Association: North Michigan Park, Brookland, Queens Chapel and Woodridge. MPCA shares common area of concerns with these civic associations on several neighborhood issues. Members from North Michigan Park have attended our meetings addressing development along South Dakota Avenue. One example of common concern is the planned development of Howard University Divinity School, which may also impact Brookland, Queens Chapel and Woodridge. A recent example of cooperation was the joint meeting with Queens Chapel Civic Association hosting Police Chief Cathy Lanier.

Membership Recruitment. Discussion followed on neighborhood outreach by MPCA.  Mr. Conrad passed out a leaflet drafted by Secretary Paul Wood for hand delivery throughout the neighborhood. The leaflet solicited membership payments and noted MPCA’s website and the neighborhood listserv.  Members discussed including a self-addressed, stamped envelope to improve the number of responses.  Mr. Ralph Bucksell noted that he included self-addressed, stamped envelopes with the leaflets he distributed. Members also discussed the neighborhood boundaries. Mr. Ralph Bucksell related that the city has changed his listed neighborhood on its property records.  Real estate boundaries are fluid and not reliable.  Mr. Conrad noted that an erroneous ABC map was copied into DC Planning documents. Kathleen Sutherland volunteered to edit the leaflet to incorporate suggestions from Ralph Bucksell and Roxanne Carter.

Web-site Development and On-line Pay Portal. President Conrad raised the possibility of adding an option on the MPCA website to enable electronic payments. Paypal is preferred as an on-line payment option.  Roxanne Carter moved to accept an electronic means of payment for regular membership dues of $10 plus $1 administrative fee.

Members discussed that donations are also received for the garden fund and the Christmas fund supporting a needy family. Terri Sally moved to allow donations via electronic means of payment without an administrative fee. Motion was carried.

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (ANC).  Mr. Conrad noted that the association’s boundaries include the boundaries of five Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (ANC) areas. With the coming November elections, members discussed inviting the ANC candidates to introduce themselves during the October’s membership meeting.  It was moved to invite the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (ANC) candidates running for election to the five open seats: 5A02, 5A03, 5B01, 5B02 and 5B05. Motion was passed.

EYA Planned Urban Development (PUD).  EYA, developers for the grounds of Saint Joseph Seminary, submitted a PUD on 9 August. Those residents who reside within 200 feet of the Saint Joseph Seminary property will receive notification of the public hearing. Mr. Conrad requested that he be informed by those residents and members of MPCA when they receive a notice. The newly revised zoning regulations became effective on the day of this meeting, Tuesday, 6 September. MPCA must apply for standing to testify at the public hearing. At the time of application, the applicant must state position for or against the development.  Concerns were expressed over the impact of possible parking from the development on 12th Street on the emergency vehicles approaching Providence Hospital. Kathleen Sutherland moved to begin the application process for standing before the D.C. Board of Zoning.  Motion was passed.

Department of Transportation (DDOT).  Members discussed inviting representatives from DDOT to a meeting along with EYA to address traffic concerns arising from the planned development. President Conrad also stated his intention to form a working group among interested neighbors on this matter.

Councilmember McDuffies’ Deputy Chief of Staff, Demetris Cheatham, was in attendance and stated that she could assist MPCA when reaching out to D.C. Government Agencies.

The meeting concluded at 08:55 p.m.

This entry was posted in Minutes. Bookmark the permalink.