DRAFT ANC3D Minutes of March 2003

The March 5, 2003, regularly scheduled monthly meeting of ANC-3D was called to order at Sibley Hospital's Ernst Auditorium by the chairman, John Finney, at 7:30 pm. Commissioners Gates, Heuer, Mullane, Polk, Shapley were present. Commissioner Hamilton was absent. About 15 others attended. COMMUNITY CONCERNS 1. Police Report As presented by Lt. Patrick Burke, head of the 2nd District Police Traffic Safety Division, there have been no major occurrences in PSA-203. Radar guns and photo-radar equipment is still very effective. There have been 86,309 tickets issued since August 2001. 2. Mayor's Office As presented by Ward 3 staffer, Mary Ann Floto, there will be an emergency preparedness public meting on Monday, March 31st at Wilson High School starting at 7 pm. The meeting will be led by Peter LaPorte, Director, DC Emergency Management Agency. A system of ward and neighborhood citizen volunteers is being organized for public outreach and to respond in the event of an emergency, such as a terrorist attack. We should be receiving materials about this program and meeting. 3. DC Bicycle Plan As presented by local activist and member of the Department of Transportation's citywide program for upgrading and increasing bicycle usage in DC, Jack Koczela, there will be a bike ride around Ward 3 on Saturday, April 26th. All are invited. To promote the new plan there will be a public meeting on Tuesday, April 29th, at the Second District Police Station on Idaho Avenue. Details are available on the department's website or from the 2nd District station. COMMISSION AGENDA 4. Foxhall Road Traffic Control Signals and Street Lights Commissioner Mullane was concerned to address this need. Lt. Burke said there will be a new traffic light installed on Foxhall Road at the Field School entrance and another at the W Street access. This should not only meet the need to access Foxhall Road safely but also greatly reduce drivers' increasing tendency to excess speed along the road. There has been a 30% decline in fatalities due to speeding over the past year, which is attributed to the city's use of photo-radar guns surveillance. Half of all fatalities from driving are due to excess speeding. The city wrote some 374,000 tickets in 2002 with the help of speed surveillance; since August 2001 our local surveillance has resulted in some 86,000 tickets. In Ward 3 there is only one 'Smart Machine', placed on Military Road, to register for drivers their actual speed. 4.1 In order to get more photo-radar machines installed, a formal request must be made by the ANC. 4.2 The police distribute bicycle helmets free to needy children. 4.3 There was discussion about the increasingly commercial, heavy and high-speed traffic on Foxhall Road. Mrs. Shugrue whose home is right next to Field School, was represented by her attorney, Alan Swendleman. Mrs. Shugrue's home (as evidenced by photos presented) has noticeable cracks in the walls from the heavy trucks that use Foxhall and shake the foundations of homes. Foxhall Road, as a minor arterial road, is an approved truck route in Palisades. 4.4 Commissioner Mullane suggested that ANC-3D send a letter to Lt. Burke requesting that he devote whatever speed devices he has to reduce traffic on Foxhall Road and that enforcement of speed restrictions be increased. The question was raised as to limiting truck tonnage. Commissioner Gates will follow-up and write a letter to DDOT asking them to examine the traffic patterns and rules, particularly with respect to truck traffic, on Foxhall Road. 4.5 Commissioner Shapley noted that we all had received a required invitation from the Field School for Thursday, March 20th, to discuss developments there of community concern. 5. ARIZONA AVENUE SIDEWALK PROPOSAL 5.1 Chairman Finney opened the discussion of this agendum, which had been announced last month as an issue requiring public comment from affected residents. For many years the lack of a sidewalk on Arizona Avenue between Loughboro Road and MacArthur Boulevard has been an issue of contention. Resident WDS Fraser attested to the Frasers' having raised the need 40 years ago. This has come before the ANC several times in recent years, as recapitulated by ANC former chair, Eleanor Roberts Lewis. Until recently, if neighbors wanted a sidewalk, they would have had to pay for half the cost, which many did not want to do; however, the City in 2002 passed new legislation to install sidewalks at City expense. 5.2 There is a 12' wide public space designated for a sidewalk along Arizona Avenue. The City is in the process of developing design details for a sidewalk on East side of the Avenue (on right as ascend avenue), where there are 21 residences. This is the easiest side to work with as the houses are not as close to the street. The design would include crosswalks. This will require some residents to dig up plants, remove fences, take up brick work which they have placed in front of their homes (on public space). The design and related details will be presented to the ANC by DDOT's Muhmammed Khalid when they are ready. 5.3 A number of residents spoke both in favor and against this proposal. However, there were some 80 petitions, mainly collected by resident Jennifer Noyon, and other expressions of opinion presented to the Chair that indicated a majority of residents and others who use that Avenue are in favor of a sidewalk. Presenting views were: Eleanor Roberts Lewis, Jennifer Noyon, Jean-Michel Houde, Alfred Christiansen, David Dalrymple, Kathleen Mellick, Robert Schneidman, Kathy Sternberg, and Nils Forstreth (who spoke against the proposal as burdensome especially during heavy snows). 5.4 Commissioner Polk pointed to there being a regulatory distance between between the paving and the street, to cover snow ploughing pile-up. He also was pleased at the public exposure and full and frank discussion of views in advance. Commissioner Gates, in whose SMD this side of the avenue is, approved the proposal. Commissioner Heuer mentioned her disfavor for crosswalks and preference for stop signs. 5.5 After the proposal had been fully aired, Chairman Finney read a proposed resolution to be sent to DDOT to request the new sidewalk (see attachment). This resolution was seconded by Commissioner Shapley and approved unanimously by the Commission by a vote of 6-0-0. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER BUSINESS 6.1 The minutes from the February meeting were approved with one correction. 6.2 The treasurer's report was given by Commissioner Heuer. There is currently a balance of $13,373.07 in the Bank of America checking account. This includes a direct deposit covering two allotments totaling $10,551.45, which was finally received on February 6th. 6.2.1 The Chair asked for approval to pay Herb Golden $200 towards repairing the hard drive on the Administrator's computer. This was approved 6-0-0 by the Commission. 7. NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, April 2, 2003. Respectfully submitted, Sarah Stowell Shapley Secretary, ANC-3D