Takoma DC Neighborhood Association, Inc.  – General Membership Meeting

March 27, 2007 at 7:30 PM  Promised Land Baptist Church

 

1.                   Welcome – Paul Schwartz

 

2.                   Reviewed and approved agenda

 

3.                   Paul mentioned that TDCNA will not have a general membership meeting in April in light of TDCNA’s sponsorship of the candidate forum on April 24 at Takoma Baptist.

 

4.                   Paul introduced members of the Ward 4 Core Team, which represents every entity in DC government and meets every week to address persistent problems and problems that cross over into more than one agency jurisdiction.  This is a Mayor Fenty initiative to bring together neighborhood services and community affairs to cut through the red tape.

 

5.                   Officer Heather Straker (MPD).

a.       Contact info - (202) 715-7411, heather.straker@dc.gov. 

b.       Captain Poteat (MPD) also was in attendance.

 

6.                   Inspector Michael Vanison – Lead Inspector for DPW (street sweeping, solid waste, illegal dumping) for Ward 4.

a.       Contact info – 202-645-3882.  Mr. Vanison stated that residents must first call 727-1000 to report a problem.

 

7.                   Fred Akinbolajo – Group Manager for electrical services, DDOT (traffic lights) for Wards 3 & 4: 

a.       Contact information – his office number is 202-671-1436.  Note that the first step in reporting a problem is calling 727-1000. After 5 days, if the problem is not resolved, call Mr. Akinbolajo’s office.

 

8.                   Residents mentioned the following problems:

a.       Margie Malone – Storm drain issues at 6601 7th Street, resulting in flooded basements. Need to call WASA at 612-3400 for the drainage problems. 

b.       Gloria Kirk – Lack of street cleaning and mud in street left by street sweepers.  Mr. Vanison stated that there is no regular street cleaning in our area. If the community wants street sweeping, they need to sign a petition and also move their cars from select streets on a regular basis to allow the sweeping. He advised that homeowners must keep their own sidewalks clean up to 8 inches from the curb. If there is a trash problem, do it your self or call 727-1000.

c.       Willa Falker - problems on Piney Branch going north where drivers use the parking and bike lanes (on the right) as passing lanes.  Mr. Akinbolajo stated that he is familiar with the issue on Piney Branch and will look at signs on the street and ways to address this problem.

d.       Sherri Sosslau & Wil Etheridge – They live on Butternut and Piney Branch next door to a vacant house.  For years, they have observed open, unsecured doors and windows at the property, dumped trash and other problems.  The city is well aware of the situation as they have made numerous complaints and they recently participated in a community walk through with Ayana Rockett among others. Sheri used the DC online “rapid” system and was told that there was no cause for a violation and that the case was closed. Mr. Vanison said he would look into the issue.  Officer Straker volunteered that she can call the homeowner and tell them to board up the house given the criminal activity at the house.  Sean Gough agreed that the situation is “totally unacceptable” and agreed to make this issue a priority. 

e.       Willa Falker – broken sidewalk.  She reported this to 727-1000 but has seen no action.  She was advised to contact  a manager.

f.        Wil Etheridge – street light issues. Mr. Akinbolajo will look into this.  Officer Straker added that there is a traffic light at Blair and Peabody which is about to fall off, and a street light out at 7th & Oglethorpe.

g.       Kelly Craven – mentioned drainage problems at Takoma Village Cohousing and the need for replacement broken trashcans.

h.       Dodie Butler – lighting problems on Eastern Avenue, behind metro and a broken fire hydrant on 5th & Butternut.  Mr. Akinbolajo stated that there are limited resources to upgrade lights, but there was an upgrade on Blair.

i.         Paul Schwartz – Employees parking in the fire lane at the Recreation Center.  Sean Gough did a walk through with the Director of the center. Luke Turner as VP of the Friends of the Rec Center stated that there have been numerous walk throughs.  There was a recent meeting in March and another meeting scheduled for May TBA.  The maintenance problems are being addressed.  Mr. Hill asked for a list of problems. Dodie Butler remarked that there seemed to be no one single person in charge of these issues. Officer Straker stated that car break-ins are a problem again as well as drug problems but that the camera system is “not good.”

j.         Luke Turner – Traffic enforcement, speeding on 6700 block of Blair Road.

 

9.                   Sean Gough, the Community Outreach Manager for Ward 4, (arrived 8:15 pm).

a.       Contact info – 442-8120 and 340-7133 or sean.gough@dc.gov.

 

10.               Terrell Hill (arrived at 8:30 pm), DCRA.

a.       His contact information – 442-8653, Terrell.Hill@dc.gov.  

 

11.               Dodie provided a handout with additional contact people:

a.       Thomas Day – “Helping Hands Program” DPW – 202-645-8249

b.       Earl Eutsler – Urban Forestry, DDOT – 202-671-5129

c.       Muhammed Khalid – Street and Alley Paving, DDOT – 202-671-4577

d.       Jude Waddy – MPD 4D Focus Mission – jude.waddy@dc.gov

e.       Art Lawson – WMATA – alawson@wmata.com

f.        John Frye – DC WASA – john.frye@dcwasa.com

 

12.               Unable to approve minutes from 2/27 meeting due to lack of a quorum at the end of the meeting.

 

13.               Introduction of candidates running for Ward 4 council seat:

 

a.       Artee Mulligan

b.       Muriel Bowser

c.       Reverend Hagler

 

14.               Announcements –

a.       Death of Naomi Powell Gibson on 3/24.  Contact Gloria Kirk at 882-1084 for information on funeral arrangements.

b.       TDCNA helped the Malone family who suffered a house fire.

c.       Attendees are encouraged to attend the Ward 4 candidate forum on 4/24.

d.       Officer Straker mentioned several upcoming events: a 4/19 youth summer job fair; a 4/27 resume writing workshop for youths; and the beginning of summer camp on 5/4.  Residents are requested to sponsor c child for camp.

 

Attendance: 30 people

 

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.