(photo: Robinson Woodward-Burns for Petworth News)

The Wednesday April 11th ANC 4C meeting ran the gamut on local housing, business, environmental, and education issues. Here are the highlights:

Mayor’s Office

Announced DC Emancipation Day celebrations at 2-8:45 pm on Saturday, April 14, at Freedom Plaza
Offered a plan to repair by 2024 all roads designated to be in poor condition (Upshur St is scheduled to be fixed in this year's "Potholepalooza")
Discussed increased funding for childcare, education, and recreation resources

Councilmember Todd’s Office

Proposed expanding resources for Braille education
Proposed a tax credit of up to $1,000 for small businesses with data breach insurance
Held the inaugural Small Business Summit for Ward 4, connecting businesses with DC government
Announced a Ward 4 bike tour leaving from the 9th and Upshur bike share at 9:30 am April 22. The tour will be a 7-8 mile ride through the main sights of Ward 4. More details on the Councilmember's newsletter.

Metropolitan Police Department

Reported the beginning of the year saw a slight increase in robberies along 14th Street relative to last year, now returned to normal rates.
The next PSA 407 meeting is April 19th at 7pm at 801 Shepherd St NW.

Roosevelt Senior High School

Reported expanded study abroad and student exchange programs, as well as Arabic language programs.

Presentations on Citywide Issues

Carbon Fee and Rebate Program
Representatives from the “Put a Price on It DC” campaign explained a proposed initiative to decrease carbon fuel use in the District. The plan calls for a carbon output tax on utilities including PEPCO at $20/ton, with 75% of the revenue collected returned to DC residents as a rebate, with 20% for companies and households to transition to clean energy, and the remaining 5% going to local businesses.

Clean Cities Initiatives
Julie Lawson, director of the Clean Cities office, introduced herself, reported on initiatives including establishing shared restaurant trash compactors as a means to rat abatement and the Adopt-A-Block, Adopt-A-Park, and Adopt-A-Stream programs under which groups can sign up to clean a block.

Commission Resolutions

The Commission voted in favor of the following resolutions:

Spring Flats/Old Hebrew Home Community Benefits Agreement:

$15,000 to nonprofits for workforce development
The Paul Robeson community room named for the Robeson School, which had occupied the original site of the Spring Flats development. The room will be available to nonprofits within a mile of the site, and will include a smartboard and free WiFi
About 80% of the units will be affordable housing, including senior housing units
The development team will clean the site and the adjacent park, and is accepting community input on plans for park landscaping

Letter to DPR and Roosevelt and pool access
Citizen concerns around Roosevelt Senior High School pool access should go to DCPS, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Department of General Services

Urban Land Institute membership renewal
Approved renewal of the membership fee $225 for Commissioner Timothy Jones. (The ANC pays for this every year.)

ANC Grant Guidelines amendments
Approved revised Guidelines for Community Grants – grants must now in the long term benefit at least 500 people and cannot exceed $2,000.

Letter to DCRA regarding 3900 Kansas Avenue NW
Discussed redevelopment of an unused church into eight units of residential housing and a dentist’s office. The ANC is contacting DCRA on how this was approved without relief.

Redevelopment of 1416 Quincy Street NW
Discussed the conversion of an existing ranch house into a three-story residential building, which does not require DCRA approval, but does require Fine Arts Council approval as the property abuts Piney Branch Park – the property owner will likely have a community input meeting on the redesign.