ANC 3F May 21 Meeting: Grants, Broad Branch Stream

From the June 5th issue of the Northwest Current, notes from ANC 3F’s May 21st meeting:

■ the commission unanimously agreed to raise no objection to liquor license renewals at Sushi Para, 4221 Connecticut Ave., and Terasol, 5010 Connecticut Ave.

■ commissioner Mary Beth Ray asked police to watch for scofflaw drivers during the morning rush hour at Albemarle Street and Connecticut Avenue. Commissioner Karen Perry added that numerous drivers “block the box” during the morning rush at the corner of Connecticut Avenue and Veazey Street.

■ commissioner Mary Beth Ray said she had filed an initiative with the Office of Planning on behalf of the Forest Hills and Van Ness neighborhoods related to attracting more retail stores to the area.

■ commissioner Manolis Priniotakis announced that The Essex, a residential building at 4740 Connecticut Ave., had received a $55,000 grant to replace its circulation pumps to decrease electrical usage.

■ commissioner Bob Summersgill said plans for a possible bike path along Connecticut Avenue had been removed from the commission agenda, but are expected to be part of the D.C. Department of Transportation’s master transportation plan.

■ Susan Wald of the D.C. Department of the Environment discussed plans to restore the Broad Branch creek to its stream bed instead of the present underground pipe. The current configuration prevents the filtering of storm runoff into Rock Creek. Boulders will be placed in the streambed to create pools so sediment will drop out and slow the stormwater’s speed, Wald said.

Work will be performed in four stages, and no trees will be removed. Construction will cost $850,000, paid for by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency and some utility taxes paid to the District government. Work dates will be announced at least two weeks in advance.

■ commissioners Manolis Priniotakis and Bob Summersgill presented preliminary grant review proposals, focusing on eligibility, review and outreach. The issue will be discussed further at a future meeting. Among the proposals were: ending the prohibition on grants that are the sole source of a project’s funding, if the grants are under $1,500; ending a $3,000 cap on grants; and allowing organizations to apply for grants twice in three years instead of the current “one time only” policy.

The two commissioners also proposed forming a standing grants committee, and keeping “soft” deadlines for grant applications in March and September but allowing requests at other times. They also recommended a $400 annual budget to promote the commission’s grant availability, creating a catalog of nonprofits within the commission’s boundaries, having commissioners speak to outside groups, working with outside media including advertising, reworking the commission website, and creating a pamphlet.

■ commissioners voted unanimously to file a formal complaint against the University of the District of Columbia over its alleged failure to comply with its campus plan. “Unless we’re on record, it’s automatically assumed they’re complying,” said commissioner Karen Perry.

The commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at the Methodist Home of D.C., 4901 Connecticut Ave. NW. For details, call 202-670-7262 or visit anc3f.us.