Res 05-01

RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING TIMELY NOTICIFICATION TO ANCS’ BY THE DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS (DPR)PRIOR TO CERTAIN ACTIONS AFFECTING FACILITIES UNDER THE DEPARTMENT’S CONTROL IN A RESPECTIVE ANC’S AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3F
North Cleveland Park, Forest Hills, & Tenleytown
4401-A Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Box 244
Washington, D.C. 20008-2322

WHEREAS, DPR has statutory responsibility to advise all affected ANC’s under DC Code Sec. 1-309.10 (c)(1) which states in part:

Proposed District government actions covered by this part shall include, but shall not be limited to, actions of the Council of the District of Columbia, the executive branch, or independent agencies, boards, and commissions. In addition to those notices required in subsection (a) of this section, each agency, board and commission shall, before the award of any grant funds to a citizen organization or group, before the transmission to the Council of a proposed revenue bond issuance, or before the formulation of any final policy decision or guideline with respect to grant applications, comprehensive plans, requested or proposed zoning changes, variances, public improvements, licenses, or permits affecting said Commission area, the District budget and city goals and priorities, proposed changes in District government service delivery, and the opening of any proposed facility systems, provide to each affected Commission notice of the proposed action as required by subsection (b)* of this section. Each District of Columbia government entity shall maintain a record of the notices sent to each Commission pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. (Emphasis added)

WHEREAS, DPR is responsible for land and facilities in every ward; and

WHEREAS, this ANC, and others based on informal discussions with their Commissioners, have had many complaints from their constituents about lack of information and input about these DPR efforts until the plans or work have already been completed;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT: DPR convene a meeting with the ANC’s with the express purpose of creating a mechanism to insure that ANCs’ are receiving timely notification of all actions both by the agency and its delegates with respect to public improvements to take place in their commission area.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:  Commissioner Kessler and Commissioner Gandhi are designated by ANC 3F to work cooperatively with other ANC’s, DPR and other interested parties in creating this mechanism as quickly as possible.

*1-309.10 (b) Thirty days written notice, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays of such District government actions or proposed actions shall be given by first-class mail to the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, each affected Commission, the Commissioner representing a single-member district affected by said actions, and to each affected Ward Councilmember, except where shorter notice on good cause made and published with the notice may be provided or in the case of an emergency and such notice shall be published in the District of Columbia Register. In cases in which the 30-day written notice requirement is not satisfied, notification of such proposed government action or actions to the Commissioner representing the affected single-member district shall be made by mail. The Register shall be made available, without cost, to each Commission. A central record of all such notices shall be held by the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.

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Approved by a vote of 7-0-0 at a duly noticed public meeting on January 10, 2005, with a quorum present.

/s/ Karen Lee Perry /s/ Cathy Wiss

Karen Lee Perry, Chair             Cathy Wiss, Secretary