Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee - April 25, 2009
Saturday, April 25th, 2009Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee
Minutes
Old Naval Hospital
April 25, 2009
Present: Sharon Ambrose (for Barbara Eck), Chuck Burger, Monte Edwards, Larry Gallo, Bill Glasgow, Donna Scheeder (arrived about 7:30 PM), Tom Kuchenberg, Angie Brunson, Richard Layman, Lisa Brooks (for Dan Tangherlini).
The meeting was convened at 7:05 PM by Vice Chair Burger.
1. Agenda
Motion: Mr. Kuchenberg moved/ Mr. Burger seconded a motion to approve the agenda. It passed unanimously.
2. Minutes
Motion: Mr. Burger moved/Mr. Kuchenberg seconded a motion to approve both the February and March minutes. The motion passed without objection.
3. Executive Committee
Signage Committee
Mr. Burger reported that the Sign Tigers, the Signage Committee, is comprised of representatives from CHAMPS, EMCAC, Barracks Row, the CHBID, and ANC 6B, as well as local citizens The Committee’s mission is to direct vehicular and pedestrian traffic first to Historic Capitol Hill, and then to discrete locations in the neighborhood.
He said the committee is working with extreme urgency to get reasonably accurate vehicular and pedestrian signage in place for the reopening. At a minimum they are looking to have a map in place at the top of the Metro escalator so that the crowds coming to the opening will be able to find the Market because neither the Market or Barracks Row is visible from the. DDOT has a program to provide these maps at Metro stops which direct people to local attractions.
The Committee continues to work on a more comprehensive plan; it recommends that the Metro signs be placed at all of the Capitol Hill Metro stops immediately. Mr. Burger said that the Executive Committee recommends that EMCAC support the initiative with a letter to DDOT, the Councilmember and the Mayor’s Office asking to give these signs the highest priority in their signage program.
Resignation of Mike Berman from Tenant’s Council
Mr. Burger announced that Mike Berman has resigned from the Tenant’s Council. Motion: Mr. Burger moved/Mr. Kuchenberg seconded a motion to send a resolution of appreciation to Mr. Berman, thanking him for his work on behalf of EMCAC. The motion passed unanimously.
Celebration Planning Update
Mr. Gallo said that he hasn’t heard anything about the return celebration since the first meeting a month ago, and there is a lot of interest from the Market vendors in participating in the event. He said that ground is being lost. EMCAC should be looking for professional help for the benefit of the Market and the community. There should be, he said, a definitive public relations and promotion planner.
Mr. Burger said that he concurs with that, and he has talked to someone who he will bring to the Executive Committee, who is a professional event planner—he did the Mayor’s inaugural events. Mr. Jarboe said that someone is needed who can do a whole campaign, not just an event. Ms. Ambrose said that there was also discussion of branding the Market, and someone is needed who can give EMCAC ideas on branding. She said the question of affordability has to be taken into account.
Mr. Gallo said it is important for the Market Manager and OPM to move it forward. Mr. Layman said that the RFP is not a plan, and there is no plan for the Market. HE said that haste makes waste and that he would rather see something that takes time, and there should be a six-month plan. Mike Bowers suggested that the opening should be done in a number of stages. The opening of the South Hall is only part of the package, he said, and the arts in the North Hall and the pottery in the basement are just as important. Mr. Kuchenberg said he wished to second that the last two speakers said. People will be back in town in September and there will be most bang for the buck in late September or early October. Mr. Gallo added that it would provide the best and greatest opportunity, which can’t be missed. Mr. Burger said that a goal is what’s needed, a phased goal, with things done at certain times. Mr. Gallo added that there are tremendous resources available in the Market people. Mr. Burger said that there is a great flock, and it needs a good shepherd. He said that time is of the essence and it should be discussed immediately, and coordinated with OPM.
4. Office of Property Management
· Barry Margeson introduced Jennifer Eubank who is now the interim Assistant Market Manager.
· He reported that there have been internal discussions about the opening.
· He said the Enterprise Fund moneys are still encumbered, and so far OPM is laying out the money for the expenses of operating the Market. They will begin using the Fund soon.
· He reported that the Natatorium Plaza activities are going well. He said there have been some issues with trash, which is now being picked up three times a day. He said there is a lot of business on the Plaza.
· On security, he said there had been two car thefts of exhibitor cars while he was away. He reported that MPD had come to the market to speak with the merchants.
· He said he had started using walkie talkies on Saturday, but they didn’t work too well and he was getting new ones. Mr. Bowers suggested a stationary walkie talkie that vendors could access, and Mr. Margeson said it was great idea.
· Mr. Kuchenberg raised the issue of security when the new equipment is installed and Mr. Margeson responded that he plans to have security up and running when the Market is being moved, and if there’s a glitch, MPD will fill in.
· He said that the Market parking signage should be corrected by that weekend, and that he had passed out 3500 postcards with maps of the Market area.
· He said he had relocated the place for payment of vendor rents, which is now inside the East Hall in the broom closet between Angie’s stand and Market Poultry.
· Mr. Gallo said that because the Market has the greatest concentration of people on the Hill, there should be an increase of cops on regular patrol. Mr. Jarboe said that while it was a good idea, police should not be pulled away from their regular beat. Ms. Ambrose suggested that because Diane Groomes is in charge of patrols, there should be a meeting with her and OPM to work something out. Ms. Scheeder said that the merchants and vendors should have the chance to sit down with the police as well. Mr. Burger added that in any strategy, the bricks and mortar stores should be included.
· Mr. Gallo raised the issue of finances. He said that the Enterprise Fund is now available and some of it is going to reimburse expenses. The reason given for the failure of the RFP is that not enough was known about the Market’s finances. We need more information about the Market’s finances. Ms. Brunson added that EMCAC needs to know how much is in the Enterprise Fund. Ms. Scheeder pointed out that the Enterprise Fund has changed and that’s it’s now being used to accept income from the vendor rents, and to cover the Market’s expenses. Mr. Bowers asked whether there is a budget for the Grand Opening, and Mr. Gallo asked about the schedule for the opening and Ms. Scheeder responded that they should know in the middle of May, and that it would be done on schedule, including the move back, even if they had to use extra workers.
5. Capital Improvements Committee
Bricks
Mr. Edwards reported that the surplus bricks that were removed from Market sidewalks (over 10,000) had been given to Congressional Cemetery for a patio and for improvement of the paths.
Streetscape
Mr. Edwards reported that DDOT does not have the expertise to widen the gate at the Hine parking lot, and they don’t know where to go for bids. Ms. Ambrose suggested that Alan Lew, the DCPS facilities manager, be tasked with resolving the problem.
He reported that there will be three, 20 foot high light standards on the north plaza that will take up spaces that were formerly tree boxes.Barry Margeson, DDOT, Urban Forestry and OPM are working on the placement of the trees displaced by the light standards. DDOT requires that every tree that has been removed has to be replaced, and there are currently no recommendations as to where they should be placed. The DDOT project manager has asked for a report from Urban Forestry that would recommend tree locations, tree species and tree protection, and it’s now a bottleneck because they can’t move forward with paving the north plaza. He said he is not willing to give up having a leafy canopy over the North Plaza. Mr. Kuchenberg suggested asking the artists for suggestions. Mr. Layman said that it doesn’t make sense to have obstructions on the North Plaza. The Natatorium Plaza is underutilized and the trees aren’t a problem. Mr. Bowers asked whether the trees can be replaced anywhere on the Eastern Market square.
Ann Richards, of The Forecast, said that the parking lot is full, but there’s no signage, and it does not make sense to have a lot without signage. Mr. Edwards responded that the reason there’s no signage is that DDOT can’t place the signs until the gate is widened. Ms. Scheeder said that there is a difference between policy and reality—DDOT is working on policy, but the perception in the community is that nothing’s happening. Mr. Jarboe mentioned that this lot is not a two-month addition to the street, but will be there for two years, until construction begins on the Hine site. Carol Wright pointed out that there is a change in DDOT personnel, and that Derek Hardy (?) is now the contact person, and that DCPS is still involved in the issue. She said that gates are required because there are two separate lots, one for workers and one for customers.
6. Tenant’s Council
Mr. Bowers began by talking about early Tenant Council meetings, and how productive they had been. He said it is time to put the pieces back together again, and this is a good time with the vacancy on the Council providing a good opportunity for others to step in, and they need to see whether there’s new blood willing to participate He presented the following report:
1. Appointment of Representatives to EMCAC (continued from October 1,2007 request)
Open issue: The request was for each group (Farmer, Merchant, and Non-Food) meet to discuss their selection process, and for the representative for each group to report its process: How are representatives selected? Only Merchant response has been provided.
2. Merchant relocation to South Hall
a. Merchants met with Management Alternatives, Inc.’s Patti McDonald and Reed Stepan.
b. OPM will request a guard for security purposes during the move.
c. Bug lights and signage are the responsibility of the Market Manager
d. We are still on track to announce a move date on May 9th.
e. Merchant’s request a walk-through presentation on How the Market will operate. Common use (shared) resources.
3. Non-Food Vendors are concerned over their operations during the move, and the utilization of space in the North Hall plaza (form vs. functions)
4. April 7 request from EMCAC Chair to help facilitate opening day celebration.
Mr. Burger pointed out that the Tenant’s Council was formed at the founding of EMCAC and is a subcommittee of the board. Ms. Scheeder added representatives of the three groups serve on EMCAC, and the Tenant’s Council has a different purpose.
Joe Snider, a vendor, said that the Tenant’s Council has failed the vendors miserably, and they don’t know when the meetings are, and we sit and listen to discussions of the moving of refrigerators, and not about our concerns. Mr. Burger said the Tenant’s Council is a legally constituted entity and is supposed to be responsive to its constituents. But, he said, it is a new day and it would behoove the group to meet with their representatives and create a group that’s brought up to date. He said the Council has had problems, but this was a good time to end them. He said the time is ripe to reinvigorate the Council, and the conversation about non-involvement should be at an end. The Council is as strong as its members, because that group decides how it will operate. Ms. Scheeder added that this is a very good tie because of the resignation—all of the groups should look at their representation. Before the fire there was a lot of positive work done and people worked cooperatively. It needs to work that way again. Mr. Layman added that it should be simplified now that there’s a regular collection process and there’s a central point for communication.
Carol Wright said that there should be some unified channel of communication. Mr. Gallo added that communication has to be better than it is. There are huge challenges, like the programming of the North Hall activities that have to be looked at, and a tremendous amount of information that has to be shared.
7. Treasurer’s Report
Mr. Gallo reported that EMCAC’s bank opening bank balance, was $12, 121.81, and there had been a check written to Roberta Weiner for the taking and transcribing of minutes for $247.50 (Check #179), leaving a balance on March 31, 2009 of $11, 574.31. A check was written to Ewing Cole architects for $10,000 (Check #130), leaving a final balance on April 22, 2009 of $2,324.31. He said that the current dues status is that there are four members paid, four members due, and three members optional.
8. New Business
7th Street Opening – Market Row Merchants Request
Ann Richards, of the Forecast, and Seth Shapiro, of Marvelous Market, presented a letter that has been written from the Market Row Association demanding that the 200 block of 7th Street be re-opened to traffic once the Market is re-opened. Larry Kamins, of Prudential Carruthers Real Estate , claims that the closed street is “killing our business”. Ms. Scheeder said that this has been an issue for many years, and EMCAC has said that it will look at what should be done when the street work is completed, which will likely be September. She said there is no hard data as to whether it is a good thing or a bad thing. She said she hopes there can be community meetings to discuss the issue, but hard data is needed. Ms. Brunson said that she has gone on the record saying that once the “cute” bricks are installed, they’ll never reopen the street.
Mr. Kuchenberg suggested that the financials for the Market Row merchants can be looked at, without talking about the specific numbers, but only percentages. Mr. Jarboe said that the issue will most likely go through the ANC Planning and Zoning Committee.
Motion: Ms. Scheeder moved/Mr. Burger seconded a motion to refer the issue to the Market Operations Subcommittee. Mr. Layman offered a friendly amendment to add “working closely with the ANC” to the motion. It was accepted, and the motion passed unanimously.
Metro Signage
Motion: Ms. Scheeder moved/Mr. Kuchenberg seconded a motion to support the Sign Tiger initiative to get signage for the local Metro stops before the Market re-opens. The motion passed 10-0-1, with Mr. Jarboe abstaining.
9. Community Comment
Mr. Burger commented on the conversations on the Tenant’s Council and Market Row, and said they were productive. He said he is concerned that the artists are unhappy—if the artisans leave, what’s left, he asked. He said he is glad it’s being looked at, and thanked them for what they’re doing. He said that once the Market is back together, there will be a discussion about how the vendors will participate.
Sondra Allen said she had three issues: Marketing, Advertising, and a way of getting rid of junk. She said that management of the vendors is still under the control of John Harrod and Tom Rall, and there’s no attempt to market the vendors. She pointed out that there is a Craft Week in conjunction with the Smithsonian Craft Show featuring other craft venues around the area, and the Market is not—but should be—included. She raised the issue that Mr. Margeson had scheduled a meeting for vendors for 6:30 on a weekday evening, when most can’t make it, and it excludes the vendors. Mr. Margeson said he would reschedule the meeting within the next two weeks. She said there should be a way of jurying the vendors to judge for their authenticity as craftspeople. Ms. Scheeder agreed, and said it was a way of getting rid of junk.
Ms. Ambrose said that most of what’s been discussed at the meeting has been discussed for years. Most of it is legislative construct—passed by the Council ten years ago, and the changes proposed are legislative.
10.Adjournment
Motion: Mr. Edwards moved/ Mr. Kuchenberg seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. It passed unanimously, and the meeting was adjourned at 9:07 pm
