Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee
Minutes
Old Naval Hospital
June 24, 2009
Present: Barbara Eck, Chuck Burger, Monte Edwards, Larry Gallo, Ken Jarboe, Bill Glasgow, Donna Scheeder, Lisa Brooks, Angie Brunson, Richard Layman
Excused Absence: Tom Kuchenberg
The meeting was convened at 7:08 p.m.
Ms. Scheeder began the meeting by noting that the meeting was prior to a major milestone in the Market’s history: the June 26 Grand Reopening of the restored Market, and it was a cause for celebration.
- Agenda
Motion: Ms. Eck moved/ Mr. Layman seconded a motion to approve the agenda. It passed unanimously.
- Minutes
Motion: Mr. Layman made a minor correction to the May minutes. Mr. Layman moved to approve the May minutes as amended. The motion passed without objection
- Executive Committee
Street Closing
Ms. Scheeder reported that there will be a community meeting at the Tyler School on 7th Street on July 7th.
Mr. Gallo reported that he had attended the ANC meeting on the subject of re-opening the street, and was quoted in the Voice of the Hill as speaking for EMCAC, and he wanted to make clear on the record that he was not, as EMCAC does not have a position on whether or not the street should be open.
Mr. Jarboe reported that the ANC passed a resolution asking Mayor Fenty to rescind his Executive Order ordering the street closed. He said the resolution says the ANC will consider an interim closing of the street while the process is going on, and asks for the collection of better data on the impact of the closing.
Hine Junior High School
Ms. Scheeder reported that there are four developers who are finalists out of ten that originally submitted bids. Three of the four had provisions for a variety of parking options. The fourth bid suggests a campus proposal without much in the way of specificity in meeting the previous input of the community. She said the city had been quite responsive to community wants in the RFP and asked that proposals meet it. CHRS was wondering why the City accepted the fourth proposal.
Mr. Edwards said that there had been a letter sent from CHRS, Barracks Row and EMCAC saying that the fourth option was not responsive to the principles previously established for the RFP
Mr. Burger said that CHAMPS did not sign on to the letter. It abstained because of many existing conflicts of interest within the group, and they don’t want to challenge the City’s RFP process. At the end of the day, there is faith in the RFP process. When there was discussion regarding the fact that community meetings were taking place on this RFP, Ms. Scheeder said there is a difference between putting out an RFP for a proposal and putting out an RFP for contracts. She said that EMCAC would be derelict if it did not comment. She announced that the comment period had been extended until July 10th—should there be a desire on the part of groups to do anything, now would be the time to do it.
Mr. Layman said that two of the proposals were responsive, and one was okay. The National Leadership Campus was not. Two of the groups he said, have strong community ties—Stanton Development and Street Sense were both very good.
Mr. Burger asked how at the ANC meeting on the proposals they were going to pick the group and whether there will be any weighting. He said that the BID, CHAMPS and Barracks Row had [asked for another meeting with the developers - and EMCAC should– and they should formulate specific questions of financial strength.
Mr. Edwards commented that what some have characterized as the potential appearance of conflicts of interest with Buzzuto /Scallon and Stanton may be better described as those groups having an understanding of how the community works. He said the Stanton proposal provides 97 stalls for vendors and the proposals that provide more office space provide parking that can be used by shoppers on weekends.
Mr. Gallo said that he had personal experience working through a development on H Street NE where the design changed considerably after the developer worked with the community to make changes.
Ms. Scheeder said that the situation is not going to be resolved at the meeting, and that one suggestion has been made that can be followed through on which would be to seek additional information.. There is a consensus that Mr. Burger will pursue co-sponsoring an additional meeting with the developers. She said that Mr. Gallo’s comments on a change process should be taken into account. Mr. Burger said that a horse hasn’t yet been picked, but there are lots of criteria to look at, and he doesn’t recommend tying into one group or another.
Financial Reports
Ms. Scheeder announced that the financial reports had been received from the City and they had been referred to the Finance Committee made up of Mr. Gallo, Mr. Jarboe, Mr. Burger and Ms. Scheeder.
Market Opening on Saturday
Ms. Scheeder announced that there would be posters for sale. They are 18”x24”. The remaining plaques will also be sold for $125. Steve Ackerman will be selling his self-published book on the Market. There has been lots of press: ABC affiliate, Roll Call, Washington Times, the Washington Post, Kojo Naambe. She said that it would be nice if all that stuff could be digitized and put on the web site.
- Sign Tigers
Mr. Burger reported that the Sign Tigers has joined with the Navy Yard, and they have identified 25 locations for Wayfinder signs. Sixteen have been put up by an inter-organizational group to provide a quick tie-in with the Navy Museum. The Wayfinder signs are temporary –2-5 years. The Sign Tigers are working in conjunction with the District’s sign department, which has adopted them. They are now working on locating the historic district disks. He said that DDOT will work with them on looking or a federal grant for permanent Wayfinder signs. It is up to the community to maintain the signs. He said that he is working with a good, dynamic group. He also reported that a lot of the green and white signs that are no longer relevant are going to be removed.
Mr. Layman suggested that there should be a master plan for Eastern Market.
- Office of Property Management
Curtis Clay reported that the inspections were finished that day, and the Certificate of Occupancy had been received. The move-in had started, and will continue the next day. The little things on the punch list will be taken care of on Thursday. Move-in should be complete by Thursday. The Department of Corrections is helping. The keys will be turned over to Mr., Margeson on Thursday, and the alarm system will be set. He is planning to sit down with merchants to discuss new elements. There will be training on elements and systems in the North Hall, such as setting up the stage and the dance floor. The exhibit will be set up on Thursday. He said that there will be a 10:30 a.m. ribbon cutting on Friday, and the vendors will be open for business.
West side drive parking will be available on Saturday. The ceremony will be on the North Hall Plaza. The Mayor thought he would have a Cabinet meeting in the North Hall, but decided against it.
Mr. Margeson reported that the Kids’ Restaurant Week kick-off at the Market had been a great success, with lots of kids wearing chef’s hats, etc. Mike Bowers did a presentation about the Market.
He reported that the plan for trucks on the Farmer’s Line on Saturday and Sunday has been changed and the trucks are now up against the curb. There are four 18’ foot openings for people to cross the street.
He said that for the opening there will be four bands, and entertainers on both the north and south sides of the street, and there will be tours and the exhibit in the North Hall.
He reported that the leases are not done yet, but he has distributed Rules and Regulations for Outdoor Vendors for comment (copy attached). He said he is moving the flea market vendors on Sunday out from under the shed, and he has received some push back on that. He has put the grandfathered people back in.
He said the July 4th Parade will not come to the Market, but will end at Eastern Market Metro plaza, and reported that the BBC program Real America will be coming to film at the Market on Sunday. In August, the Market will appear on allrecipes.com. He said he had spoken to Destination D.C., the local tourism marketer, and they charge $2500 for including a location on their site. He asked whether EMCAC would be interested in using some of the poster money to pay for the site.
Mr. Gallo asked whether 7th Street would be closed from Pennsylvania Avenue to North Carolina, and was told yes. He asked whether the Enterprise Fund had been depleted and was told no. Mr. Margeson said that Eastern Market as an entity was not making money now. He was asked about North Hall rentals and was told that he would be getting to that.
Motion: Mr. Gallo moved/Ms. Eck seconded a motion to send a letter to Robin Eve Jasper and Mayor Fenty thanking them for bringing the Market back, and mentioning specific people’s work. Mr. Edwards suggested mentioning the Mayor’s commitment, and the work of the Foundation. The letter, he said, should be sent to the Hill Rag and Voice of the Hill as well. The motion passed without objection.
Mr. Layman said that he would like to make a motion about an EMCAC website. Ms. Scheeder said that the Finance Committee is looking at the financials to see what kind of funds are available. Mr. Gallo added that the EMCAC cupboard is bare. Ms. Scheeder suggested that EMCAC could have a Facebook page for now.
Mr. Jarboe asked when the meters at Hine be turned on, and was told that DDOT said that the kiosk at Hine would start issuing receipts.
Mr. Burger spoke about a meeting with Market Row, because they are looking for a comprehensive plan.
- Capital Improvements Committee
Bicycle Racks
Mr. Edwards reported on the location of the six bicycle racks proposed for Eastern Market, which had to wait until the North Plaza special events lighting and the tree boxes were located. That was done, and the recommendation for the location of the bicycle racks is as follows: (complete, detailed report attached)
- Two bicycle races to be located on the perimeter of the North Plaza, One rack should be installed in the middle for the continuous 55-foot tree box along North Carolina Avenue and aligned with the trunks of the two trees. Urban Forestry is recommending an 18” high protective barrier on three sides of each tree. It would require “stepping stones” for parkers to walk through the tree box. The second rack should be installed in the row of bollards on North Carolina Avenue, and would require the removal of one or two bollards.
- Four racks located in front of the Market Row merchants’ places of business, the locations to be determined by the Market Row Merchants Association..
The two located in the North Plaza will not provide an obstacle to pedestrian traffic, or to vending. Plus, with their Eastern Market design, they will help announce the Market.
Motion: Mr. Edwards moved/Mr. Burger seconded a motion to accept the report on bicycle racks prepared by the Capital Improvements Committee. The motion passed without objection.
Benches, Picnic Tables and Trash Receptacles
Mr. Gallo reported that the Market Lunch tables had multiplied to six. Mr. Edwards reported that there is a bench in front of the East Hall. As for heavy trash receptacles, a preliminary perusal shows there are none. Mr. Clay reported there is a double bin for recyclables and newspapers, and four trash receptacles, one at the North Plaza, one at the East Hall, and one at the south end of the Market.
Mr. Gallo said that trash pick-up is the responsibility of the Market Manager, and that trash is picked up three or four times a day on the weekends. Mr. Clay said that because EMCAC is not a member of the BID, the Market has to take care of all of that itself.
Street Lights
Mr. Edwards reported that there are now four period light fixtures on the North Plaza, four at the ADA entrances along the 7th Street façade of the South Hall and two at the C Street façade of the South Hall. DDOT is planning to install a very different trapezoidal four-panel replica gas light at 7th and C. . Mr.Edwards has suggested it would be visually inappropriate and has suggested that the same tear-drop pendant fixture that is at the intersection of 7th and North Carolina be installed at this location. Mr. Burger asked whether the replacement tree boxes would be planted in Turtle Park. He said it is rundown, and perhaps EMCAC, with others, could adopt the park. Ms. Scheeder suggested putting that on the agenda for another meeting.
Mr. Jarboe asked about the installation of a four-way stop at C Street, and Mr. Edwards said an all-way stop had been installed that day.
- Tenant’s Council
Mr. Mike Bowers said that the merchants will have elections for EMCAAC, with Ms. Brunson adding they will take place after the opening. Mr. Gallo said that the Tenants Council should look at the new Rules and Regulations and make comments.
- Community Comment
Peter Waldron spoke, saying this would be the last EMCAC meeting he would cover, and that he had been sitting and listening for two years. He said in jest that he had two disappointments: one that he had never heard a word from Lisa Brooks, and second that Monte’s manhole covers are not up for sale at the Market opening. He said that EMCAC was a dedicated group of people, and it was fascinating to see them all work together. It is everything he thinks an advisory body should be, and it deserves thanks.
Curtis Clay announced that there will be wi-fi at the Market beginning the following week.
Ms. Scheeder announced that the next meeting of EMCAC will be on July 29th.
- Adjournment
Motion: Mr. Edwards moved/ Mr. Burger seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. It passed unanimously, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm
