Redistricting Task Force Votes on Recommendations

I arrived at 7pm due to work obligations, but it appears I hadn’t missed much. Anyone who can fill in the first 30 minutes of the meeting should feel welcome to do so in the comments.

I did gather that the Chairman had put forth a resolution with the 4-ANC map as the primary proposal and the 5-ANC map as the alternate. This was meant to represent what he had ascertained was the consensus of the task force.

When I sat down the chairman was reiterating his point that he hope the task force can start out by taking each plan one at a time, see if there are any amendments they would make to boundaries, and that there can be debate on which should be primary and which should be secondary. Ultimately they have to submit to the Council a primary and a secondary plan. Wants make sure the task force can agree on two plans in order to fulfill its duties.

The Chairman called for amendments to the 4-ANC map. Shelore Williams wanted to make sure all understood what that map was. She walked over to the map on the wall and pointed out that the version they are discussion honors the requests of all 4 ANCs that their boundaries not change dramatically (she identified the changes) and allows 1D 5 seats, allows 1C 8 seats, and puts 1A and 1B at 12 seats each. The Chairman added that it meets the SMD size guidelines, although some do push the limits. He commended the task force on their work on this map. No amendments were offered.

The Chairman called for amendments to the 5-ANC map. Shelore Williams offered an amendment in the form of a substitute to provide for a 5-ANC map that draws a hard boundary down 16^th street and a boundary down Sherman Avenue. Shelore explained that she had convened a group of the task force and community members at her home on Saturday morning at 7 am to work towards a 5-ANC map that provides the least intrusion possible.  It was not easy. They had to recognize that there is an interest for a 5-ANC map, but that this would mean splitting 1A and 1B, who had resolutions expressing no wish for boundary changes. The Chairman summarized by saying that the 5-ANC map proposed last week would take most of the area of 16^th and 17^th in the north and put it in 1A, leaving three ANCs in Mount Pleasant. He asked how SMDs would be drawn in 1D. Shelore indicated the SMDs would have the same boundaries as the 4-ANC map. In the amended 5-ANC map, the SMD boundaries in 1A and 1B would be the same as the SMDs in the 4-ANC map for the parts that remain in those ANCs.

The Chairman opened the floor for anyone who would like to speak in opposition to the amendment. Thomas Boisvert rose to discuss the two versions of the 5-ANC map, specifically the 16^th street boundary. He indicated that the map that has the border jumping west east of 16^th street will provide the opportunity to empower those residents who would be redrawn into 1A, while allowing those remaining in 1D to have a more effective ANC. There are two parts of Mount Pleasant that have been in a relationship for a long time, and the eastern part identifies more strongly with Columbia Heights and would be more politically empowered by joining 1A. The western part wishes to continue associating with the eastern part, but if one party wishes to reassociate, the western part should not keep hanging on.

Commissioner Dottie Love Wade indicated she had looked through the guidelines of redistricting and found nothing about political ramifications or how a neighborhood feels about its association. She asked, if 1A annexes Mount Pleasant Street, will the area remaining in 1D no longer be associated with Mt. Pleasant? But her bigger problem is 1E annexing parts of 1A, and adding part of 1D to 1A does not resolve this issue. She added, she as a 1A commissioner, does not wish to inherit the problems of 1D. It’s not realistic to think that by joining 1A residents of the eastern part of Mount Pleasant will get everything they want.

ANC1A Chairman Bill Brown said he sees problems with having the Mount Pleasant corridor coming over to 1A, because those remaining in 1D will have what is happening in the Mount Pleasant commercial district impact them the most. In terms of what’s happening with high rises versus single-family homes, 16^th street has always been a boundary. Leaving 1D with 3 commissioners makes it too small. Maybe there is more unity or cohesion between the apartment dwellers along 16^th and Columbia Heights, but moving the boundary west would be very radical. He is more comfortable with the map being proposed in the amendment than the 5-ANC map proposed last week.

Beverly Wheeler spoke, noting that she is one of the people who worked on the 5-ANC map proposed last week. Initially she believed that 16^th street boundary should be maintained. But then she started talking to members of the community and found that in addition to the residents living around Georgia Avenue not having a voice, the people along Mt. Pleasant Street were not having their voices heard. That is why they proposed moving the boundary east.

ANC1D Chairman Gregg Edwards spoke about the process. He suggested that the amendment as proposed does not meet the guidelines set out for making the SMDs as equal as possible and is against the law. Further, 16^th street need not be a hard and fast boundary, as there is plenty of traffic back and forth and fluidity between those parts of the ward. He further pointed out that the 5-ANC map proposed last week does indeed allow for great weight for those to the west remaining in 1D due to the 500 feet proximity. He also does not believe reducing 1D to 3 ANCs makes it too small.

ANC1C Chairman Wilson Reynolds said he has been guided by two basic things throughout this process – make the least amount of changes as possible, and honoring the resolutions from 1A and 1B asking that they be permitted to maintain their boundaries. He strongly supports the 4-ANC map and jokingly indicated he’d be willing to support it twice as the primary and secondary map. He feels the 5-ANC map, while designed in good faith, goes against these two basic principles. But he is trying to listen to fellow task force members in other parts of the ward he doesn’t reside in to see if they want something different. He is hearing that they don’t want change.  He hasn’t heard strong support among the task force members supporting the 5-ANC map.

ANC1B Chairman Juan Lopez reiterated concerns that shrinking 1B would also shrink its budget and make it more difficult to operate.

Chairman Roth said that although Mount Pleasant represents 1/7^th of the ward, it has taken up 6/7ths of this discussion. He likened the current situation in Mount Pleasant as a couple in a rocky marriage that has stayed together for the children and should have gotten divorced long ago with one partner still hanging on.  He called for a vote on the amendment. Shelore asked for one last opportunity to defend the amendment. She said that if you believe the husband and wife’s problems will be solved through the divorce, the child will still be on Mount Pleasant Street, and this will not solve the problems. She finds it sad that Mr. McKay and Mr. Edwards cannot resolve their issues and that they have brought them to this process.  1E would benefit from either proposal, but it is sad to think they the leaders in 1D cannot sort it out through a meeting of the minds.

The Chairman called for a vote on the amendment.

Boisvert – no

Boyd – yes

Brown – yes

Edwards – no

Lopez – yes

Norman – no

Reynolds – yes

Wade – yes

Wheeler – no

Williams – yes

Roth – no

The amendment in the nature of a substitute passed and Shelore’s map became the 5-ANC map that the task force works from moving forward.

Commissioner Dottie Love Wade offered an amendment that the task force offer no alternative that includes a 5-ANC map. The Chairman asked if she wished to propose another 4-ANC map. She said she would if this was adopted. The Chairman said that in the absence of a substitute that would have a different alternate plan, he ruled her amendment out of order because the law requires an alternate plan.  Dottie argued that the task force was not given an opportunity to generate other 4-ANC options. The Chairman indicated she had been given every opportunity to offer one. She could have come this evening and proposed one, and still could do so in opposition to what the task force adopts. Her motion is ruled out of order.

The Chairman asked if there were any amendments to tinker with SMD lines on either map. None were offered.

Gregg offered a motion to keep the language that says the 4-ANC map is the strongly preferred version and that they offer two versions of the 5-ANC map noting the vote count. Commissioner Tony Norman seconded the motion.

The Chairman spoke to say he thinks they are getting down in the weeds. He indicated there is strong consensus for the 4-ANC map. He would like the task force to move ahead with a motion that is likely to actually be considered by the Council. Tony said he feels strongly that we have a map with a Georgia Avenue corridor, and he doesn’t necessarily support the motion but wants to make sure there is discussion. Gregg withdrew his amendment with unanimous consent.

The Chairman reviewed the primary resolution, which put forth the 4-ANC map as the primary map and the 5-ANC map as the alternate. He asked for amendments.

Thomas offered a motion proposing the priority of the two maps be switched. Gregg seconded. Thomas went on to explain he thoughts on this process as an opportunity. He believes the 5-ANC map is good for 1A, 1B and especially for the proposed 1E. He does not feel Georgia Avenue is neglected by 1A or 1B. But he believes the commercial development that is in progress it would be invaluable for the community to be united in one ANC that can spotlight the needs of the corridor. This is not change for change’s sake. This is change that would be for the good of our community.

The Chairman asked to hear from those who wished to speak in opposition to Thomas’ amendment. Shelore commended the work of the task force. But to put the 5-ANC map as the primary would be a valiant effort just for change’s sake. She cited the primary reason for the lack of development of the Georgia Avenue corridor as lack of government funding. She said that the last time she took a count of the task force members there was primary support for a 4-ANC map. She believes the 5-ANC map is a radical change, and though it will move forward, it should not be the primary recommendation. Four ANCs will still look out for Georgia Avenue. She does not believe switching to a 5-ANC map at the last minute, when there is a 4-ANC map available with minimal disruption, is the right thing to do.

Tony said he thinks the task force has come full circle, and that the 4-ANC map is the proposal that best represents the sentiments of the task force.

Thomas rebutted that another goal initially set out was to keep the ANCs manageable, and that in the 4-ANC map 1A and 1B become unwieldy.

The Chairman called a vote on Thomas’ amendment to switch the priority to the 5-ANC map.

Boisvert – yes

Boyd – no

Brown – yes

Edwards – yes

Lopez – no

Norman – no

Reynolds – no

Wade – no

Wheeler – yes

Williams – no

Roth – no

The amendment failed 4-7.

Wilson offered a friendly amendment to add the word “strongly” to the recommendation of the 4-ANC proposal. There was some discussion about whether everyone would feel comfortable supporting the proposal with that language. The amendment was withdrawn.

The Chairman called for a vote on paragraph one, which makes the 4-ANC map the primary plan.

Boisvert – yes

Boyd – yes

Brown – yes

Edwards – abstain – said he believed the proposal was illegal

Lopez – yes

Norman – yes

Reynolds – yes

Wade – yes

Wheeler – yes

Williams – yes

Roth – yes

The Chairman called for a vote to make the 5-ANC map proposed by Shelore Williams the alternate map.

Boisvert – yes

Boyd – yes

Brown – yes

Edwards – abstain – said he believed the proposal was illegal

Lopez – yes

Norman – yes

Reynolds – yes

Wade – yes

Wheeler – yes

Williams – yes

Roth – yes

The chairman called for a vote on the resolution as amended.

Boisvert – aye

Boyd – aye

Brown – aye

Edwards – abstain

Lopez – aye

Norman – aye

Reynolds – aye

Wade – aye

Wheeler – aye

Williams – aye

Roth – aye

The task force continued some housekeeping and the meeting was adjourned.

I’m hoping the chairman will post the final maps up on the shutterfly site, but I took some photos of the southern SMDs in 1B along U Street in the 4-ANC map, which were of great interest to me.

1A-1B boundary

1B01 & 1B02

1B12