Membership Meeting Minutes-February 10, 2016

  • Call to order, 7:34 p.m. Reingold Building (433 East Monroe Ave) conference room.
  • Agenda Items
    • Police Report
    • Bylaws Committee Report
    • La Bella Strada funding request
    • Land Use Committee
    • Announcements

  • Alexandria Police Department, Dennis Andreas
    • Citywide crime down (weather related)
    • 10 Part 1 offenses in DR, 6 in vehicles unlocked, 1 gas station incident, Burke and Herbert Bank robbery,  7-11 MTV Custis (part of a regional trend)
    • 271 citywide
    • 3rd arrest in recent  Overlook Park homicide
    • 2 arrested in 4mile park
    • APD Citizens Academy seeking candidates (dead was 2/12/16)
  • DRCA Bylaws Committee
    • DRCA Secretary, committee chair,  Sean Crumley provided a short introduction to the Bylaws Committee work to date
    • DRCA President Jay Nestelrode discussed some possible changes to DRCA officer descriptions meant to attract new talent and recruit new board members.
    • Current direction:
      • 1VP (Parliamentarian and Presumptive Next President)
      • 2VP–>VP Programs, coordinating DRCA events and meeting programming
      • 3VP–>VP Membership, chairing membership and outreach
      • Chief Information Officer in lieu of Sergeant-at-Arms.
  • La Bella Strada
    • Candie Ellis present a funding request for $500 for La Bella Strada event, scheduled for  May 14 (rain date 5/15), organized to benefit the Del Ray Montessori School. A number of neighborhood business and groups have already pledged sponsorship.
    • One member expressed concern about setting precedent, whether this was a one-time request or whether the event might be annual.
    • Amy Slack moved to approve $500 pending approvals of needed
      permits. The motion was seconded by Jon Quandt and was carried with no nays, no abstentions
  • Land Use Committee, Lisa Quandt
    • Discussion of proposal to move membership meeting to third week
    • This would allow LUC recommendations to be presented first to Board then to Members then to Planning Commission.
    • Intent: Allow thought thoughtful Board and Member input to be incorporated before DRCA presents to Planning Commission.
    • Member concerns: Conflict with Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays
    • Vote in March
  • Announcements
    • DRCA 3rd Annual Chili Cook Off, February 20, 2016 at the Commonwealth Academy
      • Three $300 prizes+People’s Choice
      • Those interested in volunteering, contact Board
      • Sponsors: Teams Homes of Alexandria, Port City Brewery
    • DRCA House and Garden Tour, May 7, 2016
    • Del Ray Artisans (Kathryn Brown)
      • All aBoard (February Board showcase), including Marlin Lord, past DRCA president,  at the DRA Gallery
      • Gallery without Walls: Reception at the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, February 12, 2016.
    • Del Ray Business association (Pat Miller)
      • Heart of Del Ray to be announced 2/12/2012.
      • Vote for one of:
        • Affordable Signs
        • Caboose Café
        • Taqueria el Poblano
        • TrulyLife
        • Holy Cow
    • Next Month’s Meeting:
      • Chief of ACPS
    • Meeting adjourned, 8:44pm