Mount Pleasant DC Forum

[Dwight]

I see the the ANC has created a new body called the "Responsible Hospitality Partnership," (or at least has referenced it in their resolutions.

What the heck is it?

Has it been approved and created?

-- Dwight

[jack]

[Dwight]

Seems to me that spending $5000 to create another committee that overlaps with the ANC, Main Street and all the other community groups is a poor use of the ANCs funds.

-- Dwight

[monicaru]

1. I was wondering if someone could summarize or provide literature on the specifics of this initiative. Mostly, I would appreciate operational details (how is this going to be implemented and run in this neighborhood, even if preliminary), and not just concepts or empty wording.

2. Theoretically speaking: If something like the RHP were to fly, would that mean that my right (and that of other affected neighbours) to protest any irresponsibly managed business would cease?

Thank you very much.

[jack]

[Dwight]

Jack: I think you may have meant to post this, as the question was about the Hospitality Partnership that the ANC has endorsed and contributed $1000 to. If the Hospitality Partnership is simply a front organization to get the Hear Mt. Pleasant draft VA implemented it seems redundant with the ANC's resolution endorsing the Hear Mt. Pleasant VA language.

I am not sure if the following proposal has been acted upon or not, but I believe that it represents the intent of the Responsible Hospitality Initiative and details its very complicated membership and governing process.

Good luck to all in slogging through it:

--Dwight

---------------------------------------------------------

Draft resolutions submitted:

Proposed for Consent Agenda

Proposed for Priority Agenda

ANC1D supports a policy for a Responsible Hospitality Initiative for alcohol licensees.
Resolved, ANC1D supports a policy for handling alcohol and related issues via the following scheme, temporarily called RHAMP, or Responsible Hospitality Allies for Mount Pleasant)

VA's are handled via a democratically elected local council representing both business & residents.
The de facto VA is based on the decisions of a local council selected by and overseen by an assembly that is democratically elected by licensees, merchants, property owners and residents, with divisions to assure that no one group can control the board. The elections are conducted by the local ANC, which participates only by oversight.

The 20 members of the assembly are allocated by the following percentages;

4 for CR & CT licenses, with votes allocated by the number of seats approved by the fire marshal, weighed by 3 for those with completely new Voluntary Agreements supporting the Responsibility Hospitality Process, and unconstrained by prior restrictions that limit their range of action.

2 for A & B licenses, with votes allocated equally among licensees, except again weighed as with CR-CT licenses.

2 for merchants holding retail licenses and leases with addresses on Mount Pleasant Street between Hobart and Park Road., NW.

1 for building owners with storefronts on the commercial corridor.

8 for residents of housing units whose property lines touch or lie with a 600 foot radius of a CR or CT license.

3 for residents of other housing units within ANC1D.

VA's can be changed & can build common understandings.
The single, simple voluntary agreement for all licensees within a license class will only contain a few stipulations. These will include the purposes, already passed by ANC1D resolution, plus an agreement to give full good faith efforts to engage employees, contractors, and entertainers first within a ANC1D or a neighboring ANC area, with second priority for DC residents.

The council will operate by statements and applications of policy. A statement or an application of policy will occur no sooner than six months after a similar one.

Policies should apply equitably to all, and be stated in ways that all can understand, and that form a comprehensive whole

The focus is on both improvements & solving problems, both handled quickly, locally, informally.
Instead of just focusing on nuisances, RHAMP can give equal priority to improvements that benefit both business interests and residents as well. This should encourage cooperation for a more vibrant commercial zone.

Complaints go to one local point rather than to the understaffed DC Board's office. If not resolved, the remediation can be decided by a local group quickly, informally, and at low cost.

Licensees, or residents that disagree with RHAMP, can appeal to the city agency with notice within a thirty day period at the end of one year, and thereafter at the three year renewal period.. We expect almost all decisions to be settled quickly or locally amongst neighbors. With this system, the licensees or residents will seldom need to hire lawyers. Because we have to make this work, collegiality and trust tends to grow out of actual experience with real issues.

[Laurie]

[bdweller]

seems like another unnecessary entitity for these businesses to deal with.
what would this new group do that is any different than the ANC, MPNA, MtP Main Street, Hear Mt.P, etc and etc?

[jack]

[jack]

[Dwight]

So now I am really confused.

This sounds like a new organization with required participation of restaurants who sign the Hear Mt. P VA, but it has no rules for membership, governing nor public debate and policy making?

Do I have it right?

Does it have any real authority or is it just a merger of a few like-minded community groups with the ANC? Has the ANC given its role in VAs over to this new organization?

Seems murky to me.

-- Dwight

[jack]