ANC 3/4G SMD-05 Neighborhood Updates
Hi Neighbors,
I hope all is well with you and your family and you're ready for the second month of the year next week. As we move forward, I wanted to share some important updates and information with you all.
The next ANC meeting will be held on Monday, January 27, 2025, from 7:00 - 8:30 PM. The meeting will take place in person at the Chevy Chase Community Center (5601 Connecticut Ave NW) and will also be available online. If you plan to attend online, you can register in advance here. The agenda for the meeting can be accessed here.
Please see a few highlights and updates below
Maret Field:
· The Commission approved almost $4,000 to test turf materials for PFAS.
· Maret is adding safety measures on Nebraska and Utah Avenues, including a new crosswalks, flexi-posts, and ADA-compliant ramps. Some parking spaces will be removed to improve safety, especially during events at the athletic fields.
Performance Oversight Hearings:
· These hearings provide residents the chance to share their experiences, concerns, and suggestions regarding the performance of DC government agencies. Anyone can testify—whether you’re a resident, business owner, advocate, or stakeholder. Please consider signing up to testify at a hearing of your choice. You can access the Hearing Management System (HMS) at: https://lims.dccouncil.gov/hearings/.
Safety Measures:
· On January 21, 2025, a car was broken into at the Chevy Chase Community Center parking lot. I contacted Lieutenant Ollivierre to report the incident and requested that patrol officers on Connecticut Ave monitor the parking lot. He has since informed the officers about the situation and advised them to keep an eye on the area.
· Connecticut Avenue and Legation ST
Through collaboration with Commissioner Gosselin, 3/4G ANC Transportation Committee Co-Chair Michaela Platzer, and myself, we met with a DDOT representative to discuss safety improvements at Connecticut Ave and Legation St. DDOT shared that there is a proposal for safety enhancements, potentially including a hawk light, with a tentative completion date in 2026 for this intersection. We plan to hold a community engagement meeting with DDOT in late spring or summer. In the meantime, please check DDOT’s website for updates on the Connecticut Avenue Multimodal Safety Improvement Project here: Connecticut Avenue Multimodal Safety Improvement Project. The latest update was in October 2024, but DDOT will provide future updates.
· Nevada and McKinley
I’ve received concerns about the safety of the intersection at Connecticut Ave and McKinley St, specifically regarding drivers not stopping at the stop signs. One suggestion that has been raised is the installation of a stop sign camera to improve safety. To gather feedback from the community, I’d appreciate it if you could take a moment to answer the survey here: Nevada and McKinley Safety Survey.
Department of Public Works:
· Trash and Recycling
I understand many residents are experiencing delays with trash and recycling pick-up, and both the council’s office and DPW are aware of the situation. There were a few significant events this month, a snowstorm, President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, and the Inauguration, which may have also contributed to the delays. DPW is working hard to resolve the issue, and they are asking for your patience during this time. In the meantime, please keep your trash and recycling containers out, as crews are addressing missed collections on a one-day slide schedule. If for any reason your trash has not been collected, DPW encourages residents to submit a 311-service request.
· Leaf Collection
Due to recent winter weather events that have impacted DPW’s collection efforts, the seasonal leaf collection is being extended through the end of February. DPW will resume leaf collection operations in Section A on Monday, January 27, 2025. Section B should be ready as DPW plan to shift to Section B on Monday, February 3rd. You can review FAQ’s here:
· Holiday Tree and Greenery Collection
DPW will collect live holiday trees until Feb 28th. Don't forget to remove decorations and place your holiday trees at the curb!
· DPW Snow and Leaf Removal Survey
ANC 3/4G is launching a community survey for all Single member Districts (SMD) on the District’s recent snow removal and leaf collection. Please complete this short anonymous survey here by Monday, January 27, 2025. Representatives from Ward 3’s Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services and the Department of Public Works will be attending our ANC meeting on Monday. Commissioner Sherman will share the results of the survey with the representatives and the community.
· DC 311
Please note that when a service request is marked as complete in the 311 system, it means the request has been assigned for completion, not that the service has been fully carried out.
3/4G ANC Racial and Social Equity Committee (RASE)
3/4G ANC Racial and Social Equity Committee (RASE) is inviting the public to the first of six short (30 minutes) gatherings, one per month through June, to discuss the RASE of the WINDOWS: 250 exhibit- a contribution of our neighborhood to the impeding 250th anniversary of the founding of our republic. The program will be held in front of CVS on 5550 Connecticut Ave NW from 2:00 - 2:30 pm on Sunday, January 26, 2025. You can learn about the WINDOWS 250 project here: 250: A Neighborhood in the Nation's Capital, 1776-2026 | Historic Chevy Chase DC.
3/4G ANC DCPS School Updates:
Lafayette Elementary School: Check out the current news and events here.
Murch Elementary School: Check out the current news and events here.
Deal Middle School: Check out the current news and events here.
Jackson Reed: Check out the current news and events here.
Regards,
Karrenthya Simmons
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner
3/4G, SMD 05
3G05@anc.dc.gov
www.ksimmonsanc.com
DC Water Update
Hi Neighbors,
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to share an important update regarding the upcoming DC Water sewer rehabilitation project in the Chevy Chase neighborhood, as well as a brief recap from yesterday's ANC meeting.
Important Update from DC Water
DC Water is beginning a sewer rehabilitation project in the Chevy Chase neighborhood as part of its Capital Improvement Program. The project will upgrade over 62,000 feet of sewer pipes, including repairs and manhole rehabilitation.
Project Details:
Start: January 2025 (as early as next week)
Completion: July 2026
Work Hours: 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM (main roads), 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM (local roads). Night/weekend work may occur.
Service Interruptions: Water shut offs will be announced 48 hours in advance; sewer interruptions, 7 days in advance.
Traffic Impacts: Flagging and "no-parking" zones may be in place with 72-hour notice.
While this may cause some disruption, the work is necessary to upgrade the sewer system, prevent overflows, and ensure long-term reliability. This project will affect many streets on the Ward 3 side of Chevy Chase, and the Commission and DC Water will keep you informed of any updates as much as possible.
Quick Recap from January 13, 2025, ANC Meeting
If you missed the ANC meeting, you could watch the recorded session on the ANC3G YouTube channel here: ANC3G - YouTube
Quick summary:
Lisa Gore (3/4G-01) elected Chair
Bruce Sherman (3/4G-02) elected Vice Chair
Liz Nagy (3/4G-07) elected Secretary
Karrenthya Simmons (3/4G-05) elected Treasurer. Thank you for your trust!
Community members and 3/4G ANC Transportation Committee expressed concerns regarding the lack of bus service in our area.
Councilmember Janeese Lewis George provided a welcome to the community and a quick update on her office's activities and the council.
Coffee Hour and a half with Commissioner Simmons (with a kid in kindergarten as special guest): Friday, January 17, 2025, 12:00 - 1:30 PM at Starbucks, 5500 Connecticut Ave NW
3/4G ANC Racial and Social Equity Committee (RASE) invited members of the Commission to a special preview of the WINDOWS: 250 programs on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 2:00-2:30pm. You can learn about the WINDOWS 250 project here: 250: A Neighborhood in the Nation's Capital, 1776-2026 | Historic Chevy Chase DC
Please reach out if you have any comments, questions, or concerns.
All the best,
Karrenthya Simmons
3/4G ANC Commissioner SMD05
3G05@anc.dc.gov
ANC 3/4G SMD 05 Introduction
Dear Neighbors,
I was recently sworn in on January 2, 2025, as the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) for Single Member District 05, succeeding Commissioner Peter Lynch.
The next ANC meeting will be held on Monday, January 13, 2025, from 7:00 - 8:30 PM. The meeting will take place in person at the Chevy Chase Community Center (5601 Connecticut Ave NW) and will also be available virtually. If you plan to attend online, you can register in advance here and access the agenda here.
I am thrilled to serve as your new Commissioner and look forward to engaging with you all. If you are unable to attend the ANC meeting on Monday but would like to meet me or discuss any matters for our ANC, I will be at Starbucks (5500 Connecticut Ave NW) on Friday, January 17, 2025, from 12:00 - 1:30 PM. Please feel free to stop by! I will have a coffee traveler, veranda blend, for those who would like a cup of coffee. Also, if you know of any neighbors who are unable to connect with these updates via email, please provide me with their address and I can print out and drop off the updates to them.
During the winter months, certain groups of residents are more vulnerable to the negative effects of cold weather. If you know of any neighbors who might need assistance from the DC government during this time, please let me know, and I will do my best to help connect them with the support they need. This also applies to anyone who needs snow shoveling assistance.
Please see a few highlights and updates below.
The 60th Presidential Inauguration: As our city prepares to host the 60th Presidential Inauguration, stay ahead of street closures, severe weather, and transit updates impacting neighborhoods across DC. Sign up for real-time alerts by texting DCINAUG to 888-777. You can also visit inauguration.dc.gov.
AlertDC: Sign up for AlertDC: this service allows you to opt-in to receive emergency alerts and warning notifications via email, text message, and/or voice communications. You can sign up at: Alert DC
Resources for Being Informed about the Council: Stay informed about the work of the Council by reviewing the Hearing Management System (HMS): https://lims.dccouncil.gov/hearings/ and the Legislative Information Management System (LIMS): https://lims.dccouncil.gov/. You can also access the calendar of events for Council here.
Parking Permit RPP: The online portal for DC residents living on RPP blocks to apply for, use, and issue permits online can be accessed at: ParkDC Permits
Office of the Ombudsman Presents:Meet the Ombudsman January 28, 2025, at 6:00pm via zoom. You can register here.
Department of Public Works: Due to the recent snow storm that impacted DPW's normal operations, trash, recycling and food waste collections have been placed on a slide schedule. Holiday trees typically collected with weekly recyclables should be placed out in the coming week with ordinary recyclables. Leaf collection efforts will remain suspended as long as snow and ice remain on the ground. DPW will continue to monitor snow removal efforts. Dedicated DPW crews are working tirelessly to restore normal operations.
Lafayette Elementary School: Check out the most recent newsletter here. I would like to encourage families with students at Lafayette to attend the Community Meetings. The schedule for the rest of the school year is below along with the scheduled times. The Upper School (grades 3-5) meets at 8:45am (ending by 9:15am). The Lower School (grades PK-2) will begin promptly at 9:35am (ending by 10:05am). Community meetings include 1) Shared Learning 2) Shared Celebration 3) Speaking, Acting, and Moving Mindfully (SAMM) Wall of Fame 4) News and Announcements. The next Community Meeting dates are 1/31, 2/28, 3/28, 4/25, 5/30, 6/17.
Principal Prall updated Lafayette parents and families via email on January 10th about outdoor recess and the outdoor playground equipment and grounds. She noted the concerns about recess and the new asphalt play surface, which was installed this fall. She stated that although the surface was confirmed to be correctly installed by the Department of General Services (DGS), concerns about it being slippery and posing a fall hazard remained. DGS has agreed to work with the school to address these issues, and there is a meeting planned for next week to explore solutions. Families are encouraged to contact the school with any questions or concerns at (202) 282-0116 or email at Lafayette.dcps@k12.dc.gov.
Murch Elementary School: Check out the current news and events here.
Deal Middle School: Check out the current news and events here.
Jackson Reed: Check out the current news and events here.
I look forward to working with you!
Best regards,
Karrenthya Simmons
3/4G Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, SMD 05