Tonight ANC1D passed the resolution, below, which asks your committee and the DC Council to recommend a grant of $100,000 to RHAMP, a corporation established last year and in accordance with ANC1D resolutions as a result of over a year of strong and broad neighborhood consultation.  

After the 1D meeting, Haydee Vanegas agreed to take the lead for this pilot, along with All-Ways Mt Pleasant, Negocios Unidos, and a rep from the Community of Christ.  The next step is obtaining office space, and inviting all major civic groups in MtP to participate so that no one group dominates.

==========

Mt Pleasant Responsible Hospitality Association

Resolved, ANC 1D advises the DC  Council to recommend a one-time funds enhancement from the Department of Public Works to be granted to the Responsible Hospitality Association of Mt Pleasant, Inc.

Why:

The Responsible Hospitality Association of Mt Pleasant, Inc. (RHAMP) was established pursuant to a series of resolutions by ANC1D, was named in one of the two alternative Cooperative Agreements recommended to the DC ABC Board for Mt Pleasant licensees, and was the result of a long series of open meetings of ANC1D's Commercial Corridor Committee, many with thirty and forty residents and most alcohol licensees in attendance.  The principles of RHAMP followed the unanimous votes at those committee meetings, and were discussed in meetings with all the original license protesters at meetings over almost a year.  The President of the Responsible Hospitality Institute advised in the formulation of RHAMP and described it as an interesting and worthwhile probe for a small commercial strip, much smaller than others in his experience.

RHAMP is set up to include a broad array of interested parties, with a majority of votes being allocated to residents, a substantial portion for licensees of all kinds, and a process to engage all residents of the neighborhood.  This broad engagement while focused on a single topic should provide a distinct advantage over other sponsors that derive their support from more narrow constituencies and are focused on a broader array of issues.

If the advice of this resolution were adopted, the Committee and Council report then might read:
The Committee's recommendation for ABRA includes a one-time local funds enhancement, from the Department of Public Works, of $100,000, from fines generated from the Committee's FY 2009 enhanced neighborhood parking control initiative, for a grant to the Responsible Hospitality Association of Mt Pleasant, Inc, to support its efforts to promoting the cultural uniqueness and enhancing the economic health of the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, through a Mt. Pleasant Responsible Hospitality Zone Pilot Program.

-

===== End forwarded message =====

Thanks for this important support. The grant is in my committee budget, for action by the council next Tuesday. I would ask that no further action is needed. If that changes I will be back to you. Bests Jim

I typically answer emails before 9 AM on weekdays. If you email me after that, it is likely that you will hear from me the next weekday. If there is a need to communicate prior to that, you may wish to call me.

Jim Graham, Councilmember, Ward One, 1350 Pa. Ave., NW, #105, Washington, DC 20004. 202-724-8181; 202-724-8109 (fax).

Chairman, Committee on Public Works and the Environment (including alcohol regulation). Main Committee Number: 202-724-8195. 1350 Pa. Ave., NW, #116, Washington, DC 20004.

Voting member, Board of Directors, WMATA/Metro.

Website: www.grahamwone.com