Minutes – April 2020

Regular Public Meeting

Monday, April 27, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

Minutes

1) Call to Order & Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 7:14 p.m. by Commissioner Alison Brooks, Vice Chair (ANC 4B08 Commissioner), presiding. (Commissioner Brenda Parks, Chair (ANC 4B04 Commissioner) was present but did not preside due to technical limitations.) The meeting was held virtually via Zoom and broadcast on YouTube. Present were Commissioners Evan Yeats (4B01), Erin Palmer (4B02), Scot Knickerbocker (4B03), Brenda Parks (4B04), Perry Redd (4B05), Tiffani Johnson (4B06), Geoff Bromaghim (4B07), and LaRoya Huff (4B09).

2) Administrative Items

Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual Meeting

Gordon Chaffin, Street Justice, provided technical assistance for the virtual meeting and shared instructions for public participation.

Consideration and Approval of April Agenda

Commissioner Johnson moved to approve the agenda. The motion was adopted, 9 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

Approval of February Regular Public Meeting Minutes

Commissioner Bromaghim moved to approve the February Regular Public Meeting minutes. The motion was adopted, 9 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

Treasurer’s Report & Approval of Quarterly Financial Report for the Second Quarter 2020

Commissioner Bromaghim presented the Treasurer’s Report. The Commission has a balance of $23,802.68. Commissioner Bromaghim moved to approve the Quarterly Financial Report for the Second Quarter of 2020. The motion was adopted, 9 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

Commissioner Updates

Commissioner Johnson provided updates regarding the Metropolitan Police Department’s response to Commission Resolution 4B-20-0202, ANC Concerns with Metropolitan Police Department use of Nextdoor for Reporting of Non-Emergency Public Safety Concerns. Commissioner Palmer provided information regarding services offered by East Rock Creek Village and Bread for the City during the public health emergency. Commissioner Bromaghim referenced Commission Resolution 4B-20-0104, Providing Feedback on Proposed Changes to the Comprehensive Plan, and the related response from the District’s Office of Planning. Commissioner Brooks discussed issues related to traffic in the area of North Capitol and Longfellow Streets.

3) Presentation: District Board of Elections, Vote Safe DC

Rachel Coll, Public Information Officer, District Board of Elections, presented on the Board’s Vote Safe DC campaign, including mail-in ballot requests and in-person voting, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.

4) Presentation: District Department of Aging and Community Living, Resources for Seniors

Mark Bjorge, External Affair and Communications, District Department of Aging and Community Living, presented on resources for seniors related to COVID-19, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.

5) Presentation: Ward 4 Mutual Aid, Resources and Volunteer Opportunities

Zoila Hinson, Ward 4 Mutual Aid, presented on resources and volunteer opportunities related to COVID-19, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.

6) Reports

Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District

Derek Staten, Community Outreach Coordinator, was present and offered to take questions and information back to the relevant Metropolitan Police Department representatives.

Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd

Dolly Turner, representing the office of Councilmember Brandon T. Todd, reported on Councilmember legislative updates, actions, and events of interest to residents of Ward 4, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.

Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services

KeShawn Harris, representing the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services, reported on Mayoral actions and events of interest to residents of Ward 4, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.

Ward 4 Representative to the State Board of Education

Representative Frazier O’Leary reported on issues related to the State Board of Education of interest to residents of Ward 4, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.

7) Consent Calendar:

• Resolution 4B-20-0401: Supporting Request for Special Exception to Lot Occupancy Requirements to Allow Construction of Accessory Dwelling Unit, 7521 9th Street, NW (BZA 20209) (Commissioner Yeats)
• Resolution 4B-20-0402: Supporting Resident Only Parking Study for 7400, 7500, and 7700 blocks of Eastern Avenue, NW, 800 block of Juniper Avenue, NW, and 7500 block of 8th Street, NW (Commissioner Yeats)
• Resolution 4B-20-0403: Supporting Bike Storage Facility at East Entrance to Takoma Metrorail Station (HPA 20-221) (Commissioner Yeats)
• Resolution 4B-20-0404: Supporting Demolition of Two-Story Sleeping Porch and Construction of Open Deck and Replacement of Roof and Windows, 600 Cedar Street, NW (HPA 20-223) (Commissioner Yeats)
• Letter to Public Charter School Board Expressing Concerns about Rocketship Academy (Commissioner Yeats)
• Resolution 4B-20-0405: Requesting Speed Humps on 1st Street, NE (Commissioner Brooks)
• Resolution 4B-20-0406: Supporting DDOT Public Space Permit Application No. 348544, Proposed Chick-fil-A at 220 Riggs Road, NE (Commissioner Brooks)
• Resolution 4B-20-0407: Supporting Funding in FY2021 to Address Chronic Homelessness (Commissioner Palmer)
• Resolution 4B-20-0408: Calling for Long-Term Commitment to Full Vote-by-Mail Elections (Commissioner Palmer)
• Resolution 4B-20-0409: Expressing Gratitude to Essential Employees During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Commissioner Johnson)

Commissioner Brooks moved to approve the consent calendar items. The motion was adopted, 9 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

8) Resolution 4B-20-0410: Supporting the Proposed Design for 300-308 Carroll Street, NW & 325 Vine Street, NW

Commissioner Bromaghim presented a draft Resolution supporting the proposed design for 300-308 Carroll Street, NW, and 325 Vine Street, NW.

Commissioner Bromaghim moved the draft Resolution. Commissioner Palmer called for a roll call vote.

Commissioner Yeats – yes

Commissioner Palmer – yes

Commissioner Knickerbocker – yes

Commissioner Parks – yes

Commissioner Redd – no

Commissioner Johnson – yes

Commissioner Bromaghim – yes

Commissioner Brooks – yes

Commissioner Huff – no

The motion was adopted, 7 yes, 2 no, 0 abstentions. Commissioner Redd and Commissioner Huff opposed.

9) Community Concerns

Members of the community were allowed the opportunity to present questions or statements.

10) Adjournment

Commissioner Knickerbocker moved that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was adopted, 9 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:38 p.m.