Minutes – June 2020

Regular Public Meeting

Monday, June 22, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

Minutes

1) Call to Order & Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by Commissioner Brenda Parks, Chair (ANC 4B04 Commissioner), presiding. The meeting was held virtually via Zoom and broadcast on YouTube. Present were Commissioners Evan Yeats (4B01), Erin Palmer (4B02), Scot Knickerbocker (4B03) (who joined after the start of the meeting), Perry Redd (4B05), Tiffani Johnson (4B06), Geoff Bromaghim (4B07), Alison Brooks (4B08), and LaRoya Huff (4B09).

2) Administrative Items

Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual Meeting

Gordon Chaffin, Street Justice, provided technical assistance for the virtual meeting. Commissioner Parks and Commissioner Palmer provided instructions for public participation in the meeting.

Commissioner Knickerbocker joined the meeting at this time.

Consideration and Approval of April Agenda

Commissioner Parks proposed amending the agenda to remove Resolution 4B-20-0602: Calling on MPD and DDOT to Address Speeding on Riggs Road, NE (Eastern to Nicholson) (Commissioner Huff) from the consent calendar and table to July. Commissioner Palmer moved to approve the agenda, as amended. The motion was adopted, 9 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

Approval of May Regular Public Meeting Minutes

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

Treasurer’s Report

Commissioner Bromaghim presented the Treasurer’s Report. The Commission has a balance of $23,981.78.

Commissioner Updates

Commissioner Brooks provided an update on a meeting with the District Department of Transportation regarding North Capitol Street, Longfellow Street, and New Hampshire Avenue to discuss ways to improve the intersection. Commission Palmer provided an update on the Mayor’s Agent decision granting the District’s application to raze Building 31 and Building 84 at Walter Reed, which the Commission unanimously supported in Resolution 4B-19-0406: Supporting Razing of Buildings 31 & 84 at the Parks at Walter Reed and Widening of Aspen Street, NW. Commissioner Yeats provided an update on the Board of Zoning Adjustment’s order related to Resolution 4B-19-1108: Resolution on Trinity Episcopal Church (BZA 20111), which supported expansion of Mi Palacio Child Development Center with mitigation.

3) Presentation: Ellen Peterson & Caroline Fehr, Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, COVID-19-Related Legal Information

Ellen Peterson and Caroline Fehr, Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia presented on the organization’s services, including public benefits, domestic violence, family law, housing, and foreclosure and debt collection, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.

4) Presentation: Michael Alvino, Samer Alhawamdeh, & Sayra Molina, District Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Branch Trail

Michael Alvino, Samer Alhawamdeh, & Sayra Molina, District Department of Transportation, presented updates on the Metropolitan Branch Trail, including plans for the phase of the Trail that will run from Fort Totten to Takoma Metro, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.

5) Reports

Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District

Not present.

Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd

Dolly Turner, representing the office of Councilmember Brandon T. Todd, reported on developments in the Ward, upcoming DC Council hearings related to the budget, and other items 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, including information regarding the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and the District’s phased re-opening, 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.

6) Consent Calendar:

• Resolution 4B-20-0601: Requesting Traffic Calming and Safety Measures on Piney Branch Road NW from Eastern Avenue to Georgia Avenue NW (Commissioner Yeats)
• Resolution 4B-20-0602: Calling on MPD and DDOT to Address Speeding on Riggs Road, NE (Eastern to Nicholson) (Commissioner Huff)
• Resolution 4B-20-0603: Supporting Funding in FY2021 for Public Housing Repairs (Commissioner Palmer)
• Resolution 4B-20-0604: ReOpen DC Recommendations regarding Phased Opening of Schools and Childcare Centers (Commissioner Johnson)

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

7) Letter of Support for Galaxy Healthcare Solutions

Commissioner Knickerbocker presented a draft Letter of Support for Galaxy Healthcare Solutions.

Commissioner Palmer moved to approve the Resolution. Commissioner Parks called for a roll call vote.

Commissioner Yeats – abstain

Commissioner Palmer – abstain

Commissioner Knickerbocker – yes

Commissioner Parks – abstain

Commissioner Redd – no

Commissioner Johnson – abstain

Commissioner Bromaghim – yes

Commissioner Brooks – yes

Commissioner Huff – yes

The motion was adopted, 4 yes, 1 no, 4 abstentions.

8) Resolution 4B-20-0605: Calling for Divestment of Local Police Funding and Reinvestment in Community-Based Supports and Services

Commissioner Johnson and Commissioner Palmer presented a draft Resolution calling for divestment of local police funding and reinvestment in community-based supports and services.

Commissioner Yeats moved to approve the Resolution. Commissioner Brooks called for a roll call vote.

Commissioner Yeats – yes

Commissioner Palmer – yes

Commissioner Knickerbocker – yes

Commissioner Parks – yes

Commissioner Redd – yes

Commissioner Johnson – yes

Commissioner Bromaghim – yes

Commissioner Brooks – abstain

Commissioner Huff – abstain

The motion was adopted, 7 yes, 0 no, 2 abstentions.

9) Community Concerns

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

10) Adjournment

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

The meeting was adjourned at 9:22 p.m.