Minutes – September 2020

Regular Public Meeting

Monday, September 28, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

Minutes

1) Call to Order & Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Commissioner Alison Brooks, Vice Chair (ANC 4B08 Commissioner), presiding. The meeting was held virtually via Zoom and broadcast on YouTube. Also present were Commissioners Evan Yeats (4B01), Erin Palmer (4B02), Scot Knickerbocker (4B03) (who joined after the start of the meeting), Perry Redd (4B05), Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06), Geoff Bromaghim (4B07), and LaRoya Huff (4B09).

2) Administrative Items

Consideration and Approval of September Agenda

Commissioner Huff proposed amending the September agenda to remove Resolution 4B-20-0908: Addressing Pedestrian Safety Measures and Signage at Walmart Supercenter, 310 Riggs Road, NE, from the consent calendar to table for another meeting.

Commissioner Brooks moved to approve the agenda, as amended. The motion was adopted, 7 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual Meeting

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

Approval of July Regular Public Meeting Minutes

Commissioner Palmer moved to approve the July Regular Public Meeting minutes. The motion was adopted, 7 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

Treasurer’s Report & Approval of Budget for Fiscal Year 2021

Commissioner Bromaghim presented the Treasurer’s Report. The Commission has a balance of $23,964.94 and is owed disbursements from the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.

Commission Bromaghim moved to approve the FY 2021 budget. The motion was adopted, 7 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

Commissioner Updates

Commissioner Redd provided updates regarding his Single Member District, including as related to Lot 69, which the Commission addressed in Resolution 4B-19-0907, Supporting Cessation of Imminent Action by Urban Farming Land Lease Program in Lot 69 located in Brightwood Park. Commissioner Palmer provided information regarding voting by mail-in ballot or in person in the November 3 General Election. Commissioner Yeats noted the current Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B meeting presented a conflict with Yom Kippur and that the Commission would take that into account in scheduling next year’s September meeting. Commissioner Yeats also noted completion of traffic calming on 8th Street, NW, in furtherance of Resolution 4B-19-0306, Supporting the Installation of the Eighth Street, and an announcement from the Office of the DC Auditor regarding the District Office of Unified Communications, in furtherance of the audit requested in the Commission’s Letter to the Office of the DC Auditor. Commissioner Johnson noted proposed Metro service changes and opportunities for public input.

3) Presentation: Campaign to Decriminalize Nature DC, Initiative 81

Lia Kuduk, Goodwill Ambassador and Community Organizer, presented on the Campaign to Decriminalize Nature DC, which would make the enforcement of laws against natural plant medicines (entheogens) among the lowest law enforcement priorities, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.

4) Presentation: Deputy Mayor for Education, DC Public Schools Re-opening

Paul Kihn, Deputy Mayor for Education, presented on DC Public Schools’ decision to re-open schools for some in-person learning on November 9, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.

Commissioner Knickerbocker joined the meeting at this time.

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 and other items of interest to residents of Ward 4, including recent proposed legislation and government services, 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 the 2020 Census and government services, 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, including food distribution sites for students, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.

6) Consent Calendar:

• Resolution 4B-20-0901: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps and Additional Traffic Calming on Whittier Street, NW, between Blair Road, NW, and Piney Branch Road, NW (Commissioner Palmer & Commissioner Bromaghim)
• Resolution 4B-20-0902: Requesting Consideration of Speed Humps on 4th Street, NW, between Van Buren Street, NW, and Aspen Street, NW (Commissioner Palmer & Commissioner Bromaghim)
• Resolution 4B-20-0903: Requesting Speed Humps on Longfellow Street, NW, between Kansas Avenue, NW, and First Street, NW (Commissioner Brooks)
• Resolution 4B-20-0904: Requesting Speed Humps for the Unit Block of Sheridan Street, NE (Commissioner Bromaghim)
• Resolution 4B-20-0905: Supporting the Provision of DHCD Funding for 218 Vine Street, NW (Commissioner Bromaghim)
• Resolution 4B-20-0906: Urging the DC Council to Ban the Use of Gay Panic and Trans Panic Defense in Court Cases (Commissioner Yeats)

Commissioner Johnson moved to approve the consent calendar. The motion was adopted, 8 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

7) Resolution 4B-20-0907: Supporting Traffic Calming on 3rd Street, NE

Commissioner Brooks and Commissioner Huff presented a draft Resolution supporting traffic calming on 3rd Street, NE.

Commissioner Brooks moved to approve the Resolution. The motion was adopted, 8 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

8) Resolution 4B-20-0908: Addressing Pedestrian Safety Measures and Signage at Walmart Supercenter, 310 Riggs Road, NE

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, 8 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:06 p.m.