Minutes – November 2020

Regular Public Meeting

Monday, November 23, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

Minutes

1) Call to Order & Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Commissioner Brenda Parks, Chair (ANC 4B04 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), Perry Redd (4B05), Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06), Geoff Bromaghim (4B07), Alison Brooks (4B08), and LaRoya Huff (4B09).

2) Administrative Items

Consideration and Approval of November Agenda

Commissioner Parks moved to amend the agenda to add “Presentation: HGA Architects and Engineers and Resolution 4B-20-1007: Supporting Request for Special Exception to Lot Occupancy and Parking Requirements to Allow Construction of New Lamond-Riggs DC Public Library, 5401 South Dakota Avenue, NE (BZA 20392)” as Agenda Item No. 10, with Community Concerns moved to Agenda Item No. 11 and Adjournment moved to Agenda Item No. 12.

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

Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual Meeting

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

Approval of October Regular Public Meeting Minutes

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

Approval of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B Annual Report – 2020

Commissioner Yeats moved to approve the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B Annual Report for 2020. The motion was adopted, 9 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

Treasurer’s Report & Update regarding Grants

Commissioner Bromaghim presented the Treasurer’s Report. The Commission has a balance of $36,275.87. The Commission received two disbursements previously owed. Commissioner Bromaghim noted the Commission has been working to again offer grants (previously suspended due to lack of funds) and that the Commission is working with the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions to use an approved grant application form and procedures.

Commissioner Updates

None.

3) Reports

Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District

Captain Franklin Porter, 4th District, reported on crime statistics and police action in Ward Four and answered questions from Commissioners and community members.

Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd

Dolly Turner, representing the office of Councilmember Brandon T. Todd, provided a short presentation. The Commission expressed gratitude for Dolly Turner’s service to the community.

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 Phase 2 of the District’s reopening, the District’s contact tracing mobile application, and leaf collection, 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 information regarding DC Public Schools reopening and a book drive, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.

4) Consent Calendar:

• Resolution 4B-20-1101: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on the 200 – 500 Block of Quackenbos Street, NE (Commissioner Brooks)
• Resolution 4B-20-1102: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on the Unit Block of Kennedy Street, NE, between North Capitol Street, NE, and 1st Street, NE (Commissioner Brooks)
• Resolution 4B-20-1103: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on 7th Street, NW, between Fern Place, NW, and Dahlia Street, NW (Commissioner Yeats)
• Resolution 4B-20-1104: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on the 600 Block of Madison Street, NW (Commissioner Redd)

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

5) Presentation: The Parks at Walter Reed Development Team & Resolution 4B-20-1105: Supporting Proposed Concept Design for The Parks at Walter Reed Building QRS

Vicki Davis, Mark Simpson, Jack Boarman, and Paul Andresino, The Parks at Walter Reed Development Team, presented on the concept design for Building QRS on the Walter Reed Campus, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members. Commissioner Palmer and Commissioner Bromaghim presented a draft Resolution in support.

Commissioner Yeats moved to approve the Resolution. The motion was adopted, 8 yes, 1 no, 0 abstentions. Commissioner Redd opposed.

6) Presentation: Rank the Vote DC and Resolution 4B-20-1106: Calling for Ranked Choice Voting in the District of Columbia

Brianna McGowan and Sam Jared Bonar, Rank the Vote DC, presented on ranked choice voting in the District of Columbia, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members. Commissioner Palmer presented a draft Resolution calling for ranked choice voting in the District of Columbia.

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

Commissioner Yeats – yes

Commissioner Palmer – yes

Commissioner Knickerbocker – yes

Commissioner Parks – no

Commissioner Redd – yes

Commissioner Johnson – yes

Commissioner Bromaghim – yes

Commissioner Brooks – no

Commissioner Huff – no

The motion was adopted, 6 yes, 3 no, 0 abstentions. Commissioner Parks, Commissioner Brooks, and Commissioner Huff opposed.

7) Resolution 4B-20-1107: Supporting the Preliminary Design Concept and Providing Initial Community Input for 6928 Maple Street, NW

Commissioner Bromaghim presented a draft Resolution supporting the preliminary design concept and providing initial community input for a proposed development at 6928 Maple Street, NW. Eli Borek and Laura Fernandez, Petra Development, answered questions from Commissioners and community members.

Commissioner Bromaghim moved to approve the Resolution. Commissioner Parks 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 – yes

Commissioner Huff – yes

The motion was adopted, 9 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

8) Presentation: Cozen O’Conner and Resolution 4B-20-1108: Supporting Requested Variance for 11 Nicholson Street, NW (BZA 20390)

Meridith Moldenhauer, Cozen O’Conner, presented on a requested variance for 11 Nicholson Street, NW, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members. Commissioner Johnson presented a draft Resolution in support.

Commissioner Yeats moved to approve the Resolution. The motion was adopted, 8 yes, 1 no, 0 abstentions. Commissioner Parks opposed.

9) Resolution 4B-20-1109: Supporting DDOT’s Notice of Intent to Modify the Intersection of North Capitol & Longfellow Streets, NE

Commissioner Brooks presented a draft Resolution supporting the District Department of Transportation’s Notice of Intent to Modify the Intersection of North Capitol & Longfellow Streets, NE.

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

10) Presentation: HGA Architects and Engineers and Resolution 4B-20-1007: Supporting Request for Special Exception to Lot Occupancy and Parking Requirements to Allow Construction of New Lamond-Riggs DC Public Library, 5401 South Dakota Avenue, NE (BZA 20392) (Added Agenda Item via Commission Vote)

Jaspreet Pahwa, DC Public Library, Peter Cook and Reuben Hameed, HGA Architects and Engineers, and EricTievy, Consigli Construction, presented on a request to the Board of Zoning Adjustment for a special lot exception to occupancy and parking requirements to allow construction of a new Lamond-Riggs DC Library at 5401 South Dakota Avenue, NE. Commissioner Huff presented a Resolution in support.

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

11) Community Concerns (Agenda Item No. 10 on Noticed Agenda)

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

12) Adjournment (Agenda Item No. 11 on Noticed Agenda)

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

The meeting was adjourned at 10:13 p.m.