Regular Public Meeting
Monday, June 27, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
Minutes
1) Call to Order & Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by Commissioner Alison Brooks, 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), Jocelynn Johnson (4B03), Brenda Parks (4B04), Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06), and Geoff Bromaghim (4B07).
2) Administrative Items
Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual Meeting
Commissioner Brooks provided instructions for public participation in the meeting.
Consideration and Approval of June Regular Public Meeting Agenda
Commissioner Brooks presented the June Regular Public Meeting agenda. Commissioner Brooks moved to approve the agenda, as presented. The motion was adopted, 6 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions. Commissioner Jocelynn Johnson was not present for the vote.
Approval of May Regular Public Meeting Minutes
Commissioner Tiffani Nichole Johnson moved to approve the May Regular Public Meeting minutes. The motion was adopted, 6 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions. Commissioner Jocelynn Johnson was not present for the vote.
Treasurer’s Report
Commissioner Bromaghim presented the Treasurer’s Report. The Commission has a balance of $50,542.21. Commissioner Bromaghim noted the Commission would consider Quarterly Financial Report for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2022 at its next meeting in September.
3) Commissioner Updates
Commissioner Palmer noted current progress and work regarding a second round of Community Stormwater Solutions grant funding for neighbors on the 400 block of Aspen Street, NW, to address blockwide stormwater challenges. Commissioner Parks discussed an upcoming Single Member District 4B04 meeting with DC Water regarding lead pipe replacement. Commissioner Tiffani Nichole Johnson also discussed DC Water projects. And Commissioner Brooks explained the Commission’s continued coverage of Single Member District 4B05 as vacant.
4) Community Concerns
Members of the community were allowed the opportunity to present questions or statements.
5) Reports
Anthony Mitchell, Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services
Anthony Mitchell, 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 Covid-19 (coronavirus) vaccinations for children and renovations to the Takoma Aquatic Center, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.
Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George
Councilmember Janeese Lewis George reported on budget and legislative updates, agency oversight, and the office’s walk throughs of recreation centers regarding needed maintenance, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members. She was joined by Joanna Blotner, Legislative Director.
Frazier O’Leary, Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative
Representative Frazier O’Leary reported on issues related to the State Board of Education of interest to residents of Ward 4, including information regarding recent hearings and testimony and a book drive, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.
Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District
Not present.
Housing Justice Committee
Commissioner Palmer, Chair of the Commission’s Housing Justice Committee, reported on the Committee’s activities.
Vision Zero Committee
Commissioner Yeats and Commissioner Brooks, Co-Chairs of the Commission’s Vision Zero Committee, reported on the Committee’s activities.
Community Safety & Supports Committee
Commissioner Tiffani Nichole Johnson, Chair of the Commission’s Community Safety & Supports Committee, reported on the Committee’s activities.
6) Presentation: Sharon Kershbaum, Deputy Director, District Department of Transportation, Discussion re Commission Issues and Community Concerns
Sharon Kershbaum, Deputy Director, District Department of Transportation, discussed Commission concerns regarding the Department’s policies and practices, including high turnover of the Department’s Community Engagement Specialists; lack of transparency and action for traffic safety investigation requests; difficulties with the Department’s traffic safety investigation dashboard; closure of 311 requests without action; lack of responses to ANC Resolutions and changing standards for ANC requests; the inability to seek action on neighborhood-wide traffic calming; the lack of standards for hardening of short-term traffic safety infrastructure; protocols around placement and replacement of traffic signs; mechanisms to address sidewalk gaps and repairs; and specific outstanding requests (including Commission Resolutions, traffic safety investigations, and 311 Requests).
7) Presentation: Christian Piñeiro, District Department of Transportation, Georgia Avenue, NW, Livability Study
Christian Piñeiro, Community Engagement Specialist, Wards 3 & 4, District Department of Transportation, presented information on the Department’s Georgia Avenue, NW, Livability Study, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.
8) Presentation: Samer Alhawamdeh, District Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Branch Trail Project from Blair Road, NW, to Piney Branch Road, NW
Samer Alhawamdeh, District Department of Transportation, presented information on the Metropolitan Branch Trail Project from Blair Road, NW, to Piney Branch Road, NW, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.
9) Presentation: Thomas Pipkin and Kimberly Vacca, District Department of Transportation, Art in the Right of Way Installation, 5th Street, NW, Dahlia Street, NW, and Blair Road, NW
Thomas Pipkin, Pipkin Creative, and Kimberly Vacca, District Department of Transportation, presented information on an Art in the Right of Way installation at 5th Street, NW, Dahlia Street, NW, and Blair Road, NW, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.
10) Presentation: Alyce McFarland, Program Analyst, Education and Outreach, DC Office of the Tenant Advocate, Tenant Services & Eviction Prevention
Alyce McFarland, Program Analyst, Education and Outreach, DC Office of the Tenant Advocate, presented information on the Office’s tenant services and eviction prevention, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.
11) Presentation: Arianna Gard, Ph.D., Director, Growth and Resilience Across Development (GARD) Lab, University of Maryland, Results of Community And Resilient Environments (CARE) Project
Arianna Gard, Ph.D., Director, Growth and Resilience Across Development (GARD) Lab, University of Maryland, presented information on the results of the Community And Resilient Environments (CARE) Project, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.
12) Presentation: R&A Health and Takoma Wellness, Medical Cannabis Cultivation Center License Applications, 6400 Block of Chillum Place, NW
Antione Pritchett, R&A Health, and Rabbi Jeffrey Kahn and Rabbi James Kahn, Takoma Wellness, presented information on their medical cannabis cultivation center license applications for the 6400 block of Chillum Place, NW, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members
13) Presentation and Letter: Caren Garfield, Evan Goldman, and Pamela Lee, Application by EYA Multifamily, LLC for a Planned Unit Development at the Takoma Metro Station
Caren Garfield, EYA Multifamily, LLC, presented regarding a proposed planned unit development at the Takoma Metro station, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.
Commissioner Yeats presented a draft Letter (drafted with Commissioner Palmer and Commissioner Bromaghim) requesting that the Planned Unit Development order for the proposed Takoma Station development be approved with the specified conditions, as well as answered questions from Commissioners and community members.
Commissioner Yeats moved to approve the Letter. The motion was adopted, 6 yes, 0 no, 0 abstention. Commissioner Tiffani Nichole Johnson was not present for the vote.
14) Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 p.m.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B 