Minutes – November 2023

Regular Public Meeting Minutes

Monday, November 27, 2023, 7:00 p.m.

1. Call to Order & Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Commissioner Alison Brooks, Chair (4B08), presiding. The meeting was held virtually via Zoom, and a recording of the meeting is available on YouTube and on the Commission’s website. Commissioners present included Commissioner T. Michelle Colson (4B01), Commissioner Erin Palmer (4B02), Commissioner Zurick T. Smith (4B03), Commissioner Evan Yeats (4B04), Commissioner Kevin Gilligan (4B05), and Commissioner Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06).

Commissioner Derrick Thompson (4B09) and Commissioner Michael Cohen (4B07) joined after the start of the meeting.

2. Administrative Items:

A. Instructions for Participation in Virtual Meeting.

Commissioner Brooks provided instructions for public participation in the meeting.

B. Consideration and Approval of November 2023 Regular Public Meeting Agenda.

Commissioner Brooks presented the November 2023 Regular Public Meeting Agenda. The Agenda was approved as presented.

C. Approval of October 2023 Regular Public Meeting Minutes.

Commissioner Brooks presented the October 2023 Regular Public Meeting Minutes. The Minutes were approved as presented.

D. Approval of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B Annual Report 2023 and Recognition of Student Art Submission Winners.

Commissioner Brooks provided an overview of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B’s Annual Report 2023 and highlighted the student art submissions throughout the Report. Commissioner Colson moved to approve the Annual Report, and the motion was adopted, 7 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

Commissioner Thompson joined the meeting at this time.

3. Commissioner Updates

Commissioners provided updates regarding their Single Member Districts, including community cleanups, office hours, and Single Member District meetings.

Commissioners provided updates regarding their Single Member Districts, including community cleanups, office hours, and Single Member District meetings.

4. Community Concerns

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

5. Presentation: Richard R. Bebout, Ph.D., Chief of Crisis Services; District Department of Behavioral Health; Alternative 911 Responses and Community Response Team

Richard R. Bebout, Chief of Crisis Services for the District Department of Behavioral Health, provided an update on alternative 911 responses and the Department’s Community Response Team. Commissioners and members of the community asked questions.

6. Presentation: Nora Ivory, Project WISH Coordinator; Community Health Administration, Cancer and Chronic Disease Prevention Bureau, DC Health; Project WISH

Nora Ivory provided an update on Project WISH and breast cancer statistics in the District of Columbia. Commissioners and members of the community asked questions.

7. Reports:

A. Representative, Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District.

This Report occurred immediately after Agenda Item No. 5 because the Metropolitan Police Department representatives needed to leave for other commitments. Commander Nikki Lavenhouse, Officer Robert Hamrick, and Officer Antoine Lesesene, representing the Metropolitan Police Department, provided updates on the 4th District leadership changes and discussed crime statistics within the Commission area. Commissioners and members of the community asked questions.

B. Sophia Tekola, Mayor’s Office on Community Relations and Services.

Sophia Tekola, representing the Mayor’s Office on Community Relations and Services, provided updates on an upcoming public safety legislative hearing, the District Department of Public Works’ leaf collection status, a senior citizen event, weather alerts, crime issues, Black Restaurant Week, and swing space for Whittier Elementary School, among other issues. Commissioners and members of the community asked questions.

C. Barbara Rogers, Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George.

Kelly Hunt, Chief of Staff, and Oscar Montiel, new Constituent Services Director, representing the office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, provided updates on District Department of Public Works public litter can installations, the Ron Austin Memorial Park installation and upcoming hearing, a new traffic light installation, Emery Heights Community Center elevator repair status, school property repairs, and proposed legislation among other updates. Commissioners and members of the community asked questions.

D. Frazier O’Leary, Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative.

Not present. 

E. Housing Justice Committee.

Commissioner Palmer provided an update on Committee activities, including the Committee’s November 1st meeting and an upcoming social event on December 6th. The next Committee meeting is scheduled for 3rd at 7:00 p.m.

F. Vision Zero Committee.

Commissioner Yeats provided an update on Committee activities. The next Committee meeting will take place in January.

G. Youth Advisory Committee.

Commissioner Brooks and Commissioner Palmer provided an update on recruitment of members for the Commission’s Youth Advisory Committee.  

8. Consent Calendar:

• Resolution 4B-23-1101: Highlighting Administrative Challenges in Issuing ANC Grants and Requesting Procedural Improvements to Facilitate Commission Grantmaking (Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Gilligan, and Commissioner Yeats)
• Resolution 4B-23-1102: Calling for Parity in Response to Rodent Infestations Across Private Residences, Schools and Parks (Commissioner Yeats, Commissioner, Commissioner Brooks, and Commissioner Palmer)
• Resolution 4B-23-1103: Supporting Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4D’s Efforts to Bring a Library to the Kennedy Street Area (Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Palmer, and Commissioner Johnson)
• Resolution 4B-23-1104: Reiterating Calls for Conveniently Located Swing Space for Whittier Elementary School (Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Palmer, and Commissioner Brooks)

Commissioner Yeats moved to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion was adopted 9 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

9. Resolution 4B-23-1105: Supporting and Providing Feedback on B25-0564, the Environmental Justice Amendment Act of 2023 (Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Yeats, Commissioner Brooks, and Commissioner Smith)

Commissioner Palmer presented a draft Resolution supporting and providing feedback on B25-0564, the Environmental Justice Amendment Act of 2023. Commissioners and members of the community were given the opportunity to ask questions. Commissioner Yeats moved to approve the Resolution. The motion was adopted 9 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions.

10. Adjournment

Commissioner Brooks adjourned the meeting at 8:42 p.m.