Category Archives: ANC 4B

January 25: ANC 4B Monthly Public Meeting (Virtual)

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

ANC 4B Public Meeting
January 25, 2021
7:00 pm

Virtual Meeting Details: 

For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://streetjustice-news.zoom.us/j/84214249196?pwd=c3E0bzJmMFpoQ1JwVWFtNmhsVkduUT09. Meeting ID: 842 1424 9196. Password: 964318. 

For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 842 1424 9196. Password: 964318. 

To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://youtu.be/ykH8VI_Nhc8.

Agenda

1.        Call to Order & Roll Call  

2.        Administrative Items: 
A. Instructions re Participation in Virtual Meeting 
B. Election of Officers 
C. Appointment of Representative to Walter Reed CAC 
D. Consideration and Approval of January Agenda 
E. Approval of November Regular Public Meeting Minutes 
F. Approval of 2021 Meeting Schedule (4th Monday; recess in August & December) 
G. Approval of ANC Security Fund 
H. Treasurer’s Report 
I. Approval of Executive Director Employment Contract 

3.        Commissioner Updates (if applicable) 

4.        Community Concerns: *Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the meeting.* This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings. 

5.        Reports:
A. Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (10 minutes) 
B. Anthony Mitchell, Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (5 minutes)  
C. Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative Frazier O’Leary (3 minutes) 
D. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes) 
E. Housing Justice Committee (2 minutes) 

6.        Presentation: Maurice Smith, DC Public Service Commission & Stephen Marencic, Office of the People’s Counsel, Pandemic Relief for Utility Customers (10 minute presentation; 10 minute discussion) 

7.        Presentation: Travoris Culpepper, Pepco, Capital Grid Project (10 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion) 

8.        Consent Calendar: 

Resolution 4B-21-0101: Supporting Construction of the Metropolitan Branch Trail in the 7100 Block of Eastern Avenue, NW (NOI #20-110-PSD) (Commissioner Yeats) 

Resolution 4B-21-0102: Calling for Adjustments to Scheduling of Hearings by the Board of Zoning Adjustments to Facilitate Public Participation (Commissioner Johnson) 

Letter of Inquiry: Ensuring Adequate Resources for Successful Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (Commissioner Brooks & Commissioner Palmer) 

9.    Resolution 4B-21-0103: Supporting Renaming Park in the 6100 Block of North Dakota Avenue, NW, as the Ronald Austin Memorial Park (Commissioner Johnson & Commissioner Brooks – 2 minute presentation; 2 minute discussion)

10.     Resolution 4B-21-0104: Calling for Fair and Equitable Elections Procedures and Improved Mechanisms to Fill Advisory Neighborhood Commission Vacancies (Commissioner Palmer – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

11.     Adjournment 

Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday, February 22, 2021, 7:00 p.m. 

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer (4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Jocelynn Johnson (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 (vacant); ANC 4B06 Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B07 Geoff Bromaghim (4B07@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B08 Alison Brooks (4B08@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B09 LaRoya Huff (4B09@anc.dc.gov) 

ANC 4B – Vision Zero Committee – Call for Applicants

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B, Transportation

From ANC 4B:

In October, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B approved a Resolution establishing a Vision Zero Committee. You can read the Resolution here: https://resolutions.anc.dc.gov/ViewResolution.aspx?Id=+kCWxSLIXjzOZ0i6oDVSsw== 

The Commission is now seeking applicants for Committee membership. You must be a resident or businessowner within the Commission’s boundaries to be a member. Check if you reside within the Commission’s boundaries here: https://anc4b.com/about-the-anc/. 

If you are interested in serving as a member of the Committee, please email a statement of interest, including any relevant experience, by February 15th. The Commission will not be monitoring responses to the listservs. Please send any statements of interest directly to the Co-Chairs of the Committee, Commissioner Evan Yeats (4B01), at 4B01@anc.dc.gov and Commissioner Alison Brooks (4B08), at 4B08@anc.dc.gov.

December 12: ANC 4B Housing Justice Committee Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

From ANC Commissioner Erin Palmer (4B02)

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B’s Housing Justice Committee will meet on Saturday, December 12, 2020, beginning at 5:00 p.m. The Committee will be meeting virtually. Details about participating/watching the meeting are included below:

For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://streetjustice-news.zoom.us/j/81882674590?pwd=V3h0RUw0bmJHV1RrNnhiMVVpamthdz09. Meeting ID:  818-8267-4590. Password: 488799. 

For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 818-8267-4590. Password: 488799. 

To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://youtu.be/hfK3RNRvWQc.  

Additional information is available on the Commission’s website at https://anc4b.com/committees/housing-justice-committee/.

Erin Palmer, Chair, Housing Justice Committee
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B

Proposed Daycare Expansion Approved with Conditions

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

After several hearings and public meetings, the DC Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) voted 4-0-1 (one seat vacant) to approve with conditions an application for a special exception for the conversion of an existing in-home daycare (child development home) located on the corner of Quackenbos Street and 3rd Street NE serving nine children to a child development center that would serve 20 children. A child development center is one that serves more than 12 children. A special exception is necessary to operate a child development center in a residential area. The owner also received relief from the minimum parking requirement. The BZA case number is 20186.

Background and issues

The case involving Renaissance Center for Culture and Education started out innocuosly enough a few years ago when the operator/homeowner asked neighbors to support her desire to serve 20 children, an increase from nine, at her existing in-home daycare. Many neighbors, the ANC commissioner for the area at the time, and the block association Citizens Aware, comprised of residents along the 3rd Street corridor, all agreed to support the expansion without fully understanding the implications of the request. When the owner appeared at neighborhood meetings though, she mentioned the possibility of serving up to 45 students, and neighbors realized the expansion would also involve an expansion to the home itself, with the owner proposing to add one floor to the existing two-story home as well as a three-story brick addition to the rear of the home. In addition, the owner would no longer reside in the home. The application filed with the BZA clarifies that it is for 20 children.

All of this together led some neighbors and current ANC commissioner Alison Brooks (4B08) to believe that the owner was not entirely forthright in her dealings with them. ANC 4B withdrew its original letter in support and submitted a new resolution in opposition, the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) submitted a letter in opposition, and several neighbors with Citizens Aware who originally signed a petition in support submitted new letters in opposition. The opponents raised concerns about an increase in traffic and parking issues, as Quackenbos is a narrow street and pre-COVID, motorists would use 3rd Street as a cut-through during morning and evening rush hour. In addition, they objected to the home addition, stating it would be out of character with existing homes. The ANC and Citizens Aware objected to the fact that the owner would no longer reside in the home. On this point, the owner appeared to receive conflicting information from District agencies, with the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) initially indicating she cannot continue to reside in the home if it becomes a child development center and the DC Office of State Superintendent Education (OSSE) (which certifies daycares in the city) apparently stating she can. The ANC and neighbors pointed out that other child care centers existed where the owner did in fact reside on the property. In any case, the ANC and some neighbors argued that the owner could simply lease commercial space if she wanted to serve more children in a child development center.

Board hearing/Post-hearing

During hours-long hearings that became contentious at points, the board heard from numerous witnesses residing nearby and afar, the owner accused some neighbors of prejudice, the former president of Citizens Aware, James Thomas, accused the owner of altering a document, and several neighbors, the ANC, and the owner spoke of the mistrust that had developed. DC’s Office of Planning supported the application because of the need for more child care spaces in the District.

Following the hearings, the board closed the record and encouraged the owner, ANC, and neighbors to try to reach a compromise. Commissioner Brooks held single member district meetings, and some progress was achieved. Inexplicably, after the record was closed, the current president of Citizens Aware, Anita Purvis, circulated a petition against the daycare. The president of LRCA, Rodney Foxworth, then posted that petition to the neighborhood email list requesting more neighbors to sign, even though the record was closed with the exception of a few specific documents requested by the board, and the record was already replete with letters in opposition from some of the same signatories to the petition.

Board vote

In the end, the home addition, one of the biggest points of contention, was not an issue considered by the board. Even if the owner was not seeking to operate a child development center and simply wanted to expand her home with the proposed home additions, she could do so as a matter of right.

The board decided to approve the conversion to a child development center with several conditions agreed to by the applicant. The center must have a staff member serve as a crossing guard during dropoff and pickoff and must inform parents of the dropoff plan. The owner must attend Citizens Aware and civic association meetings on a quarterly basis for a period of time. There are also conditions related to signage and a privacy fence.

Other conditions requested by the ANC and neighbors were not imposed. The board stated it has no authority to require the owner to live on the premises, but the fact that the owner stated she would continue to live in the home if permitted was noted positively. The ANC and neighbor requested a five-year sunset provision to permit the board to determine whether the conditions were being met. In a different child care expansion case in ANC 4B, the board imposed a seven-year time limit, but that case involved an existing child development center in a church that wanted to increase the number of children served from 25 to 62 (BZA case number 20111). In this case, the board chose not to impose a time limit, being sympathetic to the owner’s argument that having such a condition would make it difficult to obtain financing to add on to the home to accommodate the center and to recruit parents. The board was convinced that the application for a conversion to a child development center to accommodate serving an additional 11 children in this case satisfies the regulatory requirements for a special exception.

November 23: ANC 4B Public Meeting (Virtual)

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting
Monday, November 23, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

Virtual Meeting Details: 

For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84214249196?pwd=c3E0bzJmMFpoQ1JwVWFtNmhsVkduUT09.  
Meeting ID: 842-1424-9196.
Password: 964318

For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 842-1424-9196. Password: 964318. 

To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ba2OO0NJ7cU.

Agenda

1.        Call to Order & Roll Call  

2.        Administrative Items: 
A. Consideration and Approval of November Agenda 
B. Instructions re Participation in Virtual Meeting 
C. Approval of October Regular Public Meeting Minutes 
D. Approval of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B Annual Report – 2020 
E. Treasurer’s Report & Update re Grants  
F. Commissioner Updates (if applicable) 

3.        Reports:
A. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (10 minutes) 
B. Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd (3 minutes) 
C. Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)  
D. Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative Frazier O’Leary (3 minutes)  

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) 

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 (Commissioner Palmer and Commissioner Bromaghim – 10 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion) 

6.        Presentation: Rank the Vote DC and Resolution 4B-20-1106: Calling for Ranked Choice Voting in the District of Columbia (Commissioner Palmer – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion) 

7.        Resolution 4B-20-1107: Supporting the Preliminary Design Concept and Providing Initial Community Input for 6928 Maple Street, NW (Commissioner Bromaghim – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion) 

8.        Presentation: Cozen O’Conner and Resolution 4B-20-1108: Supporting Requested Variance for 11 Nicholson Street, NW (BZA 20390) (Commissioner Johnson – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

9.        Resolution 4B-20-1109: Supporting DDOT’s Notice of Intent to Modify the Intersection of North Capitol & Longfellow Streets, NE (Commissioner Brooks – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

10.     Community Concerns: *Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the meeting.* This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings. 

11.     Adjournment 

Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday, January 25, 2021, 7:00 p.m. 

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer (4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Scot Knickerbocker (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 Perry Redd (4B05@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B06 Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B07 Geoff Bromaghim (4B07@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B08 Alison Brooks (4B08@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B09 LaRoya Huff (4B09@anc.dc.gov) 

October 26: ANC 4B Monthly Public Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting
Monday, October 26, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

Virtual Meeting Details: 

For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84214249196?pwd=c3E0bzJmMFpoQ1JwVWFtNmhsVkduUT09. Meeting ID: 842-1424-9196. Password: 964318. 

For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 842-1424-9196. Password: 964318. 

To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://youtu.be/IJNG8qn514A. 

Agenda

1.        Call to Order & Roll Call  

2.        Administrative Items: 

A. Consideration and Approval of October Agenda 
B. Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual Meeting 
C. Approval of September Regular Public Meeting Minutes 
D. Treasurer’s Report & Quarterly Financial Report for Q4 2020 
E. Commissioner Updates (if applicable)

3.        Presentation: Tesfalem Aim and Yvonne Thelwell, District Department of Transportation, Rehabilitation of Eastern Avenue (Commissioner Bromaghim – 10 minute presentation; 10 minute discussion) 

4.        Presentation: Greg Matlesky, Bicycle Program Specialist, District Department of Transportation, Proposed Capital Bikeshare Station at Kansas Avenue and Longfellow Streets, NW (Commissioner Johnson – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion) 

5.        Presentation: Julie Patton Lawson, Director, Mayor’s Office of the Clean City, Pilot Project re Residential Trash Disposal (Commissioner Brooks – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion) 

6.        Presentation: Petra Development, Proposed Development at 6928 Maple Street, NW (Commissioner Bromaghim – 10 minute presentation; 10 minute discussion) 

7.        Reports:

A. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes) 
B. Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd (3 minutes) 
C. Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)  
D. Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative Frazier O’Leary (3 minutes) 

8.        Consent Calendar: 

Resolution 4B-20-1001: Supporting Proposed Capital Bikeshare Station at Kansas Avenue and Longfellow Streets, NW (Commissioner Johnson) 

Resolution 4B-20-1002: Encouraging Best Practices to Assure Broad Inclusivity and Robust Participation in DC Government Hearings (Commissioner Palmer and Commissioner Johnson) 

Letter to District Department of Transportation Regarding Improvements to Traffic Safety Assessment Process (Commissioner Palmer and Commissioner Yeats) 

Letter to District Department of Transportation Requesting Traffic Safety Improvements on Butternut Street, NW (Commissioner Palmer and Commissioner Yeats) 

Resolution 4B-20-1003: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on 6th Street, NE, from Eastern Avenue, NE to Oneida Street, NE(Commissioner Brooks) 

Resolution 4B-20-1004: Requesting Traffic Calming for the 5700 – 5900 Blocks of Eastern Avenue, NE(Commissioner Huff)  

Resolution 4B-20-1005: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on Dahlia Street, NW between Georgia Avenue, NW, and Piney Branch Road, NW (Commissioner Yeats)   

9.        Resolution 4B-20-1006:Establishing a Vision Zero Committee (Commissioner Yeats and Commissioner Brooks – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion) 

10.     Resolution 4B-20-1007: Supporting and Providing Recommendations on B23-149, Fair Tenant Screening Act of 2019; B23-498, Intersectional Discrimination Protection Amendment Act of 2019; B23-195, Michael A. Stoops Anti-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2019 (Commissioner Palmer – 2 minute presentation; 2 minute discussion) 

11.     Community Concerns: *Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the meeting.* This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings. 

12.     Adjournment 

Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday, November 23, 2020, 7:00 p.m. 

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer (4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Scot Knickerbocker (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 Perry Redd (4B05@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B06 Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B07 Geoff Bromaghim (4B07@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B08 Alison Brooks (4B08@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B09 LaRoya Huff (4B09@anc.dc.gov) 

Thoughts on Local Candidates for 2020 General Election

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B, ANC 5A
Image of drop box at UDC-CC Backus located at 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE. The drop box will open on October 5.

DC election ballots started arriving in mailboxes earlier this week. As noted in this post, residents have a number of ways to vote. Most ballot drop boxes placed around the city will open on Monday October 5. The most convenient ballot drop boxes to Riggs Park are at UDC-CC Backus (5171 South Dakota Avenue NE) and Lamond Recreation Center (20 Tuckerman Street NE). For all voting information, including ballot drop box and voting center locations, visit the DC Board of Elections website at https://www.dcboe.org.

Candidate Information Resources

Check out the nonpartisan DC League of Women Voters for candidate questionnaires at https://www.vote411.org/ballot. Type in your address and you will see candidate questionnaires for races that appear on your ballot, including the ANC race.

Also, as required by law, the DC Office of Campaign Finance held a debate of the At-Large DC Council candidates and the At-Large DC State Board of Education candidates. View the debates at http://2020dcdebates.com.

Update 10/6/2020: DCist has published a voter guide for the At-Large Council race, which includes a link to candidate questionnaires.

Update 10/12/2020: The Washington Post published a voter guide for the State Board of Education race and a voter guide for the At-Large Council race.

Update 10/15/2020: Washington City Paper published a voter guide for the At-Large Council race.

ANC Races

For the Riggs Park neighborhood, there are competitive races for ANC single member district (SMD) 5A08 and 4B09. For ANC 5A08, I recommend that residents support the incumbent commissioner Gordon Fletcher, who is running for reelection. His competitor Nestride Yumga’s main claim to fame is inviting Breitbart News to an event she organized at MPD’s Second District headquarters this past summer. At the event, Yumga, a Black woman, stated about Black individuals, “We have the most violent race in America.” I know sometimes people do not pay attention to ANC races, but we really do not need to have people who say ridiculous, racist things like this representing DC residents.

For ANC 4B09, I recommend that residents support Tischa Cockrell. Ms. Cockrell is running against the incumbent commissioner LaRoya Huff. Both Ms. Cockrell and Ms. Huff serve on the board of the neighborhood civic association Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA), Ms. Cockrell as 1st Vice President and Ms. Huff as 2nd Vice President. Ms. Cockrell is the only person keeping the organization from devolving into complete chaos under the leadership of LRCA president, Rodney Foxworth. Ms. Huff ran on Mr. Foxworth’s slate and was elected along with almost the entirety of his slate for the LRCA board in May 2019. I have not been posting about LRCA matters much because it is just unfortunate how much of a spectacle it has become under Mr. Foxworth’s leadership and those who supported him.

At any rate, as most know, Ms. Huff is also the deputy director of constituent services for Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd. Councilmember Todd lost the Democratic primary earlier this year and will relinquish his council seat in January 2021. I have always found it curious that DC Council staffers can run for ANC, but they can. Ms. Huff is not the first and she will not be the last to do so, but there is a serious question of what can be attributed to Ms. Huff’s wearing her council staffer hat versus her ANC hat. And I am going to go ahead and say that much of what Ms. Huff has done in the neighborhood is the result of being a Ward 4 council staffer, so I question how much will be done once she is no longer in that role. The fact that for a time this year, residents were reaching out to me about issues in ANC 4B09 (and I live in Ward 5) because they were not receiving responses to messages sent to Ms. Huff’s ANC email address partially leads me to this conclusion.

That aside, I worked with Ms. Cockrell on neighborhood issues when I served as LRCA president from June 2017 to June 2019 and also prior to that when we were both pretty involved in neighborhood civic life. Barbara Rogers, Ms. Cockrell, and I planned the Riggs Park Day celebration in May 2018. Residents talked about having this celebration for at least nine years that I know of, wishing that a community day was held like it was in the past well before I moved into the neighborhood. The three of us decided we were going to plan it and we did it. It was a lot of work and took a lot of time, resources, and sheer willpower, and it ended up being a really wonderful community day.

Ms. Cockrell also recently started the Friends of Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center to support the neighborhood rec. Again, this is something that neighborhood residents talked about for a long long time and Ms. Cockrell took the initiative to actually get it started. So I recommend that residents in ANC 4B09 vote for someone who regularly checks email, takes inititative, stays informed about projects in the SMD, and informs residents about what is happening in the SMD by voting for Tischa Cockrell.

Ward 4 Council

Democratic candidate Janeese Lewis George and Statehood Green Party candidate Perry Redd are on the ballot for the Ward 4 Council seat.

Ward 4 State Board of Education

Incumbent Frazier O’Leary does not have a competitor for the Ward 4 SBOE seat.

At-Large State Board of Education

The At-Large State Board of Election race has six candidates on the ballot. View the OCF debate at http://2020dcdebates.com.

One of the candidates, Jacque Patterson, has a slight connection to Riggs Park. Mr. Patterson, who previously attempted to run for this seat but failed to get on the ballot in 2016, is tangentially responsible for Rocketship Charter School coming to the neighborhood. Mr. Patterson was the DC regional director for Rocketship Schools when Rocketship was supposed to open a Ward 5 campus in Brookland back in 2018. That effort failed, leaving families stranded after the school enrollment deadline. It was quite the debacle. Rocketship replaced Mr. Patterson with the current DC regional director Joyanna Smith. Ms. Smith is a familiar face at ANC 5A meetings because Rocketship ended up leasing space at Art Place at Fort Totten in Riggs Park for its Ward 5 campus.

At-Large Council

The At-Large DC Council race has 24 candidates on the ballot for two seats. Rick Murphee withdrew after the ballot printing deadline, so his name still appears on the ballot. To get a handle on the large number of candidates, check out the OCF debates. In addition, the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly held a well-moderated, two-part debate in September. View part one here and part two here.

Initiative 81

Initiative 81 seeks to make entheogens (think magic mushrooms and the like) the lowest of local law enforcement priorities. Who knows how much enforcement there actually is in DC, but nevertheless the issue is on the ballot. Find out more about the initative at https://decrimnaturedc.org/initiative-81. An organizer for the Initiative 81 campaign presented at ANC 4B’s September meeting. View that meeting here (at the 20:22 minute mark).

Happy Voting!

September 28: ANC 4B Monthly Public Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting
Monday, September 28, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Details:

Virtual Meeting Details: 

For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84214249196?pwd=c3E0bzJmMFpoQ1JwVWFtNmhsVkduUT09. Meeting ID: 842-1424-9196. Password: 964318. 

For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 842-1424-9196. Password: 964318. 

To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://youtu.be/kPF-3QiSqxk.

Agenda

1.        Call to Order & Roll Call  

2.        Administrative Items: 
A. Consideration and Approval of September Agenda 
B. Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual Meeting 
C. Approval of July Regular Public Meeting Minutes 
D. Treasurer’s Report & Approval of Budget for Fiscal Year 2021 
E. Commissioner Updates (if applicable) 

3.        Presentation: Lia Kuduk, Goodwill Ambassador and Community Organizer, Campaign to Decriminalize Nature DC, Initiative 81 (Commissioner Palmer – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion) 

4.        Presentation: Paul Kihn, Deputy Mayor for Education, Public School Reopening (Commissioner Yeats – 10 minute presentation; 15 minute discussion) [invited] 

5.        Reports:A. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes) B. Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd (3 minutes) C. Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)  D. Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative Frazier O’Leary (3 minutes) 

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) 

7.        Resolution 4B-20-0907: Supporting Traffic Calming on 3rd Street, NE (Commissioner Brooks & Commissioner Huff – 2 minute presentation; 2 minute discussion) 

8.        Resolution 4B-20-0908: Addressing Pedestrian Safety Measures and Signage at Walmart Supercenter, 310 Riggs Road, NE (Commissioner Huff – 2 minute presentation; 2 minute discussion) 

9.        Community Concerns: *Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the meeting.* This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings. 

10.     Adjournment 

Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday, October 26, 2020, 7:00 p.m. 

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer (4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Scot Knickerbocker (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 Perry Redd (4B05@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B06 Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B07 Geoff Bromaghim (4B07@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B08 Alison Brooks (4B08@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B09 LaRoya Huff (4B09@anc.dc.gov) 

ANC 4B Housing Justice Committee – Riggs Park Residents Apply!

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

I am reposting Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B’s call for applicants for the Commission’s new Housing Justice Committee. The chair of the committee wants to make sure that the committee is representative of the entire ANC. To that end, they are especially interested in receiving applications from residents in Riggs Park on the Ward 4 side of the community (Single Member Districts 4B08 and 4B09).

The resolution establishing the committee describes the committee’s work as follows:

The Committee’s work shall include (1) considering proposed developments within the Commission’s boundaries for purposes of determining how best to maximize affordable housing, including deeply affordable housing; (2) analyzing and providing feedback on proposed legislation and policy affecting affordable housing and homelessness with a goal of increasing and expanding deeply affordable housing; and (3) hosting and supporting educational events on topics related to affordable housing and homelessness.

Below is the initial call for applications with information about how to apply. The application deadline is August 31, 2020.

—

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B in February approved a Resolution establishing a Housing Justice Committee. You can read the Resolution here: https://resolutions.anc.dc.gov/ViewResolution.aspx?Id=yN25GigcNTp/LrkMj/yPmA==.

The Commission is seeking applicants for Committee membership. You must be a resident or businessowner within the Commission’s boundaries to be a member. Check if you reside within the Commission’s boundaries here: https://anc4b.com/about-the-anc/.

If you are interested in serving as a member of the Committee, please send a statement of interest, including any relevant experience, by August 31. The Commission will not be monitoring responses to the listservs. Please send any statements of interest directly to the Chair of the Committee, Commissioner Erin Palmer (4B02), at 4B02@anc.dc.gov. 

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B – Housing Justice Committee – Call for Applicants

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B in February approved a Resolution establishing a Housing Justice Committee. You can read the Resolution here: https://resolutions.anc.dc.gov/ViewResolution.aspx?Id=yN25GigcNTp/LrkMj/yPmA==.

The Commission is seeking applicants for Committee membership. You must be a resident or businessowner within the Commission’s boundaries to be a member. Check if you reside within the Commission’s boundaries here: https://anc4b.com/about-the-anc/.

If you are interested in serving as a member of the Committee, please send a statement of interest, including any relevant experience, by August 31. The Commission will not be monitoring responses to the listservs. Please send any statements of interest directly to the Chair of the Committee, Commissioner Erin Palmer (4B02), at 4B02@anc.dc.gov. 

July 27: ANC 4B Public Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting
Monday, July 27, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Details:

For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85049260373?pwd=eklnN1BXWGxYWEJkdnNQVFNrTkFBZz09. Meeting ID: 850-4926-0373. Password: 237111.

For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 850-4926-0373. Password: 237111.

To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://youtu.be/XYd8tRYHA-0.

Agenda

1.        Call to Order & Roll Call

2.        Administrative Items:

A. Consideration and Approval of July Agenda
B. Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual Meeting
C. Approval of June Regular Public Meeting Minutes
D. Treasurer’s Report
E. Commissioner Updates (if applicable)

3.        Presentation: Area Main Streets on Supports During COVID-19 and Re-Opening

A. Edwin Washington, Executive Director, The Parks Main Street (3 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
B. Laura Barclay, Executive Director, Old Takoma Business Association (3 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
C. Paul Ruppert, Executive Director, Upper Georgia Avenue Main Street (3 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
D. Gabriela Mossi, Executive Director, Uptown Main Street (3 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

4.        Reports:

A. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes)
B. Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd (3 minutes)
C. Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
D. Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative Frazier O’Leary (3 minutes)

5.        Consent Calendar:

  • Resolution 4B-20-0701: ANC 4B Request for Mandatory Use of Masks during COVID-19 Pandemic (Commissioner Johnson)
  • Resolution 4B-20-0702: ANC 4B Additional Recommendations on the Metropolitan Branch Trail (Commissioner Johnson & Commissioner Brooks)

6.        Resolution 4B-20-0703: Opposing Expansion of Renaissance Center for Culture Home Day Care at 240 Quackenbos Street, NW (BZA 20186) (Commissioner Brooks)

7.        Community Concerns: *Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the meeting.* This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings.

8.        Adjournment 

Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday, September 28, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer (4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Scot Knickerbocker (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 Perry Redd (4B05@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B06 Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B07 Geoff Bromaghim (4B07@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B08 Alison Brooks (4B08@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B09 LaRoya Huff (4B09@anc.dc.gov)

MBT Fort Totten to Takoma

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B, Met Branch Trail
MBT Fort Totten to Takoma extension. Source: http://metbranchtrail.com/wp-content/uploads/ANC4BMeetingPersentationJune22.pdf

At ANC 4B’s public meeting on June 22, 2020, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) presented design plans in progress for the Metropolitan Branch Trail extension from Fort Totten to Takoma. View the presentation here.

A more detailed presentation of the design plans released in May 2020 is available on the MBT Fort Totten to Takoma extension website at http://metbranchtrail.com/met-branch-trail-fort-totten-to-takoma. The 100% final design plan is expected to be completed by winter 2020 with construction anticipated to begin in fall 2021.

DDOT plans to expedite installation of a full traffic signal at Riggs Road and 1st Street NE. DC Bilingual Public Charter School is near this intersection and residents and school staff have long advocated for pedestrian safety improvements along this corridor. The traffic signal will be installed in early 2021 and DDOT will later add bike specific signals when the MBT extension is constructed. There will also be a full traffic signal installed at New Hampshire Avenue NE/South Dakota Avenue NE/McDonald Place NE as part of the extension.

ANC Commissioner Alison Brooks (4B08) noted that some residents continue to express concern about the plan to have the trail along 1st Street NE and along McDonald Place NE. DDOT noted that separate from this design plan, the agency continues to look at an alignment closer to the red line train tracks through National Park Service land.

ANC Commissioner Geoff Bromaghim (4B07) commented about the need to look at east-west connections to the trail and to make the experience riding through a fairly industrial area a little more friendly. DDOT noted that the agency has worked with the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities to commission public art along completed portions of the trail and so that could likely be an option for the extension as well.

There are still design decisions the agency needs to make. I have always thought the plans for the segment along Blair Road look more like an extra wide sidewalk rather than a trail, but there are a lot of driveways that the agency has to take into consideration. DDOT is considering an alternative that would remove the northbound curb lane along Blair and put a protected bike lane on the street, but there are drawbacks to that option.

In early June 2020, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association distributed communication about the design plan for the Fort Totten to Takoma extension with four recommendations:

Full time Parking for Blair Road at Rittenhouse Street (Option 3) – North of Kansas Ave, speeding is a chronic problem on Blair Road. To help calm traffic, create parking for local businesses, add new safe crosswalks and make a more pleasant trail experience, DDOT should convert the extra northbound travel lane into full-time parking, add curb extensions, and add new crosswalks starting at Rittenhouse Street

Trail Priority at Driveways – Frequent driveway crossings are the biggest challenge to a low-stress and safe trail along Blair Road. DDOT must take great care in designing how and where vehicles are permitted to cross the trail, so that trail users are always given priority. Where possible DDOT should:

1. Close curb cuts to eliminate conflicts entirely
2. Shrink the width of driveway entrances and reduce turn radius to reduce speeds
3. Use striping, different paving materials, and signage to highlight the trail’s path across a driveway and communicate that trail traffic has priority

Keep the Trail in Met Branch Trail – On Blair Road, DDOT proposed an alternate design which would send walkers onto an existing sidewalk and people on bikes onto a new curbside protected bike lane. While it may be simpler to build, this design will be too stressful for kids or less confident bicyclists as iit puts people on bikes right next to car traffic and leaves them completely exposed at every driveway.

Aggressive Traffic Calming on First St NE – To ensure the trail is actually safe and low-stress, First St NE needs far more than speed bumps to slow car traffic and discourage non-local trips. DDOT should explore mini-roundabouts, chicanes, diverters, and traffic calming techniques.

If you have thoughts about specific segments of the extension, let your ANC commissioner know. In addition, written comments may be sent to metbranchtrail@dc.gov.

Run for ANC

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B, ANC 5A

Advisory Neighborhood Commission nominating petitions for the November 3, 2020, general election will be available this Friday, June 26. Advisory neighborhood commissioners (ANCs) are hyperlocal nonpartisan elected representatives. The ANC is a voluntary, noncompensated position. Each ANC represents a single member district (SMD) of roughly 2,000 residents. Each term is two years. Because the position is nonpartisan, generally government employees can serve (of course accounting for individual circumstances that may require recusal or prohibit participation). To get on the ballot, a candidate needs only 10 signatures from voters residing in the same SMD as the candidate.

Having an effective ANC is really important. Our neighborhood is seeing a lot of development and change. Our neighborhood straddles Wards 4 and 5 and therefore is represented by two different commissions–ANC 4B and ANC 5A. There are a certain number of monthly meetings that each commission must hold, but otherwise as with any voluntary position, it is as much work as one wants it to be.

I try to keep things positive on the blog, so I will just make a general observation that in recent years, some of our ANCs have been missing in action or are otherwise sowing division in the community. So I appeal to reasonable, sensible residents who care about the community to consider serving. I have made this appeal periodically over the years. Maybe you like researching, maybe you have ideas about DC’s budget, maybe you have specific ideas about how to improve the neighborhood, maybe you would like to advocate for the community before DC agencies. Maybe you have asked yourself, “Did anyone think of this or that?” when it comes to development. Maybe you have a list of things you wish DDOT were doing in the neighborhood. Well serving as an ANC is a chance to serve in a position that matters because views of the commission are given great weight.

For those wondering, no I am not interested in running. So if there is anyone who lives in ANC SMD 5A01 in particular who is interested, I say go for it. It does not matter how long one has lived here (except one has to have lived in the SMD for at least 60 days) or what one’s cultural background may be. Anyone who is willing to listen, be respectful, and treat the position seriously would be good.

Find more information about ANCs at https://anc.dc.gov. For information on getting on the ballot, visit the DC Board of Elections website.

June 22: ANC 4B Public Meeting (Virtual)

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting
Monday, June 22, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Details:

For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://bit.ly/ANC4BJune2020. Meeting ID: 856-6848-7792. Password: 237111.

For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 856-6848-7792. Password: 237111.

To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://youtu.be/wdsE74ytMuY.

Agenda

1. Call to O​rder & Roll Call

2. Administrative Items:

A. Consideration and Approval of June Agenda Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual Meeting
B. Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual Meeting
C. Approval of May Regular Public Meeting Minutes
D. Treasurer’s Report
E. Commissioner Updates (if applicable)

3. Presentation: Ellen Peterson & Caroline Fehr, Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, COVID-19-Related Legal Information (Commissioner Palmer – 10 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

4. Presentation: Michael Alvino, Samer Alhawamdeh, & Sayra Molina, District Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Branch Trail (Commissioner Yeats – 10 minute presentation; 10 minute discussion)

5. Reports:

A. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes)
B. Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd (3 minutes)
C. Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
D. Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative Frazier O’Leary (3 minutes)

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)

7. Letter of Support for Renaissance Healthcare (Commissioner Knickerbocker – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

8. Resolution 4B-20-0605: Calling for Divestment of Local Police Funding and Reinvestment in Community-Based Supports and Services (Commissioner Palmer and Commissioner Johnson – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

9. Community Concerns: *Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the m​​​eeting.* This is the time for questions or statements from mem​​​bers of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings.

10. Adjournment

Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday, July 27, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer​(4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Scot Knickerbocker (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 Perry Redd (4B05@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B06 Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B07 Geoff Bromaghim (4B07@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B08 Alison Brooks (4B08@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B09 LaRoya Huff (4B09@anc.dc.gov)

May 26: ANC 4B Monthly Public Meeting (Virtual)

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

*Please note the change in date from the fourth Monday of the month to Tuesday, May 26 based on the Memorial Day holiday.* The Commission will be meeting virtually; details about participating/watching the meeting are included in the agenda.

Regular Public Meeting

Tuesday, May 26, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

Virtual Meeting Details:

For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://bit.ly/ANC4BMay2020. 

Meeting ID: 895-4942-8082. Password: 237111.

For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 895-4942-8082. Password: 237111.

To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExNOAObmzNU.

Agenda

1.        Call to Order & Roll Call

2.        Administrative Items:A. Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual MeetingB. Consideration and Approval of May AgendaC. Approval of April Regular Public Meeting MinutesD. Treasurer’s ReportE. Commissioner Updates (if applicable)

3.        Presentation: Chancellor Lewis Ferebee, DC Public Schools, Mayor Bowser’s Proposed Budget(Commissioner Yeats – 10 minute presentation; 10 minute discussion)

4.        Presentation: At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, Guidance re Unemployment Benefits(Commissioner Palmer – 10 minute presentation; 10 minute discussion)

Please see the following linked documents for additional information regarding unemployment benefits: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA); Accessing Unemployment Quick Guide.

5.        Presentation: Jason Sereno, Development Director, EYA, Proposed Development at 5543 South Dakota Avenue, NE (Commissioner Huff – 10 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

6.        Reports:

A. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes)
B. Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd (3 minutes)
C. Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
D. Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative Frazier O’Leary (3 minutes)

7.        Consent Calendar: 

Letter to Committee on Transportation and the Environment Regarding Performance Oversight of District Department of Transportation (Commissioner Yeats)

Letter Requesting Audit of Office of Unified Communications (Commissioner Yeats)

Resolution 4B-20-0501: Requesting Elimination of Two Parking Spaces on 3rd Street, NE (Commissioner Brooks)

Resolution 4B-20-0502: Calling for Assessment and Plan to Broaden Municipal Internet (Commissioner Palmer)

Resolution 4B-20-0503: Calling on MPD to Address Speeding on Riggs Road, NE (Eastern to Nicholson) (Commissioner Huff)

8.        Community Concerns: *Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the meeting.* This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings

9.     Adjournment

Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday June 22, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer (4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Scot Knickerbocker (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 Perry Redd (4B05@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B06 Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B07 Geoff Bromaghim (4B07@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B08 Alison Brooks (4B08@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B09 LaRoya Huff (4B09@anc.dc.gov)

April 27: ANC 4B Monthly Public Meeting (Virtual)

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting

Monday, April 27, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

Virtual Meeting Details:

For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82197261712?pwd=NFQ3V1dKR2dOb04wRUxsWUtNbjVBUT09. Meeting ID: 821-9726-1712. Password: 237111.

For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 821-9726-1712. Password: 237111.

To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ht_Y3XPgQ-A.

Agenda

1.        Call to Order & Roll Call

2.        Administrative Items:
A. Instructions regarding Participation in Virtual Meeting
B. Consideration and Approval of April Agenda
C. Approval of February Regular Public Meeting Minutes
D. Treasurer’s Report & Approval of Quarterly Financial Report for the Second Quarter 2020
E. Commissioner Updates (if applicable)

3.        Presentation: LaDawne White and Rachel Coll, District Board of Elections, Vote Safe DC (absentee ballot requests, in-person voting, etc.) (Commissioner Palmer – 10 minute presentation; 10 minute discussion)

4.        Presentation: District Department of Aging and Community Living, Resources for Seniors related to COVID-19 (Commissioner Palmer – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion) [invited]

5.        Presentation: Ward 4 Mutual Aid, Resources and Volunteer Opportunities related to COVID‑19 (Commissioner Palmer – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

6.        Reports:
A. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes)
B. Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd (3 minutes)
C. Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (5 minutes)
D. Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative Frazier O’Leary (3 minutes)

7.        Consent Calendar:

Resolution 4B-20-0401: Supporting Request for Special Exception to Lot Occupancy Requirements to Allow Construction of Accessory Dwelling Unit, 7521 9th Street, NW (BZA 20209) (Commissioner Yeats)

Resolution 4B-20-0402: Supporting Resident Only Parking Study for 7400, 7500, and 7700 blocks of Eastern Avenue, NW, 800 block of Juniper Avenue, NW, and 7500 block of 8th Street, NW (Commissioner Yeats)

Resolution 4B-20-0403: Supporting Bike Storage Facility at East Entrance to Takoma Metrorail Station (HPA 20-221) (Commissioner Yeats)

Resolution 4B-20-0404: Supporting Demolition of Two-Story Sleeping Porch and Construction of Open Deck and Replacement of Roof and Windows, 600 Cedar Street, NW (HPA 20-223) (Commissioner Yeats)

Letter to Public Charter School Board Expressing Concerns about Rocketship Academy (Commissioner Yeats)

Resolution 4B-20-0405: Requesting Speed Humps on 1st Street, NE (Commissioner Brooks)

Resolution 4B-20-0406: Supporting DDOT Public Space Permit Application No. 348544, Proposed Chick-fil-A at 220 Riggs Road, NE (Commissioner Brooks)

Resolution 4B-20-0407: Supporting Funding in FY2021 to Address Chronic Homelessness (Commissioner Palmer)

Resolution 4B-20-0408: Calling for Long-Term Commitment to Full Vote-by-Mail Elections (Commissioner Palmer)

Resolution 4B-20-0409: Expressing Gratitude to Essential Employees During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Commissioner Johnson)

8.        Resolution 4B-20-0410: Supporting the Proposed Design for 300-308 Carroll Street, NW & 325 Vine Street, NW (Commissioner Bromaghim – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

9.        Community Concerns: *Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the meeting.* This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings

10.     Adjournment

Next Regular Public Meeting: Tuesday, May 26, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer (4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Scot Knickerbocker (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 Perry Redd (4B05@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B06 Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B07 Geoff Bromaghim (4B07@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B08 Alison Brooks (4B08@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B09 LaRoya Huff (4B09@anc.dc.gov)Erin Palmer, Secretary, ANC 4BANC 4B02 Commissioner

For the latest information on the District Government’s response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), please visit coronavirus.dc.gov.

CANCELED – ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting March 23, 2020

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

Notice from ANC 4B:

In light of recent developments regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) and as a measure of precaution and concern for the health and safety of our residents, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B is canceling its public meeting scheduled for Monday, March 23, 2020. 

On March 11, 2020, Mayor Bowser declared a state of emergency and public health emergency, effective immediately. More here: https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-declares-public-health-emergency. You can read more about the District’s response to COVID-19 here: https://coronavirus.dc.gov. 

Canceling public events helps curb the spread of the virus and preserves valuable medical resources. More here: https://www.vox.com/2020/3/10/21171481/coronavirus-us-cases-quarantine-cancellation.

Due to the legal requirement that Commissioners be physically present at meetings, we are unable to offer a completely virtual option at this time. We are working with the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, government agencies, and Councilmembers regarding measures that would allow future virtual meetings, should they be necessary.

The Commission plans to hold an additional meeting to satisfy our requirement of holding 9 meetings per year. We will provide details regarding the timing of that meeting as soon as they are available. You can visit our website at anc4b.com for the latest updates and information on Commission meetings.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to your individual Commissioners regarding any Advisory Neighborhood Commission issues during this time.

Erin Palmer, Secretary, ANC 4B
ANC 4B02 Commissioner

February 24: ANC 4B Monthly Public Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting

Monday, February 24, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

MPD, 4th District Station, 6001 Georgia Ave., NW

Agenda

  1. Call to Order & Roll Call
  2. Administrative Items:
    1. Consideration and Approval of February Agenda
    2. Approval of January Regular Public Meeting Minutes
    3. Treasurer’s Report
    4. Commissioner Updates (if applicable)
  3. Reports:
    1. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes)
    2. Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
  4. Presentation: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (Commissioner Yeats)
  5. Presentation: Traffic Safety Specialist, District Department of Transportation (Commissioner Parks – 10 minute presentation; 10 minute discussion)
  6. Presentation: Janice Ferebee, Community Outreach Organizer, DC Recovery Community Alliance (Commissioner Brooks – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)
  7. Presentation: Daniela Anello, Head of School, DC Bilingual, Community Engagement (Commissioners Brooks – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)
  8. Presentation: Zachary Williams, Esq. Venable, LLP, Proposed Chick-fil-A, 220 Riggs Road, NE, Seating Re-Design & Traffic Study (Commissioners Brooks – 10 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
  9. Presentation: Sassan Gharai, SGA Companies, Proposed Development at 300-308 Carroll Street, NW & 325 Vine Street, NW (Commissioner Bromaghim – 10 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion) 
  10. Presentation: Request for Special Exception to Lot Occupancy Requirements to Allow Construction of Accessory Dwelling Unit, 7521 9th Street, NW (BZA 20209) (Commissioner Yeats  – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
  11. Consent Calendar:

    Resolution 4B-20-0201: Supporting Metro Transit Police Adopting Metropolitan Police Department General Order 305-1 re Interacting with Juveniles (Commissioner Johnson)

    Resolution 4B-20-0202: Expressing Concern with Metropolitan Police Department Use of NextDoor for Reporting (Commissioner Johnson)

    Resolution 4B-20-0203: Expressing Lack of Confidence in Chief Ronald A. Pavlik, Jr. and Calling for Reform of Metro Transit Police Department (Commissioner Johnson and Commissioner Yeats)

    Resolution 4B-20-0204: Noting Lack of WMATA Engagement and Opposing Fare Increases and Cuts to Metrobus Service (Commissioner Yeats and Commissioner Palmer)
  12. Resolution 4B-20-0205: Establishing Housing Justice Committee (Commissioner Palmer – 2 minute presentation; 2 minute discussion)
  13. Community Concerns: This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute.
  14. Adjournment

Please Note: Anyone in the audience may speak on any subject during “Community Concerns.” You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings. Discussion on other agenda items will generally be limited to Commissioners. Finally, the meeting may not last beyond 9:00 p.m. unless extended by a two/thirds vote of the Commission.

Next Regular Public Meeting:  Monday, March 23, 2019, 7:00 p.m., MPD, 4th District Station, 6001 Georgia Ave., NW

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer (4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Scot Knickerbocker (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 Perry Redd (4B05@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B06 Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B07 Geoff Bromaghim (4B07@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B08 Alison Brooks (4B08@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B09 LaRoya Huff (4B09@anc.dc.gov)

Don’t you want to be an ANC?

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B, ANC 5A

This post is another appeal for residents to consider running for an Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) position. The ANC is a nonpartisan position. The election for new ANCs will be this year in the general election in November. Nominating petitions for ANC become available June 26, 2020. To get on the ballot, all you need is 25 signatures from residents in the single member district (SMD) where you live.

There is a solid chance three or four of the current ANC 5A commissioners will not run again. Some of them have been serving many terms and they appear ready to move on.

In particular, it would be awesome for someone in my SMD, ANC 5A01, to run. The boundaries of 5A01 are the south side of Kennedy Street NE to the north, Eastern Avenue NE to the east, Galloway Street NE to the south, and the east side of South Dakota Avenue NE to the west. It is a nice little manageable area that includes the Bertie Backus campus and the Lamond-Riggs Library. You can see a map of ANC 5A below.

The ANC is an interesting creature of DC Home Rule. I think as with any volunteer position, it is as much work as you make it. There are of course certain things that must be done in terms of number of meetings, reporting, and the like. One could do simply the required minimum. There is also the opportunity to really have a big impact. One could advocate for budget items, give ideas for meaningful legislation, request improvements around pedestrian safety and civic assets, give substantive input on development projects, or any number of things.

Some people see the ANC as a stepping stone to higher office. Mayor Muriel Bowser served as an ANC in Riggs Park before representing Ward 4 on the DC Council and eventually becoming mayor. If there are residents out there for whom that is a goal, I say go for it. What better way to campaign than showing you have done tangible things in the neighborhood where you live. For the rest of us who do not have political aspirations, I think there is tremendous value in doing the work that we wish someone else would do.

I happen to live on the Ward 5 side of the neighborhood, so I most often attend ANC 5A meetings, but my appeal applies to Ward 4 neighbors as well. For people truly interested in running, I would recommend attending the monthly ANC meetings. There are a handful of meetings left before the summer break, so there is plenty of time to observe and think about how you would like to serve.