February 2018 Minutes

Community Meeting – February 20, 2018, 7:00 PM

Officers:

Dan opened the meeting at approximately 7:04 PM.

Item 1: Old Business

Points from January, 2018, meeting read by the Recording Secretary
BNCA President highlighted details of the Drug Nuisance Abatement bill.
Nolan Treadway, from Councilmember McDuffie’s office, spoke on the topic in further detail.
Some community members felt that certain substantive issues needed more attention.
Bluebirdskyyoga event: Sunday, March 11, 2018.

Item 2: Treasurer’s Report – February report for January, 2018

Beginning Balance: $3,633.58
Revenue: $560.26
- No new members
- 53 renewing members: $530.00
- paypal: $30.26
Expenses: $481.06
- Paper Statement: $4.00
- BNCA Flyers: $189.12
- Christmas Gift: $211.14
- January Refreshments: $78.80
Ending Balance: $3,712.78
113 total BNCA members, thus far, for 2018.
Increased membership does not affect a minimum quorum of ten (10) members.
Treasurer’s Report submitted and accepted.

Item 3: Comprehensive Plan Update

Caroline Petti, former BNCA president, resident of Brookland
Last discussion was approximately six (6) months ago.
Comprehensive Plan
- A compilation of policies and maps focused on the planning the physical environment of Washington, DC.
Some contents are general and city-wide; some pertain to specific neighborhoods.
Thousands of public comments received by the OP.
Framework Element
- Sets the overview/foundation for all of the detailed text in the narrative of the plan.
- Sets the context of the two main maps: 1) Generalized Policy Map (GPM); 2) Future Land-Use Map (FLUM).
GPM – Categorizes how different parts of the District may change and where detailed policies are necessary.
FLUM – establishes Land Use and Zoning issues.
Concern is that proposed changes by OP will set the stage for denser and higher development across the city.
Proposed changes are vague on clarity; predictability; enforceability of the proposed changes.
Other individuals and entities have submitted proposed changes to the Comp Plan – none of which go in the direction of down-zoning.
In previous years, public comment was allowed to the Framework Element, before going to the Council for vote. Currently, OP desires to send changes directly to Council, without public hearing process. Hearing scheduled for March 20, 2018.
All DC residents may sign-up and testify, or submit concerns via email.
BNCA will outline talking points for its membership to review in the event a member has interest in testifying.

Item 4: DC Climate Legislation

Camila Thorndike – Chesapeake Climate Action Network
camila@chesapeakeclimate.org; (240) 396-2029; www.chesapeakeclimate.org
Introducing a new fee on fossil fuels to help combat carbon emissions: electricity and
natural gas.
Fee imposed at the utility level. Residents would receive a rebate on their monthly bills.
Public transportation services are exempt from the proposed fee.
Can be introduced to the City Council as a new bill in March, 2018.
Hoping for passage in Fall, 2018.
CCAN has designed the bill so that DC obtains a competitive advantage again other
jurisdictions.
Regulation potentially tracked through a few new positions in the Office of Tax and
Revenue.
Proposed bill still to be scrutinized by Congress. A number of congress members have
introduced similar bills in their own jurisdictions.
CCAN has ready-made resolution for BNCA review and voting.
Councilmember McDuffie has neither endorsed, nor opposed the proposed legislation, to
date.

Item 5: 2018 Officers Elections

Each position opened up for nomination.
If no contesting for a particular position, then will take a vote of acclimation on all the
positions.
- President – confirmed re-election
- Vice President – confirmed re-election
- Treasurer – confirmed re-election
- At-Large – confirmed re-election
- Recording Secretary – confirmed re-election
- Communications Director – conformed re-election
- Membership Coordinator – Pernelope Whitney, volunteered, and seconded
Vote for the slate of officers for the 2018 calendar year taken by acclamation and seconded with a sufficient quorum.

Item 6: Other Community Concerns & Announcements

Dr. Sunyatta Amen – Calabash Tea & Tonic
- Opening a new location at 12th & Evarts Streets, NE
- At the appropriate time, they would like a letter of support from BNCA.
Edward Lazere
- Running for Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia.
- Currently operates the DC Housing Institute, a non-profit organization.
Concern about the increasing public assembly of young men on Brentwood Road, NE, at Rhode Island Avenue, NE.

Meeting adjourned at 9:04 PM.

Next BNCA Meeting: Tuesday, March 20, 2018, 7:00 PM

SUMMARY FROM FEBRUARY, 2018 MEETING

Comprehensive Plan
- A compilation of policies and maps focused on the planning the physical environment of Washington, DC.
- Framework Element
- Sets the overview/foundation for all of the detailed text in the narrative of the plan.
- Sets the context of the two main maps: 1) Generalized Policy Map (GPM); 2) Future Land-Use Map (FLUM).
- Concern is that proposed changes by OP will set the stage for denser and higher development across the city.
- BNCA may outline general talking points for its membership to review in the event a member has interest in testifying.
DC Climate Legislation
- Introducing a new fee on fossil fuels to help combat carbon emissions: electricity and natural gas.
- Fee imposed at the utility level. Residents would receive a rebate on their monthly bills.
- Public transportation services are exempt from the proposed fee.
- Proposed bill still to be scrutinized by Congress. A number of congress members have introduced similar bills in their own jurisdictions.
2018 Officers Elections
- Penelope Whitney elected as Membership Coordinator
- All other officers re-elected.
Dr. Sunyatta Amen – Calabash Tea & Tonic
- Opening a new location at 12th & Evarts Streets, NE
Edward Lazere
- Running for Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia.

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