May 2024 Minutes

BNCA Meeting Minutes
May 21, 2024
Zoom Virtual Meeting

BNCA Officers in attendance: Steve Farole (Pres), Caroline Petti (VP), Ed Kent (Treasurer), Kathy Jacquart (Secretary), Elise Scott (Communications), Rene McCray (Membership), Fred Jackson (At-Large)

Welcome – BNCA President Steve Farole opened the meeting by welcoming members and guests and reviewed the agenda.

Treasurer’s Report – Treasurer Ed Kent presented the report for April.

• Opening balance: $7720.97
• Closing balance: $7935.88
• 21 new members
• Funds remaining in Welcome to Brookland Sign Beautification project.

DC Natives Presentation – Julie Lawhorn, volunteer, block captain and board member with DC Natives presented.

• Volunteer run, 501c3. Started in 2017.
• Work across the city. Have created 250 residential pollinator gardens. Focused at residences for now.
• Mission – climate, habitat, beautification
• 3 block captains in Brookland.
• DC Natives promotes native plants, which are essential for food web and native pollinators. They’re hardier and more resistance. Host plants (habitats) and food source (nectar). Follow the “Rule 3” – 3 seasons, 3 species, 3 of each variety
• Provide help to community members – advice, free plants, help with planting.
• Figuring out how to grow the model. Limitations are volunteer time and growing season.
• Have first Friday events to demonstrate techniques and share information.

Welcome to Brookland Sign Beautification Project Update – Member Amanda Frayer gave an update on the project.

• Finished about a month ago. First phase last spring.
• Thanks to all the volunteers, corporate and individual sponsors.
• Requested continued financial support from BNCA for continued maintenance.
• A proposal for the BNCA to continue to provide financial support of $200-250 per year was made.
• A motion to Members voted to approve support.

Great Brookland Yard Sale Recap & Thank Yous – Membership Coordinator Rene McCray thanked all the businesses who donated space and Menkiti Group who supported the sale and all the sellers. She sent thank you notes to the businesses.

Community Cleanups – Steve Farole announced that the BNCA will organize community clean-ups over the summer. More information to follow.

• June 22 – Turkey Thicket
• July 20 – 14th and RI Ave
• August 24 – Brookland/CUA metro station
• September 21 – 12th Street (TBD)

Community Announcements

Oliver Stoute Council Member Parker’s office:

• Last committee markup on budget – vote at end of May. Got feedback from residences, particularly about Pay Equity fund for child care workers
• Construction of bus stops at Ft. Totten and Brookland Metros
• South Dakota corridor – DDOT is moving forward with safety survey
• South Dakota Ave Safety Study Public Meetings with DDOT (May 30 at 6:00 p.m. virtually, and June 1 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in-person at Sojourner Truth PCS).
• Ward 5 Monthly Public Safety Call on May 30 at 3:00 p.m.
• Ward 5 Bus Network Engagement Meeting with WMATA on June 3 at 6:00 p.m.

Member Vernon Clayborne announced a Ward 5 Constituents Fund Fundraiser – Sunday, June 2, at Busboys and Poets, 5-7pm

Rene McCray informed members that Early Voting starts at Turkey Thicket Sunday May 26th at 8:30am (No Voting on Memorial Day May 27th). Voting restarts May 28th thru June 2nd. Primary Voting Day is June 4th 7:00am – to 8:00pm. If you have a mail-in ballot, you can bring it to Turkey Thicket Drop Box or take to any Early Voting Site to submit your Ballot.

ANC 5B04 Commissioner Ra Amin announced the following meetings:

• ANC meeting Wednesday, May 22.
• Want to plan a meeting with the owner of the properties on 12th St between Monroe to the Tae Kwan Do center. Date TBD.

Upcoming BNCA meetings

• June 18th meeting will be on Zoom and include presentations from the DC Public Library regarding potential library sites in Ward 5 and from the Department of Justice on their environmental justice work in DC.
• Planning for an in-person meeting in July, details TBC