2026-10-20 - Committee of the Whole

00:22CHAIR MENDELSON: THIS IS A REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE

00:26OF THE WHOLE. THE TIME IS 11:53 A.M. AND WE

00:32ARE IN ROOM 500 OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

00:37THIS IS A REGULAR COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING BUT IT WILL BE

00:41FOLLOWED BY AN ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING.

00:43AND BECAUSE IT IS A REGULAR MEETING, WE WILL SHORTLY HAVE A

00:50CLEARANCE OF DIFFERENT BILLS, AS WELL AS THE SECRETARY'S REPORTS.

00:53FIRST, WE HAVE TO FIND OUT IF ANYBODY IS HERE.

00:56WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL? >> COUNCILMEMBER ALLEN.

01:01COUNCILMEMBER FELDER. COUNCILMEMBER FRUMIN.

01:05COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GEORGE.

01:09COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU. COUNCILMEMBER PARKER.

01:14COUNCILMEMBER SILVERMAN. COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT WHITE.

01:18COUNCILMEMBER TRAYON WHITE. MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU HAVE A QUORUM.

01:22CHAIR MENDELSON: WE HAVE THE SECRETARY'S REPORT OF COMMITTEE

01:26FILINGS. I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER

01:30ANITA BONDS. COUNCILMEMBER BONDS: THANK YOU.

01:36I MOVED TO WAIVE THE READING OF THE SECRETARY'S REPORT.

01:37CHAIR MENDELSON: IS THERE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF

01:41THE SECRETARY'S REPORT. IS THERE DISCUSSION?

01:44ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE.

01:46CHAIR MENDELSON: ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.

01:52WE ALSO HAVE THE SECRETARY'S LOG OF INTRODUCTION AND REFERRALS,

01:56WHICH WE CAN READ OR I CAN RECOGNIZE THE CHAIR PRO TEM.

01:59COUNCILMEMBER BONDS: I MOVED TO WAIVE THE READING OF THE

02:04SECRETARY'S LOG OF INTRODUCTIONS AND REFERRALS.

02:06CHAIR MENDELSON: THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING.

02:10IS THERE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

02:13>> AYE. CHAIR MENDELSON: THAT WAS

02:16ANEMIC. ANY OPPOSED?

02:18THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. WE HAVE A BUNCH OF MEASURES FOR

02:24MARKUP AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

02:26YES, WE ARE APPROACHING THE END OF THE COUNCIL PERIOD.

02:29THE FIRST IS PR-26-808. ELIZABETH MOELLER

02:38REAPPOINTMENT AND RE-A DESIGNATION.

02:39PR.26-808, THE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO REAPPOINT AND REDESIGNATE

02:46MS. ELIZABETH MOELLER AS VICE CHAIRPERSON OF THE CITIZENS

02:51REVIEW PANEL TO REAPPOINT HER AND REDESIGNATE HER AS VICE

02:55CHAIRPERSON OF THE CITIZENS REVIEW PANEL FOR A THREE YEAR TO

02:57END APRIL 11, 2029. MS. MOELLER IS AWARE THREE

03:04RESIDENT.SHE RECEIVED HER HER MASTERS OF SOCIAL EFFORT

03:09FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES.

03:12SHE SERVES AS THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES AT THE LATIN

03:14AMERICA YOUTH CENTER. SHE PROVIDES LEADERSHIP FOR

03:18LAYC'S MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

03:21TREATMENT PROGRAM. PREVIOUSLY, SHE SERVED AS A

03:24CLINICAL SUPERVISOR FOR LAYC. IN 2004, THE COUNCIL APPROVED

03:30THE A PROTECTION ACT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS 2004 ACT WAS

03:34TO REFORM THE DISTRICT'S CHILD PROTECTION LAW.

03:38MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE GOAL WAS TO CREATE A SEAMLESS AND

03:42EFFECTIVE SYSTEM FOR RESPONDING TO ANY TYPE OF OF CHILD

03:44MISTREATMENT. WHETHER IT IS CHILD ABUSE OR

03:47NEGLECT. CODIFYING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF

03:52THE CITIZEN REVIEW PANEL. THE PANEL SERVES AS AN

03:55INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT BODY FOR THE DISTRICTS CHILD WELFARE

03:58SYSTEM TO EVALUATE THE DISTRICT AGENCIES INVOLVED WITH CHILD

04:03PROTECTION AS WELL AS SERVICES PROVIDED BY VENDORS.

04:06THE PANEL CONSISTS OF 15 MEMBERS COME ALL OF WHOM MUST BE

04:09DISTRICT RESIDENTS. REQUIRED TO APPOINT EIGHT

04:13MEMBERS OF THE PANEL AND MUST DESIGNATE THE CHAIRPERSON.

04:16THE COUNCIL IS TO APPOINT SEVEN MEMBERS AND REQUIRED FOR THE

04:20VICE CHAIRPERSON. THIS RESOLUTION REAPPOINT MISS

04:27ELIZABETH MOELLER AS WELL AS DESIGNATES HER TO BE THE VICE

04:29CHAIRPERSON. THE PANEL IS REQUIRED TO BE

04:34BROADLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY AND MUST INCLUDE

04:37MEMBERS WHO HAVE EXPERTISE IN THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF

04:39CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. ELIZABETH MOELLER'S DESIRE TO

04:45CONTINUE HER SERVICE ON THE PANEL AS VICE CHAIRPERSON IS

04:49BECAUSE SHE REMAINS COMMITTED TO ITS MISSION AND WANTS TO BE OF

04:52ASSISTANCE AND EVALUATE THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE

04:56ORGANIZATION. SHE HAS NOTED SHE THINKS THE

04:59PANEL IS WORKING WELL TOGETHER. SHE HAS ALSO NOTED THE PANEL IS

05:03FACING SEVERAL CRITICAL ISSUES, INCLUDING WORKING GROUPS FOCUSED

05:06ON FAMILY TIME. THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT FAMILIES

05:14GET FOR VISITATION, AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE, AND SIGNIFICANT

05:19CONCERN WITH CHANGES IMPLEMENTED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION,

05:23NOTING POSSIBLE IMPACTS TO MEDICAID IN THE CHILD FAMILY

05:25SERVICES AGENCY. THIS RESOLUTION WAS INTRODUCED

05:29BY ME ON SEPTEMBER 21 OF THIS YEAR.

05:32IT IS A RESOLUTION AND REAPPOINTMENT, WE DID NOT HAVE A

05:34HEARING. THE LAST TIME WE HAD A HEARING,

05:38THERE WAS NO TESTIMONY OR COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION.

05:40I MOVE BOTH THE PRINT AND REPORT AND LEAVE FOR STAFF TO MAKE

05:45EDITORIAL AND CONFORMING CHANGES.

05:46IS THERE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

05:56THE VOTE IS ON THE PRINT AND REPORT FOR LEAVE WITH STAFF.

05:59ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE.

06:02CHAIR MENDELSON: ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.

06:12IT IS THE MEASURE LEGALLY AND TECHNICALLY SUFFICIENT?

06:13>> YES. CHAIR MENDELSON: IS THE RECORD

06:16COMPLETE? >> ONCE THE REPORT IS FILED.

06:20CHAIR MENDELSON: THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT,

06:24SO IN TERMS OF THE FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT, WE ARE COMPLYING?

06:28>> YES. CHAIR MENDELSON: THANK YOU.

06:32THIS MEASURE WILL BE PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR TODAY'S

06:35ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING. THE NEXT MEASURE FOR

06:38CONSIDERATION IS BILL 26-12, WHICH IS NOW ENTITLED ALMA W.

06:46THOMAS MIDDLE SCHOOL DESIGNATION ACT.

06:47THE BILL 26-12, AS REFLECTED IN THE COMMITTEE PRINT, WOULD

06:54OFFICIALLY DESIGNATE THE SCHOOL LOCATED IN WARD 1 NORTH WEST AS

07:03THOMAS MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A SPACE

07:07FOR DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND REFERRED TO AS

07:10EUCLID STREET SCHOOL. THIS IS AN OFFICIAL NAMING WHICH

07:14TYPICALLY INVOLVES NAMING OF POSTAL ADDRESSES.

07:16THE SCHOOL OCCUPIES THE FORMER BENJAMIN BANNEKER ACADEMIC HIGH

07:22SCHOOL SITE AND BEING MODERNIZED FOR THE 2028-2029 SCHOOL YEAR.

07:29CLEVELAND GARRISON AND SEATON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL'S WILL FEED

07:30INTO THE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL. ESTABLISHING ITS OFFICIAL

07:36NAME NOW WILL HELP FAMILIES IDENTIFY THE SCHOOL, SUPPORT

07:38ENROLLMENT OUTREACH AND ALLOW THE MODERNIZATION PROJECT TO

07:43INCORPORATE ITS NAME INTO SIGNAGE AND OTHER MATERIALS.

07:46FOLLOWING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WARD 1, WARD TWO EDUCATION

07:51COUNCIL, THE EUCLID STREET SCHOOL COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP,

07:55COMMISSIONERS, SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AND A COMMUNITY

07:57SURVEY, THE NAME ALMA W. THOMAS EMERGED WITH STRONG COMMUNITY

08:05RESIDENTS GIVEN HER DECADES OF TEACHING AT SHAW JUNIOR HIGH

08:11SCHOOL. WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY THIS NEW

08:17MIDDLE SCHOOL WILL SERVE. ALMA THOMAS DEVOTED 35 YEARS OF

08:21TEACHING ART AT SHAW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.AFTER

08:28, THOMAS DEVOTED MORE TIME TO PAINTING AND DEVELOPING HER

08:33DISTINCT ABSTRACT STYLE. ALMA THOMAS NATIONAL PROMINENCE

08:37CAME LATER IN LIFE IN 1972 AT AGE 80.

08:40SHE BECAME THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO HAVE A SOLO EXHIBITION AT THE

08:46WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART. HER ART REMAINS A MAJOR PART OF

08:51THE SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM'S HOLDINGS.

08:53ITS COLLECTION INCLUDES WORKS ACQUIRED DURING HER LIFETIME

08:57WITH PAINTING SHE BEQUEATHED TO THE MUSEUM.

09:01THE COLLECTION HAS ALSO COLLECTED AND EXHIBITED HER

09:03WORK. ALMA THOMAS CAREER GIVES

09:07STUDENTS AN EXAMPLE OF LOCAL SERVICE, ARTISTIC ACCOMPLISHMENT

09:12AND CONTINUED DISCOVERY ACROSS A LIFETIME.

09:15NAMING THIS SCHOOL FOR HER CONNECTS A TEACHER TO AN

09:18EDUCATOR WHO HELPED MAKE CLASSROOMS AND CULTURAL

09:21INSTITUTIONS PLACE IS A POSSIBILITY.

09:23THIS BILL WAS ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED BY A DIFFERENT NAME

09:27BY COUNCILMEMBER BRIANNE NADEAU IN 2025.

09:29THE COMMITTEE OF THE HOLE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 24,

09:322026. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THIS --

09:37THE BILL AS REFLECTED IN THE COMMITTEE PRINT HAS BROAD

09:41SUPPORT. I MOVE THE PRINT BUT LEAVE FOR

09:47STAFF TO MAKE TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING CHANGES.

09:49IS THERE DISCUSSION? >> CHAIRMAN?

09:52CHAIR MENDELSON: COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU.

09:55COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU: I HAVE BEEN WORKING TO BRING BACK THE

10:00CENTER MIDDLE SCHOOL SINCE BEFORE MY TIME ON THE COUNCIL

10:02NEARLY 15 YEARS NOW. I'M THRILLED IT WILL BE IN WARD

10:061, THAT IT IS FUNDED, PROTECTED AND IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE HERE

10:10TOGETHER TO ENVISION THE FUTURE OF THIS SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY.

10:13I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY PROPOSAL TO NAME THE SCHOOL AFTER A LONG

10:16TIME COMMUNITY LEADER. I HAVE A POLICY OF NAMING PUBLIC

10:20SPACES AFTER WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LOCAL LEADERS, NOT

10:24SLAVEHOLDERS, SEGREGATIONISTS OR UNION BUSTERS.

10:27THAT IS WHY I ORIGINALLY PROPOSED THE DOLORES TUCKER'S

10:31ACT TO HONOR HER SERVICE. HOWEVER, THE PROCESS FOR NAMING

10:37SCHOOLS PRESENTS CHALLENGES. DCPS IS ENCOURAGED TO CANCEL TO

10:40TAKE THE LEAD EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NOT A STRONG PROCESS FOR

10:42MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY DIALOGUE. WHAT WE DID -- WE DID WHAT WE

10:46COULD WITH THE SCHOOL THAT DOES NOT HAVE A COMMUNITY GET BECAUSE

10:49IT IS NOT YET OPEN. WE ENGAGED TOWARDS ONE AND TWO

10:52EDUCATION COUNCIL, THE EUCLID SCHOOL COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP,

10:56ANC'S AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND RESIDENTS.

11:00I ALSO PUT OUT A SURVEY TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE COMMUNITY.

11:02THE PROCESS, ALMA THOMAS EMERGED AS A NAME WITH DEEP RESIDENTS IN

11:07THE COMMUNITY. SHE WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY

11:10WASHINGTONIAN AND ACCOMPLISHED ARTIST AND EDUCATOR, AND SOME

11:13INTO HIS LIFE AND CONNECTION TO THE CITY CAN GIVE STUDENTS

11:15SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF. I'M GLAD WE WERE MOVING FORWARD

11:18WITH A NAME THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN EMBRACE AND THE STUDENTS ARE

11:20EXCITED ABOUT. I FULLY SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY'S

11:22DECISION. I ALSO BELIEVE THERE'S A

11:25MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR MRS. TUCKER IN A WAY THAT

11:28REFLECTS HER CONNECTION TO THIS PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD.

11:30MR.S TUCKER GREW UP ON EUCLID AND SHERMAN AND WAS EDUCATED IN

11:34D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HER LIFE, SERVICE AND COMMITMENT

11:38TO THE COMMUNITY ARE PART OF WARD 1'S HISTORY.

11:41SO, LAST MONTH, I INTRODUCED THE DOLORES TUCKER DESIGNATION ACT

11:47OF 2026 TO SYMBOLICALLY NAME THE STREET MS. TUCKER GREW UP AFTER

11:51HER AND HONOR HER DEEP ROOTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, HER LIFE ON

11:54PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE LASTING IMPACT SHE HAD ON WARD 1.

11:57IF THAT NAMING MOVES FORWARD, CHILDREN WALKING TO THE NEW ALMA

12:01THOMAS MIDDLE SCHOOL WILL TRAVEL ALONG DOLORES TUCKER WAY TO GET

12:04THERE. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING OUR

12:07SHARED VISION FOR THE SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY REALIZED.

12:09THANK YOU. CHAIR MENDELSON: THANK YOU.

12:13COUNCILMEMBER PINTO AND THAT ANDERSON.

12:15COUNCILMEMBER PINTO: THANK YOU. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE OPENING

12:21OF THIS NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG TIME COMING

12:23FOR THE COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, I DO WORRY THAT THIS

12:27NAMING PROCESS HAS BEEN A BIT RUSHED.

12:29I DEEPLY RESPECT ALMA THOMAS LEGACY AS A WASHINGTON ARTIST

12:34AND EDUCATOR. I WAS PROUD LAST YEAR TO WORK

12:39WITH COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO NAME A

12:41STREET IN HER HONOR. AND SHE MAY WELL BE THE RIGHT

12:45NAME OF THE SCHOOL, BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS PROCESS SHOULD

12:50BE PAUSED TO HAVE A PROPER COMMUNITY INPUT PROCESS.

12:54WE HAVE SEEN RENAMINGS DONE REALLY THOROUGHLY IN THE PAST

12:59WHERE THE SCHOOL SURVEYED THE COMMUNITY.

13:01WE'VE HAD STUDENTS VOTE ON NEW NAMES.

13:04AND WE'VE HAD NAMES REALLY BE CELEBRATED.

13:08I THINK THOSE PROCESSES WENT SMOOTHLY BECAUSE OF THAT

13:10COMMUNITY INPUT. SO IF THE COMMUNITY CHOOSES ALMA

13:16THOMAS, I WILL GLADLY SUPPORT IT.

13:18I THINK SHE'S A WONDERFUL TEACHER WHO IS WORTHY OF BEING

13:21HONORED BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE PROCESS RIGHT SO I WON'T BE

13:24SUPPORTING THIS NAMING TODAY AND I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A PAUSE.

13:28CHAIR MENDELSON: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON?

13:32COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON: I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION IN

13:35TERMS OF CLARIFICATION. NORMALLY, WE DO SCHOOL RENAMINGS

13:40, THE SCHOOL EXISTS AND THIS ONE DOES NOT YET.

13:44IS THERE A PARTICULAR REASON WHY WE NEEDED TO DO THE NAMING NOW?

13:50I'M JUST ASKING A QUESTION. CHAIR MENDELSON: LET ME ANSWER

13:55BECAUSE I AM MOVING THE BILL BUT THAT I WILL TURN TO YOU.

13:57YEAH, THE BUILDING ITSELF IS GOING THROUGH MODERNIZATION

14:03RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE WITH OTHER BUILDINGS

14:07WHERE AS WE ARE GOING THROUGH MODERNIZATION -- I THINK WE DID

14:09THIS WITH CHISHOLM WHICH IS NOT GOING THROUGH MODERNIZATION.

14:12WE CHANGED THE NAME SO THAT THE NEW NAME CAN BE INCORPORATED IN

14:16THE MODERNIZATION. >> AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO COME

14:19BACK INTO DO IT LATER. CHAIR MENDELSON: YES.

14:21IT WOULD BE A FISCAL IMPACT OTHER WORDS.

14:24-- OTHERWISE. COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU: YEAH, I'M

14:31A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THE CONCERNS HERE.

14:35I INTRODUCED A BILL A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

14:37DCPS AT REQUESTED THAT WE NAME THE SCHOOL -- WE ARE BEHIND.

14:43THEY ASKED US TO NAME THE SCHOOL THIS SPRING.

14:47BECAUSE THE COMMUNITIES THAT FEED INTO IT WANTS TO GO TO A

14:48SCHOOL WITH A NAME. RIGHT NOW, WE JUST CALL IT

14:52EUCLID STREET, OLD BANNEKER. IF I MAY, I DID HAVE A QUESTION

14:58FOR COUNCILMEMBER PINTO ABOUT WHAT ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY INPUT

15:02PROCESS YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE BECAUSE WE HAD A PRETTY

15:04EXTENSIVE ONE. ALL THE SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED IN

15:08THE FEEDER PATTERN. CHAIR MENDELSON: SO, LET ME SAY

15:14WITH REGARD TO PROCESS -- WE HAVE A COUPLE OF INTERESTING

15:21SCHOOL NAMING SCUM THROUGH THE COUNCIL AND ONE THAT COMES TO

15:22MIND IMMEDIATELY IS THE FORMER WOODROW WILSON HIGH SCHOOL WHICH

15:27WE RENAMED JACKSON READ. DCPS CAME FORWARD WITH CHANGING

15:33THE NAME OF WILSON HIGH SCHOOL TO WILSON HIGH SCHOOL AND WE

15:38DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS VERY APPROPRIATE BUT THEN WE

15:41SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TWO HEARINGS. AT OF THE FIRST HEARING CAME A

15:47PROPOSAL WITH A DIFFERENT NAME, JACKSON REED, AND WE HAD A

15:51HEARING ON THAT. IN THIS CASE -- I MENTIONED THIS

15:55IN MY REMARKS --THERE IS A LITTA CHALLENGE BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A

16:03SCHOOL ARE NOT PARENTS AT THE SCHOOL RIGHT NOW BUT

16:05THERE WAS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WARD 1 AND WARD TWO EDUCATION

16:07COUNCIL. THERE IS A EUCLID STREET SCHOOL

16:11COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP. THERE ARE THE ADVISORY

16:15NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION'S AND THERE WERE COMMISSIONERS WHO

16:16WERE INVOLVED. THERE WAS A COMMUNITY SURVEY.

16:21THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF COMMUNITY INPUT HERE WHICH IS

16:25WHY THE COMMITTEE OF THE HALL WAITED UNTIL THAT PROCESS WAS

16:29COMPLETED BEFORE WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING, HAVE THE PUBLIC

16:33HEARING ENGAGED WHETHER THERE WAS OPPOSITION TO THE NAME,

16:36WHICH THERE WAS NOT. THERE WAS A PROCESS BUT I CAN

16:41WITH THE CONCERN IS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SOME INTERESTING

16:45NAMING PROCESSES. COUNCILMEMBER PINTO.

16:47COUNCILMEMBER PINTO: I APPRECIATE THAT.

16:52I DON'T MEAN TO SUGGEST THERE WAS NO PROCESS BUT FOR INSTANCE,

16:56ONE OF THE LISTINGS -- LISTENING SESSIONS THAT WAS ORGANIZED BY

17:01COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU'S OFFICE, I DON'T THINK THE ALMA THOMAS WAS

17:04CONSIDERED AS ONE OF THE NAMES DURING THAT CONVERSATION.

17:08SO, A LOT OF PARENTS WHO MAY HAVE THOUGHTS ON IT WERE NOT

17:12REALLY ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT WAY.

17:16TO COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON'S POINT AND/OR QUESTION, THIS

17:19SCHOOL IS NOT GOING TO BE OPEN FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS.

17:21THERE'S NOT REALLY A RISK IN MY VIEW OF PAUSING AND MAKING SURE

17:27THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS A FULL OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.

17:31AND HOPEFULLY CELEBRATE AND BE REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT

17:34SOMETHING THEY HAVE WAITED A LONG TIME FOR.

17:35CHAIR MENDELSON: THIS IS WHY WE HAVE HEARINGS BECAUSE AT THE

17:41HEARING, DCPS SAID THEY WANTED THE NAME ADOPTED BY THE END OF

17:43THIS CALENDAR YEAR. BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS

17:47OF MODERNIZATION. NOT SURE WHAT ELSE TO SAY.

17:54BUT, COUNCILMEMBER PINTO, YOUR REMARKS WILL BE NOTED THAT 30 TO

18:01BE -- THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A BETTER PROCESS.

18:06THANK YOU. IF THERE IS NO FURTHER

18:10DISCUSSION, THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE PRINT.

18:14LEAVE FOR STAFF. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

18:18>> AYE. CHAIR MENDELSON: ANY OPPOSED?

18:21>> NO. CHAIR MENDELSON: COUNCILMEMBER

18:25PINTO WILL BE RECORDED AS VOTING NO.

18:27I MOVE REPORT AND LEAVE FOR STAFF TO MAKE TECHNICAL AND

18:32CONFORMING EDITORIAL CHANGES. IS THERE DISCUSSION?

18:35THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE REPORT WITH LEAVE FOR STAFF.

18:37ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE.

18:39CHAIR MENDELSON: ANY OPPOSED? >> NO.

18:42CHAIR MENDELSON: CANC COUNCILMEMBER PINTO WILL BE

18:48LABELED AS VOTING NO. MADAM SECRETARY, IS THE RECORD

18:52COMPLETE? >> ONCE ONCE THE REPORT IS

18:55FILED. CHAIR MENDELSON: MADAM BUDGET

18:58COUNCIL, IS THE MEASURE FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT DOES NOT

19:02REQUIRE? >> YES.

19:03CHAIR MENDELSON: IS THERE A FISCAL IMPACT?

19:05>> NO. CHAIR MENDELSON: WITHOUT

19:10OBJECTION, THIS MEASURE WILL BE ON CONSENT, NONCONSENT.

19:15>> NONCONSENT. CHAIR MENDELSON: THE MEASURE

19:19WILL BE ON NONCONSENT AGENDAS FOR TODAY'S ADDITIONAL

19:22LEGISLATIVE MEETING. THE NEXT MEASURE FOR

19:32CONSIDERATION AND MARKUP IS BILL 26-624, ENTITLED ELIZABETH M.

19:41GOODMAN HEALTH SCHOOL REDESIGNATION ACT OF 2026.

19:43BILL 26-624 WOULD OFFICIALLY REDESIGNATE THE NAME OF THE

19:51SCHOOL LOCATED AT 4300 13TH STREET NORTHWEST AS ELIZABETH M.

19:57GOODMAN HEALTH SCHOOL. THE BUILDING IS LOCATED IN WARD

20:004 AND CURRENTLY KNOWN AS THE C. MELVIN SHARP HEALTH SCHOOL.

20:05IT SERVES AS A SWING SPACE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS DURING

20:09MODERNIZATION PROJECTS. THE OFFICIAL NAMING ESTABLISHES

20:13THE LEGAL DESIGNATION USED IN DISTRICT RECORDS AND OTHER

20:17OFFICIAL MATERIALS. THE NEW NAME FOR THE BUILDING

20:21WAS A RESULT OF THE COMMUNITY DRIVEN EFFORT INVOLVING

20:25RESIDENTS, FAMILIES, FORMER STUDENTS AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP.

20:28THE COMMISSION 4C IN WARD 4 EDUCATION ALLIANCE, MS.

20:33GOODMAN'S DAUGHTER AND OTHERS SUPPORTED NAMING THE BUILDING

20:36AFTER MS. GOODMAN FOR HER WORK TO EXPAND ACCESS TO EDUCATION.

20:41MS. GOODMAN'S WORK OFFERS A NAMESAKE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO

20:43THE BUILDING AND TO ITS HISTORY OF SERVICE TO STUDENTS WITH

20:47SPECIALIZED NEEDS. ELIZABETH GOODMAN PASSED AWAY IN

20:511983 AND WAS A LONG TIME DISTRICT RESIDENT AND EDUCATOR

20:55WHO CREATED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN

20:57UNABLE TO ATTEND CONVENTIONAL CLASSROOMS.

20:59AFTER MOVING TO WASHINGTON IN THE 1930'S, SHE RECOGNIZED THAT

21:03HOMEBOUND AND HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN WERE GOING WITHOUT

21:06INSTRUCTION. HER ADVOCACY HELPED ESTABLISH

21:09THE VISITING INSTRUCTION CORE IN 1939 AND SHE BECAME ITS

21:14SUPERVISOR. THE PROGRAM BROUGHT TEACHERS TO

21:17STUDENTS WHOSE ILLNESSES OR DISABILITIES PREVENTED REGULAR

21:19ATTENDANCE. TREATING ACCESS TO EDUCATION AS

21:24A RESPONSIBILITY, THE CONTINUED BEYOND THE SCHOOL BUILDING, MS.

21:27GOODMAN CONTINUED ADVOCATING FOR AND SERVING THE STUDENTS FOR

21:29DECADES. FOR INITIATIVES INCLUDED

21:33INSTRUCTION FOR LONG STAYED PATIENTS AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

21:35THESE EFFORTS ADDRESSED PRACTICAL BARRIERS TO LEARNING

21:39ABOUT BRINGING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO THE PLACES WHERE

21:41CHILDREN RECEIVE CARE. IN 1952, MS. GOODMAN BECAME

21:45PRINCIPAL OF THE HEALTH SCHOOL. SHE FOUND IT'S FOR CLASS

21:52REBUILDING INADEQUATE AND WORKED WITH PARENT EDUCATORS AND OTHER

21:55ADVOCATES TO OBTAIN THE LARGER FACILITY.

21:57THE CURRENT BUILDING OPEN AND ED AND PROVIDED SPECIAL

22:02SERVICES. MS. GOODMAN ALSO DEVELOPED

22:06PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS EXCLUDED FROM REGULAR SCHOOLS FOR OTHER

22:08REASONS. THESE INCLUDED A CLASS FOR BOYS

22:12WITH EMOTIONAL BEHAVIORAL NEEDS, WHO HAD BEEN SUSPENDED, AND A

22:15PROGRAM AT THE WEBSTER SCHOOL FOR PREGNANT STUDENTS WHO

22:21OTHERWISE COULD NOT CONTINUE ATTENDING THEIR SCHOOL.

22:23SHE LATER WORKED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL OVERSEEING GRANTS TO STATE

22:27AND LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS, EXTENDING HER COMMITMENT TO

22:30EDUCATIONAL ACCESS BEYOND THE DISTRICT.

22:31HER WORK JOINED THE IDENTIFICATION OF AN UNMET NEED

22:35WITH A CREATION OF A PROGRAM TO ADDRESS IT.

22:40THIS LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED BY -- I HEAR A NOISE TO MY

22:48LEFT. THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED BY

22:55COUNCILMEMBER JANEESE LEWIS GEORGE AND CO. INTRODUCED BY

22:58COUNCIL MEMBERS FRUMIN, ROBERT WHITE AND HENDERSON OF MARCH 3

23:03OF THIS YEAR. THE COMMITTEE OF A HOLE HELD A

23:06PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2026.

23:10AS I RECALL, THERE WERE NO TESTIMONIES OR COMMENTS OR

23:14TESTAMENT -- OPPOSITION TO THE NAME.

23:16A MOVE FOR PRINT BUT LEAVE FOR STAFF TO LEAVE TECHNICAL AND

23:19CONFORMING CHANGES. IS THERE DISCUSSION?

23:22COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GEORGE: THANK YOU FOR MOVING THE

23:25ELIZABETH M. GOODMAN HEALTH SCHOOL REDESIGNATION ACT FOR

23:30TODAY. I INTRODUCED THIS BILL BECAUSE

23:34THE NAMES OF OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO EVERY

23:37CHILD'S RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION. ELIZABETH GOODMAN SPENT HER

23:40CAREER MAKING THAT COMMITMENT REAL FOR D.C. CHILDREN WHO HAD

23:43HISTORICALLY BEEN LEFT OUT. THROUGHOUT HER CAREER AS AN

23:47EDUCATOR, ELIZABETH GOODMAN WORKS TO ENSURE STUDENT TO FACE

23:50BARRIERS TO ATTENDING SCHOOL COULD STILL RECEIVE AN

23:51EDUCATION. SHE HELPED ESTABLISH A PROGRAM

23:54THAT BROUGHT TEACHERS TO HOSPITALIZED AND HOMEBOUND

23:58CHILDREN WHO OTHERWISE WENT WITHOUT INSTRUCTION.

24:01SHE LATER BECAME PRINCIPAL OF THE SHARP SCHOOL FOR WHICH WE

24:03ARE RENAMING IN HER HONOR WHERE SHE WORKED WITH FAMILIES AND

24:07EDUCATORS TO SECURE A LARGER BUILDING THAT CAN SERVE STUDENTS

24:10WITH DISABILITIES AND MEDICAL NEEDS.

24:13WHICH OPENED IN 1958. SHE ALSO DEVELOPED A PROGRAM

24:18THAT ALLOWED PREGNANT STUDENTS WHO HAD BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE

24:20REGULAR SCHOOLS TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION.

24:22MS. GOODMAN UNDERSTOOD OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EDUCATE A

24:27CHILD IS NOT -- DOES NOT DISAPPEAR WHEN THAT CHILD NEEDS

24:29A DIFFERENT KIND OF SUPPORT. THE BUILDING STILL BEARS THE

24:31NAME OF C. MELVIN SHARP WHO OPPOSED INTEGRATING OUR PUBLIC

24:37SCHOOLS THROUGH THE FAMOUS CASE MANY OF YOU MAY REMEMBER,

24:39BOWLING V. SHARP. THE BILL FOLLOWS THROUGH ON THE

24:48DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA'S FACILITIES AND THE WORKING GROUP

24:50RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHANGE THE NAME, AND HONORS THE EDUCATORS

24:52WHO HELPED -- WHOSE WORK HELPED BRING THE BUILDING INTO

24:56EXISTENCE. THIS EFFORT HAS TAKEN YEARS OF

25:00COMMUNITY ADVOCACY. I WANT TO THANK DR. FRASER

25:04O'LEARY, COMMISSIONER EMILY WINTERNITS.

25:10AND ALL OF THE ANC-4C COMMISSIONERS WHO MADE COMMUNITY

25:16ADVOCACY POSSIBLE HERE. ALONG WITH KATHY RILEY AND THE

25:20WARD 4 EDUCATION ALLIANCE. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MS.

25:22GOODMAN'S DAUGHTER, JOAN GOODMAN CHURCHILL.

25:26THE JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL, WASHINGTON HEBREW

25:29CONGREGATION. AND THE FAMILIES, FORMER STAFF

25:32AND NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE WORKED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

25:35THEIR PERSISTENCE WILL GIVE FUTURE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY

25:37TO LEAVE MIST -- LEARN MS. GOODMAN STORY AND UNDERSTAND

25:39THAT THEY TOO BELONG IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

25:43I ASKED MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING THIS BILL TODAY.

25:46THANK YOU. CHAIR MENDELSON: THANK YOU.

25:50IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE HAVE THE PRINT BEFORE US AND

25:56LEAVE FOR STAFF TO MAKE TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING

25:58CHANGES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

26:00>> AYE. CHAIR MENDELSON: THEN HE

26:02OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.

26:06I MOVE THE REPORT BUT LEAVE FOR STAFF TO MAKE TECHNICAL AND

26:10EDITORIAL CHANGES. IS THERE DISCUSSION?

26:13ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE REPORT, SAY AYE.

26:19ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE.

26:24AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. >> YES, IT IS.

26:27CHAIR MENDELSON: IS A RECORD COMPLETE?

26:29>> ONCE THE REPORT IS FILED. CHAIR MENDELSON: DOESN'T BUDGETS

26:36FISCAL IMPACT COMPLY WITH DCCOUNCIL REQUIREMENTS?

26:38>> YES. $100,000 BUT DCPS CAN ABSORB THE

26:43COST. CHAIR MENDELSON: THANK YOU.

26:47WITHOUT OBJECTION, THIS MEASURE WILL BE PLACED ON THE CONSENT

26:50AGENDA FOR TODAY'S ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING.

26:52THE NEXT MEASURE FOR MARKUP IS BUILT 26-698, NOT ON NEXT MIDDLE

26:58SCHOOL DESIGNATION ACTIVE 2026. THIS LEGISLATION WOULD

27:03OFFICIALLY DESIGNATE THIS SCHOOL BOUNDED BY MISSISSIPPI AVENUE,

27:0515TH STREET SOUTHEAST IN WARD EIGHT AS MALCOLM X ELEMENTARY

27:10SCHOOL. DCPS OPERATES THE CAMPUS AT 1500

27:16MISSISSIPPI AVE SOUTHEAST WHICH IS DESIGNATED MILDRED GREEN

27:19ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY HAS LONG

27:23USED THE NAME MALCOLM X ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT GREEN.

27:25A OFFICIAL NAMING ESTABLISHES THE LEGAL DESIGNATION USED IN

27:31DISTRICT RECORDS AND OTHER OFFICIAL MATERIALS.

27:34THE PROPOSED NAME IS SIMPLY MALCOLM X ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

27:42IN TESTIMONY A PUBLIC HEARING, THE PRINCIPAL EMPHASIZED A

27:48SINGLE NAME WOULD ELIMINATE CONFUSION AND STRENGTHEN THE

27:50CONNECTION BETWEEN STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

27:56THE SCHOOL FAMILIES COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND WARD 8 SCHOOL

27:58BOARD OF EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVE DR. LOVEJOY

28:01JOHNSON SUPPORTS THE DESIGNATION.

28:04THERE ARE SUBMISSIONS TO THE COMMITTEE AT OUR HEARING LINKED

28:09TO MALCOLM X'S NAME TO EDUCATION, SELF-DETERMINATION,

28:13CULTURAL IDENTITY, AND COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY.

28:16THE MODERNIZATION PROVIDES AN APPROPRIATE POINT TO ESTABLISH A

28:20CLEAR AND OFFICIAL IDENTITY FOR THE SCHOOL'S NEXT CHAPTER.

28:27THIS LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER TRAYON WHITE ON

28:29MAY 28 OF THIS YEAR. THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HELD

28:34A PUBLIC. HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 24

28:36THERE WAS NO TESTIMONY OR COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO THE

28:38LEGISLATION. I MOVE THE PRINT AND LEAVE FOR

28:43STAFF TO MAKE TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING CHANGES.

28:44IS THERE DISCUSSION? >> YES.

28:46CHAIR MENDELSON: COUNCILMEMBER WHITE.

28:49COUNCILMEMBER WHITE: I WANT TO THANK YOU.

28:54I INTRODUCED THE MALCOLM X ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REDESIGNATION

28:58ACT AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMMUNITY.

29:00THERE HAS BEEN SOME UNNECESSARY CONFUSION FOR THE SCHOOLS,

29:05FAMILIES, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS BECAUSE THE BUILDING

29:07BORE A DIFFERENT NAME. THIS SCHOOL WAS OFFICIALLY

29:11ADMINISTRATIVELY KNOWN AS MALCOLM X ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT

29:14GREEN. THE COMMUNITY REQUEST THE

29:17LEGISLATION SO THE SCHOOL'S NAME WILL BE CLEARLY AND ACCURATELY

29:20REFLECTED WITHOUT INCLUDING THE MILDRED GREEN BUILDING.

29:26THIS WOULD ASSURE THAT THE SCHOOL IS FORMALLY AND CONCISELY

29:31RECOGNIZED AS MALCOLM X ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITHOUT THE

29:32"AT GREEN" DESIGNATION. THE SCHOOL NAME WILL LAND ON ITS

29:38OWN HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MALCOLM X.

29:43TO BECOME A RATE THE VALUES AND IDENTITY, EMPOWERMENT AND SOCIAL

29:48JUSTICE FOR A EDUCATION AND TO KEEP HIS MEMORY ALIVE.

29:51LAST MONTH, I WAS THRILLED TO CELEBRATE A RIBBON-CUTTING OF

29:57THIS NEWLY MODERNIZED $67 MILLION SCHOOL AT MALCOLM X,

30:00ALONG WITH MAYOR BOWSER AND OTHER D.C. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

30:05AND THE ELDEST DAUGHTER OF MALCOLM X, AND MEMBERS OF THE

30:08COMMUNITY. I DO WANT TO NOTE WE WERE ALSO

30:14WORKING ON INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO HONOR THE LIFE

30:15AND LEGACY OF MS. MILDRED GREEN, AND I WILL TOUCH ON THAT

30:18BRIEFLY. SHE WAS A WASHINGTONIAN WHO

30:21ATTENDED D.C. TEACHERS COLLEGE, NOW KNOWN AS THE UNIVERSITY OF

30:26THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.

30:30GREEN SERVED AS A TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL AT NUMEROUS D.C.

30:33PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PASSED IN 1956.

30:35SHE WAS CONSIDERED A MASTER TEACHER AND A PERSON OF

30:39CHARACTER. THE SCHOOL WAS CLOSED IN 2008

30:43AND REOPENED IN THE NAME OF MALCOLM X.

30:45WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURE THAT WAS

30:51BUILT BY J.F. COLEMAN. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES

30:57FOR SUPPORTING THIS BILL. CHAIR MENDELSON: THANK YOU.

31:00FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON: THANK

31:04YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCILMEMBER

31:07TRAYON WHITE.BROUGHT UP MS. GREEN

31:09THAT WAS ONE OF MY CONCERNS. I UNDERSTAND WHY THE COMMUNITY

31:13IS TRYING TO SIMPLIFY BUT WE NORMALLY ONLY TAKE PEOPLE'S

31:17NAMES OFF BUILDINGS WHEN THEY ARE PROBLEMATIC IN NATURE.

31:21AT LEAST FROM WHAT I CAN SEE, THERE IS NOTHING PROBLEMATIC

31:25ABOUT MILDRED GREEN'S LEGACY IN THE DISTRICT, BEING A DISTRICT

31:27EDUCATOR. BUT ALSO HELPING THE DISTRICT

31:30THROUGH THE PERIOD OF DESEGREGATION.

31:35SO, IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH DCPS, DO THEY HAVE PLANS ON HOW

31:42TO ENSURE THAT THE LEGACY OF MS. GREEN IS NOT LOST IN THIS

31:45PROCESS? ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE SO FEW

31:49BUILDINGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY NAMED AFTER WOMEN IN THIS TOWN.

31:52CHAIR MENDELSON: FAIR POINT, THAT LAST POINT.

31:56THE COMMITTEE'S THINKING, IF I CAN SPEAK FOR ALL OF US SO MAYBE

32:02I SHOULD JUST SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY'S

32:07TESTIMONY WAS THAT THE BUILDING IS REFERRED TO AS MALCOLM X.

32:09IT JUST IS. I BELIEVE THAT THE BUILDING IS

32:13OCCUPIED BY, AS A RESULT OF MOVING FROM THE FORMER MALCOLM X

32:19SCHOOL WHICH IS ON ALABAMA AVENUE.

32:22SO, THE LEGISLATION IS MOVING FORWARD REFLECTING WHAT THE

32:26COMMUNITY IS CALLING IT. THE COMMITTEE REPORT DOESN'T

32:29SPEAK TO THE LEGACY -- DOES SPEAK TO THE LEGACY OR THE

32:34ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MS. GREEN. IT WAS ALSO MADE CLEAR AT THE

32:37HEARING THAT HER RECORDS ARE BEING PRESERVED AT THE SUMMER

32:41SCHOOL ARCHIVES. I THINK IT WOULD BE IN ORDER FOR

32:47US TO BE LOOKING FOR SOME LEGISLATION, THEY WOULD FIND

32:53ANOTHER WAY TO HONOR MS. GREEN. IT IS SIMPLY NOT WHAT THE

32:57COMMUNITY IS THINKING FOR YEARS. COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON:

33:02UNDERSTOOD. THEY USED TO BE TWO DIFFERENT

33:06SCHOOLS THAT GOT CONSOLIDATED. MY POINT STILL STANDS IN TERMS

33:09OF ACROSS THIS ENTIRE NATION'S CAPITAL, WE HAVE VERY FEW

33:12BUILDINGS THAT ARE NAMED AFTER WOMEN.

33:14I DON'T WANT US TO LOSE -- CHAIR MENDELSON: I THINK YOU ARE

33:20RIGHT ON THAT. I HAVE NOT DONE THE INVENTORY

33:24RECENTLY BUT I WILL NOTE OF THE THREE SCHOOL NAMINGS --

33:27COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON: I KNOW, WE ARE CATCHING UP.

33:30CHAIR MENDELSON: THERE IS ALL THE THOMAS, WHICH IS A BETTER

33:35NAME THAN EUCLID STREET. IT IS ACTUALLY THE NAME OF A

33:37PERSON. COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON: I AM

33:40NOT OPPOSING THIS. I AM JUST SAYING I THINK WE

33:43SHOULD BE PUSHING DCPS AS WELL TO HONOR HER.

33:46THANK YOU. CHAIR MENDELSON: COUNCILMEMBER

33:51WHITE. COUNCILMEMBER WHITE: BY STAFF

33:56AND I ARE BRAINSTORMING ON WHAT TO DO TO KEEP HER NAME AND

33:58LEGACY ALIVE. WE WOULD LIKE -- IF YOU WOULD

34:01LIKE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO TO KEEP

34:07HER NAME ALIVE IN D.C., BECAUSE SHE'S A PIVOTAL PART OF D.C. AND

34:11HAS A BODY OF WORK THAT SHOULD REFERENCE HER AND REFERENCE HER.

34:15>> WOULD LOVE TO WORK TOGETHER. CHAIR MENDELSON: IF THERE NO

34:18FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE PRINT AND LEAVE

34:21FOR STAFF. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

34:23>> AYE. CHAIR MENDELSON: AYES HAVE IT

34:26UNANIMOUSLY. I MOVE THE REPORT BELIEVED FOR

34:30STAFF TO LEAVE TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING CHANGES.

34:31IS THERE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

34:38ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.

34:44MADAM GENERAL COUNSEL, IS THE MEASURE LEGALLY SUFFICIENT FOR

34:47CONSIDERATION? AS THE RECORD COMPLETE?

34:49>> ONCE THE REPORT IS FILED. CHAIR MENDELSON: DOES THE FISCAL

34:54IMPACT STATEMENT COMPLY? >> YES.

34:58THERE IS NO FISCAL IMPACT BECAUSE THE SCHOOL ALREADY

35:00REFLECTS THAT NAME. CHAIR MENDELSON: WITHOUT

35:03OBJECTION, THIS MEASURE WILL BE PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR

35:06TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE MEETING. THE NEXT MEASURE, BILL 26-100, I

35:12AM NOT MOVING TODAY. THIS IS THE DEFERRED RETIREMENT

35:16OPTION PROGRAM AMENDMENT ACT OF 2026.

35:17I THOUGHT WE WERE ON THE VERGE OF GETTING FISCAL IMPACT

35:20STATEMENT. WHAT I LEARNED MAYBE YESTERDAY

35:25WAS THAT THE OFFICE OF REVENUE ANALYSIS IS STILL WORKING WITH

35:30AN ACTUARY. WE THINK THE FISCAL IMPACT WILL

35:34BE MINIMAL, BUT WE DO WANT TO HAVE

35:40IF ANYBODY WANTS TO LOOK AT THE PRINT, REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE.

35:49ACTUALLY, I'M TOLD THE PRINT IS ONLINE.

35:53IT WAS POSTED FRIDAY TOGETHER WITH THE DRAFT AGENDA.

35:58IF ANYBODY SAYS ON NOVEMBER 10, THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME TO LOOK

36:02AT THIS, THEY HAD SINCE LAST FRIDAY TO LOOK AT THIS.

36:06I COULD SAY MORE, BUT I WILL NOT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON THE

36:10AGENDA. NEXT IS BILL 26.

36:14DID I SAY ON THE LAST BILL IT WILL BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA

36:18FOR THE LEGISLATIVE MEETING? THE NEXT BILL FOR CONSIDERATION

36:23IS BILL 26 -- 254. THE CONTRACTOR'S RIGHT TO STOP

36:32WORK FOR NONPAYMENT. >> TO PROHIBIT CLAUSES AND

36:42CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS THAT PRECLUDE CONTRACTORS OR

36:44SUBCONTRACTORS FROM STOPPING WORK IF THEY HAVE BEEN PAID FOR

36:55COMPLETED WORK WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME FRAMES PRESCRIBED BY

36:56LAW. -- IMISSPOKE.

37:06THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PAID. I WILL REREAD THAT.

37:10THIS BILL AMENDS THE ACT FROM 2013 TWO PROHIBITED CLOSETS AND

37:17CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS THAT PRECLUDE CONTRACTORS OR

37:20SUBCONTRACTORS FROM STOPPING WORK IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PAID

37:23FOR COMPLETING WORK WITHIN THE TIME FRAMES PRESCRIBED BY LAW.

37:27THIS BILL WOULD ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE AND A TIMELINE FOR

37:31CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF NONPAYMENT

37:34AND INTENT TO STOP WORK. IT WOULD ESTABLISH NOTIFICATION

37:38REQUIREMENTS AND TIMELINES FOR OWNERS, CONTRACTORS, AND

37:42SUBCONTRACTORS TO WITHHOLD PAYMENT FOR DEFICIENCY ITEMS AND

37:47REQUIRE OWNERS, CONTRACTORS, AND SUBCONTRACTORS TO NOTIFY OTHER

37:51CONTRACTORS OR SUBCONTRACTORS OF ERRORS ARE DOING VOICE.

37:56DUTCH ERRORS IN AN INVOICE. UNFORTUNATELY, MANY CONTRACTORS

38:03AND SUBCONTRACTORS ARE NOT PAID PROMPTLY IN SPITE OF THE 2013

38:08MORE. SOME OF THIS IS DUE TO THE LACK

38:11OF AN ORGANIZED PROCESS FOR PAPER THAT SAID THE LARGEST

38:16AUTHORIZED CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS TO TAKE A SIMPLE

38:18ACTION THAT COULD INCENTIVIZE OWNERS OR CONTRACTORS TO MAKE

38:22PROMPT PAYMENTS, DEBTORS IS, STOPPING WORK.

38:25UNDER CURRENT LAW, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED IN A

38:30CONTRACT, CONTRACTORS OR SUBCONTRACTORS COULD BE

38:32PENALIZED FOR STOPPING WORK FOR NONPAYMENT.

38:35HAVING TO WORK FOR 70, 80 COUPLE OR 100 DAYS IS UNTENABLE FOR

38:41CONTRACTORS AND ESPECIALLY SUBCONTRACTORS.

38:51THIS BILL PROVIDES CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS WITH A

38:54POWERFUL TOOL TO INCENTIVIZE OR FORCE A MORE TIMELY PAYMENTS.

38:59THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED BY FORMER COUNCILMEMBER TED YOU

39:03MCDUFFIE ON MAY 19 2025 PER OF THE WHOLE HELD --

39:07. THE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND

39:12ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BILL

39:16DECEMBER 3, 2025. IS THERE A DISCUSSION?

39:29COUNCILMEMBER FELDER: I AM EXCITED TO SUPPORT A BILL.

39:36I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK TO MOVE THE LEGISLATION FORWARD.

39:41FOROVERTIME COULD BE THE DIFFERE BETWEEN KEEPING THEIR DOORS

39:45OPENED AND STRUGGLING TO STAY AFLOAT.

39:49CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS OFTEN HAVE TO PAY WORKERS,

39:52PURCHASE MATERIALS, AND COVER OTHER EXPENSES UPFRONT, EVEN

39:56WHEN THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PAID FOR THE WORK THEY COMPLETED.

40:00WITH THE PAYMENTS ARE DELAYED, IT WILL PUT A REAL STRAIN ON

40:03THEIR CASH FLOW AND DRINK IT HARDER TO TAKE ON NEW PROGRESS

40:08-- PROJECTS OR KROGER THEIR BUSINESSES.

40:11THIS BILL -- GROW THEIR BUSINESSES.

40:20WHEN PAYMENTS ARE UNREASONABLY DELAYED, IT PROTECTS BUSINESSES

40:27FROM UNREASONABLY PUTTING MONEY INTO A PROJECT WHILE

40:30ESTABLISHING NOTICE OF REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDRESSING THE

40:34FISHER'S WORK. I BELIEVE WE HAVE A

40:38RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE LOCAL

40:43BUSINESSES CAN COMPETE, GROW, AND SUCCEED.

40:45THAT STARTS WITH MAKING SURE THEY HAVE A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO

40:48GET PAID FOR THE WORK THEY DO. I WILL PHOTO IT IN FAVOR OF THE

40:52BILL. I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO

40:53THE THING. -- DO THE SAME WITH.

40:59-- SAME. >> A PAPER TO REQUIRE A BIT

41:09TRIGGERED WHERE'D THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR GETS PAID.

41:13CAN IS SUBCONTRACTORS STILL STOP WORK IF THE OWNER HAS NOT PAID

41:19THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR? >> I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER IS

41:32YES. MY NOTE SAYS IT'S A GENERAL

41:38CONTRACTOR HAS NOT DICTATED BY THE OLDER, CHANCES ARE, THE

41:42CONTRACTOR HAS PUT -- NOT BEEN ABLE TO PAY THE SUBCONTRACTOR.

41:48THE COOK -- SUBCONTRACTOR COULD STOP WORK UNTIL THEY RECEIVED

41:51PAVEMENT PROVIDED THEY FOLLOW THE NOTICE PROVISIONS IN THE

41:54BILL. >> OK.

41:57HOW DO WE SEE THE BILL FOR ENCOURAGING TARPLEY PAPER TO --

42:06HOW DO WE SEE THE BILL ENCOURAGING TIMELY PAYMENT TO

42:14PROTECT SUBCONTRACTORS WHILE KEEPING PROJECTS MOVING?

42:18>> THERE IS AN ASSUMPTION. THAT WOULD SOMEBODY CURB OUR

42:23WILL SAVE HER WITH THE OWNER, WHO HAS CONTRACTED FOR WORK TO

42:26BE DOUBTED, THEY WALK THE WORK TO BE DONE.

42:28IF THEY DON'T -- FOR WORK TO BE DONE, THEY WANT FOR THE WORK TO

42:35BE DONE. IF THEY DON'T PAY THE CONTRACTOR

42:37COME TO THE SUBCONTRACTOR WILL GET PAID.

42:41THEY COULD STOP WORK. PRESUMABLY, THE OLDER THAT

42:46CONTRACTED THE WORK WILL BE UPSET BECAUSE THEY ORDER GETTING

42:49THEIR WORK TOWARD. THEY WILL MAKE THE PAY BIT.

42:51THE NOTICE REQUIREMENT IS IMPORTANT.

42:56IT'S NOT LIKE ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SUBJECT CONTRACTOR COULD

43:03STOP WORK. THE TOOL IS TO USE STOP WORK --

43:07THE IDEA IS TO USE STOP WORK AS A TOOL FOR PAYMENT PURSUANT TO

43:13CONTRACT. >> GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT

43:20NOTICE REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE. >> THREE STEPS.

43:39PAY BIT IS TO BE BURIED WITHIN 30 DAYS.

43:43IF THE PAPER IS NOT MADE IN 30 DAYS, THE SUBCONTRACTOR HAS TO

43:46GIVE NOTICE, WRITTEN NOTICE, THAT THEY WILL STOP WORK ARE

43:51DATED DAYS. IF THE TOOTH DAY CURB THOUGH

43:53THEY STILL HAVE NOT BEEN PAID. DID THEY HAVE TO GIVE NOTICE

43:59THEY HAVE STOPPED WORK. I FEEL LIKE PUTTING THIS IN THE

44:06FIRST PERSON. I WANT WORK DONE.

44:09I AM NOT PAID. OUR WILL, AFTER 30 DAYS, GET A

44:14NOTICE FROM THE SUBCONTRACTOR SAYING YOU HAVE NOT PAID TO BE.

44:17I WILL STOP WORK. I WILL STOP WORK ORDER TWO DAYS.

44:27TWO DAYS. GIVEN AN ADDITIONAL TWO DAYS TO

44:35PAY. -- TWO DAYS TO PAY.

44:40>> I HAVE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE PAYMENT.

44:49WHEN YOU ALL HAD A HEARING FOR THIS, DID IT EXECUTIVE MAKE THE

44:59ASSUMPTION -- WHAT WAS THE EXECUTIVE TESTIMONY?

45:12>> MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THE EXECUTIVE DID NOT CARPET.

45:21THE FORMER HEARING WAS HELD BY -- THE HEARING WAS HELD BY

45:26FORMER COUNCILMEMBER RICK DUFFY. -- AND I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING

45:35UNDER THE CONTEXT OF THE SUBCONTRACTOR BUT I BELIEVE THIS

45:40SUPPLIES AS WELL TO THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR.

45:43THE GOAL HERE IS PROMPT PAYMENT. >> I AM MAKING SURE IT IS BASED

45:50ON THE RIGHT ASSUMPTIONS. THE BEST PEOPLE TO LET US KNOW

45:54THAT WOULD VIEW THE DOING THAT WORK.

45:56BUT I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. THANK YOU.

46:00>> I WILL NOTE THAT IF THE CONTRACTOR OR SUBCONTRACTOR IS

46:03NOT GETTING PAID, SOMEBODY IS NOT PAYING THEIR WORKERS OR THEY

46:09ARE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY TO PAY THEIR WORKERS.

46:12THIS IS TO SAY, SORRY, YOU CANNOT REQUIRE I CONTINUE

46:17WORKING WHILE YOU ARE NOT PAYING ME.

46:24COUNCILMEMBER BONDS: I THINK THIS IS DEEPER THAN

46:37SUBCONTRACTORS BEING PAID AND HAVE A GOOD PROCESS WHERE THEY

46:41CAN NOTIFY THE CONTRACTOR. THE CONTRACTOR WANTS TO BE SURE

46:51THEY RECEIVE REMITTANCES AS WELL.

46:58IT SEEMS LIKE THE ATTENTION OF THE LEGISLATION IS TO MAKE SURE

47:03SUBCONTRACTORS ARE APPARENT. -- R PAID.

47:09EARLY SUBSTANCES, -- IN SOME INTERESTED SINCE COULD BE THAT

47:19THE CONTRACTOR IS NOT PLEASED WITH THE WORK OF THE

47:23SUBCONTRACTOR. I GUESS IT IS A PROCESS.

47:28IT IS A WAY FOR THE OWNER AND THE COMMUNITY THAT IS ENGAGED IN

47:33WHATEVER THE WORK MIGHT BE TO UNDERSTAND THE WORK WILL NOT GO

47:43FORWARD FROM THE CONTRACTOR OR TWO THEY ARE PAID.

47:53>> WE LOOKED AT THE ISSUE OF SHODDY WORK.

47:55IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT TYPICALLY CONTRACTS HAVE

48:06PERMISSION FOR UPHOLDING PERVERT.

48:07THE BILL SPEAKS TO THAT AS WELL. -- UPHOLDING PAYMENT.

48:14THE BILL SPEAKS TO THAT AS WELL. >> MY CONCERN IS NOT THAT THIS

48:19IS NOT AN AVENUE FOR THE SUBCONTRACTOR BEING PAID.

48:32MY QUESTIONS ARE MORE, IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SUBCONTRACTOR,

48:36IT DOES STAND TO REASON THE CONTRACTOR WOULD HAVE THE SAME

48:42PRIVILEGES. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS

48:46UNDERSTOOD. >> IT IS MY FAULT THAT I WAS

48:49SPEAKING ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ABOUT THE SUBCONTRACTOR.

48:52AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, LOOKING AT THE FIRST PAGE OF THE

48:55COMMUNITY REPORT, IT PROHIBITS CLAUSES AND CONSTRUCTION

49:01CONTRACTS THAT PRECLUDE CONTRACTORS OR SUBCONTRACTORS

49:06FROM STOPPING WORK IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PAID.

49:09IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS, STAFF

49:17MAKE TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING CHANGES.

49:19ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE PRINT, SAY AYE.

49:25I MOVED THE REPORT. IS THERE DISCUSSION?

49:33THE VOTE WILL BE ON REPORT. HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT

49:43UNANIMOUSLY. IS THE MEASURE LEGALLY AND

49:50TECHNICALLY CONSIDERATE FOR OUR CONSIDERATION?

49:51>> YES. >> IS THE RECORD COMPLETE?

49:55>> ONCE THE BUDGET IS FILED. >> IS THEIR FISCAL IMPACT?

49:59>> THERE IS NOT. >> THE MEASURE WILL BE PLACED ON

50:03THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE MEETING.

50:05THE NEXT MEASURE FOR MARKUP IS BILLED 26-THREE 60 ENTITLED THE

50:20SENIOR TAX AGGREGATION AMENDMENT ACT OF 2026.

50:25THIS WOULD AMEND THE D.C. CODE TO ALLOW FOR THE AGGREGATION OF

50:32THE OWNERSHIP INTEREST OF TWO OR MORE INDIVIDUALS OVER AGE 65.

50:39TO ALLOW FOR THE AGGREGATION OF THE OWNERSHIP INTERESTS OF TWO

50:42OR MORE INDIVIDUALS OVER THE AGE OF 65, OR WHO ARE DISABLED, TO

50:47MEET THE 50% OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENT TO QUALIFY FOR THE

50:50REDUCED PROPERTY TAX LIABILITY PROGRAM.

50:54SINCE 1986 AND IN 1983, THE DISTRICT HAS PROVIDED RELIEF

51:00FROM PROPERTY TAXES TO ELIGIBLE SENIORS.

51:04INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY, 1993.

51:08IT IS A 50% REDUCTION OR DISCOUNT ON THE TAX BILL.

51:12UNDER CURRENT LAW, THE RELIEF PROGRAMS OFFER AND ELIGIBLE

51:21HOUSEHOLD A 50% DEDUCTION IN PROPERTY TAX LIABILITY.

51:26PURSUANT TO THE CODE, AND ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD IS DEFINED AS

51:29A CLASS ONE DAY OR WOULD BE PROPERTY THAT IS AT LEAST 50%

51:37OWNED BY AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS EITHER 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER

51:42AND HAS A HOUSEHOLD ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME OF LESS THAN

51:46$125,000 OR HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO HAVE A PERMANENT AND TOTAL

51:51DISABILITY BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IS

51:54RECEIVING SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME OR SOCIAL SECURITY

51:57DISABILITY. OR IS RECEIVING RETIREMENT

52:01DISABILITY BENEFITS OR FEDERAL DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT

52:03DISABILITY PAYMENTS AND HAS A HOUSEHOLD ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME

52:07OF LESS THAN $125,000. I THINK THE AMOUNT HAS BEEN

52:14INCREASED BY INFLATION. THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL CHECK

52:15BEFORE WE FILE THE REPORT. THE PROGRAM CURRENTLY PROVIDES

52:21RELIEF TO THOUSANDS OF DISTRICT RESIDENTS.

52:23AS TO, THE LAW DOES NOT PROVIDE RELIEF TO SENIORS OR INDIVIDUALS

52:27WITH A DISABILITY THAT DO NOT OWN 50% OR MORE OF THE PROPERTY.

52:32PARTICULARLY, WITH RESPECT TO LARGER FAMILIES.

52:35WOULD A. OR PARENTS DIE, THEY MIGHT

52:40DIVIDE OWNERSHIP INTEREST WITHIN THE FAMILY HOME.

52:48WHAT EXAMPLE OF THIS IS A DISTRICT RESIDENT THAT SUBMITTED

52:50TESTAVERDE TO THE COMMITTEE. ACCORDING TO HER TESTIMONY, HER

52:54FAMILY HAS OWNED THE HOME SHE CURRENTLY LIVES IN FOR OVER 60

52:56YEARS. AFTER HER FATHER PASSED, SHOOT

53:00HER SISTER BEGAN MAKING PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS, BUT HAVE STRUGGLED

53:04TO KEEP UP WITH SENIORS ON FIXED INCOME.

53:07BECAUSE OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN THE HOME WERE DIVIDED EQUALLY

53:10AMONG EACH OF THE FOUR LIVING SIBLINGS, NEITHER MS. BARBER NOR

53:15HER SISTER, NEITHER OF WHOM HAVE AN OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN THE

53:20HOME OVER A DYED THE HOME QUALIFY FOR THE DISTRICT SENIOR

53:23CITIZEN TAX RELIEF PROGRAM. AS A RESULT, THE PROPERTY WAS

53:28SOLD IN 2025. THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION MAY BE

53:32FORECLOSED IF THE LAW REMAINS UNCHANGED.

53:35BILL 26-360 WOULD REMEDY THE CURRENT SITUATION.

53:39I AM SPEAKING MORE GENERALLY. BY ALLOWING THE SYNTH -- SENIOR

53:43AND DISABLED HOMEOWNERS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

53:46IF THEIR INTEREST IN A PROPERTY IS COLLECTIVELY AT LEAST 50%.

53:50FOR EXAMPLE, SAY A HOME IS OWNED BY THREE SENIORS, EACH WITH AN

53:53OWNERSHIP INTEREST TO ROUGHLY ONE THIRD.

53:57UNDER CURRENT LAW, NONE OF THE SENIORS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR

54:00PROPERTY TAX RELIEF BECAUSE NONE OF THEM HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL

54:04OWNERSHIP INTEREST OF 50%. WITH BILL 36 -- 360 THE THREE

54:10SENIORS COULD APPLY AND QUALIFY FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF BECAUSE

54:16COLLECTIVELY, THEY HAVE AN OWNERSHIP INTEREST THAT EXCEEDS

54:2050% AND RESIDES IN THE HOME. THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED ON

54:33SEPTEMBER 22 2025 BY COUNCILMEMBER JANINE LEWIS

54:40GEORGE AND ALAN, FRUMIN, PINTO , BONDS AND WHITE.

54:48THE COMMITTEE OF THE HOLE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING JULY 10 OF THIS

54:52YEAR AND RECEIVED NO TESTIMONY OR COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO THE

54:57BILL. IS THERE DISCUSSION?

55:06COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GEORGE. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GEORGE:

55:09THANK YOU FOR MOVING THE BILL FORWARD.

55:10I INTRODUCED THE SENIOR TRIP -- SENIOR PROPERTY TAX AGGREGATION

55:16ACT AFTER LEARNING ABOUT ONE OF MY WARD FOUR RESIDENTS MS.

55:19MYRTLE JOHNSON AT HER FAMILY. HER PARENTS BOUGHT THEIR HOME IN

55:251969. MS. JOHNSON GREW UP THERE AND

55:26LATER RAISED HER THREE CHILDREN THERE.

55:28AFTER HER MOTHER PASSED, SHE HAD HER SIBLINGS EACH INHERITED A

55:32QUARTER OF THE HOME. MS. JOHNSON AND HER SISTER,

55:37MARGARET, QUALIFIED FOR SENIOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

55:39BUT NEITHER OWED HALF OF THE HOUSE.

55:42AFTER MS. JOHNSON PAID $15,000 TOWARDS THE FAMILY TAX DEBT,

55:48THEY WERE STILL SEEKING PROTECTION FROM TAX SALE.

55:52THEIR EXPERIENCE REVEALED A PROBLEM UNDER THE LAW THAT COULD

55:54AFFECT FAMILIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

55:56PARENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOME TO THEIR CHILDREN

55:59WITHOUT THE DIVISION OF OWNERSHIP CUTTING OFF TAX RELIEF

56:03FOR THEIR CHILDREN WOULD OTHERWISE QUALIFY FOR.

56:07THE BILL PROVIDES A STRAIGHTFORWARD FIX BY ALLOWING

56:10ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS TO COMBINE THEIR OWNERSHIP SHARES TO MEET

56:12THE 50% REQUIREMENT. THE RATIO EQUITY ASSESSMENT

56:18UNDERSCORES THE STAKES IN 20. BLACK OWNERSHIP IN THE DISTRICT

56:23STOOD AT 34% COMPARED WITH 49% FOR WHITE RESIDENTS.

56:28HELPING FAMILIES HOLD ONTO THEIR HOMES IS ESSENTIAL TO PROTECTING

56:33GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND KEEPING LONGTIME RESIDENTS IN OUR

56:35COMMUNITIES. I WANT TO THANK THE LEGAL

56:39COUNSEL FOR THE ELDERLY AS WELL AS OUR WARD FOUR COMMISSION ON

56:41ASIAN FOR THEIR HELP -- AGENT FOR THEIR HELP AND ADVOCACY AND

56:47MY COLLEAGUES WHO JOINED ME IN INTRODUCING THIS BILL.

56:50THANK YOU MS. JOHNSON AND HER FAMILY FOR HELPING US CHANGE THE

56:56LAW. I LOVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TURN

56:58CONSTITUENT SERVICES INTO LEGISLATION THAT COULD IMPACT

57:02NOT ONLY INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES, BUT FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT.

57:06MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE A QUESTION. THIS BILL WOULD ALLOW SENIORS TO

57:16COMBINE THEIR OWNERSHIP WITH OTHER RESIDENTS TO BE THE 50%

57:20THRESHOLD. DIFFERENT ADOPTS OF THE OTR

57:21REGULATION TO LIMIT THE AGGREGATE TO RESIDENTS WHO

57:25THEMSELVES ARE SENIORS OR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

57:28IT MEANS SOME SENIORS THAT SHARE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR HOMES WITH

57:32OTHER RESIDENTS MAY NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR THE TAX BENEFIT,

57:34EVEN IF THEY ARE COMBINED OWNERSHIP EXCEEDS 50%.

57:38EXPLAIN WHY THE COMMITTEE ADOPTED THIS RECOMMENDATION AND

57:40HOW IT CONSIDERED THE IMPACT ON THOSE HOMEOWNERS?

57:47>> I AM LOOKING AT NOTES I WAS GIVEN.

57:49IF WE WERE TO HAVE NO LIMITATION WITH REGARD TO THE AGE OF THOSE

57:58IN THE HOME TO AGGREGATE THEIR INTEREST, IT IS A SENIOR TAX

58:04RELIEF PROGRAM TO CUT IT WOULD PROVIDE TAX RELIEF TO

58:09INDIVIDUALS YOUNGER THAN SENIORS.

58:11TESTIMONY RECEIVED UPFRONT BY THE COMMITTEE FROM IMPACTED

58:15FAMILIES ONLY SPOKE TO SITUATIONS IN WHICH GROUPS OF

58:18SENIORS SUCH AS SIBLINGS COULD NOT QUALIFY FOR TAX RELIEF

58:22BECAUSE THEY DID NOT OWN AT LEAST 50% AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

58:24ALL OF THE TESTIMONY FOCUSED ON EXCLUSIVELY SENIORS COLLECTIVELY

58:31OWNING. AT NO POINT DID THE COMMITTEE

58:33HERE OF OTHER SCENARIOS FROM IMPACTED FAMILIES OR ADVOCATES.

58:37O R A, THE OFFICE OF REVENUE ANALYSIS, NOTED IN THE FISCAL

58:41IMPACT THAT THE FISCAL IMPACT WOULD BE LARGER IF CREDIT

58:45ALLOWED FOR ANY OBLIGATION OF OWNERSHIP INTERESTS.

58:51THAT WAS INVOLVED RESIDENTS OWNERS WHO ARE NOT SENIORS.

58:55SO, IT DID NOT BREACH THE FISCAL IMPACT.

58:59I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FISCAL IMPACT IS ON THE BILL NOW.

59:02COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GEORGE: DOES THAT MEAN IF YOU HAVE

59:06MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILIES, FOR EXAMPLE, IF MY MOM PASSED AWAY

59:08AND MY SISTER IS 14 YEARS OLDER THAN ME.

59:11SHE WILL BE A SENIOR BEFORE ME. SORRY, I LOVE YOU, SISTER, AND

59:15WE WANT OUR MOM TO LIVE FOREVER. BUT IF SHE LEFT IT MIGHT BE --

59:18IF YOU LEFT TO ME, MY BROTHER, AND MY SISTER, MY SISTER WOULD

59:24NOT BE ABLE TO -- WELL, I GUESS, THE 50%.

59:27WHAT MY SISTER BENEFIT OR NOT GIVEN SHE HAD YOUNGER SIBLINGS?

59:30MR. MENDELSON: IF EACH OF YOU GOT ONE THIRD, BUT ALL THREE OF

59:36YOU ARE NOT LIVING IN THE HOME SO YOU CAN'T AGGREGATE.

59:39BUT IF ONE IS A SENIOR AND THE OTHER TWO ARE NOT, THEY WOULD

59:42NOT UNDER THIS BILL. I AM HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU

59:47ABOUT THIS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING.

59:48MS. LEWIS GEORGE: THANK YOU. MS. BONDS: CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU

59:55AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE BILL TO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO

1:00:00VOTE ON IT. MY DISAPPOINTMENT IS THAT WE DO

1:00:05NOT HAVE, INCLUDED IN THE BILL, INDIVIDUALS OF ANY AGE THAT ARE

1:00:16CLASSIFIED AS CAREGIVERS FOR OUR SENIORS.

1:00:19THAT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. YOU MAY RECALL WHERE I YOUNGER

1:00:33OR MAYBE OLDER RELATIVE OR FRIEND IS TAKING CARE OR

1:00:44ASSISTING A SENIOR THAT OWNS THE PROPERTY.

1:00:47THEY ARE THERE EVERY DAY USUALLY STAYING THERE.

1:00:54BECAUSE THEY HAVE INCOME, IT HAS TO BE A FACTOR IN THE

1:01:02CALCULATION OF THE AMOUNT OF VALUE WE PLACE ON WHETHER OR NOT

1:01:12THE INDIVIDUAL THEN QUALIFIES, THEIR INCOME EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT.

1:01:19LAST TIME I LOOKED IT WAS LIKE $170,000.

1:01:28IT EXCEEDS THAT AMOUNT AND THEREFORE THE SENIOR IS NOT

1:01:34QUALIFIED FOR THE 60% REDUCTION. WE KNOW WE ARE AND AGENT

1:01:51COMMUNITY -- AGING COMMUNITY. WE CONTINUED TO KICK THE CAN

1:01:56DOWN THE ROAD. WHERE THOSE THAT MAKE THIS THEIR

1:02:02PERMANENT HOME ARE FIXED INCOME. USUALLY 50% OR MORE THOSE

1:02:08INDIVIDUALS ARE LOWER INCOME. AS A RESULT, THEY MIGHT QUALIFY

1:02:21WITH THEY ADD AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS TO STAY WITH THEM.

1:02:25I KNOW A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO LOVED HOSPITALS.

1:02:32THEIR SEAT -- THEY ARE SENIORS BUT THEIR CHILD HAS TO LIVE WITH

1:02:35THEM AND THE CHILD IS NOT WELL -- CLASSIFIED AS A SENIOR.

1:02:40AND IF THEY WORK. AND THEY HAVE INCOME THAT

1:02:43EXCEEDS IT. SO THE SENIOR DOES NOT GET

1:02:50INCOME ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPERTY.

1:02:53THEY DON'T GET THE DISCOUNTED 50%.

1:03:08CHAIR MENDELSON: UNDERSTANDING YOUR COMMENT, IT SPEAKS TO AN

1:03:12ISSUE DIFFERENT THAN THE FOCUS OF THIS BILL.

1:03:15IT FOCUSES ON WHO HAS OWNERSHIP INTEREST SUFFICIENT TO BE

1:03:19ELIGIBLE. NOT, WHAT ARE THE INCOME

1:03:23LIMITATIONS. WE DID NOT LOOK AT THE INCOME

1:03:24LIMITATIONS. THAT IS WHAT I AM HEARING FROM

1:03:27YOU. WHEN YOU HAVE A HOME THAT IS

1:03:33THROUGH THE DEATH OF A PARENT, GIVEN TO THREE SIBLINGS OF EQUAL

1:03:39PROPORTION, NOBODY HAS 50%, THAT IS WHAT THE BILL SPEAKS TO.

1:03:44DO NOT WOULD YOU HAVE SOMEBODY ON IT UP -- NOT WHEN YOU HAVE

1:03:48SOMEBODY IN THE HOME TAKING THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME ABOVE A CERTAIN

1:03:49LEVEL. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU

1:03:56MORE ABOUT THIS BETWEEN NOW AND SECOND READING.

1:04:00>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT IS DEFINITELY PART OF THE

1:04:03ISSUE WHENEVER I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO SENIORS

1:04:07IN COMMUNITY. >> THEY BELIEVE THEY QUALIFY FOR

1:04:13THE 50% BUT THEY DISCOVER WHEN THEY SUBMITTED THEIR PAPERWORK

1:04:16THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED FOR IT. YOU HAVE THIS OTHER PERSON WHO

1:04:24LIVES THAT THAT ADDRESS. IT IS COMPUTED AS A PART OF THE

1:04:27INCOME CEILING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

1:04:30I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING WITH YOU.

1:04:34THANK YOU AGAIN COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS GEORGE FOR THIS.

1:04:39CHAIR MENDELSON: COUNCILMEMBER PINTO.

1:04:43MS. PINTO: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GEORGE FOR

1:04:46ADDRESSING THIS IMPORTANT BILL. I WANT TO ALIGN MYSELF WITH

1:04:52COUNCILMEMBER BONDS COMMENTS. THAT'S A GAP WE SHOULD TRY TO

1:04:55RESOLVE THAT WE ARE HEARING FROM A LOT OF SENIORS.

1:04:58I WANT TO NOTE AND ASK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE A BILL THAT

1:05:03WOULD EXEMPT FROM PROPERTY TAXES DISABLED VETERANS.

1:05:07I APPRECIATE YOU HOLDING A HEARING ON THAT BILL THAT PASSED

1:05:12IN JULY. I THINK THE NATION'S CAPITAL

1:05:12SHOULD BE THE EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IN HOW WE

1:05:21ARE HONORING OUR SERVICE MEMBERS THAT HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH IN

1:05:23THE LINE OF DUTY. I THINK THIS COULD BE AN

1:05:29INTERESTING VEHICLE TO MOVE THAT EXEMPTION AS A PART OF.

1:05:35I WANT TO -- WANT TO SEE IF THAT IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE CONSIDERED

1:05:38OR IF WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT FOR SECOND READING.

1:05:43>> WE DID NOT CONSIDER IT SINCE IT WAS A SEPARATE BILL.

1:05:48I AM VAGUELY REMEMBERING THE BILL BECAUSE WE DID HAVE A

1:05:50HEARING ON IT. THE BEST I CAN SAY IS I AM

1:05:54WILLING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT BETWEEN NOW AND SECOND READING.

1:05:59IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE VOTE WILL BE ON

1:06:02THE PRINT OF BILL 26-360. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

1:06:12ANY OPPOSED? THE ICE POPS -- AYES HAVE IT

1:06:22UNANIMOUSLY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

1:06:29ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT

1:06:35UNANIMOUSLY. MADAME, GENERAL COUNSEL IS THE

1:06:38MEASURE FOR CONSIDERATION? >> IT IS.

1:06:42>> SECRETARY, IS THE RECORD COMPLETE.

1:06:44>> ONCE THE REPORT IS FILED. >> DOES THE FISCAL IMPACT

1:06:48STATEMENT COMPLY WITH COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS.

1:06:50>> IS THEIR FISCAL IMPACT. >> YES.

1:06:54$190,000 AND FISCAL YEAR 2027 AND 501,000 DOLLARS OVER THE

1:06:58FINANCIAL PLAN. THIS CAME IN AS THE MEETING WAS

1:07:02BEGINNING. THE BILL WILL NEED AN

1:07:04APPLICABILITY PROVISION BEFORE FILED.

1:07:07CHAIR MENDELSON: THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE LEAVE FOR TECHNICAL

1:07:12AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO PUT THE APPLICABILITY IN THERE.

1:07:14WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MEASURE WILL BE PLACED ON THE CONSENT

1:07:17AGENDA FOR TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE MEETING.

1:07:20THE NEXT MEASURE FOR MARKUP IS BUILT 26-493 ENTITLED

1:07:24STRENGTHENING TENANT RECEIVERSHIP AND OVERSIGHT FOR

1:07:26NEIGHBORHOOD GROWTH. WHICH SPELLS OUT STRONG HOMES

1:07:32AMENDMENT ACT OF 2026. BILL 26-493 WOULD AMEND THE

1:07:42ABATEMENT AND CONDEMNATION OF NUISANCE PROPERTIES.

1:07:44AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FACTORS IN THE

1:07:54DEFINITION OF "SERIOUS THREAT TO HEALTH, SAFETY, OR SECURITY OF

1:07:59THE TENANT DOC" IT WOULD REQUIRE THE SUPERIOR COURT TO

1:08:03EXPEDITIOUSLY SCHEDULE A HEARING FOR A MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY

1:08:06INJUNCTION FILED WITH THE PETITION OR ISSUE AN ORDER

1:08:09REQUIRING THE OWNER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY A RECEIVER SHOULD NOT

1:08:13BE POINTED. THE BILL WOULD CLARIFY THE

1:08:16POWERS AND DUTIES OF A RECEIVER AND CLARIFY GROUNDS FOR

1:08:20RECEIVERSHIP WHERE OWNERSHIP OF OUR PROPERTY CHANGES.

1:08:23THE BILL AMENDS SECTION EIGHT OF THE CONSTRUCTION CODE APPROVAL

1:08:28AND AMENDMENT ACT OF 1986 TO CLARIFY WHEN AN INJUNCTIVE

1:08:32RELIEF FOR VIOLATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION CODES MIGHT BE

1:08:35GRANTED AND WHAT INJUNCTIVE RELIEF ENTAILS.

1:08:39FINALLY, THE BILL AMENDS TITLE 29 TO ENABLE THE SUPERIOR COURT

1:08:44TO DISSOLVE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES AND LIMITED

1:08:48PARTNERSHIPS IN A PROCEEDING BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

1:08:50IF THE ENTITY CERTIFICATE WAS OBTAINED THROUGH FRAUD OR THE

1:08:54ENTITY HAS EXCEEDED OR ABUSED ITS LEGAL AUTHORITY.

1:08:59THE TENANT RECEIVERSHIP ACT IS A POWERFUL TOOL AND IS A

1:09:04DISTRICT'S LEGAL ARSENAL TO ADDRESS UNSAFE BUILDING

1:09:06CONDITIONS. UNDER THAT ACT, THE ATTORNEY

1:09:11GENERAL IS AUTHORIZED TO PETITION THE SUPERIOR COURT,

1:09:14REQUESTING A THIRD PARTY RECEIVER TO ABATE AND REPAIR

1:09:17VIOLATIONS TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY THAT POSE A THREAT --

1:09:19POSE A THREAT TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WHILE BUILDING --

1:09:22WILL BE ENOUGH BUILDING TENETS. SINCE 2016, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

1:09:27HAS FILED A 20 CASES UNDER THE ACT TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE HOUSING

1:09:31PROVIDERS NEGLECTING THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE A

1:09:34HABITABLE, SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR TENANTS.

1:09:35AS A POWERFUL OF A TOOL AS IT IS, THERE ARE GAPS AND

1:09:41DEFICIENCIES IN THE ACT WHICH CAN RESULT IN A DELAY OF RELIEF

1:09:45TO TENANTS. BILL 26-493 ADDRESSES MANY GAPS

1:09:51AND DEFICIENCIES. STRENGTHENING THE ABILITY OF THE

1:09:53DISTRICT THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SECURE

1:09:58AND PROVIDE RELIEF. THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED ON

1:10:02NOVEMBER 19, 2025 BY COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT WHITE AND

1:10:06CO-INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBERS NADEAU, LEWIS GEORGE, PINTO, AND

1:10:15FRUMIN. WE HELD A HEARING JULY 7 OF THIS

1:10:19YEAR. IS THERE A DISCUSSION?

1:10:24COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT WHITE? MR. WHITE: TOO LONG WITH -- WHEN

1:10:32A LANDLORD ALLOWS MOLD TO SPREAD OR REFUSES TO ADDRESS A RAT

1:10:38INFESTATION TENANTS KEEP WAITING FOR REPAIRS THAT NEVER COME.

1:10:39I HAVE VISITED APARTMENT BUILDINGS ACROSS THE CITY AND

1:10:43SEEN TRULY HEARTBREAKING CONDITIONS.

1:10:46TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS, THE DISTRICT HAS A TENANT

1:10:49RECEIVERSHIP PROCESS THAT ALLOWS THE COURT TO PELLET -- TO PLACE

1:10:52A PROPERTY UNDER INDEPENDENT MANAGEMENT WHEN THE OWNER FAILED

1:10:56TO MAINTAIN SAFE CONDITION SPREAD NOW IT IS TOO EASY FOR

1:11:00LANDLORDS -- CONDITIONS. NOW IT IS TOO EASY FOR LANDLORDS

1:11:06TO PROMISE THE COURT THEY WILL FIX IT WHILE NEVER ACTING.

1:11:10THIS WILL STRENGTHEN THE TENANT RECEIVERSHIP PROCESS BY MAKING

1:11:14OWNERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND

1:11:17GIVING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MORE AUTHORITY TO COMPEL REPAIRS AND

1:11:19SEEK TO DISSOLVE COMPANIES THAT ABUSED THE LEGAL AUTHORITY.

1:11:23THE CHANGES ARE NECESSARY TO THE TENANTS THAT HAVE BEEN CRYING

1:11:27OUT FOR HELP, YET IGNORED. I AM PLEASED TO THE COMMITTEE OF

1:11:30THE WHOLE PRINT REMOVES THE ARBITRARY TO MILLION-DOLLAR CAP

1:11:34ON THE TENANT RECEIVERSHIP ABATEMENT FUND ALLOWING THE

1:11:38FUNDER TO RETAIN MORE MONEY FOR OWNERS RECOVERED FOR THIS WORK.

1:11:42THE REVISED PRINT ALLOWS RECEIVERSHIP SALES AND PRESERVES

1:11:46THE PRIORITY OF DISTRICT TAX LINES.

1:11:49I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE COUNCIL, AS THE DISTRICTS LEGISLATIVE AND

1:11:53OVERSIGHT BODY, WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE DISTRICT TOOLS.

1:11:58IN ADDITION TO THIS POST, I INTRODUCE THE LEAD ACTOR TO

1:12:01BOOST THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY, CURRENTLY

1:12:04DRAFTING LEGISLATION TO ALLOW DISTRICT AGENCIES TO EXAMINE A

1:12:10LANDLORDS HOUSING CODE VIOLATIONS BEFORE AWARDING

1:12:12GRANTS OR CONTRACTS BUT. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT

1:12:15THESE MEASURES. FOR TENANTS, THE MEASURE OF

1:12:18SUCCESS IS WHETHER THE TEARS HAPPEN AND WHETHER THEIR HOMES

1:12:23STAY SAFE AFTERWARDS. THE STRONG HOMES AMENDMENT ACT

1:12:25IS AN IMPORTANT STEP. I WANT TO THANK THE OFFICE OF

1:12:29THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. YOU COME GERMAN MENDELSON, AND

1:12:32THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE STAFF ARE WORKING WITH ME ON THIS

1:12:35LEGISLATION BUT I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT IT.

1:12:41GERMAN MENDELSON HAVE I MET YOUR REQUEST FOR CATCHY BUILDING.

1:12:44-- CATCHY BUILDINGS? CHAIR MENDELSON: NO, BECAUSE I

1:12:51CANNOT BE SATISFIED. BUT I WOULD NOTE THIS NAME IS A

1:12:55LITTLE CLOSER TO THE OBVIOUS. STRENGTHENING TENANT

1:12:59RECEIVERSHIP. THE BILL DOES THAT.

1:13:00AND OVERSIGHT. THAT GETS YOU THE STRONG.

1:13:07NO, GETS YOU THE STRO.

1:13:13IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A REACH WITH NEIGHBORHOOD GROWTH.

1:13:19BUT, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. >> THANK YOU, GERMAN.

1:13:26CHAIR MENDELSON: AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE LEAVING THE ACRONYM

1:13:29IN THE TITLE. THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE PRINT

1:13:34WITH LEE FOR STAFF TO MAKE TECHNICAL CONFORMING CHANGES.

1:13:37ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. IN YOUR POST?

1:13:42HEARING ON, THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.

1:13:50IS THERE DISCUSSION? ON THE REPORT, ALL THOSE IN

1:13:54FAVOR SAY AYE. THAT WAS ANEMIC.

1:13:57ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT

1:14:06UNANIMOUSLY. MADAM GENERAL COUNSEL, IS THE

1:14:09MEASURE READY FOR CONSIDERATION? >> IT IS.

1:14:13>> IS THE RECORD COMPLETE? >> ONCE THE HEARING RECORD IS

1:14:15FILED. CHAIR MENDELSON: I AM TOLD THE

1:14:18HEARING RECORD HAS BEEN FILED? >> NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

1:14:21BUT I WILL DOUBLE CHECK. CHAIR MENDELSON: CHECK THE BILL

1:14:40NUMBER OR HAVE A DISCUSSION. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY.

1:14:45DOES THE FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT COMPLY WITH COUNCIL

1:14:48REQUIREMENTS? >> IT DOES.

1:14:50CHAIR MENDELSON: IS THEIR FISCAL IMPACT?

1:14:52WORKFARE IS NOT. THE MEASURE WILL BE PLACED ON

1:14:55THE CONTENT AGENDA FOR TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE MEETING.

1:14:58BILL 26-689, THE CLOSING OF A PORTION OF A PUBLIC ALLEY.

1:15:0621-03369 ACT OF 2026. THE BILL WOULD CLOSE A PORTION

1:15:12OF A PUBLIC ALLEY SYSTEM IN SQUARE 785.

1:15:15THE SQUARE IS BONDED BY 3RD STREET, EIGHTH STREET, 4TH

1:15:19STREET, AND CONSTITUTION AVENUE NORTHEAST.

1:15:21IT IS IN WARD SIX. ACCORDING TO THE PROPERTY

1:15:25OWNERS, THE CLOTURE WOULD ENABLE TWO ABUTTING RESIDENTIAL

1:15:29PROPERTIES TO INCORPORATE PORTIONS OF AN UNIMPROVED

1:15:32PEDESTRIAN ALLEY INTO THEIR RESPECTIVE LOTS, PROVIDING

1:15:35ADDITIONAL PRIVATE OUTDOOR SPACE AND ADDRESSING CONCERNS

1:15:38REGARDING NUISANCE ACTIVITIES IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

1:15:42BILL 26-6 89 WOULD CLOSE APPROXIMATELY 200 61 SQUARE FEET

1:15:46OF UNIMPROVED PEDESTRIAN ALLEY. ABUTTING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES

1:15:50308 AND 310 8TH STREET NORTHEAST.

1:15:53THE PROPOSED CLOSURE WOULD DIVIDE IN THE ALLEY BETWEEN TWO

1:15:57ABUTTING PROPERTIES WITH APPROXIMATELY 130 SQUARE FEET ON

1:16:00A LOT EIGHT AND 131 SQUARE FEET TESTING IN LOT 28.

1:16:07THE ALLEY SEGMENT IS NOT USED FOR VEHICULAR ACCESS.

1:16:11THE CLOSURE WOULD ALLOW THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO INCORPORATE

1:16:14LAND INTO THEIR RESPECTIVE RESIDENTIAL LOTS.

1:16:17THE REMAINING PUBLIC ALLEY SYSTEM WOULD CONTINUE TO SERVE

1:16:20NEIGHBORING RESIDENTS WITHOUT AFFECTING ACCESS TO THEIR

1:16:24PROPERTIES OR DISRUPTING TRASH AND RECYCLING COLLECTION.

1:16:27ASSUMING THIS IS APPROVED, THE COMMITTEE FINDS THE PORTION OF

1:16:31THE ALLEY SYSTEM IS 45, SHOWN ON THE SURVEYOR'S PLAT IS NOT

1:16:38NECESSARY FOR PURPOSES BUT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF

1:16:41COMMITTEE PRINT FOR A 26-689. THE MEASURE WAS INTRODUCED AT

1:16:46THE REQUEST OF THE MAYOR ON MAY 11 OF THIS YEAR.

1:16:49THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING OCTOBER 2 OF

1:16:54THIS YEAR. WE WERE INTERESTED IN WHETHER

1:16:56THERE WAS ANY OPPOSITION FROM ANY OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE

1:17:00SQUARE AND THERE WAS NOT. I MOVE THE PRINT WITH LEAVE FOR

1:17:04STAFF TO MAKE TECHNICAL, CONFORMING CHANGES.

1:17:07IS THERE DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER BONDS: I AM

1:17:14CURIOUS AS TO WHY THE REQUEST FOR THIS ALLEY CHANGE.

1:17:21WHAT IS THE VALUE TO THE OWNER OF THE ABUTTING PROPERTY.

1:17:26CHAIR MENDELSON: I THINK THAT ABUTTING OWNERS HAVE SEEN THIS

1:17:31SPACE. ACCORDING TO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN

1:17:36TOLD, THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERN WITH NUISANCE ACTIVITIES ON

1:17:42PUBLIC SAFETY. BY CLOSING THIS, THEY ARE ABLE

1:17:47TO, I WANT TO SAY, MORE FULLY ENJOY THEIR PROPERTY.

1:17:51I WILL NOTE THAT FOR PURPOSES OF THE CITY, THE PORTION OF THE

1:17:58ALLEY BEING CLOSED WOULD NOW BECOME TAXABLE, IT DOES NOT MEAN

1:18:03THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY. BUT THERE IS SOME BENEFIT TO THE

1:18:07CITY. IT IS NECESSARY FOR STREET OR

1:18:09ALLEY PURPOSES. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY

1:18:14MUCH. >> THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE

1:18:19PRINT. WITH LEAVE FOR STAFF.

1:18:20ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED?

1:18:24HEARING ON, THE AYE HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.

1:18:31IS THERE A DISCUSSION? THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE REPORT.

1:18:39ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED?

1:18:44HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.

1:18:49MADAME GENERAL COUNSEL, IS THIS MEASURE LEGALLY AND TECHNICALLY

1:18:53SUFFICIENT FOR CONSIDERATION? >> IT IS.

1:18:56>> SECRETARY, IS THE RECORD COMPLETE?

1:18:59BUDGET COUNSEL, IS THAT MEASURE AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT IN

1:19:05COMPLIANCE WITH COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS?

1:19:06>> IT IS. >> IS A FISCAL IMPACT?

1:19:09>> THERE IS NOT. >> THE MEASURE WILL BE PLACED ON

1:19:13THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE MEETING.

1:19:15THE NEXT ISSUE IS BILL 26-772 ENTITLED.

1:19:30BILL 20 6-772 -- 26-77 TWO WOULD CLOSE A PORTION OF 35TH STREET

1:19:39NORTHWEST AND TRANSFER JURISDICTION OF AN ADJACENT

1:19:43PARCEL FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO THE DISTRICT OF

1:19:47COLUMBIA. THESE ACTIONS WILL ENABLE

1:19:53GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY TO CONSTRUCT A NEW BOATHOUSE FOR

1:19:56NON-MOTORIZED BOATING ACTIVITY ALONG THE POTOMAC RIVER UNDER

1:20:00GEORGETOWN. COMPANION LEGISLATION BILL

1:20:0526-740 AND TIRED OF THE GEORGETOWN BOATHOUSE SURPLUS

1:20:10DISPOSITION APPROVAL ACT OF 2026 IS PENDING IN OTHER COMMITTEES

1:20:13AND WILL ENABLE THE DISPOSITION OF PORTIONS OF THE SUBJECT AREA

1:20:17TO GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY. BILL 26-772 APPROXIMATELY 7426

1:20:26SQUARE FEET OF 25TH STREET RUNNING BETWEEN WATER STREET AND

1:20:31THE POTOMAC RIVER BENEATH THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE.

1:20:34THE BILL WOULD APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION OF

1:20:39APPROXIMATELY 69,444 SQUARE FEET OF LAND ALONG THE GEORGETOWN

1:20:45WATERFRONT, TRANSFERRED FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO THE

1:20:47DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. TOGETHER, THE ACTIONS WOULD

1:20:50FACILITATE A LONG-STANDING EFFORT AMONG THE DISTRICT,

1:20:55NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY TO EXPAND

1:20:57NONMOTORIZED BOATING OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THE POTOMAC

1:20:59RIVER, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

1:21:03BOATHOUSE. THE PROPOSED ACTIONS ARE PART OF

1:21:06A BROADER LAND TRANSACTION INTENDED TO IMPLEMENT MPS'S

1:21:11NONMOTORIZED BOATHOUSE ZONE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

1:21:15THIS IDENTIFIES TWO SIDES ADJACENT TO THE KEY BRIDGE FOR

1:21:19POTENTIAL BOATHOUSE DEVELOPMENT. SITE D, WEST OF THE BRIDGE WOULD

1:21:23BE TRANSFERRED FOR THE DISTRICT JURISDICTION AND MADE AVAILABLE

1:21:27TO GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE BOATHOUSE.

1:21:31SITE EASY, EAST OF THE BRIDGE, IS ALREADY OWNED BY THE DISTRICT

1:21:35BUT REMAINS UNDER NATIONAL PARK SERVICE JURISDICTION.

1:21:42THIS WOULD RETAIN THE PROPERTY AND UNDERTAKE A PLANNING PROCESS

1:21:44TO DETERMINE THE FUTURE USE FOR NONMOTORIZED BOATING AND RELATED

1:21:50RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY WOULD

1:21:55DONATE AND UPRIVER PARCEL OF LAND TO THE NATIONAL PARK

1:21:59SERVICE AS PART OF THE OVERALL ARRANGEMENT.

1:22:02BILL 26-740 WOULD DECLARE PORTIONS OF SITE D SURPLUS.

1:22:11THE PROPOSED GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY BOATHOUSE WOULD

1:22:13PROVIDE A DEDICATED FACILITY FOR THE UNIVERSITY'S ROWING PROGRAM

1:22:16WHILE EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE POTOMAC RIVER.

1:22:20THE PROJECT INCLUDES A PUBLIC PATTERN LAUNCH STOCK AND A LARGE

1:22:24-- LAUNCHED DOCK AND A LARGER DOCK AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC

1:22:28WERE NOT USED BY THE UNIVERSITY. THIS ARRANGEMENT IS INTENDED TO

1:22:30RELIEVE CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS AT THOMPSON'S BOATHOUSE AND

1:22:34FACILITATE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL

1:22:37NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK AND THE CAPITAL CRESCENT TRAIL.

1:22:40THE PORTION OF 35TH STREET PROPOSED FOR CLOSING IS AN

1:22:46UNIMPROVED PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY EXTENDING FROM WHAT -- WATER

1:22:50STREET TO THE PUBLIC BUT -- POTOMAC RIVER NEVER INTENDED AS

1:22:53A STREET CURRENTLY USED FOR PARKING AND CONSTRUCTION

1:22:55STAGING. AS A -- THE BILL CONCLUDES,

1:23:02AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE UNIMPROVED PORTION OF 35TH

1:23:06STREET AS -- AS REFLECTED ON THE SURVEYOR'S PLAT IS UNNECESSARY

1:23:11FOR STREET ART ALLEY PURPOSES. THE BILL INTRODUCED BY

1:23:17COUNCILMEMBER PINTO JULY 13 2026.

1:23:20IN SEPTEMBER 2026 THE TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION LEGISLATION WAS

1:23:25INTRODUCED AT THE REQUEST OF THE MAYOR.

1:23:26THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING OCTOBER 2,

1:23:332026. I DON'T RECALL ANY OPPOSITION.

1:23:36I MOVE THE PRINT WOULD LEAD FOR STAFF TO MAKE TECHNICAL AND

1:23:38CONFORMING CHANGES. IS THERE DISCUSSION?

1:23:41COUNCILMEMBER PINTO? MS. PINTO: THANK YOU, MR.

1:23:47CHAIRMAN. I'M THRILLED TO SEE THE PROJECT

1:23:49MOVING FORWARD. IT HAS BEEN DECADES IN THE

1:23:51MAKING TO ACTIVATE THE IMPORTANT PART OF THE GEORGETOWN

1:23:55WATERFRONT IN WARD TWO. THERE IS SOME OF THE DISTRICT,

1:23:59THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND GEORGETOWN ANNOUNCED A

1:24:01PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL MAKE THE WATERFRONT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND

1:24:05PROMOTE RECREATION AND OTHER REALLY IMPORTANT USES OF THE

1:24:07SPACE. THE PROJECT WILL IMPROVE PUBLIC

1:24:11ACCESS TO THE POTOMAC RIVER, SUPPORT THE CAPITAL CRESCENT

1:24:15TRAIL USERS, AND STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS TO THE GEORGETOWN

1:24:19WATERFRONT PARK. PUBLIC WILL HAVE ACCESS TO

1:24:20THE MAIN DOCK. THERE ARE THREE PIECES OF

1:24:27LEGISLATION, TWO COMBINED WITH THE CLOSING OF A PAPER STREET

1:24:30AND THE TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION TO PROVIDE THE LAND SWAP TO

1:24:32EFFECTUATE THE PROJECT. THE THIRD PIECE OF LEGISLATION

1:24:36IS CURRENTLY REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FACILITIES AND I AM

1:24:39WORKING -- LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH CHAIRMAN LEWIS AND

1:24:44GEORGE TO ADVANCE LEGISLATION BEFORE THE END OF THE COUNCIL

1:24:46PERIOD SO THIS PROJECT CAN MOVE FORWARD.

1:24:50I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER FRUMIN FOR MOVING THIS FORWARD

1:24:56EXPEDITIOUSLY OUT OF HIS COMMITTEE AND YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

1:25:00I WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYBODY THAT HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS

1:25:02DEAL FOR TRULY DECADES. THANK YOU.

1:25:12CHAD MENDELSON: COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GEORGE.

1:25:16MS. LEWIS GEORGE: THROUGH CONSOLIDATING MULTIPLE PREVIOUS

1:25:21ARRANGEMENTS, THE TRANSFER JURISDICTION WILL IMPROVE

1:25:23ACCOUNTABILITY BY CLARIFYING WHICH GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY IS

1:25:27RESPONSIBLE FOR WHICH AREAS OF THE FRANCIS FIELD CAMPUS.

1:25:30UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES

1:25:34AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION UNDER THE FACILITY'S

1:25:35PURVIEW WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE THE

1:25:40FRANCIS DOG PARTS COMP -- DOG PARK, BASKETBALL, AND TENNIS

1:25:43COURTS. THE TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION IS

1:25:48A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW LOCAL AND FEDERAL AGENCIES CAN AND SHOULD

1:25:52MOVE PAST FINGER-POINTING TO SIMPLIFY AND EXPEDITE HER THE

1:25:56ABILITY OF BOTH GOVERNMENTS TO KEEP PARKS AND RECREATIONAL

1:25:59SPACES OPEN, USABLE, SAFE, AND CLEAN.

1:26:04FOR HAS BEEN NOTED SEVERAL TIMES THAT WE

1:26:08HAVE GOTTEN -- IN THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN NAMED THE NUMBER ONE

1:26:12PARKS SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY. THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND IS NOT

1:26:18RAKING JUST DPR, BUT, THE IMPELLER ECOSYSTEM -- RANKING

1:26:22JUST DPR, BUT THE ENTIRE PUBLIC ECOSYSTEM OF SPACES.

1:26:29THE DISTRICT GAMES AMENITIES WHILE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

1:26:32LIVES IN THE RANKING IN AREAS OF THE DISTRICT STRUGGLES WITH LIKE

1:26:36EQUITABLE GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF OUTDOOR SPACE.

1:26:39OF THE UNIQUE PARKS SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE NUMBER ONE WITHOUT MPS

1:26:43AND DPR, BOTH OF WHICH ARE JEOPARDIZED WHEN NEITHER OF

1:26:49WHICH TAKES RESPONSIBILITY NOR INVESTS EFFICIENTLY.

1:26:51TRANSFER ALLOWS BOTH GOVERNMENTS AND AGENCIES TO TAKE

1:26:54RESPONSIBILITY AND ACTION TO DELIVER RESULTS QUICKER AND

1:26:57BETTER. I AM EXCITED TO SEE THE

1:27:01BENEFITS, BOTH LARGE AND SMALL, FROM THE TRANSFER OF

1:27:02JURISDICTION. WARDED TWO RESIDENTS TO THE

1:27:07DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND FEDERAL AND DISTRICT GOVERNMENTS.

1:27:12I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE DISTRICT WILL BE ABLE TO MORE

1:27:19TRANSFERS OF JURISDICTION AND MORE COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT

1:27:21AGREEMENTS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE BENEFIT OF ALL

1:27:22DISTRICT RESIDENTS. I AM GLAD THERE IS ALREADY $3

1:27:27MILLION IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS AREA TO

1:27:31BE TRANSFERRED TO THE DISTRICT. I HAVE LONG BEEN UNCOMFORTABLE

1:27:35WITH THE STRATEGY OF EXPANDING DGS PORTFOLIO WITHOUT

1:27:39PROPORTIONALLY RAISING OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS.

1:27:42EXPLAIN WHETHER AND HOW CURRENT FUNDING IS ALREADY SET ASIDE FOR

1:27:44A SPECIFIC MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

1:27:49BEST CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS? CHAIR MENDELSON: I'M UNSURE WHAT

1:27:56TO SAY. YOU ARE ACTUALLY SPEAKING TO THE

1:27:57NEXT BILL. MS. LEWIS GEORGE: YOU GUYS ARE

1:28:06ON BOATHOUSE. CHAIR MENDELSON: BOATHOUSE.

1:28:11MS. LEWIS GEORGE: OK. DO YOU WANT ME TO RESERVE THE

1:28:14QUESTION OR ANSWER NOW? CHAIR MENDELSON: DO YOU KNOW?

1:28:19WE WILL GET YOU AN ANSWER BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE BILL.

1:28:22MS. LEWIS GEORGE: OK. CHAIR MENDELSON: THANK YOU.

1:28:25I WILL OWE YOU AN ANSWER. IS THERE FURTHER ON THE

1:28:31BOATHOUSE? THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE PRINT.

1:28:36ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED?

1:28:40HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.

1:28:46IS THERE DISCUSSION? ON THE REPORT, ALL THOSE IN

1:28:51FAVOR SAY AYES. ANY OPPOSED?

1:28:56HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.

1:29:00IT IS THE MEASURE TECHNICALLY SUFFICIENT FOR CONSIDERATION?

1:29:06>> IT IS. >> IS THE RECORD COMPLETE?

1:29:08>> ONCE THE REPORT AND HEARING RECORD ARE FILED.

1:29:11WHAT'S MATTED -- MADAM BUDGET COUNCIL, DOES THE FISCAL IMPACT

1:29:16STATEMENT COMPLY WITH COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS?

1:29:19>> IT DOES. >> IS THEIR FISCAL IMPACT?

1:29:22WHAT'S THERE IS NOT. WHAT'S THE MERGER WILL BE PLACED

1:29:24ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR TODAY'S MEETING.

1:29:27>> LAST IS P.R. 26-581 OVER AFORESAID OF RESERVATION 360 AND

1:29:38RESERVATION 369. APPROVAL RESOLUTION OF 2026.

1:29:43THIS WOULD APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION OVER PORTIONS OF

1:29:49RESERVATION 360 AND 339 FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TO

1:29:55THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMES OUT -- CONSOLIDATING AND

1:29:57CLARIFYING THE DISTRICT JURISDICTION OVER SEVERAL

1:30:02EXISTING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE FRANCIS FIELD AREA

1:30:04INCLUDING FRANCIS POOLE, FRANCIS DOG PARK, BASKETBALL, AND TENNIS

1:30:07COURTS, AND IN ATHLETIC FIELD ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOHN FRANCIS

1:30:11EDUCATION CAMPUS AND FACILITATING PLANNED

1:30:15IMPROVEMENTS TO THESE FACILITIES.

1:30:15THE DISTRICT HAS OPERATED AND MAINTAINED RECREATIONAL

1:30:19FACILITIES WITHIN THE FRANCIS FIELD AREA FOR DECADES UNDER A

1:30:22SERIES OF TRANSFERS OF JURISDICTION AND AGREEMENTS WITH

1:30:26THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. THE ARRANGEMENTS INCLUDE A 1949

1:30:31AGREEMENT AUTHORIZING THE USE OF FRANCIS POOLE AND TRANSFERS OF

1:30:37JURISDICTION IN 1950 AND 1971 COVERING OTHER PORTIONS OF THE

1:30:41PROPERTY. THE PROPOSED TRANSFER TODAY

1:30:45WOULD CONSOLIDATE THE SEVERAL SEPARATE ARRANGEMENTS TO MORE

1:30:48CLEARLY ESTABLISH A DISTRICT'S AUTHORITY TO OPERATE, MAINTAIN,

1:30:52AND APPROVE THE AFFECTED FACILITIES.

1:30:55THE TRANSFER WOULD SLIGHTLY EXPAND THE JURISDICTION

1:31:00ADJACENT TO FRANCIS DOG PARK ALLOWING OF

1:31:04FRANCE AND DUTCH PARKS AND RECREATION TO UNDERTAKE PLAN

1:31:05IMPROVEMENT. USES OF THE PROPERTY

1:31:33AND RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES.

1:31:35THE DECLARATION WOULD BE RECORDED AS PART OF THE TRANSFER

1:31:37OF PROCESS. THE PROPOSED TRANSFER OF

1:31:40JURISDICTION WOULD CONSOLIDATE AND CLARIFY LONG-STANDING

1:31:44JURISDICTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THE DISTRICT IN NATIONAL

1:31:46PARK SERVICE, FACILITATING IMPROVED MAINTENANCE AND

1:31:48IMPROVEMENT OF EXISTING OPERATIONAL FACILITIES AND

1:31:50PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FRANCIS DOG PARK, FRANCIS POOL,

1:31:57AND SURROUNDING RECREATIONAL AMENITIES INTRODUCED AT THE

1:31:59REQUEST OF THE MAYOR MARCH 18 THIS YEAR.

1:32:03THE COMMITTEE OF THE HOLE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING OCTOBER 2.

1:32:05OF THIS YEAR, AND I DON'T RECALL THERE WAS ANY TESTIMONY OR

1:32:11COMMENTS IN THAT -- COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO THE ACTED TO THE

1:32:15RESOLUTION. I MOVE THE PRINT WITH LEE FOR

1:32:20STAFF TO MAKE TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING -- WITH LEAVE UP FOR

1:32:25STAFF TO MAKE TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING CHANGES SPIRIT LEWIS

1:32:29GEORGE. MS. LEWIS GEORGE: I HAVE TWO

1:32:33QUESTIONS. I AM GLAD THERE ARE ALREADY $3

1:32:36MILLION IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THESE AREAS

1:32:41TO BE TRANSFERRED. EVERY TIME WE EXPAND THE

1:32:43PORTFOLIO WE DO SO PROPORTIONALLY WITH OPERATING

1:32:46CAPITAL BUDGETS. THE MORE THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN,

1:32:48THE MORE FUNDING IS NECESSARY FOR THEM TO MAINTAIN.

1:32:52WE HAVE HISTORICALLY EXPENDED THAT UGS PORTFOLIO TAKING THAT

1:32:55INTO ACCOUNT. I WANT TO KNOW WHETHER AND HOW

1:32:58CURRENT FUNDING IS SET ASIDE FOR SPECIFIC MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL

1:33:01IMPROVEMENT. TO THE SAME END, THROUGH

1:33:03CONDUCTING OVERSIGHT OVER THE CONDITIONS AT S STREET DOG PARK

1:33:07IN WARD TWO WHERE WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MAINTENANCE, THE

1:33:11COMPLAINT -- COMMITTEES ON FACILITIES LEARNED NEITHER DPS

1:33:15OR DGR HAS FUNDING FOR DOG PARK MAINTENANCE.

1:33:21THE CURRENT DPR POLICY IS TO REQUIRE A REGISTERED FRIEND

1:33:26GROUP TO RAISE FUNDS FOR AND PROVIDE MAINTENANCE.

1:33:29WHEN THERE IS NO REGISTERED GROUP, THE PARK IS NOT

1:33:31MAINTAINED BY ANYONE. MR. CHAIRMAN, I AM WONDERING IF

1:33:35YOU KNOW IF THERE IS A FRIENDS OF FRANCIS DOG PARK.

1:33:38IT HAS -- HAS DGS COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THE DOG PARK UNTIL

1:33:44ONE CAN DO SO? WE DON'T WANT WHAT HAPPENED AT S

1:33:47STREET TO HAPPEN HERE FOR THE SAME COMMUNITY.

1:33:50CHAIR MENDELSON: I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A FRIENDS OF FRANCIS

1:33:55DOG PARK. I BELIEVE, IN THE CAPITAL

1:33:59BUDGET, THERE IS ALWAYS A LINE FOR EACH PRODUCT -- PROJECT FOR

1:34:03OPERATING COST OF CAPITAL. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS IT IS

1:34:06FUNDED. I'M LOOKING AT THE BUDGET

1:34:07COUNCIL. >> I HAVE NOT LOOKED INTO THIS.

1:34:13I NOTE THAT O RA SPECIFICALLY TALKS ABOUT THE AGENCY ABSORBING

1:34:17THE COST OF ONGOING MAINTENANCE. TO THIS JURISDICTION.

1:34:23BUT I CANNOT SPEAK TO THE DOG PARK SPECIFICALLY.

1:34:26I AM HAPPY TO LOOK INTO IT AFTER THE MEETING FOR YOU.

1:34:29CHAIR MENDELSON: COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON.

1:34:33COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON: THIS IS NOT MY QUESTION, BUT I THINK IT

1:34:38IS KIND OF CRAZY THAT WE REQUIRE RESIDENTS TO FORM A GROUP TO

1:34:44PRIVATELY FUND RAISE TO MAINTAIN A PUBLIC ASSET.

1:34:53ANYWAY, MY QUESTION. AFTER THE TRANSFER, WHO PERMITS

1:34:57FOR THE ATHLETIC FIELD AND COMMUNITY GARDENS?

1:35:04CHAIR MENDELSON: I THINK IT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND

1:35:07RECREATION. MS. HENDERSON: THE D.C. OFFICE

1:35:17OF PLANNING FLAGGED THE LAND WAS UN-ZONED, SO WHAT WILL NEED TO

1:35:24BE REZONED WHEN THE TRANSFER TO THE DISTRICT IS COMPLETE.

1:35:26THE COMMITTEE REPORT DOES NOT SAY WHEN OR HOW THIS HAPPENED.

1:35:30OR WHAT APPLIES IN THE MEANTIME. CHAIR MENDELSON: PROBABLY

1:35:33BECAUSE IT WILL NOT HAPPEN. UNTIL ABOUT 1990, ALL DISTRICT

1:35:39LAND COMEDIES D.C. GOVERNMENT LAND WAS NOT ZONED -- DISTRICT

1:35:46LAND, DISTRICT GOVERNMENT LAND, WAS NOT ZONED.

1:35:51THE LAND GETS ZONED WHEN THERE IS AN INITIATIVE ON THE PART OF

1:35:54THE OFFICE A NEED TO BUILD SOMETHING, LIKE, SAY, A FOOTBALL

1:36:00STADIUM. CM HENDERSON: OH, OK, SO FOR

1:36:06RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD BE UNZONED UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES TO

1:36:11INITIATE IT? CHAIR MENDELSON: YES.

1:36:13CM HENDERSON: THANK YOU. CHAIR MENDELSON: I'M ASSUMING

1:36:17THAT IS UNZONED. CM HENDERSON: NO, THAT WAS NOT

1:36:23MY QUESTION. THE OFFICE OF PLANNING SAID

1:36:25THAT. THAT WAS IN THE REPORT.

1:36:25CHAIR MENDELSON: OK. ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA?

1:36:31THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE PRINT, THE NEED FOR STAFF, CONFIRM ANY

1:36:35CHANGES, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

1:36:39ALL: AYE. CHAIR MENDELSON: ARE THERE ANY

1:36:43OPPOSED? HEARING THE OUTCOME OF THE AYES

1:36:48HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. CONFIRMING EDITORIAL CHANGES,

1:36:50CO-MOVE WITH THE DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE

1:36:55REPORT, SAY AYE. ALL: AYE.

1:36:58CHAIR MENDELSON: ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THE AYES HAVE IT.

1:37:09SECRETARY, IS THE RECORD COMPLETE?

1:37:13AND THE FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT APPLIES WITH COUNSEL STATEMENT.

1:37:17>> NO. CHAIR MENDELSON: DOES THE MATCH

1:37:25OR COMPLY WITH THE COUNCIL REQUIREMENT?

1:37:25>> YES, IT DOES. CHAIR MENDELSON: IF THEIR FISCAL

1:37:30IMPACT? >> NO, THERE IS NOT.

1:37:33CHAIR MENDELSON:CHAIR MENDELSON: MADAM SECRETARY, THAT IS THE

1:37:35CONSENSUS FOR TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE MEETING.

1:37:38NOW TO MEASURES FROM OTHER COMMITTEES.

1:37:41THE FIRST TWO ARE REPORTING OUT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH,

1:37:44CHAIRED BY COUNCILMEMBER CHRISTINA HENDERSON.

1:37:47BILL 26-523, STREAMLINING THE MEDICAID AMENDMENT ACT OF 2026.

1:37:54CM HENDERSON: THANK YOU. I INTRODUCED BILL 26-523 ON

1:38:03DECEMBER 1, 20 25, ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBERS ALLEN, BONDS, FOR

1:38:07MEN, PARKER, -- FRUMIN, PARKER, WHITE.

1:38:15IF A PROVIDER WANTS TO SERVE PATIENTS IN THE MEDICAID

1:38:21PROGRAM, THEY FIRST HAVE TO ENROLL WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF

1:38:22HEALTH CARE FINANCE AND THEN GO THROUGH WHAT IS KNOWN AS A

1:38:24CREDENTIALING PROCESS. CREDENTIALING OFFERS INSURANCE

1:38:27TO MEDICAID PATIENTS THAT THE HEALTH INSURANCE IS QUALIFIED TO

1:38:32DELIVER SAFE AND APPROPRIATE CARE.

1:38:34HOWEVER, UNDER OUR CHRYSOSTOM, A PROVIDER HAS TO BE CREDENTIALED

1:38:38WITH EACH MANAGED CARE, TO ASK FOR THE SAME INFORMATION IN A

1:38:40VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS. THIS IS ADMINISTRATIVELY

1:38:45BURDENSOME AND TIME-CONSUMING, WASTING TIME OF THE PROVIDERS

1:38:47THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY PROVIDE AND SERVING WITH MEDICAID

1:38:49PATIENTS. THE COMMITTEE PLANT REQUIRES THE

1:38:53DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE TO PROVIDE A PROCESS FACING CREDENTIALED BY

1:38:56MEDICAID. THE TIMELINE IS STRENGTHENED BY

1:39:00REQUIRING DEPARTMENT HEALTH CARE FINANCE TO RESPOND TO AN

1:39:03APPLICANT WITHIN 10 DAYS AND INFORM THEM OF ANY MISSING

1:39:04INFORMATION. THAT DOES NOT MAKE THE

1:39:08APPLICATION COMPLETE. THE COMMITTEE DEPARTMENT ALSO

1:39:10REQUIRES HEALTH CARE FINANCE TO ISSUE A CREDENTIAL AND

1:39:13DETERMINATION WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RECEIVING A COMPLETE

1:39:14APPLICATION. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO EXPEDITE

1:39:18THE PROCESS, TO INAPPROPRIATELY ENCOURAGE HELP YOUR FINEST TO

1:39:22APPROVE CREDENTIALS WITHOUT CONDUCTING A CHECK OF

1:39:24APPLICANTS. RATHER IT IS MEANT TO SET A

1:39:27STANDARDIZED TIME I FOR PROCESSING THAT IS FEASIBLE FOR

1:39:29HEALTH CARE FINANCE. THE BILL ALSO ALLOWS FOR

1:39:33PROVIDERS NOT TO RE-CREDENTIAL OR NOT TO REQUIRE PROVIDERS TO

1:39:37PRECONVENTIONAL IF THEY CHANGE EMPLOYERS, PROVIDED THAT THE NEW

1:39:41EMPLOYER IS ALSO PARTICIPATING WITH THE NCO'S.

1:39:43IT REMOVES THE PROVISION IN THE BILL IS INTRODUCED THAT ALLOWS

1:39:48FOR TEMPORARY CREDENTIALING AFTER THE DEPARTMENT HEALTH CARE

1:39:49FOSSA FINANCE TESTIFIED THAT THIS WOULD INCREASE THE PROGRAM,

1:39:52FOR EXAMPLE, IF PROVIDED GRANTED TEMPORARY CREDENTIALS ULTIMATELY

1:39:57END AND HAD CREDENTIALS REVOKED AFTER SEEING OR BILLING

1:40:00PATIENTS. THIS ALSO DIRECTS THE DEPARTMENT

1:40:04HEALTH CARE FINANCE TO COORDINATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT

1:40:07OF INSURANCE SECURITIES AND BANKING, TO ENSURE THE

1:40:09APPLICATION PROCESS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE UNIFORM

1:40:13CREDENTIALING FORM, WHICH WOULD DEREGULATE, IT CHANGES THE

1:40:17EFFECTIVE DATE FROM JANUARY 1, 2020 SEVEN TO JANUARY 1, 2028,

1:40:22TO GET HEALTH CARE FINANCE SUFFICIENT TIME TO

1:40:25IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES GIVEN OTHER MEDICAID CHANGES AT THE

1:40:27START OF THE YEAR. THEY HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THERE

1:40:31WILL BE A OF THE LEGISLATION -- COST OF THE LEGISLATION, SPLIT

1:40:34BETWEEN LOCAL AND FEDERAL, BECAUSE IT IS INVOLVING THE

1:40:37MEDICAID PROGRAM. SO FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, IT

1:40:41WOULD BE A COST OF 2.2 MILLION DOLLARS LOCAL.

1:40:46THE FUNDING IS ENTIRELY FOR HEALTH CARE FINANCE TO IMPLEMENT

1:40:49A VENDOR CONTRACT TO OPERATE THE CREDENTIALING SYSTEM AND

1:40:52PRACTICES. I WANT TO THANK THE PRIMARY CARE

1:40:57ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR ADVOCACY IN RAISING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE,

1:41:00AND I ASK FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA IN TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE MEETING.

1:41:12CHAIR MENDELSON: THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

1:41:13MADAM GENERAL COUNSEL, IS THE MEASURE SUFFICIENT FOR

1:41:14CONSIDERATION? >> YES, IT IS.

1:41:15CHAIR MENDELSON: IT IS A COMPLETE?

1:41:18>> YES, IT IS. CHAIR MENDELSON: BUDGET COUNCIL,

1:41:22DOES IT MEET COUNTS REQUIREMENT? >> YES, IT DOES.

1:41:24>> THE BILL IS ESTIMATED TO COST $4 MILLION IN FY 27 AND $16

1:41:33MILLION OVER THE FINANCIAL PLAN, SPLIT IN EACH OF THOSE YEARS

1:41:35BETWEEN LOCAL AND FEDERAL. CHAIR MENDELSON: WHAT DOES THAT

1:41:39MEAN? >> THE $4 MILLION INCLUDES BOTH

1:41:44LOCAL AND FEDERAL, SO $2.2 MILLION IN FEDERAL IN FISCAL

1:41:49YEAR 27 AND 8.8 MILLION DOLLARS LOCAL OVER THE FINANCIAL

1:41:52STRETCH. CHAIR MENDELSON: ALL RIGHT,

1:41:56THANK YOU. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MEASURE

1:42:00WILL BE PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR TODAY'S MEETING.

1:42:03BILL 26-588, CAPTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY MET OF 2026.

1:42:10COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON. CM HENDERSON: THANK YOU, MR.

1:42:17CHAIRMAN. THE CAPTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY

1:42:18AMENDMENT ACT OF 2026 WAS INTRODUCED BY CHAIRMAN MENDELSON

1:42:21ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR COME ORIGINALLY ON THE BUSINESS OF

1:42:24ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE BILL WAS REFERRED TO THE

1:42:27COMMITTEE ON HEALTH IN FEBRUARY, AND THE COMMITTEE HELD A HEARING

1:42:32IN JUNE OF 2020 SIX. CAPTIVE INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE

1:42:36EXISTED FOR 25 YEARS AND ALLOW PARENT COMPANIES TO ENSURE THEIR

1:42:38OWN RISK OR RISK OF THEIR OWNERS.

1:42:41CAPTAIN INSURANCE -- CAPTIVE INSURANCE PROVIDES WAYS TO

1:42:45UNDERWRITE RISKS, NOT COVERED BY STANDARD INSURANCE.

1:42:46FOR EXAMPLE, CYBERSECURITY FOR CYBER ATTACKS, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF

1:42:53TAX DEDUCTIONS OFFERED BY THE IRS AND PROTECT ASSETS FROM

1:42:57BEING SEASON THE POTENTIAL BANKRUPTCY.

1:42:59THE CAPTIVE INSURANCE INDUSTRY HAS EXPANDED TO SEVERAL TYPES,

1:43:04INCLUDING SINGLE-PARENT, GROUP ASSOCIATION, SEGREGATED, SELL

1:43:08AND RISK RETENTION GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS THAT USE CAPTIVES

1:43:12TO SUPPORT THEIR BUSINESSES RANGE FROM LARGE MULTINATIONAL

1:43:15CORPORATIONS TO NONPROFITS TO SMALL MEMBER BUSINESSES AND

1:43:18EXPAND ALL INDUSTRY VERTICALS FROM HEALTH CARE TO REAL ESTATE.

1:43:21THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN A LEADER AND A HOME TO CAPTIVE FOR THE

1:43:27PAST 25 YEARS. THE DISTRICT PERCEIVES ALMOST $4

1:43:28MILLION IN PREMIUM TAXES AND FEES ANNUALLY TRANSMITTED TO THE

1:43:33GENERAL FUND THAT HELPS THE DISTRICT FUN A VARIETY OFD

1:43:36PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THE DISTRICT HAS ALLOWED ALL

1:43:41CAPTIVE ENTITIES FORMED HERE BY STREAMLINING OUR APPLICATION

1:43:44PROCESSES AND OFFERING SIGNIFICANT REGISTRATION COSTS.

1:43:48THIS BILL WOULD ALIGN THE DISTRICT WITH UPDATED INDUSTRY

1:43:51AND NATIONAL STANDARDS TO OPERATE CAPTIVES, PROVIDING

1:43:54LOCAL BUSINESS A COPTIC -- COST EFFICIENT WAY TO ENSURE THAT.

1:43:59THE REQUIREMENT FOR A PROTECTIVE SELL CAPTIVE INSURERS, WE UPDATE

1:44:07THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT FOR INACTIVE CAPTIVE INSURANCE

1:44:10COMPANIES BY OFFERING THESE ENTITIES INACTIVE RATHER THAN

1:44:14REQUIRING THE COMPANY TO NOTIFY. WE EXPEDITE THE CERTIFICATE OF

1:44:19AUTHORITY APPLICATION PROCESS FOR PROTECTIVE SELF CAPTIVE

1:44:26ALREADY OPERATING IN THE DISTRICT FOR A THREE-DAY PERIOD.

1:44:32THEY HAVE CONFIRMED IT IS SUFFICIENT TO IMPLEMENT THESE

1:44:35LEGISLATION, AND THIS WILL HELP ALIGN THE DISTRICT TO INDUSTY

1:44:38AND NATIONAL STANDARDS BUT I ASK THAT THIS BE PLACED ON THE

1:44:41CONSENT AGENDA FOR TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE MEETING.

1:44:42THANK YOU. CHAIR MENDELSON: THANK YOU,

1:44:45COUNCILMEMBER. ARE THERE QUESTIONS FROM

1:44:47MEMBERS? GENERAL COUNSEL, IS THE MEMBER

1:44:53LEGALLY AND TECHNICALLY FOR CONSIDERATION?

1:44:55>> YES, IT IS. CHAIR MENDELSON: AND IT A

1:44:58COMPLETE? >> YES IT IS.

1:44:59CHAIR MENDELSON: MADAM BUDGET COUNSEL, DOES IT COMPLY WITH

1:45:04COUNCIL REQUIREMENT? >> CHAIR MENDELSON: --

1:45:12>> THE ESTIMATE DOES. CHAIR MENDELSON: NO OBJECTION,

1:45:15IT WILL BE PLACED. EDUCATION AND MANAGEMENT YIELDS

1:45:21RESULT A MINUTE ACT OF 2026. COUNCILMEMBER.

1:45:27>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I INTRODUCED BILL 26-27 THE

1:45:33YIELD RESULTS AMENDMENT ACT OF 2026 ON JUNE 22, 2026 ALONG WITH

1:45:39COUNCILMEMBERS ALLEN, GEORGE -- LEWIS GEORGE, AND PINTO.

1:45:43THE COMMITTEE CLICK PRINT IS A COMBINATION OF THAT LEGISLATION

1:45:45I INTRODUCED AS WELL AS BILL 26-492, THE RODENT ABATEMENT

1:45:51TRANSPARENCY AMENDMENT ACT OF 2025, ALSO KNOWN AS THE R.A.T.

1:45:54ACT, PRIMARILY INTRODUCED BY A COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GEORGE,

1:46:01ALONG WITH ALAN PINTO, AND MYSELF.

1:46:03THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS HELD A

1:46:05JOINT HEARING ON BOTH BILLS FOR JULY, AND OUR COMMITTEES WERE

1:46:09TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A COMMITTEE PRINT AND AGREED THAT THE

1:46:13MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO FOR BOTH BILLS IS TO COME BY THAT.

1:46:15BY PROVIDING THESE TWO BILLS, THIS RATNIBUS, IF YOU WILL, IT

1:46:25HELP STRATEGIES TO PREVENT INFESTATION.

1:46:30EASY AND ABUNDANT ACCESS TO FOOD.

1:46:32AS WE'VE LEARNED IN THE DISNEY PIXAR UP CLASSIC "RATATOUILLE,"

1:46:36WHICH INSPIRED THIS BILL'S NAME, DISCARDED FOOD IN OVERFLOWING

1:46:43DUMPSTERS AND BENDS MAKES FOR AN ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BUFFET FOR OUR

1:46:45RODENTS. TRASH MANAGEMENT IS PARTICULARLY

1:46:49CHALLENGING IN AREAS WHERE RESTAURANTS PRODUCE A

1:46:50SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WASTE BUT EITHER CANNOT AFFORD RODENT-

1:46:55PROOF DUMPSTERS OR HAVE INSISTED ON OLDER MODELS FOR THEIR

1:46:57DUMPSTER. ON THE OTHERS LIKE THEM A

1:47:01CHEMICAL RODENT ASIDES ARE A SHORT TERM SOLUTION TO A RODENT

1:47:05INFESTATION AND INEFFECTIVE IN THE LONG TERM WHEN FOOD SOURCES

1:47:08REMAIN ABUNDANT. DESPITE HEAVY USE OF

1:47:11RODENTICIDES FOR DECADES, RODENTS STILL INFEST MAJOR

1:47:16CITIES. RODENTICIDES POSE RISKS TO

1:47:22CHILDREN AND WILDLIFE. ONE ESTIMATES 12 CASES OF

1:47:28PEDIATRIC, 52 RODENTICIDE EXPOSURE IN ONE YEAR, AND 85% OF

1:47:34AUTOPSIED WILDLIFE TESTED POSITIVE FOR RODENTICIDE,

1:47:37PARTICULARLY EAGLE, HOP, AND OTHER BIRDS OF SPLAY -- HAWK,

1:47:43AND OTHER BIRDS OF PREY. THIS BILL DOES THE FOLLOWING --

1:47:48I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME, BUT HERE WE ARE.

1:47:52LAUNCH AND ESTABLISH A COMMERCIAL RODENT-PROOF TRASH

1:47:56RECEPTACLE PILOT PROGRAM WITH DPW TO SUPPORT BUSINESS

1:47:59IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS AND MAIN STREET IN ADDRESSING AREAS WITH

1:48:00HIGH RODENT POPULATIONS. INCREASES TRANSPARENCY TO CREATE

1:48:09A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE RODENT DASHBOARD THAT INCLUDES

1:48:10GEOSPATIAL DATA, UNTREATED OF RAT BURROWS, RESPONSE TIME.

1:48:15CLARIFIES WHAT CONDITIONS CAUSING RODENT ACTIVITIES D.C.

1:48:18HEALTH HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ABATE, INCLUDING TRASH, DEBRIS,

1:48:28DISCARDED MATERIALS, ABANDONED AND INOPERABLE VEHICLES,

1:48:29STANDING WATER, WEEDS OR GRASS -- MR. CHAIRMAN, CAN I HAVE ONE

1:48:30MORE MINUTE? CHAIR MENDELSON: WITHOUT

1:48:32OBJECTION? .

1:48:39>> WEEDS OR GRASS EIGHT INCHES OR MORE.

1:48:40IT ALSO ASKS D.C. HEALTH TO REQUIRE RODENT ABATEMENT PLAN

1:48:41FOR PROPERTY OWNERS. IN OFFICER -- IT AUTHORIZES D.C.

1:48:44HEALTH TO IMPOSE PENALTIES UP TO THREE TIMES THE COST INCURRED TO

1:48:48THE DISTRICT WHEN D.C. HEALTH MUST CLEAN UP RODENT HARBORAGE

1:48:52ON A PROPERTY. IT REQUIRES D.C. W-2 REPORT

1:48:56RODENT ACTIVITY OBSERVED DURING TRASH VIOLATIONS, AND A

1:49:01CLARIFIES THAT D.C. HEALTH AND DCW CAN ENFORCE LAWS ON THE SAME

1:49:07PROPERTY. REQUIRES D.C. HEALTH TO CONDUCT

1:49:11A PUBLIC INFESTATION FOR EFFECTIVE RODENT PREVENTION AND

1:49:14ABATEMENT STRATEGIES. IT REQUIRES DPW TO NOTIFY ANC'S

1:49:19BEFORE PUBLIC CANS CAN BE REMOVED FROM RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS.

1:49:23IT PROTECTS WILDLIFE AND YOUTH BY RESTRICTING COAGULANT

1:49:27RODENTICIDES TO THE DISTRICT AND TOLD THE GOVERNMENT AND

1:49:28COMMERCIAL APPLICATORS -. WHEN IT COMES TO THE RODENTICIDE

1:49:37RESTRICTION AND REFERRAL TO THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL, IT

1:49:40AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT TO ACT

1:49:43ADDITIONAL TYPES OF RODENTICIDE TO THESE RESTRICTIONS BASED ON

1:49:45DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE OF HARM. NOW, THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF

1:49:50FINANCIAL OFFICER DID FIND THIS ALLEGEDLY SHALL HAVE THE COST,

1:49:52AND AS WITH MOST BILLS, EVERYBODY WANTS AN STE.

1:50:01DPW WANTS MONEY FOR THE ACTUAL TRASH CANS, WHICH, SURE.

1:50:05D.C. HEALTH, ONE FTE. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND

1:50:11ENVIRONMENT ALSO RELEASING TWO FTE'S AS WELL GET I WANT TO

1:50:18THANK COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GEORGE AND COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU FOR

1:50:21THEIR HELP IN MOVING THIS FORWARD.

1:50:23AND I WANT TO THANK THE RAT MANAGEMENT COALITION -- YES, WE

1:50:26HAVE COALITIONS FOR EVERYTHING -- FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE

1:50:28THROUGHOUT THIS LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

1:50:31I ASK FOR CONSENT TO ENTER IN TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE MEETING, MR.

1:50:34CHAIRMAN. CHAIR MENDELSON: SO, WHEN I

1:50:39WALKED ON THE DAIS SEVERAL, MEMBERS SAID THEY WANTED TO

1:50:44SPEAK TO THIS. THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO SPEAK TO

1:50:46THIS IS OF THE LEGISLATIVE MEETING.

1:50:47IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, STATEMENTS WOULD BE IN ORDER

1:50:55WITHIN THE THREE MINUTES, NO ADDITIONAL TIME, THEN IT CAN

1:50:59STAY ON CONSENT. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GEORGE, DID

1:51:01YOU WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED? CM LEWIS GEORGE: YES,

1:51:05COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE COMMITTEE

1:51:07FOR THE RATNIBUS AND THE BILL YOU BROUGHT FORWARD.

1:51:17BRASS CONTINUE TO RECONNECT HAVOC IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

1:51:18IN WARD 4 AND ACROSS THE CITY, RODENTS HAVE TORN UP YARDS,

1:51:23USING TRASH CANS AND EVEN EATEN THROUGH CAR WIRES.

1:51:26RODENTS ARE COSTLY FOR FAMILIES COME ABATE IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE

1:51:29THEY POSE A REAL PUBLIC HEALTH RISK.

1:51:31THIS IS IN FACT A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, WHICH IS WHY I INTRODUCED

1:51:34THE R.A.T. ACT. TOGETHER, THE R.A.T. AND REMI

1:51:42ACT WILL TACKLE THE DISTRICT'S GROWING RODENT CRISIS.

1:51:49BY IMPROVING COORDINATION AND ENFORCEMENT, EXPANDING DATA

1:51:53TRANSPARENCY, AND BOWSTRING FROST RELATED POLICIES.

1:51:56THE BILL GIVES D.C. HEALTH THE CHANCE TO RECOVER UP TO THREE

1:52:00BECAUSE -- THREE TIMES THE COST TO THE COST, AND REQUIRES THAT

1:52:07ANC GIVE A NOTICE BEFORE THE RESIDENTIAL TRASH CANS.

1:52:12I'M SO GRATEFUL WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, AND I LOOK

1:52:14FORWARD TO THE WORK WE ARE GOING TO DO AS WE TAKE ON THIS RODENT

1:52:17CRISIS IN THE CITY. MY QUESTION FOR YOU,

1:52:21COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON IS, AND YOU SHARE MORE -- I DON'T DURING

1:52:24THE HEARING, WE HEARD A LOT OF TESTIMONY ABOUT ACCIDENTAL

1:52:30POISONING FROM THE USE OF ANTICOAGULANT COME OF

1:52:32RODENTICIDE -- OF ANTICOAGULANT, RODENTICIDE.

1:52:42CAN YOU SHOW ME HOW THE OMNIBUS BILL PROTECTS RODENTS AND

1:52:43ANIMALS FROM THE ACCIDENTAL POISONING FROM THE

1:52:47ANTICOAGULANT, RODENTICIDE. CM HENDERSON: THANK YOU FOR THAT

1:52:51QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GEORGE.

1:52:52THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHERE RESIDENTS WANT TO TREAT BRAT'S

1:52:58THEMSELVES, PARTICULARLY IN ALLEYS AND PUBLIC SPACES.

1:53:00HOWEVER, WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THAT IT IS NOT IMMEDIATE, SO --

1:53:05I KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT THIS NOW -- BUT WHEN A RAT IN JUST A

1:53:09RODENTICIDE COMMIT IS NOT IN IMMEDIATE DEATH, THEY GET TO

1:53:11HANG OUT FOR A LITTLE BIT. AND SO US IN TERMS OF OUR

1:53:15PSYCHOLOGY, WE WERE LIKE OH, IT MUST NOT HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE, SO

1:53:18LET'S PUT OUT MORE. WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT CASE IS

1:53:21LITTLE PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR WHO ARE AT LOW TO THE GROUND AND

1:53:25PICK UP THINGS AND PUT IT IN THEIR MOUSE, THAT'S HOW THEY ARE

1:53:27INGESTING IT. FOR ANIMALS, THERE IS A WHOLE

1:53:32CIRCLE OF LIFE THAT OCCURS, EAG LES, HAWKS, ETC., THAT EAT

1:53:40SMALLER THINGS. WHEN EIGHT -- A HAWK OR AN

1:53:46EAGLE INTO AN ANIMAL THAT HAS RODENTICIDE COME BACK AND KILL

1:53:48THAT ANIMAL AS WELL GET A CITY WILDLIFE WAS SEEING THAT IN MANY

1:53:51OF THE AUTOPSIES THEY WERE CONDUCTING OF WILDLIFE AROUND

1:53:54THE CITY. CM LEWIS GEORGE: SO, BANNING

1:53:58THAT. CM HENDERSON: YES, BY

1:54:01RESTRICTING APPLICATION TO THOSE WHO HAVE HAD PUBLIC APPLICATION

1:54:04OR ARE COMMERCIAL, IT SHOULD REDUCE THE AMOUNT.

1:54:05CHAIR MENDELSON: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER PINTO.

1:54:10CM PINTO: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH,

1:54:18COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON, FOR MOVING THIS IMPORTANT BILL

1:54:23TODAY. I THINK I SPEAK TO ALL OF US

1:54:25WHEN I SAY IT IS VERY RARE TO GO TO A COMMUNITY MEETING WHERE THE

1:54:27ISSUE OF RATS AND RODENTS DO NOT COME UP, AND SO I KNOW THIS IS

1:54:34SOMETHING THE PUBLIC ACROSS ALL EIGHT WARDS REALLY WANTS US TO

1:54:37BE DEALING WITH, AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE SO MANY OF THESE

1:54:41INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS MOVE FORWARD TODAY THAT I THINK WE'LL

1:54:45START MAKING MORE PROGRESS IN MITIGATING RATS IN THE DISTRICT.

1:54:48I DO WANT TO ASK YOU, AND MAYBE COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU, IF YOU ARE

1:54:53AWARE, I INTRODUCED A BILL, ALSO CALLED THE R.A.TS.S. BAIL, WROTE

1:55:03IN A BABE AND THROUGH SMART SOLUTIONS OF WOMEN ACT, IN

1:55:04NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR COME AROUND THE SAME TIME BUT THESE

1:55:05OTHER BILLS WERE BEING INTRODUCED, I THINK A LITTLE BIT

1:55:11BEFORE HAND, AND I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT ALL THE BILLS ON GRASS,

1:55:16THAT THIS ONE WAS NOT CONCLUDED -- INCLUDED.

1:55:20THERE ARE SEVERAL PROVISIONS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS PART OF

1:55:22THIS ON THE BUS, FRIENDS AND, MAKING SURE WE HAVE SENSORS IN

1:55:24SOME OF OUR PUBLIC LITTER CANS, SO THAT BEFORE THEY ARE

1:55:29OVERFLOWING, WE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE DPW COME OUT AND REPLACE

1:55:36THEM. BIG HAD SEVERAL PROVISIONS TO

1:55:39CREATE A RESIDENTIAL TRASH SHED PLAN, TO REQUIRE RODENT-PROOF

1:55:47GLANDS, RECONFIGURE THE RESIDENTIAL TRASH REPLACEMENT

1:55:52CAM PROGRAM AND RE-IMPLEMENT THE TRASH CONTRACTOR -- COMPACTOR

1:55:56PROGRAM GET ALL OF THESE ARE IDEAS I'VE HEARD FROM THE

1:55:58COMMUNITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS, I THINK HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT, AND

1:56:01WOULD LOVE TO SEE INCLUDED, TERMED AS AN OMNIBUS WITH ALL OF

1:56:08THESE RAT BILLS. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, I DON'T

1:56:11KNOW IF THAT QUESTION FOR THE FOR YOU OR COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU,

1:56:16WHY MY BILL WAS NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF THE HEARING AND

1:56:19SUBSEQUENT OMNIBUS, AND AS WE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER

1:56:23BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING TO ADD SOME OF THOSE PROVISIONS.

1:56:29CM HENDERSON: MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO RESPOND.

1:56:31CHAIR MENDELSON: COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU.

1:56:32CM NADEAU: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER PINTO.

1:56:37THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN FOR GOOD IS ALL AROUND, DPW IS IN THE

1:56:40PROCESS RIGHT NOW, HAS BEEN, INSTALLING LITTER CANS WITH

1:56:46SENSORS. MIXED WITH OTHER MORE RAT PROOF

1:56:50CONTAINERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THANKS TO SOME MONEY THAT

1:56:54COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON AND I PUT INTO THE BUDGET.

1:56:59THEY HAVE FUNDS TO DO THAT THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR.

1:57:01ONE OF THE THINGS WE OBSERVED ABOUT THE BILL THAT YOU

1:57:03MENTIONED IS THAT THOSE MEASURES REALLY WERE THINGS THAT COULD BE

1:57:08DONE THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS WITHOUT REQUIRING LEGISLATION,

1:57:12SO WE DID NOT INCLUDE THEM IN THE HEARING, BECAUSE WE THOUGHT

1:57:14THAT WAS THE BETTER WAY TO GO, AS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT WE

1:57:18ARE IMPLEMENTING THIS ONE RIGHT NOW.

1:57:20BUT I'M A BIG FAN OF CONTRACTORS.

1:57:22I DEFINITELY THINK THAT GRANT SHOULD COME BACK.

1:57:25AND I'VE BEEN DOING THAT, AND I THINK IT WILL BE A GREAT WAY TO

1:57:28GO. CHAIR MENDELSON: THANK YOU,

1:57:32COUNCILMEMBER PINTO, COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU.

1:57:34I'M TOLD YOU WANTED TO SPEAK T. CM NADEAU: I DO.

1:57:43I PUT MY REMARKS IN THE FORM OF QUESTIONS.

1:57:44I'M GOING TO GO FOR IT. COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON THEM I

1:57:47APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM NOT ONLY MARKING UP THOUGHTFUL

1:57:51RODENTICIDE RESTRICTIONS THAT YOUR INTEREST IN YOUR BILL BUT

1:57:53ALSO WORKING WITH MY COMMITTEE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC

1:57:55WORKS TO UPDATE THE COMPUTERIZATION AND DASHBOARD

1:57:58PROVISIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GEORGE'S BILL.

1:58:01IF YOU HAVE ATTENDED ANY OF MY LAST SEVERAL BUDGET MARKUPS, YOU

1:58:05KNOW I'M REALLY INTO COMPOSTING, AND I'VE WORKED WITH DPW FOR

1:58:09CONTRACTS FOR SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS, PLACING SMART BINS

1:58:13THROUGHOUT THE CITY COME AS A PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MULTIFAMILY

1:58:17BUILDINGS HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO TAKE FOOD SCRAPS KID I USED TO

1:58:20THINK THAT PRIMARILY AS A ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE AS A

1:58:23WAY TO PREVENT OVERFLOW AND LANDFILLS, BUT FOOD WASTE

1:58:29CONTROL IS RODENT CONTROL. I GET WHY PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED

1:58:32AND FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO RESORT TO RODENTICIDE, BUT AS

1:58:35YOU NOTED IN YOUR STATE MAY RODENTICIDE DON'T REALLY SOLVE

1:58:40THE PROBLEM, AND WE EVEN HEARD FROM TESTIMONY THAT THEY CAN

1:58:43LEAD TO A POPULATION REBOUND THAT MAKES THINGS EVEN WORSE.

1:58:47SO FOR THOSE WATCHING AT HOME, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, WHEN WE

1:58:51KILL THE RATS, THEY REPRODUCE FASTER.

1:58:55AND THAT PUTS US IN A REALLY GROSS CYCLE.

1:59:00SO, IN ADDITION TO THAT COME OF THE RODENTICIDES HARM CHILDREN

1:59:03AND WILDLIFE THEM AS YOU MENTIONED.

1:59:08-- SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE RODENTICIDE HARM CHILDREN AND

1:59:14WILDLIFE, AS YOU MENTIONED. WE NEED TO DO PUBLISHER

1:59:17MANAGEMENT, SAFELY AND HUMANELY AS POSSIBLE, BUT REALLY WE'VE

1:59:19GOT TO GET THE FOOD OUT OF THE TRASH.

1:59:21I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE FRAMEWORK OF ANOTHER GRANT PROGRAM FOR

1:59:23CONTAINERS COMING TOGETHER PLUS DATA COLLECTION THAT WILL HELP

1:59:25US FIGURE OUT WHAT STRATEGIES ARE WORKING BEST.

1:59:29BUT, COUNCILMEMBER HENDERSON, WOULD YOU AGREE THAT FOOD WASTE

1:59:32MANAGEMENT SHOULD BE A FUNDING PRIORITY FOR RODENT CONTROL

1:59:35PURPOSES IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE?

1:59:36CM HENDERSON: ABSOLUTELY, COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU.

1:59:41AS YOU KNOW, THIS HAS TO BE A MULTIPRONGED STRATEGY, SO IT IS

1:59:46NOT JUST BIRTH CONTROL FOR RATS, IT'S NOT JUST FIXING THE LITTER

1:59:49CANS, IT IS NOT JUST DEALING WITH THE RODENTICIDE PIECE, BUT

1:59:53SO LONG AS RATS HAVE EASY ACCESS TO FOOD, THEY WILL NOT GO AWAY.

2:00:00THEY WILL JUST KEEP REPRODUCING. CM NADEAU: THANK YOU.

2:00:04THEIR YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. CHAIR MENDELSON: THANK YOU.

2:00:07COUNCILMEMBER PINTO. CM PINTO: THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND

2:00:11THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU FOR TALKING ABOUT THE EFFORTS ON

2:00:15CENTERVILLE -- SENSOR BINS IN DPW'S BUDGET.

2:00:22AND TO YOUR MOST RECENT COMMENT ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO TAMP DOWN

2:00:26ON RASP ABOUT HAVING ACCESS TO FOOD, THERE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST

2:00:29GREAT SUCCESS WITH THE TRASH COMPACTOR PROGRAM, AND WE ARE

2:00:32NOT ABLE TO JUST FUND IT. THEY DO NEED THE LEGISLATIVE

2:00:36LANGUAGE TO MOVE FORWARD, WHICH IS WHY I THINK THAT IS REALLY

2:00:39IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE IN THIS ON THE BUS, SIMILARLY WITH THE

2:00:44REPLACEMENT OF THE RESIDENTIAL BAND, THEY NEED AUTHORIZING

2:00:47LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE TO MOVE FORWARD.

2:00:49SO I JUST WANT TO REITERATE I REALLY HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER

2:00:52BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READINGS ON SOME OF THE PIECES

2:00:54TO ENSURE THAT IT CAN BE TRULY COMPREHENSIVE, WHICH I KNOW YOU

2:01:01ARE SPEAKING TO THIS. THANK YOU.

2:01:02CHAIR MENDELSON: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER BONDS.

2:01:06CM BONDS: THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. I HAVE A QUESTION.

2:01:15THE RECENT HEALTH BRAT ABATEMENT UNIT LEFT A PETITION AT MY HOME

2:01:20SO THAT I CAN COLLECT THE SIGNATURES OF MY NEIGHBORS ON MY

2:01:24BLOCK, AND THIS WILL ALLOW THEM ACCESS TO THE YARDS, AND THEY

2:01:31WILL DO THE ABATEMENT. WILL THAT CONTINUE UNDER THIS

2:01:35LEGISLATION? CM HENDERSON: YES, MA'AM, IT

2:01:38WILL GET AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, COUNCILMEMBER BONDS, WE CAN TAKE

2:01:42THIS TIME FOR A PSA FOR FOLKS. IF YOU SEE THIS FROM YOUR

2:01:46NEIGHBORS OR FROM D.C. HEALTH, PLEASE FILL IT OUT.

2:01:50BE FRIENDLY TO YOUR OTHER NEIGHBORS, BECAUSE -- JUST

2:01:54BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE TODAY YOU DON'T HAVE A RAT PROBLEM IN YOUR

2:01:57YARD, THESE SUCKERS ARE FAST AND THEY TRAVEL, SO IT IS MORE

2:02:01EFFECTIVE IF WE CAN DO AN ENTIRE BLOCK AS OPPOSED TO JUST AD HOC

2:02:06HOUSE TO HOUSE. CM BONDS: OK.

2:02:10WELL, THEY LEFT THE PETITION FOR ME TO CIRCULATE IT.

2:02:16IS THAT HOW IT WORKS? OR SHOULD I TALK TO MY

2:02:19COMMISSIONER? CM HENDERSON: WHY DON'T WE TALK

2:02:23OFF-LINE? [LAUGHTER]

2:02:25BECAUSE NORMALLY IT IS AT THE REQUEST OF A RESIDENT TO

2:02:29INITIATE THE ABATEMENT PROCESS FOR THEIR ENTIRE BLOCK, SO I'M

2:02:31HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. CM BONDS: OK, THANK YOU.

2:02:34CHAIR MENDELSON: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER PARKER.

2:02:37CM PARKER: THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS

2:02:43LEGISLATION. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE FOCUS ON

2:02:44GETTING THE RAT INFESTATION IN THE DISTRICT UNDER CONTROL.

2:02:49I SAID BEFORE, LIKE THIS PAST ELECTION CYCLE, I THINK RATS

2:02:52WERE AT THE TOP OF EVERYBODY'S LIST, WHICH JUST SPEAKS TO HOW

2:02:56THEY ARE HAVING AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF LIFE.

2:03:00ONE THING I APPRECIATE ABOUT THIS DEAL ALSO IS THERE IS AN

2:03:05ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT, SO IF THEY ARE NEIGHBORS AND THEY ARE

2:03:07NOT BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS, THERE ARE WAYS THAT BOTH DPW AND D.C.

2:03:13HEALTH CAN BRING ENFORCEMENT OR FINES.

2:03:15AND PART OF THAT MAY ALREADY EXIST, BUT THIS WILL MAKE IT

2:03:20CLEAR. MY QUESTION IS, IT SEEMS AS

2:03:23THOUGH PART OF OUR CURRENT REGIME LIVES WITH D.C. HEALTH,

2:03:30AND MUCH OF THESE COMPONENTS OF THIS BILL ARE BEING SENT TO DPW.

2:03:32HOW IS THAT COORDINATION HAPPENING?

2:03:34I KNOW ONE DAY WE MAY HAVE A RAT CZAR, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ONE NOW,

2:03:40AND ASSUMING -- CAN EITHER YOU OR COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU SPEAK TO

2:03:44THE COORDINATION THAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING ACROSS D.C. HEALTH OR

2:03:48DPW, IF THERE IS ANY COORDINATION?

2:03:49CM HENDERSON: YEAH. SO RIGHT NOW, THE AGENCIES DO

2:03:53TALK TO EACH OTHER, BUT THERE'S OFTEN A QUESTION OF STEPPING

2:03:57OVER LINES, IF YOU WILL. SO THIS WOULD CLARIFY TO SAY,

2:04:01WELL, FIRST OFF, IF THERE IS AN ISSUE AT A PARTICULAR PROPERTY,

2:04:08BOTH D.C. HEALTH AND DPW CAN ENFORCE AT THE SAME TIME.

2:04:12THINK A DPW INSPECTOR WOULD BRING UP A SPECIFIC SITUATION

2:04:15ABOUT A PROPERTY, D.C. HEALTH WOULD SAY, OH, LIKE, WHILE THAT

2:04:21IS GOING THROUGH, WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALSO ENFORCE AS WELL,

2:04:25WHEREAS DPW, THEY MAY BE THERE BECAUSE OF TRASH OR IN TERMS OF

2:04:31THE YARD, D.C. HEALTH WOULD BE THERE BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE RATS

2:04:34THAT ARE IMPACTING THE ENTIRE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BLOCK.

2:04:37AND SO WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT IN THE FUTURE THERE WILL CERTAINLY

2:04:41BE MORE COORDINATION THAT OCCURS.

2:04:42THIS IS NOT THE ONLY SITUATION WE HAVE FOUND WHAT YOU'VE GOT

2:04:45MULTIPLE AGENCIES IN THE POT. BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.

2:04:50I THINK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THEY USED TO HAVE THIS THING CALLED

2:04:52RAT STATS, WHERE LITERALLY ALL THE AGENCIES CAME TOGETHER TO

2:04:56TALK ABOUT RATS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

2:04:59CM PARKER: THANK YOU. CHAIR MENDELSON: COUNCILMEMBER

2:05:05HENDERSON, DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE?

2:05:07YOU LOOKED LIKE HE WANTED TO RESPOND TO SOMEBODY.

2:05:09CM HENDERSON: NO. CHAIR MENDELSON: IF YOU ARE

2:05:14GOOD, IF THERE IS NO FURTHER QUESTIONING, WE HAVE THE BUILD

2:05:2126 -- BILL IN FRONT OF US FOR CONSIDERATION.

2:05:29IF THE RECORD COMPLETE? >> YES, IT IS.

2:05:34CHAIR MENDELSON: MADAM BUDGET COUNSEL, DOES IT COMPLY WITH

2:05:36COUNCIL REQUIREMENT? >> YES, IT DOES.

2:05:38CHAIR MENDELSON: IS THERE A FISCAL IMPACT?

2:05:43>> $2.4 MILLION OF THE FINANCIAL PLAN.

2:05:44CHAIR MENDELSON: WITHOUT OBJECTION, THIS

2:05:51THE NEXT MEASURE, IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, ITEMS D AND E

2:05:58WHICH ARE BOTH APPOINTMENTS TO THE CONFIRMATIONS FOR

2:06:01APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS WILL BE

2:06:03CONSIDERED IN BLOCK. FIRST ONE HAS TO BE A WAIVER

2:06:06FOR THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE RULE 403-B.

2:06:10>> SO MOVED, CHAIRMAN. CHAIR MENDELSON: THE WAIVER

2:06:18HAS BEEN MOVED. IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE

2:06:21WAIVER? ON THE WAIVER, ALL THOSE IN

2:06:23FAVOR, SAY AYE? [CHORUS OF "AYES"].

2:06:26ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.

2:06:28IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, WE WILL CONSIDER THE TWO IN BLOCK.

2:06:33COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS. NIRANJAN ADHIKARI.

2:06:39CONFIRMATION RESOLUTION OF 2026.

2:06:43COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS. MONIKA NEMETH.

2:06:47CONFIRMATION RESOLUTION OF 2026.

2:06:50COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU? >> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

2:06:54THIS IS KIND OF A PERMANENT JURY FOR DISCRIMINATION CASES.

2:06:57IT IS COMPOSED OF D.C. RESIDENTS WITH A DEMONSTRATED

2:07:00BACKGROUND OR INTEREST IN CIVIL RIGHTS.

2:07:02THE TWO NOMINEES BEFORE US TODAY DEFINITELY FIT THAT BILL.

2:07:06NIRANJAN ADHIKARI IS AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER WHO IS

2:07:08ACTIVE IN ASIAN-AMERICAN AND PACIFIC-ISLANDER INCLUSION

2:07:11EFFORTS AND USED TO WORK IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS.

2:07:14I BELIEVE HE HAS THE COMPASSION AND TECHNICAL SKILLS TO WORK IN