foreign this meeting this is a regular meeting of the committee of the whole of the Council of the District of Columbia I'm Phil Mendelson chairman of the council and chair of the committee as a whole today is Tuesday March 21st 2023. the time is 11 37 in the morning and this meeting is being conducted in the council chambers room 500 of the Johnny Wilson building but it's also what we call a hybrid meeting with a number of members participating virtually this meeting is available to the public live via the zoom video conference broadcast platform also I believe it's live on Council Channel 13 and it is if not live it will be available on the council's website which is www.dccouncil.gov the this is a regular meeting of the committee as a whole and we do not have a legislative meeting following I know that that's hard on members but actually good on staff so um we begin our committee the whole meetings with a roll call to see if we have a quorum Mr Cash would you call the roll chairman Mendelson president councilmember Allen here councilmember bonds councilmember bonds councilmember Freeman president councilmember gray here councilmember Henderson here councilmember Lewis George here councilmember McDuffie yeah councilmember Nadeau here councilmember Parker here councilmember Pinto president council member Robert White president councilmember tray on Mike president Mr chairman you have a quorum thank you Mr Cash we have I believe we have a secretary's report um and I'm going to recognize the chair Pro tem councilmember Kenya McDuffie thank you Mr chairman I'm going to move to where you're reading of the secretary's report an emotional wave the reading of the report is there discussion on the motion by Voice vote in favor of waving the reading all those say I I I opposed you guys have it unanimously we have the reading of the secretary's log of introductions and referrals I'll again recognize the chair Pro tem Mr McDuffie and I moved to wave the reading of the secretary's log of introductions and referrals is there an emotion the way the reading of the log uh is there discussion all those in favor of the motion to waive the reading say aye aye are there any opposed you guys have it unanimously we have three measures for markup in the community the whole the first is Bill 25-27 entitled the Devon T McNeil the Third Way designation Act of 2023 this bill would symbolically designate the 1400 block of Cedar Street Southeast as Devon T McNeil III a symbolic naming is for ceremonial purposes and shall be in addition to and subordinate to any name that is an official name on July 4th 2020 Crystal McNeil held an anti-violence themed Barbecue on the cul-de-sac near her apartment building around 9 15 in the evening her 11 year old son Devon McNeil III was dropped off in front of the apartment to join his mother after spending the day in Ocean City Maryland at the same time four men who knew the mcneils began randomly firing shots at what they wrongly thought was a gunman in their neighborhood this is according to prosecutors Devon McNeil was headed toward his aunt's apartment when he was struck by a bullet fired by one of the men and died almost immediately this census act of violence took Devon's life sparked outrage and sadness in the community and Beyond in the wake of his death in April 2021 Mary Grace Brooke a Magistrate Judge for the superior court and her husband Al Rook worked with the McNeil family to establish a Devon McNeil memorial fund at the greater Washington Community Foundation the fund aims to give at-risk youths in Ward 7-8 an opportunity to break the cycle of violence through social programs and sports the Arts and education his hope that the fund will help to increase awareness about Community violence especially in those neighborhoods east of the river memorializing Devon McNeil III on the street where he was senselessly killed will serve as a reminder of the importance of curbing gun violence in the community thus assuming that the committee approves this he committee the whole recommends Council approval of Bill 25-27 the Devon T McNeil the Third Way designation Act of 2023. this legislation was originally introduced last October October 14th has billed 24-1058 introduced by councilmember Tran White and Seven council members the committee as a whole held a hearing on the measure on December 12 2022. on January 11th of this year bill 25-27 which is before us now was introduced by councilmember Tran white and eight council members essentially the same as the bill that which on which we had the hearing in December the Committees received no testimony or comments in opposition to this legislation there's no objection now move both the print and Report would leave for staff to make technical conforming and editorial changes is there discussion Mr Cash would you call the roll the vote is on both the print and Report with leave for staff councilmember bonds councilman bonds councilmember Freeman yes councilman recruitment votes yes councilmember gray yes councilmember gray votes yes councilmember Henderson yes councilmember Henderson votes Yes councilmember Lewis George yes George votes yes councilmember McDuffie yes councilman McDuffie votes yes chairman Mendelson yes chairman Mendelson votes yes councilmember Nadeau yes councilmember Parker yes councilmember Parker votes yes council member Pinto yes councilmember Pinto votes yes councilmember Robert White yes Mr councilman Robert white boots yes councilmember Trey on white yes that's where Tran white boots yes councilmember Allen yes councilmember Allen votes yes Mr chairman there are 11 yeses and one absent are there 12 yeses and one absence uh the print report are approved unanimously uh Madam general counsel is to measured legally and technically sufficient for our consideration yes it is Mr assistant secretary or Madam Secretary yes sir I'm here oh there you are uh is the record complete once the report is filed and a budget director does the measures fiscal impact statement compiled Council requirements yes it does it has no physical impact correct uh without objection this message will be placed on the consent agenda for the April 4th legislative meeting the next item for markup is Bill 25-81 the Wooten Court designation Act of 2023. this bill would officially designate the public alley system within Square 3562 as Wooten Court North as Wooten Court Northeast uh square is 3562 is bounded by third and fourth streets Northeast and W and V streets Northeast the location is in ward 5. this is an official naming official naming typically involves a designation of postal addresses and enables the placement of the primary entrance to residences or offices wooden court is to propose name for an alley system that will enable the buy right Redevelopment of an existing storage building redeveloped into an a single-family home in the interior of square 3562 the alley is approximately 30 feet wide The Advisory neighborhood Commission in which the proposed designation is located the agency worked with the petitioner seeking the designation and at a meeting on November 19th last fall members of the public were allowed to ask questions give comments on the designation the commission subsequently sent a letter to the committee the whole formally requesting the designation of Wooten Court I believe that letter was dated November 28 2022. the proposed name is in honor of the Wooten family who were the first African-American family to purchase a home on 4th Street Northeast in the eckington neighborhood Paul Wooten was a community leader who was affectionately known as the mayor of 4th Street in the 1980s Mr Wooten was co-founder of Edgewood cope cope meaning citizens organized Patrol efforts which I believe was the orange hacks an anti-drug and anti-crime Patrol group chapter also known as uh Red Hat sorry I was wrong when I said orange redheads he served as a black captain of the Red Hats and worked with the fifth district police district Fifth District police to promote a safe community Mr Wooten and his wife Lila received numerous Awards and recognition for the years of dedicated service by the Edgewood civic association the fifth district police and the fourth district black Club as well as the Council of the District of Columbia Mr Wooten passed away on July 14 2010. officially designating the Sally as Wooten Court Northeast recognizes the legacy of Hall Wooten and his family as Community advocates for safe neighborhoods for these reasons assuming this is approved by the committee the committee of the whole recommends the approval of Bill 25-81 the Wooten Court designation Act of 2022. this legislation was introduced October 17th of last year all right councilman McDuffie and three other council members the committee of the whole held a hearing on the measure December 12 2022 bill was reintroduced by councilman McDuffie and seven council members and January 30th of this year the reintroduction was essentially the same as the bill on which we had the hearing in December and the committee has received no testimony or comments in opposition to the designation there's no objection I'll move both the print Report with leave for staff to make technical conforming and editorial changes is there discussion we'll have a roll call vote on both the print report Mr Cash councilmember Freeman yes councilman proven votes yes councilmember gray yes councilmember gray votes yes councilmember Henderson yes councilmember Henderson votes Yes councilmember Lewis George Yes councilmember Lewis George votes yes councilmember McDuffie yes councilman McDuffie votes yes chairman Mendelson yes chairman medicine votes yes council member noodle yes councilmember dovitz yes council member Parker yes councilmember Parker votes yes councilmember Pinto yes councilman Pinto votes yes council member Robert White yes councilman Robert White votes yes council member Treyon White yes Treyon white votes yes councilmember Allen yes councilman Allen votes yes councilmember bonds councilor bonds Mr chairman there are 12 yeses and one absent the print reporter proved unanimously Madam Federal councils to measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration yes it is secretary is the record complete once the report is filed Madam budget director does the measures fiscal impact statement comply with Council requirements yes it does and funds are sufficient thank you without objection this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for the April 4th legislative meeting the next item for markup was Bill 25-154 entitled to William Dorsey Swann Street designation Act of 2023 this will be a little bit more interesting it's renaming Swan Street Swan Street but actually after a different swan uh this bill would officially designate Swan Street Northwest in honor of William Dorsey Swann location is in Ward 2. this is an official namely naming which typically involves a designation of postal addresses and enables the placement of primary entrance to residences according to the January 24th 1912 Congressional Record Juan Street Northwest was named after Thomas Swann Thomas Swan was born in 1809 in Alexandria Virginia and served as the 33rd governor of Maryland from 1866 to 1869. just have to say that as I read this I think it's great that we name our streets after Maryland Governors no offense to Maryland um and this bill would change the names Mr Thomas Swann eventually moved to Baltimore and became a businessman and then politician uh he had a large role in shaping Maryland post-civil War reconstruction efforts William Dorsey Swann was born into slavery in Hancock Maryland in 1858 as the fifth of 13 children after the Civil War the swan family having been freed bought a plot of land in Washington County Maryland Washington County Maryland to start a farm William Dorsey Swann was uneducated as were most other formerly enslaved children who was expected to work and he became a hotel waiter however in 1880 in his early twenties William moved to the District of Columbia to find work to better support his family he found work as a janitor at a business college which enabled him to learn and practice reading and writing in his spare time William Dorsey Swann was charismatic and won over a number of like-minded male friends during a time when same-sex attraction was very much taboo Swan soon began hosting secret Gatherings called a drag which may be derived from an Antiquated term for a masquerade ball the guests were all his acquaintances who were formerly enslaved men working as servants to the Washington Elite the events featured food and drink as well as dancing competitions in which according to reports of the time the participants wore and I quote low neck and short sleeve silk dresses several of them with trains and corsets bustles long hose and slippers and everything that goes to make a female's dress complete Swann started regular lgbtq plus gatherings I'm not sure they were called lgbtq Plus in the 1880s but he started regular lgbtq plus Gatherings by September of 1882 uh known as the house of swan in April 1888 Swan held a drag ball to commemorate his 30th birthday and I believe the house of swan was at 1114 F Street and it was rated by the local police he was charged with being a suspicious character which was public code for prosecution running a house of ill repute there's no evidence of prostitution at his events uh years later in 1896 one was again arrested and convicted of keeping a disorderly house again a euphemism for prostitution the judge said during sentencing quote I would like to send you where you would never again see a man's face and would then like to rid the city of other disreputable persons of the same kind unquote clearly a city less tolerant back then in response to his latest conviction Swan petitioned president Grover Cleveland for presidential pardon while the president denied issuing a pardon this episode is one of if not the first known to take legal action defending the lgbtq plus communities right to gather without threat of state or individual violence William Dorsey Swann retired from the house of swan by 1900 and returned to Hancock Maryland feeling defeated however the drags that he founded continued and expanded from the district to other cities across the country Swan died in 1925 in Hancock the same year that Harlem's Hamilton Lodge fraternity charity ball was redubbed the ball one of the earliest forms of what became an organized Ballroom culture dominated by black queer attendees and performers there's no doubt that William Dorsey Swann the queen was instrumental in the birth and expansion of queer safe spaces where lgbtq plus community members could gather socialize and protect one another the houses of modern Ballroom culture popularized in modern culture in recent years have maintained the same structures same structure as the house of swan officially redesignating Swan Street Northwest in honor William Dorsey Swann is a fitting tribute to the groundbreaking courage of William Dorsey Swann to live his Truth at a time when the lgbtq plus Community was forced into the shadows of society for these reasons to committee the whole is something we approve this recommends approval of Bill 25-154 the William Dorsey Swan Street dedication Act of 2022 this legislation was originally introduced by councilmember Pinto with seven colleagues on November 1st 2022 the committee of the whole held a hearing on December 12 2022 it was reintroduced by councilmember Pinto myself and nine colleagues on February 28 2023 substantially the same bill the Committees received no testimony or comments in opposition to this legislation if there's no objection I move both to print and Report with leave for staff to make technical conforming and editorial changes is their discussion Mr chairman I have a question yes councilman Henderson um it's noted that um the cost for this legislation it seemed to stink to me because it's sort of outside of the norm can you explain what the thirty thousand dollars is for yeah there's going to be a plaque that will be installed in a nearby park and uh so there's some costs associated with that okay an interpretive sign oh bronze and such well I'm hopeful it's not super fancy I don't know thirty thousand same thing as to I'm told it'll just be a sign but you know the two stakes is sort of tilted it's explanatory um which is actually kind of a good thing yeah no I was just in comparison to the others the others are just going to be putting signs up on the street poles got it and this one of course because the name the last name is the same there won't be a thing with most people's okay thank you thank you so much Mr chairman for moving this bill and for sharing the really important and interesting history of volume Dorsey spawn um spawn into Echo what you shared about the street signs that dissimilarly from other renamings with just the sign itself this is meant to share some of the history um so that the community and visitors can can learn about it um while I won't repeat uh all of what chairman Mendelson spoke about with the important leadership that William Dorsey spawn LED I do just want to add that they refer to themselves as the queen of drag and as a black clear Washingtonian and former enslaved person William Dorsey spawn was a very early Pioneer in lgbtqia plus rights and like many of our good ideas here this idea originated from the community directly to rename the street and I'm really looking forward to working with the Dupont Circle neighborhood as the epicenter of much of our lgbtqia plus community in determining the best location for this new sign with some of the explained history so that as many folks can learn about it it can become a part of the neighborhood fabric so I'm looking forward to working with you Mr chairman your office the ANC Commissioners and DPR on some of those details about the signage and thank you for moving this bill today uh thank you councilmember uh further discussion on this Madam general counsel is to measure that vote I'm sorry um we will have a roll call vote on the print and Report would leave for staff to make technical confirming and editorial changes Mr Cash councilmember Gray yes councilmember gray votes yes council member Henderson yes councilmember Henderson votes Yes councilmember Lewis George yes I'm gonna release George votes yes councilman McDuffie yes Dr McDuffie votes yes chairman Mendelson yes chairman Mendelson votes yes council member noodle yes councilmember votes yes councilmember Parker yes councilmember Parker votes yes councilmember Pinto yes counselor Pinto votes yes councilmember Robert White yes councilor Robert White votes yes councilmember Treyon White yes counselor Tran white votes yes councilmember Allen yes councilmember Allen votes yes councilmember bonds votes yes Mr chairman there are 12 yeses of one absent thank you Mr chair so Bill's approved a bill and Report excuse me the print and Report are approved unanimously and general counsel is to measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration yes it is Madam secretary's record complete once the report is filed Madam budget director does the measures fiscal impact statement comply with Council requirements uh yes it does as you noted there is a fiscal impact of approximately thirty thousand dollars that will be reflected in the fiscal impact which will be a statement which will be issued um later today and so the principle I have to say that it's uh subject to correct inclusion in a budget and financial plan for that section of the bill without objection this message will be placed on the consent agenda for the April 4th 2023 regular legislative meeting that's going to conclude the items for uh business at this committee the whole we have no measures from other committees uh numbers reminded that we meet tomorrow morning I believe at 9 A.M with the mayor where she will brief us on the budget I believe tomorrow is when we the day day one of our receipt of the budget assuming that we get the complete budget balanced and uh then there will be a briefing on Friday to me the whole will have a hearing where the mayor and I'm assuming the city administrator will present and the CFO looks at the CFO doesn't really present to mayor's budget he's just shared answer questions The Briefing will be in this room uh and I believe the format is usually where members get one round with the mayor and then maybe a second round with the city administrator if the mayor doesn't want to stay and I do want to know for the record that I appreciate that the mayor does present her budget to the council formally that way although the clock starts tomorrow and then um we have hearings beginning next week on the budget and uh April 4th as I indicated before is our next legislative meeting time is 1202 in the afternoon meetings adjourned