e e e e e e e e e I'm calling to order this meeting this is an additional meeting of the committee of the whole of the Council of the District of Columbia I'm Phil Mendelson chair of the council and chair of the committee of the whole today is Tuesday April 2nd 2024 the time is 108 in the afternoon and we are conducting this hearing in council chambers room 500 of the Johnny Wilson building although at least one member I see council member Vincent gray is participating virtually our hearings excuse me our meetings are broadcast live on Council Channel 13 and also is available on the council's website www.dc.gov we're having a committee of the whole meeting to mark up a number of resolutions in the committee of the whole and then to what we call agendas measures that have come out of other committees reported out of other committees when we are done with the committee the whole meeting which I'm guessing will be 30 to 45 minutes uh we will take maybe a five minute break and start the legislative meeting which will be the regular legislative meeting for uh the month of April to begin our committee of the whole meeting we need to know whether any members are present Mr Cash would you call the role chairman mendleson present council member Allen here council member bonds here council member fruman present council member gray here coun council member Henderson me people time town Chinese people all right we need some order here um Mr Cash where are you in the role council member Henderson here council member leis George here council member McDuffy here council member Nido here council member Parker here council member Pinto presid council member Robert White present council member Tran white present Mr chairman you have a quum uh thank you Mr Cash if there's no objection I'm going to move the first three resolutions which are uh confirmations regarding the commission on Arts and Humanities I'm going to move them together that's pr25 D620 Commission on the Arts and Humanities Amy K bormet confirmation resolution of 2024 PR 25621 Commission on the Arts and Humanities Demetrius Butler confirm resolution of 2024 n PR 25-622 Commission on the Arts and Humanities Janice J Kim confirmation resolution of 2024 I hear no objection uh the commission on Arts and Humanities was established by the commission on the Arts and Humanities act in 1975 the commission is now an independent agency within the district government and is designated by the National Endowment of the Arts as the state Arts Agency for the District of Columbia its role is to evaluate and initiate actions on matters relating to the Arts and Humanities and to encourage programs and the development of programs that promote progress in the Arts and Humanities in addition the mission of the commission is to provide grants programs and educational activities that encourage diverse artistic expression and learning opportunities so that all District of Columbia residents and visitors can experience the district's Rich Arts and Humanities community members of the commission must be District residents and must have displayed an interest or inability in the Arts and Humanities or must be active in the furtherance of the Arts or Humanities the commission currently consists of 14 members appointed by the mayor for three-year terms with the advice and consent of the council although actually I believe there's one vacant seat in fiscal year 2022 budget support act uh the council reduce the size of the commission from 18 members to 12 members with Comm with the commission being reduced by two positions each year until the total number of members is 12 with regard to pr25 D620 it would confirm the mayor's nomination of Amy K bormett her appointment as a member of the commission on the Arts and Humanities for a term to end June 30th 2025 Miss bormett is a resident of w six she attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts she is a musical performer educator and advocate for the Arts she has toured the world performing and is a frequent artist residents for National and international programs in 2011 she created the Washington women in jazz festival at her confirmation hearing when she was questioned about how or whether the Arts can be an economic driver in the district she stated that Economic Development shouldn't necessarily be the goal for Distributing Grant funds but she agreed that the Arts can drive people into the city who will then spend money to see a show and on ancillary items like restaurants in discussing challenges facing the commission she identified the grant applications tend to be exceedingly difficult to write and that writing subsequent Grant reports may not be a grantees strength or expertise with regard to PR 25- 621 this would confirm the mayor's nomination of Demetrius Butler for appointment as a member of the commission on the Arts and Humanities for term to end June 30th 2026 Mr Butler is a resident of w 8 he is a native Wasington tonian and he graduated from Eastern High School Mr Butler is an art collector creative director and cultural advocate he has fostered emerging artistic talents and curated a number of art shows in major cities around the world he established flea market Gallery in the district to create a hub for the district's vibrant art music and fashion scenes he also co-founded League Otto an art and lifestyle Collective to educate Empower and Inspire emerging Young art collectors and creators at his confirmation in response to questions uh he conceded that artists um he con seeed that artists and aiding artists in building capacity to continue to grow their trade is important um I misread that he cons at his hearing he conceded that artists cannot solely rely on government grant funds to sustain themselves and that Arts grant funding should not necessarily be seen as an entitlement depending on the funding criteria set by the commission with respect to question on how art can play a role in downtown Economic Development he discussed that the Arts can be an important driver of Tourism which can be an important tool for Downtown Development in responding to challenges a question about challenges the commission may face he stated that it should be easier to understand what grant opportunities are available and apply for funding with regard to PR 25-622 this would confirm the mayor's nomination of Demetrius no of Janice J Kim um as a member of the commission on the Arts and Humanities for term to end June 30th 2026 she is a resident of w 3 she is long supported nonprofit Endeavors in particular nonprofits focused on broadening the reach of the Arts she is currently a member of the board of the Transformer gallery and the Washington ballet uh she was previously a national council member of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and a former co-chair of art rageous she has been a longtime supporter of a number of art organizations and events at her confirmation hearing uh she discussed balancing the need to support and incubate artists broadly through grant funding and the need to review art through the lens of a patron of the Arts which supports high quality art she testified that artists cannot sustain if they rely solely on the district to fund their work she said a challenge facing facing the commission is making sure the grants reach as many organizations as possible but particularly to organizations that can support other artists as well she emphasized her desire to promote better access to the arts for children including music dance and reading through her role on the commission if confirmed all three of these nominations were introduced at the request of the mayor on January 31st of this year and the committee of the whole held a roundt table on these nominations might have been a hearing instead of a round table I'm not sure on March 12th 2024 the committee received no testimony or comments in opposition to any of these nominations without objection I move the prints and reports together for all three is there discussion the vote will be on the prints and reports for the three resolutions all those in favor say I I are there any opposed I don't hear or see any no votes the um prints and reports with leaf for staff are approved unanimously Madam general counsel are these three measures legally and technically sufficient for our consideration yes they are Madam Secretary is the record complete for each records and hearing records effect and Madame budget director do the the fiscal impact statements are not required on Nom on confirmations correct without objection these measures will be placed on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting there's no objection I'll move the next four nominations in Block they are each uh mayor's nominations to the historic preservation review board PR 25- 655 historic preservation review board Bill marzella confirmation resolution of 2024 PR 25658 historic preservation review board Andrew P arbach confirmation resolution of 2024 PR 25659 historic preservation review board greten failer confirmation resolution of 2024 and PR 25660 historic preservation review board Patrick Williams confirmation resolution of 2024 I'm sorry I'm I'm go the historic preservation review board was cre by the historic landmark and historic district protection act of 1978 the board is composed of nine members appointed by the mayor after confirmation by the council the district law requires that the board shall be constituted and its members qualified in order to comply with the requirements for a state review board pursuant to the National Historic preservation Act of 19 of 1966 and federal regulations the federal regulations for State review boards require that all board members have demonstrated competence interest or knowledge in historic [Music] preservation with regard to PR 25- 655 the purpose is to confirm the nomination of bill marzella for appointment as an architectural historian member of the historic preservation review board for a term to expire July 21st 2026 Mr marzella is a ward five resident he has worked in the field of historic preservation for more than a decade he's currently a program analyst and liaison to the Federal Bureau of Land Management where he provides technical assistance to ensure the agency meets its statutory and Regulatory responsibilities under the National Historic preservation act he received a Bachelor of Science and architecture from the University of Cincinnati and a master of arts and historic preservation planning from Cornell University Mr marzel is nominated for appointment as an architectural historian member of the board during his confirmation hearing he stated he's a strong advocate for historic communities and said they have the ability to create more desirable places to live and work and I want to emphasize that he would be a new appointment to the board the purpose of PR 25658 is to confirm the nomination of Andrew arbach for reappointment as a historian member of the historic preservation review board for term to expire July 21st 2027 Mr arbach has award three president he is a communications consultant with over 25 years of experience in education programs Community engagement media strategy and video content production with a focus on planning urbanism cultural and environmental sustainability and community building his early career focused on documentary in public affairs television where he produced a number of award-winning historical pieces on figures such as Vincent Van go Hap Arnold Rocky and Bullwinkle and Hector beros Mr arbach holds a master's degree in city and Regional planning from the Catholic University of America School of the architecture and planning and a bachelor's degree in journalism and history from the University of Wisconsin during his confirmation hearing and in response to questions about the role of the board he said that there can be a tension between the challenge of compatibility which is the board's purview under historic preservation guidelines and the district's overall goal of more affordable housing he emphasized that the board's charges to look at the merits of a case I'll note I asked all the nominees similar questions at the hearing the purpose of PR 25659 is to confirm the nomination of greten failer for reappointment as an architectural historian member of the historic preservation review board for term to expire July 21st 2027 Miss fer is award six resident she's a preservation architect with 25 years of experience in preservation restoration and renovation of historic buildings and Landscapes across the country Miss failor holds a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee she is an active member of the American Institute of Architects the American Institute for conservation of historic and artistic Awards and the National Trust for historic preservation Miss failer has practiced lectured and published extensively on historic preservation and sustainability she's worked on countless projects within the district including the Franklin School Carnegie Library Lincoln cottage Eastern Market in the Washington Union Station Master Redevelopment plan during a confirmation hearing she testified her main areas of focus on the board are one balancing historic preservation with sustainability two ensuring the board is functioning well including ensuring the public is heard and advisory neighborhood commissions are far to do great weight and three working with historic preservation office to identify resources to assist existing residents of maintaining their property to historical standards the purpose of PR 25-60 is to confirm the nomination of Patrick Williams for appointment he would be a new member as an architect member of the historic preservation review board for term to expire July 21st 2025 Mr Williams is award for Resident he has several decades of experience as a professional architect he is the principal and owner of the workshop for high performance architecture LLC which is a fullservice architectural design firm Mr Williams earned his Bachelor of architecture degree from the city University of New York College and and a master of science and engineering from Catholic University of America during his confirmation hearing during his confirmation Hearing in response to questions about housing affordability and historic preservation uh Mr Williams discussed his personal view that historic preservation need not make a neighborhood more expensive however he thinks such concerns by the public can be mitigated by public education and Outreach all four of these resolutions were introduced at the request to the mayor on February 27th 2024 the committee of the whole held a public Roundtable on these nominations on March 28th 2024 with the exception of Mr arbach there was no testimony or comments in opposition to any of the nominees without objection I move the four prints and reports with leave for staff to make technical conforming and editorial changes is there discussion council member nid thank you chairman you're moving these in Block you said yes okay um so I just wanted I had mentioned at the breakfast that I had some concerns and I did want to update you and colleagues that I did have a chance to talk with Mr marela after the Mee meeting this morning and I appreciate um I I feel comfortable moving forward on the nomination I want to appreciate chairman that you had asked about the intersection of preservation with affordable housing at the round table for hprb um and I know that you and I don't completely see eye to eye on it but I really thank you for engaging on that topic um I will note that the advisory Council on historic preservation where Mr marzella currently Works released a policy statement last year that's supports greater density in historic districts and loosening of building codes to reduce historic preservations impact on affordable housing and I'm hoping to work with him on that issue and his new capacity on the hprb thank you chairman thank you council do I also want to note even though I didn't bring this up that at the hearing I asked about Patrick Williams whether he'd met with the preservation league and he has since met with them there further discussion com Rons um thank you very much um chairman um I noted that um almost all of these U appointments that we're possibly moving today are appointments that are related to the field of architecture and I just wonder when we talk about preservation review um what is the membership of the committee the nine members are they all Architects or city planners or what uh under the the uh Federal standards there's supposed to be one who has a experience in the discipline of History one in the discipline of archaeology one in the discipline of architectural history one in the discipline of architecture and one in historic architecture so that's five of the nine are required to have that experience uh right now there's a vacancy with regard to archaeology the mayor did send down a nomination for that and um there was some confusion the person was notified by MOA 4 days before the hearing of the hearing said they couldn't make the hearing and the mayor withdrew the nomination it became clear at the hearing that no they just couldn't make the hearing so the mayor then resubmitted the nomination last week will move forward so of the five disciplines that one is vacant uh it is true and the preservation League testified about the fact that the board is architect heavy yes and that there ought to be more experience in the humanities in the cultural aspects of DC because that is also part of um what the historic preservation Act is about I'll say just a little bit more as was testified by a couple of the nominees as well as the preservation league is that sometimes there's a nomination for landmarking a house that served prominently in the history maybe cultural history of the city the house itself is architecturally not distinct but the history of it is important and that speaks to why we don't just want architects who will look at the architectural character of a house but we want others who have experience in the humanities or other disciplines who are thinking about the district's cultural history I I appreciate hearing that and I'm hoping that we will get um a few additional nominations that will speak to um the other um important disciplines in the community um whenever we are po pointing to these entities that impact how a community looks um how it can move forward thriving I'm very concerned if we um give little difference to just the citizens who live in these communities and have some history to the neighborhood so thank you very much for that thank you CER Tron white yes chairman uh I'm not against these nominees today I'm speaking particularly towards the ones on the historic preservation review board uh but I did want to note uh that and it's very difficult for me uh and going back and forth with the board about things that are priority in my ward when I looked at the members it was five members appointed before uh War I War I War I War 6 War 5 and none of them were EAS anacost River but often times there are members on this board oppos the project in w 8 and don't come to w 8 don't live in w 8 don't come to the project and we have a need for uh amenities just like everyone else across the city so I do want to be cautious that we are inclusionary around the city we're having a real diverse board for people with different skill sets different areas uh different um ethnicities and different backgrounds related to these boards because I I don't like when people are poison projects and don't really really have a uh a stake in the game when it comes to what's happening Easter anacosta River and we've seen that on the Sycamore Oak project at St Elizabeth East project where we're trying to get expand the now 13 to 20 blackowned businesses there to a new project but we're getting a lot of push back from the board so we want to make sure the board is diverse I agree and actually counc member white uh this was a topic of discussion at the round table the commune the whole held on these nominations the preservation league has made this point uh at several hearings that there's not enough a geographic diversity in the membership and that there needs to be um so you're personally your Point's well taken thank you anything further on these nominations uh the vote will be on the prin and reports for the four resolutions with leave for staff to make technical conforming and editorial changes all those in favor say I I I I are there any opposed not hearing or seeing any no votes uh the vote is unanimous the four are approved uh Madam General councel are these four measures legally and technically sufficient for our consideration yes they are Madam Secretary is the record complete for each once the reports and hearing records Madam budget director these are nominations so they don't require fiscal impact statements correct oh without objection these measures will be placed on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting the next resolution is PR 25662 Board of zoning adjustment Fred Hill confirmation resolution of 2024 this resolution would confirm the reappointment of Fred Hill is a member of the board of zoning adjustment for a three-year term to expire September 30th 2026 Fred Hill is a longtime businessman entrepreneur and resident of the Washington DC region he currently is award to homeowner and is President CEO and founder of the Hill Group which is a business consulting firm during the round table on his nomination Mr Hill stated that he has recused himself in situations in which there may be a conflict of interest but he does not foresee any conflicts the board of zoning adjustment is a creation of federal law the bza is composed of member of a member of the national capital Planning Commission or an ncpc staff member a rotating member of the zoning commission and three members appointed by the mayor of the District of Columbia with the advice and consent of the council the board of zoning adjustment is authorized to consider applications for special exceptions for variances as well as to hear appeals from decisions granting or refusing a building permit or granting or withholding a certificate of occupancy or appeals from other administrative decisions uh by the zoning administrator based on the zoning regulations or zoning map uh Fred Hill has been a member of the board of adjust zoning adjustment for several terms I don't have here how many uh but he has served well on the board of zoning adjustment he may be currently the chair although his term may have lapsed because he held over and the mayor did not send his nomination until February 27th which I believe was the fifth month of his holdover period um the committee's heard no complaint with regard to his service and at the public round table there was no testimony or comments in opposition to this nomination the round table was on March 29th of this year without objection I'll move both the print and Report with leave for staff to make technical conforming and editorial changes is there discussion the vote will be on both the print and Report with leaf for staff all those in favor say I I I are there any no votes I don't see or hear any no votes the eyes have it unanimously Madam General council is the legally and technically sufficient for our consideration yes it is Madam Secretary is the record complete what's the report and hearing record off uh Madam budget director this does not require a fiscal impact statement correct without objection this measure will be placed on the consent uh on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting the next resolution for markup in the committee the whole is PR 25- 662 excuse me PR 25- 686 entitled the Public Charter School Board James Sandman confirmation resolution of 2024 the purpose of this resolution is to confirm the reappointment of James Sandman as a member of the public charter school board for a four-year term to expire February 24th 2028 the District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995 gave the District of Columbia the authority to start independent at tonomous Public Schools commonly known as public charter schools the seven member Public Charter School board was created for the purpose of authorizing new Charters monitoring the operation and student academic progress of the schools under its purview and ensuring that the public charter schools under its Authority are in compliance with the terms of their Charter and applicable federal and local laws as an independent authorizer the Public Charter School Board Charters new schools through a comprehensive application review process monitors existing charter schools for compliance with applicable local and federal laws and ensures public charter schools are held accountable for both academic and non-academic performance the Public Charter School Board is currently the District of Columbia's sole charter school authorizer and now oversees 69 Charter local education agencies or leas with 135 campuses if Mr sanman is confirmed there would remain one empty seat on the Public Charter School Board James sammon has a long and illustrious legal career for over 30 years he worked as an associate and then partner at Arnold and Porter serving as managing partner for 10 years in 2007 Mr sammon left the law firm in order to serve as the general councel of the District of Columbia Public Schools and um after four years in that role Mr sammon became the president of the legal services corporation which provides funding for civil legal services for Indigent people The Legal Services Corporation receives an appropriation from Congress of over $400 million each year in order to provide funding to Legal Aid societies around the country Mr sammon testified that he has been a participant in three significant board activities the hiring of Michelle Walker Davis as executive director of the board in 2020 a revision of the board's required showing of student demand before a new charter school is approved or an existing charter school is authorized to expand and a revision of the board's academic accountability system for measuring the performance of The District's Charter School schools uh Jim Salmon has already served well on the Public Charter School Board which is why I'm pleased to put his name before us for confirmation the mayor introduced this resolution on March 8th of this year and the committee of the whole held a public round table on March 29th and the committee received no testimony or comments in opposition without objection I move both the print and Report with lead for staff to make technical conforming and editorial changes is there discussion the vote will be on both the print and Report with leave for staff all those in favor say I I I are there any opposed I don't see or hear any no votes yeah I just have it unanimously the last item for oh Madam general counsel is the measure legally and technically sufficient for a consideration yes it is madam secretaries the record complete the report and hearing record or Madame budget director this is the nomination doesn't require a fiscal impact statement correct without objection this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting uh the last item for markup in the committee the whole is an oversight report entitled The District's housing code inspection process broken and in need of repair uh this report was circulated in the subject of a public Hearing in January Ary for years the committee has heard complaints from residents that the Department of Consumer Regulatory Affairs now the department of buildings has failed to protect tenants in its enforcement of the housing code in response we've passed legislation and held numerous public hearings where we have pressed former directors to address the agency's shortcomings this Council period however the committee opted for a different and more collaborative approach starting in the summer of last year my staff spent months digging into data on how housing code violations analyzing standard operating procedures and speaking to agency staff staff and experts in other jurisdictions housing providers in the district and tenants the result of that work is this report the report contains 20 findings including that the Department's complete intake mechanisms are poorly designed and lack options for non-english speakers over half of the notices of infraction are served to the wrong address or the wrong person that the department lacks key performance indicators measuring critical components of the housing code inspection process just as an example how long it takes to issue a notice of infraction after an inspection and the department does not verify all abatements of housing code violations via an inspection an actual inspection for each of these findings and the many other findings contained in the report there are numerous recommendations 25 recommendations rooted in research and best practices for instance to address the finding that over half of the notices of infraction are sent to the wrong address or the wrong person the report recommends that the department consider procuring a public records database like accurate to verify identities and confirm addresses and the report further recommends establishing a protocol for verifying identities and addresses within the Department's standard operating procedures this recommendation was informed by conversations with Baltimore's Department of Housing and Community Development which uses a rigorous process to verify identities and addresses before issuing an infraction in total the report contained 25 recommendations each addressing a specific finding the committee assuming that we approve this report intends to monitor the implementation of the reports recommendations and hopes that it will serve as a guide for the Department in improving the housing code inspection process uh just to add to that a little bit uh there are several key issues with regard to the Department of buildings in my view and one of those is housing code enforcement and we all know that this has been a challenge and that every hearing we hear from tenants who talk about a lack of responsiveness uh and a lack of Correction and a fundamental uh principle of our housing inspection and enforcement process is really to obtain Code Compliance so the notices of infraction are important but the goal here is not issuing nois but rather getting the infractions uh fixed abated and the report goes through in quite some detail uh where uh there are cracks if you will in the system for doing that this report will be a basis for our continuing oversight in closing I'd like to thank blae stum on my staff for all of his work on this report director dop director Brian hlin for his willingness to work with the committee on this very important issue and also the many resents residents who have testified before the committee both in January uh when we had the draft report and in previous and future oversight hearings by the committee so I am moving the report for approval or adoption by the committee it done will be filed with the secretary uh so the motion is to approve the report is there discussion hearing none um the vote will be on the report all those in favor say I I I opposed I don't see or he any no votes uh the eyes have it unanimously uh we'll turn now to consideration and measures from other committees there's no objection we'll consider the first two in Block BL their nominations to the public employee relations board and reported out of the committee on Executive Administration and labor chaired by council member Anita bonds pr25 d609 Public Employee Relations Board Renee Bowser confirmation resolution of 2024 NPR 25- 610 Public Employee Relations Board Mary Anne Gibbons confirmation resolution of 20124 council member bonds um thank you Mr chairman and I'll attempt to move these and if possible um these are two reappointments to the Public Employee Relations Board um Renee Bowser and Maryanne Gibbons the Public Employee Relations Board adjudicates unfair Labor practice complaints considers appeals of grievance arbitration Awards and investigates standards of conduct complaints it is governed by a five member board which currently has one vacancy Miss Bowser is renominated to serve as the organized labor representative of the Relations Board for a term to end December 12 2026 Miss Bowser has served on the board since 2021 and is a ward for rep resident she has extensive experience in labor law and workers rights seeing that she served as an employee union represent resentative an employment investigator for the Pennsylvania human relations commission a neutral lawyer for the National Labor Relations Board and a legal representative for workers and a management representative Miss Bowser testified that her vision for the board is to enhance its Labor Management dispute resolution system resulting in both timely and effective outcomes Miss Mary Anne Gibbons is renominated to serve as an ad hoc management member of the public employee relations board for a term to also end on December 12th 2026 missg has served on the board since 2017 and is a ward one resident she has considerable experience with both management and with unions she was an attorney with the United mind workers of America to health and retirement funds and for 27 years worked in several management positions within the US Postal Service from general counsel to Executive Vice President for the board Miss given seeks to continue to analyze issues skillfully and impartially the committee held a public round table on these nominations on March uh 13 2024 followed by a markup where the Comm committee members unanimous unanimously voted in favor of these two confirmations both appointments have extensive career that demonstrates their vast knowledge of and passion for labor and employment law while developing a strong record of service to the board with that I moved these measures today and urge my colleagues to support the confirmations of both Mary and Gibbons and R Bowser thank you chairman thank you council member Bonds are there questions from Members mam General council is to measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration yes they are thank you clur both of them Madam Secretary is your record complete for each yes and Madame budget director these are confirmations don't require fiscal impact statements correct without objection these measures will be placed on the consent agenda for today's legis ative meeting the next two measures were reported out of the Committee on Public Works and operations shared by council member Brian NAD do the first is Bill 25-1 151 open movie captioning requirement Amendment Act of 2024 council member MTO thank you chairman B25 d151 the open movie captioning requirement Act of 2024 was introduced on February 23rd 23 by council member Charles Allen along with Council members fan Henderson Lewis George Nido Parker and pinto and Robert White it was initially referred to the committee of the whole and we was re-referred to the Committee on Public Works and operations on June 6th 2023 the bill establishes minimum requirements for open caption showings at movie theaters and requires that a certain number of those showings be during Peak weekend hours open captions are the written onscreen display of dialogue and non-speech information which may include music the identity the character speaking and other sounds and sound effects they are visible to all viewers and cannot be turned on or off in the middle of a showing this is the fourth introduction of similar legislation led by council member Allen and I'm proud to be moving forward on this bill that is so important to so many DC has one of the largest communities of deaf heart of hearing and late deafened Harden late deafened residents in the world we should choose to be a leader and accessibility in public spaces in 2016 the US Department of Justice finalized a rule requiring movie theaters to provide closed movie captioning whenever requested closed captions are provided by a specialized glasses screens that can be attached to a seats cup holder or other devices while this is an important accessibility measure a significant motivation for the introduction of B25 d151 and its Community Support is a strong dissatisfaction with the experience of using closed captioning devices in theaters due to malfunctions discomfort or a general feeling of exclusion and othering I'm pleased to say that after extensive collaboration with Advocates and the Lo local movie theater industry this committee print has gained approval from both parties the committee print Builds on existing open caption offerings by requiring three showings per week in the first two operating weeks of a movie's release with two week with two per week in each subsequent week at least one showing per week must be during peak hours on Friday evenings Saturdays or Sundays we work closely with theater manager to structure these requirements in a way that fits in with how they already do their scheduling I strongly believe this will make compliance easier to follow and set clear expectations for both theaters and consumers after working extensively with the office of Human Rights the committee print creates a new monitoring and enforcement system again this enforcement is meant to be tailor fit to how movie theaters work and that can move at a more appropriate speed consumers should not have to wait weeks or months for Ohr to come to a determination on a violation and theaters should not burdened with a lengthy adjudication process if it's not necessary Ohr is empowered to conduct random compliance reviews to ensure that theater schedules match the Law's requirements they would be required to conduct at least three reviews per theater per year there's also a consumer reporting portal to Support Compliance monitoring chairman may have some additional time without objection if a theater is found not to be in compliance Ohr is authorized to order a theater if a theater is not found if a theater is found to not to be in compliance Ohr is authorized to order a theater to add additional caption showings within the following operating week proportional to the infraction this immediately rectifies the violation and serves as a strong enough disincentive for a theater the committee print establishes an ongoing public information campaign on the availability of op open caption movies in the district as well as the benefits of captions to all audiences this will be conducted by our office of deaf de blind and heart of hearing the print also makes local movie theaters eligible for the district's local film incentive grants and recognition of the current economic uncertainty of the industry and the potential need for theaters to update procedures and Technology to comply with the law it just so happens that April is National deaf History Month which makes this A fitting time to be moving this bill forward as other jurisdictions are starting to consider open movie caption requirements I believe the district's law will serve strongly as a model thank you and with that I request this measure be placed on the consent agenda for the legislative meeting to follow uh thank you Council are there questions from members uh Council you may have addressed this in your statement but where is the uh theater industry on this so before you answer let me just know when the bill was first introduced which was before the pandemic and because Department of Consumer and Licensing protection was part of DC which was under committee the whole we had a hearing the theater organizations were upset with the bill we were trying to figure this out and then the pandemic hit so it was like we're not doing anything right now with theaters during the pandemic so we're out of that um where are you with the where where is theater industry with this bill we worked very closely with them on the final draft of the bill and they've taken a neutral position are there any other questions from Members Adam General council is to measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration yes it is Madam Secretary is the record complete yes it is madam budget director does the measures fiscal impact statement comply with Council requirements uh yes it does and there is a fiscal impact of 322,000 in 24 and uh 1.3 million over the plan so roughly 300,000 a year correct uh thank you uh without objection this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting Bill 25-6 excuse me 25- 469 revised project labor agreement cost threshold Amendment Act of 2024 council member do B25 d469 the revised project labor agreement cost threshold Amendment Act of 2024 was introduced by chairman Mendelson on September 18th 2023 and subsequently referred to the Committee on Public Works and operations B25 d469 amends the procurement practices Reform Act of 2010 to revise the cost threshold for the required use of project labor agreements on construction contracts from 75 million to 50 million a project labor agreement is an agreement with one or more labor organizations that establishes the terms and conditions of employment for a specific construction project as a condition of being awarded a contract the contractor must sign the negotiated pla with any relevant Union organizations in return labor strikes and similar disruptions are prohibited this in turn ensures labor piece on high-cost government projects plas are accepted policy in The District in 2016 the council unanimously adopted the procurement Integrity transparency and accountability Amendment Act of 2015 which included a provision that construction projects with an anticipated value of $75 million or more include a pla since then have demonstrated their benefits on numerous projects while the committee has taken all viewpoints into account I believe that claims that this bill will harm local construction firms cbes and minority-owned firms are unfounded plas typically include mentoring programs for small local and minority contractors to help them grow their businesses plas also often include smaller bid packages not subject to the pla to ensure small local and minority business participation many small local and women-owned businesses have no issue working on pla projects as an example the Frederick Douglas Bridge was the largest infrastructure project in the district's history and was completed one month ahead of schedule and included at least 45 minority in women-owned businesses representing $91 million in Contracting opportunities another example is the Benjamin Baner high school project which won the engineering news record's best K through2 project of the year in 2022 built on time and on budget the project saw no loss time accidents during nearly 400,000 work hours it also compl IED with DC's stringent local hiring requirements and participation requirements for certified local small and disadvantaged business participation I also want to emphasize that all district government construction projects are required to comply with the district CBE SBA and First Source laws regardless of whether a pla is in place and the previously mentioned projects demonstrate that plas have positive effects on Project outcomes while still being inclusive of small minority and women-owned businesses pla are also accepted policy at the Federal level on February 4th 2022 President Joe Biden issued an executive order requiring plas on federal construction projects the project cost threshold set by this executive order was $35 million the new federal pla requirement is thought to alleviate coordination challenges on large complex projects raise quality standards for contractors bidding on federal projects and reduce uncertainty in the Contracting process by standardizing the work rules the committee print makes one substantive change Mr chairman may have some more time without objection the committee print makes one substantive change to the bill is introduced to struct the language to the district from the existing provision to ensure the pla requirement applies to all district projects uh that meet the monetary threshold regardless of whether that threshold is met solely with District funding or includes Federal funding if we as a council believe that plas are good policy it is important that we ensure the safeguards instituted by those Agreements are required for the district's largest projects I firmly believe that this legislation will expand opportunities for the use of an instrument that has already paid dividends for district residents and has the potential to provide even more value thank you with that I request this measure be placed on the consent agenda for the legislative meeting to follow uh thank you council do are there questions from Member and council member TR white ask be recognized first yes uh thank you um just want to say I'm in support of Union uh efforts to include the workforce as especially around bargaining agreements and equity and pay uh I guess for me as we talk about this new legislation around this pla I want to ask you councilman do uh what has uh these particular unions done to include more workers from Washington DC because I look at the data from the US Department of Labor and only 11% of those who have been on the pla in DC have have been DC residents that's pretty much one out of 10 um so if you can help me with that that' be great hi chair uh council member thank you for the question so I think you know and we talked about this a little bit before there are challenges here in the District of Columbia with getting our DC workers on these projects Union or not um and I think the pla is not going to change that I think we do all need to come together and actually Double Down on some of the initiatives many of us have talked about like getting more people into the trades talking to students before their seniors in high school um and I know some members have been out to some of the job sites and the training sites and we see the challenges they face on getting District residents there so I would say um that this is that's not an issue that pla's impact it's an issue that we have to care about and take on regardless of whether we lower the threshold on the p my time chairman thank you uh so that is an issue that pla's impact because we are essentially saying that we want to create a greater carve out for those who those construction projects that will allow pla to exist and if we've done this 20 years ago whatever the days were and we have not got DC residents to work that's the intent how can we get DC residents to work how can we get them good paying jobs and careers where they can sustain themselves in a market where DC is becoming more unlivable because the market is rising and amount of pay has not kept up I did want to ask also um it it there this also a preference for those who are have tinger in the unions I'm trying to figure out how are we proud towards in DC residents instead of going out of DC down the road Pennsylvania Virginia West Virginia recruiting from Virginia to prioritize DC residents on these projects have you heard that from the unions as well Council M sorry could you repeat that I didn't quite follow yes sorry I'm just trying to figure out how are we prioritizing DC residents over those who are already in who have question are down the road yes I've seen historically we have recruited people from other places to come to DC to work on pla pla while the DC government is making a priority for these projects understood sorry I just didn't completely hear the formulation of the question the first time you said that um okay so just as a reminder we have several laws on the books that apply for PLA and non-a projects uh the First Source law which we know is not working perfectly right we know there are challenges with that and that's on us in the oversight role that we play here at the council that first sour Source law determines that there need to be a certain number of DC residents working on any project that is the case here as well and I think that's one of the big things here there are still CBE and SBE requirements under plas pla is another layer on top of the existing laws that we have in the district of Colombia I hope we always go continue to be a a jurisdiction that prioritizes local hiring and disadvantaged businesses I think we are even stronger if we also require that when public funds are used that we have strong Fair wages and benefits and that we can protect against w theft and that's what pla's do on top of the existing requirements now if we have challenges with our First Source laws that is something that we have to fix but a pla is not going to change that one way or the other Mr chairman uh council member McDuffy did you want to be recognized well I I was gonna wait till the last meeting but you I'm I'm I'm gonna this for questions here not debate well that was my I was intending to ask a question ch um I I I heard my colleague talk about the Baner project and it was cited as an example of success for pla but it was my understanding that and maybe you can correct me wrong um council member was Baner not subject to an exemption for cbes not that I'm aware of but I can double check for you I'm pretty sure that it was an exemption for cbe's on the bica project and I think that actually illustrates the point of concern that I have about the efficacy of plas I am a labor person I grew up in a union household um I actually paid those dudes myself as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service and so I want to be clear that I'm suppor of the principles of pla but I have a concern about whether it actually undermines our ability to support local small businesses and to the extent it does that um so just to answer your question on this on the exemption so my understanding is that that there was not a special exemption for vaner okay so was the Frederick Douglas brid project subject to a pla sorry what project Frederick Douglas Bridge Frederick Douglas was yes okay and what was the hiring percentage what was the percentage of DC residents hired on that project I don't know my understanding that it was only 25% okay and I think do you think that was because it was a pla or because we had problems with First Source hiring I think that the project illustrates yet another example of the plas and the policy undermining uh the policy supporting plas not actually living up to the promise of what plas are intended to do I'm not saying plas are bad I don't think they are I actually think they're good but what I think is that we have a problem systemically in the District of Columbia of not being able to provide a supply of workers and I'm not convinced by the data that I've seen that pla are actually better for DC residents or DC small businesses so I would have that to be taken off consent and placed on non-consent so I can speak to at alleged meeting with the purpose of hopefully being able to work with with with council member Neo and chairman Mendon between first and second reading to improve this so that it doesn't um have adverse impacts on our certified business enterprises our small business enterprises and our minority business enterprises in the District of Columbia that's my intent uh council member Henderson actually before you recognize I would ask that there be order in the chamber uh we don't allow for Applause or other demonstrations I don't really want folks to be escorted out of the room but uh there's been some Applause and I would ask that folks refrain from that please chairman can I I just got a little extra information when I be able to contribute that to the debate at this time sorry to say that again can I I have a little more information from one of his questions if it's okay sure and sorry I know there's an order here but might be helpful to the flow so the Baner project exceeded goals for Journey worker apprenticeship and skilled labor met 70% of common laborer goal and then the Cedar Hill Hospital Is On Target to meet at CBE and First Source goals if that's helpful my my question was whe whether there's an exemption for cbes on those projects though there wasn't CB there wasn't okay all right move on move on uh council member Henderson um thank you Mr chairman um council member Ino I was wondering if you could speak to the um sorry I'm going to wait okay um I was wondering if you could speak to the proposed uh fiscal impact uh for this piece of legislation yes so the fiscal impact indicates that sorry if I have the whole thing okay um the fist states that 10% enhancement for two 2019 projects appears to have been sufficient but does not otherwise justify the cost assumption and so we are talking with the cfo's office right now um to to sort of get at their other statement in the fist which is it is not possible to establish the exact impact of the pla requirements on the cost of a project while still insisting the 10% assumption there so um at the moment the fifth uh indicates a 10% increase cost assumption for Drew Elementary Green Elementary Martin Luther King Elementary with your education campus okay do we have any indication I mean we're getting the mayor's proposed FY 25 budget tomorrow that they are going to include the funding The increased funding for these projects to go forward because you've listed four schools that have been waiting and I don't want us um you know I'm in support of plas in general but I don't want to delay school modernizations from moving forward because we're changing the threshold while these projects have already been under consideration it's a reasonable concern and I do think that um the most important conversation we can be having right now is with the CFO to better justify that because it's in my mind not justifiable based on the experience we have in the District of Columbia to add 10% on top of what we're spending because that's just not what it costs um and so we will work through that with them we'll continue to work through them with that with them for second reading so we can give you a straight answer because I agree with you we don't want to delay schools okay yeah um my second question I want to add to that so I believe the bill will have a subject to appropriation clause in it right which means that unless the bill is funded these projects get the additional money if the CFO doesn't change his view yeah those projects can still move forward they wouldn't be delayed okay I understand that I feel like we don't do a really good job of informing the public about the subject to Appropriations Clauses in terms of some of these pieces of legislation and I don't want people to assume that if we vote on something today that it's impactful of these four projects immediately going forward when that is in fact not the case um my second question council member noo uh in my in my 25 seconds is um around and I know that this bill switched committees but I'm curious in terms of um why you felt that you didn't need to hold another hearing um given that the hearing the original hearing on this was last Council period um November of 2022 I just give you opportunity to good question Council rules do not indicate we need another hearing same bill um no substantial change um and although it's not necessary the composition of the committee uh I was on the last committee as well so yeah thank you thank you Mr chairman thank you council member Henderson council member Robert White um thank you chairman thank you council member NAD do um I'm a a strong supporter of uh unions um and I think pla's uh help to make sure uh when there are projects in DC that that people in particularly residents uh are getting good wages and benefits um there are some small businesses in the district the ones that are doing right by their employees and paying good wages if they work on a pla then those employers are going to have to pay um dues for the time they working on the pla project which means that for the time they're working on that project they're going to make less money um this is a time where nobody can really afford to have less money and I also worry that's going to create an anti-a sentiment that is not going to help us in our work supporting pla so how do we how do we resolve what can we do to resolve the issue of DC residents making less money uh as we expand uh the pla requirement so what happens with the pla is that the workers on the job are part of the Union which means they're getting union wages and benefits um which means they're getting good wages and benefits and so you know I'd rather not speak in hypotheticals if someone has a a a specific example of someone who's lost their wages their wages have gone down because they've been on a pla project then let's talk about that but think largely those conversations have had happen in the abstract as a way of sort of trying to do exactly what you're saying which is you know throw water on the idea that a pla is a good thing for workers plas prevent wage theft plas do often increase wages plas create Pathways to jobs they create apprenticeships you know a lot of times um you know DC workers are looking to get into the union for those of us today who've been talking about that like you know are there enough DC workers in unions for sure there's not but this is a way to get more DC workers into Union so all around to me this seems like a net ad and you know I've I've really only heard that conversation about wages being less in the abstract and I'm not aware of that being the case on actual projects so if you have some examples I'm happy to get into those with you um so you would between first and second reading welcome examples from employees who believe that they are making less money or would be on specific projects who have yes not who believe they would because I'm not working in hypotheticals um so you know the the the points about good wages and benefits are points that everybody up here agrees on the point I'm trying to make is it is important to understand if there are any DC residents who are making less money on a pla that would be an important point that would impact um this legislation if do we agree on on that absolutely but I also think that we should look at the projects that have already happened right we've had multiple successful projects in the District of Columbia Nat Stadium Audi field Douglas Bridge Baner that have met their CBE goals they have met or exceeded their local hiring goals um they've exceeded apprenticeship targets those have all been good things and the discussion around this bill which is just lowering the threshold of the existing law seems to be all around hyp hypotheticals when we have some real life examples so if there are people on those projects that want to come forward let's talk um but I don't you know it doesn't make a lot of sense to me on hypothetical especially because this is an existing law we can work with the data that we have if I can join an answer that this is the first I've ever heard that a pla uh actually lowers people's wages in fact the CFO says it's going to cost the city more chairman I want to make sure because this this is a really fraught issue I want to make sure nobody understood me saying that pla results in lower Wages that's not what I'm saying what I'm suggesting is uh what I've seen in committee hearings over the years is issues of wage theft and in those hearings and in other places I've heard from local businesses that say hey we play by the rules we pay our workers well uh and when we uh bid on pla projects these workers who make Davis bacon or more have to pay part of their check uh into the union now I'm very supportive of pla what I'm wondering is what do we do if there are residents who on a pla project um have to pay some of their income into um a union that they don't plan to to join so I have heard that argument from those who are opposed to pla I have not heard that argument frankly from the supporters of pla now you might say that's because this is about union dues reduce their wages and the unions support this uh but I don't think we have to take from anybody's talking points forget Pro and against pla let's just deal with the facts as they are that's what I'm trying to understand without getting into anybody else's mess okay um we have a lineup counc muman thank you very much chairman Merson um I I think that the kind of exploration the council member white is talking about is it could be a valuable one I I would urge that as we look at compensation that we think not just about take-home pay but also benefits because being on a pla can result in workers who didn't get benefits previously getting benefits so that comparison let's do a real a Nuance comparison there um but the question that I had is I've heard people say you know the union assigns work based on seniority and so DC workers might be new to the to the union and they would be Lo pole in terms of getting access to jobs under pla through the union but do does the pla require that First Source trumps that residents trumps seniority in Union assignment and if it doesn't because it needs to it needs to be that res DC residents are the highest priority if it doesn't provide for that can we between first and second reading look at a way to ensure that DC residency is the main first driver in terms of hiring great question I would probably phrase it a little differently to sort of better illustrate how our law works so these are government funded projects which means that the First Source law PR a pla is a second layer um that governs you know labor peace um that ensures Fair wages for people on the job but it does not create exemptions to First Source so that is really the guiding principle there a union can't go around First Source to put on their favorite or most senior employees period council member rman thank you this was the time for questions I asked a question I'm done counc member Pinto thank you Mr chairman um this is a really difficult one for me um and I think part of the reason is because the various perspec perspectives on this issue all seem to make a lot of sense that this is a provision that will support labor that will support higher wages more benefits pla are a policy we already believe in and advance in the city um and what I hear from small particularly minority and women-owned businesses who talk about the projects that they will be excluded from I I feel very frustrated on their behalf and and torn about it and so I just wanted to ask you councelor Nido the the perspectives of uh labor leadership and CBE ownership seemed to be pretty clear but at the hearing what were some of the perspectives of workers that participated either in the hearing or along the process both who unionized or and non-unionized you're asking who participated in the hearing well I'm asking what was the workers themselves perspective unionized workers and non-un unionized workers as opposed to the leadership of union or the the ownership of small Biz great question so predominantly I heard from business owners and unionized workers I did not I'm trying to to think of whether workers came to the office from the private labor I don't think so now I'm not completely surprised because of course a lot of workers are in on the job during the day right so I'm not expecting a lot of people to walk off the job and lose their wages to come Lobby the council but largely the advocacy that has happened to the Council on this has been um local business owners labor leaders local labor labor leaders and local labor employees maybe let me ask it in a different way not necessarily the people who showed up to the hearing but in this process that's been going on for at least a year and a half um what have been some of the perspectives of workers about the benefit of lowering the threshold or the harm of lowering the threshold from workers who were unionized and from workers who are non-unionized so I'm not going to sit here and repeat arguments against the bill that I'm trying to move on principle um but I think we've heard them all today and and I will say that it's important to remember that this that plas are already the law of the land at the $75 million threshold the legislation that's before us would lower the threshold to 50 million Which is higher than what the federal law is is now which is 35 million um the reason that the council adopted this policy in 2015 was because we believed that this is a good policy for projects that we Fund in order to to prevent wage theft and to ensure good paying jobs with benefits for construction workers on projects in the district of Colombia and that the prevailing laws on the books were only bolstered by that meaning local hiring requirements and local business requirements so what's before us today is although it has become a relitigate of the underlying law in the debate today what is before us today is actually a changing of the threshold um so I think you know I've talked about a few projects that have come in on time under budget um have met their hiring goals and that's great I don't have a list of the Nona projects and whether or not they've also come in on time under budget and met their hiring goals that would be really interesting to see but I can speak to the ones that that have it and I can speak to the fact that those aspects are working and I also hear the concerns and also the aspirations for us to do better as a government in terms of local hiring that's on us we're the DC Council we do oversight right the laws already on the books so I'm I'm more than willing to join forces with members who want to see a stronger implementation of our First Source laws and I think that goes hand inand with a stronger pla law thank you very much and if I may Mr chairman I just have one other question you've mentioned a couple times council member uh wage theft and pla's protecting against wage theft wh why is that why is a pla structure um better to prevent against wage theft Union workforces have more protections and more supports than non- Union Workforce when it comes to Bad actors and it comes to Employment Practices that's one of the reasons that unions came into being here in the United States and it's one of the reasons they remain so strong today and why it's so important that we have a strong presence in the district of columia thank you uh SEC second round would be Tron white two minutes for questions I did have a question as relates to something council member Pino just asked about protections uh for those who are in Union versus nonunion because and I heard you say generally unions have more protections but often times I hear that you know you I get a call Mr White where are you I'm like who's this you know I'm such and such I'm like what's going on I'm at this site man they just got rid of all the DC people like what yeah we was working on this site and you look around every week they getting rid of us ain't they supposed to have DC people on this job I don't even know the job so I gotta do a bit of research to figure out what's going on and I just don't know what those protections that you're alluding to are I mean I understand they should be but what I what I hear is that we're on a list uh and they say well my union rep said I'm I got I'm added back on the list so I'm back on the bench to something come up or you know so I'm not sure how they protect it they just have an opportunity to get on another site is what I consistently hear so if you can speak to what particular protections if any uh because I'm hearing this far too often almost uh weekly from residents on these jobs so it's hard for me to comment on that because I don't know what those jobs are if they're private if they're public I mean there's not they're not pla jobs that's for sure because we've only had three so far with four in the queue I don't think we have any ongoing right now on pla jobs what protections are in place for those who are treat unfairly um discri ated against kicked off the site need additional rep uh support need a lawyer so that actually sounds like a really um critical place for a union representative that's actually almost I would say textbook as a union employee you have a representative you don't need a lawyer you've got a representative who's going to pound the pavement and figure out why you got let off that job because with a Union contract they can't just let you off that job okay so that doesn't sound like a job that had a Union contract but I'm not going to hypothesize again it's hard do hypotheticals can I claim my so the so some of the unions came to my office you're over time I know but I was trying to reclaim my time sorry so some of the Union reps came to my office with young people there that were from my ward and one of the individuals that was there uh was talking about his gripes he was in the union sure he was an apprentice yeah and the next day he's calling me telling me yeah Mr White I'm just trying to research I'm such and such son I don't even have a job so I'm like you came to here with the union advocating for a job with all these people and you don't even have a job so I got to help him find a job so it's just a disconnect from what should be to what's happening in reality every day so I mean I'm with you on on how we have to do better and I think those apprenticeships are a really good opportunity I don't know what exactly what happened there um but that is a path to to getting a union job it's a good entry point I me know I don't know if anyone else met with the apprentices they were coming around to meet the members but you know happy to dig into that one with you but I would say generally speaking once you're part of the Union you're going to have someone who's got your back Parker thank you Mr chairman um and thank you council member do you've been in the hot seat of sorts um I'll remind you this is not my bill who's who whose bill is it oh I introduced it and I support it understood well I'm of the mind that union jobs are good jobs and I think many of us up here agree as has been noted I have a question about the apprenticeship component um we we know that First Source is not operating in the district as we all want um I think there may be some conflation with that issue with Shifting the threshold of uh this pla agreement but all that said the apprenticeships that these unions should be standing up do you have a sense of how many district youth Andor residents are participating Andor are in the pipeline if you don't uh I would love to work with you on that as uh that has been a focus of mine in W five and I think we know the problem I think there's opportunity for us to Target the solution through apprenticeships while expanding good union jobs throughout the region great question I don't want to miss I don't want to give the wrong answer I don't want to misquote it when we're talking about data um uh I do know that Baner exceeded his apprenticeship threshold which is good um let's definitely work together so we've had some really good conversations today on the DAT but also in our morning meeting and I think at the Crux of it we all agree that we want more high-paying jobs with career paths for district residents especially District residents who've been overlooked and haven't had access to good work and that is something that I really want to work with colleagues on you know no one bill can solve that for sure um but we we noted in our discussion this morning some of the challenges for our residents getting these jobs that we have to work through right access to Transportation um education around drug use um physical fitness um and then other uh academic requirements like math and reading and you know what that's something we've got to solve as a city because we want people to have access to these jobs that are just waiting there for them so let's talk that's right and I just conclude by saying I also acknowledge the call for more District residents benefiting from s such substantial investments in construction projects um and we should be focusing as a council on greater enforcement and oversight uh to ensure that First Source is operating as we all wanted to so I think that's separate than what's before us I look forward to uh digging in more but thank you council member thank you thank you up there no further questions uh Madam General council is the measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration yes it is Madam Secretary is the record complete yes it is Madame budget director does the measures fiscal impact statement comply with Council requirements yes it does and there is a fiscal cost yes uh in FY 24 uh just over million and um over the four-year plan uh 27 million and that will need to be funded Before the bill is applicable correct through the capital budget and I'm assuming there's a subject to Appropriations provision in the bill or the general Council can put that in the bill um without objection the measure will be placed on the consent agenda nonent agenda Mr nonc consent uh the bill would be non-consent uh the next measures were reported out of the committee on health shared by council member Christina Henderson the first is PR 25- 633 Board of veterinary medicine Blair zeros confirmation resolution of 2024 council member Henderson Mur over people in my IC who has the floor council member Henderson when you're ready um thank you Mr chairman uh pr25 d633 I'm award six pastor and award five the resolution will save lives protects human dignity of human life for an mua agreement for tourism e e e e e e e e e e e e Council Henderson what's that when you're ready or if you want to wait another minute too what's that I didn't hear a word you said Council M Henderson if you're ready um thank you Mr chairman um it feels a little awkward to continue but eventually we'll have to address that um so R 25- 633 nominates Blair zervos for appointment as the consumer member of the board of veterinary medicine for a term to in April 16 2027 Mr zeros is the owner of um 1335 H Street LLC a historical landmark and public art space in the district previously he was the co-founder and owner of H Street Country Club a popular bar and restaurant Mr zeror uh provided written responses to a questionnaire and a statement um to the committee describing his commitment to rescue animals and Animal Welfare he highlighted the strong relationships with the district's Veterinary he highlighted the strong relationships with the district's Veterinary community and he has built um that he has built as a consumer member on the board Mr zervos is a ward six resident um I recommend that the council support his nomination and that it be placed on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting thank you council member Hendry other questions from Members Madam General council is the measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration yes it is Madam Secretary is the record complete yes it is uh Madame budget director this is a Madam budget director this is a nomination so it doesn't require a fiscal impact statement correct without objection this will be placed on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting the next measure is PR 25- 640 board of psychology Dr Patrick canovan confirmation resolution of 2024 council member Henderson thank you Mr chairman PR 20 PR 25- 640 nominates Dr Patrick canavan for appointment as a psychologist member of the board of psychology Dr canavan has a long career of Public Service in the district to begin as a a psychology resident at St Elizabeth's Hospital where he spent six years treating clients at both the hospital and outpatient clinics from 2007 to 2015 he served as the chief executive order of St Elizabeth's notably he established a recovery based treatment program emphasizing trauma informed care during his tenure Dr canavan is currently principal and owner of a health care um and management consultancy Dr canaban has a doctor of psychology degree from Illinois School of Professional psychology and he is a w one resident I recommend um we held a hearing on his nomination he a great nominee and um I hope that um my colleagues will support it so I ask that this be placed on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting thank you council member Henderson are there questions from Members the door why is the door open aut CL you know I would appreciate it that if folks who are in the chamber right now for a few moments refrain from going out of the chamber and opening the doors I would also appreciate it if staff or security would make sure the doors are fully shut because they're being a jar thank you um M uh Madam General council is the measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration yes it is Madam Secretary is the record complete yes it is madam budget director this is a confirmation no fiscal impact statement correct without objection this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting the last two measures were reported out of the committee on Judiciary and Public Safety shared by C chairman you forgot one the Health occupation revision I am sorry and that was completely unintentional um the next measure is Bill 25-54 also reported out of the committee on health it is the health occupations revision general amendment Act of 2024 council member Henderson thank you Mr chairman Bill 25545 the Health occupation revision general amendment Act of 2024 also known as the H I did not name it that is what it is um was introduced by chairman midson at the request of the mayor on October 20th 2023 um this is the first general amendment to the Health occupation revision Act of 1986 since 2009 the bill makes much needed updates to modernize our health care System including amending the Scopes of work lure and registration requirements and board and Licensing boards for a wide range of health professionals in the district this is a technical and multifaceted piece of legislation so I'd like to highlight a few Provisions I'm particularly excited about before answering any questions that my colleagues may have first the bill will expand access to highquality telea Health by creating the first ever guidelines for telea Health Services provided by licensed health professionals in the district second the bill will address critical shortages in the long-term care Workforce um and encourage more young people to enter the health professionals by allowing 16 and 17 year olds to become certified as nursing assisted Personnel third the bill will increase access to life-saving vaccines and child immunizations by allowing Pharmacists and pharmacy techs to administer these immunizations fourth the bill will help decrease application processing times for the health professionals by streamlining the administration of the health profess Professional Licensing boards fifth the bill will increase the workforce for non-clinical case management by expanding opportunities for individuals with social worker degrees and finally um the bill will increase safety for minors who choose to get tattoos or ear piercings with parental consent my staff and I have worked diligently over the past five months to meet with public stakeholders in the Department of Health conduct independent research and hear extensive public testimony on this legislation on some topics that garnered significant public opinion the committee decided to preserve the language in the bill as introduced or in others the committee added new language or revised the language from the bill as introduced in all cases my team and I spent a significant amount of time understanding the data bre practices and differing perspectives and made decisions in the best interest of Public Health and patient safety I do have one Amendment to the committee print Mr chairman that I would like to move without objection this amendment would add back language that was unintentionally Struck from the DC codee exempting School psychologists and psychologists um employed by academic or research institutions working with in the confines of their employment um from lure in 2022 the council unanimously approved Bill 24- 648 the school psychologist licensing clarification Amendment Act of 2022 which clarified that the general licensing obligations of the board of Psych Psychiatry um were exempt for school-based psychologists working at both DC public schools as well as public charter schools the language was unintentionally Struck from the bill as introduced and in the committee print the amendment would also add conforming amendments that were unintentionally excluded from the committee print related to the repeal of the registration requirements for Clinical Laboratory practitioners and photus and the committee's rationale for repealing this registration requirement is detailed in the committee report lastly the amendment clarifies that the graduation requirements for medical imaging and radiation technologists um and all of that was circulated so members should have that um but I I move um the amend hopefully without objection and then also for the Bill thank you Mr chairman uh thank you council member Henderson so this is an amendment that I believe was circulated an updated version at 524 yesterday afternoon by email by your staff and it's in order if there's no objection at the committee of the whole um and by being accepted here the measure remains on the consent agenda at the legislative meeting I'm not hearing any objection so the amendment is accepted other questions for council member Henderson council member Pinto thank you Mr chairman um thank you Council Henderson and congratulations on this huge rework rewrite Amendment um that's going to update and modernize a lot of our lure can you speak about the changes to teleah health and what impacts that will have on patients sure thank you for that question council member Pinto um so as many of you all know that um tah Health definitely SE has seen a rise since 2020 um but there were no guidelines or laws in place in terms of how to govern that so the committee uh print creates the first ever guidance for tella Health um so for instance it allows for tella health for existing patient provider relationships we had heard from a number of patients who said had a specialist um surgery done at John Hopkins in Baltimore um but then um couldn't have a follow-up virtual appointment with their provider if they needed to um so that would allow for that um we clarify that boards can create some additional tah Health guidance um so for instance there was a specific concern that was raised by veterinarians that um in order for you to have a teleah health appointment for your pet um that veterinarian should see your pet in person first um which made sense um so that we preserve the ability for the board of veterinary medicine to be able to do that um and then the committee print also addresses concerns that were raised from public testimony um regarding um drugs uh prescription drugs and so we you know for anyone who's participating in the teleah health program they would still need to abide by the rules of the prescription drug monitoring program um so that we're not creating a new issue um in an opioid um environment that we're currently in oh sorry one more thing um we uh have been in conversations with DC Health in terms of um tella Health as it relates to the co process or the certificate of need process um and so we did not take that up in this particular bill because we felt like there were a number of issues that we have heard from providers and others about the co process and so um we will be taking that up in a separate piece of legislation later this year right okay thank you very much and can you also speak to the changes for nurses Nurse and anesthesiologist and what um kind of impact that will have on the current level of training medical training that those professions undergo yes um so we've heard a not a number of comments in terms of the language and the legislation as it relates to certified registered nurse anesthetists um to answer your question in the most succinct way is that um it doesn't really change much of anything um many people uh don't realize that uh CR crnas have been able to practice independently in the District of Columbia since 1995 um that was done in regulation um and in the past uh what are we what 29 years or so we haven't had any complaints from the Board of Nursing in part of um their ability to do this work so we felt that um the language as introduced by DC Health was sufficient thank you very much thank you council member Robert White uh thank you uh council member Henderson I want to uh thank you and your staff for your extensive work on this bill I I noted the changes that you were proposing to the Social Work scope of work which will allow people who have bachelor's or master's degrees in social Works uh but are unlicensed to do certain kinds of activities such as case management which previously was prohibited for those folks I know your goal is to be responsive to the challenges that we heard related to the Social Work Workforce in the hearing you held on my social work licensing modern ganization act in particular organizations that connect people to housing vouchers and move them through the process of getting hous have had difficulty hiring enough staff and case managers to effectively use the housing vouchers that the council funded I hope the change to the Social Work scope of work will help this however I remain concerned that we're not addressing the core issue which is that the social work licensing exam has significant and well documented inequitable outcomes for test takers by race age and other factors all with no data showing that passing the exam means you will be a competent social worker this is holding us back from having a strong and diverse Workforce uh a social worker Workforce I still believe that removing the exam at the first two levels of licensure is the right approach but my question for you is in the absence of this how can the district address the inherent biases in the current licensing exam to ensure fair and equitable outcomes for all aspiring social workers and gives District residents access to a diverse social worker Workforce um thank you for that question council member white um let me just first say just in terms of exams in general I feel like anyone can make an argument in terms of um uh you know disper um Pass rates by race if we look at um the bar the medical exam the nursing exam the psychology exam all of the exams have some sort of piece that's built into it I think what we're doing in this legislation address um the initial concern that we've heard from nonprofits raised around we have residents who have vouchers but they don't have a case manager in order for them to be able to move forward in terms of housing so this addresses that immediate need um so we didn't feel com well this bill is a little bit different than the other bill um that is currently still pending before the committee in the conversations that we've had in the last few months with DC Health um we have learned that DC health is working on an alter alternative Pathway to lure um that does not include the exam um so it will include supervision hours and some other requirements um they have already begun that process and so um my understanding is that it will be done but this calendar year anyway um and so we're going to move forward or move forward in sort of supporting DC Health um on moving that front we did not feel comfortable adding that additional piece into this particular um hor bill um but should um DC Health be delayed um although I just spoke with um the director of DC Health on Thursday about this extensively should DC Health be delayed in their movement on this um we can certainly take action as well uh further questions from Members I have three Madam General councils the meas legally and technically sufficient for our consideration yes it is mam secretary's the record complete yes it is um Madame budget director does the measure's fiscal impact statement comply with Council requirements yes it does without objection this measure will be placed on the consent agenda with the amendment um that was accepted at um on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting uh the next uh measure this is a wrong agenda where's the committee the whole agenda I believe we have two bills from the or two measures from the committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Chair by council member Brook Pento um I don't have the agenda in front of me if you would council member Pento yes s chairman it's pr25 d591 the District of Columbia sentencing commission Shan hollahan confirmation resolution of 2024 this resolution would confirm the appointment of Shan hollahan as a member of the District of Columbia sentencing commission for a term ending on July 2nd 2026 the sentencing commiss constitutes an important part of our Public Safety and judicial ecosystem the commission produces voluntary sentencing guidelines for judges in The District in order to ensure greater consistency and fairness in sentencing the commission is also broadly responsible for analyzing sentencing data policies and practices both in the district and across jurisdictions this includes tracking case-by casee sentencing and compliance the sentencing guidelines there's currently a 98% compliance rate of District judges with the sentencing guidelines Mr hollahan works and resides in the district he currently serves as the state legislative director of gords a National Organization established by former Congress person Gabby gords dedicated to combating gun violence through State legislation prior to that he worked at the rape abuse incest national network or rain as a policy manager for federal and state campaigns this work was preceded by a directorship and advocacy at nrol pro-choice a national nonprofit that Advocates and lobbies for the protection of reproductive freedoms and Women's Health last Mr Holan has past experience as chief of staff for a state legislature at the Virginia General Assembly Mr hollan currently serves as an advisory neighborhood commissioner forc 1B 02 and recently finished a two-year term on the concealed pistol licensing review board I believe that Mr holan's willingness to learn from the commission's fellow members and his awareness of the interplay between local and Federal legislative Dynamics will contribute an important perspective to the commission I am also hopeful that he will bring an independent perspective to the commission that takes into account the complex realities of the district's criminal justice system and the important role that sentencing plays I understand this resolution has been placed on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting and I appreciate my colleague support for this resolution so that the commission can continue its important work thank you Mr chairman thank you council member are there questions from Members gosh this was a Hot Topic a few months ago um Madam General counsil is the measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration yes it is Madam Secretary is the record complete yes it is madam bu director I think this is a confirmation resolution correct no f is required all right without objection this will be placed on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting vulner Bill 25-44 vulnerable youth guardianship protection Amendment Act of 2024 council member Pinto thank you Mr chairman today I'm moving the vulnerable youth guardianship protection Amendment Act of 2024 I want to thank council member Brian do for introducing this important bill this bill addresses an urgent problem there is currently an inconsistency between district and federal law that undercuts critical support to Immigrant youth who have suffered from abuse abandonment or neglect this bill creates a legal class of vulnerable youth unmarried non-citizens between ages 18 and 21 and authorizes Superior Court judges to appoint Guardians for these Youth and make other determinations sufficient for these youth to apply for a special immigrant juvenile status otherwise known as s a federal humanitarian Visa which covers abused neglected or abandoned immigrant youth who are under the age of 21 those granted s are authorized to work maintain a social security number receive assistance for housing and education and eventually apply for lawful permanent residency currently the Superior Court lacks authority over unmarried non-citizens who are over 18 but younger than 21 the court thus lacks a legal mechanism to appoint Guardians for these Youth and to issue the orders necessary to allow a number of eligible youth to apply for sge even though federally the age limit is 21 because of the urgency here council member nidau and I moved and the council passed an emergency version of this bill in July of last year I do want to note one important change between the emergency and the permanent in the committee process we added the provision eliminating Court filing fees for these guardianship petitions to ensure accessibility for those who need it I also want to comment generally on the importance of this bill undocumented immigrant Youth Without the critical support of guardianship are especially vulnerable to abuses like human trafficking and housing insecurity federal government has estimated that more than one third of unaccompanied immigrant youth coming to the United States have already reached the age of 17 Advocates have testified that they turn away several youth each month because of this disparity between district and federal law that this bill addresses they noted that even eligible youth close to the coff age of 18 find it difficult to obtain legal representation for Speedy filing finally Guardians provide invaluable care and support as vulnerable youth pursue their course immigrant youth one of the most vulnerable populations in the district will benefit immensely from this law I understand this bill has been placed on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting and I appreciate my colleague support for this important bill today thank you council member are there questions from Members Madam General councel is the me are legally and technically sufficient for our consideration yes it is Adam secretary is the record complete yes it is Mr assistant secretary uh Madam budget director does the measures fiscal impact statement comply with Council requirements yes it does does it have a fiscal impact it does not without objection this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting that completes consideration of measures from other committees under other business we have consideration of the revised schedule for the public hearings and the school year 2025 budget multi-year financial plan uh this is being presented we don't actually vote on it um we talked about a little bit at the breakfast uh I have not had a chance to talk to my staff with regard to tomorrow's education hearing but I will or excuse me Thursdays but I will do that um has there any comment from any members Madam budget council member fan thank you very much chairman M I just do want to reiterate April 11th we have a lot on the table and I hope you will take a look at whether that can be broken up and I hope that you can be open to uh if we need to doing a hearing on Saturday it's just the number of major agencies on the agenda on April 11th it's got to be over half the spending that the district does we have to find a better way to do it I thought that's several committees meeting that's not one committee Mr chairman uh coun BNS um I I just wanted to inquire as to whether not we still have an opportunity to utilize either the 10th or the 11th I guess the 11th is packed but is the 10 still available I believe that one of the M it looks like uh all four rooms are booked on Wednesday April 10th uh committee on health Committee on Public Works and operations committee on Recreation libraries and youth Affairs committee on business Economic Development and committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety all right so all of our time slots are pretty much booked unless we could come up with an additional day is that well that's the tenth is booked I mean there are different slots at different times on different days I don't know if there is an entire day that is available um but if there's a specific request I'd be happy to take it and look at it all right well thank you very much I I do expect to provide you with a request um just not knowing what is possible from the fourth through the what 15th of May so that's kind of maybe if you could just tell me what might be available that would help us and then we can thank you thank you chair so you should work with the budget office yes they actually the ones who handle put together the schedule and work with so so work with them and see what might be possible um so this schedule Madame budget director this schedule will be P published in the register and will be publicly available on the council's website correct correct and uh it'll be on the website now so people can find out now when the um hearings are yes it is available on the web okay and the uh last day of the committee hearings is I'm going to ask ask you that in first reading sure me just scroll back up the hearings are uh run from Thursday April 4th through Thursday May 2nd and then uh the work session is the work session is on Wednesday May 15 the two weeks later correct the first vote is Wednesday May 29th and the second vote is Wednesday June 12 so that's the schedule um do we yet know when the final BSA vote will take place the final BSA vote is usually three weeks or four weeks after first vote on the BSA I don't think it's scheduled but that's usually when it is so tell me again when the second vote is on the budget June 12th so either June 19th or June 26 would be the second reading on the BSA this is just a reminder to members don't be taking all the bills that are pending in your committees and think you can load them into the BSA we love committee reports and we' love to hear um each other present uh bills for markup at the um full Council or bills at the full Council if there's no further business uh we will take about five minutes which means 3:15 we will start the legislative meeting the time is 3:8 and this meeting's adjourned e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e I'm calling to order this uh meeting this is the regular monthly meeting of the Council of the District of Columbia I am Phil Mendelson chair of the council today is Tuesday April 2nd 20124 the time is 3:28 in the afternoon this is uh what we call a hybrid meeting meaning that most of the members are present in the chamber or will be um I believe one member is participating online our meetings are broadcast on Council Channel 13 and are also available on the council's website w ww. dconc.gov this is the 22nd legislative meeting of council period 25 we always begin our legislative meetings with a moment of silence I'd ask if everyone in the chamber as well as on the de would please um respect a moment of silence for reflection Madam Secretary would you please call the role council member Allan here council member bonds council member bonds council member freuman presid council member gray here council member Henderson here council member Le George here counc McDuffy Council M McDuffy here chairman melson pres council member nadoo here council member Parker here council member Pinto present council member Robert White present council member Tran white present Mr chairman you have AUM uh thank you Madam Secretary um we have uh the secretary's report of committee filings I'm going to recognize the chair protm council member McDuffy thank you Mr chairman I moved away the reading of the sec's report so a motion the way of the reading of the report is for discussion this is committees the log is coming next the log is oh the log is next okay go ahe um all those in favor of the motion to wave the reading of the secretary's report of committee filing say I I I I are there any no votes the eyes have it unanimously we have the secretary's report of introductions and referrals again council member McDuffy and I'll move to wave the reading of the secretary's law of instructions referrals motion to wave the reading council member LS George yes uh Mr chairman I would like to request a change to the secretary's log of introductions the log currently reflects the referral of B 25- 0758 the showing up for students Amendment Act of 2024 to the committee of the whole with comments from the committee on Judiciary and Public Safety given that the bill makes substantive changes to policies and practices of the child and family Services Agency and the laws governing the abuse and neglect of children I request that you re-refer this bill B2 B25 0758 to include a co-referring on Family Services where child family service agency resides uh let me take a look at it you gave me this memor random this morning and uh so I will look at it and um and reconsider the referral thank you council member Parker Mr chairman uh as the author of uh set legislation um I would concur with that recommendation and would also say I think referring to the committee of the Judiciary and Public Safety is unnecessary as the legislation doesn't um impact as I understand it any of the statutes pertaining to that committee or underlying codes pertaining to that committee okay this is provoking discussion Council Pinto thank you Mr chairman um I would disagree that it doesn't pertain to it and I'm so appreciative that you introduced this bill I it is one of the most important uh issues that's facing our city right now is making sure that kids do show up and go to school this is a very common issue that comes up with our oversight function with the Attorney General's office that handles a lot of the treny issues both at the attend program the ace diversion program um and referrals and so I think ensuring that the Judiciary Committee perspective is included here uh is important on this issue so I will look at this so just so everybody understands my practice when there's a request for ref referral is I asked for memo you gave me a memo so I understand the arguments and I asked the uh Council officers in particular General councel and the secretary for them to review it and give me their view of it I look at it as well and then um I will write a memorandum that will um make a re referral or explain why I'm not so and I'll do that before the next log so thank you for bringing it up um we have a motion to wave the reading of the secretary's log Is there further discussion the vote will be on that motion the way of the reading all those in favor say I I I I opposed uh ODS have it unanimously we have the consent agenda before us and before I recognize anyone I believe on page four under first reading and vote of proposed bills number one healthy homes and residential electrification you will be on non-consent that number three on the same page Revis project labor agreement cost threshold will be on non-consent that on page seven under final reading and vote on temporary legislation number seven secure DC Omnibus temporary Amendment act will be on non-consent are there any other changes to nonon to the consent agenda I don't hear any Al so we have the consent agenda before us this has become a pandemic H uh Habit Madam Secretary would you call the RO the votes on the consent agenda with those three removals council member Allen yes council member Allen votes yes council member bonds yes council member bonds votes yes council member Freeman yes council member Freeman votes yes council member gray yes council member gray votes yes council member Henderson yes council member Henderson votes yes council member Le George yes Council L George votes yes council member McDuffy yes council member McDuffy votes yes chairman melson yes chairman melson votes yes council member nadell yes council member noo votes yes council member Pinto yes I'm sorry council member Parker yes council member Parker votes yes council member Pinto yes council member Pinto votes yes council member Robert White yes council member Robert White votes yes and council member Tran white yes council member Tran white votes yes Mr chairman there are 13 yeses uh thank you Madam Secretary the consent agenda is approved unanimously beginning with items removed from consent on page four Bill 25-19 healthy homes and residential electrification Amendment Act of 2024 council member Allen thank you very much Mr chairman last year this Council approved funding for Bill through DC sustainable energy trust fund which is a fund within the department of energy and environment that is many uses but broadly speaking it helps fund most of our green climate and energy programs in the city they're funded through that Doe has outlined plans to use about $2 million per year from this fund on our healthy homes law and some of that work is actually already underway including a pilot electrification project that we funded this year in River Terrace and Deanwood communities of w 7 I actually just heard the other week from one those longtime residents and seniors that benefited from this major Home Improvement and she said it made a huge difference for her for her home for her cooking for her utilities um it's been a big change for her a positive one I asked for this build to moved off the consent agenda knowing this Council fully supports it so that I could make two comments first is that I'm very grateful that Ellison lasowski could join us today in the chamber um as many of my colleagues know this bill was a major priority and focus for her husband Chris lascal he's work at the council over the last year and I'm very glad that she's here to be able to see this vote but I also wanted to add a second comment because I'm also very concerned about the rumors that we've been hearing that when the mayor releases her proposed budget tomorrow in less than 24 hours that she is going to defund this program and the council's previously approved funding intended to Target home energy improvements and assistance for low-income households and seniors in fact we're hearing that not only will these efforts be defunded but that we'll also see dollars swept from dedicated funds that finance and build affordable homes in WS 4578 through the DC Green bank and on top of that as weed earlier today we've just seen the term sheet for Monumental Sports in cap 1 Arena where the executive is committed to Expediting additional funding on top of the capital funding that we're committing today for Monumental Sports from the DC Green bank and PACE program a program that is capped annually so let's make clear that every dollar diverted toward Monumental from this pace source is a dollar that's Now not available for affordable housing Creation in our city now I hope that I'm wrong but if we see this tomorrow it's not just a proposed budget that's conservative on climate I think it would be toxic to climate it would set us back years if not decades in reaching our climate goals and to be clear it would do so directly on the backs of low-income people and people of color in our city if healthy homes is defunded in the mayor's budget tomorrow it would be a boon for big gas which despite its name is owned by the Canadian company altagas at the expense of 30,000 low-income DC households it would also mean that the federal infrastructure funding that we're pairing with this local funding will become next to useless because there's a cap on how much you can spend on gas to electric home renovation under it and it's about half of what the actual Renovations cost the local dollars that we're proposing unlock the federal dollars and if this budget were allowed to pass it means that we're not only going to harm lower income households in our city but we're also just going to walk away from federal money on the table it would be a wasted opportunity I'm sure what we're going to hear tomorrow is that we have a tight budget and we got to look at all of our sources to balance it so let me translate that the council created a very attractive pot of money EX exclusively for improving the health of low and moderate income people and it's very likely going to be swept the day after this bill is unanimously approved add that to the list with baby bonds snap money for eviction defense emergency rental assistance many essential programs for our most vulnerable I know that I'm ready to fight for our local longtime residents and households and to fight for climate action that our city desperately needs I'm proud this council is going to take a Monumental step in that direction today thank you Mr chairman and I urge my colleague support for this vote today thank you council member Allen further discussion on the bill uh Council Allen do you want a roll call or a Voice vote I think if it's unanimous a Voice vote is great unless everybody wants to do a roll call people a roll call the vote will be on the um we'll do a Voice vote I'm getting looks for a roll call Mr chairman so I'll ask for a roll call all right madam secretary would you call the role council member bonds yes council member bonds votes yes council member fuman yes council member fuman votes yes council member gray yes council member gray votes yes council member Henderson yes council member Henderson votes yes council member Lewis George yes council member Le George votes yes council member McDuffy council member McDuffy votes yes chairman Mendelson yes chairman Mendelson votes yes council member noo yes council member noo votes yes council member Parker yes council member Parker votes yes council member Pinto yes council member Pinto votes yes council member Robert White yes council member Robert White votes yes council member Tran white yes council member Tran white votes yes and council member Allen yes council member Allen votes yes Mr chairman there are 13 yeses I haven't announced the vote yet uh thank you madam Secret AR uh the vote was 13 and Zer uh the uh bill is approved on first reading by unanimous vote um the next item is Bill 25469 revised project labor agreement cost threshold Amendment Act of 2024 council member nadoo Mr chairman uh so moved all right is there discussion on the bill then we could proceed to yes oh go ahead how from rinto I've thought a lot about this bill um and I really appreciate the arguments that were laid out this morning and I appreciate council member noo clarifying that this is just a threshold but at the end of the day we have a really exceptional CBE community in DC and a small business community that is struggling and that needs additional support um and the concerns that have been raised I don't feel comfortable that they have been sufficiently overcome um and so I I want to continue to look for additional ways to support plas to make sure that we can go after wage theft which is an unacceptable problem that we see in in the construction industry and in various different types of contracts um but I cannot support this bill today and I I urge my colleagues to to stand with our CBE Community today uh further discussion on the bill council member Tran white you want to be recognized yes thank you just want to say for the public that I support uh the the the original form of the pla even unions in general what they represent especially around collective bargaining agreements and getting people opportunities collectively than people just fighting things one off uh we saw that uh the progress of that not just in DC but across the United States um this uh additional pla concerns me for a number of reasons I just don't quite understand uh What uh these particular unions have done to increase the portal of DC residents into their unions to get access to Equitable jobs and opportunities the common thing I hear and not just under this pla but Construction in general is that Mr White I I got on to this project to do construction I thought it was going to be a preference for me being a DC resident and I'm I'm off the project not only I'm off the project but everyone I knew who was on the project from DC is now gone um and not saying that this pla addresses that are don't address that but I do know that there are some loopholes in uh our Workforce in theology what should happen versus what is happening every day and I I think that we have to do a better job of closing the gaps and for 20 years we have not uh We've even rearranged our CBE laws and I'm hearing from our local cbes that they are not supportive of this pla um and I'm concerned because those are the people sometimes I I have to call to say Can you hire this person to do this or can you hiire this person to do that and if they're not in supportive I don't know who else to call because though for example I called one of my relatives who was in the union and he was Furious you know he has a overzealous personality in general but when I mentioned unions he became out rate that I even ask him something like that and he just explains how he's always on the first to get highed first to get I mean last to get highed first to get fired and I don't know if it's a personality but I do know that when I left the meeting with the unions one of the young from the Union uh called me cuz he he didn't even have a job and so I'm like if you with the unions walking in here talking about support the unions you're not even working what are we really doing um and so uh I'm just concerned that those residents who are in unions who don't have tentinger I pushed to the back uh of the of the of the seat trying to get opportunity for those who are uh coming from other places to get these jobs as we open up greater opportunities and so I still have not heard how we going to fix that what's the pipeline to get on these jobs for DC residents um because the ones who are working in construction not all of them are unionized and so uh today I'm going to vote no I look forward to working with my colleagues trying to figure out how to close the gap and figure out ways to get DC residents higher because that helps more of us get a eable rage in DC and grow our families here and outside of that people are moving everywhere else trying to get opportunities they even said in one of the 30 more seconds chairman without OB and one of the letters I got it was saying that even when I get an opportunity it's in Maryland and Virginia and it's hard for me to get out there early in the morning those type of things and when I heard about the barriers the union of Spain they had Transportation barriers they couldn't pass the math exam drug testing physical requirements which may be legit gripes but what are we doing with the amount of resources we've gathered over the last 10 years with the amount of resource we have in the district to close those gaps we said we haven't gotten there but we want to double down not double down but open up more opportunities for the pl we haven't fixed the issues that they continuously say to us that they haven't fixed in 20 years so I'll be vote no today and hopeful that we can close some of these gaps and get people employed thank you council member council member uh McDuffy um I I rais most of my concerns in the breakfast meeting uh and and asked a couple of questions earlier during the committee of the hold um but what i' like to reiterate now is just the lack of data in my opinion in my experience to support that these Agreements are helping the district to achieve its goals of hiring DC residents particularly District of Colombia minority residents who are seeking employment uh in these industries and that is a real concern for me uh the ratio uh Equity impact assessment for this measure stated that the project labor agreements have uh an inconclusive impact on racial Equity of the district and I think we should understand better what exactly the impact is uh before we move forward with the measure like this because ultimately I think there is some agreement about the principles under ging project labor agreements with which I agree and support and have supported previously unfortunately I don't have the information that supports that these plas are getting DC residents hired to the extent we want them to conversely what I've heard from local small businesses some of them are in the chamber today is that they make it difficult for them to do business they make it more expensive for them to do business meanwhile they are actually hiring DC residents black and brown residents on these projects and so I I see a convergence that um is making these two goals come into conflict and I'd love to eliminate that tension to be able to support project labor agreements but not at the expense of our local small businesses particularly those minority women-owned businesses that have been clear in expressing their concerns with these agreements uh they've also raised that in some cases uh they have been Exempted they being the lsdb from the requirements of the plas uh under a certain threshold and I would like between first and second reading to be a to work with council member Nido uh and the chairman and anybody else who's interested uh on amending this law to provide a similar exemption uh to uh local small businesses so that this goal and this policy does not harm them in the way that they have suggested it will thank you councelor McDuffy council member Henderson um thank you Mr chairman I I raised a question during the committee of the whole about um the fist for this and I I just want to ask another sort of clarifying question around um maybe to the budget director or to the general Council so the current Fist from the CFO is related to four projects that are currently in the CIP I recognize that the bill has subject to appropriation language but I'm curious does that only apply to projects that are in the existing CIP and therefore any new projects would be subject to this thresold agreement either one of you Nicole or or Jen I could volunteer an answer but I'm not the budget director or the general counsel that that is correct so either the budget director or the general counsel so this bill is subject to Appropriations once it's funded it will no longer be subject to Appropriations so each um if a new project were to be added to the CIP that would meet the threshold it must be funded to meet the new threshold okay so from a practical standpoint we see the new CIP tomorrow um so if the mayor is proposing adding a new project into the CIP it must meet the updated cost requirements for CFO well I mean it would not be required to because this is not yet law okay so if we were to pass you pass this and fund it um we would need to get an updated Fist from the cfo's office that incorporates any new projects that would fall under this um that are in the um the new I guess it would be 2025 through 2030 CIP and that would and we would need to fund all projects within that six-year CIP in order to get the um subject to Appropriations um repealed okay um taking that into I I'm going to vote presid today um because I want to understand the full fiscal impact of what we're signing up for um also to make sure that schools that are on the existing pipeline don't stop um or that we are able to add the additional funding whatever that funding might be um to the project I just feel like I don't have a full scope here of like how much money we're talking about and I feel like we should have some inkling of that but this is only on first reading so I'm voting presid today thank you um counil noo I think wanted can I just respond just I think it would be helpful to think of it as the inverse so it won't go into effect on a project unless the funding's in the budget right does that make sense yes but we also have rules around if we don't fund a bill within X number of years the bill goes away like that law is repealed so either we're committing to do this or we're not 100% but if you're worries about delaying projects I don't want you to be worried stop understood you do know we passed a lot of bills subject to appropriation I do yes I'm just mentioning that because this is a concern that I think is legitimate concern but ordinar you have a you have a track record Mr chairman of finding that funding when you really want something to get done and I just want to understand how much we're signing up for because you are very tenacious in your job well thank you thank you if you want an additional cou minutes uh council member Parker thank you Mr chairman um I I take to heart the concerns around how the district CBE Community is fairing as well as our commitment to the First Source policies that are already on the books I don't see that as mutually exclusive from what we're trying to do here in fact uh we know um that the district's middle class was built on union labor uh the nation's middle class was built on union labor and that benefits everyone including black and brown residents including residents and Wards 5 seven and eight uh and the list goes on uh again still I take to heart the concerns around how do we ensure that if we lower this threshold which by the way I think it's worth underscoring we're only talking about the impact to four additional projects so this doesn't open the floodgates that says uh we are now going to put risk the entire CBE or small business Community I don't think that's persuasive uh but um I I would be willing to work with council member noo and colleagues uh to build in contingency so we can do both we can lower the threshold for PLA and ensure we provide guarantees that the money is going to District residents if that truly is your concern uh I would encourage uh colleagues to vote for this and let's work to improve it between now and second vote because I fear not doing this now sends the wrong message uh as was mentioned earlier uh this PL policy is already on the books is at a higher threshold we're we're reducing the threshold and that's all this policy is doing uh while the criticisms and concerns are very valid um last thing I would just say in terms of the apprenticeship pipelines and that was part of my question to council member n do earlier I do think there is a unique opportunity uh by lowering this threshold and linking vulnerable youth youth who are for host of reasons hard to employ in the district uh with these opportunities and so again I see this not only as a opportunity to expand good paying jobs but a Lifeline to youth who are in many ways at Harm's risk risk here in the district so for those reasons I will be voting for it and I encourage colleagues to do the same thank you Mr chairman thank you Council Parker U council member Lewis George thank you chairman um thank you I I hear the concerns here I I just want to make something clear that I want District residents to have good union jobs um my mother was a postal worker a union worker um and as a result of my mom being in a union raising three kids uh as a single mom when my brother had asthma she could make sure he could get an inhaler she could make sure he could go to the hospital when I got sick she could take off work make sure I was okay make sure my sister was okay um my family uncles cousins have done construction work as well and the difference between when you're in a union and when you're not in a union can be Stark and I just think you know we're talking about making sure people get Fair wages that they're not cut out and have a have a somebody who's going to have their back if they're not getting paid Fair wages we're talking about benefits to workers health benefits Transit benefits to workers we talked about Transit being an issue but like that's something that unions do like health and safety protections which is something big to the black community when we have construction jobs making sure they're inhaling uh not inhaling toxins they have the appropriate mask that they're supposed to wear that somebody cares about that and somebody's going to fight for that to make sure later on in their life they're not getting cancer and other diseases because of unfair construction practices that happen so we're talking about health and safety protections as well for Workforce Development I understand we want people to I want people in our community to have good paying union jobs when wage theft happens everybody can't afford no lawyer like real DC people don't have a lawyer to go fight for them but if you have a union you got somebody to fight for you so I I just don't understand like what the what you know some of the tension here because I think we all want PE want our people to be in good union jobs to have the protection Health protections the safety protections the benefits the fights that that we are unable to have just because we're not independently wealthy to be able to do that um and I agree we went out to a facility to actually go to Union to see you know the trades and they did say to us we're having trouble recruiting from BC high schools that's not a Union's fault that's the education system fault we're not preparing our young people and we're not helping them yes the unions can step in and come in earlier but that's our fault we have a Department of Employment Services we have an education proprietor we can't be putting that on them and we don't use that excuse for any other other types of unions either there's unions that we have no shape but we have unions where we give $25,000 son signing bonuses to those members and we don't require and they're not District residents all the time so investing in unions is a good thing all across the board in every sector which we all agree on so just be you know like I don't think we should be putting it just on the construction unions that like oh they're not doing enough but we have other unions we're investing in that are doing the same amount of effort to try to get District residents um in in that regard so I say this I want to see District workers have good union jobs I want to see them have good protections to be able to raise their kids to be able to afford to live in this city and they can't afford to live in this city if they're getting sub minimum wages and if their wages are getting stolen thank you chairman thank you council member council member Robert White uh thank you chairman as we talk about um trade job seems like a good uh reminder that we have a vocational education expansion bill uh that I hope we are going to pass because these are good jobs uh I happen to introduce that bill um and I think it's important um I am trying to as we have this conversation I'm trying to read the fiscal impact statement because my understanding is that the these are Davis bacon jobs so I'm trying to understand uh Madame budget director where the increased cost is coming from uh my under understand I didn't write this fist um it is from the cfo's office they assume that it there is uh costs are 10% higher um under a pla um they believe that that's not due to Davis bacon but it's more of um that there are um less um contractors bidding for um the various jobs okay I that's what was relayed to me in an email today but I I really can't speak any more on it any more than that I appreciate that um I I want to I'll need to examine this uh more more closely uh because we should be paying the wages that should be paid uh and wage theft has a cost to the district as well in several ways enforcement and the impacts uh on on families um W with this bill uh it sounds like we're going to take a look at this between first and second reading to make sure we're not harming our small local businesses that are uh really trying to provide good jobs for people uh but but I also think there's broad recognition in this Council of uh the important role that that our unions play there's also some uh belief that we can do better about getting DC residents uh into these apprenticeship programs uh so when this bill passes what I'm going to do is is work with our labor committee uh or our labor Community uh maybe a monthly call I want to know the numbers uh that are going into these uh apprenticeship programs I want to see those DC residents and I want to track them by month to make sure uh there is benefit if the city is going to continue uh to do things that are going to benefit uh our our unions and workers then I want to see that benefit transferred to our residents uh so chairman I'm I'm going to vote Yes I'm going to work with you between first and second reading uh but after this bill passes uh I'm going to work to hold our unions accountable and work with them to make sure we have DC residents and any barriers that are stopping residents from getting into these uh apprenticeship programs will work together to remove those barriers thank you thank you council member council member fans thank you very much just in that last back and forth really has me even more puzzled because the idea is the cost would be higher because fewer contractors bid and so the idea would be without it the cost would be lower and CBS would participate but with it the cost the price would be higher and cbes wouldn't participate I don't understand that if there were more money why wouldn't they participate and the Davis bacon wages are the same so that puzzles me and looking with the CFO at how how that idea came to be I think will be an important thing to do between first and second reading I I'm also going to support this bill I I share uh council member Lewis George and council member uh Parker's view about the importance of unions uh the the middle class here the middle class across the country was built on unions unions stick up for their workers one of the things um and there was somebody raised an issue of a union worker who was saying say they couldn't get on a job site and one of the things I heard when I went to the training center was we need to have jobs in the pipeline in order to be able to put our folks to work and in order to train more workers so having this having a PLA and having more jobs that much more accessible to our unionized workers can grow the base of our unionized workers and keep them in jobs I think that's a really important goal for us as a city and this is a discussion here but this discussion is happening Nationwide and boy we need stronger unions today around this country not to to to do things that undermine them so I I'm going of enthusiastically support this legislation oh thank you council member fuman uh council member Allen thank you Mr chairman um I have listened across a lot of the concerns been expressed a lot of the concerns I've heard throughout the course of the day may be legitimate but they're not necessarily about the bill that's in front of us um I think that this legislation is one I'm strongly supporting because I think it's going to be one that helps make sure that we've got more folks in Union jobs um but when I hear concerns around how do we help build a better pipeline I'm going to wager unanimously we want to create a stronger pipeline for great paying jobs with great benefits and hey I'd like for those to also be union jobs um how do we help connect our DC students into the trades and then into apprenticeship and then into that job site with full-time employment and career I think everybody agrees on that we want to see that happen that's not actually what this bill's about though um when I hear us talk about well the costs are going to go up there's a lot of reasons why I've seen costs go up in this budget the last couple of years um but sometimes costs go up because you got to pay to do the right thing and so I'm not turned off by the fact that yeah we're going to have to probably pay more for that project to get done to get done the way we want it to get done um want to think about protections on the job site I think that unions do a phenomenal job of protecting our workers um knowing their rights and protecting them at the end of the day [Music] um I think that this bill should pass but I also don't think anybody is you know when I hear some of the conversations um they're beyond the scope of the bill sometimes and I think that there's very legitimate things we need to continue working on whether that be um how are we tracking and making sure that we've got DC residents getting these jobs how are we making sure we're building out the pipeline how are we making sure that we're holding accountable every part of this system for those wages and those protections and those good jobs so um I am going to enthusiastically support the bill today but I also hope that we as a council and we as a government follow up on a lot of the really great points that have been raised because I think there's a lot more that's well beyond the scope of of this bill that I think is very worthwhile and very much important part of making sure DC residents have a uh have a pipeline into a great career and I think work to help support our local businesses so um Mr chairman I I appreciate a really healthy debate on this today a lot of great questions and it sounds like there's g a lot more between first and second reading as well um but I'm in full support of this today thank you thank you customer Allen Al so I'm going to speak for a few minutes uh because there are a few members uh a couple who are not uh supportive of the bill and I'm hopeful that maybe they will reconsider their thinking on this uh so you know there's been a lot of talk about the bill but uh I want to kind of go back a little bit before that what is the reason for a pla so federal labor law for decades has allowed a PO project labor agreement otherwise it's not possible for a government to require that uh u a contractor be a union shop the reason for pla is because it promotes job stability there are other benefits which some members have talked about in terms of union wages and benefits uh but really stability is the strongest argument and so the district has for years had a policy of um requiring pla uh on big projects like the Frederick Douglas bridge and it's a way of ensuring that that project is more likely to be get to get done and get done on time and within budget um and without the potential of disruption uh because of worker unhappiness or some um fraud again like wage theft against workers um the over the years when the issue of pla has come up almost always what it devolves to and I was hoping to avoid this is Union versus non-un but I have never seen a business that opposed um opposed A pla that didn't uh oppose being a union shop and I mean that's just basically it and so the businesses that are opposed to this legislation are businesses that feel they can't compete because they don't want to have just for the temporary duration of the job a union um to have union workers um so this is really about several members have talked about this about unions or anti-union um so when we talk about issues like cbes that's not actually what this bill is about and actually council member Allen I think you at that point very well but we talk about uh the failure to hire DC residents uh that's not what this bill is about so let's just say I the votes are here for the bill but let's just say the bill isn't passed and so we keep the current law well we're not going to see any more hiring of DC resident we're not going to see any more cbes because that's not that's tangential to this legislation this legislation is not responsible for that and that reminds me council member I did say I would work with you now and second reading and see if we can address some of those issues I want to say one other thing about the Fist and that is for years I have disagreed with the CFO who just simply says buys the line that this makes projects more important I mean more expensive 10% why 10% uh and where's the evidence for this and where's the research been so was Frederick Douglas 10% more expensive was the convention center 10% more expensive was the National Stadium 10% more expensive with all due respect the C's just making this up and he made it up uh when we did it at 75 million and he's making up now when we're saying 50 million and yes I'm going to have a conversation with the CFO because he makes up stuff on some of the other fiscal impact statements uh we respect the process so as long as the fist says that there is this cost yes we have to bake it into the um into the capital Improvement plan but in my view it's not a real number just speaking to the fiscal impact so this bill really is well and when when I introduced this years ago at 75 million I think I actually introduced it at a lower threshold and we increased it to 75 million to reduce the fiscal impact so that it actually could get funded and could become the law and by the way I don't recall that in the last what five seven years that we've had it at 50 at 75 million that there's been complaint instability project unrest projects going over budget I don't remember that with any of the projects over the last five seven years so I don't know why it's going to come true now other than with all du respect to the non-union shops the non-union shops don't like this because they don't want I mean they just to their core do not want to have union workers and that's okay but that's not a reason to oppose the legislation and as a government like other governments like the federal government at 35 million we think this is good public policy and I'm over my time so I am strongly supporting this bill and I would urge that other members who've had some second thoughts that you have a third thought and that you vote for this legislation if there's no other discussion on the bill we can get by with a Voice vote that's fine I think we should do a roll call are you asking for a roll call yes council member Pinter Pinto has requested a roll call Madame secretary council member fuman yes council member Freeman votes yes council member gray yes council member gray votes yes counc member Henderson present council member Henderson will be recorded as present council member LS George yes council member Le George votes yes council member McDuffy chairman Mendelson yes chairman Mendelson votes yes council member noo yes council member noo votes yes council member Parker yes council member Parker votes yes council member Pinto no council member Pinto votes no council member Robert White yes council member Robert White votes yes council member Tron white Pres council member Trana white will be recorded as present council member Allan yes council member Allen votes yes council member bonds yes council member Bond votes yes and council member McDuffy council member McDuffy you will be recorded as present Mr chairman there are nine yeses one no and three presents uh the bill is approved thank you Madam Secretary uh we will turn now to on page seven item seven on the page which is secure DC Omnibus temporary Amendment Act of 2024 Bill 25736 council member Pinel so moved Mr chairman uh discussion I have no discussion I will have a voice for on this um all those in favor of the bill say I I are there any opposed council member white chairman report me is present please council member TR white will be recorded as present the bill is approved unanimously I believe that gets us to the non-consent agenda no we are already on non consent on page eight uh the first measure so we're on emergency bills at this point and the first bill is local rent supplement program elig build the emergency declaration resolution of 2024 so moved uh the purpose of this is to amend the DC Housing Authority Act of 1999 to allow applicants for local rent supplement vouchers to self-certify eligibility factors such as income and to prohibit the Housing Authority from inquiring into an applicant's immigration status or prior criminal arrest convictions or pending criminal matters for purposes of determining eligibility for or receipt of a local local rent supplement voucher similar legislation was adopted by the Council on July 11th 2023 and it will expire the temporary will expire in April 28th that is this month and so I move this uh declaration is there a discussion Mr chairman council member fir thank you very much Mr chairman I I understand the concern about people getting stuck in the pipeline and and dealing with all the paperwork um and I think we need to be addressing that to get people so that they can qualify for a voucher I share the concerns that the mayor um aired in her letter about relying entirely on self-certification in a setting like this I hear about situations where uh folks end up having to apply for Erp and draw from that when they otherwise if they had recertified their their income could qualify for increased federal assistance I just think we need to be careful in this space I also the rules around criminal backgrounds are different in a dcha uh uh housing uh uh development than in this setting and in the dcha housing development there's more supervision and in this setting there's less I I understand we've been doing this on emergency I know that there's going to be an effort to address these things on permanent and I want to hear the full discussion of it on permanent but at this point I'm not comfortable supporting this for the same reasons that the mayor expressed in her letter this morning thank you coun fuman further discussion on the Declaration C thank you very much chairman I would like to um understand what has changed since we um passed the measure in 22 anything change a permanent bill is pending in the committee so that is the reason why this is extended correct so nothing else has changed correct but it is good policy because you recall that it was much more difficult for folks to apply for the local rent supplement program vouchers and this makes it easier well it makes it easier but um it just seems to me um the reason we ended up with so many vouchers available is because we didn't have the social workers to uh work with the individuals and so I heard my colleague speak earlier about the continuing need to at social workers and that is a curriculum that takes five years so I'm just a little concerned as to why we would want to continue this policy knowing that individuals who are without housing are in a dire straight and why is it that we feel that we should not know something about who they are take for instance the value of having um a weight list um the value of having um opportunities for Rapid rehousing are we saying that for Rapid rehousing there is um no requirement to have background checks no requirement for um registration to have proof of your identity is that how rapid rehousing works this still has nothing to do with rapid rehousing I know but rapid rehousing is frequently the Prelude to actually having a voucher and so I'm trying to understand why we would say in one on one side if you want to be housed instantly through Rapid rehousing you have to identify yourself so I'm trying to understand why when both programs are about housing those that need housing the most we are not um one set of rules for one group another set of rules for another group I I'm not prepared to talk about rapid rehousing today um the I introduced this emergency because I want to maintain the status quo while the permanent bill is pending and we the council approved the emergency a year ago because we felt that it the um was the government was making it unnecessarily difficult for individuals uh to be able to obtain uh vouchers and we want them we want the vouchers to be used I mean part of your question was about all the unus noted the unused vouchers well let's get them used so we want to make it easier for people to to apply for and obtain a voucher um that's what this bill's about well and there's been no allegation of misuse or fraud that I'm aware of I was trying to understand why for one set or one type of housing we have a different set of rules from the more permanent which is what a voucher is so I was just trying to understand that uh I think I think that question is uh best considered as part of the per perent legislation further on the Declaration uh we have the Declaration before us I think we can do a voice vote since all the members are here but one no I do what the secretary says mam secretary will you call the role on the Declaration CC member gray yes council member gray votes yes council member Henderson yes council member Henderson votes yes yes counc L George yes counc member Le George votes yes counc member McDuffy yes counc member McDuffy votes yes chairman Mendon yes chairman Mendon votes yes council member Nido yes council member Nido votes yes council member Parker yes council member Parker votes yes council member Pinto yes council member Pinto votes yes council member Robert White yes council member Robert White votes yes council member Tran white yes counc member Tran votes yes council member Allen yes council member Allen votes yes council member bonds yes council member Bond votes yes council member Freeman no council frean votes no Mr chairman there are 12 yeses and one no thank you Madam Secretary the Declaration is approved we have the underlying bill bill 25780 so moved discussion we'll have a Voice vote on this uh all those in favor of the bill say I I I opposed no uh the bill is approved council fuman do you want to be recorded as no please record me as no how the bill is approved the next measure is association meeting flexibility emergency declaration resolution of 2024 council member Robert White thank you chairman this is an extension of legislation that we've had an effect on an emergency or temporary basis since uh 2020 the district's condominium laws have allowed Condo Association boards to meet virtually for nearly a decade now but the permanent law is silent on whether the entire Association can conduct virtual meetings without amending their bylaws the covid-19 pandemic made clear this was a problem because condo associations are supposed to meet every year condo associations continue to benefit from the ability to meet virtually if they choose to do so the committee on housing expects to make this permanent this Council period I move the association meeting flexibility emergency declaration resolution of 2024 thank you chairman thank you council member there is there discussion we have the Declaration before us uh Madam Secretary would you call the role council member Henderson yes council member Henderson votes yes Council Lis George yes council member leis George votes yes council member McDuffy yes council member McDuffy votes yes chairman mson yes chairman melson votes yes council member noo yes council member NAD votes yes council member Parker yes council member Parker votes yes council member Pinto I'll come back council member Robert White yes council member Robert White votes yes council member trayan white yes counc member Tran white votes yes council member Allan yes council member Allan votes yes council member Bond yes council member Vons votes yes council member Freeman yes council member Freeman votes yes council member gray yes council member gray votes yes council member Pinto is absent Mr chairman there are 12 yeses and one absent uh thank you Madam Secretary Ian believe you so was 12 nothing uh the um declaration is approved unanimously we have the underlying bill before us bill 25- 766 council member white so moved discussion by a Voice vote all those in favor of the bill say I I I are there any no votes are the Bills approved unanimously the next measure is relief for River East at Grand View Condominium owners emergency declaration resolution of 2024 PR 25707 council member Robert White uh thank you Mr chairman it has been a long road to get to this point 13 years ago the Department of Housing and Community Development gave a loan to developers to build 46 affordable housing units on Talbert Street in w 8 by the end of 2016 the project was built and ready for move in for the next two years 46 households bought condos at River East at Grand View many of these households were led by by black women who became homeowners for the first time using the district's home purchase assistance program others were retirees recent graduates young couples veterans parents and parents to be chairman your mic is on each buyer had their own dreams and Visions for the future each followed the path they thought would help them and their kids lead better lives with more stability and financial growth but that wasn't the case in August of 2021 there dreams almost literally Came Crashing Down the new owners were told their new homes were on the brink of collapse after years of saving up filling out paperwork and closing on dream homes they now had just two weeks to evacuate by then one resident was 3 months pregnant another had settled into what she thought would be her final home for retirement several moms were forced to uproot their kids again more than 30 children and their parents faced this fate since the evacuation almost three years ago River East at Grand View owners have worked diligently to untangle the tremendous Financial legal and emotional web they were thrown into in November chairman mson council member Tryon white and I attended a Roundtable we held on this issue to hear more from homeowners dhcd and the department of buildings about next next steps this was one of the most heart-wrenching hearings I have never been in owners spoke about how this horrific experience has impacted them deep depression anger amense stress feeling like failures as parents distrust and the fear over the next steps they remain responsible for mortgages on homes with no value the district provided some relief including ongoing rental support through this spring but it was clear just how much more is needed to finally help them move on from this this is our opportunity to lay the road map for what that relief will look like the legislation before us first authorizes dhcd to enter into a contract with the neighborhood asso Assistance Corporation of America or NAA nonprofit led by one of the co-chairs of the black home ownership Strike Force NAA seeks to provide affordable home ownership opportunities to communities that have systematically been kept out of the real estate market they have experienced helping owners through difficult Financial Times and will be an asset to have as part of this solution next the legislation outlines additional supports uh one minute Mr chairman without objection thank you uh this legislation outlines additional supports we expect the executive will provide including tax relief housing production trust fund and home purchase assistance program loan forgiveness financial support for the condo association and moving costs for the for the owners to provide predictability as rental assistance winds down the legislation also requires dhcd to share a rental option for owners who can't buy again right now as well as a deadline to tell owners how much relief they will get from their existing hptf and hpap Loans I want to thank the River East at Grand View owners for their ongoing patience and responsiveness in making sure that what we have before us will be a good start to get them out of this mess without you we couldn't have gotten to this point I also want to thank dhcd dmed ocfo our budget team our ogc and Naka for their partnership in getting this across the finish line and I Cann underscore enough that we would not have gotten this done without Caitlyn kachalova senior legislative Council on the housing committee this is an important and productive step and I'm committed to seeing this through with that Mr chairman I move the relief for River East at Grand View Condominium Owners Association declaration resolution of 2024 uh thank you council member white uh council member Tran white yes uh thank you I want to thank you council member Robert White uh and your your staff and the work that's gone into this even Council Manita bonds who stood beside us and chairman Minon trying to figure this out for some uh homeowners Easter anacosta River uh quite frankly they're still in the vulnerable position trying to figure out next steps I was on a call with a resident yesterday uh she's simply saying that once her time is up with the next six months of the subsidies that the government is providing she uh doesn't have the ability to go get a new home uh credit is not what it was and the market I think she said she paid less than $300,000 for a condo and she can't find nothing less than $550,000 000 in a district that's suitable for her and her family um so the times have shifted that's not in her favor uh for over four years we have been trying to find some resolution some relief for for this I've been in at least 10 meetings trying to figure this out uh so I want to thank you council member Robert White and your staff uh dmed dhcd our local partners for trying to get a step for further to addressing this even uh representativ from Naka who were here to today in the council uh trying to ensure that some black homeowners didn't just lose their wealth and we turned other way and kept on walking and forgotten all about them I think that we can still go a step further as a government who put the who these residents put their trust in to build something like this and now who are facing uh homelessness and hopelessness I think that we have done some things well but we have a farther way to go uh to address some of these needs and Al ultimately to make these families uh I want to thank you I want to support this measure and want to encourage my my other colleagues support this measure today thank you uh thank you council member council member Vince gray I believe you have an amendment to the Declaration um yes on behalf of the council member reading the corresponding Amendment to the emergency act would authorize the deputy mayor for planning and economic development to issue a grant of up to $15 million to support the completion of the Skyland Town Center project it would also amend the Skyland shopping center Omnibus Act of 2014 to reduce the aggregate principal amount of bonds authorized to be issued under that act and it would approve a reprogramming request from the mayor to support the issuance of the Skyland Grant these changes to the emergency declaration are necessary to convey the urgency needed to make these changes so move Mr chairman right so the amendment to the Declaration is before is there discussion on the amendment not hearing any um in fact if there's no objection to the amendment the amendment will be accepted hearing no objection the amendment is approved uh so we have the Declaration as amended is there any further discussion Mr chairman council member Henderson thank you Mr chairman um I asked about this at the breakfast but I um also just want to give council member white an opportunity to stay on the record the the question I asked was around um how we plan to uh Land This Plane in terms of um you know this tragedy unfolded about three years ago um we've been providing support and those kinds of things but um in your conversation with DH do they have a Target timeline of when um they plan to I guess make their final offer and um on on this particular situation for those residents uh thank you for the question uh rental assistance which has been going on ongoing for years uh is scheduled to end in June um and uh so with this bill some of the things we're offering are moving costs um and uh rentown payments uh but these residents are still in a difficult predicament okay um thank you Mr chairman thank you Mr chairman uh council member McDuffy just uh along the lines of of trying to make sure that this is is ultimately the solution that works for for these homeowners um is this is this solution and I appreciate all the work that you've had on this council member uh Robert White this solution was crafted working with the executive to get to this point such that they are in full agreement with this being the course of actions are you talking about gr view or you talking about not Sky Skyland I support it and I I appreciate I'm talking about grv uh yes we work closely with the administration to to get here um so they are in full agreement what I would say is uh the Delta here which connects to council member henders s request uh these are people all people of color almost who did every right and since their building has uh become uninhabitable the market has changed substantially so they can't just like be forgiven their loans and then go buy a new place so for us to make them whole uh I would expect my colleagues to hear from me again on something we can do to enable them to realistically buy homes they're at the head of the pack for hpap uh and the the money they owe that the city can forgive will be forgiven uh but to help them realize their dream of homeowners ship is going to require a little bit more from us so we're going to keep trying to work with the administration but colleagues should expect to hear from me again on that piece there's nothing further on the Declaration the Declaration is amended we'll have a roll call vote Madam Secretary counc Lewis George yes council member L George votes yes council member McDuffy yes council member McDuffy votes yes chairman Mendelson yes chairman mson votes yes council member Nell yes council member noo votes yes council member Parker yes council member Parker votes yes council member Pinto yes council member Pinto votes yes council member Robert White yes counc member Robert White votes yes council member Tron white yes council member trayan votes yes council member Allan yes council member Allan votes yes council member bonds yes council member bonds votes yes council member Freeman yes council member fuman votes yes council member gray yes council member gray votes yes counc M Henderson yes council member Henderson votes yes Mr chairman there are 13 yeses thank you Madam Secretary the Declaration is approved unanimously we have the underlying Bill Bill 255-7733 the council authorized up to 40 million in tax increment financing for the development of Skyland Town Center in the Skyland Town Center Omnibus Act of 2014 phases one and two have been completed and the Final Phase phase three will be 126 forsale Town Homes 75 affordable apartments for seniors and approximately 8,000 square feet of retail space due to markting conditions funding provided by the Tiff no longer supports the anticipated timeline of the third and final phase phase three has received the necessary permits and Zoning approvals to begin construction without the Ely receipt of funds this phase will languish and jeopardize the completion of the project Additionally the developer will either be forced to take out loans to complete the project in a timely manner or risk failure of the project so this legislation would authorize deputy mayor for planning Economic Development to issue a grant of up to $15 million to support the completion of the Skyland Town Center project it would also amend the Skyland shopping center onus Act of 2014 to reduce the aggregate principal amount of bonds authorized to be issued under the act and finally approve a reprogramming request from the mayor to support the issuance of the Skyland Grant you Mr chairman yes Mr Gray some move Mr chairman uh thank you council member right we have the amendment before us is there discussion on the amendment if there's no objection the amendment will be accepted uh hearing no objection the amendment is accepted we have the bill as amended before us further discussion we'll have a Voice vote on the bill as amended all those in favor say I I I opposed uh I don't hear see any no votes the eyes have it unanimously the next measure is Annie's way does ation emergency declaration resolution of 2024 PR 25709 council member Pinto thank you Mr chairman I introduced the permanent version of this legislation to honor Annie's Paramount Stakehouse for its many contributions to the district over the last 75 years since its opening in 1948 Annie has created a distinctive Gathering Spot in the district providing delicious food a sense of belonging and communal Spirit Annie's Paramount Steakhouse was an early sponsor of the gay men's Cor of Washington DC as a continuous Presence at the annual Capital pride parid and as a recipient of the rainbow history Project's Community Pioneer award the restaurant's namesake Annie Kaylor was dedicated to her customers and gave tireless support to the lgbtqqia plus community at a time especially when acceptance was all too rare today I'm moving emergency legislation to ensure that the street sign for Annie's way will be installed in time for the district's annual Capital Pride Celebration this June I move the Declaration uh thank you council member Pinto uh and I'm on this declaration the permanent Bill we received final reading today uh so this is just implementing what we have approved more quickly Is there further discussion a roll call vote on the Declaration council member McDuffy yes counc member McDuffy votes yes chairman mson yes chairman Mendon votes yes council member noo yes counc member noo votes yes council member Parker yes council member Parker votes yes council member Pinto yes council member Pinto votes yes council member Robert White yes council member Robert White votes yes council member Tran white yes council member Tran white votes yes council member Allen yes council member Allen votes yes council member bonds yes council member bonds votes yes council member Freeman yes council member Freeman votes yes council member gray yes council member gray votes yes council member Henderson yes council member Henderson votes yes Council LS George is absent Mr chairman there are 12 yeses and one absent thank you Madam Secretary the Declaration is approved unanimous we have the underlying Bill Bill 25- 777 council member Pinto so moved discussion I'll by Voice vote all those in favor of the bill say I I I opposed all right thanks uh the eyes have it unanimously the next measure is virtual open meetings Authority extension emergency declaration resolution of 2024 council member Pinto thank you Mr chairman today I'm moving the virtual open meetings Authority extension emergency Amendment Act of 2024 and related emergency declaration this bill clarifies that under District's under the district's open meetings act a meeting of the public body excuse me meeting of a public body is considered open to the public and therefore in compliance with the law if the public body provides a virtual way for members of the public to view or participate in the meeting as we all know under the open meetings ACT public bodies include the council and the range of government boards and commissions in the district this emergency Authority is not new in March of 2020 the council first adopted similar language allowing for virtual meetings to comply with the open meetings act to ensure that public bodies could continue to meet during the covid-19 pandemic and Public Health Emergency without putting the health and safety of the public at risk the council since extended that Authority several times in emergency basis I last moved a version of this bill on emergency in 2023 obviously the initial impetus for this language has passed the public health emergency has ended and a number of public bodies including the council have resumed inperson meetings but as any of us our staff our agency staff could attest to the ability to hold public meetings virtually has been hugely beneficial both for productivity and for Public Access especially for small task forces and working groups being able to take a meeting over Zoom can often be more efficient for members of the public without this access many of them simply wouldn't attend meetings this is especially true for residents with mobility issues those who serve as full-time caretakers or those who are imuno rised or sick for these reasons I believe it's critical that the council extend this Authority again to ensure that residents are provided every option to participate in these public meetings I'll also note that since we've passed this type of measure on an emergency basis multiple times we should work together to pass a permanent version in the meantime it's critical that we keep this Authority in place with that Mr chairman I move the emergency declaration thank you counc m Pinel is there discussion on the Declaration I do have a question I'm going to vote for the Declaration and I'm not sure that this is directly applicable to this measure because this has to do with open meetings but recently an ANC commissioner raised a concern with me about well do we want to continue having virtual meetings as opposed to to hybrid meetings and um I think it's worth our considering whether we want to continue what we did during the pandemic which is to perit all virtual all virtual meetings 100% virtual meetings so I don't know if you want to respond to that here because this is um I'm not sure it's directly applicable to what you're moving but it's relevant well I guess I would respond to say we should work together so we can move forward a permanent version I still believe it is um a great thing to be imp person when we can um and that the council um can continue to have opportunities for the public to convene in person but an optionality for people to join virtual is preferable that would be an argument for hybrid meetings to permit hybrid meetings I mean I note that since we have come back to inperson meetings most members attend our Council meetings in person whether they admit it or not they seem to pre we seem to prefer being in person but not 100% uh all of the time the issue came to me because ANC commissioner was saying some anc's only meet virtually and that makes it more difficult for the public to participate and I think there's some argument for that I would rather be staring myc commissioner in the eyeball than to just be a box on a screen relevant but not directly applicable here correct correct further discussion on the Declaration roll call vote chairman Mendelson yes chairman Mendelson votes yes council member Nido yes council member Nido votes yes council member parcker yes council member parcker votes yes council member Pino yes council member Pino votes yes council member Robert White yes council member Robert White votes yes council member Tron white yes council member trayan votes yes council member Allan yes council member Allen votes yes council member bonds yes council member bonds votes yes council member fuman yes council member fuman votes yes council member gray no yes council member gray votes yes counc Henderson yes council member Henderson votes yes council member LS George council member LS George votes yes council member McDuffy yes council member mcy votes yes Mr chairman there are 13 yeses better excuse me better draft excuse me oh thank you Madam Secretary the Declaration is approved unanimously we have the underlying Bill Bill 25- 764 council member Pinto so move discussion um we'll have a Voice vote on the bill all those in favor say I I I I are there any opposed I don't hear any no votes the bill is approved unanimously uh the next measure is special education for young adults in the custody of the Department of Corrections emergency declaration resolution of 2024 member Pinto thank you Mr chairman this bill is an extension of an identical emergency legislation that we passed last year it extends the designation of the Department of Corrections as the district agency responsible for providing a free appropriate public education or fape to eligible individuals who are in Doc custody to give a bit of background under the federal individuals with disabilities Education Act or ID yay the district law and District law student age residents and Doc custody are titled to receive special education and related Services if they were previously identified as a student with a disability or had an individualized education plan for the last two school year for the last two school years special education services at docc have been provided by Maya Angelou Public Charter School under a temporary Charter authorization from the public charter school board in order to allow that arrangement to continue into school year 2023 to 2024 the council passed emergency and temporary leg legislation in June of 2023 to designate doc as the agency responsible for providing a free appropriate public education to eligible students in their custody with the understanding that doc would continue to contract with my Angelou public charter schools to provide the services needed I'll note that permanent versions of the special education for young adults in the custody of the Department of Corrections Amendment act as well as my bill the leading education access for re-entry and necessary success Amendment Act or learns act both of which would resolve this issue that this legislation is aimed at are currently pending Council review and a public hearing on the bills was held in January 2024 however the temporary legislation adopted by the council expires on May 17 2024 prior to the end of this school year so this emergency bill is necessary to ensure that doc can continue its contract with Maya Angelou public charter schools for the remainder of the school year so that there's no disruption in the delivery of required special education and related Services Under Ida for eligible individuals in the custody of the Department of Corrections with that I move the emergency declaration thank you council member Pinto is there discussion on the Declaration I'll roll call vote on the Declaration d yes council member Nel votes yes council member Parker yes council member Parker votes yes council member Pinel yes council member Pinel votes yes council member Robert White yes council member Robert White votes yes council member trayon white yes council member Tran white votes yes council member Allan yes council member alen votes yes council member bonds yes council member bonds votes yes council member fuman yes council member fan votes yes council member gray council member Gray council member Henderson yes council member Henderson votes yes council member LS George yes council member Le George votes yes council member McDuffy yes C member McDuffy votes yes chairman Mendelson yes chairman Mendelson votes yes Mr chairman there are 12 yeses and one absent uh the Declaration is approved unanimously we have the underlying Bill Bill 25-7 71 um Council repino so moved discussion uh by a Voice vote all those in favor say I I I opposed I do not see or hear any no votes the I have it unanimously the next measure is Bill PR 25708 prohibition of cannabis retailers near schools emergency declaration resolution of 2024 council member Pinto thank thank you very much Mr chairman I urge my colleagues to support the emergency legislation that I'm moving today with council member Allen to ensure that our children are not inappropriately exposed to cannabis sales by their schools the district's current legal and Regulatory framework around medical cannabis retail makes clear that schools and recreation centers locations most frequented by our young people ought to be insulated from such establishments by at least 300 ft that is the current law we should continue to ensure appropriate and reasonable Geographic barriers between any school or recreation center and cannabis retailers and make sure that that is maintained by aligning the transitional process requirements with the broader legal and Regulatory framework that is already in place for context the council established a transitional framework for unlicensed cannabis establishments to apply for a retailer license during a 90-day period that closed on January 2024 this transition process created an exception that would allow medical cannabis retailers to locate within 300 feet of a school or Recreation Center if the school or Recreation Center is located in a commercial or industrial Zone this emergency legislation would remove that exception and prohibit all medical cannabis retailers from locating within 300 ft of schools or recreation centers to protect the fairness of the process this bill would allow affected applicants to change their locations without negatively impacting the status of their application I note that there are only two pending applications total two total that have proposed locations within 300 feet of schools the nearby schools in question serve fifth to 12th grade students who are mostly between the impressionable ages of 10 and 18 this emergency would allow these applicants to apply for a new location without negatively impacting their application while ensuring that they do not locate next to a school I want to emphasize that this bill does not affect any future cannabis license applications or change any of the geographic boundaries for internet retailers or cultivation centers it simply aligns the transitional process requirements with the broader regulatory framework for transitions it's critical that we continue to ensure are the pathway to licensing for cannabis businesses is as accessible as possible given DC's lack of statehood while balancing the need for the district to provide effective oversight of licensed establishment to promote safety for customers and our communities more broadly at the end of the day protecting our kids from exposure to the sale of Highly regulated substances is extremely important as a policy priority and we have a responsibility to proactively address this given the council's decision to create a geographic buffer in the general legal framework for medical cannabis licensing it is clearly a policy priority of the council Mr chairman 10 more seconds without objection we cannot Advance the interests of our business and medical cannabis industry at the expense of the health and safety of our children we can balance both we're always doing a balancing act I'm standing up in support today of our parents and our children in this emergency does the same I urge you to support this today um this to support this emergency declaration and the underlying emergency I move the deck thank you council member Pinto uh discussion on the Declaration um all right this is a a bit of a mess but I am not going to support the Declaration and um I'm saying it's a bit of a mess because I'm aware of some amendments that have been circulated that I think would improve the underlying bill but nonetheless the issue for me is we are changing the rules in the middle of the process that we are changing the rules with regard to what many on this days have argued in the past are disadvantaged or struggling organiz uh businesses when I say disadvantaged uh that um a few years ago they didn't think they could go through the uh permitting process we actually changed that to create an onr so that they could get a license uh these are tend to be local businesses as opposed to outof State businesses these tend to be businesses of color rather than otherwise and we've talked in the past about how we want to try to Advantage them in fact I think one or two of the applications but I might be confusing this with the 300 foot perimeter uh are what we call Equity applicants um and so here we are in that context changing the rules as I said at the breakfast uh this is an issue where over the years the council has taken a stand with regard to medical cannabis and then when um and and then something comes up and we change the rules and we make it harder for these businesses so I appreciate that the movers of the Declaration have tried to improve the underlying bill but I think it is better for us to stay out of this um the I believe where the movers of the Declaration are trying to go is that this would affect one business which actually might be legally questionable um and maybe I'm wrong on that but uh the uh as I said I think it's better to not support the Declaration than to continue this path of once again we're amending medical cannabis and what we're doing today is we're changing the rules further on the I being told the order council member Bond and council member Allen um thank you very much so Mr chairman are you therefore saying since this affects actually one um circumstance one business that it's a carve out you know I don't think I want to spend much time on that issue because generally my view is Chairman of the council is that what we pass we want to be able to defend but I did note that as I understand one of the under one of the amendments to the underlying bill that it would have the effect of making this legislation applicable this disruption applicable to only one business thank you very much for that council member Allen thank you Mr chairman um all right I'll take issue with saying it's it's a mess um first thank you councelor Pento for working with me on this but um I I Mr chairman got to object to the way in which you're describing that um if we thought we have some kind of Purity around how we're amending medical marijuana laws over the years that ship sailed years and years and years ago we have been writing this by emergency legislation over and over and over again no one can also stand on ceremony and say well but wait there's a process going on so we can't make any changes because we've done that too so we have made changes plenty of times when we believe it's in the best interest of what we're trying to accomplish so let's make it very clear if people want to not vote for the Declaration to not even get to the debate the merits of what the emergency Act is the outcome of that will be your vote is saying you think it's okay to have a retailer 87 feet from the front door of a school period that's it now if we want to talk about what the bill underlying Bill actually does is it says that we want to treat our charter schools with parity with our public schools because we have a 300 foot rule for our Public Schools but in this instance I think because we've written this thing so many different times by emergency and other pieces we have a situation in front of us that we have the ability to remedy which is that we have a retailer that is looking to open 87 ft from the front door of a school we think it's good for some schools I don't know why we would think it's true for all of them now what we are prepared to do in our conversation this morning over breakfast we heard people say the the bill as introduced said that we would give an applicant 180 days to be able to find a new location heard some push back on that and said probably need a little bit longer than that so the amendment that we have extends that another 180 days to a full year to make sure that that applicant would have plenty of time to find a new place on top of that um we heard that there was a concern that there was one of the two again only one of the two had already had a settlement agreement with an ANC and we don't want to undo that work that ANC already gone through so the other part of the amendment says that if there is already a settlement agreement approved by the ANC this shall not apply so really we're not even trying to affect two we're only affecting one so I don't describe that as a mess Mr chairman I descri describe that as trying to address the concerns that our colleagues brought up this morning to be responsive to that now I know that I'm gonna sleep fine if this vote goes down but I really believe that this Council should say that we don't think that we want to have a retailer 87 feet from the front door of a school that we want to treat our schools equally and the same and I would urge my colleagues to vote for the Declaration for this very narrow bill that has an amendment that makes it even more narrow and then with the permanent legislation I know my colleague is working on and moving through many of the other issues will be able to be worked on and addressed that permanent legislation but this is our moment to act and this is our opportunity thank you Mr chair thank you council member sure uh council member McDuffy thanks chairman um I I uh my team and I particular Donnie carford has been working on this for a really long time and I know we work closely with a number of colleagues who've had an interest in this uh including the chairman uh Council M Allen who joined us at the the the joint hearing that we had a few weeks ago um and there are a number of things that that are fairly fluid in this industry because it is so new to the District of Columbia and because our hands are are tied uh by Congress when it comes to you know regulating uh adult use Market that we can tax and regulate but not to conflate issues um I I can't support this it's not because I don't you know really empathize with the parents who I've communicated with one of whom car out time to testify at our hearing on the permanent measure but because I think when you look at the circumstances in totality it is best not to legislate in a manner that essentially impacts one business um I I'll point my colleagues to the letter sent by the alcoholic beverage and cannabis board uh on April 1st uh where they site their efforts to build a sustainable medical cannabis program and they emphasize uh that it's required an extensive amount of community outreach by the agency and and frankly AFA is isn't just any agency in District Columbia government I they are an agency that I know uh I've worked with directly and can say that they they do a a really good job of Outreach uh and really providing information and being transparent about their processes um they expressed in that letter that it is a concertive community outreach that was undertaken to establish trust based on the implementation of a fair and consistent transition process we said that we wanted to be able to give unlicensed establishments an arm Ram uh and they have went about that work and it has been a tremendous effort uh what they say in the letter uh as well is that as a result of their efforts 76 unlicensed establishments applied by the January 29 2024 deadline but by supporting this you essentially say one of those businesses despite following all the rules at this point uh would not uh be able to locate where uh they are applying to locate now Abra still has the opportunity tomorrow to decide whether or not they are able to locate that and we should not usurp the board's Authority by supporting this emergency uh and finally you know I also say when it says you giving them a year is not plenty of time chairman just 30 more seconds objection a year to find a new place in the District of Columbia is not nearly as easy as it sounds otherwise you wouldn't have had a witness testified a few weeks ago uh that a year was not enough time in fact that witness if I have it correctly uh requested that we extend the amount of time to final place to two years I think when it comes to retailers when it comes to uh those folks who are cultivating cannabis it is it is tough work to find a location in the District of Columbia Real Estate uh is not readily available when it comes to what they are required um uh to use and the restrictions we put on them in terms of where they can locate so I I I can't support this I'm I'm happy to continue to work with my colleagues and I do plan to take this up in the permanent in fact we've already heard testimony about about it and I'm working with my colleagues to try to craft parody when it comes to uh cannabis and alcohol where that is appropriate but I ask that we do that in a manner that is more deliberate working with the ABC Board as we have been uh thank you council member further on the um declaration council member Parker I'll be brief uh I I take to heart the concerns of ABA and of my colleagues but I'm of the mind that we should always um put the interest of our young people first um and I would always say purpose Trump's process I I'm sensitive to the fact that we've laid out a process and now in the middle of said process we're changing ing uh their approach in the system but I think given how narrow this proposal is the fact that it's only impacting one applicant as I understand it and there are contingencies built in to allow that applicant to find another location I think this is reasonable um and again I think we should just keep in mind that the spirit of this is that parents don't want young people in close proximity to a location that's selling cannabis and I think that's fair so I I hope colleagues would support this uh as we work to get the broader system correct thank you counc white thank you council member Parker council member Robert White uh thank you chairman I just have a question um what what role do anc's play in uh the approval of locations who's who you dirting that question to counc anybody who knows the answer they they are given great weight in the process and and a number of agencies have weighed in on applications to apka for these sours of establishments thank you I I'll just add that ANC is able to protest a location which has happened in this case anes are also able to enter into settlement agreements with an applicant very similar to the way that um they would with a liquor license application okay uh thank you chairman and colleagues and councelor white can I just add one one thing that that in practice it is very hard to protest an establishment to the degree that leads to it being the license being denied and we see this all the time with settlement agreements that are entered into that ANC Commissioners are very uncomfortable with or have concerns about on behalf of their constituency but that is the only mechanism by which to make a compromise with with the business and there's a lot of reasons for that we we have kind of by right business licensing in the city but when it comes to these locations at issue at least the location across the street from basis thec is very opposed to this the neighbors are opposed to this um we have used the mechanisms to indicate the dissatisfaction with this location and that's why this emergency legislation is necessary because the current structure is insufficient to lead to the outcome that's needed anything further on the bill council member Char oh yeah okay second to clate declaration motion but the motion to close debate is not debatable well the effect of a motion to close debate is that uh anyone who's not spoken can still speak and anyone who has spoken cannot speak other than the maker of the motion I'm not I'm not taking it back this time so and I do think it's privileged and so therefore uh but it's a Voice vote um the motion to close debate all those in favor of the motion to close debate say I I oppose oppose uh the eyes haven't Council Pinto you you're it two minutes oh okay thank you um okay a few things first to the Chairman's comments that it may be questionable I take issue with I we've worked this out with ogc there is not a legal issue here um second as councelor Allen pointed out we had this drafted in a certain way and in order to accommodate the concerns raised by colleagues raised by ABA we've structured this very narrowly to make sure that applicants have an additional year to change their location or that if anybody does enter into a settlement agreement then that can be honored and so I I don't think it is a good practice for us to in the spirit of compromise to then say okay well now where we are is it's only affecting one application and therefore that's too narrow we only got there because we were trying to compromise in the first place I wanted to highlight a few of the items from aba's letter um first ABA testified at the hearing on the permanent bill that retailers should be Exempted from this mix Zone exception to the Restriction so that there's no retailer 300 ft of a school they talk about the fairness of the process that's why Council Allen and I have this extended for a year to make sure that applicants can still move to another location um they talk about their concerns with council member fruman's Amendment about the 400 feet all to respect to that Amendment that's not what I am moving or arguing um this is a 300 foot restriction which already exist exists so again we make policy choices all the time a lot of things are balancing acts we support the transitional licenses there are a lot of on-ramps to do this this in effect is going to affect one application that is literally across the street from a school and those who represent the area are asking you all to please support us in supporting our constituents to make sure that this does not happen um basis I will also note represents and serves students from all eight Wards so this affects all of us thank you thank you council member uh we have the Declaration before us Madame secretary would you call the role council member Parker yes council member Parker votes yes council member Pinto yes council member Pinto votes yes council member Robert White no council member Robert White votes no council member Tron white no counc member Tran white votes no council member Allan yes council member Allen votes yes council member bonds no council member bonds votes no council member fuman yes council member fuman votes yes council member uh gray is absent council member Henderson yes council member Henderson votes yes council member LS George yes council member Lewis George votes yes council member McDuffy no council member McDuffy votes no chairman Mendelson no chairman Mendon votes no council radoo no council radoo votes no Mr chairman the vote is six yeses six Nos and one absent uh thank you Madam Secretary the Declaration fails the next measure is certified business Enterprise program compliance and enforcement support emergency declaration resolution of 2024 PR 25704 council member McDuffy thank you Mr chairman uh a certified business Enterprise or CBE as is commonly referred as a business Enterprise certified by the department of small and local business development as a local business Enterprise uh businesses with CBE certification may receive preference when submitting bids or proposals for procurement and Contracting opportunities currently over 2,000 businesses participate in the district CBE program following a recent revocation hearing before the office of administrative hearings stating that dslbd would need to hold a hearing for every single complaint that it receives due to a loophole in the current statutory framework dslbd and the Office of the Attorney General determined that uniform hearing procedures for complaints needed to be established expeditiously this is to ensure procedural consistency and fairness for these businesses as well as to increase Effectiveness and effici and departmental compliance and enforcement procedures the committee worked in collaboration with dlbd on legislation before us today uh this emergency legislation is needed to clarify and update enforcement actions under the small and certified business Enterprise development and assistance Act of 2005 as soon as possible I move the de thank you council member we have the Declaration before us is there a discussion uh we'll have a roll call vote on the uh deck uh Madam just oh I'm being instructed I don't need to have a roll call I we'll do a Voice vote on the Declaration all those in favor of the Declaration say I I I I are there any opposed uh the I I don't see or hear any no votes the eyes have it unanimously on the underlying Bill Bill 25768 Council McDuffy so move discussion all those in favor of the bill say I I I all right that was very anemic sick we'll do it again all the vote is on Bill 25768 all those in favor say I I oppose yeah I just have it unanimous uh we'll continue with emergency legislation at the request of the mayor I'm moving the Declaration for Downtown Arena financing partnership and revised budget emergency declaration resolution of 2024 uh this legislation is an appropriation actually what it is is it's an increase in revenues um the appropriation for Capital construction projects is increased by $515 million of which all of which shall be from local funds to remain available until expended to be allocated as follows which is to it says uh in the capital Improvement plan chinat toown revitalization fund but in fact this is for the Capital One Arena and it has spread over three years at 171 million 171 mil 66 7,000 in fiscal years 2025 2026 and 2027 um it's worth noting that this is what the district's contribution will be any upside and additional costs and risk would be on Monumental Sports uh which we know will cost much more than the um amount that we would be setting aside or appropriating with this uh the complete renovation will Encompass extensive upgrades to the arena that mod iiz and improve the overall Fan Experience as well as expand retail and concessions and improve pedestrian flow and vehicular traffic so that the arena and the area around it which some are referring to as an Entertainment District uh will continue to attract top tier events and enhance the overall visitor experience this project will also benefit local businesses as well as new construction and other job opportunities which will have a set aside for local certified business enter Enterprises and be subject to First Source agreements the legislation is largely the same as the offer first made to Monumental Sports last December and incorporated then in Bill 25- 631 which all council members co-sponsored on December 13th um the funds to be allocated in this supplemental appropriation uh were identified late last year by the Chief Financial Officer and were the result of refinancing of the district debt which feed up additional dollars under the debt ceiling um and so I move the Declaration is there a discussion chairman yes council member McDuffy thank you Mr chairman um I want to you know thank you and your efforts I know you've worked with the executive on this and and the mayor Deputy Mayor Albert uh have been working hard to get us to this point where we have uh this measure in front of us I know this is not a vote on the term sheet but I do think it's important uh that the public understands the process that we are uh engaging in and will have to engage in uh over the course of a number of of weeks and perhaps months ahead um I want to say definitively that Monumental is where they should be and District of Columbia the Wizards the Caps are here today and they should remain here so long as they are the Washington Capitals in the Washington Wizards there a lifelong resident uh who's cheered for them for uh years uh I think that's the right place for for them to be but I also think we need to recognize that and explain to the public when we talk about spending uh $515 million exactly what that gets us what is the return on the Public's investment uh of $515 million um I don't intend to ask all my questions today because it would be a process for us to be able to do that um I recognize that this term sheet is non-binding but it does provide a blueprint uh as the deputy mayor said earlier today about where the mayor intends to go with this agreement but I also think we need to make sure that we are approaching this process with our eyes wide open in a very sober manner that with the things that are outlined in the term sheet this could end up being more than $515 million in terms of what the public investment looks like now we know that there's been a return on our investment previously we know that monumento has been a catalyst or the the arena has been catalytic for what it's done to that Gallery Place Chinatown uh quarter area and I fly expect with the right Investments those Investments and that return is only only going to get larger uh but I think we need to make sure that we're asking those tough questions that we're looking at the details of this agreement and that the public recognizes that the council is not a rubber stamp for what gets negotiated I want Monumental to be here I want Monumental to want to be here and I want to make sure that the public understands we're doing what's in the best interest for District of Columbia residents visitors and taxpayers so again I look forward to the ongoing discussion that will happen after today uh and today I tend to support uh this important measurable Force thank you council member council member Tran white yes thank you chairman I want to thank uh mayor Bowser and council members and all those who went uh went on to ensure that Monumental sports teams uh MRIs stays in the district uh as Council M McDuffy alluded to I believe our teams belong here uh one of my concerns was to ensure that the initial investment made in the sports and entertainment Arena uh in w 8 remains uh because I know that was at the topic of discussion during the negotiations uh do know that there was a $65 million investment to this new facility of which 37 million was invested received investment from events DC uh 23 million from the district and 5 million from Monumental Sports uh what I don't know is uh in this new negotiations and the and Monumental desires to take over the management of the facility or where those revenues go from that facility uh how much access will the community have to do some of the local boxing events that's been phenomenal for the community uh the local graduations at the facility and so I have a lot of questions uh also during those negotiations it was noted that there was a $10 million Community benefit agreement to to give money to uh projects in w 8 especially for kids and so I want to get update on that and so I don't want to go into anything blindly I've been able to read through the documents I think that we have to uh get a little bit more for the district residents than we'll be getting quite frankly and get some wins uh I mean for me if we going to get some new Arena man new extension to the arena make it look all nice they get some some better players man I mean I just gonna say we Detroit one of the worst teams in the in the NBA and we lost to them twice and no shade to those from Detroit Pistons but we got to get some wins so I hope that we are talking about getting a new facility and doing these great things that we can get some wins for the basketball team I'm I'm a Wizards fan yeah thank you uh thank you council member council member Pinto thank you Mr chairman I was so thrilled to join uh most of you last week as well as District residents fans mayor Bowser and Monumental sports and entertainment in celebrating um the huge agreement that has been reached to ensure that not only our teams Washington Wizards Washington Capitals but also that our venues and concerts and um events can continue on at Capital One Arena downtown the signing of this agreement between the district and Monumental Sports along with the district's rapid movement to introduce today's financing proposal signifies and demonstrates DC's commitment to revitalizing and supporting Capital One Arena and our downtown and to our steadfast partnership with Monumental sports and entertainment the agreement will breathe energy and opportunity into our downtown through these renovations to the arena additional opportunities for entertainment spaces and festivals commitments to security and safety supports for the neighborhood and job opportunities for workers I want to make clear that these investments will benefit all of us District residents sports fans workers businesses surrounding businesses and residents who live in the area or are thinking of coming to the area and send the very clear message that DC is not only open for business but we are the best place to do business we have to continue to be devoted to strengthening our downtown through these types of strategic Economic Development deals improve Public Safety and reimagining DC's core as a vibrant mixed use Corridor this Focus has required conversations with key residents and stakeholders meetings with leaders across District government and close partnership with management and ownership of monumental Sports to continue moving forward critical investments in the recovery and revitalization of our downtown I also want to make sure this experience over the last several months reminds us all not to take anything for granted whether that be where a family chooses to raise their kids or what neighborhood to live in or if they may move uh or where a business may stay or relocate to those relationships and Investments we have in our residents and our businesses have to be continually fostered so this is a huge win for the district I am really enthusiastic for what this means for us I think we are in a really strong position as a city right now um and I am thrilled to support this deal today thank you thank you council member council member Robert White uh thank you chairman I like my colleagues I am uh happy about where we are um I think we need to take a realistic and sober view uh of what happened uh the mayor dropped the ball we almost lost two sports teams and the only reason we stayed in the game is because Virginia fumbled as well and with the council and mayor working together we were able to pick it back up and close what would have been a devastating Gap in our economy that would have taken decades to reconcile now thinking what that means for the future of downtown we can't sit here um and rest on Hope and optimism we've got to be working together we've got to be focused on securing our economy and the council is going to have to be involved which means the mayor's going to have to start working with the council in a way that she hasn't done in these two terms this has to be a wakeup call for our city the future of down town the future of our economy is not guaranteed we have to be very deliberate there are cities around the nation that are facing historic shifts and if we take our Eye Off the Ball again we are going to be in trouble economically for years if not decades we have to make sure that this is the beginning of a new revitalization for downtown and that we create downtown as the economic anchor of the future because the economic anchor of the past is no longer uh so my hope is that securing our teams staying in the city where they should be we're going to be focused on creating more housing downtown we're going to be focused on the future of our economy which will not be the way that it was in 2019 what that means for the city what role the council plays and what approvals and fundings we will need uh to to move through the council uh so I join with my colleagues in celebrating today uh I also know that it is really important that we keep our eye on the ball thank you chairman thank you council member council member Allen thank you Mr chairman I think like everybody I am glad that we are here but this is a conversation and a vote that we should have been having a year ago we should have been having this exact same conversation a year ago because we have lost an entire year in what our downtown recovery looks like we added on an entire year and taking hits for downtown when we could have been having this moment we could have been having this opportunity a year ago to be able to focus on what it looks like to reimagine our downtown and instead we're going to be a year late in delivering for our city I hope that we also see that um that relationship ship that Improvement we got the term sheet less than 24 hours ago we're being asked to vote on $515 million which we're going to do but we've had a term sheet with commitments made for less than 24 hours and we are voting on $515 million and let's acknowledge we know it's an investment that needs to get made so we're going to do it and I think we've done a good job as this Council of standing in leadership with our city in leadership with the mayor to say we are committed to make sure that when that ball was fumbled after all the fruit baskets got sent to Senator Lucas and thank you gifts uh we were able to pick it up and be able to make sure that we could have this happen um I think the term sheet though getting those details also helped us understand what it could look like with a stronger partnership and a stronger negotiation to make sure that we are on the same page I highlighted some of these this morning but the 550 $1 million um it's going to be more than that so we saw within the term sheet that the mayor's committed to in addition to the $515 million to have Monumental be able to go through the PACE program in the DC Greenbank to have additional financing that is a program that has a cap on what is in that available every year so every dollar that we now are sending to Monumental for the arena is a dollar we not investing in affordable housing somewhere else we talked about the signs that'll be around there we did the same thing around Nat's Ballpark and other venues um there's a commitment that says all revenue goes to Monumental without any conversation around what that could look like or how it matches up um a commitment to say that Monumental will be not subject to any tax of General applications that benefits another professional sports franchise enacted after the execution date we don't even know what that will cost so let's not pretend it's $515 million this is an important investment I'm going to vote for it I believe it's the right investment for us to make I think we absolutely have to have Capital One Arena have the caps and the Wizards located downtown I appreciate the deputy mayor's work to be able to to get this pulled together um I'm not sure it would have happened without her I think she did a great job on this but I think we need to recognize that for that relationship we're talking about we got to make sure that we are as a council much more involved in those details looking forward thank you Mr chairman I look forward to supporting this uh thank you councelor I have to say you sound a little bit like me when I was opposing the National Stadium and the financing for that uh that it would not be 515 but would cost more I think the conversation that we had this morning at the breakfast with the deputy mayor was very constructive not just because I think it was a good conversation but because it was an unusual opportunity where the deputy mayor before she's entered into serious negotiations heard from each council member and I believe each council member spoke and heard about concerns that they had with the term sheet such as what you brought up council member Allen and I would like to think I'm optimistic that the deputy mayor will uh reflect on the concerns or objections that council members raised and in the course of negotiations make some changes what the as we all know the term sheet is not a binding contract uh as she phrased it it's a pathway so um I uh I think for my own view I I think I think that where we are is on a very positive path uh council member Parker thank you Mr chairman uh it's been said and I will repeat every washingtonia has a stake in the success of DC DC's downtown Corridor because the revenue generated there helps uh support the critical Social Services across the city uh keeping Monumental Sports in the district is a win full stop and I think it's important for us to continue to acknowledge that continue to educate and engage in dialogue a constructive dialogue with residents but I also want to congratulate the mayor and our chairman uh for helping to shepher this deal when it seemed as though it was not going to happen for us of course this vote happens against the backdrop of what we will know will be significant financial pressures and the current budget cycle I reject the idea that this investment should stop us from funding other critical Social Services like the emergency rental assistance program School budgets snap enhancements The Early Childhood pay Equity Fund and the district child tax credit I look forward to working with you all to ensure that we can put forth an equitable budget uh when the mayor's proposal comes uh just tomorrow uh just as we fought to keep Washington's uh sports teams in the district we must also continue to fight for district neighbors and I will end with this what I want to say to those who are watching who are concerned about this agreement Andor the amount of money that we're allocating to it is that we will have additional opportunities to review the terms of this deal uh to ensure that we're getting an adequate return on our investment today's vote does not represent the council giving a blank check to the mayor or Monumental Sports uh to come up with whatever they deem NE necessary it is however uh a green light for us to continue engaging in good faith with Monumental Sports so that they can stay here in the district the amended ground lease the legislation establishing an Entertainment Sports district and more will be subject to council review and approval uh in closing again I just want to acknowledge chairman melon uh and the mayor for helping uh to make this possible uh because without it I think uh the outcome of of revitalizing downtown and future budgets would have been pretty bleak thank you Mr chairman uh thank you council member Parker council member bonds thank you um chairman um I want to start by um um thanking my um colleagues for the comments that they have shared with the public today about this important um piece of legislation that we are definitely going to be approving um clearly it's this is a um special moment in my life here in the district of Colombia I grew up here and I remember the area prior to the arena and of course uh most recently and I can tell you that it's a far change from what I remembered growing up here and um as a product of this community I Look to what we do today to give the community hope and an opportunity to move forward yes we are the council yes we're concerned about how the dollars are going to be spent but most importantly we have a history that we can pull on and that's a more immediate history the history that tells us that without a viable active downtown and one that was centered around Sports and the arena we would look like um I'll say back in the day for those of us who know just what back in the day was like and it was not very representative of a progressive Community a community moving forward with all of its members its residents and businesses and so this Arena means a lot to to many of us um who've been around for a while and I think it means even more to the young people because I hear from them day in and day out where are the tickets we want to go we want to be a part of it and as we look to this Arena helping to revitalize um the downtown area and perhaps have a sports entertainment area and we want a whole Monumental to helping us to do just that because we have learned that across the world it is how you treat your um promenades how you treat your um plazas where people can come and conjugate and enjoy themselves is the way of the the future and it's what people are looking forward to Monumental will get what they want and we will get what we want too if we all work together and I want to thank thank the mayor I I know it was a little treacherous for her from time to time and we haven't been always nice to her but I do it was treacherous and but I do think that she and um making the decision about Nina Albert was just superb and it's making a difference I'm concerned because I want to make sure that not only does will we have the benefit for our labor Community but also that we will finally have a larger Arena arena being area for bringing in more DC residents into employment and the retention that's what we really need and that's how we build um the middle class thank you chairman council member fuman thank you chairman Merson um I I don't think that there was strategy here to get here in the way that we got here but I actually think that the way in which we got here might have led to the best result because I think we all gassed at the idea that the teams were going to leave and what that would mean for downtown and then there was a turn to what do we do to keep them and what do we do if they go and how do we rethink downtown so that it can be as successful as possible I'm not sure we would have had the kind of urgency if we hadn't gone through this kind of treacherous territory that we did and I think very exciting things are a part of that there's the task force that's been looking at rethinking the whole area around the arena now there's the plans for how the arena can plug into that and with the revisions there and we're in a position where we can do really really exciting things and all shoulder toosh shoulder trying to make that happen I do want to Echo the the another theme and uh Deputy Mayor Albert and thanking you for all of the work that you've done but also underscoring how critical it is that in this next six Monon period while this while the details of this deal are being negotiated that we stay shoulder toosh shoulder each of us look through this term sheet and everything happened fast and that was out of our control everything had to happen fast so you negotiated This this term sheet under incredible pressure and with Incredible Grace and we're really thankful but now we have a period to get it right and when you get it right it's going to need to come through us so work with us as we move forward to make sure that we're staying shoulder toosh shoulder on this and getting it so that we can all celebrate and we can do the best have the best possible plan for downtown going forward again congratulations on getting to where we are Let's Stay Together going forward but also tomorrow and this council member Parker spoke to this we'll be in this room again 15 hours or you know not very long from now to hear the mayor's budget and the mayor's budget is going to be a difficult one and one of the things we're doing here is investing in opport in uh in prosperity it's a big investment to try to make sure downtown succeeds and strengthens our tax base we recently passed important legislation about accountability if we're investing in prosperity if we're if we're requiring accountability the way we did in Secure DC and I support both of those things we have to create opportunity through the budget process that's in front of us in the next months let's work together on that as well thank you thank you council member council member Henderson um thank you Mr chairman um I wasn't gonna say anything but I I I do want to speak very briefly um I think we can all agree that without um Monumental Sports and um having an active um Arena to Anchor um our down downtown um our recovery efforts would be much more difficult but also it would certainly have a rever reverberating impact on the economy as a whole um one of the ways in which we pay for a lot of the social services and the safety net um Provisions that we are very proud of is from tax dollars being able to generate Revenue to be able to pay for these programs and so I think this is a super important investment um it's funny we think about um I think we had a breakfast right after um um the initial press conference in Virginia and um I know a lot of people were scared and I think there were a few of us who just said it's it's not a done deal yet it's not over yet um and so I actually want to thank um the mayor's office I want to thank the deputy mayor for Education uh deputy mayor for planning Economic Development I want to thank the chairman and uh the council's budget director um who didn't stop having conversations and I also want to express appreciation to Monumental Sports they did not stop taking our phone calls through that process um and I think that um I tried to explain to people it was sort of like a we were in marriage counseling they wanted to date new people and they figured it out perhaps the grass is not greener on the other side um nonetheless uh I'm excited about where we're going forward there's still more pieces to work out in terms of the leas agreement and things like that um and I want to express appreciation to Deputy Mayor Albert for hearing us out this morning and answering all of those questions um and I look forward to the continued work um and partnership as we um get this over the Finish Line because let me just say this vote is not the finish line there's still more work to be done um and so I'm I'm excited about the future I I know even last night um watching uh two of the girls games I was like oh I I so wish GC had the final four for women's basketball this year but we wouldn't even have that as a possibility if we did not have um this step on this deal so um thank you Mr chairman thank you all thank you council member Henderson council member Lewis George thank you chairman um I want to Echo many of what my colleagues have said and I want to thank the chairman um as well as the mayor but I also want to thank Deputy Mayor Albert and I want also thank our outstanding budget team here at the council uh and the budget team um on the executive side that work together as well to make this happen um I think from the beginning we all believe many of us said DC teams belong in DC for those of us grew up who grew up going to the MCI Center uh when it was the MCI Center then it was the um it has been different centers when the district's basketball team was known as the bullets uh we had bullet jerseys um and so for many of us you know this has been an institution it's been a part of us growing up it's been a part of our families um for generations and we love our teams we love our sports teams and it's it's always been sort of a thing that has brought us together as a community Community from all parts of the city um and so I think we all wanted this outcome to happen for DC uh especially as we look at it I think when we look at keeping Capital One arena in DC one of the biggest important one of the most important things is we will preserve the strong economy that will allow us to continue investing in the services that matter to DC residents um including making sure we have good public schools and strong a strong safety net um and another thing that's important is that it preserves good union jobs for district residents um and that is something that we look forward to and continue to make want to make happen that's an arena where I do go to and I see District residents all the time uh whether you know and I and I get excited because sometimes it's like my cousin my aunt my my my cousin my aunt sister you know it is a place where District residents are seriously you get on that elevator and you run into everybody and they talk to you so I think you know as we look at what this future is going to look like for us as District residents I want us to continue to make sure we're going to have union jobs there um this morning one thing that's important is that we move forward any sort of new construction we want to just make sure um that there's a labor peace agreement at any new hotels and restaurants and the proposed development sites um and a project labor agreement on any construction in the proposed development sites um but we will have a lot of work to do ahead um and I'm looking forward to doing that this has been an opportunity for us to work together and I'm so excited uh that we have the outcome we have um and we'll be I'll be looking um at every detail and continue to do this work this is just the beginning it's not the end but I'm grateful for the hard work that went into this from all sides thank you uh thank you council member Lewis George um we'll proceed to a vote on the Declaration and I'm G to ask for a roll call Mr assistant secretary if you could call the role the vote is on pr25 d698 council member penso yes council member penso votes yes council member Robert White yes council member Rob white V yes council member Tron white yes TR white V yes councilman Allon yes Council Allen votes yes council member bonds yes council member bonds votes yes council member fuman yes council member fuman votes yes council member gray is absent uh council member Henderson yes council member Henderson votes yes council member Le George yes council member leou George votes yes council member McDuffy yes Council McDuffy votes yes chairman mson yes chairman mson votes yes council member Nao yes council member Nido votes yes council member Parker yes council member Parker V yes Mr chairman you have 12 yeses one absent uh thank you Mr assistant secretary the Declaration is approved unanimously we have the underlying Bill Bill 25- 756 so moved is there discussion think we can do a voice for on this since the Declaration was was unanimous all those in favor of Bill 25- 756 say yes or say I I I opposed yes have it unanimously um some members are looking at the clock so maybe we can try to get to the remaining measures quickly yes DC healthc Care Alliance enrollment rule making emergency declaration resolution of 2024 council member Henderson thank you Mr chairman um moving this uh emergency today on behalf at the request of the mayor um the emergency measures will approve proposed final rules of the Department of Healthcare Finance to lengthen their enrollment period for the DC Healthcare Alliance program for six months to 12 months this change will support Alliance beneficiaries in maintaining Health Care coverage and create greater parity with the Medicaid Program in practice the Department of Healthcare Finance started the enrollment renewal practice um in October of 2022 the notice of proposed rulemaking was issued in March of 2022 um and this is um to just finalize that um sorry I ask the colleagues support this declaration so move Mr chairman we have the Declaration before us is there discussion we'll do a Voice vote on this uh this is on the Declaration all those in favor say i h i opposed I don't see you hear any no votes I just have unanimous on the underlying Bill Bill 25763 council member Henderson um just for clarification I just want to explain to folks why we are passing this on emergency the section of the code um that gives uh the Department of Healthcare Finance Ru making for the Medicaid and the alliance programs require approval by the council within 30 days or the measure is deemed disapproved so given this quick timeline and the urgency of ensuring healthc care access for this population is proper to move this on emergency so so move Mr chairman further on the bill I'll by a Voice vote all those in favor of the bill say I I I opposed don't see he any no votes yeah I just have it unanimously the next measure is pr25 d700 DC Healthcare Alliance Financial eligibility rule making approval declaration resolution of 2024 council member Henderson I'm sorry oh is it I'm good my yes oh sorry I'm um uh thank you Mr chairman uh these emergency measures will approve final rules of the Department of Healthcare Finance regarding the DC Healthcare Alliance program um bringing the program more in line with DC Medicaid specifically the updated regulations adjust the modified adjusted gross income methodology and increase the reasonable compatibility standard from 10% to 20% um providing more room for applicant error that may not be their fault um these changes will create a more streamlined and efficient application process and renewal process and will red excuse me reduce the risk of eligible Alliance beneficiaries um losing their health coverage um so I urge my colleagues to support this and once again we're moving the on emergency um given the requirement that the council must approve any rule making within 30 days or the measure is deemed disapproved oh thank you council member we have the Declaration before us is there discussion by a voice vot all those in favor of the Declaration say I I I that was an emic we'll try again all those in favor of the Declaration say I I I opposed uh the eyes have it unanimously we have the underlying Bill Bill 25762 council member Henderson so move Mr chairman is there discussion on the bill bill 25- 762 all those in favor say I I I opposed I don't hear any uh no vote C I have it unanimously the next measure is medical cannabis patient card extension and 420 medical cannabis sales tax holiday week emergency declaration resolution of 2024 pr25 d699 council member of McDuffy thank you chairman uh I'm moving this emergency declaration today at the request of the executive first uh there remains a need to further reduce the administrative barriers for district residents seeking access to Quality medical cannabis and medical cannabis products that licens retailers uh there currently 1,850 District resident patient registration set to expire during the three-month period of March 2024 through May 2024 uh where those residents do not renew their patient registrations due to real or perceived administrative burdens they may be inclined to utilize the roughly 200 unlicensed cannabis establishments located in the District of Columbia extending abative of validity of the patients and caregivers registration cards to six years from the current two years will encourage residents to continue to utilize District's licensed retailers to purchase medical cannabis and medical cannabis products and bring the district in line with Maryland which transition to a 6year medical cannabis patient card on September 29th 2022 the legislation would also require patients to surrender their registration cards in event that they no longer need cannabis to treat a medical or dental condition second on March 27th of this year uh a tragically a robbery and fatal shooting occurred at an unlicensed retail on Georgia Avenue to respond uh to the threat posed by unlicensed retailers Who present an imminent danger to health safety or welfare of the public the ABC uh Administration needs clear statutory authority to sarily close those businesses and seize any cannabis products uh after an investigation this Authority does not currently exist under existing law and finally the emergency legislation 60 reinstate the successful uh 420 medical cannabis sales tax holiday a week in 2024 During the two-e period of April 15 of this year through April 28 which would Again cover two weekends the popular tax holiday is pical to the district's efforts to attra qualifying patients back to the legal Market as well as sustaining a viable medical cannabis program and I have an oral Amendment which I believe has been circulated and that amendment is based on um uh the conversation that we had today uh at our breakfast meeting uh around some of the language uh we work with the general council's office to craft this oral Amendment uh that you all have before you uh and if you all want to take a moment to to review it as you'll note um it strikes certain language and this is ensure that apka has the authority to investigate again and close unlicensed establishments that have failed to comply with the legalization of marijuana for medical treatment initiative of 1999 so I'd love to move uh the deck and then the bill as amended we have the Declaration before us the amendment applies to the bill is there discussion on the Declaration council member bonds thank you very much chairman um um to um Mr McDuffy you indicated that 200 unlicensed retailers how many licensed um medical establishments do we have don't have that committed to memory but happy to get that information to you okay all right thanks thank you Council Rons any other discussion on the uh declaration uh we have the Declaration before us by a Voice vote all those B did you still have the floor yes I I kind of um and I'm not trying to delay us and I'm looking right at Larry and I know he's feeling feeling me didn't say that's the point he's like what yes um the the point though is on one hand we say that we have legalized cannabis in the community and if we have 200 unlicensed locations I hope we have more than 50 licensed locations you you see what I'm saying because if if the public is not paying a lot of attention to what we do here um on the Das in the council then they could very well assume that these 200 unlicensed entities are helping them to satisfy their needs I'm not quite sure what to say there is a robust illegal Market uh 70 of the unlicensed establishments have applied to be licensed under the medical marijuana law um the remaining if it's 130 would be uh I would hope would be um there would be enforcement action taken against them well I I agree with all of that concept but I'm just trying to understand supply demand uh and that's something we have to deal with if we have said that it's legal but we can't because of the writer from Congress I I know Cong I know about the riter I write Congress the wrer primarily prevents us from collecting no tax no it prevents us from regulating which is regulating licensing we can't license we could choose that is why I am asking how many do we have okay that are regulated so clearly we can regulate no we cannot regulate medical medical Canada yes medical we can yes okay council member fuman yes thank you chairman Merson I think uh part of what council member bonds is getting at is there I do fear we have a disconnect between the amount of cultivation that we're going to have in the district and the market that will be supplied right now we have all these folks out there and they're selling cannabis from around the country they're going to be closed down I think that's appropriate but where are those people going to go and what's going to happen in this Marketplace when there's a handful of medical dispensaries and there isn't enough supply for them it's a separate question but all of these issues around the Cannabis industry I think are going to be something that we got to look really closely at and be sure that we're serving everybody in the way that we approach it and that disconnect between supply and demand is an issue that we should be watching for Over the Horizon councilor McDuffy and then we're gonna go to a vote oh all right then um thank you council member Allan thanks Mr chairman I just had one quick question how do we how are we defining what it means when we say that we're going to shut down an illegal business just trying to make sure I understand because I will wager that we're get a lot of questions that from our constituents so under the current system we've got the ability to um first do a warning then enforcement actions that follow when we say shut down do we mean put a padlock on their door do we mean something similar to the way a liquor license I'm going to keep passing my questions and I can see you you're pulling something up is it like a liquor license uh where you know the chief of police comes in and declares Public Safety emergency to shut down for a certain number of hours I just think it' be helpful to know what do we mean when we say that enforcement authority to shut down con McDuffy sure um what we're doing at this emergency gives Express authority to uh abot to be able to shut down unlicensed facilities which they currently don't have but I I will note um that enforcement unlicensed can M establishments has already begun and it started last month which I know you're aware of but I want to make sure all my colleagues are uh and that as part of the the multi- agency enforcement effort by the district uh DC Health has the ability to embargo cannabis Edibles and THC products and remove them from shells and I'm I'm I'm this is coming from a response that I got from EP because I'm reading it for beta uh the DC health is also enforcing a violation of unlicensed establishments operating without a food license uh under the best act DC Health has the ability to close an establishment uh operating without a food license after providing the unlicensed establishment five days written notice DCL uh dlcp the department of licensing and consumer protection also has a road and is responsible for enforcing violations of unlicense establishments operating without a basic business license or a certificate of occupancy so um they there there is a multi- agency effort um NPD has a role as well the idea is that uh after providing that opportunity for unlicensed establishments to actually apply to become licensed and not enforcing against them for a period of time that time has expired and it's time to enforce and that process has already started and this gives ABA uh even more explicit Authority Under the code to be able to to shut down unlicensed establishments absolutely I I got the process I guess I still and it may be that we don't have the answer right now we need to get this from AFA but I'm still want to make sure I understand what is shutdown mean are I mean these are businesses that have been operating illegally for years so uh the threat of saying you're unlicensed don't don't operate right now hadn't worked so are we expecting that we would see someone put a padlock on a door is it just a really bright orange sticker on the front door um we can follow up with the agency and try to find out more what they mean I think that'd be helpful for all all this just I I know all have conss asking me what what does a shutdown actually look like I mean I'm happy to do that and and just to to make sure that I'm not speaking on behalf of the agency but um this also does give the ability to actually uh to to take the product and an licensed establishment but I get the point you're making is sort of uh hearing expressly from the agency what they will do in the event that they are uh doing enforcement action so I'm happy to ask that question and respond back to colleagues uh thank you council member are you raising your hand council member Parker yes Mr chairman I wanted to chime in there in that conversation U my discussions with uh Mr Anderson at ABA uh make it clear that they are still trying to explore what this looks like to council member mcduffy's point one thing that I've learned is that they are imposing fines on uh landlords that are housing these unlicensed locations I think all that said what this points to is that uh empowering and giving AFA The Authority uh to enforce is important uh but we will continue to need to work with them as we were discussing in The Breakfast there there is a proliferation of unlicensed unlawful shops all through the city and in W five and I have found dlcp in particular unwilling and or unable to engage and so I think leaning in on ABA to feel the void that dlcp has created is a good thing so uh just adding my two sense to the conversation I think imposing fines is one way AFA is exploring this there does also seem to be a partnership with MPD where I can imagine they might just put a pet lock on someone's door uh but it seems like there's room for us to figure that out but it's important all right I'm ready to proceed for a vote but that's okay Council M Pinto thank you Mr chairman um I just W to again say I completely agree with council member Parker and how he's articulated this and I think that we as a body and as a city have taken great strides and appropriate strides to make sure that there is a legal mechanism to help folks transition into the medical cannabis space um we should have legalized cannabis in our city but in this interim time period I think this is the best we can do but fairness has come up a lot today um especially in the context of medical cannabis establishments and one opening up right next to a school and folks talked about fairness of the process and I just want to make make the point that fairness of the process has to also mean that those who did not seek transition into the legal space need to now be closed down um and I support giving ABA that Authority and ask abka to take that role very seriously so that we can reclaim these spaces that have um turned into IL legal drug sales thank you there's no further discussion we have the Declaration before us this is pr25 d699 by a Voice vote all those in favor say I I are there any opposed I don't hear any no votes the eyes have it unanimously we have the underlying Bill Bill 25-7 60 Mr McDuffy no you have to amend it I thought I so Mr M I take it you said so moved I I am going to to to move the amendment that I mentioned earlier and ask that the measure be um supported as amended so you're moving the bill with the amendment yes all right uh we have the bill as amended no with the amendment before us us as a discussion now the amendment was circulated by Mr McDuffy when you had the Declaration it says oral Amendment but actually it's a written Amendment since we all have it it uh I'm not going to summarize what it says he already summarized what it says anybody have a question and he's made the amendment part of his motion I'm sort of we don't always do that but we're doing it if there's no further discussion we have the bill as amended before us no the bill with the amendment before us by a Voice vote all those in favor say I I I opposed I don't see or hear any no votes uh the eyes have it unanimously um we will turn to Temporary legislation uh let's see if we can do this in Block if somebody does not want something in Block please speak up Mr chairman chman I was going to go through the list let's do that local rent supplement program eligibility temporary Amendment act can we break that one out Mr chairman all right well then we'll just vote on that one so moved local rent supplement program eligibility temporary Amendment Act of 2024 is before us discussion uh all those in favor the amendment of the temporary Bill say I I I Mr chairman please record me as voting no were there any well there's one no voter are there any other you know I didn't call for the nose I ask for the eyes are there any no votes Mr chairman please record me as voting no any other no votes all right the eyes have it Mr Fan's recorded as no um association meeting flexibility temporary Amendment act uh relief for River East of Grand View Condominium owners temporary Amendment act and that will incorporate the amendment that uh Mr Gray moved on the emergency uh no uh special education for young adults in the custody of Department of Corrections special education for young adults and what I I SK Annie's way that's okay I'd like to I'd like to withdraw withdraw Bill 25778 Annie's way designation temporary Act of 2024 from consideration because the permanent bill passed today on consent thank you so the the bills in moving in Block our association meeting flexibility temporary Amendment act relief for River East to grandv condominium owners temporary Amendment act including Mr Gray's Amendment virtual open meetings Authority extension temporary Amendment act special education for young adults in the custody of Department of Corrections temporary Amendment act certified business Enterprise program compliance enforcement support temporary Amendment act Downtown Arena financing partnership and revised budget temporary Amendment act and medical cannabis patient card extension in 420 medical cannabis sales tax holiday week temporary Amendment act and that last includes the amendment that Mr McDuffy had moved to the emergency is there any objection to those measures being moved in Block Hearing not we will have a Voice vote on those measures two three four five six seven I believe it's seven bills I just named all those in favor say I I are there any opposed I don't hear any no votes guys have it unanimously those temporary bills are approved on first reading there is no further Mr chairman can I just ask one question is this it's relevant to tomorrow it's just a question yes please um so I'm asking this question I think this is the first time that I've been a part of a budget process where the mayor is presenting at the same time that we're doing the hearing are we um in terms of order are we just going to go in order of seniority or are we going in order of who comes first I just I just want to prepare I had not thought of that but um I'm fine with going with seniority I mean I was going to actually prefer order of arrival because some of my colleagues are tardy often but you know love y'all any further business okay the time is 67 p.m. and this meeting is adjourned e e e e e e e e e