I'm calling to order this meeting. This is a regular meeting of the committee of the whole of the council of the District of Columbia. Today is Tuesday, December 16, 2025. The time is 11:32 in the morning and we are in room 500 of the council, excuse me, room 500 of the council chambers of the Johnny Wilson building. This meeting is being broadcast on cable channel 13 and is also available on the council's website www.dcconsconsil.gov. We begin our committee the whole meetings with a roll call to see if we have a quorum. Mr. Cash, chairman Mendlesson present. Council member Allen, Council Rhineland >> here, >> Council Member Bonds, Council Member Bonds, Council Member Felder, Council Member Felder, Council Member Freeman, >> present. >> Council member Henderson >> here. >> Council member Lewis George >> here. >> Council member McDuffy >> here. >> Council member Nado >> here. >> Council member Parker >> here. Council member Pinto >> present. >> Council member Robert White >> present. >> Council member Tranwhite >> present. >> Mr. Chairman, you have a quorum. >> Uh, thank you. We have the secretary's report of committee filings. I'm going to recognize the chair prom, Mr. McDuffy. >> Thank you, chairman. I move to wave the reading of the secretary's report. So, a motion to wave the reading of the report. Is there discussion on the motion? All those in favor of the motion to wave the reading, say I. I. >> I. >> Are there any opposed? Hearing none, the eyes have unanimously. We have the secretary's log of introductions and referrals. I will again recognize the chair prom, Mr. McDuffy. And I will again move to wave the reading of the secretary's report uh the secretary's log of introductions and referrals. >> So a motion to wave the reading. Is there discussion on the motion to wave the reading? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Are there any opposed? Hearing none. The eyes have it unanimously. Uh we have two measures for markup in the committee as the whole. The first is PR26-94 entitled Installation of Statue of Bernardo de Galves commemorative work approval resolution of 2025. This resolution approves the installation of a commemorative work. It's a statue located in public space adjacent to the Embassy of Spain. This is at 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest. commemorative work to be known as Bernardo de Galves, a friend of independence. Bernardo de Galves was a Spanish military leader and colonial administrator who played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. As governor of Spanish Louisiana, Galves provided critical military, financial, and logistical support to the American cause. His campaigns against British forces along the Gulf Coast, most Gulf Coast, most notably the capture of Pensacola in 1781, helped secure American independence by diverting British resources and protecting supply routes. In recognition of this contribution, Galves was grant granted honorary United States citizenship by Congress in 2014. The commemorative work consists of a bronze statue depicting Galveves in military dress mounted on a pedestal and accompanied by interpretive signage and site improvements. The statue is cited within district-owned public space controlled by the District Department of Transportation immediately adjacent to the Embassy of Spain. The location establishes a direct contextual relationship between the subject of the commemorative work and Spain's diplomatic presence in the district. This legislation was first introduced in council period 25 as PR25-1084. Uh it was reintroduced February 27th of this year as PR26-94 introduced at the request of the mayor. The committee of the whole held a hearing on October 23rd, 2025 and I move the print would leave for staff to make technical and conforming changes. Is there discussion? The vote will be on the print with leave for staff. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> I. >> I. >> Are there any opposed? Hearing none. The eyes have it unanimously. Uh I move the report would leave for staff to make technical conforming and editorial changes. Is there discussion? Vote will be on the report with leave for staff. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Are there any opposed? Hearing? None. The eyes have it unanimously. >> Uh, madame general counsel, is the measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration? >> Yes, it is. >> Madam Secretary, is the record complete >> once the report and hearing record are filed. >> Madam budget director, does the measures fiscal impact statement comply with council requirements? >> Yes, it does. Without objection, this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for today's legislative meeting. Today's additional legislative meeting. The second measure for markup in the committee. The whole is bill 26-248 entitled Philip Reed Memorial Park Designation Act of 2025. This bill would officially designate the park and square 4351 as Philip Reed Memorial Park. Square 4351 is bounded by 28th Street, Douglas Street, Bladensburg Road, all in Northeast in low in Ward 5. This is an official park naming. Philip Reed, born around 1820 in South Carolina, was an enslaved black artisan whose skilled metal work was integral to the creation and successful installation of the Statue of Freedom, which crowns the dome of the United States Capital. Mr. Reed was enslaved by Clark Mills, the American sculptor responsible for casting the statue in bronze in Washington, DC. Contemporary payroll records and historical accounts identify Mr. Reed is a highly skilled foundry worker who performed critical technical work during the casting process, including resolving engineering challenges that enabled the statues large bronze sections to be separated, cast, and ultimately assembled at top the capital dome. At the time the statue was completed and raised in 1863, Mr. Reed possessed unique practical knowledge of its construction, reflecting his indispensable role in one of the nation's most iconic monuments. Mr. Reid was emancipated in the District of Columbia in 1862 and lived and worked in Washington for the remainder of his life. Historical accounts establish that Mr. Reed lived and labored on the Clark Mills estate, also known as Meadow Bank Spa Spring Farm, located along Bladensburg Road in Northeast Washington, where the Statue of Freedom was cast and prepared for installation. The park proposed for designation is located adjacent to the former Mills Estate and within the area historically associated with Mr. Reed's work and residence, establishing a meaningful geographic connection to his legacy. Officially designating the park in lot one of Square 4351 as Philip Reed Memorial Park is a fitting tribute to Mr. Reid's contributions to the artistic and civic history of the district and serves to recognize the enduring impact of an individual whose labor and ingenuity helped shape a national symbol of freedom. This legislation was introduced on May 16th of this year by council member Parker. Committee the whole held a hearing on July 3rd of this year. The committee received no testimony or comments in opposition to this legislation. Without objection, I move the print with leave for staff to make technical and conforming changes. Is there discussion? >> Mr. Chairman, >> House Parker. >> Uh, thank you. Um, I am thrilled to see this move forward. Uh, the naming of this park is yet another step uh that my team is leading in honoring African-Americans with ties to the W 5 community. Um, and as you uh mentioned in your introduction, Philip Reed uh leaves a lasting legacy. Um, and I'm honored to have a park in Ward 5 named after him so that generations can learn about his contributions. I also think it's rich um when we think about the statue of freedom on top of the Capitol um and the history uh that is bestowed in that statue that we're memorializing today even though some of the individuals in that building are working feverishly to erase history. Um and so I I think what we're doing today and honoring Philip Reed is a milestone um and hugely significant. I'll end by thanks. Uh, I want to thank the Woodridge Civic Association, uh, and in particular, uh, Jeremiah Montigue, uh, who lifted up, uh, Philip Reed and his contributions to our community. Um, and again, I'm grateful to see this move forward. Thank you for your work on this. Uh, Mr. Chairman, and I look forward to voting for it. >> Uh, thank you, Council Member. Uh, and Mr. Monu was one of the witnesses at the hearing. Is there further discussion on the U print? The motion is to approve the print with leave for staff. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Are there any opposed? Uh hearing none. The eyes have it unanimously. I move the report with leave for staff to make technical conforming and editorial changes. Is there discussion? Hearing none. Uh all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Are there any opposed? Hearing none. The eyes have it unanimously. Um, madam general counsel, is the measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration? >> Yes, it is. >> Madam Secretary, is the record complete? >> Once the report and hearing record are filed, >> Madam Budget director, does the measures fiscal impact statement comply with council requirement? >> Yes, it does. >> Without objection, this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for today's additional legislative meeting. Uh, that completes items for markup in the committee. As a whole, we have a number of measures that were reported out of other committees. The first 233 measures were reported out of the committee on the executive administration and labor chaired by council member Anita Bonds. Bill 26-233, petition administration clarification amendment act of 2025. Council member Bonds. >> Um, thank you, uh, Mr. Chairman. This bill would streamline our ballot access process by establishing a straightforward standard for use by the board of elections when evaluating ballot access petitions of candidates, initiatives, referendum, and recall campaigns. The current law enumerates many requirements related to petitions including the form of the petition and circulatory uh affidavit, the timeline for the release of petitions and the deadline for submission, the number of signatures required for each type of action and specific requirement related to signature collection. However, nothing in the law addresses the legality of alterations or changes made to information added by a petition signer to the petition form. This bill will fix this issue by explicitly banning the alteration of information provided by the petition signer after they have signed the form. This change will allow for consistent resolution of petition challenges adjudicated by the board of elections and streamline the process we use to regulate ballot access in the district. We held the committee held a hearing on June 13, 2025 and received testimony from more than 10 witnesses. All the public testimonies were in support of this bill and encouraged this markup and passage by the council. One thing that multiple witnesses wanted us to add to the bill was a clear ban on correctional fluid or tape. This includes white out fluid and correctional tape. We added that language to the version of the bill before us today. Thank you, um, chairman, and I, uh, thank you for support of this legislation today. >> Thank you, Council Member Bonds. Are there questions from members? >> Madam general counsel, 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, does the measures fiscal impact statement comply with council requirements? >> Yes, it does. >> No fiscal impact? >> No fiscal impact. Without objection, this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for today's additional legislative meeting. The next measure is PR26-233 public employees relation board pink Peter Winkler confirmation resolution of 2025. Council member Bonds. >> Thank you um chairman. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of PR 26359 public employee relations board Peter Winkler confirmation resolution of 2025. Mr. The Winkler's confirmation is his second reappoint to the public employee relations board, otherwise known as PERB, for a term to end on December 12, 2028. Without council action, the nomination to the PEBB will be deemed disapproved on February 12, 2026. For brief background, the PERB is an impartial quasi judicial independent agency that resolves labor management disputes between the agencies of the district government and unionized agency employees. The PERB is governed by a five member board of which there are two vacancies. Mr. Winkler is a W3I resident and an experienced labor relations professional and public administrator. Uh, Mr. Winkler has served as chief counsel and advisor to five member board and appears before the United States District Courts, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Mr. Winkler has an aptitude for employee relations with the experience to match for continuality of the important work of the PERB. I urge my colleagues to confirm Mr. Winkler's nomination today. Thank you Chairman. Uh, thank you, Council Member Bonds. Are there questions from members? >> Madam general counsel, 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, so there is no fiscal impact statement. >> Correct. >> Without objection, this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for today's additional legislative meeting. The next measure is PR26-304, District of Columbia Board of Elections, Karen Greenfield Confirmation Resolution 2025. Council member Bonds. >> Thank you again, Chairman. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of PR26304, District of Columbia, Board of Elections, Karen Greenfield, Confirmation Resolution of 2025. The resolution before us will confirm her reappointment for a term to end July 7, 2028 uh without council action. This nomination will be deemed disapproved this week um on December 17, 2025. Miss Greenfield is a ward four resident who received her bachelor's of science and doctor degree from Duke University. She possesses 30 years of experience in local, state, and federal government contracting and procurement. Miss Greenfield also has served on the board of elections since 2020. Her tenure on the board of elections includes the presidential primary and general elections of 2020 and 2024 which have uh presented unique obstacles elect obstacles for election offices across the nation. The committee um had held a public roundt on Miss Greenfield's nomination on Friday, November 14th, 2025, followed by an additional roundt for public witnesses on Tuesday the 25th of November. Um no public witnesses um appeared. Um nevertheless, we held it just in case people wanted to put information on the record. With that, the committee has done its due diligence on the matter and urges the council to move forward with Miss Greenfield's reappoint by voting in favor of the measure today. And thank you chairman. >> Thank you, Council Member Bonds. Are there questions from members? Madame General Counel, 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 resolution. No fiscal impact. >> Correct. >> Without objection, this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for today's additional legislative meeting. The next measure was sequentially referred. I'm not sure who had it first. It's PR26-108. Sense of the council in supporting sensor of the council on supporting humane and trauma-informed responses to behavioral health crisis resolution 2025. It was reported out by the committee on judiciary and public safety chaired by council member Pinto and the committee on health chaired by council member Christina Henderson. Who's going to present this first? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm pleased to move this proposed resolution with my colleague, Council Member Christina Henderson. Anyone can experience a behavioral health crisis, but particular populations are especially vulnerable to limited access to appropriate resources and care. Consider the following striking statistics. In FY2022, the Metropolitan Police Department responded to more than 36,000 behavioral health crisis calls. In FY2024, the Department of Behavioral Health's community response team responded to 5,671 calls, resulting in over 3,000 interventions. In FY2024, there were almost 300,000 substance abuse and psychiatric emergency department visits. Public health is an important part of our public safety. Public safety is not just about what happens at the back end in law enforcement, but also meeting our fundamental needs and providing appropriate care. For example, the pre-arrest diversion task force that we enacted into law through my secure DC omnibus last year reviews and assesses pre-arrest diversion, including for individuals experiencing behavioral health crisis. And this is an important part of our goals. This resolution asserts that the district needs further resources to consistently meet national best practices for behavioral crisis response. Given the prevalence of behavioral health calls and concerns in the district, it is imperative that the public safety and health response system be robustly resourced, trauma-informed, evidence-based, and adequately staffed. We're thankful to all the public witnesses who testified and shared their experiences and recommendations. and again are grateful for the committee on health's leadership and partnership on this issue as well as the feedback that we got from the mayor from the office of the attorney general um and many of our agencies that led to the resolution that we are moving today. Um, I do want to note just a minor discrepancy in terms of the training hours needed that I may need to uh work with council member Henderson on as we proceed. Thank you. >> Uh, thank you, Council Member Pinto. Council member Henderson. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I'm glad we're at this day. I introduced this sense of the council resolution in February. Usually, sense of the council resolutions don't take eight months and a hearing, but we're here. Glad we are. Um, it urges the mayor to take action to create a humane, trauma-informed, and healing centered approach to responding to behavioral health crisises. The resolution emphasizes that behavioral health professionals should be the default frontline responders responding to behavioral health crisis rather than law enforcement. Um, as council member Pinto said, the bill was jointly referred and we closely collaborated to align public health and public safety priorities. And I want to thank Council Member Pinto's team. Um the resolution was reorganized for clarity and to better link findings with actionable recommendations. It begins by outlining the behavioral health needs of district residents and the structure of the current multi- agency response. It then compares the district's system to national best practices and recommendations follow the federal SAMA framework for a comprehensive crisis response system. Someone to talk to, someone to respond, and somewhere to go. Um, I also want to thank um the team from Harriet's Wildest Dreams who were the original impetus for us um working on this sense of the council resolution and I look forward to continuing to work with our agency partners um uh including OU, DBH, MPD, FEMS um that work on these issues each and every day. Thank you. >> Uh thank you. Questions from members and actually I'm going to be first. Council member Pinto, did you say there was some issue that needs to still be worked out? >> Because this is uh on the consent agenda, assuming nobody objects. So, it would have to be taken off of consent and fixed or amended or revised. >> So, maybe I could just ask it as a question to council Henderson. Okay. >> Um, so there were a number of recommended edits um to the sense of the council and one of the things that we worked closely with MPD on is making sure that the pieces that we were recommending were implementable. Um, and there's some difference of opinion on some of this, which is fine, but the there was a training for officers that was described as 40 hours for behavioral health, which they thought was feasible. And then the committee print when it went through the health committee changed that to a 2-year training, which we hadn't seen before and didn't um seem the the agency is concerned about that being implemented. So, sorry to ask you about this. I I didn't realize we did not have a breakfast this morning. Um, so that that's just the one piece I wanted to to raise. I was not intending to take this off consent. I just that was the only outstanding piece as I reviewed the final version. Um, well, I I was didn't know that was a a problem, but I would say this. So, one, this is a sense of the council resolution and it's non-binding. I hope that MPD is able to move forward on some of these things as MPD is often the first responder um on some of these behavioral health uh calls. I think one of the things that was also very important from the public health standpoint was that the training not be one time but it be ongoing. myself in the last month have experienced two different situations of behavioral health related crisises happening in the Columbia Heights Plaza where one I called 911, the other I witnessed someone else calling 911 for two incidents. And I would tell you that everyone, all of our agencies could use a refresher in terms of how you're dealing with the community in those particular incidents, not just when you're first coming on board. Okay, I think that's a great point. So perhaps now as the record has been clarified, we can we can just say that our intention is for the training to happen on an ongoing basis to make sure that best practices are continuing and that we are all uh flirting. We just don't I do not want people to be delayed from implementing this additional um expertise under the theory that they have not completed the training because the language says two years. So now the record is clear the rate training should happen on an ongoing basis and we can move forward on consent. >> So everyone's happy. Good. Any other questions? >> Mr. Chair, >> I have chairman. >> Oh, council Parker. I think it's important to make the implicit explicit and so either council member Pinto or Henderson, what ideally would you like to see in the upcoming budget andor from the executive given this uh sense of the council resolution? >> Excellent question, Council Member Parker. Um so there there are a couple of things that I would like to see. I haven't sent my budget letter to the mayor yet, so this is her great grand preview, but um I do believe that we need a stabilization center east of the river. Um we have a stabilization center that's already on 25K Street, but I think that's important. Um I think we need to see further investments in CHAPS, which is the child behavioral, sorry, child and adolescent mobile um psychiatric response team. In terms of that work, um the outreach uh that we've done on place around substance abuse, council member uh Brianna Doe introduced permanent legislation which we held a hearing on uh last week um on this. So investments in that. But I think we've also heard from lots of folks that we need more investments in crisis beds, observation units, respit centers. This needs to be a comprehensive response. Um, yes, we are doing much better in terms of fatal overdoses not happening here in the district, but our non-fatal overdose rate continues to rise. So, we've only been able to stop the deaths because we have expanded the amount of Narcan and we have provided the education, but a lot of people who are living with substance use and behavioral health, they're they're co-orbidities. Um, and we're treating one without treating the other. And um I think we need to take a more comprehensive approach, DBH being the lead, but when it comes to first responders, FEMs um and MPD also need to understand as well because often when you call 911, that's who you get first. Um so yeah, >> if there no other questions, I have three. Madam general counsel, is the measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration? >> Yes. Madam Secretary, is the record complete? >> Yes. >> Madam budget director, is this sent to the council? Would there be a fiscal impact statement? >> There would not. >> Uh without objection, this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for today's additional legislative meeting. The next one, two, three measures were reported out of the committee on health shared by council member Christina Henderson. If there is no objection, the first two will be presented in block. PR26-389, Board of Social Work, Angela Hardman, confirmation resolution of 2025. NPR26-390, Board of Social Work, Tracy Hamilton, confirmation resolution of 2025. Council member Henderson. >> Um, I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman. You wanted me to move the board of social work nominees in block? >> Yes, both of them. >> Not a problem. All right. Um, so PR26-390 nominates Angela Hardman to the board of social work as a licensed graduate social work member, filling a vacant seat for a remainder of a term ending March 3rd, 2028. Miss Hardman works as a licensed graduate social work case manager at MedStar Health and teaches graduate social work students as an adjunct faculty at Howard University. She previously served as a permanent supportive housing monitor and at the department of human services and enroll supporting juvenile youth services at the department of youth rehabilitation services DC superior court and the public defender service. She holds a masters in social work from Howard University and is award 7 resident. During the round table I discussed with Miss Hardman her experience in child welfare and healthc care and her goal to expand awareness of the board's functions and consumer protections. PR26-389 nominates Tracy Hamilton to the board of social work as a licensed independent clinical social work member, filling a vacancy for the remainder of a term ending March 3rd, 2027. Miss Hamilton has more than 20 years of experience across social services, child welfare, and mental health. She currently serves as the lead social worker in discharge planning at Sibly Memorial Hospital. Previously, she served as the family services director at collaborative solutions for communities and as the chair of the citizen review panel for child abuse and neglect. She has held uh numerous roles at child and family services, volunteers of America as well as um in the district healthcare services. Her training includes cognitive behavioral therapy and crisis intervention. She earned her bachelor's of social work from the University of the District of Columbia and a masterers of social work from Catholic University of America. She is a W7 resident. At the round table, I discussed with Miss Hamilton how her direct practice and supervision experience prepared her for board service and her goal to establish an ethics hotline to support timely guidance for social workers. Um, currently there is only one active member of the board of social work and as my colleagues know the board of social work not only takes on scope of work but they review the applications um of licenses, they also review complaints for disciplinary uh measures. So, it's vitally important that we um approve these two individuals today so that the board can be back to um not full capacity, but certainly uh better than uh the one person that is there. And since I have some remaining time, I'll do my uh PSA that I provide at all of my hearings on nominations. Serving on a mayoral board or commission is an excellent way to give back to your city and to your profession if you're licensed. And so, if you're interested, there are lots of boards and committees that have vacancies. Please visit the mayor's office of talent and appointments and express your interest there. Thank you. >> Other questions from members? >> I have three. Madam general counsel, as to me, are these two measures legally and technically sufficient for our consideration? >> Yes, they are. >> Madam Secretary, is the record complete for each? >> Yes. >> Madam budget director, these are confirmations. No fiscal impact. >> Correct. Without objection, these measures will be placed on the consent agenda for today's additional legislative meeting. Bill 26-414, Community Health Amendment Act of 2025. Council member Henderson. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I introduce Bill 26-414, the Community Health Amendment Act um of 2025 on October 6 along with you, Chairman, as well as council members Allen Bonds, Fuman, Lewis, George Parker, Pinto, and Robert White. The bill will ensure that pharmacists can order and administer and pharmacy technicians can also administer without a prescription the immunizations needed to protect the public health of the district's residents, visitors, and workers. It would permanently codify the changes made by the council on an emergency and temporary basis through bill 26-350 and bill 26-351 um that were approved at the September legislative meeting. Vaccines are evidence-based, safe, and extremely effective tools to protect the public from severe illness and death from infectious diseases. Even though certain populations like seniors and children and those who are immuno compromised are more likely to become severely ill, a basic tenant of public health is that vaccines work best when everyone, I repeat, everyone, including healthy individuals, are vaccinated. Unfortunately, recent federal actions have created uncertainty and confusion about the future of evidence-based federal immunization recommendations. Two weeks ago, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, also known as ASIP, ignored science and leading medical organizations by reversing over a three decades old recommendation that newborns be provided the hepatitis B vaccine. As a former CDC official stated, quote, "What this really means is that providers are going to be confused and that patients are going to be confused, and very often what confusions means is the wrong medical decision." End quote. At the public hearing on this bill, DC Health Director, Director Ayanna Bennett, echoed this sentiment, stating that this bill is critical to enable the district to have consistent evidence-based vaccine guidance to avoid confusion among providers and patients regarding what is recommended for their age group and risk factors. In September, several large pharmacy chains announced that they would not offer certain vaccines in some states, including the district, where local laws tied pharmacists ability to independently administer a vaccine to federal immunization recommendations. Although the emergency and temporary legislation passed the council, this permanent bill is needed for a longerterm solution. As I said, this would permanently codify the things that we mentioned before. In um uh in 2025, DC Health considered the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstitricians and Gynecologists. This bill language also aligns um language for our consent for vaccines for minors law with this new standard. I urge my colleagues to approve this legislation as we did in September. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, Council Member. Are there questions from members? Chairman, >> Council Member Tran White. >> Um, thank you, Council Member Henderson. I noticed that in your committee report, um, you stated that, uh, this will, uh, align with the language in our consent for vaccines for minors and this new standard. I know we passed, uh, during the COVID, we passed legislation that allow for uh, pharmacists, doctors to give vaccinations without parent consent. Is that the same thing or is that different from what we when you say this aligns with our um consent for vaccines for minors? >> Um so we have a separate consent for vaccines for minor laws which required conforming amendments to I guess refer to this part of the code. So we are not changing the existing law as it exists for that. This is just a conforming amendment. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you council member White. Further questions. Madam general counsel, is the measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration? >> Yes, it is. >> Madam Secretary, is record complete? >> Yes, it is. >> Madam budget director, does the measures fiscal impact statement comply with council requirements? >> Yes, it does. >> Is there a fiscal impact? >> There is not. >> Without objection, this measure will be placed on the consent. >> We ask you to take this off the consent agenda. >> Uh, yes. This will be on the non-consent agenda. Uh this will be on the non-consent agenda. Uh the next measure is PR 26-367 public benefit security. It should be bill 26-367. Public benefit security amendment act of 2025. Council member Fman. >> Thank you, Chairman Mendes. Um B26-0367 was introduced by me along with council members Nadau Allen Pinto Bonds Lewis George Parker Henderson and Robert White on September 24th 2025. It was referred to the Committee on Human Services on October 7th, 2025, heard on October 30th, 2025, and marked up on December 10th, 2025 with unanimous support. The legislation addresses public benefits theft, which has totaled more than 10 million in the district over the past three years. Many residents have discovered while trying to purchase food that their balance was zero and their benefits were stolen, leaving them unable to meet basic needs. While the Department of Human Services has committed to restoring stolen benefits through this fiscal year, it cannot guarantee it will continue to do so. and no district or federal law requires DHS to restore benefits. The bill responds by better protecting benefits from theft and establishing a clear process for restoring stolen benefits. First, the bill requires DHS to move from electronic benefit transfer or EBT cards with me magnetic stripes to more secure cards with chips. The current swipe cards are easy to skim and clone. Chip cards, however, generate a one-time code that cannot be replicated and will better protect residents benefits. DHS expects new chip cards to reduce theft by about 75%. Second, the bill creates a process for reimbursing residents whose benefits are stolen. When bank customers are victims of fraud, they can recover their stolen funds. Families with EBT cards should have that same protection. Finally, the bill extends the flexible rent subsidy pilot program known as DC Flex for one year. DC Flex provides a fixed annual subsidy that helps cover a portion of households monthly rent, which is the district's only shallow rent subsidy. Early this year, I introduced and held a hearing on the Flexible Rent Subsidy Program Amendment Act of 2025, which would make DC Flex permanent. This one-year extension of the pilot allows the council to review a forthcoming report on the pilot before considering that permanent res legislation. I want to thank the advocates and DHS officials who worked with us to strengthen this bill. I'm also grateful to Council Member Christina Henderson and her staff for their oversight of benefits theft and help gathering critical data. The bill before us will protect district residents from benefits theft and ensure there is a reliable process to restore stolen funds. I look forward to advancing it today. With that, Mr. Chairman, I ask this measure be placed on the con consent agenda for today's legislative meeting. Uh, thank you, Council Member Fman. Are there questions from members? >> Mr. Chairman, >> Council Member Parker. >> Uh, thank you, Council Member Fman, for moving this forward. Um, can you just speak more to DHS's apprehension and replacing stolen funds in the future and what uh relief there might be for residents should that happen? It is not built into the budget at this point. So DHS doesn't have the funds in the budget to be able to do that. We'll hear about the fiscal impact of this. There is a fiscal impact and protecting stolen benefits in the future has a cost. So they don't want to write a check that they can't cash. In the meantime, this process is intended to create that security and a system to ensure that folks can get their benefits in a reasonable amount of time. >> Thank you. Well, I think this is really important. I think with all of the uncertainty with the federal changes, uh this bill uh is important. So, thank you for your leadership on it. >> Thank you. Uh if there are no further questions, Madam general counsel, 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, does the measures fiscal impact statement comply with council requirements? >> Yes, it does. >> Is there a fiscal impact? >> There is of 1.4 million in 26 and 5.4 million over the plan. Uh without thank you without objection this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for today's additional legislative meeting. Uh that's going to conclude the business of this committee the whole the agenda says next legislative meeting is Tuesday January 6th. However the next legislative meeting is actually in about 5 minutes. Um so with that about 5 minutes to set up the time is 12:14 p.m. and this meeting's adjourned I'm calling to order this uh meeting. Uh this is a legislative meeting of the council of the District of Columbia. It's an additional meeting, meaning it's not a regularly scheduled legislative meeting. It is the 21st legislative meeting at council period 26. Today is Tuesday, December 16th, 2025. The time is 12:26 in the afternoon. We are in room 500, the John the council chambers of the Johnny Wilson building. And this meeting is being broadcast on cable channel 13. And it is also available on the council's website, www.dcconsil.gov. We always begin our legislative meetings with a moment of silence. Uh the last legislative meeting we had, I uh noted um and it was uh very sad the um the assassination of one of the National Guardsmen in the city. The violence doesn't seem to stop. And not only do we continue to see homicides and attempted homicides in the district, but uh the news the last couple days has been filled with a lot of violence. Bondai Beach in Australia, which appeared to be an anti-semitic act, killing quite a number of folks, and the um um uh mass killing at Brown University over the weekend. Uh it's just quite amazing and maybe something we should reflect on for a moment of silence. If we could have silence in the council chambers, please. Madam Secretary, would you please call the role? >> Council member Allen >> here. >> Council member Bonds here. Council member Felder >> present. Council member Freeman >> present. >> Council member Henderson >> here. >> Council member Lewis George >> here. Council member McDuffy >> here. >> Chairman Mendelson >> present. >> Council member Nadau >> here. >> Council member Parker >> here. >> Council member Pinto >> present. >> Council member Robert White >> present. >> Council member Trayon White >> present. >> Mr. Chairman, you have a quorum. >> Uh thank you, Madam Secretary. We have the consent agenda. I'm aware of two items removed. On page two at the top of the page, item C3, Community Health Amendment Act of 2025, that's bill 26-414. And on page three under emergency contract legislation item G1 which is PR26-439 modification number 6 and 7 to contract number DCAM-22-CS-RFP-0019 with Smoot Construction. So those two items are removed. Are there any other changes to the consent agenda? >> Mr. Chairman, I have a question. Yes, Council Member Henderson. >> Um, so under section A of the consent agenda, um, number two and three, >> are this is it on a >> Are you looking at the revised agenda timestamp 6:16 p.m.? >> Oh, because my staff, we do it the >> we love our staff. So, >> so just to be clear under the ceremonials are number one Koolage Senior High, number two Joan At Kelly, number three Koolage >> Uhhuh. Okay. So, there is also a that was going to be my other one. >> And number four is Fenny Robinson. >> It's turning 100. Uh, so I have two changes to the consent agenda. Community Health Amendment and modifications number six and seven to the contract with smooth construction. Hearing no other changes to the consent agenda. The vote will be on the consent agenda as amended. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Are there any opposed? Hearing none. The eyes have it unanimously. Bill 26-414, Community Health Amendment Act of 2025. Council member Henderson. >> So move, Mr. Chair. >> Is there discussion? >> The vote will be on bill 26-414. All those in favor say I. I. >> Are there any opposed? >> Hearing chairman that council white please voting no. What's going on? >> Uh, the eyes haven't. Council member Tron White will be recorded as voting no. Uh PR26-439 modification number 67 to contract number DCAM-22-CS-RFP-0019 with Smoot Construction Company of Washington DC. the approval and payment authorization emergency declaration resolution of 2025. Council member Lewis George. >> Uh thank you chairman. Um this is a contract uh modification um that we were making at the request. Uh the emergency contract is for construction management at risk services for the DC infrastructure academy at Spangar High School. Uh the legislation is to approve two modifications for DGS contract with Smoot Construction to build out the District of Columbia Infrastructure Academy at Spinarn High School building in Wart 5. The project has had change orders due to unforeseen site and building conditions that require expanding the scope of the project and such as the roof, waterproofing, undocumented electric, and other utilities at the site are some examples. Um this emergency approval is necessary to ensure DGS can expand the scope and keep the project on time. The project will have a final completion date of April 21st, 2026. Um, I took the contract off the consent agenda only to make a technical amendment at the request of the Office of General Counsel. Uh, and so at that time, at this time, I would move the emergency bill. >> Uh, thank you. So, we have the declaration before us. Is there further discussion? The vote will be on the declaration PR26-439. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Are there any opposed? hearing none. The eyes have it unanimously. Uh the underlying bill is bill 26-528. Council member Lewis George. >> So moved. >> And do you do you have an amendment? >> Yes. Uh thank you chairman. This amendment is simply a technical change to strike citations to one section of the procurement practices reform act and two sections of the small and certified business enterprise development and assistance act that were included in the executive's efiled version of the legislation but are unrelated to the council's contract approval. authority. With that, I move the amendment. >> So, have you circulated your amendment? >> Yes. >> All right. And general counsel has it? >> Yes. >> And sitting next to me, general counsel is saying yes. Uh, if there's no objection, the amendment will be accepted. Hearing no objection, the amendment is accepted. We have the bill as amended before us. Uh if there's no further discussion, all those in favor, >> council member uh Bonds, >> um thank you very much. Um to Councilwoman um Lewis George, can you please tell me what's in the amendment? Again, I know you mentioned some of the Okay thanks. >> Thank you. Um the legislation includes language that approves the contract uh and were were uh in quote notwithstanding three sections that are not related to the council's authority to approve contract modifications. So section 403 of the PP related to seal proposals, section 2243 of the small and certified business enterprise development and assistance act to bid and proposal preferences and section 2346D2 requires a subcontracting plan. the proposal period is is is long over as the contract was approved in August of 2023 and so uh office of general counsel has advised this language be would be insufficient to wave these requirements if that is the intent to do so as council approval of modifications does not immunize the contract from its obligation under other laws. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> And I would add that that was you're moving that amendment on the advice of general counsel. That is correct, Sherman. >> And that amendment has been accepted without objection. So, we have the bill as amended. There's no further discussion. >> The vote is on 26-528. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Are there any opposed hearing? None. Uh, the bill as amended is approved. Turning to the nonconsent agenda. The non-consent agenda. The first item is PR26-431, Department of Parks and Recreation Funding Reprogramming Request number 26-0097, disapproval resolution for 2025. Uh that's PR26-431. Council member Tran White. >> Uh thank you, Chairman. Uh, I do want to uh ask my colleagues to deny this request um to reprogram 2 million from Congress Heights and $5 million from Anacostia a pool to uh do the work at the Southeastern Tennis Learning Center. Uh to be quite frank, there was originally no real appetite for a new tennis center in W 8, but there have been several requests for other things involving recreation spaces and opportunities for families to connect and play. uh that has been gone uh unnoticed and for a decade or so what it has consistently been neglected in those areas. We've had meetings, conversations uh even put money in the budget, several millions of dollars to correct this and now we're at a place where we're just hearing that this is not happening due to what is called unforeseen difficulties. I want to point to four specific issues. um during the reprogramming enhancement based on DC code 47-362B um it is not allowed but there's an allowance for unusual circumstances stating the DC code 47-362D um I do want to walk through this real quickly um the the administration sent a letter for reprogramming that has several pages I want to point out on page six the reprogramming request documentation in response answer the question. Does this reprogramming establish a new program or change allocations specifically denied, limited or increased by the council in the budget act, the company budget report or markup sheets? The response was no. I want to say for a fact that this is not true. The committee on facilities report and the markup sheet clearly provided what the enhancement is to be used for and that was to be used to fund Congress heights net zero energy capital infrastructure. Uh issue number two was the program request said that regards to Southeast Tennessee learning center that the upgrade to this facility begin in December 2024. However, the project has faced several unforeseen site and regulatory issues including unsuitable soil conditions. Um they are saying this is unforeseen when in fact DGS noted on November the 10th in a conversation I had and in the report that it had uh unusual soil conditions prior to the development even starting with the project and DGS knew that the soil had chemicals in it due to initial testing. So this is not unforeseen. Um also point number three on Anacostia Park Pool, the program request in one place states that Anacostia Park replacement received a combined combined $7 million in funding to address initial scope and delivery needs. However, in the current allocation does fully it says it does fully cover the total cost of the project. But if you look on page seven, I'm sorry, you look on that's on page four. If you look on page seven, it says that the reprogram request states the Anacostia approval placement project receives funding FY20. Can I have a minute more, chairman? >> Without objection. >> Thank you. Um, the Anacostia approval placement project received funding for FY25 and 26 up to $7 million to address the scope and delivery needs. However, the total budget allocation does not meet sufficient amount to execute the project. So, on page four, it says it does fully have the money to do it. On page seven, it says it it does not. Uh, the justification for reprogramming contains contradictory information. Uh, this is this is inconsistent and unreliable. I do want to go down real quick to uh Congress Heights project. If if not for the enhancement, DGS and DPR would not have found an additional $2 million to put towards another project, which goes against the need of what it was allocated for when Councilman G. Lis George put the money in the budget specifically uh to cover the net zero cost and so they took money from this project what they can which they cannot do to supplement another project. the executive has indicated that this $2 million they want to be programmed from Congress Heights is not a part of the council enhancement, but thus we received additional information that it was. And this is also in their report on page six. And so there are a lot of contradicies to this reprogramming and we wish that the council uh be pushed the executive to find other funding outside of taking it from one community to put against another community. We believe that all communities uh should be equity funded. Um, and we should not be cutting money from other projects even though they said they're going to put it back, which we don't know if they're going to do or not. We they say that all the time and sometimes they don't do it. Uh, I encourage my colleagues support this uh this measure. Thank you. >> Uh, thank you, Council Member White. Uh, discussion on this resolution. Um, I will ask this of you, Council Member White. Um, what discussions have you had with the executive in the last two weeks? I spoke to the director of DJs, Deleno Hunter, yesterday. Uh spoke to um initially spoke to director of DPR, Thanny Freeman. Um I spoke to the mayor about this uh as well as her staff a few weeks ago. That's been ongoing conversation. We even has a community meeting at Rhova Baptist Church and regarding um Congress Heights and the Southeast Tender Learners Center and also Douglas which the gym was also removed from Douglas. So there's been >> conversations. So have you tried to work anything out with the mayor? >> Uh to be quite frank and her administration is against net zero and using this as a casualty to push the council to take it out of the out of the law because they don't support it. They don't believe in it. That's the foundation of this whole argument. >> Uh further on, uh on this uh the vote will be on PR26-431. All those >> I want to ask for a roll call. Chairman, >> Madam Secretary, would you call the row? Roll. >> Chairman Mendelson. >> No. >> Chairman Mendelson votes no. Council member Nadau I. Council member Nadau votes yes. Council member Parker >> no. >> Council member Parker votes no. Council member Pinto. >> No. Council member Pinto votes no. Council member Robert White. >> No. >> Council member Robert White votes no. Council member Trayon White. >> Yes. >> Council member Trayon White votes yes. Council member Allen >> no. >> Council member Allen votes no. Council member Bonds >> no. Council member Bonds votes no. Council member Felder >> present. >> Council member Felder will be recorded as present. Council member Freeman >> yes. >> Council member Freeman votes yes. Council member Henderson >> no. >> Council member Henderson votes no. Council member Lewis George >> yes. >> Council member Lewis George votes yes. Council member McDuffy. Council member McDuffy votes yes. Mr. Chairman, there are five yeses, seven nos, and one present. >> Uh, the measure fails. Uh, the next measure on the agenda is PR26-382 fiscal year 2027 budget submission requirements resolution of 2025. This resolution is largely the same as the budget submission resol requirements resolution we adopted last year which was largely the same as the budget submission resolution we adopted the previous year which is largely the same as the budget resolution adopted the year before that. There are some updates uh as uh the budget office becomes clear on uh information that we want presented with the budget. This resolution sets forth the date for submission of the budget which is April 1st and it also sets forth the information that we want uh when the budget is submitted. So don't assume that the budget just comes with budget books. It comes with budget books and other information that is in response to this resolution. Uh, this resolution was introduced at least a month ago and members have had an opportunity to submit comments for any changes to it. I do have an amendment. I probably should say so moved. So, I'll say so moved. The resolution is before us. I circulated an amendment yesterday that corrected a couple of dates. um instead of saying uh having a reference in section 33 3G uh to fiscal year 2027, it's fiscal year 2026 and section five instead of saying 2025, it says 2026. So if there's no objection, the amendment will be accepted. And hearing no objection, it is uh accepted. And uh so we have the revised or amended resolution before us. Uh further discussion, >> Mr. Chairman, Council Member Parker, >> I appreciate uh you moving this resolution. Um I I saw reports that the mayor is already sharing that there may be delays and wondering I'm wondering if you have insights into that. I also recall last year's budget being significantly delayed and a question that comes to mind is what consequences are there for uh this April 1st, 2026 date not being honored? >> Uh so I met with the city administrator last Friday to discuss the uh date submission date. Uh I had had its discussion at least once prior to that. uh went over potential schedules uh for the budget submission. Uh a submission later than April 1st uh begins to interfere with the primary or the primary election interferes with the uh budget which I uh feel I strongly feel um we should avoid. Um, I'm hesitating only because I don't like the idea of trying to characterize what someone else is saying. But I would say that um, April 1st is doable. And when I read the mayor's letter last week and I read the mayor's letter today, um, she refers to extraordinary circumstances such as a congressional action. Well, if there's a congressional action, then we will meet, we the council will meet and reconsider the date. Um the con the um the city administrator did agree that uh he and I will meet regularly beginning in January to discuss process that's not content but process so that if there are things that are coming up um as I said to him if he has a problem then we have a problem in terms of getting his getting the budget done. So these process meetings will be occurring at least weekly uh to help move things along and honor the date. Uh you asked about consequences we adopted in the uh budget support act last year. I think it was in the budget support act uh consequences which had to do with uh no NPS expenditures could be made during the period that the budget is late >> and that would carry over until next year as well. It is in the law. >> Got it. >> So would apply. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh further discussion. >> Council member Robert White. >> Uh thank you chairman. Uh I appreciate you moving this forward. I think it is uh important that uh the council and the public have a clear uh expectation on when we'll get the budget. Uh this year the mayor's budget proposal was was very late and and some things were beyond our control. Uh but as we got further along and it was clear that uh when Congress stole our money uh that they weren't going to give it back and I think we needed to move but we left the council uh and the public without enough time to do enough due diligence uh transparency predictability uh is very important and and the council is a co-equal branch of of government and we have to go through a process as well and so I think uh you know we under normal course and the statute there is a lot of time for the mayor to develop her budget proposal. There is a small amount of time for the council to consider it and amend it and that time is important. So, I appreciate you moving this forward and uh I I look forward to supporting it. >> Thank you. Um if there's no further discussion, the vote will be on PR26-382 as amended by that amendment that I had. All those in favor say I. I. I. >> Are there any opposed? Uh the eyes have it unanimously. Uh we'll turn to emergency legislation. Uh the first is PR26-479 W 8 Recreation Facility Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025. Council Member Tran White. >> Uh thank you, Chairman. Uh we'll be withdrawing this measure today, but I did want to speak to it briefly. Um there has been a long overdue for access to recreation uh for youth and young adults in W 8. In fact, as as you heard me speak several times, there's been at least 10 recreation centers closed in W 8 in the last 15 years. And as noted, W 8 has more youth than any other ward in Washington DC and more crime. And I think that if we say we want safe spaces for people to go, young adults, adults, children, pets, then we have to create those things. And the budget is a moral document of what we believe in. I've consistently worked to money in the budget so the community can get what they need. We've been working on this since 2017. It is now 2025 and we're still having the same discussions and the executive is figuring out ways not to give the community what they want and deserve. And so we've come to a place where there's new legislation meaning net zero that impacted this. Uh it was corrected by the council through councilman Jice Lewis George by putting additional $5 million in the budget to make sure that we had a pool. Um and working with the administration we did not land in the same space. So, it is our desire to still fight and to make sure we get what we want in our community, and that is uh a gym in Douglas. We cannot say we can put $25 million into a project and say that uh we don't have enough money for a gym. That's crazy. In 2025, um we prioritize we want to see in our in our city. Um we didn't have money for the Capital One. We found $500 million overnight. Then, by the time we got to a vote, it was at 520 million. And I can go on and on, but between the commanders, whatever else our priorities are. And so it seems to me that we have to continue to fight in W 8 for equity and inclusion in this budget. We talk about it all the time, but when it comes down to money, we get the short end of the stick. And so we we continue to organize uh and get the voice of the people out. And it's sad uh that this council has been complicit in this type of behavior. Um so I'll digress there and we'll continue to have more conversations, dialogue in the community, especially around these election times, what we want to see happen in W 8. Thank you. >> Uh so the measure is withdrawn. The next measure is energy efficiency financing debt cap emergency declaration resolution act of 2025 PR26-478. Council member Allen. >> Thank you very much Mr. Chairman. The energy efficiency financing act of 2010 established the commercial property assessed clean energy or the CPACE program in the district. The CPACE program facilities, I'm sorry, facilitates private financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water efficiency improvements, which borrowers repay through a special assessment on the property's tax bill. When this was first established, the CPACE program operated as a bonding program through which the district would issue bonds to support energy efficiency upgrades. Back when this was created 15 years ago, the act established a $250 million aggregate bond cap for CPACE projects, which remains in place today. The committee report for the bill back in 2010 does not discuss why a $250 million bond cap was placed on the program. And it appears that the limitation was added while the program was still in a proof of concept phase, something we are well beyond now. In 2012, the district amended the original program to enable direct investment in CPACE projects from private capital providers. Under this model, the district still issues a note for that private investment, even though it does not actually act as a lender in these cases. Later in 2021, the DC Green Finance Authority or what we call the DC Green Bank assumed administration of the CPACE program. Even though the district is not obligated in any privately financed CPACE deal, the act has been interpreted such that the bond cap still applies. But I just want to be very clear here. While the district has created the CPACE to fund sustainability upgrades, CPACE is 100% driven by private investment with no public funds expended. In fact, the DC Green Bank as the program administrator receives both a 20% basis point administration fee throughout the term of the PACE loan as well as a onetime origination fee. The these collective fees support the DC Green Bank's administrative and operational expenses. Currently, the CPACE program is utilizing 184 million of the $250 million cap space, leaving only 66 million for additional financing capacity. The DC Green Bank has determined that the CPACE program market demand exceeds its capacity given the bond cap. More specifically, the DC Green Bank has identified an opportunity to issue bonds in the principal amount of $470 million in partnership with New to finance the installation of energy efficiency improvements at the Geneva located 1825 to 1875 Connecticut Avenue Northwest before the end of the calendar year. The Geneva is an office building consisting of two towers that will be converted into a 14story 532 unit residential building. However, issuing bonds for this project would exceed the act statutory limit on the principal amount of bonds that may be issued. This isn't just a problem for this deal as the DC Green anticipates an increasing number of larger CPACE deals in the near future. For example, the development of RFK site or other surrounding areas. That's why the legislation removes the bond cap entirely and it's possible the district will keep running up against the bond cap as it facilitates private investment in the district. Furthermore, after review of its peers in other jurisdictions, the DC Green Bank has determined that it's not common for entities like the Green Bank to have a cap placed at all on the bonds they can issue, particularly in cases when the enabling jurisdiction is not incurring any liability for these deals. This legislation, therefore, is necessary to remove the limitation on the principal amount of bonds that may be issued under the act and ensure the green bank can continue to spur private investment for energy efficiency upgrades in the district. With that, Mr. Chair, I move the declaration. Thank you, Council Member Allen. We have the declaration before us. Is there discussion? Council member Lewis George. Uh, >> thank you, Council Allen, for introducing the legislation. Um, I see what you all are trying to do, and I of course have support building more housing, especially when more affordable units will be delivered. Um, but I do want to ask a few questions regarding this project. Um, it's a 532 unit development. How many of the units will be affordable and at what level >> through the chair? >> Yes. >> Uh so my understanding is that their proposal is for 61 of the homes to be affordable at 60% of AMI and below. Uh 42 to be extended stay units with a one-month minimum and then 429 market rate units. Is there any way for there to be a larger percentage of deeply affordable housing within a 532 unit building? There certainly could be. Not within the legislation that's in front of us today, but certainly um working with the the green bank or others, those would be elements of the deal that could be negotiated. Again, this is uh the specifics of that project >> are separate from what's in front of us because this is just dealing with that um essentially the the bonding cap that exists. >> How >> there's nothing we could do, for example, within this legislation to make a requirement, but we certainly could work with the DC Green Bank and others to see where >> increase that affordability because it's 532 units. >> Yep. How many CPACE projects are currently supported by the 184 million already committed under the existing bond cap? Um, and how does the average project size compared to the proposed 470 million allocation for the Geneva? >> Wait, could you repeat that again? Sorry. >> How many CPACE projects are currently supported by the 184 million already committed under the existing bond cap? And how does the average project size compare to the proposed 470 million allocation for the Geneva? >> Got it. Um, I would need to get the green bank to get you these specifics on past projects. This would specific to the question you have about the Geneva. This would be one of the largest ever, which is why it exceeds the cap. What they've also told us from the green finance authority is that they are seeing the market demand >> not just here in the district but everywhere else. This is going to continue to be a private financing strategy. >> Got it. >> That continues to put more and more resources in. And so the cap, one of the reasons when they looked at the cap compared to other jurisdictions other jurisdictions just don't have one. >> Got it. >> And I think that and we we tried to look at why 15 years ago when the council set this up, they've picked they landed on the number 250. the um the committee report is silent to that. So it's a little unclear. My assumption is going to be that they wanted to probably put that cap in as a proof of concept >> and now that we've seen this. So I think the fact that we see the market demand >> coming in with bigger and bigger project. >> Yeah, >> that's part of the rationale. Um but to compare previous projects to this one would be difficult simply because this is going to be such a large project. >> Okay. I and one last question if I may chairman because without objection >> he missed uh you mentioned RFK. So, I'm wondering once the bond cap is removed, um, what binding limits will exist to prevent, I guess, future C cpace deals, um, from being overc capitalized, particularly as larger projects come online at the RFK site and nearby areas. I think we've really, we just recently seen this issue come up in the news with properties like the Ethel. Uh, so I'm just curious what you've heard in regards to that. So the legislation here is emergency in nature. So it's only going to be in effect for yeah 90 days and the temporary obviously. So for any long-term financing, for example, an RFK site or any other site. >> Yeah. >> Uh we're going to have to be evaluating this through permanent legislation. >> Okay. And and that's the intention. >> Yes. >> Okay. Look forward to that. Thank you, Chairman. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> Uh thank you. Uh further discussion, >> Mr. Chairman, >> Council Member Parkin, >> thank you. Uh, I plan to support this and I'm going to ask some questions more so for the people watching. Uh, one, thank you for moving this, Council Member Allen. I think it's important and it promises to uh open a pathway for more affordable housing in the district, more sustainable affordable housing in the district, which we all should be supporting. Um, removing the or yeah, removing this cap, is that for this project or all future projects? Is it just for this project or all future projects? >> The time-sensitive part of why it's an emergency is because of this project. >> Got it. >> What we see though in other jurisdictions, other peer jurisdictions, other cities is that they don't even have a cap. So, I I do believe it is likely that that is the long-term answer across the board. But this project specifically is why the emergency exists. And without removing this cap, we would be unable to leverage the private investment that could be coming in here. >> Understood. And I I know funding for the green bank has been a challenge and a priority for yours of yours as it has been for the T& committee. It is my understanding that allowing this project to go forward will uh provide a a funding mechanism of sorts for the green bank. Is that accurate? >> Yes. One of the challenges that we have all faced is the DC Green Bank. We want to be able to have the DC Green Dream Bank become and reach a place where it is essentially self- sustaining. And so, as I mentioned, the basis points that the DC Green Bank or the finance authority receives for facilitating private investment like this starts to become the type of private money that essentially they are able to use to help sustain themselves. meaning we have to put less public money into for the sustained operations. >> I think that is a win and my team did some digging on this and it seems as though the AMI is around 60% which I think is a a decent threshold for affordability. Obviously, we want to keep pushing for more towards deeply affordable housing, but the headline here for the public is that this would be one of the largest, if not the largest, of these types of developments that will bring on uh more deeply affordable housing and benefit the green bank at the same time for future uh development. And so, for that reason, I look forward to supporting it. Thank you. I >> I appreciate that. And correct, it is a is moving from a office building, so no residential units into all residential. uh and that uh those aspects of the 60% AMI and below certainly again uh to our colleagues point those are conversations that continue to happen around the deal to see where it can be improved even further. Um but that is separate from the vote like the specifics of that deal are separate from the the vote that's in front of us right now. >> Uh my goodness, this is a short meeting. I didn't know this measure was controversial. >> I think this is a really important emergency, Mr. Chairman. So, I welcome the questions and conversations. >> I think that's just a sign, Council Member Allen, that you uh this is an important piece of legislation. Council member Pinto and then who was the second hand? Council member Rag White. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um and thank you so much, Council Member Allen, for moving this today. is this property is in W 2. I just wanted to add my enthusiastic support and I think this is the exact type of creative financing and projects that we need to move forward that are going to be get additional development and so we we welcome this um and I'm excited uh to have it move forward and again incentivize other similar projects that we need to see across the district. So, thank you very much for your work on this. >> Was there a question there? >> Council member Robert White. Council member Robert White. >> Thank you, Chairman. Uh, this bill is a common sense solution to promote energy efficiency. It removes an outdated cap that's getting in the way of green building projects that are privately financed and already proven to work. This is a good reminder that sometimes our biggest obstacle is an ambition. It's old rules that don't meet the current need. If we're serious about energy efficiency, we have to make it easier to deliver projects. And we can do both things at once. We can have high efficiency standards that don't slow down housing production or make a project financially impossible. By removing this cap, we encourage investment and innovation in large buildings and complex developments, which is a win both for residents and for the environment. Sometimes we need to revisit existing rules and see if they need adapting to current circumstances. That's what this bill does, and I appreciate Council Member Allen uh bringing it forward. Thank you, Chairman. I look forward to supporting this bill. >> Oh, thank you. Anything further on this councilman? >> Thank you very much. Just just want to make sure I 100% understand this. I I am I believe that I'm I'm totally in support of this. Um am I right that the green bank financing finances that component of the project that allows for green energy as opposed to being full financing for the whole development? >> There might be questions within your question. Um when you say the green financing authority so when we're using public dollars we use and facilitate the DC green bank to make public investments. This is speaking specifically to the private side. So these are all private dollars that be coming in and the green bank essentially think of them as a facilitator in this example where they're facilitating the private investment >> in support of the green dimensions of the project or in support of the project in its entirety >> uh for the project but with the energy efficiencies >> built in. >> Built in. Exactly. Like for example, if this was a project that didn't have the energy efficiencies, this would not be something that Green Finance Authority would be a part of at all. >> Okay? Uh and then these are not it's private dollars. They're not taxexempt bonds. It's not as if we're taking a limited pool of tax exempt financing and using it in this way. It's a non- taxexempt financing that's being >> That's correct. >> Okay. And then it's an emergency and a temporary. So it's lifting a cap, but that cap would I guess snap back at the expiration of the temporary unless we do permanent legislation between now and then. >> Correct. Which is what we plan on working on. >> All right. Wonderful. >> Which was related to a question from the other side of the dice. Yeah. >> Okay. Very much look forward to supporting this. >> Thank you very much. Anything further? Council member Allen, do you want a second or third round? >> Motion to close the debate, Mr. Chair. >> All right. Since nobody else has asked to be recognized, the vote is on PR26-478, which is the declaration. All those in favor say I. >> Are there any opposed? Hearing none, the eyes have it unanimously. We have the underlying bill, bill 26-535. Council member Allen. >> So move, Mr. Chair. >> Is there discussion on the bill? All those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Are there any opposed? Hearing none. The eyes have it unanimously. Uh the next measure is PR26-480 ranked choice voting implementation clarification declaration resolution for 2025. Uh, Council Member Bonds. >> Yes. >> Thank you, um, Chairman. Today, I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this matter to provide the board of elections with the opportunity to successfully implement rank choice voting by affording them more time. The emergency that I'm presenting today does not litigate whether rank choice voting should or should not be used in the district. As it is perfectly clear that initiative 83 was passed by the DC electorate in 2024 election year and therefore you and I expect this implementation in the district. The question before us today is when can it be implemented with accuracy and assurance that the public has received adequate training to understand not just how to mark one's ballot for one or more candidates by ranking one choices but equally important is how will one's votes be tallied. All of this means does the city have adequate time to educate and demonstrate how the initiative works for the estimated more than 400,000 that are likely to participate in the 26 election contest. And this estimate does not include the 154 locations across the city that the board traditionally reaches out to providing voter education. Nor does it include DC jail, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, high schools, universities, churches, and faith-based institutions, the blind, deaf, and our homeless populations. All that must be educated, given opportunities to participate in demonstrations on the use of the voting equipment, explanations on how their vote will be tallied. The message should not be lost upon us that the board of elections must administer an election using an entirely new voting system new to the voters, election volunteers, and the board as a whole. And while many of us have private discussions with the board's executive director, uh, Monica Evans, and she has shared reservations as well as indications that the agency will move forward. My presentation today is based upon the public record created during the November public roundt. It was held on November 24th and the readiness for the 2026 election was the issue to provide a summary the scope of the round table examine the board's preparation implementation plans and education strategies to successfully execute rank choice voting for the very first time and to do all of this within the next six months. We ask the board pointed questions. May I? >> Without objection. >> Thank you. We ask the board pointed questions on how they plan to deliver voter education to all voters without prejudice towards age, national origin, income race disability most proficient language or ward of residency in the district. We all know that the board of elections has always worked tirelessly to ensure that the district have fair and accessible elections and the implementation of rank choice voting is not the board's first challenge that they've encountered. Moreover, the board's performance is not called into question regarding rank choice voting. Contrarily, during our examination of the board of elections, we were confronted with a lack of clear and affirmative answers on implementation. And that is the issue before us today. The board needs more time and additional resources to implement the new voting process. A one-year delay is what is being proposed. The agency could not definitively commit to conducting sufficient outreach to district residents before the June primary and that should be concerning for all of us. Since the hearing, the board has indicated the unlikelihood and impossibility of conducting the necessary public outreach education during 2026 that we anticipated. It is not it's not reasonable governance to push through forward simply for the sake of moving forward without real consideration about the life consequences. Upon examination of the board of elections time to implement and road and roll out rank choice voting, the director shared that with us that she felt that we've been set up for failure. she said. In fact, the agency plans to develop a plan for implementation in the coming weeks. Then begin in I'm estimating January 2026, staff will begin the implementation. Colleagues, we should take this position seriously and listen to those responsible for implementation. It is clear that January through June 26 is an unacceptable calendar. It simply is not enough time to prepare to implement and execute any new largecale process that will have an impact on thousands of our residents. And I won't talk about our senior population. The issue of rank choice voting is simple. It's a new way of evaluating candidates for election to public office. The old practice of casting one vote for your one choice will be changed with rank choice voting. Is this what DC wants for our elections with that we have at with all that we have at stake during this pivotal election season and with the federal government watching us closely. Is this what we want? With that, I ask my colleagues to consider voting in favor of providing the elections board with adequate timing and funding to successfully implement this new voting method for the sake of district residents. Thank you so very much. >> All right. In the future, in the future, if you could have your staff time your remarks because you were five minutes, five and a half minutes. >> I can't see. >> And I think there's several members who are mad at me now. >> Oh, they're not mad. They do it every so often themselves, so they're not mad. >> All right, we have the declaration before us. Is there discussion? >> Mr. Chairman, >> uh, Council Member Felder. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be very brief. I'm proud to co-sponsor this resolution with Councilwoman Bonds. Uh, I've said this before and I'll say it again and again and again and again and again. The board of elections is not ready to implement rank choice voting. Not only was this evident during the round table discussion that was held last month, but it was also apparent based on the many conversations that I've had with stakeholders across the district. Residents continue to be confused and concerned about the lack of clarity around how rank choice voting works or the rules around their vote and how they will be counted. I am especially concerned about communities who have been historically disenfranchised, including our seniors, uh, individuals with limited English proficiency, and our returning citizens. For example, wards three, four, and five have the highest number of seniors in the city. But yet, as of today, there's been no targeted outreach um or uh to really focus on that population. Furthermore, there's no comprehensive outreach and engagement plan, no implementation plan, no finalized regulations. Uh, and DC board of elections has gone on record saying that they are under resourced and underst staffed. Uh, now I don't know about how individuals feel on this day is, but I will say to me that is extremely problematic. Uh, with that, that is why I'm calling on my council colleagues to s put aside your personal or political agenda and support this measure. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I defer to you. >> Uh, thank you. Uh, Council Member Henderson. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wasn't going to speak, but I'm interested now. So, in November 2024, under initiative 83, rank choice voting passed with nearly 73% of the vote. that included a super majority win in all eight wards. Now, we understand how important voter education is, but we cannot deny that not only do DC residents want a rank choice voting system, they are actually smart enough to understand how it works. Elections in DC, we are blessed to have very competitive elections where individuals raise their hand and decide that they want to serve their communities. I know this firsthand. My first election in 2020, I won my race against a field of 23 other candidates. I also recognize that as district elections get more and more competitive, we need a system that allows for voter preferences for candidates to truly be recognized. We currently have races now where we have upwards of 10 and 12 people who are running. The rank choice voting system does that by electing a candidate that wins the majority rather than a pure plurality by small margins. Many of my colleagues continue to misrepresent some of the information that was provided by the board of elections executive director Monica Evans during the November 2024 roundt. We don't have to go by what we were heard. We can actually go to the transcript. When asked about whether the board has a RCV specific implementation plan, Director Evans responded, quote, "We have a plan. We have a strategy and our voter education outreach division has a draft outreach plan specifically for rank choice voting." end quote. When asked whether the board has sufficient staff for implementation, Director Evans responded, quote, "We do. We are working with the budget office to ensure that we have overtime hours. We have a statement of work to assist with our implementation." End quote. When asked countless times whether the board has sufficient time for implementation, Director Evans responded, quote, "We can stand it up. It will be on the June ballot, no problem." End quote. At one point, Director Evans even said she felt like she was being made the fall guy because it was clear that some of my colleagues were asking questions to influence her responses regarding the board's capacity. Using Director Evans statements out of context to suggest that implementation of RCV is somehow quote unquote dangerous is disingenuous to attempt to delay the will of the voters in this regard. This legislation kicks the can down the road that by suggesting that 6 months is not enough time to implement or execute a successful voter education campaign, even though we know that's not true. Not only is the board confident that they will be able to develop and implement this successfully, they have already started this plan. Now, the suggestion that there are no voter outreach events taking place the week before Christmas, well, I don't know how many people are really paying attention. Well, some of us are paying attention to the election for next year this week, but there's time. There's no need for us to prematurely put ourselves out of the way of their execution. And I know that this uh before us today says that this would is only moving this one year. But DC does not have off-year elections generally speaking. So, this would be in fact a move to back to 2028, two years from when voters said they wanted this. >> I remember. I know Mr. Chairman, but you did start a pattern. I really will wrap up. >> Well, yeah. >> Okay. Um, anyh who, just in uh all of us have the ability to be a part of voter education and outreach. Each one of us in this room has an opportunity to talk to voters about what it means to prioritize your candidates and your choices. This isn't all on the board of elections to do voter education and outreach, and they haven't always been the ones who've been on the helm themselves. I'll be voting no on this resolution and I urge my colleagues to do so. Thank you. >> Uh thank you. Uh I am going to pay a little more attention to the clock. Council member Allen, >> I'll try to spend my five and a half minutes judiciously. Mr. Chair, >> let's be very clear. The the chair of the board of elections says we will be prepared and can fully implement rank choice voting this June. The executive director of the board of elections has said the same. Just to give a quick rundown of changes that our DC board of elections has been able to accomplish in the District of Columbia. When I chaired the committee with oversight of BOE, they did the following. They implemented a public financing system for our elections, restored the right to vote for residents incarcerated for felony convictions. They adjusted the district's primary election date several times, actually. They infranchised non-citizens for local elections, expanded early voting, and transforming the poll center model into consolidated city-wide vote centers and mail ballot dropboxes. They did that one in three months in a pandemic, creating and then expanding automatic voter registration, passing comprehensive campaign finance reform. They banned pay-to-play contracting, provided paid leave for voters, created a new ANC seat for DC jail residents, and expanded voting rights and education for incarcerated residents and returning citizens, reform the petition circulation process, and reform the initiative and referendum process. This is a board of elections and a staff that can do the job. We should not change elections like this because that's what this is. This is changing an election after it has already begun. The cycle has already begun. Rank choice voting has been planned for. It is funded and it is the law. Changing it once an election has already begun adds uncertainty and confusion. It is unfair to the candidates and to the campaigns to have their rules changed on them midstream. I do believe this is going to be probably one of the most consequential elections that we have in recent memory with more open seats and competitive races than we've probably seen in quite a while. To me, that is all the more reason rank choice voting has to be on our June election because it will it will better capture the voters's choices and thoughts on this. I think every campaign is going to have a very strong incentive to be able to help educate voters and I believe it's going to dramatically ramp up how we successfully implement rank choice voting. People are going to get a lot of outreach. That's on all of us. That's on every candidate running for office. But I think the continuous confusing message that we keep sending out of a will we won't we needs to stop because voters and campaigns need to know exactly what the law is, which has already been passed. That rank choice voting has already been funded and it will be on and part of our June ballot exactly as the board of elections has said they are fully capable of implementing to make that a reality. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll be voting no >> and thank you for yielding back two minutes. Council member Nidau. So, I get those. I can get up to seven and a half. >> No, they belong to me. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It was really heartwarming to hear that list that Council Member Allen just went through because I was thinking about how in the past 11 years that I've been here, we've given the board of elections a lot of work to do. And every time that we have challenged them, almost every election cycle, they have risen to that challenge. As a body, when we have concerns about whether something can or will be implemented adequately, it's our duty to double down on oversight. We check in regularly with the agency. We ask how we can support them and we give them the resources we need. We do not say, "We don't think you're ready to do the thing that we told you you need to do, so we're going to give you an extra two years." We almost never do that. In fact, most of the time when the agency misses a deadline, we scream, we hold roundts, we give speeches, we point fingers, we don't say we'll give you an extension. So the time now is for us to jump in to assist to provide support but to acknowledge what we heard in that round table which is that the board of elections is ready to implement. And when it comes to voters I choose to believe in their capacity to learn to grow and to truly participate in democracy. Do we want people to feel like it's worth their time to come out and vote? then we should make sure that they feel like their vote matters and that their vote counts. And when there is an entire slate of candidates for one seat and we only get one vote, it's easy to feel like your vote doesn't matter. But with rank choice voting, we get to put people in order of priority to us and know that our vote does matter. I also have faith in our seniors. I've seen them adapt over the years and I know what happens when we count them out. I know they will also rise to the task and that we will all work together to educate them. But out in community, I often see our seniors educating us. So, let's just put a pin in the idea that seniors can't figure out how to vote by ranking the candidates. I urge those who want to see RCV implemented here in the District of Columbia to vote against this measure and instead to work together with the board of elections when civic engagement groups with ANC's um with candidates to help with voter education. I want to thank Anita Belly Shelton's organization for already doing one rank choice voting training just a couple weeks ago. At this moment after we funded this in this budget cycle, to delay is to interfere. I urge this body today to vote no on this emergency bill and not to interfere in the upcoming election. Thank you, chairman. >> Uh thank you, Council Member. Council member Robert White. >> Thank you, Chairman. Um, often as as the chair of a committee, you have uh different and deeper insights than uh than others and and so your view might be different. Um, as somebody voting on this, I can only look at what I saw in the hearing and my conversations with uh director uh Evans and and others. And as I see this, I I can't I I know that folks are anxious about implementing rank choice voting for the first time, but but here's the deal. voters have already spoken. The board of elections is is jumping through some final hurdles and working towards uh full implementation. And no matter when the board of elections implements rank choice votings, there's going to be hiccups because it's going to be new. Now, my conclusion is that if we delay rank choice voting, there's not going to be a mass voter education uh starting now because it would confuse voters who are going into the June elections and then the November elections. And so, the board of elections would not really ramp up rank choice voting education until after the November elections. there is a high likelihood that there will be a special election next year uh with a lot of council members running for other offices. So then it would seem that they wouldn't do the education early next year either. Then we start to get into the 2028 election. So the reality is no matter when we start whether it's now or 20 years from now there there's always going to be some hurdles and and some hiccups. And I want to be sensitive to what I heard from Director Evans that she and the agency not be made the fall guy for a battle that's outside of their purview. Their job is to implement. I've not heard anything on the record that says they won't be able to implement. So I have to take them at their word. And the mayor has not said that they are not ready either. The mayor sends a letter and says vote no on this thing, vote yes on this thing. And the mayor did not say to vote no on this that the the agency isn't ready. So, I have to make sure that I am implementing the will of the voters, which is what I've tried to do consistently since I become a council member, whether I agree with the voters or or not. Um, if we agree with them when they pull the lever for us, then we have to support them when they pull the lever on the ballot initiative, even if we don't agree. But, we do have to work together to make sure the agency is as prepared as possible. And I want to make sure that we're using our time educating voters um and preparing the city as much as possible for for rank choice voting. Uh because no matter when it happens, it's going to um it's going to have some hiccups. And so our job is to use the time that we have, the energy that we have reducing those those hiccups and that confusion. Uh so I'll I'll be supporting the the current timeline. Thank you, Chairman. >> Uh thank you, Council Member. Council member Parker and then Pinto. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I have heard a lot about uh rank choice voting, namely from W five stakeholders. I do want to acknowledge the work of Bob King and Hazel Thomas. I saw Robert Vincent Brandom here uh many of whom are skeptical of this new system going uh into place and I take their concerns to heart. I do think we must be honest and address that there is a racial divide, geographic divide, and even a divide uh along age lines where some voters and residents are a bit more skeptical of this new voting approach. I think to just simply dismiss those concerns outright uh as being politically motivated kind of misses the mark. Not that any of my colleagues are doing that, but I want to acknowledge that the concerns are valid. I following that hearing that council member Bonds held a conversations uh conversation with director Evans because I didn't I left that hearing being concerned and I don't know if she did herself or the agency any favors in kind of hedging um her assurance that the agency was available. What I got from my conversation with her directly was that the agency was ready. What I've heard from the chairperson is that the agency is ready. Um, and there's a tension there. I I also take to heart that we are in the middle of an election season where we have dozens of candidates who have declared, millions of dollars have been raised, strategies have been developed with the understanding that rank choice voting will be a part of this election. For 13 members of a council to change that in the middle of an election process seems um tricky. I'll say it that way. I do have some questions uh for council member Bonds. Following the hearing that you held with the board of elections and Monica Evans, uh can you just briefly discuss any follow-up that you've had with the agency as it relates to their preparedness? >> Thank you. Um Councilman, um I did have a couple of follow-ups. Uh most recently was Friday afternoon, this past Friday and at that time um the executive director indicated that um three things. one that there was no expectation on the part of the board of elections that they would be implementing rank choice voting in this election season. Um that was one. Number two, um that they were in the process of still gathering information. um ideas, best practices um as it relates to rank choice voting. >> And I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Chairman. Could we please have additional time? >> Um I was going to say the member's time is expired. If you want an additional minute, but it will be a >> just one minute. One minute. And the third thing which I think >> the council member had another question for you. Yes. Well, the third thing which I thought was very interesting, she indicated that she would spend the Christmas holiday writing a plan. So that is why I put in my presentation this morning just those facts. >> Understood. And I I think it's worth noting in the mayor's letter to the council, she stopped short of saying we should support this emergency. In fact, she writes, "I urge council to conduct an in-depth review of the operational, logistical, and public education needed to ensure well-implemented, fully informed and fair elections. Uh, I would argue this is an opportunity for the council to work alongside the mayor and I hope our executive would be doing that alongside. This shouldn't just be the council." And my final uh >> Your minute is up. >> My final 15 seconds. >> Your minutes is up. Member Pinch, >> I do have more questions. Uh, so I'll ask Council Member Bonds offline. Thank you, >> Council Member Pinto. >> Council member Pinto. >> Sorry, so uncharacteristically quiet. I didn't hear it. Um, thank you very much. I um not this does not apply to council member Bonds who introduced this bill as she recently announced she is not running. Um but I will just add how unc comfortable it makes me voting on something that is affecting almost all of our elections. Um, I think this is a very ripe example of when a ballot initiative is even more um, persuasive because when elected officials are the ones making our own rules that govern ourselves for elections that could benefit or harm us in a couple of months, um, I think it it leads to some challenges. Um, I I'm not supporting this emergency measure today. Um, but I do want to acknowledge the very real and I think genuine um, concerns that have been raised around education, especially around some of the specific populations at the jail or in some of our senior centers um, and our hospitals. And I want to just encourage all of us to re-up our commitment to making sure that we are part of that education process with the board of elections who does have a lot on their plate. Um, and I want to thank Director Evans for all that she continues to do to make sure that our elections continue to be run smoothly and efficiently um, and empowering our voters. I think she and her team do an amazing job and we should continue to support them and make sure that they have the resources that they need. Um, and as other colleagues have pointed out, it's going to take all of us. This is not only a board of elections responsibility. Um there are other entities, nonprofits, community groups, faith leaders, um who are all going to need to be a part of this to make sure people know what their options are. Um and as a reminder, if somebody only wants to vote once, that is also okay. It doesn't change the principle um methodology of or options available to you to to take a vote. So, we'll continue to to work on that. Um, and want to thank everybody who's reached out on this issue who I um really appreciate the community's earnest engagement in the process to make sure that rank choice voting can be implemented and implemented uh with fidelity. Thank you. >> Uh thank you, Council Member Into Council Member Lewis George. >> Uh thank you, Chairman. Um, I want to I I hear the concerns of my constituents and district residents on the matter of Frank joints voting. Um, on one hand, there are those who worry that there isn't enough time for education and outreach to ensure every voter knows how to cast their vote, especially our seniors, voters with disabilities, and black and brown communities who have too often been disenfranchised. And on the other hand, there are equally valid concerns that these objections are not are uh not are another effort to delay the implementation of an initiative that was passed overwhelmingly by the voters uh and fully funded by this council. I have been consistent that the council should uphold the will of the voters, whether it comes to fair wages or rank choice voting. Pausing the implementation of rank choice voting right now in the middle of a cycle, I don't believe is the right answer. But we also cannot allow for the communities that have been too often ignored to be left behind. I have asked the office of disability rights, the division of deaf, deaf, blind, and hearted hearing about their planned efforts to ensure that RCV is fully accessible to voters with disabilities as those agencies fall under my purview as facilities chair. And I'm hopeful that the office of disability rights uh is going to step up in that place to make sure access is is is granted to everyone. and the more board of elections uh the uh different uh parties in this district and uh elected council members all must make it a priority to ensure that between now and June they are reaching out to educate voters on how RCV will work and how they can make sure their vote is cast properly. It must develop comprehensive plans on how to uh do it that will ensure that voters most at risk of not participating or those at risk of undervoting or over voting are fully able to cast their votes under RCV. We've done it before and we can do it again. I won't go down the list of litany of what our board of elections has already done and achieved. But it has been great. um DC fair elections program and vote by mail were important steps towards leveling the playing field and ensuring that our elections are fair and more democratic. With both of these programs, we heard similar concerns about a sufficient time for outreach and education. But each time the board of elections successfully implemented these programs and each one has improved our elections and made them more accessible. Rank choice voting is this next step toward leveling the playing field, but we need to get it right without slowing it down. It requires prioritizing voter outreach and education outreach to those most at risk of being left behind. The council has funded the work needed to make this happen. Now, it's time to launch an equitable voter outreach program to ensure that every vote is counted and that we are carrying out the will of the people. With that, I will yield my remaining um time to council member Parker. >> 19 seconds. >> Okay. My 19 seconds. Uh I had another question for council member Bonds. Uh one of the big concern uh complaints is there is not enough money to pull this off. Has there been a request of the executive to reprogram money for this to go well? >> To my knowledge there has not been a request and I think it's based on the fact that they are still in conversations with their vendors to determine the exact amount. The estimate is 2.3 million. Um, but that's an estimate at this point. >> Thank you, Council Member Felder. Second round. Uh, thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, this is not a capacity issue as it relates to whether voters can figure out rank choice voting. This is about DC Board of Elections preparedness to fully implement rank choice voting. And while I do appreciate some of my council colleagues providing historic content as it relates to some of the initiatives that the board of elections have been able to undergo in recent years, I want to create some context where since the establishment of home rule, DC residents have voted one specific way and without having the proper outreach and engagement to educate voters on this new voting system, I fear that that will be extremely detrimental to the city and actually it will hurt residents uh severely. Uh furthermore uh we talk about I would feel better if board of elections had the resources that they need to fully stand up rank choice voting. Folks talk about how the board of elections have said they were ready. The funding that was given was partial but yet border you're expecting board of elections to fully stand up a new voting system. To me, that is extremely problematic. And I will not belabor this, but I I think it's important to note that uh if we do not get this right now, then you're going to see the consequences in June. And then folks are going to say, "Hey, we should have done the needs assessment. We should have done the implementation plan before we let this horse out the stable. We can get it right right now. Let's not lose that in this conversation." And with that, Mr. Chairman, I will defer my time. Uh thank you. There's no further discussion. >> Council member McDuffy. >> Just just very briefly, I I appreciate the spirit of debate uh by my colleagues on this issue and and uh as many have said, the voters uh have spoken on rank choice voting in the District of Columbia. Um I I want to say though generally uh speaking um it's important that any changes that we make to our system of voting uh are changes that are done thoughtfully uh with the priority of increasing voter participation uh make it easier for residents to exercise their right to the franchise. And I don't know that anybody would disagree with that on this day. Uh how we do that perhaps there is some disagreement. Uh but the idea that uh we want people to have an easier way to vote is something that we should all agree with if we support u having confidence and integrity in our democracy. Uh I am concerned uh with what I heard uh at the round table on the preparedness of the board of elections to uh implement rank choice voting. Um I think the goals underlying rank choice voting and I know there's disagreement on this. Uh if they are to you know make voting participation easier I don't have an issue with that. If it's to strengthen voter confidence, build coalitions, um, and enhance our democratic process, I don't have an issue with it. I do have an issue when I know that Democratic Party in the District of Columbia, uh, has raised serious concerns with it and don't support its implementation um, in the 2026 cycle for the reasons that my colleagues, Council Member Bonds, Wendell Felder, uh, have articulated. I also want to sort of dubtail on comments made by uh Council Member Zachary Parker uh and my conversations with people like Bob King, Hazel Thomas. I only know those folks and the people associated with their work to care deeply about our democracy in the District of Columbia and to do everything they can humanly possible to enhance voter participation in the District of Columbia. And yet they are really deeply concerned and fearful for what implementation of rank choice voting in the 2026 cycle would mean to voters across District Columbia. Uh I'm not trying to engage in any hyperbole. If the BOE feels that they're prepared, I just hope that they are able to execute uh for the sake of our local democracy. Uh but when I hear a former party chair like Anita Bond, somebody who has been engaged in our uh democracy in the District of Columbia since before we had Rome home rule and after it and been champion things that help our system of voting. Uh I'm going to start with her uh on this vote. Thank you, Chairman. >> Uh thank you, Council Member McDuffy. Mr. Chairman, >> uh Council Member F. >> Thank you very much. Uh I will be voting against this uh for all of the reasons that my colleagues cited for voting against it throughout this debate. Um I I do want to say be the one member who doesn't use three, five or seven minutes in this debate and I will therefore much as I love him not seed the balance of my time to council member Parker. >> Uh thank you. If there's no further discussion, >> Mr. Chairman roll Mr. Chairman. >> Council member Parker, you want to be recognized again? >> Yes. >> I will be brief. >> Uh two minutes. >> I ju I just will conclude what I was uh mentioning earlier that there seems to be three variables that we keep hearing about education funding for this initiative and time. The only fixed variable of those three is time. If there is a need for more money, we can reprogram the money and there should be a request and the mayor should be sending down more money to the board of elections. I know W five stakeholders have delivered an education proposal and plan uh to the board of elections. I have met or am planning to meet again with director Evans to map out what might outreach and education look like in Ward 5. I encourage others to do that as well. uh but if there is concern about reaching vulnerable populations, it seems like there is an opportunity uh to influence that between now and June. Uh and on the time front, I just as I was looking at this, this is delayed until June 2027. So assuming the board of elections doesn't take action on rank choice voting until after the general election of this year, that means it would be December of 2026, six months before uh June 2027 that they would be doing some type of outreach and planning uh before this were to go into effect and we might assume there may be special elections uh in the 2027 year. So, all that to say, uh, regardless of how this vote goes, and I think it sounds like it may not be successful, um, I'm hoping that we can work together with the executive, with stakeholders on the ground like those we mentioned, uh, to ensure that we implement this with fidelity. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Uh, thank you, council member. Madam Secretary, if you would call the role because, uh, there was a request for a roll call vote. >> Vote is on the declaration. Council member Nado, >> no. >> Council member Nadau, votes no. Council member Parker, >> no. >> Council member Parker votes no. Council member Pinto, >> no. >> Council member Pinto votes no. Council member Robert White, >> no. >> Council member Robert White votes no. Council member Trayon White, >> yes. >> Council member Trayon White votes yes. Council member Allen, >> no. >> Council member Allen votes no. Council member Bonds, >> yes. Council member Bonds votes yes. Council member Felder, >> yes. Council member Felder votes yes. Council member Freeman, >> no. >> Council member Freeman votes no. Council member Henderson, >> no. >> Council member Henderson votes no. Council member Lewis George, >> no. >> Council member Lewis George votes no. Council member McDuffy, >> yes. >> Council member McDuffy votes yes. Chairman Mendlesson, >> yes. >> Chairman Mendlesson votes yes. Mr. Chairman, there are five yeses and eight nos. >> The declaration fails. The next measure on the agenda is PR26-7473. Let me restate that. 26-473 Caesar Chavez public charter schools for public policy revenue bonds project emergency declaration resolution 2025. Council member McDuffy. >> Thank you, Chairman. Caesar Chavez, public charter schools for public policy. Uh, the borrower is a nonprofit corporation which seeks to have District of Columbia revenue bonds issued and receive a loan of the proceeds of the bonds for all or a portion of the borrower's cost incurred in connection with this project. Uh, this resolution would promptly approve the authorization of the issuance of up to $25 million of District of Columbia revenue bonds to provide maximum savings for the borrower, enable them to refinance existing debt, and make capital improvements to uh the location at 3701 Hay Street Northeast in W 7. Without this timely approval, the school uh will lose its bond purchaser commitment and face a serious financial challenge which could significantly disrupt the school's ability to serve students and families in the Ward 7 Parkside community. With that, I move the declaration. >> Thank you, Council Member. We have the declaration before us. Is there discussion? >> Uh yes, Mr. Chairman. >> Council member Felder. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Council Member McDuffy, for your leadership on this matter. Uh Caesar Chavez Public Charter School has been an educational pillar in Ward 7 since 1998. Uh they do invaluable work in providing DC youth with quality education and play an instrumental role in preparing DC students to succeed in college and beyond. The proposed financing will make critical funds available to support the construction and renovation of the Caesar Chavez campus. It will also go towards equipping and developing classrooms, science labs, gymnasiums, and auxiliary facilities. If we are unable to pass this emergency legislation today, uh Caesar Chavez will be forced to incur delays and additional financial burdens that will make it increasingly difficult for them to continue to support our students. Uh and and that's why I'm supporting this measure and I encourage my council colleagues to do the same as well. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Uh, thank you, council member. Further discussion? The vote will be on the declaration PR26-473. All those in favor say, "I." >> Are there any opposed? Hearing none, the eyes have it unanimously. We have the underlying resolution PR26-474. Council member McDuffy. So moved. Discussion on the on the uh PR26-474. All those in favor say I. I. >> Are there any opposed? Hearing? None. The eyes have it unanimously. The next measure is bill 26-536 energy efficiency financing debt cap temporary amendment act of 2025. Council member Allen. >> Sorry, Mr. Chairman. T >> Sure. So moved. >> Sure. So moved. Uh we have the temporary before us. Is there discussion on the bill? Bill 26-536. All those in favor say I. I. >> Are there any opposed? You guys have it unanimously. There were two other temporaries on the agenda which are not being moved because the emergencies were not approved. Um my agenda here has other business. Council member McDuffy. Uh thank you chairman and um thank you to to my colleagues and to the residents who are here in the chamber and perhaps those who are watching at home. Um as we close today's legislative agenda, I want to take a moment to share that this is also going to be uh a closing a chapter for me personally and professionally. Um, this is my final legislative meeting as a member of the council of the District of Columbia. And that sentence is is really something that is difficult to say out loud because I've been serving the people of the District of Columbia uh for more than 13 years and has truly been the honor of my lifetime. Uh, it's also not easy because I love this work. I love the fight to make our city fair, safer, more affordable, and more opportunity rich for every resident across every single ward in our city. But I also believe public service is much like seasons. And I believe in knowing when it's time to step forward into a new season, one that for me will still be rooted in the same purpose, serving the District of Columbia and fighting for all of us. But today I want to express gratitude uh because no elected office is ever held alone. So to my colleagues on this council, I want to say thank you. Uh we've disagreed at times and I think some of that just played out a couple minutes ago. Uh we've had some really hard debates, but I have always respected the seriousness with which you approached this job and the love that you have for the city. I'm proud to have served alongside each of you. To the staff who keep this institution moving and everyone behind the scenes, thank you for your professionalism and for your patience. To the agencies and public servants across the district government, you are the ones who turn laws into reality and you deserve our respect and our support. To my own team, both past and present, thank you. You've helped me stay grounded in the reality of what our residents are experiencing and what they need from each of us. I'm grateful to each of you for that service. And to the residents of the District of Columbia, thank you for trusting me with this awesome responsibility. I've tried to honor that trust every single day of working as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia. And if I could just briefly reflect on the work. When I first ran for council, I ran with a simple belief. Government should work for the people and especially for the people who have too often been left out of opportunity. And I ran with a deep commitment to fairness, accountability, and public safety that respects civil rights. Values that to me are not in conflict, but that rather strengthen each other. Since being elected, I focused on a few core priorities. First, economic opportunity and worker fairness. Second, civil rights, public safety, and accountability. Third, good government and delivering services to the people of the District of Columbia. And fourth, using the budget process to deliver for all residents across all eight wards. I believe in valuesdriven leadership. And that these core principles I just touched on define whether a city is truly working for all of its people. And unfortunately right now it's not. And it doesn't mean that we haven't tried because I think the people on this deis the mayor and others who are public servants across our government try really hard to deliver for residents. But it does mean that we have more work to do and the challenges in front of us are real ones. Residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. The federal administration and Congress have together posed the greatest threat to our autonomy since the establishment of home rule 50 years ago. Families are worried about their safety, not just from criminals, but from the deployment of federal integration officers and militaries from other states. Small and local businesses are navigating uncertainty, and we're competing for investments in our city's growth against other jurisdictions in the most challenging of economic times. If there's one thing I've tried to model during my time on this council is this. We owe residents seriousness. We owe them preparation. We owe them honesty and what government can do. And we owe them the urgency to do it better. Which brings me to my final point. While this is my last legislative meeting, I am not done serving the residents of the District of Columbia. I love this city. I believe in this city. And I believe that our best days are still ahead if we're willing to do the hard work, if we're willing to tell the truth, and if we're willing to bring people together around a shared commitment for our city's progress. So, I'm stepping away from this seat with deep gratitude, with pride in what we've accomplished together, and real excitement about what comes next. I'll have more to say about that soon, but today I simply want to say this. Thank you to the residents of the District of Columbia. Thank you for allowing me to serve. Thank you for pushing me to be better. Thank you for trusting me with this awesome responsibility. And however I serve next, I want you to know I'm going to keep fighting for you. I will keep showing up and I will keep delivering on my commitment to make sure that opportunity, safety, and dignity are not privileges in this city, but promises that we keep for everyone. Thank you, chairman. Thank you, colleagues. >> Uh thank you, council member. So, um my understanding is that you will be stepping down the end of the month. This is your last legislative meeting. Uh, I would say it's a bittersweet moment. Um, and it's a moment for pause just to reflect on your service. Um, I can't say it's a surprise. There have been rumors for weeks. Um, and despite the rumors, we don't have a crystal bowl for you today. But, uh, as you know, we ordinarily do that at the end of a council period. I do want to acknowledge you and thank you for your service. I was reflecting earlier uh, before the meeting. You were elected to the council in May of 2020 2012. So that is roughly 13 years ago. Um you became chair prom on January in January of 2013. So you've served as prom can almost say my prom but that's there's no possession here. You've served as the council's chair prom uh for what almost 13 years. Chaired the judiciary committee uh chaireed the has chaired you're still chairing the committee on business and economic development. You've been in the thick of many important issues. When you were chair of judiciary, you were the one who authored and pushed through the council the near act which was a struggle at the time and it was a struggle after to get it implemented. most recently working closely with me in the negotiations with the commanders over the RFK proposal and of course the many important issues that have been before the comm committee on business and economic development. It's a lot uh that you have done and it's many years of service and it is uh it would be inappropriate not to acknowledge that here uh since this is your last legislative meeting before the council. So I want to thank you for that service. Mr. Chairman, >> Council Member Builder. >> No, Charles had this. No, Charles. Go ahead. I'll go after Charles. Mr. >> What's that? Council >> member Allen. >> We're so polite with our hands. Um, well, normally it's something like this too, we at least have a chance to say a few words as well. So, um, I don't want to miss that since when you shared the news with me uh before the meeting began. Um, as Phil said, perhaps rumors have been swirling around, but it kind of snapped me a little bit back to those 13 years ago, frankly. Um, when you were first elected and you won a special election, a hard-fought special election and came in and, um, I was not yet your colleague. I was a council staffer, chief of staff at the time. And I remember your office was across the hall from my own. And working with Corey and the team that you helped assemble, it was uh, a lot of fun to be able to sit with you early on. as you got started. Both of us have a lot more gray hair than we do at Dwind did then. Um, but one of the things that I think gets overlooked a lot at the council is that these are unique jobs and we have an honor and a a pleasure to serve in them. Um, and while there is plenty of collegial sparring uh, and back and forth, we agree on a heck of a lot more than we ever disagree on, and we work together, but we also get to know each other in different ways. and we've had the opportunity to also watch your girls grow up and get to know your family. And I know you're incredibly and immensely proud of what they have done. But it has been a a joy to work with you, to work with your staff, to get to know your family, to see that um you have have done a admirable commendable job here at the council and I'm really grateful for the time that we got to sit sometimes nausea between us, but sit next to each other uh up on the dis and getting to work with you, get to know your team and your staff um who have just done a superb job and many of them are here as well uh I'm sure helping mark this moment uh today as well. But whatever it is you're hinting at that comes next, I certainly wish you the best of luck and I'm grateful for the time that I've gotten to call you a colleague and be able to sit here on the DAS and work with you. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Uh thank you, Council Member Felder. Uh thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh where do I start? Uh, Council Member McDuffy, you've been a mentor uh and a friend to me. Uh, not only since I joined the council, but my introduction into government. Uh, I've always looked up to you and admired you, uh, for the work that you did when you first fought for war five residents as a war five council member and now um, as you impact the District of Columbia as a whole. Additionally, uh there's three other individuals on this deis who are black men, who are natives, and who have had an opportunity to serve their community, such as myself, Council Member Trayon White, Council Member Robert White. Uh and to see a fellow native uh transition off the council. You would truly be missed. Um and you know, you inspired a bunch of uh individuals that are coming after you. When I think about um the role you've played in strengthening our local economy, supporting small and local businesses, uh and helping the District of Columbia be recognized as the sports capital of the United States, that is no easy feat. Uh your impact, it will be longlasting. Uh and on behalf of every Ward 7 resident, we want to thank you for your dedication. You will truly be missed. and uh I look forward to uh what the future has in store for you. >> Absolutely. >> Uh thank you, Council Member Parker. >> Thank you. Uh as a non-native, I too uh thank you, Council Member McDuffy, for your service. Uh you uh were my and are my predecessor uh on the council representing Ward Five, your uh community that you grew up in. And I I don't take for granted uh the commitment, the sacrifice, the hard work that it takes um to labor on behalf of not just the city, but your family, the folks you grew up with, the neighborhood you call home still. Um and I just want to thank you for that. I also uh it is not lost on me that you have been I think the uh the most prominent voice uh in being unwavering and unapologetic about advancing equity for black and brown people in this city. And I think that should not be lost. It will not be lost. I think you should be very proud of that. I'm concerned about what that will mean for this body, not to have um folks constantly reminding us about people that are easily forgotten and lost uh in the city. So, uh I'll stop there, but I want to say thank you um for your service, your commitment, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. >> Uh Council Member Robert White. >> Uh thank you, Chairman. Uh Council Member McDuffy, it's been an honor to uh be your colleague. uh on this council for a number of years. I I've learned after you uh what it takes to decide to run for this body. Uh it takes a lot um I've learned as you have learned how much it takes to work in this body. It is a ton of work. It's a lot of sacrifice personally for our families like me. You're blessed to have a family um with an incredibly supportive wife. Um, and I can only imagine what it takes to uh resign from this body. Uh, but uh want to take the opportunity to say thank you for your service to the city. Uh, as council member Felder said, as a a fellow native Washingtonian, we come here with a lot of similar experiences and um, shared experiences and those are experiences that I think are important in the service that we do particularly in a a rapidly changing city. Uh, so I want to thank you to for your service. I want to uh thank you for being a a vocal uh proponent of our business community which is a very important part of the district, an important part of the community uh whose voice is important and you've made sure that their voice is not lost u but also that it is tempered uh by uh the importance of equity, racial equity uh very importantly. So um I I appreciate and respect the work that you've done. I'm glad that I've had the opportunity to to serve with you and uh wish you well in all your endeavors. appreciate it. >> Uh, thank you, Council Member. Council member Pinto, >> you chairman. Um, well, Kenyon, congratulations on uh on today's very big announcement. Um, it is going to be a huge uh impact and and whole in the council. Um, but it has been such a privilege to work with you and learn from you. When I joined the council almost six years ago, um I immediately looked up to you for how you build your team, for how you operate inside the building and outside. Um and it has been such a treat to get to learn from you and work on a lot of important projects together, whether that be around public safety, um and continuing a lot of the efforts that you started when you were chairing the judiciary committee to set our city up to be a leader. um which it now is across the country in the violence interruption space and ensuring that your commitment to that work was steadfast regardless of um the the changing times and improvements we needed to see. All of your partnership with economic development projects to ensure that they didn't just happen today, but that they were followed with fidelity to our district values to support local businesses and local jobs. And um we are now seeing a lot of the fruits of that labor um and see our city come alive with with some of those projects and they could have only happened by being shephered with your uh commitment to that work. And you know this body does a lot of legislative work and we talk a lot about publicly what we do with legislation that we're introducing or passing or uh investments that we're funding in the budget. But I think what you have also embodied and done really well is all of the leadership that needs to happen outside of the building. Um whether that be in supporting sports and young people and attending things in person to make sure that our community knows you are with them. Um, and that is a very important part of being a member of the council and being a leader in this city that I think you have um, embodied and set a really strong example for uh, for the rest of us. So, I want to thank you for everything you have done for the city. I want to thank your team who's also been wonderful to work with um, and are incredibly hard workers on behalf of the city as well. I have also learned a lot from your staff. Um, and so thank thankful to them too. Uh, and congratulations again for today and and look forward to continuing to work together. Um, and seeing you out there and appreciate just lastly um how fun you are to be around and to be with. Uh, and that should be clarified for the record that you're you're a great a great person to be with. So, thank you very much, Kenyon. >> Uh, thank you, Council Member. Council member Bonds. >> Thank you, Chairman. Um, I just wanted to add my voice to those that are commemorating our colleague. Um, not only has it been an honor to to work with you in this capacity as one of your colleagues, I also learned so much from you. And I say that because I want the audience to know that my first encounter with this young man was as an ANC commissioner. And um maybe you remember when we were over at your house in Stronghold and we made you the chair of the McMillan project. McMillan project that went on for years. Um, we saw leadership in you then and appreciated your approach. Um, and and then the next thing I want to call to your attention, remember we went to the bakery on 7th Street? Uhhuh. And um, the council member said, "Anita, I really want economic development to work in this city. I'm really about that." and I think it should all be bought together everything that was in economic development and I said housing too that's what I chair he says no no no not what you chair so therefore I learned a lot about that as well your economic development leadership has been just outstanding you have been everywhere and I do mean that and you know when you when you leave here in this position, know that our biggest promoter of the sports capital of the United States has just stepped away. So, I'm waiting for your next chapter and I look forward to it. And congratulations. I know it's hard, painful, but you're moving forward and there'll be many of us that will move forward with you. Thank you very much. >> Uh, thank you, Council Member. Council member Henderson. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know everybody's waiting because they want to go eat lunch. That's okay. So, I my first perspectives of Kenyan, it was actually as a staffer, which, you know, staffers talk. So, we don't always have everything nice to say about certain members, but um you spoke to staff who were not your own, which I know seems like a small thing, but it is actually a distinguishing factor because not all members of the council at that time would do so. Um, and I think the staff that you produce, you have alum all over this building, all over the city. Some of my closest friends, um, you know, I would go down to the committee office when I had a question, but I knew that they knew what was going on. in that regard. Um, and you also still hold the record of I think one of our a hearing we still talk about um, which was when we were closing the uh, DC general and the family shelters. It was you and Rashad back and forth over the definition of what was close. You probably don't remember it, but the rest those of us who were here for it was a late hearing. Um, nonetheless, I now see a completely different perspective of you as a colleague. Um, but it's still very focused. It's still very serious, but is also still very fun to their uh their their stories. Um, also sitting next to Kenyan in a meeting is just very dangerous. Um, if you were just trying to be a serious human being. Um, nonetheless, so I want to say thank you for your service to the city. I want to say thank you to your family for their service, your wife, your daughters. Um, I know there were games you couldn't attend, events you had to miss for all these various reasons. And I think a lot of people don't recognize that when the member serves, their family is serving, too. >> So, thank you. >> Uh, thank you, Council Member. Council member Lewis George. Thank >> you. Um, I want to say congratulations to you, Kenyan, and um, I want to thank you for the amazing work you've done around violence intervention and prevention work. Um, I remember being at the attorney general's office when you were fighting here in the council to get the NERA Act passed. Um, and we were in the attorney general's office really excited about that work that you you did. um and you've never wavered on your commitment to violence intervention and prevention work and understanding that that work is critical and that if we don't address the root causes um we'll never address public safety in and of itself. Um I want to thank you for the ways you've helped work forward through your business economic development committee. Um establishing a Pworth main street was one of the big first things me and you talked about. You said what do you want to do? I said we need a main street on Pworth. And now that's an area that has bustling restaurants, businesses, even a comedy show can be watched down there um at the 808 room. So really grateful for you in that aspect as well. Um and also you've always had amazing staff. Um so really grateful for you for bringing some of the most brightest and best people in this uh city to your office. Um your staff has always been a joy with work with both past and present and so I want to thank you for that as well. Um, and to me, uh, and and, um, I remember you taking me, Brooke, and Christina out after the council holiday party. No one wanted to hang with the freshman, but you gave us an opportunity. Um, and we had a fun night that night. That's all I will say. We had a great night. Um, and we really appreciate it. It really, it was the first time we felt like it was, we had been on the council this time. It was the first time we finally felt like a part of the council and felt really welcomed. And so, thank you for giving us that memory, that opportunity, but really like giving us our first real welcome to the council when we were freshman. We will never forget it and we truly appreciate it. Um, and lastly, I I think one of your greatest the greatest things I admire about you is that you're a girl dad, your greatest strength. Um, and you have raised such amazing, phenomenal daughters alongside your beautiful wife. And, um, girl dads are the best dads. Um, I would say um, and I agree. So, thank you to your family for their sacrifice. Thank you for your service and um we truly will miss you here on the council. Thank you. >> Uh thank you, Council Member Freeman. >> Thank you very much, Chairman Mendelson. Uh thank you, Council Member McDuffy, for everything. Thank you to your family. Thank you to your staff. It's all been said. all of the wonderful things that you've done and the way in which you and your staff have carried yourself for the time that I've been on the council and for the time when I was more of a pest to the council. Uh thank you for the accomplishments for the for the values around racial equity for the values around economic development. Uh so much that you've contributed over the years. I think I only qualify on one of Council Member Felder's three, but um to me the the biggest thing is your obvious love for the city that you've reflected in all of the things that you've done inside of the building and all the sports capital of the United States. It can sound like rhetoric. I know because I think I think you like me are a 10-year-old boy on the inside who just loves sports. And so I can count on you when I go to the Turkey Bowl, when I go to the basketball state championships. There you are, not just on the sidelines, but cheering your heart out for the kids on both sides. I think that's what you've done so far in your career. I'm glad to hear that that's what you're going to try to do going forward. Thank you for everything. Thank you to your family and to your staff. >> Uh thank you, Council Member Fman, Council Member Tran White. >> Uh thank you. I want to thank you, uh Council Member McDuffy for your leadership here on the council and for your dedication to our city. Um, I remember when the violence were was getting high and out of control in the city and we talked about doing something and I also remember the narrative that the news ran was that DC was paying people not to commit crimes and it didn't pass initially but uh you stay committed and steadfast not just uh pushing to get the money in the budget uh through working with Mayor BS but also through uh corine u remember the meetings we had in the backyard at uh back of we act radio And now the goal museum and in fact you were intricral in ensuring that we can uh see it not robbery to put money in the budget to help people own business in their own community which was done right here in Ward 8. Um you've been integral in making DC go to official music for Washington DC and I can go on and on. Um but you have been a a voice of reason when it comes to equity and inclusion for minorities for black and brown people in DC. I think that should not be taken lightly in a place where where we just I was just talking about equity for W8 20 minutes ago and that that that fight is still needed here on the council. Uh but you've been a fighter for residents of DC. Uh you've been a fighter for many just causes in the district and I just want to uh send passionate compassionate love to your family. you know, as a father, it's hard uh to do this work day in and day out and to your children who have to be, you know, co-consil members with you in this journey. So, I wish you well, man. Thank you for your service and God bless. >> Uh thank you, Council Member, Council Member Nidau. >> Thank you so much, Chairman. Um Council Member McDuffy, um when you were a ward council member, was a pleasure sharing a border with you. you know, in Ward One, we touch almost every other ward, and so we have to keep up very good relations um with our fellow Ward council members. Um but I I want to thank you especially for your steadfast support of Park Morton. That project has gone on for way too long. Um but when it was referred to committee, uh you made sure to keep it moving to push back against the the Nimbies that were trying to kill that project. and um thanks to all your support, we have been able to cut a ribbon this year. So, I want to thank you for for always having our back on that. You have been such a strong supporter of small businesses. Um allowed those of us who want to support small businesses to um to do that through legislation in your committee. Um so, thank you for helping me keep so many businesses alive in Ward One. um and for your allyship and friendship with the Jewish community all these years um which I know is very near and dear to you. Um but perhaps most grateful of all for your your leadership on the near act which has been a gamecher across the city but in Ward 1. When I was a freshman council member, I I felt like I was wandering the building with my hat out trying to cobble together enough funds to ensure that we were preventing gang violence in Columbia Heights and there was no home for that. You know, we we kind of we tucked it under the deputy mayor for health and human services and tried to move that money out the door. Um it was not until the near act passed that there was a real home for that work and I thank you for your vision and leadership on that. Um and uh I I I look forward to hearing what you have planned next. Um and wish you only the best. Thank you so much. >> Uh thank you council member. So I think every member has spoken to you and said thank you which is a testament to your service. I would say I've learned a couple of things listening to colleagues. Um, it's helpful if I'm friendly to other council members staff. >> Good luck keeping them. And then also, uh, that there's a value to taking freshman members of the council out to parties after the party. Maybe even the party after the party after the party. Um, but, uh, that is a bittersweet moment, but also a moment that we say thank you. Thank you. And with that, I think that concludes our business. The time is 2:23 in the afternoon and this meeting is adjourned.