Council of the District of Columbia

Committee of the Whole

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

 

 

TO:                      Nyasha Smith, Secretary to the Council

                

FROM:               Phil Mendelson, Chairman

                              Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie

                                                           

DATE:                September 17, 2020

 

 

               Please place the following measures on the agenda for the September 22, 2020 legislative meeting:

 

• Public Space Maintenance Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2020
• Public Space Maintenance Emergency Act of 2020
• Public Space Maintenance Temporary Act of 2020

 

               The focus of these measures is the maintenance or improvement of public spaces by Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), reimbursable by the District government.  The proposed measures would expand the existing authority for the District to partner with BIDs by raising the cap from $250,000 to $800,00 annually and clarifying that the work to be done in public space is not limited to sidewalks and signage.

 

               On March 11, 2020, the Mayor of the District of Columbia issued Mayor’s Order 2020-45, 2020-46, declaring a public emergency and a public health emergency in the District due to the imminent threat to the health, safety, and welfare of District residents posed by the spread of COVID-19 the Mayor has issued several extensions of the public health emergency as authorized by law.  The declaration has included sweeping closures of indoor spaces such as restaurants and retailers. 

 

               A critical component of reopening these spaces safely during the pandemic has been utilizing outdoor public space for various activities in order to  facilitate social distancing.  Temporary or permanent modifications to public space throughout the District are necessary to accommodate such activities in public space.  In areas of the District covered by a Business Improvement District, some of this work can be done more efficiently by the District reimbursing a Business Improvement District for the work rather than the District contracting for the work.

 

               The draft measures are attached.  Please call me or Mr. Evan Cash if you have any questions at (202) 724-7002. 

 

 

 

cc:          All Councilmembers

               Council Officers

 

 

Evan Cash

Committee and Legislative Director

Committee of the Whole

Chairman Phil Mendelson

 

John A. Wilson Building

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Suite 410

Washington, DC 20004

Tel: (202) 724-7002

http://www.chairmanmendelson.com/cow

 

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