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

                                               

DATE:             September 29, 2022

 

 

This memorandum is to request that the following measures be placed on the agenda for the October 4, 2022 Legislative Meeting:

 

▪        Advisory Neighborhood Commission Allotment Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2022

▪        Advisory Neighborhood Commission Allotment Emergency Amendment Act of 2022

▪        Advisory Neighborhood Commission Allotment Temporary Amendment Act of 2022

 

            The Advisory Neighborhood Commission Boundaries Act of 2022 (D.C. Law 24-148; 69 DCR 11394) established Advisory Neighborhood Commission boundaries effective January 1, 2023.  The assets, including bank accounts and other physical assets, of the 40 existing ANCs will automatically transfer to the successor ANCs.  However, the legislation creates six new Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC).  They come into existence on January 1, 2023 with no assets.  Existing ANCs have anywhere from approximately $6,200 to $164,200 in their bank accounts (as of August 2022).  The six new ANCs will have no assets without this emergency and temporary legislation.  These funds are used for purposes consistent with law as determined by each ANC.  Some uses include ANC staff, websites, software licenses, and leased space.

 

            Under current law and practice, ANCs receive a quarterly allotment from the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (OANC) based on a per capita basis.  For FY 2022, $800,000 was appropriated to OANC for allotments to ANCs.  For FY 2023, $915,688 has been appropriated for allotments, an increase of 14.5%.  Allotments are only disbursed by the OANC after an ANC provides its financials and certifies to OANC that it is in compliance with applicable District laws.  The first quarter allotments for Fiscal Year 2023 (October-December 2022) should be allotted to the current ANCs based on the 2011 census populations, as they have been for the last decade. 

 

            This emergency and temporary legislation provides startup funds (out of the existing appropriated allotments) for allowable expenses, including software licenses, and ANC staff for the six new ANCs.  All 46 ANCs will receive regular quarterly allotments beginning in January.  The need for this emergency legislation is obvious: to enable the six new ANCs to stand up.

 

The draft measures are attached, as well as a table showing the proposed allotments.  Please call me or Mr. Evan Cash if you have any questions at (202) 724-7002. 

 

cc:        All Councilmembers

            Council Officers