Author Archives: Committee

Hearing on B20-297 and B20-388 (Oct. 3)

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CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC HEARING

Bill 20-298, Closing of a Public Alley in Square 5452, S.O. 12-03541, Act of 2013
Bill 20-388, Closing of a Public Alley in Square 858, S.O. 12-03336, Act of 2013

Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announces a public hearing of the Committee of the Whole on Bill 20-298, the “Closing of a Public Alley in Square 5452 S.O. 12-03541 Act of 2013,” and Bill 20-388, the “Closing of a Public Alley in Square 858, S.O. 12-03336 Continue Reading

Hearing on UDC’s Strategic Plan (Sept. 27)

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CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC OVERSIGHT HEARING

The Progress of the University of the District of Columbia’s Strategic Plan and Its Impact on Accreditation

Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announces a public oversight hearing of the Committee of the Whole on the Progress of the University of the District of Columbia’s (UDC) Strategic Plan and Its Impact on Accreditation.  The public oversight hearing will be held Friday, September 27, 2013, at 12:30 p.m. in Hearing Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

The purpose of the oversight hearing is to receive testimony from both public and government witnesses on the status of UDC’s strategic plan, with particular emphasis on how the plan will affect both the University’s reaccreditation and the accreditation of the Community College.  Currently the University is developing its strategic plan, which should be debuted in December.  Additionally, the University is planning for its accreditation reaffirmation, which will occur during the 2015-2016 academic year, as well as preparing the Community College to be deemed “separately accreditable” by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.  The Committee invites testimony as to how the strategic plan will impact the planning for these accreditation efforts and the University’s needs in order to realize those efforts.

Those who wish to testify are asked to telephone the Committee of the Whole, at (202) 724-8196, or e-mail Christina Setlow, Legislative Counsel, at csetlow@dccouncil.us and provide their name, address, telephone number, and organizational affiliation, if any, by the close of business Wednesday, September 25, 2013.  Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony.  If submitted by the close of business on September 25, 2013, the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing.  Witnesses should limit their testimony to five minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses.

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record.  Copies of written statements should be submitted to the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 410 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004.  The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 11, 2013.

LivingSocial Asked to End “Drink and Shoot” Promotions

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In a recent letter to LivingSocial CEO and FounderTim O’Shaunessy, DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson asked the company to adopt a policy to discontinue marketing deals that promote “drink and shoot” activities, i.e., the opportunity to use a firearm and consume alcohol.

Citing public safety issues, Mendelson wrote, “Marketing gun use with alcohol consumption is corrosive to the notion of responsible gun use and ownership.” A copy of the full letter is attached.

Last year, the Council approved legislation (the Social E-Commerce Job Creation Tax Incentive Act of 2012) which provides $32.5 million in corporate and property tax abatements for the company that will go into effect beginning in 2015.

Council Passes FY14 Budget Proposal

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Today, DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announced that the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Request Act of 2013 and the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Support Act of 2013, the bills that comprise the Council’s FY 2014 budget proposal, have passed the first reading unanimously.

“This budget proposal makes important investments in many of the most pressing needs of the District:  affordable housing, seniors, tax relief, homeless services, truancy prevention, transportation, and the arts,” said Chairman Mendelson. “These initiatives will help to sustain and expand the city’s growing economy. Without the strong foundation of the Mayor’s proposed budget and financial plan, and the cooperation and support of both the Mayor and the Chief Financial Officer, the Council would have been unable to make the changes listed below.”

The Council’s FY 2014 budget proposal funds important existing services and programs, as well as new initiatives to strengthen economic and community development in the District. Specifically, it:

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  •  Provides low-income residents with property tax or rent credit against household

income taxes by funding the =&2=&.  In FY 2014, the DC Homeowner and Rental Property Tax Credit (“Schedule H”) will raise income eligibility for the program to $40,000 per year (increasing to $50,000 in FY 2016 and adjusted to the consumer price index in subsequent years).  In addition, individual taxpayers will be able to claim the credit, and the maximum tax credit amount increases to $1,000.

  • Funds the Age-in-Place and Equitable Senior Citizen Real Property Act to provide additional real property tax relief to seniors so they can afford to keep their homes.
  • Approved eliminating taxes on interest earned from out-of-state municipal bonds.
  • Funds the Senior Housing Modernization Grant Fund Amendment Act and increases the maximum grant amount to $20,000 to assist seniors who wish to “age-in-place.”
  • Modifies the way the District’s motor fuel tax is structured in order to stabilize this source of revenue. The Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Amendment Act will eliminate the 23.5 cent per gallon tax for gas and diesel fuel by instituting an 8.3% tax on the wholesale price of gas and diesel fuel and limiting the volatility of the revenue stream by indexing the tax to an average price.  The proposal is revenue neutral because both the current and the proposed tax structures will generate $21.8 million in FY 2014.

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  •  Identifies $3.6 million in FY 2014 for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Time Limit Amendment Act (TANF)—making the District the 49th jurisdiction to provide TANF extensions and hardships exemptions for particularly vulnerable TANF recipients.
  • Increases funding for the Homeless Services Continuum, including $972,000 for chronically homeless seniors and homeless LBGTQ youth, and an increase of $800,000 for emergency rental assistance for low-income families.
  • Provides $500,000 to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) assistance for non-disabled, non-senior single adults; and $400,000 for a rapid rehousing pilot program for single adults.
  • Adds $2 million to the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program (also known as Housing First) for new PSH units for families and individuals.
  • Increases access to healthy and affordable food across the District by dedicating additional funds to support farmers programs and food bank school programs within the Department.

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  • Allocates $185,000 to fund electronic voting machines and poll books.
  • Creates a new position at the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability, to support government transparency programs.

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Increases of $2 million of new tenant-based =&12=& vouchers to the =&13=& to help low-income District residents afford clean, safe, and stable permanent housing.
Funds the =&14=& defines the employer-employee relationship for the construction industry in the District, and details the conditions under which a construction industry worker must be classified as an employee (as opposed to an independent contractor). The bill also establishes regulations barring construction-industry employers from improperly classifying employees as independent contractors.
Enhances DOES’ authority, through the =&15=&

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