It's time to take action: performance oversight hearings start February 6
The annual agency performance oversight process managed by DC Council committees start Monday, February 4. Public hearings start Wednesday, February 6 and end Friday, March 1. The focus of these hearings is on the performance of DC government and quasi-government agencies in FY 2018 (October 1, 2017 – September 30, 2018) and so far in FY 2019, which started October 1, 2018. Witnesses may also talk about policy or practice changes that need to continue or change through the end of this fiscal year.
The public is encouraged to testify at the hearings or submit written statements for the record. Note that the performance oversight hearing schedule sometimes changes so be sure to verify the hearing date before you head to the John A. Wilson Building to watch or testify at a hearing.
Hearings of particular interest to APACC
Monday, February 4, 1:30 pm: Committee of the Whole Public Briefing on the Fiscal Year 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
Staff in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, led by CFO Jeff DeWitt, and Mayor Bowser and her key aids present the Council of the District of Columbia the FY 2018 audit. The audit, known as Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and colloquially as the CAFR, is presented every year by February 1. The CAFR will be published on the OCFO's website.
The public may attend the briefing—which will be held in the Chamber (John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 5th floor)—but only the government will testify. The briefing will also be streamed from Room 500.
Thursday, February 7, 11:00 am: Office of the City Administrator
Resilient DC was established by Mayor Bowser "to build DC’s resilience to both catastrophic shocks and chronic stresses in order to ensure that DC thrives in the face of change."
The public may testify at this Committee on Government Operations (Chair: CM Brandon Todd, Ward 4) hearing. Sign up: (202) 724-6668, governmentoperations@dccouncil.us.
Watch the OCA hearing (Room 500).
Monday, February 11, 10:00 am: Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity
This DM has been replaced by the Office of East of the River Coordination. According to mayor's press release, the office "will be led by an executive director who will report to the City Administrator. The office will be responsible for elevating the work and progress begun by the Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity."
The public may testify at this Committee on Recreation and Youth Affairs (Chair: CM Trayon White, Ward 8) hearing. Sign up: (202) 727-7903, nfleming@dccouncil.us.
Watch the DMGEO hearing (Room 500).
Tuesday, February 12, 10:00 am: Department of Parks and Recreation
The Department of Parks and Recreation is coordinating for DC government the federal government transfer of Kenilworth Park North to DC.
The public may testify at this Committee on Recreation and Youth Affairs (Chair: CM Trayon White, Ward 8) hearing. Sign up: (202) 727-7903, nfleming@dccouncil.us.
Watch the DPR hearing (Room 123).
Thursday, February 14, 11:00 am: Commission on Climate Change and Resiliency and Department of Energy and the Environment
The Commission on Climate Change and Resiliency was created to:
(1) Assess the potential effects of climate change on the District;
(2) Assess the District's ability to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change;
(3) Assess the District's ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from severe, adverse weather events;
(4) Identify vulnerabilities related to climate change effects and preparedness and prepare recommendations to the Council and the Mayor to mitigate those vulnerabilities; and
(5) Provide comments and recommendations to all District agencies on climate change adaptation and vulnerability mitigation plans. (§ 8–181.02. Commission on Climate Change and Resiliency)
A great deal of the Department of Energy and the Environment's work is of interest to APACC. This includes the cleanup of the Anacostia River, climate change, the flooding of Watts Branch, its role in Kenilworth Park and especially Kenilworth Park North, the Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge, and the CRIAC Nonprofit Relief Program.
APACC is particularly interested in the Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge (CRIAC) and its role in cleaning the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. CRIAC fees have increased substantially over the past 10 years to pay for court-ordered improvements to reduce regular contamination of the rivers and their tributaries. DC Water has embarked on a large-scale combined sewer system infrastructure expansion to reduce combined sewer overflows from contributing to the pollution in DC’s waterways. The work is expensive and nonprofit organizations are feeling the pinch.
The work being undertaken by DC Water is expensive but critical; it’s protecting DC residents from sewage overflows. APACC has supported community voices raising equity concerns about the CRIAC and agrees that maintaining this critical funding source requires addressing equity issues. The result of these equity concerns is the CRIAC Nonprofit Relief Program. DOEE manages the relief program.
The public may testify at this Committee on Transportation and the Environment (Chair: CM Mary Cheh, Ward 3) hearing. Sign up: (202) 724-8062, abenjamin@dccouncil.us.
Tuesday, February 26, 11:00 am: Department of Housing and Community Development and Housing Production Trust Fund
Only public witnesses will testify at this Committee on Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization (Chair: CM Anita Bonds, At-large) hearing. Sign up: (202) 724-8198, omontiel@dccouncil.us.
Watch the DHCD and/or HPTF hearing (Room 412).
Tuesday, February 26, 11:00 am: DC Water
APACC is particularly interested in the Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge (CRIAC) and its role in cleaning the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. CRIAC fees have increased substantially over the past 10 years to pay for court-ordered improvements to reduce regular contamination of the rivers and their tributaries. DC Water has embarked on a large-scale combined sewer system infrastructure expansion to reduce combined sewer overflows from contributing to the pollution in DC’s waterways. The work is expensive and nonprofit organizations are feeling the pinch.
The work being undertaken by DC Water is expensive but critical; it’s protecting DC residents from sewage overflows. APACC has supported community voices raising equity concerns about the CRIAC and agrees that maintaining this critical funding source requires addressing equity issues. The result of these equity concerns is the CRIAC Nonprofit Relief Program.
The public may testify at this Committee on Transportation and the Environment (Chair: CM Mary Cheh, Ward 3) hearing. Sign up: (202) 724-8062, abenjamin@dccouncil.us.
Watch the DC Water hearing (Room 120).
Wednesday, February 27, 10:00 am: Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
"The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) assists the Mayor in the coordination, planning, supervision, and execution of economic development efforts in the District of Columbia with the goal of creating and preserving affordable housing, creating jobs, and increasing tax revenue. DMPED pursues policies and programs that create strong neighborhoods, expand and diversify the local economy, and provide residents with pathways to the middle class. (About DMPED)
The public may testify at this Committee on Business & Economic Development (Chair: CM Kenyan McDuffie, Ward 5) hearing. Sign up: (202) 724-8053, cautrey@dccouncil.us.
Watch the DMPED hearing (Room 500).
Thursday, February 28, 10:00 am: Office of Planning
"OP performs planning for neighborhoods, corridors, districts, historic preservation, public facilities, parks and open spaces, and individual sites. In addition, OP engages in urban design, land use, and historic preservation review. OP also conducts historic resources research and community visioning, and manages, analyzes, maps, and disseminates spatial and US Census data." (About the DC Office of Planning)
The Office of Planning is one of the agencies working with DPR on Kenilworth Park North.
The public may testify at this Committee of the Whole (Chair: Council Chair Phil Mendelson, At-large) hearing. Sign up: (202) 724-8196, cow@dccouncil.us.
Watch the OP hearing (Room 500).
Friday, March 1, Noon: Department of Housing and Community Development and Housing Production Trust Fund
Only government witnesses will testify at this Committee on Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization (Chair: CM Anita Bonds, At-large) hearing.