District Of Columbia 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill PR25-0471 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	ENROLLED ORIGINAL
	1	+
	2	+	MURIEL BOWSER
	3	+	MAYOR
	4	+
	5	+	October 3, 2023
	6	+
	7	+	The Honorable Phil Mendelson
	8	+	Chairman
	9	+	Council of the District of Columbia
	10	+	John A. Wilson Building
	11	+	1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
	12	+	Washington, DC 20004
	13	+
	14	+	Dear Chairman Mendelson:
	15	+	In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law
	16	+	§ 2-142; D.C. Official Code § 1- 523.01), and pursuant to section 105 of the Department of
	17	+	Buildings Establishment Act of 2020, effective April 5, 2021, (D.C. Law 23- 269; D.C. Official
	18	+	Code § 10- 561.05) , I am pleased to nominate the following person:
	19	+	Mr. Keith Parsons
	20	+	Lanier Place NW
	21	+	Washington, DC. 20009
	22	+	(Ward 1 )
	23	+	for appointment as the Strategic Enforcement Administrator in the Department of Buildings, to
	24	+	serve a five-year term.
	25	+	Enclosed you will find biographical information detailing the experience of Mr. Parsons and
	26	+	a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
	27	+
	28	+
	29	+	I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation.
	30	+	Please do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent
	31	+	and Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
	32	+
	33	+	Sincerely,
	34	+
	35	+
	36	+	Muriel Bowser
	37	+	Mayor 1
	38	+	2
	39	+	3
	40	+	4
	41	+	5
	42	+	6
	43	+	7
	44	+	8
	45	+	9
	46	+	10
	47	+	11
	48	+	12
	49	+	13
	50	+	14
	51	+	15
	52	+	~~
	53	+	at the request of the Mayor
	54	+	A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
	55	+	IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT
	56	+	OF COLUMBIA
	57	+	16 To confirm the appointment of Mr. Keith Parsons as the Strategic Enforcement Administrator in
	58	+	17 the Department of Buildings.
	59	+	18
	60	+	19 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
	61	+	20 resolution may be cited as the "Department of Buildings Strategic Enforcement Administrator
	62	+	21 Keith Parsons Confirmation Resolution of 2023".
	63	+	22
	64	+	23 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
	65	+	24
	66	+	25
	67	+	26
	68	+	27
	69	+	28
	70	+	29
	71	+	Mr. Keith Parsons
	72	+	Lanier Place NW
	73	+	Washington, DC. 20009
	74	+	(Ward
	75	+	1)
	76	+	30 as the Strategic Enforcement Administrator in the Department of Buildings, pursuant to section
	77	+	31 105 of the Department of Buildings Establishment Act of 2020, effective April 5, 2021 (D.C.
	78	+	32 Law 23-269, D.C. Official Code§ 10-561.05), for a five-year term.
	79	+	33 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
	80	+	34 upon its adoption,
	81	+	to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
	82	+	35 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately. KEITH DAVID PARSONS – Page 1 of 4
	83	+
	84	+	KEITH DAVID PARSONS 1705 Lanier Pl., NW, Unit 108 ▪ Washington, D.C. 20009 ▪ 202-207-8626 ▪
	85	+	parsons.keith@gmail.com
	86	+
	87	+	PROFILE
	88	+
	89	+	Experienced District of Columbia administrator, administrative law attorney and civil litigator. Deep background in impact litigation in
	90	+	state and federal courts and District of Columbia affairs. Passionate about the power of government to improve lives.
	91	+
	92	+	PRACTICE AND EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE
	93	+
	94	+	District of Columbia Department of Buildings (DOB), Washington, D.C.
	95	+	Acting Strategic Enforcement Administrator, Office of Strategic Code Enforcement, October 1, 2022 – Present
	96	+
	97	+	■Serve as Acting Strategic Enforcement Administrator under the Department of Buildings Establishment Act of 2020 (the
	98	+	Act), including facilitating transition and establishment of DOB out of prior agency
	99	+	■Develop Strategic Enforcement Plan pursuant to the Act for submission to D.C. Council, including outreach and education
	100	+	event to determine community sentiment
	101	+	■Make executive-level Building Code and zoning enforcement decisions, with the guidance of the Director, the Chief
	102	+	Building Official, and Zoning Administrator
	103	+	■ Senior manager of Office of Strategic Code Enforcement (OSCE) consisting of Civil Infractions (CI), and Alternative
	104	+	Resolution Team (ART); Senior manager of Office of Residential Inspections (ORI)
	105	+	■ Interface with District stakeholders, including the Executive Office of the Mayor, industry representatives, Advisory
	106	+	Neighborhood Commissioners, Council, and other agencies in communicating and advancing DOB and District goals
	107	+	■ Work with ORI to support housing, vacant building, and illegal construction inspections with enhanced Building Code and
	108	+	licensing enforcement actions, including referrals to the District Office of the Attorney General (OAG) or Office of the
	109	+	Inspector General (OIG)
	110	+	■ Design, manage, and report key performance indicators and other metrics related to OSCE and ORI to key stakeholders in a
	111	+	data-driven environment
	112	+	■ Conceptualize, design, and implement strategic code enforcement initiatives relating to all areas of agency operations
	113	+	■ Oversee CI work promulgating, processing, collecting funds, and placing liens related to more than 2300 Notices of
	114	+	Infraction (NOIs) in Q1 FY23
	115	+	■ Oversee Alternative Resolution Team negotiating settlements and other resolutions of hundreds of NOIs
	116	+
	117	+	District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), Washington, D.C.
	118	+	Regulatory Enforcement Administrator, Enforcement Administration, August 2021 – September 30, 2022
	119	+
	120	+	■ Make executive-level Building Code and licensing enforcement decisions, with the guidance of the Director, the Chief
	121	+	Building Official, Zoning Administrator, and Business and Professional Licensing Administrator
	122	+	■ Senior manager of Enforcement Administration consisting of Office of Civil Infractions (OCI), Consumer Protection Unit
	123	+	(CPU), and Alternative Resolution Team (ART)
	124	+	■ Interface with District stakeholders, including the Executive Office of the Mayor, industry representatives, Advisory
	125	+	Neighborhood Commissioners, Council, and other agencies in communicating and advancing DCRA and District goals
	126	+	■ Work in close collaboration with DCRA Inspections and Compliance Administration to support housing, vacant building,
	127	+	and illegal construction inspections with enhanced Building Code and licensing enforcement actions, including referrals to the
	128	+	District Office of the Attorney General (OAG) or Office of the Inspector General (OIG)
	129	+	■ Design, manage, and report key performance indicators and other metrics related to the Enforcement Administration to key
	130	+	stakeholders in a data-driven environment
	131	+	■ Conceptualize, design, and implement strategic enforcement initiatives relating to all areas of agency operations
	132	+	■ Oversee implementation of programs supporting new District laws, including short-term rental enforcement, and
	133	+	enforcement of ban on gas-powered leaf blowers
	134	+	■ Oversee OCI work promulgating, processing, collecting funds, and placing liens related to more than 8000 Notices of
	135	+	Infraction (NOIs), including nearly doubling agency NOI output between FY21 and FY22
	136	+	■ Oversee Consumer Protection Unit performing hundreds of consumer protection and other investigations, resulting in
	137	+	mediated settlements and/or issuance of NOIs
	138	+	■ Oversee Alternative Resolution Team negotiating settlements and other resolutions of hundreds of NOIs
	139	+
	140	+	Attorney Advisor, Office of General Counsel, March 2020 – August 2021
	141	+
	142	+	■ Represent agency in more than 400 cases per year before the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) prosecuting NOIs
	143	+	and defending agency decisions
	144	+	■ Project management experience working across agency in agile environment
	145	+	■ Work with OCI, CPU, ART, and other DCRA investigators and divisions to promote agency goals and enforce mandates
	146	+	■ Advise senior staff and other internal stakeholders on legal issues and development of agency policies and procedures KEITH DAVID PARSONS – Page 2 of 4
	147	+
	148	+	■ Represent agency in personnel actions and support trial counsel in state and federal courts
	149	+
	150	+	District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF), Washington, D.C.
	151	+	Attorney Advisor, Office of General Counsel, September 2015 – March 2020
	152	+
	153	+	■ Advise senior leadership in Medicaid agency with three-billion-dollar budget
	154	+	■ Review and approve MOUs MOAs, and other agency contracts
	155	+	■ Conduct internal investigations for other District agencies, review HR matters, handle EEOC complaints and actions before
	156	+	the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights
	157	+	■ Serve as hearing officer to review other agency disciplinary decisions for conformity with the District of Columbia Personnel
	158	+	Manual and relevant collective bargaining agreements
	159	+	■ Chief attorney assigned to Division of Program Integrity for policy development, and investigating and prosecuting fraud,
	160	+	waste, and abuse in Medicaid providers to protect the interests of vulnerable beneficiaries
	161	+	■ Fall 2018 faculty presenter for Department of Justice Medicaid Integrity Institute
	162	+	■ Track and coordinate more than 2000 DHCF OAH appeals yearly
	163	+	■ Represent agency in more than 400 OAH cases annually, with active docket of around 150 cases
	164	+	■ Successfully litigate, alone or by supervising trial teams, in beneficiary and provider appeals at OAH
	165	+	■ Work with numerous District of Columbia executive agencies serving low-income individuals, including Department of
	166	+	Health, Department on Disability Services, Office on Aging, OIG, and OAG, to achieve inter-agency goals
	167	+	■ Work in collaborative environment within DHCF to accomplish long-term projects affecting office operations
	168	+	■ Coordinate with OAG and U.S. Attorney’s Office on state and federal, trial and appellate, civil and criminal litigation
	169	+	affecting agency interests
	170	+
	171	+	District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General, Washington, D.C.
	172	+	Assistant Attorney General, November 2011 – September 2015
	173	+
	174	+	■ Conduct all aspects of litigation in complex, high profile lawsuits against District agencies with significant press coverage
	175	+	and exposure, including cases dealing with constitutional rights, federal and state statutory remedies, and equitable relief
	176	+	■ Lead counsel in federal class and collective action litigation, including trials
	177	+	■ Part of section specializing in fast-paced litigation seeking injunctive relief in federal courts
	178	+	■ Advise client agencies about effect of litigation on District policy and suggest policy changes
	179	+	■ Acting Section Chief in Equity Section
	180	+	■ Successful independently, or by supervising litigation teams including junior attorneys, paralegals, staff, and interns
	181	+	■ Exemplary Service Award, May 20, 2014
	182	+
	183	+	Representative Cases:
	184	+
	185	+	Barnes, et al., v. District of Columbia. Represented the D.C. Department of Corrections in massive class-action lawsuit by inmates
	186	+	alleging they had been held in jail past when they should have been released. Conducted full discovery, including expert
	187	+	depositions, extensive motions practice, won jury trial on liability for part of class period, and negotiated settlement concerning the
	188	+	remainder of the case.
	189	+
	190	+	ABA, et al., v. District of Columbia, et al. Represented DHCF in suit brought by Medicaid providers to prevent suspension of
	191	+	payments based on credible allegations of fraud. Argued temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction hearings in front of
	192	+	adversarial judge, but convinced her to reverse her initial rulings, denying the preliminary injunction, and dismissing the case sua
	193	+	sponte.
	194	+
	195	+	Zukerberg v. Board of Elections and Ethics, et al. Represented the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics (BOEE) and the D.C.
	196	+	Council in suit by candidate brought to prevent delay of attorney general election. Successfully argued against two preliminary
	197	+	injunction motions and won a motion to dismiss. Later, after case was reversed on appeal, worked extensively with BOEE and other
	198	+	policymakers to implement attorney general election in a timely fashion under the law.
	199	+
	200	+	Smith, et al., v. Henderson, et al. Represented the D.C. Public Schools and Chancellor Henderson in suit brought by guardians of
	201	+	school children to prevent closure and consolidation of public schools. Successfully argued against preliminary injunction,
	202	+	conducted extensive discovery, took and defended depositions, including experts and District officials, and won case on summary
	203	+	judgment.
	204	+
	205	+	Cunningham & Associates, PLC, Washington, D.C. (defunct)
	206	+	Associate, July 2008 – November 2011
	207	+
	208	+	■ Wide-ranging general practice, including advising clients on corporate entities and contracts
	209	+	■ Affirmative and defensive litigation in Virginia state and federal cases
	210	+	■ Practice areas: labor and employment law, complex commercial litigation, professional defense, insurance coverage and
	211	+	defense, partnership and shareholder disputes, construction law and mechanics' liens, condominium law, corporate conflicts
	212	+	and formation, aviation liability defense KEITH DAVID PARSONS – Page 3 of 4
	213	+
	214	+	■ Lead attorney for more than twelve trials in Virginia General District Court and Circuit Court
	215	+	■ Design and implement internship program, coordinate and supervise interns
	216	+
	217	+	Representative Cases:
	218	+
	219	+	Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Ins. Co. v. Westerman Hattori Daniels and Adrian, LLP. Represented insurer in coverage arbitration
	220	+	involving complex facts surrounding the domestication of international and Japanese patents that resulted in upholding denial of
	221	+	coverage on $8,000,000.00 in potential liability.
	222	+
	223	+	Reese Merrifalls, LLC v. Park’s Restaurant Enterprise, Inc., et al. Obtained defense jury verdict representing guarantor in action
	224	+	by landlord on continuing and unconditional guaranty for $460,000.00 in liquidated damages and attorneys’ fees in Fairfax County
	225	+	Circuit Court.
	226	+
	227	+	Dorine Anderson v. Automix, Incorporated, et al. Obtained $130,000.00 plaintiff’s verdict, including $50,000.00 in punitive
	228	+	damages, representing purchaser against car dealership after default judgment for fraud and violations of the consumer protection
	229	+	act. Default was unsuccessfully appealed by defendants through a writ of mandamus to the Virginia Supreme Court.
	230	+
	231	+	David Chika v. Gerald Kazembe, et al. Obtained $60,000.00 plaintiff’s verdict and an additional $26,000.00 worth of declaratory
	232	+	relief representing small business owner against former business partner for breach of contract in Arlington County Circuit Court.
	233	+
	234	+	McKinney & Associates, PLC, 1625 Prince Street, Suite 230, Alexandria, Virginia 22314
	235	+	Associate, April 2011 – November 2011
	236	+
	237	+	■ Draft EEOC complaints and administrative remedies
	238	+	■ Draft discovery, pleadings, and correspondence to opposing counsel
	239	+	■ Perform new client intake and case analysis
	240	+	■ 2nd Chair for sexual harassment and hostile work environment claim against government agency
	241	+
	242	+	ADDITIONAL LEGAL EXPERIENCE
	243	+
	244	+	Bode and Grenier, LLP, Washington, D.C. (defunct)
	245	+	Paralegal, October 2007 – May 2008
	246	+
	247	+	■ Provided support for high volume medical malpractice and personal injury attorneys’ office
	248	+	■ Procure, review, and index medical records, including compliance with HIPAA
	249	+
	250	+	Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, Washington, D.C.
	251	+	Law Clerk/Editor, May 2006 – October 2007
	252	+
	253	+	■ Assist legal team serving the Bureau of National Affairs: Tax Management Series with particular focus on issues dealing with
	254	+	generally accepted accounting principles and ethics
	255	+	■ Conduct research into insurance regulation for American Association of Life Underwriters
	256	+
	257	+	Continuing Legal Education, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C.
	258	+	Journal Assistant, Annual Review of Criminal Procedure, September 2005 – May 2006
	259	+
	260	+	■ Manage correspondence and input orders for annual legal journal on criminal procedure
	261	+	■ Assist with continuing legal education functions, lectures, and professional events
	262	+
	263	+	The Honorable Joyce S. Kean, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
	264	+	Law Clerk, June 2005 – July 2005
	265	+
	266	+	■ Write motions briefs and recommendations for Judge Kean, draft judicial opinions
	267	+	■ Assist full-time clerk with special research projects on legal issues
	268	+	■ Attend all sessions of the court for observation and learning purposes
	269	+
	270	+	EDUCATION
	271	+
	272	+	Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C.
	273	+	Juris Doctor, May 2007
	274	+	■ 3.37 Cumulative GPA
	275	+	■ Georgetown Law Weekly: Section Editor 2005 – 2006, Editor Emeritus 2006 – 2007
	276	+	■ Member of Georgetown Small Firm Advisory Council, 2010 – 2011
	277	+
	278	+	Rutgers School of Law – Camden, New Jersey KEITH DAVID PARSONS – Page 4 of 4
	279	+
	280	+	First year Juris Doctor studies, September 2004 – May 2005
	281	+	■ 3.8 Cumulative GPA
	282	+	■ Vice President, Environmental Law Students Association
	283	+	■ Domestic Violence Project: Project Participant – Spring 2005
	284	+	■ Journal of Law and Urban Policy (invitation extended)
	285	+	■ Dean’s List, 1L High Honors: Fall 2004, Spring 2005
	286	+
	287	+	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
	288	+	Bachelor of Arts in English, May 2004
	289	+	■ 3.3 Cumulative GPA
	290	+
	291	+	BAR ADMISSIONS
	292	+
	293	+	United States Supreme Court: 2014
	294	+	Washington D.C.: 2012
	295	+	U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia: 2012
	296	+	U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia: 2011
	297	+	U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia: 2010
	298	+	Commonwealth of Virginia: 2008 (associate status)
	299	+
	300	+	BOARDS AND VOLUNTEER WORK
	301	+
	302	+	1705 Lanier Place, NW, Inc.: Member of the Board of Directors for a thirty-unit cooperative association from 2015 to present,
	303	+	President of the Board 2016 – 2021.
	304	+	Liberty and Access for All: Co-founder and 2015 – 2018 Chair of the Board of Directors of non-partisan non-profit promoting civic
	305	+	access to traditionally underrepresented communities and communities of color (currently inactive).
	306	+	DC Poetry Collective: Board member and participating poet. Group dedicated to promoting local poetry through workshops and
	307	+	publication of the iNK BLOTS franchise of poetry anthologies.
	308	+
	309	+	OTHER
	310	+
	311	+	Boy Scouts of America: Eagle Scout.
	312	+	Executive Office of the Mayor - Office of Talent and Appointments
	313	+	John A. Wilson Building \| 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 \| Washington, DC 20004
2	314
3	315
4	316
	317	+	KEITH PARSONS
5	318
6		-	1
	319	+	Keith David Parsons is an experienced District of Columbia
	320	+	administrator, administrative law attorney and civil litigator. He has a
	321	+	deep background in impact litigation in state and federal courts and is
	322	+	passionate about the power of government to improve lives.
7	323
8		-	A RESOLUTION
	324	+	Mr. Parsons joined the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in 2011,
	325	+	where he was part of a unit devoted to defending District agencies in
	326	+	high-profile, high-speed litigation centered on equitable relief in federal
	327	+	court. He tried and won multiple cases important to local affairs, including defending the District’s
	328	+	Medicaid agency, the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF), from a suit by providers who
	329	+	were accused of defrauding the taxpayers out of millions of dollars that would otherwise have gone
	330	+	to crucial safety-net benefits for the District’s most needy residents. Work on that case led him to
	331	+	continue his service in 2015 with the Office of General Counsel at DHCF. There he furthered his
	332	+	work on fraud and compliance issues and developed a robust knowledge of administrative law
	333	+	through a high- volume practice in front of the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), while
	334	+	deepening his experience with District government.
9	335
10		-	25-315
	336	+	In 2020, Mr. Parsons joined the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) Office
	337	+	of General Counsel, working on the agency’s many mandates through a continued robust OAH
	338	+	practice and dove into agency operations as a project manager. He was then tapped to head the
	339	+	Department of Buildings’ Enforcement Administration as Regulatory Enforcement Administrator.
	340	+	In this role he is responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of both routine
	341	+	and special strategic enforcement initiatives, including supervising the Office of Civil Infractions,
	342	+	Consumer Protection Unit, and Alternative Resolution team. He was responsible for developing
	343	+	and implementing enforcement for the District’s recent ban on gas-powered leaf blowers as well
	344	+	as enforcement around short -term rental licensing.
11	345
12		-	IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
13		-
14		-	November 7, 2023
	346	+	A Ward 1 resident, Mr. Parsons earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Virginia Polytechnic
	347	+	Institute and State University and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University School of Law.
15	348
16	349
17		-	To confirm the appointment of Mr. Keith Parsons as the Strategic Enforcement Administrator in
18		-	the Department of Buildings.
19	350
20		-	RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
21		-	resolution may be cited as the “Department of Buildings Strategic Enforcement Administrator
22		-	Keith Parsons Confirmation Resolution of 2023”.
	351	+	GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
	352	+	Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
23	353
24		-	~~Sec. 2. The Council~~ of the ~~District of Columbia confirms~~ the ~~appointment of:~~
	354	+	Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
25	355
26		-	Mr. Keith Parsons
27		-	Lanier Place, NW
28		-	Washington, DC 20009
29		-	(Ward 1)
30	356
31		-	as the Strategic Enforcement Administrator in the Department of Buildings, pursuant to section
32		-	105 of the Department of Buildings Establishment Act of 2020, effective April 5, 2021 (D.C.
33		-	Law 23-269; D.C. Official Code § 10-561.05), for a 5-year term.
	357	+	______________________________________________________________________________
	358	+	The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724 -7681
34	359
35		-	Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
36		-	upon adoption, to the nominee and the Office of the Mayor.
	360	+	To: Tommy Wells, Steve Walker
	361	+	From: Betsy Cavendish
	362	+	Date: October 3, 2023
	363	+	Subject: Legal sufficiency review of Resolution nominating Keith Parsons as the Strategic
	364	+	Enforcement Administrator, Department of Buildings
	365	+	This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above- referenced resolution and
	366	+	found it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
	367	+	hesitate to call Eri ka Satterlee, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202-
	368	+	724-1303, or me at 202- 724-7681.
37	369
38		-	Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
	370	+
	371	+	______________________________ Elizabeth A. (Betsy) Cavendish
	372	+