District Of Columbia 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill PR25-0753 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 05/03/2024

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      Councilmember Trayon White Sr.  4 
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A RESOLUTION 7 
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 9 
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To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the Business 12 
Improvement Districts Act of 1996 to permit the Mayor to approve a petition by the 13 
Anacostia BID to expand its geographic area to include exempt real property owners.  14 
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 16 
act may be cited as the “Anacostia Business Improvement District Emergency Declaration 17 
Resolution of 2024”. 18 
Sec. 2. (a) The Anacostia BID was established in 2012 as a resource to support a 19 
thriving, clean and safe commercial district in the great Ward 8.   20 
 (b) Since its establishment, the BID has done a remarkable job to lead, enhance, 21 
inspire and engage in smart growth and equitable development efforts that 22 
revitalize and create an inclusive, thriving, sustainable, innovative and vibrant heart of the Ward 23 
8 community.  24 
 (c) As the BID’s vision statement reads, the BID works in a collaborative as 25 
opposed to competitive environment.  26 
(d) As such, the BID currently counts as members two tax-exempt properties: 27 
The 11th Street Bridge Park and the Barry Farms development.   28  (e) These tax-exempt properties are critical, government-supported projects, 29 
which would benefit from receiving the BID’s services. 30 
(f) However, the Business Improvement Districts Act of 1996 (Act) does not 31 
permit the BID to expand its geographic area to include tax-exempt properties.  32 
(g) Therefore, these properties cannot receive the direct benefit of the BID’s 33 
services, including the installation of planter boxes, removal of weeds and high grass, 34 
destination marketing, cleanliness services, incorporation into the Arts and Culture District, and 35 
more.  36 
(h) It is necessary to amend the Act to permit the BID to petition the Mayor to 37 
include these properties in its geographic area so that the properties can receive services from 38 
the BID.  39 
Sec. 3. The Council determines that the circumstances enumerated in Section 2 40 
constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Anacostia Business 41 
Improvement District Emergency Amendment Act of 2024 be adopted after a single reading.   42 
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.   43