MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
November 19, 2024
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chair
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 506
Washington, D.C. 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
Today, I am transmitting to the Council of the District of Columbia (Council) for its
consideration and enactment the “Streatery Program and Protest Process Emergency Amendment
Act of 2024,” “Streatery Program and Protest Process Temporary Amendment Act of 2024,”
“Streatery Program and Protest Process Amendment Act of 2024,” and the accompanying
emergency declaration resolution. Please find enclosed a copy of the permanent, emergency and
temporary versions of the bill, as well as the accompanying emergency declaration resolution.
During the pandemic, streateries become a vital part of the District’s hospitality industry. In
order to maximize the benefit of this new privilege and to balance the interests of businesses and
residents, the attached amendments will (1) allow a location under the jurisdiction of the
Washington Convention and Sports Authority with commercial street frontage to register for a
streatery; (2) mandate that alcohol businesses obtain a streatery endorsement valid for 3 years
from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board to operate a streatery beginning in 2025; and
(3) require streatery endorsement applications to undergo a 45-day public comment period.
Based on the current utilization of streateries by the District’s hospitality industry and the interest
in applying for new streateries, I am submitting the permanent, emergency, and temporary bills
to the Council for prompt and favorable action.
Sincerely,
Muriel Bowser
Mayor
Enclosure 1
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at the request of the Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA
13 To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to extend the
14 expiration date of the Streatery Program past December 31, 2024, to require that
15 alcohol businesses obtain a streatery endorsement valid for 3 years from the
16 Board to operate a streatery beginning in 2025; to require streatery endorsement
17 applications to undergo a 45-day public comment period, and to allow a location
18 under the jurisdiction of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority with
19 commercial street frontage to register for a streatery.
20
21 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That
22 this resolution may be cited as the "Streatery Program and Protest Process Emergency
23 Declaration Resolution of 2024".
24 Sec.
2. (a) On June 1, 2024, the Streatery Program and Endorsement Deadline
25 Temporary Amendment Act of 2024 took effect (D.C. Law 25-170), which allows
26 licensed establishments that register with the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board
27 ("Board")
to offer beer, wine, or spirits for sale on expanded outdoor space until
28 December 31, 2024 ("Streatery Program").
29 (b) The District Department
of Transportation ("DDOT") is currently
30 developing regulations to support a permanent Streatery Program that will allow food
31 establishments to occupy public space for outdoor dining in the long-term. DDOT's
32 permanent Streatery Program will facilitate outdoor dining in parking lanes, travel lanes,
33 and alleys. 2
(c) It is imperative that a process be put in place to extend the District’s 34
existing streateries that are currently registered with the Board past December 31, 2024. 35
Just as critical, it is necessary that a 45-day public comment period be put in place to 36
allow for Advisory Neighborhood Commissions and other statutorily eligible protest 37
groups to weigh in, including to file a protest, on permanent streatery applications being 38
considered by the Board. 39
(d) It is necessary that existing streateries be permitted to operate past 40
December 31, 2024 while their permanent streatery applications undergo a 45- day public 41
comment period. 42
(e) It is necessary to clarify that locations under the jurisdiction of the 43
Washington Convention and Sports Authority with commercial street frontage are 44
eligible to register a streatery with the Board. 45
Sec. 3. The Council determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 46
constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Streatery Program and 47
Protest Process Emergency Amendment Act of 2024 be adopted after a single reading. 48
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately. 49