Tommy's Blog
February 21, 2012
Agency Performance Oversight Hearing D.C. Public Library
On Wednesday, February 15, Councilmember Wells held an Agency Performance Oversight Hearing on the D.C. Public Library for Fiscal Years 2011-2012. Below are copies of the public and agency testimony, as well as related documents from the hearing (click the title to download each file):
Agency Testimony
- Ginnie Cooper, Chief Librarian
- John W. Hill, President, Board of Library
Public Testimony
- Nettie Briscoe, Patron, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
- Edith Chase. Patron, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
- Shawn M. Callaway, Patron, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
- Dr. Aziza Baccouche. Patron, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
- Zaid AI-Timimi, Adaptive Services Program Participant, and DCPL Patron
- Neal Gregory, President Friends of the Southeast Public Library
- Susan B. Haight, President West End Library Friends
- Vince Morris, President, Friends of the Northeast Public
- Dionne Y. Brown, ANC 8D07, President, Friends of the Bellevue Library
- Alice Levine, Friends of Tenley/Friendship Library
- Pleasant Mann, Recording Secretary, Friends of the Watha T. Daniel Branch Library
- Robin Diener, Director, DC Library Renaissance Project
Archived webcast: click here to view
February 14, 2012
Hearing: Office of Planning's Agency Performance Oversight FY 2011-2012
On Thurday, February 9, Councilmember Wells, held and Agency Performance Oversight Hearing on the Office of Planning for Fiscal Years 2011-2012. Below are copies of the public and agency testimony, as well as related documents from the hearing (click the title to download each file):
Agency Testimony
- Harriet Tregoning, Director Office of Planning
Agency Responses
- Office of Planning's response to advance questions Part 1
- Office of Planning response to advance questions Part 2
Public Testimony
- Marie Drissell, Sheridan Kalorama Neighborhood Council
- David Bender, Chair ANC2D
- Lauretta Newman, Committee of 100 Historic Preservation
- Alama Gate, Committtee 100 Zoning_Subcpmmittee
- Sue Memberger, Committee of 100 Historic Presevation Subcommittee
- Steve Dryden, Peirce Mill
- Lauraa Apelbaum, Executive Director, Historical Socaiety of Greater Washington
- David Alpert, Greater Greater Washington
- Sara Green, ANC4B01
- Dionne Y. Brown, ANC 8D07, Econimic Developnet Committee
- Cheryl Cort, Policy Director Policy Smarter Growth_Cort
- Ken Archer
- Joyce A. Cowan
Archived webcast: click here to view
February 13, 2012
New Parking Meter Rules
by Jonathon KassOn March 1, 2012, the Department of Transportation plans to make a change to its policies for vehicles parked displaying a disability placard. Currently, vehicles are not required to pay to park at meters if a disability placard is shown. DDOT is in the process of dedicating reserved curb-side parking spaces - identified with distinctive red top meters - for handicap parking. However, while the parking space will be reserved for their exclusive use, people with disabilities will be required to pay to park at all DC parking meters. These meters will allow parking for twice the amount of time otherwise allowed. Vehicles with disability placards or plates may continue to park at any parking meter, but only red top meters will allow double the posted time. DDOT is first installing red top meters in the central business area and will continue to be installed throughout the city. DDOT states that this program is being implemented to eliminate fraud and abuse by people misusing these tags. For more information please contact Monica Hernandez at the Department of Transportation at 202-671-2261 or monica.hernandez@dc.gov.
The Council will be conducting an oversight hearing of the Department of Transportation on March 2 at 11am in the Council Chamber. This new policy will certainly be a topic of conversation and if you are interested in testifying in person, or submitting written testimony, you can contact Jeremy Faust to sign-up: jfaust@dccouncil.us.
February 7, 2012
Roundtable on Street Car Land Use Study
On Wednesday, February 1, Councilmember Wells, together with Chairman Kwame R. Brown and Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, held a roundtable discussion on the Streetcar Land Use Study.
Below are copies of the public and agency testimony, as well as related documents from the hearing (click the title to download each file):
Agency Testimony
- Harriet Tregoning, Director Office of Planning
- Street Car Land Use Study (Phase I)
Public Testimony
Submitted Statements
Archived webcast: click here to view
Wells Introduces the "Child Support Enforcement Corrections Amendment Act of 2012"
Today, I am introducing the "Child Support Enforcement Corrections Amendment Act of 2012."Working with pro bono lawyers working on family law issues, several situations have been identified where our child support and custody law creates an unreasonable burden, often without the awareness of one of the parents involved in the order.
The changes are fairly technical in nature, but would make a significant difference for these individuals.
In one example, a parent sentenced to jail time will typically qualify for modification of their support orders due to the obvious change in their income that will result from incarceration. However, if they are in the situation of soon serving time behind bars, they frequently have other priorities than working with counsel to file a motion related to their custody order and do not do so. The result is that significant arrears accumulate which create an additional burden to readjusting to civilian life on the return.
The proposed legislation would provide a basis for waiving these arrears accumulated during the time of incarceration.
In another example, child support orders do not terminate automatically when the child reaches the age of 21 years. Instead, a motion to amend must be filed. In situations where the young adult is moving to independence, or if a parent is not aware of this requirement, the motion may not be filed and the payments and arrears continue to be required. The result is that parent has either made payments that should not have been required, or they have accrued arrears from which there is little to no relief.
The proposed legislation would require that support orders terminate on the child's 21st birthday, but maintain the ability of the child's representative to file a motion where grounds exist to extend an order past the age of 21.
I look forward to working on this reform with my colleagues and welcome community feedback.
Click here for a link to the proposed legislation: Wells, Child Support Enforcement.pdf
February 1, 2012
Office of Planning Streetcar Study Presentation
Curious to read through the Office of Planning's presentation on the Streetcar Land Use Study for today's hearing?You can download the pdf presentation by clicking here (please note, it is 40 pages and 9MB and may take a moment based on your connection speed): Streetcar Land Use Study Presentation.pdf