Recording in progress.

Good afternoon, everyone.

I am Matt Freuman, Ward Three Council member and chair of the Committee on Human Services.

Today is March twenty fourth, twenty twenty-six.

Today we have a quorum comprised of Councilmember myself, Councilmember Henderson, and Councilmember Robert White joining us via Zoom.

Today's agenda includes two permanent bills and three confirmation resolutions.

The first measure on the agenda is B-26-0490, the Library Ebook Licensing Fairness Amendment Act of 2026.

I, along with Councilmembers Allen, Robert White, Pinto, Nadeau, Felder, Lewis George, Henderson, and Parker introduce this bill on November 17, 2025.

The legislation will prohibit the District of Columbia Public Library or DCPL from entering into or renewing licensing agreements with e-book publishers that contain terms restricting public access to electronic literary materials.

Publishers charge libraries between three to five times more for ebook and audiobook licenses than they do for physical books.

At the same time, they restrict how many times licensed books can be lent out, how long the library is able to loan the material, and with whom the library can disclose purchase terms.

These practices force DCPL to spend more taxpayer dollars year over year to make fewer materials available to residents.

As a result, patrons must wait weeks, sometimes months, for new releases and popular titles.

The library cannot absorb continually rising costs driven by publisher licensing terms.

This bill addresses those unfair practices by prohibiting renewals of licensing agreements that drive up costs and wait times.

Notably, the legislation would only go into effect after at least 10 other jurisdictions with a combined population of at least 50 million people enact similar laws.

This provision ensures that the district is part of a national strategy to ensure access to books while reducing the risk of legal challenges or market isolation.

My ultimate goal with this legislation is to ensure that DCPL can access books on fair terms at the right price, enabling more residents to read the books they love.

With this print, I think we have struck the right balance between protecting access to books and ensuring the library can get them on fair terms.

One significant change was between the uh filed version and the version before you now was amending the pricing provision in the committee print to give the library more flexibility and to ensure the focus of this legislation remained on unfair licensing terms where it belongs.

I would love I would like to thank DCPL Director Richard Reyes Goblon, Joy Max, Kyle Courtney for working with my staff to make this legislation clear, enforceable, and effective for DCPL.

I would like also like to thank all of the advocates from the American Libraries Association, Urban Libraries Council, Association of American Publishers, and Authors Guilds who took time to come to the table on this bill.

I look forward to seeing D.C.

join the growing number of states moving similar bills and to seeing this partnership across state lines increase access to books across the this the country.

Is there a discussion?

Okay.

Hearing none, I move the committee print and report for B260-0490, the Library EBook Licensing Fairness Amendment Act of 2026 with leave for staff to make technical and conforming changes.

All those in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, please indicate by saying no.

In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it, and the motion passes.

The next measure on the agenda is B26-0157, the Langston Slater Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2025.

This bill was introduced by Chairman Mendelson on behalf of Mayor Bowser on February 28, 2025.

It was referred to the Committee on Facilities and the Committee on Business Economic Development on March 4th, 2025.

It was then referred to the Committee on Facilities and Committee on Human Services on March 3rd, 2025.

2026, I'm sorry.

The fact that the dates were so close.

The legislation would declare a surplus and authorize the disposition of the district-owned real property located at 33 to 45 Pea Street Northwest, known for tax purposes as Lot 0826 in Square 0615.

The property located in the Truxton Circle neighborhood is improved with two former elementary schools.

Slater Elementary was built in 1891 to educate black students and was named in honor of John Fox Slater, a philanthropist who supported and contributed financially to the education of formerly enslaved people following the Civil War.

It closed in 1975.

Langston Elementary was built in 1902 to alleviate overcrowding at the neighboring Slater Elementary and was named in honor of John Mercer Langston, a black appolitionist and the first black congressman elected in Virginia, founding dean of Howard University Law School, and the first president of Virginia State University.

It closed in 1997.

Both buildings are currently vacant.

The planned development of this property would adaptively reuse the historic school buildings to deliver 40 mixed-income rental units with 60 percent affordable units.

A new infill building would be constructed between the two existing buildings that would provide 12 mixed-income homeownership family-sized units.

The for sale development will be 58% affordable.

It is the first project awarded through an equity RFP, which is intended to increase access to development opportunities for entities or organizations that are owned or majority controlled by individuals determined to be part of a socially disadvantaged population.

While this legislation has been with this committee for a limited time, I'm pleased to be able to advance it today.

These historic properties have been vacant or underutilized for far too long, falling into serious disrepair.

The community which supports the proposed development has been waiting years for the project to proceed.

The legislation would enable much needed housing, including opportunities for home ownership, and would allow these significant properties to again contribute to the vibrancy of the Truxton Circle neighborhood.

Is there a discussion?

Hearing none, I move the committee print and report for B-26-0157, the Langston Slater Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2026 with leave for staff to make technical and conforming changes.

All those in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, please indicate by saying no.

In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it, and the motion passes.

We will continue with three nominees to the Board of Library Trustees, and I'm going to move them on BANC without objection.

Hearing no objection.

PR26-0488, the Board of Library Trustees, Donella Brockington confirmation resolution of 2026, confirms Danella Brockington to her second and final term as a member of the board of the Library Board of Trustees.

Ms.

Brockington, award 5 resident, was originally confirmed to the board in 2021 and currently serves as chair of the board's finance and budget committee.

Ms.

Brockington also serves on the Board of Directors for Document Systems Inc., a minority-owned business in the district, which provides document management services, chairs the board of the Posse Foundation, is a trustee of Clark University, and is a board member of the Recreation Wish List Committee.

Ms.

Brockington is a former vice president of several corporations, including Lockheed Martin, Xerox, and Conduit, where she served district customers for over 30 years.

Her extensive professional and nonprofit experience makes her a valuable asset to the board.

Based on her background, experience and leadership throughout her first term on the board, I believe Miss Brockington should be reappointed to the Board of Library Trustees.

PR 260565, the Board of Library Trustees' Holly Flood confirmation resolution of 2026 confirms Holly Flood to her first term as a member of the Library Board of Trustees.

An organization dedicated to providing compassionate medical respite care for people experiencing homelessness in the district.

Ms.

Flood previously held multiple positions at USA at USAID and was a member of the Peace Corps, leading in managing programs across the globe in locations such as Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Angola.

Her service in the district and federal governments, her program management experience, and her grant writing ability will make Ms.

Flood an asset to the board.

Based on her background and experience as well as her deep ties to the district, I believe that Ms.

Flood should be appointed to the Board of Library Trustees.

PR 26-0566, the Board of Library Trustees Christy C.

Whitfield confirmation resolution of 2026, confirms Christy C.

Whitfield to her first full term as a member of the Library Board of Trustees.

Ms.

Whitfield is a Ward 5 resident and served as director of the Department of Small and Local Business Business Development from 2017 to 2023.

During her time at DSLBD, Ms.

Whitfield worked directly with DCPL to support the district's small business community, expanding art all night and hosting the District Connect Conference at the at MLK Memorial Library.

Ms.

Whitfield now serves as Chief Impact Officer and Senior Director for Racial Justice at the Nathan Cummings Foundation, an organization focused on partnering with social change organizations to formulate creative solutions to racial inequality and climate change.

Based on her background and experience and previous leadership in the district government, I believe Ms.

Whitfield should be appointed to the Board of Library Trustees.

Is there discussion?

Hearing none, I move the committee prints and reports for PR 26-0488, the Board of Library Trustees Donella Brockington confirmation resolution of 2025.

PR 26-0565, the Board of Library Trustees Holly Flood Confirmation Resolution of 2026, and PR 26-0566, the Board of Library Trustees Christy C.

Whitfield Confirmation Resolution of 2026 with leave for staff to make technical conforming changes.

All those in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, please indicate by saying no.

In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it, and the motion passes.

With that, the business before the committee is concluded.

The time is now 350 p.m.

and this meeting is adjourned.

Thank you, everyone.