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Record of Proceedings

DC Council Additional Meeting: Budget Recess Rules Amendment (April 7, 2026)

Council of the District of Columbia — Tuesday, April 7, 2026
BodyWashington, District Of Columbia
SessionCouncil of the District of Columbia
DateTuesday, April 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:28

I'm calling to order this meeting.

0:30

This is a meeting of the Council of the District of Columbia.

0:33

I'm Phil Mendelson, Chair of the Council.

0:36

Today is Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

0:40

The time is 1151 in the morning.

0:42

We are in room 500 of the Council Chambers of the Johnny Wilson building, and this hearing is being recorded and televised.

0:48

It's available on the Council's website, www.dccouncil.gov.

0:54

And I believe it's also being broadcast on uh cable television channel 13.

0:59

This is an additional meeting.

1:01

That is, it's not a regularly scheduled meeting.

1:04

The meeting was called last week for one purpose or for one measure, and that is an amendment to the council's rules, which I'll explain in a minute.

1:12

We always begin our legislative meetings with a moment of silence.

1:15

I would ask that uh members of the council and those in the chamber, and even those who are participating virtually maybe uh to have a moment of silence for reflection.

1:51

Madam Secretary, would you please call the role?

1:53

Councilmember Allen.

1:55

Here councilmember Bonds.

1:58

Councilmember Bonds.

2:00

Councilmember Crawford?

2:01

Here.

2:02

Councilmember Felder.

2:04

Councilmember Felder?

2:06

Councilmember Freeman?

2:07

Present.

2:08

Councilmember Henderson.

2:10

Here.

2:12

Councilmember Lewis George.

2:14

Here.

2:15

Chairman Mendelson?

2:16

Present.

2:17

Councilmember Nadeau.

2:19

Here.

2:20

Councilmember Parker.

2:21

Here.

2:22

Councilmember Pinto.

2:24

Councilmember Pinto.

2:26

Councilmember Robert White.

2:29

Councilmember Robert White.

2:31

Councilmember Trayon White.

2:33

Present.

2:34

Mr.

2:35

Chairman, you have a quorum.

2:39

Thank you, Madam Secretary.

2:43

We have one measure for business, and it's an amendment to the Council Period 26 rules.

2:49

The resolution is entitled Council Period 26 Recess Rules Amendment Resolution of 2026.

2:57

And the purpose of this resolution is to amend the rules to permit the filing of the mayor's proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 during the council recess, which is next week, spring recess.

3:59

On April 1st, the Chief Financial Officer sent a letter to the Council, noting that the Office of Budget and Performance Management had completed formulation of the mayor's proposed fiscal year 2026 supplemental and fiscal year 2027 budget and financial plan on Tuesday, March 31st, which would then begin the CFO's 10-day review and analysis period before the budget is submitted to the council, filed with the council.

4:30

Based on the feedback from council members and the need to ensure that the final budget vote does not conflict with the June 16, 2026 primary election on June 16th.

4:42

The budget will be officially transmitted to the council on Tuesday, April 14th.

4:46

As such, it is necessary to amend the council rules to allow transmission of the budget legislation during the council's recess.

4:52

I'll note that the rules amendment doesn't specify the date, it just permits that it be filed during the recess.

5:01

Also, I want to just double check.

5:04

Uh, we usually do an emergency version of the local budget act.

5:12

Correct.

5:13

And that can have to be filed by the mayor.

5:16

Am I correct?

5:18

I believe so.

5:19

So the rule should include that as well.

5:22

I'm handing this to General Counsel.

5:26

Uh for a technical change if it's necessary to permit all of the legislation that we consider.

5:37

The understanding is that General Counsel will have the latitude to make changes to this rules change to make sure it reflects all the budget measures that we have, which includes the local budget emergency act, I believe.

5:54

The BSA, we can introduce ourselves as an emergency, but um not the uh local budget act.

6:02

So with that understanding.

6:16

Uh so I move the resolution.

6:18

Is there discussion?

6:22

Uh with leave for General Counsel to make sure it includes all the measures.

6:27

Uh the vote is on the um on the resolution.

6:31

All those in favor say aye.

6:35

Are there any are there any opposed?

6:38

Hearing none, the ayes have it unanimously, Madam Secretary.

6:41

I see Councilmembers Nadeau, Henderson, Tran White, and Robert White.

6:47

Uh participating virtually.

6:51

And we've been joined by on the day as by council members Felder and Bonds.

6:55

Uh the ayes have it unanimously.

6:58

Uh that's going to conclude this meeting.

7:02

I want to thank everyone.

7:04

Uh the time is 1158 p.m.

7:08

A.m.

7:08

and this meeting is adjourned.

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Summary of Proceedings

DC Council Additional Meeting: Budget Recess Rules Amendment (April 7, 2026)

An additional meeting of the Council of the District of Columbia was called on April 7, 2026, for the single purpose of amending the Council Period 26 rules to permit the filing of the mayor's proposed budget during the upcoming spring recess. The meeting was chaired by Phil Mendelson and began at 11:51 AM, with a quorum present.

Discussion Items

  • Council Period 26 Recess Rules Amendment Resolution of 2026: Chairman Mendelson explained that the resolution was necessary because the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) confirmed on April 1 that the mayor's proposed FY2026 supplemental and FY2027 budget and financial plan had been completed on March 31, triggering a 10-day review period. The budget is scheduled to be transmitted to the council on Tuesday, April 14, which falls during the council's spring recess. The rules amendment allows this transmission during the recess without specifying a date, and the chairman noted the need to also include the emergency version of the local budget act. General Counsel was given leave to make technical changes to ensure the resolution covers all relevant budget legislation.

Key Outcomes

  • The Council voted unanimously to approve the resolution, with leave for General Counsel to incorporate all required budget measures. The meeting adjourned at 11:58 AM.

Meeting Transcript

I'm calling to order this meeting. This is a meeting of the Council of the District of Columbia. I'm Phil Mendelson, Chair of the Council. Today is Tuesday, April 7, 2026. The time is 1151 in the morning. We are in room 500 of the Council Chambers of the Johnny Wilson building, and this hearing is being recorded and televised. It's available on the Council's website, www.dccouncil.gov. And I believe it's also being broadcast on uh cable television channel 13. This is an additional meeting. That is, it's not a regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting was called last week for one purpose or for one measure, and that is an amendment to the council's rules, which I'll explain in a minute. We always begin our legislative meetings with a moment of silence. I would ask that uh members of the council and those in the chamber, and even those who are participating virtually maybe uh to have a moment of silence for reflection. Madam Secretary, would you please call the role? Councilmember Allen. Here councilmember Bonds. Councilmember Bonds. Councilmember Crawford? Here. Councilmember Felder. Councilmember Felder? Councilmember Freeman? Present. Councilmember Henderson. Here. Councilmember Lewis George. Here. Chairman Mendelson? Present. Councilmember Nadeau. Here. Councilmember Parker. Here. Councilmember Pinto. Councilmember Pinto. Councilmember Robert White. Councilmember Robert White. Councilmember Trayon White. Present. Mr. Chairman, you have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Secretary. We have one measure for business, and it's an amendment to the Council Period 26 rules. The resolution is entitled Council Period 26 Recess Rules Amendment Resolution of 2026. And the purpose of this resolution is to amend the rules to permit the filing of the mayor's proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 during the council recess, which is next week, spring recess. On April 1st, the Chief Financial Officer sent a letter to the Council, noting that the Office of Budget and Performance Management had completed formulation of the mayor's proposed fiscal year 2026 supplemental and fiscal year 2027 budget and financial plan on Tuesday, March 31st, which would then begin the CFO's 10-day review and analysis period before the budget is submitted to the council, filed with the council. Based on the feedback from council members and the need to ensure that the final budget vote does not conflict with the June 16, 2026 primary election on June 16th. The budget will be officially transmitted to the council on Tuesday, April 14th. As such, it is necessary to amend the council rules to allow transmission of the budget legislation during the council's recess. I'll note that the rules amendment doesn't specify the date, it just permits that it be filed during the recess.

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