Public Hearing on Mayor's Proposed FY2027 Budget for DOB, Arts, Zoning, and Planning - May 6, 2026
Public Hearing on Mayor's Proposed FY2027 Budget for DOB, Arts, Zoning, and Planning - May 6, 2026
This public hearing of the Committee of the Whole, chaired by Council Chair Phil Mendelson, was held on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 10:34 AM in Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building. The hearing considered the Mayor's proposed FY2027 budget for four agencies: the Department of Buildings (DOB), the Commission on Arts and Humanities (CAH), the Office of Zoning (OZ), and the Office of Planning (OP). Nearly 90 witnesses were scheduled to testify. The hearing also covered the FY26 revised budget and the Budget Support Act (BSA).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Department of Buildings (DOB): Multiple witnesses criticized DOB enforcement. Susanna Lumier (Legal Aid DC) urged maintaining current funding for strategic enforcement, noting a reduction of $327,000 and 3 FTEs, and that only 33% of violations were abated within 30 days in 2025. Valerie Jablow (Capitol Hill resident) proposed legislation to combat illegal commercial use of residential properties. Liz de Barros (DC Building Industry Association) supported downtown conversions, zoning relief, and urged funding the permanent tax reclassification process in the Vacant to Vibrant Act. Chuck Elkins (ANC3D) highlighted 53,000 unabated housing code violations, 12,500 cases at OAH, and $62 million in uncollected fines, calling the enforcement program "a paper tiger." David Maloff (DC Federation of Citizens Associations) requested reinstating neighbor notification for construction. Michael Arias (DC Association of Realtors) reported issues with vacant property stickers on homes for sale and praised DOB's process improvement. Patrick Cutherin (Children's Law Center) and Andrea Chapman (Empower DC) called for expanding the nuisance abatement fund to $15-75 million, moving mold inspections under DOB (funded at $1 million), and fully funding the Proactive Inspection Act. Damiana Dendi (DC Jobs with Justice) noted $81.7 million in unpaid fines since 2018. Farah Fawcett (Empower DC) described how the nuisance abatement fund helped stabilize Betting Park apartments. Tom Donahue (ANC8A) requested a ward-level introductory summit for new commissioners. Jan Baker (2M Tenants Association) asked for the fund to be a revolving fund. Arthur Slade (AFGE Local 2725) reported a rodent infestation at DOB's building and requested a classification audit. County Gilliam (AFGE) urged restoring $127 million in workforce compensation funding. Residents of Museum Square described a two-month elevator outage, displacing a wheelchair-bound resident.
- Commission on Arts and Humanities (CAH): Dozens of artists and organizations testified against the proposed 14.5% cut ($6.64 million) to CAH's budget. Antonio Malik and Pierce McKinney (Dunbar High School students) highlighted the value of Humanities DC programs. Rebecca Madrano (GALA Theatre) said cuts would force layoffs and cancel a free after-school program serving 100 youth. Others, including Rebecca Lichtenberg (Studio Theatre), Ryan Merkel (Shakespeare Theatre), and Charity Blackwell (DC SCORES), emphasized the economic multiplier effect of the arts (generating $2.78 per $1 invested). Many urged the council to restore the $6.8 million fund balance sweep, remove the 102% growth cap, and reinstate the original 5% sales tax allocation.
- Office of Zoning (OZ): Chuck Elkins proposed adopting a mediation process similar to ABCA to reduce BZA workload.
- Office of Planning (OP): A large coalition of food policy advocates testified against the Mayor's proposal to eliminate the Food Policy Council and Director (saving $413,000). Amelia Kelleher (CSPI), Delilah Backlin (LOCUS), Rachel Clark (consultant), and others noted that the office brought in over $200 million in federal and philanthropic funds, coordinated 62 agencies on food procurement, and led emergency food response during COVID. Patricia Stamper (Ward 7 resident) shared personal struggles with food insecurity.
Discussion Items
- DOB: Chair Mendelson questioned Director Brian Hanlin on enforcement. Hanlin reported 40 housing code inspectors budgeted, but acknowledged 54 vacancies (14.4% of total). The nuisance abatement fund has $1.7 million currently, with only $1.2 million for direct abatements in FY27. Hanlin defended the 2.6% budget increase, but witnesses pushed back on the 53,000 unabated violations. Mendelson expressed concern about the Museum Square elevator outage and the rodent infestation at DOB's office. The DOB director agreed to provide a detailed breakdown of inspectors, capital budget uses, and C of O processing times.
- CAH: Mendelson vented frustration with the commission's lack of strategic vision, citing past instability and a focus on expanding grantee numbers rather than prioritizing. Executive Director Aaron Myers and Vice Chair Gretchen Wharton defended the commission's work, noting that 81.5% of the budget goes to grants. Mendelson noted that the $6.8 million fund balance sweep would require cutting elsewhere, and that the cap is not currently binding. Councilmember Parker raised concerns about non-DC entities receiving grants, specifically Imagination Stage ($90,750 in GOS). Myers said the panel process is transparent and that only 0.35% of grants went outside DC from FY21-24.
- OZ: Director Sarah Bardin reported that the FY27 budget decreases by $156,902, including elimination of one-time funds for drafting orders. The BZA currently lacks a quorum (only one member via NCPC rotation). Bardin said 10 full orders have been issued this fiscal year, with 13 pending board confirmation. Mendelson stressed the need to clear the backlog.
- OP: Director Anita Cozart stated that the food policy council is not core to OP's land use mission, justifying its elimination. She said the $1.23 million reduction in executive administration includes the food policy team's 3 FTEs. Councilmember Henderson questioned the lack of planning for continued work on SNAP work requirements, grocery access, and procurement. Cozart acknowledged that many responsibilities are "to be determined." On the comprehensive plan (DC 2050), Cozart said the draft will be released in September 2026, with a team of 7 FTEs handling public engagement and finalization.
Key Outcomes
- No votes were taken; this was a public hearing to inform budget decisions.
- DOB: Director Hanlin will provide the committee with a detailed table of inspector positions, capital budget plans, C of O processing times, and a breakdown of nuisance abatement fund usage by April 25, 2026.
- CAH: The council will consider restoring the $6.8 million fund balance and removing the 102% cap. Councilmember Parker will follow up on non-DC grantee eligibility.
- OZ: Director Bardin will provide an updated backlog analysis by May 25, 2026.
- OP: The council will consider amendments to restore the Food Policy Council and Director, possibly moving it to another agency. Councilmember Henderson expressed intent to work with colleagues on restoration. The comprehensive plan timeline remains September 2026 for public draft.
- The first reading of the budget is scheduled for June 9, 2026, with a second vote two weeks later. The Budget Support Act will be heard on May 13, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
I am calling to order this hearing. This is a public hearing of the committee of the whole of the council of the District of Columbia. I'm Phil Mendelssohn, Chair of the Council and Chair of the Committee of the All. Today is Wednesday, May 6, 2026. The time is 10 34 in the morning. We actually had a hearing before this. And did I say today is May 6th? The time is 10 34 in the morning. We are in room 412, the Johnny Wilson Building. This hearing is being recorded and will be available on the council's website, www.dccouncil.gov. The subject of this hearing today is consideration of the mayor's proposed budget for the Department of Buildings, the Commission on Arts and Humanities, the Office of Zoning, and the Office of Planning. And we'll hear testimony in that order. I think we have something close to 90 witnesses total between the four agencies. I believe this is the sixth hearing that the committee of the whole has had on the mayor's proposed budget. We will have a hearing tomorrow on the Office of State Superintendent for Education, and we will have a hearing next week, May 13th, on all of the legislation that the mayor submitted for the council's consideration related to the budget. So on April 14th, the mayor submitted the proposed budget for fiscal year 2027. Accompanying that legislation was also a proposed revised budget for the current fiscal year, FY26, also a budget support act, also a federal portion budget request act. So all of those measures, plus I think there's an emergency version of one of them. It will be the subject of next Wednesday, May 13th hearing. There'll be a lot of witnesses, it will be an all-day affair. But today, as I said, we will begin first with the Department of Buildings. The um council is required under the Home Rule Act to vote within 70 days on the budget. So first reading will be 56 days, which I believe is June 9th, and the second vote will be two weeks later. The Budget Support Act will get first reading on June 9th. Second reading will be sometime after, but probably not the 23rd of June. Because we have so many witnesses, I ask that uh witnesses be mindful of the clock, and there are clocks everywhere. If you're testifying online, there's a clock on the screen. If you're in the in route this room 412, there are a few clocks that you can see. So please uh stay to the time. Uh Susanna Lumier, senior staff attorney at legal aid. Uh Valerie Jablo, who's just listed as a public witness. Liz Devaros, who's president and CEO of the DC Building Industry Association. Chuck Elkins, who's an ANC commissioner, I believe ANC3D. Martin Holmes. Uh David Meloff. Bianca P. Michael Arias, who's a member of the public policy committee of the DC Association of Realtors. Patrick Cothern, who's a policy attorney with Children's Law Center. Andrea Chatman, who's community organizer with Empower DC. And if this person is virtual, Damiana Dendi. Otherwise, well, then I'll call you at the next panel. So I did not take careful notes. Let's see. Um is it Lumier? Please proceed. Good morning, Chairman Mendelssohn. My name is Susanna Lumier. I'm a senior staff attorney in the housing unit at Legal Aid DC and a DC resident. Legal AIDS DC housing unit represents low-income renters against eviction and in securing health and safe healthy and safe housing. We often see landlords allowing housing to fall into disrepair, then failing to correct housing code violations even after the Department of Buildings has done an inspection and cited them.
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