I am calling to order this meeting.

This is a regular meeting of the Committee of the Whole of the Council of the District of Columbia.

I'm Phil Mendelssohn, Chair of the Council, Chair of the Committee of the Whole.

Today is recording in progress.

Today is Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

The time is 11.45 in the morning.

We are in room 500, the council chambers of the Johnny Wilson Building.

This meeting of the Council of the Committee of the Whole is being televised on Cable Channel 13 and is also on the Council's website, WW.dccouncil.gov.

We have three measures for markup in the community of the whole and two measures that were reported out of the committee on judiciary, which will pass to the committee of the whole today.

We begin our committee of the whole meetings determining whether we have a quorum.

Mr.

Cash, would you call the roll?

Chairman Mendelssohn.

Present.

Council Member Allen.

Here.

Councilmember Bonds.

Here.

Councilmember Crawford.

Here.

Councilmember Felder.

Present.

Councilmember Fruman.

Councilmember Freeman.

Councilmember Henderson.

Here.

Councilmember Lewis George.

Councilmember Lewis George.

Councilmember Nadaux.

Here.

Councilmember Parker.

Here.

Councilmember Pinto.

Present.

Councilmember Robert White.

Present.

Councilmember Trionley.

Councilmember Trionway.

Mr.

Chairman, you have a quorum.

Thank you, Mr.

Cash.

We have the Secretary's Report of Committee filings.

I'm going to recognize the Chair Po Tem.

Councilmember Anita Bonds.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

I waive the reading of the secretary's report.

It's been a motion to waive the reading of the report.

Is there discussion?

On the motion to waive the reading.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Are there any opposed?

Hearing none, the ayes have it unanimously.

We have the secretary's log of introductions and referrals.

Again, I'll recognize the Chair Pro Tem.

Councilmember Bonds.

Thank you again, Chairman.

And I waive the reading of the Secretary's log of introductions and referrals.

So in a motion to waive the reading of the Secretary's log.

Is there discussion on the motion?

On the motion.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Are there any opposed?

Hearing none, the ayes have it unanimously.

We have three measures for markup in the committee of the whole.

An alley dwelling known as Green's Court.

Green's Court was home to individuals such as Thomas Green.

Thomas Green was an Irish-born laborer with a wife and three sons who owned property within Greenscourt in the 1880s and sold it before the 1890 census.

Greens Court was a was home to a diverse working class population, including African American and Irish American residents, and supported a range of laborers, tradespeople, and small businesses that contributed to the economic and social fabric of the neighborhood.

The area was once a densely populated and vibrant community of homes, churches, stores, and a school that were largely erased during the urban renewal efforts of the 1960s to accommodate construction of the Potomac and Whitehurst freeways.

That redevelopment displaced hundreds of residents and eliminated a historically significant neighborhood, including institutions such as the Morning Star Baptist Church and the Briggs Montgomery School.

The designation of Greenscourt Park serves to acknowledge and memorialize this lost community and its contributions to the district.

Community stakeholders have emphasized that the name provides an opportunity to recognize the lives and experiences of former residents who lacked a voice in the decisions that led to their displacement.

The park now functions as an improved neighborhood gathering space, including a playground, dog park, and plaza following public investment and community engagement.

Naming the park Greens Court Park establishes a clear geographic and historical nexus, ensuring that the legacy of the former community remains visible within the modern landscape and promotes broader public awareness of the district's history.

This legislation was introduced by Councilmember Brook Pinto on July 14th, 2025.

The committee of the whole held a public hearing on January 13, 2026.

No testimony or comments in opposition to the designation.

I do want to note this is an official naming, and that the Department of Parks and Recreation has said to the chief financial officer that it will cost $6,000 for signage, a cost that the Department of Parks and Recreation cannot absorb.

So this bill is subject to appropriation.

I have to amend the print to include the S2A.

Um I move the print and report with leave for staff to make technical conforming and editorial changes.

Council Member Pinto.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Chairman, to you and your team for moving this.

I just wanted to thank the Foggy Bottom Association and all of the surrounding residents who have been very wonderful partners in this process in determining the name itself to honor the people who have lived here and also as part of the renovation process for the 26 and I playground.

Or will be recommending a $6,000 transfer.

So hopefully that will be coming soon.

Thank you.

Further discussion.

Uh hearing none.

The vote is on both the print and report with leave for staff.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Are there any opposed?

Hearing none.

The ayes have it unanimously.

Mr.

Chairman, I arrived after the roll call but voted.

Uh, so just want to make sure that I'm noted as being.

Ditto.

It was a dido.

Ditto.

Uh from Councilmember Trainwhite.

Uh the ayes have it unanimously.

I think I said that earlier.

Um, Madam General Counsel is the measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration.

Yes, it is.

Madam Secretary, is the record complete?

Once the report is filed.

Madam Budget Director.

Does the measure's fiscal impact statement comply with council requirements?

Yes, it does.

And uh we noted before it's subject to appropriations with a six thousand dollar.

Yes.

This might be the lowest one ever.

Without objection, this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for the June.

I think it's June 2nd legislative meeting.

The next measure for markup is Bill 26-331 entitled Harmony Park Designation Act of 2026.

Bill 26-231 would officially designate the Triangle Park in Reservation 160 as Harmony Park.

The location is near the boundary of wards one, two, and five.

It's an official park naming, which involves the designation of official signage.

Guess what?

That means there's also a $6,000 fiscal impact.

Harmony Park is the proposed name for the Triangle Park between New Jersey Avenue and Rhode Island Avenue, Northwest, which recently which was recently created as a result of the District Department of Transportation's S Street Revitalization Project, which converted former roadway into new public green space now used as a neighborhood gathering area.

The proposed name, Harmony Park, reflects both the park's location at the intersection of three wards and its historical connection to the Columbian Harmony Society and the Harmonian Cemetery that once was located approximately one block from this site.

The Society, the Columbian Harmony Society, founded in 1825, provided mutual aid and burial services to African Americans in the district at a time when such support was otherwise limited, establishing one of the city's earliest black cemeteries.

Over time, the cemetery was displaced by legal restrictions and development, which remains relocated with remains relocated multiple times and in some cases not fully preserved or memorialized.

Today there's no prominent physical marker at or near the original site, despite its historical significance.

The designation of Harmony Park recognizes and memorializes this history while addressing the absence of a visible marker commemorating it in the surrounding area.

Although the Harmonian Cemetery once served as a primary burial ground for African Americans in the district, its original site was redeveloped and its physical presence largely erased, leaving a significant chapter of the district's African American history underrepresented in the present-day landscape.

Locating this recognition at the newly created park provides an appropriate and accessible setting to acknowledge that history, given its proximity to the original cemetery site and its position at the intersection of multiple neighborhoods and wards.

Naming the park ensures that the contributions of the Columbian Harmony Society and those interred interred at the Harmonian Cemetery are incorporated into the modern built environment and remain visible to the public.

This legislation was introduced on July 14th by Councilmember Pinto, and the committee of the whole held a public hearing on January 13th, 2026.

The committee did receive testimony in support.

As I noted at the outset, the OCFO issued a fiscal impact statement that indicated that the Department of Parks and Recreation is unable to absorb the $6,000 cost for signage, so this legislation is subject to appropriation.

And that language will be in the committee print.

Without objection, I move both the print and report with leave for staff to make technical conforming and editorial changes.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Um I just wanted to note, in addition to your background, that while there's a historical connection here to the Columbian Harmony Society and the Harmonian Cemetery, um, part of the rationale for naming this Harmony Park is its intersection between wards one and two and five.

And so I just want to recognize that for my ward one and five council colleagues, um, and our mission of harmony.

And we will also be transferring recommending a transfer of money to fund this sign.

Thank you.

Is there further discussion for any member?

Mr.

Chairman?

Yes, Councilmember Crawford.

Uh thank you, Councilmember Pinzo, for introducing this bill and to Chairman Middlesense for moving it.

This is more than just a designation.

It is an opportunity to acknowledge a piece of our city's history that is too often overlooked, displaced, or erased.

Harmony Park honors the Columbian Harmony Society, a mutual aid organization founded in 1825 to support Black residents in the district and Harmonian Cemetery, which served as a burial ground for black residents during a time of segregation.

For generations, African American burial grounds in the district have not been protected, preserved, and in many cases not respected.

Families and communities were continuously separated from spaces that held deep cultural, historical, and spiritual significance.

So I am proud to have helped lead the effort as committee director to establish the Paul E.

Sluby Senior Historic African American Burial Grounds Preservation Fund to preserve, protect, and honor historic African American burial grounds across the district.

Earlier this year, the district awarded its first grants through this fund to support the preservation of sites like the Mount Zion and Female Union Band Society Cemeteries in Georgetown and Woodlawn Cemetery in Binning Ridge, which are among the only intact historic African American burial grounds in the district.

These investments are about more than preservation.

They are about restoring dignity and ensuring that black history is visible in the physical landscape of our city.

The designation of Harmony Park aligns directly with that work.

It acknowledges the history of displacement and creates a permanent visible reminder of the lives and communities that once existed on that site.

As we continue this work, we must remain intentional about how we preserve, interpret, and invest in spaces that tell the full story of our city.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Crawford.

There's no further discussion.

The vote is on both the print and report with leave for staff.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Are there any posed?

Hearing none, the ayes have it unanimously.

And the measure the uh print and report are approved.

Ma'am general counsel is the measure legal and technically sufficient for our consideration.

Yes, it is.

Madam Secretary, is the record complete?

Once the report is filed.

Madam Budget Director, does the measures fiscal impact statement comply with council requirements?

Yes, it does.

There's a $6,000 impact.

Correct.

And that will be noted in the legislation as subject to appropriations.

Without objection, this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for the June 2nd legislative meeting.

The last measure for markup in the committee of the whole is Bill 26-431, Rodney Wright Basketball Court Designation Act of 2026.

Bill 26-431 would officially designate the basketball court at the Marvin Gay Recreation Center located at 61st Street Northeast as Rodney Wright Basketball Court.

The location is in Ward 7.

It's an official naming, which typically involves the designation of official signage.

James Rodney Wright was a native Washingtonian whose contributions to the district's athletic community span both collegiate and high school levels.

As a student athlete, Mr.

Wright earned all metropolitan honors and went on to play at Howard University, where he helped lead the bison to two mid-eastern athletic conference championships.

He later served as head coach at Eastern High School, where he was twice-named DC Public Schools Coach of the Year, reflecting both his success on the court and his impact as a mentor to young athletes.

Mr.

Wright developed as a student athlete within the district's public school system, including attendance at Evans Junior High School, which was located a short distance from present-day Marvin Gay Recreation Center along East Capitol Street.

Over time, both facilities have long served the surrounding neighborhoods, reflecting the role of public recreation facilities in supporting youth development through athletics.

This location places the basketball court in the same neighborhood where Mr.

Wright attended junior high school and developed as a student athlete.

Designating the basketball court as the Marvin, no, designating the basketball court at the Marvin Gay Recreation Center, designating it as the Rodney Wright Basketball Court, recognizes his contributions to the district's athletic community and his role in mentoring and inspiring young athletes.

The location provides an appropriate and visible setting to honor his legacy in a facility that continues to serve neighborhood youth.

This legislation was introduced on October 16, 2025 by then Councilmember Kenyon McDuffie.

The committee of the whole held a public hearing on January 13, 2026.

Uh the committee received no testimony or comments in opposition to the legislation.

I do want to note this is an official naming, and the basketball court is under the Department of Parks and Recreation.

So guess what?

The OCFO says there is a $6,000 cost for signage which cannot be absorbed.

So the legislation is subject to appropriation.

I move the print report.

With leave for staff to make technical good informing and editorial changes.

Is there discussion?

The vote will be on the print and report with leave for staff.

All those in favor say aye.

Are there any opposed?

Hearing none, the ayes have it unanimously.

And the measures are approved.

Madam General Counsel, is the measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration?

Yes, it is.

Madam Secretary, is the record complete?

Once the report is filed.

Yes, it does.

$6,000 impact.

Subject to appropriations.

Correct.

Without objection, this measure will be placed on the consent agenda for the June 2nd legislative meeting.

I hope it's June 2nd.

Otherwise, I'm stating the wrong date.

The committee on judiciary and public safety chaired by Councilmember Pinto.

They are both appointments, confirmation of nominations to the Corrections Information Council.

If there's no objection, I'll ask Councilmember Pinto to move them in block PR 26-635, District of Columbia Corrections Information Council Governing Board, Prochelle Shannon, confirmation resolution of 2026, and PR 26 638, District of Columbia Corrections Information Council Governing Board, Natasha Dasher, confirmation resolution of 2026.

Councilmember Pinto.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

PR 26-635 Corrections Information Council Governing Board, Dr.

Prochelle Shannon, confirmation resolution of 2026, and PR 26-638 Corrections Information Council Governing Board.

Natasha Dasher, confirmation resolution of 2026 will confirm Prochelle Shannon and Natasha Dasher to serve as members of the Correction Information Council Governing Board.

The resolutions were introduced by you, Chairman Mendelssohn, at the request of the mayor on April 2nd, 2026, and April 7th, 2026, respectively.

Both Ms.

Dasher and Dr.

Shannon are current board members and are being renominated.

PR 26-365 would reconfirm Dr.

Prishelle Shannon is a member of the CIC governing board.

Dr.

Shannon is the current CEO and co-founder of For Truth, a registered for-profit, which provides trauma-informed consulting to private nonprofit and government entities.

For Truth has provided services, the Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services during the 2021 and 2022 fiscal years.

Dr.

Shannon has over 16 years of experience working with incarcerated citizens in jails, prisons, free entry, and therapeutic residential treatment communities.

She has served the population in many roles, most notably as a uniformed officer, substance abuse counselor, mental health therapist, management and program analyst, PRIA coordinator, community corrections, senior institutional administrator, and former DOJ certified PRIA auditor.

PR 26-368 would reconfirm Natasha Dasher as a member of the board.

Natasha Dasher is the current administrative officer of the Federal Energy Management Program at the U.S.

Department of Energy.

As a returning citizen, Miss Dasher brings to the CIC personal experience and understanding of processes and institutional knowledge.

Ms.

Dasher has also served as a commissioner for the commission on reentry and returning citizens' affairs from 2021 to 2023 and chair of the commission from 2023 to 2024.

As a commissioner, Ms.

Dasher worked in collaboration with stakeholders, the mayor, the council, and incarcerated residents.

I am pleased with the work that both of these nominees have done since joining the CIC board, and I am confident that their continued service will be beneficial to our jail residents and returning citizens community.

I urge my colleagues to support these nominee confirmations resolutions to the CIC board today.

Thank you, Councilmember Pinto.

Are there questions from members?

Mr.

Chairman.

Councilmember Henderson.

Mr.

Chairman, so as colleagues know, I my staff we we check the boards and commissions for information, etc.

Um, I want to ask Councilmember Pinto, uh, the corrections information council has not posted any meeting minutes since 2024.

Do we know why that is?

Um, because by statute, they are supposed to be providing that information, and it would be helpful for us to be able to determine who's participating, conversations, etc.

Um, thank you very much for flagging that.

I do not know why that is, but I will look into it.

Okay, thank you.

Any other questions from members?

I have three.

Madam General Counsel is the measure legally and technically sufficient for our consideration.

Yes, they are.

Thank you for yes, both of them.

Madam Secretary, is the record complete for each?

Yes.

Uh, Madam Budget Director, these are confirmations, so there is no fiscal impact statement.

Correct.

Well, objection, these measures will be placed on the consent agenda for the June second legislative meeting.

All good things must come to an end.

I'm afraid that's all the business for the community as a whole.

The next scheduled meeting is June 2nd of the council.

The time is twelve.

Oh nine PM, and this meeting is adjourned.