OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Regular Meeting of the Committee of the Whole – July 14, 2026

Council of the District of Columbia — Tuesday, July 14, 2026
BodyWashington, District Of Columbia
SessionCouncil of the District of Columbia
DateTuesday, July 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:02:55

Transcript — Verbatim
0:07

I'm according to order to this meeting.

0:10

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

0:14

I am Phil Mendelssohn, Chair of the Council and Chair of the Committee of the Whole.

0:18

Today is Tuesday, July 14th, 2026.

0:21

The time is 1210 in the afternoon.

0:23

We are in room 500 of the Council Chambers of the Johnny Wilson Building.

0:27

This meeting is being broadcast on cable television channel 13 as well as on the Council's website, www.dc.count, excuse me, www.dccouncil.gov.

0:41

This is a regular meeting of the Committee of the Whole.

0:44

That is, the Committee of the Whole meets regularly on the third Tuesday of each month, except in August.

0:51

We will follow this Committee of the Home meeting with an additional, that means not a regularly scheduled legislative meeting of the Council.

1:00

We will begin our meeting by determining whether we have a quorum.

1:05

Mr.

1:05

Cash, would you call the roll?

1:06

Chairman Mendelssohn.

1:07

Present.

1:07

Councilmember Allen.

1:08

Here.

1:09

Councilmember Bonds.

1:11

Here.

1:11

Councilmember Crawford.

1:13

Here.

1:13

Councilmember Felder.

1:14

Present.

1:15

Councilmember Fruman.

1:16

Present.

1:16

Councilmember Henderson.

1:18

Here.

1:18

Councilmember Lewis George.

1:20

Here.

1:20

Councilmember Nadeau.

1:21

Here.

1:22

Councilmember Parker.

1:23

Here.

1:24

Councilmember Pinto.

1:25

Present.

1:26

Councilmember Robert White.

1:28

Councilmember Robert White, Councilmember Trion White.

1:30

Present.

1:31

Mr.

1:31

Chairman, you have a quorum.

1:34

Thank you.

1:36

We have the Secretary's Report of Committee filings.

1:39

I'm going to recognize the Chair Pro Tem, Councilmember Anita Bonds.

1:43

Thank you, Chairman.

1:44

I move the waiving of the reading of the committee reports, Secretary's Reports.

1:50

So in a motion to waive the reading of the report.

1:52

Is there discussion?

1:54

On the motion to waive the reading, all those in favor say aye.

1:57

Aye.

1:57

Aye.

1:58

Are there any opposed?

2:00

Hearing none, the ayes have it unanimously.

2:02

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

2:05

Again, I'll recognize the Chair Pro Tem, Councilmember Bonds.

2:09

And again, um Chairman, I waive the reading of the Secretary's log of introductions and referrals.

2:15

So in a motion to waive the reading, is there discussion?

2:18

On the motion to wave the reading of the log.

2:20

All those in favor say aye.

2:22

Aye.

2:22

Aye.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████45%
Economic Development██████████████████████22%
Public Safety██████6%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Personnel Matters████4%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Food Policy███3%
Public Engagement███3%
Public Education██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Regular Meeting of the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia – July 14, 2026

The Committee of the Whole, chaired by Chairman Phil Mendelssohn, held a regular meeting on July 14, 2026, from 12:10 PM to approximately 2:13 PM in Room 500 of the Council Chambers. The meeting covered multiple revenue bond approvals, mayoral confirmations, and legislation from various committees, with most items placed on the consent agenda for the subsequent legislative meeting. Notable discussion occurred around the Hill East Phase 2 term sheet amendment and the Fair Initiatives and Transparency to Every Resident Amendment Act.

Consent Calendar

  • PR 26-675 (Provident Group Bison Properties – Howard University student housing, $575 million) – Approved unanimously.
  • PR 26-676 (St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School, $35.5 million) – Approved unanimously.
  • PR 26-677 (PRG Wonder Plaza – Howard University redevelopment, $375 million) – Approved unanimously.
  • PR 26-678 (Harmony DC Public Charter School, $17 million) – Approved unanimously.
  • PR 26-744 (Robin Wells to Board of Zoning Adjustment) – Approved unanimously.
  • PR 26-746 (Demetrius Butler to Commission on Arts and Humanities) – Approved unanimously.
  • PR 26-747 (Anna K. Smith to Public Charter School Board) – Approved unanimously.
  • Bill 26-181 (Short-Term Disability Insurance Benefit Protection Clarification) – Approved unanimously.
  • PR 26-642/643/644/645/695 (Five Police Complaints Board nominations: Glenn Marcus, Andrea Headley, Bobby Strang, Edward Sanders, Peter Durkin) – Approved unanimously.
  • Bill 26-4-7 (Funeral Services Modernization) – Approved unanimously.
  • Bill 26-427 (Cybersecurity and Accountability Act) – Approved unanimously.
  • Bill 26-444 (Food Policy Council Procurement Amendment) – Approved unanimously.
  • Bill 26-547 (Posthumous Care Modernization – authorizing alkaline hydrolysis) – Approved unanimously.
  • Bill 26-244 (Micromobility Fire Safety Standards) – Approved unanimously.
  • Bill 26-245 (Personal Delivery Device Weight Limit – raising limit to 275 lbs) – Approved unanimously.
  • Bill 26-548 (Washington Commanders Motor Vehicle Identification Tags) – Approved unanimously.
  • Bill 26-554 (Commercial Drivers License Amendment) – Approved unanimously.
  • PR 26-692 (Gregory McCarthy to Board of Elections) – Approved unanimously.
  • PR 26-745 (Michael Wakefield to Board of Elections) – Approved unanimously.
  • PR 26-705 (Lafayette Barnes to Office of Employee Appeals) – Approved unanimously.
  • PR 26-737 (Lee Clark to Public Employee Relations Board) – Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments or testimony were received in opposition to any of the measures considered.

Discussion Items

  • PR 26-? (Mark Battle to UDC Board of Trustees): Councilmember Parker opposed the nomination based on a long-held position against non-residents serving on district boards, stating he would vote no despite respecting Mr. Battle's qualifications. The print and report were approved 12-1 and placed on the non-consent agenda.
  • PR 26-736 (Hill East Phase 2 Bundle 2 Disposition Term Sheet Amendment): Councilmember Fruman presented amendments shifting responsibility for a public park ($5.2 million) and streets ($30 million) to the District, and extending construction timelines from 30 to 32 months. Councilmembers Robert White, Allen, and Bonds expressed concerns about the $35 million subsidy increase, but the resolution was placed on the non-consent agenda for the additional legislative meeting.
  • Bill 26-436 (Fair Initiatives and Transparency to Every Resident Amendment Act): Councilmember Bonds outlined provisions including a single-subject rule for initiatives, fiscal impact summaries on petitions, clearer font requirements, and circulator disclosures. Chairman Mendelssohn offered an amendment on the single-subject definition, which was accepted without objection. After discussion about timing and substance, the bill was placed on the non-consent agenda for the September 22, 2026 legislative meeting rather than the current meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • All consent calendar items were approved unanimously and will be placed on the consent agenda for the additional legislative meeting.
  • The Mark Battle confirmation (UDC) passed with one dissenting vote (12-1) and was placed on the non-consent agenda.
  • The Hill East Phase 2 term sheet amendment was placed on the non-consent agenda; approximately $35 million in additional District obligations were noted.
  • The FAIR Initiatives bill was advanced with the Chairman's single-subject amendment and postponed to the September 22nd legislative meeting for first reading.
  • The meeting adjourned at 2:13 PM, with the additional legislative meeting to follow immediately.

Meeting Transcript

I'm according to order to this meeting. This is a regular meeting of the Committee of the Whole of the Council of the District of Columbia. I am Phil Mendelssohn, Chair of the Council and Chair of the Committee of the Whole. Today is Tuesday, July 14th, 2026. The time is 1210 in the afternoon. We are in room 500 of the Council Chambers of the Johnny Wilson Building. This meeting is being broadcast on cable television channel 13 as well as on the Council's website, www.dc.count, excuse me, www.dccouncil.gov. This is a regular meeting of the Committee of the Whole. That is, the Committee of the Whole meets regularly on the third Tuesday of each month, except in August. We will follow this Committee of the Home meeting with an additional, that means not a regularly scheduled legislative meeting of the Council. We will begin our meeting by determining whether we have a quorum. Mr. Cash, would you call the roll? Chairman Mendelssohn. Present. Councilmember Allen. Here. Councilmember Bonds. Here. Councilmember Crawford. Here. Councilmember Felder. Present. Councilmember Fruman. Present. Councilmember Henderson. Here. Councilmember Lewis George. Here. Councilmember Nadeau. Here. Councilmember Parker. Here. Councilmember Pinto. Present. Councilmember Robert White. Councilmember Robert White, Councilmember Trion White. Present. Mr. Chairman, you have a quorum. Thank you. We have the Secretary's Report of Committee filings. I'm going to recognize the Chair Pro Tem, Councilmember Anita Bonds. Thank you, Chairman. I move the waiving of the reading of the committee reports, Secretary's Reports. So in 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. Aye.

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