Business & Economic Development Public Hearing

Council of the District of Columbia COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND Economic Development Notice of Public Hearing 1 3 5 0 P e n n s y l v a n i a A v e n u e , N . W, , Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . 2 0 0 0 4 COUNCILMEMBER KENYAN R. McDUFFIE, CHAIRPERSON Committee on Business and Economic Development Announce a Public Hearing on B23-0564 - THE "Modification of the Freedom Forum, Inc. Real P r o p e r t y Ta x E x e m p t i o n a n d E q u i t a b l e R e a l P r o p e r t y Ta x R e l i e f Act OF 2004 Amendment ACT OF 2019" Thursday, January 2,2020, 10:00 a.m. Room 120, John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004 On Thursday, January 2, 2020, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chairperson of the Committee on Business and Eeonomie Development, will hold a public hearing to consider Bill 23-0564, the "Modification of the Freedom Forum, Inc. Real Property Tax Exemption and Equitable Real Property Tax Relief Act of 2004 Amendment Act of 2019." The stated purpose of Bill 23-0564 is to amend Chapter 10 of Title 47 of the District of Columbia Official Code by repealing the "Freedom Forum, Inc. Real Property Tax Exemption and Equitable Real Property Tax Relief Act of 2004". The "Freedom Forum, Inc. Real Property Tax Exemption and Equitable Real Property Tax Relief Act of 2004" authorized an amendment to the District of Columbia code to allow the forgiveness of, and exemption from, taxation for Lots 826 and 831 in Square 491, in support of the Freedom Forum, Inc. and the Newseum. The Freedom Forum, Inc. is closing the Newseum at the end of calendar year 2019. Bill 23-0564 will repeal the Freedom Forum Tax Relief Act of 2004, terminating the existing Land Use Restriction Agreement on the Property and the Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement. The Committee invites the public to testify or to submit written testimony. Anyone wishing to testify at the hearing should contact the Committee on Business and Economic Development via email at iroberts@deeouneil.us or at (202) 724-8053, and provide their name, telephone number, organizational affiliation, and title (if any), by close of business Mondav. December 30. 2019. Witnesses who anticipate needing language interpretation or require sign language interpretation are requested to inform the Committee on Business and Economic Development office of the need as soon as possible but no later than five (5) business days before proceeding. We will make every effort to fulfill timely requests, however requ'ests received in less than five (5) business days may not be fulfilled and alternatives may be offered. Representatives of organizations will be allowed a maximum of five minutes for oral testimony and individuals speaking in their own capacity will be allowed a maximum of three minutes. Witnesses are encouraged to bring filve single-sided copies of their written testimony and, if possible, to submit a copy of their testimony electronically to iroberts@dccouncil.us in advance of the hearing. For witnesses who are unable to testify at the hearing, submitted written statements will be made part of the official record. Copies of written statements should be submitted to the Committee on Business and Economic Development at jroberts@dccouncil.us. or to Nyasha Smith, Secretary to the Council, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 5, Washington, D.C. 20004. The record will close at the end of the business day on Thursday. January 9,2020. 2