Committee of the Whole Public Oversight Hearing

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC OVERSIGHT HEARING 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004 CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC OVERSIGHT HEARING on The District’s Housing Code Inspection Process: Broken and In Need of Repair on Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. (or immediately following preceding hearing) Room 412 (Track B) John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW DC Council Website (www.dccouncil.gov) Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announces a public oversight hearing before the Committee of the Whole on the District’s Housing Code Inspection Process: Broken and In Need of Repair. The hearing will be held at 12:00 p.m. (or immediately following the preceding hearing) on Thursday, January 18, 2024. One of the core functions of the Department of Buildings is to inspect rental housing properties for compliance with the District’s property maintenance code, which is meant to ensure that structures and units are habitable and safe. Each year, the Department inspects thousands of units based on tenant complaints or for the purpose of a proactive inspection. The Committee has long heard complaints from tenants, advocates, and legal service providers that the inspection process, and the outcomes that result from these inspections, are flawed and fail to adequately protect tenants. The Committee has spent the last several months analyzing data on complaints and inspections conducted at over 50 properties across the District, as well as standard operating procedures, training materials, and other relevant information, to prepare a report that will contain a list of findings and recommendations. The report will be released to the public at least one week prior to the scheduled date of the hearing. The purpose of this oversight hearing is to hear from the public and government witnesses about the findings and recommendations in the report, as well as other ways to improve the rental housing inspection process. Those who wish to testify must register using the Council’s Hearing Management System at https://lims.dccouncil.gov/hearings by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. Testimony is limited to three minutes. Witnesses who anticipate needing spoken language interpretation, or require sign language interpretation, are requested to inform the Committee office of the need as soon as possible but no later than five business days before the proceeding by emailing cow@dccouncil.gov. We will make every effort to fulfill timely requests, although alternatives may be offered. Requests received in less than five business days may not be fulfilled. Witnesses will receive instructions on how to participate by Zoom prior to the hearing. If you have additional questions, please contact Blaine Stum, Senior Policy Advisor, at (202) 724-8092 or cow@dccouncil.gov.  Public witnesses may participate virtually via the Internet on the Zoom Video Conference platform. Testimony should be submitted through the Council’s Hearing Management System in advance of the hearing. Testimony will be publicly accessible upon Committee review. If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Statements for the record should be submitted through the Hearing Management System or left by voicemail by calling (202) 430-6948 (up to 3 minutes which will be transcribed). The record will close at 5:00 pm on Thursday, February 1, 2024.