Transportation & the Environment Public Hearing

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & THE ENVIRONMENT MARY M. CHEH, CHAIR NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON B23-922, the Public Tree Protection and Canopy Expansion Amendment Act of 2020; B23-987, the Green Food Purchasing Amendment Act of 2020; PR23-1019, the Green Finance Authority Board Priya Jayachandran Confirmation Resolution of 2020; and PR23-1020, the Green Finance Authority Board Monica Ray Confirmation Resolution of 2020 Tuesday, December 8, 2020, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, will hold a public hearing on B23-987, the Green Food Purchasing Amendment Act of 2020. The hearing will begin at 3:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on DC Council Channel 13 and streamed live at www.dccouncil.us and entertainment.dc.gov. B23-922 would prohibit District government, boards and commissions, and public utilities from destroying or removing heritage or special trees unless the tree is certified hazardous or appropriate for removal, or the entity provides effected ANCs and the Ward councilmembers with 30 days’ notice of their intent to remove the tree; where the entity does remove a heritage or special tree, the legislation requires that the entity either plant a certain number of trees for each one removed, or make a donation to the Tree Fund that would cover the costs of planting those trees. B23-987 would require the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) to adopt a methodology to estimate greenhouse gas emissions that occur through the life cycle of foods and beverages and establish a baseline measurement of emissions associated with the District’s food and beverage purchases. It sets targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions associated with food and beverage purchases, and requires DOEE to prepare a report on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with district procurement. Lastly, PR23-1019 and PR23-1020 would confirm Priya Jayachandran and Monica Ray, respectively, as members of the Green Finance Authority Board. On March 11, 2020, Mayor Muriel Bowser issued the Declaration of Public Emergency: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the Declaration of Public Health Emergency: Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to the imminent threat to the health, safety, and welfare of District residents posed by the spread of the coronavirus. These orders require that the Council adapt the methods by which committees may hold public hearings and roundtables to comply with social distancing, large public gathering, and other public health and safety requirements. Therefore, this public hearing will be held remotely through the WebEx teleconferencing platform. The Committee invites the public to testify or to submit written testimony, which will be made a part of the official record. Anyone wishing to testify should contact Ms. Aukima Benjamin, Staff Assistant to the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, at (202) 724-8062 or via e-mail at abenjamin@dccouncil.us; witnesses will receive information on how to join the hearing at that time. Witnesses who anticipate needing language interpretation, or requiring sign language interpretation, are requested to inform the Committee of the need as soon as possible but no later than five business days before the hearing, which is December 1, 2020. We will make every effort to fulfill timely requests, however requests received in less than five business days may not be fulfilled and alternatives may be offered. If you are unable to testify at the public hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record; testimony may be submitted to abenjamin@dccouncil.us. The public may also leave voicemail testimony for the Committee by calling (202) 350-1344, which will be transcribed and made part of the hearing record. Members of the public leaving voicemail testimony should speak slowly and clearly, state their full name and the organization they represent, if any, and note the bill, roundtable, or agency that they are submitting testimony on. Members of the public are asked to not provide an e-mail, phone number, or other person contact information in voicemail testimony. The record will close at the end of the business day on December 22, 2020.