Transportation & the Environment Public Hearing

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & THE ENVIRONMENT MARY M. CHEH, CHAIR REVISED NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON Bill 24-444, the Urban Forest Preservation Authority Amendment Act of 2021 January 7, 2022 at 12:00 PM Councilmember Cheh’s Facebook Page (facebook.com/cmmarycheh) DC Council Website (dccouncil.us) Council Channel 13 (Cable Television Providers) Office of Cable Television Website (entertainment.dc.gov) On January 7, 2022, Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, will hold a public hearing on Bill 24-444, the Urban Forest Preservation Authority Amendment Act of 2021. The hearing will begin at 12:00 PM and will be broadcast live on DC Council Channel 13 and streamed live at www.dccouncil.us, facebook.com/cmmarycheh, and entertainment.dc.gov. In order to protect the District of Columbia’s tree canopy, it is illegal under District law to remove a “heritage” tree (a tree 100 inches or more in circumference) unless it is a hazard to the public. It is also illegal to remove a “special” tree (44 to 100 inches in circumference) without a permit. However, these laws are currently only enforceable through fines, causing numerous special and heritage trees to be wrongfully removed. Bill 24-444 would give the Urban Forestry Administration the authority to issue stop-work orders when special or heritage trees are in imminent danger of being wrongfully removed. This change will require contractors to get the proper permit and fully understand the implications and costs of their potentially illegal activity. Due to the imminent threat to the health, safety, and welfare of District residents posed by the spread of the coronavirus, the Council has adapted the methods by which committees may hold public hearings and roundtables to comply with social distancing, large public gatherings, and other public health and safety requirements. Therefore, this public hearing will be held remotely through the Zoom teleconferencing platform. The public is invited 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 Ms. Benjamin of the need as soon as possible but no later than five business days before the hearing, which is December 31, 2021. 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 record 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 about which they are submitting testimony. Members of the public are asked to not provide an e-mail, phone number, or other personal contact information in voicemail testimony. The record will close at the end of the business day on January 21, 2022. This hearing notice has been revised to reflect the proper year in which the hearing will be held, 2022. 2