Category Archives: Council

May 26: DC Council At-Large Candidate Forum Hosted by Ward 5 Civic Associations

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

A group of Ward 5 civic associations is hosting a DC Council At-Large candidate forum for the primary election and the special election. Candidates for both elections are on the same ballot.

Date: May 26, 2026, 6:30pm-9:00pm

Location: UDC Lamond-Riggs campus, 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE.

Host civic associations

North Michigan Park Civic Association

Fort Totten Civic Association

Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association

Woodridge Civic Association

Brookland Civic Association

Gateway Civic Association

North Woodridge Civic Association

Bates Are Civic Association

Hanover Area Civic Association

April 20-May 12: FY2027 Budget Hearings

Posted by nextstoprp in Council, Mayor

The Council has updated the FY2027 budget hearing schedule. Committee hearings will begin April 20. See Updated DC Council FY2027 Budget Oversight Hearing Schedule.

Sign up to testify or provide written testimony on the DC Council Hearing Portal website.

The proposed budget documents are available at https://cfo.dc.gov/node/289642.

Mayor Bowser presented her proposed budget to the council on April 14. At budget.dc.gov, find Mayor Bowser’s FY2027 budget presentation and Twelve-Year Budget Lookback.

Neighbor Gavin helpfully shared a few items of neighborhood interest.

Capital Improvement Plan

  • NEW — North Capitol Street Multimodal Corridor Study – Michigan Ave to Kansas Ave
  • NEW — Military Road Trail (Oregon to Beach Section)
  • 101241 — Metropolitan Branch Trail – First Place to Oglethorpe St NW
  • LaSalle-Backus modernization is still included, some funds shift from FY29 to FY28, same total though
  • Whittier modernization looks same as last year
  • Riggs-LaSalle Rec $400K for HVAC replacement in FY27 spend plan
  • Lamond $750K athletic field in FY27 spend plan
  • North Michigan Park Rec $756K roof replacement in FY27 spend plan
  • Takoma Aquatic $482K for locker room renovations in FY26
  • Turkey Thicket Rec $12M over 3 years for renovation

Mayor’s budget mentions a 20-year tax abatement to incentivize investment near Fort Totten Metro station.

April 6-30: FY2027 Budget Hearings

Posted by nextstoprp in Council, Mayor

Update 4/1/2026: Following publication of this post, DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson announced that the hearing schedule will in fact be revised. A new schedule will be released later this month.

—

Original Post

Starting April 6, 2026, Council committees will hold hearings on proposed agency budgets.

The FY2027 budget hearing schedule and instructions on how to participate through either oral or written testimony are available at the link: DC Council FY2027 Budget Oversight Hearing Schedule.

This is the current schedule. It may be adjusted because of delays with the mayor’s budget submission.

Sign up to testify orally or provide written testimony on the DC Council Hearing Portal website.

Once again, elected officials have been warning about a tight budget year. That said, I personally would like the city to put more investment into UDC’s Lamond-Riggs campus. The campus houses the community college program and one of the university’s food hubs. The food hub is run by UDC’s College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES). The campus is supposed to be undergoing renovation and expansion as outlined in the approved 2023-2033 Lamond-Riggs Campus Plan.

See UDC 2023-2033 Lamond-Riggs Campus Plan Fact Sheet.

See UDC 2023-2033 Lamond-Riggs Campus Plan.

I mentioned during ANC 5A’s February meeting that UDC President Maurice Edington stated during the university’s recent oversight hearing that they have engaged a consultant to look at the feasibility of moving the community college from the Lamond-Riggs campus to the Van Ness campus. They expect a report in May.

Apparently, during last year’s budget fiasco, between Congressional Republicans’ fooling around with DC’s local funding, and the mayor’s desire for public money for the RFK stadium, UDC lost capital funding that had been approved for Phase 1 renovations of the Lamond-Riggs campus. So President Edington said he took that loss of funding to rethink the vision for the campus entirely. He said that he wants to build a “world-class” community college and that he does not think the Lamond-Riggs campus is the place for that. He said that a large building at Van Ness is undergoing renovation and should be complete by 2028. He also stated that he has asked the consultant to look at other areas of the city as well.

I have long said that the city treats the Lamond-Riggs campus as an afterthought. I think rather than disinvesting in this important city and neighborhood asset, the city should actually invest more in the campus and give the university back the money that was already approved for Phase 1 and approve Phase 2 funding as well. UDC’s budget hearing is currently scheduled for April 23.

The budget hearings are the time to let the Council know what you support and would like to see funded. Even if it does not get funding this time, it is important to have a record of the ask, so ask!

March 26: DC Council Chair Tax Town Hall (Virtual)

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

From Office of DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson

Chairman Mendelson will host two Tax Town Hall meetings. The first meeting will take place virtually via Zoom on Thursday, March 26th, from 6 PM to 8 PM. Please RSVP for the Zoom link at ChairmanCS@DcCouncil.gov. The second meeting will be held in person on Saturday, March 28th, from 10 AM to 12 PM at the UDC Student Center, located at 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW, in Room A01.

The purpose of these meetings is to provide information about property tax assessments and the appeals process. Staff from the Office of Tax and Revenue will be available to answer any questions related to these topics.

Councilmember Robert White FY27 Budget Survey & Townhall

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

At-large Councilmember Robert White is holding a series of budget town halls to gather perspectives, ideas, and concerns that will help shape FY27 budget priorities. He will be at the Lamond-Riggs Library on Tuesday, March 24, 5:30pm-7:30pm.

RSVP here:

https://tinyurl.com/FY27BudgetTownhall.

Share your ideas by filling out this FY27 budget priorities survey here:

https://tinyurl.com/FY27BudgetIdeas.

Reminder – Wards 4 & 5 FY2027 Budget Forums This Week

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

Reminder to register for this week’s FY2027 budget forums. Let your councilmembers know what you would like to see funded.

Ward 4 Budget Forum with Councilmember Janeese Lewis George

February 10, 2026, at 2pm and 7pm.

Register at janeeseward4.com/budgetforum.

Ward 5 Budget Forum with Councilmember Zachary Parker

February 11, 2026, at 6:30pm.

Register at ward5.us/budgetforum.

Also, please flag agency performance issues with Councilmember Parker’s office at ward5.us/oversight.

January 22-March 6: DC Council FY2025-2026 Performance Oversight Hearings

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

DC Council performance oversight hearings will run from January 22 to March 6, 2026: Draft FY2025-2026 Performance Oversight Hearing Schedule.

Sign up to testify live or submit written testimony through the DC Council Hearing Portal.

Oversight hearings provide a good opportunity to let the Council know what District agencies are doing well and how they can improve. It is a good first step in advocating for budget funding. Visit the Council’s website to see tips about providing testimony.

Worth taking some time to let those with the power to do something know about issues that residents have.

May 29-June 17: FY2026 Budget Hearings

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

Updated

On May 27, 2025, Mayor Muriel Bowser submitted her FY2026 budget proposal to the DC Council. The mayor’s budget overview presentation to the council as well as budget highlights for each ward are available at budget.dc.gov.

Ward 4 Proposed Budget Highlights

Ward 5 Proposed Budget Highlights

Proposed budget details are in the budget books on the District’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer website.

FY2026 Budget Hearing Schedule

Over the next few weeks, Council committees will hold hearings on proposed agency budgets.

The FY2026 budget hearing schedule and instructions on how to participate through either oral or written testimony are available at the link: DC Council FY2026 Budget Oversight Hearing Schedule.

Sign up to testify orally or provide written testimony on the DC Council Hearing Portal website.

For months, public officials have been warning that “tough choices” would need to be made in the budget. There will be a lot more discussion over the coming weeks. This is your chance to let the Council know what you support and would like to see funded in the budget. Even if it does not get funding this time, it is important to have a record of the ask, so ask!

Updated 5/28/20205 with some key sign up deadlines shared by neighbor Gavin

The UDC hearing is Friday, so the deadline to sign up is 5 pm today.

DDOT is Monday, so sign up by Thursday (tomorrow) 5 pm.

DPR is June 5, so sign up by June 3 at 5 pm.

DCPS is June 6, so sign up by June 4 at 5 pm.

DCPL is June 10, so sign up by June 6.

DGS is June 12, so sign up by June 10.

January 22-March 7: DC Council FY2024-2025 Performance Oversight Hearings

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

DC Council performance oversight hearings will run from January 22 to March 7, 2025: Draft FY2024-2025 Performance Oversight Hearing Schedule.

Sign up to testify live or submit written testimony through the DC Council Hearing Portal.

Oversight hearings provide a good opportunity to let the Council know what District agencies are doing well and how they can improve. It is a good first step in advocating for budget funding. Worth taking some time to let those with the power to do something know about issues that residents have.

Neighborhood Items of Interest in Mayor’s Proposed FY2025 Budget

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

Mayor Muriel Bowser submitted her proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget to the DC Council on April 3, 2024. Budget documents available at https://cfo.dc.gov/node/289642.

The mayor’s office prepared Ward budget information sheets:

Ward 4 Information Sheet

Ward 5 Information Sheet

The new budget hearing schedule is available at https://dccouncil.gov/2023-2024-performance-oversight-fy-2025-budget-schedules. Budget hearings provide a good opportunity to continue advocating for longstanding neighborhood requests. Use the hearing portal to sign up to testify or to submit written testimony.

Neighbor Gavin took a preliminary look at the budget proposal for a few items of interest to our neighborhood.

DDOT

  • Includes $13 million for Met Branch Trail First Place NE to Oglethorpe Street NW segment. This is currently being built partially as an on-street alignment in the Manor Park area because initially NPS would not approve building it off-street on NPS land. There were talks of an environmental assessment for an off-street alignment, but unclear where things stand with that.
  • A bit farther afield, but the budget also includes new funding for the Military Road Trail (Oregon Avenue to Beach Drive section). There is a long-term vision for a Fort Circle Parks Trail that would link all the Fort Circle Parks. From Fort Totten to the northwest, that would go to Fort Slocum, then Fort Stevens, then need to cross through Rock Creek Park to the west. The Military Road Trail would, in effect, build the segment crossing Rock Creek Park. The MBT Manor Park segment would build most of the distance between Fort Totten and Fort Slocum. The MBT Fort Totten to Avondale segment, mentioned below, would build much of the distance between Fort Totten and Barnard Hill. So this segment, while not in our neighborhood, is part of a network planned to come here.
  • The Eastern Ave. rehabilitation project is still listed but do not see more details about the amount or timing.
  • The $1 million that Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker got last year for South Dakota Avenue safety improvements is reallocated to the general safety line. Do not know if that is just budgetary reorganization or if it reflects the Mayor’s plan to not spend that money on South Dakota Avenue.
  • Do not see the Fort Totten to Avondale segment of the MBT, which both CM Parker and Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George requested in FY25. (Think a very small stub of this, at the Maryland line, is included in DDOT’s general plans without specific mention in the budget.) If the Manor Park segment is ready to move, maybe they are prioritizing that.

DCPS

  • LaSalle-Backus Elementary School modernization is included, amounts and timing unchanged from last year.
  • New $18 million for swing space for Whittier Elementary School modernization, which will push that modernization back a year. So far have not seen anything about how that will affect the LaSalle-Backus modernization, but it raises the question of whether that swing space could be used for LaSalle after Whittier. (Whittier is now scheduled to be in a swing space in FY 27-28, and LaSalle in FY 28-29. Presumably they could not both use it during FY28, but it might make sense to push LaSalle back a year in order to use that space.)

UDC

  • Looks like no new funding for Lamond-Riggs Campus expansion (but looks like prior funds remain available). Lamond-Riggs Campus is included in some cross-campus projects for minor improvements like HVAC.

DPR

  • FY25 spend plan includes synthetic turf replacement at Riggs-LaSalle.
  • DPR: FY25 spend plan includes playground equipment and surfacing at North Michigan Park. (There was $250K for this in the FY23 budget, not sure where that went)

Gavin also noted that the Deputy Mayor for Education just released the DC Public Education Master Facilities Plan. One interesting appendix is “Future housing pipeline yields.” It estimates the number of additional elementary school students in 5 years, per DCPS boundary school, based on 2 factors:

  1. Turnover in senior housing: i.e., the primary occupant is 65+ and will move out in the next 5 years
  2. New housing development delivering in the next 5 years

For turnover in senior housing, the top 3 schools in DC are all nearby (school boundary map):

  1. Bunker Hill (N./Michigan Park, etc.): 247 students
  2. Whittier (Lamond & Manor Park): 222 students
  3. LaSalle-Backus (Riggs Park): 170 students

So basically, this part of town has more houses than anywhere else in DC where seniors currently live, and young families are going to move into soon — hundreds of them.

For new housing development, Bunker Hill is 9th citywide, LaSalle is 16th, and Whittier is 39th. This is out of 74 elementary school boundaries. So, not as high on new housing, but Bunker Hill and LaSalle are still in the top quartile.

Mayor Bowser’s Proposed FY25 Budget

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

Budget documents for Mayor Bowser’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget are available at https://cfo.dc.gov/node/289642. The mayor is briefing the Council on her proposed budget today.

Budget oversight hearings will take place April 4 to May 2, 2024. Schedule available at https://dccouncil.gov/2023-2024-performance-oversight-fy-2025-budget-schedules. Use the hearing portal to sign up to testify or to submit written testimony.

List of DC Programs We All Should Know

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George and her team put together a great list of DC programs that more DC residents should know about or take advantage of. Her team states that many of the ideas came directly from neighbors who shared how these programs impact their lives for the better.

View the list at www.petworthnews.org/blog/cm-lewis-george-dc-programs.

And in case you missed it, back in January, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parkers’s weekly newsletter included a link to DC Health’s LinkU, which provides a list of health, food, housing, and community assistance resources.