5748334 Resolution 21-275, Athletic Field Naming and Sponsorship Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2015

A RESOLUTION

 

21-275

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

November 3, 2015

 

                                                                                                                                                                                            

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the Street and Alley Closing and Acquisition Procedures Act of 1982 to allow for the temporary naming of an adopted or sponsored Department of Parks and Recreation athletic field in honor of a current or former professional sports player and to permit the District to display the logo of an entity sponsoring or adopting a Department of Parks and Recreation athletic field on signage at the field; and to amend the Recreation Act of 1994 to clarify that certain entities, including a nonprofit organization, may adopt or sponsor a Department of Parks and Recreation program, site, facility, field, or operation.

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Athletic Field Naming and Sponsorship Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2015”.

 

Sec. 2. (a) On September 16, 2015, Chairman Phil Mendelson and Councilmembers Evans, Allen, and Cheh, introduced the Athletic Field Naming and Sponsorship Amendment Act of 2015, passed on 1st reading on November 3, 2015 (Engrossed version of Bill 21-340) (the “permanent legislation”).  The permanent legislation was referred to the Committee of the Whole, which held a hearing on it on October 13, 2015, and reported it favorably on October 20, 2015. 

(b) The permanent legislation was passed on first reading on November 3, 2015.  Its second reading may not occur until at least 14 days thereafter.  The legislation then would need to be signed by the Mayor and transmitted to Congress for the 30-day review period required by section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)).

(c) The District of Columbia is presently attempting to enter into a philanthropic partnership with the Washington Nationals baseball club to renovate a Department of Parks and Recreation athletic field slated for completion by March 1, 2016. 

(d) Based on the schedule for enactment of the permanent legislation, it does not seem likely that the District will have the authority to enter in to this partnership in sufficient time for the required agreements to be executed and the field renovations to occur.        

(e) It is therefore important that emergency legislation authorize the District to enter into this partnership before the permanent legislation becomes effective.

                                                                                         

Sec. 3.  The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Athletic Field Naming and Sponsorship Emergency Amendment Act of 2015 be adopted after a single reading.

 

Sec. 4.  This resolution shall take effect immediately.