5865510 Resolution 21-367, Athletic Field Naming and Sponsorship Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2016

A RESOLUTION

                                                        

21-367

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

February 2, 2016        

 

                                                                                                                                                                                            

 

To declare the existence of an emergency, due to congressional review, 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 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 Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2016”.

 

Sec. 2.  (a)  The District of Columbia is undertaking a philanthropic partnership with the Washington Nationals baseball club to renovate a Department of Parks and Recreation athletic field slated for completion in the early spring of 2016.

 (b)  On September 16, 2015, Chairman Phil Mendelson and Councilmembers Evans, Allen, and Cheh introduced the Athletic Field Naming and Sponsorship Amendment Act of 2015, enacted on December 17, 2015 (D.C. Act 21-233; 62 DCR 16266) (the “permanent legislation”).  The permanent legislation was referred to the Committee of the Whole, which reported the bill favorably on October 20, 2015.  The legislation received final reading on December 1, 2015, but will not become effective until approximately March 5, 2016 due to the 30-day congressional review period.

(c)  Companion emergency legislation, the Athletic Field Naming and Sponsorship Emergency Amendment Act of 2015, effective November 23, 2015 (D.C. Act 21-201; 62 DCR 15274) (the “emergency legislation”), was adopted by the Council at the time of the first reading of the permanent legislation on November 3, 2015, and will expire on February 21, 2016.

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

(e)  It is important that the provisions of the emergency legislation continue in effect, without interruption, until the permanent legislation is law.

 

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 Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2016 be adopted after a single reading.

 

Sec. 4.  This resolution shall take effect immediately.