5326190 Resolution 20-753, Legacy Memorial Park Commemorative Work Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2014

A RESOLUTION

                                                        

20-753

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

December 17, 2014         

 

 

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to approve a commemorative work located at the intersection of South Dakota Avenue, N.W.,  and New Hampshire Avenue, N.W., in a section of Fort Circle Park located on Square 3712, Lots 101, 102, 103, and 104,  to be known as the Legacy Memorial Park.

 

            RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Legacy Memorial Park Commemorative Work Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2014”.

 

            Sec. 2.   (a) On May 28, 2014, Chairman Phil Mendelson, at the request of the Mayor, introduced PR 20-808, the Chuck Brown Memorial, Carter G. Woodson Memorial, and Metro Memorial Park Commemorative Works Approval Resolution of 2014.  That legislation was referred to the Committee of the Whole, which held a hearing on the resolution on July 2, 2014.

            (b)  The proposed Metro Memorial Park contained in PR 20-808 has received necessary approvals from all relevant local and federal boards and commissions, including the Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Committee, the National Capital Planning Commission (“NCPC”), the Commission of Fine Arts, the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B, and the Commemorative Works Committee.

            (c) Since the introduction of PR 20-808, the memorial has been redesignated as the Legacy Memorial Park.

            (d)  Legacy Memorial Park will be located at the intersection of South Dakota Avenue, N.W.,  and New Hampshire Avenue, N.W., in a section of Fort Circle Park located on Square 3712, Lots 101, 102, 103, and 104.   

            (e)  The memorial will be a living memorial that honors the victims, first responders, and families whose lives were altered by the deadliest crash in the 47-year history of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, also known as WMATA or Metro.  Nine sculptural pieces will serve as symbols representing the 8 passengers and train operator who lost their lives, inspiring visitors to personally reflect on the events of June 22, 2009, and collectively grieve and celebrate the memories of loved ones.

            (f)  Because all necessary approvals have been obtained, funding has been identified, planning for the Memorial is well underway, and because of the need to move forward on completion of the memorial, the memorial should be approved.

            (g)  PR 20-808 contained approvals for 2 other memorials, one of which was passed by the Council on an emergency basis on July 14, 2014, and the other which was passed by the Council on an emergency basis on September 23, 2014.  PR 20-808, however, cannot be adopted only in part to approve the Legacy Memorial Park.  The Council did not act on PR 20-808 in whole because, at the time of its consideration, each memorial project had not yet received all necessary approvals.  Legacy Memorial Park received its final NCPC approval on December 5, 2014, and the Commission on Fine Arts approval on December 8, 2014.

            (h)  Approval of emergency legislation will allow the development of the Legacy Memorial Park to proceed without the need to retransmit an additional resolution next year. 

 

            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 Legacy Memorial Park Commemorative Work Emergency Approval Act of 2014 be adopted after a single reading.

 

            Sec. 4.   This resolution shall take effect immediately.