Official Residence of the Mayor Establishment of 2000
Bill 13-590

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A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

To authorize the establishment of an official residence for the Mayor of the District of Columbia.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Official Residence of the Mayor Establishment Act of 2000".

Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia finds that:

(1) The District of Columbia is the nation's capital and an international showcase.

(2) The Mayor of the District of Columbia serves as the highest elected-official at both the state and local levels.

(3) The Mayor of the District of Columbia should have a residence suitable to entertain and honor citizens, businesses, and officials guests of the District of Columbia.

(4) After 25 years of home rule, it is appropriate for the District of Columbia to acquire a property or to renovate an existing District of Columbia owned property to serve as the official residence of the Mayor of the District of Columbia.

Sec. 3. Definitions.

(1) "Official residence" means the land and improvements that comprise the place in the District of Columbia where the Mayor of the District of Columbia lives during the Mayor's term of office.

(2) "Office" means the Office of Property Management of the District of Columbia.

(3) "Officer" means the Chief Property Management Officer of the District of Columbia.

Sec. 4. (a) There is hereby authorized such funds as may be necessary. to be expended for the acquisition, renovation, furnishings, maintenance, security, and incidental expenses incurred in acquiring and maintaining an official residence, or renovating an maintaining an existing District of Columbia owned property, to serve as the official residence.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of law, private individuals, companies, and other organizations shall be permitted to donate funds or property to the District of Columbia for the purposes of this act. Such funds shall be deposited into a special account that shall not be a part of, or lapse into, the General Fund of the District government. The amount and source of funds or property donated for the purposes of this act shall be disclosed to the public.

(c) This act is subject to the availability of appropriations or donations.

Sec. 5. (a) The Chief Property Management Officer of the District of Columbia shall investigate possible sites for an official residence.

(b) The Officer shall first explore the possibility of the District's acquiring title to or jurisdiction over the property located at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. (Square 0948, Lots 802 and 803), upon the expiration of the current lease of the property in June 2002, for use as the official residence.

(c) If the property identified in subsection (b) cannot be obtained by the District of Columbia to serve as the official residence, the Officer shall explore all existing District of Columbia owned properties to locate a home appropriate to serve as the official residence. If the Officer then determines that there is no existing District of Columbia property that is suitable to serve as the official residence, the Officer shall investigate other properties to serve as the official residence.

(d) The Officer shall report to the Mayor and the Council once every six months on the status of efforts to obtain property for use as the official residence.

(e) Once the Officer and the Mayor have selected a property for the official residence, the Mayor shall submit to the Council a proposed resolution approving of the selection and, if applicable, the method of acquisition of the property. If the Council does not approve or disapprove the proposed resolution within 45 days, excluding days of Council recess, the proposed resolution shall be deemed approved.

Sec. 6. (a) The District of Columbia government shall be responsible for costs associated with acquiring, renovating, and furnishing the official residence, and for expenses related to the maintenance, utilities, and security of the official residence. The Mayor of the District of Columbia shall be individually responsible for other day-to-day personal expenses associated with residing in the official residence.

(b) The official residence shall be exempt from property taxes.

Sec. 7. The Mayor of the District of Columbia shall have the exclusive right to use the official residence during the Mayor's term of office.

Sec. 8. The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code § 1-233 (c)(3)).

Sec. 9. This act shall take effect following the approval by the Mayor (or in the event of a veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), approval by the Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority as provided in section 203 (a) of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995, approved April 17, 1995 (109 Stat. 116; D.C. Code § 47-392.3(a)), a 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code § 1-233(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.