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Vincent C. Gray Transition Materials
November 9, 2006

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Press release Transition Committee Descriptions
Transition plan PowerPoint presentation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 8, 2006

CONTACT:
Gray Transition Team
Connie Chic Smith, 202-731-0529 Email: chicsmith@verizon.net 

COUNCIL CHAIR-ELECT VINCENT GRAY ANNOUNCES "ONE CITY" TRANSITION PLANS

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Council Chair-elect Vincent C. Gray will announce his transition plans at a press conference tomorrow, Thursday, November 9, 2006, at 10 a.m., at the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, in the Fourth Floor Hearing Room (# 412). Gray will provide an overview of his transition plan, announce his transition team, and the following transition committees:

  • Organizational Structure, Staffing, Budget and Administration
  • Council Rules and Procedures
  • One City Initiatives
  • Council Orientation and Legislative Agenda
  • Logistics and Events
  • Wilson Building Authority and Use

At the outset of his campaign for the Council Chair, Gray created the theme of "One City" and set a goal of providing leadership for the good of all District citizens. Gray won the September Primary Election with 57% of the vote and yesterday's General Election with 97.8% of the vote.

"Across the District we need to ensure that we work as one city," said the Council Chair-elect. "With all the changes and the challenges we face, it is important that we work together if progress is to occur."

Gray's career in the area of social services for urban communities spans over 30 years. Prior to his election to City Council, Chairman-elect Gray served as the founding Executive Director of Covenant House Washington. Vincent Gray, a native Washingtonian, is a graduate of Dunbar High School. He holds a Bachelor degree in Psychology and attended undergraduate and graduate school at George Washington University. Gray has introduced or co-introduced more than 70 pieces of legislation during his first two years in office.

For further information, please contact Connie Chic Smith at 202-731-0529 or via email at chicsmith@verizon.net.

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COUNCIL CHAIRMAN
TRANSITION COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, STAFFING, BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION 

This committee is responsible for reviewing each of the Council offices, operations and administrative support services, including communications and technology and making recommendations for continued development. This includes all operations of the Chairman's Office, Committee of the Whole, Office of the Secretary, Budget Office, Office of the General Counsel, D.C. Auditor, Advisory Neighborhood Commission and any other staffed units of the Council. The report on each unit should include, at a minimum, functional description of the organizational unit, budget allocation (including organization chart), number of employees, job titles, job descriptions, staff evaluations and recommendations, including recommendations for new entities or functions.

COUNCIL RULES AND PROCEDURES

This committee is responsible for reviewing the current Council Rules and operating procedures and making recommendations on changes. Efforts should focus on reviewing not only the existing rules but also determining changes that were made following Council periods 14 and 15 in order to develop a historical perspective. It should review the history of the Council's committee structure, identifying changes that have occurred over time, and, to the extent such information is available, setting forth the rationale underlying those changes. The committee report should include recommendations for Council rules, legislative and operating procedures, and committee structure and jurisdiction. Where appropriate, the committee should include the rationale to support each proposed change.

ONE CITY

This committee is responsible for translating the "One City" campaign theme into a set of concrete initiatives that can be implemented to work toward city unification, especially since views of the most pressing issues affecting the District, for the most part, are shared by residents irrespective of demographic factors that often prove to be divisive. The role of the committee is to provide a list of proposed initiatives from which several might be selected and to propose a strategy for moving ahead on this effort. Examples of initiatives might include: Organizing a unified effort to revitalize Pennsylvania Avenue from Capitol Hill to Southern Avenue, thus involving residents of both sides of the Anacostia River; or developing a "Neighbor to Neighbor" program to facilitate partnerships between Civic and Citizen Associations to help them work together on projects or initiatives of mutual interest. The report of this committee should include recommendations for the One City structure, staffing, projects, database organization, financing and an operational plan for the first 100 days of the Council session.

COUNCIL ORIENTATION AND LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

The responsibility of this committee is to design an orientation program for new councilmembers, including those who take their seats in January and the winners of the special elections to be conducted in the Spring. In addition, this committee is responsible for identifying potential legislative issues facing the Council in Council Period 17. The committee also is responsible for developing a proposed format for a Council retreat to be conducted soon after January 2nd. The report of this committee should include recommendations for a legislative agenda for the Chairman, as well as identification of key Council legislative issues with a policy discussion of each issue and suggested format for the staff and member orientations and retreats.

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, BOARDS AND SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS

This committee is responsible for identifying the Boards, Commissions, membership organizations and other entities to which the Chairman is authorized to make appointments, including but not limited to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and WMATA Board. This committee report should identify the statutory basis for each appointment, criteria associated with the appointments, incumbent appointee, vacancies and term or timetable associated therewith. The committee should recommend a process for vetting and advising the Chairman on appointments.

LOGISTICS AND EVENTS

This committee is responsible for identifying logistical changes that will be required during the transition such as allocation of office space, Chairman's office and other office moves, seating order on the Dais, changes to Council Chamber, use of Chamber. The committee is also responsible for overseeing the planning of a Council Service Recognition event, Council inauguration and associated events and any events required to facilitate the transition of the Chairman. The committee report t should also include a logistics plan and recommendations for ensuring that implementation plans and timetables are developed to address each recommendation.

WILSON BUILDING AUTHORITY AND USE

This committee is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the Council's authority and responsibilities for the Wilson Building and how those responsibilities are currently implemented. The committee report should include current building authority, responsibility, facility use policies, contracts, and any memoranda of understanding or other agreements with the executive branch or any other entity. The report should also propose ways to make the building more aesthetically attractive and recommendations for expanded uses such as ways to support the cause of D.C. Voting Rights or to increase public access and utilization.

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TRANSITION 
CHAIRMAN-ELECT VINCENT C. GRAY

OVERVIEW OF THE TRANSITION PROCESS

OBJECTIVES:

1. Assist the Chairman-elect in all aspects of planning, organizing, staffing and resource allocation for the Council, offices of Council officers, committees and support services

2. Develop framework for Council and committee organizational structure and staffing

3. Make recommendations for rules and procedures

4. Develop blueprint for "One City" initiatives

5. Provide support for Chairman's recommendations on appointments, budget and other issues under his jurisdiction.

OUTCOMES:

  • Blueprint for organizing Chairman's office, the Committee of the Whole, Council officers and supporting services. 
  • Proposed rules for Council Period 17 
  • Proposed changes in committee jurisdiction and structure
  • Process for vetting appointments to boards and commissions
  • Framework for the One City initiative
  • Plans for office moves, Inauguration and other events
  • Outline for new Councilmember orientation
  • Proposed budget changes
  • Identify key legislative issues and recommend new Council programs and services.
  • Each Transition work group provides a report:
    • scope of the committee's work
    • description of function(s)
    • budget, staffing & assessment of effectiveness
    • recommendations for changes, with justification and implementation requirements 

KEY MILESTONES & TIMETABLE

General Election, November 7
Official Transition Kick-off, November 9th
Executive Committee Meetings, weekly
Preliminary Reports Due, December 8th
Final Reports Due, January 5, 2007

transition organizational structure

RESPONSIBILITIES & FUNCTIONS OF TRANSITION WORK GROUPS

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, STAFFING, BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION

  • Review and provide recommendations on Council operations and support services:
    • Chairman's Office
    • Committee of the Whole 
    • Office of the Secretary 
    • Budget Office
    • Office of the General Counsel 
    • D.C. Auditor
    • Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions
  • The report to include
    • functional description of the unit
    • budget allocation 
    • organization chart
    • number of employees
    • job titles & descriptions
    • staff evaluations & recommendations 
    • recommendations for improvements

council organizational units

COUNCIL RULES AND PROCEDURES

  • Review Council Rules and operating procedures and recommend changes.
  • Review history of Council committee structure, identify changes, and set forth the rationale underlying those changes.
  • Provide recommendations on committee structure &jurisdiction.

ONE CITY

  • Translate the "One City" campaign theme into concrete initiatives and propose implementation strategies.
  • Report to include recommendations for
    • One City structure 
    • Staffing 
    • Projects 
    • Financing 
    • Operational plan

COUNCIL ORIENTATION & LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

  • Design an orientation program for new Council members (& their staff).
  • Identify potential key legislative issues facing the Council in Council Period 17 with a policy discussion of each issue.
  • Make recommendations for a legislative agenda for the Chairman.
  • Develop the format of a Council retreat in January.

APPOINTMENTS

  • Identify the Boards, Commissions & membership organizations to which the Chairman makes appointments. 
  • Identify:
    • statutory basis for each appointment 
    • criteria for appointments
    • incumbent appointee
    • vacancies
    • term
  • recommend a process for vetting and advising the Chairman on appointments.

LOGISTICS AND EVENTS

  • Identify logistical changes required:
    • allocation of office space
    • Chairman's office and other office moves 
    • seating order on the Dais 
    • changes to Council Chamber 
    • use of Chamber
  • Facilitate planning of:
    • Service Recognition ceremony 
    • Council inauguration
    • Events required to facilitate the transition of the new Chairman

WILSON BUILDING

  • Review and evaluate the Council's authority and responsibilities for the Wilson Building and how those responsibilities are currently implemented.
  • Report to include current building authority, responsibility, facility use policies, contracts, and MOU's or other agreements.
  • Propose ways to make the building more aesthetically attractive & recommend expanded uses.

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