DCRA NEWS! A Regulatory Affair

District of Columbia sent this bulletin at 09/29/2017 01:01 PM EDT

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

July-September 2017 | Volume 1: Issue 8

Director's Desk
Did You Know?
Departmental Highlights
Upcoming Events
DCRA Data
Newsletter Feedback

Director's Desk

Greetings:

September not only marks the end of the fiscal year, but the observance of National Preparedness Month. DCRA, once again, took a prominent stance in promoting National Preparedness Month by hosting events throughout the District in collaboration with agency and community partners focused on this year’s theme: “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.”

National Preparedness Month offered DCRA an opportunity to educate District residents and support first responders in our neighborhoods and community by training how to appropriately respond during an emergency, and what do when a disaster strikes where we live, work and visit.

Throughout September, we held workshops on how to appropriately prepare for a disaster. National Preparedness Month allowed us an opportunity to highlight the expertise of DCRA staff and work closely with sister agencies like DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) and DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) to provide education to the public about preventing disasters and recovering from them.

Some of the events DCRA hosted were a Flooding Prevention and Preparedness live stream/chat with Lynn Underwood, DCRA’s Chief Building Official; a Senior Fire Safety and Awareness Workshop with FEMS at the Hayes Senior Wellness Center; a National Preparedness Month Kids Zone event with Van Ness Elementary School; and a Hands-Only CPR Training at DCRA. Learn more about the events and access National Preparedness Month resources on our website.

Sincerely,

Melinda Bolling,

DCRA Director

Did You Know?

$DCRA Infraction Fine Increase Amendment Act of 2017 Update Graphic$

DCRA Infraction Fine Increase Amendment Act of 2017

Effective October 1, 2017, the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) will increase certain fines pursuant to the "DCRA Infraction Fine Increase Amendment Act of 2017" (as part of the Budget Support Act), which requires DCRA to begin issuing doubled fines for identified provisions. DC Municipal Regulation (DCMR); 16 DCMR 3201 Subsection 3201.0 specifically addresses the change in fines for impacted Class 1 infractions.

The District of Columbia Property Maintenance Code (2013), referred to as the “Property Maintenance Code,” will require double fines for certain Code violations, as shown here.

Beginning October 1, 2017, Notices of Infraction for specified offenses will carry fines that are 200% of their current amount for each applicable violation.

Repeat Technical Review Fees After 3rd Review Cycle

Effective October 1, 2017, the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) will mandate the Repeat Technical Review fees after the third plan review cycle, according to the DC Municipal Regulation (DCMR) Section 108.2.1 which states: “the code official is authorized to establish by approved rules a schedule of unit rates for buildings and other structures and for the installation of their appurtenant systems, fixtures, appliances and equipment.”

The cost of all subsequent reviews following the third plan review cycle will be as follows:

Single family property $65.00, plus a 10% enhancement fee.
Commercial property less than 10,000 square feet $130/per discipline, plus 10% enhancement fee.
Commercial property between 10,000-100,000 square feet $390/per discipline, plus 10% enhancement fee.
Commercial property 100,001 square feet and greater $650/ per discipline, plus 10% enhancement fee.

The payment of the Building Permit Fees will be required before the permit can be issued. For more information, please visit our website at dcra.dc.gov/repeat-technical-review-fees.

Entrée DC: Where the Food & Drink Industry Meet

On Monday, September 18th, DCRA held its 5th Annual Entrée DC event, which connects the food and beverage industry with DC public and private sector resources. Budding entrepreneurs had the opportunity to gain insight from thriving businesses and industry giants in the hospitality industry in DC.

NEW this year was the 202Creates Tasting Lounge, Job Fair, Going Local, and Meaningful Marketing breakout sessions. Attendees were able to:

Sample unique creations and latest innovations in food by local DC makers for the seasoned DC food crowd.
Meet new hires with expertise in everything from marketing to production and showcase what their companies has to offer for new and seasoned food talent.
Learn how to "go local" and hear from leaders in going local and what both purchasers and providers look for to make local sourcing, selling and serving possible.

View pictures and recap video from Entrée DC here.

Business Portal 1st Anniversary Celebration

On September 14th, after a year of operation, DCRA celebrated the success of the Business Portal. The Business Portal has allowed customers to Skip the Trip, by conducting business licensing services online via an intuitive and user-friendly system. In just one year of operation, over 22,000 new accounts have been created; over 5,000 new businesses have been started; and over 12,000 businesses have renewed their licenses using the Portal. Mohamed Kamara with SMK & Associates and Gerald Roper Jr, with CIROWW, LLC, spoke at the celebration about how user friendly and intuitive the interface of the Business Portal is for all ages. Learn more about the Business Portal at business.dc.gov.

DCRA Launched New Customer Satisfaction Survey Via Text

As of August 24th, customers can provide real-time feedback to the agency about their experience through an interactive text messaging survey. The new text feedback program is the latest in a series of improvements being offered as part of DCRA’s Safe & Simple initiative.

To rate your recent customer service experience at DCRA, simply text a response to the question, “How was your experience at DCRA today?” to 202-839-8065 by rating
A) Very Good, B) Good, C) Poor, and D) Very Poor.

The survey will then send back a series of interactive questions, via text message, tailored to your responses. DCRA will monitor the feedback continuously for immediate improvements and analyze the data quarterly to identify trends and opportunities.

Feedback from our customers is vital to the success of our agency, and by answering just a few questions, you will help us maintain, improve and enhance our level of service and help to make DCRA the best it can be. Tell us how we are doing by taking the survey now!

Aaron Easterling receiving the Director's Achievement Award from
DCRA Director, Melinda Bolling.

DCPS 2017 Summer Modernization: DCRA's Efforts on Getting Schools Open On-Time

When the schools closed their doors and the students went away for the summer, DCRA was called by District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and Department of General Services (DGS) to assist with the modernization of 26 schools across the District. Within a 60-day turnaround time, DCRA issued necessary construction permits, conducted inspections, provided third party oversight and assisted with the installations of four new elevators.

Director Melinda Bolling charged Aaron Easterling, Program Analyst in the Permit Operations Division, with managing the modernization project. Mr. Easterling went above and beyond to make sure that all DC Public Schools opened on-time and expressed that, "We would not have been able to achieve what we did without the outstanding teamwork and support that I received. I am so thankful for everyone and their hard work. The Director's Achievement Award I received from Director Bolling, it belongs to them."

A special thank you goes out to the following people:

DCRA Plan Reviewers: Luchi Lu, Silroy Brow, Semere Hadera, Syed Hashmi, Bihon Debessai, Alina Mahmood
DCRA Office of Zoning the Zoning Administrator: Matt LeGrant, Kathleen Beeton, Mamadou Nndaw, Shawn Gibbs, Daniel Calhoun, David Vollin
DCRA Elevator Inspectors: Norman Jackson, Paul Zweig
DCRA Third Party Program: Jeff Reiss, Patrick Allen, Marie Brown, Karen Williams
DDOT: Tiffany Tenbrook and Team
DOEE: Nykia Barnes and Team

DC Field Days: Wharf & Capitol Tours

DCRA is working to create experiences for staff to visit construction sites in order to relate what we do here on a daily basis. The primary focus is getting administrative staff involved in the process, because it’s rare that they get to participate in the fun and exciting off-site adventures. The plan is to have a trip once a month to visit a big or small project with the objective of creating a better understanding of what really is displayed on submitted building plans. View images from the trip here on DCRA’s Flickr Page.

If you would like to host a DCRA Field Day of your construction site, please contact Kristen Jones at kristen.jones@dc.gov.

DC Community Carrot

On August 23rd, 13 entrepreneurial youth became CEOs as they received business licenses in the DCRA Business License Center! These 13 new CEO’s were accompanied by DC Community Carrot’s Founder and Executive Director, David Sheon, DCRA’s Director Melinda Bolling and members of DCRA’s Business and Professional Licensing and Small Business Resource Center during the licensing process. The young entrepreneurs opened a variety of service and product businesses. One business that received its license is called "Vegan Buddy." This company will consult people who have had heart attacks or a diabetes diagnosis on how to change their diets quickly and safely. DCRA helped the 13 entrepreneurial youth become CEOs by explaining the regulatory business licensing process. Additionally, DCRA's Small Business Resource Center (SBRC) worked with each client to answer questions and assist with filling out all required forms.

DC Community Carrot’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty by helping Opportunity Youth create businesses of their own that will last a lifetime and create pathways to the middle class for the youth, ages 18-24. DC Community Carrot refers to these young adults as “Entrepreneurs In-Training,” or “EITs.” Congratulations, EITs! We wish you much success in your future endeavors.

SBRC Receives 16th Annual Cafritz Award

As members of the DC community, we are fortunate to have countless examples of public servants who work towards the greater good of this unique city. These often unsung heroes uphold the public interest amid competing interests, pressures and demands. To publicly recognize their efforts, the Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation partners with the George Washington University Center for Excellence in Public Leadership to reward outstanding performance and exemplary service by DC Government employees. Each year, five individual winners receive a $7,500 cash prize and a winning team receives a $15,000 cash prize. This year, our Small Business Resource Center (SBRC) was the recipient of the Cafritz Outstanding Team award. Congratulations on a job well done, SBRC Team!

Team Members: Joy Douglas, Jacqueline Noisette, Claudia Herrera and Tamika Wood

DCRA's Participation in 2017 ICC Annual Conference & Expo

DCRA participated in the 2017 International Code Council Annual Conference which offers a comprehensive Education Program to develop attendees' code knowledge and provide valuable solutions to the most critical challenges in the code profession. On September 10th, DCRA's Deputy Director, Lori Parris, and DCRA's Data and Innovation Manger, Kristina Savoy, presented on the Pre-Apprenticeship Program and what the program's successes and lessons learned were for the first three years.

On September 13th, DCRA's Deputy Director, Lori Parris, presented on the Global Connections Day by moderating a Building Safety Service Provider panel that focused on Third Party providers in the building sector. The panel was comprised of Building Safety Professionals from varying international and domestic perspectives of the building safety industry and covered the current and future trends on the built environment.

District’s First Workforce Signing Day

On September 8th, the District Government was excited to announce the creation of a new Abatement Team comprised of District Residents from our Learn Earn And Prosper (LEAP) Program. The LEAP Program, which is administered through the Department of Employment Services (DOES), was designed to provide a pathway to employment in District Government for District residents, many of which are considered hard-to-hire. This program gives individuals access to on-the-job training with the goal of employment in District Government when their training is complete. This initiative will hire seven total employees. Additionally, it will allow DCRA's efforts to reduce the number of blighted properties in neighborhoods across Washington, D.C. The Abatement Team project is a collaboration made possible by the tireless effort of several agencies including, DCRA, DOES and the Department of Public Works (DPW).

Departmental Highlights

Employee Appreciation Awards

The Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs honored and recognized agency employees during our Employee Appreciation Day. The Employee Appreciation Day was the brainchild of the Wellness at Work Program led by DCRA’s Chief Administrative Officer, Walter Crawford, and spearheaded by Risk Manager, Tania Williams, with the help of nine other committee members including India Blocker, Melanie Henderson, Claudia Herrera, Peter Hillman, Kristen Jones, Drew Morton, Nadine Parker, Felicia Riggins and Sarah Thigpen.

“It was a very gratifying and rewarding experience because the agency needed an event such as this to honor the employees for their service and commitment,” said Drew Morton, a Program Analyst, who co-coordinated the event. Mr. Morton, who was nominated and won several awards himself, was also Master of Ceremony for the event.

The event was a true team effort that included an hour-long awards recognition ceremony for all employees held in the Permits Center on the second floor. According to Mr. Crawford, who most often conducts business behind the cameras and spotlight, the positive rewards far exceeds whatever planning time was spent organizing the event.

“The rewards are the continued employee appreciation and recognition. The challenge is having enough time for staff to enjoy the celebration during the day.” The Wellness at Work Program was implemented in April 2015 by Crawford with a mission to focus on improving staff health, morale and productivity through wellness education, creating healthier environments and encouraging employees through programmatic efforts. It then seemed like a natural progression to implement an Employee Appreciation Day.

Jennifer Champagne, the board administrator for the Office of Professional Licensing Administration said, “I thought it was a great way to find out about our colleagues like Avis Pearson who won several awards. It was good to see her recognized; because, not only for her performance, but [because of] her everyday attitude toward her colleagues”. Ms. Champagne garnered two awards of her own for “Thinking Outside The Box” and another for her wonderful sense of humor.

View pictures from the event here.

Upcoming Events

10/2/2017 - Learn the Process of Starting a Business at the DC Public Library
10/4/2017 - ProjectDox Training
10/12/2017 - Navigating Government Contracting with DCPTAC
10/17/2017 - New Requirements for DC Housing Regarding Criminal Background
10/18/2017 - ProjectDox Training
10/26/2017 - The Business Planning Workshop
11/1/2017 - ProjectDox Training

DCRA Data

This is your centralized data section of the newsletter to access permit issuance information in seven different categories for all eight wards across the District. We hope these stats provide a better insight into developments happening in and around your respective communities.