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May 2018 | Volume 2 | Issue 3
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Greetings:
It’s
May, which means the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA)
celebrates Building Safety Month! Join us throughout the month as we host
events that highlight the need for safe and sustainable structures.
We’re
also excited to announce that we have received our accreditation from the International
Accreditation Service (IAS), a distinction received after an independent audit
and rigorous review of the agency’s organizational structure and standards
process was conducted. DCRA’s Building Department is among 24 government
organizations that have received IAS accreditation nationwide.
The accreditation process was not easy, but it demonstrates that our building department has met national standards and that the agency operates at a high level of organizational, legal and technical standards. This continues to confirm that DCRA provides exceptional service to the community – that’s what we are all about! This process has undoubtedly helped us to identify and implement processes and procedures that will always push us forward as a high-performing organization that encourages professional growth. Thus far, that growth has been evident.
I
am thankful for an incredible team that worked tirelessly to receive this
recognition. I’m grateful to them for showing up every day and putting the
interest of our customers first!
As
we move forward, we know there’s more to do. But I am very excited and proud of
what we have accomplished. View our press release here to learn more.
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Sincerely,
 Melinda Bolling, Director, Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs
May is Building Safety Month!
DCRA proudly
celebrates Building Safety Month (BSM) annually
during May to raise awareness of building safety to help individuals, families
and businesses understand what it takes to create safe, resilient, affordable
and energy-efficient homes and buildings. During BSM, DCRA is hosting free
events that highlight the need for safe and sustainable structures.
On May 7th, DCRA partnered with PN Hoffman on a Building Safety Month event, The Wharf: Revitalizing DC's Southwest Waterfront Using Science & Technology. At the workshop, PN Hoffman discussed how they incorporated science and technology into every aspect of building The Wharf from conception through completion. It was a successful event with over 60 attendees. View pictures from the event here.
Don't miss out on the remaining Building Safety Month events! Be sure to RSVP by visiting dcra.dc.gov/buildingsafetymonth.
The District's Grass Season Has Begun!
The District’s grass season is May 1st through October 31st. It is the owner’s
responsibility to maintain their lawn. If an owner fails to do so, DCRA will inspect
the property, tend to the property (i.e. mow property lawn and remove vegetation), and determine the cost of the fine. The fine (cost of the abatement) is billed to the
property owner and is determined by the number of employees and equipment used,
and total time spent at the property. Residents should report
properties with grass and/or weeds exceeding 8 inches directly to DCRA through
the District’s 311 system. You can report your service requests by either
calling 311, visiting the 311.dc.gov, using the mobile app (DC311), using the online live chat
feature during standard business hours, texting DC311, or tweeting to @311dcgov. Please have the exact address of the property before
reporting. To learn more, visit dcra.dc.gov/grassseason.
2018 District Small Business Week Wrap-Up
DCRA’s Small
Business Resource Center (SBRC) hosted their Small Business Week from April 30th - May 3rd. Featured events included our fun and popular Business Speed Coaching with District Sister Agencies and a Grant Writing Workshop that taught critical techniques for writing a quality proposal. On May 3rd, we partnered with the Washington DC Economic Partnership for the Requirements of Doing Business in DC Workshop that featured a panel of experts, including representatives from DCRA's Corporate Division, Business License Division, Vending Division, Small Business Resource Division and the Office of Tax and Revenue. If you missed any of these events, see what workshops SBRC has coming up next.
Save the Date! 12th Annual DC Board of Barber & Cosmetology Forum
On Monday, June 18th, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, the DC Board of Barber & Cosmetology is hosting its 12th Annual Practitioners Forum. The theme this year is The Business of Beauty. The forum will take place at Gallaudet University (800 Florida Avenue NE). Registration is required and will open up in the next two weeks. This event is metro accessible (NOMA-Gallaudet U Station - Red Line) and a parking pass will be an option to select during registration. Stay tuned for more information.
Green Building Professional Seminar Series Net-Zero Training
DCRA's Green
Building Division is excited to announce its Green Building Professional
Seminar Series, in partnership with the University of the District of
Columbia's Center for Architectural Innovation & Building Science! Over the
next 6 months, we are hosting a seminar on the last Wednesday of each month from
11:30 am to 1:30 pm.
We held the first seminar on April 25th themed around Net-Zero.
Our guest speakers were comprised of green building professionals that
educated attendees about the advancements of net-zero and shared their
first-hand experiences that helped bring the District closer to achieving
net-zero in the residential and commercial sectors. Coming up on
May 30th, DCRA's Green Building Division will host the second workshop, Green
Materials & Technologies Seminar. Our speakers will introduce new
materials and products that directly impact resource management. All events are
free and a certificate of completion will be provided for self-reporting continued
education credits. Please visit our website for further information at buildgreendc.org/events-trainings.
DCRA & MOAPIA Restaurant Workshop
On Tuesday, April 23, the DCRA, in partnership with the Mayor's Office of
the Asian & Pacific Islanders Affairs (MOAPIA) hosted a Restaurant meeting for the District's Korean and Mandarin speaking restaurant owners. During the meeting restaurant owners - existing and potential restaurateurs - were provided information on prerequisites in
obtaining a Business License, post-licensing
requirements, and the non-compliance
process and assessment.
The Divisions/Agencies that
presented during this event included:
- Business Licensing
Division
- Corporations
Division
- DC Health
- Fire and EMS
Department
- Office of the Zoning
Administrator
- Small Business
Resource Center
- Office of Tax and
Revenue
Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program Job Fair
DCRA participated in a job fair organized specifically for the
youth that would be participating in the upcoming Mayor Marion S. Barry Youth Employment
Program this summer. The job fair was
held in southwest at the Arena Stage Theater from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on April 6, 2018. DCRA will have space for 40 summer youth between the ages of
14 and 24. This is an
annual time for the Agency to offer an opportunity for high school students and
recent college graduates to experience a high performance government department
in action on a daily basis and decide if this fast-paced environment is suited
for them.
Knights of Columbus 14th Annual Career & Education Fair
The Knights of Columbus’ Bishop Patrick J. Byrne Council #3877 in
Ward 7 held their 14th annual career and education fair on Saturday,
April 18th, and invited DCRA to attend and participate
for the second consecutive year. DCRA shared information about our services and resources, as well as available job opportunities with
attendees.
Child Abuse Prevention Month
In
recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, April 2018, DCRA's Wellness at Work Program joined thousands of
communities throughout the nation in bringing attention to child abuse
prevention with a pinwheel garden in the Southwest DC metro area. The
garden was planted by members of the DCRA staff and was up the first two weeks
in April.
5/9/2018 - DCRA's New Online Permitting Tools Workshop & Webinar
5/15/2018 - Prepare Your Family for any Natural Disaster Panel Discussion
5/16/2018 - Building Collapse & Illegal Construction Prevention in the District
5/19/2018 - DCRA @ Home Depot - 901 Rhode Island Ave., NE
5/22/2018 - Safeguarding Our Water Workshop
5/23/2018 - Flooding Prevention & Preparedness Workshop
5/26/2018 - DCRA @ Annie’s Ace Hardware – Brookland
5/29/2018 - How the DC Codes & Regulations Improve Your Health & Well-Being
5/30/2018 - How to Select a Design Professional & General Contractor
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DCRA Dashboards is a visualization tool for
various data from DCRA such as performance management, permits issued, illegal
construction and vacant building data. The dashboards provide greater
transparency, allowing customers to take a look at DCRA’s performance in these
areas. |
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DCRA Data Connect is a tool that allows you to access information
about your community. DCRA has created an open data source where you can search
for building permits, illegal construction, and blighted properties in Fiscal
Year 2017. You can view interactive data, maps and graphs of the data you
request. |
If you have any questions regarding this newsletter, please contact the DCRA Communications Team at dcracommteam@dc.gov.
DCRA actively uses feedback to improve our delivery and services. Please take a minute to share your feedback on how we performed in our last engagement.
To subscribe to receive other DCRA email communications, please subscribe to your topics of interest. Also, be sure to visit dcra.dc.gov regularly to check in on what’s
new. Connect with DCRA on social media by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.
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