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February-March 2019 | Volume 4 | Issue 3
Greetings,
A lot of hard work has gone into making some good progress toward the digital transformation that we believe will better serve our customers.
A key component to aid in this transformation will be financial resources. We’re excited that Mayor Muriel Bowser has proposed an increase in the agency’s budget for fiscal year 2020.
The additional resources will be leveraged to yield greater efficiencies and technical capabilities that will ultimately benefit our customers. But we have already taken steps with pilots this fiscal year to maximize the Mayor’s proposed investment.
In February, we launched our agency dashboard to promote greater transparency and allowed downloads of permits and plans. Also in February, we announced our account management team and customer relationship management to provide you with assistance with permitting, licensing, inspections, investigations, and enforcement. In May, we will roll out our enhanced consumer protection based on streamlining our enforcement of housing code violations.
Although we are in the beginning stages of our digital transformation, these steps emphasize long-term sustainable solutions for the agency and valuable benefits for our customers. As we move forward, our steps will transition into an energetic pace enabling our goals to be within a closer reach.
Sincerely,
Ernest Chrappah
Acting Director
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs
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DCRA Incorporates New On-Demand Customer Relationship Management
It’s here! The On-Demand Customer Relationship Management (CRM) will help us provide better customer service to our clients by providing a single point of contact to get assistance with permitting, licensing, inspections, investigations and enforcement.
The CRM process is powered by a system that is designed to submit, assign, prioritize, and resolve your inquiries within 3 business days. Regardless of how you reach us – via the web, phone (202.442.9502), email or social media via Twitter or Facebook – our Customer Service Team will acknowledge your inquiry and stay in contact until your inquiry has been resolved.
Improving Agency Transparency
DCRA is committed to providing information that offers a candid look at the agency's efficiency and performance regarding it's customer interactions, service goals and regulatory enforcement. Our agency’s public dashboard offers data for the following:
- Snapshot
- Permit Operations
- Building Permits Issued
- Inspections & Compliance
- Customer Service
- Business & Professional Licensing Administration
- Enforcement
The data will be updated frequently to reflect our progress; new visualizations may also be added to coincide with new metrics that capture the agency's performance. Check it out at dcra.dc.gov/dcra-dashboards.
Download & Print DCRA Permit Records
In an effort to create an on-demand and transparent experience, our customers can now instantly download and print issued permits, permit plans and permit applications from fiscal years 2015 – 2017 via our E-Records website. Records will be updated continuously to build out the records management site. If you are unable to retrieve records for dates outside of this period of time, please call (202)442-4480 and we will assist you.
5th Annual March Madness Offers Opportunity
Mayor Muriel Bowser and Deputy Mayor Brian Kenner hosted the 5th Annual March Madness presented by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) on March 26th at the new Entertainment and Sports Arena, 1100 Oak Drive SE. The event provides a preview of development sites and projects from various District agencies.
Mayor Bowser joined a panel featuring Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton to discuss the Opportunity Zones, a federal program that provides tax incentives for business investment in low-income communities. The District will also commit $24 million of local funding to the program.
Development presentations by the Department of General Services (DGS), Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and Department of Housing and Community Development were also made during the event.
DACL Hosts Senior Spa Day
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The Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL), formerly known as the DC Office on Aging, hosted a special spa day for seniors on March 27th at Emery Recreation Center, 5701 Georgia Avenue NW in Ward 4.
The free event allowed barbers, cosmetologists and manicurist licensed by DCRA to offer their services for District seniors in a relaxed environment. The agency’s outreach team also provided attendees information on services that seniors may find useful.
The event, which was co-hosted by radio host Shawn Perry, also featured various federal and District government agencies such as U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Communication Commission, DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB), Department of Public Works (DPW), and DCRA.
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Second Agency-Wide Training Day Held at DCRA
On March 28th, DCRA held its second all-day agency-wide training for approximately 450 employees. Acting Director Chrappah kicked off the day with a presentation announcing the “Launch of Online Training Academy” which will provide convenient, accessible training opportunities for staff.
All staff were assigned various online courses that encompassed an agency overview as well as division specific objectives.
This Month’s Livestreams
Successfully Choosing Your Contractor
A workshop discussing preventive ways a consumer can avoid being the subject of fraud when seeking and using contractors.
Understanding Tenant's Rights Workshop
A workshop on understanding tenant's rights that covers an overview of tenant rights; business licensing process; complaint/proactive based inspections; common Housing Code violations; scheduling an inspection process; enforcement process; rights when applying for an apartment; understanding Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA); importance of tenants forming an association and rights under TOPA; and how and when to file for Landlord/Tenant Court.
For more information and to view additional livestreams of our workshops and meetings, visit dcra.dc.gov/livestreams.
SBRC's One-On-One Session: Basic Steps to Obtaining a Business License
Monday - Thursday
10:00 am – 3:00 pm (By appointment)
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs
1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor (Room E-268)
Washington, DC 20024-4451
Register: https://dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com
Navigating Government Contracting with DCPTAC
Thursday, April 11, 2019
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs
1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor, Room E-200
Washington, DC 20024
Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/46840
DC Board of Barber and Cosmetology
Monday, April 29, 2019
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs
1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor, Room E-200
Washington, DC 20024
Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/47155
Money Smart for Small Business Workshop: Tax Planning and Reporting
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs
1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor, Room E-200
Washington, DC 20024
Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/47211
Learn the Process of Starting a Business at the DC Public Library
Monday, May 6, 2019
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Tenley – Friendship Neighborhood Library
4450 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20016
Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/46344
DOES - Employer Incentives to Support your Business Goals
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs
1100 4th Street SW, 3rd Floor Room E-300
Washington, DC 20024
Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/47233
How to Develop a Successful Business Plan
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs
1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor Room E-200
Washington, DC 20024
Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/46389
All Things Non-Profit
Thursday, May 9, 2019
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs
1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor Room E-200
Washington, DC 20024
Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/46479
Franchising 101
Monday, May 13, 2019
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs
1100 4th Street SW, 3rd Floor Room E-300
Washington, DC 20024
Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/46420
Building a More Inclusive Business
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs
1100 4th Street SW, 3rd Floor Room E-300
Washington, DC 20024
Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/47131
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DCRA Dasboard is candid look at the agency's efficiency and performance regarding it's customer interactions, service goals and regulatory enforcement. Our agency’s public dashboard offers data for an overvoew of all agency performance, permit operations, building permits issued, inspections and compliance, customer service, business and professional licensing; and enforcement. The data will be updated frequently to reflect our progress; new visualizations may also be added to coincide with new metrics that capture the agency's performance. |
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DCRA Data Connect is a tool that allows access to information about permits issued, illegal construction, and vacant building data. Data can be viewed via CSV files and maps. |
If you have any questions regarding this communication, please contact DCRA's Communications Department 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.
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