Council approves street‑eateries, Porchfest permitting and boards‑reporting measures; Pinto and Nadeau amendments adopted

The Council on Dec. 2 approved several emergency and temporary measures affecting public‑space permitting and reporting.

Street eateries: Councilmember McDuffie led an emergency amendment package to transition pandemic‑era street‑eateries into a permanent regime. The emergency reduced the proposed public‑space rental fee, clarified enforcement timing (no fines until Jan. 15, 2026), and authorized the Public Space Committee to grant exemptions. Councilmember Pinto moved an amendment requiring that permit holders who received an exception reapply for a Public Space Committee review every two years; Councilmember Nadeau’s amendment added specific corridor study language and other technical adjustments. Members debated whether the two‑year review duplicates DDOT’s annual renewal process and whether additional costs would fall on small businesses. After colloquy and amendments, the Streetery Emergency Amendment Act (Bill 206‑516) and the corresponding temporary were approved by the Council.

Porchfest: Councilmember Lewis George moved an emergency Porchfest permitting resolution to ensure Porchfest events may use block‑party permitting. Councilmember Allen’s amendment broadened the definition to cover public property abutting private porches; the amendment was accepted and the declaration and underlying temporary passed.

Boards & commissions: The Council also advanced an emergency declaration and a temporary bill to implement an expanded annual financial‑reporting requirement for roughly 45 boards and commissions identified by the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability; the Committee of the Whole will hold further hearings in January.

The three temporary measures (Streetery, Boards & Commissions reporting, and Porchfest) were approved en bloc on first reading. Councilmembers said the temporaries will be subject to ongoing refinement and to DDOT’s final rulemaking.

Votes on the emergencies and temporaries were recorded by voice or roll call where requested; the Chair announced the measures were approved and the temporary measures were set for first reading.