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Testifying Online or In Person
Please read the procedures on how to participate in or testify at hybrid Commission meetings.
Overview
The Commission takes action at their monthly meetings on plans and projects submitted for review. This section explains how the agency prepares for meetings, how meetings are conducted, and opportunities for the public to participate. Reasonable accommodations are provided upon request. For more information, click the button below or call 202-482-7200.
Commission Monthly Meeting Cycle
| Submit Project | Tentative Agenda | Final Agenda | Meeting | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30+ days before meeting | 20 days before meeting | 6 days before meeting | 0 days | |||||||
| Preparation for each Commission meeting begins as projects are formally submitted, typically 30 days in advance. | ||||||||||
Various federal, District of Columbia, and other agencies and organizations submit plans and projects to NCPC. These include building and site improvements, parks and open space activities, site acquisition, commemorative works, master plans, antennas, foreign missions, land transfers, and intergovernmental referrals. Based on the project type, Commission review may occur at several meetings, as proposals move through concept, preliminary, and final design phases.
The Commission takes an action at each phase; they provide comments at concept design, and approve preliminary, and then final design. Commission comments on a concept design or approval of a preliminary design is not approval of the project/plan; as they must receive final approval before going forward.
The Commission also reviews and takes action on agency plans, including the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital, and other area and policy plans, such as the Monumental Core Framework Plan. Typically, the Commission will review and provide preliminary approval for a draft plan and authorize its release for a formal public comment period. The Commission will take a final action after receiving public comments and reviewing a revised draft plan.
There are often other opportunities for public input on plans and projects separate from the Commission meeting. NCPC conducts stakeholder and general public meetings as area and policy plans are developed. Applicant agencies may provide their own public information and meetings about their project or plan.
Sometimes, applicants will provide an information presentation to the Commission at an early stage in the process, or as an update during the project development. The Commission does not take an action on information presentations.
Before the Meeting
NCPC staff typically work with applicant agencies in advance of the formal project submission to identify and address project issues and determine the review authority that applies to the project. NCPC’s Submission Guidelines establish what applicants are required or encouraged to submit.
Once an applicant formally submits a project, it begins a review process (typically, 30 days) that culminates at the Commission meeting. A staff person is assigned to the project, who confirms that the application is complete, reviews the project, and prepares a report and recommendation. A Coordinating Committee of federal and District representatives evaluate projects located within Washington, DC to help identify other review processes or issues. NCPC uses an interagency review process for projects located in Maryland and Virginia to provide comment opportunities for state agencies and local jurisdictions.
In the weeks leading up to the Commission meeting, NCPC provides two agendas, online and to an email distribution list that anyone can register to receive. The Tentative Agenda provides a first look at projects that may be reviewed at the next meeting and deadlines for the public to sign up to speak about the project at the Commission Meeting or provide written comments shared with staff and Commissioners. The Final Agenda is available on the Friday before the meeting. Projects may be removed from the agenda prior to the meeting or their order may change.
Tentative Agenda
A Tentative Agenda for the upcoming Commission meeting and materials for each project are posted online. The Tentative Agenda, generally posted and distributed on the Friday three weeks before the meeting, classifies projects as Proposed Action Items, Proposed Delegated Items, and Proposed Exceptions. This classification is preliminary and subject to change prior to the Commission meeting.
- Action Items are projects that are presented and discussed at the Commission meeting. The public is invited to give testimony on these projects. Projects listed as Proposed Action Items on the Tentative Agenda may be moved to the Consent Calendar on the Final Agenda if no speakers have registered by the deadline. The Commission votes on the Consent Calendar Items but does not hear a presentation or public testimony.
- Delegated Items are projects that the Commission delegates to the Chair or Executive Director.
- Exceptions are types of projects where NCPC staff determines that a project is exempt from Commission review, based on certain criteria.
Final Agenda
The Final Agenda and Executive Director's Recommendations (EDRs) are posted online the Friday before the Commission Meeting. NCPC’s Executive Committee (the Chair, Vice-Chair, and a Commissioner appointed by the Chair) set the Final Agenda, determining if projects are Delegated Items or Action Items. Action Items are either on the Consent Calendar or are individually considered and voted on by the Commission following a staff presentation. After the release of the Final Agenda, the public may sign up to speak only on Action Items.
- Delegated Items are projects that the Commission delegates to the Chair or Executive Director.
- Action Items: Consent Calendar are a group of items that the Commission votes on collectively. Presentations are not provided.
- Action Items with Presentation are individual items that include a staff presentation, Commission discussion, and a Commission vote.
- Information Presentations are included on the agenda. The Commission does not take an action on these presentations, and public testimony is not accepted.
During the Meeting
Unless otherwise noted in the Tentative and Final Agendas, NCPC’s meetings are conducted in a hybrid format. Commissioners and NCPC staff will be in person. The public and project applicants can participate in this meeting either online or in person.
On certain occasions, including inclement weather, health, safety, or limited open session items, meetings may be conducted solely on line. Notice of this will be provided via the website and tentative and final agendas.
The Commission meeting proceeds according to the publicly available Final Agenda. Commission meetings are conducted according to adopted by-laws. Robert’s Rules of Order are used.
Commission meeting materials are available online for the public to download or follow online during the meeting. Updates to materials, or testimony submitted by the public, are posted online. The meeting is live-streamed from the NCPC website.
Staff present from the podium on the left (south) side of the Commission Chambers. The public and other presenters use the podium on the right (north) side of the Chambers.
Order of Proceedings
- Reports The Chair, Executive Director, and General Counsel provide reports at the start of the meeting. The Executive Director’s Monthly Report, which is available online, lists all Delegated Items.
- Action Items: Consent Calendar The Commission votes on the Consent Calendar as one motion. There are no staff presentations for Consent Calendar items. After a motion to adopt the Consent Calendar for all items is seconded, the Commissioners may choose to discuss any item on the Consent Calendar before voting. Executive Director's Recommendations (EDRs) are prepared for each Consent Calendar item.
- Action Items with Presentation The Commission votes on these action items individually. Staff provides a presentation to the Commission and responds to Commission questions. Public testimony follows the staff presentation. The project applicant may also be invited to provide remarks or respond to Commissioner questions. After a motion on the item is made and seconded, the Commissioners discuss the project and recommendation. Once discussion is complete, Commissioners will act on the project, using the staff recommendation as the basis for their action. Typically, the Commission will approve the project or approve with conditions or comments. The Commission may modify the Executive Director's Recommendation before taking action. In rare cases, the Commission will not take action on a project.
- Information Presentations NCPC staff will introduce the presenter and describe the relationship of the presentation topic to NCPC’s work. Once the presenter finishes their presentation, the Commission may ask questions either of staff or the presenter. The Commission does not take an action on these presentations, and public testimony is not accepted.
After the Meeting
After the meeting, a Commission Action is prepared for all Action Items. The Commission Action is sent to the applicant and posted online. A Memorandum of Actions, listing all reports and Commission Actions, including votes, is prepared and posted online.
The Commission Meeting video and official transcript are available online within 3-5 business days of the meeting.
Meeting material covering the last 10 years is on NCPC’s Commission Meeting Archives page. Older material is available through the National Archives.
