District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors Rachna Butani Bhatt Confirmation Resolution of 2025

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Phil Mendelson

DC council confirms Rachna Butani Bhatt to DC Water Board, enabling governance and oversight of the District's water and sewer operations.

Resolution R26-0366, Effective from Mar 31, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 006080

Overview

Bill Number: PR 26-0485

Title: District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors Rachna Butani Bhatt Confirmation Resolution of 2025

Type: Resolution (confirmation)

Sponsor: Mendelson, Phil (primary)

Introduced: December 16, 2025

Current Status: Referred to Committee on Transportation and the Environment

Legislative Actions:

2025-12-16: Introduced by Chairman Mendelson
2026-01-06: Referred to Committee on Transportation and the Environment

Purpose and Intent

The resolution is a formal action by the Council of the District of Columbia to confirm the appointment of Rachna Butani Bhatt to a seat on the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) Board of Directors. Confirmation resolutions authorize the appointment, allowing the individual to serve on the governing board responsible for overseeing the District’s water and sewer services.

Key Provisions

Confirmation of Appointment: Official council confirmation of Rachna Butani Bhatt as a member of the DC Water Board of Directors.

Board Role and Authority: The resolution acknowledges Bhatt’s role as a member of DC Water’s Board, with duties related to governance, oversight, and strategic direction for DC Water’s operations.

Authority and Compliance References: The resolution aligns with standard council processes for appointing or confirming board seats for quasi-governmental agencies.

Note: As a confirmation resolution, the document itself typically does not impose new policy mandates or budgets; rather, it formalizes the council’s approval of an appointed board member.

Who/What is Affected

DC Water Board of Directors: The primary impact is the addition of Rachna Butani Bhatt to the board, contributing to governance and oversight of DC Water’s operations.

District Government Oversight: Reinforces the Council’s role in supervising key municipally owned utilities and their governance bodies.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduced: December 16, 2025.

Referral: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and the Environment (the committee with jurisdiction over environmental and utility matters) on January 6, 2026.

Next Steps: The committee will review the confirmation, potentially hold a hearing or request additional information, and then report the measure back to the full Council for a final vote. If approved by the Council, the confirmation would become effective, allowing Bhatt to serve on the DC Water Board.

Summary Assessment

PR 26-0485 is a standard confirmation resolution aimed at formalizing the appointment of a new director to DC Water’s Board. The bill does not propose policy changes or funding increases; it is a procedural step to authorize governance leadership for the District’s water and sewer authority. The outcome will determine Bhatt’s ability to participate in board deliberations, oversight, and decision-making affecting water and sewer services in the District.

Bill