BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
GENERAL BOARD MEETING
PROSPECT PARK RESIDENCE
1 PROSPECT PARK PLACE
APRIL 13, 2011
ATTENDANCE
PRESENT:
B. ATKINS R.S. BASHNER N. BERK-RAUCH
J. BERNARD S. BURZIO L. CIRANDO
N.COX E. FELDER P. FLEMING
B. GINSBERG D. GIULIANO R. GRAHAM
M. HEYER H. HUGHES G. KELLY
M. KENTON M. KOLMAN D. KUMMER
D. LALLI R. LEVINE R. LUFTGLASS T.L. MISKEL C. MOLINARI G. O’CONNELL, JR.
G. REILLY D. REISS R. RIGOLLI
Y. ROMAN D. SCOTTO M. SHAMES
E. SHIPLEY L. SONES J. THOMPSON
S. TURET M. VERRET
EXCUSED:
L. BLYER J. IGNERI A. McKNIGHT
L. NAPOLITANO M. SCOTT E. SPICER
D.C. VITO
ABSENT:
T. ALEXANDER Y. GIRELA A.A. PUGLIESE
M. RUIZ
GUESTS
HON. STEPHEN LEVIN, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
HON. BRAD LANDER, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
L. DEPALMA, BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARTY MARKOWITZ’S REPRESENTATIVE
H. REICHBACH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER LEVIN’S REPRESENTATIVE
A. ALEXIS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ’S REPRESENTATIVE
A. SCHAETZEL, STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER BRENNAN’S REPRESENTATIVE
T. SMITH, STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER MILLMAN’S REPRESENTATIVE
O. JONAS, STATE SENATOR MONTGOMERY’S REPRESENTATIVE
J. HAMILTON, STATE SENATOR ADAMS’ REPRESENTATIVE
A. DELISI, STATE SENATOR SQUADRON’S REPRESENTATIVE
V. AVEIS, CONGRESSWOMAN CLARKE’S REPRESENTATIVES
A. NOVEK, NYC COMPTROLLER LIU’S REPRESENTATIVE
Complete list of meeting attendees on file at the District Office 1
Chairperson Daniel M. Kummer called the meeting to order at 6:52 pm.
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT……..………………………...……..………….....…...DANIEL M. KUMMER
Chairperson Daniel M. Kummer began his report by stating that while we understand that half of our board member terms officially expired on March 31st and that the Borough President’s Office is working hard to get appointment and reappointment letters out to our members, I’m saddened to report that our second longest- standing board member, Barbara Ginsberg, has informed us that she has not reapplied for continued membership. Barbara has been on the Community Board for roughly 20 years, and has been a solid, contributing member of our Parks/Recreation/Cultural Affairs Committee throughout her tenure. She has supported our Parks Committee chairs over the years, often could be counted on to step in and help out whether it was to run a meeting or present an issue to the board, and has probably seen every single one of the parks in our district undergo at least one full rehabilitation over her years on the board. He thanked her for her many years of faithful service to the Community Board and the communities we represent. Board member Ginsberg added that she intended to continue actively serving on her committee.
Chairperson Kummer congratulated Board Member Richard Bashner for being honored at the annual dinner of the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID), one of the long-standing political clubs operating in our district. Richard was cited by CBID for his intensive activity in the community as our former Chairperson of the Community Board and as an active parent, member of his congregation, and little league coach to name a few of his many contributions.
Chairperson Kummer thanked District Manager, Craig Hammerman, for representing us at a City Council oversight hearing yesterday on the City’s Fair Share criteria. The City Council Land Use Subcommittee, Chaired by Council Member Brad Lander, invited testimony to see how Fair Share has been working these past 20 years. Our District Manager was able to offer several good examples – like the closure of Engine Company 204 on Degraw Street and the threatened closures of day care and senior centers in our district – where the City has opted to either ignore or neglect the Fair Share provisions to advance certain objectives. It is unclear what direction the City Council will head in next, but it seems certain that legislative remedies will be explored.
Chairperson Kummer reported that last week, District Manager Hammerman and I met with the owners of 501 2nd Street, the property at the corner of 7th Avenue and 2nd Street, along with Council Member Stephen Levin and Council Member Brad Lander’s representative. We have an expressed interest in seeing this blighted property restored to a safe and constructive use since it is in the middle of perhaps one of the busiest and most visible commercial and residential centers of our district. The owners explained that they have endured a series of hardships that led to their current plight. We have pledged to both assist them to the extent that it is possible and appropriate, but also promised that our broader mission is to ensure that the property can be improved to the point of removing any threat to the public by whatever means we can.
Chairperson Kummer informed the Board that District Manager Hammerman and I have met with the Department of Transportation along with Council Members Levin and Lander to begin the process of reviewing a long list of suggested locations where we believe parking spaces can be restored along Prospect Park West and on adjoining blocks. We will be considering a resolution tonight regarding other measures that the department would like to take, and plan to meet with the department in a few weeks or so to go over that list and get their formal feedback on the parking situation as well.
Chairperson Kummer advised that Board that our Land Use Chair Peter Fleming, District Manager Hammerman and I met with our representatives from the Brooklyn Office of the Department of City Planning. The department is working on a ULURP action, a zoning text amendment, designed to create more active and inviting street-level facades along the 4th Avenue corridor – beginning north of us in CB2 and continuing south 2
into CB7. They intend at this time to have an application ready for us to review perhaps by the summer, at which time we will invite them out to make a formal presentation as we host a formal public review process. We are very pleased that the department is responding to the many criticisms they received about 4th Avenue and see this as a constructive response on their part.
Chairperson Kummer reported that Council Member Lander has invited us to participate in a working group that he is putting together to address open issues surrounding the John Jay Educational Campus. In particular, the Council Member would like to see the community look at the needs of the 3 existing schools, the challenges of introducing a new 4th school Millennium Brooklyn this fall, and the desire for all of the schools and the community to harmoniously co-exist. I’m pleased to report that our Education Committee Chairperson, Suzanne Turet, and District Manager Hammerman will both be serving as our designees to this body and look forward to hearing more from this group.
Chairperson Kummer advised that Board that the New York Times reported, and the Mayor’s Office and our other elected officials offices all confirmed, that an agreement has been reached which will allow the shore power initiative to move forward. The project will include roughly $15 mil worth of infrastructure, paid for by the Port Authority and an EPA grant, which will allow cruise ships to turn off their diesel-burning engines while in port and plug into the upland grid for electrical supply. The cruise ship lines will be paying more for electricity and the City will be partially subsidizing the cost as well. They expect to have the new system operational in 2012. Our Chairperson thanked our community for its expert and diligent advocacy, our elected officials for their leadership and the agencies involved for embracing this as a good public policy issue that will permit us to have both the economic benefits of maintaining an active cruise ship terminal along with the environmental benefits of greening our port.
Chairperson Kummer ended his report by reminding our board members that each year at our May general meeting we present our annual Youth Acknowledgement Awards to youth in our district who either have been exemplary role models or have distinguished themselves through volunteer service in the community. Our Borough President will be joining us for the awards presentation so board members should make a special effort to be on time so as not to be discourteous to our guests.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Board Member Roger Rigolli made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Board Member Lou Sones.
VOTE: 28 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:01 P.M.
DISTRICT MANAGER’S REPORT……………..................................................…CRAIG HAMMERMAN
District Manager Craig Hammerman began his report by informing the Board that he attended a meeting at New York City Economic Development Corporation offices to wrap up the BQE Trench Enhancement (aka “Fix the Ditch!”) Study. The community is very pleased with the options presented in the report and the challenge now is to find the resources to pay for it. In the meantime, DOT has committed to look at their own traffic calming devices using in-house resources that could implement some immediate safety measures. He thanked Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez for commissioning this study and pledging with Councilman Lander to put together a working group so we can continue the discussions moving forward as we look at ways to offset the resources necessary for a more fuller and robust installation that the community deserves.
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District Manager Hammerman informed the Board of two upcoming meetings that as the Board’s delegate to these groups he is interested in any issues that the board members or community may have. First, April 26th is the next meeting of the Gowanus Community Advisory Group (CAG). He serves on the operating procedures committee of the CAG and they intend on presenting a draft charter that will allow other committees of the CAG to start advancing their work once an organizational plan is in place. Secondly, May 5th is the next meeting of the Atlantic Yards Service Cabinet. Board Member Tom Miskel and I are members of the cabinet and will be happy to bring up any concerns or issues the board or community may have.
District Manager Hammerman ended his report by reporting to the Board that Assistant District Manager Leroy Branch and I met with the new BK6 Sanitation Superintendant James Proscia to discuss, among other sanitation issues, snow removal in the district. One of the biggest challenges that we face is that our district is broken up into 5 sectors and each sector had its own supervisor, but the department made a decision to reduce its ranks and now we have only 2 supervisors covering all 5 sectors. This will make it harder for the office to get a hold of them right away since they will have to spend more time in the field covering a larger area. However, we have a highly qualified and experienced superintendent who knows our district well and we look forward to working more closely with him.
Chairperson Kummer recognized the representatives of the elected officials.
Luke DePalma, representing Borough President Marty Markowitz stated that his office is just finishing the Community Board application process. Community Board 6 is mostly finished but we have to wait for all the boards in Brooklyn to complete the process. All Boards should be finished in about 3 to 4 weeks.
Chairperson Kummer recognized Council Member Brad Lander whom began by thanking Board Member Barbara Ginsberg for her many years of service to the Board and the constituents of the district. He also thanked District Manager Hammerman for representing the Board at the City Council’s Fair Share hearing. District Manager Hammerman gave great testimony; he also noted that the Mayor’s office, sadly, chose not to attend. The Councilman supports the proposal to co-name Prospect Park West between 14th Street and Bartel- Pritchard Square as "LCpl. Julian T. Brennan, USMC Way." Lance Corporal Brennan was killed in Afghanistan while serving his country. He wrote a letter to City Planning regarding active ground floor use requirements for the stretch of 4th Avenue in our district that has already been rezoned. City Planning is actively looking at this and will get back to his office in the near future. Several months ago, many of you joined me and other local elected officials to demand shore power for the Red Hook Cruise Terminal. We have just heard that the Mayor, Port Authority, EPA, EDC, NYPA, and Carnival Cruise Lines were finally able to reach an agreement to bring shore power to the Red Hook Cruise Terminal even though the Public Service Commission has not established a new electrical rate yet. Community members, the Economic Development Corporation and a consultant (funded by Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez) have developed a final report on the BQE Trench Enhancement project (“Fix the Ditch!”) to improve the pedestrian environment along the BQE trench between Atlantic and Hamilton Avenues. The final report is available at EDC’s website. This Board a while back voted on a rezoning of 25-33 Carroll Street. The City Council’s Land Use Committee will be voting on this rezoning tomorrow. He is pleased to announce that both developers have made strong commitments to the community. The owner at 33 Carroll Street has been designated to develop some lots in the area nearby under an HPD program called New Foundation and he has agreed to deepen the affordability on six of those units by 20% of area median income and make them permanently affordable. The owner at 25 Carroll Street has agreed to contribute $20,000 to the Urban Meadow community garden located on the corner of President & Van Brunt Streets in the Columbia Waterfront. The Council Member invited everyone to a community discussion about the Green Infrastructure Plan with DEP Commissioner Caswell Holloway. Commissioner Holloway and DEP staff will talk about the plan, what it means for the Gowanus area, and how local residents can participate (including a DEP grants program for local residents, business, and not-for-profit groups). He
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ended by praising the Transportation committee on their handling of the public hearing to review and discuss the proposed modifications to the Prospect Park West bike lane configuration.
Hope Reichbach, representing Council Member Stephen Levin stated that the Councilman has been working with Councilman Lander to create a local law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the creation of a citywide wildlife management plan. He has also introduced a bill to suspend alternate side of the street parking in areas surrounding film shoots. The bill will: 1. Suspend alternate side of the street parking for up to seven days on the site of a film shoot 2. Suspend alternate side of the street parking in the four blocks adjacent to a film site 3. Require production companies to post notice of the temporary suspension of parking rules on the affected streets. She also stated that the construction at P.S. 133 is delayed and the new completion date is January 2013. She ended by informing the Board that the Governor has restored Title XX funding for senior centers. They will be working very closely with the Administration to keep open the centers in his district.
Ann Schaetzel, representing State Assembly Member James Brennan, invited everyone to a housing forum to discuss issues effecting homeowerners, cooperators, renters, and homebuyers on May 19th from 6pm-8:30pm at Ditmas Jr. High School located at 700 Cortelyou Road in Brooklyn.
Tamar Smith, representing Assembly Member Joan Millman, reported that the their office will again be hosting free bone density scanning, courtesy of Long Island College Hospital. The scans can help determine whether you are at risk of osteoporosis. The event will be at her district office at 341 Smith Street on Friday, May 13, 2011 from 10 AM - 1 PM. Please call the office at 718-246-4889 for an appointment. The Assemblywoman has also rallied this month to defend rent-regulated tenants and urge everyone to call their elected officials and ask them to vote to extend and expand the rent regulation in New York City.
Oscar Jonas, representing State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, stated that New York State passed its budget on time. Although there was an overall reduction of 2%, they were able to restore some important cuts to maintain crucial services: Restoration of Title XX funding – to keep open senior centers Summer Youth Employment Program – provides work experience to our youth Advantage After school programs will continue Higher Education Opportunity programs fully restored EPIC (Elderly Prescription Insurance Program) coverage maintained Juvenile Justice Reform - emphasizing on local preventive programs alternative to detention and residential placement services) instead of upstate camps.
Veronica Aveis, representing Congress Member Yvette Clarke stated that the Congresswoman voted against the budget that would cut funding for Title X programming - the only federal grant program dedicated solely to family planning and reproductive health services for low-income and uninsured patients. She will continue to fight against any budget cuts that will eliminate or significantly reduce these much-needed funds.
Asher Novek, representing NYC Comptroller John Liu stated that the Comptroller has released its second report entitled “The $8 Billion Question: An Analysis of NYC Pension Costs Over the Past Decade” – a study to examine the steep rise in annual employer contributions to the Pension Funds over the past decade. A 3rd report will be out in 3 weeks, which will look at retirement. He ended by again informing everyone that the open audit system is still online and is available, along with their issued reports, at the Comptroller’s website.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
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LANDMARKS/LAND USE COMMITTEE.............................ROBERT LEVINE, LANDMARKS CHAIR
…..……..………........PETER FLEMING, LAND USE CHAIR
Landmarks Committee Chairperson Robert Levine reported to the Board that the committee reviewed a new wood-frame storefront including the relocation of store entrance at 156 Court Street.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the construction of a new wood-frame storefront including the relocation of store entrance at 156 Court Street, Cobble Hill Historic District.
VOTE: 33 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:35 P.M.
Landmarks Committee Chairperson Levine also reported to the Board that the committee reviewed the conversion of a window to a door and the addition of a landing and stairs at the rear facade, and the creation of a partially sunken rear yard at 107 Prospect Park West.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the conversion of a window to a door and the addition of a landing and stairs at the rear facade, and the creation of a partially sunken rear yard at 107 Prospect Park West (northwest corner 6th Street/PPW), Park Slope Historic District with the following conditions: 1. The balusters should be vertical on rear stair.
2. The entire rail should be black metal (no wood cap).
VOTE: 33 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:37 P.M.
Landmarks Committee Chairperson Levine further reported to the Board that the committee reviewed various proposed minor alterations to at property at 49 8th Avenue.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the conversion of a window to a door and the addition of stairs at the rear facade, restoration of iron perimeter fence, and restoration of handrail assembly at main entrance at 49 8th Avenue (northeast corner Berkeley Place/8th Ave), Park Slope Historic District with the following condition: 1. The railing to the stairs in the back be vertical and painted black.
VOTE: 33 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:42 P.M.
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Landmarks Committee Chairperson Levine additionally reported to the Board that the committee reviewed the restoration of the Lincoln statue at the Grand Army Plaza.
Motion: by Board Member Peter Fleming, seconded by Board Member Lou Sones; Recommendation to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the restoration of the Lincoln statue at the Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park Historic District.
Board Member Suzanne Turet asked if this was a permanent or temporary move. Landmarks Committee Chairperson Levine stated that it was a permanent move.
VOTE: 33 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:47 P.M.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE……………………………………..……………DANIEL KUMMER, CHAIR
Chairperson Daniel Kummer reported to the Board that the committee reviewed a presentation by the representatives for the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation on the Draft Report prepared for the Committee on Alternatives to Housing for the funding of the Parks operations.
Motion: by Board Member Mark Shames, seconded by Board Member Judith Thompson; Recommendation to approve the following resolution regarding alternatives to Housing for the funding of Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) operations:
We commend the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation for finding many ways to pay for the park without the need for more housing, in keeping with CB6’s long-standing position against housing inside this park.
Bay Area Economics (BAE) has already identified millions of dollars in potential revenue that have the potential, at a minimum, to drastically reduce the need for housing revenue to sustain the ongoing operations of BBP.
CB6 believes the Committee on Alternatives to Housing (CAH) could go further than it has in identifying revenue. Specifically, as originally proposed the BAE consultant should analyze the potential revenue opportunities involving the currently tax-exempt Watchtower Society properties. CB6 calls on the CAH to reconsider their finding that this revenue source does not meet the study threshold parameters and to consider a fuller range of other revenue opportunities.
Board Member Ben Atkins asked if the Board should take a position against a self-funding park since most parks in the City are funded through the Parks Department’s budget.
Board Member Glenn Kelly stated that half the revenue for the park is generated by the housing already in the park. We are only dealing with the housing which has not been built, trying to find alternatives to that.
Amendment: by Board Member Richard Bashner, seconded by Board Member Ben Atkins; 1. If the alternate revenue sources are not sufficient to support the BBP, we encourage the City to reconsider the self-funding concept and to move to a structure where it is supported by City revenues. 7
2. They should look at design and engineering changes that will reduce the cost and maintenance expenses of the park, so that less funding is required. 3. If residential development is determined to be necessary, that we encourage them to go with the minimum height and bulk possible to achieve the necessary funding level. Board Member Lou Sones stated that when we spoke about this park those many years ago everyone wanted it and we agreed that it would be a self-funded park.
Board Member Elizabeth Shipley stated that things have changed since then and we might want it to be funded by City revenue now.
Board Member Mark Shames stated that reneging on the deal that was made long ago is not an issue. We should not have placed the park at its present location if it was not self-funding. It should have been placed in an area where people of much greater diversity have much greater access.
Board Member Glenn Kelly stated that in a City where we are short in open recreational space we should not be considering the housing part of the amendment.
Board Member Richard Bashner withdrew the third point of the amendment.
Board Member Noel Berk Rauch asked when the last time the budget was reviewed. Chairperson Kummer stated last year. Board Member Noel Berk Rauch then asked how we would be able to fund the park in the future with things constantly going up. This park should not be self-funding.
Board Member James Bernard stated that the point of the resolution was we don’t want housing and you rejected the Watchtower Society properties and so we want you to go back and take another look at that. The strength of the resolution is the specificity of what we are looking for. If we go back with some vague thing, it is not going to get our message across to rethink the Watchtower Society properties.
Board Member Norman Cox stated that the report does not adequately handle two sources of funding, which are sponsorship and fundraising. They should study these areas more deeply.
Board Member Suzanne Turet asked if other parks in the City are not self-funded why this one is. Chairperson Kummer stated that this park is in a unique location with one of the premier views in the world. The concept is to make itself sustaining to insulate it from the drudgery of annual budget financing.
Board Member Norman Cox would like to make a friendly amendment to Board Member Richard Bashner’s amendment to add that they should focus on fundraising and sponsorship for BBP. Board Member Richard Bashner accepted the friendly amendment.
Board Member Lou Sones stated that we are reneging on the deal we made and we are leaving ourselves open to the consequences that we are not going to be able to foresee where some of the things that we envisioned for the park will not happen if we ask for it to be funded.
Board Member Elizabeth Shipley stated that she disagree that this park has to be self-funded because no one could have anticipated the synergies that this park would ultimately end up having.
VOTE: 29 YEAS, 4 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
AMENDMENT PASSED
TIME: 8:26 P.M.
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Vote on original motion as amended.
VOTE: 31 YEAS, 2 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
AMENDMENT PASSED
TIME: 8:27 P.M.
Chairperson Daniel Kummer also reported to the Board that the committee reviewed an upcoming issue of Con Edison ending their policy of providing free parking for employees at two different leased yards in our district.
Motion: by Board Member Lou Sones, seconded by Board Member Gary Reilly; Recommendation to call on Con Edison and its employees to work together to reduce the impact of this situation on the community, specifically by aggressively promoting employee commute options that decrease reliance on single-occupancy vehicle commuting to the site, and to make more efforts to hire and assign employees who live locally and are not dependent on driving to the site.
Board Member Mark Shames stated that the issue of removing a benefit from union workers is a collective bargaining position, and he urges Con Edison to bargain collectively with the union about removing benefit and he hopes they do not remove benefits or give them something else in return.
Board Member James Bernard spoke out against the motion stating we should not get involved in the unions negotiations with Con Edison.
Board Member Richard Bashner stated that we should not get involved into a union situation. We should change the language of the motion to say: when hiring new workers not replacing existing workers with local ones; and maybe they can get a lot in a different location and shuttle the workers back and forth.
Board Member Monique Verret spoke against the motion stating we should not get involved.
Board Member Peter Fleming also spoke out against the motion stating that the Board should not get involved.
Board Member Elizabeth Shipley stated that we should not get involved but the impact will affect the community.
Board Member Lou Sones stated that we should not issue a statement and keep our noses out of it.
Board Member Ben Atkins spoke out against the motion stating that we should be discussing this because of the impact it will have on the community with the number of cars that will be looking for parking in the neighborhood.
Board Member Debra Scotto spoke out against the motion.
Board Member Roger Rigolli stated that there are plenty of trains in the area for the workers to get to work on. We should write a letter to Con Edison rather than a motion, letting them know the impact their decision will have on the community.
VOTE: 6 YEAS, 22 NAYS, 4 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION FAILED
TIME: 8:42 P.M.
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Motion: by Board Member Judith Thompson, seconded by Board Member James Bernard; Recommendation to call on Con Edison to provide off-street parking to its employees at the Third Street Yard.
VOTE: 21 YEAS, 8 NAYS, 3 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED
TIME: 8:45 P.M.
PARKS/RECREATION/CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE…………………..NICA LALLI, CHAIR
Parks Committee Chairperson Nica Lalli reported to the Board that the Committee reviewed a presentation outlining the planned improvements for the football/soccer field at the Red Hook Recreation Area at Bay and Columbia Streets.
Motion: by Board Member Glenn Kelly, seconded by Board Member Steve Burzio; Recommendation to conditionally support planned improvements for the football/soccer field at the Red Hook Recreation Area at Bay and Columbia Streets.
Board Member Judith Thompson asked if this would be a locked park. Parks Committee Chairperson Nica Lalli stated no.
Board Member Elsie Felder asked if Xavier High School would get a larger use of the time in the park. Parks Committee Chairperson Nica Lalli stated yes, Department of Parks would regulate the time.
Board Member Lou Sones stated that the school would not get more time than they already have.
Amendment: by Board Member Lou Sones, seconded by Board Member Constance Molinari; To request that Astroturf not be used.
VOTE: 2 YEAS, 28 NAYS, 3 ABSTENTIONS
AMENDMENT FAILED
TIME: 8:56 P.M.
Vote on original motion.
VOTE: 31 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSTENTION WITH CAUSE
MOTION PASSED
TIME: 8:27 P.M.
PUBLIC SAFETY/ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION/ PERMITS & LICENSES COMMITTEE
..…………..................TERRY ALEXANDER, PUBLIC SAFETY CO-CHAIR
………………………...MARTHA KENTON, PUBLIC SAFETY CO-CHAIR
………...……GARY REILLY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CHAIR
………………………… MARK SHAMES, PERMITS & LICENSES CHAIR
Permits & Licenses Chairperson Mark Shames reported to the Board that the committee reviewed a new on- premises liquor license application at 242 Flatbush Avenue.
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Motion: by Board Member Roger Rigolli, seconded by Board Member Lou Sones; Recommendation to approve a new on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of Prime Six, Inc. at 242 Flatbush Avenue (southwest corner Flatbush/6th Avenues) with the stipulations agreed upon by the community and the bar owner.
VOTE: 32 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 9:03 P.M.
Permits & Licenses Chairperson Mark Shames also reported to the Board that the committee reviewed an on- premises liquor license at 65 4th Avenue.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to approve an on-premises liquor license renewal application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of The Cherry Tree Corp. at 65 4th Avenue (between St Marks Place/Bergen Street) with the condition that the backyard is closed at 10pm on weeknights and 12am on weekends.
VOTE: 32 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 9:05 P.M.
Permits & Licenses Chairperson Mark Shames further reported to the Board that the committee reviewed a new on-premises liquor license application at 604 Pacific Street.
Motion: by Board Member Roger Rigolli, seconded by Board Member Lou Sones; Recommendation to ask the State Liquor Authority to take no action on a new on-premises liquor license application submitted to them on behalf of 604 Pacific LLC dba Players at 604 Pacific Street (between Flatbush/4th Avenues).
VOTE: 32 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 9:09 P.M.
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE………..……..………………….THOMAS L. MISKEL, CO-CHAIR
…………………………………….STEPHEN BURZIO, CO-CHAIR
Transportation Co-Chairperson Stephen Burzio reported to the Board that the committee reviewed a proposal to co-name Prospect Park West between 14th Street and Bartel-Pritchard Square as "LCpl. Julian T. Brennan, USMC Way."
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to support a proposal to co-name Prospect Park West between 14th Street and Bartel-Pritchard Square as "LCpl. Julian T. Brennan, USMC Way."
VOTE: 31 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSTENTION
AMENDMENT PASSED
TIME: 9:11 P.M.
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Transportation Co-Chairperson Stephen Burzio also reported to the Board that the committee reviewed the Department of Transportation’s proposed modifications to the Prospect Park West bike lanes.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to approve the Department of Transportation’s proposed modifications to the Prospect Park West bike lanes with the following conditions:
1. Brooklyn CB6 approves the concept to build out raised pedestrian safety islands on PPW, subject to the following conditions: (a) Brooklyn CB6 strongly believes that DOT should not complete this work using ordinary in-house street improvement resources, but should instead treat it as a capital project with design and material needs that flow from the historic and special character of its environs. In this connection, DOT should work with the Department of Parks & Recreation, the Prospect Park Alliance, the Park Slope Civic Council and our district office to develop an appropriate design, for public review, that will result in islands and landscaping treatments that are in keeping with the historic character of PPW and the design of the eastside sidewalk, including, but not limited to, complementary materials and alternatives to the unsightly plastic delineators affixed to the current grade-level islands. We believe it would be appropriate to begin the preliminary design process now. (b) DOT should, if possible, expand the width of the islands into the buffer zone between the bike and parking lanes in order to enhance pedestrian visibility and ease of crossing the lanes, while simultaneously reducing the length of the islands in order to restore lost space in the parking zones. (c) To the extent that it would not jeopardize pedestrian safety, DOT should strongly consider subdividing some or all of the existing islands either to restore parking spaces (e.g. top of Carroll and 7th Streets) or to create drop-off zones (e.g. top of Garfield Place and 11th Street) between the crosswalks.
2. Brooklyn CB6 approves the installation of rumble strips in the bike lanes at the approaches to pedestrian crossings.
3. Brooklyn CB6 approves narrowing the buffer zone between the parking and bike lanes from Grand Army Plaza (GAP) to Montgomery Place in order to improve the southbound driving flow entering PPW. In addition, the existing quick curb to the north of Union Street should be pulled back to widen the transition from the GAP onto PPW.
4. Brooklyn CB6 approves the proposed reconfiguration of the drop off zone at 9th Street, on the condition that the resulting No Standing or No Parking regulations just south of the southern crosswalk are seasonal (e.g. May-October), with parking permitted in the remaining months.
5. DOT should study and implement improvement/reconfiguration of drop-off areas at each of the other park entrances at Garfield Place, 3rd Street and 11th Street.
6. DOT should work with Brooklyn CB6 and with the offices of Council Members Lander and Levin to identify opportunities to add or restore parking spaces along PPW and its adjoining side streets, as well as 8th Avenue, and to implement those proposals. Brooklyn CB6 believes that this effort should begin without any delay, at least with respect to opportunities that exist along the west side of PPW and side streets. We are pleased that DOT has already joined in a discussion of this initiative and begun consideration of our specific proposals, even prior to the passage of this resolution.
7. DOT should take steps to improve the safety of vehicular traffic exiting the Litchfield Villa driveway near 5th Street, where the bike lane has significantly reduced the visibility of oncoming southbound traffic. A traffic signal facing the driveway entrance on the opposite side of PPW, synchronized with the signal at 5th Street, would be one possible solution.
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Brooklyn CB6 believes that this effort should begin without any delay. This location would be a good candidate 8. DOT should continue studying the safety and flow of automobile, bike and pedestrian traffic along (and across) the PPW driving and bike lanes, and to make that data and any resulting conclusions available to the community on an annual basis for a minimum of three years. DOT should also consider and implement appropriate strategies to alleviate traffic congestion at peak driving hours on PPW, such as further traffic signal adjustments and engineering and enforcement attention to loading/unloading "hot spots" where double-parking continues to be a problem at certain times of the day.
9. Brooklyn CB6 reiterates its previous call for the phased signalization of the bike lanes, with a clarification that the intention would be to enhance pedestrian safety. Possible remedies include push-button activated pedestrian crossing signals and/or variable time-of- day programming, and the addition of louvers to the bicycle signals that would direct them to the bicyclists’ line of sight and shield them from southbound motorists on PPW.
VOTE: 30 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 9:22 P.M.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to support and encourage an interagency approach to educating the community (bicyclist, motorist and pedestrians) about the rules of the road, particularly as they pertain to the bike lanes on Prospect Park West.
VOTE: 30 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 9:26 P.M.
YOUTH/HUMAN SERVICES/EDUCATION COMMITTEE
….....…DERRICK C. VITO, YOUTH SERVICES CO-CHAIR
………..JAMES BERNARD, YOUTH SERVICES CO-CHAIR
……………..MARK KOLMAN, HUMAN SERVICES CHAIR
……………………SUZANNE TURET, CHAIR, EDUCATION
Education Chairperson Suzanne Turet reported to the Board that the committee reviewed the City’s rules and procedures pertaining to the closing of social service agencies, to ensure that Community Boards are informed about the discontinuation of services in affected community districts.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to call on the Mayor to enforce the City’s rules and procedures, particularly aimed at the Department for the Aging and all social service agencies, to ensure that Community Boards are informed about the discontinuation of services in affected community districts.
VOTE: 30 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 9:28 P.M.
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COMMUNITY SESSION
Harry Farrell, President of the Utilities Workers Union of America Local 1-2, John Melia, Union worker and Vincent Kyne, Con Edison workers, all spoke out against Con Edison ending their policy of providing free parking for their employees. They wanted the Board to know that this issue is not about free parking, it is about how Con Edison’s decision will affect the community. The 400 individuals that work out of the Third Street Yard, they claim, are first responders since they respond to any emergency that involves electricity. Con Edison is giving the board “a snow job.” Con Edison supplies parking to many of their employees (i.e.; at the 3 facilities in Westchester County and 14th Street at the main headquarters they supply parking for all the executives). However, what they want to do is take away parking from all the first responders. Everybody in the community will be impacted by this decision, especially if the first responders cannot get to the emergency because they are looking for parking. Con Edison wants people who work a double shift to take mass transit back to New Jersey or Staten Island.
Richard Kessler, resident from Park Slope provided a brief history of the Lincoln Statue at Grand Army Plaza.
Anne Lipkey, a teacher from Community School District 15, stated that teachers want respect. People think that teachers make a lot of money but they do not. There is a movement across this country to eliminate unions but she supports unions. There are some schools that the conditions are sub-standard and we need unions and the support of the community to keep going strong.
Josefina Sanfeliu, a resident of the district, reported to the Board that on May 7th she will be hosting the 8th Annual Walk Against Fire Cuts and thanked the Community Board for their continued support. The following stops will be in our district: 10am – 93 Centre Mall @ Clinton Street 11am – 299 Degraw Street @ Court Street
Eileen Carrier, a parent from P.S. 58 on the corner of Carroll and Smith Streets who stated that for some time there have been no crossing guards on Smith Street. When she went to the 76th Precinct, they told her that there were no resources to hire new guards and there was a hiring freeze to replace old positions. Chairperson Kummer asked her to contact the district office so they could advocate for more crossing guards.
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NEW/OTHER BUSINESS
Board Member Judith Thompson stated that our community has high asthma rates and DEP needs to post no idling signs in around our City schools. Chairperson Kummer asked her to contact the district office so they could contact DEP to post signs at our district schools.
Motion: by Board Member Roger Rigolli, seconded by Board Member Constance Molinari; To adjourn the meeting.
VOTE: 30 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 9:40PM
Minutes submitted into the District Office by Assistant District Manager Leroy Branch on April 29, 2011.
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