BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
PARKS/RECREATION/CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE &
YOUTH/HUMAN SERVICES/EDUCATION COMMITTEE
MARCH 20, 2013
ATTENDANCE: PARKS/RECREATION/CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
PRESENT:
Z. ABRAMS I. DUTTON J. FRANCIS
R. GRAHAM J. HEYER H. HUGHES
G. KELLY N. LALLI M. PETTIT
E. ROBERTS C. RYAN J. OLTMAN SMITH
A. VESSELS
EXCUSED:
N. COX J. KLETTER
C. PIGOTT
ABSENT:
E. CAUSIL-RODRIGUEZ R. CERVONE
ATTENDANCE: YOUTH/HUMAN SERVICES/EDUCATION COMMITTEE
PRESENT:
D. ABRAHAM J. BERNARD E. FELDER
C. RYAN M. SCOTT B. SOLOTAIRE
S. TURET
EXCUSED:
E. ECHEVARRIA L. HILL D. SCOTTO
R. UNDERWOOD
ABSENT:
P. BELLENBAUM E. CAUSIL-RODRIGUEZ R. CERVONE
A. DAVILA M. KOLMAN M. RUIZ
GUESTS:
C. GREEN – REP. FOR HON. MARTY MARKOWITZ, BROOKLYN BOROUGH
PRESIDENT
M. SARCI – REP. FOR HON. STEPHEN LEVIN, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
J. LEVIN – REP. FOR HON. JOAN MILLMAN, STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
J. VOGEL – REP. FOR HON. VELMANETTE MONTGOMERY, STATE SENATOR
P. RHEAUME – REP. FOR HON. YVETTE CLARK, MEMBER OF CONGRESS
J. LACAYO – REP. FOR HON. WALTER MOSLEY, STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
D. ALQUIST S. J. AVERY K. JOHNSON
J. BARKEY N. ODER N. VENUGOPAL
A. SELBY M. MARTELLE L. ALBRECHT
D. FAVELA C. GOUGH Z. R. ENLOE
E. TUCKER N. MUSUMECI H. KOLINS
A.SHEDD T. F. GOLAN K. LATTIN
L. TACKENTIEN J. VAN BRAMER S. ARONOWSKY
S. DE SEVE L. BETANCOURT
*** MINUTES ***
Nica Lalli, the co-chair of the Parks/Recreation and Cultural Affairs Committee opened the meeting at 6:45pm. She introduced Nancy Romer and Hillary___________ from the Brooklyn Food Coalition.
Presentation and discussion with representative for the Brooklyn Food Coalition on proposed City Council Resolution 1313, calling upon the New York City Department of Education’s Office of School Food to increase the health of food options in school lunches and breakfasts.
They outlined NYC school’s food needs, (860 thousand meals a day plus, $½ billion per year spent on in-school meals.) They are interested in making these meals better and economically viable and ecologically sound on a system-wide basis. Sponsoring a school-food resolution in the City Council (Resolution 1313 attached)
Q. Is there an on-line component? A. Both on-line and printed to help people understand how to help make the changes needed in the schools, help parents and training teachers, too.
Q. Fresh versus frozen debate? A. They espouse fresh as much as possible.
Q. How would letters be collected? A. The letter is now on-line but collected at the meeting.
Ben Solotaire made a motion to support the resolution as written, Suzanne Turet seconded.
MOTION PASSED: All in favor…..one abstention
Presentation and consideration of a request for a letter of support for a proposed new interim community garden at 313 Columbia Street (between Woodhull Street/Hamilton Avenue).
Michele Martell, Red Hook Neighborhood Residents Community Garden at 313 Columbia Street made the presentation.
A group of residents want to turn a plot of land owned by NYC Housing Development for a garden for two years and they said to get a letter of support from the Community Board in order to use it for a community garden.
Q. How will people access this garden? A. First come/first served basis. Fliers to alert people will be posted. It is ad-hoc.
Q. How large is the group? A. Less than 10 people.
Nica Lalli moved and Glen Kelly seconded to accept the request.
MOTION PASSED: All in favor…..one abstention.
Presentation and discussion with representatives for the Brooklyn Public Library on the range of services and programs throughout the boroughwide library system with specific highlights on local services available at our district’s four branch libraries, namely, Carroll Gardens, Pacific, Park Slope and Red Hook.
Nica Lalli introduced Rick Rayes Gavelon of the Brooklyn Public Library who presented an update on four branches in the CB6 area. He pointed to documents on-line about libraries – Center for Urban Future Report and NYC Plan. He outlined the importance of libraries in these documents. He talked about a study conducted in 2007 – a community needs assessment which has guided their strategic plan. He talked about the 60 branches – most people live within a ½ mile. Attendance and circulation has grown and extended hours. He said that the library has $15 million budget cut since 2008; 200 fewer staff in this time. 2014 budget proposed a $29 million cut to Brooklyn libraries. He outlined capital budget concerns that are “not sustainable” – mentioned a boiler problem in Clinton Hill.
He outlined the four branches in CB6 – Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Pacific, Red Hook.
Red Hook - closed since Hurricane Sandy. Despite significant damage provided a place of warmth-center for affected residents. Did a reading program. Hope to re-open in early April. Future: Developing an art studio program with Space Works.
Carroll Gardens – has an active Friends group. They are going to renovate the community room and going to do a seniors art program and ________ program. Capital Projects: Closing for 4-6 weeks for cosmetic changes and HVAC replacement ($4.5 million).
Park Slope – Re-opened in 2012. Launching a Friends group. Needs exterior renovation ($3 million).
Pacific - $11M in capital needs for ADA compliance and HVAC. He feels that 50% of the library is not appropriate for how libraries operate today and how they want to use them.
Expectations for Library of the Future: Open floor plan
ADA
“User-centered” – What do people need? Technology – outlets, privacy Optimism and energy
Josh Nachowitz outlined new site for replacement of Pacific Street Library – it is moving through ULURP. Building has to be sold first.
No intention of making any changes until new building is up and running in 2016 - Would not sell the building until 2014.
Q: ULURP process? A: 7 month process/public library.
Q: What else is at BAM site? A: 300 units of housing, new cinema, 651 Arts Space. Vision is not to be a performing arts library.
Q: Park Slope library is sorely missed. How is Kensington library different?
Sell building before building new branch. There is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the library and EDC – City will get proceeds and library gets capital needs.
Concern about the distance of new library – out of our Community Board, too.
Special permit to developer
Wonder how these conversations started?
Conflicts of interest with members in them.
MOU – not available until after it is signed.
$ Questions – Proposing one thing and not knowing about another.
- At what point would ULURP begin? Josh said in 2014 probably. - Vast majority of users of the Pacific branch come from Boerum Hill. - Not pay rent on Pacific if building were to be developed – 10 to15 story building? - 50-60,000 square feet. What is the value of the site?
Q: Selling of books?
“not saying this” At Central library, take staff and put in central place – to shuffle.
Nica Lalli made it clear that this is the beginning of this process and that the community will be brought in.
Q: Who will pay for maintenance in the new building? A: Downtown Partnership will pay for maintenance with other cultural partners.
Concern raised that because BAM site is tied to this, it will be a foregone conclusion to will be sold.
Nica requested that the Library executives set up listening sessions with the public before they move forward.
The minutes were submitted by Judi Francis.