BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
GENERAL BOARD MEETING
78TH POLICE PRECINCT
65 6TH AVENUE
OCTOBER 8, 2014
ATTENDANCE
PRESENT:
E. ANDERSON J.ARMER R. BASHNER
P. BELLENBAUM N. BERK-RAUCH P. BLAKE
F. BROWN E. CAUSIL-RODRIGUEZ SR. R. CERVONE
P. FLEMING D. GIULIANO R. GRAHAM
V. HERAMIA H. HUGHES F. JEAN
G. KELLY A. KRASNOW D. KUMMER
R. LEVINE H. LINK R. LUFTGLASS
S. MATHEWS-NOVELLI D. MAZZUCA E. MCCLURE
T. MISKEL C. PIGOTT L. PINN
M. RACIOPPO G. REILLY R. RIGOLLI
M. RUIZ M. SCOTT D. SCOTTO
M. SHAMES M. SILVERMAN B. SOLOTAIRE
E. SPICER S. TURET D. WILLIAMS
EXCUSED:
A. MCKNIGHT
ABSENT:
E. FELDER V. HAGMAN J. HEYER II
S. LONIAL J. THOMPSON
GUESTS:
HON. JOAN MILLMAN, STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
K. FEDER, BOROUGH PRESIDENT ADAMS’ REPRESENTATIVE
M. SARCI, COUNCIL MEMBER LEVIN’S REPRESENTATIVE
L. WELLINGTON, COUNCIL MEMBER MENCHACA’S REPRESENTATIVE
C. ZINNEL, COUNCIL MEMBER LANDER’S REPRESENTATIVE
O. JONAS, STATE SENATOR MONTGOMERY’S REPRESENTATIVE
Z. OTT, STATE SENATOR SQUADRON’S REPRESENTATIVE
P. RHEAUME CONGRESS MEMBER CLARKE’S REPRESENTATIVE
D. WILEY, CONGRESS MEMBER VELÁZQUEZ’ REPRESENTATIVE
L. BENJAMIN, KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY THOMPSON’S REPRESENTATIVE
Complete list of meeting attendees on file at District Office. 1
Chairperson Daniel Kummer called the meeting to order at 6:47pm.
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT………………………………………………………....….DANIEL KUMMER
Chairperson Daniel Kummer began his report by announcing that we received a letter of resignation from former Youth Committee Chair Mark Kolman. We wish him good health and all good things moving forward, and we thank him for his many years of selfless service on behalf of our community. That brings our total down to 45 board members.
Chairperson Kummer reported to the Board that last month three of our committees co-hosted a meeting where representatives for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) appeared to talk about their plans to open a borough-wide parolee reporting center at 15 2nd Avenue at the Gowanus Canal. Since then, the community organized another meeting which was facilitated by District Manager Craig Hammerman and Matthew Silverman our Public Safety Chair, and attended by our Human Service Co-Chairs Benjamin Solotaire and Paige Bellenbaum as well. At that meeting several community groups and elected officials made statements regarding their concerns about this project, which we still having nothing in writing about. At our committee meeting the State representatives committed to responding to our questions in writing, and also to return to us for a follow-up meeting. So we assembled all the questions from our meeting and the community’s meeting, and District Manager Hammerman and I wrote to the DOCCS Commissioner asking for a response by the end of this month. We also told them that we would like to reconvene and host the follow-up meeting sometime in November, assuming of course that we have their written responses in hand. Lastly, it was suggested by the community groups that we offer to give them a walking tour of the area around the new facility, which we also offered to do in our letter. We will share their response broadly when we receive it.
Chairperson Kummer advised the board that last month the Port Authority and Red Hook Container Terminal Operator were in the process of permitting a third party event organizer to hold an event at Pier 9 in the containerport. The event was billed as a weekend music festival, designed to attract roughly 8,000 people per day over the Saturday and Sunday of Columbus Day weekend, October 11-12. We have since found out indirectly that the event organizer has moved their venue from the containerport to Governors Island instead.
Chairperson Kummer ended by informing the Board that we have a new Commanding Officer here at the 78th Precinct, Captain Frank DiGiacomo, who took over command a couple of months ago. Our next Public Safety Committee meeting is going to be held in this very room at 6:30pm on October 16th and Captain DiGiacomo will be in attendance to introduce himself more formally. This would be a great opportunity to get to know him better and maybe even share your own ideas about what some of your public safety issues are here in the 78th Precinct. This precinct has been a model precinct in terms of embracing the City’s Vision Zero concepts and has really done an outstanding job helping to educate and enforce traffic laws that protect pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists alike. He invited everyone to attend the meeting and participate in the conversation with the new commander.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Board Member Glenn Kelly made a motion to accept the minutes of the September’s general meeting, seconded by Board Member Roger Rigolli.
VOTE: 25 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIOUMOUSLY
TIME: 6:58 P.M.
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DISTRICT MANAGER’S REPORT………………………………………….…….CRAIG HAMMERMAN
District Manager Craig Hammerman announced to the Board that the district office will again have a Planning Fellow working during this school year through the Fund for the City of New York. This year we were able to secure two planning fellows. Each will be working on separate projects:
Project A – Feasibility Study for an Industrial Business Improvement District in and around the Gowanus Canal This initiative is one of the spin-offs from our now completed Gowanus BOA Project. What we are hoping to do within this academic year is reach out to the property owners in the Gowanus area to see what their needs are and whether we can help them develop a program and a possible budget. We would like to see if there is enough support for an industrial BID, or iBID, to move forward there. Councilman Lander thought that an iBID along the Gowanus was such a good idea to explore he has committed $11,000 of his discretionary funds for the study. The Department of Small Business Services has also agreed to partner with us on this endeavor.
Project B – Housing Opportunity Study of our district to respond and hopefully guide the new administration in developing a broader affordable housing development policy. The goal is to sift through all of the properties in our district within residential zones to see how much under built floor area ratio or bulk we have. From there we will see if reasonable assemblages could be put forward or suggested to the Administration where housing opportunities would be natural for them to seize upon.
If anyone is interested in participating in either of the projects please see me at the end of the meeting.
Chairperson Kummer recognized elected officials and their representatives
State Assembly Member Joan Millman informed the board that she will not seek reelection. She will join the City’s Department for the Aging working for senior citizens throughout the city. Before she leaves the assembly her office will be compiling data on the amount of film and photo shoots in her district. She believes some neighborhood are over saturated by the film industry. After the data is collected she will present to the administration her findings and ask that the neighborhoods inundated with the shoots have a moratorium placed on them. She ended by thanking the Board for all they do for the residents of CB6.
Kai Feder, representing Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams outlined various functions sponsored by the Borough President: Brooklyn Crochets For A Cause – Every Wednesday, starting October 15th, from 10am – 11:30am, at Brooklyn Borough Hall. To RSVP please call 718-802-3875. Dine In Brooklyn - Monday, October 20th through Thursday, October 23rd, and from Monday, October 27th through Thursday, October 30th with prix fixe dinners costing $25, not including tax or gratuity; two-for-$15 lunch specials will also be available at some eateries. For more information please visit http://dineinbk.com/. Italian Heritage celebration – October 29th Latino Heritage celebration – October 30th He then introduced Steve Zeltzer who will be representing the Borough President in Brooklyn South. He ended by congratulating Board Member Lance Pinn whose business—Brooklyn Boulders—just celebrated its 5th anniversary in the community.
Metin Sarci, representing Council Member Steven Levin asked everyone to participate in this year’s Participatory Budgeting process. All residents can propose projects and vote on which will be included in the City Budget. For more information please contact my office at district33pb@gmail.com.
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Lee Wellington, representing Council Member Carlos Menchaca invited everyone to attend two meetings in Red Hook: October 9th – P.S. 15 - To discuss the proposed building of a 2.5 million comfort station at Valentino Pier. October 21st – NYCHA Miccio Center - An update from NYCHA on work they have done post Super storm Sandy.
Catherine Zinnel, representing Council Member Brad Lander, stated to the Councilman has signed on to a letter sent by various elected officials to Governor Cuomo regarding their concerns about the consolidation of all NYS parole operations in Brooklyn to a single location on the Gowanus Canal that is inconvenient to transit, with no information provided by DOCCS, and no engagement with residents, businesses, or schools nearby. To ask DOCCS to reconsider this location please go to http://docfacility-bradlander.nationbuilder.com/doc_petition to sign the Transparency & Fairness in Brooklyn Parole Headquarters Siting petition.
Oscar Jonas, representing State Senator Velmanette Montgomery stated that the Senator is co-hosting a celebration of “Ashley’s Law” – which strengthens family ties between New Yorkers who are incarcerated and their loved ones on the outside. The forum will take place on October 24th at Brooklyn Borough Hall. For more information pleases contact Deborah Moore at 718-643-6140.
Zeeshan Ott, representing State Senator Daniel Squadron, stated that the Senator has recently had some success in getting the Mayor’s office on film to allow film shoots to take less parking during the Jewish holidays around synagogues. He commended the 78th Precinct for all of their work related to Vision Zero. He ended by stating that his the Senator was instrumental in getting DOT to install Leading Pedestrian Interval Signals that show a walk sign for pedestrian before showing a green light to car traffic. The goal of these signals is to improve street safety by giving pedestrians a chance to begin crossing the street before cars make turns across the crosswalk. The LPI’s were instated at the intersections of Atlantic Avenue & Hicks Street and Court, Bergen & Congress Streets.
Patrick Rheaume, representing Congress Member Yvette Clarke, stated that the FCC has been accepting public comments on a proposed rule regarding internet neutrality. This would allow or not allow Internet Service Providers to charge higher fees for faster internet services, thus relegating anyone who does not pay with slower service. If you would like to make a comment please contact his office at (718) 287-1142 or visit http://www.fcc.gov/comments and leave a comment.
Dan Wiley, representing Congress Member Nydia Velázquez, stated that the Congresswoman has written to the Inspector General of the Post Office asking him to conduct an audit of the accuracy and timeliness of the mail delivery process at the Red Hook Post Office. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a micro grid feasibility study for Red Hook Houses. The concept originated in the plan developed by the Red Hook NY Rising Community Reconstruction Committee. This feasibility study is the first step toward developing a resilient power source to serve the majority of residents in this NYCHA Development. The Congresswoman visited the Harbor School on Governors Island and is advocating better ferry and water connection to and from Red Hook. He ended by inviting everyone to the U.S. EPA Gowanus Canal Cleanup Public Community Meeting, on October 22nd. For more information please contact his office at 718-222-5819.
Latoya Benjamin, representing Kings County District Attorney Kenneth P. Thompson invited everyone to the Brooklyn law school on October 9th to celebrate Hispanic heritage month with the DA. She also stated that on October 23rd the DA was hosting a town hall meeting in Coney Island to discuss public safety issues. She ended by informing the Board that the District Attorney Office will be co-sponsoring a professional basketball program in the Miccio Center in Red Hook in the near future.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
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EXECUTIVE/BUDGET COMMITTEE………………………......RICK LUFTGLASS, BUDGET CHAIR
Budget Chairperson Rick Luftglass reported to the Board that the committee discussed the proposed CB6 FY 2015 Capital and Expense Budget Requests.
Motion: by Committee;
To approve the FY 2016 Capital budget requests.
Board Member Vilma Heraminia asked why there were no funding amounts on the forms. District Manager Hammerman stated that what the Board Members have in front of them are the titles and priority listings of the requests. When submitted to OMB each title will have a paragraph under it in which dollar amounts are included wherever we have been provided estimates from the agencies.
Board Member Roger Rigolli asked for an explanation of the code “CS”. District Manager Hammerman explained that “CS” stands for Continued Support and is generally applicable to items that have already been approved and funded even though work may or may not have begun.
Board Member Eric McClure asked why the Capital Budget requests must have a dollar value that exceeds $35,000. Budget Chairperson Rick Luftglass stated that is one of the City’s criteria—the project must be valued at greater than $35,000, typically cannot be completed during the course of one fiscal year, and should last at least 5 years as a physical asset/improvement. Board Member Peter Fleming asked for an explanation on the renovation of the Park Slope library. District Manager Craig Hammerman stated that they left things out because they primarily focused on the interior of the library except for the main entranceway. Perimeter improvements that were not done but are sorely needed include the condition of the sidewalk, the front entrance gateway, and the condition and foundation of the perimeter fence. Board Member Roger Rigolli requested that item #36, Construction of the Gowanus Canal Storm Surge Barrier be a higher priority. District Manager Craig Hammerman said it was a higher priority last year but when the city told us that they were not going to build it until after they built the barrier for Newtown Creek first we lowered it.
VOTE: 33 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:51 P.M.
Motion: by Committee;
To approve the FY 2016 Expense budget requests.
Board Member Eric McClure asked how long item #1 – Restoration of Police Precinct Patrol Personnel has held that spot and, in such low-crime precincts where crime is trending lower, whether it can be relinquished. District Manager Hammerman stated that the item became #1 about 5-7 years ago when we saw a steady, sharp decrease in police personnel. At that time many of the Community Boards made a concerted effort to make it a collective #1 request. Board Member Roger Rigolli asked to what extent the NYPD does truck enforcement in the district especially trucks that are off the route and are making deliveries. District Manager Craig Hammerman stated that the Truck Enforcement Unit is a centralized unit that goes out based on complaints and issues violations to any trucks off the truck route who are not making deliveries.
VOTE: 33 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:56 P.M.
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ELECTION COMMITTEE……………..................................................………PETER FLEMING, CHAIR
Election Committee Chairperson Peter Fleming announced to the Board the members who have been suggested as nominees. The individuals are as follows: Thomas Miskel – Chairperson None – First Vice Chairperson Pauline Blake - Second Vice Chairperson None – Secretary Jerry Armer & Judith Thompson - Treasurer
Election Chairperson Fleming reported that next month we will have floor nominations for anyone wanting to be nominated and an election will be held in December.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION/PERMITS & LICENSES COMMITTEE
…………………....GARY REILLY, PERMITS & LICENSES CHAIR
………………...……MARK SHAMES, ENV. PROTECTION CHAIR
Permits & Licenses Chair Gary Reilly reported that the committee reviewed an alteration to a current on- premises liquor license application at 481 5th Avenue.
Motion: by Board Member Elly Spicer, seconded by Board Member Roger Rigolli; Recommendation to approve an alteration to a current on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of The Monro Pub, Inc. at 481 5th Avenue (between 11th/12th Streets) with the following condition that a revised stipulation sheet reflecting applicant’s agreement to limit the rear yard usage to 24 people at the four tables.
VOTE: 32 YEAS, 1 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED
TIME: 8:03 P.M.
Permits & Licenses Chair Gary Reilly also reported that the committee reviewed the modification of an unenclosed sidewalk café permit application at 225 7th Avenue.
Motion: by Board Member Jerry Armer, seconded by Board Member Suzanne Turet; Recommendation to approve the modification of a unenclosed sidewalk café permit application submitted to the Department of Consumer Affairs on behalf of Sotto Voce at 225 7th Avenue (between 3rd/4th Streets) to permit 8 tables and 18 seats.
VOTE: 33 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 8:07 P.M.
LANDMARKS/LAND USE COMMITTEE………….…...….ROBERT LEVINE, LANDMARKS CHAIR
…………………...….PETER FLEMING, LAND USE CHAIR
Land Use Committee Chair Peter Fleming reported that the committee reviewed a Certificate of Appropriateness application at 168 Court Street.
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Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to conditionally approve a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for a new lot line window opening at the side elevation of a rear extension at 492 1st Street (between 7th/8th Avenues), Park Slope Historic District with the following conditions: That the window be non-operable and translucent/obscured. Applicant notify the neighbors of the Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing.
VOTE: 34 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 8:10 P.M.
COMMUNITY SESSION
Julie Gallagher a resident from the Park Slope section of our district asked if anything could be done about the excessive horn honking that takes place at the intersection of 8th Avenue and Union Street. Chairperson Kummer referred her to Assistant District Manager Leroy Branch.
Vanessa Jones-Hall, representing NYCHA’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Project. She is reaching out to introduce the group and the work they are doing in the Red Hook community. They are watching closely for signs that NYCHA are not only repairing the buildings, but also earning the confidence of the residents and fostering a partnership of two-way communication. Residents can get involved by attending community meetings; apply for jobs to potentially work at affected developments through (REES) http://opportunitynycha.org/ or call 718-289-8100; involve high school youth in internships within developments affected by Hurricane Sandy. For more information please call 347-56-NYCHA (347-566-9242) or email NYCHA.rebuild@gmail.com. Also, she explained a new program for high school students – ACE Mentor Program. ACE is a free after-school program for high school students who may want to learn about careers in Architecture, Construction, and/or Engineering. For more information please contact Raquel Carrion at Raquel.Carrion@NYCHA.nyc.gov.
NEW/OTHER BUSINESS
Board Member Eric McClure stated that the Park Slope Civic Council’s Forth on Fourth Avenue Committee has received a challenge grant from In Our Backyards to envision a better 4th Avenue and 9th Street Subway Station. On October 24th, they will have 24 hours to raise around $1,000 from the community which IOBY will match. On November 21st, they will be doing a 1-day project on site to transform part of the outside of the station. Stay tuned for more information.
Motion: by Board Member Roger Rigolli, seconded by Board Member Dolly Williams; To adjourn the meeting.
VOTE: 34 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 8:21P.M.
Minutes submitted into the District Office by Assistant District Manager Leroy Branch on October 30, 2014.
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