March 11, 2015

BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6

GENERAL BOARD MEETING

PUBLIC SCHOOL 58

330 SMITH STREET

MARCH 11, 2015

ATTENDANCE

PRESENT:

E. ANDERSON J.ARMER P. BELLENBAUM

N. BERK-RAUCH P. BLAKE F. BROWN

E. CAUSIL-RODRIGUEZ SR. R. CERVONE E. FELDER

P. FLEMING V. HERAMIA F. JEAN

A. KRASNOW D. KUMMER R. LEVINE

H. LINK S. LONIAL S. MATHEWS-NOVELLI

D. MAZZUCA E. MCCLURE T. MISKEL

C. PIGOTT G. REILLY R. RIGOLLI

M. RUIZ D. SCOTTO M. SHAMES

M. SILVERMAN B. SOLOTAIRE E. SPICER

J. THOMPSON S. TURET D. WILLIAMS

EXCUSED:

R. BASHNER D. GIULIANO J. HEYER II

H. HUGHES G. KELLY R. LUFTGLASS

M. RACIOPPO M. SCOTT

ABSENT:

R. GRAHAM V. HAGMAN L. PINN

GUESTS:

J. LOWELL, BOROUGH PRESIDENT ADAMS’ REPRESENTATIVE

J. MORALES, COUNCIL MEMBER MENCHACA’S REPRESENTATIVE

C. ZINNEL, COUNCIL MEMBER LANDER’S REPRESENTATIVE

M. HIRSCH, STATE ASSMBLY MEMBER BRENNAN’S REPRESENTATIVE

P. NAPOLEON, STATE ASSMBLY MEMBER ORTIZ’S REPRESENTATIVE

P. JEPPE, STATE ASSMBLY MEMBER SIMON’S REPRESENTATIVE

O. JONAS, STATE SENATOR MONTGOMERY’S REPRESENTATIVE

R. ROTHBLATT, STATE SENATOR HAMILTON’S REPRESENTATIVE

Z. OTT, STATE SENATOR SQUADRON’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 Gary Reilly called the meeting to order at 6:43pm.

 ADOPTION OF MINUTES 

Board Member Roger Rigolli made a motion to accept the minutes of the February’s general meeting, seconded by Board Member Peter Fleming.

VOTE: 23 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

TIME: 6:45 P.M.

CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT……………………………………………………….................GARY REILLY

Chairperson Gary Reilly began his report by advising the board that he recently met with Council Member Carlos Menchaca to talk about issues affecting his portion of our district, notably Red Hook. With Andrea McKnight and Lou Sones resigning from the board we have an opportunity to fill a couple of seats with new energy from Red Hook and we’re excited by that possibility. We also had a chance to talk a bit about some of the waterfront issues affecting the district, and determined that there isn’t enough conversations taking place that include both communities of Red Hook and Sunset Park since the waterfront connects the two. We’re going to look at this in greater details and see where there’s common interests between our two communities. I also had the chance to sit down with the Chair and District Manager of Community Board 7, our southern neighbors, and it was clear that they too would like us to work closer on regional waterfront issues. With the support of our Council Member we are looking at models for how best we could accomplish this.

Chairperson Reilly thanked Board Member Rick Luftglass for generously agreeing to become our new delegate to the spirited Brooklyn Bridge Park Community Advisory Committee and expressed his gratitude to Richard Bashner for his valued representation for the past few years as our delegate.

Chairperson Reilly reported that Board Member David Mazzuca is moving out of the district to Princeton, New Jersey so he did not apply for reappointment to the community board. I’m pleased that David has agreed to serve out the remainder of his term. I would like to thank him for his selfless service to our communities and wish him well in his new home.

Chairperson Reilly ended his report by advising the Board that the Executive Committee discussed at their last meeting the review process for the by-laws which our Finance/Personnel & Law committee recently kicked-off at their meeting on March 2nd. It sounds like the committee is covering a lot of ground and will be coming out with suggestions for how the document could be easier-to-read and better reflect the long-term practices of the board. I’d like to suggest that all Board Members to spend some time refreshing themselves with the document. You may even have some ideas yourself on further changes, or to join in the conversation that’s taking place now. The district office will send out a reminder in a couple weeks, but meanwhile I’d like to encourage anyone who has any ideas to attend the next meeting of our Finance/Personnel & Law committee, which will be taking place at 6:30pm on Monday, March 30th at the Cobble Hill Community Meeting Room, 250 Baltic Street.

DISTRICT MANAGER’S REPORT………………………………………….…….CRAIG HAMMERMAN

District Manager Craig Hammerman began his report by giving an update on the Gowanus Industrial Business Improvement District Feasibility Study that Councilman Brad Lander has funded. Along with the Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation, we sent out a survey to over 700 businesses from a list supplied

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to us by the Department of Small Business Services, as well as the SBIDC email list server. The next phase will be actually going to the businesses to improve our responses to the survey. We would like to complete this part of the process by next month in which we could review with the shareholders the results. After which time we will determine where we go from there. Ultimately, the property owners themselves would have to develop a plan and go through a full review process with the City of New York, if they want a Business Improvement District in and around the Gowanus.

District Manager Hammerman informed the Board that we had received a notice from the United States Postal Service that they were moving the retail portion of the Times Plaza Station from 542 Atlantic Avenue to 288- 290 Flatbush Avenue. We set up a meeting with them, and invited the North Flatbush BID to attend, to get the specifics on the move. They told us the reason for the move was predicated on their lease ending at the Atlantic Avenue site. The first thing they told us was that they were able to secure a one-year extension on the lease, which takes some pressure off of the Post Office to come up with an immediate plan for relocation. They also told us that the building owner has had a change of heart and they are aggressively in negotiations for a new lease at the Atlantic Avenue location for a 5-year term, beyond the one-year extension. For this reason, they are no longer pursuing the Flatbush Avenue site. We asked the North Flatbush BID if using the Flatbush site was a good idea as a potential site to provide additional retail services to the community anyway, since it has already been vetted by the Postal Service as a retail location. North Flatbush BID stated that they would speak to the businesses in the area and get back to us.

District Manager Hammerman advised the Board that we will be meeting with all of the Business Improvement District Managers in the district (i.e.; North Flatbush, Atlantic Avenue and 5th Avenue). Each BID is required to have a Board of Directors and CB6 has a non-voting seat on each of their boards. Each one of our BIDs has quarterly meetings and it has been a difficult challenge for us to attend each of them. So instead we are trying a new model in which we meet with all the BIDs together quarterly instead of us going to each one of their meetings. Also, we think that there is some value by having all the BID Managers talking to each other on a regular basis especially when it comes to overlapping geography (Barclays Center/Atlantic Yards) and issues.

District Manager Hammerman reported that the Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications is in the process of setting up a new program called LinkNYC which is a communication network that will bring municipal Wi-Fi kiosks throughout New York City. They will replace the network of pay phones with state-of-the-art links. The links will have the following:  Free 24/7 public Wi-Fi  Free phone calls anywhere in the U.S.  A touch screen tablet interface to access City services, directions and more  Access to 311 and 911  Free charging stations for mobile devices  Digital displays for advertising and public service announcements.

Since there are no pay phones in Red Hook or Gowanus, we asked them if fire alarm box locations could be used as kiosks. They said they would have to get back to us on that. The Borough President’s Office asked all Community Boards to provide any feedback by June 1st. We will get DOITT to come out to make a presentation to one of our committees so we can make better informed recommendations to the Borough President.

District Manager Hammerman ended his report by advising the Board that as part of the Administration’s efforts to promote the production of affordable housing, the Department of City Planning is proposing some zoning text amendments that would facilitate the production of these housing units. They are looking to promote affordable senior housing, modernize the rules that shape buildings and reduce unnecessary parking requirements. All of these they believe will help accomplish the goal of producing more units. We are inviting them to come and present to us these changes to the text amendment so we can be better prepared to comment before they issue the final text amendment this summer. 3

 COMMITTEE REPORTS 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION/PERMITS & LICENSES COMMITTEE

………………...……MARK SHAMES, ENV. PROTECTION CHAIR

…..…………....MIKE RACIOPPO, PERMITS & LICENSES CHAIR

Environmental Protection Chair Mark Shames reported that the committee reviewed a new on-premises liquor license application at 213 Union Street.

Motion: by Board Member Peter Fleming, seconded by Board Member Daniel Kummer; Recommendation to approve a new on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of La Cigogne at 213 Union Street (between Henry/Clinton Streets).

VOTE: 30 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

TIME: 7:02P.M.

Environmental Protection Chair Mark Shames also reported that the committee reviewed a new on-premises liquor license application at 318 5th Avenue.

Motion: by Board Member Thomas Miskel, seconded by Board Member Roger Rigolli; Recommendation to approve a new on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of Blue Planet Grill Inc. at 318 5th Avenue (between 3rd/4th Streets).

Board Member Eric McClure stated that the restaurant is between 2nd & 3rd Streets not 3rd & 4th Streets.

VOTE: 31 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

TIME: 7:02P.M.

Environmental Protection Chair Mark Shames further reported that the committee reviewed a new on-premises liquor license application at 221 Smith Street.

Motion: by Board Member Peter Fleming, seconded by Board Member Thomas Miskel; Recommendation to approve a new on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of Sagrada BK, LLC at 221 Smith Street (between Butler/Baltic Streets).

VOTE: 31 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

TIME: 7:02P.M.

Environmental Protection Chair Mark Shames additionally reported that the committee reviewed a new on- premises liquor license application at 289 5th Avenue.

Motion: by Board Member Peter Fleming, seconded by Board Member Thomas Miskel;

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Recommendation to approve a new on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of 289 5th Avenue (between 1st/2nd Streets) with the following conditions:  Applicant attests to change opening hours to 8am Monday to Sunday.  Applicant attests to change backyard open hours to 10:30am Monday to Sunday.  Applicant attests to change backyard closing hours to 11pm Sunday to Thursday and to midnight Friday to Saturday.

Board Member Eric McClure asked what the existing hours were, the size of the back yard and if there were any complaints by their neighbors. Environmental Protection Chair Mark Shames stated the he was not sure what the hours were, the size of the yard is 19.5ft x 25.3ft, and there has been no complaints lodged against this establishment.

VOTE: 32 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

TIME: 7:12P.M.

FINANCE/PERSONNEL & LAW COMMITTEE……………………….…...….JERRY ARMER, CHAIR

Finance/Personnel & Law Committee Chair Jerry Armer reported that the committee reviewed City Council Intro 585-2014.

Motion: by Committee;

Recommendation to oppose City Council Intro 585-2014, a local law to amend the New York City Charter, in relation to establishing term limits for community board members.

Board Member Peter Fleming stated that this seems to follow along with the representative of the Borough President’s office who in an effort to discourage him from re-applying told him quote the Borough President “wanted to review the community boards.” There are already effective means for particular or as this board knows many individuals not to be re-appointed to the community board. He is not sure why this needs to be legislated and feels we should not support it.

Board Member David Mazzuca asked if we knew why Councilman Lander was a sponsor of the bill. Finance/Personnel & Law Committee Chair Jerry Armer stated no.

Board Member Daniel Kummer spoke in favor of the motion stating that this is not a good idea, although it points to other issues that are certainly worthy of discussion in a broader context. He believes that this is a solution in search of a problem and he urges the elected officials to focus on problems in need of solutions.

Board Member Eric Anderson asked if we need to vote on this now or could it wait until the board gets further information from our elected officials. Finance/Personnel & Law Committee Chair Jerry Armer stated that since this Intro is out there we need to vote on it tonight because if there are any negotiations to be had our position and our reason for our position is out there as well.

Board Member Sayar Lonial spoke in favor of the motion stating that he would like to make an amendment.

Amendment: by Board Member Sayar Lonial, seconded by Board Member Judith Thompson; To remove “and urges instead that the issue be considered within a broader discussion of the effectiveness of Community Boards” from the motion.

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Board Member Ariel Krasnow stated that a discussion of community boards before the city council is very important and we should be strengthening our positon by saying community boards should be strengthened and should be looked at in their entirety as what they can do. They should go back to being Community Planning Boards as they had been initially been intended to do. She believes we should strengthen our position not take away.

Board Member Eric McClure stated that a more constructive way to approach this instead of just saying no is to add something robust laying out how community boards can be strengthened.

Board Member Matthew Silverman spoke in favor of the amendment stating that maybe we should oppose this bill and then make another motion asking our elected officials to have a broader discussion about community boards as a whole.

Board Member Sayar Lonial withdrew his amendment.

Amendment: by Board Member Mark Shames, seconded by Board Member Sayar Lonial. To change “and urges instead that the issue be considered within a broader discussion of the effectiveness of community boards” to “and urges that we consider how we make community boards more effective with regards to its function in community planning.”

Board Member Mark Shames believes the amendment is an improvement to the motion. He also stated that if the elected official that appointed him asked him to step down he would leave.

Board Member Elly Spicer asked if we could ask Councilman Lander why he supports this bill. Chairman Reilly stated yes we will.

Board Member Roger Rigolli spoke in favor of the amendment stating that there should not be any term limits because we have a wealth of knowledge that we cannot lose.

VOTE: 31 YEAS, 2 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS

AMENDMENT PASSED

TIME: 7:37P.M.

Discussion on original motion as amended ensued.

Board Member Peter Fleming stated that one thing we have in our favor over other community boards are our by-laws. We have term limits for our officers where other community boards allow there Chair to stay in office for over 30 years. We have a more enlighten view than others when it comes to that aspect of term limits.

Board Member Suzanne Turet spoke in favor of the motion stating that term limits are ridiculous.

Paige Bellenbaum stated that she thinks community board participation in lower income communities is already low and this bill will have a major impact in those communities where civic engagement is much more challenging. It will make it more difficult from individuals from those neighborhoods to participate in this process.

Board Member Benjamin Solotaire stated that he is not necessarily against term limits and would probably vote in favor of the resolution. He then asked if we knew how many applications for membership to the board are handed in on a yearly basis. District Manager Hammerman stated that since we are not self-appointing, we do not see the applications. 6

Board Member Ariel Krasnow stated that she is also not opposed to term limits, but feels funny voting on an issue without first hearing what the Councilman views are on the subject. While we have instituted some measures of term limits in our by-laws (for our officers) there may be other community boards that there is an entrenchment, particularly in leadership positions, and needs to be changed.

Chairperson Gary Reilly stated that he thinks the bill is probably well-intended but that it is misguided for all the reasons stated this evening. Our positions are different than any elected officials that have term limits because in the grand scheme of government we really do not have any decision-making authority as an advisory body. Elected officials can act on their own volition without a piece of legislation forcing their hand.

VOTE: 31 YEAS, 0 NAY, 2 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION PASSED

TIME: 7:44P.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 an application for a variance to permit the construction of a 4-story mixed use building with commercial use on the first floor at 112 Atlantic Avenue.

Motion: by Committee;

Recommendation to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the addition of a new bulkhead and deck at rooftop and a one-story rear yard extension with deck at 101 Park Place (between 6th/7th Avenues), Park Slope Historic District with the following conditions:  That the material on the parlor floor extension be brick with a color and texture to be approved by LPC.  That glazing in greenhouse extension on the rear garden floor should be reduced and replaced with material matching the building.

VOTE: 32 YEAS, 1 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION PASSED

TIME: 7:49P.M.

YOUTH/HUMAN SERVICES AND EDUCATION…...PAIGE BELLENBAUM, HUM SVC CO-CHAIR

…………...BENJAMIN SOLOTAIRE, HUM SVC CO-CHAIR

…………….………SUZANNE TURET, EDUCATION CHAIR

Human Services Co-Chairs Paige Bellenbaum and Benjamin Solotaire reported that the committee reviewed New York State Senate Bill 2500-2015.

Motion: by Committee;

Recommendation to support New York State Senate Bill 2500-2015, an act to amend the public health law, in relation to the closure of hospitals.

Board Member Ariel Krasnow stated that just like our previous vote this is a small piece of a much larger problem. We should definitely provide the context of our personal experiences of the past with Long Island College Hospital. There has been discussions that our public hospital system is broken and needs a complete 7

overhaul. There are so many questions that this motion does not address, just like the previous motion maybe we should add to it.

Board Member Matthew Ruiz asked if this bill will effect private hospitals. Will we require them to continue to operate in the red and lose money while these discussions are taking place?

Board Member Jerry Armer spoke in favor of the motion stating this this is a good first start. The fact now that you can close a hospital without doing a health assessment of what services are needed in the community and how to replace services you are eliminating is outrageous. He would like to state in the letter that this is the first step and a larger conversation must be had to address our public hospital system as a whole.

Board Member Peter Fleming stated that although there is not much context when the drafter of the bill creates it, all of the context will come out when the bill hits the legislative floor.

Board Member Judith Thompson stated that part of the problem with LICH was that it is in an area great for condominiums. What the city should be doing is rezoning hospitals so they will not be attractive for developers.

VOTE: 30 YEAS, 0 NAY, 1 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

TIME: 8:00P.M.

Chairperson Reilly recognized elected officials representatives

Oscar Jonas, representing State Senator Velmanette Montgomery stated that the Senator is again sponsoring Summer Internship opportunities to young adults attending or entering college. The goal of the program is to provide worthwhile work experiences for college students living in the communities surrounding the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Deadline is May 29, 2015. He also state that New York's windfall from settlements with banks and financial institutions from the financial crisis has grown to $5.1 billion. Lawmakers and Governor Cuomo are now in negotiations on how to spend this money.

Jeff Lowell, representing Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams stated that due to a positive response from parents across the city applying for Community and Citywide Education Council seats, the DOE is extending the CEC application deadline to Monday, March 16th. He also stated that the new appointments and reappointments will be done by the end of March. He ended by inviting everyone to two upcoming events:  Greek Heritage Month Celebration – March 23rd  Women’s History Month reception – March 30th

Julian Morales, representing City Council Member Carlos Menchaca stated that the Participatory Budgeting voting process will take place April 11-19. Anyone over 14 years old who lives in the district is eligible to participate. Voting dates and locations are as follows in CB6: 4/13 - 4/17, 3-8pm Miccio Community Center, 110 West 9th St Red Hook Initiative, 767 Hicks St 4/14 - 4/15 & 4/18, 3-6pm Red Hook Library, 7 Wolcott St

He ended by inviting everyone to the Councilman’s State of the District Address on April 12th at 2pm in Sunset Park High School.

Catherine Zinnel, representing Council Member Brad Lander, stated that the Councilman will have an Expo and Kick-Off of his Participatory Budget voting process on April 14th between 6:30-8:30pm at Camp Friendship, 339 8th Street. She also stated that this month, Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson and the Council 8

Member, along with the street safety advocacy groups Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets, announced a new task force dedicated to holding drivers accountable in instances of reckless driving in Brooklyn. She ended by inviting everyone to the following events:  March 12th Protect Our Schools Citywide Protest  May 9 , 10am th 8th Annual PTA 5-kilometer run/walk/stroll/toddle in Prospect Park  March 16-April 24 Pre-K program application period.

Melanie Hirsch, representing Assembly Member James Brennan invited everyone to participate in an online survey to ask Governor Cuomo to increase the State aid for education to New York City public schools.

Jim Harvey, representing Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, stated that the Assemblywoman has introduced a bill (A-4330) that would require the certification or training of teachers, administrators and instructors in the area of dyslexia and related disorders.

Peterson Napoleon, representing State Assembly Member Felix Ortiz, stated that the Assemblyman has sponsored a bill (A03472) that would ban "surge pricing" by car services. He believes that alternatives for transportation in busy cities are always welcome, but this practice of spiking fares is unfair and simply bad business.

Ptahra Jeppe, representing State Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, also invited everyone on March 12th to protest Governor Cuomo’s Education Plan and budget. She invited everyone to the Assemblywomen’s Open House & Women’s History Month Reception on March 20th at her district office located at 341 Smith Street.

Raul Rothblatt, representing State Senator Jesse Hamilton, stated that one of the Senator’s initiatives is to have various committees of community residents, i.e. Transparency in Albany Committee.

Zeeshan Ott, representing State Senator Daniel Squadron, invited everyone to the Senator’s Seventh Annual 26th Senate District Community Convention on April 12th. Come out and make your voice heard on all of the legislative and community priorities that shape our district and our state.

Dan Wiley, representing Congress Member Nydia Velázquez, stated that the Congresswoman will be co- sponsoring with FEMA and the New York City Mayor's Office of Recovery and Resiliency and Housing Recovery Office a FEMA flood insurance public meeting on March 31st at the Miccio Center in Red Hook. March 31st begins a 90-day public comment period on new maps where many more people will be required to get flood insurance.

LaToya Benjamin, representing Kings County District Attorney Kenneth P. Thompson stated that the DA has begun publishing a newsletter, Justice News, to keep the public informed of the Office’s work and commitment to seeking justice.

 COMMUNITY SESSION 

Scott Power, representing the PTA at P.S. 124 asked the Community Board to support the schools efforts to get on street parking for the staff of the school. Chairperson Reilly asked him to follow-up with Assistant District Manager Leroy Branch at the district office.

 NEW/OTHER BUSINESS 

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Board Member Sister Rosanna Cervone informed the Board that the Red Hook Justice Center is in the process of recruiting new individuals for their Peacemaking Program. Peacemaking is a traditional Native American approach to justice that focuses on healing and restoration rather than punishment.

Motion: by Board Member Roger Rigolli, seconded by Board Member Thomas Miskel; To adjourn the meeting.

VOTE: 32 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

TIME: 8:30P.M.

Minutes submitted into the District Office by Assistant District Manager Leroy Branch on March 31, 2015.

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