BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
ECONOMIC/WATERFRONT/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 19, 2015
ATTENDANCE
PRESENT:
R. BASHNER R. CERVONE A. DEVENING
J. FRANCIS V. HERAMIA A. KRASNOW
J. LI R. LUFTGLASS A. MEHTA
D. RAMOS A. SHEFRIN L. WELLINGTON
ABSENT:
J. ALWAIS M. CABALLERO D. CARCACHE
D. ESQUERRA K. JAMES D. WILLIAMS
GUESTS:
POLICE OFFICER JERRY GALANTE – REPRESENTATIVE FROM 78TH PRECINCT
B. SCOTTO E. GOLDIN J. ELLIS
M. CASERTA J. SZENDE L. DONALDSON
V. HAGMAN R. CERVONE T. KELLY
***MINUTES***
Orientation: Rules, regulations and procedures governing committee participation.
Procedures and Rules: Attendance – make all attempts to attend If need to be excused do so by 5:00pm of the day of the meeting If you cannot make a lot of the meetings, please contact the District Manager or the Chair EWCDH is less formal Respect for others in conversation Minutes are needed at every meeting Please suggest items for meetings (representatives from EDC, Gowanus, Barclays for discussions)
How can committee members communicate with other members? A: Through list serve. Ariel Krasnow will send a “test” out of list serve. List serve for committee members includes more people than just the committee.
A motion was made to approve the minutes of the previous meeting that was held on April 20, 2015 and seconded by Ariel Krasnow. Motion approved.
Presentation and discussion with representatives for the business improvement districts of Brooklyn CB6 (including North Flatbush Avenue BID, Park Slope 5th Avenue BID, and Atlantic Avenue BID) on issues relating to street vending and related legislation under consideration by the New York City Council.
Discussion followed relating to pending legislation related to street vending. Procedurally, the Community Board does not have to vote on the legislation. We can ask for the city to give us their point of view and the research.
Mark Caserta of the Park Slope 5th Avenue BID (which includes 520 small businesses) said there is no bill on the table right now. The BID Association has 72 BIDs city-wide.
Two more points: 1. Siting issues related to where vendors should go 2. Tangle of rules related to vendors – vendor rules are very different
Proposal is on the table: Lift the cap on vendors. 3 types: 1. Food Vendors – 5,000 permits 2. Merchandise Vendors (general) 3. 1st Amendment Vendors – books, art, visual, veterans
Atlantic Avenue BID: CB6 @ Cobble Hill Court Street between Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Street Should CB6 weigh in on the number of street vendors Transportation issues at the corner Trader Joe’s very congested corner Does it make sense to study the situation and the number of street vendors Community input on the resolution will give Community Boards a say. Important for activity and vibrancy but can also create congestion and dangerous situations
North Flatbush BID and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Court and Smith Street BIDs are still trying to form the BID – it is a long process
Cap on vendors?
Street Vendor Project – part of Legal Aid Work of immigrants and veterans 2000 members from all vendor types Everyone has the same problem – more licenses and more space There is a black market
Only way for a new vendor to start is without a license because only 5,000 permits were given in the 1970’s. But since they don’t have a license they can be fined. Everyone(?) renting off the black market.
Low income, low wage workers but cannot get a license.
Reactivate the BID Association – has not met in 15 years Look at each block Community might be able to have input on where vendors can be located e.g. number of vendors on a block
BIDs want to start the conversation with street vendors and make sure all stakeholders are heard. That includes vendors, businesses – rental, owners and community boards. BID wants to make sure the regulations are fair and have input.
Lee Wellington has been looking at one issue: Job opportunity is real and should be given Vendors created happening and cheaper goods But brick and mortar tenants (permanent shops) are paying for rent and have to clean up after them. Enforcement issues need to be included Sanitation – so vendors clean up after themselves
Richard Bashner: What about deciding what spots and where are they located? Sidewalk permit model – get a permit for a spot. How would a “spot” be allocated? Competitive bidding process for a sidewalk spot 1. Site selection 2. Rent 3. Inspections
Street Vendor Project for the Parks Location said there is a bidding process $10,000 which is out of reach for many people. This is for larger corporations.
SVP supports small business and they need a different process. Permit from the city is $200 a year. It is $20,000 on the black market.
The 5,000 citywide permits can go most places but not in parks and not on some streets. SVP wants an unlimited number of permits. There would still be laws in place
BID Associations: There is a disparity with businesses. - Concerned about site selection - If business changes then it might conflict with vendor - Vendor use/cleanliness for sidewalk is the responsibility of the brick and mortar - BID Associations want to hand it back to Community Board - If there are sites, it will be bid and prices will still be higher - If vendors are floating around how will they get inspected
Vendor Inspections: SVP does multiple surprise inspections BID says they get warned about inspections SVP If violated by inspection they get shut down or violation People do not fly under the radar. They are inspected and fined.
Vilma Heramia – limit the number of vendors per street. lottery system for vendors so the number of spaces are
SVP – Many different regulatory agencies. They should all combine and coordinate. Letter grades would be good for vendors.
Agencies involved with permits: Department of Health & Mental Hygiene Consumer Affairs
DEP
Police Fire Environmental Control Board Community Board
Street Vendor Review Panel should be brought back.
BID – apprise the Board of the resolution. Will the Community Board issue a recommendation? The central part of legislation is lifting the CAP. The issues are economic concerns, traffic problems, garbage inspection.
Procedurally, CB does not usually issue recommendation unless legislation is pending.
NYC BID Association
There is not a bill drafted yet. SVP is doing a lot of research on legislation. The BID Association wants the CB to endorse a resolution (template) but says we should study more.
Member: Does not like the idea of site specific licenses because peddlers should float as per NYC history.
SVP: wants SV Review Panel – will look at corners – rules about location.
Police Community Relations has to tell people to move if they are in illegal spots. Police do not rate vendor issues high but they deal with them. Trucks parked in spots that are illegal.
Committee Member: in favor of ? - Is there evidence of competition between vendor and business - Evidence: Most vendors are where the foot traffic is higher. - A conglomeration of different types of businesses - If one is selling for less it will
Lee Wellington: vibrant street life can help business too.
BID: owners of businesses are hurting from the competition.
SVP: If there is a study it will delay the legislation. There are enough studies already.
BID: the type of study should come before the Community Board.
Council Members who are promoting this are Steve Levin, Brad Lander, Barron, Speaker.
Report back to the CB – ask the “City” for position.
Lee Wellington: suggest the individual Council Member to come and describe their position. Recommend questions to Council Members.
Judy: Intention of the resolution is good in terms of seeking involvement with Community Board. We support that the CB should be engaged and involved in this – but should we make a motion? And for what?
There is a Public Process for the legislation.
We should ask our Council Members to come talk to us: - the legislation seems undeveloped - this is an important issue - Please come and talk to us
NEW BUSINESS:
Judi – need an accounting of jobs that are supposedly created. Barclays does come. Fairway and IKEA do not come. Container port and cruise ship terminal?
Vilma – Carroll Gardens Association. - Presentation on proposed child care worker cooperative – CGA is part of the cooperative. - Outreach to Nanny’s - New Maker Coops
What happened with the 287 HPD sites that they are selling for $1?
EWCDH will look into the HPD owned lots.