After a slower summer, the NYC Council updates for September 2024 are back in full swing. Read on for added meeting dates, new proposals, and what’s potentially next for some of the city’s biggest agencies.
DSNY Proposals
The Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management has a few meetings on the calendar over the next few months, introducing several bills for review. The first few were addressed at the 9/25 committee meeting:
- Three new proposals were introduced for studies: one on the feasibility and environmental effects of a recycling mandate for household textiles , new waste policy initiatives for single-use plastic items, and continued studies on residential and institutional waste stream composition.
- Another bill was proposed for promoting the proper disposal of rechargeable batteries for powered mobility devices like bicycles and scooters.
- Timely, given the recent FDNY oversight meeting where data was shared that on average, 4 fires a week in NYC are caused by e-bike or e-scooter batteries
A joint effort between DSNY and DOHMH to begin a “rat contraceptive pilot program” was approved by the full council on 9/26. The program will kick off no later than March 2025, last for 12 months, and involve placing rat contraception in two specific Rat Mitigation Zones. Results will be compared to a similar test zone, with a report and recommendations delivered to the Mayor and Council after the program ends.
A second meeting currently scheduled for October 30th has several more proposed bills:
- Require DSNY to collect organic waste from community gardens by request
- Clarify organic waste drop off sites for purposes of complying with LL 89
- Require DSNY Commissioner to designate organic waste as a recyclable material for city agencies
- Require someone who “manages or controls a building with 100 units or more” provide a dumpster for refuse
- Resolution calling on NY legislature & governor to pass and sign rule requiring the establishment of a composting program at facilities owned & operted by SUNY, CUNY, and institutions subject to their jurisdiction
- Increased penalties for failure to store waste in a satisfactory manner. Proposed penalties would be based on unit size and repeated infractions:
| Number of units | Number of violations within a twelve-month period | |||
| 1-5 | 6-10 | 11-15 | 16 or more | |
| 5 units or less | $100 | $150 | $200 | $250 |
| 6-15 | $500 | $550 | $600 | $650 |
| 16-20 | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 |
| 21-50 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| 51 or more | $2,000 | $2,500 | $3,000 | $3,500 |
Stay tuned next month for updates on the above, and whether or not any of the proposals pass.
Fire Safety/FDNY Proposals
The City Council approved a proposal “in relation to tenant education and outreach on residential vacate orders due to damage caused by fires.” The new law will specifically require HPD (in consultation with FDNY) to ensure occupants of multiple dwellings are informed of the process of vacate order issuances following fires, including:
- Rights and of occupancy
- Responsibilities of landlords
- What may constitute harassment
- The process for rescinding vacate orders
HPD would also designate a person on site to provide information to tenants in the designated citywide languages.
Additionally, the Council approved a proposal requiring an agency “designated by the Mayor” to provide email notice to Council Members of certain fires within their districts. Specifically, this would apply to “all hands” fires where at least 12 units and 60 employees are deployed. Notification would be sent within three hours of the fire occurring, and include key response details.
Building Proposals
While the date was pushed back, two proposals regarding LL 152 inspections and required steam radiator inspections are still on the docket for October’s Housing and Buildings committee meet. We’ll have more updates on these later in the Fall.
Rule Updates
Two proposed rules and one adopted final rule were recently updated, and are worth noting:
- ADOPTED – The rule granting small businesses penalty waivers in specific cases was finalized. We wrote about the proposed rule here, which seems to have no changes post-adoption.
- PROPOSED – Specifics relating to duties of construction superintendents licensed by the DOB – click here to get the expected tasks superintendents would be expected to perform
- PROPOSED – Amended penalties for failure to file LL 152 inspections or certifications for 3-family buildings only, the smallest properties subject to this requirement
Stay tuned for next month’s roundup, and any updates in between!
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