Parks & Preservation Committee
Klari Neuwelt and Lenore Norman, Co-Chairpersons
7. 56 West 70th Street (Central Park West-Columbus Avenue.) Application to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for façade renovation and window replacement.
After deliberation, the resolution to approve was adopted.
Vote: 39-0-0-0
8. 455 Amsterdam Avenue (West 81st Street - West 82nd Street.) d/b/a Malin & Goetz.  Application to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for a storefront renovation.
After deliberation, the resolution to approve was adopted.
• Vote:39-0-0-0

Adjourned 8:13

Present: Barbara Adler, Jay Adolf, Andrew Albert, Linda Alexander, Richard Asche, Louis Cholden-Brown, Hope Cohen, Ken Coughlin, Page Cowley, Mark Diller, Miki Fiegel, Sheldon J. Fine, Paul Fischer, Marc Glazer, Victor Gonzalez, Molly Gordy, Phyllis E. Gunther, Robert Herrmann, Ulma Jones, Bobbie Katzander, Barbara Keleman, Blanche E. Lawton, Daniel Meltzer, Lillian Moore, Klari Neuwelt, Lenore Norman, Michele Parker, Anne Raphael, Oscar Ríos, Madge Rosenberg, Helen Rosenthal, Roberta Semer, Charles Simon, Elizabeth Starkey, Barbara Van Buren, Thomas Vitullo-Martin, Cara Volpe, John Mark Warren, MelWymore and Dan Zweig. On-Leave: Sharon Parker-Frazier. Absent: Rosa Gonzalez, Lawrence Horowitz, Judith Matos, Gabrielle Palitz, Ethel Sheffer and George Zeppenfeldt-Cestero.

West 97th Street Greenmarket.
The committee adopted a resolution to approve the application by the Council on the Environment to the Street Activity Permit Office for a permit to operate a greenmarket on the sidewalk on the north side of West 97th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues, starting west of the first driveway from Columbus and extending 410 feet to the teachers’ parking/school entrance: 12-0-0-0; 2-0-0-0; 4-0-0-0.

Request by Jacqueline H. Morison to name secondarily West 92nd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West in honor of Sidney H. Morison, who was the principal at PS 84 (The Lillian Weber School) for twenty-seven years.
Ms. Morison, his widow and a former teacher at the school, gave a very convincing and impassioned request. Mr. Morison died in October 2009.
Barbara Adler brought up the point that there is a tacit moratorium on secondary street names. Ken Coughlin said he was against it.
The committee adopted a resolution to approve the secondary street naming Sidney H. Morison Way on the southeast corner of Columbus Avenue and 92nd Street: 8-3-0-0; 0-2-0-0; 0-4-0-0.

Application #133521 to the Department of Consumer Affairs by Altaf L. Shaikh to construct and operate a newsstand at the northwest corner of Columbus Avenue and West 97th Street. 
Mr. Shaikh presented revised plans for a smaller newsstand located between the Whole Food entrances on Columbus Avenue.
Roberta Semer and Linda Alexander didn’t have a problem with the smaller footprint.  Blanche Lawton and Paul Fisher were against it.
The committee adopted a resolution to approve the newsstand with the reduced size in the new location:
8-2-2-0; 2-0-0-0; 1-4-0-0-0.

Application #1338241 to the Department of Consumer Affairs by Braja K. Singha to construct and operate a newsstand at the Southwest corner of Columbus Avenue and West 67th Street.
The applicant did not attend.  The committee adopted a resolution to disapprove the application: 10-1-1-0; 0-0-1-0. 

Request for red arrow on traffic lights at 79th Street and Amsterdam, 86th Street and Columbus, and 72nd Street and Riverside Drive.
Heated discussion ensued. No resolution.

Discussion of final design of bike racks that will be installed on parking meter poles on Columbus Avenue between West 67th and 86th Streets and Amsterdam Avenue between West 60th and 86th Streets. 
• Uniformity of the streetscape.
• Removal of current bike racks where meter racks are installed?
• Number and placement of meter bike racks?
• Next steps for survey.
A public member queried on the ability to see a physical example of the rack . DOT said there was an actual bike rack near the “cube” on Astor Place.
Discussion on using the Columbus Avenue BID research as a prototype. Heated discussion ensued.  Dan Zweig proffered the idea of requesting an average number of six racks per block.
The committee adopted the following resolution:
The discussion of retrofitting parking meter poles with bicycle racks has many considerations, including uniformity of the streetscape, as well as specific placement of bike racks.
Some in the community have voiced opposition to a mix of the old-style & the new-style bike racks.
DOT has agreed to survey the area of Amsterdam & Columbus Avenues with CB7 with an eye toward placement of these racks.
DOT has asked CB7 for an approximate number of racks for Columbus & Amsterdam Avenues so they may properly order an adequate amount of racks,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Community Board 7/Manhattan approves an average of six racks per block (three per block front), with the understanding that some blocks will not accommodate three, and some may require more than three, depending on street obstructions,  merchant objections, and other placement issues, on Amsterdam Avenue between West 67th and 86th Streets and on Columbus Avenue between 67th and 86th Streets: 9-1-2-0; 0-1-0-0; 3-2-0-0.
Josh Orzeck from DOT took the information with him.

Notes to the committee:
Denied by DOT: Application #1333419 to the Department of Consumer Affairs by Mohammed T. Hossain to construct and operate a newsstand at the southeast corner of Broadway and West 62nd Street.
Withdrawn: Application #1329759 to the Department of Consumer Affairs by Mohammed Arshad Mia to construct and operate a newsstand at the northeast corner of Columbus Avenue and West 65th Street.  He is proposing a new location at the SEC of Broadway and West 64th Street.

Present: Andrew Albert, Dan Zweig, Linda Alexander, Ken Coughlin, Paul Fischer, Marc Glazer, Ulma Jones, Blanche E. Lawton, Lillian Moore, Anne Raphael, Oscar Rios and Roberta Semer. Board Member: Elizabeth Starkey. Absent: Bobbie Katzander and Barbara Keleman. 

New Applications to the SLA for a two year on-premises liquor license:
1. 2398 Broadway (West 88th Street.) Sigma Group Inc / Aged 88 St LLC, d/b/a “To be determined”.   Represented by Mr. Mike Kelly (expeditor), Owner is Mr. Walter Arun (not present).
Family style restaurant.  Projected opening, January 2010.
Committee approves 6-0-0-0  1-0-0-0
2. 2701 Broadway (West 103rd Street.) Rym Foods LLC, d/b/a Aangan.   Owner, Mr. Inder Paul Singh, (present) Indian Cuisine.  Restaurant is already open.
Committee approves 6-0-0-0  1-0-0-0            
3. Public hearing on applications to the Street Activity Permit Office for multi-block street fairs in 2010.  All were approved, some of which were approved subject to submission of some documents apparently not included in the application folders. 
                   Committee:      Board Member:
A. 5/22/10 West Manhattan Chamber of Commerce    6-0-0-0   0-0-1-0
9/19/10 West Manhattan Chamber of Commerce   6-0-0-0   0-0-1-0
6/20/10 West Side Crime Prevention Program     6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0

B. 4/25/10 24th Precinct Council      6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
5/02/10 Strycker’s Bay Neighborhood Council    6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
5/09/10 Committee for Environmentally Sound Development  6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
5/30/10 Coalition for a Livable West Side    6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
5/30/10 Safe Haven West Side Basketball League   6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
6/06/10 Project Open at Lincoln Center Towers    6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
6/13/10 West Side Federation of Neighborhood & Block Assn. 6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
6/13/10 The Broadway Malls Association    6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
8/01/10 Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center    6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
8/29/10 Concerned Citizens for Community Action   6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
10/03/10 One Stop Senior Services     6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
10/10/10 Symphony Space      6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0

C. 10/10/10 NAACP Mid-Manhattan Branch    5-0-0-1   1-0-0-0

D. 4/25/10 Duke Ellington Blvd, Neighborhood Association  6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
5/02/10  Broadway Malls Center     6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
6/20/10 Mitchell Lama Residents Coalition    6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
10/03/10 Bloomingdale Area Coalition     6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
4/25/10 Veritas, Inc.       6-0-0-0   1-0-0-0
            
St. Matthews & St. Timothy’s Neighborhood Center is now part of Goddard Riverside and will not be having a fair.

Present: Michelle Parker, George Zeppenfeldt-Cestero, Marc Glazer, Molly Gordy, Ulma Jones and Anne Raphael. Board Member: Andrew Albert. Absent: Rosa Gonzalez.

1.  20-30 West 94th Street, Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School.
Presentation by Howard Weisman, counsel:
Changes from previously submitted design:
• Eliminated glass rear-façade enclosure – due to concerns expressed by neighbors.
• Now only need 1 A/C unit (instead of 9) on the roof of #24 – Mitsubishi model, low noise
• Added a rear-yard extension to enclose the play area extending from 22, 24, 26, rising to 16.5’ – to enable children to gather before school indoors and reduce noise early in the morning.
• Slight reduction in the height of one staircase; preserving one tree.
• All changes were responsive to community concerns.
Peter Samton – architect:
• Circulation at each level at rear of buildings will not be enclosed by glass, except at the ground level (enclosed play area abuts rear façade, and glass wall will extend to the west).
• Elevator will be housed in the middle of the group of buildings at rear.
• Garden area behind 28 & 30 will be enlarged.
• Two staircases rather than three; one to the east will be a bit lower than previously planned.
• Rooftop of rear yard extension will be open space.
• Will replace connection between 93rd and 94th Street buildings, and install on its roof a mechanical air vent, but not a/c.
• Fewer rooftop a/c units needed because don’t need to air condition the glass-enclosed area.
• Newly designed (unenclosed) east stair in the same location; new west stair is in the same approximate location, but orientation now east-west rather than north-south.
• Hanging garden plantings on either side of the rear yard extension, and the connector to 94th St. 
• Connector will be rebuilt with glass walls on both sides. 
• Rooftop addition at 24 & 26 will have south-facing floor-to-ceiling windows for top floor. 
• Red brick for rear yard play area; will try to rescue bricks from eliminating the “L” extensions.
• Rear yard extension will abut CG’s 93rd Street building; except appx 7’ wide x 14-15’ tall overlap on west end, which will be visible in the rear yard of 93rd Street building neighboring CGS.
• A/C units over rear yard transoms (helps with fire egress too).
• Original rear windows will remain. 
• Rear yard extension roof will have an artificial surface.
• Rear yard lattice-work green wall rising vertically behind nos. 24 and 28. 
• Rear exposed walkways railings to be consistent with green vertical risers. 
• Exterior stairs will have dark-colored canopies that will be lower than previous design.

Neighbor Comments and Questions:
Carol Gould – 333 CPW:
• Air handler on connector will be immediately outside her window - should be moved.
Howard W:  CGS will definitely look at whether the mechanical can be moved elsewhere.
• Appreciates efforts to meet neighbor concerns, but should actually meet with neighbors rather than making proposals on their own.
Ann Lewis Seltzer - 93rd-94th Street Preservation Alliance:
• Only reviewed plans a couple of days ago - need more time to comment.
• Appreciate efforts to address old concerns, but raises new concerns.
• Asking to postpone so they can address issues with the school
Danny Messing - 336 CPW:
• Scale of project too large – takes about 1/3 of the donut.
• Will deprive several apts in 336 of light and air
• Elevator will be noisy.
• Noise issue re air handler on the connector – could be located away from 336 building.
• Rooftop extension – a/c should be further west.
• Second outdoor play space will now be closer to upper floor apartments, exacerbating noise issue.

Headmaster:  Most common complaint in 29 years is morning noise.  Once rear yard space is built, would have children gather only in the enclosed rear yard space - addressing community concern.  Play space will be used regardless of enclosure.
Howard:  Will entertain community concerns

Stacey Fredericks - 33 West 93rd Street:
• Current rear façade looks like what it is - a row of townhouses.
• Proposed new design announces “campus” not rear yard donut – does not blend in with a beautiful row of brownstones.  Different feeling, out of character. 
Lynn Staley - apt 26 at 333 CPW:
• Proposed enclosure will be even with her windowsill - raising noise to her level.
• Concern that 40” fencing will be replaced by a less attractive, taller fence.
Barbara Michaels - 336 CPW:
• Rooftop addition floor-to-ceiling glass windows not appropriate.
• Skylight to the swimming pool also out of character with donut/townhouses.
• Grill design not appropriate to a rear yard.
• Filling in the donut with a rear-yard extension is itself not appropriate, zoning notwithstanding.
Martie Barelich – 93rd-94th Preservation Alliance:
• Light pollution: large windows on rooftop addition, and the skylight, will leak light.
• Concern about further expansion by the school, involving additional incursions to donut.
• Concern that Committee is hurrying a decision. 
Bill Titler -333 CPW:
• Must find tipping point for balance between residential and school feel.
• This design involves a wholesale change of donut from residential to educational/industrial.
• Stairwells and overhangs also change the character of the donut.
Headmaster:  Happy to continue to meet to iron out issues. 
Bertha Bauer - 333 CPW:
• Concerns about noise pollution.

Committee Discussion:  One or more of the committee members expressed the following points:
• Proposal will effect a change to the residential character of the donut that is difficult to accept. 
• Applicant appears to be attempting to meet neighbors' concerns in good faith, especially regarding noise, which may not fit well in the core issues addressed by the committee. 
• Any resolution to approve should also raise neighbors' concerns and call for continued dialogue. 
• Mixed views about appropriateness of prior glass wall design (now obviated).
• Existing rear yard condition a hodge-podge.
• Dr Gould’s suggestion to move the air handler should be seriously considered.
• Balance requires everyone walk away equally unhappy. 
• Design much more in keeping with what LPC would find appropriate.
• Continuing issue of using townhouses to house schools, beyond the scope of the Committee.
• Full-depth rear-yard extensions create a troubling incursion into donut, affecting character.
• Existing condition is not appropriate – orange color, mixed bag of rear stairs. 
• Stripping rear façade bricks; using rescued brick, all enhance the character of the donut.
• Slight diminution of light, but doesn’t go to east or west lot line.
• More greenery introduced into back yard is a positive. 
• Use of rescued brick, addressing neighbors' noise concerns offsets issues about rear yard extension. 
• Should use this as an opportunity to convey to LPC that it should pay more attention to rear yards, especially use of fencing, glass, security lights. 
• Need to support private schools since public schools hopelessly overcrowded, and DoE relies on private schools to take up slack.
Resolution to approve the proposal dated 12/10/09.  Resolution should note:
• The Committee strongly urges the Applicant to continue to work with the community re the location of the air handler to make it minimally obtrusive.
• While we have a strong concern re numerous applications that include a full lot-line rear yard extensions, this design is sensitive to the concerns and is therefore appropriate. 
VOTE:  7-0-1-0; non-committee 1-0-0-0.

2. 129 West 86th Street a/k/a the Crosby Residence.
Sarah Gordon Drake – architect
Umberto Construction
Presentation by Sarah Gordon Drake
• Townhouse on 86th between Columbus and Amsterdam, built in 1887 by John Praig.  (article in NYT 2002 re group of townhouses)
• Building run down; will be single-family.
• Stoop removed in 1922. Windows replaced with metal; transoms replaced with solid panels.
• Some renovations approved by LPC staff and are under way.
Next phase of work:
1. restore balcony and moldings beneath 2nd floor windows
2. restore transom openings above 2nd and 3rd floor windows; using divided light to match windows below (not original).
3. restore original transom opening above 3rd floor decorative panel at center, install new black iron kitchen exhaust grille
4. alter and refurbish non-original entrance at the first floor, mimic original entrance from tax photo; paint grade wood; English door with raised center panel; reddish color to match roof tiles.
a. Current door has applied stone casing.  From tax photo, rusticated surface with beaded scroll stone treatment around edge to mimic the same effect around windows. 
b. Rusticated stone around doorway will be restored (eliminate the current flat treatment that was added later).
5. install new awnings on 2nd and 3rd floor windows.  Awnings are terra cotta & white colored cloth, and are retractable.  Proposed awning will not have a side dimension (unlike original).  Also only extend about half-way down, whereas original went further.  
6. install new fence and gate (match style and details of existing fence and gate at 113 East 61st). 
a. Fence sought for control over entrance – busy street.  Examples from UWS Historic Districts.
b. Fence would be 7’ tall.  Would remove existing guard rail and replace with fence.  Appears to be in the property line.  Potential problem – gates swing inward, and Buildings will want them to swing outward because is an egress, and outward swing would obstruct the sidewalk.
Committee comments and concerns: 
• Well presented by the architect.  Plan to restore balconies, refurbish and restore door and window stone details/surrounds all positive.
• Overall effect of keeping the non-original divided-light windows gives an inappropriate "jazzy" character to a sedate building.
• Replacing glass transoms a positive, but mixed views about mimicking divided light of non-original windows.
• Awnings should be below the transoms, and should extend deeper/lower.  
• Awnings should have sides/surrounds (but LPC unlikely to favor).
• Solid door with centered details out of character - more bucolic feel in jazzy design.  The tax photo suggests a more appropriate design.  Owner's concern about glass and safety could be met by glass panel with wrought-iron grille.
• Terra cotta color for solid door also inappropriate (no precedent for matching the door to the color of the roof tiles).
• Fence height a concern, although mixed views about the importance of this issue.
• Grille for kitchen vent inappropriate on front façade.
Resolution to approve certain aspects of the proposal and disapprove others.
Approve:
• The masonry restoration items (restoration of balconies, the door surround, original transom openings);
• Transom openings with divided lights to match existing windows below.
Disapprove:
• Grille in transom;
• Door design and paint color;
• Awnings (placement, depth, front-only);
• Fence as presented.
VOTE: 7-0-0-0.

3. Central Park – Exterior restoration of Mineral Springs in the Park - for use as a concession by Le Pain Quotidien.
Joseph Pilewski – architect
GauRav Khanna – le Pain Quotidien
Tony Macari – Parks Dep't (architect)
• Mineral Springs – located opposite the Sheep Meadow to the north.  Previously Sheep Meadow Café, and before that was skater’s row.
• Interior renovation of restaurant, non-fixed seating.  Replacing a roll-top counter concession with one allowing interior (and exterior) seating.
• Replacing one existing window (vinyl white) on south elevation with wood double-hung to match others.
• Replacing concessionaire counter with a fixed door and accordion opening; Doors of aged oak.
• Pin-mounted halo lit lettering above entrance.
• Back entrance – hollow metal door to be replaced with wood doors similar to front.
• Putting in two wood windows on north elevation in place of boarded up windows.
• Exterior – raised garden to the north – seating in part of rear/north side, with outdoor communal table.  Low railing separates garden seating from path.  Planter in front of fence that separates seating area from Parks parking lot.
• Seating:  35 seats inside, including communal table (LPQ trademark); 80 seats outside.  Exterior seats – some will be open to public without need to purchase something. 
• "Vertical garden" (partial green planted wall) on the south elevation.
• Will renovate/make bathrooms ADA accessible.
• More than 50% of the building is still used by Parks for storage purposes.
• Recycling will include a compost bin. 
Resolution to approve.
VOTE:  7-0-0-0.

New Business:
• Central Park Conservancy is seeking testimony for a public hearing Thursday, 12/17 at 11 am at Chelsea Recreation Ctr, 430 W 25th (9th/10th), regarding proposed regulations concerning the use of the Great Lawn in Central Park for public events. 
• Issue arose during the Republican National Convention in 2004 after protest groups were denied a permit for a rally.

Present: Lenore Norman, Klari Neuwelt, Jay Adolf, Page Cowley (P/T), Mark Diller, Molly Gordy, Phyllis E. Gunther, Blanche E. Lawton and Gabrielle Palitz. Board Member: Helen Rosenthal.

 The Youth, Education & Libraries Committee of Community Board 7/Manhattan met on December 17, 2009 at 7 pm at the offices of the Community Board, 250 West 87th Street in Manhattan.  Committee members Louis Cholden-Brown, Michele Parker, Helen Rosenthal, Cara Volpe, and Mark Diller (chair) were present.  The following topics were discussed.

1. Continuing Partnership with Community Board 1's Youth & Education Committee. 
(a) CB7 YEL values its on-going partnership with CB1's Youth & Education Committee, which has resulted in joint brainstorming, the chairs attending each other's meetings, and a resolution adopted by CB1's Full Board endorsing CB7's resolution calling for the DoE to address overcrowding by incubating a new school in Community School District 3 beginning in September 2010. 
(b) CB1's Full Board, on a recommendation from its Youth & Education Committee, passed in November 2009 a resolution concerning Mayoral Control of schools, seeking reform of the governance system to address issues of transparency, accountability and fairness.  Many (but not all) of the key issues identified in CB1's resolution were also the subject of CB7's Full Board resolution on mayoral control and school governance, which was adopted in February 2009.
(c) To express solidarity with CB1, CB7's YEL chair will write a letter of support for CB1's resolution, highlighting the areas of common ground.  The letter will be submitted to the CB7 Chair for consideration and possible co-signature.

2. Bake Sale Ban in Public Schools.
(a) The DoE has recently implemented a new Chancellor's Regulation A-812, which effectively bans bake sales from public schools from the start of school through 6 pm, when most afterschool programs have concluded. 
(b) Only sales of food provided by an approved DoE vendor may be sold to students or on school premises during the affected hours.
(c) The purported basis for the ban is concern for healthy food.  The new regulation fails in its mission because:
i) there are food choices available from approved DoE vendors that would not meet most definitions of healthy food (e.g. Doritos). 
ii) concern for healthy food should start with school lunch, yet many school cafeterias run out of the healthy entrée alternatives early in the day, leaving only pizza, burgers and similar fare for the children who eat during the later lunch periods (and since classes tend to have the same lunch period every day, the same children are under-served as a matter of routine). 
iii) Far less draconian options, such as reminders to children and teachers concerning nuts and other potential allergens, could suffice.
(d) Bake sales are an important source of supplemental funds for cash-starved schools.  Bake sales are routinely used to raise funds for trips, athletic teams, academic clubs, and to meet teacher needs.  In an era of increasing austerity, banning bake sales means children will be deprived of important opportunities.
(e) Bake sales allow children to learn skills such as self-reliance as well as practical application of arithmetic and other skills.  They are also a community-building opportunity for parents and children to come together for a common purpose. 
(f) The ban on bake sales will have a disproportionately large impact on schools in poorer neighborhoods.  While some schools are able to raise funds from parent initiatives, the schools with limited access to parent fundraising rely to a greater extent on fundraising such as bake sales.
(g) The new CR A-812 was passed without the customary comment period for new regulations.
(h) For the foregoing reasons, YEL recommends that the Full Board pass a resolution opposing the ban on bake sales in Chancellor's Regulation A-812, and calling for its repeal.

3. Roles of YEL Committee and Members.
(a) Committee members will continue to identify and pursue advocacy and informational projects that resonate with each member.
(b) The YEL Committee will seek to support those efforts, including using meeting time to discuss and analyze findings, and brainstorm ideas.
(c) YEL should bring more issues to the Full Board, even when it does not have a resolution on a topical issue to present at a Full Board meeting.
(d) YEL committee will use meeting time to prepare briefings for the Full Board on topics of concern, including the following (one per month as a goal):
i) student achievement, including measurement methodologies, disparities among disaggregated groups and within schools;
ii) school leadership issues, such as the need to turn around schools identified as failing its students, and the metrics to be used to assess and make such conclusions;
iii) Charter school movement, including the ability to share or replicate its learning with traditional public schools, their relationship with public schools in the same geographic area (or building), and separating assumptions and myths from the practical realities of opportunities at Charter and traditional public schools.
(e) YEL to explore ways to attract a wider audience to its meetings, such as:
i) facilitating networking among principals and community members;
ii) inviting students to present on topics of interest to them (most likely 8th graders and above);
iii) inviting electeds to present or brainstorm about issues affecting education;
iv) Information-sharing forums and speakers by partnering with other organizations, (e.g. CEC3, President's Council, Community Free Democrats, others)
Topics of interest could include:
(1) navigating certification for special ed or other IEP services
(2) choice programs in elementary, middle and high schools.

4. Overcrowding: 
(a) CB7 continuing to partner with CEC3's Overcrowding Committee -- second round of Borough President's "War Rooms" to begin in late December.
(b) Addressing overcrowding in elementary schools should include a focus on middle and high schools, especially given DoE's timetable for new seats.

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm
Present: Mark Diller, Louis Cholden-Brown, Helen Rosenthal and Cara Volpe. On-Leave: Sharon Parker-Frazier Absent: John Mark Warren.

Discussion with Courtney Bryan, Midtown Community Court (MCC), which now serves the 20th Precinct.
MCC is an official branch of the NYS Court System. It has handled 18,000 cases since its inception, of these 70 % are disposed of at MCC and 70% of those disposed receive alternative actions such as community service, drug rehabilitation, and “paying back” to the community to make restitution. MCC also provides services that include counseling, classes/meetings, benefits assistance, job training and placement, and community improvement projects.   

MCC is currently not handling vending summonses for the 20th Pct but will soon. Shoplifting and prostitution are top charges at MCC. MCC has a meeting the first Tuesday of every month to exchange information with community leaders and law enforcement to find out where the hotspots are. Features of MCC:
• MCC handles defendants that have been remanded.
• They have social workers on site and teachers who provide a GED program for youth 17 - 24 years old.
• Site visits available for any group.
• MCC has supervisors that come out to supervise alternative sentenced workers.
• They can handle Class C summonses but currently are not for the 20th Pct, expect to do that in the next two months.
• They have public and private funding for special programs.
• Handle graffiti complaints.
• Do homeless outreach.  They have a program, Shop Talk, which helps homeless individuals get into transitional and permanent housing.

Request for information about teen-on-teen violence in CD7.  Other districts are reporting significant increases and are working to improve coordination with NYPD, DYCD, and NYCHA.
Not in 24th pct or 20th pct but mostly in CB3 & CB10. Mayor’s office taking very seriously and is convening a special citywide task force to deal with the problem.

Updates:
1. West-Park Presbyterian Church – Joselinne Minaya and Lolita Jackson: Structure not up yet, in approval process. Structure should go up in about three weeks. Building is a vacant site with no development plans on it. Scaffold is there for safety.
2. Broadway Mall benches – Mark Vaccaro: Benches are on order, waiting for arrival in February, estimated.
3. Non-permitted bike vendors in and around Columbus Circle: Waiting for Chief Banks update.
4. The Yale Hotel, 306 West 97th Street: Rules are too restrictive now with new security, a meeting is scheduled today to discuss.
5. Mobile Food Trucks: Legislation is needed to regulate the trucks, policy today is by precinct, usually traffic enforcement when complaint driven.

Agency Reports and Requests for Follow-Up, including:
ConEd
West 65th Street work is on-track to remove failed transformer on w. 65th street. Will close the street this weekend and in March.
In addition, Con Ed reported that there are collapsed vaults in front of 120 W. 106th Street that have to be replaced.

NYPD
24th Pct: major crimes down 9% for the 30-day period. In Quality of Life, there were 1200 arrests year to date and 291 No-Trespass arrests.
20th Pct:  major crimes down 8% for the year, 6% for 30-day period. There has been an increase in burglaries – cylinder lock pattern in small stores & restaurants.

Standing in bike lanes while loading/unloading: Traffic Agents will issue summons. Need top down response on policy.

DDC – catch basin work in CB7. Work schedule for next week at 103 & RSD, then to 100th & Amsterdam for next location.

DEP – Chris Vollari is the new contact.

Goddard
• Coordination with NYPD and EMS when homeless person has to go to hospital – meeting was canceled, will reschedule.
• People with special needs in the 20 precinct: Chronic mental health patients - NYPD Mental health removal order in patrol guide – allows for an arrest to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

DOT
• Request for red arrow on traffic lights at 79th Street and Amsterdam, 86th Street and Columbus, and 72nd Street and Riverside Drive: request for annual accident data on three intersections from DI Spadaro.
• West 62nd Street and WEA – new traffic signal to be installed.  Left-turn arrow? Next meeting
• Left-turn signal on westbound 97th Street at Columbus Avenue. Next meeting

DSNY
• Snow section: 91st Street – 100th Street goes to night pick up during snow emergency.
• Sunday basket problem still an issue. 

DOB
• Illegal conversion increase. CB7 requested data by district.

PSA6
• 28 days crime down 37% , ytd down 5.5%
• Still conducting the electronic id program
• Holiday Initiative: Four cops from every precinct (48 police officers) will work noon to 8 p.m. at one precinct providing extra patrols in each precinct during the holiday season. 

DOHMH
• Rat complaints: Rats in Verdi park in Jan agenda.

Present Penny Ryan, District Manager, John Martinez, Asst. District Manager; Det. John Ramos, Capt. Cokkinos, PSA 6;  Sgt. Mongomery, 20th Pct; DI O’Reilly, Pamela White, 24th Pct; Leah Donaldson, DOB; Lolita Jackson, Mayor’s office; Chris Hancock, DSNY; Joselinne Minaya, DA’s Office; Josh Orzeck, DOT; Crista Carmody, Mark Vaccaro, Parks; Paula Sanders, CCHR; Norberto Acevedo, DDC; Chris Villari, DEP; Julian Herrera, DCA; Courtney Bryan, MCC; Jesse Bodine, Council Member Gale Brewer’s office; Corey Peterson, MBP Stringer’s office; Kristen Oates, Goddard Riverside;  Marjorie Cohen, WCPP; Peter Arndtsen, Columbus-Amsterdam BID; Richard Juliano, Tim Devlin, LS BID; Barbara Adler, Columbus Ave BID; Pat Richardi, ConEd; E. Merritt, Yale Hotel; Jill Greenbaum, SUN