“The next bill before me is Introductory Number 409, sponsored by Council Members Gennaro, Fidler, Gentile, Nelson, Comrie, White Jr. and James.  This bill will extend the life of the temporary Wetlands Transfer Task Force until February 17, 2007.

“Local Law 83 of 2005 created a temporary task force to study the technical, legal, environmental and economical feasibility of transferring City-owned wetlands to the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and Recreation.  For the past six months, the Task Force has been aggressively undertaking the assessment of more than 2,100 City-owned wetland properties.

“Intro 409 will provide the Task Force with a three-month extension to more fully evaluate and document the feasibility and desirability of property transfers, and will ensure stakeholders of an adequate comment period.

“I would like to thank Council Member Gennaro, Parks Department Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Bill Tai and Robert Pirani, co-chairs of the Wetlands Transfer Task Force, and all of the staff who worked on this bill.”