L.L. 2021/029

Enactment date: 3/14/2021

Int. No. 2044-A

By Council Members Holden, Yeger, Cornegy, Grodenchik, Brannan, D. Diaz, Ayala, Gjonaj and Borelli

A Local Law in relation to accessory sign violations and waiving penalties and fees for signs that are accessory to a use on the same zoning lot

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Section 3 of local law number 28 for the year 2019 is amended to read as follows:

§ 3. Violations for existing accessory signs. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no applicable violations shall be issued on or after the effective date of the local law that last amended this section for an accessory sign in existence on or before [the effective date of this section] such date for a period of two years [commencing on the effective date of this section], unless such accessory sign creates an imminent threat to public health or safety or the commissioner of buildings determines that such sign is otherwise not eligible for the temporary waiver created under this section.

§ 2. Section 4 of local law number 28 for the year 2019 is amended to read as follows:

§ 4. Temporary assistance for respondents.

   a.   Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the commissioner of buildings shall establish a temporary program to provide assistance to respondents of judgments resulting from applicable violations resolved by payment by the respondent or other payor between June 1, 2006 and the effective date of [this legislation] the local law that last amended this section for a [180 day] two-year period. The assistance provided by such program shall include, but not be limited to:

      1.   Technical assistance in acquiring the permit or permits required to install an accessory sign;

      2.   Review of all permit applications relevant to the installation of an accessory sign including a preliminary review of compliance with paragraph (a) of section 32-653 or paragraph (a) of section 42-542 of the zoning resolution, or any provision amending, replacing or supplementing such sections of the zoning resolution within seven days of receiving such application; and

      3.   A waiver of [75 percent of] all fees in connection with permits relevant to the installation of an accessory sign[ and] incurred on or after the effective date of the local law that last amended this section.

§ 3. Section 5 of local law number 28 for the year 2019 is amended to read as follows:

§ 5. Business assistance for respondents. Respondents of judgments resulting from applicable violations resolved by payment by the respondent or other payor between June 1, 2006 and the effective date of [this legislation] the local law that last amended this section shall be directed by the department of buildings to the department of small business services for additional business assistance, financial or otherwise.

§ 4. This local law takes effect immediately and is retroactive to and deemed to have been in effect as of January 1, 2021.

L.L. 2021/031

Enactment date: 3/28/2021

Int. No. 1591-B

By Council Members Constantinides, Rosenthal, Brannan, Koslowitz, Kallos, Dromm, Ayala, Levin, Reynoso, Lander, Chin, Menchaca, Koo, Rivera, Powers, Cabrera, Rodriguez, Holden, Vallone, Levine, Van Bramer, Yeger, Gjonaj, Perkins, Grodenchik, Treyger, Gibson, Cornegy, Eugene, Barron, Maisel, Cumbo, Moya, Rose, Adams, Ampry-Samuel, D. Diaz and Ulrich

A Local Law in relation to conducting a study regarding the feasibility of constructing a new wastewater treatment facility on Rikers Island

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. The commissioner of environmental protection, in consultation with the commissioner of sanitation, shall conduct a study to assess the feasibility of constructing a wastewater treatment facility on Rikers Island. The study shall consider population projections and possible alternatives to wastewater treatment and disposal, as well as the minimum and maximum capacity a wastewater treatment facility on Rikers Island should have, how much wastewater might be able to be diverted from other facilities, and the capacity on Rikers Island for the capture of combined sewer overflow. Such study shall also consider the potential for organic waste recycling via composting operations, organics co-digestion, and biosolids reuse. The commissioner shall also assess, in a separate review, the presence of methane on Rikers Island, the potential for the installation of methane recovery systems, and the use of such systems by any such wastewater treatment facility. Such methane assessment should consider the return on investment of municipally built and operated methane recovery systems, the potential for public-private partnerships, and the potential for the use of methane for electricity generation. As part of such feasibility study, and separate methane review, the website of the department of environmental protection and other online means of communication shall be expanded to include interactive content and solicit public comment. The Rikers Island advisory committee established pursuant to subdivision b of section 4-215 of the administrative code of the city of New York shall make recommendations to the department regarding such feasibility study and separate methane review. Within 36 months after this local law takes effect, the commissioner of environmental protection shall submit a report, including findings and recommendations relating to the feasibility study and the review regarding the presence of methane, to the mayor, the speaker of the council, and the Rikers Island advisory committee, and make such report publicly available on the website of the department of environmental protection.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed on and after the date that the report due pursuant to section one of this local law has been submitted to the mayor, the speaker of the council and the Rikers Island advisory committee.

L.L. 2021/032

Enactment date: 3/28/2021

Int. No. 1839-A

By Council Members Vallone, Louis and Rosenthal

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to an annual report on the progress of the Brooklyn Navy Yard master plan

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

* * *

[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]

* * *

§ 4. This local law takes effect immediately, provided that the report required pursuant to section 22-826 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by section three of this local law, shall not be required for any calendar year prior to 2023.

L.L. 2021/036

Enactment date: 3/28/2021

Int. No. 2225-A

By Council Members Treyger, Yeger, Kallos, Holden, Lander, Vallone, Gibson, Chin, Louis, Gjonaj, Moya and Rivera

A Local Law in relation to the establishment of a plan for COVID-19 vaccination of homebound seniors, reporting on such plan, and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1.

   a.   Definitions. For purposes of this local law, the term "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV.

   b.   The commissioner of health and mental hygiene, or other entity as designated by the mayor, shall establish a plan to vaccinate homebound seniors for COVID-19. Such plan shall be published on the website of the department of health and mental hygiene and provided to the speaker of the council no later than 30 days after the effective date of this local law.

   c.   No less frequently than once every 2 months after the plan is provided to the speaker of the council in accordance with subdivision b, the commissioner of health and mental hygiene shall provide a report to the speaker of the council on the implementation of such plan. Such report shall include a description of the vaccination efforts specifically serving homebound seniors, the number of doses administered and the total number of homebound seniors fully vaccinated through those efforts, disaggregated by zip code, and any obstacles to implementation of such plan.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately and expires and is deemed repealed on June 30, 2022.

L.L. 2021/038

Enactment date: 3/28/2021

Int. No. 2231

By Council Members Dromm and Kallos

A Local Law in relation to extending to the 2021-22 assessment roll the renewal of certain residential property taxation exemptions received on the 2020-21 assessment roll for persons 65 years of age or over and persons with disabilities, and to provide for the repeal thereof

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. As used in this local law, the following terms have the following meanings:

   2020-21 assessment roll. The term "2020-21 assessment roll" means the real property tax assessment roll for the tax year beginning on July 1, 2020.

   2021-22 assessment roll. The term "2021-22 assessment roll" means the real property tax assessment roll for the tax year beginning on July 1, 2021.

   Department. The term "department" means the department of finance.

   Persons with disabilities homeowner exemption. The term "persons with disabilities homeowner exemption" or "DHE" means the real property tax exemption pursuant to section 11-245.4 of the administrative code of the city of New York.

   Senior citizen homeowner exemption. The term "senior citizen homeowner exemption" or "SCHE" means the real property tax exemption pursuant to section 11-245.3 of the administrative code of the city of New York.

§ 2. Pursuant to subpart d of part b of chapter 381 of the laws of 2020, and notwithstanding any provision of sections 11-245.3 and 11-245.4 of the administrative code of the city of New York to the contrary, the department shall extend to the 2021-22 assessment roll the renewal of any senior citizen homeowner exemption or persons with disabilities homeowner exemption received on the 2020-21 assessment roll, in accordance with this local law. A recipient of SCHE or DHE on the 2020-21 assessment roll shall not be required to submit a renewal application in order for such recipient to receive the same exemption on the 2021-22 assessment roll as was received on the 2020-21 assessment roll.

§ 3. Notwithstanding section two of this local law, the department may require a recipient of SCHE or DHE on the 2020-21 assessment roll to file a renewal application if the department has reason to believe that such recipient may have since (i) changed his or her primary residence, (ii) added another owner to the deed of the property for which such exemption was granted, (iii) transferred such property to a new owner, or (iv) died. In such a circumstance, the department will notify such recipient as soon as practicable of the requirement to submit a renewal application, and shall require such renewal application be submitted by March 15 of the appropriate year, provided that no such recipient shall be required to appear in person to file a renewal application. Failure of the department to mail, or of a property owner to receive, any such application form or notice relating thereto shall not prevent the levy, collection and enforcement of the payment of the taxes on property owned by such owner.

§ 4. A recipient of SCHE or DHE on the 2020-21 assessment roll who has had a change in income that may qualify such recipient for a greater exemption on the 2021-22 assessment roll than was received on the 2020-21 assessment roll, may submit a renewal application for the 2021-22 assessment roll to the department by mail or electronic means, in accordance with the applicable deadlines described in sections 11-245.3 and 11-245.4 of the administrative code of the city of New York.

§ 5. A recipient of SCHE who receives a renewal extension of such exemption pursuant to section two of this local law, and who last applied for such exemption for tax year 2019-20, will be required to apply to renew such exemption for tax year 2023-24 in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 11-245.3 of such administrative code. A recipient of SCHE who last applied for such exemption for tax year 2020-21 will be required to apply to renew such exemption for tax year 2022-23.

§ 6. This local law takes effect immediately and is retroactive to and deemed to have been in full force and effect as of March 7, 2020, provided, however, that it is deemed repealed on July 2, 2022. The commissioner of finance may take any actions necessary for the implementation of this local law, including the mailing of notices and acceptance of applications pursuant to section three of this local law, before this local law takes effect.

L.L. 2021/041

Enactment date: 4/18/2021

Int. No. 2092-A

By Council Members Constantinides, Kallos, Rosenthal, Lander, Cornegy, Levin, Rose, Vallone, Brannan, Rivera, Ayala, Gennaro and Powers

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to climate resiliency design guidelines and resiliency scoring

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

* * *

[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]

* * *

§ 3. Section 2 of this local law shall not apply to any projects for which the design has been made available for review by the respective council committee, borough president and the community board pursuant to section 223 of the charter prior to the effective date of this local law, except section 2 of this local law shall apply to such projects if registration of a capital project change order occurs after the effective date of this local law and such change order has a value that exceeds 60 percent of the original registered construction contract value of such project.

§ 4. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.

L.L. 2021/043

Enactment date: 4/18/2021

Int. No. 2198-A

By Council Members Matteo, Rosenthal, Rose, Rivera and Gennaro

A Local Law to amend the New York city building code, in relation to additional freeboard for structures in the floodplain

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

* * *

[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]

* * *

§ 6. This local law takes effect 1 year after it becomes law, except that this local law shall not apply to construction work related to applications for construction document approval filed prior to such effective date.