Bill requires muni meters to deactivate when parking rules are not in effect or when receipt paper is not available

New York, NY- At today’s Stated meeting, the City Council will vote on legislation to reform the muni meter payment system to ensure that drivers get what they pay for when parking in New York City.

Recognizing that the city is still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, the Council will vote to extend the waiver of application, permit and inspection fees for work related to plumbing and electrical systems damaged by the storm.

The Council will also vote on legislation to renew the City’s J-51 Program and a bill to streamline and consolidate construction site signage requirements.

In support of New York State’s Women’s Equality Act, the Council will vote on a resolution urging its passage.

Muni Meter Legislation (Intro 1042-A)

To address parking issues experienced by many drivers throughout the city, the Council legislation would require that muni meters:

• Shut off and not accept payments when drivers are not required to pay for parking;
• Not accept payments when a machine is out of paper needed to print receipts; and
• Resume accepting payments one hour prior to the onset of meter rules at a location.

This legislation would immediately apply to machines that already have the technology to perform the functions required by the bill, which is approximately half of all existing street meters, mostly located in the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and Brooklyn. The bill exempts existing muni meters that do not currently have the necessary functionality, but requires all meters to have this capability within two years of the date the bill is enacted. There are approximately 13,000 muni meters in New York City.

“This legislation is going to make ‘gotcha’ tickets a thing of the past in New York City,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “We need to stop taking money out of people’s pockets that we don’t have a right to take. Whether you’re doing your laundry or parking your car, you should always get what you pay for. We’re proud of this bill which complements past Council legislation to ensure that parking in our city is as fair and hassle-free as possible.”

“This is the latest common-sense step to reform our Muni Meter system and make parking in New York City a little fairer and more convenient. This law will help prevent drivers from receiving tickets they don’t deserve or from having to sit in their car until the parking restrictions begin. My thanks to Speaker Quinn, Transportation Chair Vacca and my colleagues for supporting this legislation. We have made great progress so far in our efforts to shift from single-space meters to Muni Meters, and I will continue to look for ways to perfect this system,” said Council Member David G. Greenfield.

“We can and should do more to ensure that parking in this city is fair. Parking is difficult enough as it is. New Yorkers put their hard-earned money in these meters to be able to park, not to be taken for a ride. Council Member Greenfield’s common sense bill highlights the frustration drivers can do without,” said Council Member James Vacca.

“I am proud to co-sponsor this bill and I commend my colleagues for helping to bring these issues forward,” said Council Member Vincent J. Gentile. “I’ve received numerous complaints from constituents in my district who feed their muni-meter only to learn that it is out of paper or out of order altogether after they’ve made their payment. In addition, muni-meters should not accept payment for 2 hours at 6 pm if the meter rules end at 7 pm. This piece of common sense legislation will effectively end all sorts of frustration for drivers across the city by taking advantage of existing technology.”

Extending Electrical and Plumbing Fee Waivers (Intro 977-A)

This bill would allow the Department of Buildings (DOB) to continue to waive application, permit and inspection fees for work related to plumbing and electrical systems damaged by Hurricane Sandy until December 31, 2013.

Last December, the Council waived all DOB fees for buildings that were substantially damaged or destroyed by the storm, as well as Sandy-related electrical and plumbing fees for all other buildings until April 30, 2013. Since the end of the fee waiver period, DOB has continued to receive a significant number of applications for permits, inspections and construction document approval from property owners whose electrical and plumbing systems were damaged by the storm.

This bill recognizes that the city is still recovering from the property damage caused by Sandy, and there is a continued need to alleviate some of the financial impact on homeowners undertaking this work.

J-51 Program Extender (Intro 1010)

This legislation would renew the City’s J-51 Program. For decades, J-51 tax benefits have incentivized multi-family residential property owners to undertake important capital improvements on their properties. However, the State allowed the program to lapse in December of 2011.

Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo approved a number of changes to the J-51 Program in State Law, and authorized localities to extend the program until June 30, 2015. The Council’s Local Law would implement these changes and extend the program.

“The J-51 program revitalizes our neighborhoods and communities by incentivizing apartment owners to rehabilitate and improve their buildings. It has been a great success in the past and I’m proud to sponsor its renewal and improvement now to ensure that we remain committed to the betterment and beautification of our City for the future,” said Council Member Domenic M. Recchia, Jr.

Required Construction Signage (Intro 1003-A)

This bill would streamline and consolidate signage requirements for certain construction sites. Some of the required information includes a rendering or diagram of the project; anticipated completion date; contact information for the property owner and responsible contractor; a statement in English and Spanish encouraging passersby to call 311 to report unsafe site conditions and a copy of the building permit. The bill would also require that informational panels be affixed to sidewalk sheds displaying similar information.

Finally, the bill authorizes DOB to review and approve best construction site management practices, and logos showing that a site complies with the program may be posted.

Confirming Resolution to Increase the City’s Micropurchase Limit (Resolution 1739)

This resolution would ratify a rule recently adopted by the Procurement Policy Board (PPB) to increase the City’s micropurchase limit from $5,000 to $20,000. Micropurchases refer to the City’s smallest purchases which the PPB allows agencies to procure with no competition.

Micropurchases give agencies much needed flexibility to acquire inexpensive goods and services efficiently. By eliminating the time and resource demands of the bidding process, agencies can acquire what they need quickly and easily. Micropurchases also allow agencies to distribute contracting opportunities across a spectrum of qualified vendors, including minority and women- owned business enterprises (MWBEs).

“The micropurchasing limit has not been increased since 2003- I am happy to have been able to work with the Speaker and the administration to raise the limit from 5,000 dollars to 20,000 dollars. This limit increase should ease the contracting process for agencies, which should help many of the current and future small business owners and MWBE’s who do business with the City,” said Council Member Darlene Mealy.

Seagirt Affordable Housing

The Council will vote to keep 916 housing units affordable for low-income families in the Seagirt development of the Rockaways. Seagirt was formerly Mitchell-Lama housing, but its time expired and it was removed from the program in 2006.

The Council will also vote to turn this property into Housing Development Fund Corporation (HDFC) so the property will have a partial property tax exemption for 25 years.

“Providing this property tax exemption to Seagirt ensures that over 900 families will have access to affordable housing in a community devastated by Superstorm Sandy,” said Council Member Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. “The Council’s actions today are a win-win for New Yorkers in need as well as the City’s long-term recovery.”

“One of the largest challenges facing my District is finding an affordable place to live,” said Council Member Donovan Richards. “Following the aftermath of Sandy these additional units of affordable housing, in the Seagirt Ave Towers will bring much need relief, to the People of the Rockaways.”

Women’s Equality Act Resolution (Pre-Considered)

This resolution calls for the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, the Women’s Equality Act. The Act is a comprehensive package of bills designed to strengthen women’s rights and protections in New York State. It is comprised of 10 main provisions addressing the following:

• Pay Equity
• Sexual Harassment in Workplace
• Barriers to Remedying Discrimination
• Family Status Discrimination
• Housing Discrimination for Victims of Domestic Violence
• Source of Income Discrimination
• Order of Protection Laws
• Human Trafficking
• Pregnancy Discrimination
• Freedom of Choice

“As Chair of the Women’s Issues Committee, I am proud to sponsor a resolution in support of the Women’s Equality Act,” said Council Member Julissa Ferreras. “Many of the provisions included in the Women’s Equality Act, introduced last week, are not only deeply needed but long overdue. In addition to strengthening a woman’s right to choose, the Women’s Equality Act would strengthen wage protections, prohibit employers from discriminating against women with children, provide more safeguards from housing discrimination for victims of domestic violence or female heads of household on welfare, increase penalties for human trafficking and expand the state’s sexual harassment law to include all workplaces. I commend Governor Cuomo for making women’s equality a cornerstone of his legislative agenda this year and look forward to working with my colleagues in government in making gains on this vital issue.”

Council Member Jessica Lappin said: “The Women’s Equality Agenda is about ending discrimination and safeguarding the basic rights of New Yorkers. This includes the right to choose. We’re urging the state legislature to do the right thing and pass all of these critical protections for women.”

“The introduction of the Women’s Equality Act is a major step forward in removing the systemic burdens of sexism that persist in the workplace. It will ensure women receive equal pay for equal work and will grant greater protection from domestic violence that many of our communities in New York City continue to struggle with. We stand united to say, lets pass this bill,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez.

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