COMMUNITY BOARD ELEVEN BOROUGH OF 1664 PARK AVENUE , NY 10035 TEL: 212- 831- 8929 FAX: 212- 369- 3571 www.cb11m.org

Nilsa Orama Chair

Angel D. Mescain District Manager

Environment, Open Space, & Parks Committee Thursday, November 5th, 2020, 6:30 p.m. Virtual Meeting on Zoom Webinar

*** MINUTES ***

Present: Ray Biggs, Diane Collier, Jessica Elliott (Chair), David Giordano, Jada Heredia, Connie Lee, Frances Mastrota, Debbie Quinones, Russell Shuler, Michelle Wiltshire-Clement, Carly Wine (staff)

Absent: Elsie Encarnacion

Excused: Malik McCullough

Guests: Charlie Samboy, EDC; Thomas Harnisch, RIPA; Jan aLa Sorte, NYC Parks; John Green, CB11; Ysabel Abreu, MBPO; Stacy Papas, Esplanade Friends; Christine Johnson, Pleasant Village Community Garden; Cherie Albea, Stantec; Emily Blumenfeld, Stantec; Anthony Bellomo, Stantec; Katherine Hansen, Stantec; Renee Keitt; Christopher Roker, NYCHHC; Adebayo Oyeniya, EDC; Marie Winfield, GMJ&A; Noel Alicea, Metropolitan Hospital; Dean Pearce, NYCHHC; Sherrie Plowden, NYC Parks; Matthew Civello, MSWAB

1. Call to Order– Adoption of the Agenda

2. Informational updates (30 minutes) a. Randall’s Island Park Alliance i. Tom Harnisch – Reported that the Urban Garden has >29k lbs of produce donated to NY Common Pantry; welcomed 50 children and 34 adults to Boo Bash Halloween celebration, LuminoCity is happening now through January 10th between 4pm and 10pm. The event will be CDC compliant. There are now 4 Citi bike banks (88 total bikes) at the island. Autumn walk and bicycle ride Saturday 11/14 at 11am.

b. NYC Parks i. Jana La Sorte – The new administrator for historic parks (St. Nicolas, Marcus Garvey, Jackie Robinson, Morningside) gave updates about her role.

c.

EAST HARLEM * HARLEM * EL BARRIO * SPANISH HARLEM * RANDALL’S & WARD’S ISLAND

i. Jana La Sorte – Reported ongoing budget constraints; the Watch Tower has received 3 awards for renovation; Harlem Little League ongoing at Pelham Fritz; working to get the comfort stations completed.

d. Pelham Fritz Recreation Center i. Sherrie Plowden – Reported about the scheduled renovation starting in a week at the front entrance and landscape work to be in progress for 15-18 months, no date when the recreation center will reopen.

e. Friends of East River Esplanade i. Stacy Papas – Reported as the new Executive Director; Diane Collier is a new board member.

f. Friends of Art Park Alliance i. Debbie Quinones – Reported that they have planted 200 bulbs, had a day of the dead event with a filming from El Museo del Barrio, completed visioning cohort report for Art Park 2020 and beyond, put in permits for a tree lighting event on December 5th, and is partnering with Make Music New York 12/21 music event; Ongoing issues with homeless populations and storage of carts in the park, syringes and low garbage pick up; Growth sculpture corrosion was able to be touched up; Received award from Manhattan Borough Presidents Office for four events including Earth Day events, winter solstice, and Christmas tree lighting. Carmen Palomino did an artist installation of pair wings in the park.

3. Presentations & Discussions

a. Presentation by NYCEDC on Metropolitan Hospital Resiliency Wall project design (20 minutes) i. Charlie Samboy, NYCEDC ii. Anthony Bellomo, Stantec 1. Resiliency flood barrier wall infrastructure project born out of Hurricane Sandy impact and flooding to the hospital basement. FEMA funding was received for a flood barrier perimeter around the hospital campus which consists of a flood wall with retractable gates (only used during extreme flooding events) with different heights depending on the topographic elevation of the site (between 1st and 2nd ave and 97th and 99th st, 2 full city blocks). Proposal includes planting buffers with fencing to surround parking and south east corner would preserve existing trees. The flood wall is made up of sheet pile wall that interlocks. The project will include an art installation component by a local artist to be centered around the neighborhood’s history in 3 locations at first and second avenue, to be reviewed at the next meeting. a. JE - It looks like the wall will be around 20’ with the fences at 10’? I’m happy to see green space to buffer as well, but wondering why the fencing in those areas is so high/opaque? Southeast corner has a wonderful seat wall, why not at the other areas of green space? i. Code requirement with residential use for parking screening 50% opaque, 6’ high fence b. JE - How will the flood walls affect the flooding in the surrounding areas?

i. Only designed to protect Met hospital, will follow up at the next meeting c. Michelle Wiltshire-Clement – concerns about the 1st avenue side wall height and opaqueness, concerns about wildlife getting stuck; are the retractable gates reusable? i. Minimized tallest walls to the shortest lengths and planning to incorporate art to make it a feature; wildlife should benefit from added green space with diverse plants and lots of routes for them to come and go; yes barriers are reusable and have a long lifespan d. Marie Winfield – community feedback and comments during the environmental review phase – invite George Janes i. To be addressed at the next meeting e. Committee to consider a letter of support to voice concerns as necessary.

b. Presentation by Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) Outreach & Organics Committee about Zero Waste and Budget Cut Impacts i. Chris Johnson, SWAB 1. SWAB is a committee appointed by the Manhattan Borough Presidents Office in concern about the massive amount of solid waste in the city. She reported that 41% of solid waste is organic material, costing $1.7 billion to collect and dispose of waste (3.1 million tons of municipal solid waste). There are health impacts due to environmental concerns regarding this waste and poor management of waste wastes money that could be used in other areas. There is a 2030 goal to reduce to zero waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. SWAB is focusing on organic waste that is biodegradable (textiles, wood, paper, food, yard scraps). Food waste makes up 22% of NYC municipal waste. Curbside compost waste collection is suspended until June 2021. NYC is a C40 city (responsible consumption and production, reduce food losses at production and supply chains). Excess food can be used to 1) address food insecurity 2) amend soil, 3) produce energy 4) provide animal food. There will be roundtable discussions for rethinking organics in NYC beginning in early 2021 and the committee meets every 2nd Wednesday at 6pm. a. Michelle Wiltshire-Clement - Was the organic waste pick up prior to the pandemic working and will it be implemented again? i. Organic waste pick-up was not met with the resources it needed to be successful or the time to understand its impact. Bringing it back involves planning around what it will be and how to make it cost effective. There is an ability for buildings to sign up but it could be a mandatory inclusion.

4. Old Business

a. Follow-up with NYC Parks regarding Richard Toussaint Park and Pathway i. Jana La Sorte reported that the naming request regarding Richard Toussaint has been shared internally for Commissioner Castro and Silver's consideration.

5. New Business

6. Announcements

7. Adjournment