SUPPLEMENT TO THE CITY RECORD THE COUNCIL —STATED MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012 the God of love and compassion, THE COUNCIL the God of knowledge and justice, we seek your wisdom and your understanding, your guidance in this day's deliberation. Minutes of the Proceedings for the We pray that we would be moved STATED MEETING By that which will be beneficial of to all who are governed by this body. Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 2:34 p.m. We thank you for the privilege of being servants in ways The President Pro Tempore (Council Member Rivera) in which we can serve your people. Acting Presiding Officer We ask these blessings this day in Jesus Christ's name. Council Members Amen. Christine C. Quinn, Speaker Maria del Carmen Arroyo David G. Greenfield James S. Oddo Council Member Sanders moved to spread the Invocation in full upon the Charles Barron Daniel J. Halloran III Annabel Palma Record. Gale A. Brewer Vincent M. Ignizio Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. At this point, the Speaker (Council Member Quinn) asked for a Moment of Fernando Cabrera Robert Jackson Diana Reyna Silence in memory of the following individuals: Margaret S. Chin Letitia James Joel Rivera Leroy G. Comrie, Jr. Peter A. Koo Ydanis A. Rodriguez Elizabeth S. Crowley G. Oliver Koppell Deborah L. Rose Dr. Stephen Levin, 70, medical researcher, died of lung cancer on February 7, 2012. Dr. Levin was a pioneer in securing medical treatment for scores of first Erik Martin Dilan Karen Koslowitz James Sanders, Jr. responders, firefighters, and police officers, who were exposed to harmful toxins Daniel Dromm Bradford S. Lander Larry B. Seabrook after the 9/11 attacks. He testified at hearings of the City Council of the dangers Mathieu Eugene Jessica S. Lappin Eric A. Ulrich posed by these very toxins. Julissa Ferreras Stephen T. Levin James Vacca Helen D. Foster Melissa Mark-Viverito Peter F. Vallone, Jr. Jerry Koenig, 78, election law expert, died on February 17, 2012 from Daniel R. Garodnick Darlene Mealy Albert Vann complications of a heart attack suffered the week before. He was considered one of James F. Gennaro Rosie Mendez James G. Van Bramer the most knowledgeable experts on the New York State Election Law and the electoral process. Mr. Koenig worked for many years on the New York State Vincent J. Gentile Michael C. Nelson Mark S. Weprin Assembly Committee on Elections where he wrote and revised the State election law. Jumaane D. Williams After retirement, he became a political consultant and at the time of his death was the Ruben Wills New York State Petition Coordinator for President Obama's re-election campaign. He is survived by his partner of forty years Mary Geissman, his sister Sandy, and brother Howard. At this point, the floor was yielded to Council Member Brewer who Excused: Council Members Dickens, Fidler, and Gonzalez. spoke in honorable memory of Mr. Jerry Koenig. The Majority Leader (Council Member Rivera) assumed the Chair as the Michael Rothenberg, 47, Executive Director of the New York Lawyers for the President Pro Tempore and Acting Presiding Officer. Public Interest since 2001, died on February 23, 2012. In 2010, Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman appointed Mr. Rothenberg as one of six Legal Services heads to After being informed by the City Clerk and Clerk of the Council (Mr. serve on his task force to expand civil legal services in New York. Mr. Rothenberg is McSweeney), the presence of a quorum was announced by the President Pro survived by his wife Zerline, their three children, his mother, and two brothers. At Tempore (Council Member Rivera). this point, the floor was yielded to Council Member Lander who spoke in honorable memory of Mr. Michael Rothenberg. There were 48 Council Members marked present at this Stated Meeting held in the Council Chambers of City Hall, N.Y., N.Y. 10007. ADOPTION OF MINUTES INVOCATION The Invocation was delivered by Reverend Arthur Davenport, First Church of Council Member Ignizio moved that the Minutes of the Stated Meetings of God, 1425 Beach Channel Drive, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 January 18 and February 1, 2012 be adopted as printed. Our God and Our Father, Creator of Heaven and Earth, the God of wisdom and power, CC2 COUNCIL MINUTES — STATED MEETING February 29, 2012 Referred to the Committee on Transportation. MESSAGES & PAPERS FROM THE MAYOR M-747 M-746 Communication from the Mayor - Mayors veto and disapproval message of Communication from the Mayor - Mayors veto and disapproval message of Introductory Number 546-A, in relation to limiting the use of adhesive Introductory Number 490-A, in relation to canceling tickets upon showing a stickers on motor vehicles in the enforcement of alternate side of the street valid muni-meter receipt. parking rules. February 17, 2012 February 17, 2012 Hon. Michael McSweeney Hon. Michael McSweeney City Clerk and Clerk of the Council City Clerk and Clerk of the Council 141 Worth Street 141 Worth Street New York, NY 10013 New York, NY 10013 Dear Mr. McSweeney: Dear Mr. McSweeney: Pursuant to Section 37 of the New York City Charter, I hereby disapprove Pursuant to Section 37 of the New York City Charter, I hereby disapprove Introductory Number 490-A, which would create a new Administrative Code Section Introductory Number 546-A which would prohibit the affixing of adhesive stickers 19-215, requiring the cancellation of a parking violation summons issued by on unlawfully parked vehicles that violate alternate side of the street parking rules for electronic means for failure to pay a metered fare when the issuing agent is, not later street cleaning purposes. than five minutes after the issuance of the summons, presented with a valid Street cleanliness is an important quality-of-life concern for all New York City munimeter receipt time stamped no later than five minutes after the time of the residents. Mechanical brooms are the most cost-effective method of street cleaning, issuance of the notice. The new Administrative Code section would create companion and alternate side of the street parking rules ensure that car owners move their cars requirements regarding language to be placed on the canceled summons, from one side of the street to allow Department of Sanitation workers to operate the reprogramming of the electronic system used to issue such summonses, and the mechanical brooms that clean over 6,000 curb miles of the City's streets. Owners of reporting of data associated with cancellation of such summonses. This proposal is vehicles who choose not to move their cars in violation of alternate side parking rules deeply flawed in several ways. force mechanical broom operators to skip the cleaning of the inaccessible curb area, The New York City Police Department has implemented integrity measures that which makes streets and communities less clean. prevent the alteration or improper voiding of summonses, but Introductory Number The Department of Sanitation affixes stickers to unlawfully parked vehicles as a 490-A would weaken those important protocols, creating an unacceptable risk to the deterrent tool. These stickers inform the owner of a vehicle — and those who walk integrity of the City's workforce. past it — that the vehicle has blocked the Department's cleaning of the streets. Motorists already have remedies for incorrectly-issued parking summonses. Street cleanliness is at an all time high, with an average citywide street Because it takes time after parking one's vehicle to walk to and from a munimeter, cleanliness rating of 94.5% for Fiscal Year 2011, and 94.8% to date in this current Traffic Enforcement Agents are trained to check whether a motorist is in the process fiscal year. In the year prior to the Department's authorization to affix such stickers, of purchasing a receipt. They do so by looking up and down the street, and also by the average citywide street cleanliness rating was only 73%. As street conditions asking any likely individual if the vehicle is theirs before issuing a summons for one continue to improve, the City should not abandon this invaluable tool, which has of these violations. In the event an Agent's search misses a paying motorist and a helped us make our City's streets cleaner. summons is issued during this time, the motorist could avail him-or herself of the full, For the foregoing reasons, I hereby disapprove Introductory Number 546-A. fair, and fast adjudication proceedings at the Department of Finance. Although Traffic Enforcement Agents cannot cancel a parking ticket once it has Sincerely, been issued, motorists can contest their parking summonses before the Department of Finance's administrative tribunals — and, by submitting evidence by mail or online, Michael R. Bloomberg have their summonses dismissed fairly and expeditiously without having to leave their homes. On the other hand, providing enforcement personnel the ability to Mayor "adjudicate" and cancel a summons at the scene of a violation would introduce unnecessary temptation to skirt the system. I have every faith in the integrity and dedication of our enforcement personnel, but will not endorse a law that could lead to fraud. Further, this legislation would encourage drivers to illegally park without Referred to the Committee on Transportation. purchasing a munimeter receipt. As long as a driver buys a receipt within five minutes of receiving the parking ticket, the ticket would be cancelled — even if the driver parked hours before without purchasing time on the munimeter. Many drivers would likely take that risk rather than purchase the receipt when they first park. Preconsidered M-748 Government should not set up a game that needlessly wastes Traffic Enforcement Communication from the Mayor - Submitting the name of Thomas Shpetner to Agents' time and reduces their productivity.