The New York City Council - File #: Int 0145-2022

• File #: Int 0145-2022
• Version: A
• Name: Requiring the department of sanitation to remove fallen tree limbs, branches, and vegetation that obstruct streets and sidewalks as a result of severe weather.
• Type: Introduction
• Status: Enacted
• Committee: Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management
• On agenda: 4/14/2022
• Enactment date: 1/20/2024
• Law number: 2024/018
• Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of sanitation to remove fallen tree limbs, branches, and vegetation that obstruct streets and sidewalks as a result of severe weather
• Sponsors: Justin L. Brannan, Kalman Yeger , Shahana K. Hanif, Sandy Nurse, Shaun Abreu, Erik D. Bottcher, Nantasha M. Williams, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Farah N. Louis, Robert F. Holden, Kevin C. Riley, Marjorie Velázquez, Crystal Hudson, Tiffany Cabán, Julie Won, James F. Gennaro, Eric Dinowitz, Carlina Rivera , Joseph C. Borelli, Ari Kagan
• Council Member Sponsors: 20
• Summary: After severe weather events, broken tree limbs, branches and small vegetation are scattered in public spaces. To clear the streets and sidewalks faster, this bill requires the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to assist the Department of Parks and Recreation with the removal of such fallen tree debris after inclement weather. DSNY’s assistance would be required within 10 days after receiving notice of fallen tree debris unless directed otherwise by a state of emergency declared by the Mayor, Governor or President.

Date	Ver.	Prime Sponsor	Action By	Action	Result
1/20/2024	A	Justin L. Brannan	Administration	City Charter Rule Adopted
1/19/2024	A	Justin L. Brannan	City Council	Returned Unsigned by Mayor
12/20/2023	A	Justin L. Brannan	City Council	Sent to Mayor by Council
12/20/2023	A	Justin L. Brannan	City Council	Approved by Council	Pass
12/20/2023	*	Justin L. Brannan	Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management	Hearing Held by Committee
12/20/2023	*	Justin L. Brannan	Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management	Amendment Proposed by Comm
12/20/2023	*	Justin L. Brannan	Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management	Amended by Committee
12/20/2023	A	Justin L. Brannan	Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management	Approved by Committee	Pass
10/20/2022	*	Justin L. Brannan	Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management	Hearing Held by Committee
10/20/2022	*	Justin L. Brannan	Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management	Laid Over by Committee
4/14/2022	*	Justin L. Brannan	City Council	Referred to Comm by Council
4/14/2022	*	Justin L. Brannan	City Council	Introduced by Council

Int. No. 145-A

By Council Members Brannan, Yeger, Hanif, Nurse, Abreu, Bottcher, Williams, Sanchez, Louis, Holden, Riley, Velázquez, Hudson, Cabán, Won, Gennaro, Dinowitz, Rivera, Borelli and Kagan

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of sanitation to remove fallen tree limbs, branches, and vegetation that obstruct streets and sidewalks as a result of severe weather

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 16 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 16-145 to read as follows:

                     § 16-145 Removal of fallen tree limbs, branches, and vegetation after severe weather. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Severe weather. The term “severe weather” includes but is not limited to rain, sleet, ice, snow, and wind, or any combination thereof that causes widespread tree damage.

Street. The term “street” has the same meaning as in section 16-460.

Tree. The term “tree” has the same meaning as in section 18-103.

Vegetation. The term “vegetation” has the same meaning as in section 18-103.

                     b. The department shall assist the department of parks and recreation in removing tree limbs, branches, and vegetation fallen from trees under the jurisdiction of the department of parks and recreation that obstruct streets after severe weather. Such removals may be conducted after the department of sanitation receives notice of such fallen tree limbs, branches, or vegetation by the department discovering the fallen tree limbs, branches, or vegetation, through the 311 customer service center, or through referral from the department of parks and recreation. Such assistance shall not take precedence over the department’s core duties. Such removals shall take place within 10 days of the department receiving such notice, except that such removals need not take place within 10 days if a state of emergency has been declared by the mayor, the governor of the state of New York, or by the president of the United States.

c. The department is not responsible for removing downed trees or vegetation, or any portion thereof, if such removal requires specialized equipment such as cutting tools, ropes, aerial lifts, or cranes.

d. This section does not interfere with the commissioner of parks and recreation’s jurisdiction or responsibilities over trees and vegetation pursuant to section 18-104.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

Session 12

CP/KS

LS #157

12-12-23 3:41PM

Session 11

SSY

LS #640

Int. #73-2018