Int. No. 536
By Council Members Hanks, Menin, Velázquez, Powers, Cabán, Avilés, Barron, Restler, Sanchez, Farías, Riley, Narcisse, Brooks-Powers, Hudson and Schulman
A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to establishing an office of the waterfront
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter one of the New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 20-o to read as follows:
§ 20-o. Office of the Waterfront. a. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Applicant. The term “applicant” means a person seeking to engage in a waterfront use that requires a permit from any federal, state or local agency.
Body of water. The term “body of water” means any ocean, estuary, harbor, river, tidal strait, bay, basin, cove, stream, pond or lake sharing a boundary with any part of the city of New York.
Director. The term “director” means the director of the office of the waterfront.
Waterfront. The term “waterfront” means the geographical area adjacent to a body of water at least 800 feet landward from the shoreline.
Waterfront use. The term “waterfront use” means an activity on the waterfront that requires direct access or proximity to the water in order to function; or an activity with a primarily recreational, cultural or retail function whose location on the waterfront would add to public use and enjoyment of the water’s edge.
b. The mayor shall establish an office of the waterfront. Such office may be established as a separate office or within any other office of the mayor or within any department the head of which is appointed by the mayor. Such office shall be headed by a director who shall be appointed by the mayor or by the head of such office or department.
c. Powers and duties. The director shall have the power and duty to:
1. Coordinate and collaborate with city agencies responsible for matters related to waterfront use, including, but not limited to, issuing permits and disseminating information about the waterfront to the public;
2. Liaise with state and federal agencies involved in the waterfront permitting process and provide applicants with information on federal and state permitting requirements;
3. Serve as the primary point of contact for all applicants regarding waterfront use and assist applicants in filing applications;
4. Serve as an advocate for the waterfront within city government;
5. Manage and implement the New York city comprehensive waterfront plan published pursuant to section 205;
6. Assist the waterfront management advisory board established pursuant to section 1303 in the implementation of the duties and responsibilities of such advisory board; and
7. Perform other relevant duties as the mayor may assign.
d. Report. Within 18 months of the effective date of the local law that added this section, and annually thereafter, the director shall prepare and post on the city’s website and submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council a report that shall include, but not be limited to, the activities undertaken in fulfillment of the duties specified in subdivision c of this section, issues affecting commercial, recreational or other use of the waterfronts and recommendations for addressing such issues.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 60 days after it becomes law, except that the mayor may take any steps as are necessary for the implementation of this local law before such date.
Session 12
IP
LS #8445
5/25/22 1:00pm
Session 11
AS
LS #6235
Int. #982-2018