Int. No.  274

By Council Members Addabbo, Baez, Barron, Clarke, Comrie, Dilan, Fidler, Foster, Gioia, Jackson, Jennings, Koppell, Martinez, Monserrate, Nelson, Perkins, Recchia, Reed, Reyna, Sanders, Seabrook, Sears, Stewart, Vallone, Vann, Weprin, Serrano, DeBlasio and Lanza

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter to require that the department of homeless services give notice, before developing, planning, rehabilitating or engaging in a contract to develop transitional housing and services, to the council member for the district in which such transitional housing and services are to be located, to the president of the borough in which such transitional housing and services are to be located, to the community board for the district in which such transitional housing and services are to be located and to the department of city planning.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

                     Section 1.  Paragraphs 1 through 4 of subdivision a of section 612 of the New York city charter is hereby amended to read as follows: 

                      1. be responsible for transitional housing and services provided by the city for eligible homeless families and individuals. The commissioner shall encourage the participation of and receive proposals from the public and private sectors for the development of transitional housing and services for homeless families and individuals. In performing such duties, the commissioner may develop and issue requests for proposals and evaluate responses thereto, negotiate, award, enter into and administer contracts, loans or other agreements, award and administer grants and obtain all necessary approvals. For-profit and not-for-profit entities shall be eligible to submit proposals, bid on contracts and other agreements, and apply for grants and loans. At least 60 days prior to entering into or administering any such contracts, loans, other agreements or grants, the commissioner shall give notice to the council member for the district in which such transitional housing and services are to be located, to the president of the borough in which such transitional housing and services are to be located, to the community board for the district in which such transitional housing and services are to be located and to the department of city planning;

2. develop, maintain and, where necessary, strengthen the system for the provision of transitional housing and services for homeless families and individuals. At least 60 days prior to developing any such transitional housing and services, the commissioner shall give notice to the council member for the district in which such transitional housing and services are to be located, to the president of the borough in which such transitional housing and services are to be located, to the community board for the district in which such transitional housing and services are to be located and to the department of city planning;

3. in consultation with other appropriate governmental agencies, plan housing for homeless families and individuals. At least 60 days prior to planning any such housing, the commissioner shall give notice to the council member for the district in which any such housing is to be located, to the president of the borough in which any such housing is to be located, to the community board for the district in which any such housing is to be located and to the department of city planning;

4. maintain, repair and rehabilitate transitional housing owned, operated or managed by the department. At least 60 days prior to rehabilitating any such transitional housing, the commissioner shall give notice to the council member for the district in which such transitional housing is located, to the president of the borough in which such transitional housing is located, to the community board for the district in which such transitional housing is located and to the department of city planning;

§ 2.  This local law shall take effect immediately.