File #: Int 0739-2015    Version: * Name: Creating a solar ombudsperson position within the NYC dept of buildings.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on Housing and Buildings
On agenda: 3/31/2015
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to creating a solar ombudsperson position within the New York city department of buildings.
Sponsors: Donovan J. Richards, Rory I. Lancman, Costa G. Constantinides, Andy L. King, Rosie Mendez, Andrew Cohen, Helen K. Rosenthal, Vanessa L. Gibson, Corey D. Johnson, Ydanis A. Rodriguez, James G. Van Bramer, James Vacca, Karen Koslowitz, Ritchie J. Torres, Vincent J. Gentile, Rafael L. Espinal, Jr., Ben Kallos, Paul A. Vallone, Stephen T. Levin, Elizabeth S. Crowley, Carlos Menchaca, Jumaane D. Williams, Deborah L. Rose, Mark Levine, Antonio Reynoso, Margaret S. Chin, Mathieu Eugene, Daniel R. Garodnick, Daniel Dromm , Fernando Cabrera , David G. Greenfield, Alan N. Maisel, Brad S. Lander, Peter A. Koo, Mark Treyger, Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., Rafael Salamanca, Jr., Chaim M. Deutsch, Inez D. Barron, Eric A. Ulrich
Council Member Sponsors: 40
Summary: This bill creates a solar ombudsperson position within the New York city department of buildings to respond to comment, questions and complaints about solar power systems.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 739, 2. March 31, 2015 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2017*Donovan J. Richards City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/31/2015*Donovan J. Richards City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/31/2015*Donovan J. Richards City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Int. No. 739

 

By Council Members Richards, Lancman, Constantinides, King, Mendez, Cohen, Rosenthal, Gibson, Johnson, Rodriguez, Van Bramer, Vacca, Koslowitz, Torres, Gentile, Espinal, Kallos, Vallone, Levin, Crowley, Menchaca, Williams, Levine, Reynoso, Chin, Eugene, Garodnick, Dromm, Cabrera, Greenfield, Maisel, Lander, Koo, Treyger, Cornegy, Salamanca, Deutsch, Barron and Ulrich

 

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to creating a solar ombudsperson position within the New York city department of buildings.

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 26 of the New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 650 to read as follows: 

                      § 650. Solar ombudsperson. a. Establishment of solar ombudsperson position and duties. There shall be in the department the position of solar ombudsperson whose duties shall include, but not be limited to:

1. establishing a system to receive comments, questions and complaints with respect to the installation and maintenance of solar power systems, including but not limited to, establishing and publicizing the availability of a telephone number to receive such comments, questions and complaints;

2. coordinating with other agencies to ensure that policies are in place to encourage the installation and maintenance of solar power systems; and

3. making recommendations to the commissioner with respect to streamlining the process for obtaining the necessary approvals to install and maintain solar power systems.

b. Reporting. 1. The solar ombudsperson shall submit monthly reports to the commissioner indicating: the number and nature of any comments, questions and complaints received regarding solar installation; actions undertaken to coordinate with other agencies and the results of such coordination; and recommendations made pursuant to paragraph 3 of subdivision a of this section.

2. The department shall submit a yearly report to the mayor and the speaker of the city council which shall include a compilation of the monthly reports submitted pursuant to subdivision b of this section during the reporting year and indicate any action taken by the department as a result of any comment, question, complaint or recommendation from or forwarded by the solar ombudsperson.

c. Posting of ombudsperson information. The department shall post on its website the phone number of the solar ombudsperson and a statement indicating that any person may contact such ombudsperson if such person has a comment, question or complaint regarding the installation or maintenance of solar power systems.

                     §2.                     This local law shall take 120 days after its enactment except that the commissioner of buildings may take such actions as are necessary for its implementation, including the promulgation of rules, prior to such date.

 

 

 

LS 3720

JW

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