File #: Res 2058-2009    Version: * Name: Water Board to wait at least thirty days after the adoption of the NYC budget before setting its annual fees, rates, rents or other charges for the use of the sewerage system or water system, or both. (A.3250)
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Environmental Protection
On agenda: 6/30/2009
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, Assembly Bill A.3250, requiring the New York City Water Board to wait at least thirty days after the adoption of the New York City budget before setting its annual fees, rates, rents or other charges for the use of the sewerage system or water system, or both.
Sponsors: Michael C. Nelson, Gale A. Brewer, John C. Liu, Albert Vann, David I. Weprin, Melissa Mark-Viverito, James Vacca
Council Member Sponsors: 7
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2009*Michael C. Nelson City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
6/30/2009*Michael C. Nelson City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
6/30/2009*Michael C. Nelson City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Res. No. 2058

 

Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, Assembly Bill A.3250, requiring the New York City Water Board to wait at least thirty days after the adoption of the New York City budget before setting its annual fees, rates, rents or other charges for the use of the sewerage system or water system, or both.

 

By Council Members Nelson, Brewer, Liu, Vann, Weprin, Mark-Viverito and Vacca

 

                     Whereas, The New York City Water Board was established pursuant to the New York State Public Authorities Law; and

Whereas, The Public Authorities Law confers upon the New York City Water Board exclusive authority to establish, fix, raise, charge and collect all fees, rates, rents or other service charges for the use of the sewerage and water system; and

Whereas, This State law also requires the Water Board to hold public hearings in each borough of the City, prior to the fixing of these rates; and

                     Whereas, The New York City Water Board currently sets rates prior to the City Council’s adoption of the budget, basing its rates on forecasts from the previous year and voting on them before proper oversight has been conducted; and

Whereas, This rate setting system does not create any incentive for the Department of Environmental Protection to be efficient, leading to artificially high rates and making it difficult for members of the public to adequately follow water issues and press for conservation, filtration avoidance and watershed protection; and

Whereas, Assembly Bill A.3250 would require the Water Board to wait at least 30 days after the adoption of the City’s Budget to set its annual fees, rates, rents or other charges for the sewerage and water systems; and

Whereas, The bill would also allow the City Council to influence these rates, which could lead to the creation of greater incentives on the part of the Department of Environmental Protection to economize and to expand water conservation efforts; and

Whereas, Adoption of this bill would provide City residents with more opportunities to effectively voice their concerns about the Water Board’s rates to
local elected officials; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, Assembly Bill A.3250, requiring the New York City Water Board to wait at least thirty days after the adoption of the New York City budget before setting its annual fees, rates, rents or other charges for the use of the sewerage system or water system, or both.

 

LS# 7550

PJS

6/11/09