Meeting Name: Committee on Small Business Agenda status: Final
Meeting date/time: 3/18/2019 10:00 AM Minutes status: Final  
Meeting location: Committee Room - City Hall
Published agenda: Agenda Agenda Published minutes: Minutes Minutes  
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Int 1049-2018 *Carlina Rivera   Requiring the dept of small business services to assess the state of storefront businesses.IntroductionThe bill would require the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to complete an assessment of the state of storefront businesses in at least twenty community districts in the City once every three years. The bill would further require SBS in coordination with the department of finance and city planning to produce a report containing information related to storefront businesses. The report would include information related to storefront business environment, such as the number of storefront businesses, the types of economic activities, the numbers of employees at such storefronts, annual sales and sales tax, the number of vacant storefront businesses, and district demographics.Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1049-2018 *Carlina Rivera   Requiring the dept of small business services to assess the state of storefront businesses.IntroductionThe bill would require the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to complete an assessment of the state of storefront businesses in at least twenty community districts in the City once every three years. The bill would further require SBS in coordination with the department of finance and city planning to produce a report containing information related to storefront businesses. The report would include information related to storefront business environment, such as the number of storefront businesses, the types of economic activities, the numbers of employees at such storefronts, annual sales and sales tax, the number of vacant storefront businesses, and district demographics.Laid Over by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1408-2019 *Rafael L. Espinal, Jr.  Affordable retail space in financially assisted development projects, and to provide for the expiration of the provisions relating thereto.IntroductionThis bill would require the City to determine whether affordable retail space must be provided in certain development projects for which it provides financial assistance. Such determination shall be based upon a neighborhood retail needs assessment that incorporates information about the neighborhood and commercial environment related to the location of the development project. The City would have to report on its provision of affordable retail space in development projects each year, including explaining the basis of its determination that affordable retail space must not be provided.Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1408-2019 *Rafael L. Espinal, Jr.  Affordable retail space in financially assisted development projects, and to provide for the expiration of the provisions relating thereto.IntroductionThis bill would require the City to determine whether affordable retail space must be provided in certain development projects for which it provides financial assistance. Such determination shall be based upon a neighborhood retail needs assessment that incorporates information about the neighborhood and commercial environment related to the location of the development project. The City would have to report on its provision of affordable retail space in development projects each year, including explaining the basis of its determination that affordable retail space must not be provided.Laid Over by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1410-2019 *Vanessa L. Gibson Proposed Int. No. 1410-BCommercial tenant harassment.IntroductionThis bill would redefine commercial tenant harassment as an act or omission by a landlord that would reasonably cause a commercial tenant to vacate, or surrender or waive their rights under a rental agreement. The bill would also broaden the acts and omissions that constitute commercial tenant harassment. The bill would raise civil penalties for landlords that commit commercial tenant harassment to $10,000-50,000 for each property in which the tenant was subject to harassment. Finally, when a landlord has been found to have engaged in commercial tenant harassment, the bill would clarify that courts can order the Department of Buildings not to approve, issue or renew documents for certain types of construction work the landlord wishes to perform at the property in which the tenant was subject to harassment.Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1410-2019 *Vanessa L. Gibson  Commercial tenant harassment.IntroductionThis bill would redefine commercial tenant harassment as an act or omission by a landlord that would reasonably cause a commercial tenant to vacate, or surrender or waive their rights under a rental agreement. The bill would also broaden the acts and omissions that constitute commercial tenant harassment. The bill would raise civil penalties for landlords that commit commercial tenant harassment to $10,000-50,000 for each property in which the tenant was subject to harassment. Finally, when a landlord has been found to have engaged in commercial tenant harassment, the bill would clarify that courts can order the Department of Buildings not to approve, issue or renew documents for certain types of construction work the landlord wishes to perform at the property in which the tenant was subject to harassment.Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Not available
Int 1410-2019 *Vanessa L. Gibson  Commercial tenant harassment.IntroductionThis bill would redefine commercial tenant harassment as an act or omission by a landlord that would reasonably cause a commercial tenant to vacate, or surrender or waive their rights under a rental agreement. The bill would also broaden the acts and omissions that constitute commercial tenant harassment. The bill would raise civil penalties for landlords that commit commercial tenant harassment to $10,000-50,000 for each property in which the tenant was subject to harassment. Finally, when a landlord has been found to have engaged in commercial tenant harassment, the bill would clarify that courts can order the Department of Buildings not to approve, issue or renew documents for certain types of construction work the landlord wishes to perform at the property in which the tenant was subject to harassment.Laid Over by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1466-2019 *Mark Gjonaj   Recommend cure periods for violations of certain provisions.IntroductionThis bill would require that the Department of Buildings, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Sanitation, the Department of Transportation, the Fire Department, the Department of Finance, and the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, convene a regulatory review panel and, with assistance from the Department of Small Business Services, evaluate provisions of the Administrative Code, the Rules of the City of New York, the New York City Health Code, the New York City Construction Codes, and relevant state laws to determine whether provisions of these laws or rules can be repealed, or whether cure periods can be implemented. These agencies will then draft a report based on their findings and make recommendations for legislation and rules implementing cure periods. The public will have an opportunity provide feedback on the report before it is submitted to the Council.Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1466-2019 *Mark Gjonaj   Recommend cure periods for violations of certain provisions.IntroductionThis bill would require that the Department of Buildings, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Sanitation, the Department of Transportation, the Fire Department, the Department of Finance, and the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, convene a regulatory review panel and, with assistance from the Department of Small Business Services, evaluate provisions of the Administrative Code, the Rules of the City of New York, the New York City Health Code, the New York City Construction Codes, and relevant state laws to determine whether provisions of these laws or rules can be repealed, or whether cure periods can be implemented. These agencies will then draft a report based on their findings and make recommendations for legislation and rules implementing cure periods. The public will have an opportunity provide feedback on the report before it is submitted to the Council.Laid Over by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1467-2019 *Mark Gjonaj   Information about city laws and rules that apply to small businesses.IntroductionThis bill would require the Commissioner of Small Business Services to establish a searchable and interactive guide to aid business owners in understanding city laws and rules applicable to businesses, including the applicable licenses, permits, certifications and zoning information. This bill also would require the Department of Small Business Services to update the guide within 30 days of being informed about a change to a law or rule by the agency having primary jurisdiction over such law or rule.Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1467-2019 *Mark Gjonaj   Information about city laws and rules that apply to small businesses.IntroductionThis bill would require the Commissioner of Small Business Services to establish a searchable and interactive guide to aid business owners in understanding city laws and rules applicable to businesses, including the applicable licenses, permits, certifications and zoning information. This bill also would require the Department of Small Business Services to update the guide within 30 days of being informed about a change to a law or rule by the agency having primary jurisdiction over such law or rule.Laid Over by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1470-2019 *Mark Levine  Legal services for small business tenants.IntroductionThis bill would require the Department of Small Business Services (“SBS”) to provide individualized legal assistance to small business tenants on commercial lease-related issues free of charge, through a designated organization. It would also empower SBS to provide legal representation in court for small business tenants facing eviction, lease termination or allegations that the businesses had breached their lease terms, at no cost to the small business tenant, through a designated organization. SBS would also be required to provide assistance to small businesses with regards to funding programs related to COVID-19, such as loans and grants, until 180 days after the Mayor’s declaration of a state of emergency expires. All these programs would be subject to appropriation. Additionally, SBS would have to report on the outcomes of the programs established by the bill, including certain characteristics of the businesses served and the designated organizations who provided the programs.Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1470-2019 *Mark Levine  Legal services for small business tenants.IntroductionThis bill would require the Department of Small Business Services (“SBS”) to provide individualized legal assistance to small business tenants on commercial lease-related issues free of charge, through a designated organization. It would also empower SBS to provide legal representation in court for small business tenants facing eviction, lease termination or allegations that the businesses had breached their lease terms, at no cost to the small business tenant, through a designated organization. SBS would also be required to provide assistance to small businesses with regards to funding programs related to COVID-19, such as loans and grants, until 180 days after the Mayor’s declaration of a state of emergency expires. All these programs would be subject to appropriation. Additionally, SBS would have to report on the outcomes of the programs established by the bill, including certain characteristics of the businesses served and the designated organizations who provided the programs.Laid Over by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1471-2019 *Helen K. Rosenthal  Requiring the dept of small business services to offer certain business services including training and education.IntroductionThis bill would require the New York City Department of Small Business Services (“SBS”) to provide small businesses with training and education related to business operations, marketing, and regulatory compliance. SBS may also offer other assistance it deems necessary. SBS would also be required to annually report on the type and number of training and education programs it offers annually, and the number of people who participate in such programs.Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1471-2019 *Helen K. Rosenthal  Requiring the dept of small business services to offer certain business services including training and education.IntroductionThis bill would require the New York City Department of Small Business Services (“SBS”) to provide small businesses with training and education related to business operations, marketing, and regulatory compliance. SBS may also offer other assistance it deems necessary. SBS would also be required to annually report on the type and number of training and education programs it offers annually, and the number of people who participate in such programs.Laid Over by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1472-2019 *Helen K. Rosenthal Proposed Int. No. 1472-ARequiring owners to submit registration statements regarding ground floor and second floor commercial premises.IntroductionThis bill would require the department of finance to collect data and establish a public dataset of commercial properties in the City. Such dataset would contain the following data disaggregated by council district and census tract: the median and average total duration of leases; the median and average remaining term to lease expiration; the median and average size of rentable floor area per premises lease; the number of such premises reported as being leased and vacant; the median and average rent; and the number of such premises whose lease is due to expire within two years of June 1 of the current calendar year. The bill would further require the release of a list of addresses of commercial properties, and whether or not those properties are vacant. The owners of a ground floor or second floor commercial premises would be required to submit this information to the department of finance as a part of the annual income and expense statement submission. Supplemental registrations are required if the premises become vacant or the ownership of the premises has changed.Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1472-2019 *Helen K. Rosenthal  Requiring owners to submit registration statements regarding ground floor and second floor commercial premises.IntroductionThis bill would require the department of finance to collect data and establish a public dataset of commercial properties in the City. Such dataset would contain the following data disaggregated by council district and census tract: the median and average total duration of leases; the median and average remaining term to lease expiration; the median and average size of rentable floor area per premises lease; the number of such premises reported as being leased and vacant; the median and average rent; and the number of such premises whose lease is due to expire within two years of June 1 of the current calendar year. The bill would further require the release of a list of addresses of commercial properties, and whether or not those properties are vacant. The owners of a ground floor or second floor commercial premises would be required to submit this information to the department of finance as a part of the annual income and expense statement submission. Supplemental registrations are required if the premises become vacant or the ownership of the premises has changed.Laid Over by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1473-2019 *Helen K. Rosenthal  Requiring the registration of vacant storefront property.IntroductionThis bill would require the SBS to establish a vacant storefront registry. Property owners would be required to register when a storefront property becomes vacant for more than 90 days. Failure to register would result in a civil penalty in the amount of $1,000 for every week or portion thereof.Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Not available
Int 1473-2019 *Helen K. Rosenthal  Requiring the registration of vacant storefront property.IntroductionThis bill would require the SBS to establish a vacant storefront registry. Property owners would be required to register when a storefront property becomes vacant for more than 90 days. Failure to register would result in a civil penalty in the amount of $1,000 for every week or portion thereof.Laid Over by Committee  Action details Not available