1426 Boston Road (near E. 170  St./Prospect Ave.) Bronx, New York 10456 TEL: (718) 378-8054 FAX: (718) 378-8188 email:bxcb3@optonline.net

 MINUTES OF COMMUNITY BOARD #3

MEMBERS PRESENT Gloria Alston Xiomara Arriola Cheraine Case Berniesha Coleman Joanne Webb-Dixon Juanita Hamilton Grace D. Hunter Abdul Johnson Rita Jones Verna Lee Judge Una Lawrence Wilbert Tee Lawton Rev. Idus A. Nunn, Jr. Raymond Ortiz Adrianne Moses-Ridley Rev. Bruce Rivera Rev. Calixto Rodriguez Keziah Sullivan Lorraine Swinton	STAFF PRESENT Etta F. Ritter John W. Dudley MEMBERS EXCUSED Martins Olusola Aina Dea. Ernest Dawkins Frances Fenster Jeanine Hill Dea. Henry Johnson Min. Abraham Jones Jose Perez MEMBERS ABSENT Eva Bender Glenda Campbell Rev. Arnett Crawford Annie Davis Cordelia Gilford Curtis Johnson Latoya Matthew Marilyn Thomas Clyde Thompson Vanessa Wallace
Borough President's Office Myisha Taylor-Myke
NYC Comptroller’s Office Carlos Ramos, Jr.
Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson’s Office Hon. Ruth Hassell-Thompson Donna Drayton
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum’s Office Daniel Contreras
Governor’s Office Marco Carrion

Guests

Steve Cain, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
Matt Mason, NYC Department of City Planning
Jennifer Sun, Policy Analyst, Deputy Mayor’s Office for Economic Dev.
Alejandro Baquero-Cufuentes, Vice President, NYC EDC
Community Residents & Other Guests –
Names on File                                                                

Call To Order

Ms. Gloria Alston, Chairperson of Bronx Community Board Three, called this meeting to order at approximately 6:10 p.m.

Invocation

Rev. Calixto Rodriguez led us in prayer.

Community Concerns/Announcements

At this time, information was exchanged not limited to the following:

At this time, time-sensitive materials were exchanged.

Roll Call

Ms. Adrianne Moses, secretary, called the roll.  At this time, a quorum was not established.

Amendments to the Agenda

There were no amendments to the agenda.

Presentation

Steve Cain, Crotona Park Administrator, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation

Ms. Gloria Alston, chairperson of Bronx Community Board Three, introduced Mr. Steve Cain, Crotona Park Administrator at the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, to those in attendance.

Mr. Steve Cain came before the General Board members and community at-large to request community involvement to discuss an effective plan for development of underutilized park land in Crotona Park.  Mr. Cain noted that there are currently three (3) underutilized sites in which he has identified as follows:

Site 1 – Crotona Park East – Crotona Park North (Playground  #4)
Site 2 – Crotona Avenue (Handball Walls)
Site 3 – Crotona Avenue – Crotona Park South (Playground #9)

Mr. Cain distributed a “Development Committee” sign-in sheet for those interested in participating on said committee.

Borough President’s Report

Ms. Myishia Taylor-Myke, representative from the Bronx Borough President’s Office, distributed the report to those in attendance.

NYC Comptroller’s Office

Mr. Carlos Ramos, representative from the NYC Comptroller’s Office exchanged time-sensitive information and distributed a “Consumer Banking Conference” flyer sponsored by Bank of America.

Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson’s Office

State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson came before the General Board and those in attendance to let her constituents know that as a State Senator, she is often in Albany legislating bills that will enhance the quality of life.  Often, she is unable to attend the General Board meetings.  However, Ms. Donna Drayton, chief of staff, attends the meetings.  Senator Thompson stated that if her constituents have any  concerns or issues, feel free to contact her office for further assistance.

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum’s Office

Daniel Contreras, representative from the Public Advocate Betsy Gothbaum’s Office, distributed “Improving Access to City Services” September Bulletin to those in attendance.

Governors Office

Marco Carrion, representative from the Governors Office, stated that if there are any issues of concern relating to the Governors Office feel free to contact him at (212) 417-2070.

District Managers Report 

Following is a brief summary of issues of importance for the period commencing June 13, 2007 up to and including September 12, 2007:

NYC PARKS AND RECREATION – ROCKS AND ROOTS PARK (E. 167 ST. & THIRD AVE.)

The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation met with representatives of Bronx Community Board Three, the Office of Councilwoman Helen Diane Foster and community residents including representatives of St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church on 7/24/07, to identify proposed uses for Rock and Roots playground. Said location has been identified by Bronx Community Board Three since 2001 as a capital priority and was submitted as its #5 Capital Budget priority during the board submission process for the FY 2008 Capital Budget.

The proposed work scope included recommendations for passive seating, senior exercise, play equipment for youths, consideration for a waterfall as well as dual purpose football/soccer play and green plantings.

The NYC Department of Parks and Recreation has informed the board that a scope of work transmittal document is being developed and will be followed by preliminary drawings which will be presented to Community Board Three’s Parks and Recreation committee.

NYC PARKS AND RECREATION – CHARLTON GARDENS

The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation has commenced Phase I work at the site 7/07 - (Cost estimate- $750k).  The scope of work includes removal of granite blocks at the upper park level, exterior and interior wall reductions, planting and green seeding and installation of a flag pole.  The projected term of the contract is 6 months. 

BORICUA COLLEGE – MELROSE COMMONS URA

Based on recent discussions with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Office of Planning and Development, the ULURP actions governing the development of the college campus site in Bronx Community Board Three have been approved with completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement in the Spring   (2007)

Closing regarding this project is expected by the end of September 2007.  HPD has currently issued a license agreement for asbestos removal/demolition of approximately 7 buildings including the Washington Avenue courthouse.

Members should also understand that pursuant to the ULURP actions and in accordance with the Melrose Commons URA, East 162 St. between 3^rd Avenue and Brook Avenue will be de-mapped as well as Brook Avenue between East 161 St. and Elton Avenue.  These streets will be temporarily used as a staging area for equipment related to these actions.

This project will be constructed in two phases at a total development cost of approximately $300m.  Phase I will involve the construction of the college building and campus as well as four residential buildings to be situated north of East 162 St.  The other three buildings will be built in Phase II.  The timeframe for completion of the entire development project is two and one half years.

The total residential unit count is projected at 679 to 700 units, two thirds of which will be constructed for individuals at 80% of the area median income.  One third of the development is projected for individuals earning 60% of the area median income. Of the seven buildings to be constructed, five will be built under the New HOP program (60-80% AMI) and two of the seven buildings will be constructed under HPD’s LAMP program (up to 60% AMI).

BRONX COMMUNITY BOARD ATHLETIC LEAGUE – (C-BALL)

Since February 14, 2006, when Bronx Community Board Three approved a recommendation of the Parks and Recreation/Youth Services/Historical Outreach Committee for the establishment of a Bronx based Community Board Athletic League, the District Manager and the Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Committee have held meetings with representatives of the Office of the Bronx Borough President and the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, to further an approach toward the creation of such a league.  Recent discussions held with now Assistant Commissioner for the BEACONS programs and former director of the Out of School Time Programs for DYCD, Mr. Darryl Rattray, have resulted in plans for the establishment of a meeting in October 2007 with Bronx based OST and BEACONS program sites to discuss the logistics of implementation of the concept in the Bronx with subsequent implications for the city at-large.

NYC DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The District Manager met with Ms. Mae Chin, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of External Relations, for the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, as it relates to information governing free group subway transportation and bus transportation program guidelines.  Other topics of discussion involved discussion of the Out of School Time program which served over 65, 000 young persons throughout New York City.  DYCD maintains contracts with nearly 200 community service providers operating approximately 550 programs. Many of these programs include services involving academic skills enhancement, cultural enrichment, recreation, community service and leadership development.

DYCD has informed the board that OST contracts providing services to middle school and high school students are scheduled to terminate June 2009 and will be renewed another year (2010).  OST has proposed an expansion for elementary school students with new contracts in January 2008 to run two and one half years until 2010.

DYCD has also informed the board that new contracts have begun effective September 1, 2007 as it relates to the BEACONS program (three year contract)

Attached for the information of board members is a listing of DYCD FY 2008 funded programs servicing Bronx Community Board Three.  Other program areas relate to Family Literacy, Fatherhood Initiatives, Domestic Violence, Youth Leadership, Youth Education and Youth Employment.

NYC LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION

Bronx Community Board Three has received formal notification (7/10/07) from Robert B. Tierney, Chairperson of the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, that, pursuant to a public hearing held January 30, 2007 the Crotona Play Center, within Bronx Community District Three has been designated a NYC Landmark and that the Crotona Play Center Bath House, has been designated a New York City Interior Landmark.

The Crotona Pool and Recreation Center and Bath House is located along Fulton Avenue between East 172 St. and East 173 St.  This Center was one of eleven immense outdoor swimming pools which opened in 1936 in a series of ceremonies presided by then Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and Parks Commissioner Robert Moses.  The Crotona pool and Recreation Center was constructed with funding provided by the Works Progress Administration, an agency created in the 1930’s to address the conditions posed by the Great Depression.

The Crotona Pool and Recreation Center, which was the seventh pool constructed, was designed to accommodate 4,200 users and is considered one of the great WPA Art Moderne structures of the depression era.

BRONX BOROUGH CONSULTATION HEARINGS – FY 2009 CAPITAL AND EXPENSE BUDGET

The District Manager and Chairperson extend an invitation for interested board members to attend the FY 2009 Bronx Borough Consultation Hearings to be held at Fordham Prep on the grounds of Fordham University, Monday, October 1, 2007.  These consultations will commence at 4 p.m. and will continue to 7 p.m.

The purpose for these consultations is to entertain NYC agency heads on issues involving capital and expense budget requests and appropriations.  The results of these meetings are recorded by the NYC Office of Management and Budget as well as the staff of Community Board Three and serve as a basis for Bronx Community Board Three’s consideration of capital and expense budget submissions.

Attached for you information, are agendas for agencies which will meet with the District Manager and interested members of the board. Consequently, at the meeting of the general board in October 2007, Bronx Community Board Three will hold a public hearing and vote on its FY 2009 Capital and Expense Budget Requests.

Benediction

Rev. Bruce Rivera led us in prayer.

Adjournment

There being no further business to discuss, this meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:50 p.m.

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