Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat up here. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat up here. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. do what she does to swear in the panel, right? Is that Oh, I have to recognize Yes. Yes. Yes. Um Oh, did you have the right >> Oh, no. Hang on. I have to recognize my colleagues. Okay. Yes. Uh, I'd like to uh recognize uh the finance chair, finance chair, everybody to be on their best behavior. The finance chair is here, Linda Lee. And, um, council member Hanks, uh, a great member of this committee. And so, uh, now what? You're going to do your thing. >> You want to name them first? >> What? Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Yes. All right. So, this is why I need help. Okay. We have uh Lisa Garcia, the commissioner. Um uh Nerissa Mor, right? The uh uh CFO. Um Beth Defalco, of course. Uh uh Tasos, right? Okay. Long last name. Okay, we'll go by Tasos. Okay. Um, Paul Rush, who I mentioned already. Uh, Albert, you're killing me. Albert Kramer. Okay, very good. Yeah. If the chair is over 65 years old, it's just big letters. Big letters. That's what we're looking for. Yeah. Uh, Angela Dilo. Angela. Pleasure. Nerissa Mor. Oh, yeah. Again. Okay. Again. I'm like, I I I remember that name, you know. Uh, Anastasios. >> Oh, again. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. Duplicate. Yeah. Um, so now you have to do your thing. Okay. >> Please raise your right hand. >> I love my staff. They have they they take care of the old man. Do you affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth before this committee and to respond honestly to council member questions? Thank you. >> Okay. And with that said, I I have your uh testimony and sort of semi-large font. Yeah. Until I get Yeah. Until I get all my eye stuff taken care of, you know, as big a font as you can get away with would be would be appreciated. this I can get by with. And so, um, thank you very much. Uh, you know, Madam Commissioner, please commence with your good testimony. >> Great. Thank you so much. Uh, good afternoon, Chair Janiro. Nice to meet you. And to the members of the committee and chair Lee, thank you so much for having us. Uh, as mentioned, I'm Lisa Garcia, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Uh, I'm joined by Nerissa Moray. I guess we don't have to go through that. Yeah. Okay, great. So, I'm actually gonna kick us off with a little bit of some personal reflections before we get to the testimony that's in in front of you. Uh because per perhaps by next year I'll be like a true grown bureaucrat and we'll forget this. So, I'm going to start out with my personal reflections. Um because I really am a fan of the department and I appreciate chair how you kicked it off by thanking everyone. Like so many New Yorkers, I have spent my entire life drinking New York City water and of course flushing my toilet, also not giving a second thought to it. Um, even as someone who spent a career as an environmental lawyer, I hadn't fully appreciated the remarkable fact that most of our system is unfiltered. And so you mentioned the fad and that you were part of it. Thank you so much. Um, and it's protected by upstate in our upstate wheds and reliably delivers some of the best drinking water on the planet. I was one of those uh snobby people traveling around the world talking about New York City's drinking water. Um, but now one month into my new role, I have a much deeper appreciation of the engineering marvel that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. um so that all of us can turn on that tap and drink this wonderful water and of course flush your toilet without worry. Our mostly unfiltered water supply travels through an extraordinary system that is truly an engineering marvel. Snow melt fills our reservoirs, especially for those who are new, all the way upstate. Water travels through tunnels and aqueducts, even under the Hudson River, um, mainly through gravity, through additional reservoirs before it enters tunnel one, two, and three, um, and hits your tap in the city. Behind all of that is the 6,000 about 6,000 D employees making it work. Engineers and scientists who ensure the system flows precisely as it should, who test our waters thousands of times along its journey. More than 200 DP police, thank you. More than 200 D um officers patrol and protect our watershed lands to keep the supply pristine. Construction teams and project managers are constantly upgrading and improving our infrastructure. Inspectors and attorneys ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations. Wastewater teams operating treatment plants and anorobic digesttors. and we can take a trip out there if you're interested to New Town Creek um to visit. But these um these systems even nurturing little bugs that break down our waste and make sure that what is returned to our waterways is clean while we slept through the nights walking waking up to beautiful snowy days just last month. D crews were out there in the freezing cold repairing water main brakes and supporting the systems storm response by even helping to shovel the snow. Meanwhile, our administrative staff, HR, and public affairs teams keep the wheels running and make sure that all of us are aware of everything that's going on. basically the DP every single day. Thousands of dedical dedicated professionals working behind the scenes um so that again New Yorkers never have to think about it. Um of course we face real challenges. Flushable wipes that aren't truly flushable are mucking up the system. Idling trucks and noise nuisance in our neighborhoods. More intense storms um that create storm water flowing into our pipes and overwhelm the system. Um, sea level rise and storm surges are flooding our coastal neighborhoods more frequently. Yet, with every challenge, I've already seen how D teams rise to the occasion, innovating, adapting, and designing solutions to protect our drinking water and improve our quality of life. From expanding green infrastructure to advancing storm water reduction initiatives to establishing the Bureau of Coastal Resiliency. So, we took it now. So, we have we have resiliency. Okay, don't worry about D is proactively preparing the city for the future. For all of that, I also want to thank D and everyone on my team um for supporting that mission and waking up every day to deliver. And because it is a budget hearing, I want to highlight the important fact that you mentioned a little bit is that we are saving billions of dollars by avoiding the need to um build a fil a filtration plant making New York City the only major city in the United States able to claim both this level of savings and this quality of water. Um, one of the things I noticed is that many people in D and even the city who understand this are in awe of this New York City water system that was built 100 years ago, >> more than that. And my goal in this role is to make sure that in a hundred years from now, people look back at this city administration at all of us, our great grandchildren or great great grandchildren are in awe of what we did today to protect the system. We understand the challenge and DP is ready to rise to the occasion as you see or continue to rise to the occasion. We have a responsibility to maintain this system and continuing delivering for future generations. So, as the new commissioner, I'm honored to stand alongside our workforce and to advocate for the resources that we need to maintain and modernize this system and to meet the challenges of the 21st century. So, with that, I will now discuss FY27. But I appreciate the time to be able to say that and share that. As I mentioned, >> what about the quiz part here? You mentioned more than 100 years. >> Yeah, it's more than 100 years. 18. >> When did the Croin Reservoir come online? >> 18. What was it? 06. No. >> No. >> 1840. >> 1842. >> 1842. >> 42. Ding, ding, ding. We got Thanks, Paul. >> When was the last reservoir to come online and like when did that open? >> 19. >> I'm asking the I'm asking the commission. 1969. >> I thought it was 69. No, >> so 67. >> See, this is why you can never let go of Paul. >> I know Paul, >> we need to we need that fund. >> Yeah, >> the how to keep Paul fund. Uh, okay. Okay. Yeah. So, as we're talking about, right, D touches every New Yorker every single day. We deliver the water you drink. As you all know, New York City's drinking water is world. >> Now, we're in the text, right? We're in the text. >> Yes. Now, it comes from the 19. >> I got I I got to catch up. >> Okay. So, underneath what D does, I'm on the second paragraph >> and why it matters. >> Yep. Got It comes from 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes across a nearly 2,000 square mile whed in the Catskills and Hudson Valley and as far as 125 miles away from the city >> because of Oh, and here's a picture. Do Do you guys have the picture of the map? Yeah. So, you can see how far up north and west the water comes from. Because of decades of careful watershed protection, most of our water remains unfiltered. the largest unfiltered system in the country that saves as I mentioned New Yorkers New Yorkers billions of dollars. Roughly a thousand of DP's um almost 6,000 employees actually work north of the city around the watershed and that's where Paul hails from and his team. Thousands more maintain the 7,000 mi of water manes and 7,500 miles of sewers that um that are across sorry water across the five burrows. Every day we treat 1.3 billion gallons of water sorry of 1.3 billion gallons of New York's waste water at the 14 facilities. Thanks to that work, the waters around our cities and in our harbor are also cleaner than they've been in 150 years. Like many agencies, we hi we face hiring challenges. At the end of January, D has um had approximately 800 vacancies. Despite our hiring challenges, D continues to serve New Yorkers and we rely on overtime when necessary. We we are working hard to fill the vacancies. Um and coming into this role, it's definitely a top priority priority for me to focus on hiring um to improve our vacancy rates. There are many challenges that contribute to the vacancy rate. In some cases, there is simply competition for hiring people with the skill sets that we need. I'm sure you're hearing that from many other agencies. In other cases, there are unique issues that we're working to solve. For instance, the lack of a competitive police retirement plan, which is a big issue that's come up lately >> for our D police. I mean, basically, I think that's an equity issue. Um, that we just want to make sure that the our um officers retire with a similar police pension as all the other federal um enforcement agencies and teams in the state. So that would mean that they would be able to retire after 25 years of service like other police officers. As a result of this kind of inequity, the recruits we train quickly leave to go to other police departments. The state legislature passed a bill last year to address this disparity, but unfortunately it was part of a package of bills that were vetoed by the governor. and we're hoping uh with all of your support um that this year we'll get the bill passed. Um a little bit of of our budget D is funded almost entirely by by our water and sewer rate payers. That means we cannot get additional funding from other sources sources. Usually those funds can only be used for work related to the water and sewer systems. And when our costs rise, our rateayers feel it. Much of our spending is driven by mandates, legal mandates, I would say, federal, state, and regulatory requirements we must comply with to protect public health, which is an important piece of our work. These requirements must be balanced with our other priorities, including system expansion, modernization, and maintaining a state of good repair. Our nearly 34 billion 10-year capital plan is backed almost entirely by New York City rateayer money. Over the next 10 years, DP will invest 2.4 billion to keep our drinking water safe, reliable, and delicious. We'll spend almost 7 billion to upgrade the water manes that bring uh it to your tap and curbside fire hydrants. We'll invest almost 9 billion in sewer upgrades and expansions. and will spend almost 14 billion in water pollution control projects that keep New York City waters clean and beaches swimmable. As of the FY27 preliminary budget, DP's expense budget for FY27 totals 1.7 billion. DP's expense budget is predominantly funded funded by rateayers. 92% is funded by water and sewer bills. This expense budget pays for operating costs related to the water and sewer system. Though we are mainly a utility, we are actually a hybrid agency due to our environmental compliance enforcement of the air and noise codes for the city and oversight of hazardous material abatement. This enforcement work is funded by city tax levy. Um, as part of the FY27 November plan, DP received an additional 30 positions starting in FY26 to help support asbestous and idling enforcement. Uh, which was great that we have the new the additional um positions and we're working hard to fill those new positions. A top priority for D right now is maintaining as you mentioned chair Jane Harrow our filtration avoidance determination known as the fad for the Catskill Delaware water supply system. Most city most cities must filter surface drinking water. We don't have to because of this filtration avoidance determination. It's a waiver granted uh based on our decades of investment. I was going to say by the EPA, but that's um sorry, that's my old federal hat. Okay. It was it's a waiver granted based on our decades of investment and in our watershed protection. Maintaining the fad saves billions of dollars in filtration plant construction and hundreds of millions in annual operating costs. Avoiding that cost helps New York City rates lower um continues to help it be lower than the national average for other large cities. The FAD is up for renewal in 2027 and we will begin negotiations with the state department of health this year to get to that point of renewal at the end of 2027. This renewal will not simply be a continuation of what we've been doing for the last day. Sorry. This renewal will not simply be a continuation of what we've been doing for the last decades. It will make sure that we get to the next fad. The climate has changed. As I mentioned before, risks have changed. We are reassessing what's needed to protect the system going forward. We have convened a national scientific advisory panel to evaluate emerging risks and we're drafting a public white paper outlining those risks and proposed program updates before the negotiations of the FAD begin. But there is no question that maintaining the fad is essential to affordability. Speaking of affordability, our water remains one of the best bargains in New York City. It costs less than two cents per gallon and we're committed to keeping it that way because when people are able to pay their bills, we're able to continue investing in the system. In FY25, we brought in 4.75 billion, exceeding our expected revenue by more than 400 million. This was one of the main drivers that allowed us to keep the water rate increase low for FY26 and we're on pace to exceed our expected revenue again in FY26. We know we're living in an incredibly expensive economy. D extensive measures to improve affordability for our rateayers and help people pay their bills even as more money is needed to maintain and upgrade our infrastructure. That's why we've continued expanding customer assistance programs. They include our home water assistance program, which allows low-income households to save up to 159 annually, approximately 13% on the average annual residential bill. The multifamily water assistance program provides a $250 per apartment bill credit for eligible affordable rentals each year. Our leak forgiveness program provides generous forgiveness when customers experience a leak so long as they fix the leak and other sorry and we offer discounted rates for eligible multif family properties um that prepay their annual bills and maintain water efficiency measures. But when people don't pay their bills, that cost is borne by all of those who do. We strive to make it easy as possible as easy as possible for all all New Yorkers to pay their water bills. But we also understand that sometimes people go through a difficult time and may fall behind. To support these individuals, we have a number of relief programs in place. One is our water debt assistance program which allows qualified customers to defer their debt and avoid enforcement action. We've created more f flexible terms for the leak forgiveness and meter bill cap programs to allow more applications and we continue to explore ways to improve these programs. We offer credits for customers with medical exemptions from service terminations to help them keep their certifications and avoid service termination. We recently increased reimbursements for customers who install their own meters. We also offer extremely flexible payment agreements that allow customers to pay off their debts over as long as 10 years. These agreements are personalized to meet each customer's needs. Anyone, regardless of financial status, is eligible. And as I like to say, D is here to help. So to all your constituents, D is here to help. um we really want to make sure that people figure out how to get into um financial good standing with D. And so there's all these several programs to further our efforts to keep rates as low as possible for our customers. We are constant constantly looking for other ways to save money by operating as efficiently and effectively as possible. We're modernizing operations using drones, digital asset tracking, and AI to lower long-term co costs. And we continue advocating for more state and federal aid so New York City receives its fair share of environmental funding because municipality and population caps on grants and zero interest financing result in New York City getting only a small portion of environmental funds available statewide. Um, and we continue to work on that piece. Also, um, as I mentioned, as we mentioned, climate change is here. The four most intense rainfall events in the past 50 years have all occurred since 2021. This fall, we saw a storm that brought one inch of rain in 10 minutes. That's the equivalent of 6 in of rain per hour, and that's a lot. Our infrastructure was simply not designed for that. New York City's water and sewer infrastructure is a century old system or more than a century as we established. We know it requires a renewed long-term commitment to modernization and we have a responsibility to not pass a deteriorating or inadequate system onto the next generation. Strategic sustained investment ensures clean, reliable water and sewer services for all New Yorkers and protects public health and the environment. Without proactive investment, the city faces expensive emergency responses, federal penalties for discharges, and escalating system failures. We also know that investing in our infrastructure saves us money in the long run. The 34 billion capital plan includes major investments across all five burrows, including 621 million for the construction of Gowanis Cso retention facility in Brooklyn. That's the combined sewer overflow cso. Um five over 500 million for wastewater treatment upgrades in the South Bronx. Over 500 million for wastewater treatment upgrades in Harlem. over 400 million for wastewater treatment upgrades in Port Richmond, Staten Island, and two billion out of 2.8 billion in total funding for the buildout of storm stew sewers in southoutheast Queens to address chronic flooding. As we seek to modernize our infrastructure, we are not just tackling enormous projects with regional significance. We are also focused on projects that will have meaningful impacts in our communities at the block level. No project is too small. Since July of 2024, D has upgraded and modernized 3,273 catch basins. These are the grades located at the curb that drain way rainwater or snow melt when streets uh from streets to the sewer which are crucial during these rain events and help drain the water especially to avoid flooding. We will spend 1.5 million a year to continue these upgrades across the city. We will upgrade approximately 1,700 catch basins in FY26. The agency has already completed,00 or more than,00 of those upgrades since July. The upgrades pair improved catchbasing grates in the road with slotted manhole covers on the sidewalk. It's like you really need a picture to understand this, but basically it improves the the drainage when you have those slotted uh manhole covers too. um if the catch basin grate becomes blocked by litter or leaves the slotted manhole covers and those catch basins um are a problem if there's litter on them. And so um this is why we're working on cleaning up those couch basins so that they drain to the basin below. We have already installed four 427 slotted manhole covers citywide since 2024. Our work is extends north of the city protecting our water supply in the face of a changing climate. The 10-year capital plan includes 1.1 billion towards a tunnel to add resiliency and critical redundancy for the Kensico reservoir, 1 billion towards the upgrade of the Ashoken Reservoir, 351 million towards upgrades for the Hillview reservoir, and 25 million towards upgrades to the Gulboa Dam at the Skoari Reservoir. We are also taking a smarter approach to storm water planning, combining traditional sewer upgrades with na nature-based solutions like rain gardens, blue belts, and cloud burst hubs. Um, and we've also identified 86 citywide priority flooding areas in the storm water analysis so that we can focus investments where flooding is the most severe. New Yorkers are demanding action on flooding and we hear them and we are responding. Um, equity is not a side initiative. Anyone who knows me knows that equity and environmental justice lead uh are central to my priorities. Um, and it's central to our capital planning. We have major investments in all burrows in historically underserved communities. They include 113 million for significant sewer and storm water upgrades as part of the Jewel Streets neighborhood plan on the Brooklyn Queensboro I mean sorry Brooklyn Queens border 335 million to upsize sewer and address decadesl long chronic flooding around Nickerbach Avenue in Bush in Bushwick. And we're also focusing our free federally funded lead service line replacement in areas with some of the lowest income New Yorkers starting in the South Bronx and expanding into Flushing Queens. We're directing resources towards communities that have been overlooked, underserved for decades. We know infrastructure is not just pipes and tunnels. It's about fairness. It's about public health, as you started, Chair Janeiro, and it's about quality of life. Looking ahead, we face real challenges. Rising costs, workforce vacancies, and extreme weather. But we also have one of the greatest water systems in North America built by generations who planned ahead. It's now our responsibility to do the same. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I look forward to working closely with all of you and the council to protect public health, strengthen resilience, and ensure every New Yorker benefits from our work. And with that, we are happy to answer any questions. I know you brought up some, but we are >> sure. Um, thank you so much for the opportunity to to share. >> It's great to have you and your and your excellent team here. It always makes us feel good when you come out and force with the whole team and u uh nothing like having the whole brain trust here to uh get the best out of the hearing. >> It helps especially since I've only been here for a month. So, >> yeah. Let me give some shout outs to special people in your agency. Uh your Queensboro Commissioner, Alonso Lopez. Um >> Yeah. >> Right. Yeah. He's terrific. >> He's everybody. Everybody. >> Yes. He's great. I know. He's leaving. >> Alonso. >> Yeah. >> No, I said he's leaving uh at the end of this week, right? >> Tomorrow's his Yeah. >> What's going on? What happened? >> He did such a great job. They poached him. Who's they? >> I I I don't know if he's announced where he's going. He's staying in the city. I think he's going to go work for >> Deputy May for Health. Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, we're not really losing him. >> Yeah. The city isn't losing him. >> Going to bother him in a different department. >> Yes. >> And uh the fellow you have working in Albany for you, uh Shams, >> is he here? >> Shams is here. >> Oh, Shams is here. Okay. >> Helped prepare us for this. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, >> shout out from the chair. >> Thank you. >> She's more than deserved. And uh yeah uh what I was going to do just procedurally in terms of uh this members and staff there are chair questions for D. There are committee questions for D. We have no shortage of question. I think I'll just just poke just kind of go through your statement and ask a couple of questions that just seem to pop out. >> Yeah, sure. Let's go. >> Areas that I've highlighted. What? >> What's that? Oh, yes. And would you like council member Sanchez? >> And uh um a great addition to our small but impactful committee. We're only five members, but we make it work. Yes. You know, >> thank you. >> Because Council Member Sanchez, >> hello. >> Yeah. I saw him on a he was at an event in Queens. He killed it. It was great. Yeah. at the uh yeah so um yeah I I made some notes on your statement and um you know I I don't want to uh you know dwell too much on on the scourge that is the rental payment but um you know that was kind of um this is really more for you know the OM director you um who I'm sure is is putting it in the budget. um uh you know, Mayor Delasio did very little in terms of taking um the um the the rental payment which legally he's allowed to you he was allowed to take his logic which made a lot of sense was that you know the rental payment was brought into existence in and I work for OM in 1984 8384 85 when this when this idea was hatched when we had to get, you know, D to like a self-funding um way of doing business, you know, to get them out because they're online with Department of Ed and everyone else for and they were eating the city's capital budget alive. People were praying frontage rates for water. It was it was a joke. And so um it it it made sense to do what happened. Get the state involved, create the water board and the water finance authority, you know, give the water finance authority the ability to go to the financial markets and borrow money and it would be like a fee for service thing. It all made sense. Um but of course there was a big pile of pre-1985 general obligation debt. um who was going to pay that? Um the city felt like they were like subsidizing water rateayers for a long time by accepting, you know, pennies in terms of frontage charges for all this water and all this buildout. Um and the water finance authority, they're like, so the city didn't want to pay it, you know, and the the uh water finance authority was like, don't look at us. We're brand new. We didn't borrow this money. We're not paying it. And so so the rental payment was born and it was equal to exactly what the the rent of the debt service on the pre-1985 existing you know general obligation D capital debt fine. So that's what it was every year to the penny and that money came in from the rateayers and went to pay off the debt. All good. Um at a certain point the uh but the Trojan horse was in there which was the rental payment shall be the annual debt service of the pre-1985 general obligation debt or 15% of the water finance authority debt service whichever amount is higher. So at a certain point during the Bloomberg administration, the lines crossed, so to speak. And so the debt service, let's say, was 50 million and the uh and 15% of the water finance authority debt was, let's say, 60 million. Bloomberg would take the 60, which he was entitled to, pay off the 50 million in general obligation debt pre-1985, and put the $10 million in the general fund. $10 million. Who cares? It's a rounding error. Now we're in. So when Delasio in was in office, pre-1985 debt was paid off. No reason to keep taking this money just to supplement the city's general fund. And so um um and the Adams administration didn't do it for the first two years, but then in the last two years they they they they jumped in both feet. One year like two years ago, they did $440 million, which was the rental payment for that year plus half of the rental payment from the year before. Um, so $440 million which they didn't pay for in real time. You know, um, uh, um, you know, the the the the u every rate point is about $40 million like give or take. And so $440 million should have meant 11 points on the rate to go up. Give that to the rate payers. But the rate payers got in that cycle they paid, you know, it was 3.1 rate points of you know between 120 $130 million to pay $440 million. Where'd that money come from? It came from the reserves. So it was a way to sort of cushion the blow. Um and then the Adams administration figured as long as we're just doing this, why don't we just baseline it? Let's just stick them. You know what I mean? No one knows about this. Um, so it was it was it was baselined. Um, and so now we're looking at, you know, rental payments $300 million plus as far as the I can see $300 million about 8 million on the rate points at, you know, at a certain point. At a certain point, we're going to have to pay for that in with like real money from like the real rateayers and not depend upon just the on on on on just the, you know, reserves, you know, because at a certain point, you know, the people who like holding the bonds, you know, they don't get too happy if you just keep taking money out of the system um and, you know, taking down your reserves. They like big cushy reserves. That's what leads to, you know, um, you know, bonds that are rated the way we're fortunate enough to have them rated. That's not gonna last forever. And so, just letting Council Member Lee know that I'm going to be having a serious discussion with the OMB director um, about the, you know non-sustainability of the rate payment of the of the of the rental payment. And I said, I know everybody here in this room hates it. I know you hate it because look at everything that we have to do. You know, I mean, as I go through your uh statement, we have, you know, we have a big initiative to, you know, we got a 1.75, you know, inches per hour kind of standard in a lot of the city, which I think we want to, you know, bump that up to 2.1 or whatever it's going to be. Um, but that is going to take, you know, generations to do and it's going to take a lot of money. We got areas of the city that are one and a half inches per hour, other areas that are one inch per hour and in southeast Queens we have zero, nothing. And so I was glad to see in your statement that you know we're really dedicating a lot um you know to to giving you know Southeast Queens or at least parts of it something in the way of storm water relief. So, so you should take that back to OM and say Jar is really pissed, you know, about what you're because it's just this is, you know, this is the ultimate kicking the can down the road and so $4400 million and you're charging the rate charge them or whatever. If if if if this administration is like, you know, wants to reach into the piggy bank, then he should make the case to the rateayers that nine points of the rate is coming off you because I want to take water and sewer money and send you think when you write out your check, my constituents, that you're paying for water and sewer. Guess what? You know, that's not the case. A lot of it, hundreds of millions of dollars are going to fund other operations of the city. And then it's like the most regressive tax I can think of. You're charging people based on how much water they use. Now I go to parts of Manhattan. I look around. Everyone's going to going vacation for two months out of the year. They're eating out every night. But my constituents on Jamaica Avenue with those four or five kids, they're getting, you know, they use more water per capita. You know, the less income you have. They're not going out to eat at night. They're not going on vacation, you know. Um, and so it's it's a very very, you know, regressive tax. I don't know who the budget director is, but I before the hearing on the 25th, Linda, I will then I will endeavor to find out like who it is. Um, and I will be, you know, uh, okay, let me just poke through your statement and then I'll open it up to the chair and other members and then I'll come back to my questions. Uh, because I'm I'm I'm going to be here for the, you know, duration anyway. Let's see the first mark I made on my page here. um about the police retirement thing. Um you know, I' I've always had, you know, an affinity for that um for that uh uh you know, police force and um you know, what a um what steps are we taking to make sure So it was passed by both houses. >> Yes. >> But you know, the governor veed it, right? Yeah. And so, you know, if you need the council as a body, you know, to do a resolution to to to to do that because right now they're not even, >> you know, you know, they can't retire in 20 or 25 years. They're not even >> they're they're like what's their status as employees? Are they I mean, certainly they're considered peace officers, but they're not in like a but but but they're not represented by like a police officer union, right? aren't like like >> they have a union. >> Yeah. How do they do collective bargaining? Like like who represents them? >> Yeah, they do have a union but they are civil service. I mean they have a >> their pension is the same as ours, >> right? So they don't get any special >> no >> consideration for their for their for their um >> you for their police duties. >> And I liken it to like DEEC the conservation cops. They >> be deputy commissioner there. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's why I said it. >> But but why not have that parody, right? Like there this like with all the other law enforcement. >> Correct. And so we appreciate, you know, the governor that will be >> note to stab like that'll be part of our resolution that the governor vetos this thing even though we have the DEC cops um that are, you know, get treated like cops um and the city cops don't get to be treated like cops and how >> and they're protecting our most like >> our natural resource. Yeah, >> he care. >> Yeah. >> What does she care? That's a rhetorical question. You know, you know what I mean? >> All right. So, um uh so we look forward to working with you on that. If you need a little help from us, we're happy to do that. >> Yeah, we we appreciate that. And so, Shams is helping to work as you mentioned. Yeah. So, we'll make sure that Thank you so much. >> It can be foreign when it uh comes to stuff like that. Now, what we're talking about the Fed, it's up for renewal in 2027. I remember having uh I mean, we're way past the midcourse review and all that. We're just like on the doorstep of of of the renewal. And um um I've never I liked it better in the old days when when EPA retained privacy um which was for the the first two-year fads. First first two fiveyear fads. >> Five year. Yeah. >> Right. And so then and then >> department >> and then they felt comfortable enough to hand it over to to um to the uh state health department. Um now you know like the state has its own concerns. I know that they want to you know live up to the fad and keep it going to the extent that they care because it's only going to come out of the city's pocket anyway and the state's never been real concerned about what we pay out of our pocket. But I'm I'm wondering if you think I don't want to put you on the spot here. Uh you know, in your dealings with the state in this upcoming renewal of the FAD, I can only imagine that the state has, you know, we have our view of the reservoirs and what they're for, but you you know, if you're from New York State, they might want to try to use them for flood control and duh and things that they were not really meant for. Are you running into anything like that in your conversations with the with the u with the state? >> Uh, no. I mean, I think right now we're we're in line in talking to them about what is going to be needed, what they want to see. Um, I know that there's been a lot of investments in some of the upstate projects. Um, >> right. >> And, uh, hold on a second. And I do have some notes on that, but um but I would say right now we're we're happily beginning that negotiation and through the year you'll see more of that happen. >> Okay. Because I'm sure that >> you know there's been investments Yes. of the trying to preserve the land and land acquisitions, major sewer and wastewater treatment upgrades. So they do, you know, push a little bit on that. And also the agriculture >> pushing for land act. You say that there that they're still pushing for land act, right? Uh no no no on um on the upgrades to to the upgrades. Yeah, I think we came to an agreement on the land acquisition piece that we would slowly start reducing land acquisition and only the high value >> right like around Kenso stuff like that you know >> um >> and so like I said we're we're beginning you know we're talking to the state and the department of health and that'll be an ongoing >> okay >> um process >> now um make sure you when you have these discussions that you mention Paul Rush's connection to West Point and him having all the cadetses at his disposal. >> Do you want to add anything? >> So >> Paul, do you want to add anything? >> I'm just saying if they want to get rough, you know, >> they want to get rough. >> Right now since it's the beginning >> kidding, >> yeah, >> we're in good standing. >> Yeah. I, you know, because the it's like the state has their own view >> of what they >> Well, yeah. The regulator agency. Um, yeah. Go ahead. >> No, you you'd have to come and be in a microphone and and say hi. Why don't you just do that? >> Yeah. >> Okay. This is Paul Rush going to be speaking. >> Yeah. So, you don't have to state your name. I just stated it. >> Press the button. >> Yep. >> Yeah. I'm just wondering about the state and because they have their own, you know, legitimate concerns about flooding and stuff like that and know we have all these reservoirs up there. Like wouldn't it be nice to kind of you know make some kind of arrangement where in certain situations you know we won't you know we we've got a lot of issues with keeping the fat. Um and uh uh you know we had a very good run um but with um uh and in in in keeping the land you know pure and pristine and buying it and having more um uh uh you know fauna up there that are doing what fauna do in the woods you know and and this is this is having an impact and so >> well wait before Paul starts we have every intention to 100% continue with the fat >> into the long future that it >> right. Just as long as So I mean if it's going okay and you tell me it's going okay then I'll just believe you and not worry. >> Yeah. So as you correctly stated things are we've had the fad for more than 30 years. things have changed over the course of 30 years, but we're 100% committed to preserving that as long as long as we possibly can. Right? >> In terms of the discussion, the outlook of the state, state health department >> believes that as well. And um in terms of operating the reservoirs differently, you know, we had those big storms in the early 2000 2009. We did a lot to change our operations to the reservoirs to release more cold water when it's helpful for the environment. Also improve the flood attenuation capacity. our reservoirs in ways that do not did not affect our safe yield, our delivery of water to New York City. And that was thanks to investments we've made in modeling to better understand the system so we could be a good neighbor >> upstream and downstream. >> Right? >> We continue to do that. We're making investments now to better understand climate change's impacts on the system long term. You know, we have an historic record. Historical record goes back more than a hundred years in terms of our operations, but we we'll be completing the next few years changing that data to take into account climate change so we can better understand risks and ways we can operate with the with the focus being on delivering water to our customers, but doing it in ways that is helpful also for stakeholders upstream and downstream. and the tremendous reduction in our demand in city over the course of years has really made made this possible. So I think we're in a really good position as we go into um preparing for the fad and the discussions will lead up to the fed in 2027. I I I think also just as a you know to put a big scary number out there I don't know if I remember back in the day um you know in the mid 90s you know the cost of the like one of the reasons why we went all out as we did first of all it's better policy to have a you know have a a to have a uh to have a water supply that's not filtered it's better policy um rather than make it into a toilet and you're dependent upon some gadget at the end of the line to get all the problems out. I mean, you know, it just you we all know what happened in Milwaukee, wherever it was with the cryptosperidium and just, you know, sometimes filters, you know, aren't all their aren't all that all they're cracked up to be. Um, always better to be starting out with the most pristine as you possibly can. Most pristine being unfiltered, great. Um, but one thing that put the fear of God out of us 30 years ago was the roving price tag of somewhere between six to eight to 10 billion that number kind of fluctuated. That was most it was six to eight that was thrown around back then and even back then everyone knows that six billion or eight billion means two or three times that and so I mean everyone's really afraid of that number. Um, so I think there should be a new number of I mean back when this first started, we were on the fad track, but we were also on the filtration track in case we had to like in case fad didn't work out and we had to jump over and just keep So we were planning to filter back then like I don't think we're doing that now, but um Oh, we're still doing that. Well, in the 2017 FAD, we were required to update our design for a filtration plant on our CATEL system. All right. >> So, we've been doing that work. We're currently in pilot testing from different treatment technologies up in Gardener Town of Olter where there's a facility running right now. >> That work is scheduled to be completed in 2029. And as part of that, as part of that contract, yeah, there is a component to update >> the cost estimate for a filtration plant with a lot of asterisks after it because this is going to be a conceptual design. So in conceptual design, you know, that's not building it all the way out, but as part of that work >> that is included. >> No, because I I I think we have to, you know um figure out what the sort of damocles really is here, right? like how much how much is it going to cost? I mean, that matters. And so, um, you know, we'll be looking forward to that number as an incentive to make sure that we stay on the on the >> on the fad track and, you know, >> coming from you, everything you say, I I trust you. >> Yeah. I um I just have a note here. the systemwide filtration plant. We will we are on this track to figure out exactly, but it could cost as you mentioned tens of billions of dollars to build, cost hundreds of millions annually to operate, >> right? >> And take up to 20 years or more to construct. So, it's true that it would just be I mean, we can't even probably fathom, >> right, >> the type of >> And plus now I don't care because I'll be dead. So, >> okay. >> Well, we're hoping you're here for many, many more years. Yeah, I'm I'm hoping that too, you know, but it's just >> Yeah, >> 20 years. >> I'll do 20 years. I'll do 20 years. Yeah, I'll give you 20. Yeah, I give If Eric gives me 20, I'll I'll I'll give I'll give everybody 20. Okay. All right. Um >> I was an intern in the law department when in 1998, by the way, while everyone was working on the first F or was it the first? Yeah. Yeah, it was it was >> we all have history here and why it's so important >> and it was it was it was it was you know federal government took a real because you when you talk about this this scientific advisory panel it reminds me of the blue ribbon panel headed by Daniel Oaken from um North Carolina wherever it was uh what do they call that big uh Chapel Hill or whatever >> what's that? UNC. >> Yeah. UNCC. And he was the he was the chair of the 10 person blue ribbon panel. And the blue ribbon panel came back with a with a unanimous recommendation that New York City the fed the feds did this. The the the federal government said, "Okay, hot shots in New York City. We're going to do a blue riven panel. We're going to see whether you have a shot at getting this done." And so we're going to put together blue ribbon panel of watershed experts from around the from around the country. and they came back with the unanimous recommendation that New York City should not be given the opportunity to pursue a fad. And so the federal government waved that in our face and said we got 10 ex we got 10 of the best experts says we're out of our mind giving you even an opportunity you know to do it. So you got this other scientific advisor. So like what are they doing? I mean you said it in your testimony but like like what are they doing? So, we've assembled a scientific advisory panel um assembled from mainly university professors and scientists around the country with different areas of expertise to take a look at our analysis of risks to our program going forward, what our biggest risks are, and to verify whether we're concerned about the same things that make sense what we're concerned about. >> Right. In conjunction with the issuance of our our five-year FAD assessment, which is going to it's going to be issued at the end of this month, shortly after that, we're going to release a white paper that indicates areas where we believe D believes where we need to make adjustments or we should look at making adjustments in those programs. and and that's going to and all that work is going to go into the 2027 determination by the >> it's going to inform it's going to inform our position our discussions and as part of us coming up with ideas of where we think >> we should be going. This scientific advisory panel has prepared a separate paper where they're looking at the risks independently from us with information that's publicly available that what what we have shared. They're writing up their opinions what they believe the issue is that will inform our positioning on this and we'll also include as part of that a complete panel report so you can see everything that individual panel members opinion on all this. So that's in there as well. That white paper will help guide us in terms of our discussions because we have other the risks are change. Our assessment of what the biggest risks are to um us preserving at that have changed since the 1990s. It's no longer >> turbidity on the catskill system. That's not the highest the highest risk. There are other things out there and that's >> that's the purpose of this to help us prepare for going to the NEO negotiations and discussions with DO in um >> okay >> where the fab go. I I just as a just a note to staff, I think we should have, you know, work with D and what whatever is comfortable with them. But um because like this thing's coming out next month, but then you got to do your own brain waves or whatever. I mean, I want to and and when is the Yeah. So with 2020 next Okay. So, you know, we should have a fat hearing, you know, like at some point just to kind of, you know, really like air this out, you know, and then there's going to be a lot of numbers up there and then we'll use that as our segue to like yell and scream with the OM director and the state the state, you know, because the state the only people who could take the rental payment away from the mayor is the state the state corporations committee that created, you know, the water board and the water finance authority. We also have a resolution from last year or the year before from the water board indicating that they they don't you know that that they're uh you know inalterably and unanimously opposed to the rental payment. So, but again, you know what? So, yeah, we're going to want to have a hearing on the on the Fed, you know, to hear about the good work that, you know, you guys are doing and how we could be of help and and all that. Let me keep going. >> Yeah, I think the public hearings, you know, there's the public comment period. So next >> Yeah, I know there's >> so we'll make sure to Yeah. to come back >> committee and where we are and then Yeah. >> Well, I mean, when does the public comment start? when the public >> next spring probably. >> Yeah, we're gonna want to do something. Yeah, we're gonna want to do something before that. Yeah. >> Yeah. We're not gonna embarrass anybody. I'm nice. >> No, no, no. I We appreciate it. We appreciate it. >> Yeah. Because we want to bring some daylight, you know. How many people, you know? Yeah. I mean, I was on the street this morning. No one talked to me about the fat. Nobody. Nobody. And so, nothing, you know. >> Sorry. >> Nothing. >> We'll make sure if we run into each other, I'll tell you. >> Yes. and just um now you're talking about people who don't pay their bills and so you know one way thank you Paul one way that we you know kind of get people to do that is through the lean sale and the mayor put the kaibos on lean sales and so what is the expected um drop off u because I imagine that lean sales are a pretty good way to get people to come to the table and work out a plan to pay their bills even if they can't pay it all at once. months. Um, >> yeah. So, we, you know, the notice just came out and so we'll, uh, >> but you can't do lean sales now, right? >> Yeah. Well, it's paused for this year, but the idea is that they're working with the administration. We'll be able to do this comprehensive study. Um, and so we're looking forward to that. >> Yeah. The study is to get people to pay their bills. >> Wow. >> So that, you know, 15% of the people like don't pay their bills, >> so the other 85% have to make up for them. It's kind of >> you know it's antiability. >> Yeah. Well, we have other mechanisms to make sure that we work with people to pay their bills. As I mentioned, >> I just wanted to put out there that the lack of your ability to do a lean sale. >> But we understand. Yeah. That that that changes >> because we got money going out the door with the rental payment. We got the lean sale. So, nobody has to pay the bill anymore at a certain point like the hell are we doing? You know what I mean? Like we have to we have to bring in money. >> Yeah. We'll definitely have to have all those conversations. >> Yes, we do. We got a lot of >> Do you want to add anything? No. >> This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> That's from a movie. >> Black and white movie. >> I mean, I guess uh what I would say is that um we're encouraged at the um to work with uh the administration along with the city council to to make sure that the lean sale stays equitable and fair. So we participated, you know, a lot in the first round prefiscical 25 lean sale to make to improve the process at that that point. So we're excited to, you know, work further with the the city council uh and the administration to to look at other ways to make it more equitable and fair. And, you know, uh it's not although it's postponed for this year, obviously hasn't been cancelled necessarily for the years after that. So, >> okay. I just I just want to get some folks. We got a lot of money going out. Um, and you know what? I'll Yeah, I'm We have people. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right. >> Oh, seven. >> Yeah. You know, we we don't have a lot of members here and sometimes most like they set question and answer at like five minutes a member. We got the finance chair for crying out loud. And so we're going to go seven minutes. We're going to go seven minutes. And so I'm going to um for for each each each member for questions and I'm going to have I'm not quite done with the statement yet, but I I've been yapping long enough. And so um uh it is my Oh, who's who's first? Okay. Okay. Uh it's my privilege to recognize finance chair Lee for questions. Chair Lee, >> thank you. Um, I have to say it's been very educational sitting here, Chair uh, Janiro, listening to the history of how everything came to be, so I appreciate that >> because of me. Thank you. >> Um, thank you. Um, we're going to go crazy with seven minutes, so um, thank you. I actually, so before I get into the more financial questions, um, I do have parts of Southeast Queens and I did have, um, Unfortunately, the family who was the mom and son who was in the basement during Hurricane Ida that passed away that's in my district. So, um, one of the things that I just just to clarify in terms of the I'm glad to see you guys are putting more investments into the catch basins. Um, cuz I got to say like sometimes my staff and I go and just clean them ourselves because because they're just not getting um, clean regularly. I know it's due to a lot of things, lack of resources as well. Um, so it's great that you guys are looking into new types of catch basins which will actually help with that issue. Um, so super excited to hear about that. Um, and just wanted to ask about let me just go really quickly. Um, let me just go ahead with this part. Oh. Oh, in terms of the lean sale, actually let's start with that first since that was the most recent thing that was brought up. I noticed that in the prelim budget for 27, um, the administration did not include the lean sale in the prelim budget. Um, we were assuming that it would get put back in, but if you guys could clarify that, that would be great. >> Um, sure. There w there was an announcement made that they were going to pause for this year, but also >> for 26. Yes. But then we noticed it was also not in FY27. So you mean for the current fiscal year or FY27? >> For the city's main budget or for the >> Yeah, the city prelim budget. Yeah, for just in general. So I wanted to know if that is impacting you guys. >> No, because most of our income comes from the water and sewer bills. So we do our own modeling of our revenue. >> Okay. So that's totally separate and apart from the overall cities. >> Correct. >> Okay. I just wanted to make sure cuz when I heard that I was like, "Oh, wait. That wasn't in the budget." Um okay perfect. So um going into the AMRS the estimated billing and automated meter reading um PMMR shows a significant increase in estimated billing. Um estimated bill rate jumped from 10.1 to 22.2% in the first four months of FY26 due to battery life issues affecting meter transmission units. Um, and D launched a citywide AMR replacement initiative in December 2024, replacing 130,000 plus devices at 5,000 devices per week, which is a lot. Um, the estimated billing increased from, you know, as I mentioned, the 10.1 to 22.2, meaning over one in five bills are now estimated rather than based on actual meter readings. And so, what is the target estimated bill rate? What percentage of MTUs are affected by battery life issues and when is the AMR replacement program projected to return the estimated rate to acceptable levels? Sorry, I know that was a lot. Yeah. So DP um has ramped up our AMR replacement initiative in order to bring our estimated bill rate down um to our target of 4% and as you mentioned we're replacing approximately 5,000 devices per week and expect to ramp up production as the weather improves. Um we project we project substantial completion of the project by the end of um fiscal year 27 or calendar year 27 sorry as we work to upgrade approximately 78% of our system. Um, one thing I just wanted to mention is just as I'm coming to to understand this also is that it's the estimated bill based on usage. >> And so it's not some estimated bill that you know D charges and so um >> so you know so you can go to my D account and see what the usage was in the past and then see the estimated bill. Um, and so we are prioritizing customers with long-term estimated bills for replacement both proactively and upon request. We're allowing customers to report their own meter reading also. And we're working with customers to temporarily remove those with long-term estimated bills um from enforcement action. Um, and of course, we also made changes to our leak forgiveness program to allow more customers to be eligible for leaks. In other words, if after those estimated bills go out, then you get your actual and there's an increase. It could be from a leak or um said maybe someone else moved it. What >> I actually had that happened to me toilet leakage and I was like, damn it. >> Yeah. And so we want so we want to make sure that we work with the the consumer to um to address those issues. But um but we've heard actually from people on staff also who finally got that actual number and the estimated bill was uh was in range of what they had been paying before. So Okay. Um >> and and do you talking about the estimated bill? Um do you know what the average estimated billing error is either over billing or under billing and what the total annual revenue impact of estimated billing inaccuracies and what DP's process for billing adjustment is? we have that that those numbers. >> Okay. >> Um so our more modern estimated billing system can calculate the estimated average daily flow based on the last 12 months of consumption. So we're always doing that um backlook as the commissioner said to the actual water that was build over the last 12 months. >> Um so that really results in a very representative um estimate uh for for these estimated bills. Um once we receive an actual reading upon replacement of the AM AMR device, the difference between the estimated and the actual consumption is reflected then on the customer's next bill and it results in a credit in the uh if in the customer's favor >> uh or unfortunately you know an extra yeah if they've actually used because we do have to bill for what they actually used during the period. >> Okay. Okay. Um, based on our analysis, customers that see a material increase due to a lower than actual estimated reads experience some sort of change in use at the property. That could be a leak or some other usage. Um, customers can dispute their bill and they have an opportunity to apply for the leak forgiveness program that the the commissioner mentioned. Um, we've made the rules of our of that program more flexible to assist these customers. And we're also in the process of launching a new initiative to proactively flag the availability of the program to customers who might be eligible because of a potential leak during the period of of these estimated bills. >> Okay, perfect. And how has the transition to AMR's impacted the city's revenues and are there any trade-offs as part of the process? >> Um, yeah, sure. So um we uh substantially completed our original installation of the AMR devices for customers in 2012 and that provided us a lot of benefits. So for example, we um helped us improve our revenue collections compared to say a decade before. It is it improves our customer experience via proactive leak notifications where we're actually sending out notifications to customers if we're seeing that what looks like a leak on at their property and much lower estimated bill rates. Um, and also it gives us a much more granular water consumption data that helps to boost our conservation efforts around the city. Um, I'm happy to say that at this time we have not seen a material impact to revenue due to the increase in estimated bills, but obviously this project is for us a real priority as we focus on getting those AMR devices replaced, providing excellent customer service and the long-term health of our revenue and operations. >> Perfect. Thank you. Um, and just really quickly, can I just ask one more question on the chief savings officer? >> Sure. You're you're the finance chair. No, >> cut your little slack. I got to follow the rules. Um, no. So, I in terms of efficiencies, I know that every agency has been asked to do 1.5% in FY26 and 2.5 in FY27 and in the outy years. and just wanted to know I know the reports are technically due tomorrow um but just wanted to know how much of um the well I actually yeah so have you identified who the chief savings officer is going to be and how much time of theirs is dedicated towards this portion of their role >> yeah so we identified um D uh the chief savings officer is Anna Ponting who is here um she's the agency's chief of staff spend approximately 25% of her time rallying all the troops and getting the um getting the information um so she's been dedicating like I said uh 25% of her time to this savings initiative um with significant support from um our deputy commissioner of budget um and then to your point D has also been asked to participate in the savings exercise like every other agency and the target redu uh reductions are the same as city agencies 1.5% in FY26 and then 2.5% in FY27. So we're going through you know finalizing that and we'll be submitting it tomorrow. >> Tomorrow. Okay. >> She's still smiling. So that's >> that's good. >> And just wondering um what types of percentage reductions which areas and then also what are you all using within the department as metrics because I know obviously for each program it's going to be and look differently. So just wondering um how some of the thought process has been around finding those savings and what metrics are being used to determine that. >> Do you want this is more um >> um so we're um we're going to be submitting it tomorrow but we were looking at some of our um O andM operations. So for example arterial highway cleaning um operations. So we'd be looking at the amount of cleaning we can do the sort of the volume of ser the service uh that we can provide in that area. >> Oh and just to clarify I want to make sure that we note that you know this is all under the assumption that we're we're not going to you know decrease or diminish any city services because obviously what you all are doing is super important. >> So just wanted to make that point very clear. So yeah. >> Oh yeah we agree. It's not uh ensuring that none of it interferes with our dayto-day operations. Exactly. >> But where we can find savings. Yeah. >> Okay. Perfect. So, we'll look forward to that report and I will leave the last question actually to um give to the chair. But yes, thank you so much. Thanks chair. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. And now it's my pleasure to u recognize council member Hanks for questions. Council member Hanks. >> Thank you, Chair. So, you'd think I'd be ready with all of uh the conversations back and forth. >> Take your time. It's very low-key. So, we we're having fun. >> Can you hear me? So, my questions uh and welcome. Thank you so much for coming to testify. uh capital investment and and burrow prioritization is kind of where I am as as you said you know um while we appreciate the the hundredyear goal uh we are having 100year storms every other year every 5 years so I think that that you know we really need to be looking at um you know water resistance programs you know coastal flooding and and a lot of that being from uh Staten Island with Hurricane Sandy we we bear the brunt of that. So much of my questioning is kind of in in in that vein. So DP's um 20.2 billion billion dollar fiveyear capital plan is heavily driven by fally funded mandated uh upgrades including wastewater treatment and combined sewer overflow mitigation, but lacks transparency on burrow level allocations. And it definitely raises um equity concerns for places like Far Rockaway and Staten Island where persistent drainage issues, limited sewer capacity and heightened vulnerability to storm surge and coastal flooding remain um ongoing challenges. So without clear data on how funds are distributed is it it's really kind of difficult to determine um whether the capital plan adequately addresses the burough specific infrastructure needs. So my question is uh do does DET have a percentage of a dollar amount in the capital plan specifically alo allocated to different burrows particularly ones in Staten Island and which capital projects currently in design or construction directly address uh Staten Island sewer capacity flooding issues. So um in the last fiscal I um allocated 1.5 million to the dredging of Allison Pond Park and we got a little push back on the actual ownership. Is it parks? Is it D? And so I'll leave that so we can ask the first question and then I'll go on with the chair's uh permission to ask another question. >> Sure. >> Thank you. Um we do look at our capital budget in terms of a burough investment. So we do have a breakdown per burough and I do have um a sewer um including blue belt. So so our infrastructure that's dealing with sewers, storm waters and more of a a sort of uh the blue belt approach which is an engineering solution but also it's a nature-based also engineering solution uh number for Staten Island. So, we have a over $865 million in the capital budget um for the burrow of Staten Island in terms of sewers, including blue belts. I have to say this is my like eighth um preliminary budget hearing and thank you for actually having that number available that this is like unbelievable. I was shocked, you know. So, thank you very much. So um so water assistant programs uh the PMMR shows DP's water um assistant programs include home water assistance program HWAP providing 9 million to 662,000 customers and multifamily water assistant programs providing 12 million to 48 units. Um, what is the annual budget for the water assistant programs in FY27 and is this sufficient to meet the demand giving rising water rates and has the budget grown since last fiscal year? >> Um, yes, thank you for the question. Um, in uh fiscal 26, the budget included uh sorry, in fiscal 25, so last year to your question about the increase, um, our budget included $30.6 $6 million for assistance programs and then in fiscal 26 that's been um increased to $32 million uh for the assistance programs. Um one of the things that we're particularly um excited about or proud about this year is that we've increased the bill the credits on the bills. So for the um home uh homeowner water assistance program, we've increased uh that up to u $159 per year, which is almost 13% of a customer's bill compared to last year. And then for the uh uh multif family water assistance program, um we had been uh reaching 48,000 units. That's a $250 credit per unit last year and we're increasing that this year to $65,000 units. Um so uh each uh the sort of average bill credit for that program is approximately $10,500 per building. So we're really um happy to be able to increase those programs this year. Thank you so much. Um, how many households spend more than 6% of income on water sewer bills, qualifying them as costbururdened? And do you have a sense of how many of these cost burdened households currently receive assistance? >> The uh typical water and sewer bill for a single family property in New York City is $1,224 in fiscal year 26. A property owner and their household would need to earn less than $21,000 per year for the cost of water and sewer charges to exceed that 6% threshold. >> Yeah, >> sure. $21,000 per year. >> We can always we can also send this to you. >> That's great. Thank you. Um >> and um that being said, we know that many homeowners do struggle, which is exactly why we offer those um HWAP uh the HWAP credit to assist the lower income customers who qualify for the for the programs. >> Thank you so much and thank you chair for your indulgence. >> You bet. Um yeah, thank you for your good questions. Appreciate it very much. Uh now it's my pleasure to recognize Council Member Sanchez for questions. Council member Sanchez. >> Thank you so much, Mr. Chair, and uh thank you to all of you for being here. Uh we look forward to a great working relationship uh as you really hit the ground running. Uh just a few things. Uh I represent Hunts Point, so you're going to be hearing a lot from me. Uh get ready. Um uh and very excited uh to have another Bronx site even though uh you have been misguided into Brooklyn temporarily, but we will call you back. Um so the capital plan includes 289 million for the Hunts Point wastewater treatment plant. Um, can you uh talk about beyond the treatment plant, what are uh other sight specific capital projects in the pipeline uh that are funded in this plan to address flooding and waterfront resiliency in Hunts Point? >> Also, I know my questions are very specific, so uh please uh know that this is not like a grilling exercise. you need to come back with information. >> Yeah, I appreciate that as I come up to speed like you said. >> Yes, so there are the 921 million investments to modernize the infrastructure also to improve local air quality um and um produce bioolids that can beneficially be beneficially reused and improve odor control. Um, DP recently con completed a $53 million in resiliency upgrades to fortify against severe storms and that included the flood proofing and elevating equipment, installing flood barriers and stair access, ceiling buildings and control rooms and installing new sump pumps. Um, and as you mentioned, the projects will continue with the new digesttors and the sludge facility, which is in design and $500 million of investments. Um, I think I don't know um I don't know specifically in the Hunts Point area, but obviously we continue to work on um you know on storm water protection or reducing storm water. We're looking into more ways um to kind of activate our work um around clean energy. Idling is a big project which I know from my work in Hunts Point is a big piece. Um and so it's like the suite of projects that we're looking at. Um but I let me ask my team if anyone has something specific for Huns Point. If not, we'll make sure to get back to you. No, I think we have it by the Bronx, but yeah. Um, so we'll make sure to continue to work with you as we uh look at those projects. >> Absolutely. Um, so I mean there's also uh looking at the Bureau of uh waterfront resiliency uh and we know how uh underfunded that uh bureau is at the moment. Um, how does D plan to uh mitigate flood concerns in environmentally vulnerable areas like Hunts Point? >> Um, yeah, the whole I mean the Bureau of Coastal Resiliency is new and um they're going to be looking um at all of the um all of the areas in the city. I think we mentioned that there's 86 vulnerable areas that I actually asked for um to begin to look at that more vulnerable areas for the flooding. And um >> yeah, I mean on that point, you could also expand um just in general understanding that there are so many areas uh especially in communities like mine, especially in underserved and underfunded communities. How um is this new administration planning to look to uh target them specifically uh to make up for environmental racism and injustices that uh unfortunately these communities have had to bear the brunt of uh for generations. >> Yeah. So, I think that's part of it that, you know, as we think about flood mitigation planning, um, is looking at these more vulnerable areas and, um, and using the EJ maps and the, um, disadvantaged community maps to figure out where we can invest more money. Um, as I come up to speed, obviously, I will continue to work with this lens of equity and environmental justice. Um, so I must say that coming to DP with this EJ lens, um, I don't know if I should say this, but unfortunately border main breaks happen in every single community. So, we need to make sure that we address the issues that happen as they come up, but also like you mentioned, as the administration starts to to build up, working with Mach and others to really figure out how we begin to I mean, how we continue, I should say, to invest in disadvantaged communities like the South Bronx and Hunts Point and other areas. So, I'll look forward to doing that work. Um, like I said, I don't have an actual page on the South Bronx, but we will make sure to get some of that work to you. >> Uh, absolutely. I look forward to working with all of you uh very closely um to uh see some really great work um and a lot of uh pilot programs, environmental resiliency programs, like please see us as a partner in really trying to see what can work and how we can make our communities more climate resilient together. I appreciate that. And of course, you know, I mean, just hearkening back on the my history, right, working in these communities, one of the things that I know we're planning to do is to continue to work with Louise Young at the um EJ and climate office, but also um with the parks department. So, Trisha and I already have a plan because it is really about looking at it holistically. It's not just the DP piece. So, that's one thing I am definitely looking forward to. Um so, thank you for that. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Sure. >> Thank you, Council Sanchez. It's great having you on the committee. Okay, I'll go back to finish my uh statement. I mean to your statement, my comments on it. And oh, there's a something you mentioned where there's actually a formal question in here, so I don't have to do that one. Um um now uh and again this is just something like out of my own head. Um I I I saw some place recently not from the stuff that the uh staff prepared. Uh or maybe it is but um when it comes to estimated bills there are still a lot of people getting uh estimated bills. Um and one of the um you know there's one phenomenon that we've seen with estimated bills um something happens in water meter who knows um and then you have an individual living in a doicile apartment house whatever um starts getting estimated bills And and so this goes on for years and then by the time the meter's back online, maybe when the estimated bills started kicking in, it was like a one person household. And maybe in the interim, there's been a marriage, there's been two kids, and now there's like four people living there. And you know how kids go through water, you know, and so um it's been this phenomenon where they say, "Oh, okay, you know, the estimated bills are wrong because your usage is really for this, you know, for this this this family that uses a lot of water. And we're going to back you up all the way. we're gonna figure that you were using this much water all along when you know it wasn't it was just a single person and um and so and and we've had you know this is the kind of constituent work that we do it's just like I I I wasn't using this water all so that they're back billing me based on my new usage but the new usage is like you know after there was a marriage and like a second kid came along and so so they have to so they're back build all the way. So how does how does DP resolve situations like that or or or or what's the standard mechanism because the standard mechanism right now is you know you get an estimated bill and they're on you're on estimated bills for years and then they you know your meter works again and they say okay you know this is your usage and we're taking it right back to when you started on the estimated bills that you were using water like it was going out of style. So like what's the protocol you know like what what you would normally do in that case which may or may not be accurate and then if there's a wild inaccuracy because of the person's life circumstances have changed like how does that get reconciled? Um, chairman, I I thought I uh I personally understand this because I I had to have both my u meter replaced and my AMU replaced last year. And ahead of this hearing, I went to go look at at the charges to see what they looked like and see what the difference was between this year and last year and what the estimated billing is. And I got to give credit especially at Albert Kramer's bureau because they're very good at the estimated billing. So if you think of your meter like a like an odometer in your car, that's constantly running. even if the automatic meter transmission device that transmits that goes, they they're able to true it up and to figure out exactly still how much water was used in the end. Um it's >> but but if the meter was off and there was a life circumstance change and more people entered the household, I mean, how could that mechanism possibly account for that? there is a way that they can that we can do estimated billing if your meter and also your your AMU or your transmitting device is is off but odds are that when the meter goes the bills usually we're able to qu catch it relatively quickly because they see the difference um in spikes on the end. So in that case, we're trying very hard to reach out to the customer to let them know that we see a difference or they or in leak detection like we we see a spike in their billing change and so we're trying to reach out to them to both get the meter replaced and then to update the the AMU. It's it's relatively rare though it does happen um that you know people can have this kind of situation that you're that you're explaining >> and and and also something else that can happen you know in the interim you know forget about new people entering the household but a leak that they have no idea that that's going on but if they had their meter operating they would have a huge spike in their bill the next their next bill and it would be natural to assume that there's a leak which they which I have to go find otherwise this thing is going to be, you know, going on forever. Um, so thanks for bringing up the situation of a leak. So you're you're what's the answer here? >> It's it's very timely. It's actually fix a leak week um for us here at D. So it's something that we are concentrating on very heavily. Um there's >> a leak week. >> Fix a leak week. >> Fix a leak week. >> A leak. We don't want leak week. We want fix a leak. >> Fix a leak. Fix a week. fix. >> This is this is that week. >> Okay. Fix. >> Yes. Um so, uh the good news is that C >> I'm glad it's that, you know. >> Um the good news is that customers um can sign up for automatic leak detection and that again if your meter keeps running, it'll show if you have got a spike um it shows us very quickly, usually within about 3 days um to a week. And then we will automatically notify you that we see a jump in your billing um and that you know, please contact us. you might have a leak. Especially, it's especially useful if like you're on vacation, right? You're not there if your toilet's starting to leak. >> I don't go on vacation. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> In that case, you're there when your toilet starts leaking. >> I'm a home buddy. >> Um, but we have it we have an automated leak detection. >> Nobody robbed my house. I'm there. Okay. Also, one of the things that we mentioned is for that instance where if all of a sudden your AMR is fixed and you realize that there's a difference, we made changes to the leak forgiveness program so that you can come in and talk to D and we'll figure out how to help you with that. I just want to mention in 2024, this was mentioned a little bit before, but D began that citywide effort to upgrade 650,000 um AMR devices and 325,000 meters to ensure that our metering infrastructure provides the most up-to-date information, right? That's that that's the goal. So, D has already invested 27.4 million um to support that program. Um, and as we mentioned, we're replacing about 5,000 um a week. And so we are really trying to ramp it up so that we don't have too many of those scenarios. >> How how many people are getting like by percentage, how many people are getting estimated bills right now? >> By the estimated bills, >> I mean the the PMR number was the 22% number. >> So that's right now. >> That's right now. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So we're hoping that that'll continue. >> This winter is the peak of that. So, because we've really ramped up and we have, as we said, 5,000 a week is is what we're able to replace at the moment. So, we'll be replacing them through this calendar year and and next calendar year. But that's also why the as the commissioner mentioned, we have actually proactively changed, you know, sort of uh made changes to our policy to make the leak forgiveness program more um more applicable. Also, our meter bill cap program, that's also a program if you have a leak that you haven't detected. Um, we can give some assistance there, too. >> Um, we have a new key accounts team that's working with some of the more complex customers we have, and we're proactively um looking at folks who might have a a jump in their bill, um, and reaching out to explain to them sort of why they might have a higher bill at the end of the reconciliation period when get that. >> Okay, I'm gonna take you. Well, as you talk to your constituents, sorry, but you know, like this is the information. Please call D. We want to work with folks. Yeah. >> So, >> yeah, I'll take this opportunity that we're talking about this subject. You may not know him, Commissioner, but uh Joe Singleton who did such a great job for so many years and um you know, left us way too soon. Um I don't know how old he was, but he wasn't old and um he was he was great. It was just like exactly. I mean, I don't know who succeeded him, you know, but is that you? >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Joe, this is Albert Kramer, deputy commissioner for the Bureau of Customer Services. Joe Singleton was my my first boss at Dow and very much uh trying to honor his legacy, his compassion for customers in these situations. Um, and so your point about adjustments that go that go back. Usually the meter is is working and recording, but we understand that it's there's a true up. We try to give customers a period of lower uh or no interest period to catch up and we also give customers the opportunity to dispute uh let us know if there were additional circumstances that might have changed like you said to then take into consideration for the adjustment to make sure that it's it's a fair uh reconciliation and get customers uh paying that what they they use going forward. >> Well, thank you. Thank you. I'm glad you were taught by the best. Yeah. And Joe is like a like a saint. He was great guy. Um, and I'll get to that towards the end of your uh testimony. I don't know if there are questions in in in the question set for it. Um, um, tenure capital plan. First item, 1.1 billion towards a tunnel to add resiliency and critical redundancy for the Kensico reservoir. And um you know the Kensko has always been sort of like the Achilles heel you know of stuff that comes down from upstate. And you know once upon a time I don't know if there's been um um some kind of technology or fix or um strategy. Um uh but you know once upon a time hopefully it's not the same hope it's not the same now once upon a time that um not there's a lot of not that there's a lot of pollutants in you know New York City you know unfiltered drinking water but you know to the extent that there's stuff in there that would be best not be in there um like um 50% of that used to enter the water supply from from that 10 square mile Kensico, you know, watershed and um and and so I guess like um I guess I'll, you know, relate this to budget, but um because this is the kind of thing that could, you know, whack us in the fed or whatever if Kensico is just like not under control. And um and I know that um um I think um I think there's only 2% of the water in Kensico is actually native water from the from the 10 square mile wershed. 98% of it is from uh what comes down from upstate. But that 2% um you know once upon a time was the source of 50% of substances that we really didn't want in the water. And so is anyone in position to give me a little update on where that sits now? And also and what this 1.1 million could be doing to um I mean this is the kind of thing where Kenso gets in a situation where we we we just have to bypass it or something or you know because we have to um you know I think people looking at the fed somebody wanted to go after us and Kenso once upon a time would be a place where they would do it. hard to buy land around there too because it's so expensive. Okay, Paul, you're on. I gave you the, you know, the the icky question. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, can as you stated, our unfiltered supply from the Catskills, the Catskill system, Delaware system, they all come together at Kensko res >> critical node for the water supply, right? Most of the water that goes out of Kensko comes from our Catell system or protected wersheds upstate. About 2% of the water comes from the inflow in the 10 square mile wershed. So it's a critical spot. >> That's still the case, right? Still >> still the case, >> right? So you can't divert that or whatever. >> Well, I mean that's you're getting to operational stuff what we can and can do and um >> and how much money you willing to spend to do it. Yeah. The beauty of our system is its flexibility and the thought process the engineers had at the time who put this together starting with the Croin system then the the board of water supply first with the Catskill system the Delaware system they built flexibility into the system they also built in the capability to make changes in the future if something had hap things change in the future and we've taken advantage of that flexibility many times over the over the course of years. I guess the most recent big one we did was connecting the Catskll aqueduct with the Delaware aqueduct in the town of Gardner where those two aqueducts cross together right? >> Which has helped us with our operations tremendously to deal with the challenges we have today then around for turbidity what was driving that work that was completed in 2014. But at Kensico, you know, the discovery that UV light was very very effective at low doses in activating the cryptosperidium. I mean, that allowed us to continue operating on filtered system and reduce risk tremendously. >> So that plant was put into service in 2012 shortly before shortly before Sandy, >> right? As part of that construction and the way it was designed, we had to take out the Catskll aqueduct out of service from Kensko Reservoir to the UV plant. So today, we only have the Delaware aqueduct going from Kensko Reservoir down to the UV plant, only one aqueduct. So that puts us in a state where we want to restore flexibility, >> right? And that flexibility not only allows us to do work. I mean, we're doing work right now up at Kensico Reservoir. Overnight last night, the city's water supply from Kensico was shut out, shut off for several hours to allow us to do necessary m maintenance work, which were able to plan and adjust the system using its flexibility, using our modeling, and the skilled staff that we have. Yeah, the skilled staff is both the white collar staff and our blueco collar laborers who worked overnight or plumbers who worked overnight last night to repair chlorine injection lines as part of our maintenance procedure. Yeah. >> To keep the system up and running. So this project we're putting in more than a billion dollars in for this Kensco Eastville tunnel about a two-m long tunnel restores that flexibility and it's essential for us to prepare for additional infrastructure work that we'll be doing down at Hillview Reservoir to improve those facilities. >> And there's also a way to bypass Kensico just go right to Hillview. >> Well the bypass we can we can bypass the Delaware aqueduct around Kenso reservoir right now but the capacity >> it goes right to Hillview then right? We can go straight to Hillview from Rondal with most of the water but demand in the city >> require we don't have full capacity of the Delaware aqueduct through Kensko so it's usually a partial bypass >> right >> this work will also restore our ability to bypass >> the Cascal aqueduct around around Hillview >> right >> so we don't have that flexibility right now this work allows us to restore and improve our flexibility because the capacity of this new tunnel will be greater than the old >> old Cascal aqueduct section there. So, it's really essential to the flexibility and increases the capacity of the UV plant by another 200 million gallons as well. >> Okay. >> So, it's a key project that's going forward. >> So, it's in in construction right now. It's on it's on schedule. Um, this is also under the the order that we have for Hillview from our friends at EO EPA and DOJ commissioner, the former >> Yeah, this has been going on like the Hillview cover has been going on since before I was born. So, it's just it's gone on forever. >> And understanding the risk of contamination at Hillview at Kensko, that's important as well, right? Thanks to the waterboard, we recently did a study there to look at risk for PAS and contamination in that area. And what we found through that study is the even though there are sources in the area, there's a known site related to the Westchester County Airport. >> Oh, wow. Oh, right. With the flame retardant on the runway and >> that's right. The study revealed, you know, in a really detailed scientific way and it's available publicly that the risk is really, really low to us having that impact impact um consumers downstream or the concentrations at the outlet at Kensko Reservoir. >> Yeah. So, who keeps tabs on the airport? >> What's wrong with the airport? I mean like who keeps tabs on the airport because they're they're like a potential I mean with like flame retardant we're talking >> so you know >> I mean they've t they've taken steps they've Westchester County has to reduce and address address that issue of course we have regulatory authority >> right >> in that area we keep a careful eye on that as well >> right because the airport's in the watershed >> a small portion of it >> okay okay >> a small portion of it >> all right Paul I trust you okay I just want you know, I had to bring up the the Kinsko thing >> and before I go over to the other So, um All right. I I got I got people in this room that want to dig my grave over the um over the lead service line replacement thing. you know, there was we worked with um uh with with with your agency to come up with a lead service line replacement uh bill. It kind of, pardon the pun, >> went over like a lead balloon. And so, um how do we do this? >> You thought you were gonna get easy question. >> Any legislation would help. So, we'll I'll just put that out there. >> I understand that. >> But, um, you know, sometimes it's got to be a bill, but it's got to have something in the bill. >> It takes some time. Um, but I So, D has secured $72 million from the bill that passed through the state um and and >> from the bipartisan infrastructure law. Yeah. >> Yeah. And like the total cost is like two billion or whatever it is. >> Yeah. So, the goal is to >> and that seems low to me. >> Yeah. So the goal well one is we want to spend the federal dollars that we do get. So one is to make sure you know in October of 2024 D launched a free program to replace privately owned water service line I mean uh lead service lines for disadvantaged communities. That was one of the um you know mandates from the state. Um and so we're hoping to continue that work. Obviously we could use it from the feds. the feds that put the hammer down on the whole >> lead service line replacement. It was their >> It was their order >> coupled with the funding. Yes. >> Yeah. To to help start that program. >> This is this comes from the the lead and copper rule or whatever the hell, right? That that's that's where this all comes from right? >> And so it was >> Yeah. Yeah. So, the >> we're going to do this and it looked like it wasn't whatever, but now it's nailed down and that's a thing and we have to do this and >> and this administration hasn't taken away the funding. So, that's what I'm saying. So, for the city, we want to make sure that we at least um focus on areas where we do have the funding and can replace it. One of the things is talking to homeowners um to allow us to go in and to replace the lines. The other is we have done this evaluation or assessment that there's about 120,000 um lead service lines in the city and to your point it would probably take we estimate that it'll take up to $2 billion. So we'll continue to work into the future to make sure that this happens. We have um I think we worked with all of you to make sure that we understood that if we could get the legislation, we could do this probably within 16 to 20 years, replace the lead service lines that we do have. >> Yeah. But that but but the bill that we put out there was, you know, homeowners >> paying for this. This is really what that that >> was. That's what the bill was. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. the there really wasn't any kind you this wasn't going to be like a Newark situation where Santa Claus pays for it, you know, this was going to be this is not going to be Newark. This is going to be >> No, Santa Claus didn't pay for it in Newark either. >> I But somebody other than the homeowners paid for it. >> Yeah. Yeah. So part of it would be that um we would work with the homeowners, but again the other is this program where D would go in and do it for free. So, it's the both ends and and we want to make sure that we talk about it. >> This is most mainly for >> people out there are going to want to come to this table soon and like talk about this. It's not like we're not thinking about it. And so, yeah, >> even though this is not a legislative hearing, >> yeah, >> I'll just mention that. >> I mean, I can talk about legisl I talk about whatever I want, you know, but >> this is, you know, this is about, >> you know, this is about the budget. Yeah. And so, >> it is important. And one of the other things about the legislation was that if there's going to be a renovation or upgrade or something, you know, that that could that would be part of the cost. I mean, >> you know, when we talk about public health, there is no safe level of lead. So, it is a public health issue and then the the the concern is how do we get to this point where we collectively figure out how to pay for it. So, like I said, the federal money is still coming in. we want to work with homeowners. Um, and of course if you are eligible to come in for that free program where you can. So anyway, so I just want to make sure that it's understood that it is a priority. We want to continue to work with you and everyone on how we continue to understand the health benefit and also how we get there. >> Yeah. So we we you know >> we got to get going on that. So >> I appreciate it. >> Yeah. So, we do want to say thank you and we'll continue to work with you on legislation. >> Yeah, this is >> a lot of people are going to get their hair must >> just on the lead. One area that we do need help is when we do come through to replace homeowners services for free that they allow us to do it. That's where we need the help because we're finding in the program that we've undertaken the last couple years with the federal money that not everybody's allowing us to change their lead service lines. So what we want is when we do come through and offer a lead service line for free >> that if they refuse that they they have to do it themselves within a certain period >> or help us get the message out to all your constituents. We're doing this for free. It's not >> oh meaning that if if they that that that if they refuse having D it then they >> then they must pay for it themselves within X period of time. >> Yeah. Because we're coming you know we're the government. We're knocking the door. A lot of people are resistant to let us into their basement, right? And that's where we need help when we're only looking to help them. We're not looking to >> All right. >> And that's what I mean that's what really worked in Newark. I mean even when we were talking, you know, I was at EPA at the time, New Jersey D, the state, Newark was very clear. We want people from the community knocking on those doors. So that's why it's so important that we have the council working. But it was a whole different funding thing in Newark because they got >> they got the ordinance but but still it was the government knocking on >> the homeowners door and that's where the difference was made when you have people from your community talking to you about like Tasos is saying there is a free program you should take advantage even though it is the government trust you can trust me or the you know anyway yeah so it's a community outreach effort too. >> It's going to take a village and then some. And so, all right, let me just let let me just bang through some questions and get to the public. Um, a lot of these have been spoken about already. Um yeah, when it comes to uh this under the title of federal and state funding risks, what federal and state grants does D currently re not all of them uh receive and what is it? What's the total amount and what percentage of D's budget does this represent? Because we always know that, you know, when it comes to federal and state funding, you know, D gets the short end of the stick. We don't get any bond act money. Um, you know, we want to and the state is very fond of saying, you know, there's no city, you know, we got a pile of money here and like, you know, no city is eligible for more than like 5% of this pot, even though like New York City is what, 45% of the state. And so, um, how bad are we getting beat up by the feds in the state when it comes to whether it's bond act, whether it's other special things that they do that we just get left out of? Yeah. So we did um let me start with this. Federal funding represents a very small portion of D's funding. So it's about 1% as we mentioned before. 90% of our funding source comes from the sewer and water rates or the water and sewer rates. Um one of the areas that we do see the federal funding continue is for the lead service lines. That's why we're take advantage of that. Um some of the other um work out of our coastal resiliency unit is is coming from federal funding. We just found out I think it was yesterday that even though there was a loss of about 90 million that because of um the AG's office suing right? >> Um that that funding may have to um come through again. And so we're hoping that that'll go forward and that was for helping to design some cloud burst projects. Um and so the so hopefully the loss of funding that we were projecting may actually decrease after that kind of FEMA and other funding uh coming through after this litigation. And then do you want to add anything? Yeah. Um so we're anyway so you know all of our projects hopefully will continue because of that 90% not coming from the federal government and only a small piece of it. Um but again for us the federal funding led service lines will definitely be a priority for us. >> Right. >> How about the state and their proclivity to like leave us out of everything? >> So in my first month the state is a good partner. Um I did talk to to EFC and to DEEC and so we'll continue to make sure that um you know that certainly with EFC the Environmental Facilities Corporation that we continue to see money flowing to New York and for projects that everyone wants to see. Um I know there is a discussion about the percentage um of the money flowing to New York is like a loan you know >> um is like a loan >> for a formula. >> It's a loan. It's not what you know. financing whereas you know DEC gives away money they just don't they just don't give it to us >> and so we will continue to place DEC to give us some of that funding um the other thing is that with the environmental bond act I did hear that we get how much is it >> 2.5% >> 2.5% um so we did get some of it and >> 2.5% of the >> D has received 2.5% of all distributed funds um so we'll continue to work on distributed to date. >> Yes. >> Right. Because there's still plenty of money left in there. So in terms of money that's been committed. Yeah. >> 45% the population the city that represents 45% of the population has gotten 2% of the money. >> Yes. >> This is your statement. >> Yes. That is the facts. >> What's that? >> Those are the facts. >> Right. Right. >> So like I said, we'll continue to work with this the >> Yeah. We should go to Albany with pitchforks. >> Yes. Yeah. see how that works. >> I'm I'm on that train with you. >> Okay, we'll we'll >> Yes, >> we'll do it. Yeah, I used to work at 625. >> I used to go up there. Well, I worked under Granth, so we I don't think we >> Yeah, I don't really, you know, he was he was right. He was in legislation then. He did that. Yeah. But that was I wasn't I was >> Yeah, >> I was Joe Martens. >> You were after that. Yeah. >> You know, Joe Martens and Basil. >> Yeah. Yeah. you know. >> Yeah. >> Um Joe is a great guy. >> So is Pete Granis and Basil. >> I just, you know, I know Joe a long time. I just said he's a great guy. >> Yeah. >> That's what I had to say about it. You know, >> people can infer what they wish >> about who I didn't mention. >> Yeah. And my committee council is like, "This guy is like, >> "Yeah, >> I get like I get paid to sit next to this guy." >> He's like, >> "I got to like work on my career." >> I went up there every Monday >> and worked out a region two the other days. >> Yeah, I worked out of region, too. With Steve's on >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Steve's great. >> He's he's there now still, right? Yeah. >> No, no, no. He he retired. >> Oh, he did retire. >> Retired. We still talk, but he's he's he's retired. >> His wife's still working. Dawn is still working. >> Oh, okay. Yeah, she's >> um Yeah, with the filtration cost avoidance. How about this? Um green infrastructure. What percentage of storm water is managed through green infrastructure versus traditional gray infrastructure? I know in the advent of cloud burst and all this other stuff, there's um I mean I have an interest in this because the council passed a >> we you know many years ago we passed a comprehensive storm water management plan bill which gave rise to the rain gardens and all that. Um and then more recently we did another um comprehensive sol management plan law that I think comports very nicely with um DP's you know plans to do that >> and so you know we're looking for >> um you know green infrastructure. Do you do you have the breakdown of you know >> um I don't have the percentage I have um >> versus green. >> Yeah. To date the green infrastructure we've implemented reduces 839 million gallons of um a year of combined sewer overflow. So the water we've also implemented green infrastructure in some of the MS4 areas for storm water quality treatment. Um I do not have the percentage but obviously the goal is to increase the green infrastructure while understanding we need the gray infrastructure that is just >> so the two building out and goest yeah it's essential to the work that we do >> right in terms of uh um are we in any are we in any trouble these days with regard to csos and not meeting the the um um requirements of consent orders, anything like that. We got we got money troubles from that. We got cso issues. >> We are always aiming to be in compliance with all of those regulations. >> And I and thank you. >> I always >> Yeah, I I always aim to open the door for my wife when we go go someplace, but it doesn't always happen, you know. Anybody got something on that? CSOS, are we okay? Anybody coming after us with pitchforks on CF CSOS? >> No, I think we're good. I mean, obviously, we're always talking to DEC, but yeah, >> we have dolphins in the >> We have dolphins in the harbor. >> What's that? >> We have dolphins in the harbor. >> That has >> Okay, I'll >> that has got to get us somewhere. >> I I No, the the dolphin thing is good, you know, but um >> I I I Does anybody know where we are with C? cuz we're always we're still under a consent order for CS. >> Oh, yeah. No. Yeah, we're still under the consent agree, >> right? But are we doing okay? >> Oh, Angela. Angela's here to save the day. >> Angela's here, but we are on track. We're working with our regulars and we're meeting targets. >> What's that? >> You don't have to swear Angela. I know her, >> you know. All right. She's gonna swear you. Yeah. >> Okay. She she's fine. She just swear the swear things. You got to do this. >> Hi. Thank you. Yep. Please raise your right hand. You did that. Do you affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth before this committee and to respond honestly to council member questions? >> I sure do. Okay. Thank you. Can you just state your name and title before you begin? Thank you. >> Of course. Angela, deputy commissioner for sustainability at the Department of Environmental Protection. Angela, pleasure to meet you and pleasure to see you again. We've known each other forever, but um CSOS. >> Yeah. So, CSOS, we as the commissioner was saying, we are under consent order and we had prepared 11 long-term control plans, >> right? >> And those spun out projects that we are in the midst of various stages of design and construction for those. two of the 11 water bodies we have modifications that have been submitted. So the status of those is that for a flushing bay cso tunnel we actually have increased uh substantially the size of the tunnel so that it can uh collect and store csos and also flood waters for increased resilience. Um that's the good news tunnel or is this like a retention tank? >> It's actually a tunnel. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, it's a large tunnel. Um, the bad side of that is that it will take us longer to do. So, that project's modification is under review by New York State DEEC. Now, um, we also submitted a modification for the Alley Creek Cso um, whereby we're taking on a better, bigger project. It's more expensive, but we think it um essentially follows along the naturebased solutions route um rather than just additional storage. So, we really like that project because it will separate storm sewers, reduce flooding, enhance the cso um treatment and capture. >> Okay. Yeah. >> And so, we're, you know, in >> good shape. >> Yeah. So, we're we're okay with the with with with with the state. God, there's so many uh Oh, I don't I don't think I want to get into that. Yeah. Because then that opens the door. Yeah. Yeah. I always like to leave my mic hot so people can hear what I'm telling my council, which is, I guess, no longer privileged, right? Um, Okay. So, um yeah, we put you through the mill, you know, long enough. >> There are more questions. Uh you know, to the extent that >> did you guys receive the questions beforehand? >> You did, right? Okay. And so, >> yeah. So if you want >> to the extent that we want answers to things that we didn't ask, you know, Tanvir as our financial policy person uh analyst will will u you know get those to the agency. >> Okay. >> Um little homework assignment just why not. Um >> yeah, we can definitely do that. >> But um yeah, we uh you know really appreciate you bringing the whole team out and giving us um you know uh you comprehensive answers and um we we look forward to um working with you as a new commissioner and the great team who we've known and work so well with for so long. So >> chair, we appreciate it. Thank you so much and for your patience as I come up to speed, but we definitely appreciate the partnership and look forward to continuing all the great work. >> Yeah, I I I like to be appreciated. You know, I be appreciated. >> I have issues from my childhood. I like to be appreciated. >> So, and we appreciate the staff, too. appreciate everyone. Yeah. >> Worthy of appreciation. I appreciate them. You know, >> I don't think they appreciate it. I mean, >> appreciate it. >> Who would appreciate me if they worked here, you know? >> Well, this was my first budget hearing, so thank you very much. >> Yeah, I wanted to make it, you know, have a nice experience. You, you know, get a good turnout. You know, it was great. The whole team here. >> Yep. Yep. Yep. We got Yeah, we got Yeah, it's just Yeah, >> you know, we aim to please. So, thank you very much. And um and with that, we'll have um um uh Tanvir call the first panel. I just have to Whoops. What are we doing? >> Thank you so much. >> Sure. Sure. Uh I I just have to take a um just a just a you know two-minute break and then and then I'm going to come back and call the first panel of uh of public testimony. Yeah, you bet. All right. Okay. Now, before we can call witnesses, I have to put some uh comments on the record. Uh I now open the hearing for public testimony. I remind members of the public that this is a formal government for formal government proceeding and that decorum shall be observed at all times. As such, members of the public shall remain silent at all times. The witness table is reserved for people who wish to testify. No video recording or photography is allowed from the witness table. Further, members of the public may not present audio or video recordings as testimony, but may submit transcripts of such recordings to the sergeant-at-arms for inclusion in the hearing record. Is that all I have to say or is that it more? If you wish to speak at today's hearing, please fill out an appearance card with the sergeant-at-arms and wait to be recognized. When recognized, you will have two minutes to speak on today's hearing topic, D's FY27 preliminary budget. I'll try to make that a soft two minutes because people have been waiting a long time and you wait for four hours and you you know um if you have a written statement or additional written testimony uh you wish you you wish to submit for the record please provide a copy of that testimony of the sergeant-at-arms. You may also email written testimony to testimony at council counil uh um testimony at councsil.nyc.gov. gov. Oh, okay. Um, within 72 hours of this hearing, audio and video recordings will not be accepted. Call the first panel. Okay. And the first panel, take a little sip. Um, we have uh um Eric Goldstein, Eric A. Goldstein uh from the Natural Resources Defense Council, Richard Lee, it looks like LEIG, Food and Water Watch, Aliyah, uh Sumro from Le Conservation Voters, who's going to yell at me about the U blood service line. You're not very good. Um, Pete Malinowski or something. Uh, Billion Oyster Project. Pete Malinowski. Okay. And, um, someone representing the Waterfront Alliance begins with a uh Tyler. Tyler, last name beginning with a T. People got to work on their penmanship. You know, yeah. Well, you know, that's not an order. It's just a, you know, a recommendation. You know, >> two minutes. >> Yeah, two minutes. But if you know what it is, I I'll when they get done, if I want to go back and ask questions and I I'll do that. It'll be it'd be kind of like a uh you know, like a soft two minutes. And so so let's uh um Oh, let me see what I got here. I have a No. Now, um Eric always works from notes. You just have notes, right? Okay. And so >> written statement tomorrow. >> Uh okay. So we'll go from my right to my left. We'll start with uh Eric a a veteran of this committee for well 36 years that I know of and before that because you were you know Brooklyn Navyyard 84 and all that that's you know >> I remember but I wasn't here you know and so um with that sendup you better you know really so um please commence your good testimony it's privilege to be with you again. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thanks for having us. Uh, I'm going to summarize my written testimony. As you know, of course, D plays an essential role in the daily functioning of New York City. Uh, although for the most part, uh, people are u not seeing their activities every day. They're um 24 of their critical facilities operate 247 365. uh their operating needs are considerable and their capital costs are enormous and so investing in the needed programs at D while also making sure that uh water rates are kept in check is a challenging proposition. Uh one area that should be protected from ill-advised funding reductions is the city's program to protect its unfiltered drinking water supply. As you know, um, at a cost of less than $3 billion over the past 30 years, the city has protected this downstate supply via cost-effective pollution prevention to save off the cost of building a plant that would be five to eight times more expensive and several hundred million uh, dollars a year in capital and operating costs. Uh among the activities that have been critical are funds for protecting uh essential watershed vulnerable watershed lands around particularly around Kensico West Branch and the terminal reservoirs Shoken and Rondout. Uh the city uh recently acquired a 48 acre parcel Legions of Christ right uh next to the Kensko reservoir and those kinds of programs need to continue. We need to make sure funding remains there for the most vulnerable parcels in uh high uh water quality uh um vulnerable lands. Uh and that going forward um that program and other critical programs continue uh we're not only protecting the water supply but saving uh taxpayers uh billions of dollars. Second area where the council must ensure sufficient funding is D's program to safeguard at risk neighborhoods from storm water flooding in southeast Queens and throughout the city. I'll just say that there was a 2024 study by the department on storm water needs. $30 billion was what they projected to safeguard 80 vulnerable neighborhoods. But at the current rate of spending, they think it'll take 30 years to get there. That's too long. We've got to make sure that funding is made available to implement these critical storm water protection programs because thanks to climate change, flooding is coming all the time, not just hurricane Sandy and things like that. Uh the entire city government, but especially D needs to be thinking 50 to 75 years down the line when it comes to making budget decisions. and the department uh for the department and the council to do that it means um planning now for the renewable Rikers project on that 415 acre island when incarceration ends there which is going to happen sooner or later uh that's a once in a-lifetime opportunity to build a showplace of sustainability with a modern wastewater treatment plant to replace uh the aging for sewage treatment plants in the region >> let me come back to you with questions on that Eric okay and so just just stay there just sit tight >> that's fine And finally, we urge the council in response to the mayor's preliminary budget. I'm sure you'll hear this from others to press for reduction in the so-called rental payment, $313 million. >> Yeah. >> And >> I'll come back to you. I'll give you, you know, because like that's how we'll do it. I mean, in this round, in this round, I'll come back to you. Otherwise, they're going to like, you know, they're going to Yeah. And so, >> thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, I'm just saying he's been sitting there for 40 years doing this, so he gets a little bit of a little bit of slack. >> Oh, okay. We're joined by Council Member Epstein. Very happy to have Harvey with us. And um um um yeah, the fun just keeps on coming. The fun just keeps on coming. >> Yes, sir. Please state your name and >> Okay. Yes. My name is Richard Lee. I uh am a physicist and an engineer and I've been working in climate change mitigation for 20 or 30 years in the New York City neighborhood and right now I am >> and you're with food and water watch right >> I am I am with food and water watch as of now I've been connected with quite a few other places right in the past um and I'll put a a short bio into my uh written statement so you can see that uh and I'm here uh on behalf of food and Water Watch and a variety of other um aligned uh small small uh uh groups uh to call for the creation of a new program which will be dirt cheap. Uh it's called heat pumps for all. And in the initial stages, which is all we're talking about, it would be only be $10 million a year. Uh and >> heat pumps for all. >> Sorry, >> did you say heat pumps for all? >> That's what >> Okay. I just want to make sure I heard it right. >> Yes, it's heats pump heat pumps for all. It is talking about using the whole city must become electrified. We have to stop burning, >> right? It's a little bit off topic for a budget hearing, but I know you're trying to tie it to like a cost thing. I'll give you a little latitude because you're all, you know, you've done so much for so many. So, please continue. >> I I I agree. It's not quite I mean it involves budget because it involves money but but we do we do think that it applies to the D because it implies air quality because all of the boilers and and furnaces running throughout New York City now are contributing to detriments to the air quality and converting to heat pumps will even today move the pollution out of New York City and some of it upstate and some of it uh cleared up by using by using uh car carbon and uh combustion free systems and as the state system gets cleaner and cleaner that'll be eliminating uh >> no go ahead I I I interrupted you so please go on a little longer as fast as I can. The point of this is to look around New York City where uh laws like local law 97 and no no new gas uh laws are making the city much cleaner. They are not addressing the needs of all of the one and two family homes that fill up the outer burrows and all of those buildings have got gas boilers and gas furnaces and they are all um getting older and falling apart. Uh I know about falling apart when you get older too. And and uh what h the worst thing that can happen when an old boiler falls apart in today's uh climate change situation is that the owner do the cheapest thing which is just replace it with another boiler. And so what we are suggesting is that the city should take steps that will make sure that instead of replacing it with an older boiler, that homeowner is in a position to convert to heat pumps. And of course, the problem is heat pumps cost more than a new than a replacement boiler. And so our proposal is that if the uh climate situation is sitting here saying you must get a heat pump and the homeowner is saying I can't afford a heat pump. We're hoping that the city can come in and say I'll help pay for the heat pump. And what we're proposing is that the city establish uh incentives of $10,000 for each home where the boiler is falling apart. they are in some sort of economic trouble and it's got to be replaced and uh and that that be available for up to a thousand homes uh in uh today's um transitory climate. It can serve as >> we we'd be very grateful to have your proposal on that. Do you have you know through through written testimony? >> Yes. Okay. And so >> we provided >> we appreciate that. This is, you know, hearings are for good ideas and thanks for bringing one forward. Appreciate that. >> Aliyah, am I saying that right? >> Aliyia. >> Alia. >> Yeah, close. >> No worries. Uh, good afternoon. My name is Aliyia Sumero and I'm the deputy director for New York City policy at the New York League of Conservation Voters. Thank you, Chair Chair Janeiro and members of the committee on environmental protection for the opportunity to testify. As our city experiences heat waves, extreme rainfall, flooding, droughts, and sea level rise, which disproportionately impacts vulnerable New Yorkers, local environmental leadership matters more than ever. With numerous fiscal challenges facing the city, including climate funding cuts at the federal level, NYCV stresses that the city must not lose sight of important climate deadlines and goals. It is imperative that we pass a city budget that is not only bold on climate but paves the path towards a just and equitable future. First, NYCV stands with you, council member, and with advocates calling on the Mandani administration and the city council to reject the water rental payment in this budget. The Adams administration reintroduced the full water rental payment in 2024, charging the water board more than 1.3 billion in rent over the four years to lease the water system from the city. This means that D's water rental, water payment revenue will be handed over to the city's general fund for nonwater related purposes instead of staying with D where they can direct it towards capital infrastructure projects. While the city has done this in the past, the general obligation bonds have been paid off. Therefore, NYCV and many others think this is a very poor policy decision, especially given the urgency of the climate crisis. Capital funding for water infrastructure is urgently needed to address critical storm water flooding uh support coastal resiliency, improve water quality, etc. So, diverting these funds are also making it hard for the city to access state funding, state clean water funding by sending the message that investing in clean water infrastructure is not something we value. So, we think the water rental payment is undermining that and we strongly encourage the council and the admin to reject this uh water rental payment. Next, um, and I've submitted longer written testimony. Uh, just wrapping up, uh, we support allocating long-term funding for the city's current portfolio of climate resilience, including green infrastructure, cloud burst management, blue belts. Um, and we also echo the rise to resilience coalition calling for the city to um, develop a five burough adaptation plan. Um, last thing, we really stress the importance of providing sufficient funding for D and MOCJ staffing because they're the ones who have to carry out all of these programs. Uh, so we look forward to working with you advocates and the admin uh to make this budget equitable and and uh bold on climate. >> Thank Thank you. Thank you. I'm going to come back to you as well on on that on that rental payment thing. So I got Eric then you. Yes. And what's your name again? >> Tyler. Yes. Tyler >> ready. >> Yeah. >> Great. Good afternoon, Chair Jaro and members of the committee. My name is Tyler Taba and I'm the director of policy and government affairs at the Waterfront Alliance. I'm here today to urge the city to make dedicated and baseline investments in the FY27 budget that move us past the era of one-off waterfront plans and projects and toward a more comprehensive and permanent framework for our coastline. I echo a lot of what was shared here by my colleagues on the panel already. I'll just state a couple of our budget priorities. longer testimony has been submitted written and I think in front of you. Um so starting with resilience, adaptation and preparedness, we desperately need to build capacity and stability for the agencies that are tasked with our physical defense. Waterfront Alliance supports a $2 billion budget for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Um and also specifically, we're calling for $15 million for the Bureau of Coastal Resilience within the Department of Environmental Protection. And I can get into the specifics of why that bureau is so important if that's helpful. Um, on the topic of D, we also urge the council and the city to reject the water rental payment, and we know that you've been a leader on this, and we strongly support your leadership. Instead, the city should be reallocating long-term funding for DP's current portfolio of climate resilience projects like the cloud burst management and blue belt programs and the green and other green infrastructure programs. Staffing capacity also has to be extended to New York City parks. And while this is not a parks hearing, nearly 30% of the total land that the parks department manages includes waterfront parks, beaches, and boardwalks. So given the waterfront committee, we also feel very strongly that parks are a critical first line of defense for resiliency, waterfronts, and environmental protection. And this adopted this um preliminary budget for parks is $33 million less than the FY26 adopted budget. And we we don't think that's acceptable. To ensure that our neighbors are also ready for the impacts of um that we can no longer avoid from climate change, we're we're requesting $2 million for NISM strengthening communities program and $1.2 million for expanding cooling center hours. And Waterfront Alliance will continue to call out this dark disparity in waterfront access where more than 800,000 New Yorkers live within a half mile of the waterfront but lack a public access point. The city must fund commitments made in the comprehensive waterfront plan to fix those issues of equity. and we specifically call for the completion of the 132nd Street Pier in the South Bronx. I have a couple of other things on maritime and working waterfronts, but those are also in our written testimony. Thank you for your time. Um, happy to work with you on any of these issues. >> Yeah, thank you, Tyler. Appreciate you and the waterfront. You the waterfronts alliance gave me my first environmental award when I had like a 32 inch waist and full head of black hair. It was like 20 something years ago. I got a life preserver. It said hero of the harbor. And they're like, I got this life preserver, you know, like you'd see on a ship, you know, the white one with the roping around it and stuff like that. >> That's right. We're still doing the Heroes of the Harbor, so we'll invite you to the to our next gala this fall. >> Yeah, I love to go to galls where I'm not being honored. Yeah, that's like that's what I Yeah, that's that's what I like. Yeah. Um, but getting back to Eric, um, I'm I'm I'm concerned about this Land Act thing because it's hard for me, you know, to get into the weeds on what a, you know, realistic um, mustd do, coste effective, um, strategy would because, you know, OM is just going to poo poo this. you know, if there's any way that that um NRDC could give us like a template of what we should be asking for, you know, I'll talk to the chair of the finance committee and and all the money that's on the table, you know, where if we, you know we you know, of course, I think D put a pretty good I don't want to call it spin, but a pretty good, you know, try to create an image of um of a kiggo that was going to serve us well in perpetuity. But um you know that that that's um um that real estate's really expensive and whatever you think you know like whatever NRDC thinks because you know they're going to say we're going to do land act whatever and you know it's just we're not we're not we're not working it as hard as you are. So we're sort of dependent upon, you know, what you and your organization and like-minded organizations believe would be, you know, very cost, you know, a a a critical way to save money like over the long term. Yeah. >> Because if we got to go down the road of this filtration plant, there's not enough money on the planet. Forget about like the lead replacement lines. I mean, you know, building this filtration plant or whatever and however long it's going to take to build it and the untold billions of dollars is just like we're forget it. You know, we just don't, you know, we shouldn't do that. So, what do you think? >> Well, we'll we'll give you some some additional information on that, but the the city has overall done a good job over these past 30 years, and that's why they've been able to save billions of dollars. Again, the estimate that you heard today, at least tens of millions, so 20 billion to build a new plant. Operating expenses of 300 to 400 million a year because it would consume vast amounts of energy to filter a billion gallons of water a day. And uh it it would be an enormous undertaking that would take at least 20 years according to the commissioner today. So it's cost effective. Even if ultimately 50 years from now the city has to filter perhaps some of its system, the pollution prevention activities that they do now will be money well invested and saved. And again, the the land acquisition program is just one piece of dozens of programs, but it's an important one. And the city has continued over the years to refine the characteristics of which lands it should acquire. So, it's really down now to the top priority lands around Kensico West Branch and the two terminal reservoirs right near the streams. It's it's not hundreds of millions of dollars. Uh it's maybe tens of millions of dollars a year. Uh we need to make sure that that money is in the budget. And also, since EPA is no longer doing the job it had historically done, we need to make sure it's incorporated into the next filtration avoidance determination. And >> so the council can be helpful there >> in uh down the line in months and a year from now as that plan develops. >> Now uh you know by the time we have our fad hearing it's going to like the budget's going to be adopted by then you know um but we still should have that here. So first >> because we're really looking >> for the for this next 10-year period. >> Yeah. I I I I think we need to um get something now so we can advocate that that go in the budget um and then we can you know talk long term when we have that >> great you know oversight hearing and yeah always great to see you. Yeah. >> Thank you for all your good work over the years >> over the decades. >> Yeah these years are adding up. Yeah these years are are adding up. And um from from this gentleman from Food and Water Wash, you're going to give me your heat pump idea, you know, just submit that, you know, so we can get the benefit of of of that um you know, the heat pump for the for the for the small, you know, for for for buildings that are not under local law 97 or anything like that. >> Yeah, there's one one number I didn't get in. There's about almost a million of these small buildings. Some of them are supervised. >> There was a >> Yeah. The the the the the most common or the most >> of all the of all the building types in New York City, the most common building type is is the single family home. >> Yeah. >> Is the most common. >> Yeah. >> It doesn't represent a big slice of the pie chart in terms of where people live, but that's Yeah. So my house is in that, you know, in that little now I feel like having pie. So I just did that to myself, you know, and uh Alia Alia. And so um and what's your name again? >> Tyler. And so you know, we want to build a coalition on this like rental payment thing. just speaking in all canandoandor I mean there's um you know there's I don't really see the I don't really think the mayor has a way out of not doing a rental payment this year. I I I just I just don't think so. We're talking about 10% property tax increase and you know so it's just um you know I I I I think it's gonna and and I think what's going to do what we need the coalition for is not to convince the mayor not to do it. Mayor doesn't even the mayor the mayor has never heard the words rental payment. He doesn't know what it means. His budget director, you know, is not telling him. So it's just like you know and so so this is all from this is all from OM but we but the coalition is for good guys you know people who who chair the um the New York State Senate and Assembly uh corporations committees. They're both from Queens. I know them both very well. And so you know I think we um have to make a move on them. I mean, I already did talk to them and one of them submitted a bill to me, but I've been involved with medical stuff or whatever. It's I don't think it's gonna But we got to get that to happen. Only that can take that away. Um, >> yeah. And then it's a question of also once we're looking at it the um there's taken away the budget payment, taking away the rental plan, but there's also um the reality that um you know they they created the regulated entity, the water utility, which is D. They're the regulated entity. The water board is the regulator and the water finance does what it does. Um but you know the you know the the water board has no independent staff. Um like the the you know executive director of the water board is a D deputy commissioner and the only place where they get information from is from D. So the regulator and the regulated entity are one in the same thing. I mean does that really work? you know, I mean, it's generally not healthy if that's if that's the case. And the head of the water the head of the water finance authority is the budget director. Okay. And so so the city budget director, you know, heads the water finance authority, you know, authorities is supposed to be so this is a long conversation as to what we can but but you know but the you know the rental payment has really like got to go and so we have to build a and they're going to want to do it like what the if I was in the state legislature chair of the corporations committee. So yeah, so I'm I'm I'm making things right for my constituents because their constituents live in New York City. Both of them they're not from, you know, Yates County, you know, they're from I made that up. I hope there is a Yates County. There actually is. We got a Wyoming county. >> All right. Okay. You know what's that? Okay. Okay. Yeah. And so yeah, my council's telling me to shut up. And so um so we we'll we'll do this. So this is a great panel. Good ideas. Looking forward to the stuff on the on the line. Harvey, do you have something? >> Yeah. You know what? We are in a bit of fiscal problem here in the city, right? So whatever you all can do to help us on the state level to talk about raising our income tax in New York City in the one house budgets both in the assembly and the senate. Both houses have proposed allowing the city to raise their income tax. um that's what's going to get us out of this fiscal crisis. You know, we're not going to be able to we're going to push from one agency to the other. It's not going to resolve it. So, I hope that all of you over the next two weeks before the April 1 deadline for the state budget will help us like loosen the belt a little of Albany to get us more resources because if that doesn't happen, none of this can happen. Uh, thank you, council member. Uh, former member of the state legislature who knows everything about Albany. Everything about Albany. Um, and no, I was going to say something else, but the council just tell me to shut up. And so, no one knows everything about Albany. I was I remember Dick Godfries last year after 52 years, he said, I just learned something about Albany. I'm like, if you learned after 50 years something new about Albany, the rest of us are really in trouble. >> Well, okay. Yeah. I want to thank this panel. Next panel. You gota Let's see if you can. >> Yeah. McKenzie uh Sherman. Uh it's almost like the former congressman Shyer. Uh um Shyman. from Riverkeeper. Uh Audi um Souy New York Lawyers. David Abru, Save the Sound. Jacob Franco. Wow, that is really good handwriting. New York School of Law Enforcement, Environmental Law Clinic. Where's Jacob? Okay. Oh, we're waiting on Jacob. So, we got Oh, how many slips do I have? >> I have five slips and three witnesses. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Um, Brendan Cheney, New York Housing Conference. And I got Okay, Bill. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. So, now we have four witnesses. I got testimony from for this panel. We got we got Riverkeeper testimony. Anyone else have have written testimony? I I'll save the sound. Yep, I got it right here. Okay. Did Jacob ever make it? Did >> Okay. No, I commented on your handwriting was very clear and so I I really did appreciate that. So, um, in honor of Jacob, we're going to flip it around. We're going to go from my left to my right. >> Oh, sorry. Oh. Oh, we we have we have a fifth uh panelist. Oh, right. Okay. Let me see those slips. >> Oh, was the one Yeah, it was what we're doing now. >> I always forget her name. >> What's her name? Issue panelist. Oh, okay. Yeah. All right. They're just ordering this the witness slip so I can see you hanging or you're going. Okay. Good. Good. Good. Um, what's this going? It's going that way. Right. Right. So, I'll start at the bottom, >> right? Okay. All right. Um Oh. So, who's on who's on the end? No, but I said we're going this way. >> Yeah. Oh, you're Jacob. No, no, you're Brendan. Okay, Brendan. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, Brendan, we're going to start from you. New York Housing Conference. Thanks for being here. Thanks for your patience. Appreciate it. >> All right. Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Brendan Cheney. I'm the director of policy and operations at the New York Housing Conference. We're a nonprofit affordable housing advocacy organization. I've submitted my written testimony, so I'm just going to summarize it here. >> Oh, it's I just want to make sure that they start the clock at a certain point, please. >> All right. Um, so we are concerned about distressed affordable housing where costs are higher than income. Uh, one of the contributing factors to this is the high cost of water rates, >> right? >> Um, and so over the past 5 years, water rates have increased by nearly 5% per year on average, including 8.5% in 2025. Um, according to UNHP, who's been a leading advocacy uh group around water rates for the past 30 years, they estimate that water payments will be $2,000 per unit per year by 2030. Uh, leaving affordable housing buildings over their head in water costs. >> Right. >> Um, given the extent of this stress in affordable housing, the following steps are needed to help control water rates. One, um, D and the water board need to maintain minimal water increases over the coming years. Um, two, the city must stop collecting the rental payment from the water board. We appreciate your advocacy on this. We fully support it. Um, and then three, expand the multif family water assistance program. So, increase the um per apartment credit to $500. It hasn't been increased since the program started and it's just at $250 now. So, 10 years ago was $ 250. It hasn't increased since then. Um, increase the budget to 100 million to serve a total of 200,000 apartments. right now the program is overenrolled and under uh underused. Um and then just two small regulatory things. Revise the regulatory agreement requirement to three years and then extend the renewal requirement from annual to multi-year just to make the program easier to use. Um thank you for your the opportunity to testify. Happy to answer. >> No, no, thank you. Thank you for that. Now, where is uh where where's Josh from my staff? Josh, you around? Okay. Um, yeah, just make sure you meet with uh Brendan uh once he steps off the panel because I'd like this in writing because I'm I'm going to be having a face tof face meeting with the commissioner and I'll just I'll just bring it up, you know, because all right, you know, if we're not going to do anything about the rental payment this year, we got to do something on the multi- everything he said. I I that I I want to walk that into the commissioner's office. I'll claim credit for it. I'm not going to mention him, you know, but um uh you know, I just that's what I'm going to do. So, I'm just like sorry. >> We'll stand behind you. >> Okay. Great. Great. Great. Great. Yes. Make sure you see Josh and Jacob. Jacob with the great writing. >> Thank you, Chair Jiro. Good afternoon. My name is Jacob Franco. I am a law student here at NYU as well as a member of the NRDC's environmental law clinic. This year, Mayor Mom Donnie has recommended a 13 $313 million rental payment from the city's rateayers back to the city's general fund. As you've spoken to and other members members of this panel, I would just like to reiterate a few points about how harmful this rental payment is to both rateayers as well as the D's operations. We had we got the chance to hear from Commissioner Garcia and her staff about the ongoing and planned infrastructure projects across the state that the D is implementing. All of these would be better served by the hundreds of millions of dollars that the city's rateayers are paying each year to the general fund. And additionally, as you noted, the rental payment concept is a tool that goes back to the 1980s when the city was in the midst of a financial crisis and established these independent agencies in order to >> make sure that the water system was self-sufficient. >> I was there >> as you mentioned. Um and ultimately this rental payment was a shrinking payment that paid outstanding uh city general debt and now it has become a ballooning payment that is continuing going forward and simply serves the city's general fund siphoning away from water resources while raising rates for rateayers. And again, as you know, this is a highly regressive form of the tax. The water board is required by law to implement rates that are equal to all of its operational costs as well as any rental payment request. But they're bound by law to hand over the rental payment if the mayor asked for it. >> Exactly. So, as the independent budget office has testified to, when the uh mayor raises rental payments, this ultimately is passed on to the consumer eventually. You've spoken to how drawing down the reserves can buffer that for a bit, but ultimately it will be felt by rateayers in a regressive manner. This is completely antithetical to this administration's number one priority, which is increasing affordability within the city. And as everyone on this panel has spoken to, would ask that when you go to the council, when the council responds to the mayor's preliminary budget, you make all efforts to reduce this payment FY27, you've spoken to the difficulties there, but going forward for the baseline and into FY30 where we have a planned $400 million rental payment to make all efforts to reduce and eliminate it by then. >> Yeah, I I I got to get that done. I'm getting older and I got to get that done. And so we have the rudiments of a coalition here that'll, you know, stand with us. But budget director is never not going to take a rental plan. It's like we have to take the ability away that they just can't do it, you know. Um, and only and only the state legislature can u can do that. But uh, you know, thank you, Jacob, for and so you so you so you prosecute cases under the supervision of of a of an attorney, right? Well, I work with >> I work with Mr. Goldstein at the NRDC as a member of the clinic, but this is ultimately a class. I'm not an employee of NRDC. I'm a student, >> right? But >> yeah, but but you work at the environmental law clinic, right? >> Yes. >> So, and what they do is they they bring people to court, right? >> Um it's a mix. Right now I'm participating in the clinic testifying in front of the city council on a harmful rental payment but also working on the Kensko Westchester County uh reservoir as well. >> You know just on your handwriting alone it's like you're my you're my guy you know thank you for your work with and working with Eric too. You're like forget about it. It's like yeah David Abru save the sound. >> Yes. Good afternoon. Um, excuse me. My name is David Brew and I'm the clean water advocacy specialist at Save the Sound. Thank you, Chair Jinaro, and of course, the Environmental Protection and Waterfront Committee for the opportunity to testify today. I'm testifying today in support of the Rise to Resilience Coalition, the Swim Coalition, and our shared budget priorities for climate resilience and clean water solutions that protect New York City and Long Island Sound. Save the Sound is a nonprofit organization working to protect and restore the entire Long Island Sound region. And New York City is closely tied to the westernmost portion of the Long Island Sound, encompassing parts of the Bronx and Queens. The waterways that make up the Western Arrows face significant water quality impairments that impact New Yorkers ability to safely access their local bodies of water. Our Lawn Island Sound report card provides science and datadriven grades for water quality in the open waters of the Long Island Sound. And every year since 2008, the open waters of the Western Arrows have received an F-grade. While there have been moderate improvements over time, climate change threatens to halt and potentially undo decades of progress. And furthermore, based on a three-year average of annual failure rates, wet weather fails in the westernmost region of the Sound combining Westchester County and New York City uh added up to 14.9% in 2020 to 2022 versus 20.8% in 2020 to 2024. So, a significant increase. Bold investment is needed to ensure that the hard work done by the city to improve water quality conditions is not undone. And with that, Save the Sound and our coalition partners recommend the following budget recommendations for fiscal year 27 to protect Long Island Sound and New York City. Many of these have been expanded upon already um by our allies today. Um and they're expanded in our written testimony. Uh the first is to fully fund the Department of Environmental Protection at 2 billion to address New York City's aging water infrastructure. The second and acknowledging the conversations that uh discussions that we had today reject the New York City waterboard rental payment and the fiscical year 27 budget and beyond. Third is to allocate long-term funding for the city's current portfolio of climate resilience projects such as the cloud burst management and blue belt program. >> Keep going. You got my attention. >> The fourth is to provide 4 million to provide to fully fund and implement the unified storm water rule. The fifth is to fully fund the mayor's office of climate environmental justice to complete the planning and engagement required to fulfill local laws 122 and 149 and develop the five burough adaptation plan. And with that, you know, I thank you for the opportunity to testify today and for your leadership in ensuring that New Yorkers have access to safe and swimable waters. >> Yeah. Thank you, David. And >> um uh you didn't mention I'm just curious. You you might know more than I do on this. Um, you know, the city has significant nitrogen nitrogen reduction efforts in any of their sushi plants that discharge um into the East River which goes into the Sound. Um, you know, how we doing on nitrogen reduction? Are we doing okay on that or >> Well, again, we've had moderate increases over time. There's still a long way to go to really address, you know, CSOS and storm water runoff which really drive that nitrogen pollution. Um, and we're in a predicament now that we're in that uh that point where we can take it to the next level and continue to reduce nitrogen or climate change could really be that barrier that blocks us from moving further. >> Now, I remember once upon a time, this is going back to like I forget he was with Eric probably knows him. Um, Mark Tedesco with the 58.5% reduction over X amount of years or whatever. >> Yes. >> Did that ever happen? Did we get the 58.5% reduction? >> I'm not quite sure right now on the levels that we're at now and I can follow up um after this panel. >> So Mark's retired now. >> Yes, recently. Yeah. >> Oh wow. Okay. Do you know him, Eric? Yeah. And so um who did he work for? >> EPA, Long Island Sound Partnership or previously an Sound Study. >> Oh, okay. Yeah, because he was like the guy for like a long time. >> Yes, he was. Um, yeah, I don't remember what I had for breakfast, but I remember Mark Tedesco's name, >> you know, >> left a good legacy behind. >> Yeah, he's he was Yeah, he was a good good guy. Uh, no, thank you. Thank you very uh do we have written testimony from you? >> Okay. >> Yes, I submitted. >> Oh, right. Here it is. Here it is. Here it is. Right. Thank you. Um, Audi, right? Is that right, Audi? Yes, that's right. >> Is that a nickname? >> Uh, it's a chosen name. >> Oh, a chosen name >> because my mother's name was Audrey. >> Oh, >> that's so friends would call her A or Audie sometimes. >> Yeah, I uh get questions about Audi Murphy a lot. Um the World War II fighter pilot. >> Audi Murphy's before my time, which is like >> Yeah. Um, yeah. I just thought maybe it was Audrey, but um, no, it's a nice happy name. So, um, yeah. So, uh, please commence with your good testimony. >> Thank you. Good afternoon. Um, I'm Audi Susi. I'm a staff attorney with the Environmental Justice Program at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. Our program works on a variety of communitydriven initiatives, but today I'd like to discuss the critical issue of sewer backups and flooding. Um, as I'm sure you're aware, sewer infra infrastructure in the city is becoming increasingly overwhelmed by intense rainfall because of climate change. Um, as noted in the mayor's management report, there were nearly 3,000 sewer backup complaints in the first four months of fiscal year 26, which is a 23% from the same period in fiscal year 25. Um, as you probably know, when sewers are full, sewage can back up into a home. It comes through showers, sinks, toilets, and basement drains. and communities in which the city has historically invested less money and resources disproportionately bear the burdens of this type of flooding and sewage backup. Um, sewer backups have become routine in some neighborhoods in Queens. The D reported 12,548 sewer backup complaints between fiscal years 20 and 24 and close of close to 5,000 of those 12,500 came from Queens residents as compared to fewer than 400 from man from Manhattan residents. Um, some of these communities, such as in South Jamaica, rely upon um failing shared private sewer lines that private developers installed decades ago. Um, and these are ongoing um legacies of the history of historic red lining. Um, one such neighborhood is in Southeast Queens on 106th Road and 107th Avenue. Residents there desperately need the city to provide what most residents in New York already have, a safe functioning public sewer line. In 2023, D assured residents that a fail that this failing shared private sewer line serving 20 homes would be replaced by a public line in two to three years, but we later heard through the Burough President's Office that that would be pushed back for years for unknown reasons. M >> um in the meantime, these residents continue to suffer with regular sewer backups whenever it rains. Um so we ask that the committee ensure that D has the funds that it needs to fund this and other critical capital projects. Um also it transparent communication with D has been an ongoing issue for our clients of these community members. Um, we're hopeful that with the passage of local law 70, which requires the D to create a dashboard communicating the status of D projects and local law 87, which creates a task force to require to report on the implementation of the Southeast Queens flooding adaptation plan. Um, that this will improve. Um, and I know in the past >> that was that was that was my law. That was my law. >> Yes. Which we appreciate. um and your office generously last fall um offered to assist us in trying to facilitate communication with the D. Um unfortunately probably due to the the transition that was not successful. Um but we are hoping that with the advent of a new administration um things will improve so that we can >> and also this commissioner is like very impressed with my detailed knowledge. So, it's just like she can't hide from me, you know, and she's very nice. So, I've heard nothing but great things about her sora today. And so, see Josh, my legislative director, if you turn right around and um that particular project, when I meet with the commissioner, I'll just ask her to do it. And another thing we did, um, we did also the, um, you know, there was areas of the city that have, uh, coastal water impacts that have always been the case when it comes to flooding and and backups and all that. Um and we just did another law recently I did the council did for um inland flooding areas from pluial you know like plu like not from you know not coastal flooding but rain flood >> and so so there's a whole set of maps now where um you know under this city of yes and basement apartments and whatnot where you can't have basement departments because uh they're more prone to that. >> And I did a law, I don't know what became of it, but um where people can get city assistance to get um um what's the technology called? Like like a >> like a backup valve. A backflow valves. Yeah, backflow valves. And so, yeah, that was like two years ago or something. And we can give you more information on that if you >> That would be great. >> You know, talk to Josh about he he can get that for you. >> I I don't know if they've drafted rules for it or what. You know, we just pass laws and we just go forward. You know, I mean, we don't get a chance to look back that much, but when it comes up, then I think of it and so we can we can do that. So Audi, thank you very much for your good testimony and um I think lawyers are great. I think lawyers are great, you know, >> more than others. Thank you. >> Most lawyers, you know. Um, yeah. I I I watched all of uh it was the two guys who were lawyers. It's big show. Suits. Suits. Yeah. And so, yeah, I'm almost a lawyer myself now watching that. What's that? >> I'm sure it isn't. I'm sure it isn't. People yelling and screaming at each other. I'm sure they just like you can't be worked up your whole life, you know. Um, Rivereper, we saved Riverkeeper. Uh, McKenzie and so, wow, we look forward to hearing from you. >> Thank you. My name is McKenzie Sherman and I'm the legal program intern at Riverkeeper. Thank you, Chair Janeiro, and members of the committee for your leadership and for the opportunity to testify today. I would also like to thank the staff of D for their dedication. >> Speak a little louder right into the mic. >> Sure. Um, so New York City is on the front lines of climate change while the city's critical infrastructure, water infrastructure systems require significant investment to maintain current levels of service and to meet the challenges posed by the changing climate. To provide needed leadership and address these challenges, we urged the council to support eight critical priorities in this year's budget. One, fully fund D at $2 billion, including $75 million to restore agency staffing and fill 800 vacancies. Two, reject the $313 million rental payment from the NYC Water Board. Three, allocate $10 million for D to complete the legislativelymandated comprehensive storm water master plan. Four, fund $4 million to support full implementation of the unified storm water rule. Five, fully fund the Bureau of Coastal Resiliency at $15 million for staffing, planning, and operations. Six, allocate $10 million for DECAST and D to complete the renewable Riker's master plan. Seven, fully fund Ashoken reservoir upgrades, including the Ashoken Headworks project and the supplemental EIS for muddy discharges into the lower Esopus Creek. And finally, eight fully fund to develop a five burough adaptation plan as required by local law 122 and 149. A $2 billion budget for D would fill gaps in agency funding from federal cuts and support critical infrastructure. The proposed increase in D's budget could be funded by eliminating the planned rental payment from the NYC water board. Today, we are faced with unprecedented attacks on climate mitigation and resiliency work from the federal government. We need bold leadership from the New York City Council and this administration to ensure that adequate funding and resources are provided to critical agencies to protect our communities and prepare our city for this climate reality. Thank you very much for your time today. >> Thank you very much. I've always enjoyed working with RiverKeeper and you make great suggestions. I I wasn't I made great recommend I wasn't aware that you know our our we we passed the law on the comprehensive storm water management plan but according to your according to your notes your testimony that that's not being fully funded. We should look at that like that was us you know. All right. So, she just made a note. So, we're good. And so, I want to thank this panel very much. Guys did a great job. >> And so, appreciate it. And whoever I told you Josh, you should, you know, see the folks out in the hall so we don't have a disruption. I mean you calling the next panel. Um uh looks like Syra uh oh Sierra Sierra I'm sorry uh National Clean Water Collective. Okay. Uh Christopher Houseman um representing field uh field something field form. Um Cecilia Ellis also uh New York lawyers in Nipberg and Alysia Guon, I don't know. Um, representing yourself. And so, good for you. And so, so now we're going to go from this way that way. So, and we'll see what um I have I've got testimony from the uh housing conference and from Alysia. And so, um uh Sierra, is that right? Oh, Sierra. Okay. But we're gonna So, what's your name? >> Oh, okay. So, we're going to start this way. We're going to go we're going to go that way. >> Okay, great. >> All right. >> Hi, thank you uh committee chair Jaro. Um I am Cecilia Ellis. I'm policy and communications manager with NIPER, the New York Public Interest Research Group. Um we work with college students and do research and advocacy. Um the largest student directed nonprofit nonpartisan group in the state. Um, I am thanking you for the opportunity to testify about the city budget in support of a program you heard about earlier, heat pumps for all, which addresses affordability and the climate crisis. Um, local law 97, as you know, covers large buildings and local law 154 covers new buildings, but there are no requirements for roughly 900,000 smaller existing buildings, 500,000 of which are 1 to two family homes. We want to urge the council to include a $10 million allocation in this year's budget for a program to pay the upfront costs of upgrading such homes to clean energy efficient heat pumps. Um it is paramount to the current moment that New York City moves boldly to shore up environmental protection efforts that are within our independent power such as prioritizing building decarbonization. An initial allocation of $10 million to implement a program starting in 2027 would bring heat pumps to a thousand homes at a $10,000 per unit subsidy. The city would then would be creating and championing a substantial affordability and union jobs program to upgrade small buildings to energy efficiency. We anticipate this program to be wildly popular and envision it growing from year to year to expand the number of homes that can benefit. The cost benefit savings are immediate for homeowners still dependent on oil boilers and a good investment in the long term for folks on the natural gas system. So, we urge the council to set up a $10 million initial allocation in the upcoming city budget to begin a program to upgrade a thousand homes in 2027. We also endorsed the funding call for green healthy schools investment in $2.2 billion for public school infrastructure upgrades. And we feel it was a mistake to not include $6.2 million funding for the community composting program. And we heard earlier um reference to um we feel that a an easy simple solution to climate resiliency which is critical for the long-term livability of New York City is installing absorbent and neighborhood cooling daylighting infrastructure such as bioailes. And so um particularly if the climate change super fund act is not held up in court, New York City will be on the hook for all of these bills associated with climate disaster. We in support increasing the funding for um daylighting beyond the current expected. >> Thank you. Really appreciate your good testimony. Thank you. >> You guys going have Okay. >> See you soon. >> And so uh uh yes sir. >> Hi, my name is Christopher Howerman. Uh I'm currently working at Field Form, a landscape design uh resilient studio uh specializing in distributed storm water management and drainage solutions that integrates smallcale infrastructure into thoughtful thoughtful climate responsive designs. Um we're very happy to allow you me to testify today and I'm also testifying on behalf of the Rise to Resilience Coalition and the Swim Coalition on their budget priorities for climate resilience and clean water solutions for New York City. We strongly urged uh the city budget to reflect the reality of climate change, that climate change is already here, and that critical investments in climate and clean water infrastructure are needed to ensure that New Yorkers are are prepared. New York City has witnessed firsthand the risks and impacts that climate change poses on our residents, infrastructure, and natural resources. Flooding events are the most common climate related hazard across the city, where nearly 14% of New Yorkers, which is about 1.3 million people, live within or adjacent to the 100red-year flood plane. Furthermore, an estimated 75,000 homes, which are worth about $3 billion in property value, face a 20% risk annually of storm water damage. Climate risks and impacts are no longer abstract or projections of the future. They are tangible and measurable. A key indicator is that in the last in the last four years, we've seen the five highest single hour rain events in the city. While these events will get worse and they are not completely avoidable, there are critical policy priorities um that can reduce the burden and their impacts on New Yorkers. In order to reduce the city's vulnerability to climate change, direct and bold action must be taken immediately. That starts with making critical investments in the city budget toward uh a more resilient and equitable healthy future. We're calling on the city council to focus on the following critical priorities for this year's budget. One, to fully uh fund the Department of Environmental Protection at 2 billion. um but to also restore their staffing to pre-COVID levels and to fill 800 vacancies currently at D. We also would like to uh reject the uh $313 million rental payment from the New York City waterboard and also provide 10 million for D to complete the the comprehensive stormwater uh master plan. Um this also uh also $4 million to fully implement the unified stormwater rule. Um thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. And just give me a second before you be I have to There's this little I don't want to interrupt you while I'm doing this. This is mildly embarrassing. Something I take in my stomach. It's long. Sorry. These little pouches, you know. When you roll, you get away with stuff like this. It's like nobody cares. It's just like, yeah, whatever. At least he's still sitting upright, you know. Cough, pity, he falls over, you know. Damn, we all got to get involved. Whatever. Nobody wants that. Although the sergeants would Yeah, the sergeants would take care of me. Yeah, please. >> All right. Good afternoon. >> Yeah, you gota >> Okay. All right. Good afternoon, uh, Chair um, Jinaro, members of the committee. My name is Sierra Scott. um the founder and executive chairman of the National Clean Water Collective. I do thank you uh for the opportunity to share my testimony and testify. Um I'm here in support of the Rise to Resilience Coalition and to emphasize a critical gap in our current climate and infrastructure investments, which is community level uh water safety. At the National Clean Water Collective, uh we work directly in communities. Uh we started in Flint, Michigan by the way, even though I live here. Uh but we work directly in communities uh providing water education, testing and sampling and implementation and pipe replacements uh and water filtration systems um in areas where residents are already at at risk. Uh what we are seeing is clear um its aging infrastructure. uh environmental exposure and limited access to testing um are leaving communities without uh real um uh time information about the quality of their water. Uh, in New York City, buildings um constructed before 1961 um may still have lead service lines or plumbing um components um with the highest risk in older housing stock uh making community uh based testing, education and filtration systems point of use uh which is on the tap uh essential excuse me guys uh where am I at? Essential to protecting public health. uh climate resilience cannot stop at large-scale infrastructure. Um it must include what is happening at the tap. Uh and we are urging that the council uh to allocate fund allocate funding for community-based water testing programs uh public education and point of use filtration systems in high-risk neighborhoods. Uh these are cost-effective immediate interventions that protect public health while larger infrastructure projects are underway. Uh we also encourage the city to partner with organizations like ourselves like myself um and the work that we're doing uh sorry just uh with organization already doing the work to expand um reach improve data collection and ensure resources are reaching the communities that need it most. If we are serious about resilience uh we must ensure that every New Yorker has access to safe, reliable and trusted water. Um, I thank you for your time, commitment to protecting New Yorkers. Um, we look forward to working in partnership to ensure that every community has access to safe, reliable water. >> Thank you very much. It was great testimony. We appreciate it. Make sure we have our copy of it. >> Yes, we'll do. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> And finally, >> you're good. >> Hi. Um, good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name is Alisa Gri and I am an artist, professor, writer and lifelong Bronxite, daughter of immigrants from the Dominican Republic and a parent raising a family in an unforgiving economy. I'm also a community gardener deeply committed in to the future of New York City's green spaces. I remember Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina and many of our young people do not. But those events remind us how quickly climate disaster becomes a lived reality. During the pandemic, I collaborated with other black and brown women, queer gardeners, artists, and organizers in Kingsbridge to transform an abandoned park into a space for grieving, healing, and learning. As food aparttheid deepened, we partnered with city harvest and organized mutual aid, distributing culturally relevant food, PPE, and education while restoring land and supporting public health. The parks department eventually shut down our garden and that experience showed me how vulnerable these spaces are and how essential collective advocacy is. Community gardens rooted in movements of the 1970s have long been acts of survival, stewardship, and community governance. Today, they remain vital climate infrastructure, absorbing water, cooling neighborhoods, and sustaining community life. I'm proposing a percent for green policy modeled after local law 65 percent for art to allocate a small percentage of publicly funded construction budgets towards community gardens, bioailes, trees, and local stewardship networks. These spaces are not amenities, they are essential climate infrastructure. New Yorkers and EJ communities have been doing this work for decades and we just haven't funded it yet. Environmental justice is not abstract. It is about whether our buses run, our neighborhoods flood, and our children can breathe clean air. Investing in green space is climate protection. How much we love this city will be measured by how much we protect the land and the communities that sustain it. Thank you very much and I look forward to talking to you. >> Yeah, thank you. And and you know, to the extent that you have like a an outline for your proposal, we'd appreciate receiving that. >> Sure. Absolutely. >> That'd be great. That'd be great. >> And so, uh, what's that? >> Oh, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine. Okay. All right. I I really thank this panel. I And we're going to go to, uh, remote. Um, but I I have to just step out for a second, but, you know, we really appreciate your good testimony and your patience for waiting all this time. Hope it was. Yeah, we really appreciate that. We'll now turn to remote testimony. Once your name is called, the member of our staff will unmute you and the sergeant-at-arms will give you the go-ahad to begin. Please wait for the sergeant to announce that you may begin before delivering your testimony and then Okay. And the first witness is uh Chanty Young. We look forward to your good testimony. >> You may begin. >> Hello. Good afternoon. Um, my name is Chant Young and I am the coordinator of the Harlem River Coalition and a board member of the Bronx Council for Environmental Quality. Thank you, chairperson Janeiro and members of committee for your leadership and the opportunity to testify today. I'm testifying today in support of the Rise to Resilience Coalition and the Swim Coalition and for the budget priorities for climate resilience and clean water solutions for New York City. The Bronx Council for Environmental Quality is the oldest environmental organization in the Burough of the Bronx and is a founding member of the Harlem River Coalition. The Harlem River Coalition represents groups on both sides of the Harlem River in the Bronx and upper Manhattan and has been working to reconnect community members to the Harlem River, improve water quality, and advocate for greenway development and onwater recreational programs. The Harlem River unfortunately remains the body of water in New York State with the largest number of combined sewage overflows of any body of water. Crucially, the Harlem River quality continues to suffer due to sewage contamination during large rain events, and investing in comprehensive green infrastructure solutions is essential to capture storm runoff, reduce CSO discharges, and ultimately make the Harlem River safe for recreational and ecological health. The Harlem River Coalition and BCQ strongly urged city this budget to reflect the reality that climate change is already here and that critical investments in climate and green water infrastructure are needed to ensure that New Yorkers are prepared. the Harlem River Coalition and BCQ. I'm sorry. Sorry. Okay. Um, New York City has witnessed firsthand the risks and impact that climate change poses to our residents infrastructure and natural resources. Flooding events are most common climate related hazard throughout the >> No worries. I'll submit my testimony. Sorry about that. >> No, no. Uh uh uh no problem whatsoever. We really appreciate your uh uh um waiting to testify and giving us the benefit of your views. Next witness um Eric Eisenberg. Eric Eisenberg, you may begin. >> Thank you. Um pulling up my notes here. Um I'm here today um on behalf of myself, but I'm also a member of the New York Clean Air Collective. um to advocate for an additional$1 to2 million dollars a year um specifically for um the D's idling unit. Um I was heartened to see the commissioner today mention several times the importance of uh combating truck idling in our city. Uh it's a major source of air pollution uh which kills people which causes health events. Um and it and I'm also heartened to see that in the mayor's preliminary budget um there's already a significant additional allocation. Um and this was funded by its own revenues. So this is a self-funding program and putting another 1 to two million in would actually be beneficial uh for the city's coffers. Um right now there are significant delays in ticket issuance which is really unfair to the truck companies that that get these tickets. um they may uh if a citizen submits a complaint, it may take a year for the D to issue a ticket and that um that simply needs to be sped up through additional D resources, additional D full-time equivalent positions. Um and we need that's why I'm suggesting an additional 1 to two million more towards that. Um currently due to the lack of resources, D has been taking a number of shortcuts. um they've been refusing to issue tickets to full-size box trucks that uh happen to illegally use passenger plates um just to cut down on their workload. That shouldn't happen. We shouldn't be encouraging loopholes. We need the funding to do things right. Um another very problematic shortcut is the D has been uh refusing to take complaints in foreign languages like French, Spanish, patient creole, Chinese. Uh everybody deserves clean air. That's in our constitution. um and providing the resources for the D to review these uh foreign language complaints from our immigrant communities. >> Thank you. Your time is fire, sir. >> is um is vital. Thank you. >> Thank you very much for your good testimony. We are working on that issue. I'll be working with the commissioner on that. Thank you for um advocating for u common sense with regard to idling and um making our air cleaner. Appreciate you being here with us. >> Thank you. And next witness, uh, Michelle, looks like Lubkey. Michelle Lubkey, you may begin. >> Wait, can I begin now? Sorry, I wasn't unmuted. >> You may begin. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, good afternoon. My name is Michelle Lupkkey and I'm the program manager for the Stormwater Infrastructure Matters or SWIM Coalition. Thank you, Chair Jaro and the committee for the opportunity to deliver public testimony on the Swim Coalition's recommendations, excuse me, for the preliminary budget hearings. On behalf of our more than 70 member organizations, many of whom you have heard from today. The Swim Coalition has long advocated for more sustainable, resilient storm water management as effects from climate change challenge and often overwhelm our current sewer systems. The Swim Coalition, the Rise to Resilience Coalition, and our member groups strongly urge the city's budget reflect the current reality of climate change, which already affects millions of New York City residents today. Specifically, the New York uh the the swim coalition recommends the following priorities in the fiscal 27 budget. Uh most importantly, we encourage rejection of the water rental payment. Funds paid by a rateayer should be used by D, not put into the general fund. I've already talked to Josh about that, so I'm on your list. Next, we strongly urged the city council to allocate $4 million for D staff to fully implement the unified storm water rule, which is imperative given the priority of affordable residential development. Affordability should not come at the cost of clean water. The Swim Coalition supports investment in nature-based green infrastructure solutions, including DP's Cloudburst program and blue belt programs that manage large amounts of storm water. Additionally, we are advocating for adequate funding for D to fully staff their Bureau for Coastal Resilience, long-term funding for climate related resilience projects, and full funding of the mayor's office of climate and environmental justice to develop a five burrow adaptation plan among their other important roles. Thank you for this opportunity to testify. Our more extensive written comments will be submitted later. As always, the Swim Coalition looks forward to partnering with the city council to advance any and all of these recommendations and initiatives, and I'm happy to discuss any or all of these items in more detail with you at any point. >> Thank you so much, Michelle. I I I really appreciate you and the Swim Coalition for really giving us good, concise, um, you know, um, testimony that's practical and implementable. And so, um, uh, we really appreciate, um, you know, the advocacy and the help. We could use it. Have a good day. Appreciate it. Right. Bye-bye. >> And, uh, next we have Michael Streer. Michael Streer, you may begin. >> Hi, my name is Michael Streer. I'm a member of the uh, New York Clean Air Collective, but I'm speaking on my uh, my own behalf. Uh, I've been dialing into these budget hearings for for a few years now and I'm uh always asking for the same thing. I'm a participant in the D's citizen air complaint program. Uh, uh, but I'm also a champion and advocate uh recruiter cheerleader whatever whatever you want to call it. Um, I was very, uh, pleased to hear the commissioner's comments about bringing on new staff to handle handle the backlog of island complaints uh, submitted by New Yorkers, but we need we need more people on boarded immediately. the the program is behind on over a 100,000 complaints going back as far as uh almost a year. Uh it's critical that the city dig itself out of this hole. Uh I suggest bringing on more staff, offering competitive salaries and also increasing the salaries of current inspectors who do an outstanding job in reviewing complaints and representing them at oath hearings. Um, and really prioriti prioritize this because it if a if a company breaks the law, it shouldn't take nearly a year for them to to get the summons. Um, getting the summons in the mail as a feedback loop. It tells violators to stop idling or or else you get more uh tickets and then that hopefully causes them to to stress their staff that they need to reduce idling. Uh, and generally that's what happens. Um, I mean, and it works. Uh but this backlog really undermines the overall impact and potential of the program when summones aren't hitting mill boxes for close to a year. Uh so the the backlog really needs to be addressed uh in order for the program to have as much of an impact on air quality as possible while at the same time being fair to respondents who should not be getting their uh summones uh nearly a year after their violation. Uh so getting more staff uh to turn around complaints faster really is critical. Uh the program raises tens of millions of dollars each year. So uh an investment of 1 to2 million uh it essentially funds itself. Um >> everybody and committee chair Janeiro, thank you for your leadership. >> Uh uh thank you Michael. We really appreciate uh uh those who are working with us to try to figure this out. I was also pleased to hear what the commissioner said about uh the allocation of um increased resources to that vital service and uh let's get this done. Let's let's get it resolved. Let's get the idling to end. Let's get it all done. and we couldn't do that without you and we really appreciate you and uh uh you know like-minded people who want to make a difference and um so good for you for that and I'm sure we'll be seeing you real soon and have a good rest of your of your day. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Finally, if we advertently missed anyone who registered to testify today and has yet to be called, please use the Zoom raise hand function. If you are testifying remotely and you'll be called in the order that your hand has been raised, if you are testifying in person, please come to the deis. Seeing no one hearing no one I will now close the hearing. Uh thank you to the members of the administration, members of the public who have joined us today this hearing. Well almost um yeah I'm going take a little item of personal privilege and first of all I want to thank all the staff uh you know particularly Tanvir who did such a great job in putting together all of the all of the materials. um that um almost ran the ink out of my printer. Yes. last night when I was printing them all out and for all the staff and um um and my own legislative director and also as uh you know everyone on staff here knows uh um yesterday was the uh you know 10-y year anniversary of the passing of my late wife, my late sainted wife and uh I dedicate my efforts in today's hearing to her memory. And with that,