Council also voted on legislation to preserve cap on fees restaurants are charged by delivery apps
The New York City Council voted to require the Department of Parks and Recreation to develop a plan for the prevention and mitigation of wildfires in New York City Parks. New York City’s parks, greenways, and natural areas are increasingly vulnerable to brush fires, especially during extended dry spells. With over 30,000 areas of parkland, representing 14% of the City’s total land areas, the risk to these green spaces is significant. In just the first two weeks of November 2024, the FDNY responded to a record-breaking 271 fires across the city, the highest number ever recorded in such a short timeframe.
The Council also voted to preserve a COVID-era law capping the fees that restaurants can be charged by delivery apps, ensuring these protections for the City’s small businesses continue while allowing them to purchase additional services from third-party delivery apps.
“As prolonged dry spells continue to put our city’s parks and green spaces at risk of wildfires, we must continue to take proactive measures to protect our city,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The Council is proud to pass legislation requiring the Parks Department to develop a meaningful plan to safeguard our parks against wildfires.
“To support our small businesses, the Council is taking a critical step to preserve the cap on the fees that restaurants can be charged by third-party delivery apps,” added Speaker Adams. “The Council previously enacted this law during the pandemic, and is ensuring New York City remains one of few cities to maintain this important policy. I thank my Council colleagues for their work to advance these important bills.”
Requiring a Strategic Plan to Mitigate Wildfires in City Parks
Introduction 1185-A, sponsored by Council Member Shekar Krishnan, would require the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to develop a strategic plan to mitigate the occurrences of wildfires in New York City’s parks by March 1, 2026. The plan would have to be posted on DPR’s website and updated regularly. This bill would also require DPR to report annually on wildfires that occur in parks under its jurisdiction.
Preserving Limits on Fees Delivery Apps Can Charge Restaurants
The COVID-19 pandemic drove rapid and significant growth in food delivery services, but high fees charged by food delivery apps placed significant financial strain on restaurants, especially for small businesses. In response, the Council enacted legislation capping the fees that delivery platforms can charge. While this law provided critical relief, New York City is one of the last of the more than 100 cities that enacted the policy to keep it after the pandemic and lawsuits by delivery app companies. These legal challenges threatened the viability of the protections for restaurants.
The following legislation preserves the existing fee caps, while allowing delivery apps to offer additional optional services for additional, limited fees. It allows restaurants to avoid mandatory, exorbitant fees and instead opt into enhanced services, such as marketing efforts by the apps on behalf of the restaurant, in exchange for a higher fee. The bill also establishes strong protections for those who do not opt in, by clearly defining the basic services that must remain subject to capped rates.
Introduction 762-B, sponsored by Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr., would maintain limits on the fees that third-party delivery services can charge restaurants, while allowing apps to provide optional enhanced services for an additional fee of 20 percent. It would only permit charging an enhanced service fee, however, if the delivery service also offers the option to purchase a basic service plan at a cost no higher than the current fee limits that includes delivery services and being listed and discoverable on the third-party platform.
“Intro 762-B is a long-overdue compromise that serves as a major win for local restaurants and consumers, and is the result of extensive negotiations that ensured small, independent restaurants’ voices were heard and their needs met,” stated Council Member Rafael Salamanca. ‘This legislation ensures that our restaurants can continue to benefit from a strong cap on basic delivery fees, while also giving them an option to opt into enhanced services. Intro 762-B also institutes the strongest food delivery commission cap of its kind in the country. Securing passage of 762-B ends a protracted legal battle between delivery apps and the city that could’ve placed a significant financial burden on the city and taxpayers and led to unintended consequences for restaurants and the countless New Yorkers who utilize third party delivery apps.”
Tracking Student Access to School Libraries and Librarians
Introduction 1125-A, sponsored by Council Member Lincoln Restler, would require the Department of Education to report annually the number of licensed and non-licensed school librarians at each school, the number of school libraries, and other data related to student access to library staff and facilities, including compliance with state staffing requirements.
Annually Auditing Contract Awards to Minority and Women Business Enterprises
Introduction 23-A, sponsored by Majority Whip Selvena Brooks-Powers, would require the City Comptroller to publish an annual report that indicates the total share of City procurement contracts that were awarded to minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE’s) for the most recent fiscal year. The report would include information regarding the contract value, awarding agency, and demographics of the MWBEs.
Requiring Taxis and For-Hire Vehicles to Display Signs for Passengers to Look Out for Cyclists
Introduction 193-A, sponsored by Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, would require all taxis and for-hire vehicles to prominently display a sign on all rear passenger doors warning passengers to look for cyclists before opening the door. The signs would be provided to drivers and vehicle owners at no cost by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC).
Designating May 10 as Chinese American Railroad Worker Memorial Day
Resolution 844, sponsored by Council Member Susan Zhuang, would recognize May 10th annually as Chinese American Railroad Workers Memorial Day in New York City. Nearly 12,000 Chinese immigrants were employed by the Central Pacific Railroad Company to build a transcontinental railroad. Nearly 1,200 Chinese railroad workers died from accidents, avalanches, and explosions during this work.
Recognizing Life, Legacy and Achievements of Judith Jamison
Resolution 741, sponsored by Council Member Carlina Rivera, would designate May 10th annually as Judith Jamison Day in the City of New York to honor her life and legacy as a dancer, choreographer, and longtime artistic director of the groundbreaking Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Supporting the Equity in Fertility Treatment Act
Resolution 165-B, sponsored by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, would call on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.5545/A.885, the Equity in Fertility Treatment Act.
Calling for State Legislation to Cap the Cost of Routine Medical Procedures
Resolution 822-A, sponsored by Council Member Lynn Schulman, would call on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.705/A.2140, which would cap the amount people pay for non-complicated, routine medical procedures at 150% of the cost paid by Medicare for those same services.
Land Use:
102-51 Queens Boulevard Rezoning – a private application to facilitate a new 17-story, mixed-use building with approximately 216 residential units, 54 of which will be permanently affordable under Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH), in Council Member Lynn Schulman’s district.
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