BILL NUMBER: S7870
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to require the commissioner of the parks and recreation depart-
ment in New York city to create a formal publicly-available application
process for sole-source concession agreements
 
PURPOSE:
To bring greater transparency, accessibility, and accountability to the
process by which the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation enters into
sole-source concession agreements with not-for-profit organizations.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Requires the commissioner of the NYC Department of Parks and
Recreation to establish a formal and publicly available application
process for sole-source concession agreements within six months of
enactment. It sets deadlines for city responses, outlines a three-year
negotiation timeline, and permits independent arbitration if the city
fails to act in a timely manner.
Section 2. Outlines enforcement mechanisms. If the city fails to respond
to an application within 180 days or does not complete negotiations
within three years, independent arbitration is authorized to generate a
binding agreement.
Section 3. Requires that any awarded concessionaire maintain insurance
and indemnify the city.
Section 4: Effective date
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, the process for initiating sole-source concession agreements
with the NYC Parks Department lacks transparency and consistency, often
disadvantaging community-based not-for-profit organizations that offer
valuable public programming. These organizations, which provide
cultural, environmental, educational, and recreational services, deserve
a clear and equitable pathway to partner with the city.
This legislation will streamline the process, provide consistent bench-
marks, and protect applicants from unnecessary delays or arbitrary
denials. The inclusion of an independent arbitration mechanism ensures
fairness and timeliness, while still preserving the city's oversight and
approval authority via the Franchise and Concession Review Committee.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.