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Chair Jennifer Gutiérrez introduces bill on 311 resources for tree pruning requests
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110 sec
Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, chair of the committee on technology, opens the meeting by introducing Introduction 978-A, a bill requiring the 311 customer service center to provide resources for tree pruning-related requests. She provides context on the importance of tree maintenance in New York City and explains the bill's aim to improve public access to tree maintenance information.
- The bill is sponsored by Council Member Williams and focuses on enhancing 311 services for tree-related inquiries.
- Gutiérrez highlights that NYC has approximately 7 million trees under the Department of Parks and Recreation's jurisdiction.
- She acknowledges the committee staff and other council members involved in the process.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
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Thank you.
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Good morning.
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I'm council member Jennifer Gutierrez, chair of the committee on technology.
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Today, we'll be voting on the super majority bill intro nine seventy eight a sponsored by council member doctor council member Williams in relation to requiring the three one one customer service center to provide certain resources in response to tree pruning related requests.
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There are approximately 7,000,000 trees in New York City.
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All trees growing in the public right of way along streets and in parks playgrounds are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and Recreation.
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As part of their services, the department prunes trees, removes dead trees and wood debris, reviews building development plans for their possible effect on nearby trees, and response to storms and other emergencies.
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The public plays a key role in helping the department identify trees in need of maintenance by submitting service requests through the 311 system.
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Between 2020 and 2024, over a 30,000 three one one service requests for dying trees, illegal tree damage, or overgrown branches were submitted.
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This bill would require 311 in coordination with the Department of Parks to provide tree pruning related callers with links to the parks department's map, pruning schedules, informational web pages, and any available resources on volunteer street tree pruning certification, there by improving public access to tree maintenance information and encouraging greater community involvement in urban tree care.
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This committee heard the bill on 02/19/2025 and received and has evaluated testimonies from the administration.
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I would like to thank the technology committee staff, our policy analyst, Eric Brown, legislative counsel, Irene Bayofsky, and my chief of staff, Anja Lair, for their work on this bill.
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I'd also like to recognize our tech committee members, council members, Bob Holden, Vicky Paladino, and Eric Bacher.