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Q&A
Bioretention systems: Installation numbers and maintenance responsibilities
1:36:54
·
125 sec
Council Member Avilés inquires about the number of bioretention systems installed and their maintenance. Deputy Commissioner Angela Licata provides information on installation numbers and explains DEP's role in maintaining these assets.
- Approximately 2,400 bioretention assets were installed in the past year
- The total number of bioretention assets citywide is now about 16,000
- DEP is responsible for maintaining these assets
- DEP has about 60 staff members dedicated to maintenance, with plans to add 25 seasonal workers
- The department is working on developing specialized equipment to maintain various types of green infrastructure
- DEP aims to create a robust toolbox of solutions that can be customized for different neighborhoods across the city
Alexa Avilés
1:36:54
So just really quickly, in terms of, I think huge huge supporters certainly of nature based solutions, so thank you for all the work that you all have managed to deploy throughout the city.
1:37:09
Obviously, it's really critical for the future of our city regarding climate change.
1:37:14
But in in terms of the the bio retention systems that were installed, like how many were installed over the last year?
Angela Licata
1:37:25
It was in my testimony.
1:37:26
Think we said 2,400 assets this past year.
Alexa Avilés
1:37:30
And that's across the city, right?
Kristy Marmorato
1:37:32
Yeah.
Alexa Avilés
1:37:33
Okay.
Angela Licata
1:37:39
And that's a total of about 16,000 now.
Alexa Avilés
1:37:43
Got it.
1:37:44
And I think you probably covered this as well.
1:37:47
In terms of, you know, I guess managing those assets in terms of cleaning and doing all of that.
1:37:53
Is that a DEP function or is that shared with another agency?
Angela Licata
1:37:57
It is a DEP function, and we've been working very hard to develop crews as the assets come online that can do the maintenance that is required.
1:38:10
And we were discussing earlier that we have about 60 staff or so that are online now.
1:38:17
We have another 25 seasonals that were approved by OMB.
1:38:22
We have eight of those in the pipeline.
1:38:24
We need to get them onboarded as quickly as possible.
1:38:28
And so we feel that we're well resourced.
1:38:32
Of course, we need specialty equipment as well now because we have increased our typology.
1:38:38
The goal is to develop a toolbox that is as robust as possible so that we can customize the fit when we're in the landscape in New York City.
1:38:49
As we know, our neighborhoods are very different.
1:38:52
The areas in what you can fit in comfortably within a community, what a community will accept really varies across the city.