DEP memo on PR firm hiring and FEMA reimbursement coordination,

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Avaltroni, Robert From: Hoffer, Mark Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 7:21 PM To: '[email protected]' Co: Avaltroni, Robert Subject: Downtown Manhattan - MOU - Public Relations Laurel:

Chris Ward asked me to reach out to you on an issue relating to Downtown Manhattan; specifically, the Deputy Mayor's desire to hire a public relations firm, to communicate progress on environmental quality efforts we are undertaking in the area. I understand there has been discussion about hiring this firm through EDC. I've had two long conversations with Dan Muller (who has also spoken with Len Wasserman), and we all agree this is do-able through a supplement to the standing DBS/EDC contract.

DEP comes into the picture because I understand that FEMA will reimburse the City for some portion of the costs associated with the p.r. firm's work, and there is a view that DEP, which already has a working relationship with FEMA, would be the best party to handle the reimbursement requests.

Since FEMA will presumably want to see something formalizing DEP's role, I discussed with Dan the possibility of an MOD between DBS and DEP, in which DBS agrees to go out and direct EDC to hire the p.r. firm, and we agree to take invoices and back-up and process reimbursement requests to FEMA (since EDC would presumably front the costs, the FEMA money would flow back through us to either EDC, or DBS, as the City wishes). Dan sees no reason why this could not be done.

In the interest of advancing the ball and at my Commissioner's direction. I've taken a shot at drafting a short and straightforward MOU, a copy of which is attached for your review. I'm not sure how you wish to proceed, but I would think that Len Wasserman (an old friend and colleague) and/or counsel to EDC would want to review this. Obviously, I want to know whether you think this is what everyone has in mind. I'm also sending a copy of this e-mail to Bob Avaltroni, our Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Compliance, with a request that he review the draft as well (Bob has not seen it yet and I'm sending it to you both simultaneously, again to save time).

Please let me know If you have comments or corrections, or if you envision something different. Again, our only role here (as I understand it) is to process reimbursement requests to FEMA.

dbsmou.wpd

NYC-WTC_000161228