Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, January 11, 2010

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 35 items on the original agenda. One additional item was submitted during the meeting. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, January 25, 2009 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall. The next public hearing will be Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 7 PM.

This Review consists of two sections: Items of Special Interest and Action on All Agenda Items. The City’s official listing of actions taken on all items on this agenda can be found online at: http://www.hartford.gov/government/Town&CityClerk/Minutes/council_meeting_minutes.htm  

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Day Care Center - The Council referred to its Operations, Management & Budget Committee, a resolution authorizing the City to lease space at the Wilson-Grey Youth and Family YMCA, at 444 Albany Avenue, for the care and education of children up to 5 years old. The City will lease 2,021 square feet of space for five years at an annual cost of $35,000. This space will replace the day care center currently located in the Martin Luther King Elementary School which is in poor condition. Renovation of the center is not prudent since this school will be closing for repairs in the next few years. (Item #2)

Fire Chief – The Council approved a resolution appointing, as Hartford’s Fire Chief, Edward Casares, Jr. who is currently the City’s Fire Marshall. The appointment will be effective on April 13, 2010 or upon retirement of the current Chief, Charles A. Teale, Sr. (Item #3)

Tax Relief for the Elderly - The Council adopted an ordinance amending the Municipal Code pertaining to tax relief for the elderly for taxes due on the list of October 1, 2009. The proposed amendment raises the qualifying income limits to $35,400 for individuals and $41,600 for married couples. Qualifying income is defined as adjusted gross income (Internal Revenue Code guidelines) plus tax-exempt interest, dividend exclusions, gifts, bequests, social security benefits, railroad retirement benefits, and income from all other tax-exempt sources, but not including any credits received under this program. The Council’s Operations, Management & Budget Committee recommended approval. (Items #10 and 21)

Winter Shelter – The Council adopted a resolution to allocate $12,200 for the operation of a temporary shelter for homeless women and children during the winter months. The shelter would be operated by the Salvation Army at their Marshall House facility. This item replaces two resolutions which, together, would have allocated $63,000. Additional funds are being raised privately. (Item #15)

Administrative Salary Adjustments/Increments for Exceptional Service – The Council amended a proposed ordinance and referred it to the Labor & Workforce Development Committee for further discussion and possible amendments. Once any amendments are determined to be necessary, the ordinance will be sent to public hearing on February 16, 2010. The ordinance currently stipulates that the Director of Human Resources will provide the Mayor and City Council with a quarterly report that itemizes all exceptional service payments, specifies the source of funds, describes the reason for each payment, and includes other documentation. (Items # 17 and 22)

Protecting Pocket Parks – The Council adopted a resolution urging the Planning & Zoning Commission to identify the numerous small and medium sized, City-owned parcels of land that are currently being used as parks (such as Brackett Park, Cronin Park, Lozada Park, and others) and to re-zone them as "P Public Property and Cemetery District" to prevent them from being developed. The Council’s Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee recommended approval. (Item #19)

Pedal Cabs – The Council postponed action on an ordinance governing "pedal cabs". The ordinance defines a pedal cab as "a multi-wheeled vehicle propelled by human power, capable of transporting passengers…and which is made available to the public as a mode of transportation". The ordinance requires drivers to secure a license for $25 annually, requires owners to register their vehicles for $50 per year, and regulates equipment and operation for safety purposes. A public hearing was held on this matter on October 19. The Operations, Management & Budget Committee recommended postponement pending revisions to the ordinance and the Council has previously postponed consideration of the item. (Item #24)

Illegal Dumping – The Council postponed consideration of ordinance amendments which would make it illegal to dump solid waste in Hartford in any location not licensed for dumping. Fines, which were previously set at $100 per day, are proposed to be changed to $1,000 for a first offense and $5,000 for every subsequent offense. The amendments would also result in better signage in locations found to be significantly problematic for dumping. A public hearing was held on this matter on October 19 and the Council has previously postponed action. (Item #25)

Geraldine McBride Corner – The Council referred, to the Public Building Dedication Committee, a resolution that requests the City’s Public Building Dedication Committee to name the corner of Burnham and Granby Streets "Geraldine McBride Corner" in honor of Ms. McBride who was a crossing guard for 17 years and was killed as she saved two young boys from being hit by a vehicle at the intersection. (Item #30)

Hilton Hotel – The Council referred to its Labor & Workforce Development Committee, a resolution authorizing the City to take certain actions that would change the agreements between the Hilton Hotel and the City of Hartford. Such actions would include an application by the City to the US Department of Housing & Urban Development for a $7.0 million loan to be made to the Hilton, the City’s release of all liens against the Hilton, the Hilton’s payment of all past due taxes, conversion of an air lease to a ground lease for 11 years, which would make the City the owner of the property, making the property tax-exempt, agreement by the Hilton to pay rent in lieu of taxes, execution of a collective bargaining agreement with the union representing Hilton workers, and execution of a job retention agreement. (Item #36)

ACTION ON ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. DUI Enforcement: Authorization to accept $129,150 from the CT Department of Transportation to conduct high-visibility check points to identify individuals operating motor vehicles while impaired by alcoholic beverages. Passed
2. Day Care Center: Authorization to enter into a lease with the YMCA for space at the new YMCA on Albany Avenue to house the day care center currently located at Martin Luther King School. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee. Public Hearing January 19th.
3. Appointment: Appointment of Edward Casares, Jr. as Fire Chief effective upon retirement of current Chief Charles Teale. Passed
4. Transportation Plan: Authorization to apply for and accept $475,000 in Federal Transit Administration grant funds to develop an integrated transportation strategy and action plan for the Greater Hartford Area. Passed
5. Quitclaim Deed: Authorization to quit-claim the portion of Seymour Street between Jefferson Street and Retreat Avenue, which was previously discontinued, to Hartford Hospital. (also see #26) Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee
6. Lawsuit: Request for the Council to enter into Executive Session to discuss Iris Felix and Catherine Fontanez-Rivera V. Kenneth Freeman and the City of Hartford. Executive Session
7. 18 Temple Street: Authorization of amendment to the tax fixing agreement given for the renovation of the former Sage Allen department store into residential and retail space and parking. Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee. Public Hearing January 19th.
8. Transportation: Report from the Planning & Economic Development Committee on a meeting at which various transportation projects were discussed. Received
9. Lawsuit: Request for Council to enter into Executive Session to discuss Cintron v. Vaughn. Executive Session
10. Elderly Tax Relief: Report from the Operations, Management & Budget Committee supporting increases in the qualifying income limits for property tax relief from $34,200 to $35,400 for an individual and from $39,300 to $41,600 for a married couple. (also see #21) Received
11. Morgan Street Garage: Approval of technical amendments to the joint ownership agreement between the State of Connecticut and the City of Hartford for operation of the Morgan Street garage. Passed
12. St. Martin’s Outreach: Allocation of $10,000 to St. Martin’s Outreach Certified Nursing Assistant Program. Not supported by Operations, Management & Budget Committee due to lack of funds. Postponed
13. Allocation: Allocation of $1,000 to the Skateboarding Task Force. Passed
14. Allocation: Allocation of $2,000 to the Mutual Housing Leadership Academy. Passed
15. Allocation: Allocation of $12,200 to Salvation Army-Marshall House for overflow shelter for the homeless. (OMB Committee amended original request for $63,000.) Passed
16. Public Works Employees: Resolution supporting the men and women of Public Works and requesting review of DPW staffing levels prior to 2010-11 budget discussions. Passed
17. Exceptional Service Increments: Report by OMB Committee supporting a proposal that the Director of Human Resources provide Council with a quarterly report on exceptional service grants approved and other related information. (also see #22) Passed
18. City Treasurer: Resolution to give a pay increase to the City Treasurer effective January 1, 2010. Passed
19. Parks and Zoning: Request to the Planning & Zoning Commission to re-zone land parcels that are currently being used as small and medium size parks from their current classifications to "P – Public Property and Cemetery District". Passed
20. Fee Waiver: Waiver of fees for use of City Hall Atrium by Our Piece of the Pie for the kick-off of Global Youth Service Day on April 22, 2010. Passed
21. Elderly Tax Relief: Increase in the qualifying income limits for property tax relief from $34,200 to $35,400 for an individual and from $39,300 to $41,600 for a married couple. (also see #10) Passed
22. Exceptional Service Increments: Proposal that the Director of Human Resources provide Council with a quarterly report on exceptional service grants approved and other related information. (also see #17). Amended and referred to Labor & Workforce Development Committee
23. Living Wage: Amendments to the City’s Living Wage ordinance, including increasing the definition of a living wage to 120% of the federal poverty level for a family of four plus health benefits and decreasing the amount of a contract that triggers the living wage ordinance from $50,000 to $20,000. Postponed
24. Pedal Cabs: Regulation of bicycle-type vehicles used as public transportation for up to three riders. Postponed
25. Dumping: Proposal to make it illegal to dump solid waste in Hartford in any unlicensed location and to increase fines from $100 per day to $1,000 for first offense and $5,000 for subsequent offenses. Postponed
26. City’s Interest in Seymour Street: Ordinance releasing the City’s interest in the discontinued portion of Seymour Street between Jefferson Street and Retreat Avenue. (also see #5) Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee. Public Hearing January 19th.
27. Hartford Blooms Awards: Resolution congratulating property owners who received Hartford Blooms Awards presented by the Knox Parks Foundation and McCarter & English Law Offices. Passed
28. Reappointments: Reappointment of Michael Brescia, Elizabeth M. Davis, Carl A. Williams, and Alcides Ortiz to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission. Postponed
29. Appointment: Appointment of Mark Anigho to the Skateboarding Task Force. Passed
30. Geraldine McBride Corner: Designation of the corner of Burnham and Granby Streets as "Geraldine McBride Corner". Referred to Public Building Dedication Committee. Public Hearing January 19th.
31. Allocation: Allocation of $500 to Community Services, Inc. Passed
32. De-Allocation: Decrease in allocation to ACORN. Passed
33. Allocation: Allocation of $1,000 to the CT Olmstead Heritage Alliance for their annual conference to be held in Hartford. Passed
34. Fee Waiver: Waiver of fees for 17 baseball games played during 2009 in Colt Park by The Friends of Vintage Baseball. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Recreation Committee
35. Fee Waiver: Waiver of fees associated with Three Kings Day parade held on Park Street on January 6, 2010. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Recreation Committee
36. Hilton Hotel: Approval of various transactions with the Hilton Hotel to restore its economic viability and stabilize its operation. Referred to Labor & Workforce Development Committee. Public Hearing January 19th.

If you have any questions about the agenda, please call Richard Frieder at the Hartford Public Library, 695-6365, or Linda Bayer at Hartford 2000, 547-1663 X21. The Council Preview/Review is a joint project of Hartford 2000 and the Hartford Public Library.