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Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were forty-two (42) items on the agenda. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall. The next public hearing will be Tuesday, January 22, 2007 at 7 PM.
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
The Council announced upcoming Committee meetings as follows. Meetings are held in the Council Chambers in City Hall at 5:30 PM unless otherwise indicated.
- Health and Human Services, Thursday, January 24
- Public Works, Parks and Environment, Wednesday, January 16 and Wednesday, February 20, at 5:30, at Pope Park Recreation Center
- Labor and Workforce Development, Wednesday, February 13
- Quality of Life and Public Safety, Tuesday, January 15
- Planning & Economic Development, Tuesday, February 5
- Finance & Management meets jointly with Legislative Affairs, Thursday, January 17
Tax Relief for the Elderly – The Council passed ordinance amending the Municipal Code pertaining to tax relief for the elderly. The proposed amendment raises the qualifying income limits for residents aged 65 or older to $33,400 for individuals and $38,500 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. Qualifying individuals or couples receive a tax credit of $500 per property per year. A public hearing was held on December 17, 2007 and the Council’s Finance and Revenue Committee recommends adoption. (Items #14 and 22)
Valet Parking – The Council referred, to its Public Works, Parks and Environment Committee, a proposed ordinance that would limit valet parking to the hours from 6 PM to 2 AM, require permits for valet parking, require off-street locations for the cars that are valet-parked, and impose certain insurance and indemnification requirements. A public hearing on this ordinance was held on Monday, November 19, 2007. (Item #21)
Noise Ordinance – The Council withdrew from consideration the original ordinance (#24) concerning noise and referred, to its Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee, an amended ordinance (#30) which was modified according to suggestions made by the CT Department of Environmental Protection. Because the amendments are considered substantive, a second public hearing on the proposed ordinance will be held on January 22nd. The ordinance contains a provision that, in the absence of a sound level meter, any noise plainly audible at a distance of one hundred (100) feet from its source, to a person of normal hearing, constitutes prima facie evidence of a violation of the Municipal Code. A public hearing on the original ordinance was held on November 27, 2007 and the Council’s Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee recommended approval. (Items #24 and 30)
Youth Advisory Council – The Council postponed action on a resolution establishing a Youth Advisory Council in 2008. The resolution is an outgrowth of a desire to provide youth with an opportunity to get involved in the governmental process as part of their educational learning experience and recognition that the governance of the city can be greatly enhanced by receiving input from youth and young adults. The Council previously postponed action on this item. (Item #27)
Annual Census of Hartford’s Homeless Population – The Council approved a resolution authorizing the allocation of $10,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) administrative funds to Community Renewal Team, Inc. (CRT) for costs associated with the annual census of Hartford’s homeless population scheduled for January 2008. (Item #5)
Hartford Healthy Start: Eliminating Disparities Grant - The Council passed a resolution authorizing the Department of Health and Human Services to apply for an Eliminating Disparities grant available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy Resources Services Administration (HRSA) in the amount of $650,000 each year for four years (June 1, 2008 – May 31, 2012). The grant will support the Hartford Healthy Start program, which focuses on improvement of maternal health and birth outcomes primarily among African American women and their children. (Item #6)
Eminent Domain – The Council referred, to its Planning & Economic Development Committee and the Planning & Zoning Commission, a resolution authorizing the City to acquire 31-37 Atlantic Avenue through eminent domain for the purpose of constructing the City’s new public safety complex. There will also be a public hearing on this matter on January 22, 2008. The Council has previously passed several resolutions regarding this property. The first authorized use of eminent domain. The Council subsequently authorized the purchase of the property when the owner and the City reached agreement on a price. Now, there is not agreement on the price. (Item #37)
Property Tax Reform Task Force Recommendations – The Council considered two resolutions regarding the first set of recommendations from the Hartford Property Tax Reform Task Force. Item #39, which resolves to “accept” the recommendations, was referred to the Finance & Management and the Legislative Affairs Committees and to a public hearing on January 22nd. The Council approved item #42, which resolved to “receive” the recommendations and have them reviewed by both the City Council’s Finance Committee and Legislative Committee. This first set of recommendations addresses property tax issues that may require action by the State General Assembly. A second set of recommendations, to be completed by January 31, 2008, will address issues requiring action by the City. The Task Force’s report and commentary by David Barrett, a member of the Task Force, were introduced at the Council meeting. (Items # 39 and 42)
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, 509-3710. The Council Preview/Review is a joint project of the Hartford 2000, and the Hartford Public Library.
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