Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, January 24, 2011

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 35 items on the original agenda. No additional items were submitted during the meeting. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall, preceded at 6:00 PM by a public comment period. The next public hearing will be Tuesday, February 22, 2011 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

Parking Concession – The Council referred, to its Operations, Management & Budget and Planning & Economic Development Committees, a resolution authorizing the issuance of a request for proposals (RFP) for a potential parking concession in downtown Hartford. The proposed concession would consolidate the operation of the City’s parking facilities and improve parking efficiencies. The entity selected through the RFP would provide an upfront payment to the City in return for the right to operate the City’s garages and metered parking spaces and to retain the annual revenues from such facilities. Funds derived from the transaction will be placed in a trust fund created by ordinance to ensure the use of such funds for long term strategic goals and objectives. (Item #4)

Campaign Contributions – The Council referred, to its Legislative Affairs Committee, a proposed ordinance that would prohibit campaign contributions by City contractors to candidates running for Mayor, Council, Board of Education, Treasurer, and Registrar of Voters. City contractors include individuals, business entities, and nonprofit organizations that have agreements or contracts with the City of Hartford, Hartford Parking Authority, Hartford Housing Authority, or the Board of Education, as well as those who have submitted bids or proposals for the purpose of obtaining an agreement or contract. Contributions would be prohibited to candidates, exploratory committees, and political and party committees. A public hearing was held on this item on July 19, 2010. The item has been postponed several times. (Cotto) (Item #6)

Huyshope Avenue Streetscape – The Council passed a resolution authorizing the execution of an amendment to the existing City-State Agreement for the construction of streetscape improvements along Huyshope Avenue. In 2005, the City received a federal grant for this project through the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT). The construction funds were insufficient to cover actual costs, so the City requested and received permission to reallocate funds that were specified for contingencies and incidentals for construction. The DOT requested that the City-State Agreement be amended to reflect the revised construction costs. The Operations, Management & Budget Committee recommended approval. (Segarra) (Item #10)

Moratorium – The Council considered a resolution that recommended, to the Planning & Zoning Commission and Economic Development Department, a one-year moratorium on granting permission for tax exemptions on property in Hartford. A substitute resolution was submitted at the meeting and adopted by the Council. The substitute resolution establishes a one-year moratorium on the sale of City-owned property to tax-exempt entities unless the entities provide a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and/or services or other considerations which are deemed to be “in the best interests of the city”. The resolution further states that the City Council supports full State funding of the PILOT or a “graduated” Local PILOT reimbursement and will seek State legislative action on these items. (Item #17)

Novelty Lighter Regulation – The Council postponed action on a proposed ordinance that would regulate novelty lighters - those which are designed to be attractive to children by incorporating flashing lights, musical sounds, or a toy-like appearance. The ordinance would prohibit the sale, gift, or distribution of such lighters within the city of Hartford. The Council’s Quality of Life & Public Safety Committee has recommended postponement of this item pending additional review by Corporation Counsel. (Torres) (Item #18)

Parks & Recreation – The Council postponed action on two proposed ordinances which, together, would change the way the City’s parks and recreation functions are organized. The first ordinance would remove the Parks Maintenance Division from the Department of Public Works and would remove the Division of Recreation and Youth Services from the Department of Health and Human Services. The second ordinance would create a separate Department of Parks and Recreation which would consist of three divisions: Administration, Parks, and Recreation & Youth Services. The changes would be effective 90 days after passage of the ordinances. A public hearing on this matter was held on June 21, 2010. The item has been postponed several times. (Cotto) (Items #19 and 20)

Tree Ordinance – The Council postponed action on an ordinance for the purpose of maintaining and growing Hartford’s urban forest, maintaining trees in a healthy condition, protecting existing trees, and mitigating loss and damage to Hartford’s trees. At a previous meeting, the Council referred this ordinance back to the Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee for further deliberation. (Boucher, Cotto) (Item #24)

Restrictions on the Sale of Drug Distribution Equipment – The Council postponed action on a proposed ordinance amending Chapter 25 of the Hartford Municipal Code, Restrictions on the sale of drug distribution equipment. Such equipment includes, among others, scales or balances used to weigh or measure illegal drugs, dilutants and adulterants used in cutting unlawful drugs, and capsules, envelopes, or bags used in packaging illegal drugs. If approved, the amended ordinance will impose a fine of $99 per piece of drug equipment per day. The Committee did not make a recommendation. A public hearing was held on December 20, 2010 and the Quality of Life & Public Safety Committee considered the item but made no recommendation. (Cotto) (Item #28)

Appointment of New Treasurer – The Council passed a resolution appointing Assistant City Treasurer Adam M. Cloud as Treasurer of the City of Hartford effective February 2, 2011. The retirement of City Treasurer Kathleen Palm Devine will leave a vacancy in the elective office of City Treasurer. The City’s Charter provides that the City Council shall appoint a successor in the case of a vacancy in an elective office. The resolution also provides that Mr. Cloud’s annual salary shall be $140,000 with 25% being paid by the City’s General Fund and 75% by the Municipal Employees Retirement Fund. (Item #35)

ACTION ON ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. Parking Authority Appointments. Confirmation of the Mayor’s appointment of Rex Fowler, Jose Rene Martinez Onofre, and William Breetz to the Hartford Parking Authority. (Segarra) Postponed
2. Cultural Affairs Appointments. Confirmation of the Mayor’s appointment of Stephen Haynes, Matthew Poland, and Thomas Rome to the Commission on Cultural Affairs. (Segarra, Cotto) Postponed
3. License Agreement. Approval for the City to lease 20 parking spaces in the City-owned lot at 141 Sheldon Street to individuals who work at the Federal Building. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget
4. Parking Concession. Approval for the City to issue a Request for Proposals for an entity to operate the City’s parking garages and metered on-street parking spaces in return for an up-front cash payment. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget and Planning & Economic Development
5. Health & Human Services Report. Report by the Council’s Health & Human Services Committee on discussions held on Monday, January 3rd about the Health Equity Alliance Project, chromium levels in drinking water, budgetary concerns in the Department of Health & Human Services, and other matters. Received
6. Campaign Contributions. Proposed ordinance prohibiting individuals and entities who have contracts with the City of Hartford from making contributions to candidates for Mayor, Council, Registrar of Voters, Treasurer, or Board of Education. (Cotto) Referred to Legislative Affairs Committee
7. Allocations. Allocations of $17,000 to Guakia, $1,400 to Artists Collective, $5,000 to Blue Hills Civic Association, $1,000 to Mi Casa, $4,000 to Hartbeat Ensemble, and $600 to San Juan Center. (Deutsch) Tabled
8. Asian Studies Academy. Report from OMB recommending approval of an ordinance increasing the scope and budget of the renovation of Bellizzi School for the Asian Studies Academy from $13 million to $21 million and authorizing the issuance of bonds in the higher amount. (Segarra) Received
9. Library Incentive Retirement. Approval for the Hartford Public Library to offer a voluntary retirement incentive program for full time non-union and unclassified employees. (Segarra) Passed
10. Huyshope Avenue Streetscape. Authorization to amend a contract with the State of Connecticut to finalize project costs for streetscape improvements on Huyshope Avenue completed in 2007. (Segarra) Passed
11. 52 Franklin Avenue. Approval for the City to accept blighted property at 52 Franklin Avenue through a quit claim deed in lieu of foreclosure. (Segarra) Passed
12. Commission on Women. Confirmation of reappointments of Kadija Abdul-Salaam, Tamelia Joyner, and Nyesha McCauley to Permanent Commission on the Status of Hartford Women. (Segarra) Passed
13. Human Relations Commission. Confirmation of reappointment of Harry Hartie and appointments of Ben Daigle and Samariya Smith to the Commission on Human Relations. (Segarra) Passed
14. Cultural Affairs Commission. Confirmation of appointments of Abby Brooks, Susan Hood, Trudi Lebron, Isabel Logan, Amy Mielke, Doreen Stern, and Carlos Velazquez to the Cultural Affairs Commission. (Segarra, Cotto) Passed
15. 90 Earle Street. Authorization of a six-month license agreement between the City and Residential Rehabilitation, LLC for use of a garage located on City-owned property at 90 Earle Street. (Segarra) Passed
16. Parking Authority. Confirmation of reappointment of Patricia LeShane to the Hartford Parking Authority. (Segarra) Postponed
17. Moratorium. Proposal to establish a one-year moratorium on location of new tax-exempt property in Hartford. (Winch) Passed
18. Novelty Lighters. Proposed ordinance prohibiting the sale, gift or distribution, in Hartford, of lighters that are designed to be attractive to children. (Torres) Postponed
19. Organizational Changes. Ordinance removing the division of Parks Maintenance from the Public Works Department and removing the division of Recreation & Youth Services from the Department of Health & Human Services. (Cotto) Postponed
20. Parks & Recreation. Ordinance creating a Department of Parks & Recreation to include the divisions of Parks Maintenance and Recreation & Youth Services. (Cotto) Postponed
21. Board of Education Budget. Request to the Board of Education to provide the Council with adopted line-item budgets for the past two fiscal years and year-to-date figures for the current fiscal year. (Deutsch, Segarra) Postponed
22. School Bus Contracts. Request that the Administration investigate school bus contracts to determine if there are willful or unintentional violations of the Living Wage Ordinance. (Winch, Airey-Wilson) Postponed
23. MDC. Appointment of Daniel Kinch, Rupert Daniels, and Lee Hunt as Commissioners to the Metropolitan District Commission (Deutsch) Postponed
24. Tree Ordinance. Ordinance governing the planting, removal, altering, or damaging of trees in Hartford for the purpose of maintaining and growing Hartford’s urban forest. (Boucher, Cotto) Postponed
25. MDC Appointments. Reappointment of Adam Cloud, Al Marotta, and Hector Rivera to the Metropolitan District Commission. (Winch, Torres) Postponed
26. MDC Appointment. Appointment of Rupert Daniels to the Metropolitan District Commission. (Deutsch) Postponed
27. Councilmember Appointment. Appointment of Dr. Robert Painter to a vacancy on the Court of Common Council to fill the unexpired term of Matt Ritter. (Deutsch) Amended to also appoint Corey Brinson to a vacancy on the Court of Common Council to fill the unexpired term of Veronica Airey-Wilson. Passed
28. Drug Distribution Equipment. Ordinance prohibiting the sale of materials and equipment used in the manufacture and sale of illegal drugs. (Cotto) Postponed
29. Commission on Disability Issues. Ordinance specifying the composition of the Commission on Disability Issues to include people with disabilities, representatives of organizations serving those with disabilities, and relatives of or those who are active with the issues of people with disabilities. (Segarra) Postponed
30. Development Conditions. Resolution requiring that sales of City-owned land for development contain the condition that the buyer begin to pay property taxes on the full market value of the proposed development no later than one year after the sale has occurred. (Boucher) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget and Housing
31. Councilmember Appointment. Appointment of an unspecified individual to fill the unexpired term of Councilwoman Airey-Wilson. (Deutsch) Withdrawn
32. Councilmember Appointment. Appointment of an unspecified individual to fill the unexpired term of Councilman Matthew Ritter. (Deutsch) Withdrawn
33. Black History Month Celebration. Invitation to the community to attend a reception on February 4, 2011 from 5 to 9 PM in the City Hall Atrium kicking off Black History Month. (Winch) Passed
34. Information Requests. Resolution that a policy be established that all requests for information of the City of Hartford be answered within two weeks. (Deutsch) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget
35. City Treasurer. Appointment of Adam Cloud as Treasurer of the City of Hartford to replace Kathleen Palm Devine effective February 2, 2011. (Kennedy, Aponte, Boucher, Winch, Torres) Passed

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.