Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, February 8, 2010

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

The Council meeting will begin at 7 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers. The meeting will be preceded, at 6:00 PM, by an open agenda public hearing. The next public hearing will be Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 7 PM. The next Council meeting will be Monday, February 22, 2010.

There are 30 items on the agenda. Below is detailed information about items of special interest to neighborhoods. Following those details is a listing of all agenda items, in layperson's language. The complete official agenda for the Council meeting is available online by clicking on "Council Agendas" at the following web site: http://www.hartford.gov/government/Town&CityClerk/Minutes/council_meeting_minutes.htm

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

New Agenda Items:

The following items appear for the first time on the Council's Agenda.

Car Donation – The Council will consider a resolution authorizing the acceptance of a donation of two 2010 model motor vehicles from the United States Marshal Service. The cars are worth $25,000 each and will be used by the Police Department's Intelligence Division. (Item #2)

Free Public Access to City Parks – The Council will vote on a resolution stating that it supports continued free public access to City parks. The resolution is in response to the recent suggestion that an "entrance or parking fee" be charged for the use of Elizabeth Park as one way to address the revenue shortfall facing the City. (Item #29)

Previously Submitted Items:

The following items were previously on the Council Agenda and were included in the Council Preview/Review. They were referred to committees and/or public hearing or action was postponed by the Council. They are now on the agenda again for action.

Protecting Pocket Parks – The Council will consider 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 #10)

Graffiti – The Council will consider a proposed ordinance addressing the issue of graffiti. Among other things, the proposed ordinance defines "graffiti," specifies what acts are prohibited and who is responsible for graffiti removal, and describes penalties for non-removal. A copy of the full ordinance may be viewed in the Town Clerk's office. A public hearing on this item will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2010. (Item # 13)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. Election Costs. Authorization to transfer $115,445 to the Registrars of Voters to cover the expense of holding the March 2nd election for Democratic Town Committee members.
2. Car Donation. Approval for the Police Department to accept two 2010 vehicles from the U.S. Marshall's Service for use in the Intelligence Division.
3. Park Street Streetscape. Authorization to enter into a contract with the State Department of Transportation for $3,751,000 in Federal Stimulus funds for streetscape improvements on Park Street between Pope Park Highway #4 to Park Terrace.
4. Executive Session. Request to enter into Executive Session to discuss Thomas Viens V. Deborah Scates, et al.
5. H&HS Committee Report. Report from the Council's Health & Human Resources Committee on a January 4th meeting at which issues of homelessness, services, healthcare reform, and others were discussed.
6. H&HS Committee Report. Report from the Council's Health & Human Resources Committee on a February 1st meeting at which the overflow shelter and blight were discussed.
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.
8. 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 #9)
9. 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 #8)
10. 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".
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. Graffiti. Proposal to prohibit the sale of graffiti implements to anyone under 18 years old and to require that perpetrators and property owners eliminate graffiti in a timely fashion.
14. Commission on Cultural Affairs. Proposed requirement that, if the Commission does not have a quorum, the City Council shall consult with the Parks & Recreation Commission and other park advocacy groups on any new improvements in public parks. (also see #16)
15. Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission. Proposal to specify that the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission shall include representatives of the Friends of Parks groups.
16. Commission on Cultural Affairs. Proposed requirement that, if the Commission does not have a quorum, the City Council shall consult with the Parks & Recreation Commission on any new improvements in public parks. (also see #14)
17. Appointment. Appointment of Regina Dyton to the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues.
18. Appointment. Appointment of Carol Carson to the Civilian Police Review Board.
19. Appointment. Appointment of Jonathan Hull to the Advisory Commission on the Environment.
20. Appointment. Appointment of Katherine Pacelle to the Commission on Disability Issues.
21. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closures for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to be held on June 4 and 5, 2010 in Bushnell Park.
22. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closures for Our Lady of Sorrows' Procession on April 2, 2010 in Parkville.
23. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closures for the O'Hartford 5K run to be sponsored by the Hartford Marathon Foundation on March 14, 2010 in downtown Hartford.
24. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the 2010 NAMIWalks for the Mind of America to be held in Bushnell Park on May 15, 2010.
25. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the Kate's Fun Run and Walk to be sponsored by St. Francis Hospital Foundation in Elizabeth Park on May 5, 2010.
26. Street Closures. Closures of streets throughout Hartford for the 15th Annual Miracle Ride (motorcycles) to be sponsored by the CT Children's Medical Center on April 25, 2010.
27. Citizens Election Program. Support for the goals and accomplishments of Connecticut's campaign finance reform laws and request that the Citizens Election Program be kept as State Law.
28. ACORN. Removal of $5,000 allocation to ACORN.
29. Parks. Support for continued free public access to all City parks.
30. Basketball. Request that the City Administration work to bring USA Basketball exhibition games to Hartford.

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.