Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, February 8, 2010

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 30 items on the original agenda. No additional items were submitted during the meeting. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, February 22, 2009 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall. The next public hearing will be Tuesday, February 16, 2009 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

Car Donation – The Council adopted 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 referred, to its Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee, 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)

Protecting Pocket Parks – The Council withdrew from consideration 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. (Item #10)

Graffiti – The Council withdrew from consideration a proposed ordinance addressing the issue of graffiti. Among other things, the proposed ordinance defined "graffiti," specified what acts are prohibited and who would be responsible for graffiti removal, and described penalties for non-removal. (Item # 13)

ACTION ON ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. Election Costs: Authorization to transfer $115,445 (amended to approximately $152,000) to the Registrars of Voters to cover the expense of holding the March 2nd election for Democratic Town Committee members. Referred to Operations Management & Budget Committee
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. Passed
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 and Park Terrace. Referred to Operations Management & Budget Committee
4. Executive Session: Request to enter into Executive Session to discuss Thomas Viens V. Deborah Scates, et al. Received
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. Received
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. Received
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. Passed
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) Passed
9. City's Interest in Seymour Street: Committee report on ordinance releasing the City's interest in the discontinued portion of Seymour Street between Jefferson Street and Retreat Avenue. (also see #8) Received
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". Withdrawn
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. Postponed
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. Withdrawn
13. Graffit:. 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. Withdrawn
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) Withdrawn
15. Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission: Proposal to specify that the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission shall include representatives of the Friends of Parks groups. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
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) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
17. Appointment: Appointment of Regina Dyton to the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues. Postponed
18. Appointment: Appointment of Carol Carson to the Civilian Police Review Board. Postponed
19. Appointment: Appointment of Jonathan Hull to the Advisory Commission on the Environment. Postponed
20. Appointment: Appointment of Katherine Pacelle to the Commission on Disability Issues. Postponed
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. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
22. Fee Waiver: Waiver of fees and street closures for Our Lady of Sorrows' Procession on April 2, 2010 in Parkville. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
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. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
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. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
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. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
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. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
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 within constitutional limitations. Passed
28. ACORN: Removal of $5,000 allocation to ACORN. Passed
29. Parks: Support for continued free public access to all City parks. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
30. Basketball: Request that the City Administration work to bring USA Basketball exhibition games to Hartford. 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.