Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, February 10, 2003

Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network, Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 66 items on the agenda. The Council was preceded by a public hearing.  The next Council meeting will be Monday, February 24^th at 8 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers. The next public hearing will be February 18^th at 8 P.M. in Council Chambers.

CDBG Grant Funds – The Council postponed action on a resolution which would limit agencies receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds in the Public Services category to only three consecutive years of funding. According to the resolution, the city receives many more requests for funds in this category than it can support and some programs have received funds for five years or more. The Operations, Management, and Budget Committee has reviewed the resolution and made no recommendation.

Hartford Grandfamilies Housing Project – The Council voted down a resolution authorizing the City Manager to convey the former Clark Street School property at 35 Clark Street to The Community Builders (TCB).  The property would have been utilized to build a housing complex for grandparents raising grandchildren.  During the public hearing on the resolution numerous community members (adults and children) argued that the planned development would have taken the only open space in the community.  Five Council members voted for the project, but six votes are needed to approve a transfer of city land.

Bioterrorism Preparedness – The Council referred to the Health and Human Services Committee a resolution authorizing the Purchasing Agent to enter into a contract with the Town of West Hartford to assist the Hartford Health Department in developing the infrastructure needed to plan and prepare for a bioterrorism event.

Uncollectible Parking Tickets – The Council postponed action on a resolution authorizing the write-off of 23,288 parking tickets totaling $1,251,686.  The tickets have been deemed uncollectible by the City’s collection agency.

Sports Sciences Academy (Magnet High School) - The Council referred to the Education Committee and to public hearing on February 18^th an ordinance that would appropriate $67,648,775 in the Capital Improvement Fund to finance the construction of the Sports Sciences Academy (Magnet High School).  The State of Connecticut will fund the project.

North Frog Hollow NRZ – The Council referred to the Planning, Economic Development, and Zoning Committee and to public hearing on February 18 an ordinance that, if passed, would  provide official approval of the Strategic Plan for the North Frog Hollow NRZ.

Cities for Climate Protection Campaign – The Council passed on consent a resolution committing the City to participate in the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives.  The City of Hartford will conduct a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and forecast, establish a greenhouse emissions reduction target, and implement an action plan designed to meet the target.  Energy consumption, specifically the burning of fossil fuels, accounts for more than 80% of U.S. carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

College Park Proposal – The Council passed a resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept a $37,000 grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving for the study of an area east of Main Street between I-84 and Pleasant Street and west of Windsor Street as a potential site for a College Park.  This potential educational site would offer interdisciplinary opportunities and further the redevelopment of downtown Hartford.

Breakthrough Academy Interdistrict Magnet School – The Council passed a resolution authorizing the City to acquire from the State of Connecticut approximately 14 acres to be used for the site of the Breakthrough Academy Interdistrict Magnet School.  The resolution also authorizes adding a 1.6 acre City-owned playground to the site.  The property is located in the former Rice Heights area.

Air Pollution Produced by City Vehicles – The Council passed a resolution stating that the City will purchase smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles and that it will look into alternate fuels for its diesel vehicles.  Under the resolution the City will also encourage the School Administration to take these same measures and be creative in approving filtration devises for removing pollutants in the cabin air flow systems of school buses.  The resolution states that Hartford has very high asthma rates and that there is a close relationship between respiratory diseases and the amount of chemical and particulate matter released from diesel burning engines.

Columbia Space Shuttle – The Council passed a resolution extending condolences to the families of the astronauts lost in the Space Shuttle tragedy on February 1, 2003.

If you have questions about the agenda call Greg Vickers at CREN, 249-1416 or Richard Frieder at the Hartford Public Library, 695-6365.  The Council Preview is a joint project of the Citizens' Research Education Network and the Hartford Public Library.