Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, February 24, 2003

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

There were 76 items on the agenda. The next Council meeting will be Monday, March 10^th at 8 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers, and will be preceded by a public hearing which will begin at 7:30 P.M.

Land for Hartford Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Housing Project – The Council passed 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 will be utilized to build a housing complex for grandparents raising grandchildren.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Project: Recreational Options – The Council passed a resolution that addresses concerns raised by Hartford residents about recreation options for children living near the proposed Grandparents Raising Grandchildren housing complex. The resolution calls for the Department of Human Services to inform residents of other open space nearby (e.g. Bracket Park and a lot across from the Salvation Army Community Center). In addition, the resolution calls for exploration of the development of a vacant lot south of Clark School as play space.

CDBG Funds for 2003-2004 – The Council referred nine resolutions that represent the City Manager’s proposed fiscal year 2003-2004 federal Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) funding dispersal to public hearing to be held March 17^th and to the Operations, Budget, and Management Committee. The resolutions include the Manager’s recommendations for the allocation of funds for the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG), the Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESG), Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA), tracking of homeless persons served by the Hartford Continuum, and the Home Investment Partnership program (HOME).

This year’s available funds ($7.9 million - $8.1 million, depending on the federal budget) represent a 10% to 9% decrease from last years funding. The decrease is due primarily to the incorporation of 2000 Census data into HUD’s allocation process.

CDBG Grant Funds – The Council passed a resolution that limits agencies receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds in the Public Services category to three consecutive years of funding. The “clock” for the resolution will start at the beginning of the next grant cycle, July 1, 2003. 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.

Design Center – The Council referred a resolution that would instruct the City Manager to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations in the report entitled Toward the Establishment of the Hartford Design Center to a public hearing to be held March 10^th and to the Planning, Economic Development, and Zoning Committee.” This report recommends that the Design Center be established, and that it work with the Rising Star Neighborhoods and Pride Blocks to implement the recommendations of the Mayor’s Homeownership Task Force.

Uncollectible Parking Tickets – The Council passed 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.

Batterson Park -- The Council passed a resolution, authorizing the sale of the Burnt Hill portion of Batterson Park to the town of Farmington for $1,560,000. The Parks and Public Works Committee reviewed the resolution and recommended passage.

Town Square Civic Center Mall – The Council passed a resolution approving the final site plan for the Town Square Civic Center Mall redevelopment.

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.

If you have any 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.