Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, March 10, 2008

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 41 items on the original agenda.  Two more items were submitted during the meeting.  The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall, preceded at 6:30 by a public comment period.  The next public hearing will be Monday, March 17, 2008 at 7 PM.

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

990 Wethersfield Avenue – The Council referred, to its Planning & Economic Development Committee, a resolution granting approval for the sale of 990 Wethersfield Avenue to Rego Realty for $1.00.  Rego proposes to rehabilitate the existing building into 24 units of market rate housing, ten of which will be designated for senior citizens.  Rego will be responsible for environmental remediation of the site and, if the costs of remediation are less than $170,000, Rego will pay to the City the difference between $170,000 and the cost of remediation.  Should the project not commence within 12 months or not be completed within 24 months, the property will revert to the City.  A public hearing on this matter will be held on March 17th and the PEDC will meet on April 1 at 6 PM.  (Item #4)

Pension Agreement – The Council passed a resolution approving an agreement between the City and the Hartford Educational Support Personnel, Local 82.  The agreement calls for 1) vesting at 5 years of service (down from 10 years), 2) increase of employee contributions from 8.41% to 9% on social security earnings and an increase from 11.41% to 12% on excess earnings, and 3) contributions made on pre-tax basis.  (Item #7)

National Recycling Coalition Grant – The Council approved a resolution authorizing the City of Hartford to accept a $200,000 “Model Cities” grant funded by the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) and endorsed by the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority (CRRA) for a pilot program to implement a recycling collection method known as “single stream” recycling.  The purpose of the grant is to increase public participation in recycling.  Hartford is the first city in the country to be offered this grant.  The City will use the grant and an additional $405,000, provided by CRRA, to the City, to purchase packer trucks, hire drivers, train employees, and prepare and disseminate multi-lingual public education materials.  (Item #8)

School System – The Council received the Education Committee’s report on discussions with Superintendent Adamowski and Board of Education staff regarding the 2008-09 school budget and the redesign of low performing schools.  With regard to budgets, the superintendent explained that the current method of budgeting results in inequities.  Therefore, student based budgeting will be implemented.  Funding will be determined through weighting: grade weights, based on student grade levels, and need weights, based on student needs.  With regard to low-performing schools, the school system will take action with schools that have performed substantially below the proficient level for two consecutive years.  The process of redesign will include notification of parents and staff, engagement of parents and community on the design of a new school model, reconstitution of leadership, faculty and support staff, development of new curricula, methods, operational features and other elements, and an enrollment plan.  (Item #10)

Hartford Park System – The Council received the Public Works, Parks and Environment Committee’s report on a presentation made by the Trust for Public Land on their analysis of Hartford’s park system.  The Trust examined management, financing, access, connectivity, and marketing and has made a series of recommendations for improvement.  The Trust advises hiring a coordinator to work with the City and various parks groups in implementing the recommendations.  The Committee took no action.  (Item #11)

Upper Albany Branch Library – The Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City to apply for a grant from the Connecticut State Library for construction of a new branch library in the Upper Albany neighborhood.  (Item #20)

Predatory Lending – The Council approved a resolution supporting proposed State legislation that would ease the burden of predatory lending on Hartford families.  The resolution also calls on the Housing Property Management Division to target foreclosure counseling services and options for homeowners to refinance or restructure their mortgages, and directs the Department of Development Services to conduct a survey of properties foreclosed in the past five years.  (Item #25)

North Hartford Economic Development Task Force – The Council referred, to its Planning & Economic Development Committee, a resolution requesting that the Mayor establish a North Hartford Economic Development Task Force to develop a plan to address the effect of a higher separate tax rate on abandoned buildings and vacant lots, removal of the de facto junkyard on Windsor Street, development of parking in the entertainment district in the Northeast neighborhood, and purchase of City owned property below fair market value by minority and/or small Hartford based contractors.  (Item #40)

ACTION ON ALL AGENDA ITEMS

1. Youth Services:  Authorization to apply to the State of Connecticut for $160,548 in funds to support two staff in the City’s Office of Youth Services.  Approved
2. Dial a Ride:  Approval to apply to the State of Connecticut for $73,406 to help support the Dial a Ride program for the elderly.  Approved
3. Women’s Health:  Authorization to utilize a $100,000 State grant for the Health Department’s Women’s Healthy Heart Program.  Approved
4. 990 Wethersfield Avenue:  Approval of the sale of 990 Wethersfield Avenue for $1.00 to Rego Realty for construction of 24 units of market rate housing, of which 10 units will be set aside for senior citizens. Referred to Planning & Economic Developmet Committee and Public Hearing
5. Anderson/Parker Recreation Center:  Allocation of $861,423 in CDBG funds, presently in the Capital Improvement Fund, for soft costs (construction documents, environmental review, bidding, contract administration, etc.) associated with the construction of the new Parker Memorial/Kelvin D. Anderson recreation center on north Main Street.  Approved
6. Elderly Services:  Authorization to apply for and accept, from the North Central Area Agency on Aging, $100,000 for the HomeHelp program, $80,000 for Dial a Ride, and $32,000 for a health program known as “Keep On Living”.  Approved
7. Pension Agreement:  Approval of a tentative pension agreement between the City and Hartford Educational Support Personnel, Local 82, AFSA, AFL-CIO.  Approved
8. Recycling:  Approval to utilize $405,000 from the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority (CRRA) and $200,000 from the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) to implement a pilot program of “single-stream” recycling, i.e. all recyclables go in the same bin for pick up by the City.  Approved
9. State of the City Address:  The Council’s Council of the Whole meeting has been rescheduled from March 10th to March 24th at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers.  (This change is to allow the Mayor to give his State of the City address at 6 PM on March 10th in Council Chambers.)  Received
10. Education Issues:  Information on discussion held by the Education Committee with Board of Education members and staff concerning student-based budgeting and the re-design of low-performing schools.  Received
11. City Parks:  Information on discussion held by the Public Works, Parks and Environment Committee on a report prepared by the Trust for Public Land on the Hartford park system.  Received
12. Volleyball:  Allocation of $7,500 to the Starlings Volleyball Club, a program for girls aged 10 to 18 years old. Approved
13. St. Patrick’s Day Parade:  Waiver of half the City fees for the March 15th parade (11AM to 2 PM)  Approved
14. Good Friday Procession:  Authorization to close traffic lanes and waive ½ fees for Our Lady of Sorrows Good Friday procession.  Approved
15. Soccer: Establishment of a Soccer Task Force to coordinate various soccer leagues.  Approved
16. Reggae:  Waiver of ½ fees for Reggae Jam concert on July 26th.  Approved
17. Procession:  Waiver of ½ fees and street closures for October procession by Brazilian Cultural Center.  Postponed
18. Appointment:  Reappointment of Fannie Arnum to Commission on Aging.  Approved
19. Appointments:  Appointment of Chad Ricketts and Ursula Scott to Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.  Approved
20. Upper Albany Branch Library:  Authorization of application for a grant from the State Library Construction Grant Program for the construction of a new Upper Albany branch library.  Approved
21. Lease:  Approval to enter into a 20-year lease with the owners of 777 Main Street for use of rooftop space for public safety functions.  Base rent is $14,400 per year, with $42/month increases over 20 years. Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee, Planning & Zoning Commission, and public hearing
22. South End Senior Wellness Center:  Approval to enter into agreement with McKenna Associates to evaluate and help design programs at the new Southend Senior Wellness Center for a period of three years.  Approved
23. Lease:  Approval to enter into a 5 year lease with Rebuilding Together Hartford for 1,250 square feet of space at 250 Constitution Plaza at $1.00 per year.  Referred to Planning & Zoning and Operation, Management and Budget Committees, Planning & Zoning Commission, and public hearing.
24. Grant:  Authorization to apply for $50,000 in State grant funds for the preservation of historic documents in the Town Clerk’s Office.  Approved
25. Mortgage Foreclosures:  Direction to Administration to conduct analysis of foreclosed properties over past five years and support of efforts to alleviate subprime mortgage problems.  Approved
26. Hunger:  Support of the food stamp program and passage of the 2007 Farm Bill pending in the U.S. Senate.  Approved
27. Block Parties:  Permission for The Pour House to hold a series of four block parties on Allyn Street on Friday evenings in June, July, August, and September.  Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
28. Festival:  Approval of fee waiver for Trinidad and Tobago festival in Elizabeth Park on July 12th.  Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
29. Recovery Walk:  Permission and fee waiver for CT Community Addiction Recovery’s Recovery Walk Festival in Bushnell Park on September 20th.  Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
30. Criterium:  Permission and fee waiver for Sport Group-Nord-Ost’s Downtown Criterium in Bushnell Park and surrounding streets on May 25th.  Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
31. Run:  Permission and fee waiver for the O’Hartford 5K Run on March 16th.  Approved
32. Field of Honor:  Permission and fee waiver for the American Legion and American Auxiliary to erect a Healing Field of Honor for Hometown Heroes (flags and information booth) in Bushnell Park from June 12 to 16.  Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
33. Run:  Permission and fee waiver for the Red Nose Run at Riverfront Plaza on April 21st.  Approved
34. Birthday Party:  Permission for private birthday party at Keney Park Pond House on May 3rd.  Withdrawn
35. Good Friday Procession:  Permission and fee waiver for St. Anne-Immaculate Conception Church to hold Good Friday Procession.  Approved
36. Summer Block Parties:  Permission for Agave Cantina & Grill to host a series of four summer block parties in May, June, August, and September on Allyn Street.  Approved
37. Family Day:  Permission and fee waiver for Keney Park Family Day on August 16th.  Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
38. Phagwah Parade:  Permission and fee waiver for Shri Krishna Mandir to hold its Phagwah (New Year) parade in and around Goodwin Park on March 22nd.  Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
39. Troops:  Support for the troops in Iraq and urging Federal government to pursue solutions to our domestic problems with same zeal as invasion of Iraq.  Approved
40. North End Economic Development:  Establishment of a North End Economic Development Task Force, hiring of economic development planner and preparation of an economic development plan.  Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee
41. Little League:  Allocation of $5,000 to the Rago-Coco Little League.  Approved
42. Hartford High School:  Approval of transfer of $8.0 million within the Capital Improvement Fund to complete Hartford High School construction.  Approved
43. Hartford Stage Lease:  Approval to amend air rights lease with Hartford Stage Company to allow for expansion of the facility.  Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee, Planning & Zoning Commission, and public hearing

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, 509-3710. The Council Preview/Review is a joint project of Hartford 2000 and the Hartford Public Library.