Council Previews & Reviews >> Previews > March 12, 2007

Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, March 12, 2007

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 Mayor will give his State of the City address at the Council meeting.  The meeting will be preceded, at 6:30 PM, by an open agenda public hearing.  The next public hearing will be Monday, March 19, 2007.

There are 44 items on the agenda.  The complete 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.

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.

Eminent Domain for Public Safety Complex:  The Council will consider five items concerning the acquisition of three parcels of land, in the vicinity of the old Hartford Board of Education building, for the purpose of developing a new Public Safety Complex.  The Council’s Planning and Economic Development committee has submitted favorable recommendations on three proposed ordinances authorizing the City to exercise its eminent domain powers to acquire the properties located at 26 and 31 Atlantic Avenue and 223 High Street.  The authorization to use eminent domain will only be used if the owners and the City are not able to agree on a purchase price.  These three items were also referred to the Planning and Zoning Commission and a public hearing was held on February 20, 2007.  However, the Mayor has also submitted a proposed ordinance and resolution authorizing the purchase of 223 High Street and indicates that the owner and the City have reached agreement on a purchase price of $400,000.  That ordinance will be set for a public hearing on March 19, 2007.  (Items #8, 9, 10, 30, and 31)

Diesel Emissions:  The Council will take action on a resolution to encourage the City to enforce the ordinance which limits idling time of school buses and other vehicles with diesel engines and to require an annual tune-up of all City-owned vehicles.  The resolution notes that an annual tune-up is the least expensive and most effective way to reduce diesel emissions.  The Council’s Public Works, Parks and Environment Committee recommends approval. (Item #19)

Alcohol in the Parks:  The Council’s Public Works, Parks and Environment Committee has submitted a report on an ordinance concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages in City parks.  The committee did not make a recommendation on the ordinance and reported that Corporation Counsel advised that the ordinance needs additional amendments which were to be presented at the March 12th Council meeting.  The matter was also referred to the Planning and Economic Development Committee.  A public hearing was held on February 20, 2007.  The ordinance formerly on the books primarily governed beer and wine; the new ordinance governs all alcoholic beverages.  (Items #21 and 29

Kelvin D. Anderson Center – The Council will consider two resolutions relating to the reconstruction of Kelvin D. Anderson (KDA) Recreation Center located at 2621 Main Street.  The Council’s Finance & Revenue and Public Works, Parks & Environment Committees recommend approval of both resolutions.  The first resolution endorses the reconstruction project and authorizes the City to enter into a contract with Dubose Associates for architectural design services.  The second resolution authorizes the reallocation of funds within the Capital Improvement Program in order to allocate $1.0 million (in addition to the $500,000 already available) for the design of the reconstruction.  KDA has many physical problems, such as lack of handicapped access, undersized gym, failing mechanical systems, leaking swimming pool and failing windows and roof.  The Mayor convened a task force composed of City departments, Friends of KDA, and the Northeast NRZ which worked with an architectural firm to complete a review of the existing building and to propose alternative approaches.  The recommendation of the task force was to construct a new building containing a 25 meter pool, weight room, basketball court, 2000 foot community center, and a 2100 square foot branch library.  The cost is estimated at $17 million.  The new building will be built in two phases so that the recreation center can remain open during construction.  (Items #14, 15, 22, and 23)

Caribbean Trade Council – The Council will act on a resolution allocating $35,000 to the Caribbean Trade Council to be used for funding staff and operating costs.  The Council works to establish Hartford as a major center for distribution of Caribbean products and services in the Northeast.  The Council’s Planning and Economic Development Committee recommends approval.  (Item #12)

Parking Lot at 1214 Main Street – The Council’s Planning and Economic Development Committee submitted a report on a resolution authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hartford Parking Authority (HPA) for operation of the parking lot at 1214 Main Street.  HPA proposed that the City invest $350,000 in improvements to the 225-space lot.  HPA estimates that the lot will generate $150,000 per year in revenue and that the expenses of operating the lot will be approximately $115,000 annually, generating a net profit of $35,000 which would be used to offset the City’s capital investment.  The committee was concerned about making substantial improvements to a parcel that is being actively marketed for development.  They, therefore, asked the Parking Authority to provide revenue and expense estimates for investments of $150,000 and $250,000 respectively.  The Committee tabled the matter pending receipt of that information.  (Item #11)

New Agenda Items

State of the City Address – The Mayor will deliver his State of the City report as required by the City Charter.  (Item #1)

East Coast Greenway – The Council will consider a resolution that 1) supports the City of Hartford taking the lead in exploring opportunities to connect the city to the East Coast Greenway, 2) encourages the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) to integrate the city’s bicycle path network and open space and conservation plan into the MDC’s Clean Water Project and drainage improvements, and 3) asks the Mayor to appoint an ad hoc task force to develop a plan for bicycle improvements in the city, including a link to the Greenway.  The East Coast Greenway is a multi-use trail, currently under development, that will extend from Maine to Florida.  (Item #44)

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 the Hartford 2000, and the Hartford Public Library.

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