Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, March 14, 2011

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

On Monday, March 14, at 5 PM, Mayor Pedro Segarra will give the annual State of the City address. At 6 PM, the Council will hold its monthly public comment period. The Council meeting will begin at 7 P.M. All meetings are held in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall. The next public hearing will be Monday, March 21, 2011 at 7 PM.

There are 21 items on the agenda. Below is detailed information about items of special interest to neighborhoods. Following those details is a listing of all agenda items, in layperson’s language. The complete official 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

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

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.

Parking Concession – The Council will consider a resolution authorizing the issuance of a request for proposals (RFP) for a potential parking concession in downtown Hartford. The proposed concession would consolidate the operation of the City’s parking facilities and improve parking efficiencies. The entity selected through the RFP would provide an upfront payment to the City in return for the right to operate the City’s garages and metered parking spaces and to retain the annual revenues from such facilities. Funds derived from the transaction will be placed in a trust fund created by ordinance to ensure the use of such funds for long term strategic goals and objectives. The Council’s Planning & Economic Development Committee discharged the item from committee without a recommendation. (Segarra) (Items #2 and 5)

Tree Ordinance – The Council will consider a proposed ordinance for the purpose of maintaining and growing Hartford’s urban forest, maintaining trees in a healthy condition, protecting existing trees, and mitigating loss and damage to Hartford’s trees. At a previous meeting, the Council referred this ordinance back to the Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee for further deliberation. (Boucher, Cotto) (Item #11)

Campaign Contributions – The Council will consider a proposed ordinance that would prohibit campaign contributions to candidates running for Mayor, Council, Board of Education, Treasurer, and Registrar of Voters, by individuals or entities who hold City contracts of $25,000 or more. City contractors include individuals, business entities, and nonprofit organizations that have agreements or contracts with the City of Hartford, Hartford Parking Authority, Hartford Housing Authority, or the Board of Education, as well as those who have submitted bids or proposals for the purpose of obtaining an agreement or contract. Contributions would be prohibited to candidates, exploratory committees, and political and party committees. (Cotto) (Item #12)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. Human Relations Commission. Confirmation of the appointment of Anthony McCann to the Human Relations Commission. (Segarra)
2. Parking Concession. Report by the Planning & Economic Development Committee of a March 1st meeting to discuss approval for the City to issue a Request for Proposals for an entity to operate the City’s parking garages and metered on-street parking spaces in return for an up-front cash payment. (Segarra)
3. Health & Human Services Committee Report. Report on discussions held by the Committee on the Critical Health Indicator Report.
4. Education Committee Report. Report on discussions held by the committee on adult literacy and sex offenders and student safety.
5. Parking Concession. Report by Planning & Economic Development Committee of February 23rd meeting to discuss approval for the City to issue a Request for Proposals for an entity to operate the City’s parking garages and metered on-street parking spaces in return for an up-front cash payment. (Segarra)
6. Trans Fats. Request that the Administration submit an ordinance, within 90 days, banning or restricting the sale, in Hartford, of products containing trans fats. (Cotto, Deutsch)
7. Appointment. Confirmation of the Mayor’s appointment of William Katz to the Commission on Cultural Affairs. (Segarra)
8. Appointment. Confirmation of the Mayor’s appointment of Valerio Giadone to the Planning & Zoning Commission. (Segarra)
9. MDC Appointments. Reappointment of Adam Cloud, Al Marotta, and Hector Rivera to the Metropolitan District Commission. (Winch, Torres)
10. MDC. Appointment of Daniel Kinch, Rupert Daniels, and Lee Hunt to the Metropolitan District Commission (Deutsch)
11. Tree Ordinance. Ordinance for the purpose of maintaining and growing Hartford’s urban forest, by governing the planting, removal, altering, or damaging of trees. (Boucher, Cotto)
12. Campaign Contributions. Proposed ordinance prohibiting individuals and entities who have contracts of $25,000 or more with the City of Hartford, Hartford Housing Authority, Hartford Parking Authority, or Board of Education from making contributions to candidates for Mayor, Council, Registrar of Voters, Treasurer, or Board of Education. (Cotto)
13. MDC Appointment. Appointment of Douglas Green and the reappointment of Alphonse Marotta and Hector Rivera to the Metropolitan District Commission. (Kennedy)
14. Library Events. Approval for the Hartford Public Library to serve alcohol at an Author Event on April 5th, a Donor Reception on April 15th, and a Community Celebration on June 10, 2011. (Cotto)
15. St Patrick’s Day Parade. Request for a 50% waiver and street closures for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 12, 2011. (Cotto, Segarra, Boucher, Kennedy)
16. Iraq & Afghanistan. Call for the US Government to end wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Cotto)
17. Grant. Approval to provide a grant of $19,100 to Guakia, Inc. (Deutsch, Aponte, Torres)
18. Public Event Fees. Request that an ordinance be drafted to charge a flat fee for City services to the organizers of events that attract a minimum of 3,000 people. (Kennedy)
19. Grant. Approval to grant $5,000 to the Youth Violence Prevention Activities. (Kennedy)
20. Grant. Approval to provide a grant of $5,000 to Youth Crises and Trauma Response Activities. (Kennedy)
21. Grant. Approval of a $5,000 grant to the Mayor Mike’s Little League team. (Painter)

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.