Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, March 24, 2008

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 31 items on the original agenda.  No additional items were submitted during the meeting.  The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, April 14, 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, April 21, 2008 at 7 PM.

This Review consists of two sections:  Items of Special Interest and Action on All Agenda Items.  The City’s official listing of 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

Riverwalk North Project – The Council referred to its Operations, Management & Budget and Public Works, Parks & Environment committees, a resolution authorizing the Chief Operating Officer to enter into the Second Supplemental Agreement to the original agreement between the State and City for construction, inspection, and maintenance of the Riverwalk North Project, along the Connecticut River, utilizing federal funds from the High Priority Projects Program and the Federal Aid Project.  (Item #1)

CDBG Grant – The Council referred, to its Operations, Management and Budget Committee, a resolution authorizing an allocation of $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to the Capitol Region Conference of Churches (CRCC) for the acquisition of the Collin Bennett Building at 1229 Albany Avenue.  CRCC will occupy 10,000 of the 37,000 square feet and will continue leasing the remaining space to existing tenants.  (Item #2)

HUD Entitlement Funds – The Council referred, to its Planning & Economic Development and Operations, Management & Budget Committees, a resolution authorizing the submission of the 2008-2009 Action Plan for the use of $7.3 million in grant funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.  The Annual Plan is expected to be available for public review from March 24 through April 24, 2008.  (Item #4)

Minority Health Council – The Council referred, to its Health & Human Services and Legislative Action Committees, a resolution supporting the creation of a Minority Health Advisory Council by the Connecticut General Assembly and urging the passage of Raised Bill Number 681.  The Advisory Council will work to eliminate disparities in health status among the state’s multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multiethnic communities and work for overall improvement of state residents’ quality of health.  (Item #5)

Grand List – The Council received a report, from the Administration, of the City’s 2007 Grand List, which is the assessed value of taxable and exempt property in the city of Hartford.  The total net assessed value of all taxable property is $3,460,283,369, a 4.46% increase over last year.  The value of real property increased by 6.16% from 2006, personal property decreased in value by .7%, and motor vehicle values increased by 2.34%.  The tax exempt real property grand list increased by 13.3%.  The Council’s Operations, Management, and Budget Committee discussed the report and has forwarded it to the full Council with a recommendation for approval.  (Item #8)

Search for New Director of Development Services – The Council received a report from its Operations, Management & Budget Committee supporting a proposal from the Mayor to contract for executive search services for the recruitment of a Director of Development Services.  The fee for these services will be $50,000.  The search process generally takes approximately sixteen weeks and consists of four phases.  (Item #9)

Living Wage Task Force – The Council approved a resolution creating a Living Wage Task Force which will be appointed by the Mayor and which will examine the living wage ordinance of the City and take relevant testimony in order to make recommendations to the City Council.  Hartford was one of the first cities in the state to pass a living wage ordinance.  It is important that the ordinance be monitored to ensure that it is creating benefits and results for the working people of Hartford.  The Council’s Labor and Workforce Development Committee recommended approval.  (Item #14)

Anti-Blight Amendment – The Council adopted an ordinance that, in addition to amending the definition of “blighted premises” in the City’s anti-blight regulations (Section 9-91 of the Municipal Code), makes a number of additional changes to the process of dealing with blight.  A public hearing was held on March 17th and the Public Works, Parks, and Environment Committee recommended approval.  (Item #16 and 19)

Parks Trust Fund – The Council referred, to its Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee, an ordinance amending Chapter 2, Article VII, Section 2.487 of the Municipal Code to allow gifts made to the City for cemetery improvements to be placed in the Hartford Parks Trust Fund and to allow investment income from the Fund to be used for cemetery improvements as well as park improvements.  A public hearing on this item will be held on April 21st at 7 PM.   (Item #23)

Charter Revision Task Force – The Council referred, to its Legislative Affairs Committee, a resolution introduced by the Mayor calling for the creation of a Charter Revision Task Force to review the City Charter, to gather testimony and to create a charge to a Charter Revision Committee should it deem it necessary to amend the Charter.  The Committee will meet at 6 PM on March 25th at 6 PM.  Also on the agenda of the Legislative Affairs Committee is a resolution, submitted to Council on February 25, 2008, that proposes the establishment of a Charter Revision Commission by April 1, 2008.  The resolution states that the proposed Commission would undertake a thorough review of the current City Charter and all aspects of the structure of the City Government, including but not limited to the appointment of certain boards and commissions by the City Council, the appointment of the Corporation Counsel by the City Council, the authority of the City Treasurer in financial matters governing the City, special elections for the mayor, and the composition of the City Council. (Item #24)

Announcing City Job and Volunteer Opportunities – The Council adopted a resolution stipulating that City job vacancies and voluntary positions on commissions and task forces be posted monthly in various City publications and on the City web site, Public Access TV, the Human Resources Office and the Hartford Public Library to ensure that a broader base of potential nominees and employees are reached.  The resolution also states that $400 per month should be designated to cover the expense of publishing the announcements.  The resolution was motivated by a desire to increase awareness of opportunities and get timely information to city residents.  (Item #28)

ACTION ON ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Names of committees are shown at end of this section
Item #

1. Riverwalk North: Authorization to enter into agreement that will reimburse the City for 100% of local costs of construction of the northern walkway along the Connecticut River.  Referred to OPM, PWP&E
2. CDBG Funds:  Allocation of $200,000 to Capitol Region Council of Churches to purchase 1229 Albany Avenue.  Referred to OMB
3. Emergency Management Grant:  Approval to accept a grant of $38,920 from State of Connecticut to partially support the cost of an Emergency Management Director.  Approved
4. HUD Entitlement Grants: Approval to submit 2008-09 Annual Plan for use of $7.3 million federal community development funds.  Referred to OMB and PEDC
5. Minority Health Council: Support for General Assembly’s establishment of Minority Health Advisory Council to address disparities in health status.  Referred to HHS and LA.
6. Contract Compliance:  Report from Labor and Workforce Development Committee discussion on the compliance of contractors with City requirements for employment of minorities, women, and others.  Received
7. MDC:  Report from the Public Works, Parks and Environment Committee on meeting with MDC commissioners and others regarding the Clean Water Project and MDC employment issues.  Received
8. Grand List:  Report from Operations, Management and Budget (OMB) Committee on the City’s new grand list (list of taxable property) of $3,460,283,369.  Received
9. Development Services Director:  Approval to hire an executive search firm to recruit a new director of Development Services.  Received
10. Equipment Purchase:  Recommendation by OMB Committee to approve acquisition of software, technology equipment, and vehicles though a lease arrangement with GE Capital.  Approved
11. Budget Increase:  Recommendation by OMB Committee to approve an increase of $2.7 million in the City’s 2008-09 budget.  Received
12. Procedures for Issuance of Bonds:  Recommendation by OMB Committee to approve new procedures for structure, timing, and method of issuing general obligation bonds.  Received
13. 2008-09 Budget:  Recommendation by OMB Committee to approve 2nd Quarter financial report from the Administration showing increased revenues and increased expenditures anticipated for 2008-09.  (see #18 below)  Approved
14. Living Wage:  Status Report from Labor and Workforce Development (LWD) Committee on the effect of the City’s Living Wage Ordinance and creation of a Living Wage Task Force.  Approved
15. Human Relations Hiring:  Recommendation by LWD Committee to lift hiring freeze for Department of Human Relations to help department implement the Fair Lending Program, Affirmative Action Plan, and Affirmative Supplier Diversity Program.  Withdrawn
16. Anti-Blight Amendments:  Information from Public Works, Parks and Environment (PWPE) Committee re pending recommendation on proposed amendments to anti-blight process.  (see #19 below)  Received
17. Procession:  Report from PWPE deferring action on request for street closures and fee waivers for procession sponsored by the Brazilian Cultural Center, pending additional information.  Postponed
18. 2008-09 Budget:  Approval of ordinance to implement changes in revenues and expenditures for current year budget.  (see #13 above) Approved
19. Anti-Blight Amendments:  Approval of ordinance amending procedures for enforcing anti-blight law.  (see #16 above)  Approved
20. Bonds:  Approval of ordinance setting out policies and procedures for issuing General Obligation Bonds.  Approved
21. Mark Twain Drive:  Approval of ordinance appropriating $2,728,000 in federal funds for the extension of Mark Twain Drive.  Referred to OMB and PWP&E
22. Accounting Standards:  Ordinance incorporating new standards, issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, for accounting for and reporting insurance and other benefits to retirees.  Withdrawn
23. Parks Trust Fund:  Ordinance to include cemetery improvements as an eligible use of Parks Trust funds.  Referred to PW,P&E
24. Charter Revision:  Creation of a Charter Revision Task Force.  Referred to LA
25. Fee Waiver:  Resolution to grant fee waiver to Hartford Moms and Pops Corner League for summer soccer program at Cronin Park.  Withdrawn
26. Fee Waiver:  Resolution to close streets and grant fee waiver to Classical Magnet School’s “Run for Kevin” on May 31st.  Referred to PW,P&E
27. Grant:  Resolution to grant $5,000 to My People Clinical Services for a Pre-Mother’s Day Brunch and Fathers Day Cookout.  Withdrawn
28. City Job and Volunteer Openings:  Resolution to post City positions and commission and other volunteer openings monthly and designate $400 monthly to fund publishing expenses.  Approved
29. Pope Park:  Resolution to urge Hartford’s State delegation to encourage State Bond Commission to authorize the grant authorized by State Act #05-01 for improvements to Pope Park.  Referred to LA
30. Grant:  Resolution to grant $7,500 to the Hartford Youth Soccer Organization.  Referred to PW,P&E and HHS
31. Minority Health Office:  Resolution to support the NAACP’s request that the State of CT establish an Office of Minority Health.  Referred to HHS and LA

Council Committees
HHS – Health and Human Services
LA – Legislative Affairs
OMB – Operations, Management and Budget
PED - Planning and Economic Development
PW,P&E – Public Works, Parks and Environment

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.