Council Previews & Reviews >> Previews > March 26, 2007

Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, March 26, 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 meeting will be preceded, at 6:30 PM, by an open agenda public hearing.  The next public hearing will be Monday, April 16, 2007.

There are 25 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 tabled, referred to committees and/or public hearing, or action was postponed by the Council.  They are now on the agenda again for action.

Parking Lot at 1214 Main Street – The Council will consider 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.  The net profit of $35,000 would be used to offset the City’s capital investment.  The Council’s Planning and Economic Development Committee submitted a report indicating that the Committee was concerned about making substantial improvements to a parcel that is being actively marketed for development.  They 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 and the Council tabled the item at its March 12th meeting.  (Item #8)

Plaza Mayor – There are two resolutions on the Council agenda relating to the Plaza Mayor project - a mixed-use development on 2.25 acres of vacant land at the corner of Park and Main Streets.  The proposal calls for 30 townhouse style condominiums to be constructed atop ground level retail that will surround a public plaza.  The proposal will also include a banquet venue and a combination of covered and uncovered parking. The first resolution authorizes the Finance Director to make necessary fund transfers in order to provide $4.6 million in financial assistance to the project.  The second resolution grants initial approval of a disposition agreement with the developer, Plaza Mayor LLC, for conveyance of twelve parcels of land for $1.00.  These two resolutions were referred to the Planning and Economic Development Committee in November of 2006.  The Committee recommends approval of the financial assistance but tabled the land disposition pending additional information on the financing of the project.  (Items #9 and 10)

License Agreements – The Council will receive a report from its Planning and Economic Development Committee asking that proposed ordinance on license agreements be tabled.  The ordinance as submitted would require the Court of Common Council to approve all License Agreements for access to City property for more than 90 days.  The Committee has asked Corporation Counsel to prepare an amendment to the ordinance increasing the 90 days to four to six months.  A public hearing on the ordinance was held on Monday, March 19, 2007.  (Item #11 and 14)

Alcohol in the Parks:  The Council will consider an ordinance concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages in City parks.  The council postponed action on this item at their meeting of March 12th.  The Council’s Public Works, Parks and Environment Committee submitted a report but did not make a recommendation on the ordinance.  The Committee was advised by Corporation Counsel that the ordinance needs additional amendments which were to be presented at the March 12th Council meeting, but were not.  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.  (Item #12)

Hearing Procedure for Parking Violations – The Council will consider a proposed ordinance that, if approved, will update the municipal code to reflect the new hearing process for parking violations, which was implemented in December 2006.  The new process is in accordance with the Connecticut General Statues and also solved administrative problems in the parking adjudication process.  The new process has resulted in a dramatic increase in paid and processed parking tickets.  The Council referred the ordinance to its Management and Budget Committee and a public hearing was held on Monday, March 19, 2007.  (Item #13)

New Agenda Items

Chappelle Gardens Community Center – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing an allocation of $130,000 in Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) funds to assist in closing the gap to complete the Chappelle Gardens Community Center, at 870 Garden Street, in the Chappelle Gardens Housing Cooperative.  Funding from HUD, DECD, and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving was previously allocated for the Community Center, but construction was delayed and as a result costs have risen. The $130,000 in UDAG funds will help close the gap.  (Item #1)

Sale of City-Owned Property at 104 and 176 Clark Street – The Council will vote on a resolution approving the sale of 104 and 176 Clark Street to Meadows Real Estate & Development Inc, an affiliate of the Community Renewal Team (CRT), for $6,000 and $12,530 respectively.  Meadows Development intends to construct a residential building, and has received support for the purchase of the property from the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Zone.  (Item #3)

Computer Aided Dispatch Software System Inter Local City Agreement – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an Inter Local City Agreement with the City of New Britain and the City of Bridgeport.  The Agreement authorizes Hartford to share in the development of a Computer Aided Dispatch software system (CAD) which will service the Public Safety Dispatch Centers of each city.  The new CAD will improve the HEARTBEAT CAD system in use in Hartford for the past 18 years in furtherance of public safety and for police/fire/EMS dispatch services.  The state and federal governments have awarded $570,000 for this project through the Capital Region Council of Governments (CRCOG).  (Item #4)

HUD Entitlement Funds – The Council will consider a resolution allocating $7,278,993 in funds provided to the City through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnership (HOME), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG).  (Item #7)

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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