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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 68 items on the regular agenda; none were added
on the supplemental agenda. Council member Steve Harris was absent. The next Council meeting is April 10; the
next public hearing is April 17.
Approval of NRZ Plans
– The Council passed an ordinance approving the Neighborhood Revitalization
Zone (NRZ) Strategic Plans for Asylum Hill, Parkville, and South Green. Both
the Commission on the City Plan and the Planning, Economic Development and
Zoning Committee had recommended passage.
Banning of Firearm
Facsimiles -- The Council passed on consent an ordinance which bans the
sale of any replica or facsimile of a firearm which could “reasonably be perceived
to be a real firearm.”
Police Review Board
– The Council passed an ordinance which alters the Civilian Police Review
Board. The ordinance now requires, among other things, that the Review
Board have one resident appointed by the Human Relations Commission, that the
Board reflect the city’s neighborhood communities, and that the police
representatives to the Board shall have undergone diversity training. It is the duty of the Civilian Review Board
to review investigations of citizen complaints against the police.
Hartford Parks and
Recreation Advisory Commission – On the recommendation of Council member
Caro, the Council passed a resolution which changed the procedure of handling
parks-related resolutions. The Council
will now direct all parks-related issues through the Hartford Parks and
Recreation Advisory Commission for
its “review, research and recommendations.” The Advisory Commission will then submit its recommendations to the
Council. The Commission is composed of
Hartford residents appointed by the Council.
Adriaen’s Landing
Update – The Council voted to engage Rothchild Realty to conduct a
financial analysis of the costs and benefits of Adriaen’s Landing for the
city. The resolution authorizes the
City Manager to pay Rothchild Realty up to $60,000 for the assessment.
Minority Businesses
and Adriaen’s Landing -- The Council postponed action on a resolution which
would set minimum guidelines for hiring minority-owned businesses on the
Adriaen’s Landing project. The
resolution would require at least 30% of the contractors, jobs, and training
related to Adriaen’s Landing go to ethnic minorities. The resolution would disqualify any prime contractor who bid on
the project whose submission did not reach the 30% guideline.
Renaissance Place
– After an acrimonious debate, the Council passed two resolutions effecting
Renaissance Place - a proposed development of the downtown block bounded by
Asylum, Pratt, Main, and Trumbull Streets. The resolutions authorized the Hartford Economic Development Commission
to issue a $26.3 million Tax Increment Finance bond and authorized the City
Manager to enter into a tax assessment agreement with the developers of
Renaissance Place. During the discussion
before the vote, Council member O’Connell argued for a two week postponement in
order to gain more information. The
mayor and several other Council members argued that the Council had sufficient
information and needed to act to promote growth in the city.
Charter Revision
– The Council extended the deadline for the report from the Charter Revision
Commission until April 14. (The
original deadline was March 31.) the
Charter Commission is making recommendations for changes to the city’s charter.
Compost Fire Investigation – The Council voted down
a resolution which would have directed the City Manager to create an ad hoc Board of Inquiry to investigate
the recent fire at the Metropolitan District Commission compost treatment
facility. The Health and Human
Services Committee had recommended passage of the resolution.
If you have any questions about the agenda Greg Vickers at CREN, 249‑1416. The Citizens' Research Education Network is a non‑profit information center for Hartford community‑based organizations. |
