Council Previews & Reviews >> Previews > April 14, 2008

Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, April 14, 2008

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 21, 2008 at 7 PM.

There are 44 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.

990 Wethersfield Avenue – The Council will consider a resolution granting approval for the sale of 990 Wethersfield Avenue to Rego Realty for $1.00.  Rego proposes to rehabilitate the existing building into 24 units of market rate housing, ten of which will be designated for senior citizens.  Rego will be responsible for environmental remediation of the site and, if the costs of remediation are less than $170,000, Rego will pay to the City the difference between $170,000 and the cost of remediation.  Should the project not commence within 12 months or not be completed within 24 months, the property will revert to the City.  A public hearing on this matter was held on March 17th and the Planning & Economic Development Committee recommends in favor of passage of the resolution.  (Item#7)

North Hartford Economic Development Task Force – The Council will consider a resolution requesting that the Mayor establish a North Hartford Economic Development Task Force to develop a plan to address the effect of a higher separate tax rate on abandoned buildings and vacant lots, removal of the de facto junkyard on Windsor Street, development of parking in the entertainment district in the Northeast neighborhood, and purchase of City owned property below fair market value by minority and/or small Hartford based contractors.  The Council’s Planning & Economic Development Committee tabled the item at its last meeting.  (Item #11)

Minority Health Council – The Council will consider 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.  Both the Health & Human Services and Legislative Action Committees voted to support the resolution.  (Items # 12 and 24)

Charter Revision – Three resolutions concerning charter revision are on the Council’s agenda.  The first two were previously on the agenda and were referred to the Council’s Legislative Affairs Committee; the third is a new resolution.

Charter Revision Commission: The resolution proposes the establishment of a Charter Revision Commission which 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.  The Legislative Affairs Committee voted to send the item to the full Council without a recommendation.  (Item #23)

Charter Revision Task Force: The resolution calls 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 Legislative Affairs Committee voted to send the item to the full Council without a recommendation.  (Item #25)

Public Hearings – The resolution states that the Council will host a series of public hearings throughout the city between June 1 and September 30 to gather information and elicit testimony and opinions about the effectiveness of the City Charter.  These hearings will be used to determine the need for a Charter Revision Commission.  (Item #44)

New Agenda Items

One for One – The Council will consider a resolution authorizing the City to sponsor the One for One (One Mile for One Million Lives) kids bike-a-thon on Sunday, April 20th from 1 to 5 PM in Keney Park.  One hundred children from Clark Elementary School, Parker Memorial Center, and Hartford Catholic Worker House will ride their bikes and raise money to purchase blood testing kits for Africa to help slow the spread of HIV.  (Item #4)

CSS/CON NRZ Strategic Plan – The Council will consider an ordinance approving an amendment to the Strategic Plan for the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood prepared by the Coalition to Strengthen the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood (CSS/CON).  A public hearing on this ordinance is scheduled for Monday, April 21st at 7 PM.  (Item #27)

Anti-Blight Program – The Mayor has submitted an amendment to the Anti-blight Ordinance.  He vetoed the amendments adopted by the Council at its meeting of March 24, 2008.  Among the changes proposed is a determination that citations for violations are “in the best interests of the City”, a change in the calculation of fines, additional requirements for securing vacant buildings, additional reporting requirements by the Director of Licenses & Inspections, and authorization for City acquisition of certain vacant properties.  (Item #29)

Monument in Bushnell Park – The Council will vote on a resolution approving a permanent monument in Bushnell Park commemorating workers killed while on the job, in accordance with plans on file in the Planning Department.  (Item #30)

Underage Drinking Prevention – The Council will vote on a resolution requesting that the Mayor ask appropriate personnel to work with the Neighborhood Revitalization Zones to review action plans and recommendations of Teens In Hartford Promoting Sober Youth (TIHPSY).  The resolution also calls on the Directors of the Office of Youth Services and Health and Human Services Recreational Department to consider several recommendations, such as requiring after school and year-round programs to include alcohol and drug awareness workshops.  In addition, the resolution calls on City Department Officials to consider several recommendations such as increasing compliance checks at area stores.  (Item #33)

Grant to HPA – The Council will consider a resolution granting $25,000 to the Hartford Preservation Alliance (HPA) to support walking tours, assistance to neighborhoods, provision of historic rehabilitation/construction certification workshops for builders and developers, and other endeavors.  (Item #34)

Council Funding Application Process – The Council will vote on a resolution that establishes a process to consider funding requests.  The Council is often sought out by organizations and entities to assist with funding activities and programs.  Approval of this resolution will establish a funding application process including devising an application, review and determination procedure to be coordinated with other program funding sources to ensure non-duplication.  (Item #42)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS
Item #

  1. Grant:  Authorization to apply for and accept $330,000 from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving for the North Hartford Senior Center.
  2. Grant:  Authorization to apply for and accept $48,000 in FEMA money from the United Way for emergency food and shelter services by the McKinney Shelter.
  3. Grant:  Authorization to apply for and accept funds from the State of Connecticut for early childhood programs.
  4. Bike-a-thon:  Authorization for the City to sponsor a kids bike-a-thon to raise money for HIV prevention activities in Africa.
  5. Audit:  Authorization to contract with Blum/Shapiro & Company for audit of City fiscal year 2007-2008.
  6. Union Contract:  Executive Session to discuss agreement between Hartford Board of Education and Hartford Principals and Supervisors Association.
  7. 990 Wethersfield Avenue:  Authorization to sell 990 Wethersfield Ave. to Rego Realty for housing.
  8. Lease:  Authorization to extend air rights lease to Hartford Stage Company for expansion of their facility on Church Street.
  9. Lease:  Approval to enter into a 20-year lease with the owners of 777 Main Street for use of rooftop space for public safety functions.  Base rent is $14,400 per year, with $42/month increases over 20 years.
  10. Lease:  Approval to enter into a 5 year lease with Rebuilding Together Hartford for 1,250 square feet of space at 250 Constitution Plaza at $1.00 per year.
  11. Task Force:  Establishment of a North Hartford Economic Development Task Force.
  12. Minority Health 1:  Support for establishment of a State Minority Health Advisory Council by Health and Human Services Committee.
  13. Grant:  Allocation of $7,500 to the Hartford Youth Soccer Organization.
  14. Minority Health 2:  Support of establishment of an Office of Minority Health by Health and Human Services Committee.
  15. Fee Waiver:  Approval of fee waiver and street closures for procession on October 12, 2008 sponsored by Brazilian Cultural Center.
  16. Event Permission:  Permission to the Pour House to hold summer party series on Allyn Street.
  17. Fee Waiver:  Granting of fee waiver and use of Pavilion in Elizabeth Park by Trinidad and Tobago Civic Association for festival and concert on July 12th.
  18. Fee Waiver:  Granting of fee waiver and use of Pavilion in Bushnell Park by CT Community Addiction Recovery for a Recovery Walk on September 20th.
  19. Fee Waiver:  Granting of fee waiver for Downtown Criterium to be held in Bushnell Park on May 25th.
  20. Fee Waiver:  Granting of fee waiver for Healing Field of Honor for Hometown Heroes to be held by American Legion in Bushnell Park from June 12th to June 16th.
  21. Fee Waiver:  Granting of fee waiver for Keney Park Family Day to be held on August 16th.
  22. Fee Waiver:  Granting of fee waiver for Phagwah (New Year) Parade sponsored by Shri Krishna Mandir in Goodwin Park on March 22nd.
  23. Charter Revision 1:  Establishment of a Charter Revision Commission.
  24. Minority Health 3:  Support of establishment of State Minority Health Advisory Council and a State Office of Minority Health by the Planning & Economic Development Committee.  (see items 12 and 14 above)
  25. Charter Revision 2:  Establishment of a Charter Revision Task Force.
  26. Fee Waiver:  Preliminary report on Brazilian Cultural Center procession.  To be withdrawn in favor of #15 above.
  27. NRZ Plan:  Ordinance adopting the amendment of the CSS/CON (Sheldon/Charter Oak) Neighborhood Revitalization Zone Strategic Plan.
  28. Government Standards:  Ordinance regarding post-employment non-pension benefits to retirees.
  29. Anti-blight Ordinance:  Amendments to the anti-blight program following Mayor’s veto of previously adopted amendments.
  30. Monument:  Approval of monument in Bushnell Park commemorating workers killed on the job.
  31. Union Contract:  Executive Session for agreement between Hartford Board of Education and Hartford Federation of Teachers.
  32. Foreclosures:  Prevention of homeowner foreclosures.
  33. Underage Drinking:  Recommendations to address the problem of underage drinking.
  34. Grant:  Allocation of $25,000 to Hartford Preservation Alliance.
  35. Fee Waiver:  Fee Waiver and street closures for March for Babies fundraising walk on April 27th .
  36. Fee Waiver:  Fee waiver for softball tournament in Colt Park on April 26th hosted by Boriquas of Hartford.
  37. Fee Waiver:  Fee waiver and permission to hold the Coleman Brothers carnival in Colt Park from April 28th to May 4th .
  38. Grant:  Use of CDBG funds to remove lead paint and an oil tank and replace collapsed sewer pipes at the Carpe Diem Fraternity property.
  39. Grant:  Allocation of $5,000 to the North End Little League.
  40. Naming:  Resolution to name the baseball diamond at Keney-Waverly park for Elliot Bert and Lou Kelly.
  41. Grant:  Allocation of $7,500 to the Hartford Friendship Kids’ Camp.
  42. Grant Process:  Establishment of a “Council Funding Application Process” for requests for funding by programs.
  43. Grant:  Allocation of $7,500 to the Hartford Knights’ after-school program
  44. Charter Revision 3:  Decision to host a series of public hearings throughout the city between June 1 and September 30, 2008 on the effectiveness of the Hartford City Charter.

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.

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