Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, April 25, 2011

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

The Council meeting will begin at 7 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers. There will be a public hearing on the Mayor's Recommended Budget on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 6 PM at Bulkeley High School, 300 Wethersfield Avenue. The next Council meeting will be Monday, May 9, 2011 at 7 PM, preceded at 6 PM by a public comment period.

There are 53 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

New Agenda Items:

The following items appear for the first time on the Council's Agenda.

Juvenile Review Board – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the City to apply for and accept $225,000 in Juvenile Review Board (JRB) grant funding from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families for the period July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2013. The purpose of the JRB is to divert first-time offender youth from the juvenile justice system by engaging them in a process through which they understand how their behavior harmed the victim and community, acknowledge that their behavior was directly harmful to others, and take responsibility for repairing the harm through direct or indirect action. (Segarra) (Item #9)

Operation of Bushnell Park Carousel – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the City to enter into an agreement with The New England Carousel Museum, Inc. for the continued operation of the Bushnell Park Carousel through March 31, 2015. Funding for operation of the Carousel is provided in large part by the City through a special appropriation dedicated to supporting civic and cultural events in Hartford. The special appropriation is currently $120,520 per year. (Segarra) (Item #11)

Establishment of Department of Children, Families, and Recreation – The Council will vote on a proposed ordinance that, if approved, will establish a Department of Children, Families, and Recreation which shall be responsible for promoting and improving the integration of services for children, youth, and families. The Department will consist of three divisions: the Office of Young Children, the Office of Youth Services, and the Office of Recreation Services. (Segarra) (Item #35)

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.

1-7 Myrtle Street – The Council will consider a resolution authorizing the City to acquire the Capital West property at 1-7 Myrtle Street through eminent domain. The property is located within the Downtown West Redevelopment Area. The Hartford Redevelopment Agency has tried without success to negotiate the purchase of the property and, therefore, voted on March 10th to acquire it through eminent domain. The Council‘s Planning & Economic Development Committee recommends passage of the ordinance. (Segarra) (Item #14)

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 #25)

Artificial Trans Fats – The Council will consider an ordinance restricting the serving, sale, storage, or distribution of foods that contain more than .5 grams of artificial trans fats per serving in any food establishment in Hartford. Artificial trans fats are found in vegetable shortening, margarine, and hydrogenated vegetable oil. The ordinance was drafted in response to a Council resolution passed on March 14, 2011. (Segarra) (Item 26)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. Transit District Appointment. Confirmation of the Mayor's reappointment of Frank Lord to the Greater Hartford Transit District. (Segarra)
2. HIV/AIDS Commission Appointments. Confirmation of the Mayor's reappointment of Clara Acosta-Glynn, Alani Willett, and Alice Ferguson and the appointment of George Lawson and Andre Caban to the Commission on HIV/AIDS. (Segarra)
3. License Agreement. Authorization for the City to enter into a license agreement with Knox Parks Foundation for the use of 154 Affleck Street and 650 Broad Street as community gardens. (Segarra)
4. Public Health Block Grant. Approval for the City to apply for and accept a $32,000 grant from the CT Department of Public Health to be used to establish a Cancer Task Force. (Segarra)
5. Healthy Start Grant. Authorization for the City to apply for and accept $320,000 from the CT Department of Social Services for a program to reduce infant mortality and give babies a "healthy start" in life. (Segarra)
6. STD/Tuberculosis Grant. Approval for the City to apply for and receive $86,000 from the CT Department of Public Health for programs for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis. (Segarra)
7. Ruby Long Park. Authorization for the City to accept $400,000 from the CT Department of Environmental Protection for improvements to Ruby Long Park.
8. Goodwin Park. Approval for the City to accept $125,000 from the CT Department of Environmental Protection to be used to replace the fencing around Goodwin Park along South and Hubbard Streets. (Segarra)
9. Juvenile Review Board. Authorization for the City to apply for and accept $225,000 from the CT Department of Children and Families to be used to support the Juvenile Review Board which diverts first-time youthful offenders from the court system. (Segarra)
10. Family Enrichment Services. Approval for the City to apply for and accept $81,000 from the CT Department of Children and Families for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. (Segarra)
11. Bushnell Park Carousel. Authorization for the City to enter into an agreement with the New England Carousel Museum for continued operation of the Bushnell Park Carousel through March 31, 2015. (Segarra)
12. Food Policy Commission. Confirmation of the Mayor's reappointment of Andrew May and appointments of Mary Lee Morrison, Caroline Wheaton, Valentine Doyle, and Sofia Segura-Perez to the Commission on Food Policy. (Segarra)
13. Living Wage. Resolution requiring that the City's Living Wage provisions be applied to employees of the Board of Education without exception. (Deutsch)
14. Acquisition of 1-7 Myrtle Street. Authorization for the City to acquire 1-7 Myrtle Street through eminent domain. (Segarra)
15. ADRC Leases. Authorization to renew two leases with the Alcohol and Drug Recovery Centers (ADRC) for the use of City-owned properties at 46 and 56 Coventry Street for addiction recovery services. (Segarra)
16. Information Kiosks. Resolution stating that the City shall install information kiosks at all recreation and senior centers for the posting of information about arts, cultural, and heritage events. (Cotto)
17. Housing Loan Write-Offs. Approval to write off a total of $396,763 in balances owing on four housing loans made by the City which have been determined to be uncollectible. (Segarra)
18. Artificial Trans Fats. Report by the Health & Human Services Committee discharging from the committee a proposed ordinance concerning trans fats. (See also Agenda Item #26)
19. ZBA Appointment. Confirmation of the Mayor's appointment of Denise Best to the Zoning Board of Appeals. (Segarra)
20. GHTD Appointment. Confirmation of the Mayor's appointment of Jennifer Cassidy to the Greater Hartford Transit District. (Segarra)
21. MDC Appointments. Reappointment of Adam Cloud, Al Marotta, and Hector Rivera to the Metropolitan District Commission. (Winch, Torres)
22. MDC. Appointment of Daniel Kinch, Rupert Daniels, and Lee Hunt to the Metropolitan District Commission (Deutsch)
23. MDC Appointment. Appointment of Douglas Green and the reappointment of Alphonse Marotta and Hector Rivera to the Metropolitan District Commission. (Kennedy)
24. MDC Appointment. Appointment of Luis C. Caban to the Metropolitan District Commission. (Torres)
25. 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)
26. Artificial Trans Fats. A proposed ordinance regulating the serving, storage, sale, and distribution of food containing more than .5 grams of trans fat per serving by any food establishment in Hartford. (Segarra)
27. Office of Cultural Affairs. Ordinance changing the name of the Office of Cultural Affairs to the Office of Sports, Marketing, Arts and Tourism. (Segarra)
28. LGBT Commission. Ordinance assigning responsibility for staffing the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues to the Corporation Counsel's Office. (Segarra)
29. Division of Recreation & Youth Services. Ordinance removing the Division of Recreation and Youth Services from the Department of Health & Human Services. (Segarra)
30. Human Relations Commission. Ordinance assigning responsibility for staffing the Human Relations Commission to the Corporation Counsel's Office. (Segarra)
31. Civil Preparedness. Ordinance defining the purpose of the Civil Preparedness Division and establishing that the Fire Chief serves as the Director of Civil Preparedness. (Segarra)
32. Commission on Cultural Affairs. Ordinance providing that the head of the Office of Sports, Marketing, Arts and Tourism shall staff the Commission on Cultural Affairs. (Segarra)
33. Director of Children, Families, and Recreation. Ordinance creating, in the nonunion and unclassified executive service, the position of Director of Children, Families, and Recreation. (Segarra)
34. Use of Names of Parks and Facilities. Ordinance assigning responsibility to the Director of Public Works for approving the use of the names of parks and recreation facilities by organizations and recognizing such organizations as affiliates or representatives of the park or facility. (Segarra)
35. Department of Children, Families and Recreation. Ordinance establishing the Department of Children, Families and Recreation. (Segarra)
36. Grants Management. Ordinance specifying that the Office of Management and Budget shall manage, administer and monitor federal and state grant and loan programs. (Segarra)
37. 311 System. Ordinance assigning management of the City's 311 system to the Department of Emergency Services. (Segarra)
38. Development Services. Ordinance removing the grants management function and adding the Office of Sports, Marketing, Arts and Tourism to the Department of Development Services. (Segarra)
39. Equal Opportunity. Ordinance assigning responsibility to the Human Resources Department for providing advice and comment to the Mayor on equal opportunity and affirmative action and assigning responsibility for staffing the Civilian Police Review Board to Corporation Counsel. (Segarra)
40. Parks & Recreation Commission. Ordinance assigning staffing responsibilities for the Parks & Recreation Commission to the Department of Public Works and establishing that the Directors of Public Works and Children, Families and Recreation are ex officio members of the Commission. (Segarra)
41. Buy Hartford. Resolution encouraging Hartford residents to utilize Hartford businesses. (Winch)
42. Budget Public Hearing. Resolution establishing the schedule for the April 26th public hearing on the Mayor's Recommended Budget to be held at Bulkeley High School at 6 PM. (Winch)
43. Local Purchase of School Uniforms. Resolution requesting the Board of Education to provide to parents a list of businesses that sell school uniforms, including Hartford businesses. (Winch)
44. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for a Good Friday procession to be held by St. Peter's Church. (Cotto)
45. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for Our Lady of Fatima's Imperio procession to be held in Parkville on May 29,, 2011. (Cotto)
46. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for a Good Friday procession to be held in the Northeast Neighborhood by St. Michael's Church. (Cotto)
47. Nurturing Families Program. Resolution requesting the State of Connecticut to restore $3.2 million in funding for the Nurturing Families Program in the budget of the CT Department of Social Services. (Cotto)
48. Permission. Resolution granting permission to Carlene Walker to serve alcohol at a baby shower in the Keney Park Pond House on May 13, 2011. (Cotto)
49. Arts & Heritage Jobs Grant. Resolution establishing that 50% of the membership of any selection committee for Arts & Heritage Jobs grant funds or any other similar program using City funds be comprised of members of the Commission on Cultural Affairs. (Cotto)
50. Police Commission. Resolution requesting that an ordinance be written to establish a Board of Police Commissioners. (Aponte, Torres)
51. Living Wage. Resolution stating that the Council will not take action on the Board of Education budget unless all regular and contracted employees are guaranteed a living wage and paid sick days. (Deutsch)
52. Funding. Resolution granting $5,000 to the Hartford Soccer Club, $3,500 to Shiloh Baptist Church, and $1,500 to Martin Luther King Soccer League. (Kennedy)
53. Municipal Solid Waste. Resolution asking the City's State Legislative Delegation to vote against SB 1167 which would transfer the municipal solid waste function from CRRA to an un-named "public entity". (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.