Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, April 26, 2010

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 48 items on the original agenda. Seven (7) additional items were submitted during the meeting. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, May 10, 2010 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall, preceded at 6:00 by a public comment period. The next public hearing will be Monday, May 17, 2010 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

The Council meeting opened with recognition of Charles Teale upon his retirement as Fire Chief, the West Indian Social Club on their 60th anniversary, and Jonathan Perez, high school, for championships won for diving.

2010-11 Budget – The Council referred, to its Operations, Management & Budget Committee, the Mayor's Recommended Budget for fiscal year 2010-11. Recommendations include a General Fund Budget of $554,280,552, a 76.64 mill rate (an increase of 3.85% over the current mill rate), and a ten year Capital Improvement Program totaling $792 million with $23.5 million in bonds to be issued in 2010-11 for capital projects. The recommendations also include $500,000 for the arts, $500,000 for a parks trainee program, and a 30-person Police recruit class. The recommended allocation to Hartford Public Schools is $277 million, an increase of $2.5 million over the current year, and the recommended allocation to the Hartford Public Library is $7.9 million, the same level as the current year. There will be a public hearing on the recommended budget on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 6 PM at Bulkeley High School. (Item #1)

Keney Golf Course – The Council referred, to its Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee and to public hearing, a resolution amending the agreement with MDM GOLF, LLC for management of the Keney Park Golf Course. The amendment will expand the area managed by MDM to include an area adjacent to the north and south cricket fields in Keney Park. This area will be developed by MDM into a driving range at their expense. In addition, the lease amendment authorizes MDM to rectify drainage issues affecting the cricket fields using $75,000 in City funds already allocated for this purpose. (Perez) (Item #5)

5-Year Community Development Plan – The Council postponed action on a resolution authorizing the City to submit a 5 year Consolidated Community Development Plan for the use of Federal grant funds which the City will receive from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (Community Development Block Grant, HOME, Housing for People with AIDS, and Emergency Shelter Grant). The plan is available for review on the City's web site at www.hartford.gov/development/grants-mgt . A public hearing was held on this matter on April 19, 2010. (Perez) (Item #12)

Auction of City Owned Properties – The Council approved a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sell 30 City owned properties at auction. The Council amended the original list of 32 properties to withdraw two parcels and put conditions on others to assure that the design and use fit well with their neighborhoods. All of the properties are vacant and have been deemed suitable for development. The sale will provide housing and economic development opportunities and will provide the City with needed revenue. Public hearings were held on this matter on March 15 and April 19, 2010. (Item #13)

Allocation of HUD Funds – The Council postponed action on a resolution allocating $8.4 million in Federal grant funds which will be received by the City from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development for the fiscal year 2010-11. The allocations include $4.6 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to be used for a variety of community and social services, economic development, rehabilitation, repair, demolition, park improvements, and administrative costs. $161,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant funds are to be allocated to nine emergency shelters and approximately $1.0 million in HOPWA funds (Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS) are allocated to ten programs in the region serving individuals and families living with AIDS/HIV. $2.3 million in HOME funds (HOME Investment Partnerships) is set aside for housing assistance programs, including home-buyer assistance and financing of rehabilitation or new construction. A public hearing was held on this issue on April 19, 2010. (Perez) (Item #14)

Latino Studies Academy – The Council adopted a resolution approving a construction project which will renovate a portion of Burns Elementary School for a Latino Studies Academy for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Construction will include roof repairs and code compliance and will cost approximately $1.4 million. The Connecticut Department of Education will reimburse the City of Hartford for 80% of these costs. A public hearing was held on this item on April 19, 2010. (Perez) (Item #17)

One City, One Plan (Plan of Conservation and Development) – The Council passed a resolution endorsing One City, One Plan (the Plan of Conservation and Development). The City has conducted an inclusive and vigorous public outreach participation process in drafting the Plan. Over 1,000 individuals as well as neighborhood and business groups have participated to date. The Council had 65 days to submit comments on the Plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission. (Perez) (Items #20)

Graffiti – The Council postponed action on a proposed ordinance addressing the issue of graffiti. The proposed ordinance defines graffiti and prohibits the application of graffiti and the possession of graffiti implements in public parks and facilities and within 50 feet of public infrastructure, such as bridge abutments or underpasses, holds both graffiti artists (and their parents if they are children) and property owners responsible for graffiti removal, and imposes penalties, including a fine of $100 per day, for failure to remove the graffiti. A public hearing was held on this item on March 15, 2010. (Perez) (Item #23)

Skateboarding – The Council referred to its Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee, a resolution accepting recommendations made by the Skateboarding Task Force established by the Council in October 2009. The Task Force recommends that a free skate park be established in New Ross, County Wexford Park, located in downtown Hartford on the platform over I-84. The Task Force recommends that the skate park be a poured concrete bowl-style, that it incorporate a stage or performance area and an urban art wall, and that it be open to skateboards, BMX and in-line skating. The Task Force is currently exploring costs and fundraising opportunities. (Cotto) (Item #43)

Budget Fiscal Analysis Task Force – The Council received and referred, to its Operations, Management & Budget Committee, a resolution acknowledging the hard work of the Budget Fiscal Analysis Task Force and indicating its intention to consider the recommendations made by the Task Force during the upcoming budgetary process. (Segarra, Boucher, Ritter) (Item #52)

Legal Opinions – The Council passed two resolutions authorizing requests for legal opinions from both outside counsel and the Corporation Counsel “for the purpose of understanding the City of Hartford's charter provisions regarding temporary impairment and absence of the Mayor and any and all appropriate State law and case law regarding this matter.” (Items # 54 and 55)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. 2010-11 Budget. Submission by the Mayor of the 2010 Budget Message, General Fund Budget, Capital Improvement Program, Tax Levy Ordinance, and Vehicle & Technology Ordinance. (Perez) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee and public hearing
2. Church Street Garage. Approval of a month-to-month lease by the Hartford Parking Authority of 714 parking spaces in the Church Street Garage to United Health Care at a rate of $100 per space per month. (Perez) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
3. Youth Services Grant. Approval to accept a $12,000 grant from the Community Catalyst for community change training for youth. (Perez) Passed
4. Morgan Street Garage. Approval of a month-to-month lease by the Hartford Parking Authority of 10 parking spaces in the Morgan Street Garage to United Health Care at a rate of $100 per space per month. (Perez) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
5. Keney Golf Course. Proposed amendment of existing agreement with the manager of the Keney Gold Course, MDM Golf, LLC, to allow MDM to develop and operate a driving range on land adjacent to the north and south cricket fields and to authorize MDM to make drainage improvements to the cricket fields with City funds. (Perez) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee and public hearing.
6. Motorcycle Parking Fees. Approval of the following fees for motorcycle parking within the Morgan Street Garage: $5.00 per day and $60 per month. (Perez) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee and public hearing
7. Youth Mentoring. Authorization to apply to the Federal Office for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for two three-year grants of $500,000 each to be used to expand the Office of Youth Service's Youth Alive Mentoring Program which assists at-risk Hartford youth. (Perez) Passed
8. Juvenile Review Board. Approval to accept a $275,000 grant from the CT Department of Children & Families to establish a Juvenile Review Board to divert first-time youth offenders from the juvenile justice system. (Perez) Passed
9. Food Service Licenses. Authorization to create an amnesty program to partially waive late fees due from food service establishments who failed to renew their licenses in a timely fashion. Late fees were not charged by City staff to some vendors in error. (Perez) Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
10. Lawsuit. Request for Council to enter Executive Session to discuss resolution of Juanita Johnson v. GEICO, City of Hartford and Officer Clarke, et al. (Perez) Executive Session
11. Audit Commission. Report from the Operations, Management & Budget Commission reporting that the Councilman requesting an informational session with the Internal Audit Commission agreed to withdraw the request. (Deutsch) Withdrawn
12. Community Development Plan. Authorization for the City to submit, to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, a 5-year Consolidated Community Development Plan. (Perez) Postponed
13. Sale of Properties. Authorization to sell 30 City-owned properties at auction in May. (Perez) Passed
14. Allocation of HUD Funds. Approval of allocations totaling $8.4 million that the City receives through four Federal grant programs: Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Shelter Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, and Housing for People with AIDS. (Perez) Postponed
15. ATM Machine. Authorization to enter into an agreement with the Hartford Municipal Employee's Federal Credit Union to place an ATM machine in the lobby of the Morgan Street Garage. (Perez) Passed
16. Historic Records. Approval to transfer City records, dating from 1638 to the mid-1950s, to the Hartford History Center at the Hartford Public Library. (Perez) Passed
17. Latino Studies Academy. Approval of construction of a Latino Studies Academy in Burns School at a cost of $1.4 million. (Perez) Passed
18. Lawsuit. Request for halt to expenditures on Moffitt v. City of Hartford without full report to Council on status of the case. OMB recommends referral to Executive Session of Council. (Deutsch) Executive Session
19. Loan Write-Offs. Authorization to write off six loans, made in the 1980s, totaling $326,600, which have been determined to be uncollectible. (Perez) Passed
20. One City, One Plan. Report by the Planning & Economic Development Committee describing discussions at a Committee meeting on April 6th and recommending postponement of action endorsing the draft Ten-Year Plan of Conservation and Development pending further input from Councilmembers. (PEDC) Passed
21. St. Martin's Outreach. Allocation of $10,000 to St. Martin's Outreach Certified Nursing Assistant Program. (Airey-Wilson) Postponed
22. Asylum Hill. Approval of the amended NRZ Strategic Plan for Asylum Hill NRZ. (Perez) Passed
23. Graffiti. Proposed ordinance to require removal of graffiti by the person who applies it or the owner of the property on which graffiti has been applied and imposition of $100 per day fines for failure to remove the graffiti. (Perez) Postponed
24. Appointment. Appointment of Kevin Burnham as new director of Public Works. (Perez) Passed
25. Appointment. Appointment of Sylvia Reid to the Human Relations Commission. (Perez) Passed
26. Appointment. Appointment of Walter Butler to the Human Relations Commission. (Perez) Passed
27. Appointment. Appointment of Cynthia Dubuque to the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues. (Perez) Passed
28. Appointment. Appointment of David Jorgensen to the Hartford Redevelopment Agency. (Perez) Passed
29. Appointment. Appointment of Hector Rivera to the Commission on Aging. (Perez) Passed
30. Appointment. Appointment of Charles Nobilski to the Advisory Commission on the Environment. (Perez) Passed
31. Commission on Cultural Affairs. Amendments to existing City ordinance governing the Commission on Cultural Affairs which would reduce the number of commissioners from 23 to 15, at least 12 of whom must be Hartford voters, including 2 students, and specifying other organizational requirements. (Cotto) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee and public hearing
32. Chief Teale. Resolution congratulating Chief Charles Teale on his retirement from the Fire Department. (Airey-Wilson) Passed
33. Appointment. Appointment of Doris Johnson to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission. (Perez) Postponed
34. Reappointment. Reappointment of Khadija Abdul-Salaam to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission. (Perez) Postponed
35. Appointment. Appointment of Carol Dixon to the Human Relations Commission. (Perez) Postponed
36. Appointment. Appointment of Michael Jones to the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues. (Perez) Postponed
37. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for Multicultural Family Fun Day to be held by the Mutual Housing Association of Greater Hartford on June 12, 2010 in Pope Park. (Cotto) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
38. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and permission to serve food and alcohol at the Connecticut Pride Hartford Rally and Festival to be held in Bushnell Park on June 5, 2010. (Cotto) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
39. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the UConn Victory Parade for the Women's Basketball Team to be held in downtown Hartford on April 18, 2010. (Cotto) Withdrawn
40. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closures for Our Lady of Fatima's St. Anthony's Festival to be held on June 13, 2010 and the Day of Portugal festival to be held on June 6, 2010 in Parkville. (Cotto) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
41. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the Rose Weekend Festival to be held by the Friends of Elizabeth Park on June 19 and 20, 2010 in Elizabeth Park. (Cotto) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
42. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and permission to serve alcohol for the Brazilian Day Festival to be sponsored by the Brazilian Community and Cultural Center on September 19, 2010 on Market Street between State and Temple. (Cotto) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
43. Skateboarding. Acceptance of recommendations made by the Skateboarding Task Force for creation of a skate park at New Ross, County Wexford Park in downtown Hartford. (Cotto) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
44. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the Greater Hartford Puerto Rican Day Parade to be held on June 6, 2010. (Cotto, Segarra, Torres) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
45. West Indian Social Club. Resolution congratulating the West Indian Social Club on their 60th Anniversary. Passed
46. Fair Housing Month. Designation of April as Fair Housing Month in the city of Hartford. (Airey-Wilson) Passed
47. Farmers Markets. Allocation of $600 to the Hartford Food System to support Hartford's farmers markets. (Boucher) Passed
48. Interim Mayor. Appointment of an interim Mayor for the period that the Mayor is temporarily absent. (Deutsch) Failed
49. Lease. Approval to extend, for an additional five years, the City's lease of 365 Broad Street and 11 Flower Street to the Hartford Courant for use as a parking lot, at a rate of $35 per parking space. Passed
50. Health & Human Services. Report from the Health & Human Services Committee regarding discussions of various ordinances. Received
51. Farmers Markets. Report by the Health & Human Services Committee on establishment of regulations and licenses for vendors at farmers markets. (Cotto) Received
52. Budget Fiscal Analysis Task Force. Acknowledgement of the hard work of the Budget Fiscal Analysis Task Force and commitment to consider support for the recommendations during the upcoming budgetary process. (Segarra, Boucher, Ritter) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
53. Batterson Park. Approval to apply for funding from the CT Department of Environmental Protection for construction of hiking and nature trails and an overnight camping area at Batterson Park. (Perez) Passed
54. Outside Legal Opinion. Approval to request a legal opinion from outside counsel to clarify provisions of the City Charter relating to the temporary impairment and absence of the Mayor. Passed
55. Internal Legal Opinion. Approval to request a legal opinion from the Corporation Counsel to clarify provisions of the City Charter relating to the temporary impairment and absence of the Mayor. Passed
    

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.