Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, April 28, 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 next public hearing will be Monday, May 19, 2008 at 7 PM.  Council meetings and public hearings are carried live on Hartford Public Access TV, Channel 21.

There are 37 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

2008-2009 City Budget – The Mayor has submitted to Council his recommended 2008-2009 General Fund Budget in the amount of $552 million.  The budget contains goals, objectives, strategies and allocations to City Departments, the Library, and the Board of Education as well as the Capital Budget.  The budget will be funded with $258,650,000 in tax revenue and $293,350,000 in non-tax revenue and will require a mill rate of 69.71 which is a 9.97% increase over the current tax levy.  A public hearing on the budget will be held at Bulkeley High School on Tuesday, April 29th, at 6 PM.  (Item #1)

Blighted Housing – The Council will consider a resolution establishing a task force to conduct a special assessment of blighted housing and submit the report to the Council within 60 days.  The task force shall be composed of at least six taxpayers (one of whom shall be a landlord), the Tax Assessor, and representatives of Development Services and the Health Department.  (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.

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.  (Item #6)

HUD Entitlement Funds – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the submission of the 2008-2009 Action Plan for the use of $7.3 million in grant funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.  The Planning & Economic Development and Operations, Management & Budget Committees recommends approval.  (Item #7)

Riverwalk North Project – The Council will consider a resolution authorizing the Chief Operating Officer to enter into the Second Supplemental Agreement to the original agreement between the State and City for construction, inspection, and maintenance of the Riverwalk North Project, along the Connecticut River, utilizing federal funds from the High Priority Projects Program and the Federal Aid Project.  The Council’s Operations, Management & Budget and Public Works, Parks & Environment committees recommends approval. (Items #8 and 15)

Grant to CRCC – The Council will take action on a resolution authorizing an allocation of $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to the Capitol Region Conference of Churches (CRCC) for the acquisition of the Collin Bennett Building at 1229 Albany Avenue.  CRCC will occupy 10,000 of the 37,000 square feet and will continue leasing the remaining space to existing tenants.  The Council’s Operations, Management and Budget Committee recommends approval. (Item #9)

Grant to HPA – The Council will vote on 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.  The Council’s Operations, Management and Budget Committeerecommends approval.  (Item #11)

Parks Trust Fund – The Council will consider an ordinance amending Chapter 2, Article VII, Section 2.487 of the Municipal Code to allow gifts made to the City for cemetery improvements to be placed in the Hartford Parks Trust Fund and to allow investment income from the Fund to be used for cemetery improvements as well as park improvements.  A public hearing on this item was held on April 21st at 7 PM and the Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee recommends approval.  (Items #17 and 23)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. 2008-2009 Budget:  Submission by the Mayor of General Fund budget for the City of Hartford totaling $552 million and requiring a mill rate of 69.71 (an increase of 6.32 mills – a 9.97% increase – over the current year).  Public Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, April 29th at 6 PM at Bulkeley High School.
2. Grant to be Received: Acceptance of $2,000 from Northside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance (NINA) for Police to address quality of life issues in Asylum Hill.
3. Grant to be Received:  Acceptance of $12,000 from CT Juvenile Justice Education Center to support Police Department’s Girls Soccer League.
4. Procurement System:  Report from the Labor and Workforce Development Committee on changes to City’s procurement system.  No action recommended at this time.
5. Single Stream Recycling:  Report from the Public Works, Parks and Environment Committee on presentation made by Public Works Director Clarence Corbin on the City’s pilot project to increase recycling “Go Green, Use Blue”.
6. North Hartford Economic Development Task Force:  Report from the Planning & Economic Development Committee indicating that establishment of the Task Force was tabled.
7. Grants to be Made:  Allocations of $7,274,426 in federal grant funds (CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA) to various programs and a report with positive recommendations by the Planning & Economic Development and Operations, Management & Budget Committees.
8. Riverwalk North: Authorization to enter into agreement that will reimburse the City for 100% of local costs of construction of the northern walkway along the Connecticut River and report from Operations, Management, & Budget Committee recommending approval.  (also see #15 below)
9. Grant to be Made:  Allocation of $200,000 in CDBG funds to Capitol Region Conference of Churches for purchase of 1229 Albany Avenue (Collin Bennett Building) with positive recommendation by Planning & Economic Development Committee.
10. Mark Twain Drive:  Appropriation of $2,728,000 in the Capital Improvement Fund to extend Mark Twain Drive and positive recommendation by the Operations, Management, & Budget Committee.  (also see #16 and 22 below)
11. Grant to be Made:  Allocation of $25,000 to the Hartford Preservation Alliance with positive recommendation by the Operations, Management, & Budget Committee.
12. Fee Waiver:  Granting of fee waiver for Downtown Criterium bicycle race to be held in Bushnell Park on May 25th and positive recommendation by Public Works, Parks and Environment Committee.
13. 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 and positive recommendation by Public Works, Parks and Environment Committee.
14. Fee Waiver:  Granting of fee waiver for Keney Park Family Day to be held on August 16th and positive recommendation by Public Works, Parks and Environment Committee.
15. Riverwalk North: Authorization to enter into agreement that will reimburse the City for 100% of local costs of construction of the northern walkway along the Connecticut River and positive recommendation by Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee. (also see #8 above)
16. Mark Twain Drive:  Appropriation of $2,728,000 in the Capital Improvement Fund to extend Mark Twain Drive and positive recommendation by Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee.  (also see #10 above and #22 below)
17. Parks Trust Fund:  Authorization to allow gifts made to the City for cemetery improvements to be placed in the Hartford Parks Trust Fund and to allow investment income from the Fund to be used for cemetery improvements as well as park improvements.  Report from Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee recommending approval.  (also see # 23 below)
18. Fee Waiver:  Approval of fee waiver and permission to hold “Run for Kevin” event in Elizabeth Park.  Recommendation by Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee to postpone action pending consideration by Special Events Committee.
19. Grant to be Made:  Resolution to grant $7,500 to the Hartford Youth Soccer Organization.  Recommendation by Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee to postpone action.
20. Fee Waiver:  Fee waiver and permission to hold the Coleman Brothers carnival in Colt Park from April 28th to May 4th .  Positive recommendation by Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee.
21. Public Building Dedication Committee:  Notice that the Committee will meet on Friday, April 25th to consider a monument in Bushnell Park and renaming of Keney-Waverly Field as Elliott Bert and Lou Kelly Baseball Diamond.
22. Mark Twain Drive:  Ordinance appropriating $2,728,000 in the Capital Improvement Fund to extend Mark Twain Drive and positive recommendation by Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee.  (also see #10 and 16 above)
23. Parks Trust Fund:  Ordinance to allow gifts made to the City for cemetery improvements to be placed in the Hartford Parks Trust Fund and to allow investment income from the Fund to be used for cemetery improvements as well as park improvements.  (also see #  above)
24. Fee Waiver:  Granting of fee waiver for Phagwah (New Year) Parade sponsored by Shri Krishna Mandir in Goodwin Park on March 22nd.  Report from Public Works, Parks, & Environment Committee recommending postponing action.
25. Appointment:  Appointment of Thea Montanez to the Hartford Public Library Board of Directors.
26. Appointment:  Appointment of Janis L. Johnson to the Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
27. Appointment:  Appointment of Lt. Brenda Taylor to the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues.
28. Appointment:  Appointment of Nyesha McCauley to the Permanent Commission on the Status of Hartford Women.
29. Appointment:  Appointment of Debra St. Germain to the Commission on Disability Issues.
30. Grant to be Made:  Authorization of a grant to the CT Puerto Rican Forum.  (no amount given)
31. Subordination of Loan:  Authorization for the City to subordinate a mortgage on 18-20 Auburn Street to allow the owner to refinance first and second mortgages on the property for a lower interest rate.
32. Mortgage Foreclosures:  Resolution to examine City’s housing policies to see if adequate services are in place to prevent foreclosures and to organize a foreclosure prevention summit within the next 60 days.
33. Grant to be Made:  Allocation of $9,000 to the New Day Program, operated by the CT Puerto Rican Forum, for expansion of residence for men returning to the community from prison.
34. Grant to be Made:  Allocation of $15,327 to Immaculate Conception Shelter & Housing Corporation to operate a respite program for 20 frail homeless men from May 7 to June 30, 2008.
35. Task Force:  Establishment of a task force to conduct a special assessment of blighted housing and to submit a report within 60 days.
36. City Personnel:  Authorization to close breaks in service of 14 City employees for purposes of pension calculations.
37. Grant to be Made:  Allocation of $7,500 to the Gussie Wortham Foundation for a basketball tournament at Bulkeley High School.

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.