Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, May 9, 2011

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 36 items on the original agenda. One additional item was submitted during the meeting. The Council will meet on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 12 noon to begin deliberations on the 2011-12 Budget. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, May 23, 2011 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall. The next public hearing will be Monday, May 16, 2011 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

Donation for Capital West Building – The Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City to accept a financial donation of up to $2.0 million from the Hartford Fire Insurance Company (HFIC) to help offset costs associated with the acquisition of the Capital West property, located at 1-7 Myrtle Street, and the costs of demolishing the building. The City intends to acquire the property, demolish the building, and prepare the property for development. HFIC has committed to donate an amount equal to 50% of the acquisition and demolition up to a maximum of $2.0 million. (Segarra) (Item #3)

Hartford Magnet Middle School Expansion – The Council referred, to its Operations, Management & Budget Committee, a resolution authorizing the City to apply for and accept a School Construction Grant from the State Department of Education to be used for the expansion of the Hartford Magnet Middle School, located on the Learning Corridor Campus, to accommodate high school students. The total cost of the project is estimated at $30.4 million. The state will reimburse the City for 95% of eligible costs. The final cost to the City will be approximately $3 million, which has been included in the proposed 2011-12 Capital Improvement Program. (Segarra) (Item #4)

Residency Requirements – The Council referred, to its Labor & Workforce Development Committee, proposed amendments to an existing ordinance requiring appointees of the Mayor and City Council to be residents of Hartford. Among the proposed amendments are: a definition of the term "bona fide resident," a change in the length of time within which an appointee must become a resident from six months to two months, and a stipulation that the appointment or employment can be terminated if these requirements are not met. The Council's Labor & Workforce Development Committee previously postponed action on the ordinance. A public hearing was held on February 22, 2011. (Winch) (Item #17 and 18)

Frog Hollow NRZ Plan – The Council passed an ordinance that adopts the updated Strategic Plan of the Frog Hollow Neighborhood Revitalization Zone. The plan of revitalization and development replaces earlier plans for the Frog Hollow South NRZ and the North Frog Hollow NRZ. Those two NRZs have merged into one. (Segarra) (Item #19)

Fire Department Mitigation Rates – The Council adopted an ordinance which amends an existing law that authorizes the Fire Department to charge for rescue operations and hazardous material responses. The proposed amendments would establish fees to be charged to non-residents for certain emergency services provided by the Fire Department. The fees, called mitigation rates, are based on the actual costs of personnel, supplies, and equipment used to respond to the emergency. Fees would be an add-on cost to claims for damages filed with insurance companies by the owner of the vehicle or property involved. (Segarra) (Item #20)

Event Permitting – The Council referred to its Operations, Management & Budget Committee and to Public Hearing, a proposed ordinance that amends the permitting process for festivals, parades, races, bicycle tours, carnivals, and other special events, which are held on streets, parks, or other City property. The ordinance defines the types of events for which permits are required, prescribes the permitting process, and defines the circumstances under which permits may be granted. It establishes fees for each type of event and defines services that the City will provide for free. The ordinance does not cover public speeches, political rallies or marches, protests, or demonstrations. (Segarra) (Item #32)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. Lease. Authorization for the City to enter into a lease agreement with Segundo Roche for the use of 539 Park Street for parking for the City's WIC office next door. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee and Public Hearing
2. Dial-a-Ride. Approval for the City to enter into a 3-year contract with DATTCO to provide transportation to elderly and disabled Hartford residents through the Dial-a-Ride program. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
3. Donation. Authorization for the City to accept a donation of $2.0 million from the Hartford Fire Insurance Company to be used for the acquisition and demolition of the property at 1-7 Myrtle Street. (Segarra) Passed
4. Hartford Magnet Middle School. Approval for the City to apply for a State school construction grant for the expansion of the Hartford Magnet Middle School to accommodate high school students. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
5. West Middle School. Approval for the City to apply for a State school construction grant for alterations, renovations, and expansion at West Middle Elementary School. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
6. Milner School. Authorization for the City to apply for a State school construction grant to replace the roof on Milner Elementary School. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
7. Batchelder School. Approval for the City to apply for a State school construction grant to replace the roof on Batchelder Elementary School. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
8. Settlement: Francis. Proposed settlement of a Workers Compensation Claim made by Craig Francis. (Segarra) Passed
9. Breaks in Service. Authorization to close breaks in service for four employees so that they may qualify for pension credits for previous time worked. (Segarra) Passed
10. Dwight Branch Library. Approval for the City to accept a $500,000 grant from the Connecticut State Library for renovation and expansion of the Dwight Branch Library. (Segarra) Passed
11. 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) Tabled
12. City Workforce. Request that the Mayor provide the Council with information on all City employees by department, including number of full-time employees, and dates of hires and promotions during the last two years. (Winch) Passed
13. Credit Checks. Report on the Labor & Workforce Development Committee's discussion of a proposed ordinance prohibiting the City from performing credit checks as part of the application process for City employment. (Also see #22) Received
14. Fire Cadets. Report on the Labor & Workforce Development Committee's discussion of a proposed ordinance establishing a Fire Cadet Training Academy for Hartford residents between the ages of 16 and 24 to prepare young people for the position of Firefighter. (Winch, Segarra) (Also see #21) Received
15. Reentry. Resolution supporting HB 6084, "An Act Concerning Reentry", a bill in the State Legislature which addresses issues surrounding the reentry of formerly incarcerated individuals into the community. (Cotto) Passed
16. Conflicts of Interest. Requirement that the Corporation Counsel's Office conduct conflict of interest checks for City officials and employees. (Kennedy) Postponed
17. Residency. Report by the Labor & Workforce Development Committee on their discussion of proposed changes to residency requirements for City employees to require new employees to become Hartford residents within 60 days of hire and allow the Council to terminate employment of employees who fail to do so. (Also see #18) Received
18. Residency. Ordinance proposing changes to residency requirements for City employees to require new employees to become Hartford residents within 60 days of hire and allow the Council to terminate employment of employees who fail to do so. (Winch) (Also see #17) Referred to Labor & Workforce Development Committee and Public Hearing
19. Frog Hollow NRZ. Ordinance adopting the updated Frog Hollow NRZ Strategic Plan. (Segarra) Passed
20. Mitigation Rates. Ordinance establishing fees to be charged to non-residents for certain emergency services to be provided by the Hartford Fire Department. (Segarra) Passed
21. Fire Cadets. Ordinance establishing a Fire Cadet Training Academy for Hartford residents between the ages of 16 and 24 to prepare young people for the position of Firefighter. (Winch, Segarra) (Also see #14) Passed
22. Credit Checks. Proposed ordinance prohibiting the City from performing credit checks as part of the application process for City employment. (Cotto) (Also see #13) Passed
23. Transit District Appointment. Confirmation of the Mayor's reappointment of Frank Lord to the Greater Hartford Transit District. (Segarra) Passed
24. 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) Passed
25. 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) Passed
26. Accessibility Code. Proposed ordinance deleting the section of the City's building code related to accessibility in new construction and rehabilitation because the State Building Code supercedes the City's code. (Segarra) Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee and Public Hearing
27. Building Permit Fee Waivers. Proposed ordinance exempting the City of Hartford, the Board of Education, and the School Building Committee from the payment of building permit fees. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee and Public Hearing
28. Heating of Occupied Building. Proposed ordinance decreasing the minimum temperature (from 68 degrees to 65 degrees) to which property owners must heat the interiors of occupied buildings and requiring that such temperatures must be maintained at all times of day. (Segarra) Referred to Health & Human Services Committee and Public Hearing
29. Zoning Enforcement. Proposed ordinance clarifying that the Division of Licenses & Inspections is responsible for zoning enforcement. (Segarra) Referred to Planning & Economic Development and Public Hearing
30. Zoning Regulations. Proposed ordinance deleting the section of the Municipal Code dealing with zoning regulations which was superceded by regulations adopted by the Planning & Zoning Commission in 2005. (Segarra) Referred to Planning & Economic Development and Public Hearing
31. Fences. Proposed ordinance deleting regulations dealing with fences which were superceded by the 2005 zoning regulations. (Segarra) Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee and Public Hearing
32. Event Permitting. Proposed ordinance establishing a new permitting process and new fees for festivals, parades, races, bicycle tours, carnivals and other special events. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee and Public Hearing
33. Trash Containers. Proposed ordinance establishing the price of a residential trash container at $35. (Kennedy, Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee and Public Hearing
34. Fee Waiver. Request for a waiver of fees associated with the elephant lunch held by the Community Renewal Team on May 4th at Bushnell Park and the Old State House. (Cotto) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
35. Fee Waiver. Request for a waiver of fees associated with the Discover Hartford Bicycling and Walking Tour held on September 11, 2010. (Cotto) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
36. Fee Waiver. Request for a waiver of fees associated with the Black Eyed Blues Fest to be held by the CT Blues Society on June 3, 2011 in Bushnell Park. (Cotto) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
37. Mitigation Rates. Report from the Operations, Management & Budget Committee recommending passage of an ordinance establishing fees to be charged to non-residents for certain emergency services to be provided by the Hartford Fire Department. Received

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.