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Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 49 items on the original agenda. No additional items were submitted during the meeting. The meeting was recessed until Monday, May 21st at 1 PM for the purpose of adopting the City Budget. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall. The next public hearing will be Monday, May 21, 2007.
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
Parkville Urban Design & Transportation Improvement Project - The Council approved a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement with the State of Connecticut to receive a Federal grant of $1.2 million which, along with $2.9 million in City funds, will be used to reconstruct Park Street, from Prospect Avenue to Sisson Avenue, and to construct/install pedestrian safety enhancements, new decorative sidewalks, ornamental lighting, street trees, and other amenities. The item was referred to the Council’s Public Works, Parks and Environment Committee, but, due to the lack of a quorum at the committee meeting, no recommendation was made. (Item #5)
Hearing Procedure for Parking Violations – The Council referred, to its Management and Budget Committee, an ordinance that will update the municipal code to reflect a new hearing process for parking violations. The ordinance was originally submitted on February 26, 2007. It was referred to the Management and Budget Committee and a public hearing was held on March 19, 2007. In the original proposal, the “Chief Executive Officer” appointed “as many persons as deemed necessary” as parking violations hearing officers. An amended proposed ordinance has now been submitted that calls for “the Mayor” to appoint “up to five persons” as hearing officers and prohibits Hartford Parking Authority employees from serving as hearing officers. Because this is a substantive change, the ordinance must go to public hearing again on May 21st. The original ordinance was withdrawn and the new ordinance was referred. (Item #11 withdrawn and #16 referred)
Lost and Stolen Guns – The Council adopted an ordinance requiring Hartford gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms to the Hartford Police Department within 48 hours of finding that the gun is missing. The ordinance also allows the Hartford Corporation Counsel to sue a resident of any town in Connecticut whose gun was used in a felony in Hartford and who did not report the gun lost or stolen to their local Police Department or Connecticut State Police. A public hearing was held on this ordinance on Monday, April 16, 2007 and the item was referred to the Council’s Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee. The item was discharged from the committee at the Council meeting. (Item #12)
Sale of Land – The Council referred, to its Planning and Economic Development Committee, a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sell the land underlying the Stilts Building at 30 Church Street to the building owner for $1,375,000. The City currently leases the property to the owner of the Stilts Building. The City will reserve an air rights easement for the public parking garage located on the property. A public hearing on this matter will be held on Monday, May 21, 2007. (Item #22)
South Park River Greenway – The Council approved a resolution accepting a $50,000 grant from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection to be used for completion of the greenway along the South Branch of the Park River from Newfield Avenue to Flatbush Avenue and development of the Meadows Trail which links the greenway trail to the river. The Council previously authorized the acceptance of a $17,000 grant from DEP for the first phase of the project. (Item #25)
Services for Persons With AIDS – The Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Health and Human Services Department to apply for funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Ryan White Treatment Modernization Care Act to develop services for persons with AIDS. If received, the monies will fund subcontracts to various city and state health providers to provide outreach and administrative support for low-income families and individuals in the Greater Hartford Metro Region. The Region received $500,000 in 2006 under the Ryan White Treatment Modernization Care Act. (Item #28)
Public Art Ordinance – The Council referred, to its Public Works, Parks, and Environment Committee, a resolution calling for the adoption of a Public Art Ordinance within three months. The resolution also calls for the formation of a Public Art Advisory Committee and a professional artist selection committee to guide and implement a program to be administered by the Greater Hartford Arts Council, funding for which will be no less than $50,000 per year. Subsequent to the passage of the ordinance, a master plan for implementation will be fashioned by the Arts Council and presented for City approval. The resolution recognizes Hartford’s proud heritage of 19th century monument building, with more than 50 major works in public places, and also recognizes the value of public art in building neighborhood culture and identity, promoting tourism and retail activity, enhancing government buildings, libraries, parks, and other public places, and providing employment for artists. (Item #44)
Monument to Honor Hartford’s War Veterans – The Council referred, to its Public Works, Parks, and Environment Committee, a resolution granting permission for a site near the corner of Broad Street and Farmington Avenue to be used for a monument to honor Hartford’s war veterans. The monument has been proposed by a group of citizens working through the Greater Hartford Arts Council and would consist of a granite pillar which could be easily relocated if the site is needed for another use in the future. Funds for the monument will be privately raised and controlled by the Arts Council. (Item #45)
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 the Hartford 2000, and the Hartford Public Library. |
