Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, May 26, 2009

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 Council meeting will be Monday, June 8, 2009 at 7 PM, preceded at 6 PM by a public comment period. The next public hearing will be Monday, June 15, 2009 at 7 PM.

There are 47 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/Agendas/archive.htm

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

New Agenda Items

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

Neighborhood Assistance Act Tax Credit Program – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the Mayor to prepare and submit to the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services a list of programs eligible for the 2009 Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) Tax Credit Program. The NAA Tax Credit Program provides funding for municipal and tax exempt community organizations' programs by providing a tax credit to businesses that make cash contributions to said programs. In 2008, NAA Hartford community based programs received over $1.4 million in support from area businesses, and businesses that sponsored Hartford programs received nearly $1 million in tax credits. (Item #4)

Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the Department of Health and Human Services to apply for $50,412 in funds from the Hispanic Health Council for the continuation of the Medical Home Partnership program that offers care coordination services to children and youth with special health care needs and their families/caregivers who reside in North End neighborhoods. (Item #7)

Anti-Blight Amendments – The Council will consider proposed amendments to the City's Anti-blight ordinance. The Mayor asks the Council to repeal amendments adopted in 2008 which were never officially codified and to take action on proposed changes which modify the definition of blight, provide better enforcement tools, and improve the registration process of vacant lots and buildings. The changes are intended to effectively implement and enforce the City's anti-blight program. Amendments were developed through a collaborative effort of City staff and community groups, including HART, Hartford 2000, ACORN, and the Hartford Preservation Alliance. (Item #39)

Youth Recreation Leagues – The Council will vote on a resolution requesting that the recreation department, along with youth services, draft a strategic plan for city wide youth sports leagues, including girls and boys soccer, basketball, baseball, and football, and that a report be prepared for the Council by the second quarter of 2009-2010. (Item #40)

Council Funding Application Process – The Council will vote on a resolution establishing a process by which to consider funding requests. The resolution was proposed because several organizations that provide activities and programs beneficial to Hartford residents have been faced with reduced funding and have asked the City Council for assistance. The resolution would establish a process by which these requests could be considered and would help prevent duplication. (Item #47)

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.

2009-2010 City Budget – The Council will take final action on the City Budget for fiscal year 2009-2010. The Council amended the Mayor's Recommended Budget and the Mayor has vetoed some of those amendments. (Item #1)

Ad Hoc Committee – The Council will consider a resolution stating that the City Council will appoint a three person ad-hoc committee composed of members of Council to work with the Mayor and City Unions to look for ways that Unions can assist the City in resolving the deficit and stabilizing its finances. This resolution was part of a series of ten resolutions addressing budget matters submitted in November 2008. Council has postponed action on this resolution several times. (Item #12)

Parkville Municipal Development Plan – The Council will consider a resolution approving the Parkville Municipal Development Plan for 295 acres in the industrial area of Parkville. The Plan was developed by the Parkville NRZ and the City of Hartford and proposes a series of actions including removal of waste, demolition, creation of green space, streetscape improvements, construction of parking, gateway signage, and improvement of sites for economic development. The Planning & Economic Development Committee recommends approval. (Item 13)

Tax Fixing Agreements for Companies Receiving TARP Funds – The Council will consider a resolution stating that any companies with which the City has entered into Tax Fixing Agreements or Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Agreements and have also received federal funds through the Treasury Department's Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) be required, as a condition of receiving such funds, to re-negotiate the terms of the Tax Fixing Agreements or TIF Agreements. The Planning & Economic Development Committee recommends disapproval. (Item #20)

CDBG Funds – The Council will take action on a resolution authorizing the City to submit to HUD an amendment of its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) action plan for the use of $1,028,157 in CDBG funds which will come to the City through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus funds). (Item #24)

Reduction in Salary for Highly Paid Managers – The Council will consider a resolution that City managers and executives with salaries above $80,000 accept progressively scaled salary reductions. The resolution states that City workers have been suffering losses of jobs and benefits and that, under these conditions, pay raises for government officials and highly-paid managers are not appropriate. The Council has postponed action on this item several times. (Item #26)

Keith L. Carr, Sr., Corner – The Council will consider a resolution that will result in the naming of the corner of Main Street and Albany Avenue "Keith L. Carr, Sr., Corner." Keith Carr, who passed away on January 7, 2008, is remembered as a community legend whose advocacy and commitment had a great impact on the West Indian/American community. He worked with youth through the design of an after school tutorial program at the Martin Luther King School in Hartford, a citywide fine arts summer program and a youth cricket program. He was also one of the first to organize merchants along Albany Avenue. His vision for Albany Avenue and Main Street served as a catalyst for many of the development plans currently being pursued for the area. A public hearing was held on March 16. (Item #29)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. City Budget. Package of resolutions and ordinances adopting the 2009-2010 General Fund Budget, Capital Improvement Program, equipment and vehicle purchases, and tax levy.
2. FEMA Grant. Authorization to accept $800,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for training of Fire Department personnel as Hazardous Material Technicians.
3. Postponing Sexual Involvement. Authorization to enter into contract with the Hartford Action Plan for the Postponing Sexual Involvement program for 5th grade students in Hartford schools.
4. Neighborhood Assistance Act. Authorization for submittal of a list of 53 programs to the CT Department of Revenue Services for inclusion in the Neighborhood Assistance Act through which businesses that make contributions to eligible programs are eligible for state tax credits.
5. Habitat for Humanity. Authority to sell a vacant lot at 49-51 Guilford Street to Habitat for Humanity for $10,000 to build a single family house for sale to a homeowner.
6. Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Authority for the City's Department of Health & Human Services to accept funds from the CT Department of Agriculture to administer a program through which low income Hartford residents can use WIC coupons at farmers markets.
7. Special Health Needs. Authority for the Health & Human Services Department to manage a program for youth and children with special health needs in the north end of Hartford through a $50,000 grant from the Hispanic Health Council.
8. Internet Crimes Against Children. Approval for the Police Department to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to prevent, investigate, and prosecute exploitation and engagement of minors in sexual activity through use of the internet.
9. Monthly Financial Report. April Report of revenues and expenditures.
10. Monthly Financial Report. March Report of revenues and expenditures.
11. Quarterly Financial Report. Report of financial activity, grants administration, departmental performance, quality of life, internal audit, and non-financial resolutions for the period January through March, 2009.
12. Ad-Hoc Committee. Appointment of a 3-person committee of Council members to work with the Mayor and City unions to seek ways to reduce the City's deficit and stabilize its finances.
13. Parkville MDP. Approval of Parkville Municipal Development Plan for industrial area.
14. Appointment. Appointment of Gerry Pleasant to the Planning and Zoning Commission as an alternate.
15. Street Acceptance. Report by PED recommending approval for the City to accept Patsie Williams Way as a city street. (also see #37)
16. Street Acceptance. Report by PED recommending approval for the City to accept Osten Boulevard as a city street. (also see # 36)
17. Street Acceptance. Report by PED recommending postponement of approval for the City to accept Dutch Point Lane as a city street. (also see #35)
18. Historic Preservation Commission. Report by PED on ordinance deleting language terminating the Commission in three years from May 23, 2005. (also see #34)
19. Morgan Street Garage. Authorization to adjust the method by which Capital Community College is charged for student and visitor parking under the agreement between the City and the State.
20. Tax Fixing Agreements. Resolution calling for the Federal Government to require that companies receiving funds through the Troubled Assets Relief Program be required to renegotiate any tax-fixing or tax increment financing (TIF) agreements with the City of Hartford. PED recommends disapproval.
21. Fee Waiver. Waiver of permit fees for the closure of High Street during construction of the Public Safety Complex.
22. Bonds. Authorization to issue up to $20 million in refunding bonds to maximize savings or reduce debt service payment on City General Obligation Bonds.
23. Parking Fines. Report by PED on ordinance raising parking fines and decreasing the discount for paying within 72 hours. (also see #33)
24. CDBG. Authorization to submit amendment of CDBG Action Plan to HUD for use of $1.0 million in stimulus funds.
25. Asian Studies Academy. Report from OMB on ordinance appropriating and issuing bonds in the amount of $13 million for improvements to Belizzi Middle School for a new Asian Studies Academy. (also see #30)
26. Reduction in Salary. Resolution calling for City managers and executives with salaries above $80,000 to accept reductions in their pay.
27. Collection Contracts. March report by OMB Committee on request for a report on fees paid to and profits made by agencies under contract with the City to collect overdue taxes.
28. Tobacco. Resolution prohibiting the use of tobacco products on the campus of the Hartford Municipal Building.
29. Keith Carr Corner. Resolution naming the corner of Main Street and Albany Avenue Keith L. Car, Sr. Corner.
30. Asian Studies Academy. Ordinance appropriating and issuing bonds in the amount of $13 million for improvements to Belizzi Middle School for a new Asian Studies Academy. (also see #25)
31. Living Wage. Amendments to the City's Living Wage ordinance, including increasing the definition of a living wage to 120% of the federal poverty level for a family of four plus health benefits and decreasing the amount of a contract that triggers the living wage ordinance from $50,000 to $20,000.
32. Board of Education Pensions. Ordinance decreasing pension vesting requirement from 10 to 5 years and increasing employee contributions to pension fund.
33. Parking Fines. Ordinance raising parking fines and decreasing the discount for paying within 72 hours. (also see #23)
34. Historic Preservation Commission. Ordinance deleting language terminating the Commission in three years from May 23, 2005. (also see #18)
35. Street Acceptance. Approval for the City to accept Dutch Point Lane as a city street. (also see #17)
36. Street Acceptance. Approval for the City to accept Osten Boulevard as a city street. (also see # 16)
37. Street Acceptance. Approval for the City to accept Patsie Williams Way as a city street. (also see #15)
38. Appointment. Appointment of Michael Downes to the Zoning Board of Appeals as an alternate member to replace Michael McGarry.
39. Anti-Blight. Amendments to the City's Anti-Blight ordinance to enhance implementation and enforcement.
40. Youth Sports. Request to the City Administration to develop a strategic plan for citywide youth sports leagues.
41. Caribbean American Heritage Month. Designation of June as Caribbean American Heritage Month in Hartford.
42. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and use of Pavilion in Bushnell Park for the Recovery Walk Festival to be held by CT Community Addiction Recovery on September 26, 2009.
43. Permission. Permission to serve alcohol during The New England Music Festival to be sponsored by Solar Entertainment in Bushnell Park on August 1, 2009.
44. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for City Day 2009 sponsored by the US Army in Colt Park on June 14, 2009.
45. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closures for the Community Outreach Health Fair to be sponsored by the Christian Activities Council on Homestead Avenue on June 13, 2009.
46. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closures for "Women of Faith – Grand New Day" to be sponsored by the Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau on June 13, 2009 on Pratt Street.
47. Funding Process. Establishment of a "Council Funding Application Process" for organizations seeking funding from the City through the Court of Common Council.

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.