Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, June 9, 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 meeting will be preceded, at 6:30 PM, by an open agenda public hearing. The next public hearing will be Monday, June 16, 2008 at 7 PM.

There are 52 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 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

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.

Mark Twain Branch Library – A resolution to purchase the property at 365 Farmington Avenue, at a price of $500,000, will be voted on by Council. The Council's Planning & Economic Development Committee recommends approval. The Hartford Public Library, with the assistance of neighborhood groups and businesses, is expected to raise the funds necessary for construction of the new library. (Item #19)

Underage Drinking Prevention – The Council will consider a resolution requesting that the Mayor ask appropriate personnel to work with the Neighborhood Revitalization Zones to review action plans and recommendations of Teens In Hartford Promoting Sober Youth (TIHPSY). The resolution also calls on the Directors of the Office of Youth Services and Health and Human Services Recreational Department to consider several recommendations, such as requiring after school and year-round programs to include alcohol and drug awareness workshops. In addition, the resolution calls on City Department Officials to consider several recommendations such as increasing compliance checks at area stores. The Council's Health & Human Services Committee recommends approval. (Item #23)

Anti-Blight Program – Two amendments to the Anti-Blight Ordinance are on the agenda. Item #30 was postponed at. Among the changes proposed in item #30 are a determination that citations for violations are “in the best interests of the City”, a change in the calculation of fines, additional requirements for securing vacant buildings, additional reporting requirements by the Director of Licenses & Inspections, and authorization for City acquisition of certain vacant properties. The ordinance had a public hearing on April 21 st and the Housing Committee recommended approval subject to additional information to be provided at a Planning & Economic Development Committee meeting to be held on May 27 th . Item #42 would appear to contain the same requirements with two changes: 1) grammatical and spelling mistakes have been corrected and 2) notices of violation sent through the US mail must be sent via registered mail. (Item #30 and 42)

Lawyer for City Council – The Council will consider a proposed ordinance that, if approved, will result in the appropriation of no less than $75,000 to hire an attorney to advise the City Council on City matters when any two members of the Council request such assistance. A public hearing on the ordinance was held on May 19 th at 7 PM. (Item #38)

Hartford Residency – The Council will vote on a resolution to continue development of a $100,000 residency incentive fund pool for the 2008-09 fiscal year. The resolution notes that a survey has determined that, currently, Hartford residents make up only 30% of the government and nonprofit workforce in the city. The Council's Operations, Management and Budget Committee postponed action on this matter. (Item #40)

New Agenda Items

Improvements to Lozada Park – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the Mayor to receive funding from the Department of Environmental Protection in the amount of $350,000 for construction and renovations related to recreation in Lozada Park . The funding will be used for playground equipment and surfacing. (Item #4)

Sale of 95-101 Pearl Street – The Council will consider a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement for the sale of 95-101 Pearl Street to 95-101 Pearl Street LLC, a partnership led by Carlos Mouta of Westside Property Management. The proposed sales price is $2 million, less $1.6 million credit towards environmental and material cleanup costs. The developer was chosen as the result of a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process, and intends to redevelop the property into 36 residential apartments, office, and retail space. (Item #6)

Richard Weaver-Bey – The Council will vote on a resolution stipulating that, in recognition of Richard Weaver-Bey's outstanding leadership and contributions to the city, the name “Richard Weaver-Bey Way” be super imposed at the corner of Garden Street between Albany Avenue and Mather Street. Richard Weaver-Bey died in May. He was one of the most influential African-American businessmen in Hartford and was also a community leader who was well known in political, celebrity, and civic circles. (Item #44)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS
Item #

1. Van Donation: Approval to accept a Chevrolet Suburban donated by Corona Auto Parts for use as an unmarked car by the Police Department
2. Write-offs: Approval to write off $58,232 in monies owed to the City for more than 4 years and for which all efforts to collect have been futile.
3. Big East: Authorization to waive half the cost of police and fire coverage for the Big East Women's Basketball Championships (also see item #52).
4. Lozada Park:Approval to accept a $350,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection for improvements to Lozada Park and approval to have Boundless Playgrounds install accessible playground equipment.
5. Shepherd Park: Authorization to amend the tax abatement agreement and lease with Shepherd Park apartments to change the payment schedule and correct inaccuracies.
6. 95-101 Pearl Street: Approval to sell property to a partnership led by Carlos Mouta for development of 36 apartments and office and retail space at a price of $2 million.
7. Union Contract: Approval of 4-year labor contract with Hartford Municipal Employees Association (HMEA).
8. Settlement Agreement: Approval of an agreement with Hartford Municipal Employees Association (HMEA) to settle complaints related to the consolidation of the City's and Board of Education's information services departments in 2002.
9. Executive Session: Request for Council to meet in Executive Session to discuss items 7 and 8 (HMEA contract and settlement agreement).
10. Nominee: Recommendation by Health & Human Services Committee to appoint Lynn Bryant to the Commission on AIDS/HIV (also see item #12).
11. Weather: Report from Health & Human Services Committee on informing the public about how to prevent heat-related emergencies.
12. Appointment: Approval to appoint Lynn Bryant to Commission on AIDS/HIV (also see item #10)
13. Appointments: Approval to re-appoint Sandra Bobowski and John Lupo, Jr. to the Planning & Zoning Commission.
14. Appointment: Approval to appoint Albert Barrueco to the Hartford Parking Authority.
15. Carpe Diem Fraternity: Report from the Planning & Economic Development Committee requesting that a resolution allocating CDBG funds for facility renovation be withdrawn (also see item #51).
16. Sale of Land: Approval to sell property at 56 Chestnut Street , for $1,000, to adjacent property owner to be used as open space for residents at 54 Chestnut St .
17. Sublease: Authorization to continue to sublease space at 260 Constitution Plaza to Rebuilding Together Hartford for $1.00 per year.
18. Transfer of Land: Approval to accept properties at 1302 Main Street and 2 and 10 Winthrop Street from the Redevelopment Agency, at no cost, to be used in the development of the Capital Preparatory Magnet School at Barnard-Brown School .
19. Purchase of Land: Final authorization to purchase 285 Farmington Avenue for $500,000 for use in construction a new Mark Twain Library.
20. Lewis Fox School: Report by the Operations, Management & Budget Committee recommending approval to rescind an ordinance appropriating $84 million for a new facility at Lewis Fox School and authorizing issuance of $21 million in bonds for the project (also see item #32).
21. School Projects: Report by Operations, Management, & Budget Committee recommending approval of an ordinance authorizing the sale of $31 million in bonds for improvements at North East High School , Bellizzi Middle School , and Quirk Middle School (also see item #33).
22. Health Insurance: Report by the Operations, Management, & Budget Committee recommending approval of an ordinance increasing the amount of contribution certain non-union employees will pay for health insurance (also see #35 and 37).
23. Underage Drinking: Report by the Health & Human Services Committee recommending approval of a proposal to begin discussions on a plan to address underage drinking.
24. North End Little League: Report by the Health & Human Services Committee recommending evaluation, through a request-for-proposal process, of a request for $5,000 by the North End Little League.
25. Friendship Kids Camp: Report by the Health & Human Services Committee recommending evaluation through a request-for-proposal-process, of request for $7,500 for the Friendship Kids Camp.
26. Hartford Knights: Report by the Health & Human Services Committee recommending evaluation through a request-for-proposal-process, of request for $7,500 for the Hartford Knights after school program.
27. Gussie Wortham Foundation: Report by the Health & Human Services Committee recommending evaluation through a request-for-proposal-process, of request for $7,500 for a basketball tournament.
28. Run for Kevin: Report from the Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee postponing action on a resolution to grant permission and waive fees for a Run in Elizabeth Park.
29. Youth Soccer: Report from the Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee discharging the Committee from reporting on a resolution to give funds to Hartford Youth Soccer Organization.
30. Anti-blight Amendments: Approval of a variety of amendments to the City's Anti-Blight ordinance (also see item #42).
31. March of Dimes: Report from Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee postponing action on a request for street closures and fee waivers for the March of Dimes Fundraising Walk.
32. Lewis Fox School: Approval to rescind an appropriation of $84 million and authorize issuance of $21 million in bonds for a new facility at Lewis Fox School (also see item #20).
33. School Projects: Authorization of the sale of $31 million in bonds for improvements at North East High School , Bellizzi Middle School , and Quirk Middle School (also see item #21).
34. Pay Raises: Approval to grant pay raises to certain non-union employees.
35. Health Insurance: Authorization to increase the amount of contribution certain non-union employees will pay for health insurance (also see #22 and 37).
36. Group Insurance: Authorization to transfer certain administrative responsibility for employee insurances from the Director of Finance to the Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations.
37. Health Insurance: Authorization to increase the amount of contribution certain non-union employees will pay for health insurance (also see #22 and 35).
38. Attorney for Council: Authorization to appropriate $75,000 to hire an attorney to advise the Council.
39. HOT: Report by the Operations, Management & Budget Committee postponing action on a grant of $15,000 to Hartford Organizing for Tomorrow (HOT).
40. Residency Incentive: Report by the Operations, Management, & Budget Committee postponing action on proposal to develop a $100,000 residency incentive pool.
41. Pay Ranges: Authorization to increase the pay ranges for certain department and division directors.
42. Anti-Blight Amendments: Authorization to make further amendments to the Anti-blight program (also see item #30).
43. Executive Session: Authorization for Council to go into Executive Session to discuss two legal matters.
44. Richard Weaver-Bey: Approval to place the name of Richard Weaver-Bey at the corners of Garden and Albany and Garden and Mather Streets.
45. Tenant/Landlord Policy: Approval to ask the Mayor to create a policy regarding landlord-tenant harassment.
46. Strides for Change: Approval to waive fees associated with a June 8 th run in Bushnell Park sponsored by MADD.
47. AIDS Walk: Approval to waive fees associated with a June 8 th walk in Bushnell Park sponsored by Latino Community Services.
48. Monday Night Jazz: Approval to waive fees associated with the 2008 Monday Night Jazz series in Bushnell Park from July 7 through August 4.
49. Park Street Block Party: Approval to waive fees associated with Borinqueneers Family Night on June 25 th.
50. Race for the Cure: Approval to waive fees associated with the Susan Komen Race for the Cure in Bushnell Park on June 7 th .
51. Carpe Diem: Approval to allocate $25,000 to Carpe Diem Fraternity for site improvements (also see item #15).
52. Big East: Authorization for the City to assume up to $48,000 per year in Police and Fire overtime costs for the big East Women's Basketball Tournament to be held in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 (also see #3).

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.