Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, June 22, 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 July 13 and the next public hearing will be Monday, July 20, 2009 both at 7 PM.

There are 48 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.

Entitlement Grant Funds – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the adoption and submission of the Year Five Action Plan (FY 2009-10) to the Five-Year Consolidated Community Development Plan (FY2005-09). The Year Five Action Plan addresses the City's intended use of entitlement grant funds. In order to receive these funds the City must submit the Year Five Action Plan by July 16. As an entitlement community, Hartford is eligible to receive an estimated $8,685,000 under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Housing Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) programs. A list of the estimated funds available from each program and their proposed allocation may be viewed in the Town Clerk's office. A 30-day public comment period will begin June 11 and end on July 10, 2009. A special Operations, Management & Budget Committee meeting for the purpose of public comment is scheduled for June 24 at 5:30pm in City Council Chambers. (Item #5)

Bulkeley High School Renovation – The Council will vote on a resolution approving the renovation of Bulkeley High School including site work, furnishings, and equipment at an estimated cost of $700,000, 80% of which will be reimbursed by the State Department of Education. (Item #6)

Outsourcing of City Services – The Council will vote on a resolution stating that the City administration should be restrained from continued outsourcing and privatization of City services and calling for City Council and union organizations to engage legal counsel to monitor and enforce this restraint. The resolution states that private organizations have been engaged by the City to perform services left unattended as a result of the reduction in City staff. (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.

Pope Park West – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign the Urban Green Grant Agreement for Pope Park West, a portion of Pope Park, located in Parkville, that was cut off from the body of the park during the 1960s for the development of I-84 and is currently neglected and used for sand storage. Hartford will receive a grant of $90,512 and will contribute an additional $48,738 for a total project cost of $139,250. The funds will be used to reclaim Pope Park West. The Urban Green Grant is a program of the State of Connecticut. The Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee discharged this matter from consideration. The Operations, Management & Budget Committee recommends approval. (Item #26)

Council Funding Application Process – The Council will take action on a resolution signifying their intention to establish 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 Operations, Management & Budget Committee recommends approval. (Item #27)

Elizabeth Park License Agreement – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a five year license agreement with The Friends of Elizabeth Park, Inc. to continue management of the Park's Pond House building and the Information Center. The Operations, Management & Budget Committee recommends approval. (Item #28)

Anti-Blight Amendments – The Council will consider 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. A public hearing on this item was held on June 15, 2009. The item was referred to the Planning & Economic Development Committee which has not yet considered this matter. (Item #33)

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. The Council has previously postponed action on this item several times. (Item #34)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. Youth Services. Approval to accept $160,548 from CT Dept. of Education for the City's Youth Services Office.
2. Substance Abuse. Approval to accept $7,130 from CT Dept. of Mental Health & Addiction Services for substance abuse prevention services.
3. STDs. Authorization to accept an 8-year grant of $20,000 per year from the U.S. Center for Disease Control for programs to reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis.
4. Pension Agreement. Approval of an agreement with the Hartford Schools Support Supervisors Association (HSSSA), Local 78, which makes changes to the employees' pension plan. (See #11)
5. Entitlement Grants. Approval of submission of the 2009-2010 action plan for expenditure of $8,685,000 in HUD funds through four grant programs: Community Development Block Grant, HOME, Housing for People with Aids, and Emergency Shelter Grant.
6. Bulkeley High School. Approval of $700,000 in renovations to Bulkeley H.S. and approval to request 80% reimbursement from the State of Connecticut.
7. Gang Prevention. Authorization to apply for and accept a $500,000 three-year grant from the U.S. Dept. of Justice for a youth gang prevention mentoring program.
8. Truancy Reduction. Approval to accept $100,000 from the Travelers Foundation for the Police Department's truancy reduction program.
9. Traffic Safety. Authorization to accept $47,025 from the CT Dept. of Transportation for additional traffic safety enforcement by the Police.
10. Police Overtime. Approval to apply for and accept $357,728 from the U.S. Dept. of Justice to be used for Police overtime to address criminal activity.
11. Executive Session. Request by the Mayor for the Council to enter into Executive Session to discuss the agreement with HSSSA on pension benefits. (See #4)
12. Executive Session. Request by the Mayor for the Council to enter into Executive Session to discuss a lawsuit, Elvin Gonzalez v. Robert Murtha et al.
13. Executive Session. Request by the Mayor for the Council to enter into Executive Session to discuss a legal matter, Murtha v. City of Hartford.
14. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closures for the Annual Walk Against Hunger sponsored by Foodshare on May 3, 2009.
15. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the Hispanic Health Council's Health Fair to be held in Barnard Park on August 6, 2009.
16. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for Plays in the Parks to be presented by HartBeat Ensemble in Elizabeth, Keney, Pope, and Sigourney Parks on July 11, 12, 18, and 25.
17. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closures for Summer Solstice Event held by the Bushnell Park Foundation on June 17, 2009 in Bushnell Park and Trinity Street.
18. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closures for the CRT Head Start Parade held near the Bushnell Park Carousel by CRT and the Ringling Brothers Circus on May 6, 2009.
19. Permission. Permission to serve food and beverages at the Liberty Church Center International Summerfest to be held in Elizabeth Park on July 19, 2009.
20. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver by My People Clinical Services for a Fathers Day Celebration held in Elizabeth Park on June 21, 2009.
21. Permission. Permission for New Horizon Baptist Church to serve food and beverages at a back-to-school event on August 29, 2009 in Keney Park.
22. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for 17 religious services to be held in Keney Park by the Pentecostal Tabernacle Apostolic Church from May through September.
23. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closures for Kings Chapel Day held by the Kings Chapel Church of God on Woodland street on June 20, 2009.
24. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closures for procession held by Our Lady of Sorrows Church on April 30, 2009.
25. Surtax. Proposal to levy a surtax on businesses which have received assistance through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).
26. Pope Park West. Authorization to execute a grant agreement with the State of Connecticut for $90,512 for reclamation of Pope Park West, located in Parkville.
27. Funding Process. Establishment of a "Council Funding Application Process" for organizations seeking funding from the City through the Court of Common Council.
28. Friends of Elizabeth Park. License agreement for management of Pond House and other activities in Elizabeth Park.
29. Lease. Authority to extend the lease for 275 Asylum Avenue (former home of the Sports and Medical Sciences Academy) to be used for a new high school of insurance and finance. OMB Committee recommends postponing action until representative of Hartford Schools can answer questions.
30. 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.
31. Appointment. Appointment of Ramon Espinoza to the Civilian Police Review Board.
32. Living Wage. Amendments to the City's Living Wage ordinance vetoed by the Mayor, 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.
33. Anti-Blight. Amendments to the City's Anti-Blight ordinance to enhance implementation and enforcement.
34. Keith Carr Corner. Resolution naming the corner of Main Street and Albany Avenue Keith L. Carr, Sr. Corner.
35. Bonds. Authorization to issue up to $20 million in refunding bonds to maximize savings or reduce debt service payments on City General Obligation Bonds.
36. 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.
37. No Smoking. Proposal to ban smoking in health care facilities within the city of Hartford. Public Hearing on July 20.
38. Police Details. Proposal to extend, to any business open between 11:30 PM and 5:00 AM, the ability of the Police Chief to require a business owner to pay for a police detail at the place of business if the Chief deems it necessary to maintain public safety. Public Hearing on July 20.
39. Extended Hours Food Service. "Placeholder" for an ordinance to be submitted which would license and regulate food service establishments that are open late at night. Public Hearing on July 20.
40. Appointment. Appointment of Adrian Calixto Torres to the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues.
41. Faith Council. Approval of the creation of the Hartford Faith-based Council convened by the Capitol Region Council of Churches.
42. Budget Fiscal Analysis Task Force. "Placeholder" for the naming of members to the Task Force.
43. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and use of Pavilion in Bushnell Park for the Monday Night Jazz series to be held on July 6, 13, 20, 27 and August 3, 2009.
44. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the King's Temple Church's "Party in the Park" in Day Park on August 15, 2009.
45. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the CT Dept. of Environmental Protection's "Bring Your Child to Work Day" to be held on June 30, 2009 in Bushnell Park.
46. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the "Christian Parade" to be sponsored by The Church of God Pentecost on August 29, 2009 on Park Street from Main to Lawrence Street.
47. Outsourcing. Proposal to prevent the City from engaging private organizations to perform maintenance and other services traditionally performed by City employees.
48. Health Benefits. Proposal that the City begin discussion of a single health benefit plan for all City, Board of Education, and Library employees and retirees.

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.