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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There are 67 items on the agenda. The next Council meeting will be Monday,
July 11th in Council Chambers. It will be preceded by a public hearing that
will begin at 6:30 P.M.
Coltsville Streetscape Project: The Council will vote on a resolution to authorize
the Mayor to enter into agreements with the State of Connecticut for construction,
inspection, and maintenance of streetscape improvements on Huyshope Avenue
and with Colt Gateway, LLC for the longer term maintenance, repair, and operation
of non standard elements, including decorative street lights, sidewalks, and
other features. The State Department of Transportation will administer approximately
$4.0 million in grants that were secured by Colt Gateway, LLC from Federal
Funds. The City of Hartford will be responsible for the administration, construction,
inspection, and coordination of grant reimbursement. The City will be reimbursed
for personnel costs associated with the aforementioned activities. The resolution
was referred to the Management and Budget Committee at the Council meeting
on June 13th, and is now being recommended for approval. (Item #25)
“Safe Streets” Traffic Safety Enforcement: The Council will vote
on a resolution to accept a grant from the State Department of Transportation
in the amount of $86,956 for the enforcement of traffic safety laws in Hartford.
The grant will go to the Hartford Police Department, in support of its efforts
to reduce hazardous racing and “cruising” on the streets of Hartford,
especially in the Southside of Hartford, where a recent surge in these practices
has been increasingly problematic. This would be the fourth year that the Hartford
Police Department would be a recipient of this grant. The Quality of Life and
Public Safety Committee is recommending approval. (Item #26)
Neighborhood Marketing Funding: The Council will vote on a resolution to authorize
the City Manager and the Mayor to reallocate funds in the amount of $5,000
from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to the Urban Development
Action Grant (UDAG). Specifically, these funds would go towards the Neighborhood
Marketing program, to support efforts by a committee made up of members of
Hartford 2000, the Hartford Public Library and the City Council to create a
strategy and budget for marketing neighborhood assets. (Item #58)
Board of Education Budget: The Council will vote on a resolution to add funds
in the amount of $1,200,000 to the Board of Education budget for the 2005-2006
fiscal year. This addition would bring the total allocated budget to $209,280,000,
plus $2,000,000 in State Priority School Funding and $45,556,541 for fringe
benefits. (Item #43)
“Map for Success Program”: The Council will vote on a resolution
to call upon the Mayor to allocate up to $7,500 from the Youth Initiative fund
for the support of the West End Community Center’s “Map for Success” Summer
Program. This program is in its second year and provides youth ages 6-17 with
various cultural, recreational and creative activities, including a job shadowing
and career exploration component, and college tours. The Public Works, Parks
and Environment Committee is recommending approval. (Item #29)
Parkville Improvement Projects: The Council will vote on three resolutions
pertaining to the Parkville neighborhood area. The first resolution would authorize
the Mayor to file an application to contract with the State for the purpose
of securing funds for the Parkville MDP Planning Project. Up to $180,000 would
be provided for economic development and manufacturing assistance. (Item #4)
The second resolution would authorize the reprogramming and use of $250,000
from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)-Economic Development Loans
to establish the Parkville Neighborhood Loan Guarantee Program with the Community
Economic Development Fund (CEDF). The City of Hartford and People’s Bank
established a similar program in 1997, but it expired in 2001. The CEDF has
expressed its commitment to ensure its continuation. Under the new program,
loans between $5,000 and $150,000 will be made to neighborhood businesses.
(Item #5)
The Council will also vote on a resolution to authorize an agreement with
the State that will reflect a reduction in the ceiling limitation on reimbursable
expenses for the Park Street Streetscape Project. The City entered into the
Park Street Reimbursement Agreement with the State in October of 2002 for the
construction, inspection, and maintenance of the Park Street/Trinity College
area. The original agreement made the commitment to reimburse the City for
expenditures of up to $4,881,100. This ceiling limitation is subject to a federal
limitation that is adjustable each year. This year Congress reduced the ceiling
limitation to $4,565,300. The First Supplemental Agreement to the Park Street
Agreement notes this change. The Mayor projects that sufficient funds will
be available to complete the current, base project plans, but any extra costs
or significant changes may present budgetary problems. (Item #2)
If you have any questions about the agenda call Brenda Schack at CREN, 509-3702, Liz Dupont-Diehl 509-3701, or Richard Frieder at the Hartford Public Library, 695-6365. The Council Preview is a joint project of the Citizens' Research Education Network and the Hartford Public Library. |
