Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, July 14, 2003

Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network, Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 90 items on the agenda: six items were added at the meeting. An open agenda public hearing that preceded the Council meeting at which over 30 residents addressed the Council on a number of issues. Several speakers expressed concern over public safety issues and requested that the Council find more money for the police department. Other residents raised concern about potential traffic problems on Prospect Avenue arising from planned changes at the Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford. Several residents spoke in favor of a program for preventing homelessness.

The next Council meeting will be Monday, August 11, at 8 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers.

Bond Ordinances – The Council passed six bond ordinances that would finance active and future 2040 Plan Capital Projects in the Public School District. The active projects will include:

• $6.3 million for Naylor Elementary School
• $3.2 million for Webster Elementary School

The future projects will include money for the following magnet schools:

• $3.2 million for Hooker Elementary School
• $2.0 million for Fisher Elementary School
• $2.0 million for Simpson Waverly Elementary School
• $1.6 million for Equestrian Center School

The bond issues will now be placed on the November 3^rd ballot for referendum.

Program Funds – The Council passed several resolutions that will provide funding for area programs. These programs will include:

• $10,000 for the HARC winter program
• $5,000 for the Vision Crew of Upper Albany
• $10,000 for the City Slickers Program
• $15,000 for the Southend Knightriders Youth Center

Recommendations for Homelessness Prevention – The Council passed a resolution allowing City Manager Lee Erdmann and the City’s Department of Health and Human Services to develop a program of homelessness prevention that will increase the amount of housing available to homeless individuals and decrease the homeless rate by offering shared occupancy, scattered site, and single room occupancy housing. The plan calls for action to rehabilitate buildings in order to replace units and not displace people.

Collective Bargaining – The Council voted against a resolution that would have extended the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the City of Hartford and the Municipal Lawyers Association and give the City Manager authorization to execute the CBA on behalf of the City. The Operations, Management, and Budget Committee had previously recommended that the resolution be rejected.

Parkville Square IROD -- The Council received a communication from the Commission on the City Plan recommending passage of an ordinance which would establish an Industrial Re-Use Overlay District (IROD) on the south side of Park Street between Pope Park highway No. 4 and Bartholomew Avenue (Parkville Square). (The Council will vote on the actual ordinance at a later meeting.) During the public hearing, prior to the Council meeting, one resident spoke in favor of the IROD. IRODs are intended to extend the economic life of old factory buildings by expanding the number of permitted uses. The Parkville Square IROD would provide a mix of uses including loft apartments and artists’ studios intended to help revitalize the area. Revitalization would be further enhanced due to Parkville Square’s location near a transit station of the New Britain/Hartford Busway.

Merchants Association Small Business Revolving Loan Fund – The Council passed a resolution authorizing the City Manager to extend to January 2020 the contract between the City and the Hartford Economic Development Corporation (HEDCo) to continue administering the Merchants Association Small Business Revolving Loan Fund (MRLF). Since 1985, MRLF has made loans to over 412 businesses in several neighborhoods and has favorably impacted more than 1,560 jobs. MRLF has been supported with $3,637,500 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.

Streetscape Improvements – Gitano Food Warehouse – The Council referred to the Operations, Budget, and Management Committee a resolution authorizing the City Manager to contract with the developers of the new grocery store being planned by Gitano Food Warehouse to reimburse them for expenses related to the construction of streetscape and other visible improvements along Lafayette and Park Streets. Reimbursements will be up to $100,000 and will be covered with UDAG funds.

Parkville Merchants Loan Association – The Council passed a resolution expressing support for the new partnership between the Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF) and Peoples Bank in administering a revolving loan fund through the Parkville Merchants Loan Association. The loan fund was established with Peoples Bank in 1997. CEDF will offer business and financial counseling, support in the development of business plans, and advice on other aspects of successful small business development.

If you have any questions about the agenda call Greg Vickers at CREN, 249-1416 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.