Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, August 11, 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, August 18, 2008 at 7 PM.

There are 67 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/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.

Use of City Services By Immigrants – The Council will consider an amended ordinance the purpose of which is to codify the policies of the City of Hartford regarding residents and usage of City services as it relates to their immigration status. The proposed ordinance states, among other things, that City services shall be made available to residents regardless of immigration status, and Hartford police officers shall not inquire about a person’s immigration status unless doing so is necessary to a criminal investigation. A public hearing was held on this ordinance on July 23, 2008. (Item #53 (the original ordinance) will be withdrawn from consideration and Item #58 will be acted upon. Also see Item #12))

New Agenda Items

Hartford Action Plan for Teen Pregnancy – The Council will vote on a resolution allocating $35,000 of grant funding to the Hartford Action Plan for teen pregnancy prevention in Hartford. The Hartford Action Plan has coordinated the Breaking the Cycle teen pregnancy prevention campaign in Hartford since 1994. Hartford’s teen births have been reduced from 727 in 1994 to 406 in 2006. (Item #11)

Immigration Resolution – The Council will consider a resolution supporting an order issued by the Chief of Police in March, 2008, stating that the Hartford Police will not arrest or detain anyone based solely on their immigration status. The resolution also requests that the Department of Human Relations monitor the effectiveness of the order and that it report to the Council by January 1, 2009, on any complaints that could be considered to describe action that would constitute discrimination on the part of any city employee. (Item #12)

Park Street Special Services District – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing $75,000 of grant funding to the Park Street Special Services District (SSD) for maintenance, consumer marketing, consulting services, and other expenses. The Park Street SSD is a public/private partnership in which property owners within the district pay an additional real estate tax, which is collected by the City on their behalf, for use in promoting and improving the business area. (Item #30)

Re-Housing Assistance Program – The Council will vote on a resolution requesting that the Mayor increase the Re-Housing Assistance allowance from $2,500 to $3,000. The Re-Housing Assistance Program was established to provide tenants with financial assistance due to relocation based on circumstances beyond their control. The allowance has not been increased since 1996. (Item #31)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS
Item #

1. Health Education: Approval to accept $147,145 from the CT Department of Public Health to promote community health education.
2. Summer Food: Approval to accept funds from the United States Department of Agriculture through the CT Department of Education for summer breakfasts and lunches for Hartford children.
3. Midget Football: Approval to grant $54,000 to SAND for operation of the Midget Football program for Hartford youth.
4. Grandparents: Approval to grant $34,976 to Family Life Education, Inc. for services to grandparents raising grandchildren.
5. Community Safety: Approval to accept up to $75,000 from the CT Office of Policy and Management for Youth Services programs operated by community based agencies.
6. 911: Approval to accept $636,119 from the CT Department of Public Safety to enhance the 911 system
7. Dispatch Training: Approval to accept $12,470 from the State of Connecticut for ongoing training for 911 dispatchers.
8. Cancer Task Force: Approval to accept $36,000 in Public Health Block Grant funds from the CT Department of Public Health to be used to support the work of the Cancer Task Force
9. Emergency Management: Approval to accept $57,222 from the CT Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to support the City’s Emergency Operations center, Emergency Management Director, and Emergency Operations Plan.
10. Equipment Purchases: Approval to enter into a financing agreement with GE Capital for the purchase of $1,700,000 in technology hardware and software.
11. Breaking the Cycle: Approval to grant $34,000 to the Hartford Action Plan for teen pregnancy prevention.
12. Immigration Status: Resolution supporting Police Chief’s order to not arrest individuals solely on their immigration status. (Also see item #53 and 58)
13. Aggressive Driving: Approval to accept $47,500 from the CT Department of Transportation for enforcement against aggressive drivers.
14. Juvenile Review Board: Approval to accept $200,000 from the CT Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division to operate the Juvenile Review Board.
15. HartBeat Ensemble: Report by the Council’s Health & Human Service Committee on proposal to allocate $7,500 to the HartBeat Ensemble. No recommendation made due to lack of quorum.
16. Contract Compliance: Report by the Council’s Labor and Workforce Development Committee on review of changes to procedures for ensuring compliance with City requirements by construction contractors.
17. Anti-Blight: Report by the Council’s Housing Committee on the Administration’s use of the Anti-Blight ordinance.
18. 175 Mather Street: Approval to sell 175 Mather Street to the Temple of Prayer and Worship for $40,000.
19. 521 Main Street: Approval to lease 350 square feet of space at 521 Main Street to the Hartford Municipal Employee’s Federal Credit Union.
20. North End Little League: Approval of a grant of $7,500 to the North End Little League.
21. Hartford Knights: Approval of a grant of $7,500 to the Hartford Knight’s after-school youth program.
22. Gussie Wortham Foundation: Approval of a grant of $4,500 to the Gussie Wortham Foundation which mentors young men and women to prevent domestic violence.
23. HOT: Approval of a grant of $15,000 to Hartford Organizing for Tomorrow (HOT), a coalition of agencies seeking ongoing funding for human services.
24. Carpe Diem: Approval of a grant of $25,000 to the Carpe Diem Fraternity for repairs to their facility.
25. CLARO: Approval of a grant of $10,00 to support the work of CT Latinos/as Achieving Rights and Opportunities (CLARO) which is addressing homophobia and heterosexism in the Latino community.
26. CT PRIDE: Approval of a grant of $1,500 to support events promoting equal rights and benefits for LGBT people.
27. Hartford Stage: Approval of a grant of $10,000 to the Hartford Stage for its Interact and Connections programs for students from elementary through high school.
28. Guakia: Approval of a grant of $25,000 to Guakia to support its programs on the Puerto Rican and Hispanic/Latino/a arts, culture, and heritage.
29. Motor Vehicle Taxes: Authorization to designate $1.6 million in delinquent motor vehicle taxes as uncollectible. They will be sent to a collection agency for further efforts.
30. Park Street: Approval of a grant of $75,000 to the Park Street Special Services District for maintenance, marketing and other expenses.
31. Re-Housing Assistance: Approval to increase the allotment, provided to tenants who must relocate due to circumstances beyond their control, from $2,500 to $3,000.
32. Tenant/Landlord Harassment: Report by the Council’s Housing Committee tabling a discussion of a policy to protect landlords and tenants from each other.
33. Use of Batterson Pond: Approval of use of Batterson Pond by Team Training New England to train women in triathlon.
34. Clay Hill Recognition Day: Approval of 50% fee waiver for event at DeLucco Park.
35. Library Events: Approval to serve food, beverages and alcohol at certain Library events.
36. Festival of Jazz: Approval of 50% fee waiver for event in Bushnell Park.
37. Barnard Park Health Fair: Approval of 50% fee waiver.
38. Columbia Independence Day: Approval of 50% fee waiver for event at Colt Park.
39. Gospel Explosion: Approval of 50% fee waiver for event in Sigourney Park.
40. Plays in the Parks: Approval of 50% fee waiver for plays in various parks by HartBeat Ensemble.
41. Lift Every Voice and Sing: Approval of 50% fee waiver for event in Bushnell Park.
42. Heart Walk: Approval of 50% fee waiver for event in Bushnell Park.
43. Hartford Marathon: Approval of 50% fee waiver and street closures for the race.
44. Red Dress 5-Miler: Approval of 50% fee waiver for race in Elizabeth Park.
45. Hope Out Loud: Approval of 50% fee waiver for festival in Bushnell Park.
46. Discover Hartford Bike Tour: Approval of 50% fee waiver for the event.
47. CT Ballet: Approval of 50% fee waiver for performance at Riverfront Plaza.
48. First Night: Proposal to allocate up to $6,000 to purchase a tent.
49. Monument: Approval of monument in Bushnell Park commemorating workers killed on the job.
50. School-Community Partnerships: Report by Council’s Education Committee postponing action on funding for the Partnership.
51. City Day: Report by the Council’s Public Works, Parks, & Environment Committee recommending refusal a fee waiver for event sponsored by the U.S. Army.
52. Ownership Registration: Non-resident owners of property must register with the City. This ordinance changes the site of registration from the City Clerk to the Division of Licenses and Inspections.
53. Immigration Status: Creation of a policy that all City services are available to residents regardless of immigration status and City employees, including Police, shall not inquire about immigration status unless required by law. (also see item #12 and 58)
54. Appointment: Reappointment of Sara C. Bronin to Historic Properties Commission
55. Appointment: Appointment of Constance Belton Green to the Hartford Public Library Board of Directors
56. Sheff Movement: Approval of $7,500 grant to help implement the remedies of he Sheff v. O’Neill decision.
57. Riverwalk North: Allocation of $324,697, provided by the State of Connecticut and Riverfront Recapture, for additional costs of constructing the North Riverwalk along the Connecticut River.
58. Immigration Status: Creation of a policy that all City services are available to residents regardless of immigration status and City employees, including Police, shall not inquire about immigration status unless required by law. (also see item #12 and 53)
59. Morgan Street Garage: Approval to change agreement between the City and the State for operation of the Morgan Street Garage to improve efficiencies relative to parking by students at Capital Community College.
60. Back to School Celebration: Request to waive fees for event sponsored by Northend Agent’s Newspaper on Blue Hills Avenue on August 23 and 24.
61. Carnival: Request to waive fees for Coleman Brothers carnival held in Pope Park from June 16 to 22 of 2008.
62. Branch Libraries: Approval to allocate up to $33,000 to re-open Blue Hills and Mark Twain Branch Libraries from August 15 to October 15.
63. Soccer Task Force: Establishment of a Soccer Task Force to set up a Commission to benefit various soccer leagues in Hartford.
64. Back to School Jam: Request to waive fees for event sponsored by Upper Albany/Clay Arsenal Weed & Seed and Clay House in Lozada Park on August 14.
65. Evergreen Block Party: Request to waive fees for event on August 30.
66. Amistad Center Gala: Request to waive fees for valet parking permit for event on November 1, 2008.
67. Wadsworth Atheneum Gala: Request to waive fees for valet parking permit for event on October 4, 2008

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.