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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 121 items on the regular agenda. The next Council meeting will be September
11, 8 PM, at City Hall. The next public hearing will be Monday, August 21, at
City Hall.
Bond Issues for
November - The Council passed a resolution to place eight bond items on the
November 7, 2000 ballot. The projects
include: a new public safety complex,
renovations for fire stations and the fire training academy, phase II of the
Central Library improvements and improvements to library branches, new swimming
pools, pool enclosures, school improvements, the Metzner Center, and various
road-related infrastructure improvements. The eight items have a total price tag of $193 million.
Industrial Reuse Overlay District - On the
recommendation of City Manager Kee Borges, the Council sent a series of zoning
ordinances which would increase the permitted uses in the city’s industrial
zones to a September 25th Public Hearing. The ordinances would establish an Industrial Reuse Overlay District
(IROD) and allow a variety of new activities including; art galleries and
museums, multi unit residential, a variety of schools, and service-oriented
businesses. The affected areas (North and South Meadows, Homestead Avenue, and
the eastern portion of Parkville) are now restricted so that only limited
residential, retail, and other services are permitted.
Asthma – The Council passed a resolution
“acknowledging an asthma emergency” and establishing a citywide policy for
addressing the problem. The resolution
calls for a multi-media asthma campaign, a petition to the U.S. Center for
Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Health to conduct an
epidemiological study of why Hartford’s rates of asthma are higher than those
of other communities. According to the
resolution of 7,500 children recently examined for asthma, 48% of Latino
children had been diagnosed with asthma and 41 % of all children have asthma.
Lewis Street Development - The Council passed a
resolution authorizing a tax assessment agreement for the Trumbull Centre
Project. The agreement requires
Trumbull Centre LLC to pay $1,495,700 in taxes in the first year for its
parking garage and apartment units and slowly increase its tax payments until,
in the eighth year, it will pay 70% of 100% of the value as of the last
Revaluation. Trumbull Centre LLC is
proposing to build apartments and a parking garage on the downtown properties.
Pope Park Swimming Pool - The Council passed on
consent an appropriation ordinance that would fund a replacement of the Pope
Park swimming pool. The cost of the new
pool would be $1,581,070. Financing would come from the FY 1999-2000 General
Fund, $1,381,070, and from the FY 2000-2001 budget, $200,000.
Funds for Artist Collective - On the recommendation
of Majority Leader Watkins, the Council passed a resolution to award the Artist
Collective $25,000 for operational expenses.
McKinney Shelter - The Council passed a resolution to
extend its contract with the Community Renewal Team (CRT) to manage the
McKinney Shelter. The resolution was
discussed at the July 13 meeting of the Operation, Management, Budget, Education,
and Labor Committee. At that meeting
the mayor and several Council members expressed concern at how the shelter was
being administered. The original
resolution had called for a one-year renewal but was amended to a six-month
renewal and the Health and Human Services Committee was directed to review the
contract and make recommendations to the Council for future action.
Regional Transit Study - The Council referred a
report from the Capital Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) on its Regional Transit Study to the Planning, Economic
Development, and Zoning Committee. CRCOG intends to have public hearings in the fall and winter to
publicize the plan.
If you have any questions about the agenda call Greg Vickers at CREN, 249‑1416. The Citizens' Research Education Network is a non‑profit research and education center for Hartford community‑based organizations. |
