Council Previews & Reviews >>Reviews > September 8, 2008

Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, September 8, 2008

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 62 items on the original agenda. Two more items were submitted during the meeting. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall. The next public hearing will be Monday, September 15, 2008 at 7 PM.

This Review consists of two sections: Items of Special Interest and Action on All Agenda Items. The City’s official listing of actions taken on all items on this agenda can be found online at the following web site: http://www.hartford.gov/government/Town&CityClerk/Minutes/council_meeting_minutes.htm.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

All Terrain VehiclesThe Council passed an amendment to an existing City ordinance in Chapter 22 of the Hartford Municipal Code. All terrain vehicles will be added to the list of regulated vehicles (including pocket bikes, mini bikes, mini cycles, mini sport bikes, and others). These vehicles will not be allowed on streets, sidewalks, or any public property, including playgrounds, parks, and school grounds, and will only be allowed on private property with the permission of the owner. Law enforcement will be able to seize all terrain vehicles violating the ordinance and issue a summons to Community Court where the sentence may include community service, a fine of up to $99, and/or a jail sentence of up to 25 days. A public hearing was held on this item on Monday, July 21, 2008 and the Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee recommended approval. (Items #19 & 27)

Rules for Considering Vetoes From the Mayor – The Council tabled a resolution that clarifies the process after a veto from the Mayor. The resolution states that City Council Rules will be updated to indicate that any vetoed resolution or ordinance shall be automatically placed by the Town Clerk on the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting agenda. The Legislative Affairs Committee recommended approval.(Item #20)

Shot-Spotter – The Council referred, to its Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee, a resolution requesting that the Mayor acquire a Shot-Spotter which is new technology that can identify the location of a gunshot within five seconds of firing, which would assist in apprehending individuals firing guns in Hartford. The resolution also asks that state, federal, and other funding options be explored in order to acquire the Shot-Spotter as soon as possible. (Item #38)

Greenway/Bikeway – The Council adopted a resolution that asks the City administration to apply to the State Department of Environmental Protection for funds to plan and construct a greenway/bikeway and to explore the possibility of collaborating with the towns of Simsbury and Bloomfield to construct and connect greenways in the three towns. (Item #39)

Medical Premiums for Retirees – The Council postponed action on a resolution reaffirming its intention that the Mayor submit to the City Council, for final approval before implementation, any plan which might impact medical premiums for retirees. (Item #59)

Charter Revision Commission – The Council referred, to its Legislative Affairs Committee, a resolution stating that an 11-member Charter Revision Commission be appointed within thirty days. Its purpose will be to review the current Charter and all aspects of the structure of the City Government including, but not limited to, the appointment of certain boards and commissions by the City Council, the appointment of the Corporation Counsel by the City Council, the authority of the Treasurer in financial matters governing the City, special elections for the Mayor, and the composition of the City Council. (Item #62)

Library Branches – A resolution that would allocate up to $75,000 from already authorized funds to the Hartford Public Library in order to reopen the Blue Hills and Mark Twain Branch Libraries was withdrawn from consideration in favor of a resolution at item #63 which allocated $50,000 for the same purpose. The substitute resolution passed. (Item #61 and 63)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS
Item #

  1. HIV/AIDS: Authorization to accept $3.7 million grant for medical and support services to people with HIV/AIDS in Hartford, Middlesex, and Tolland counties. Passed
  2. Substance Abuse: Approval to accept $7,130 for substance abuse prevention. Passed
  3. 18 Chapin Place: Approval to sell City-owned property at 18 Chapin Place to Mahadeo Ajodhi for construction of a house. Referred to Housing Committee
  4. Emergency Preparedness: Approval to enter into agreement with the State for services and funding for emergency preparedness in the region. Referred to Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee
  5. Executive Session: Request that Council go into Executive Session to discuss the case of Janice Mendez v. City of Hartford. Passed
  6. Executive Session: Request that Council go into Executive Session to discuss the case of Cornell Sweet v. Zachary Freeto, et al. Passed
  7. Violence: Report from the Health & Human Services Committee on discussions about facilities, services and programs available to youth, the issues around youth violence, and ways the City can be helpful. Received
  8. Contract Compliance: Report from the Labor & Workforce Development Committee on review of changes to the City’s process of assuring that construction contractors comply with affirmative action and other equal opportunity requirements. Received
  9. Tenant/Landlord Relations: Report from Housing Committee that discussion of tenant/landlord issues was tabled. Tabled
  10. Bonds:Recommendation from the Operations, Management & Budget Committee that the Council should approve an ordinance (item #23) allowing the City to modify interest rates or other terms on bonds issued by the City in order to reduce financial risk. Received
  11. Anderson Center: Recommendation from the Operations, Management & Budget Committee that the Council should approve $861,423 in CDBG funds for improvements to Kelvin Anderson Center. (also see item #24) Received
  12. Information Services Pensions: Recommendation by the Operations, Management & Budget Committee supporting an ordinance (item #26) defining recalculation of pension benefits for employees affected by consolidation of the information services groups of the Board of Education and City of Hartford. Received
  13. Information Services Employees: Recommendation by the Operations, Management & Budget Committee supporting an ordinance (item #25) defining a group of employees affected by consolidation of information services units of Board of Education and City of Hartford and covered by amended pension benefits. Received
  14. Equipment Purchases: Recommendation by the Operations, Management & Budget Committee to enter into a financing agreement with GE Capital for the purchase of $1,700,000 in technology hardware and software. Passed
  15. Morgan Street Garage: Recommendation by the Operations, Management & Budget Committee to change agreement between the City and the State for operation of the Morgan Street Garage to improve efficiencies in parking by students at Capital Community College. Passed
  16. Amistad Center Gala: Recommendation by the Operations, Management & Budget Committee to waive fees for valet parking permit for Amistad Center event on November 1, 2008. Passed
  17. Wadsworth Atheneum Gala. Recommendation by the Operations, Management & Budget Committee to waive fees for valet parking permit for event on October 4, 2008. Passed
  18. Carnival: Committee report to be submitted at Council meeting on requested waiver of fees for Coleman Brothers carnival held in Pope Park from June 16 to 22 of 2008. Passed
  19. All-Terrain Vehicles: Recommendation by the Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee to adopt an ordinance (item #27) prohibiting use of all-terrain vehicles on public streets or sidewalks or on private property without permission of owner. Received
  20. Mayoral Vetoes: Recommendation by the Legislative Affairs Committee to change the Council Rules to state that any item passed by Council and vetoed by the Mayor must be placed on the next Council agenda. Tabled
  21. Monument in Bushnell Park: Authorization to install monument to workers killed on the job. Postponed
  22. School-Community Partnerships: Report by Council’s Education Committee postponing action on funding for the Partnership. Postponed
  23. Bonds: An ordinance allowing the City to modify interest rates or other terms on bonds issued by the City in order to reduce financial risk. (also see item #10) Passed
  24. Anderson Center: Ordinance appropriating $861,423 in CDBG funds for improvements to Kelvin Anderson Center bringing total funds to $17,061,423. (also see item #11) Passed
  25. Information Services Employees: Ordinance defining a group of employees affected by consolidation of information services units of Board of Education and City of Hartford and covered by amended pension benefits. (also item #13) Passed
  26. Information Services Pensions: Ordinance defining recalculation of pension benefits for employees affected by consolidation of information services units of Board of Education and City of Hartford. (also see item #12) Passed
  27. All-Terrain Vehicles. Ordinance prohibiting use of all-terrain vehicles on public streets or sidewalks or on private property without permission of owner. (also see item #10) Passed
  28. Fee Waiver: Recommendation by Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee (PWPEC) to waive fees for the Independence Day of Columbia held at Colt Park on July 20th. Passed
  29. Fee Waiver: Recommendation by PWPEC to waive fees for Lift Every Voice and Sing to be held in Bushnell Park on September 13th. Passed
  30. Grant: Authority to grant $5,000 to Debbie Goffe and her dance company, Scapegoat Garden. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
  31. Appointments: Approval to appoint Robin Kimberly Hussain and Linda R. Nelson to the Hartford Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandparents. Postponed
  32. Appointment: Approval to appoint Sean P. Arena to the Hartford Redevelopment Agency. Postponed
  33. Appointment: Approval to appoint Imani Zito to the Advisory Commission on the Environment. Postponed
  34. Reappointment: Approval to reappoint Melvin L. Crockett to the Civilian Police Review Board. Postponed
  35. Reappointment: Approval to reappoint Melvin D. Pettigrew to the Greater Hartford Transit District. Postponed
  36. Pratt Street: Approval to enter into an agreement with Aetna regarding ownership of Pratt Street. (no further information available at this time).
  37. Grant: Approval to grant $3,500 to the Juan Castillo Latin-American Basketball League. Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee
  38. ShotSpotter: Request to Mayor to acquire technology that identifies the location of a gunshot within five seconds of the shot. Referred to Quality of Life & Public Safety Committee
  39. Greenway: Request to the Mayor to apply for State funds to construct a bikeway/greenway and to explore the possibility of partnering with Bloomfield and Simsbury to connect such trails in the three towns. Passed
  40. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver and street closings for CT Special Olympics Corporate 5K held on August 14, 2008. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  41. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver and street closings for Marshall House Block Party to be held on September 5, 2008. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  42. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver for "Walk in Our Footsteps" sponsored by CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence to be held on October 3, 2008. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  43. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver and street closings for "Christian Parade" sponsored by the Church of God Pentecost held on August 30, 2008. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  44. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver for "Memory Walk" sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association on October 5, 2008. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  45. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver for Latino Fest sponsored by Hacemos Scholarship Foundation being held on September 6, 2008 in Bushnell Park. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  46. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver for "Take Back the Park" held by Hartford City Mission in Keney Park on July 31 and August 1, 2008. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  47. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver for "Community Garden Picnic" held by Broad Park Development and Hartford Public Library on August 22, 2008. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  48. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver for a summer outing held by Liberty Christian Center on August 17, 2008. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  49. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver for the "Evangelical Campaign Outreaching for the Vision of Christ 2008" at South Green Park by Ebenezer Pentecostal Church on August 30, 31, 2008. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  50. Monument: Approval to erect a monument to Marcus Garvey at the intersection of Granby and Cornwall Streets (Marcus Garvey Triangle). Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  51. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver for "Community Street Fest" held by Liberty Christian Center on August 30, 31, 2008. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  52. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver for a fundraiser held by The Barrio Riders and the Pit Stop held on August 30, 2008. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  53. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver for "Grilling for Green" to be held by Knox Parks Foundation on October 2, 2008 at Elizabeth Park. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  54. Cultural Affairs: Approval to release $10,000 of previously authorized $50,000 to be used by the Office of Cultural Affairs for upcoming programming. Passed
  55. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver for Sigourney Square Family Festival held by LifeTime Solutions on August 30, 31, 2008. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  56. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver for a series of summer religious services held by Bibleway Temple Nation. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  57. Fee Waiver: Request for fee waiver for a series of religious services held by La Iglesia de Dios in August and September 2008. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  58. Audit: Request to the Internal Audit Commission to perform audit of contractual processes and arrangements relating to health premiums paid by retirees. Referred to Labor & Workforce Development Committee
  59. Premiums: Request to the Mayor that he submit to Council any plans that might impact medical premiums for retirees. Postponed
  60. FOI. Request to Council to review the question of further appeals versus settlement of Freedom of Information Commission decision. Postponed
  61. Library Branches. Approval to allocate $75,000 to re-open Blue Hills and Mark Twain Library Branches. Withdrawn (see #63)
  62. Charter Revision. Approval to establish an 11-person Charter Revision Commission within 30 days. Referred to Legislative Affairs Committee
  63. Library Branches. Approval to allocate $50,000 to re-open Blue Hills and Mark Twain Library Branches. (also see #61) Passed
  64. Financial Report. Directive to the Mayor to submit, in accordance with the City Charter, a report of financial transactions and administrative activities for the 2007-08 fiscal year. Passed

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.

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