Council Previews & Reviews >> Previews > September 10, 2012

Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, September 10, 2012

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 6:00 PM, by an open agenda public hearing. The next public hearing will be Monday, September 17, 2012 at 7 PM.

There are 43 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://townclerk.hartford.gov/Webfiles/archive.aspx

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

New Agenda Items: The following items appear for the first time on the Council's Agenda.

TIGER Grant – The Council will consider a resolution authorizing acceptance of a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation through its Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. The funds will be used to implement Hartford’s Intermodal Triangle Project which is intended to improve the connections between various modes of transportation - pedestrian, bicycle, taxi, bus, rail, air – in the downtown area. Specifically, the project will improve Union Station and the State House Square area, create a drive along the northern edge of Bushnell Park, and prioritize transit uses on Pearl and Asylum Streets. Total project cost is $21,121,000 and other funds will be provided through the City’s Capital Improvement Fund. (Segarra) (Item #13)

Commission on Addiction and Public Health – The Council will consider an ordinance that would establish a new Commission on Addiction and Public Health as a successor to the no-longer-active Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse. The recommendation for the new commission was made by a group of 35 agencies and organizations which provide addiction-related services. The Commission will consist of nine members and will serve as a coordinating body for planning, awareness, prevention, and education efforts associated with substance abuse in Hartford. (Segarra) (Item #37)

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.

Asylum Hill Early Learning Center – The Council will consider a resolution that authorizes the City to enter into a lease agreement with Asylum Hill Congregational Church for space at the church’s facility at 814 Asylum Avenue to be used by the City as an early learning center for 44 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers from Hartford families. The resolution also authorizes the City to provide up to $172,500 to the church for renovation of the space to meet State licensing standards. (Segarra) (Item #24)

Blighted Housing Special Assessment – The Council will consider an ordinance establishing a Blighted Housing Special Assessment as part of the City’s Anti-Blight Program. Annually, a special assessment would be levied on housing units that are determined by the City to be blighted. This assessment would result in an additional tax to the owners of blighted property. The amount of the additional tax would be determined by adding up the direct costs to the City for public safety, code enforcement, and property maintenance for the blighted properties, and dividing the total cost by the number of blighted housing units. The cost of blighted housing would therefore be shifted from the general public to the owners of the properties. (Segarra) (Item #29)

Nuisance Vehicle Towing Program – The Council will consider an ordinance establishing a towing program to deal with abandoned vehicles which have been determined by the City’s Health Inspectors to be public health nuisances as a result of harboring rodents, illegal drugs, weapons, trash, debris or toxic materials. Owners of the vehicles or the property on which they are located will be notified to remove the nuisance vehicles. If the owners fail to do so, the Police Department may tow the vehicle at the owners’ expense. (Segarra) (Item #32)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

  1. Transportation Grant. Approval to accept a $451,250 grant from the Federal Transportation Administration for creation of a single integrated transportation strategy and action plan. (Segarra)
  2. Transit Oriented Development Grant. Authorization to accept a grant of $730,000 from the CT Department of Transportation to develop regulations that will encourage transit oriented development in the downtown area. (Segarra)
  3. Design District. Approval to accept a grant of $387,600 from the Capitol Region Council of Governments for creation of a design district in north downtown. (Segarra)
  4. Housing Study. Authorization to accept a grant of $200,000 from the CT Department of Economic & Community Development to conduct a housing study and needs analysis. (Segarra)
  5. Immunization Grant. Approval to accept a $19,000 grant from the CT Association of Directors of Health to develop a system for billing insurers for immunization services provided through the Health & Human Services Department. (Segarra)
  6. Mayoral Update. Monthly report from Mayor Segarra on operations, finances and initiatives of Hartford City Government. (Segarra)
  7. Financial Report. Report of City financial transactions during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011-12. (Segarra)
  8. 20 & 36 Wolcott Street. Approval to sell City-owned land at 20 and 36 Wolcott Street to Pope Park Zion LLC for $10,000 for construction of two 2-family homes. (Segarra)
  9. 272 Garden Street. Approval to sell a City-owned building at 272 Garden Street to Chrysalis Center, Inc. for $5,000 for renovation into seven apartments and a property management office. (Segarra)
  10. 920-944 Main Street. Authorization to amend an existing lease between the City of Hartford and Richardson Redo LLC, for property at 920-944 Main Street, by extending the term of the lease and changing the way in which rental payments are calculated. (Segarra)
  11. 4th Quarter Transfers. Authorization of transfers of funds within the fiscal year 2011-12 budget to cover expenditure overruns in the Registrars of Voters Office, Police Department, Benefits & Insurances Account, and a non-operating account used for the purchase of tax liens. (Segarra)
  12. Appointment. Confirmation of appointment of Michael T. McGarry to the Board of Assessment Appeals (Segarra)
  13. TIGER Grant. Approval to accept a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for implementation of the Intermodal Triangle Project which will make improvements to Hartford’s transportation hub in downtown Hartford. (Segarra)
  14. Health & Human Services Committee. Notation that a report from the Committee will be forthcoming.
  15. Greater Hartford Transit District. Confirmation of the Mayor’s reappointment of Jennifer Cassidy to the Greater Hartford Transit District. (Segarra)
  16. Aerial Imaging. Authorization for the City to enter into a 3-year $40,647 contract with Pictometry International Corporation for aerial photographs of Hartford for the City’s Geographic Information System and Assessor’s data base. (Segarra)
  17. Employee Breaks in Service. Approval to consider breaks in service, for two employees, as leaves of absence, in order that they may qualify for pension credit for all the years they have worked for the City. (Segarra)
  18. Transfer of Capital Funds. Report from the Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee supporting approval for the City to transfer an unused appropriation of $500,000 in the Capital Improvement Fund to a project to improve the City-owned building at 525 Main Street which is occupied by the Department of Public Works. (Segarra) (also see #30)
  19. Commission on HIV/AIDS. Confirmation of the Mayor’s appointment of Hector Davila to the Commission on HIV/AIDS. (Segarra)
  20. Ryan White Grant. Acceptance of a grant of $4.6 million from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for the City to provide medical and support services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS in 57 towns in Hartford, Middlesex, and Tolland Counties. (Segarra)
  21. HIV/AIDS Fellowship Program. Approval for the City to accept $11,000 from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to implement a program through which ten individuals living with HIV/AIDS will be trained to be effective leaders and advocates. (Segarra)
  22. Grandparents Commission. Confirmation of the Mayor’s reappointment of Winifred Eileen Nelson to the Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. (Segarra)
  23. Teen Pregnancy Prevention. Authorization for the City to extend its contracts with nine organizations who are providing services and programs to prevent pregnancy among Latino and African-American youth between 13 and 19 years old. (Segarra)
  24. Asylum Hill Early Learning Center. Authorization for the City to enter into an agreement with Asylum Hill Congregational Church and to expend $172,500 for creation of an early learning center at 814 Asylum Avenue. (Segarra)
  25. Human Relations Commission. Confirmation of the Mayor’s reappointment of Harry Hartie to the Human Relations Commission. (Segarra)
  26. Nuisance Vehicle Towing Program. Report from the Planning & Economic Development Committee in support of an ordinance creating a process whereby Health Inspectors notify the owner of nuisance vehicles to remove them, and, if they are not removed, the Inspector will notify the Police Department which will tow the vehicle at the owner’s expense. (Segarra) (also see #32)
  27. Jefferson Street Air Rights. Approval of an air rights easement over Jefferson Street to enable Hartford Hospital to construct a skywalk between their employee parking garage and the hospital campus. (Segarra)
  28. Recreation & Community Centers. Establishment of a policy that City recreation and community centers provide services for all ages with normal or extended hours during school vacations and the summer. (Deutsch)
  29. Blighted Housing Special Assessment. Ordinance establishing a special assessment on blighted housing which will result in owners of blighted housing being liable for an additional tax. (Segarra)
  30. Transfer of Capital Funds. Approval for the City to transfer an unused appropriation of $500,000 in the Capital Improvement Fund to a project to improve the City-owned building at 525 Main Street which is occupied by the Department of Public Works. (Segarra) (also see #18)
  31. Pension Benefits. Ordinance providing an opportunity for police officers and fire fighters who are promoted to non-union positions to choose to change the pension program in which they are enrolled. (Kennedy)
  32. Nuisance Vehicle Towing Program. Ordinance creating a process whereby Health Inspectors notify the owner of nuisance vehicles to remove them, and, if they are not removed, the Inspector will notify the Police Department which will tow the vehicle at the owner’s expense. (Segarra) (also see #26)
  33. Retirement Incentive. Ordinance creating an incentive for Assistant and Deputy Chiefs of Police and Assistant Fire Chiefs to retire during 2012. (Kennedy)
  34. Dillon Stadium. Ordinance concerning the fee schedule for the use of Dillon Stadium. (Kennedy) (see also #39)
  35. LGBTI Appointment. Confirmation of the Mayor’s appointment of Dianne B. Waller to the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues. (Segarra)
  36. Milner School. Ordinance appropriating $2,000,000 for the renovation of Milner School. (Segarra)
  37. Commission on Addiction & Public Health. Ordinance creating a Commission on Addiction & Public Health to replace the former Commission on Alcohol & Drug Abuse. (Segarra)
  38. Amendments to NRZ Plans. Ordinance approving updates of the Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) Strategic Plans of the West End NRZ and the Maple Avenue Revitalization Group (MARG) NRZ. (Segarra)
  39. Fee Schedule. Ordinance changing the fee schedule for use of Dillon Stadium by teams, organizations, and the Hartford Public Schools. (Kennedy) (see also #34)
  40. AmeriPride. Resolution calling on the AmeriPride company, which provides linen cleaning services, to reach agreement on labor contracts, including affordable benefits and working conditions, with Hartford-based employees. (Deutsch)
  41. Library Events. Approval for the Hartford Public Library to serve alcohol at two ArtWalk receptions on October 5 and December 7, 2012. (Jennings)
  42. Climate Change. Resolution calling for the U.S. Government to use the Clean Air Act to reduce carbon in the atmosphere to no more than 350 parts per million. (Jennings)
  43. North Hartford Senior Center. Approval for the Men’s Club to serve alcohol at the North Hartford Senior Center at their Fall Dance on September 21, 2012. (Kennedy)

If you have any questions about the agenda, please call Richard Frieder at the Hartford Public Library, 695-6365, or email Linda Bayer at lbayer@Hartford2000.org. The Council Preview/Review is a joint project of Hartford 2000 and the Hartford Public Library.

| Last update: September 25, 2012 |
     
Powered by Hartford Public Library  

Includes option to search related Hartford sites.

Advanced Search
Search Tips

Can't Find It? Have a Question?