Council Previews & Reviews >> Previews > September 11, 2006

Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, September 11, 2006

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 Council meeting will be Monday, September 25, 2006 at 7 P.M.  The next public hearing will be Monday, September 18, 2006.

There are 45 items on the agenda.  The complete agenda for the Council meeting is available online at http://www.hartford.gov/government/Town&CityClerk/Agendas/archive.htm

Previously Submitted Items:  The following items have previously appeared on the Council Agenda.  They were referred to committees and/or public hearing.  They are now on the agenda again for action.

Appropriations in the Capital Improvement Fund for Parks and Swimming Pools – The Council’s  Public Works, Parks and Environment Committee recommends, with a condition, approval of a proposed ordinance that will appropriate a total of $975,000 in reallocated Hartford Parks Trust Fund (HPTF) monies to finance five projects.  The projects are: security fencing at Pope Park and Goodwin Park swimming pools ($250,000), Keney Park Boundless Playground Family Recreation Area ($250,000), park security/access management system at Colt, Keney and Columbus Parks ($275,000), entrance gates at Keney, Colt, Goodwin, and Columbus Parks ($100,000), and Elizabeth Park improvements related to zoning approval of Pond House Café ($100,000).  The funds for these projects would be generated by reducing funding for four other projects, including the restoration of park ponds.  The Committee conditioned its approval on City staff identifying $200,000 from other sources for the restoration of park ponds.  A public hearing on this ordinance was held on July 17, 2006.  (Item # 16 and 22)

Ida B. Wells Lane – The Public Building Dedication Committee recommends approval of a resolution superimposing the name “Ida B. Wells Lane” on Coventry Street between Tower Avenue and Holcomb Street (which runs in front of the Ida B. Wells Senior Housing Complex).  A public hearing on this matter was held on July 17, 2006 and the Blue Hills NRZ supports the resolution.  (Item #20)

Downtown Special Services District – On the agenda for action is a proposed ordinance which will, if passed, allow the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID) for a significant portion of the Central Business District.  The purpose of the BID is to provide public safety (excluding police and fire), cleaning, beautification, and marketing services in and for the BID.  Upon passage of the ordinance, a referendum of owners of taxable properties within the District will be held to establish the BID.  The District will have the power to assess, on its property owners, an additional tax levy of up to one mill to support itself and provide enhanced services.  The BID will be governed by a 23-person Board of Commissioners which will adopt a budget for the BID.  A draft budget proposes $222,000 in funding from the City to support activities associated with keeping downtown clean, including installation of new trash receptacles, graffiti removal, and flower plantings.  The ordinance has the strong support of Business for Downtown and the MetroHartford Alliance.  The Council postponed action in this ordinance at its July 10th and August 14th meetings.  (Item #21)

Bond Sales for Public Improvements – This proposed ordinance will authorized the sale of general obligation bonds in the amount of $4,750,000 and appropriate those funds for a variety of public improvement projects contained in the Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor’s Recommended 2006-2007 Budget.  A similar ordinance was previously submitted and then withdrawn from consideration.  A public hearing will be held on this item on Monday, September 18, 2006.  (Item #25)

New Agenda Items

 

Fair Housing Officer – The Council will consider a resolution authorizing $90,000 in repayments of federal grant funds (Urban Development Action Grant) to partially support the position of Fair Housing Officer in the Office of Human Relations at $30,000 per year for three fiscal years (2006-2009).  This position will be responsible for an annual analysis of impediments to fair housing choice in the city.  (Item #6)

Supplemental Education Services (SES) Program – The Council will receive a report from its Education Committee regarding the plan for academic remediation and tutoring prepared by the Hartford Public Schools.  The Committee suggests that the program can be enhanced through extended day and extended year programming by community providers.  The Committee has requested the Acting Superintendent of Schools to consider input from the community to the SES plan and has asked for a meeting with the Superintendent to discuss the matter.  (Item #8)

West Middle Elementary School Annex -- The Council will vote on a proposed supplemental appropriation ordinance in the Capital Improvement Fund that, if passed, would allocate $300,000 to finance improvements to the West Middle Elementary School annex, a leased facility at 875 Asylum Avenue.  Funding will be used for design, project oversight, technology, furniture, and other related items.  This ordinance supplements two previous appropriations for this project of $450,000 and $600,000 approved on April 25, 2006, and June 28, 2006, respectively.  Upon approval of this additional appropriation, project funding will increase to a total of $1,350,000.  (Item #24)

Student Achievement in Hartford Public Schools – The Council will vote on a resolution requesting that the Hartford Board of Education provide reports evaluating progress on improving literacy and Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) scores based on key strategies provided by the Council.  The key strategies cover several categories including increased mentoring, tutoring, and extended learning programs; literacy/reading enhancements; community, parental and student “learning” expectations; school adequacy, accountability and equity; school building and modernization plan improvements; and teacher and professional development.  The resolution was motivated by recent poor test scores demonstrating that Hartford Public Schools student achievement ranks among the lowest in Connecticut and concern on the part of the Council that academic achievement results in the Schools are reaching crisis proportions.  (Item #30)

Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit -- The Council will vote on a resolution urging support of the proposed Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in the 2007 State Legislative session.  The creation of a Connecticut EITC would provide tax relief to low-income households (an estimated $313 per qualified family or individual) helping them close the gap between what they earn and what they need to make ends meet.  Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have enacted state EITCs, including almost all northeastern states.  (Item #32)

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 the Hartford 2000, and the Hartford Public Library.

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