Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, September 13, 2010

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 20, 2010 at 7 PM.

Note: The Mayor will address the Council at the beginning of the Council meeting regarding the City's 2009-10 report (see item #14).

There are 42 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

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

Library Construction Grant – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the City to apply for and accept a grant of $153,333 from the Connecticut State Library for creation of a Multi-Purpose Room at the Central Branch of the Hartford Public Library. The space is currently unfinished, but is used for a wide variety of programs. The grant and other monies from the Library's Capital Fund will be used to install acoustical ceiling tiles, a sprinkler system, light fixtures, window blinds, audio visual equipment, and partitions to allow the room to be divided into smaller rooms. (Segarra) (Item #2)

Five Free Parking Days – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the Hartford Parking Authority to offer up to five free parking days through the Special/Holiday Parking Days Program on days, times, and locations approved by the Authority during the 2010-2011 fiscal year. The Authority has proposed this Program as a means of spurring retail traffic. (Item #11)

Parking Loyalty Program – The Council will consider a resolution authorizing the Hartford Parking Authority to implement a Loyalty Program for parking patrons in order to spur repeated use of Authority facilities and support downtown businesses. A patron that makes three paid visits to any Authority garage will earn a free fourth visit which must be redeemed by June 20, 2011. (Item #15)

Refer a Friend Parking Program – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the Hartford Parking Authority to implement a Refer a Friend Program to increase monthly patrons at the Morgan Street Garage. A month of free parking will be provided for any current monthly patron (at any Authority facility) who refers a friend who enrolls and pays for three months of parking at the Morgan Street Garage. The Program would expire on June 30, 2011, and would require enrollment by February 28, 2011. (Item #16)

Novelty Lighter Regulation – The Council will consider a proposed ordinance that would regulate novelty lighters - those which are designed to be attractive to children by incorporating flashing lights, musical sounds, or a toy-like appearance. The ordinance would prohibit the sale, gift, or distribution of such lighters within the city of Hartford. (Torres) (Item #27)

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.

Adopt-A-Median – The Council will consider a resolution that requests the Department of Public Works to establish an Adopt-A-Median program through which individuals, community groups and businesses would take responsibility for the upkeep of medians and traffic islands throughout the city. The resolution further authorizes the City to charge such groups up to $50 for a sign that gives credit to the adopter. The Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee recommends passage of the resolution. (Cotto) (Item #22)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. Commissioner's Term. Correction of expiration date of Sylvia Reid's term on the Human Relations Commission. (Segarra)
2. Library Construction Grant. Authorization to apply for and accept $153,333, from the CT State Library, for renovation of the Multi-Purpose Room at the Downtown Branch of the Hartford Public Library. (Segarra)
3. Lease of Parking Spaces. Authorization to continue leasing 12 spaces in the City's 166 Sheldon Street parking lot to US Marshals/Court Security Officers for $50 per month per space. (Segarra)
4. Lease of Parking Spaces. Authorization to continue leasing 10 spaces in the City's 166 Sheldon Street parking lot to the US District Court for $40 per month per space. (Segarra)
5. Lease of Parking Spaces. Authorization to continue leasing 18 spaces in the City's 141 Sheldon Street parking lot to the US Department of Justice for $40 per month per space. (Segarra)
6. Lease of Parking Spaces. Authorization to continue leasing 22 spaces in the City's 141 Sheldon Street parking lot to the US District Court for $40 per month per space. (Segarra)
7. Health Needs Assessment Grant. Authorization to accept $60,000 from Hartford Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, and the CT Children's Medical Center to be used for a community health needs assessment. (Segarra)
8. Energy Grant. Authorization to accept $1,372,700 in stimulus funds from the US Department of Energy through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. (Segarra)
9. Emergency Management Grant. Authorization to accept approximately $57,069 in grant funds from the CT Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to be used by the City's Department of Emergency Services and Telecommunications. (Segarra)
10. Public Safety Grant. Authorization to accept $702,268 from the CT Department of Public Safety for enhanced 911 services. (Segarra)
11. Five Free Parking Days. Authorization for the Hartford Parking Authority to offer up to five free parking days during the 2010-11 fiscal year to help attract people to downtown shops, restaurants, and other destinations on specific days, such as the day after Thanksgiving. (Segarra)
12. Lawsuit. Request from the Mayor for the Council to go into Executive Session to discuss Murtha v. City of Hartford. (Segarra)
13. Readiness Grant. Authorization to accept $25,000 from the CT Department of Public Health to be used to plan for large-scale bioterrorism events. (Segarra)
14. 2009-10 Report. Letter informing Council that the City's 4th Quarter report will be submitted prior to the Council meeting. (Segarra)
15. Loyalty Program. Authorization for the Hartford Parking Authority to establish a program through which a patron of the HPA garages may earn a free visit for every three paid visits. (Segarra)
16. Refer a Friend Program. Authorization for the Hartford Parking Authority to establish a program whereby a free month of parking will be provided to a patron who refers an individual who enrolls and pays for three months of parking at the Morgan Street Garage. (Segarra)
17. Keney Park. Report by the Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee on discussions held about the possibility of listing the northern portion of Keney Park on the National Register of Historic Places. (The southern portion is already listed.)
18. Civic & Cultural Grants. Requirement that entities previously allocated funds through the Civic & Cultural account follow procedures established by the Council for such grants. (Winch, Airey-Wilson, Kennedy, Ritter)
19. Incentive Retirement Program. Authorization for the Mayor to offer a retirement incentive program to unclassified non-bargaining unit employees. (Segarra).
20. Lease Extension. Approval of a five-year extension of a lease with Marshall Realty Corporation for 1002-1008 Wethersfield Avenue at a rate of $836 per month (increased from $684 per month). (Segarra)
21. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the Reeve Foundation's "Roll-A-Thon" to be held in Bushnell Park on September 18. (Cotto)
22. Adopt-a-Median. Establishment of a program through which individuals, groups, and businesses will take responsibility for maintaining a median or traffic island. (Cotto)
23. Event Permission. Approval for the Hartford Public Library to serve alcohol at three events to be held in the downtown branch: CT Book Awards on September 19, ArtWalk on October 15, and Wallace Stevens Birthday Bash on November 6. (Cotto)
24. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the 9th Annual Hope Out Loud Peace and Arts Festival to be sponsored by the CT Coalition for Peace and Justice in Bushnell Park on September 19. (Cotto)
25. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the Three Kings Day Parade held on January 6, 2010 by the Spanish American Merchants Association. (Cotto)
26. Intelligence Collection and Profiling. Report by the Quality of Life & Public Safety Committee postponing action, pending further discussion, on an ordinance limiting domestic surveillance and immigration enforcement activities by the Police Department. (Cotto)
27. Novelty Lighters. Proposed ordinance prohibiting the sale, gift or distribution of lighters, in Hartford, that are designed to be attractive to children. (Torres)
28. Appointment. Approval of the appointment of Olga Colon as Executive Assistant to Councilman Alexander Aponte. (Aponte)
29. Appointment. Appointment of Dr. Robert Painter to the Capital Region Council of Governments Policy Board. (Boucher, Winch, Kennedy, Torres, Ritter)
30. Hartford Knights. Allocation of $15,000 to the Hartford Knights youth program. (Winch)
31. Soccer Program. Allocation of $3,000 to the South Hartford Community Alliance youth soccer team. (Winch)
32. Civic & Cultural Affairs Fund. Indication of intent to allocate funds to organizations. (Boucher)
33. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for "Impact Hartford – Live with Hope" event to be held in Bushnell Park on October 2 & 3, 2010. (Cotto)
34. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the Mount Olive Child Development Center's annual Walk-a-thon to be held in Keney Park on October 16, 2010. (Cotto)
35. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closings for the ING Run for Something Better on October 8, 2010 and the ING Hartford Marathon on October 9, 2010 in Bushnell Park and Hartford streets. (Cotto)
36. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the 2010 Hartford Heart Walk to be held on October 23, 2010 in Bushnell Park and surrounding streets. (Cotto)
37. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and closing of Russ, Park, Washington, and Babcock Streets for the End it Now – March Against Domestic Violence to be sponsored by the Spanish 7th Day Adventist Church on September 11, 2010. (Cotto)
38. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and closure of Trinity Street for the Alzheimer's Association's Memory Walk to be held on October 3, 2010 in Bushnell Park. (Cotto)
39. Corporation Counsel. Confirmation of Mayor's appointment of Saundra Kee Borges as Corporation Counsel. (Segarra)
40. Police Chief. Confirmation of Mayor's re-appointment of Daryl K. Roberts as Chief of Police. (Segarra)
41. Director of Emergency Services & Telecommunications. Confirmation of Andrew T. Jaffee as Director of Emergency Services and Telecommunications. (Segarra)
42. Small Business Issue. Request to the Mayor to assign a staff person to assist businesses being affected by construction resulting from the MDC's Clean Water Project. (Airey-Wlson)

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, 547-1663 X21. The Council Preview/Review is a joint project of Hartford 2000 and the Hartford Public Library.