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Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 32 items on the original agenda. Four additional items were submitted during the meeting. The next regular Council meeting will be Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 7 P.M. The next public hearing will be Monday, October 16, 2006.
Actions taken on all items on the Council agenda can be found online at http://www.hartford.gov/government/Town&CityClerk/Minutes/council_meeting_minutes.htm
Temporary Recreation Site – The Council approved a resolution to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with St. Luke’s Church at 66 Bolton Street to utilize the church’s community room for City-run recreation programs while the Metzner Recreation Center is being renovated. (Item #6)
Amendments to the Anti-Blight Ordinance – The Council passed an ordinance amending the Anti-Blight Program. Among the changes made are inclusion of vacant land in the definition of “blighted premises”, application of the ordinance to occupied properties as well as vacant ones, more precise definitions of “dilapidated” and “illegal activity”, elimination of most exceptions to the applicability of the ordinance, imposition of fines of $100 per day on owners who fail to correct blighting conditions, authorization to file liens against the property for fines and accrued interest not paid by the owner, requirement that owners file valid addresses with the City, and a statement that, even if such address is not on file, the owner is still liable for penalties. A public hearing on this matter was held on Monday, August 21, 2006, and the Council’s Planning and Economic Development Committee recommended approval with the recommendation that the City not be exempt from the ordinance. The exemption was removed from the ordinance prior to adoption. (Items #8 and 20)
Fair Housing Officer – The Council passed a resolution authorizing the use of $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. The resolution received a positive recommendation from the Housing Committee. (Item #15)
Redevelopment Plan for Downtown West Section I – The Council postponed action on a resolution approving the Redevelopment Plan for the Downtown West Section I project. The project area includes 4.29 acres of land bounded by Asylum, Ann, Jewell, and Ford Streets and includes the YMCA site on Jewell Street (now owned by Northland Investment Corporation), a fire station, and several surface parking lots. The primary goal of the project is to spur the orderly reuse and upgrade of the parcels in the project area to the betterment of the area and the city. The project area will be redeveloped as primarily residential. The plan was prompted by Northland Investment’s request for the City to provide Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to assist in development of the old YMCA site. TIF financing requires the establishment of a TIF district and a Redevelopment Plan is the best means of establishing such a district. The Redevelopment Agency approved the redevelopment plan on August 10th and the Council’s Planning and Economic Development Committee recommended approval. The Council has previously postponed action on the item. (Item #17)
Regulation of Newsracks – The Council postponed action on an ordinance for the regulation of installation, operation, and maintenance of newsracks within the public right-of-way. The objective is to assure that newsracks do not unduly obstruct sidewalks, create traffic congestion, damage municipal property, or endanger the safety and welfare of individuals. The ordinance requires permits, regulates the location of newsracks, and provides standards for maintenance and installation. A public hearing on this matter was held on Monday, August 21, 2006. The Council referred the item to the Public Works, Parks, and Environment Committee; a report has not yet been received. (Item #21)
Landfill Closure – The Council passed a resolution authorizing the Mayor to negotiate the terms and conditions of the landfill closure with the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority (CRRA) and to bring the final agreement to the Council for ratification prior to execution. The original resolution, which resolved that “the City of Hartford will not object to the CRRA’s landfill closure” was replaced by a more detailed resolution which was then amended on the floor and passed. (Item #24)
Lease – The Council referred, to its Education Committee, a resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a lease with Capital Community College for space on the 3rd and 6th floors of the College (950 Main Street) for the operation of the Capital College Preparatory Inter-District Magnet School. The term of the lease is two years and ten months and the rent is $1.00 per year. A public hearing on the matter will be held on Monday, October 16, 2006. (Item #25)
Funding for HOT – The Council referred, to its Management and Budget Committee, a resolution asking the Mayor to identify $15,000 to be provided to a coalition of community organizations (Hartford Organizing for Tomorrow) to be used , along with another $15,000 in matching funds, to develop a pool of funding for community services, human services, and community development. (Item #27)
Residency Survey – The Council referred, to its Labor and Workforce Development Committee, a resolution requesting that a working committee be established to develop a plan to bring the percentage of Hartford residents in the City of Hartford, Board of Education, and nonprofit workforce to 50%. The resolution also authorizes a residency survey. (Item #32)
The following items were among a group of four items submitted to the Council meeting as “walk-in” items, i.e. they were submitted after the regular Council Agenda deadline.
Renaming of Vine Street – The Council referred, to its Public Building Dedication Committee, a resolution renaming Vine Street as “Ella L. Cromwell Boulevard”. A public hearing on the matter will be held on Monday, October 16, 2006. (Item #35)
Sale of City-Owned Land – The Council referred, to its Planning and Economic Development Committee, a resolution authorizing the sale, at no cost, of the rear parcel of 1450 Main Street to the SOC Group for the construction of 57 units of affordable rental housing. The resolution also authorizes the City to grant, to SOC, a one-year option to purchase the front parcel of 1450 Main Street for $150,000. SOC Group was selected as the developer through a Request for Proposals process. A public hearing on the matter will be held on Monday, October 16, 2006. (Item #36)
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. |
