Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, September 28, 2009

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 next Council meeting will be Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 7 PM, with public comment from 6 to 7 PM. The next public hearing will be Monday, October 19, 2009 at 7 PM.

There are 35 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/Agendas/archive.htm

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

New Agenda Items

Riverfront Park Management – The Council will consider a resolution authorizing a contract with Riverfront Recapture, Inc. (RRI) for management, operation, maintenance, and development of City of Hartford parks along the Connecticut River. The proposed agreement has a five-year term with options to renew for two additional five-year periods. RRI will be responsible for maintaining and repairing all parts of the parks, including land, buildings, recreational facilities, river moorings, docks, and boat ramps, implementing activities and events, managing and promoting concessions and attractions, and raising funds for all activities. RRI is currently providing such services under a previous contract. No payments are authorized specifically by this agreement. Any funds provided by the City to RRI will be allocated as part of the regular budget process. (Item #1)

54 Westland Street – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the sale of 5.34 acres of the property at 54 Westland Street, for $175,000, to TORAAL Development LLC for construction of 40 units of housing. Six two-family homes will be constructed along Westland Street and eight duplexes and six two-family houses will be constructed along a newly reconstructed portion of Naugatuck Street, between Hampton and Barbour Streets, which was previously abandoned. In addition, play ground apparatus, now situated on this site, will be relocated to an area adjacent to Kelvin Anderson Center. (Item #6)

Solid Waste Disposal – The Council will consider a resolution that authorizes the City to participate in an initiative sponsored by the Capital Region Council of Governments, which will research and discuss options for a new regional approach to solid waste management. Municipal contracts with CRRA expire in 2011 and cities and towns are exploring more cost-effective ways of managing their trash. The resolution also authorizes a contribution of $500 to this effort. (Item #9)

Plan of Conservation and Development – The Council will vote on a proposed ordinance that, if approved, will appropriate $250,000 in the Capital Improvement Fund to finance the preparation of the State mandated plan of conservation and development. More specifically, the funds will be partially used for a detailed traffic study of downtown Hartford and to update future school enrollment and space needs for Hartford Public Schools. (Item #22)

Pedal Cabs – The Council will consider an ordinance that defines a pedal cab as “a multi-wheeled vehicle propelled by human power, capable of transporting passengers…and which is made available to the public as a mode of transportation”. The ordinance requires drivers to secure a license for $25 annually, requires owners to register their vehicles for $50 per year, and regulates equipment and operation for safety purposes. (Item #24)

Town and City Clerk – The Council will vote on a resolution appointing a new Town and City Clerk, following the death of Dan Carey earlier this month. (Item #28)

Hartford Votes – The Council will consider a resolution designating October as Hartford Votes – Hartford Vota Month in Hartford. The resolution supports the work of local nonprofits in voter engagement and encourages Hartford residents to vote on November 3, 2009. (Item #30)

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.

Civic and Cultural Account – The Council will vote on a proposed ordinance that, if approved, will detail a process for distributing funds from the Council’s Civic and Cultural Account. An amount is appropriated to this account each year for the purpose of providing support to nonprofit organizations. The proposed ordinance calls for an application and public hearing process for distributing the funds to various organizations. The item was referred to the Operations Management & Budget Committee. (Item #23)

Illegal Dumping – The Council will consider ordinance amendments which make it illegal to dump solid waste in Hartford in any location not licensed for dumping. Fines, which were previously set at $100 per day, are proposed to be changed to $1,000 for a first offense and $5,000 for every subsequent offense. The amendments would also result in better signage in locations found to be significantly problematic for dumping. (Item #26)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. Riverfront Recapture. Authorization for the City to continue its agreement with Riverfront Recapture, Inc. for operation, maintenance, and development of City parks along the Connecticut River.
2. Executive Session. Request for Council to enter Executive Session to discuss Goldsich v. City of Hartford.
3. Executive Session. Request for Council to enter Executive Session to discuss Noel Johnson & Huntley Facey v. Anthony Williams & City of Hartford.
4. Employee Breaks in Service. Authorization to designate breaks in service as leaves of absence for five City employees for purposes of pension calculations.
5. Clean Fuel Grant. Approval to accept $81,500 from the State of Connecticut for purchase of 12 alternative/clean fuel vehicles.
6. Land Sale. Authorization to sell 5.4 acres of land at 54 Westland Street to TORAAL Development for construction of 40 units of housing. (also see #11)
7. Real Art Ways. Approval to grant $45,000 to Real Art Ways for its Arts Employment Initiative.
8. Mortgage Subordination. Retroactive approval of actions taken by Rego Realty in developing 158 and 162-164 Ward Street which were not in accordance with original agreement for sale of land by City to Rego, to allow the subordination of the City’s mortgage.
9. Solid Waste Authority. Support for and participation in exploration of regional approach to solid waste disposal and contribution of $500 to CRCOG to support research.
10. Amendments to Agreement. Authorization to amend agreements designating Broad Park Development Corporation as developer of 17-19 Squire Street to conform with changes in requirements by the US Dept. of Housing & Urban Development.
11. Committee Report. Report of a joint meeting of the Planning & Economic Development and Housing Committees regarding the development of 40 units of housing at 54 Westland Street by TORAAL Development. (also see #6)
12. School Budget. Report of the Education Committee stating that the Superintendent will make a presentation to the Committee on September 23, 2009.
13. LGBT Concerns. Report of the Education Committee on discussions with LGBT Commissioners regarding problems experienced by LGBT students in the public schools and proposals for addressing those problems.
14. Living Wage Ordinance. Report of the Labor & Workforce Development Committee stating that changes are being made to the proposed ordinance which will be reviewed by the committee (also see #18).\
15. Transfer of Funds. Report by the Operations, Management & Budget Committee on discussions regarding transfer of funds to Registrars of Voters Office.
16. Collection Contracts. March report by OMB Committee on request for a report on fees paid to and profits made by agencies under contract with the City to collect overdue taxes.
17. Outsourcing. Proposal to prevent the City from engaging private organizations to perform maintenance and other services traditionally performed by City employees.
18. Living Wage. Amendments to the City’s Living Wage ordinance, including increasing the definition of a living wage to 120% of the federal poverty level for a family of four plus health benefits and decreasing the amount of a contract that triggers the living wage ordinance from $50,000 to $20,000. (also see #14)
19. Senior Centers. Approval to enter into contracts totaling $691,523 with the Parkville Senior Center and the operators of the Southend Wellness Center, Northend Senior Center and the Salvation Army Senior Center.
20. Appointment. Appointment of Joel D. Johnson to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission.
21. Appointment. Appointment of Maria T. Cerniuskas-Upton to the Commission on Disability Issues.
22. Funding for Plan. Appropriation of additional $250,000 (previous allocation of $250,000) in the Capital Improvement Fund for the City’s Plan of Conservation & Development.
23. Civic & Cultural Funds. Establishment of an application process for grants from the Civic & Cultural account.
24. Pedal Cabs. Ordinance regulating bicycle-type vehicles used as public transportation for up to three riders.
25. Expansion of BID. Authorization to expand the downtown Business Improvement District by adding 12 parcels of land.
26. Dumping. Proposal to make it illegal to dump solid waste in Hartford in any unlicensed location and to increase fines from $100 per day to $1,000 for first offense and $5,000 for subsequent offenses.
27. Exceptional Service Increments. Proposal for Council to approve guidelines for exceptional service pay for City employees as well as any lump sum exceptional service payments.
28. Town Clerk. Approval to appoint a new Town and City Clerk.
29. Civic & Cultural Account. Restatement of allocations made by Council on July 13, 2009 to correct a mathematical error.
30. Hartford Votes. Designation of October as Hartford Votes – Hartford Vota Month.
31. Lease. Authorization of three-year extension of the lease between 184 Windsor LLC and City of Hartford, site of the Pathways to Technology Magnet School.
32. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees, closure of Trinity Street, and permission for fireworks for First Night Hartford to be held in downtown Hartford on December 31, 2009.
33. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closure for “Whitney Street Block Party” to be held on October 4, 2009.
34. The Mansion. Resolution urging the owners of The Mansion Night Club and the CT Department of Consumer Protection to be vigilant in meeting the terms of the agreement reached to restore the club’s liquor permit and reopen the club.
35. North Hartford Senior Center. Acceptance of the budget proposed by the Senior Center Advisory Committee and use of $30,000 in savings generated for maintenance of the facility.

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.