Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Tuesday, September 28, 2009

Prepared by:
Hartford 2000 and the Hartford Public Library

There were 35 items on the original agenda. No additional items were submitted during the meeting. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall, preceded at 6:00 PM by a public comment period. The next public hearing will be Monday, October 19, 2009 at 7 PM.

This Review consists of two sections: Items of Special Interest and Action on All Agenda Items. The City’s official listing of actions taken on all items on this agenda can be found online at:: http://www.hartford.gov/government/Town&CityClerk/Minutes/council_meeting_minutes.htm

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Riverfront Park Management – The Council referred to its Operations, Management & Budget Committee, 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 referred, to its Housing and Public Works, Parks & Environment Committees, 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. A public hearing will be held on this matter on October 19. (Item #6)

Solid Waste Disposal – The Council passed 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 referred, to its Planning & Economic Development Committee, 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. A public hearing will be held on this matter on October 19. (Item #22)

Civic and Cultural Account – The Council referred, to its Operations, Management & Budget Committee, 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. A public hearing will be held on this matter on October 19. (Item #23)

Pedal Cabs – The Council referred, to its Planning & Economic Development Committee, 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. A public hearing will be held on this matter on October 19. (Item #24)

Illegal Dumping – The Council referred, to its Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee, 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. A public hearing will be held on this matter on October 19. (Item #26)

Town and City Clerk – The Council appointed John Bazzano as Hartford Town and City Clerk, following the death of Dan Carey earlier this month. (Item #28)

Hartford Votes – The Council passed 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)

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. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
2. Executive Session. Request for Council to enter Executive Session to discuss Goldsich v. City of Hartford. Executive Session
3. Executive Session. Request for Council to enter Executive Session to discuss Noel Johnson & Huntley Facey v. Anthony Williams & City of Hartford. Executive Session
4. Employee Breaks in Service. Authorization to designate breaks in service as leaves of absence for five City employees for purposes of pension calculations. Passed
5. Clean Fuel Grant. Approval to accept $81,500 from the State of Connecticut for purchase of 12 alternative/clean fuel vehicles. Passed
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) Referred to Housing and Public Works, Parks & Environment Committees. Public Hearing October 19.
7. Real Art Ways. Approval to grant $45,000 to Real Art Ways for its Arts Employment Initiative. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
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. Referred to Housing Committee. Public Hearing October 19.
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. Passed
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. Passed
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) Received
12. School Budget. Report of the Education Committee stating that the Superintendent will make a presentation to the Committee on September 23, 2009. Received
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. Received
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). Received
15. Transfer of Funds. Report by the Operations, Management & Budget Committee on discussions regarding transfer of funds to Registrars of Voters Office. Postponed
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. Postponed
17. Outsourcing. Proposal to prevent the City from engaging private organizations to perform maintenance and other services traditionally performed by City employees. Postponed
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) Postponed
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. Passed
20. Appointment. Appointment of Joel D. Johnson to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission. Postponed
21. Appointment. Appointment of Maria T. Cerniuskas-Upton to the Commission on Disability Issues. Postponed
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. Referred to Planning & Economic Development. Public Hearing October 19.
23. Civic & Cultural Funds. Establishment of an application process for grants from the Civic & Cultural account. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee. Public Hearing October 19.
24. Pedal Cabs. Ordinance regulating bicycle-type vehicles used as public transportation for up to three riders. Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee. Public Hearing October 19.
25. Expansion of BID. Authorization to expand the downtown Business Improvement District by adding 12 parcels of land. Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee. Public Hearing October 19.
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. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee. Public Hearing October 19.
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. Referred to Labor & Workforce Development Committee. Public Hearing October 19.
28. Town Clerk. Approval to appoint a new Town and City Clerk. Appointed John V. Bazzano
29. Civic & Cultural Account. Restatement of allocations made by Council on July 13, 2009 to correct a mathematical error. Passed
30. Hartford Votes. Designation of October as Hartford Votes – Hartford Vota Month. Passed
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. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee. Public Hearing October 19.
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. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
33. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closure for “Whitney Street Block Party” to be held on October 4, 2009. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment
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. Passed
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. Passed

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.