Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 39 items on the original agenda.  Two more items were submitted during the meeting.  The next regular Council meeting will be Monday, October 23, 2006 at 7 P.M.

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

Institute for the Hispanic Family Center – The Council passed a resolution to allocate $355,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the purchase, by the City, of 43 Wadsworth Street and 44, 55, and 58 Cedar Street. The resolution further authorizes the subsequent sale of the property to Catholic Family Charities for the construction of the Institute for the Hispanic Family Center, a multi-service center serving youth and families.  (Item #12)

Regulation of Newsracks – The Council referred, to its Public Works, Parks, and Environment Committee, 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 will be held on Monday, October 23, 2006.  (Item #29)

Bond Sales for Public Improvements – The Council passed an ordinance authorizing 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  A similar ordinance was previously submitted and then withdrawn from consideration.  (Item #27)

Redevelopment Plan for Downtown West Section I – The Council passed 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 #24)

West Middle Elementary School Annex -- The Council approved a supplemental appropriation ordinance in the Capital Improvement Fund.  If passed, the ordinance 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 #26)

Funding for HOT – The Council passed 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 #28)

New Agenda Items

Reconstruction/Rehabilitation of Asylum Street – The Council referred, to its Planning and Economic Development Committee, a resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the State of Connecticut to use $1,346,100 in federal funds for the reconstruction of Asylum Street from Main Street to Trumbull Street including street pavement reconstruction, new decorative sidewalks and lighting, improved turning radius, and other amenities. (Item #1)

1161 Main Street Building – The Council referred, to its Planning and Economic Development Committee and its Housing Committee, a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sell the vacant lot at 1143 Main Street to Providian Builders.  Providian has entered into a purchase agreement with the owners of the infamous 1161 Main Street building.  Their intention is to raise the building at 1161 Main and adjoin the resultant lot with the 1143 Main Street lot.  The new site would then be developed.  A public hearing on this matter will be held on Monday, October 23, 2006.  (Item #6)

Appointment of Members to Commission to End Homelessness – The Council voted down an amended resolution appointing members to the Commission to End Homelessness.  The original resolution was on the agenda for the September 25 Council meeting but was referred to the Health & Human Services Committee due to Council concerns over the ratio of non-Hartford residents to Hartford residents and the lack of racial/ethnic diversity among the nominees.  The Committee amended the resolution, adding text stating that remaining unfilled seats on the Commission (and any future openings) be filled by members bringing an appropriate balance of diversity and representation of Hartford residents, and that in the future the Mayor will submit resumes of all nominees prior to the Council’s vote on the nominees.  The Council voted down the amended resolution and passed the original resolution.  In addition, a related resolution (item #41) that was a “walk-in” agenda item, was passed which states that the membership of City Boards and Commissions should reflect the diverse character of Hartford’s citizenry. (Item #18)

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.