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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There are 40 items on the agenda. The Council meeting will begin at 7 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers and will be preceded by a public hearing that will begin at 6:30 P.M. The Council is meeting on Tuesday rather than Monday because of the Columbus Day holiday. The next Council meeting will be Monday, October 25, 2004.
Absentee Landlord Registration: On the recommendation of Mayor Eddie Perez, the Council will vote on an ordinance that would require property owners who do not reside at their property to register with the Town Clerk and provide contact information for the public. According to the attached letter, many residents have complained of difficulties contacting owners of rental properties who do not live in the city. (Item #17)
Pocket Bike Ban: The Council will vote on an ordinance which would ban pocket bikes and similar vehicles from city streets and public property. The Ordinance has been amended to allow for the appropriate use of Segways. The Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee has recommended passage of the ordinance. (Item #26)
Historic Preservation Commission: The Council will consider several ordinances aimed at protecting historic properties. If passed the ordinance would create an Historic Preservation Commission which would protect about 4,000 properties in Hartford. The ordinance would cover properties on the National Register of Historic Places, the State register of Historic Places, and historic districts. Restrictions on demolitions and changes to the exterior of properties would be utilized to prevent the corruption of the historic integrity of the properties. Any proposed exterior changes would have to conform to the historic design manual provided by the Historic Preservation Commission. The ordinance also protects residents of historic properties by providing for a quick decision process. The ordinance will take effect 30 days after the creation of the historic manual. (Items #22, 23, 24, & 25)
Historic Preservation Fund: The Council will consider a resolution which would create a Historic Preservation Fund to provide resources to residents when making improvements to the exterior of historically significant homes. If passed, a fund of not less than $50,000 would be created to support historic housing. Residents would apply for the grant by submitting a proposal along with their building permit application to the City Planning Department. City Council and the Historic Preservation Commission would then approve or deny the grant request. Among other criteria that applicants must meet are: must be a resident of Hartford, reside in an historically significant home or historic district, improvement/repair/conversion/refurbishment costs to the exterior must exceed $2,500, and the changes must be consistent with the design manual provided by the Historic Preservation Commission. (Item #1)
Property Tax Payments: The Council will vote on a resolution that would “extend tax interest abatement opportunities to those taxpayers who tendered a partial payment on their first-half taxes payable on July 1, 2004 to the City of Hartford, and who have demonstrated significant hardship.” The resolution would also allow for the abatement of interest accrued on the remaining portions of first-half tax payments to the extent allowed by law. The Council tabled this resolution during the September 27th meeting in order to get more information with regards to two proposed amendments and also expressed a desire to vote on the resolution at the October 12th meeting. This resolution is in response to the impact that the semi-annual tax installment plan implemented by the City for 2004-2005 has had on a number of families, elderly, and small businesses. (Item #3)
Bridge and Roadway Improvements Near Adriaen’s Landing – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement with the State of Connecticut for bridge and roadway improvements on Columbus Boulevard, Prospect Street, Commerce Street, Arch Street, and Grove Street in concert with the Adriaen’s Landing project. (Item #13)
Riverwalk North Project – The Council will vote on a proposed ordinance that would appropriate $3,199,438 in the Capital Improvement Fund to finance the construction, inspection, and maintenance of the Riverwalk North Project. The City will be fully reimbursed for all disbursements made under this appropriation: $1,799,438 will be reimbursed from the State, and the remainder of the funds will be reimbursed from Riverfront Recapture, Inc. (Item #21)
Capital Improvement Fund Projects: The Council will vote on a proposed appropriation ordinance in the Capital Improvement Fund for $3,975,000 to finance seven Local Capital Improvement Program (LoCIP) projects including: Police Headquarters HVAC Improvements and Roof Replacement ($1,350,000); Mark Twain Branch Library ($75,000); City Hall Department Reconfiguration and Canopy Roofs ($400,000); City Hall Fourth Floor Improvements ($400,000); Central Business District Street Light Replacement ($500,000); Street Resurfacing and Repairs ($1,000,000); Colt and Keney Park Swimming Pool Renovations ($250,000). This ordinance has been to public hearing. (Item #16)
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