Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There are 53 items on the regular agenda, though more may be
added on the supplemental agenda. The
meeting will begin at 8 P.M. and will be televised on Hartford Public Access,
Channel 21.
Housing Overlay
District – The Council will be voting on several ordinances which would
create a housing overlay district (HOD) in the downtown area north of Bushnell
Park. HODs establish a residential
development requirement in areas zoned for office use. If passed, the ordinances would require any
new structures or enlargements of existing buildings in the HOD to include 25%
gross floor area be reserved for residential use. Several businesses in the effected area have filed official
protests to the proposed district. The
Planning, Economic Development, and Zoning Committee has reviewed the
ordinances and is recommending passage. The ordinances have been to public hearing and are on the action
calendar. (Items # 30-39)
Expansion of
Enterprise Zone – On the recommendation of City Manager Kee Borges, the
Council will be voting on a resolution to expand Hartford’s Enterprise
Zone. The expansion would be along
Homestead Avenue and north along Main Street. According to the resolution, the extension was requested by the Hartford
Enterprise Zone Business Zone Association and would “create new opportunities
for development.” (Item #11)
Affirmative Action
Plan -- The Council will vote on a resolution establishing a new
Affirmative Action Plan for the city. The plan sets hiring goals and enforcement policies for city departments
for "minority" males and females and white females. The plan is intended to “remedy past discrimination
employment patterns.” The city's last
plan was passed February 1995. (Item
#29)
Transportation
Improvements -- The Council will consider three resolutions relating to
transportation and street improvements:
- Hudson
Street – Federal Transportation Program funds ($1,468,575) for widening,
realignment, and expansion to allow for right hand turn lanes. (Item #13)
- Mark
Twain House – TEA-21 funds for improved pedestrian and disabled
access. (Item #12)
- Trinity
College Road -- TEA-21 funds for streetscape
and pedestrian improvements on Park, Broad, and Vernon Streets. This project requires $500,000 in city
matching funds. (Item #12)
- Computerized
Traffic Signals -- Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program funds
($1,480,000) to update the city’s traffic control system and make it Y2K
compliant. (Item #47)
Charter Revision
Deadline -- The Council will vote on a resolution establishing a deadline
of March 31, 2000 for the Charter Revision Commission to submit its report to
the Town Clerk. (Item #49)
Shrine Dismantlement
– On the recommendation of Council member O’Connell, the Council will be voting
on a resolution directing City Manager Kee Borges to prepare a report for the
Operations, Budget, Management, Education, and Labor Committee on the way that
a religious shrine was removed from Colt Park last week. According to the resolution the process
followed to remove the sign was “not only callous but insensitive and totally
without regard to religious sensitivities.” (Item #51)
If you have any questions about the agenda, call the Council at 522‑4888 or Greg Vickers at CREN, 249‑1416. The Citizens' Research Education Network is a non‑profit information center for Hartford community‑based organizations. |