|
Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 53 items on the regular agenda: ten were added
from the supplemental agenda. All of
the Council members were present. The
next Council meeting will be November 8.
Housing Overlay
District – The Council postponed action 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 recommended passage.
Expansion of
Enterprise Zone – The Council referred a resolution to expand Hartford’s Enterprise
Zone to the Planning, Economic Development, and Zoning Committee. The expansion would be west along Homestead
Avenue and north along Main Street. According to the resolution, the extension was requested by the Hartford
Enterprise Zone Business Association and would “create new opportunities for
development.”
Charter Revision
Deadline -- The Council consented a resolution establishing a deadline of
March 31, 2000 for the Charter Revision Commission to submit its report to the
Town Clerk.
Affirmative Action
Plan -- The Council postponed action again 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.
Speed Bumps on
Whitney Street – The Council referred to City Manager Kee Borges and to the
Public Works Department, a resolution to put speed bumps on Whitney Street near
the Noah Webster School. According to
the resolution, previous attempts to slow traffic near the school have been
ineffective.
Skateboarding
Taskforce – On the recommendation of Council member Park, the Council
referred to the Parks and Recreation Committee, a resolution to create a task
force to examine the feasibility of designating certain areas for
skateboarding. The resolution argues
that skateboarding is now being done in public and private places and there may
be some risk to skateboarders, pedestrians, and vehicular traffic.
Transportation
Improvements -- The Council considered several resolutions relating to
transportation and street improvements:
- Hudson
Street – The Council authorized the City Manager to seek Federal
Transportation Program funds ($1,468,575) for widening, realignment, and
expansion to allow for right hand turn lanes on Hudson Street.
- Mark
Twain House – The Council referred to the Operations, Management, Budget,
Education, and Labor Committee a resolution authorizing the City Manager
to use TEA-21 funds for improved pedestrian and disabled access.
- Trinity
College Road -- The Council
referred to the Operations, Management, Budget, Education, and Labor
Committee a resolution authorizing the City Manager to use TEA-21 funds
for streetscape and pedestrian improvements on Park, Broad, and Vernon
Streets. This project requires $500,000
in city matching funds.
- Computerized
Traffic Signals -- The Council also referred to the Operations,
Management, Budget, Education, and Labor Committee and to Public Hearing
November 15 an ordinance appropriating Congestion Mitigation and Air
Quality Program funds ($1,480,000) to update the city’s traffic control
system and make it Y2K compliant.
Shrine Dismantlement
– On the recommendation of Council member O’Connell, the Council passed 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.”
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. |
