Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, October 26, 2009

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

The Council meeting will begin at 7 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers. There are 43 items on the agenda. Below is detailed information about items of special interest to neighborhoods. Following those details is a listing of all agenda items, in layperson’s language. The complete official agenda for the Council meeting is available online by clicking on “Council Agendas” at the following web site: http://www.hartford.gov/government/Town&CityClerk/Agendas/archive.htm

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

New Agenda Items:

Shepherd Park – The Council will consider a resolution amending a tax abatement and lease, originally executed in 1979, with the owners of Shepherd Park, housing for low and moderate income individuals and families. The current owners are assigning their interest in the project to Retirement Housing Foundation, which wishes to extend the agreements for 99 years. If the City approves the assignment and extension, it will be entitled, under the lease, to a payment of $1.5 million. (Item #5)

Previously Submitted Items:

The following items were previously on the Council Agenda and were included in the Council Preview/Review. They were referred to committees and/or public hearing or action was postponed by the Council. They are now on the agenda again for action.

54 Westland Street – The Council will consider 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 was held on this matter on October 19. The Council’s Housing Committee recommends approval. The Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee made no recommendation due to lack of a quorum. (Items #10 and 26)

Riverfront Park Management – The Council will act on 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 #13)

Pedal Cabs – The Council will consider 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 was held on this matter on October 19. (Item #18 and 35)

Civic and Cultural Account – The Council will consider 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 Operations Management & Budget Committee postponed action. A public hearing was held on this matter on October 19. (Item #19 and 34)

Illegal Dumping – The Council will consider 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 was held on this matter on October 19. (Item #27 and 37)

Plan of Conservation and Development – The Council will take action on 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 was held on this matter on October 19. (Item #33)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. Transfers of Funds. Approval for the transfer of $362,915 in unneeded insurance funds to fuel and utility accounts, Public Works and Youth Services.
2. Donations. Authorization for the Department of Health & Human Services to accept monetary donations for its Healthy Hartford Campaign.
3. BioTerrorism Readiness. Authority to accept $25,000 from the West-Hartford Bloomfield Health District to create sites to dispense antibiotics in the event of a catastrophic public health emergency.
4. Regional Security. Authorization to enter into a contract with the State of Connecticut and the Capitol Region Council of Governments for regional collaboration, intelligence, detection and deterrence, and medical preparation and response related to homeland security.
5. Shepherd Park. Approval to extend and amend the lease and tax abatement agreement for the Shepherd Park housing development in return for a payment of $1.5 million.
6. Financial Update. Report from the Operations, Management & Budget Committee on an update of the City’s financial and budget status.
7. Minority Construction Council. Report from the Operations, Management & Budget Committee on issues raised by individuals about possible allocation of City funds to the Minority Construction Council.
8. Financial Reports. Report from the Operations, Management & Budget Committee on review of the August and September financial reports provided by the Finance Department.
9. 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. (also see #38)
10. Land Sale. Report by Public Works, Parks & environment Committee on authorization to sell 5.4 acres of land at 54 Westland Street to TORAAL Development for construction of 40 units of housing. (also see #26)
11. Reallocation of Funds. Reallocation of $5,000 in the Civic and Cultural Account, previously awarded to Saturday Hoopsters ($2,500) and Mayor Mike’s Little League ($2,500), to Community Services, Inc.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. Catholic Worker. Allocation of $2,000 to Hartford Catholic Worker.
15. Science for Kids. Allocation of $5,000 to pay entrance fees for 400 Hartford students to the CT Science Center.
16. Quarterly Report. Report by Operations, Management & Budget Committee on Fourth Quarter (March – June) report for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.
17. 2008-09 Transfers of Funds. Authorization to transfer funds from accounts with balances to seven accounts with over-runs. (Mayor’s Office, Town Clerk, Youth Services, Public Works, Library, outside legal services, and fuel, utilities, and trash disposal fees. Report by Operations, Management & Budget Committee postponing action pending more information.
18. Pedal Cabs. Report by Operations, Management & Budget Committee postponing action on ordinance regulating bicycle-type vehicles used as public transportation for up to three riders. (also see #35)
19. Civic & Cultural Funds. Report by Operations, Management & Budget Committee postponing action on establishment of an application process for grants from the Civic & Cultural account. (also see #34)
20. Real Art Ways. Approval to grant $45,000 to Real Art Ways for its Arts Employment Initiative.
21. Allocation Change. A decrease of $3,000 in the amount allocated to North Hartford Strategic Alliance from the Civic and Cultural Account.
22. Handz-On. Allocation of $2,000 for Girls Expression, which serves girls from 8 to 17 years.
23. Hartford Hurricanes. Authorization for the City to pay the fees for use of Dillon Stadium on four dates in September and October on behalf of The Hartford Hurricanes, a youth football and cheerleading team.
24. ACORN. Allocation of $9,000 to ACORN North End United.
25. 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.
26. Land Sale. Report by the Housing Committee on authorization to sell 5.4 acres of land at 54 Westland Street to TORAAL Development for construction of 40 units of housing. (also see #10)
27. Dumping. Report from Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee postponing action on a 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. (also see #37)
28. 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.
29. 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.
30. Appointments. Appointment of William Upholt and Edgar Salazar and reappointment of Marisol Monserrate to the Advisory Commission on the Environment.
31. Appointment. Appointment of Betsy Correa to the Commission on HIV/AIDS.
32. Appointment. Appointment of Ricardo Herrera to the Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
33. 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.
34. Civic & Cultural Funds. Establishment of an application process for grants from the Civic & Cultural account. (also see #19)
35. Pedal Cabs. Report by Operations, Management & Budget Committee postponing action on ordinance regulating bicycle-type vehicles used as public transportation for up to three riders. (also see #18)
36. Expansion of BID. Authorization to expand the downtown Business Improvement District by adding 12 parcels of land.
37. 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. (also see #27)
38. 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. (also see #9)
39. Pope Park West. Appropriation of $139,250 in the Capital Improvement Fund for improvements to Pope Park West. $90,512 of these funds will be provided by the State of Connecticut. (Council previously approved these allocations in concept in June 2009.)
40. Alcohol. Permission to serve alcohol at the Keney Park Pond House at a birthday party on February 1, 2010.
41. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for a sidewalk procession to be held by SS. Cyril and Methodius Church on October 11, 2009.
42. Lobbying. Resolution to terminate the contract with Baker Donelson for lobbying services.
43. HOPE. Allocation of $500 to Hartford Organizing for Power & Equality (HOPE).

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.