Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, October 26, 2009

Prepared by:
Hartford 2000 and the Hartford Public Library

There were 43 items on the original agenda. No additional items were submitted during the meeting. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, November 9, 2009 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall, preceded at 6:00 by a public comment period. The next public hearing will be Monday, November 16, 2009 at 7 PM.

This Review consists of two sections: Items of Special Interest and Action on All Agenda Items. The City's official listing of 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

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Shepherd Park – The Council referred, to its Operations Management and Budget Committee, 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. A public hearing on this item will be held on Monday, November 16. (Item #5)

54 Westland Street – The Council passed 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 recommended 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 adopted 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 postponed action on 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 withdrew from consideration a proposed ordinance that would have detailed 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 called 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 postponed action on 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 approved a proposed ordinance that 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. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
2. Donations. Authorization for the Department of Health & Human Services to accept monetary donations for its Healthy Hartford Campaign. Passed
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. Passed
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. Referred to Quality of Life & Public Safety Committee
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. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee. Hearing on November 16.
6. Financial Update. Report from the Operations, Management & Budget Committee on an update of the City's financial and budget status. Received
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. Received
8. Financial Reports. Report from the Operations, Management & Budget Committee on review of the August and September financial reports provided by the Finance Department. Received
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) Received
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) Received
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. Passed
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. Passed
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. Passed
14. Catholic Worker. Allocation of $2,000 to Hartford Catholic Worker. Passed
15. Science for Kids. Allocation of $5,000 to pay entrance fees for 400 Hartford students to the CT Science Center. Passed
16. Quarterly Report. Report by Operations, Management & Budget Committee on Fourth Quarter (March – June) report for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Received
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. Received
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) Received
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) Received
20. Real Art Ways. Approval to grant $45,000 to Real Art Ways for its Arts Employment Initiative. Received
21. Allocation Change. A decrease of $3,000 in the amount allocated to North Hartford Strategic Alliance from the Civic and Cultural Account. Received
22. Handz-On. Allocation of $2,000 for Girls Expression, which serves girls from 8 to 17 years. Passed
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. Received
24. ACORN. Allocation of $9,000 to ACORN North End United. Withdrawn
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. Passed
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) Passed
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) Received
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. Tabled
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. Postponed
30. Appointments. Appointment of William Upholt and Edgar Salazar and reappointment of Marisol Monserrate to the Advisory Commission on the Environment. Passed
31. Appointment. Appointment of Betsy Correa to the Commission on HIV/AIDS. Passed
32. Appointment. Appointment of Ricardo Herrera to the Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Passed
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. Passed
34. Civic & Cultural Funds. Establishment of an application process for grants from the Civic & Cultural account. (also see #19) Withdrawn
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) Postponed
36. Expansion of BID. Authorization to expand the downtown Business Improvement District by adding 12 parcels of land. Passed
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) Postponed
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) Referred to Labor & Workforce Development Committee
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.) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee. Hearing on November 16.
40. Alcohol. Permission to serve alcohol at the Keney Park Pond House at a birthday party on February 1, 2010. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
41. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for a sidewalk procession to be held by SS. Cyril and Methodius Church on October 11, 2009. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
42. Lobbying. Resolution to terminate the contract with Baker Donelson for lobbying services. Referred to Legislative Affairs Committee
43. HOPE. Allocation of $500 to Hartford Organizing for Power & Equality (HOPE). Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee

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.