Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There are 39 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.
Sale of 960 Main
Street and Proposed Morgan Street Garage – The Council will begin with a
public hearing over the proposed sale of the old G. Fox Building (960 Main Street)
and rights to use up to 1,100 spaces in the proposed Morgan Street Garage. The sale, for $4,250,000, is to the state of
Connecticut for use by the Capital Community Technical College. The terms include a tentative “Tax Fixing
Agreement” in which CCTC will pay at least 15% of the tax cost the first year
and gradually increase its payments until full taxes are paid in the 7th
year. (Item #1)
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 recommended
passage. The ordinances have been to
public hearing. Action on these
ordinances was postponed at the Council’s October 25 meeting. (Items # 20-29)
Consolidated Plan –
The Council will consider a resolution initiating the process of creating a new
Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated
Plan is used as the basis for spending under federal programs administered by
the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Plan will include assessments and
recommendations for addressing issues like housing, homelessness, lead-based
paint hazards, and poverty. In order
to complete the Plan the city must encourage citizen participation in its
creation. Programs funded by HUD
include Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Shelter Grants
(ESG), and the Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME). (Item # 3)
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. This resolution has been postponed several times. (Item #19)
Transportation
Improvements -- The Council will
consider three resolutions recommended for passage by the Operations,
Management, Budget, Education, and Labor Committee relating to transportation
and street improvements:
- Mark Twain
House – TEA-21 funds for improved pedestrian and disabled access. (Item # 11)
- 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 # 11)
- 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 #12
- New Gateway for Parkville -- On
the recommendation of City Manager Kee Borges, the Council will consider a
proposal to contract with Real Art Ways to conduct a design competition to
create a new gateway design for Parkville. (Item #7)
Lead Education --
On the recommendation of City Manager Kee Borges, the Council will vote on a
resolution which would authorize the City Purchasing Agent to enter into a
contract with the University of Connecticut to create an activity book on lead
education for second graders. The
activity book would educate second graders on lead issues. Twenty-three hundred school children will be
able to participate in the program at a cost of $16,300 to the city. (Item #6)
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. |