Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Tuesday, 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. The meeting will be preceded, at 6:00 PM, by an open agenda public hearing. The next public hearing will be Monday, November 16, 2009 at 7 PM.

There are 31 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

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.

Outsourcing of City Services – The Council will consider a resolution stating that the City administration should be restrained from continued outsourcing and privatization of City services and calling for City Council and union organizations to engage legal counsel to monitor and enforce this restraint. The resolution states that private organizations have been engaged by the City to perform services left unattended as a result of the reduction in City staff. (Item #2)

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. The Operations, Management & Budget Committee recommends postponement pending revisions to the ordinance. (Items # 11 and 20)

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 #21)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. Financial Report. Submission of First Quarter Financial Report by Mayor to Council.
2. Collection Contracts. Two reports 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.
3. 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, and an allocation of $2,400.
4. Allocation Change. A decrease of $3,000 in the amount previously allocated to North Hartford Strategic Alliance from the Civic and Cultural Account.
5. HOPE. Allocation of $500 to Hartford Organizing for Power & Equality (HOPE).
6. Transfers of Funds. Approval for the transfer of $362,915 in unneeded insurance funds to fuel and utility accounts, Public Works and Youth Services.
7. 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 indicating Mayor has withdrawn resolution from consideration.
8. ACORN. Report by Operations, Management & Budget Committee stating that resolution allocating $9,000 to ACORN North End United has been withdrawn.
9. Handz-On. Report by Operations, Management & Budget Committee stating that allocation of $2,000 for Girls Expression was passed at Oct. 26th Council meeting.
10. Civic & Cultural Funds. Report by Operations, Management & Budget Committee stating that resolution establishing an application process for grants from the Civic & Cultural account was withdrawn at Oct. 26th Council Meeting.
11. Pedal Cabs. Report by Operations, Management & Budget Committee postponing action (pending revisions) on ordinance regulating bicycle-type vehicles used as public transportation for up to three riders.
12. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the American Cancer Society's "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" to be held in Bushnell Park on October 4, 2009.
13. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and closure of downtown streets for the Hooker Day Parade to be sponsored by the Hartford Business Improvement District on October 24, 2009.
14. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the "Christian Parade" to be sponsored by The Church of God Pentecost on August 29, 2009 on Park Street from Main to Lawrence Street.
15. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the Underground Coalition's "Mighty 4 Hartford Bboy/Skate Jam" in New Ross County Wexford Park on September 5 and 6.
16. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees, closure of Trinity Street, and permission for fireworks for First Night Hartford to be held in downtown Hartford on December 31, 2009.
17. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closures for the "Break the Silence: A Walk to End Violence" to be sponsored on October 15, 2009 by the Sexual Assault Crisis Service of the YWCA New Britain.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. Outsourcing. Proposal to prevent the City from engaging private organizations to perform maintenance and other services traditionally performed by City employees.
24. Appointment. Appointment of eleven individuals to the Skateboarding Task Force.
25. Appointment. Appointment of Shawn T. Wooden to the Hartford Public Library Board of Directors.
26. Appointment. Appointment of Erika M. Romero to the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues.
27. Appointment. Appointment of Sandra E. Thompson to the Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
28. Appointments. Appointment of Glaisma Perez Silva and reappointment of Janet C. Wallans to the Commission on Disability Issues.
29. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for use of City Hall Atrium by Our Piece of the Pie for the kick-off of Global Youth Service Day on April 22, 2010.
30. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closings for the Hartford Marathon Foundation's "Freedom Run to Benefit the CT National Guard" held on November 14, 2009.
31. Allocation. Allocation of $3,000 to the Office of Cultural Affairs.

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.