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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 6:30 PM, by an open agenda public hearing. The next public hearing will be Monday, November 19, 2007 at 7 PM.
There are 32 items on the agenda. The complete 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/Minutes/council_meeting_minutes.htm.
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.
Minority Workers – The Council will consider a resolution authorizing the Mayor to allocate up to $80,000 to the Minority Construction Council (MCC) for its continued support and advocacy on behalf of the city’s minority workers. The MCC advocates for the non-discriminatory distribution of jobs and is an important partner in the City’s efforts to provide quality jobs to skilled and qualified minority workers. The MCC will provide a detailed report to the Office of Human Relations by August 15, 2008. The Council’sLabor and Workforce Development Committee recommends approval. (Item #16)
Higher Education Task Force – The Council will vote on a resolution establishing a task force to study the issues of Hartford residents applying, gaining admission, matriculating, and finishing degrees (both undergraduate and graduate) in all institutions of higher education located in Hartford. The Council’s Education Committee recommends approval. (Item #17)
New Agenda Items
Extension of Mark Twain Drive – The Council will consider a resolution authorizing the acceptance of federal funds for the extension of Mark Twain Drive from Plainfield Street to the rear entrance of the University of Hartford. The project will include drainage, street paving, sidewalks, and lighting and will be funded with $2,728,000 in federal funds through the CT Department of Transportation. (Item #4)
South Branch Trail – The Council will vote on two resolutions related to the construction of a 1.8 mile greenway and multi-use trail along the South Branch of the Park River between Nilan Street and Flatbush Avenue. The first resolution authorizes acceptance of a $35,000 grant from the CT Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to complete the portion of the greenway multi-use trail along the South Branch of the Park River from Newfield Avenue to Flatbush Avenue and to complete the Meadow Trail, which connects the multi-use trail and the river. DEP has previously provided two grants totaling $550,000 for this project. The second resolution authorizes a license agreement with DEP to allow the work to be done. (Items #6 and 7)
Residency Incentives – The Council will receive a communication from the Labor and Workforce Development Committee Residency Task Force. The purpose of the Task Force is to assess progress in Hartford residents achieving gainful employment with public and non-profit institutions. A resolution will be created to support the earmarking of $100,000 in the 2007-2008 budget for residency incentives through piloted initiatives that focus on providing home buying assistance, tax incentives, and other incentives targeting the Police, Fire, and school departments. The Labor and Workforce Development Committee surveyed 46 agencies and found that 40% of them have shown an increase in Hartford residency among their employees over the past three years while 15% have shown a decrease. (Item #11)
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the City Department of Health and Human Services to apply for, accept, and receive funding from the State Department of Public Health and other agencies and organizations for the Childhood Lead Poison Prevention Program. The total amount available is approximately $87,614 for the period July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2009. These funds will permit the continuation of programs aimed at reducing elevated blood lead levels in children. (Item # 15)
Appropriation of $11 Million for Various Public Improvements – The Council will vote on a proposed resolution that, if passed, will appropriate $11 million for various public improvements and authorize the issuance of $11 million in City bonds. The ordinance includes: $7 million for the Kelvin Anderson Center, $600,000 for Citywide Day Care and Park Enhancements, $3 million for a Floodwater Project, and $400,000 for Economic Development Site Acquisition. (Item #18)
Elderly Tax Relief – The Council will consider an ordinance amending the qualifying income limits for the Elderly Tax Relief Program, which provides for a tax credit of $500 per property for individuals who are 65 years of age or older and who meet income limits. The ordinance would raise the maximum income for an individual to $33,400 per year and for a married couple to $38,500. A public hearing on this matter will be held on Monday, December 17, 2007. (Item #20)
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, 509-3710. The Council Preview/Review is a joint project of the Hartford 2000, and the Hartford Public Library. |
