Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, December 9, 2002

Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network, Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There are 37 items on the agenda. The next Council meeting will be Monday, January 13^th at 8 P. M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers. (The Council will vote at this meeting to cancel the regularly scheduled December 23^rd meeting.) The next public hearing will be December 16 at 8 P.M., in Council Chambers.

Minority Bonding Program – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the redesign of the Minority Bonding Program. The new program will utilize the services of the Hartford Economic Development Commission (HEDC), the Capital City Economic Development Authority (CCEDA), The Connecticut Development Authority (CDA), and the Connecticut Contractors Development Alliance (CCDA). Under the redesigned program $150,000 will be used to provide technical assistance for Hartford-based minority contractors seeking work at Adriaen’s Landing and $850,000 will be used to guarantee a percentage of the bonds issued on behalf of contractors who are unable to secure bonds of their own. Funding for the program comes from an unused state grant made in 1997 for the Minority Bonding Program. The Planning, Economic Development, and Zoning Committee and the Operations, Budget, and Management Committee are recommending passage. (Items #8 & 9)

Parkville Street Improvements – The Council will vote on a resolution which would authorize City Manager Lee Erdmann to apply for federal Surface Transportation Program Enhancement Funds for streetscape improvements on Park Street from the I-84 overpass to Prospect Avenue. The street improvements are designed to make the Parkville neighborhood more pedestrian and bicycle friendly and are found in the Parkville Urban Design and Transportation Plan. The estimated cost of the improvements is $3,000,000. The resolution calls for a city commitment of $300,000 for construction drawings for the project and $600,000 as the city’s 20% match of the total cost of the project. (Item #3)

Free Parking for New Year’s Eve – The Council will vote on a resolution to allow free parking for New Year’s Eve in the city’s parking garages. The resolution argues that free parking would speed the process of entering and exiting the parking garages. (Item # 34)

If you have any questions about the agenda call Greg Vickers at CREN, 249-1416. The Citizens' Research Education Network is a non-profit research and education center for Hartford community-based organizations and residents.