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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 33 items on the regular agenda; ten were added on
the supplemental agenda. One item was
added during the meeting. All of the
Council members were present. The next
public hearing is December 20. The
Council will not meet again until Monday, January 10, 2000.
Renaissance Place
-- The Council passed a resolution conditionally approving the Formal
Preliminary Review Application for Renaissance Place - a proposed development
of the downtown block bounded by Asylum, Pratt, Main, and Trumbull
Streets. Some of the conditions are:
evaluation by the developers of the impact of the proposed 1,000 car parking
lot; efforts to reduce the curb-cut distances to make them more pedestrian
friendly; work with city staff to ensure that street furniture and streetlights
coordinate with other streetscapes downtown. Both the Design Review Board and the Commission on the City Plan had
recommended approval of the permit.
Approval of NRZ Plans
– On the recommendation of City Manger Kee Borges, the Council sent to public
hearing, December 20 and to the Planning Economic Development and Zoning
Committee an ordinance which will approve the Neighborhood Revitalization Zone
Strategic Plans for Asylum Hill, Parkville, and South Green. The ordinance also requires that each
neighborhood revitalization zone submit reports to the city on implementation
of the plan and that each adopt by-laws with certain provisions. The Neighborhood Revitalization Zone program
was created by the state in 1995.
Funds for North
Hartford -- On the recommendation
of Majority Leader Watkins, the Council
passed a resolution allocating funds to
the Blue Hills Civic Association for support of economic development in North
Hartford. The funds, $25,000, will be
used for a part-time outreach worker, a two-day job fair, North Hartford
Alive!, and the Job Opportunity Showcase. A second resolution which would have allocated $5,000 for the Hartford
Enterprise Zone Business Association (HEZBA) was withdrawn.
Avery Heights Labor
Negotiations -- The Council passed a resolution requesting the mayor to
convene non-stop talks between management and the union at Avery Heights. The
resolution argues that the city has an interest in the facility remaining
prosperous and free of industrial strife because many Hartford residents work
there. Avery Heights is a “charitable
enterprise” and the home of over 500 elderly people.
Tax Delinquent
Proposal -- On the recommendation
of Deputy Mayor Sanchez, the Council referred to the Operations, Management,
Budget, Education, and Labor Committee a resolution which will establish a new
policy for collecting taxes on delinquent property. The resolution would allow the city to establish a policy for
creating a “receiver of rents” on properties which are tax delinquent. The
resolution also directs the City Manager to initiate tax foreclosure
proceedings against all properties which are delinquent in excess of $10,000.
Construction Jobs
Process – The Council referred to the Health and Human Services Committee a
resolution which would direct the City Manager to create a written plan to
increase hiring of Hartford residents. According
to the resolution the contractors working on the learning corridor have
exceeded their commitments to hire Hartford residents. The resolution argues that there should be
a “formal regulatory process” so that “all contractors employ Hartford residents.”
Elderly Tax Relief
Program -- The Council referred to public hearing December 20, an ordinance
which would adjust the income eligibility levels of the Elderly Tax Relief
Program. The resolution would raise the
level of qualifying income from $30,600 to $31,000 for married taxpayers, and
from $26,500 to$26,800 for unmarried taxpayers. The Elderly Tax Relief Program was established to mitigate the
tax burden of elderly, low-income persons. In 1998 the program aided 975 persons with an average benefit of
$467.36.
Pope Park Pool
Replacement – On the recommendation of the City Manager, the Council passed
unanimously a resolution naming Fletcher/Thompson Inc. as the project Architect
for replacing the Pope Park Exterior Pool. Council member Horton-Sheff noted that the pools at Colt and Keeney
Parks also need improvements.
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. |
