Hartford Court of Common Council Hybrid Meeting - March 9, 2026

The Hartford Court of Common Council held its hybrid meeting on March 9, 2026. All council members were present except Councilman Hernandez (absent) and Councilwoman Surgeon (present but not explicitly called on some roll calls; all votes were unanimous). The meeting proceeded with procedural actions including approval of minutes, consent calendar, receipt of reports, referral of items to committees, and postponement of several agenda items to a future meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Item 5.1: Resolution authorizing the city to accept grant funds from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. Passed.
• Item 6.1: Resolution permitting alcohol service at a milestone birthday celebration in the City Hall Atrium. Passed.
• Item 6.2: Resolution proclaiming March 2026 as Women's History Month. Passed.
• Item 6.3: Resolution supporting Operation Prom Connecticut. Passed.

Received Items

• Item 3.1: Annual State of the City report from the Mayor. Received.
• Item 4.1: Labor Education Workforce and Youth Development Committee report on the DCF grant resolution. Received.
• Item 4.2: Committee report regarding postponement of a resolution on Board of Education oversight (science of reading compliance, educator training, and kindergarten leadership evaluations). Received.

Referred Items

• Item 3.4: Confirmation of Michelle Parada to the Hartford Pension Commission. Referred to Operations Management, Budget, and Government Accountability Committee and Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee.
• Item 3.5: Appointment of Kate M. Torres to the Internal Audit Commission. Referred to same committees.
• Item 7.1: Resolution authorizing a lease agreement for equipment and financing. A public hearing was scheduled for March 16, 2026 at 7:00 PM. Referred to same committees.
• Item 3.2: Acceptance of a donated vehicle from the National Insurance Crime Bureau for the auto theft unit. Referred.
• Item 3.3: Acceptance of a grant from the Connecticut Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office for the FY 2026 Distracted Driving High Visibility Enforcement Grant Campaign. Referred.

Postponed Items (until March 23, 2026)

• Item 5.2: Amendment to extend the elderly tax relief program.
• Item 5.3: Ordinance to provide adequate relocation services to displaced tenants.
• Item 5.4: Resolution adopting a revised special event fee schedule.
• Item 5.5: Ordinance limiting the number of dogs and cats.
• Item 5.6: Ordinance establishing the Puerto Rican and Hispanic History and Culture Commission.
• Item 5.7: Resolution directing the Department of Public Works to evaluate and reconfigure bike lanes to support small business viability and multimodal safety.

Key Outcomes

• All procedural motions (consent calendar, received items, referred items, and postponements) passed unanimously. No public comments or substantive discussion occurred. The council will hold a public hearing on Item 7.1 on March 16, 2026, and reconvene on March 23, 2026 to consider the postponed items.