Chambana Sun

The Champaign City Council met Aug. 9 for an update on Emerald Ash Borer strategies.

The Champaign City Council meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month in council chambers at the city building, 102 N. Neil St.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the city:

M I N U T E S

Champaign City Council

Regular Study Session

DATE: August 9, 2016

PLACE: Champaign City Building

City Council Chambers

102 North Neil Street

Champaign, Illinois 61820

COUNCIL MEMBERS Matthey Gladney William Kyles

PRESENT: Michael La Due Greg Stock

Angela Brix Tom Bruno

Paul Faraci Clarissa Fourman

Mayor Feinen

COUNCIL MEMBERS None

ABSENT:

STAFF PRESENT: Dorothy Ann David, City Manager

Terry J. Blakeman, Senior Planner for Economic Development

Ernesto Salinas, Operations Manager

Andrew Lamoreux, Forestry Supervisor

OTHERS PRESENT: David B. Wilcoxen, President, Public Art League

Eric Robeson, Board Member, Public Art League

TIME STARTED: 7:00 p.m.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION:

Fire Department Promotions – Mayor Feinen, assisted by Fire Chief Ludwig, acknowledged the  promotion of, and administered the oath of office to, the following employees:

Courtney Moravek to Lt.; Russell Houston to Engineer; Andy Pruitt to Engineer.

MINUTE APPROVAL:

July 12, 2016 Regular Study Session

CM Faraci, seconded by CM La Due, moved to approve the minutes. A voice vote was taken; all voted yes.

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

PUBLIC ART LEAGUE PROPOSED AGREEMENT EXTENSION AND PROGRAM

UPDATE [SS 2016-039]

Staff Presentation: Planner Blakeman introduced the Public Art League representatives noting this is their first presentation to Council as a group. President Wilcoxen’s presentation included  the following topics regarding the Public Art League (PAL):

? Mission

? Site Partners and Board Members

? Annual Programs

? How PAL Works

? Accomplishments

? Photos of Sculptures and Locations (Sculpture Map)

? Future Projects (Urban Lighting, Murals and Mosaics, Other Forms)

Planner Blakeman briefly reviewed the agreement noting the following:

? Current Agreement

? Brief History of Public Art Commission

? Proposed PAL Agreement (Automatic Renewals, Additional Art Types)

? City Sponsorship of Art (Ascend the Wind and Chester the Jester)

? Possible Additional Art Sponsorship (Mr. Eggwards – Chester and Walnut)

(Note: Information on how to obtain staff’s written report on this subject is provided below.)

Action Recommended: The Administration recommends directing staff to finalize a license agreement and bring the agreement back to Council for final consideration.

Council Members’ Technical Questions: Council Members’ technical questions included the following topics: number of local artist involved; concept of lighting as public art, considering a  building mandate, and other art lighting considerations; and art unveiling as a means to bring

traffic to the area.

(Note: Information on how to view video and audio recordings of the full Council Meeting is provided below.)

Public Input:

Gordon Tracy, 1325 West Ridge Ln., commended the league for the work it has done in beautifying the City, and contributing to economic development.

Council General Discussion: Council Members’ addressed the following topics: art brings excitement and energy; congratulations to the success of the program; art adds vibrancy to the area and enhances economic development; adds to the quality of life of the community, provides educational components and could inspire others to the arts; use of brochures and electronic outreach to expand exhibits, and partner with the Visitors Bureau as an attraction; helps bring diversity to downtown; and extending the agreement and considering sculpture purchases.

Poll: Mayor Feinen polled Alternative one directing staff to extend and finalize a license agreement and bring the agreement back to Council for final consideration (staff authority to enter into a contract and continue to move forward). The result of the poll was 9 ayes and 0 nays.

UPDATE ON EMERALD ASH BORER STRATEGY [SS 2016-040]

Staff Presentation: Manager Salinas introduced Forestry Supervisor Lamoreux, and noted staff will provide an update regarding a response strategy for the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). In addition, he briefly noted many Forestry staff are from top universities in the arbor culture field; and that the International Society of Arborculture (ISA) headquarters is located in Champaign.

During the past year, the Forestry Section has removed more than 215 decaying Ash trees.

Supervisor Lamoreux’s presentation included the following topics:

? Overview of Presentation Items

? Background Information (including examples of the adult EAB, lavra, and wood and bark damage; nativity of the EAB and appearance; first located in Champaign, June 2012, on north Market Street; impact of Ash trees in Champaign)

? Federal EAB Quarantine Map

? Ground Zero July 2015

? Ground Zero July 2016

? Response Strategy (no changes recommended)

? 2016 Tree Inventory

? EAB Progress Achieved Based on Strategy

? Strategy – Planting and Tree Nursery

? Future – Forestry Section Impacts

? Recommendations

? Other Impacts

? Tree City USA for 31 Years

Action Recommended: The Administration recommends incorporating Council’s input on the EAB Response Strategy and directing staff to proceed with additional funding and staffing needed to help mitigate the impacts from EAB.

Council Member Technical Questions: Council Members’ technical questions included the following topics: determining type of ash tree; providing resources for addressing ash trees on private property; resident notification of tree removal from the right-of-way; anticipated decreased response for current staff; and pruning cycle, maintenance, staffing issues, and identification software.

Public Input: None

Council General Discussion: Council Members’ general discussion topics included the following: replanting strategy with seedlings is appreciated and innovative; great work trying to get the EAB issue under control and support additional assistance; informing citizens of how this difficult issue is being addressed, and noted the prior Dutch Elm disease; appreciate the update, consider adding additional staffing even if temporary to address EAB and normal maintenance; and concern from citizens regarding the pruning and maintenance of trees, importance of trees in relation to beautification and safety issues, and consider adding funds to the Forestry Section.

City Manager David noted the recommendation is to keep pace with existing inventory, and the admirable job being done by staff with the resources available. Any new resources added to

Forestry will continue to focus on the EAB and safety issues involved. The recommendation involves keeping up with the EAB issue. During the regular budget process, staff will provide a more in-depth analysis if additional staffing is added to the Forestry Section, what those impacts might be, and funds for contractual resources to make progress on pruning and maintenance.

Poll: Mayor Feinen polled Alternative one directing staff to incorporate Council’s input on the

City’s EAB response strategy, and direct staff to proceed with additional funding needed to mitigate the EAB impacts on the Forestry sections service levels. The result of the poll was 9 ayes and 0 nays.

Audience Participation:

Gordon Tracy, 1325 West Ridge Ln., addressed the importance of citizens coming out to address bridge issues, and expressing other concerns.

Council/Manager Comment:

CM Kyles noted good work is being done by the City in relation to diversity issues; and how other communities and organizations are looking to the City for development of diversity/minority involvement.

CM Fourman noted a back to school community bash at the Boys and Girls Club, August 27 at  10:00 a.m. She asked everyone to come and bring school supplies.

Mayor Feinen noted CU Days is this coming Saturday, August 13, at Douglass Park. The City of Champaign is a Play Ball City, and during CU Days, there will be events that evening involving baseball. In addition, she noted that she will not be present at the next Council meeting as she will be on a mission trip to Haiti.

Adjournment:

CM Faraci, seconded by CM La Due, moved to adjourn. A voice vote was taken; all voted yes.

The meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m.

Marilyn L. Banks

City Clerk

Additional information on this meeting is available as follows:

Staff prepares a Report to the City Council containing detailed information on each subject discussed at Council meetings. The subjects and Study Session (SS) numbers for this Council meeting are:

? Public Art League Proposed Agreement Extension and Program Update [SS 2016-039]

? Update on Emerald Ash Borer Strategy [SS 2016-040]

The reports are available from the City’s web site at (Council Study Session Reports), by email to CityClerk@champaignil.gov, or by calling 217-403-8940.

Video streaming of this Council meeting is available on the City’s web site for two years at http://ci.champaign.il.us/departments/information/cgtv-schedule-and-videos/.

Almost all Council Meetings, except Community Civic Events and sessions not held in the Council Chambers are broadcast and recorded.

City Council Meetings are broadcast on the City’s television station, CGTV (Cable channel 5), and are rebroadcast several times following each meeting. The schedule can be found on the

City’s web site at CGTV - Champaign Government Television.

Audio and video recordings of Council Meetings are available by email to CityClerk@champaignil.gov or by calling 217-403-8940. Video recordings are maintained permanently; audio recordings are maintained for five years.