Chambana Sun

Urbana City Council met Monday, Nov. 21.

The City Council establishes laws for citizen welfare, determines policies that govern providing municipal services and approves certain mayoral appointments.

Here are the minutes as provided by Urbana:

STATE OF ILLINOIS CITY OF URBANA

Laurel Lunt Prussing, Mayor Phyllis D. Clark, City Clerk

URBANA CITY COUNCIL

Monday, November 21, 2016

The City Council of the City of Urbana, Illinois met on Monday, November 21, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Urbana City Building.

ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT

Charles Smyth, Alderman Ward 1

Eric Jakobsson, Alderman Ward 2

Aaron Ammons, Alderman Ward 3

Bill Brown, Alderman Ward 4

Dennis Roberts, Alderman Ward 5

Diane Marlin, Alderwoman Ward 7

Laurel Lunt Prussing, Mayor

Phyllis D. Clark, City Clerk

ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE

None

ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT

Michael P. Madigan, Alderman Ward 6

STAFF PRESENT

Brandon Boys; Celeste Choate; Patrick Connolly; Kevin Garcia; William Gray; Elizabeth Hannan; Brian Nightlinger; Lorrie Pearson; Marcus Ricci; James Simon; Elizabeth Tyler

OTHERS PRESENT

Mike Friend; Bishop King James Underwood; Rev. Dr. Evelyn B. Underwood; Members of the Media

A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

There being a quorum, Mayor Prussing called the meeting of the Urbana City Council to order at 7:00 pm.

B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Alderman Smyth made a motion to approve minutes from the meeting held on November 7, 2016. Alderman Roberts seconded. Motion carried by voice vote.

C. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

There were none.

D. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Bishop King James and Rev. Dr. Evelyn B. Underwood did not wish to speak, but asked that their position be entered into the record regarding the Dr. Ellis Subdivision sewer issues.

Alderman Jakobsson spoke in favor of making Urbana a sanctuary city. Mayor Prussing also spoke in favor of sanctuary cities and said in 1986 Urbana City Council passed a resolution upholding the Refugee Act of 1980.

Celeste Choate, Executive Director of the Urbana Free Library, informed council members about new items at the library, including:

• 3-D science collection

• Tablets and laptop computers for checkout and use in the library

• “Little Free Library” located on the south side of Green Street, set up as give a book take a book station

• Charging unit for phones, laptops and tablets

• Various musical instruments

• Hands-on science kits

• Sewing machines for crafts

• Video games

• VHS to DVD converter

E. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was none.

F. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

1. Committee Of The Whole

a. Resolution No. 2016-11-066R: Resolution to Support the Establishment of a Property Assessed Clean Energy (Pace) Program for Commercial Properties in Urbana, Illinois - PW

Alderman Brown made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2016- 11-066R. Motion seconded by Alderman Jakobsson and carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons - Aye Marlin – Aye

Brown – Aye Roberts - Aye

Jakobsson – Aye Smyth - Aye

Disposition: Resolution No. 2016-11-066R was approved by roll

call vote (6–Aye; 0-Nay)

b. Resolution No. 2016-11-067R: A Resolution Estimating the Tax Levy (Fiscal Year 2016 – 2017)

Alderman Brown made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2016- 11-067R. Motion seconded by Alderman Smyth and carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons - Aye Marlin – Aye

Brown – Aye Roberts - Aye

Jakobsson – Aye Smyth - Aye

Disposition: Resolution No. 2016-11-067R was approved by roll call vote (6–Aye; 0-Nay)

c. Ordinance NO. 2016-11-108: An Ordinance of the City of Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois Removing a Certain Property from the Downtown Urbana Tax Increment Redevelopment Project Area Number Two – CD

Alderman Brown made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2016-11-108. Motion seconded by Alderman Roberts and carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons - Aye Marlin – Aye

Brown – Aye Roberts - Aye

Jakobsson – Aye Smyth - Aye

Disposition: Ordinance NO. 2016-11-108 was approved by

roll call vote (6–Aye; 0-Nay)

G. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES

There were none.

H. REPORTS OF OFFICERS

Mayor Prussing reported that she attended a conference on mental health in New York City. She said that the wife of the New York City Mayor is trying to recruit other cities in an effort to combat mental illness. She is organizing a coalition of cities around the country to discuss and try to find solutions to mental health problems. Mayor Prussing signed the City of Urbana to be part of the coalition.

I. NEW BUSINESS

1. Ordinance No. 2016-11-109: An Ordinance Approving A Major Variance (To allow access drives that are up to 54 percent of the lot widths at 3002 E. Rutherford Drive in the R-4, Medium Density Multiple-Family Residential District/ ZBA Case No. 2016-MAJ-11)

Planner II Kevin Garcia presented this item along with Planner II Marcus Ricci. They answered questions and concerns from council members. Mike Friend, Engineering Manager at Farnsworth Group, was also present and answered questions. After discussion, Alderman Smyth made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2016-11-109. Motion seconded by Alderwoman Marlin and carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons - Aye Marlin – Aye

Brown – Aye Roberts - Aye

Jakobsson – Aye Smyth - Aye

Disposition: Ordinance No. 2016-11-109 was approved by roll call vote (6–Aye; 0-Nay)

2. Mayoral Appointments to Boards and Commissions

a. Design Review Board

1. Nancy Esarey Ouedraogo – term to end June 30, 2019

Mayor Prussing presented the appointment of Nancy Esarey Ouedraogo to Design Review Board. Alderman Smyth made a motion to approve the appointment. Motion seconded by Alderman Roberts and carried by voice vote.

3. Mayoral Staff Appointments

a. Interim Human Resources Manager

1. H. Alex Bautista

Mayor Prussing presented the appointment of Human Relations Officer H. Alex Bautista as interim Human Resources Manager. Alderman Smyth made a motion to approve the appointment. Motion seconded by Alderman Ammons and carried by voice vote.

J. ADJOURNMENTThere being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Prussing declared the meeting adjourned at 7:36pm.

Kay Meharry, Recording Secretary

Phyllis Clark, City Clerk

*This meeting was taped.

**This meeting was broadcast on cable television

Minutes Approved: December 5, 2016