Chambana Sun

Champaign City Council met Tuesday, Jan. 10.

Here are the minutes as provided by Champaign:

M I N U T E S

Champaign City Council

Regular Study Session

DATE: January 10, 2017

PLACE: Champaign City Building

City Council Chambers

102 North Neil Street

Champaign, Illinois 61820

COUNCIL MEMBERS Michael La Due Greg Stock

PRESENT: Angie Brix, Tom Bruno

Clarissa Fourman, Matthew Gladney

William Kyles, Mayor Feinen

COUNCIL MEMBERS Paul Faraci

ABSENT:

STAFF PRESENT: Dorothy Ann David, City Manager

Fred Stavins, City Attorney

Richard A. Schnuer, Finance Director

Kay Nees, Financial Services Manager/City Accountant

Rob Kowalski, Assistant Planning and Development Director

Kerri Spear, Neighborhood Programs Manager

Laura Hall, Assistant City Attorney

OTHERS PRESENT: Jamie Wilkey, Partner, Lauterbach & Amen

Kelly White, Executive Director, 40 North Champaign County

Arts Council

Jayne DeLuce, President & CEO, Visit Champaign County

TIME STARTED: 7:00 p.m.

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT AND AUDITOR’S REPORTS [SS 2017-001]

Staff Presentation: Director Schnuer noted staff will be presenting the annual financial report and reports that go with that process; and he introduced Accountant Nees and Partner Wilkey.

Manager Nees noted the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) represents the results of the annual report, a report of what actually happened in relation to the City’s finances. Manager Nees’s presentation included the following topics:

 Financial Highlights – Net Position (decreased $5.5 million), Unrestricted Net Position ($5.9 million), Government Fund Balances (increased $3.5 million), General Fund Balance (increased $3.1 million), and Proprietary Fund Net Position (increased $.5 million)

 Overview of the Report – Sections including Management Discussion and Analysis

(MD&A), Statement of Net Position, Budget to Actual Statements, and the Statistical Section

 Single Audit Report – Total Federal Grant Fund Expenditures ($3,058,154; No Findings or Questioned Costs)

Partner Wilkey expressed appreciation for the outstanding work done by Finance Staff in preparing for the audit, noting there were no material adjustments proposed. She briefly reviewed the following items in relation to the audit:

 Audit Opinion – Unmodified (highest issued/attainable) – financial statements as presented are materially correct

 Required Communication – SAS 114 Letter – “Clean Letter” – (no significant audit findings, no disagreements with management, and no material audit adjustments found during testing)

Director Schnuer briefly summarized the Management Letter – noting this letter is discretionary, but the City always requests any management comments from the auditors. Comments generally include any recommendations to improve reporting. No new recommendations were noted.

Four issues of concern were noted regarding the following:

 Police Pension Fund

 Funds Under Budget

 Fund Deficit (from prior year corrected)

 Accounting Standards – City, Pensions, and Township – all entities should be on City accounting systems (all but Police Pension will be on the same system)

(Note: Information on how to obtain staff’s written report on this subject is provided below.) Action Recommended: No Council action is required regarding this item. The update is provided for information only.

Council Members’ Technical Questions: None

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

Public Input: None

Council General Discussion: Council Members’ commented on how the CAFR is a good reference and information tool to review prior to speaking engagements; ease of use of the report; and expressed good work done by staff.

City Manager David commended accounting staff and the financial team for the great audit. She noted this is the last audit presentation by Director Schnuer as he has publically announced his retirement. She expressed the fiscal health of the City is largely due to the many years of leadership, professionalism, and mentoring of staff by Director Schnuer.

Poll: None. The update was for informational purposes only.

VISIT CHAMPAIGN COUNTY (VCC) and 40NORTH UPDATE [SS 2017-002]

Staff Presentation: Assistant Director Kowalski introduced Jayne DeLuce and Kelly White; and briefly reviewed the City’s involvement with both organizations noting arts and tourism are considered a form of economic development. He briefly reviewed the history of both organizations, funding, City inclusion on the Visit Champaign County (VCC) and 40North board, and agreement with VCC. He noted tonight is an opportunity to hear of the successes of each organization, and how they plan to continue moving forward.

Director White’s presentation included a video preview of the following topics:

 Programs – Current and New

 Thanks to City for Support and Participation

President DeLuce noted VCC’s program focus is on destination, where services have been and where services are going. Her presentation included the following topics:

 Destination Magazine and Efforts

 Funding Model

 Local Advertising

 Destination 2020 – Overall goal and strategic plan with key priorities

 Thanks to City for Support

 The Cycle – Destination Management Cycle

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

Action Recommended: No action is required at this time. The City has already approved a 3- year contract (2016-2019) for services with Visit Champaign County which provides funding to the organization as well as 40North.

Council Members’ Technical Questions: Council Member’s technical questions included the timeframe for inclusion in the visitor’s guide.

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

Public Input: None

Council General Discussion: Council Members’ general comments included thanks for the efforts of both organizations and all involved; great job promoting the community, and embracing diversity; funding expenditure beneficial to promoting and attracting people to the community, and the need for all communities to financially support the efforts of VCC; great job telling the story of the community, and gladffor the ability of the City to provide a more stable funding mechanism and for extending VCC’s contract; and noted work done by former CM Dodds regarding arts in the community.

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

Poll: None. The update was for informational purposes only.

BRISTOL PLACE MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT [SS 2017-003]

City Manager David noted Council last addressed Bristol Place Redevelopment during a Study Session in October. Staff will provide an update in relation to the negotiations with the selected developer, and moving forward.

Staff Presentation: Manager Spear introduced staff and members of the development team including representatives from AHDVS, LLC (James Roberts), Housing Authority of Champaign County (Ed Bland), and Neighborhood Services Advisory Board Chair Karen Foster.

Manager Spear and Attorney Hall’s presentation included the following topics:

 2008 Goal for the Development

 2014 Vision for Future Bristol Place

 Master Developer Recruitment – Request for Qualifications (RFQ), RFQ Response

Schedule, Direction to Negotiate with AHDVS, LLC

 Project Reminder – Current and Project Amount

 AHDVS, LLC – Team Organization Chart

 Site Plan Compatibility with Community Vision

 Goals

 Pre-Development Services (Scope of Work) and Master Development Agreement (Key

Sections)

 Termination/Default

 Ownership Structure

 Next Steps

 Recommendation

(Note: Information on how to obtain staff’s written report on this subject is provided below.) Action Recommended: The Administration recommends Alternative 1, directing staff tofinalize the master development agreement with the AHDVS, LLC, in partnership with the Housing Authority of Champaign County.

Council Members’ Technical Questions: Council Members’ questioned the $186,000 predevelopment costs (needed services) and whether the City is required to provide these funds.

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

Public Input: The following members of the audience addresses the Bristol Place Development Agreement:

James Roberts, AHDVS, LLC owner, addressed pre-development expenses

Martel Miller, Urbana, addressed the use of local laborers

Council General Discussion: Council Members’ general comments included support of the project and concern with use of local laborers, use of minority contractors and Minority Women Disadvantaged and Veteran Business Enterprises (M/W/D/VBE) inclusion, affordable housing and reinvestment in the community; use of incentives; and great to see the project moving forward.

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

Poll: Mayor Feinen polled Alternative 1 directing staff to finalize the master development agreement with AHDVS, LLC in partnership with the Housing Authority of Champaign County.

The result of the poll was 8 ayes and 0 nays.

Audience Participation:

Martel Miller, Urbana, addressed the need to terminate Officer Matt Rush as he is a danger to the community; address the legislature regarding an arbitrator’s ability to reverse a firing decision; and charging Officer Rush with crimes he has committed. In addition, he expressed the need to address mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness in the community via the rainy day funds in the budget.

*Corridia Shelby, Urbana, noted she is a part of a number of programs and has recently joined the Hope for Peace Foundation. She and others are attempting to put together a mentoring program to help stop violence in the community; and the need for support including financial resources and mentors for the program.

*Represents phonetic spelling of a citizens’ name.

Council and Manager Comments:

CM Fourman commented on a News-Gazette article last Thursday, regarding the 5th and Hill Street area coal tar issue involving Ameren. She noted some of the issues that concerned the Mahomet Aquifer are concerns regarding the 5th and Hill site. She expressed the need for community involvement in addressing this environmental issue, to help the residents of that area address this issue, and the need to seek communication and clarification from Ameren.

City Manager David noted the Administration’s request for a Closed Session to discuss Performance of a Specific Employee and Pending Litigation.

Adjournment:

CM Bruno, seconded by CM La Due, moved to adjourn to Closed Session to discuss Performance of a Specific Employee, and Pending and Probable Litigation, followed by adjournment. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

The meeting adjourned at 8:58 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:

 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and Auditor’s Reports [SS 2017-001]

 Presentation on the 2016 Activities of Visit Champaign County (VCC) and the 40North Champaign County Arts Council [2017-002]

 Bristol Place Master Development Agreement [2017-003]

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://champaignil.gov/cgtvvue/city-council-videos.html.

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.