Chambana Sun

Champaign City Council met Tuesday, Feb. 28.

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 minutes as provided by Champaign:

M I N U T E S

Champaign City Council

Regular Study Session

DATE: February 28, 2017

PLACE: Champaign City Building

City Council Chambers

102 North Neil Street

Champaign, Illinois 61820

COUNCIL MEMBERS Paul Faraci, Clarissa Fourman

PRESENT: Matthew Gladney, William Kyles

Michael La Due, Greg Stock

Angie Brix ,Mayor Feinen

COUNCIL MEMBERS Tom Bruno

ABSENT:

STAFF PRESENT: Dorothy Ann David, City Manager

Fred Stavins, City Attorney

Richard Schnuer, Finance Director

Courtney Kouzmanoff, Financial Analyst

Kerri Spear, Neighborhood Services Programs Manager

Janel Gomez, Community Development Specialist

OTHERS PRESENT: Brandon Comer, Financial Advisor, Comer Capital

TIME STARTED: 7:01 p.m.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Mayor Feinen read a proclamation declaring March 1, 2017 as Saint Thomas More Varsity Boys Football Team Day in the City of Champaign. The proclamation was presented to the 2016 Saint Thomas Moore Varsity Boys Football team and coaches.

Mayor Feinen welcomed Boy Scout Troop 9 to the meeting.

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

STORMWATER PROJECTS PLAN OF FINANCE [SS 2017-009]

City Manager David noted West Washington, Boneyard Creek, and Garden Hills are three areas that are part of the Council goal of making stormwater drainage improvements. In October, Council directed staff to prepare a Stormwater Plan of Finance, a plan to consider how to fund the implementation of the improvements in the three areas.

Staff Presentation: Director Schnuer’s presentation included the following topics:

 Background Information

 Council Stormwater Goals: Implement Stormwater Management Plans in Three Watersheds (Map)

 Council Goals & Recent Direction

 Financial Plan Assumptions & Goals

 Stormwater Management Revenues/Expenses

Financial Advisor Comer’s presentation included the following topics:

 Proposed Financial Plan - $54.2 Million (Funding Source)

 Stormwater Management Fund – Excess Revenues over Debt Service

 Advantages of IEPA Loan vs. GO Bonds

Director Schnuer concluded the presentation with the following topics:

 Proposed Financial Plan - Stormwater Utility Fee Increase

 Other Options – Cost of Delaying Principal Payments 5 Years vs. 10 Years

 Recommendation Adheres to Policies and Goals

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

Action Recommended: The Administration seeks Council direction to prepare the following Council Bills for Council’s consideration at a Regular Meeting:

a. resolution adopting a Plan of Finance for drainage improvements with general obligation bonds and Illinois EPA loans,

b. resolution revising the Financial Policies to increase the Stormwater Utility Fee by 3% annually from 2018 through 2039, the final maturity of the bonds and loans issued to fund the upcoming drainage improvement projects, and

c. ordinance amending the City Code to increase the Stormwater Utility Fee by 3% annually from 2018 through 2039.

Council Members’ Technical Questions: Council Members’ technical questions concerned several topics including:  clarification of $21.78M vs. $17.48M on “Other Options” slide, and projects included number of phases that can be completed in Garden Hills with no increase; the proposed increase to the Stormwater Utility Fee including various impacts; inclusion of upcoming developments in the calculations;  IEPA loan; ability to make changes in the future; current stormwater fee assumptions; inclusion of the original working group for the proposed Plan of Finance.

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

Public Input: The following member of the audience spoke in support of the Stormwater Projects Plan of Finance:

 John Huston, 509 N. Draper

Council General Discussion: Council Members’ comments included hesitancy to support; would like to hear from the public; would like more information regarding the impact on business owners and non-profits; excited to get the projects started sooner; support because the issues will not go away and costs will increase; concerned with the way the Plan of Finance is structured; support further discussion; this is a budget issue, and would like a second study session scheduled during the upcoming budget study sessions; and not in favor of delaying Garden Hills to 2040.

City Manager David noted the Plan of Finance was originally planned for discussion during the budget process, and was moved up due to the upcoming retirement of Director Schnuer. She felt it was important for the Finance Director of 31 years to prepare the plan. The next study session will be more policy oriented, such as what projects can be constructed and implemented within the revenue restraints, timelines, and property acquisitions staging; and not just how to pay for the projects.

Poll: Mayor Feinen polled Alternative 2 directing staff to place the Stormwater Projects Plan of Finance on a Study Session agenda during the FY17/18 Budget process. The result of the poll was 8 ayes and 0 nays.

Mayor Feinen thanked Director Schnuer for his years of service and the great work he has done. Director Schnuer noted he enjoyed his position and it has been a pleasure. He also noted his relationship with City Council was very good, and the thought Council puts into making difficult decisions encouraged him to provide the best information possible for Council to do their job.

FY 2017/18 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN & PRIOR YEARS AMENDMENT & 2017 PRIVATE ACTIVITY VOLUME CAP BOND [SS 2017-010]

City Manager David noted the discussion is basically the City’s plan to do neighborhood improvements and affordable housing in the community.

Mayor Feinen called for a five-minute break at 8:22 p.m. The meeting resumed at 8:28 p.m. Staff Presentation: Specialist Gomez’s presentation included the following topics:

 FY 2017/18 Annual Action Plan

 Amendment to Prior Years Action Plan

 2017 Volume Cap Allocation

 Recommended Alternative

(Note: Information on how to obtain staff’s written report on this subject is provided below.) Action Recommended: The Administration recommends that Council direct staff to prepare the Draft FY 2017/18 Annual Action Plan, Prior Years Amendment, and ceding of the City’s 2017 Private Activity Volume Cap Bond Allocation.

Council Members’ Technical Questions: CM Faraci questioned whether there has been any contact from Eastern Illinois Economic Development Authority (EIEDA). Specialist Gomez noted EIEDA has not responded to phone calls or emails from Champaign, Urbana, or Rantoul.

Public Input: None

Council General Discussion: None

Poll: Mayor Feinen polled Alternative 1 directing staff to finalize the FY 2017/18 Annual Action Plan and Amendment for Prior Years Action Plan, and to prepare the 2017 Volume Cap Bond allocation documents. The result of the poll was 8 ayes and 0 nays.

Audience Participation: None

Council/Manager Comments: Mayor Feinen congratulated the University of Illinois for kicking off its Sesquicentennial Celebration. Mayor Feinen noted Illinois Marathon prices will increase at midnight.

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

The meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m.

Glenda F. Robertson

Deputy 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:

 Stormwater Projects Plan of Finance [SS 2017-009]

 FY 2017/18 Annual Action Plan & Prior Years Amendment & 2017 Private Activity Volume Cap Bond [SS 2017-010]

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.