Chambana Sun

Urbana City Council met Tuesday, Jan. 17.

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:

URBANA CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

The City Council of the City of Urbana, Illinois met on Tuesday, January 17 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

Phyllis D. Clark, City Clerk

ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE

None

ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT

Michael P. Madigan, Alderman Ward 6

Laurel Lunt Prussing, Mayor

STAFF PRESENT

Brandon Boys; Michelle Brooks; Patrick Connolly; William Gray; Elizabeth Hannan; Mike Monson; Brian Nightlinger; Elizabeth Tyler

OTHERS PRESENT

Scott Dossett; Bishop King James Underwood; Rev. Dr. Evelyn B. Underwood; Members of the Media

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS RECITED

A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

There being a quorum, Mayor Pro Tem Charles Smyth called the meeting of the Urbana City Council to order at 7:01pm.

*Alderman Aaron Ammons arrived at 7:05pm.

B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Alderman Eric Jakobsson made a motion to approve minutes from the meeting held on December 19, 2016. Alderwoman Diane Marlin 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.

Scott Dossett presented the facts and figures for the 2016 C-U Folk and Roots Festival that took place in downtown Urbana. He said there were 82 performances in five or six venues, 1,100 attendees for paid events and 850 attendees at the free Saturday events. Mr. Dossett went over income and expenses for the festival, and thanked the City for their $5,000 donation. Income for the 2016 festival was $26,057 and expenses were $27,927, showing a loss of almost $2,000.

Alderman Jakobsson said he would like to put a mental health resolution on the agenda for the January 23 meeting of the Committee of the Whole.

E. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was none.

F. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

1. Committee Of The Whole

a. Ordinance No. 2017-01-001: An Ordinance Revising the Annual Budget Ordinance for FY 2016/17 (Miscellaneous Items) - FIN

In order to present the items from the Committee of the Whole, Mayor Pro Tem Smyth gave the chair to Alderman Jakobson. Mayor Pro Tem Smyth made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2017-01-001. Motion seconded by Alderman Ammons and carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons - Aye Marlin – Aye

Brown – Aye Roberts - Aye

Jakobsson – Aye Smyth - Aye

Disposition: Ordinance No. 2017-01-001 was approved by roll

call vote (6–Aye; 0-Nay)

b. Resolution No. 2017-01-001R: Resolution in Favor of Sustainable Funding for 911 - Mayor

Mayor Pro Tem Smyth made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2017-01-001R. Motion was seconded by Alderman Roberts.

Alderwoman Marlin suggested letting the METCAD Policy Board look at the resolution before it is passed by Council.

Alderman Brown stated he was not ready to support the resolution as it was written. After discussion, Mayor Pro Tem Smyth made a motion to send this resolution back to committee for more editing. Motion seconded by Alderman Brown and carried by voice vote.

Disposition: Resolution No. 2017-01-001R will go back to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion and editing.

c. Resolution No. 2017-01-002R: Resolution for Keeping the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Smyth made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2017-01-001R.

Alderman Brown summarized the changes he made to the resolution. There were various concerns expressed by council members about the wording of the resolution.

Alderman Jakobsson gave the chair to Alderman Ammons so he could join the discussion. Alderman Jakobsson made a motion to amend the resolution by changing some wording in paragraph seven. He made a motion to change “academy”, in reference to the Decatur training center currently under construction, to “facility”, and to remove the words “and support”. The amendment to Resolution No. 2017-01-002R was seconded by Alderman Roberts and carried by voice vote.

Alderman Roberts made a motion to amend this resolution by removing paragraph seven, which supports the Decatur facility. Motion was seconded by Alderman Ammons, and failed by voice vote.

Alderman Jakobsson called for a voice call vote for this resolution as amended. The resolution was approved by majority voice vote.

Disposition: Resolution No. 2017-01-002R was approved by majority voice vote.

Mayor Pro Tem Smyth took the chair.

G. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES

There were none.

H. REPORTS OF OFFICERS

Chief of Staff Mike Monson reported that Ralph Caldwell sits on the 911 Advisory Board and their report to the state is due March 1, 2017.

Alderman Jakobsson suggested that Senator Bennett and Representative Ammons should be contacted about drafting legislation for 911 funding on behalf of the City during the spring term.

I. NEW BUSINESS

1. Mayoral Staff Appointments

a. Human Resources Manager

1. H. Alex Bautista

Mayor Pro Tem Smyth presented the appointment of H. Alex Bautista as Human Resources Manager. Alderman Ammons made a motion to approve the appointment. Motion seconded by Alderwoman Marlin and carried by voice vote.

b. Public Facilities Manager

1. Vincent Gustafson

Mayor Pro Tem Smyth presented the appointment of Vincent Gustafson as Public Facilities Manager. Public Works Director William Gray spoke about Mr. Gustafson’s achievements as the Public Facilities Supervisor. Alderman Roberts made a motion to approve the appointment. Motion seconded by Alderman

Jakobsson and carried by voice vote.

2. Mayoral Appointments to Boards and Commissions

a. Community Development Commission

1. Abdullah Hakeem Salaam – term to expire June 30, 2017

2. Karin Hodgin Jones – term to expire June 30, 2019

Mayor Pro Tem Smyth presented the appointment of Abdullah Hakeem Salaam and Karin Hodgin Jones to the Community Development Commission. Alderman Roberts made a motion to approve the appointments. Motion was seconded by Alderman Ammons and carried by voice vote.

b. MOR Development Review Board

1. Adam Rusch – term to expire June 30, 2019

Mayor Pro Tem Smyth presented the appointment of Adam Rusch to the MOR Development Review Board. Motion to approve the appointment was made by Alderwoman Marlin, seconded by Alderman Roberts and carried by voice vote.

c. Plan Commission

1. Jane Billman – term to expire June 30, 2019

Mayor Pro Tem Smyth presented the appointment of Jane Billman to the Plan Commission. Motion to approve the appointment was made by Alderman Roberts, seconded by Alderwoman Marlin and carried by voice vote.

Alderman Ammons stated he would like Dr. Rebecca Ginsburg to speak about mass incarceration at the next Committee of the Whole meeting.

J. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Pro Tem Smyth declared the meeting adjourned at 7:42pm.