Chambana Sun

City of Urbana Committee of the Whole met April 24.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

There being a quorum, Chair Diane Marlin called the meeting of the Committee of the Whole to order at 7:00pm. *Alderman Michael P. Madigan joined the meeting at 7:01pm.

2. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting

Alderman Roberts made a motion to approve minutes from the meeting held on April 10, 2017. Alderman Jakobsson seconded, and motion to approve the minutes was carried by voice vote.

3. Additions to the Agenda

There were none.

4. Petitions and Communications

Mayor Prussing proclaimed May 2017 as National Historic Preservation Month. She presented the proclamation to Alice Novak, chair of the Urbana Historic Preservation Commission.

Ms. Novak announced preservation month activities that will take place in May, including a lecture on early 20th century houses on May 17, a walking tour of early 20th century houses in Urbana on Saturday, May 20 and a workshop on how to research your old house on Wednesday, May 24. Ms. Novak thanked the members of the Historic Preservation Commission, as well as Community Development staff who participate in the commission.

Chris Billing, who is the co-chair of Boneyard Creek Community Day, spoke about the upcoming 12th annual event. It will take place Saturday, April 29. Mr. Billing spoke about the growth of this event over the years and thanked the City for its support.

Robin Arbiter spoke on behalf of the Lierman Neighborhood Action Committee to thank Mayor Prussing and the current council members for their support of goals and concerns of the Lierman neighborhood. She also thanked retired Police Chief Patrick Connolly for his community outreach and open door policy.

5. Presentations

a. C-U Jazz Festival

Jenelle Orcherton, Artistic Director of the C-U Jazz Festival, presented highlights from the 2016 event and updates for the 2017 Festival. The festival this year will be held in October.

6. Staff Report

Community Development Director Elizabeth Tyler gave updates on upcoming events, including:

• Connections Over Coffee from 7:30-9:00am, Tuesday, April 25 at Habitat for Humanity at Interfaith Build Home in Urbana

• The first Food Truck Rally of the season, from 11:00am-2:00pm, Tuesday, April 25, at the Urbana Civic Center. This will take place the last Tuesday of every month from May through October

• Various meetings to discuss the Pedestrian Master Plan

• Bike to Work Day on May 2

Grants Management Division Manager Kelly Mierkowski distributed a copy of the agreement for a grant for abandoned property, awarded to the City by the Illinois Housing Development Authority. She stated it is a time sensitive issue, due by May 5, and will be presented at the council meeting on May 1 for vote. Ms. Mierkowski stated the City could not purchase abandoned residential properties but this grant would enable the City to demolish them.

Ms. Mierkowski announced that all applications for the Consolidated Social Service Funding were in. She handed out a CD to committee members with a listing of the agencies and what funding they were requesting.

7. Discussion - Re-establishing the Boneyard Creek Commission – Alderman

Roberts Alderman Dennis Roberts presented this item. He said at the current time there is no Boneyard Creek commission consisting of members other than an appointed commissioner and city staff. Because decisions made for that area are made on an administrative level and without transparency, public input or public notification, he would like a commission to be formed. He asked that city staff begin working on a commission that would operate the way other commissions in the city do, with five individuals serving on it along with the commissioner and city staff support. Alderman Roberts said a commission would allow the decisions made for the Boneyard Creek more to be more transparent and would allow more public interaction. Clark Bullard, who has been the Boneyard Creek Commissioner for 12 years, asked that committee members accept the proposal to form a commission for Boneyard Creek. Community Development Director Elizabeth Tyler stated that the zoning ordinance from the 1970’s should be updated and that staff would appreciate direction or something drafted by committee members to help them in the process. Alderman Smyth stated that there should be a revision of the plan from the 1970’s. Chair Marlin stated there was a general consensus to work on updating the 1978 Creekway Plan and to bring more transparency to the review process and asked for a motion. Alderman Smyth made a motion to update the 1978 Creekway plan and to have staff working on providing more transparency. Motion seconded by Alderman Roberts and carried by voice vote.

8. Resolution No. 2017-04-022R: Resolution Approving a Letter of Intent Agreement (IDOT U.S. Route 45/Cunningham Avenue to Provide Shared Use Path from Kenyon Road to Napleton Way) – PW

Public Works Director William Gray presented this resolution. He explained that this project is on the east side of Cunningham Avenue, in a place with a lot of pedestrian activity. It would be a part of IDOT’s Cunningham Avenue resurfacing project, with construction tentatively scheduled for 2018. IDOT will pay 80 percent for the project and the City will pay 20 percent. Mr. Gray responded to questions about whether the path should be on the west side of Cunningham rather than the east side. Wear on the current paths show the east side is used more than the west by pedestrians.

Alderman Brown made a motion to send Resolution No. 2017-04-022R to council with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by Alderman Smyth and carried by voice vote.

9. Resolution No. 2017-04-023R: A Resolution Approving the Champaign-Urbana Solid Waste Disposal System Annual Budget (FY 2017-2018) – PW

Assistant City Engineer Brad Bennett presented this resolution. He explained this is for the Champaign-Urbana Solid Waste Disposal System. The 30-year intergovernmental agreement, drafted in 1976 and ending in November 2018 between the City of Urbana and City of Champaign, requires monitoring of the closed 10 acre landfill site. The budget for doing so must be approved by both cities on an annual basis. The contribution from the City of Urbana is $19,494.

Alderman Smyth made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2017-04-023R. Motion seconded by Alderman Roberts and carried by voice vote. 10. Resolution No. 2017-04-024R: A Resolution Approving the City of Urbana and Champaign/Urbana/Champaign County Home Consortium FY 2017-2018 Annual Action Plan – CD

Grants Management Division Manager Kelly Mierkowski presented this resolution. She explained this is due to the Department of Housing and Development by May 15 in order for the City to continue to receive the Community Development Block Grant and the HOME Investment Partnership Funding. Ms. Mierkowski stated for the purpose of the draft Annual Action Plan budget it is assumed the allocations for FY 2017-2018 will be at the same level as the amount allocated for FY 2016-2017. Ms. Mierkowski addressed concerns from committee members. She informed committee members that the neighborhood cleanup bill be decreased from two times a year to one time due to rising costs. Alderman Jakobsson made a motion to send Resolution No. 2017-04-024R to council with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by Alderman Ammons and carried by voice vote. 11. Resolution No. 2017-04-025R: A Resolution Approving Modifications to the City of Urbana and Urbana Home Consortium FY 2014-2015 and FY 2015- 2016 Annual Action Plans – CD

Grants Management Division Manager Kelly Mierkowski presented this resolution. She stated that this is to cover activities planned to be implemented by the City of Urbana and the Urbana Home Consortium during FY 2017-2018. It was on file for public review from March 27, 2017 through April 24, 2017 and a public hearing was held March 28, 2017. Ms. Mierkowski answered questions about which programs are covered by this plan. Alderman Roberts made a motion to send Resolution No. 2017-04-025R to council with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by Alderman Jakobsson and carried by voice vote.

12. Resolution No. 2017-04-026R: A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Village of Rantoul Regarding Management of Community Development Block Grant Funds – CD

Grants Management Division Manager Kelly Mierkowski presented this resolution. She said the Village of Rantoul has no one to manage its Community Development Block Grant program and village staff contacted the City of Urbana to manage the CDBG-funded projects in Rantoul for a period of approximately six to nine months. An intergovernmental agreement is required for this, and will have to be approved by both the City of Urbana and the Village of Rantoul. It will cover the costs of Urbana staff, benefits and some administrative costs, and will also include additional funding beyond those expenses. Community Development Director Elizabeth Tyler responded to questions from committee members about costs and staffing. Alderman Smyth made a motion to send Resolution No. 2017-04-026R to council with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by Alderman Roberts and carried by voice vote.

13. Resolution No. 2017-04-027R: A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Village of Rantoul Regarding a Land Bank Feasibility Study – CD Grants Management Division Manager Kelly Mierkowski presented this resolution. She explained the Village of Rantoul is acting as lead for a land bank feasibility study in Champaign County, to be carried out by STR Grants, LLC. The Village of Rantoul is asking all participating government partners, which includes City of Champaign and Champaign County, to fund 25% of the estimated cost of $17,360 (estimated $4,340) for the study. This requires an intergovernmental agreement between the partners. Alderman Ammons made a motion to send Resolution No. 2017-04-027 to council with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by Alderman Smyth and carried by voice vote.

14. Adjournment

There being no further business before the committee, Chair Marlin declared the meeting adjourned at 8:44pm.