Chambana Sun

City of Urbana City Council met February 5. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the council:

The City Council of the City of Urbana, Illinois, met in regular session Monday, Febrary 5, 2018 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Urbana City Building.

Elected Officials Physically Present: Maryalice Wu, Alderwoman Ward 1; Eric Jakobsson, Alderman Ward 2; Aaron Ammons, Alderman Ward 3; Bill Brown, Alderman Ward 4; Dennis Roberts, Alderman Ward 5; Dean Hazen, Alderman Ward 6; Jared Miller, Alderman Ward 7; Diane Wolfe Marlin, Mayor; Charles A. Smyth, City Clerk

Elected Officials Present Via Teleconference: none

Elected Officials Absent: none

Staff Present: Morgan, Nightlinger, Gray, Schneider, Simon, Hannan, Pearson, Hess, Boys, Garcia, P. James.

Others Present: Terry Townsend, Bishop King James Underwood

Media: News-Gazette, WCIA

A. Call to Order and Roll Call

There being a quorum present, Mayor Marlin called the meeting of the Urbana City Council

to order at 8:00 p.m. following a Township Board Meeting.

B. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting

City Council Member Miller made a motion to approve minutes from January 16, 2018 and

the January 22, 2018 Special Meeting. CM Roberts seconded. Clerk Smyth noted a small

correction to the minutes on the last page and the motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

C. Additions to the Agenda

There was none.

D. Public Input

Bishop King James Underwood didn’t wish to speak but wanted his continuing concern

about the Dr. Ellis subdivision sewer problem entered in the record.

Terry Townsend spoke about the appointment of Danielle Chynoweth to the Housing

Authority of Champaign County (HACC) Board. He noted that he was a former member of

the HACC and had served as vice-president. He thought comments by Mayor Marlin and

Ms. Chynoweth at the preceeding Township Board meeting were excellent and so addressed

only selective portions of his letter. He pointed out that HACC actions could put a chill on

participation by elected officials across the state in other similar boards. He thought that the

HACC had violated their bylaw section 7 with regards to neglect of duty or malfeasance

noting that the Intergovernmental agreement supersedes the bylaws. He further stated that

HACC violations should be reported to the proper legal authorities including the US

Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Rob Krumm made a short presentation about the 9th Annual C-U Folk and Roots Festival

last November in downtown Urbana. There were 80 performances including storytelling and

dance. The city’s grant of $5k supported a great deal of the event (12%) and he listed other

sponsors and noted in kind support from businesses. He summarized attendance at different

venues and days with total attendace of about 1750 showing a number of photos of

performers at different venues. He also tried to get a feel for where people coming from

beyond the immediate community and noted that the were getting some out of town

visitors. In response to a queston from CM Roberts Mr. Krumm mentioned specific

businesses and the great relationships where they have venues. He considers the event a

great fit for downtown Urbana at these locations. CU Folk and Roots also does a stage at

Sweetcorn Festival and have also helped the Urbana Park District in sponsoring summer

concerts at the lakehouse. They will probably participate First Friday events as well.

E. Unfinished Business

There was none.

F. Reports of Standing Committees

1. Committee Of The Whole ( City Council Member Aaron Ammons)

a. Resolution No. 2018-01-003R: A Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of an Illinois

Arts Council Agency (IACA) Grant for Public Arts Program Operating Support (FY

2018 Urbana Arts Program): CM Ammons moved approval on behalf of the

committee, seconded by CM Miller. With no discussion, the motion passed by

unanimous roll call vote: Ammons – yes; Brown – yes; Hazen – yes; Jakobsson – yes;

Miller – yes; Roberts – yes; Wu – yes; (7-0).

b. Ordinance No. 2017-12-069: An Ordinance to Repeal Urbana City Code Chapter

24, Article IV, Section 24-100 (Champaign-Urbana Cable and Telecommunications

Commission) – (COW 12/11/17; 01/22/18) : CM Ammons moved approval on behalf of

the committee, seconded by CM Brown. With no discussion, the motion passed by

unanimous roll call vote: Ammons – yes; Brown – yes; Hazen – yes; Jakobsson – yes;

Miller – yes; Roberts – yes; Wu – yes; (7-0).

c. Ordinance No. 2018-01-002: An Ordinance Authorizing the Jurisdictional Transfer

of a Certain Highway from Somer Township to the City of Urbana (A Portion of

Lincoln Avenue from Centennial Farm Road to Olympian Drive) : CM Ammons

moved approval on behalf of the committee, seconded by CM Roberts. With no

discussion, the motion passed by unanimous roll call vote: Ammons – yes; Brown –

yes; Hazen – yes; Jakobsson – yes; Miller – yes; Roberts – yes; Wu – yes; Mayor

Marlin (8-0).

d. Ordinance No. 2018-01-003: An Ordinance Granting Consent to Assign Certain

Agreements for Use of Rights-of-Way: CM Ammons moved approval on behalf of

the committee, seconded by CM Miller. With no discussion, the motion passed by

unanimous roll call vote: Ammons – yes; Brown – yes; Hazen – yes; Jakobsson – yes;

Miller – yes; Roberts – yes; Wu – yes; (7-0).

e. Resolution No. 2018-01-002R: A Resolution Approving an Agreement with the

Illinois Department of Transportation for Construction and Maintenance of a

Shared-Use Path (Cunningham Avenue from Kenyon Road to Napleton Way) : CM

Ammons moved approval on behalf of the committee, seconded by CM Wu. With

no discussion, the motion passed by unanimous roll call vote: Ammons – yes; Brown

– yes; Hazen – yes; Jakobsson – yes; Miller – yes; Roberts – yes; Wu – yes; (7-0).

f. Ordinance No. 2018-01-004: An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Ordinance of

the City of Urbana (Multifamily Parking): CM Ammons moved approval on behalf

of the committee, seconded by CM Miller. Discussion followed.

Planning Manager Pearson spoke to the staff memo noting the potential reductions

to parking requirements via.7 because of rounding up effect and compared to a 2

per 3 spaces gets you to 30% more often. Planner Garcia summarized his study of

parking in the West Urbana restricted area as 343 permits with 1070 spaces. For

spaces in proximity to apartment buildings there are 431 on street and 96 permits

pulled by apartment buildings.

CM Ammons had a question on on permit distribution and CM Brown summarized

his reconnaissance of the area noting that the old apartments just don’t have enough

parking while the new ones built with newer zoning do. He’s not sure if 2 for 3 or 3

for 4 works better but is willing to discuss these options. CM Wu thanked staff for

the work noting that the challenge in WUNA is in the 600-800 blocks. Those are

congested and the concern is pushing the problem further east. She still supports a.7

ratio but would consider 3 parking spaces per 4 one bedrooms if easier to describe.

CM Roberts originally supported a.66 ratio and still thinks 2 for 3 is valid. Mayor

Marlin noted that this ratio would apply to the entire city. CM Roberts made a

motion to amend to.66 which died for lack for a second. CM Jakobsson moved a

ratio of 2 for 3, seconded by CM Roberts. CM Brown indicated that he could go

either way. CM Miller noted that the.7 ratio was less than the current 1 so he

supports moving more slowly. CM Wu had been looking at the rounding differently

and will only support.7 or 3 of 4. CM Roberts noted that if we want more

development, more lenient parking may be needed. CM Brown pointed out

Champaign’s parking requirements in the campus area. The motion to amend failed

3-4. With no further discussion, the main motion passed by unanimous roll call vote:

Ammons – yes; Brown – yes; Hazen – yes; Jakobsson – yes; Miller – yes; Roberts –

yes; Wu – yes; (7-0).

g. Ordinance No. 2018-01-005: An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Ordinance of

the City of Urbana (Residential Setback Calculations): ): CM Ammons moved

approval on behalf of the committee, seconded by CM Miller. With no discussion,

the motion passed by unanimous roll call vote: Ammons – yes; Brown – yes; Hazen

– yes; Jakobsson – yes; Miller – yes; Roberts – yes; Wu – yes; (7-0).

G. Reports of Special Committees

There were none.

H. Reports of Officers

1. Urbana Police Department – Police Chief Morgan spoke to the report summarizing

Cannabis citations and arrests. Chief Morgan reviewed the layout of the summary report

and explained how the coding for offenses works. State Civil Notices is the top line and

use started in 2016. Those charged with the state civil don’t really get charged. Morgan

went line by line explaining the report on page 1. Page 2 shows the total offenses and has

the actual Notices to Appear and summary of other charges. Questions and discussion

was interspersed during the explanation.

Vacellia Clark, Human Relations Officer, summarized the Jan 23 community meeting on

police stops held at the Urbana Civic Center. She will be coming back and reporting

additional information to the council and will be staying in close contact with the people

who came. There were a number of interested people in attendance. CM Ammons

commented that a good job was done putting the majority of time in the hands of the

people who were present. Ms. Clark gave credit to Preston James who also facilitated the

meeting. CM Brown also thought it was a great meeting. Ms. Clark noted that they have

compiled all the notes and are in the process of sending the raw comments to the police

department. Mayor Marlin noted the incredible amount of work done by Preston James,

Monique James, Vacellia Clark, and Todd Rent. Notes will be shared with departments

and a report brought back to council.

I. New Business

1. Ordinance No. 2018-02-006: An Ordinance Amending the Urbana Comprehensive

Plan Map (Changing 1102 N. Broadway Ave. from “Institutional” to “Residential

(Urban Pattern)” – PC 2326-CP-17 / USD #116): Planner II Kevin Garcia Kevin

Garcia provided the staff report for 1102 N. Broadway for both this ordinance and

Ord. 2018-02-007. The Plan Commission voted to recommend to R3 and a Residential

Urban Pattern. This is lower than what the school district wanted but they don’t think

this lower designation will impact them negatively. Mr. Garcia gave a background on

the school. The School District is actively trying to sell the property. The Comp Plan

amendment relates to when the comp plan was done as the school was still open but

with it now closed, it makes sense to change the land use. The current area is mostly

surrounded by single family. By using R3, a potential development could still use a

Planned Unit Development approach. The proposal meets the LaSalle criteria. Mr.

Garcia noted that the neighborhood was against R4 but supported R3 zoning

designation.

CM Brown indicated that he was familiar with the neighborhood and school and asked

if the school could be reused for loft apartments or for condos; would this be allowed

in a PUD? Mr. Garcia replied that this was possible in a residential only PUD. With no

further discussion, CM Miller motioned approval of Ordinance 2018-02-006, seconded

by CM Roberts. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote: Ammons – yes;

Brown – yes; Hazen – yes; Jakobsson – yes; Miller – yes; Roberts – yes; Wu – yes; (7-0).

2. Ordinance No. 2018-02-007: An Ordinance Amending the Urbana Zoning Map

(Rezoning 3.5 acres at 1102 N. Broadway Ave. from CRE, Conservation-RecreationEducation,

to R-3, Single- and Two-Family Residential, Zoning District – PC 2325-M17

/ USD #116): With staff report given above, CM Roberts motioned approval of

Ordinance 2018-02-007, seconded by CM Wu. With no further discussion, the motion

passed by unanimous roll call vote: Ammons – yes; Brown – yes; Hazen – yes;

Jakobsson – yes; Miller – yes; Roberts – yes; Wu – yes; (7-0).

3. Resolution No. 2018-02-004R: Resolution Regarding The Release of Closed Sessions

Minutes (For the period ending January 31, 2018): Clerk Smyth spoke to his memo

noting that the material was from the review of minutes of closed meetings last month

and that since the item was coming directly to Council, a motion to suspend the rule

on resolutions was needed to consider this resolution. CM Brown moved to suspend

the rule, seconded by CM Wu and passed by unanimous voice vote. CM Ammons

moved to approved Resolution 2018-02-004R, seconded by CM Jakobsson, and passed

by unanimous roll call vote: Ammons – yes; Brown – yes; Hazen – yes; Jakobsson –

yes; Miller – yes; Roberts – yes; Wu – yes; (7-0).

4. Mayoral Appointments to Boards and Commissions

a. Plan Commission

1. Chenxi Yu (Term to expire 06/30/2020) was nominated by Mayor Marlin to

the Plan Commission who spoke to Dr. Yu’s qualifications noting that she was

a 6 year resident of Urbana and worked for State Farm Bank. CM Brown

moved approval of the appointment, seconded by CM Miller, and the motion

passed by unanimous voice vote.

J. Adjournment

CM Ammons noted that he had received a call about parking near Carle Hospital by

employees. PW Director Bill Gray responded that the issue was being looked at by staff and

had been in discussion at the Traffic Commission. Staff has done some study and statistics

gathering with further Traffic Commission discussion planned. Mr. Gray was going to have

staff contact CM Ammons. There being no further business to come before the City

Council, Mayor Marlin declared the meeting adjourned at 9:29 p.m.

https://www.urbanaillinois.us/sites/default/files/attachments/02-05-2018_Minutes_approved.pdf