Chambana Sun

Urbana City Council met December 18.

Here is the minutes provided by the Council:

A. Call To Order And Roll Call

Mayor Marlin called the meeting of the Urbana City Council to order at 7:51pm, following a special meeting of the Cunningham Town Board.

B. Approval Of Minutes Of Previous Meeting

City Council Member (CM) Dennis Roberts made a motion to approve the minutes from December 4, 2017 City Council meeting. Motion seconded by CM Ammons and carried by voice.

C. Additions To The Agenda

There were none.

D. Public Input

1. Presentation – Micro Aggression – Dr. Ruby Mendenhall

Dr. Mendenhall made a PowerPoint presentation on Micro Aggression. She discussed past racial inequality and current inequality. Micro aggressions have been described as verbal, behavioral or environmental hostile communications, made with or without intention, that are aimed at minorities, gender, religion, etc. She said there can be racial profiling of community members, assumptions about criminality, preconceived bias of job candidates that can deny minorities positive experiences. She discussed many of the negative effects of micro aggression and how the atmosphere of micro aggression can be changed.

Dr. Mendenhall answered questions from council members and discussion ensued.

Presentation and discussion for this item can be found at: https://www.city.urbana.il.us/Scripts/CouncilVideo/Video.asp?v=/_Video/City_Council/20 17/20171218/02._Micro_Aggression_Presentation.mp4

2. Presentation – Boneyard Creek Ecological Community Design project – Dr. Katherine Kraszewska

Planner Marcus Ricci introduced Katherine Kraszewska, PhD. from the University of Illinois. Twelve of her graduate students used Boneyard Creek as a design project. She spoke about what was taken into consideration when students planned their designs and showed some of the designs in PowerPoint. Dr. Kraszewska said the due date for the projects is December 20, and once the projects are turned in she will have the designs in booklets for the steering committee so feedback can be given on what would be acceptable for future designs. She said her 2018 class will also be working on designs for this area.

Discussion ensued and Dr. Kraszewska answered questions from council members.

Presentation and discussion for this item can be found at: https://www.city.urbana.il.us/Scripts/CouncilVideo/Video.asp?v=/_Video/City_Council/20 17/20171218/03._Boneyard_Creek_Ecological_Community_Design_Project.mp4

James Kilgore and Marlon Mitchell spoke to council members about First Followers Reentry Program. They said they had applied to Urbana social services fund for a grant to help with the program. They received the grant and are about half of the way through a program they call a Workforce Development program for 18 to 24 year olds. The program helps those who have not had opportunities for economic and educational development. Allen Bain, who took part in the First Followers program, spoke about his life, what First Followers has done to help him. He said in the future he will be able to help other young people improve their lives.

Steve Ross spoke about Ordinance No. 2017-12-074, specifically concerning the setbacks for structures. He said he hopes staff will take into account the setback of the structure being removed, as well as the setback of structures in the same area when looking at new construction to replace it.

Paul Debevec spoke about Ordinance No. 2017-12-074 and the formula for setbacks. He said the new zoning ordinance does not address the specifics of a block or area and does not preserve neighborhood integrity.

Troy Deen and Patrick Thompson spoke about Minority and Female Business Enterprise programs and community based businesses. Mr. Deen said he would like to see more consideration for local contractors, who live and contribute to the community, when bids are taken for City contracted jobs. Patrick Thompson said he would like to see the City of Urbana begin a program that would allow more minority based businesses win contracts with the City. Elizabeth Hannan, Finance Director, said the City of Champaign does have a local preference ordinance that is formula based. The City of Urbana does not have a local preference ordinance and without that type of ordinance, the City is obligated to accept the lowest bid. Breaking down larger projects into smaller segments to allow small businesses to bid and win a portions of City projects was discussed.

Mayor Marlin said Urbana is committed to expanding inclusive procurement efforts and the goal is to have Urbana policy match that of the City of Champaign so small contractors will have the same opportunities in Urbana as they do in Champaign.

Martel Miller spoke about economics, education and jobs for the African American community. He suggested that the City of Champaign, City of Urbana and Champaign County have a three day summit to try to solve some of the problems in the African American community.

Bishop King James Underwood did not wish to speak, but asked that his position be entered into the record regarding the Dr. Ellis Subdivision sewer issues. Elderess Melinda Carr did not wish to speak, but asked that her concerns about the Dr. Ellis Subdivision sewer problems, equity and historic impact be entered into the record.

The video for public input can be found at: https://www.city.urbana.il.us/Scripts/CouncilVideo/Video.asp?v=/_Video/City_Council/20 17/20171218/04._Public_Input.mp4

E. Unfinished Business

1.Resolution No. 2017-11-075R: A Resolution Accepting Ameren Energy Efficiency Staffing Grant Incentive

Mayor Marlin said this item was passed by voice vote on November 27, 2017, but per City Code, a roll call vote was required. CM Brown made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2017-11-075R. Motion seconded by CM Wu. There was no discussion and the motion carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons – aye Brown – aye Hazen – aye Jakobsson – aye Miller – aye Roberts – aye Wu – aye

Disposition: Resolution No. 2017-11-075R carried by roll call vote (7-aye; 0-nay)

F. Reports Of Standing Committees

1. Committee Of The Whole (CM Maryalice Wu)

a. Resolution No. 2017-12-076R: A Resolution Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement (City of Urbana and University of Illinois Hot Spot Policing Study)

CM Wu made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2017-12-076R. Motion seconded by CM Roberts. There was no discussion and the motion carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons – aye Brown – aye Hazen – aye Jakobsson – aye Miller – aye Roberts – aye Wu – aye

Disposition: Resolution No. 2017-12-076R carried by roll call vote (7-aye; 0-nay)

b. Ordinance No. 2017-12-070: An Ordinance Levying Taxes for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2017, and Ending June 30, 2018

CM Wu made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2017-12-070. Motion seconded by CM Jakobsson. There was no discussion and the motion carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons – aye Brown – aye Hazen – aye Jakobsson – aye Miller – aye Roberts – aye Wu – aye Mayor Marlin – aye

Disposition: Ordinance No. 2017-12-070 was carried by roll call vote (8-aye; 0-nay)

c. Ordinance No. 2017-12-071: An Ordinance Directing the Champaign County Clerk to Abate the Tax Levy for the General Corporate Fund for the Tax Year Beginning July 1, 2017, and ending June 30, 2018

CM Wu made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2017-12-071. Motion seconded by CM Miller and carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons – aye Brown – aye Hazen – aye Jakobsson – aye Miller – aye Roberts – aye Wu – aye Mayor Marlin – aye

Disposition: Ordinance No. 2017-12-071 carried by roll call vote (8-aye; 0-nay)

d. Ordinance No. 2017-12-072: An Ordinance Directing the Champaign County Clerk to Abate a Portion of the 2017 Tax Levy Related to General Obligation Bonds, Series 2012, and General Obligation Bonds, Series 2014

CM Wu made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2017-12-072. Motion seconded by CM Hazen and carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons – aye Brown – aye Hazen – aye Jakobsson – aye Miller – aye Roberts – aye Wu – aye Mayor Marlin – aye

Disposition: Ordinance No. 2017-12-072 carried by roll call vote (8-aye; 0-nay)

e. Ordinance No. 2017-12-073: An Ordinance Revising the Annual Budget Ordinance for FY 2017-2018 (Budget Amendment #5 – Omnibus)

CM Wu made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2017-12-073. Motion seconded by CM Ammons and carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons – aye Brown – aye Hazen – aye Jakobsson – aye Miller – aye Roberts – aye Wu – aye Mayor Marlin - aye

Disposition: Ordinance No. 2017-12-073 carried by roll call vote (8-aye; 0-nay)

f. Resolution No. 2017-12-077R: A Resolution Establishing City Policy on Sexual Harassment as Mandated by 5 ILCS 430/70-5

CM Wu made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2017-12-077R. Motion seconded by CM Miller and carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons – aye Brown – aye Hazen – aye Jakobsson – aye Miller – aye Roberts – aye Wu – aye

Disposition: Resolution No. 2017-12-077R carried by roll call vote (7-aye; 0-nay)

g. Resolution No. 2017-12-078R: A Resolution Approving Modifications to the City of Urbana and Urbana Home Consortium FY 2016-2017 and FY 2017-2018 Annual Action Plans

CM Wu made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2017-12-078R. Motion seconded by CM Roberts and carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons – aye Brown – aye Hazen – aye Jakobsson – aye Miller – aye Roberts – aye Wu – aye

Disposition: Resolution No. 2017-12-078R carried by roll call vote (7-aye; 0-nay)

h. Resolution No. 2017-12-079R: A Resolution Approving the City of Urbana and Urbana Home Consortium FY 2018-2019 Mini-Action

CM Wu made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2017-12-079R. Motion seconded by CM Miller and carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons – aye Brown – aye Hazen – aye Jakobsson – aye Miller – aye Roberts – aye Wu – aye

Disposition: Resolution No. 2017-12-079R carried by roll call vote (7-aye; 0-nay)

i. Ordinance No. 2017-10-064: An Ordinance Repealing Urbana City Code Chapter 17 and Amending Chapter 15 Regarding Garage Sales

CM Wu made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2017-10-064. Motion seconded by CM Jakobsson and carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons – aye Brown – aye Hazen – aye Jakobsson – aye Miller – aye Roberts – aye Wu – aye

Disposition: Ordinance No. 2017-10-064 carried by roll call vote (7-aye; 0-nay)

G. Reports Of Special Committees

There were none.

H. Reports Of Officers

Mayor Marlin reminded council members that this meeting would be the last of 2017. The next meeting of the City Council will be January 8, 2018.

I. New Business

1. Resolution No. 2017-12-080R: Resolution to Accept the “Boneyard Creek Ecological

Community Design” (LA-537 Master Design Class – Studio II, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Illinois student design project for a “Public Greenway and Bike and Pedestrian Multi-Use Pathway along the Boneyard Creek Corridor from the University of Illinois Campus to Downtown Urbana”)

CM Roberts made a motion to waive the Resolution on Resolutions for Resolution No. 2017-12- 080R. Motion seconded by CM Wu and carried by voice vote.

CM Roberts made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2017-12-080R. Motion seconded by CM Miller and carried by voice vote. Disposition: Resolution No. 2017-10-080R carried by voice vote

2. Ordinance No. 2017-12-074: An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Urbana, Illinois (Omnibus Text Amendment – Plan Case No. 2320-T-17)

Kevin Garcia, Planner II, presented the this ordinance. He said omnibus text amendments are periodically made for changes that, on their own, would not warrant a separate text amendment. Mr. Garcia went over two changes in the ordinance that drew the most public comment. The first was on page 7, number 23, Article VIII, parking access. This is to simplify parking requirements for multifamily dwelling units. He explained there would be allowances for developers who want to provide more spaces per unit if it is an area away from campus.

For the second change, Mr. Garcia referred to page 5, number 17, on setbacks. He said this is not an attempt to change policy, but to clarify how setbacks are calculated, so the ordinance is more easily understood. He added there might be a need to reevaluate setbacks because the 15 foot to 25 foot setbacks do not work in certain areas, and the current change proposal would not help in those cases. There were questions from council members and discussion ensued.

Urbana City Council Minutes: December 18, 2017 Page 6 of 6

CM Wu made a motion to remove the sections for front yard setback and parking changes, and to bring them back to the committee on January 22, 2018. The motion was seconded by CM Brown.

Clerk Smyth corrected the motion to have the ordinance approved as presented, deleting the two sections and sending them back to committee.

CM Wu made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2017-12-074 as presented, deleting the section on front yard setbacks, page 5, number 17, and the section on parking changes, page 7, number 23, Article VIII, and forwarding them to committee for further discussion on January 22, 2018. Motion was seconded by CM Brown and carried by roll call vote as follows:

Ammons – aye Brown – aye Hazen – aye Jakobsson – aye Miller – aye Roberts – aye Wu – aye

Disposition: Ordinance No. 2017-12-074 was carried by roll call vote (7-aye; 0-nay) Video for this item can be found at: https://www.city.urbana.il.us/Scripts/CouncilVideo/Video.asp?v=/_Video/City_Council/2017/2 0171218/17._Ordinance_2017-12-074.mp4

3. Mayoral Appointments to Boards and Commissions

a. Champaign County Housing Authority – term ending August 31, 2021

1. Danielle Chynoweth

b. Urbana Free Library Board – term ending June 30, 2020

1. Barbara Bennett

c. Sustainability Advisory Commission – term ending June 30, 2020

1. Tesfaye Wolde-Medhin

Mayor Marlin presented the appointments of Danielle Chynoweth, Barbara Bennett, and Tesfaye Wolde-Medhin. CM Miller made a motion to approve the appointments. Motion seconded by CM Jakobsson and carried by voice vote. Mayor Marlin noted the many years of service to the community by Mark Netter as a longtime member of the Urbana School Board and then the Library Board. Disposition: The appointments carried by unanimous voice vote.

J. Adjournment

With no further business before the city council, Mayor Marlin declared the meeting adjourned at 10:03 pm.

https://www.urbanaillinois.us/sites/default/files/attachments/12-18-2017_Minutes_0.pdf