Chambana Sun

City of Urbana Committee of the Whole met March 12.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Aaron Ammons; Bill Brown; Dean Hazen; Eric Jakobsson; Jared Miller; Dennis Roberts; Maryalice Wu; Diane Wolfe Marlin; Charles A. Smyth

ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: None

ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: None

STAFF PRESENT: Brad Bennett; Brandon Boys; William Gray; Elizabeth Hannan; Elizabeth Horwitz; Bryant Seraphin; Kelly Mierkowski; Brian Nightlinger; Matt Rejc; John Schneider; James Simon

OTHERS PRESENT: Bishop King James Underwood; Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood; Elderess Melinda Carr, Alan Max Axlerod, Andrew Costas, News-Gazette

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

There being a quorum, Chair Dean Hazen called the meeting of the Committee of the Whole to order at 7:08pm following a Township Board special meeting.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

City Council Member (CM) Roberts made a motion to approve minutes from the meeting held on February 26, 2018. Motion seconded by CM Wu and carried by unanimous voice vote.

3. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

There were none.

4. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Bishop King James Underwood and Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood did not wish to speak but wanted to voice their continued concerns about the Dr. Ellis subdivision sewer problem.

CM Ammons announced several local events including a pastoral panel on the 13th Congressional District election to be held March 16th and announcing a Voter Registration drive and start of campus voting on March 18th.

CM Hazen thanked the Police Department for a recent stop that resulted in the recovery of 3 handguns.

5. PRESENTATIONS

Gene Cossey, Director of Willard Airport (CMI) gave update. He noted that United Airlines is now flying from Willard without taking away passengers from American Airlines, Einstein Bros. is open for concessions before flights, and a new website with enhanced information and links to book flights directly from the site is up. He noted that a new automated parking system is about to start as well. He showed how 2017 performance is the best since 2007 noting American Airlines has added a flight to Dallas and kept flights that are normally cancelled seasonally and a slide of destinations worldwide via one stop from CMI. He also reviewed the community value of the airport and stated that an airport is part of a robust transportation network needed for economic growth. The tax revenue benefits are substantial with $5 million local impact. He compared the budgets and spending of area regional airports showing that without taxing ability, CMI is running over a $2.2M deficit that the U of I covers. He asked the city for a policy commitment to fly from CMI.

Questions from council members followed. In response to CM Wu’s tax revenue question, Mr. Cossey noted that the 3 area airports operate under Illinois Statute as an Airport Authority and can levy property taxes ($30-60/household). In response to CM Ammons, Mr. Cossey described in kind services from the University and stated that the 300 jobs on the airport generate another 200 via multiplier effect. Flightstar has almost 200 employees, including some working on American Airlines planes. Some discussion about employee statistics followed as well as anecdotal stories of various flight options and pricing. In response to CM Roberts, Mr. Cossey noted that fees come from airline fees, concessions, and Flightstar related fees.

Additional Public Input followed:

Alan Max Axlerod did not wish to speak but wanted council to know that the GEO won their strike.

Elderess Melinda Carr did not wish to speak but wanted to express her continued concerns about Dr. Ellis subdivision sewer issues, equity, and historic impact.

6. STAFF REPORT

Libby Horowitz provided the monthly economic update noting that the first project since N. Lincoln was opened has been permitted, a $2 million project; that an RFP for 200 S. Vine has been released with help from David Michael Moore; that R Rentals has signed a contract for Tri-Star Building and the recent Business and Development luncheon had over 80 attendees. She added that for the Think Urbana campaign, ads are being run on Google and Bus signs will be appearing, they are collecting testimonials to do a 3 month Facebook Campaign as well and sponsoring an event at Broadway Food Hall. She also announced that the Shortest St. Patricks’ Day parade will be Saturday March 17 at 5pm and on April 19 will be the first realtor tour for Think Urbana.

Assistant Chief of Police Bryant Seraphin spoke to the Parkland School shooting. He provided an update on how local training in schools is done currently. He reviewed training history since Columbine and described how training is now at the patrol officer level first responders. Another shift per more recent events is to train schools in Run, Hide, Fight or the similar program with acronym ALICE. Instead of locking down, now the schools have a plan along these lines. Schools have to do drills such as fire, tornado, etc. including active shooter. The Urbana Police Department conducts these drills at every school in Urbana working with school administrators to coordinate these training events. Each school has police involved in administrative days at the beginning of the year as well. CM Wu thanked ACOP Seraphin for the updates.

Grants Manager Kelly Mierkowski provided an update on the Social Service funding process announcing an anticipated timeline with applications available on the March 26 and a workshop on the 29th (will be videotaped), and an April 26 application due date. Staff will then make recommendations to council in May and through the budget process in June. Site visits are planned for the next funding year as well. Guiding Principles, following a review of 2013 goals, were updated for council priorities just passed. They are reviewing quarterly reports and are also working on standard operating procedures for scoring the applications which will be reported back to council.

Mayor Marlin announced a moderated forum for the candidates for City Administrator at 1701 E. University for Tuesday March 19, 6 – 7:30 pm. The format will be brief introductory remarks and then candidates will answer questions submitted by the public. The event will be recorded and broadcast live via several formats. Mayor Marlin repeated the names of the individuals and that a press release would follow tomorrow. In response to CM Ammons, she stated that the date was the only time available for all four candidates at the same time.

Mayor Marlin also announced a Special City Council meeting March 26th to accommodate travel by council members so that a sufficient number of members could be present to vote on ordinances that follow requiring six of seven council members.

CM Brown provided a report on the National Bike Summit, which he just attended. This is a meeting and conference type event on bicycle safety and infrastructure held annually by the League of American Bicyclists. Included was a lobby day where the Illinois contingent went to all the congressional district offices for Illinois. Transportation funding was discussed and he noted attending a subcommittee meeting where Commerce and Trucking companies spoke in favor of raising the gas tax. From lobbying interactions, the president’s transportation plan was discussed but the current Transportation Plan has two more years before expiring. They advocated for continuation of the TIGER program which funds efforts like the MCORE project as an efficient use of Federal monies as there is substantial local match and cross jurisdictional coordination. Transportation investment and a particular bill that would pilot data sharing among a number of groups was also promoted. CM Brown will be back in a month to give annual report from BPAC. In a question from CM Jakobsson, CM Brown noted support for bicycling appears non-partisan though Rep. Shimkus’ office didn’t return calls.

7. Ordinance No. 2018-03-020: An Ordinance Vacating an Alley (North Alley of Water Street between Lynn Street and Cottage Grove Avenue)

Assistant City Engineer Brad Bennet presented the staff memo. He discussed the impact on railroad ROW for the Kickapoo RailTrail (KRT). Staff recommends the vacation. CM Roberts had raised question about connectivity using this alley way and thought it of some value for the KRT but hasn’t heard anything from BPAC. Mr. Bennett noted that by vacating the ROW it makes it easier for residents in terms of dealing with encroachment. CM Brown pointed out that it would be hard to imagine putting a multiuse path in this space (with utility poles as well) but this illustrates the need to plan how we are going to get through here for connecting to the trail

With no further discussion, CM Miller made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2018-03-020 to a special council meeting on March 26, 2018 with a recommendation for approval. CM Wu seconded and the motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

8. Ordinance No. 2018-03-021: An Ordinance Vacating a Certain Portion of Right-of-Way (Church Street West of Lincoln Avenue)

Assistant City Engineer Brad Bennet presented the staff memo noting that this is part of the redevelopment approved at last week’s council meeting. This will be the main access point to the development and will include an 8 foot multiuse path through this corridor for the vacated portion though the city will be responsible for the rest of it outside the development site. Staff has no objections to the vacation but there are a number of utilities buried underground so an easement is part of the ROW including the multiuse path. CM Wu was curious about the ownership. Andrew Costas from Landmark Properties replied that they have all the land under contract. Staff noted that the vacated land would go to the properties to the north. CM Brown noted that in the “whereas” clauses, the agreement has the 8 foot multiuse path but doesn’t see where the actual language is in the ordinance itself. Staff replied that the easement is perpetual for maintaining the path and that there is no binding agreement here. Following discussion among legal and engineering staff, Public Works Director Bill Gray proposed adding language of contingent approval of the vacation until the path is built. Public use is already is already there as part of the easement.

After the presentation and discussion, CM Jakobsson made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2018-03-021 to a special council meeting on March 26, 2018 with a recommendation for approval. CM Brown seconded and the motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

9. Ordinance No. 2018-03-022: An Ordinance Authorizing the Sale of Certain Real Estate (909 North Harvey Street)

Matt Rejc, CD Grants Management presented the staff memo noting that this ordinance would allow the city to convey property to Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County for development of a new affordable home. It is currently a vacant lot and this will allow completion of the process where by the city acquires and demolishes uninhabitable structures. He described it as a win-win for the city since this eliminates a city maintenance fee and develops affordable housing. The CD Commission forwarded this to council with a unanimous recommendation and staff agrees.

After the presentation and discussion, CM Ammons made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2018-03-022 to council with a recommendation for approval. CM Wu seconded and the motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

10. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business before the committee, Chair Hazen declared the meeting adjourned at 8:32 pm.

https://www.urbanaillinois.us/sites/default/files/attachments/03-12-2018_COW_Minutes.pdf