City of Urbana Committee of the Whole met May 14.
Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:
Elected Officials Physically Present: Aaron Ammons; Bill Brown; Eric Jakobsson; Dean Hazen; Jared Miller; Maryalice Wu; Diane Wolfe Marlin; Charles A. Smyth
Elected Officials Present Via Teleconference: None
Elected Officials Absent: Dennis Roberts
Staff Present: Elizabeth Beaty; Brad Bennett; James Eggert; William Gray; Elizabeth Hannan; Kay Meharry; Kelly Mierkowski; Sylvia Morgan; Lorrie Pearson; Marcus Ricci; Joel Sanders; John Schneider; James Simon
Others Present: Van Anderson; Deb Busey; Jacob Croegaert; Elderess Melinda Carr; Don Hall; Jacob Kreiger; Claudia Lennhoff; Rev. Dr. Evelyn B. Underwood; C. Pius Weibel; Members of the Media
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
There being a quorum, Chair Aaron Ammons called the meeting of the Committee of the Whole to order at 7:00 pm.
2. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting
Council Member (CM) Jared Miller made a motion to approve minutes from the meeting held on April 23, 2018. Motion seconded by CM Bill Brown and carried by voice vote.
3. Additions to the Agenda
There were none.
4. Public Input
Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood did not wish to speak but wanted her concerns about the Dr. Ellis Subdivision sewer problems entered into the record.
Elderess Melinda Carr did not wish to speak but wanted her continued concerns about the Dr. Ellis Subdivision sewer problems, equity and historic impact entered into the record.
5. Presentations
a. Champaign County Healthcare Consumers CIT Recognition
Claudia Lennoff, Executive Director of Champaign County Healthcare Consumers, presented the Harry J. Baker Community Service Award to the Urbana Police Department for the work done by Urbana’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT). Lieutenant Joel Sanders, coordinator of Urbana’s CIT, accepted the award on behalf of the department. Ms. Lennhoff expressed gratitude for the officers who choose to train for CIT and for the services they provide to the community.
6. Staff Report
Mayor Marlin proclaimed the month of May as Building Safety Month, and presented the proclamation to Community Development Manager John Schneider.
Public Works Director Bill Gray reported that IDOT will begin a project on Cunningham Avenue, between University Avenue and Interstate 74, beginning May 15. Open Road Paving was awarded the contract. Completion should be sometime around November of this year. There will also be work on a shared use pathway from Kenyon Road to Napleton Way as part of this construction.
7. Ordinance No. 2018-05-032: An Ordinance Revising the Annual Budget Ordinance (Budget Amendment #8 – Omnibus) Finance Director Elizabeth Hannan presented this ordinance, stating that the changes in the budget do not have significant fiscal impact because they are either offset by revenue or changes in timing of expenditures.
CM Maryalice Wu moved to send Ordinance No. 2018-05-032 to council with recommendation for approval. Motion was seconded by CM Eric Jakobsson. CM Bill Brown made a motion to amend the ordinance to add an additional $30,000 for outside legal services. Motion to amend the ordinance was seconded by CM Dean Hazen, and carried by voice vote. The motion and second to send this ordinance to council with recommendation for approval was carried by voice vote.
8. Ordinance No. 2018-05-033: An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter 14, Section 14-7, Regarding Schedule of Fees Subsection A – “Liquor Licenses” ( July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019)
CM Jared Miller recused himself from discussion and voting on this ordinance due to the fact that he is employed by company that holds a liquor license in the City of Urbana. Administrative Services Manager Elizabeth Beaty presented this ordinance, explaining this ordinance included proposed increases to liquor licenses. She said there would be an a $70 increase to video gaming terminal licensing fees, as well as the removal of Bassett certification, which the City no longer does.
CM Jakobsson made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2018-05-033 to the June 18 Council meeting with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by CM Hazen and carried by voice vote.
9. Ordinance No. 2018-05-034: An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter 14, Section 14-7, Regarding Schedule of Fees Subsections B Through P – Fees Excluding Liquor (July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019)
Ms. Beaty presented this ordinance. She said the overall increase in permit and license fees would be about 2.13% for the upcoming fiscal year, and would increase revenues by about $198,000. Some of the fees to be increased are fire prevention permits, food handling licenses amusement devices, ambulance licenses, special parking permits, downtown parking meter rates, hotel and motel licenses, among others.
The rate for downtown parking meters will increase from 25 cents an hour to fifty cents an hour, which would be the first increase since 1986. Downtown parking is free after 5pm weekdays and also on weekends.
Chair Ammons relinquished the chair to CM Jakobsson from 7:31 to 7:38pm to ask for clarification about several of the fees, including the vehicle immobilization fees. He expressed concern about the vehicle towing and immobilization fee increase from $250 to $255, and said he felt the $250 fee was too high. There was extensive discussion about the vehicle towing and immobilization fee. After discussion CM Wu made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2018- 05-034 to the June 18 Council with recommendation for approval, with an amendment to keep number 25, Vehicle Towing and Immobilization without increase, at $250. Motion was seconded by CM Hazen. After further discussion motion carried by voice vote.
Presentation and discussion for this item can be found at: https://www.city.urbana.il.us/Scripts/CouncilVideo/Video.asp?v=/_Video/City_Council/201 8/20180514/06._Ordinance_2018-05-034.mp4
10. Ordinance No. 2018-05-035: An Ordinance Approving an Amended and Restated Right-of- Way License Agreement with MDCJ, LLC
Assistant City Engineer Brad Bennett presented this ordinance. He explained that the 25 O’Clock Brewing Company would like to expand the entryway, patio and awning upon 450 square feet of public right-of-way at 208 West Griggs Street. The installation will be of no cost to the City, and MCDJ, LLC will pay an annual fee of $1,128.80 to the City for the right-of-way occupation, according to the City’s Schedule of Fees.
CM Miller made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2018-05-035 to council with recommendation of approval. Motion was seconded by CM Hazen and carried by voice vote.
11. Resolution No. 2018-05-017R: A Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of a Grant for Market at the Square (Farm Credit Illinois Grant – SNAP Double Value Program, FY 2018-2019)
Community Development Manager John Schneider presented this resolution. He said the $5,000 grant is from Farm Credit Illinois and gives double value for LINK card token purchases made at Urbana Market at the Square. A LINK card purchase of $20 worth of tokens will double to $40 per person, per day, for fresh food purchases.
CM Maryalice Wu made a motion to send Resolution No. 2018-05-017R to Council with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by CM Miller and carried by voice vote.
12. Resolution No. 2018-05-018R: A Resolution Approving the City of Urbana and Urbana Home Consortium FY 2018-2019 Annual Action Plan
Grants Manager Kelly Mierkowski presented this resolution. She said that this is new funding and does not include carryover amounts. The revenues from HUD for CDBG funds will be $408,127 (an increase of 11%) and for the HOME program will be $835,540 (24% increase). The population shown in the census is part of the formula that determines the amount of funding.
CM Miller made a motion to send Resolution No. 2018-05-018R to council with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by CM Jakobsson and carried by voice vote.
13. Ordinance No. 2018-02-013: An Ordinance Amending the Urbana Zoning Map (Rezoning a Portion of 500 Art Bartell Rd. from CRE to R-4 / Plan Case No. 2333-M-18)
Planner II Marcus Ricci and Planning Manager Lorrie Pearson presented this ordinance. Mr. Ricci went over the timeline of reviews, committee action and requests from Champaign County. Mr. Ricci summarized staff findings as follows:
• The Champaign County Nursing Home is owned by the Champaign County Board and zoned as CRE, Conservation-Recreation-Education and is designated as “Institutional” by the Comprehensive Plan
• The property, located on the east side of Art Bartell Road, has operated as a Skilled Care Facility Nursing Home since 2007 under a Special Use permit granted in 2004.
• Champaign County Board has filed a petition to amend the Urbana Zoning Map to rezone the property to from CRE to R-4, Medium Density Multiple-Family Residential Zoning District.
• The zoning change would allow the continued operation of the Nursing Home.
• The zoning change generally conforms to the LaSalle Criteria.
• The property is appropriate for institutional residential use due to proximity to other institutional uses and nearby parks.
Deb Busey, Pius Weibel, Don Hall, Jacob Krieger and Van Anderson were present to answer questions about the Champaign County Nursing Home. Interim County Administrator Deb Busey gave a presentation showing the goals of Champaign County and the status of the Champaign County Nursing Home. As of April 2018 accounts payable total is $4,415,140. Of that amount, $2,190,919 is due to outside vendors and $2,224,221 is due to Champaign County. A financial summary by the company currently managing the nursing home shows the nursing home currently operating at an annual deficit of $1 million. Ms. Busey reported that a large part of the problem is due to the slowdown of Medicaid payments from the state. Chair Ammons relinquished the chair to CM Jakobsson from 8:48 to 9:05pm to take part in the discussion.
In January 2018 an RFP (Request for Proposals) for purchase of the Champaign County Nursing home was released and sent to several thousand groups across the country. Purchase price was set at $11 million with many terms and conditions for the sale, and a bid deadline of February 28. There was one offer only, and the offer was for the asking price of $11 million. The company who made the offer has 18 facilities in several states, so volume purchasing would help provide discounts for things like goods and services.
After extensive discussion a motion to send Ordinance 2018-02-013 to council with recommendation for approval was made by CM Jakobsson, seconded by CM Hazen and carried by voice vote.
Presentation and discussion for this item can be found at: https://www.city.urbana.il.us/Scripts/CouncilVideo/Video.asp?v=/_Video/City_Council/201 8/20180514/10._Ordinance_2018-02-013.mp4
14. Ordinance No. 2018-02-014: An Ordinance Approving and Denying Requests for Waivers of Subdivision Regulations (500 Art Bartell Rd. / Plan Case No. 2335-S-18)
Planner II Marcus Ricci presented this ordinance with Public Works Director William Gray. Waiver requests have been submitted by the Champaign County Board from requirements of the Urbana Subdivision and Land Development Code for the proposed subdivision, including complying with minimum road standards and providing access to a public street, installing sidewalks and a dedicated right-of-way. Since the road is already constructed, the County has asked to continue maintenance of it as is and avoid the cost of rebuilding it to meet subdivision standards. The proposed waivers would allow Art Bartell Road to remain a private street without impacting current or anticipated levels of vehicle or bicycling traffic. The City Engineer has determined that for the long term effectiveness of the City’s street network, it is not necessary for the County Board to dedicate Art Bartell Road or the underlying right-of-way, as long as the County maintains the existing road and right-of-way, which it has agreed to do. While the proposed sidewalk waiver would allow the continued lack of sidewalks on both sides of Art Bartell Road, staff supports only the deferral of the requirement to install them. The condition for the deferral is that the applicant install a sidewalk along one side of Art Bartell Road from East Main Street to Lierman Avenue within two years of the recording of the plat. Future sidewalk construction would be triggered by any future requests to subdivide the parcel. After further discussion and clarification CM Brown made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2018-02-014 to council with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by CM Hazen and carried by voice vote.
Presentation and discussion for this item can be found at: https://www.city.urbana.il.us/Scripts/CouncilVideo/Video.asp?v=/_Video/City_Council/201 8/20180514/11._Ordinance_2018-02-014.mp4
15. Adjournment
With no further business before the committee, Chair Ammons adjourned the meeting at 10:05 pm.
https://www.urbanaillinois.us/sites/default/files/attachments/05-14-2018_minutes_app.pdf
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