Chambana Sun

City of Urbana Committee of the Whole met June 4.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Elected Officials Physically Present: Aaron Ammons; Bill Brown; Eric Jakobsson; Dean Hazen; Jared Miller; Dennis Roberts; Maryalice Wu; Diane Wolfe Marlin; Charles A. Smyth

Elected Officials Present Via Teleconference: Danielle Chynoweth

Elected Officials Absent: None

Staff Present: James Eggert; Steven Doggett: Bob Fitzgerald; Kevin Garcia; Vince Gustafson; Elizabeth Hannan; Brian Hoff; Elizabeth Horwitz; Kay Meharry; Carol Mitten; Matt Rejc; John Schneider; James Simon

Others Present: Elderess Melinda Carr; Bishop King James Underwood; Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood; Members of the Media

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

There being a quorum, Chair Dennis Roberts called the meeting of the Committee of the Whole to order at 7:00 pm.

2. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting

Alderwoman Maryalice Wu made a correction to the minutes. On page four, paragraph five, the minutes are written as, “Alderman Brown said he liked Alderman Brown’s idea”. Alderman Bill Brown said it should read, “Alderman Brown liked Alderman Ammons’s idea”. Alderman Jared Miller made a motion to approve minutes with the correction on page four, paragraph five. Motion seconded by Alderman Aaron Ammons and carried by voice vote.

3. Additions to the Agenda

There were none.

4. Public Input

Firefighter and Fire Pension Board Trustee Brian Hoff, and Firefighter Steven Doggett appeared before committee members to express their appreciation for the approval of the long term pension funding.

Bishop King James Underwood and Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood did not wish to speak but wanted their 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

There were none.

6. Staff Report

Economic Development Coordinator Elizabeth Horwitz presented the Business Development report. She said the community visioning process for Lincoln Square continued in May with multiple workshops. The I.D.E.A. Store will move from Champaign to the former Art Mart space at Lincoln Square, and plans to open in the fall. The Independent Media Center has two new tenants. Power 102 Jazz, is an online radio broadcasting service, now located at the Media Center, as well as the D.O.S.E. Foundation, which provides theater opportunities for under- served groups.

Mayor Marlin reported on the damage caused by the storm the day before. She said there were over a dozen city trees that came down in the right-of-way, as well as some private trees. She thanked Public Works, Police, and Fire departments for their help in dealing with storm.

7. FY2019 Consolidated Social Services Funding Approval – Final Recommendations

Community Development Coordinator Matt Rejc presented the final version of the recommendations for funding allocations of consolidated social service funds. He made a correction to the memo for the amount available in the Consolidated Social Service Funding Pool. The memo says $240,000 is available and the correct amount available should be $250,000. Cunningham Township asked to have the $250,000 decreased to $240,000 to allow for additional funds that can be used for emergency shelter.

Cunningham Township Supervisor Danielle Chynoweth was present by phone to answer questions about the Township allocations. The Township is administering the funds for Champaign County Health Care Consumers. All of the documentation for reimbursement has been submitted and the township is working to get the disbursements done before the end of the year.

Mr. Rejc said there had been a question about statistics for tracking the funds after they have been dispersed, and that those statistics will be incorporated into the annual report beginning next year. He told committee members that some programs that duplicate services provided by multiple agencies have had some decreases or cuts in funding to the smaller agencies, with more money going to the larger agency providing the same services.

Mr. Rejc told committee that cuts made to Courage Connection funding were made because one of the programs they offered for homelessness and transitional housing had been discontinued, with more concentration on the domestic violence program. Because of that, the amount awarded to Courage Connection is for the domestic violence program. Due to that change, the amount previously awarded for homelessness and transitional housing to them has been discontinued. Ms. Chynoweth told committee members that the CU Men’s Shelter is asking for funds, and the Township will give them additional money to open two months early, which would save the Township considerable money. She is also asking the City to set aside $20,000, with $10,000 of City contribution toward shelter and the other $10,000 coming from past allocations that have not been spent. This would go toward transitional and emergency shelter for women. If the Township budget is approved, they will set aside $50,000 for the same. Ms. Chynoweth was asked to submit a proposal with documentation to committee for the men’s shelter funding, because it is an increase. She will provide that documentation.

There was further discussion about agencies and programs, with input and clarification from Mr. Rejc and Ms. Chynoweth.

Alderwoman Wu made a motion to keep this item in Committee. Motion seconded by Alderman Ammons 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 8/20180611/04._Consolidated_Social_Service_Funding_Approval.mp4

8. Ordinance No. 2018-06-045: An Ordinance Approving the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Annual Budget

Finance Director Elizabeth Hannan presented this ordinance. She said all changes made from the proposed budget document to the final budget document are included.

Concern about the sudden closure of the Civic Center was expressed. The possibility of trying to find a way to fund the Civic Center to keep it open was discussed. Ms. Hannan said it is currently operating at a loss of $40,000 to $50,000 a year, and has been losing that amount for at least four years. The possibility of raising the fee for use of the Civic Center was discussed as a means of trying to keep it open. Keeping it open and breaking even would mean raising rates by 72%. Mayor Marlin said the closing of the Civic Center is just a small part of the $623,000 proposed budget reductions for this year, with more reductions coming for next year. The condition and actual costs for improvement of the building will be determined in the facilities analysis, but would probably be at least $750,000 to $1 million.

After further discussion, it was decided that the cost of improving and maintaining the Civic Center would not be possible with current budget constraints.

Alderman Hazen motioned to send Ordinance No. 2018-06-045 to Council. Motion seconded by Alderman Miller 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/20 18/20180611/05._Ordinance_2018-06-045.mp4

9. Ordinance No. 2018-06-046: An Ordinance Revising the Annual Budget Ordinance for FY2017/18 (Budget Amendment #9 – FY2018 Estimates)

Alderman Jared Miller made a motion to forward Ordinance No. 2018-06-046 to Council with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by Alderwoman Wu and carried by voice vote.

10. Resolution No. 2018-06-023R: A Resolution Adopting Financial Policies (2018)

Alderman Miller made a motion to forward Resolution No. 2018-06-023R to Council with recommendation for approval. Motion was seconded by Alderman Dean Hazen. Finance Director Elizabeth Hannan said the only changes in the policy are fire and police pension funding and and the meaning of what constitutes a balanced budget. She said the change in the financial policy will be that expenses will not exceed 98.5 % of recurring revenues.

When asked if the policy included hiring practices, Ms. Hannan responded that it is not included in the financial policy. There will be a review of positions that become vacant to determine the need to fill them. After discussion, the motion to forward this resolution to council was carried by voice vote.

11. Resolution No. 2018-06-024R: A Resolution Ascertaining Prevailing Wages (2018–2019)

Ms. Hannan presented this resolution said it is an annual requirement by the state. Alderman Ammons moved to send Resolution No. 2018-06-024R to Council. Motion seconded by Alderman Eric Jakobsson and carried by voice vote.

12. Resolution No. 2018-06-025R: A Resolution Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Champaign and the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois for a Bicycle Sharing Program

Planner II Kevin Garcia presented this resolution. He said a draft of the agreement had been presented to committee in April and that City Attorney James Simon and the legal teams from the City of Champaign and University of Illinois reviewed the draft agreement and made changes to it. One of the most significant changes was the addition of a mechanism to revoke the license of operators who regularly violate the regulations. Additional changes include:

• The initial capped fleet size of 500 bicycles may be increased or decreased if all parties agree.

• Operators are required to have a $1,000,000 commercial general liability, including $1,000,000 in worker’s compensation, and vehicle insurance with $100,000 single injury and $300,000 multiple injury.

• The establishment of regulations by each of the parties involved in the intergovernmental agreement to enforce operator compliance with regulations. A due process procedure, a means of appeal and penalties, which could include suspension or revocation of license, must be included.

There was concern about parking regulations and Mr. Garcia said those regulation will be left up to the individual parties. There was discussion about parking, the number of bicycles it will add to traffic in the area, providing additional parking for bikes and the regulations.

Alderman Miller made a motion to send Resolution No. 2018-06-025R to Council with recommendation for approval. Motion was seconded by Alderman Brown 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 /2018/20180611/09._Resolution_2018-06-025R.mp4

13. Mayoral Reappointments to Boards and Commissions

a. Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission – term ending June 30, 2021

1. Jeff Marino

2. Lily Wilcock

b. Civil Service Commission – term ending June 30, 2021

1. Marion Knight, Jr.

c. Human Relations Commission – term ending June 30, 2021

1. Lisa Mosley

d. MOR Development Review Board – term ending June 30, 2021

1. Matt Cho

e. Plan Commission – term ending June 30, 2021

1. Tyler Fitch, Chair

f. Public Arts Commission – term ending June 30 2021

1. Patricia Sammann, Chair

g. Tree Commission – term ending June 30, 2021

1. Stewart Berlocher

h. Urbana Public Television Commission – term ending June 30, 2021

1. Peter Folk, Chair

2. Marie Polk

i. Zoning Board of Appeals – term ending June 30, 2023

1. Ashlee McLaughlin

Mayor Marlin presented reappointments to boards and commission to the committee. Motion to send the reappointments to council with recommendation for approval was made by Alderman Brown, seconded by Alderman Miller and carried by voice vote. Alderwoman Wu requested a list of vacancies on boards and commissions. Mayor Marlin said she would provide a list of vacancies for committee members.

15. Adjournment

With no further business before the committee, Chair Roberts adjourned the meeting at 9:06 pm.

https://www.urbanaillinois.us/sites/default/files/attachments/06-11-2018_minutes_app_0.pdf