Chambana Sun

City of Champaign City Council met Aug. 4.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Pursuant to Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order 2020-07 (COVID-19 Executive Order No. 5) which suspends the requirement of the Illinois Open Meetings Act requiring in- person attendance by members of a public body during the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, attendance by all Council Members, the City Manager, the City Clerk and other City staff members will be electronic via an online meeting platform. The members of the City Council were not physically present for the August 4, 2020 Regular City of Champaign City Council Meeting but instead participated in the meeting through audio or audio/video access using a virtual meeting platform.

City Manager David was present, via Zoom, at the City Building Council Chambers. The meeting was streamed live on Champaign's cable access channel, CGTV, and on the City’s website at www.champaignil.gov.

There being a quorum present, Mayor Feinen called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. following the monthly Township meeting.

ROLL-CALL: 

Present: Vanna Pianfetti, Greg Stock, Alicia Beck Angie Brix, Tom Bruno, Matthew Gladney William Kyles, Mayor Feinen 

Absent: Clarissa Fourman

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

CM Stock, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to approve the following minutes: 

May 19, 2020 Regular Council Meeting 

May 19, 2020 Post-Council Study Session

A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

CORRESPONDENCE: None

PUBLIC HEARINGS: None

ACTION ON COUNCIL BILLS

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

Passed CB-2020-081, “An Ordinance Amending Sections 5-26, 5-29.2, 5-29.3, 5-33, 5-35, 5-62.1 And 5-63 And Adding Sections 5-56 And 5-57, To The Champaign Municipal Code, 1985, As Amended (Alcoholic Liquor – Delivery – Growlers – To Go Drinks – Fee Deferral And Fee Credit)”

CM Stock, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Ordinance. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, Deputy Mayor Bruno noted no hands were raised for public comment. Mayor Feinen thanked CM Beck for her efforts in relation to a fee holiday to help businesses stay open. A roll-call vote; all voted yes.

Passed CB-2020-082, “An Ordinance Amending Sections 17-4 And 17-4.5 Of The Champaign Municipal Code, 1985 (Human Rights – Business Necessity – Convictions)”

CM Stock, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Ordinance. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, Deputy Mayor Bruno noted no hands were raised for public comment. CM Beck expressed support of the amendment, and glad for the reduction to two years and for future reduction to none especially with limited housing stock for those being released. A roll-call vote was taken, all voted yes.

Attorney Stavins requested, following the motion and second, postponement of the Resolution until the September 1, 2020 Regular Council Meeting because of an issue with the contract.

Postponed Until 09-01-2020

CB-2020-083, “A Resolution Approving The Purchase Of Annual Licensing For Software Maintenance And Technical Support Renewal For A Period Of Five Years (Information Technologies – Superion, LLC)”

Five Year Term Ending July 31, 2025 - $36,562.16 5% 

Yearly Increase with Total Cost of $202,029.01

CM Stock, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Resolution. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, CM Stock, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to postpone the Resolution to the Regular Council Meeting of September 1, 2020. A roll-call vote was taken on the motion to postpone, all voted yes.

Passed CB-2020-084, A Resolution Approving Subrecipient Agreements With Various Non-Profit Agencies (Community Development Block Grant Public Services Programs)”

CM Stock, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Resolution. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, Council Members technical questions included providers offering activities during the summer or school camps; program funding availability for these or new programs; methodologies to ensure agencies follow public health and other guidelines with respect to COVID-19 and mandates of COVID regulations; and impact on funding if not found in compliance with local and State requirements in relation to COVID regulations. Deputy Mayor Bruno noted no hands were raised for public comment. CM Bruno expressed the importance of all programs, including youth athletics where complaints have been expressed in relation to following COVID safety requirements, to comply with COVID safety requirements; non-support, in the future, of programs not following public health guidelines; and possible funding, in the future, for programs that help address COVID related issues that might arise. A roll- call vote was taken; all voted yes.

Passed CB-2020-085, A Resolution Approving The Final Plat Of Union Gardens Subdivision (Located East Of Fourth Street Extended, And North Of Fifth Street, Sixth Street And Carver Drive)”

CM Stock, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Resolution. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, Deputy Mayor Bruno noted no hands were raised for public comment. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

Passed CB-2020-086, A Resolution Approving An Application For A Loan From The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency For The South Downtown Sanitary Sewer Project”

Loan Amount $4,700,000

CM Stock, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Resolution. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, Deputy Mayor Bruno noted no hands were raised for public comment. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

CM Stock, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to consolidate CB-2020-087 and CB-2020- 088. A roll-call vote was taken on the motion to consolidate; all voted yes.

Passed CB-2020-087, A Resolution Approving An Engineering Services Agreement With Farnsworth Group Inc., For The 2021 Bituminous Overlay Project (Public Works – Farnsworth Group Inc.) (City Project Nos. 0629 And 0129)”

Agreement Amount Not To Exceed $267,272

Passed CB-2020-088, A Resolution For Improvement Of Streets By Municipalities Under The Illinois Highway Code (2021 Bituminous Overlay Project) (Project Nos. 0629 And 0129)”

Motor Fuel Tax Fund Amount $1,628,613

After a brief explanation of the Council Bills by Mayor Feinen, Deputy Mayor Bruno noted no hands were raised for public comment. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

Passed CB-2020-089, An Ordinance Approving Emergency Orders And Extending Council Bill 2020-022 Relating To The COVID-19 Emergency (COVID-19 Emergency)”

CM Stock, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Resolution. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, Deputy Mayor Bruno noted no hands were raised for public comment. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:

Brian Dunn, Champaign, played a clip of Police Chief Cobb addressing the role of police, and the need for further discussion regarding police responsibilities and the need to focus discussions on where cuts can be made to the police budget and bolster services; he addressed the need for free mobile testing with COVID; and the impact of racism in our culture from many facets, and the need to improve policies.

David Walter Floyd, Champaign, expressed support of CB-2020-082, housing discrimination policy, and the need to reduce barriers and to have access to data to address housing for those criminally convicted.

Jon Hays, called for charges against Aleyah Lewis and other protestors be dismissed; and concern with police inaction in relation to the driver of a truck used against peaceful protestors, inciting violence and racism, at the Rogue Barbershop.

Megan McDonald, Urbana, addressed the protest at Rogue Barbershop; use of chalk on sidewalks and the City’s press releases; her efforts to leave food at the food pantry and being accosted by the barbershop owner, and lack of assistance or service by police; removal of SRO’s from schools; releasing those arrested during the May 31st protest; and amending the police budget.

SolarBluSeth, Timothy Rhodes, Champaign, addressed the ability of the City to do things better, more effectively, and humanly particularly in relation to the Rogue Barbershop; how the barbershop is operating/licensed (members only club); need for an area to peacefully and safely protest; and reverse sexism.

Allan Axelrod, Urbana, requested the City extend the eviction moratorium comparing foreclosures versus renters; utility shut-off assistance; and concern with not addressing motorist attacks versus arrest of peaceful protests.

Megan (Miracle) Elizabeth, Champaign, requested dropping charges against peaceful protestors; Rogue Barbershop owner driving through a crowd of protesters; Mayor and Police Chief’s panel appearance regarding the role of police to protect and serve, and how police have responded to activist, protesters, and protecting businesses over people; how the City is addressing the use of chalk on sidewalks for peaceful messages; and the need to defund the police.

Adam Pirtle (A.J.), Champaign, addressed the Rogue protest incident, silencing protesters, not valuing people over businesses conducting violent acts, and concern with police conduct.

Chelsea S. Birchmeyer, Champaign, expressed disappointment in the press release regarding graffiti; and the need to take the following actions to reflect that Black Lives Matter: chalking versus racial assault on protesters, commit to defunding police, need to take action on the use of School Resource Officers in schools, need to drop charges against protesters, take accountability measures against police, invest cuts to police funding toward mental health, need for a Study Session on SRO’s, and the need to address changes to the complaint process and the police union contract proposed by Human Relations Commission.

Creel Unbeloved, Champaign County, addressed treatment of persons at the Rogue protest; use of chalk as a form of expression; racist treatment by barbershop owner; need to treat graffiti as a violation by all; non-violent protest and freedom of speech; need to put people and community members first; and the need to support the voices of minorities.

COUNCIL AMD MANAGER COMMENTS:

CM Stock requested a staff explanation regarding the investigation of the truck incident that occurred at Rogue Barbershop. Deputy Chief Shaffer provided a brief explanation in relation to the investigation of the barbershop incident, and noted the investigation is on- going with progress being made.

Mayor Feinen requested a staff explanation regarding Rogue Barbershop and human relations involvement. Deputy City Manager Walls noted the City received information that Rogue Barbershop has closed; and that any discrimination investigation occurring in the Office of Equity, Community and Human Rights (ECHO) is confidential and cannot be commented on.

VOUCHERS:

CM Bruno, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt Vendor Payments dated July 11, 2020 through July 24, 2020 in the amount of $1,684,544.35. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

PAYROLL:

CM Bruno, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to approve the payroll dated July 24, 2020 in the amount of $2,058,521.86. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

Mayor Feinen noted additional raised hands from the public to provide comment; and normal Council procedure is to hear public comment followed by Council comment with no additional public input. However, because of the nature of the pandemic and how meetings are conducted with Zoom, she questioned if a Council Member would be willing to suspend Council’s rules to allow additional public input, limiting input to the two individuals who currently have their hands raised. CM Beck, seconded by CM Stock, moved to suspend the rules to allow the two individuals with their hands raised to provide their five minutes of public comment.

CM Bruno requested that Council address investments prior to hearing the final two public comments. Mayor Feinen noted a vote for the motion would be taken; then Council would allow the additional comments. Mayor Feinen called for a roll-call vote on the motion to allow comments from Rita Conerly and Justin Hendrix. A roll-call vote was taken on the motion to suspend the rules; all voted yes.

Mayor Feinen noted when Council business is complete, Council would return to public comment. She called on CM Bruno to proceed with a motion regarding investments.

INVESTMENTS:

CM Bruno, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to approve the investments for July 14, 2020 in the amount of $3,000,015; and investments for July 20, 2020 in the amount of $3,000,000. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

ADDITIONAL AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:

Rita Conerly, Champaign, noted active protesting in front of Rogue Barber Company continues and the shop was open yesterday; expressed concern with the City, particularly how police are responding to people actively and peacefully protesting; additional police concerns including not protecting and serving citizens and citizen harassment; showing more concern for the free popup pantry on private property than a business showing racism; concern with the safe return of kids to school; and how police are policing citizens.

Justin Michael Hendrix, Champaign, expressed various concerns including he senses fear and stereotyping of protest and protesters; officials impact and legacy regarding these times; use and abuse of power to appease business owners; police reaction to various protesting and other incidents; news articles in relation to graffiti; need to focus on community needs and concerns, and address those violating rights of protesters; need to drop the charges against those arrested for protesting and release the protesters; and the need to execute the 10 demands requested, get things done properly, and donate to the free food pantry.

ADJOURNMENT:

CM Stock, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adjourn. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

The meeting adjourned at 8:26 p.m.

http://documents.ci.champaign.il.us/v/1tlI0dBCZdbLBGjl49QAwCmSKVEr_wceI