Chambana Sun

City of Champaign City Council met Sept. 1.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/7(e), 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 September 1, 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 7:08 p.m. following the monthly Township meeting.

ROLL-CALL: Present: Alicia Beck, Angie Brix, Tom Bruno Clarissa Fourman, Matthew Gladney, William Kyles, Vanna Pianfetti, Greg Stock

Absent: Mayor Feinen

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

CM Stock, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to approve the following minutes: July 14, 2020 Regular Study Session

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

CORRESPONDENCE: None

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

City of Champaign Stormwater Quality Program – After a brief explanation of the public hearing by Deputy Mayor Bruno, the public hearing was opened at 7:11 p.m. and the public was invited to speak. No one spoke. Deputy Mayor Bruno noted written comments would be accepted up to 10 days and could be presented to Assistant City Engineer, Alex Nagy. The hearing was closed at 7:12 p.m.

ACTION ON COUNCIL BILLS

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

City Attorney Stavins commented regarding two Council Bills: one not on the agenda involving a software contract from the August 4 meeting, and utilizing Council rules to continue consideration of the item to the September 15 agenda. The second item, CB 2020-094 on the agenda regarding insurance brokage services, has a contract bifurcation payment issue that will be clarified. No action by Council is necessary. Deputy Mayor Bruno questioned the existing USI compensation language in the contract, in relation to receiving a commission.

Defeated 

CB-2020-094, “A Resolution Approving An Agreement With USI Insurance Services LLC For Employee Benefits Insurance Brokerage And Consulting Services (Human Resources – USI Insurance Services, LLC)” Credit)”

CM Stock, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Resolution. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Deputy Mayor Bruno, Council Member technical questions included flat fees; reference checking for comparison fees and rates; difference in experience, references, and expertise; local purchasing preference; whether each matrix criteria was weighted equally; legality of not completing reference checking as a matrix component; discretion in reviewing proposals; and company size, ability to respond, and scoring as a possible detriment to a smaller company. CM Pianfetti called on members of the public with their hands raised to speak. The following members of the public spoke regarding insurance services: Brian Dunn, Champaign; and SolarBluSeth, Timothy Rhodes, Champaign. Council Members comments included matrix and process concerns; the local preference ordinance; ability of smaller companies to fairly compete; use of discretion in comparing vendors; reference checking; commission issues and rate of compensation; and confirmation bias. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted no. The resolution was defeated.

Referred to Study Session

CB-2020-095, “An Ordinance Amending The Zoning Map Of The City of Champaign To Rezone The Property At 501 North Fifth Street; 504 North Fourth Street And 406 East Washington Street From The SF1, Single Family Zoning District To The CI, Commercial-Industrial Zoning District”

CM Stock, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Ordinance. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Deputy Mayor Bruno, Council Members technical questions included the following topics:

• contact with Habitat or others regarding the property

• permitted uses for the area

• staff opposition with use change

• whether the contractor was straight forward regarding intended use for the property

• possible lot uses in the future with single-family structures along railroad tracks 

• application denial and future application for a different zoning change 

• competition for someone wanting to build single-family and wanting to meet existing single-family zoning

• how lots became available

• alley maintenance by the City

• length of agreement and reverter clause

• zoning application denial and timeline for reapplying for properties and a proposed use

• why commercial industrial versus commercial use was selected

• whether the developer needs to fall within the guidelines of the proposal, and going back and changing the property use

• zoning classification for railroad tracks

• abandonment of tracks, ability of the railroad to sell property on the marketplace, and if selling would create unzoned land

• with LaSalle criteria, who would have the right to sue the City regarding zoning and if it would be similar to the LaSalle lawsuit, or any aggrieved party 

• last private party to build a single-family home within one-half mile of this area

CM Pianfetti called on members of the public with their hands raised to speak. The following members of the public spoke regarding commercial zoning of these properties, the RFP process, neighbor concerns, allowing commercial with families surrounding the area, consider multi-family housing or housing for seniors, consider zoning that will allow for jobs in the area, the reverter clause, wanting to bring value to the area and the community, and the lot sizes not allowing for single-family development: Andrea Newman, Champaign

Elonda Towns, Champaign

Brian Carter, Champaign

SolarBluSeth, Timothy Rhodes, Champaign

Phil Fiscella, Champaign.

CM Fourman expressed concern with the length of time the properties have been vacant; noted some development in the area would be beneficial and would bring value to the area, but concern whether there has been enough public input to understand the possible impact on the neighborhood. CM Fourman, seconded by CM Kyles, moved to refer this item for discussion at a future Study Session. Deputy Mayor Bruno called for discussion regarding the motion to refer to Study Session. CM Stock questioned if staff could be questioned regarding the zoning process. Attorney Stavins noted the motion to refer is debatable with respect to the motion, but the motion to postpone is not. Council Members expressed concern with how the motion might affect the timeline in the purchaser agreement; whether the outcome to obtain more community input is best served through a Study Session or other ways to achieve community input; if returned for discussion, staff should examine ways to complete the project without a total rezoning; consider referring back to staff to collect more neighborhood input and table the item, instead of having a Study Session; earliest a Study Session could be scheduled; consider potential zoning options, versus commercial-industrial, as well as obtain additional neighborhood feedback; and the need for clarity regarding the project, zoning, developing the area, and obtaining more input. A roll-call vote was taken on the motion to refer the item to Study Session for discussion; all voted yes.

Passed 

CB-2020-096, “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 Ordinance. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Deputy Mayor Bruno, Council Members technical questions included addressing these orders in a Study Session; and whether emergency orders, as well as emergency declarations, would be addressed in Study Session. A roll call vote was taken; all voted yes.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:

Brian Dunn, Champaign, recognized the work of the Champaign County Anti-Racist Coalition; and the need for public policies and procedures to address racism (policing, housing, healthcare, or other systems).

Allan Axelrod, Urbana, updated Council regarding pandemic safety risks allowed by the State including utility shutoffs; requested people, and the Council by resolution, contact the governor and the Illinois Commerce Commission to stop these shutoffs; and the impact of shutoffs on the community, education of children, and safety of the community.

Justin Hendrix, Champaign, spoke against the Blues Lives campaign, and support of Black Lives, other minorities, and protesting efforts.

AJ (Adam Pirtle), Champaign, noted his experience in protesting and activism; noted chalking is not vandalism; silencing protestors; police brutality; and threats against protest groups.

Drake Materre, U of I student, spoke against the U of I and the Champaign Police Department in relation to protests for Black Lives, and noted chalking as a form of artistic self-expression; need to seek input from community leaders regarding the end goal of marches; and the need to address the 10 demands of CCARC, and to listen to the people.

Rita Conerly, Champaign, questioned what matters to Council, racial equality or police injustice based on the Mayor attending the Back the Blue rally; the need to declare Black and Brown Lives Matter; duty of elected officials, and challenged Council to implement CCARC’s 10 demands; need to support black women; need to do something different as a community including the need for racial and social equality; and the need for educational system reform.

Meghan McDonald, Urbana, asked Council to reflect on what they could do to better reflect the needs and demands of the community; questioned why the Mayor attended Back the Blue rally and not other protests, and for expressing support of Julia Reitz, District Attorney; and the need to prioritize mental health alternatives, reallocate funds for remote learning, and the need for engagement and acknowledgment from Council.

COUNCIL AMD MANAGER COMMENTS:

CM Fourman noted all Council Members are aware of community issues and participate in events when possible; and expressed support of police officers and organizations that support police officers, but non-support of groups that will use hoses against protestors. She expressed the importance of peoples voices being heard; noted the incident at the

Police Department was vandalism; read the CCARC 10 demands; and noted other groups are also doing things in the community, but it is not possible to attend all community events, and that the optics of attending events has to be considered. She noted Council is learning and trying to understand issues and concerns.

CM Beck requested the community make her aware of upcoming community events; noted attending the Welcome Back rally last Friday which was peaceful, well organized, and included bike paths on either side; attending events whenever possible; preference to attend events that are relevant to making change in the community; and hope for continued dialogue with people in the community.

VOUCHERS:

CM Brix, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt Vendor Payments dated August 8, 2020 through August 21, 2020 in the amount of $1,868,562.24. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

PAYROLL:

CM Brix, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to approve the payroll dated August 21, 2020 in the amount of $1,930,080.75. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

INVESTMENTS: None

ADJOURNMENT:

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

The meeting adjourned at 9:23 p.m.

http://documents.ci.champaign.il.us/v/10oz8DJxM6ODhivVA_0MM_2tqXwcL5X1H