Chambana Sun

City of Urbana City Council met Aug. 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The City Council of the City of Urbana, Illinois, met in regular session at 7:00 p.m. following a Cunningham Township Board meeting.

ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Diane Wolfe Marlin, Mayor; City Council Members (CM) Maryalice Wu, Chris Evans, Grace Wilken, Chaundra Bishop, Shirese Hursey, James Quisenberry

ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: Phyllis D. Clark, City Clerk; CM Jaya Kolisetty

STAFF PRESENT: Jason Liggett, Carol Mitten, Darcy Sandefur, Lorrie Pearson

OTHERS PRESENT:

A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

With a quorum present, Mayor Marlin called the meeting of the city council to order at 7:06 PM

B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

C. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

None

D. PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC INPUT

Public Input

Julie Watkins spoke in support of hybrid meeting model and remote public input being an option. Tracy Chong spoke in support of hybrid meeting model and remote public input. Expressed concerns about previous meetings being cancelled and rescheduled. Ben Theobold spoke in support of the SWFT program. Rene Bullock expressed concerns about city budget priorities. Allan Max Axelrod spoke in support of remote public comment, SWFT program, and utility shut off moratorium.

E. COUNCIL INPUT AND COMMUNICATIONS.

CM Wilken spoke in support of increased public participating and pursuing a hybrid meeting model. Hopes to see increased clarity for accessibility of meetings at home via live stream. Hopes to have future conversations about housing and utility assistance and seeing what options can be available. Provided a follow up on the stop signs at Myra Ridge ordinance. Mayor Marlin provided an update on the planning agreement and tentative start to logistics for the ARP grant funding with RPC. There will be significant public engagement throughout the process. Sgt. Betsy Alfonso will be holding a neighborhood watch meeting for those already involved who hope to open their own groups. Spoke toearlier public comment on public infrastructure. Agreed that the local gun violence is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. CM Hursey appreciates public input and hopes to also see community and public help in responding to the increase in crime. Wants to work together to address public safety. Offered condolences to Lorraine Cowart for the loss of her daughter to gun violence.

F. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

*Motion for 5 minute recess by CM Wilken and seconded by CM Quisenberry. 

Voice vote: All aye.

G. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

Committee Of The Whole (Council Member Chaundra Bishop)

1. CONSENT AGENDA

c. Ordinance No. 2021-07-029: An Ordinance Approving an Amendment to a Redevelopment Agreement with D & E Enterprises, LLC 136 Main Street Series (Cohen Building – 136 West Main Street) – Exec/CD

d. Resolution No. 2021-07-031R: A Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of an Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) Grant for a Youth Employment Project (Arts & Culture Program) – CD

e. Ordinance No. 2021-07-031: An Ordinance Amending Schedule H of Section 23-93 of the Urbana Local Traffic Code Requiring Stop Signs at a Certain Intersection (Lexington Drive at Myra Ridge Drive; Vernon Drive at Myra Ridge Drive; Horizon Lane at Myra Ridge Drive; Memory Lane at Myra Ridge Drive; Hillshire Drive at Myra Ridge Drive) – PW

f. Ordinance No. 2021-07-032: An Ordinance Vacating a Walkway in Country Squire Estates – PW

*Motion to move Ordinances 2021-07-027 and 2021-007-028 from regular agenda to consent agenda by CM Wilken and the Mayor.

Motion to approve the consent agenda as amended by CM Wilken seconded by CM Hursey. 

Voice Vote as follows:

AYE: Quisenberry, Wilken, Bishop, Hursey, Wu, Evans

NAY: None

2. REGULAR AGENDA

a. Ordinance No. 2021-07-027: An Ordinance Approving a Preliminary Development Plan for a Planned Unit Development (101 West Windsor Road / Plan Case No. 2422-PUD 21) – CD

Motion by CM Wilken to approve, seconded by CM Quisenberry.

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wu, Evans, Hursey, Bishop, Wilken, Quisenberry

NAY: None

b. Ordinance No. 2021-07-028: An Ordinance Approving a Final Development Plan for a Planned Unit Development (101 West Windsor Road / Plan Case No. 2423-PUD-21) – CD

Motion by CM Wilken to approve, seconded by CM Bishop.

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wilken, Bishop, Hursey, Wu, Quisenberry, Evans

NAY: None

a. Ordinance No. 2021-07-030: An Ordinance Revising the Annual Budget Ordinance (Budget Amendment #1 – Omnibus) – Finance

Motion by CM Wilken to approve and seconded by CM Wu.

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wu, Evans, Hursey, Bishop, Wilken, Quisenberry

NAY: None.

b. Resolution No. 2021-07-030R: A Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of AARP Community Challenge Grant (Growing Community Program) – CD

Motion to approve by CM Wu and seconded by CM Bishop.

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wu, Wilken, Hursey, Bishop, Evans, Quisenberry

NAY:

c. Ordinance No. 2021-07-033: An Ordinance Approving a First Amendment to Right of Way License Agreement Between New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC d/b/a AT&T Mobility and the City of Urbana, Illinois – PW

Motion to approve by CM Bishop, seconded by CM Hursey.

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Quisenberry, Evans, Wu, Bishop, Hursey, Wilken

NAY: None

H. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES

None

I. REPORTS OF OFFICERS

None

J. NEW BUSINESS

a. Ordinance No. 2021-08-034: An Ordinance Approving a Major Variance (Porch at 907 East Washington Street / ZBA Case No. 2021-MAJ-06) – CD

Presented by Kat Trotter from community development.

Motion to approve by CM Bishop and seconded by CM Wu.

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wu, Evans, Hursey, Bishop, Wilken, Quisenberry

NAY: None

b. Ordinance No. 2021-08-035: An Ordinance Approving a Major Variance (Porch Awning and Staircase at 604 South Cedar Street / ZBA Case No. 2021-MAJ-05) – CD

Presented by Lena the planning intern from Community Development with support from Kevin Garcia.

Motion by CM Bishop and seconded by CM Hursey.

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Hursey, Wu, Evans, Wilken, Bishop

NAY: Quisenberry

c. Resolution No. 2021-08-032R: A Resolution of Protest Against a Proposed Text Amendment to the Champaign County Zoning Ordinance (Agronomic Research and Training Facility Special Use / CCZBA-008-AT-21) – CD

Presented by Kevin Garcia from Community Development with support from John Hall from the County Plan Commission.

Motion to approve a filing of protest by CM Quisenberry and seconded by CM Wu. 

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wu, Evans, Hursey, Bishop, Wilken

NAY: Quisenberry

d. Board and Comission Reappointments

1. Police Pension Fund Board of Trustees (term ending June 30, 2023) – Elizabeth Hannan

2. Human Relations Comission (term ending June 30, 2024) – Carol Bradford

Motion to approve reappointments by CM Hursey seconded by CM Wu.

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wu, Evans, Hursey, Bishop, Wilken, Quisenberry

NAY: None

e. Board and Comission Appointments

1. Arts and Culture Comission (term ending June 30, 2024) – Lori Fuller 

2. Plan Commission (term ending June 30, 2024) – Karen Simms

Motion to approve appointments by CM Hursey seconded by CM Bishop. 

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wu, Evans, Hursey, Bishop, Wilken, Quisenberry

NAY: None

f. Appointments to Boards with Council Representation

1. Market at the Square Advisory Board – Jaya Kolisetty

2. Regional Planning Commission – Maryalice Wu

3. Traffic Commission – Chaundra Bishop

Motion to approve council representation appointments by CM Hursey seconded by CM Bishop. 

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wu, Evans, Hursey, Bishop, Wilken, Quisenberry

NAY: None

With no further business to come before this body, Mayor Marlin declared this virtual meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM.

http://urbanaillinois.us/sites/default/files/attachments/08-09-2021_mins.pdf