Chambana Sun

City of Urbana City Council Committee of the Whole met Dec. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The City Council Committee of The Whole of the City of Urbana, Illinois, met in regular session at 7:00pm virtually via ZOOM.

ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Diane Wolfe Marlin, Mayor; Phyllis D. Clark, City Clerk

ELECETED OFFICIALS VIRTUALLY PRESENT: CM Maryalice Wu, CM Christopher Evans, CM Shirese Hursey, CM Jaya Kolisetty, CM Chaundra Bishop, CM Grace Wilken, CM James Quisenberry

ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: None

STAFF PRESENT: Darcy Sandefur, Carol Mitten, Bourema Ouedraogo, Elizabeth Hannan, Carla Boyd, Dave Wesner, Bryant Seraphin, Tim Cowan, Vince Gustafson, Stepheny McMahon, Alyana Robinson, Rachel Storm, Demond Dade, Breaden Belcher, Sheila Dodd

OTHERS PRESENT:

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

With a quorum virtually present, Chair Quisenberry called the meeting of the Committee of the Whole to order at 7:00 PM.

2. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting

November 15th minutes. Motion to approve as corrected by CM Wilken and seconded by CM Wu. Corrections by Mayor Marlin.

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

3. Additions to the Agenda

None.

4. Public Input and Presentations

a. Public Input

Jonathan Blake was not able to speak at that time. Sarah Nixon expressed concerns about budget amendment #4. Expressed concerns about local news media unfairly addressing council. Shared thoughts on local gun violence. Alvaro Molina expressed concerns about garbage in local cities parking lots. Asked about possibility of plastic ban. Allan Max Axelrod spoke in solidarity with Alvaro for environmental activism. Asked council to consider providing eviction prevention assistance.Dean Hazen read statement in support of purchasing ALPR and changing policing techniques to address growing gun violence. Jonathan Blake shared thoughts on gun violence. Expressed frustration with council not addressing gun violence. Hrant Kebantsi provided update on eviction prevention organizing efforts.

5. Staff Report

a. AARP Community Gardens Grant

Presented by Rachel Storm from the Community Development Department. Shared a power point presentation. Talked about the AARP community challenge grant and the growing communities’ garden initiative. Shared goals of the project and discussed scope of project. Rachel shared a video on the Urbana Gardens project. Questions and discussion followed.

b. Equity and Quality of Life Infrastructure Program

Presented by Carol Mitten City Administrator. Project is intended to be broken into smaller tasks. Provided background information on project and shared the link to the website and a PowerPoint presentation. Informed public of how to share proposals for this project. Questions and discussion ensued.

6. Ordinance No. 2021-11-048: An Ordinance Revising the FY 2022 Annual Budget (Budget Amendment #4) – HR/Finance

Presented by Alyana Robinson from the Finance Department. Explained the composition of the budget amendment. Discussion and questions ensued. Elizabeth Hannan, Tim Cowan, and Sheila Dodd helped answer questions.

Motion to approve to the regular agenda by CM Wu and second by CM Hursey.

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wu, Evans, Hursey, Kolisetty, Bishop, Wilken, Quisneberry, Mayor Marlin NAY: None

7. Resolution No. 2021-12-047R: A Resolution for Improvement Under the Illinois Highway Code (State Motor Fuel Tax for West Windsor Road Resurfacing Project) – PW

Presented by Tim Cowan Public Works Director. Starting the Windsor Rd resurfacing project. Questions and Discussion ensued.

Motion to approve to send to consent agenda by CM Hursey and second by CM Kolisetty.

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

8. Resolution No. 2021-12-048R: A Resolution for Improvement Under the Illinois Highway Code (State Motor Fuel Tax for Philo Road, Colorado Avenue, and Anderson Street Resurfacing Project) – PW

Presented by Tim Cowan Public Works Director. Starting another resurfacing project with access and ADA improvements. Questions and discussion ensued.

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

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

9. Resolution No. 2021-12-049R: A Resolution Approving a Funding Agreement CU at Home Winter Shelter - CD

Presented by Breaden Belcher of Community Development. Resolution authorizes a onetime expenditure to create emergency low barrier winter shelter with CU at Home. Questions and discussion ensued.

Motion to approve to consent agenda by CM Bishop and second by CM Kolisetty.

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

10. Ordinance No. 2021-12-049: An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter Three, Section 3-43 (Increasing the number of Class P liquor licenses for Zeyad Salem LLC d/b/a Black Fox, 602 N Cunningham Ave, Urbana, IL) – Exec

Presented by Mayor Marlin. Class P is a packaged liquor license. Discussion ensued. Motion to approve to consent by CM Wu and second by CM Hursey

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

11. Ordinance No. 2021-12-050: An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter Three, Section 3-43 (Increasing the number of Class R&T liquor licenses for Sakura Japanese Cuisine Inc d/b/a Sakura Japanese Cuisine, 132 W Main St, Urbana, IL) – Exec

Presented by Mayor Marlin. Class is restaurant and tavern license.

Motion to approve to consent agenda by CM Wu and second by CM Hursey.

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

12. Ordinance No. 2021-12-051: An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter Three, Section 3-43 (Increasing the number of Class GC liquor licenses for WELOCAVORE.COM LLC d/b/a Homegrown, 2600 Stone Creek Blvd, Urbana, IL) – Exec

Presented by Mayor Marlin. Class GC liquor license is for golf course to allow for sale on multiple locations on property.

Motion to approve to consent agenda by CM Kolisetty and second by CM Hursey.

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None.

13. Resolution No. 2021-12-050R: A Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of an Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) Grant for Arts and Culture Program Operating Support – CD

Presented by Rachel Storm from Community Development. Grant is a general operating support grant and was previously awarded.

Motion to approve to consent agenda by CM Hursey and second by CM Kolisetty.

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

14. Ordinance No. 2021-12-052: An Ordinance Levying Taxes for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2021 and Ending June 30, 2022 – HR/Finance

Presented by Elizabeth Hannan Finance and HR director. Previously presented on in previous meeting. Questions and discussion ensued.

Motion to send to regular agenda by CM Wu and second by CM Hursey.

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

15. Ordinance No. 2021-12-053: An Ordinance Directing the Champaign County Clerk to Abate the Tax Levy for the General Corporate Fund for the Tax Year Beginning July 1, 2021 and Ending June 30, 2022 – HR/Finance

Presented by Elizabeth Hannan Finance and HR director. Explained abatement act and the increase of taxes to account of errors. Proposed abatement allows City to return amount back to County Clerk to maintain tax rate. Prevents tax rate from being increased in addition to previously proposed amount. Explained new legislative municipal tax ruling. Questions and discussion ensued.

Motion to send to council to the regular agenda by CM Hursey and second by CM Wu.

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

16. Ordinance No. 2021-12-054: An Ordinance Directing the Champaign County Clerk to Abate a Portion of the 2021 Related General Obligation Bonds, Series 2014 – HR/Finance

Presented by Elizabeth Hannan Finance and HR director. Questions and discussion ensued. Motion to approve and send to regular agenda by CM Wu and second by CM Evans.

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

17. Council Input and Communications

CM Wu thanked city staff for participating in the City Council goal setting sessions. CM Wilken reminded council of scope of work policy input needing to be submitted. Hopes to have an update on co-responder model. Agreed strategic goal setting sessions was helpful. CM Hursey thought strategic planning sessions were useful. Addressed public input. CM Kolisetty thanked staff for strategic goal setting sessions. Expressed desire for clarification on council input and public input. CM Quisenberry thanked staff for strategic goal setting sessions. Felt sessions were productive. Shared concerns about role of chair in meetings. Mayor Marlin hopes to get council goal setting session reconvened before holidays.

18. Adjournment

With no other business before the Committee of the Whole, Chair Quisenberry called this meeting adjourned at 9:58 PM.

http://urbanaillinois.us/sites/default/files/attachments/12-06-2021_COW-Minutes.pdf