Chambana Sun

City of Urbana City Council met April 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Listening Session

The City Council of the City of Urbana, Illinois, met in a listening session beginning at 5:30 p.m.

ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Diane Wolfe Marlin, Mayor; CM Maryalice Wu, CM Christopher Evans, CM Shirese Hursey, CM Chaundra Bishop

STAFF PRESENT: Darcy Sandefur, Bourema Ouedraogo, Carol Mitten, William Kolschowsky, Lemond Peppers, Andrea Ruedi

OTHERS PRESENT: David Michael Moore, Ashlee McLaughlin and J.D. McLanahan of the Champaign County Regional Planning

1. Call to Order

With a quorum present, Lemond Peppers the Community Engagement Coordinator for the City of Urbana called the listening session to order at 5:30 p.m.

2. Introduction

Mr. Peppers shared housekeeping items and introduced the listening session representatives from the City of Urbana and Regional Planning. Mr. David Michael Moore will be illustrating the public input as a graphic visual artist in real time. Peppers then explained the purpose for the listening session and explained how to participate and options for providing public input.

The City is interested in hearing more about: Which one of the following priorities is/are the most important? 1)Sustainable Infrastructure 2) Human Rights and Social Services 3) Public Health and Safety 4) Adequate and Affordable Housing 5) Economic Recovery and Development. What are the outcomes that you would like to see from the use of ARPA funds? Do you have specific ideas for funding projects or programs related to the priority areas?

Each speaker will be allotted five minutes to speak and should state their name and organizational affiliation for the record. Mr. Peppers asked that community members who have other commitments be allowed to speak first.

3. Public Input

*Denotes speaker asked for written submission to also be included in record. See attached.

-Dr. Ivory Tatum (Urbana School District) thanked City for opportunity and residents for providing input. Spoke in support of a program that aligns with strategic area Public Health and Safety known as “Plan for U”. This program address mental health for youth and address community violence. *Full remakes are attached via written submission.

-Dr. Kim Chanute (University of Illinois) spoke on behalf of the Urbana Park District and their efforts to meet the service needs of all residents. Shared support for the Park District Health and Wellness Center.

-Robert Lewis (Former Urbana Alderperson) spoke on the strategic area Sustainable Infrastructure and in support of infrastructure improvements to the Dr. Ellis subdivision to correct historic inequities. Hopes to see further conversations regarding this and funding being used to ease the burden on residents.

-Maurice Hayes (HV Neighborhood Transformations) spoke in support of the Park District Health and Wellness Center and the importance of having a mental health resource for youth in a high hope area. Feels this facility would serve to help HVNT in its mission to address community violence.

-Jean Paily (Urbana Park District) urged council to provide support for the Urbana Health and Wellness Center to promote public health and safety. Shared that this project is ideal for one time use funding and would address many of the strategic areas.

-Ethel Reed spoke on strategic area sustainable infrastructure and specifically the Dr. Ellis subdivision. Shared her experiences as a resident of that subdivision and the hardships regarding infrastructure inequities.

-Karen Medina shared three areas for ARPA investment: invest in community itself, invest in connections within community, and invest in the youth and future resilience. Spoke against utilizing ARPA funds being used to purchase policing technology. Suggested building a skatepark. *Full remarks are attached via written submission.

-Aaron Ammons (County Clerk) spoke in support of Urbana Park District Health and Wellness Center. Spoke to the importance of connecting youth to electoral engagement and vote by mail. Advised against utilizing ARPA funds for policing technologies.

-Kelsey Beccue (Urbana Park District) spoke in support of the Urbana Park District Health and Wellness Center and shared an organizational based history of this project. Identified how this project meets four of the five strategic areas and how this project would be a worthwhile one time investment of funds.

-Ashley Whitters (Community Choices) spoke about how barriers like transportation for the disabled community accessing community resources in Champaign could be alleviated by having a facility in Urbana like the Urbana Park District Health and Wellness Center. Spoke about other benefits that moving forward with this project would provide.

-Bill Gray (Urbana Park Foundation Trustee) spoke in support of the Urbana Park District Health and Wellness Center. Shared the importance of intergovernmental partnerships and cooperation and provided examples of other projects that were the result of joint efforts.

-Amani Ayad (Urbana Park District) spoke in support of the Urbana Park District Health and Wellness Center. Spoke about how this project addresses many of the outlined strategic areas and how this facility would draw in additional community revenue. Shared

-Allan Max Axelrod (CU-DSA) acknowledged that there are going to be worthwhile ideas that can’t be funded at this time. Shared idea from County which was to fund a full time grant manager specifically to apply for grants that the municipality would not otherwise be able to apply for. Asked about expanding additional IStops for increased accessibility. Spoke in solidarity with the Dr. Ellis subdivision infrastructure inequities. Spoke in support of increasing funding for SWFT program.

-Heather Rose (youth representative) shared difficulties educators have had with students/youth because of trauma and unhealed wounds. Spoke in support of H3 model. Encouraged taking a more holistic approach to addressing community violence and increasing availability of mental health services. Hopes we can leave an impact on youth.

-Giovanna Dibenedetto (Silver Hearts Community) Spoke in support of Urbana Park District Health and Wellness Center. Shared conversations with her daughter and the importance of having a place for kids to go to be safe. Discussed issues of food deserts and the importance of having more resources in underserved areas.

-Eddie Pratt Jr. (CU-DSA) spoke in solidarity with Dr. Ellis subdivision and asked for the City to correct the infrastructure inequities. Shared that the ARPA funds are a great opportunity to right a wrong and correct the historic infrastructure gaps. Encouraged City to consider supporting expansion of the SWFT program.

-Fiona Munro (CU-DSA) spoke on strategic area sustainable infrastructure and in support of infrastructure improvements to the Dr. Ellis subdivision to meet basic needs. Shared support for expanding the SWFT program.

-Elderess Melinda Carr (Dr. Ellis Subdivision Committee) spoke in support of Dr. Ellis subdivision infrastructure improvements. Explained the sense of community that was previously present within Urbana and hopes to see that restored.

-Carly McKay (Champaign County Economic Development Corp.) spoke on strategic area for Economic Development and Recovery. Shared what the Champaign County Economic Development Corp. is doing to work with local businesses to help them grow like micro-lending. Hopes to gain support to help continue to provide financial support to small businesses with partnership of Justine Peters.

-Julie Watkins spoke in support of improving infrastructure in Dr. Ellis subdivision to right the wrong. Encouraged City to support expansion of SWFT program to invest in community future. Shared that skateparks seem to be a good resource for youth.

Facilitator Lemond Peppers asked if anyone else wished to address the body.

-Ashley Moore (UPDAC) spoke in support of Urbana Park District Health and Wellness Center. Shared Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and the importance of community gardens in proximity to other community resources like the proposed Park District Health and Wellness Center. Expressed support for Dr. Ellis subdivision infrastructure improvements and investing in programs to help youth.

4. Adjournment

Lemond Peppers made closing remarks and the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 PM.

https://www.urbanaillinois.us/sites/default/files/attachments/4-5-22%20%20ARPA%20listening%20session%20minutes%20draft.pdf