City of Urbana City Council met Oct. 10

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Jan 10, 2023

City of Urbana City Council met Oct. 10.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The City Council of the City of Urbana, Illinois, met in regular session Monday, October 10, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.

ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Diane Wolfe Marlin, Mayor; Phyllis Clark, City Clerk; 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: Bourema Ouedraogo, Dave Wesner, Carol Mitten, Sheila Dodd, Stephanie McMahon, Darius White, Kat Trotter, Breaden Belcher,

OTHERS PRESENT: Julio Crispin, Owner of Crispin Auto Sales and Exports; 1. Call to Order and Roll Call

With a quorum present, Mayor Marlin called this meeting of the Urbana City Council to order at 7:29 p.m.

2. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting

a. 09-12-2022 Minutes

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

Voice vote:

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

NAY: None

3. Additions to the Agenda

CM Wilken asked that Resolution No. 2022-10-081R be moved to regular agenda. 4. Presentations and Public Input

Julie Watkins thanked Council for placing the Lierman Resolution back on the Regular agenda. Hopes to have further discussions about this item. Justine expressed concerns about issues with roaches in their rental unit. Wants to bring to Council attention to the fact that there are constituents living with roaches. Hopes that the City will hold property owners accountable. Gina Palousa asked City for clarity on Lierman Redevelopment Resolution being for mixed income or low income housing development. Stressed importance of gathering neighborhood input on this item.

Pastor Angel Johnson shared the alternative idea of building a grocery store on Lierman instead of additional housing. Expressed concerns about low-income housing in that targeted area. Allan Max Axelrod expressed concerns about the timing of the Lierman Resolution and urged Council to table the item to allow for further community involvement. Becky Hess asked if there was another option for a location for the Lierman Redevelopment project. Asked about constructing resources for children over the age of 6.

6. Council Input and Communications

CM Wilken thanked public for their input this evening. Apologized for coming across harsh to staff in a previous meeting and extended gratitude to staff for work. Clarified her remarks in the previous week and shared her intention to continue to represent her constituents and ensure that business is clearly understood prior to voting. CM Kolisetty acknowledged that today is Indigenous People’s Day and that October is domestic violence awareness month. Shared information about local resources. Stated the importance of ensuring the information is clear prior to Council votes. Mayor Marlin agreed that roaches are a public health hazard and shared that residents may complete a complaint form that triggers a building safety inspection, and encouraged the speaker from earlier to do so. Acknowledged the Fire Safety and Family event and thanked organizers for their efforts. Announced that the Governor’s Office has reached out to the City about programs available to support municipalities who may receive an influx in immigration.

7. Unfinished Business

None.

8. Reports of Standing Committees

None.

9. Committee of the Whole (Council Member Chaundra Bishop, Ward 5)

A. Consent Agenda

1. Resolution No. 2022-10-075R: A Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) - Fire

2. Resolution No. 2022-10-077R: A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Community Partnership Agreement with Visit Champaign County for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 - CD

3. Resolution No. 2022-10-080R: A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Housing Authority of Champaign County for the Provision of Environmental Review Services - CD

4. Resolution No. 2022-10-081R: A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement With the Housing Authority of Champaign County Regarding Redevelopment of Lierman and Washington Ave Site – CD*

Presented by CM Bishop.

Motion to approve consent agenda (minus Resolution No. 2022-10-081R*) by CM Bishop and seconded by CM Hursey.

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

B. Regular Agenda

1. Resolution No. 2022-10-081R: A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement With the Housing Authority of Champaign County Regarding Redevelopment of Lierman and Washington Ave Site – CD

Presented by CM Bishop. Item authorizes an intergovernmental agreement with the Housing Authority of Champaign County to redevelop the City property on Lierman Avenue. There will be future meetings with the community to help draft the development planning. Community Development Director Sheila Dodd helped answer questions. Questions and discussion ensued. Motion to approve by CM Bishop and seconded by CM Kolisetty.

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

2. Ordinance No. 2022-10-040: An Ordinance Revising the Annual Budget Ordinance (Budget Amendment #3 - Omnibus) - HRF

Presented by CM Bishop. Item amends the annual budget to rebudget a number of purchases and projects that were not completed in FY 2022 and will be completed in FY 2023. Motion to approve by CM Bishop and seconded by CM Quisenberry.

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

3. Resolution No. 2022-10-078R: A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Economic Development Agreement with Champaign County Black Chamber of Commerce for Fiscal Year 2022-23 – CD

Presented by CM Bishop. Item authorizes the signing of an agreement with the Champaign County Black Chamber of Commerce to support Black Owned businesses. Darius White and Stephanie McMahon from the Economic Development Division provided an update on previous Council questions. Discussion ensued.

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

Vote by roll call

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

NAY: None

4. Resolution No. 2022-10-076R: A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Economic Development Agreement with Champaign County Economic Development Corporation for Fiscal Year 2022-23 – CD

Presented by CM Bishop. Item renews contract with the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation for economic development services. Darius White and Stephanie McMahon from the City Economic Development Division answered Council questions. White provided a corrected copy of the Resolution with the corrected dollar amount.

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

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: Hursey

5. Resolution No. 2022-10-079R: A Resolution Amending the City of Urbana and Urbana HOME Consortium Consolidated Plan for Fiscal Year 2020-2024 and Annual Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2022/2023 - CD

Presented by CM Bishop. Item amends the HOME consortium plan and annual action plan to include additional grant allocation categories. Breaden Belcher the Grants Coordinator and Sheila Dodd the Community Development Director responded to Council questions. Questions and discussion ensued.

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

*Motion amended to return item to Committee by CM Bishop and seconded by CM Quisenberry Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

10. Reports of Special Committees

None.

11. Reports of Officers

Mayor Marlin reminded Council to complete their Fire Station Survey prior to the upcoming presentation.

12. New Business

a. Ordinance No. 2022-10-041: An Ordinance Approving a Major Variance (Crispin Auto Sales and Exports Freestanding Sign at 1010 Cunningham Avenue / ZBA-2022-MAJ-06) – CD

Presented by Kat Trotter of the Planning Division. Item would allow a freestanding sign at 1010 Cunningham Avenue for Crispin Auto Sales. The Zoning Board of Appeals recommends approval of the application and City staff concurs. Trotter shared a location map and explained the history of the property and why the applicants are requesting this variance. Trotter reviewed the zoning of this property and adjacent properties. Applicant Julio Crispin, owner of Crispin Auto Sales and Exports, made a statement to Council explaining why they have applied for this major variance. Questions and discussion ensued.

Motion to approve by CM Wu and seconded by CM Kolisetty. Discussion ensued. Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

13. Closed Session: Personnel Issues, Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (1)

Motion to enter closed session by CM Wu and seconded by CM Hursey.

Vote by roll call:

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

NAY: None

Time entered closed session 9:28

Motion to return to open session by CM Hursey and seconded by CM Wu.

Vote by roll call:

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