Chambana Sun

City of Champaign City Council met April 22

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

There being a quorum present, Mayor Feinen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

ROLL-CALL: Present: Michael Foellmer, Matthew Gladney, William Kyles, Vanna Pianfetti, Kathy Shannon, Davion Williams, Jamar Brown, Mayor Feinen

Absent: Alicia Beck

OTHERS PRESENT: Joan Walls, City Manager

Thomas Yu, City Attorney

Lacey Rains Lowe, Planning Manager

Eric Van Buskirk, Senior Planner

Evan Teplensky, Bloomberg-Harvard Fellow

Caren Kay, Senior Vice President, SB Friedman

SPECIAL RECOGNITION:

City Manager Walls introduced the following new employee: Samantha Odendaal, Payroll Specialist (Finance)

Mayor Feinen, joined by members of the Neighborhood Services Department’s Programs Division, read a proclamation declaring April 21-25, 2025 Community Development Week.

Second Wind Running Club Member, James Doyle, presented Mayor Feinen with a plaque designating the City of Champaign as an RRCA Runner Friendly Community.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

March 25, 2025 Regular Study Session

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to approve the minutes. A voice vote was taken, all voted yes.

CORRESPONDENCE: None

PUBLIC HEARINGS: None

ACTION ON COUNCIL BILLS

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to consolidate CB-2025-057 and CB-2025-058. A voice vote was taken on the motion to consolidate; all voted yes.

Passed CB-2025-057, “A Resolution Authorizing the Acquisition of Property at 201 West University Avenue for City Use and Assumption of Existing Lease with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Planning and Development Department – 201 West University LLC)”

Passed CB-2025-058, “An Ordinance Amending the Annual Budget for Various Funds (Budget Amendment No. 2024/2025-8)”

After a brief explanation of the Council Bills by Mayor Feinen, Council comment included space needs from a staffing perspective and commercial property purchasing opportunities. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: None

COUNCIL AND MANAGER COMMENTS: None

VOUCHERS:

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the vendor payments dated April 5, 2025 through April 11, 2025 in the amount of $1,218,965.48. A voice vote was taken; all voted yes.

PAYROLL:

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to approve the payroll dated April 11, 2025 in the amount of $2,452,849.73. A voice vote was taken; all voted yes.

INVESTMENTS: None

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

Garden Hills Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan Draft - [SS 2025-012]

Staff Presentation: Manager Rains Lowe’s presentation included the following topics:

• History of City Efforts in Garden Hills

• Hedge Pop! Park Engagement

• Garden Hills Strengths and Opportunities

• Key Issues

- Housing & Property

- Economic & Community Development

- Mobility & Transportation

- Recreation & Environment

- Public Safety

• Vision and Priority Actions

- Vision Statement

- Priority Actions

• Next Steps

(Note: Information on how to obtain Staff’s written report on this subject is provided below.)

Action Recommended: Direct staff to proceed with preparing the Garden Hills

Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan. Staff is seeking direction from Council to complete outreach for the Plan and prepare the document for adoption.

Council Members’ Technical Questions: Council Members’ technical questions included accessory dwelling unit possibilities; future programing; protections for current residents; pathways for returning multi-generational households; long-term youth engagement strategies; and transportation studies to assess the area’s needs.

Public Input: None

Council General Discussion: Council Members’ comments included appreciation to staff for presentation; appreciation for the engagement being done; transit expansion needs; home ownership and affordability; potential for neighborhood funded commercial development; and ways to prevent gentrification.

Poll: Mayor Feinen polled Alternative 1, directing staff to finalize the Garden Hills SNAP, addressing any Council comments, and to complete a final round of community input prior to Council consideration of adoption. The result of the poll was 8 ayes and 0 nays.

Downtown Plan Update - [SS 2025-013]

Staff Presentation: Planner VanBuskirk, Fellow Teplensky, and Vice President Kay’s presentation included the following topics:

• City Council Goals

• Understand New Economic Realities

• Adapting to New Challenges

• Identifying New Opportunities

• Project Launch in February 2024

• Summer Engagement

- Engagement Themes

• Community Input Survey

- Engagement Strategies

- Ideal Downtown

▪ Safe, Walkable, Vibrant

- Community Input Themes

▪ Identity & Storytelling

▪ Accessibility & Mobility

▪ Activities & Entertainment

▪ Affordability, Local Businesses, & Retail

▪ Urban Design & Placemaking

▪ Community & Family Spaces

▪ Housing, Development, & Parking

▪ Perception of Safety

• Key Insights & Lessons Learned

- Strong Community Engagement

- Current Trends & Influences

- Common Themes Emerged

- Community Priorities

- Tools to Measure Effective Engagement

• Marketing Analysis Update by SB Friedman

- Downtown Today

- Downtown Perception

- Downtown Residential

- Housing Development Activity

- Downtown Visitation Over Time

- Downtown Commercial

- Shaping the Narrative

- Key Strategies & Locations

• Next Steps and Tentative Schedule

- Opportunity Site Analysis

▪ Identified Sites Selected

▪ Direct Stakeholder Outreach

▪ Targeted Market Assessments

- Draft Vision, Goals

▪ Built on Community Engagement

▪ Borrows From Our Comprehensive Plan Policy Framework

- Targeted Community Engagement

▪ Direct Feedback on Draft Ideas

▪ Similar Engagement Strategy

- Preparing Draft Plan Document

▪ Creating the Formal Draft Document & Posting for Public Comment

▪ Study Session on Proposed Draft Prior to Public Hearings

- Public Hearings & Adoption

▪ Published Public Notice

▪ Plan Commission Review & Comment

▪ City Council Adoption

Action Recommended: The Administration recommends Alternative 1, directing staff to begin drafting a Downtown Plan vision, guiding principles and strategies, and preparing targeted opportunity site assessments and to share these draft materials for public comment when completed.

Council Members’ Technical Questions: Council Members’ technical questions included discussion on the definition of uniformity regarding downtown themes; data collection methods and clarification regarding the top visited downtown areas; density impact on retail viability; and clarification regarding the visit origin data.

Public Input: None

Council General Discussion: Council Members’ comments included appreciation to staff for their presentation and hard work; the potential the remodeled plaza will bring to the area; and the importance of providing space for all ages and family types.

Poll: Mayor Feinen polled Alternative 1 directing staff to begin drafting a Downtown Plan vision, guiding principles and strategies, and preparing targeted opportunity site assessments and to share these draft materials for public comment when completed, and incorporating Council input. The result of the poll was 8 ayes and 0 nays.

COUNCIL AND MANAGER COMMENTS:

Mayor Feinen, joined by members of Council, presented a Proclamation for Council Member Brown’s service and contributions to the City of Champaign as a member of the Champaign City Council.

Council Member comment included appreciation for Council Member Brown’s service to the City.

City Manager Walls expressed her appreciation to Council Member Brown for his dedicated service to the City of Champaign, and provided a reminder that Tuesday, April 29, 2025 is a 5th Tuesday and Council will not meet. The next meeting will be on May 6, 2025.

ADJOURNMENT:

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to recess into Closed Session to discuss Collective Bargaining Matters. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17ENRmpzYpkGVZUj29Yoss1NNwAB_v-mH/view