Chambana Sun

City of Champaign City Council met May 6

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Feinen issued the oath of office to newly elected District Council Members at 7:00 p.m.

There being a quorum present, Mayor Feinen called the meeting to order at 7:39 p.m. following the Township meeting.

ROLL-CALL: Present: Shauna Clayborn, Michael Foellmer, Matthew Gladney, William Kyles, Vanna Pianfetti, Robert Pollett, Kathy Shannon, Davion Williams, Mayor Feinen

Absent: None

OTHERS PRESENT: Joan Walls, City Manager

Thomas Yu, City Attorney

Kris Pendl, Financial Services Manager/Budget Officer

Kay Nees, Finance Director

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

April 8, 2025 Regular Study Session

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

CORRESPONDENCE:

Email regarding a call for Council resignation

Email regarding City investments

Email regarding antisemitism

Email regarding National Historic Preservation Month

Email regarding Garden Hills sewer access

Email regarding decision making

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to place the correspondence on file. A voice vote was taken; all voted yes.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

910 West Olympian Annexation Agreement Between the City of Champaign, Kevin Babb, and Babb Farms L.L.C (Located at 910 West Olympian Drive, northwest Corner of Prospect Avenue and Olympian Drive) – Mayor Feinen gave a brief explanation of the purpose of the public hearing, opened the public hearing at 7:46 p.m. and invited the public to speak. No members of the audience spoke. The public hearing was closed at 7:47 p.m.

ACTION ON COUNCIL BILLS

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to consolidate CB-2025-059 and CB-2025-060. A voice vote was taken on the motion to consolidate; all voted yes.

Passed CB-2025-059 “A Resolution Appointing Bart Shelton, Jr. to the Historic Preservation Commission in the City of Champaign”

Passed CB-2025-060 “A Resolution Reappointing Bart Shelton, Jr. to the Historic Preservation Commission in the City of Champaign”

After a brief explanation of the Council Bills by Mayor Feinen, a roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

Passed CB-2025-061 “An Ordinance Amending Articles II and III of Chapter 37 of the Champaign Municipal Code, 1985, as Amended (Zoning – Definitions and Use Regulations – Biomanufacturing)”

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Ordinance. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, Council expressed excitement to support the amendment. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

Passed CB-2025-062 “An Ordinance Approving an Annexation Agreement Between the City of Champaign, Kevin Babb, and Babb Farms L.L.C. (69.64 acres located at 910 West Olympian Drive, northwest corner of Prospect Avenue and Olympian Drive)”

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Ordinance. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, a roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

Passed CB-2025-063 “A Resolution Approving a Written Protest Against a Proposed Text Amendment to the Champaign County Zoning Ordinance (County Case No. 164-AT-25: Text Amendment to the Champaign County Zoning Ordinance Regarding the keeping of animals in Residential Districts within 1,000 Feet of a home rule municipality)”

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Resolution. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, a roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

Passed CB-2025-064 “A Resolution Accepting a Bid for the 2025 Sewer Rehabilitation Project (Public Works Department – SNC Construction, Inc.)”

Amount: $537,896.26

Workforce Diversity Incentive: $13,447.40

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Resolution. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, a roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

Passed CB-2025-065 “A Resolution Accepting a Bid and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Contract for the City Building Elevators Upgrade Project (Public Works Department – Barber & DeAtley, Inc.)”

Amount: $803,100.00

Workforce Diversity Incentive: $20,078.00

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Resolution. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, a roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

Passed CB-2025-066 “A Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of One Mid-Size Aerial Lift Truck (Public Works Department – Global Rental Co., Inc., Birmingham, Alabama)”

Amount: $227,271.00

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Resolution. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, a roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

Passed CB-2025-067 “A Resolution Rejecting All Bids for the Purchase of Four Vehicles, Authorizing Staff to Negotiate in the Open Market, and Declaring Four Vehicles to be Surplus (Public Works Department)”

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the Resolution. After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, a roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: The following members of the audience commented regarding various community concerns:

• Dua Aldasouqui, Champaign

• Isabel Scott, Champaign

• Berry Zhang, Champaign

• Craig Walker, Champaign

• Jessica Yasin, Urbana

• Addison Gray, Urbana

• Ken Stetler, Champaign

• Stuart Levy, Champaign

• Lilah Leopold, Urbana

• Daniel Folger

• Don Owen, Champaign

• Al Kagan, Champaign

• Kimberlie Kranich, Champaign

• Jake McGinty, Champaign

• Sana Saboowala, Champaign

• Farrah, Urbana

• Terry Barnes, Urbana

• Ben Joselyn, Urbana

• Maya Novick, Urbana

• Karen Medina, Champaign

• Autumn Soliman, Champaign

• Grace Wilkin, Urbana

• Leslie Krause, Champaign

• Hildegard Luijten, Champaign

COUNCIL AND MANAGER COMMENTS:

Council Member comment included appreciation to Equity & Engagement staff; appreciation to first responders for their actions to protect citizens attending a previous council meeting; acknowledgement of new and returning Council Members; Makerspace at Douglass Branch Library; and recognition to the Sheehan family for the smoke alarm blitz.

VOUCHERS:

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adopt the vendor payments dated April 12, 2025 through April 25, 2025 in the amount of $2,151,430.15. A voice vote was taken; all voted yes.

PAYROLL:

CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to approve the payroll dated April 25, 2025 in the amount of $2,462,710.56. A voice vote was taken; all voted yes.

INVESTMENTS: None

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

Budget Memo 2025/26 Proposed Budget Overview Fiscal Year 2025/26 – [SS 2025-014]

Budget Memo 2025/26 Recommended Budget Requests – [SS 2025-015]

Staff Presentation: Director Nees and Budget Officer Pendl’s presentation included the following topics:

• Budget Process

• Economic Climate

• Revenues & Expenditures – All Funds

- Major Revenues

- Budget Expenditures by Department

• General Fund Overview

- Revenues

- Expenditures

- Projected Recurring Revenue

• Recommended Budget Requests

- Public Safety Needs

- Community Engagement & Support

- Support Service Delivery Needs

• Unfunded Critical Needs

• Budget Schedule

• Public Input Opportunities

• Request for Council Direction

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

Action Recommended: Direct staff to finalize the FY 2025/26 Financial Plan with the recommended budget requests and with Council’s direction, staff will prepare a final FY 2025/26 proposed budget to be considered by Council on June 17, 2025. Questions regarding the FY 2025/26 proposed budget should be directed to the Finance Director, Kay Nees.

Council Members’ Technical Questions: Council Members’ technical questions included impact of federal rate cuts; ability to gauge local consumer confidence; benchmark for City debt; and funding for the Strides shelter.

(Note: Information on how to view video and audio recordings of the full Council Meeting is provided below.)

Public Input: None

Council General Discussion: Council Members’ comment included appreciation to staff for their work.

Poll: None.

Adjournment: CM Pianfetti, seconded by CM Gladney, moved to adjourn. A voice vote was taken; all voted yes.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:13 p.m.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ByxcZDrDFBZxYuGTcabRWEjPsGJnibdq/view