City Council Public Hearing

STATE OF ILLINOIS CITY OF URBANA Diane Wolfe Marlin, Mayor Charles A. Smyth, City Clerk PUBLIC HEARING Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Annual Budget Monday, June 4, 2018 ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Bill Brown, Dean Hazen, Eric Jakobsson, Jared Miller, Dennis Roberts, Diane Wolfe Marlin, Charles Smyth ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: none ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: Aaron Ammons, Maryalice Wu STAFF PRESENT: Carol Mitten, William Gray; Elizabeth Hannan; Sylvia Morgan; Kelly Mierkowski; James Eggert; John Schneider; James Simon; Tony Arnold OTHERS PRESENT: Members of the Media, Dawn Monire, Karen Medina, Julie Watkins, Beverly Fagan I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL With a quorum present, Mayor Marlin called the public hearing to order at 7:28 p.m. following a Cunningham Town Board meeting. Mayor Marlin opened the hearing and stated the purpose of the hearing, which was to receive public input on the FY 2018 – 2019 annual budget. Being the first City Council meeting following a national holiday, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Mayor Marlin welcomed Carol Mitten, new City Administrator who began work today. II. PUBLIC INPUT Dawn Monire spoke in opposition to the closing of the Urbana Civic Center. She is an Urbana resident and only recently found out about plans to close the civic center at the end of the year. She considers the news shocking and did not know there was anything wrong with the building. She thinks it is a representative Urbana building and very functional. It has served its citizens well including hosting lovely art events such as the Craft League. Representing the group, she stated that this news is upsetting and they would like to see it kept open and restored. She suggested public bonds and seeking a grant from the state for restoration funding as it is an important building to have in downtown Urbana. She also indicated that she had emailed a letter to council. Beverly Fagan did not wish to speak but is opposed to closing the Civic Center.  Julie Watkins did not wish to speak but is opposed to closing the Civic Center. She is concerned that only gated communities will have community centers. Karen Medina, Champaign, uses the Urbana Free Library and is concerned about budget cuts resulting in fewer hours for the library. As someone who uses the space to tutor and as a place for people to find resources, it will save money in the long run by not cutting hours. UFL is one of the best. Mayor Marlin responded by stating that the cuts to the library’s funding will not cut staff or hours. III. ADJOURNMENT There being no further comments or questions, Mayor Marlin declared the meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m. Charles A. Smyth City Clerk Meeting materials and video can be found at: https://www.urbanaillinois.us/node/7267 Minutes Approved: June 18, 2018