City Council Public Hearing

URBANA CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES DATE: Monday, June 7, 2021 TIME: 7 :00 P.M. PLACE: *to be held virtually via Zoom (400 South Vine Street, Urbana, IL 61801) The City Council of the City of Urbana, Illinois, met in public hearing Monday, June 7, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Urbana City Council Chambers, 400 S. Vine St., Urbana, IL 61801 ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin, Phyllis D. Clark, City Clerk ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA ZOOM: City Council Members (CM) Maryalice Wu, Chris Evans, Shirese Hursey, Grace Wilken, James Quisenberry, Chaundra Bishop, Jaya Kolisetty ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT VIRTUALLY: Jason Liggett, Carol Mitten, Lorrie Pearson, Bryant Seraphin. OTHERS PRESENT VIA ZOOM: Allan Max Axelrod, Bianca N., Eddie Pratt Jr., Thomas Lawless, Julie Watkins, James Corbin, Albert Lamb, Janice Walker, Linda Turnbill, Arthur Peganeny, Brandy, Nico Johnson Fuller, Tracey Chong, Katherine Majusky. I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL There being a quorum virtually present, Mayor Marlin called the special meeting of the Urbana City Council to order at 7:00 pm II. PUBLIC INPUT Allan Max Axelrod wants the city of Urbana to consider providing funding for parkland’s short term workforce training program (SWFT). Bianca N. spoke in support of the city of Urbana funding the SWFT program. Eddie Pratt Jr. expressed the importance of a living wage and echoed support for the city funding SWFT. Thomas Lawless echoed support for the SWFT program. Julie Watkins asked the council to consider redirecting funds from SROs and police trainings to be spent on emergency housing and other community needs. James Corbin talked about how important it is to stop the violence within our community and how important the funding of SWFT and a wraparound care center. Albert Lamb expressed concerns regarding how the Cunningham Township property purchase has negatively impacted him. Janice Walker discussed the severity of gun violence and how the city could benefit from a community center. Linda Turnbill talked about the necessity to invest in the city to prevent further violence. Arthur Pegagneny echoed support for SWFT program and community investment for systemic change. Brandy wanted to thank the councilmembers who signed the rent control letter to legislature and expressed the desire for the city to reallocate funds to address violence within the community. Nico Johnson Fuller echoed additional funding for SWFT and how the community needs can be met by investing in the community. Tracey Chong expressed concerns about increases in the budget for police and trainings and asked for additional accountability. Katherine Majusky spoke in support of the SWFT program and expressed concerns about the increased funds for the police with the new budget. There being no further public input Mayor Marlin adjourned the public hearing for comment on the budget at 7:48 PM. Darcy Sandefur Recording Secretary This meeting was video recorded and is viewable on-demand. Minutes Approved: 06/28/2021 Page 1 of 1