City Council Regular Meeting

Minutes Approved: February 25, 2013 CITY OF URBANA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – FEBRUARY 11, 2013 – 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS – 400 S. VINE STREET, URBANA, IL The City Council Committee Of The Whole of the City of Urbana, Illinois, met in regular session Monday, February 11, 2013 in the Council Chambers of the Urbana City Building. ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Diane W. Marlin (Chair); Brandon Bowersox-Johnson; Eric Jakobsson; Robert E. Lewis; Dennis Roberts; Charlie Smyth; Heather Stevenson; Laurel Lunt Prussing; Phyllis Clark ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: None ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: James Simon; Mike Monson; Patrick Connolly; William Gray; Elizabeth Tyler; Kelly H. Mierkowsky; William DeJarnette OTHERS PRESENT: Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood; Bishop King James Underwood; Joan P. Clark; Carletta Donaldson; Carol McKusick; Carol Ammons; Members of the Media 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Marlin called the meeting of the Committee Of The Whole to order at 7:07 p.m. 2. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA AND STAFF REPORT There were no additions to the agenda. Mayor Prussing reported to the Committee that she had been reviewing concerns of residents of the Dr. Ellis Subdivision regarding the sewer issues and has learned that it is a citywide problem; primarily due to tree roots clogging sewers. In an effort to find the best way to help people who cannot afford the upfront costs, and for whom a reimbursement under the City’s current policy is not practical, Mayor Prussing presented the following proposed solutions: 1) Immediately, in order to even out the reimbursements for street repair so that one person further from the main sewer pays no more than one closer, the City could raise the current reimbursement from 50% of costs not to exceed $3,000 to 75% of costs not to exceed $4,500. She noted that the City of Champaign currently pays $1,500, or in the case of a brick street, $2,500. 2) Additional study is needed, and in doing so City staff is examining other methods used by cities. Staff would have to do cost studies to see if alternatives are affordable within the City’s current sewer tax. 3) When studies are concluded or if a better plan is determined to be more efficient for Urbana residents, the Mayor will present it for discussion and public input. Mayor Prussing emphasized that she and staff are working on ways to improve public awareness of what financial help is available when reimbursement is not practical. Discussion on the Dr. Ellis Subdivision sewer issue is forthcoming. City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: February 11, 2013 Page 2 of 4 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING January 28, 2013 – CM Lewis made a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting held January 28, 2013. CM Stevenson seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. 4. PUBLIC INPUT The following people did not wish to speak, but submitted public input cards on the topic of the Dr. Ellis Subdivision sewer problem. No position was noted, but their presence was entered into record. Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood; Bishop King James Underwood; and Joan P. Clark Carletta Donaldson addressed the Committee with an announcement about the WILL/TV Community Cinema film screening of “The Power Broker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights” that will be held tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. at the Champaign Public Library. A panel discussion will follow, and will air on WILL TV next Monday at 9:00 p.m. Carol McKusick addressed the Committee regarding municipal electric aggregation and recycling issues. Carol Ammons announced that the Citizens with Convictions in conjunction with C-U Citizens for Peace and Justice organizations will host drug war talk discussions February 28 – March 2, 2013. On February 28th at 8:00 a.m. they will host a criminal justice forum in the Urbana City Council Chambers for criminal justice officials; a luncheon with elected officials on February 28th at the Chamber of Commerce; at 5:30 p.m. on February 28th a community dialogue at Levis Faculty Center; and on February 29th at 5:30 p.m. community discussion at Salem Baptist Church. Committee Member Input CM Bowersox-Johnson informed Committee Members and the viewing audience that UC2B grant sign-up has been extended until the end of March. 5. RESOLUTION NO. 2013-02-003R: A RESOLUTION APPROVING A LOCAL AGENCY AGREEMENT FOR FEDERAL PARTICIPATION WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DAY LABOR FOR SIGNAGE AND BIKE RACKS FOR 2012 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROJECT, SECTION NUMBER 12-00517-01-ST) CM Lewis moved to act on agenda items #5 and #6 in omnibus fashion. CM Bowersox-Johnson seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. Agenda items #5 and #6 were presented and acted on in omnibus fashion. William Gray (Public Works Director/City Engineer) presented the staff report. CM Roberts made a motion to send items #5, “A Resolution Approving a Local Agency Agreement for Federal Participation with the Illinois Department of Transportation (Day Labor for Signage and Bike Racks for City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: February 11, 2013 Page 3 of 4 2012 Safe Routes to School Project, Section Number 12-00517-01-ST)”, and #6, “A Resolution Approving a Local Agency Agreement for Federal Participation with the Illinois Department of Transportation (Pavement Markings for 2012 Safe Routes to School Project, Section Number 12- 00517-00-ST)”, to Council with a recommendation for approval. CM Jakobsson seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. 6. RESOLUTION NO. 2013-02-004R: A RESOLUTION APPROVING A LOCAL AGENCY AGREEMENT FOR FEDERAL PARTICIPATION WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (PAVEMENT MARKINGS FOR 2012 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROJECT, SECTION NUMBER 12-00517-00-ST) [This item presented and acted on in omnibus fashion with #5 and sent to Council with recommendation for approval.] 7. ORDINANCE NO. 2013-02-011: AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AGREEMENT FOR USE OF RIGHT-OF-WAY WITH CHAMPAIGN TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC. D/B/A SPOC, LLC (GREEN STREET BETWEEN GREGORY STREET AND LINCOLN AVENUE; CALIFORNIA AVENUE BETWEEN VINE STREET AND URBANA AVENUE; PHILO ROAD BETWEEN FLORIDA AVENUE AND COLORADO AVENUE; ELM STREET BETWEEN RACE STREET AND CEDAR STREET; CEDAR STREET BETWEEN SPRINGFIELD AVENUE AND ELM STREET; AND WILLOW ROAD BETWEEN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY NORTH OF AIRPORT ROAD AND BEESON DRIVE) Mr. Gray presented the staff report and introduced Glenn Berman (Champaign Telephone Company), who was available to respond to questions. CM Roberts moved to send this item to Council with a recommendation for approval. CM Smyth seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. 8. ORDINANCE NO. 2013-02-012: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING URBANA CITY CODE CHAPTER THREE, SECTION 3-43 (INCREASING NUMBER OF CLASS C LIQUOR LICENSES FOR CASEY’S RETAIL COMPANY, INC., D/B/A CASEY’S GENERAL STORE #3234, 2100 EAST UNIVERSITY AVENUE) CM Smyth and CM Bowersox-Johnson recused themselves from debate and action on agenda items #8, #9 and #10 due to conflicts of interest. There were no objections. Mayor Prussing presented agenda items #8, #9 and #10 together in her report, with a recommendation for approval for all three items. CM Stevenson made a motion to send this item to Council with a recommendation for approval. CM Jakobsson seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. 9. ORDINANCE NO. 2013-02-013: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING URBANA CITY CODE CHAPTER THREE, SECTION 3-43 (INCREASING NUMBER OF CLASS A LIQUOR LICENSES FOR COCHRAN’S OFFICE, INC., D/B/A TIN ROOF TAVERN, 604 NORTH CUNNINGHAM AVENUE) CM Stevenson moved to send this item to Council with a recommendation for approval. CM Roberts seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: February 11, 2013 Page 4 of 4 10. ORDINANCE NO. 2013-02-014: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING URBANA CITY CODE CHAPTER THREE, SECTION 3-43 (INCREASING NUMBER OF CLASS R-2 LIQUOR LICENSES FOR MAS AMIGOS, INC., D/B/A MAS AMIGOS RESTAURANT, 1106 WEST UNIVERSITY AVENUE) CM Roberts made a motion to send this item to Council with a recommendation for approval. CM Stevenson seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. 11. DISCUSSION: SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDING ALLOCATIONS Mayor Prussing presented 4 items for discussion: a. Keep the total funding at current levels and seek assistance from the City of Champaign for agencies that serve both cities; b. Do not ask new agencies to apply for funding next year, but instead ask existing agencies if they need to revise their requests; c. Adopt a method for evaluating performance based on existing best practices; and d. Find a way to implement a summer youth employment program. Discussion ensued with Committee Members suggesting it best to ask existing agencies to identify ways they could revise or update their requests vs. asking them “if” they needed to revise their requests. CM Smyth suggested identifying core programs and committing a certain amount of funding to those programs after evaluating them to make sure they are being effective; then look for consolidation where there are duplicative services offered. It was the consensus of the Committee that Pre-K programs are high priority items. This item will continue for discussion at next week’s City Council meeting. 12. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Committee, Chair Marlin declared the meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m. ______________________________ Deborah J. Roberts Recording Secretary This meeting was taped. This meeting was broadcast on cable television.