City Council Regular Meeting

Minutes Approved: June 10, 2013 CITY OF URBANA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – MAY 28, 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 Tuesday*, May 28, 2013 in the Council Chambers of the Urbana City Building. [*Regular meeting held Tuesday due to holiday on Monday celebrating Memorial Day.] ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Eric Jakobsson (Chair); Carol Ammons; Bill Brown; Michael P. Madigan; Diane W. Marlin; Dennis Roberts; Charlie Smyth; Laurel Lunt Prussing; Phyllis Clark ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: None ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: James Simon; Mike Monson; Sylvia Morgan; William Gray; William DeJarnette; Gale Jamison; Robert Myers; John Collins OTHERS PRESENT: Carol McKusick; Clifford Singer; Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood; Bishop King James Underwood; Shirley L. Hursey; Rev. Melinda Carr; Durl Kruse; Members of the Media 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Jakobsson called the meeting of the Committee Of The Whole to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA AND STAFF REPORT There were no additions to the agenda. William Gray (Public Works Director/City Engineer) reported that the Cities of Urbana and Champaign, the University of Illinois, and C-U Mass Transit District have been meeting to put together a “Tiger Grant” application, which is a nationwide competition for funds totaling approximately $474 million. The application being submitted is for public transportation and highway improvements. The funds are administered by the Department of Transportation and the application deadline is June 3, 2013. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING May 13, 2013 – CM Smyth made a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting held May 13, 2013. CM Marlin seconded and the motion carried by voice vote. 4. PUBLIC INPUT Carol McKusick addressed the Committee regarding the City’s website and gave a brief demonstration to the viewing audience on how to surf the web page and where to find the Council’s rules, minutes with public comment, and the City Code of Ordinances. She also spoke to the rule establishing a provision allowing people the right to address public officials (i.e., City Council). City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: May 28, 2013 Page 2 of 5 Clifford Singer addressed the Committee regarding the property tax issue with Carle Hospital, the City’s budget and the impact of other taxing districts such as Cunningham Township (moving the Assessor’s office into the Library and the Supervisor’s office into Community Development), the School District (taking the $800,000+ the City is putting into TIF 4 and reprogram that part coming from the School District into vocational training), economic development, and a book titled “Allergy-Free Gardening” which introduces a solution for people suffering from allergies (spring pollen, etc.). 5. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: Chair Jakobsson acknowledged public input regarding Ordinance Nos. 2013-04-038 and 2013-04-039. The following people addressed the Committee in support of Option #3 of the “Sanitary Sewer Lateral Repair Options” presented by staff on April 22, 2013 that would require the City to repair laterals within the public right-of-way: Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood and Bishop King James Underwood, representing Dr. Ellis Subdivision Shirley L. Hursey, representing Ellis Subdivision, addressed the Committee on the topic of sewer concerns. Rev. Melinda Carr, representing The Ministerial Alliance of Champaign- Urbana & Vicinity, did not wish to speak, but completed a public input card requesting the following statement be entered into record: “Continue to support an equitable solution for the residents of the Dr. Ellis Subdivision that will not create further financial burden upon the residents.” a. ORDINANCE NO. 2013-04-038: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING URBANA CITY CODE CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR, SECTION 24-38 (BUILDING SEWERS AND CONNECTIONS) [5/6/13 Council; 5/13/13 Com.] Mr. Gray presented the staff report. Following debate, CM Roberts made a motion to send this item to Council with a recommendation for approval using Option #2 (100% Pavement Reimbursement) presented in the April 22, 2013 staff report. CM Smyth seconded. The motion carried by a voice vote. b. ORDINANCE NO. 2013-04-039: AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 2013-02-016 AND ESTABLISHING A COST REIMBURSEMENT POLICY FOR REPAIR OF ILLEGAL CONNECTIONS OF PRIVATE SANITARY SEWER SERVICE LATERALS TO THE STORM SEWER SYSTEM [5/6/13 Council; 5/13/13 Com.] CM Ammons moved to defer to the next Committee meeting. CM Smyth seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: May 28, 2013 Page 3 of 5 6. MOTION TO APPROVE CENTRAL BUSINESS STREET NAME SIGN REPLACEMENT Mr. Gray introduced John Collins (Operations Manager) who presented the staff report. Staff is recommending Option #3, which is a white background with 6 inch black text. CM Ammons moved to send Option #2 (white background with black lettering) to Council with a recommendation for approval. CM Roberts seconded and the motion carried by voice vote. 7. ORDINANCE NO. 2013-05-046: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SCHEDULE F OF SECTION 23-82 OF THE URBANA LOCAL TRAFFIC CODE DESIGNATING ONE-WAY STREETS AND ALLEYS (WALNUT STREET) Mr. Gray presented the staff report. CM Marlin made a motion to send this item to Council with a recommendation for approval. CM Ammons seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. 8. ORDINANCE NO. 2013-05-047: AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A NONEXCLUSIVE UTILITY LICENSE AGREEMENT (GREEN STREET AT GOODWIN AVENUE) Mr. Gray presented the staff report. CM Smyth made a motion to send this item to Council with a recommendation for approval. CM Roberts seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. 9. ORDINANCE NO. 2013-05-048: AN ORDINANCE REVISING THE ANNUAL BUDGET ORDINANCE, FY 2012-13 (URBANA BICYCLE MASTER PLAN UPDATE) Mr. Gray presented the staff report. CM Smyth moved to send this item to Council with a recommendation for approval. CM Marlin seconded and the motion carried by voice vote. 10. RESOLUTION NO. 2013-05-024R: A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2013 UPDATE OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THE CITY OF URBANA Mr. Gray and Gale Jamison (Assistant City Engineer) presented the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation. CM Ammons made a motion to send this item to Council with a recommendation for approval. CM Smyth seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. 11. BUDGET REVIEW/PRESENTATIONS a. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Mr. Gray gave a presentation of the Public Works Department’s budget plan for FY 2013-14 and described the levels of activities City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: May 28, 2013 Page 4 of 5 and services Public Works provides. He also reviewed unfunded capital facility projects (Fire Station #1 roof, Landscape Recycling Center employee office, material storage bins and shelter, 8 overhead heat exchangers, citywide program and space needs assessment, and Public Works facility master plan). This item did not warrant Council action at this time. 12. ORDINANCE NO. 2013-05-049: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING URBANA CITY CODE CHAPTER THREE, SECTION 3-41 (ADDING A CLASS K LIQUOR LICENSE) CM Madigan recused himself from participation in this item due to a conflict of interest and left his seat at 10:32 p.m. Mayor Prussing presented the staff report. Following debate, Mayor Prussing withdrew the ordinance to allow further research to see if this proposed ordinance would be worthwhile to Urbana. CM Ammons concurred and there were no objections from other Committee Members. Ordinance No. 2013-05-049, “An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter Three, Section 3-41 (Adding a Class K Liquor License)”, is withdrawn and void. CM Madigan returned to his seat at 10:53 p.m. 13. RESOLUTION NO. 2013-05-025R: A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF HOSPITALS PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE Chair Jakobsson acknowledged public input. Durl Kruse addressed the Committee indicating that he did not oppose the City’s efforts to address the issue of the resolution of having hospitals pay their fair share of property taxes. However, he was troubled by the language presented in “Whereas” clauses #9 and #10 and found the tone to be abrasive and intimidating. He suggested amending those clauses to read: “Whereas, the removal of Carle’s property from Urbana’s tax base could lead to significant cuts in programs and services, budget readjustments, and increased higher tax rates.” Mayor Prussing addressed the resolution she presented and noted that it was not a question of an agreement with Carle, but one of what is going to happen to the tax situation in the City; not just city government, but every taxing body that deals with Urbana properties. Mayor Prussing indicated that she assumed these government bodies would not be changing their levies, because to do so would mean they are not going to be able to provide the level of services that people expect in Urbana. She reiterated that the taxing issue with Carle is a huge concern. Chair Jakobsson noted the hour and called for a motion to suspend the rules and extend the meeting time. CM Smyth moved to extend the City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: May 28, 2013 Page 5 of 5 meeting time to 11:05 p.m. CM Marlin seconded and the motion carried by a voice vote. CM Marlin suggested making the following amendments to the ninth and tenth “Whereas” clauses of the resolution: “Whereas, the removal of Carle property from Urbana’s tax base will lead to higher tax rates and shift Carle’s fair share onto all Urbana homeowners and all other businesses in Urbana; and Whereas, higher tax rates will make Urbana less competitive for businesses and residents; and” She further suggested amending the “NOW, THEREFORE, ...” clause to read: “Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois, that we support a legislative solution that would require The Carle Foundation Hospital and affiliates to pay their fair share in local property taxes. Specifically, the City Council supports the passage of HB 3634, as introduced by Representative Naomi Jakobsson.” Debate ensued. Chair Jakobsson asked CM Smyth to take the Chair at 11:02 p.m. and entered debate. He resumed the Chair at 11:04 p.m. Following debate it was moved and seconded to send this item to Council. The motion carried by voice vote. 14. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Committee, Chair Jakobsson declared the meeting adjourned at 11:06 p.m. ______________________________ Deborah J. Roberts Recording Secretary This meeting was taped. This meeting was broadcast on cable television.