City Council Regular Meeting

CITY OF URBANA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – Monday August 26, 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 August 26, 2013 in the Council Chambers of the Urbana City Building. ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Carol Ammons; Bill Brown; Eric Jakobsson; Michael P. Madigan; Diane Marlin; Dennis Roberts; Charles Smyth; Laurel Lunt Prussing; Phyllis D. Clark ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: None ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Tom Carrino; Russell Chism; Patrick Connolly; Mike Monson; John Schneider; James Simon; Scott Tess; Elizabeth Tyler OTHERS PRESENT: Robin Arbiter; Eric Bussell; Brittany Bailey Frost; Durl Kruse; Charles Lozar; Neil Malone; Carol McKusick; Esther Patt; Bishop King James Underwood; Rev. Dr. Evelyn B. Underwood and Members of the Media 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL With a quorum present, Chair Marlin called the meeting of the Committee Of The Whole to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA AND STAFF REPORT Mayor Prussing gave an update on increasing fines for landlords that do not take care of their properties. Proposed ordinance will be available for view before being finalized. Community Development has reduced the response time for repairs on rental properties; Emergencies services are due immediately; Non- emergencies moved from 30 to 15 days. This change was an administrative decision which did not required an ordinance revision. Rental registry will have an increase in fees in order to keep up with the increasing demands of the rental property registration program. This increase will allow Community Development to hire an additional inspector. There was a live chat with the Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius that the Mayor participated in and was pleased to hear about Obama care, and what this means to our local hospitals. Since they will have more paying customers their “Uncompensated Care Account” should go down. With this it should be no reason for them not to pay their property taxes. Tom Carrino, Economic Development Manager reported a successful outreach event to welcome new U of I students and their families. An informational flyer was distributed around town to hotels, motels and other locations. Ms. Marlin made an announcement about the Lierman Neighborhood Action Committee. An event to be held on September 7, 2013 from 1-3pm to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Lierman Garden, lots of activities planned and the public is invited to come. Mr. Roberts attended Harvest on Tuesday last week at the Lierman Neighborhood and witness the production of the Garden, 48 baskets of mix vegetables were distributed to families at no charge. City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: August 26, 2013 Page 2 of 3 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Ms. Ammons made a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting held August 12, 2013. Mr. Smyth seconded. Motion carried by voice vote. 4. PUBLIC INPUT Brittany Bailey Frost representing Blossom Basket Florist addressed the Committee in opposition of Ordinance No. 2013-08-075. Bishop King James Underwood and Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood choose not to speak, but wanted their concerns enter into record in regards to the Dr. Ellis Subdivision sewer problems. Carol McKusick addressed the committee in opposition of Resolutions No. 2013-08-044R and No. 2013-08-045R. Robin Arbiter representing the Lierman Neighborhood Action Committee addressed the committee in opposition of Ordinance No. 2013-08-076. Esther Patt (Tenant Union Director) addressed the committee in favor of Ordinance No. 2013-08-076. Charles Lozar addressed the committee in opposition of Ordinance No. 2013-08-076. Neil Malone (Champaign County Association of Realtors) addressed the committee in opposition of Ordinance No. 2013-08-076. Eric Bussell (Owner and Managing Broker for Property Management People, Inc) addressed the committee with concerns regarding Ordinance No. 2013-08-076. Durl Kruse addressed the committee to express his concerns about Ordinance No. 2013-08-075. 5. Resolution No. 2013-08-044R: A Resolution Authorizing Execution of a Service Agreement with the Lowest Responsible Bidder for the Supply of Electricity for Residential and Small Commercial Retail Customers Who Do Not Opt Out of Such a Program (Municipal Electric Aggregation – 2013) Mike Monson, Chief of Staff and Scott Tess, Environmental Sustainability Manager presented this Resolution for approval. After public input and committee discussion Mr. Roberts made a motion to send Resolution No. 2013-08-044R with recommendation for approval to City Council. Mr. Smyth seconded. Motion carried by voice vote. 6. Resolution No. 2013-08-045R: A Resolution Approving a Professional Energy Consulting Services Agreement with Good Energy, L.P. (Municipal Electric Aggregation – 2013) Mr. Smyth made a motion to send Resolution No. 2013-08-045R to Council with recommendation for approval. Mr. Jakobsson seconded. Motion carried by voice vote. City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: August 26, 2013 Page 3 of 3 7. Discussion: Fines for Property maintenance code violation Chair, Marlin relinquishes herself as chair at 8:35pm to joined discussion in support of Ordinance No. 2013-08-076. Chair regain at 8:39. After public input and committee dialogue. Mr. Smyth made a motion to change the language in the proposed Ordinance No. 2013-08-076 from “may” to “shall”. Mr. Roberts seconded. Motion carried by voice vote. 8. Ordinance No. 2013-08-076: An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter Fourteen, Section 14-7, Regarding the Schedule of Fees (Annual Rental Property Registration – FY 2013-2014) Elizabeth Tyler, Community Developments Director presented this Ordinance for approval. Following discussion, Ms. Ammons made a motion to keep Ordinance No. 2013-08-076 in committee for further evaluation. Mr. Madigan seconded. Motion carried by voice vote. 9. Ordinance No. 2013-08-075: An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter Twenty-Two, Section 22-1 (Home Rule Municipal Retailers’ and Service Occupation Tax – 2013) Mayor Prussing presented this Ordinance for approval. Mr. Smyth made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2013-08-076 to City Council with no recommendation for approval. Mr. Jakobsson second. Motion carried by roll call vote per Madigan. The vote was as follows Ayes- Ammons; Brown; Jakobsson; Marlin; Roberts; Smyth Nays- Madigan Motion carried with a roll call vote of: (6-Ayes; 1-Nays) 10. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Committee, Chair Marlin declared the meeting adjourned at 10:09 p.m. ______________________________ Wendy M. Hundley Recording Secretary *This meeting was taped. **This meeting was broadcast on cable television. Minutes Approved: September 9, 2013