City Council Regular Meeting

STATE OF ILLINOIS CITY OF URBANA Laurel Lunt Prussing, Mayor Phyllis D. Clark, City Clerk URBANA CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, December 15, 2014 The City Council of the City of Urbana, Illinois, met in regular session Monday, December 15, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Urbana City Building. ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT Carol Ammons, Alderwoman Ward 3 Bill Brown, Alderman Ward 4 Dennis Roberts, Alderman Ward 5 Michael P. Madigan, Alderman Ward 6 Diane W. Marlin, Alderwoman Ward 7 Laurel Lunt Prussing, Mayor Phyllis D. Clark, City Clerk ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE There were none ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT Charles Smyth, Alderman Ward 1 Eric Jakobsson, Alderman Ward 2 STAFF PRESENT Celeste Choate; Patrick Connolly; William Gray; Elizabeth Hannan; Sanford Hess; Mike Monson; Brian Nightlinger; James Simon; Elizabeth Tyler OTHERS PRESENT Maryam Ar-Raheem; Levi Dinkla; Brian Dolnar; Chris Evans; Beldon Fields representing CU Citizens For Peace and Justice; Kattie Fredale; Artice James representing the NAACP; Durl Kruse; Karen Medina representing AWARE; Stuart Levy; Paul Meuth; Ken Salo representing the North End Breakfast Club; Dorothy Vuro-Weis representing Urbana-Champaign Friends Meeting; Howard Wakeland; Laura Weiskamp representing CUCPJ; Mike Smeltzer; Albert Stabler; David Sutton and, Members of the Media A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Urbana City Council Minutes: December 15, 2014 Page 2 of 6 There being a quorum Mayor Prussing called the meeting of the Urbana City Council to order at 7:19 p.m. B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Alderwoman Ammons made a motion to approve the minutes from the Urbana City Council meeting held on December 1, 2014, and the Special Meeting of the Urbana City Council held on December 8, 2014. Alderman Roberts seconded. Motion carried by voice vote. C. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA There were none. D. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 1. Urbana citizen and business owner Howard Wakeland addressed Council to express his disapproval of the proposed alarm registration fee. Mr. Wakeland discussed that businesses are already asked to pay too much in taxes and fees, and that he did not feel that business owners should be charged any additional taxes or fees for this purpose. 2. Maryam Ar-Raheem opened the discussion on the Urbana Police Department obtaining Tasers. Ms. Ar-Raheem came speaking on behalf of a coalition of “concerned Champaign County residents working to demilitarizing our local police”. Ms. Ar-Raheem discussed how “since Ferguson”, the public has become aware of the trend toward police militarization, and the impact this is having on the African American community. Ms. Ar-Raheem presented information on the Federal Government’s 1033 Program, and expressed the group’s concerns regarding our local law enforcement’s continued participation in the program. Ms. Ar-Raheem further discussed the group’s proposed recommendations to local law enforcement moving forward. Subsequent to Ms. Ar-Raheem’s presentation, the following residents spoke to express their concerns, and/or went on record as being against the Urbana Police Department’s officers being armed with Tasers: Paul Meuth; Durl Kruse; Belden Fields representing CU Citizens For Peace and Justice; Dorothy Vuro-Weis representing Urbana-Champaign Friends Meeting; Ken Salo representing the North End Breakfast Club; Stuart Levy; Ron Koester (not present, but asked to go on record as against Tasers); Karen Medina representing AWARE; Laura Weiskamp representing CUCPJ; Jan Kalmare (not present but asked to go on record as being against militarization of our police force); Jay Brooks (not present, but asked to go on record as against Tasers); Maya Bauer (not present, but asked to go on record asking to demilitarize the Urbana Police Department); Kattie Fredale; Albert Stabler; Chris Evans; David Sutton; Hanna Swoboda (not present); Artice James representing the NAACP; Brian Dolnar; and Benajmin Stone (not present). Urbana City Council Minutes: December 15, 2014 Page 3 of 6 Council Member Input 1. Alderman Brown addressed Mr. Wakeland’s disapproval of the fees, discussed that Council is accepting written comments regarding, and would not be voting on the issue at this meeting. Alderman Madigan spoke in agreement with Mr. Wakeland’s opinion of the alarm registration fee. 2. After all members of the public made their presentations, Alderwoman Ammons discussed her position regarding the demilitarization of local police, the need for Council to stay informed and current on this issue, and the importance of the public continuing to demand transparency on this issue. E. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was none. F. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES 1. Committee of the Whole a. Ordinance No. 2014-12-113: An Ordinance Levying Taxes for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2014 and Ending June 30, 2015 - FIN Alderman Roberts made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2014-12-113. Alderwoman Marlin seconded. Alderman Brown and Alderwoman Marlin then briefly discussed the ordinance and guiding policy. After brief discussion, motion was carried by roll call. Votes were as follows: Ammons – Aye Marlin – Aye Brown – Aye Roberts - Aye Madigan – Aye Mayor Prussing – Aye Disposition: Ordinance No. 2014-12-113 was approved by roll call vote (6 – Ayes; 0 – Nays) b. Ordinance No. 2014-12-114: An Ordinance Directing the Champaign County Clerk to Abate the Tax Levy for the General Corporate Fund for the Year Beginning July 1, 2014 and Ending June 30, 2015 – FIN Alderman Roberts made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2014-12-114. Alderwoman Ammons seconded. Motion carried by roll call. Votes were as follows: Ammons – Aye Marlin – Aye Brown – Aye Roberts - Aye Madigan – Aye Mayor Prussing – Aye Disposition: Ordinance No. 2014-12-114 was approved by roll call vote (6 – Ayes; 0 – Nays) Urbana City Council Minutes: December 15, 2014 Page 4 of 6 c. Ordinance No. 2014-12-115: An Ordinance Directing the Champaign County Clerk to Abate a Portion of the 2014 Tax Levy Related to General Obligation Bonds, Series 2012, and General Obligation Bonds, Series 2014 – FIN Alderman Roberts made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2014-12-115. Alderwoman Ammons seconded. Motion carried by roll call. Votes were as follows: Ammons – Aye Marlin – Aye Brown – Aye Roberts - Aye Madigan – Aye Mayor Prussing – Aye Disposition: Ordinance No. 2014-12-115 was approved by roll call vote (6 – Ayes; 0 – Nays) d. Ordinance No. 2014-12-116: An Ordinance Revising the Annual Budget Ordinance for FY2014/15 (Wage Increases for IAFF Employees) – FIN Alderman Roberts made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2014-12-116. Alderwoman Marlin seconded. Motion carried by roll call. Votes were as follows: Ammons – Aye Marlin – Aye Brown – Aye Roberts - Aye Madigan – Aye Mayor Prussing – Aye Disposition: Ordinance No. 2014-12-116 was approved by roll call vote (6 – Ayes; 0 – Nays) e. Resolution No. 2014-12-066R: A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Local Agency Economic/Tarp Agreement With the Illinois Department of Transportation (Airport Road – Willow Road to Cunningham Avenue) – PW Alderman Roberts made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2014-12-066R. Alderwoman Ammons seconded. Motion carried by roll call. Votes were as follows: Ammons – Aye Marlin – Aye Brown – Aye Roberts - Aye Madigan – Aye Disposition: Resolution No. 2014-12-066R was approved by roll call vote (5 – Ayes; 0 – Nays) f. Resolution No. 2014-12-067R: A Resolution Establishing A Class II Or Class III Designated Truck Route (Airport Road – Willow Road to Cunningham Avenue (US Route 45)) – PW Alderman Roberts made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2014-12-067R. Alderwoman Ammons seconded. Motion carried by roll call. Votes were as follows: Urbana City Council Minutes: December 15, 2014 Page 5 of 6 Ammons – Aye Marlin – Aye Brown – Aye Roberts - Aye Madigan – Aye Disposition: Resolution No. 2014-12-067R was approved by roll call vote (5 – Ayes; 0 – Nays) g. Ordinance No. 2014-12-117: An Ordinance Revising the Annual Budget Ordinance FY 2014-15 (Airport Road – Willow Road to Cunningham Avenue (US Route 45)) –PW Alderman Roberts made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2014-12-117. Alderwoman Ammons seconded. Motion carried by roll call. Votes were as follows: Ammons – Aye Marlin – Aye Brown – Aye Roberts - Aye Madigan – Aye Mayor Prussing – Aye Disposition: Ordinance No. 2014-12-117 was approved by roll call vote (6 – Ayes; 0 – Nays) h. Ordinance No. 2014-12-118: An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter 3, Section 3-43 (Increasing number of Class BB liquor licenses for Hot Spot Restaurant, LLC, 1809 S. Philo Road)- Mayor Alderman Roberts made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2014-12-118. Alderwoman Ammons seconded. Alderman Madigan recused himself at 8:39 p.m. Motion carried by roll call. Votes were as follows: Ammons – Aye Roberts - Aye Brown – Aye Marlin – Aye Disposition: Ordinance No. 2014-12-118 was approved by roll call vote (4 – Ayes; 0 – Nays; 1 - Recused) i. Resolution No. 2014-12-068R: A Resolution Authorizing a Cable Franchise Agreement between the City of Urbana and iTV-3, Incorporated – Legal Alderman Roberts made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2014-12-068R. Alderwoman Ammons seconded. Discussion with Council ensued. City Attorney James Simon and Levi Dinkla addressed Council’s questions. After discussion, motion was carried by roll call. Votes were as follows: Ammons – Aye Marlin – Aye Brown – Aye Roberts - Aye Madigan – Aye Disposition: Resolution No. 2014-12-068R was approved by roll call vote (5 – Ayes; 0 – Nays) Urbana City Council Minutes: December 15, 2014 Page 6 of 6 G. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES There were none. H. REPORTS OF OFFICERS Mayor Prussing thanked Council for supporting the tax levy, and expressed that she thought that Urbana is the only government in Champaign County that has lowered its tax levy, and that she does think it was the right thing to do. I. NEW BUSINESS 1. Mayoral Appointments a. Plan Commission – Christopher Stohr term to expire June 30, 2017 b. Plan Commission – Robert Nagel term to expire June 30, 2015 c. Community Development Commission – Brian Cunningham term to expire June 30, 2016 After Mayor Prussing presented the above appointments, Alderwoman Ammons made a motion to accept all three appointments. Alderman Roberts seconded. Following the motion, Alderman Roberts thanked Bernadine Stake for her service on the Planning Commission, and elaborated on her accomplishments. Alderman Roberts also discussed his support of Christopher Stohr, Ms. Stake’s replacement, and gave information on Mr. Stohr’s background and accomplishments. After Alderman Roberts’ comments, Mayor Prussing called for a voice vote. Motion carried by voice vote. J. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Prussing declared the meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m. ___Vicky A. Osborn___________ Recording Secretary _ Phyllis D. Clark___________ City Clerk This meeting was taped. This meeting was broadcast on cable television. Minutes Approved: January 5, 2015