City Council Regular Meeting

CITY OF URBANA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – January 26, 2015 – 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, January 26, 2015 in the Council Chambers of the Urbana City Building. ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Aaron Ammons; Bill Brown; Eric Jakobsson; Michael P. Madigan; Diane Marlin; Charles Smyth; Laurel Lunt Prussing; Phyllis Clark ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: None ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: Dennis Roberts STAFF PRESENT: Brandon Boys; Patrick Connolly; William Gray; Mike Monson; James Simon; Richard Surles OTHERS PRESENT: Patricia Avery; Chris Evans; Durl Kruse; Janice Mouschovias; Paul Mueth; Nadja Robot; Benjamin Stone; Bishop King James and Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood; Julie Watkins 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL There being a quorum, Chair Diane Marlin called the meeting of the Committee of The Whole to order at 7:28 p.m. 2. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA AND STAFF REPORT 1. Review of Council Rules Concerning Public Input; Diane Marlin; Ward 7 Alderwoman Marlin gave a review of the Urbana City Council Rules for Public Input, and made hard copies of the Rules available to the members of the public. 2. Presentation: 2015 Urbana Sweetcorn Festival Annual Agreement Proposal – UBA Cynthia Chandler gave an audio/visual presentation of the highlights 2014 Sweetcorn Festival. Ms. Chandler also gave a profit and loss breakdown, and explained that the Festival operated at a loss in 2014 due to decreased ticket sales resulting from unexpected weather that surrounded Urbana the Saturday afternoon of the Festival. Economic Development Manager and UBA Board Member Brandon Boys then spoke asking Council for direction in preparing the 2015-2016 Agreement, and discussed the possibility of presenting the revised Agreement at the next Urbana City Council meeting. Discussion with Council then ensued. Alderman Jakobsson made a motion to direct staff to revise the Agreement for the coming year. City attorney James Simon communicated that his understanding of what Legal and Community Development were being asked to do is review the Agreement, modify provision A-1, and add language to include a measuring or triggering event that would have to occur prior to the City releasing the additional $5,000.00. Alderman Jakobsson confirmed Mr. Simon’s understanding. City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: January 26, 2015 Page 2 of 4 Alderman Smyth seconded Alderman Jakobsson’s motion, with a friendly amendment to the motion to bring the Agreement to Council if the Agreement is ready for presentation next Monday (February 2, 2015), or to the next Committee meeting if not ready for presentation by next Monday. Motion with Alderman Smyth’s friendly amendment carried by voice vote. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Alderman Jakobsson made a motion to approve the January 12, 2015 minutes. Alderman Smyth seconded. Motion carried by voice vote. 4. PUBLIC INPUT 1. Patricia Avery, president of the Champaign branch of the NAACP spoke on behalf of the NAACP in opposition to the purchase and use of Tasers. Ms. Avery also discussed and spoke in favor of the Urbana Police Department obtaining and using body cameras prior to obtaining Tasers. 2. Chair Diane Marlin acknowledged a card from Bishop King James and Reverend Dr. Evelyn Underwood, and further acknowledged that neither wanted to verbally express their concerns regarding Dr. Ellis Subdivision sewer issues, but asked that these issues be mentioned. 3. The following individuals did not wish to speak, but asked that their position on the Taser issue be entered into the record as follows: Julie Watkins is in opposition of Tasers; Nadja Robot is in opposition of Tasers; Benjamin Stone is in opposition of Tasers; and Paul Mueth is in opposition of Tasers 4. Durl Kruse of the Champaign Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice addressed Council regarding proposed Ordinance No. 2015-01-003. Mr. Kruse discussed his understanding of the proposed Ordinance language, his concerns regarding certain sections of the language, and discussed proposed changes. 5. Urbana citizen Chris Evans addressed Council in opposition of Tasers. Mr. Evans discussed the potential dangers associated with Tasers, and gave Council suggested alternate policies and/or procedures to be implemented in regard to Tasers. 6. Urbana citizen Janice Mouschovias addressed Council in favor of Tasers. Ms. Mouschovias discussed her position regarding the use of Tasers in specific dangerous situations, and suggested proper training of Urbana Police Officers selected to carry a Taser over “excessive regulation” in relation to the use of Tasers. Committee Member Input 1. Mayor Prussing responded to Ms. Avery, and asked that she discuss body cameras with the Champaign County Sheriff to obtain additional information. City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: January 26, 2015 Page 3 of 4 5. Ordinance No. 2015-01-008: An Ordinance Approving a Redevelopment Agreement with Stephens Building LLC (218 W Main St – Norm Baxley) - CD Economic Development Manager Brandon Boys presented an overview of the project and the benefits to the City from the completed project. Discussion with Council ensued following Mr. Boys’ presentation. Mr. Boys and Developer Norman Baxley addressed Councils questions regarding the intended use of the commercial space in the first floor of the building, window rights and air rights. Alderman Smyth moved to send Ordinance No. 2015-01-008 and Ordinance No. 2015-01-009 to Council. Alderman Madigan seconded. Chair Marlin voiced that the ordinances should be moved individually, and asked that Alderman Smyth move to send just the first Ordinance to Council, which was done. Alderman Madigan seconded. Further discussion with Council then ensued. Mr. Boys and Mr. Baxley addressed Council’s additional questions and concerns regarding the surrounding buildings building up and perspective height of any future construction on existing and/or new buildings, the TIF process and possible historic designation. Following discussion with Council, motion was carried by voice vote sending Ordinance No. 2015-01-008 to Council. 6. Ordinance No. 2015-01-009: An Ordinance Revising the Annual Budget Ordinance, FY2014-15 (Redevelopment Agreement with Stephens Building LLC) – CD Alderman Smyth made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2015-01-009 to Council. Alderman Jakobsson seconded. Motion was carried by voice vote sending Ordinance No. 2015-01-009 to Council. 7. Ordinance No. 2015-01-010: An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter 3, Section 3-43 (Increasing number of Class R-1 liquor licenses for SOILL Restaurant Systems, LLC, d/b/a Dotty’s, 2740 S. Philo Road, Ste. B) – MAYOR Alderman Madigan recused himself from this discussion at 8:25 p.m. Mayor Prussing recommended approval for the license. Discussion with Council ensued following Mayor Prussing’s recommendation. Alderwoman Marlin relinquished the Chair to Alderman Smyth from 8:27 p.m. to 8:29 p.m. to participate in the discussion. Council members expressed concerns over storefront establishments being opened solely for video gambling, and problem gambling. Discussion with Mayor Prussing and Council continued. Alderman Smyth made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2015-01-010 to Council. Alderman Brown seconded. Motion was carried by voice vote sending Ordinance No. 2015-01-010 to Council. 8. Ordinance No. 2015-01-003: An Ordinance Authorizing the Urbana Police Department to Purchase Tasers and for Civilian Police Review Board Oversight over Deployment and Use of Tasers (TASER Ordinance) – LEGAL City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: January 26, 2015 Page 4 of 4 Chair Marlin introduced Ordinance No. 2015-01-003, and then proceeded with public input regarding the proposed Ordinance. Following public input, Mayor Prussing discussed a telephone call that she received from Urbana resident Laura Wetzel, who strongly supports the use of Tasers. Discussion with Council then ensued. City Attorney James Simon addressed Council and Mr. Kruse’s questions and concerns. Discussion with Council continued. Alderwoman Marlin relinquished the Chair to Alderman Madigan from 9:31 p.m. to 9:33 p.m. to participate in the discussion. Alderman Madigan made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2015-01-003 to Council. Alderman Jakobsson seconded. Brief discussion with Council then ensued. Motion sending Ordinance No. 2015-01-003 to Council was carried by voice vote. 9. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Committee, Chair Diane Marlin declared the meeting adjourned at 9:38 p.m. _Vicky A. Osborn______ Recording Secretary *This meeting was taped. **This meeting was broadcast on cable television. Minutes Approved: _ February 9, 2015__