City Council Regular Meeting

CITY OF URBANA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – May 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, May 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; Dennis Roberts; Charles Smyth; Laurel Lunt Prussing; Phyllis Clark ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: There were none ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: There were none STAFF PRESENT: Brad Bennett; Celeste Choate; William Gray; Elizabeth Hannan; Kelly Mierkowski; Mike Monson; Sylvia Morgan; Brian Nightlinger; Craig Shonkwiler; James Simon; Pauline Tannos; Elizabeth Tyler OTHERS PRESENT: Dr. Amira Davis; Members of the Media 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL There being a quorum, Chair Charles Smyth called the meeting of the Committee of The Whole to order at 7:26 p.m., after which the City Clerk called the roll. ***Note: The meeting was called to order at 7:26 due to a special meeting of the Urbana City Council that was held at 7:00 p.m. this date*** 2. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA AND STAFF REPORT a. Presentation: “Jewelry Making for Self-Empowerment” by 2015 Arts Grant Recipient Dr. Amira Davis Public Arts Coordinator Pauline Tannos gave an overview of the Urbana Arts Grants Program, followed by a presentation by 2015 Grant Recipient Dr. Amira Davis. Dr. Davis discussed the function, purpose, goals and success of her program, which is an arts and crafts, based intervention that assists women that have been subject to abuse and/or domestic violence. A brief discussion with the Committee and Mayor Prussing ensued following Dr. Davis’ presentation. b. Presentation: Annual Financial Report – FINANCE Finance Director Elizabeth Hannan introduced Mike Mullett with the audit firm of Baker Tilley. Mr. Mullett presented the draft financial statements and other communications regarding this year’s audit, explaining various aspects of the report and the audit. Discussion ensued with Mayor Prussing and the Committee following Mr. Mullett’s presentation. Mr. Mullett, Ms. Hannan and City Attorney James Simon addressed the Committee’s questions and concerns. City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: May 26, 2015 Page 2 of 5 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING 1. May 11, 2015 Alderman Smyth corrected the time of the two-minute recess noted at the bottom of page 3, from 7:05 p.m. to 7:07 p.m. to 9:05 p.m. to 9:07 p.m. Alderman Ammons made a motion to approve the May 11, 2015 minutes, with that correction. Alderman Jakobsson seconded. Alderman Smyth confirmed that there were no further changes. The motion to approve the May 11, 2015 minutes was carried by voice vote. 4. STAFF REPORT AND PUBLIC INPUT a. Community Development Director Elizabeth Tyler gave a reminder to the Committee to complete the social service forms and deliver to Alderman Jakobsson (who asked that they be delivered by 9:00 a.m. this coming Saturday,) to compile the numbers. There was a brief discussion with the Committee and Mayor Prussing following Ms. Tyler’s reminder. b. Chair Smyth 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. ***Note: The following additional Public Input was heard following the segment of this meeting pertaining to Resolution No. 2015-05-026R regarding the 2015-16 Capital Improvement Plan*** c. Alderman Ammons recognized that Abdul-Hakeem Yusuf Salaam was present to address the Committee regarding the Day of Gratitude proclaimed by Mayor Prussing to be observed Thursday, May 28, 2015. Alderman Smyth asked Mr. Salaam to come forward to address the Committee. Mr. Salaam addressed the Committee and discussed expressing gratitude, and the benefit to one’s self and others in doing so. d. Alderwoman Marlin announced that the annual meeting of the Southeast Urbana Neighborhood Association will be held May 27, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at Saint Matthews Lutheran Church on Philo Road in Urbana, and gave information regarding the meeting. e. Mayor Prussing discussed the 911 funding bill, Senate Bill 96, and the amendment of the same. f. Alderman Smyth announced the first of five Urbana Downtown Movie Nights, beginning May 29, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Alderman Smyth reminded the public that parking is free in downtown Urbana after 6:00 p.m. on weekdays, and free all day Saturdays and Sundays. 5. Ordinance No. 2015-05-049: An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter 22, Sections 22-31, 22-45.1, and 22-61(Local Motor Fuel Tax, Municipal Gas Use Tax, and Hotel/Motel Use Tax / 2015) – FINANCE City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: May 26, 2015 Page 3 of 5 Finance Director Elizabeth Hannan previously gave her presentation on Ordinance No. 2015-05-049 at the May 11, 2015 Committee of the Whole meeting, and was present to answer questions. Alderwoman Marlin made a motion to divide Ordinance No. 2015-05-049 into 3 separate items, so that each tax increase would be voted on separately. Alderman Roberts seconded. The Committee presented City Attorney James Simon with a question regarding the motion to divide, and Mr. Simon addressed the question. The motion to divide Ordinance No. 2015-05-049 into 3 separate items was carried by voice vote. The first item discussed was the Local Motor Fuel Tax. Alderman Roberts made a motion to send the Local Motor Fuel Tax increase to Council with recommendation for approval. Alderman Jakobsson seconded. After brief comments by the Committee, the motion to send the Local Motor Fuel Tax increase to Council with recommendation for approval was carried by voice vote. The second item discussed was the Municipal Gas Use Tax. Alderman Smyth asked Ms. Hannan to clarify the purpose of the Municipal Gas Use Tax, and Ms. Hannan discussed the purpose of the tax. Discussion with the Committee ensued. Ms. Hannan addressed the Committee’s questions and concerns. Alderman Jakobsson moved to send the Municipal Gas Use Tax to Council with recommendation for approval. Alderman Ammons seconded. Discussion resumed after the motion. Following discussion, the motion to send the Municipal Gas Use to Council with recommendation for approval was carried by voice vote. The third item discussed was the Hotel/Motel Use Tax. Alderwoman Marlin made a motion to move the Hotel/Motel Use Tax to Council, with an amendment to designate $10,000.00 annually of the revenue generated by this tax to fund “Visit Champaign County” formerly known as “the Champaign County Convention & Visitors Bureau”, and discussed the amount to be allocated and reasons for allocating the funds. Alderman Brown seconded. Discussion with the Committee and Mayor Prussing ensued following the motion. Alderman Smyth relinquished the Chair to Alderman Jakobsson from 9:18 p.m. to 9:19 p.m. to participate in the discussion. Alderman Smyth spoke in support of Ordinance 2015-05-049 as amended by Alderwoman Marlin, but asked that the Committee accept a friendly amendment to include performance standards in the contract. Alderwoman Marlin and Alderman Ammons were in agreement with Alderman Smyth’s friendly amendment. Following discussion, the motion to send Ordinance No. 2015-05-049 as amended was carried by voice vote. 6. Ordinance No. 2015-05-050: An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter 22, Section 22-91(Tax on purchase of prepared food and certain alcoholic liquor / 2015) – FINANCE After Chair Smyth introduced Ordinance No. 2015-05-050, Alderman Madigan recused himself at 9:23 from participating in the discussion pertaining to Ordinance No. 2015-05-050. City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: May 26, 2015 Page 4 of 5 Chief of Staff Mike Monson discussed our tax rate in comparison with other central Illinois cities. Finance Director Elizabeth Hannan briefly discussed the increase. Alderman Roberts made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2015-05-050 to Council with recommendation for approval. Alderwoman Marlin seconded. Being no further discussion, the motion to send Ordinance No. 2015-05- 050 to Council with recommendation for approval was carried by voice vote. 7. Presentation of the 2015-16 Capital Improvement Plan followed by Resolution No. 2015-05-026R: A Resolution Approving the Capital Improvement Plan for the City of Urbana – PW Public Works Director William Gray gave an oral and visual presentation on the status and completion of various Urbana projects. Discussion with Council ensued during Mr. Gray’s presentation. Mr. Gray addressed Council’s questions and concerns. Following Mr. Gray’s presentation, Assistant City Engineer Brad Bennett gave an oral and written presentation, discussing the background on the Capital Improvement Plan, the expected manpower and resources needed to cover the future planned projects, the budgets covered in the Plan, and the projects that are included in the Plan, but that are in other budgets. Following Mr. Bennett’s presentation, Assistant City Engineer Craig Shonkwiler gave an oral and written presentation discussing the State Motor Fuel Tax Fund, Local Motor Fuel Tax Fund, The Capital Replacement and Improvement Fund and the various transportation programs funded by each. Following Mr. Shonkwiler’s presentation, Mr. Gray discussed the financial challenges faced by the City to maintain the City’s transportation network. Mr. Shonkwiler then discussed the projects moving forward for the next five years, followed by Mr. Gray discussing projects that are not yet funded. Discussion with Mayor Prussing and the Committee ensued following the presentation of the 2015-16 Capital Improvement Plan. Mr. Gray, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Shonkwiler and Community Development Director Elizabeth Tyler addressed the Committee’s questions and concerns. Following discussion, Alderwoman Marlin made a motion to send Resolution No. 2015-05-026R to Council with recommendation for approval. Alderman Ammons seconded. Being no further discussion, the motion to send Ordinance No. 2015-05-026R to Council with recommendation for approval was carried by voice vote. 8. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Committee, Chair Charles Smyth declared the meeting adjourned at 10:32 p.m. City of Urbana Committee Of The Whole Minutes: May 26, 2015 Page 5 of 5 _Vicky A. Osborn______ Recording Secretary *This meeting was taped. **This meeting was broadcast on cable television. Minutes Approved: _ June 8, 2015 ______