City Council Regular Meeting

CITY OF URBANA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – Monday, February 27, 2017 – 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, February 27, 2017, 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: None ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Brandon Boys; Mike Brunk; Bruce Cubberley; Robert Fitzgerald; William Gray; Brian Nightlinger; Craig Shonkwiler; James Simon; Elizabeth Tyler OTHERS PRESENTE: Jason Arendt; Todd Belcore; Sharnell Knapp; David Monk; Rick Sturts; Bishop King James Underwood; Rev. Dr. Evelyn B. Underwood; Members of the Media *Meeting chair was Alderman Eric Jakobsson. Agenda mistakenly listed Alderman Bill Brown as chair. 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL There being a quorum, Chair Eric Jakobsson called the meeting of the Committee of the Whole to order at 7:01 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Alderman Dennis Roberts made a motion to approve minutes from the meeting held on February 13, 2017. Alderman Smyth seconded. Motion carried by voice vote. 3. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA Chair Jakobsson informed committee members that Community Development asked to have item number 13, Ordinance No. 2017-02-010 and item number 14, Ordinance No. 2017-02-011, moved to the beginning of the agenda. The request was made to avoid having members of the public involved with the two ordinances sit through the entire meeting. There was no objection to the request. 4. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS Bishop King James and Rev. Dr. Evelyn B. Underwood did not wish to speak, but asked that their position be entered into the record regarding the Dr. Ellis Subdivision sewer issues. David Monk spoke about Rail Trail bicycle trail potential from Bloomington to Mansfield, Illinois. Rick Sturts thanked the Urbana Police Department for helping return his sister to the Champaign County Nursing Home on a very cold evening in January. Jason Arendt spoke in support of Resolution 2017-01-003R. 5. Presentations a. Body Cameras and Whistleblowing Committee of the Whole Monday, February 27, 2017 Page 2 of 4 Todd Belcore, a lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School, and an advocate for transparency, spoke to committee members about the best practices of police departments and effective policing. The two items he spoke about were the use of body cameras by police officers and implementing an avenue employees can use to report misconduct of other employees without fear of retaliation. He stated that use of body cameras by police officers protected everyone involved in incidents with police. He also stated having an avenue employees can use to report inappropriate behavior by fellow employees makes for a better work environment for all employees. For police departments, correcting inappropriate behavior can help avoid negative incidents between police and the public. There was discussion during which Mr. Belcore answered questions and concerns from committee members. 6. Staff Report Mayor Prussing informed the committee members that the County recently passed a resolution to keep the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois, similar to the resolution the City passed. 7. Resolution No. 2017-01-003R: A Resolution regarding the Interface between Mental Health, Criminal Justice and Public Safety Chair Jakobsson relinquished the chair to Alderman Ammons so he could participate in the discussion of this resolution. Alderwoman Marlin made a friendly amendment to be added before paragraph 12. The amendment was as follows, “And, this commitment will include working with the Illinois General Assembly to ensure adequate funding from the State of Illinois for mental health services”. Alderman Jakobsson made a motion to send Resolution No. 2017-01-003R to council with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by Alderman Smyth and carried by voice vote. Alderman Jakobsson resumed the chair after the vote. 8. Ordinance No. 2017-02-006: An Ordinance Amending Schedule J of Section 23-183 of the Urbana Local Traffic Code Prohibiting Parking at All Times on Certain Streets (Hill Street between Romine Street and Goodwin Avenue) Assistant City Engineer Craig Shonkwiler presented this ordinance. Sharnell Knapp from Crisis Nursery was also present to answer questions and concerns from committee members. In answering questions he had previously received, Mr. Shonkwiler stated that there cannot be parking on both sides of the Hill Street because it is only 25 feet wide. There wouldn’t be enough room for parking on both sides and two-way traffic. He also said that signage on the south side of the street in front of Crisis Nursery for pickup and drop off is not possible because there is no regular pickup and drop off time, as there would be at a regular school. The option of putting a stop sign at Mathews Avenue and Hill Street was discussed, as well as having a zone on Hill Street designated as parking for Crisis Nursery only. Because of the number of variables, Alderman Madigan made a motion to keep Ordinance No. 2017- 02-006 in Committee. Motion was seconded by Alderman Ammons and carried by voice vote. 9. Ordinance No. 2017-02-009: An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter 25, Legacy Tree Program (Section 25-71 Legacy tree assessment) City Arborist Mike Brunk presented this ordinance with recommendation for approval. Mr. Brunk told the committee that trees in an urban setting are normally more stressed than those that are not. Mr. Brunk Committee of the Whole Monday, February 27, 2017 Page 3 of 4 said it would benefit the city to relax the standard for legacy trees because 74% of trees in the city’s inventory are rated as being in fair condition. Ultimately it would allow the city to designate more trees as legacy trees. Mr. Brunk addressed questions and concerns from committee members. After discussion Alderman Roberts made a motion to send Ordinance 2017-02-009 to council with recommendation for approval. Motion was seconded by Alderwoman Marlin and carried by voice vote. 10. Resolution No. 2017-02-010R: A Resolution Approving a Gas Main Relocation Agreement with Ameren Illinois Company (North Lincoln Avenue at Olympian Drive) Public Works Director William Gray presented this resolution with recommendation for approval. He answered questions from committee members. Alderwoman Marlin made a motion to send Resolution 2017-02- 010R to council with recommendation for approval. Motion was seconded by Alderman Smyth and carried by voice vote. Mr. Gray announced that beginning March 6, Lincoln Avenue between Oaks Road to Olympian Drive will be closed for construction. Olympian Drive will be open to traffic beginning Monday, March 6. 11. Resolution No. 2017-02-011R: A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Local Agency Agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation (Airport Road - Willow Road to Cunningham Avenue (US Route 45) Assistant City Engineer Craig Shonkwiler presented this resolution with recommendation for approval. Alderman Madigan made a motion to send Resolution No. 2017-02-011R to council with recommendation for approval. Motion was seconded by Alderman Smyth and carried by voice vote. 12. Resolution No. 2017-02-012R: A Resolution to Approve an Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement between the City of Urbana and the University of Illinois (Agreement to Collaborate with Graduate Students from the Illinois School of Architecture in creating visual screening structures to be used in the mini park located at the northeast corner of Broadway Avenue and Water Street) - PW Arbor Manager Bruce Cubberley presented this resolution with recommendation for approval. He explained the type of work the students have done in the past, and showed examples in a short PowerPoint presentation. Alderman Smyth made a motion to send Resolution No. 2017- 02-012R to council with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by Alderwoman Marlin and carried by voice vote. 13. Ordinance No. 2017-02-010: An Ordinance Approving a Redevelopment Agreement with Downtown Creations, LLC (Crane Alley West – 119 W Main St) Economic Development Manager Brandon Boys presented this ordinance. He went over the changes that will be made and the costs. He said the first phase renovation should be finished by April 15, 2017. He said when complete, this should generate about $165,000 in revenue over a ten year period. After clarification and discussion Alderman Smyth made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2017-02-010 to council with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by Alderman Roberts and carried by voice vote. 14. Ordinance No. 2017-02-011: An Ordinance Revising the Annual Budget Ordinance for FY 2016/17 (Crane Alley West Redevelopment Agreement – 119 W Main St) – CD Committee of the Whole Monday, February 27, 2017 Page 4 of 4 Economic Development Manager Brandon Boys presented this ordinance. He answered questions and concerns from committee members. After discussion Alderman Smyth made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2017-02- 011 to council with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by Alderman Roberts and carried by voice vote. 15. ADJOURNMENT _Kay Meharry ____ Recording Secretary *This meeting was taped. **This meeting was broadcast on cable television. Minutes Approved: March 13, 2017