City Council Regular Meeting

URBANA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DATE: Monday, February 18, 2019 TIME: 7:00 P.M. PLACE: Urbana City Council Chambers, 400 S. Vine St, Urbana, IL 61801 The City Council of the City of Urbana, Illinois, met in regular session February 18, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Urbana City Building. ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: City Council Members (CM) Maryalice Wu (Ward 1), Eric Jakobsson (Ward 2), Shirese Hursey (Ward 3), Bill Brown (Ward 4), Dennis Roberts (Ward 5), Dean Hazen (Ward 6), Jared Miller (Ward 7), Diane Wolfe Marlin (Mayor), Charles A. Smyth (City Clerk) ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: None ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Carol Mitten, John Schneider, Michelle Brooks, Chuck Lauss, Scott Tess, Nick Hanson, Brandon Boys OTHERS PRESENT: News-Gazette, James Kosmopoulos A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL There being a quorum present, Mayor Marlin called the meeting of the Urbana City Council to order at 7:38 p.m. following a special meeting of the Cunningham Town Board. B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING City Council Member (CM) Miller made a motion to approve minutes from the Feb. 4, 2019 regular meeting and the Feb. 11, 2019 special meeting, seconded by CM Roberts, and passed by unanimous voice vote. C. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA There were no additions. D. PUBLIC INPUT There was none. E. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was none. F. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES There were none. G. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES There were none. H. REPORTS OF OFFICERS There were none. I. NEW BUSINESS 1. Resolution No. 2019-02-003R: A Resolution Authorizing Execution of a Service Agreement with the Lowest Responsible Bidder for the Supply of Natural Gas for City Facilities Page 1 of 3 James Kosmopoulos, University of Illinois Student Government (ISG) liaison to Urbana City Council, spoke on behalf of ISG. He expressed their concerns about the potential for lower natural gas prices to result in more consumption and thus result in additional greenhouse gases to the detriment of the environment. The ISG urges extra efforts to invest renewable energy. He pointed out that natural gas usage is not clean due to releases of contaminants and is nonrenewable. He reminded the council of the goals of city’s climate action plan and expressed concern for the future of the relationship between students reiterating the need for direct usage of renewable energy. Scott Tess, Environmental Sustainability Manager, spoke to the staff memo noting that the program is similar to the electric aggregation program for city usage to get better pricing. The rules and regulations are different as there is an open enrollment process and there is a need to notify the current regulated supplier by March 1 for retail supply starting May 1. He pointed out that this is the first time the city’s broker has taken a bundle of cities from regulated to retail though they have done individual cities. Timing didn’t provide an opportunity to take this item to committee per council rules. CM Miller moved to suspend City Council rule 4 (Resolution on Resolutions), seconded by CM Jakobsson and passed by unanimous voice vote. CM Miller asked about current city solar plans and overall status. Mr. Tess said that they are working on getting incentives from the state for a solar array on the city’s closed landfill with several opportunities and several lotteries starting in March. Once an incentive is received, the city will then move to the next phase of leasing and will work on off takers of the electricity. He noted that the future energy act is driving electricity production away from coal which will decarbonize electricity, acknowledging issues about natural gas as raised by ISG. In response to CM Miller, Mr. Tess said that the city does an analysis and inventory of energy usage every other year covering electricity, gas, and fuel, that staff is working on that now for 2018, and expecting a report in March. CM Jakobsson stated that he appreciates the principle underlying the statement from student government acknowledging that usage increases when price is decreased. On confirming that this contract is for city facilities only he noted that he was prepared to support this while recognizing the economic principles involved. CM Brown agreed with CM Jakobsson but that with our current budget we need to save money where we can but need to continue with successful solar projects across the county. CM Wu noted that promotional materials suggest a $10,000 savings but Mr. Tess’s analysis is only for $6K. She echoed CM Jakobsson and student government along with a need to look at all the little pieces and how that fits overall. Mayor Marlin confirmed a 2-year contract and noted that the city is conducting a facility’s needs assessment including energy consumption and ways to decrease usage. With no further discussion, CM Miller moved approval of Resolution 2019-02-003R, seconded by CM Jakobsson, and passed by roll call vote (7-0): Brown – Yes; Hazen – Aye; Hursey – Yes; Jakobsson – Aye; Miller – Aye; Roberts – Aye; Wu – Aye. 2. Ordinance No. 2019-02-014: An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter Three, Section 3-43 (Maintaining number of Class A liquor licenses for Mama Tried LLC dba The Rose Bowl Tavern, 106 N Race St, Urbana, IL Mayor Marlin presented Ordinance 2019-02-014 noting that it does not change the total number or distribution of liquor licenses, and is the result of an ownership change. Without further discussion, CM Roberts moved approval of the ordinance, seconded by CM Jakobsson and passed by roll call vote (7-0): Brown – Yes; Hazen – Aye; Hursey – Yes; Jakobsson – Aye; Miller – Aye; Roberts – Aye; Wu – Aye. 3. Closed Session a. To consider the setting of a price for sale or lease of property, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6) CM Miller moved to go into Closed Session to consider the setting of a price for sale or lease Page 2 of 3  of property pursuant to ILCS 120/2(c)(6), seconded by CM Hazen. The motion passed by roll call vote (8-0): Brown – Yes; Hazen – Aye; Hursey – Yes; Jakobsson – Aye; Miller – Aye; Roberts – Aye; Wu – Aye; Marlin – Aye. The City Council and selected staff moved to the second floor Executive Conference Room at 7:59 pm. The City Council returned to open session at 8:21 pm following a motion to return to open session by CM Miller, seconded by CM Wu, and passed by unanimous voice vote. J. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the council, Mayor Marlin adjourned the meeting at 8:22 p.m. Charles A. Smyth City Clerk This meeting was video recorded with website link (viewable on demand): https://www.urbanaillinois.us/node/7551 This meeting was broadcast on cable television (UPTV) and streamed live: http://urbanaillinois.us/uptv Minutes Approved: March 4, 2019 Page 3 of 3