City Council Regular Meeting

CITY OF URBANA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – Monday, April 22, 2019 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS - 400 SOUTH VINE STREET, URBANA, IL The City Council Committee of The Whole of the City of Urbana, Illinois, met in regular session Monday, April 22, 2019, in the Council Chambers of the Urbana City Building. ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Bill Brown; Shirese Hursey; Eric Jakobsson; Dennis Roberts; Dean Hazen, Jared Miller, Maryalice Wu; Charles A. Smyth; Diane Wolfe Marlin ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: None ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Carol Mitten, Jim Simon, Bryant Seraphin, Chuck Lauss, Craig Shonkwiler, Preston James, Melissa Haynes, Bob Fitzgerald OTHERS PRESENT: News media; Elderess Melinda Carr; Rev. Dr. Evelyn and Bishop King James Underwood, Durl Kruse 1. Call to Order and Roll Call There being a quorum, Chair Bill Brown called the meeting of the Committee of the Whole to order at 7:56pm following a special City Council meeting. 2. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting City Council Member (CM) Wu made a motion to approve the minutes from the meeting held on April 8, 2019 and special meeting April 15, 2019. CM Hazen seconded and the motion carried by unanimous voice vote. 3. Additions to the Agenda There were no additions. 4. Public Input Elderess Melinda Carr did not wish to speak, but asked that her concerns about the Dr. Ellis Subdivision sewer problems, equity, and historic impact be entered into the record. 5. Presentations There were none. 6. Staff Report Mayor Marlin read a statement concerning the vehicular crash that resulted in a pedestrian death at Vine and Main on April 11, 2019. On behalf of the people of Urbana, she expressed deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Urbana resident Shelly Taylor. She noted that the driver was issued a citation and the matter is now in the hands of the State’s Attorney’s office. The city cannot release any information regarding the crash at this time as it is up to the State’s Attorney. However, the city has taken several steps including diagnostic tests indicating that traffic control devices were functioning properly. In response to safety concerns, the city is initiating a third party study to evaluate the functionality of the system and will update the public. Mayor Marlin announced an upcoming neighborhood information meeting for Tuesday April 23, 2019 at the Urbana Free Library, 6:30-8:30pm concerning a proposed development along Lincoln Ave between Oregon and California Streets. Page 1 of 4 7. IDOT Traffic Stop Report/ Update on Fix-It Vouchers – UPD Durl Kruse provided public input related to traffic stops. He stated that it is good to see the disparity ratio drop but was concerned about the statistical impacts of traffic accidents ratio changes on the calculation of the disparity ratio. He compared results based on different assumptions. He focused on the disparity of non-STEP stops compared to STEP stops and asked what would be done to address this difference. Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood stated that she’s reviewed the data and has been asked to report to others on the findings but is struggling to understand it fully. She hopes the council will form a commission or committee to study it further. Melissa Haynes, Crime Analyst, and Chief Bryant Seraphin presented a report and PowerPoint explanation of the IDOT Traffic Stop data and provided an update, with Preston James, on the Fix-it Voucher program. Chief Seraphin and Ms. Haynes provided a brief background and history of IDOT reporting. For 2018, the Urbana Police Department made 3514 traffic stops, an average number of stops based on a five year moving average of traffic stops. A geographic distribution of stops was presented as both points and more usefully as a density distribution. Ms. Haynes reviewed the benchmarks listed in Section 2 since the inception of data collection in 2009. She described the use of accident data as the city’s preferred method of determining demographics instead of census data as 50% of those stopped don’t live in Urbana. This data, as a 3 year moving average, is used to calculate disparity ratios. Since 2012, approximately 30% of those stopped are African American, 55% Caucasian, Asian 8-11%, and Hispanic 3-5%. This shows a disparity ratio for African Americans as 1.35 and Caucasians as .89. This is a decrease over time for African Americans and an increase for Caucasians. Since 2016, Urbana has also been collecting Motivation for Stop information. The three categories of Traffic Issue, Community Caretaking, and Targeted Patrol were summarized for the past years. Most stops are based on traffic issues and are fairly uniform across race. Most stops are for moving violations, about 20% for equipment violations, and about 8-9% for License and Registration issues. Chief Seraphin described STEP versus non-STEP (Selective Traffic Enforcement) stops. For 2018, unlike previous years, STEP enforcement activities were based on crash data locations. Ms. Haynes added that 38-39% of stops are from STEP patrol activities in recent years compared to past lower levels. She noted that the disparity ratios are different but cautioned use of some results based on small sample sizes. She also described some of the additional criteria used in determining where STEP patrol would be used including time of day and location of accidents with injuries. Looking at only STEP data, the disparity ratios are .85 for African Americans and 1.11 for Caucasians. Looking at non-STEP stops only, the disparity ratios are 1.6 for African Americans and .78 for Caucasians. Ms. Haynes described the outcomes after stops. Duration of stops is fairly uniform, about 53% result in a citation, 44% in a warning, and 3% are more serious. She broke these numbers out by race showing that Caucasians are 6% more likely to get a citation, African Americans are 8% more likely to get a warning. For the small number of 122 cases that were more serious than a citation, African Americans were 107% more likely to be in the non-discretionary consequence category. A summary of traffic and more serious offenses since 2014 was provided. 82 people were arrested in 2018 after a traffic stop due to non-discretionary criteria. There were 98 stops that ended beyond the scope of the original stop involving questioning or dog sniffs. The geography of stops was reviewed. The density of non-Step stops of African American drivers was overlaid on a map of the city. The calls for service were overlaid on this map and Ms. Haynes showed a strong correlation between the two density mappings. Page 2 of 4 There was an increase in equipment violation related stops in 2018. Preston James reviewed the new Fix-It ticket voucher program whereby drivers are given a coupon for small items such as light bulbs that can be redeemed at Advance Auto. The program had a big push the first month of 82 vouchers but has leveled off ranging from 11 to 20 per month. The program has seen a 75% redemption rate and based on surveys taken at Advance Auto has been positively received and praised. Mayor Marlin noted that there is still money in the budget from the initial $2500 allocation to continue into next year. Ms. Haynes provided a summary showing that there has been an increase in overall traffic stops, particularly in STEP stops, with a decrease in the overall disparity ratio for African American drivers to 1.35. Chief Seraphin returned to the slide showing the geographic issue raised showing geographic correlation of where officers are called. This location component is not controlled as it is with STEP. CM Wu requested a similar geographic overlay for STEP and clarified that the use of accident data was based on 50% of stops occurring with non-residents. Questions and discussion followed. Chief Seraphin addressed the issue of the 12.6% uninsured motor vehicle traffic offense whereby drivers can later show proof of insurance. These are citations in conjunction with the stop. Ms. Haynes explained her use of range and variation in conjunction with statistical expectations. In response to CM Hursey, Chief Seraphin explained that Urbana PD requires a reason from an officer to call for a dog sniff which, if it is going to occur, has to be within the normal time frame of the stop. Additional explanation of criteria for a sniff was discussed. Chief Seraphin also described the criteria for a probable cause stop based on reasonable suspicion that isn’t based on a traffic violation. Only 24 dog sniffs occurred over the entire year. CM Brown added that a dog alert occurred 19 of 20 times with contraband found 2/3rds of the time uniformly by race. Chief Seraphin reviewed the stringent certification and recertification of canines. Ms. Haynes indicated that there were 10 or less consent searches so she didn’t break that down due to small sample size. CM Jakobsson stated that he thought that denominators based on accident rates were very good for the STEP stops as those are targeting areas of accidents. However for the non-STEP stops, it would be better to use the demographic data for the community where those occur. Ms. Haynes indicated some possible analyses that she could perform to address this issue which could also reflect the 40% African American calls for service issue as well. Crime rates and intensity of patrolling were discussed as well. CM Miller asked Chief Seraphin about his thoughts and next steps. Chief Seraphin thinks that geography and calls for service as they relate to exposure are part of the explanation for the disparity ratios. Proper policing requires dealing with behaviors and putting officers where crime is occurring. Moving forward there will be additional implicit bias training and additional roll call education. They will continue to focus on behavior and where they are called for service. He noted that patrol is organic and fluid. CM Miller noted issues related to equity and asked if frequency of time spent on calls in particular areas can be tracked versus just patrolling as related to over-policing. Ms. Haynes noted that not with the data she has now but with new GIS software and equipment becoming available, she might be able to do something. Chief Seraphin added that in meeting with other chiefs in the state, no community studies this issue like Urbana. CM Hazen added that no-go zones have resulted from pulling police from high volume call areas. He noted that you can’t prove a negative such as stopping a shooting simply because an officer was in the area. He considers this a social problem. CM Hursey agreed with CM Hazen that math can’t be used to solve a social problem but asked for more officers to walk and ride bikes through neighborhoods to improve community knowledge and create more positive experiences. Chief Seraphin agreed that non-enforcement contact is important and added that officers are assigned to and stay by choice for extended periods in their beats. Page 3 of 4  CM Jakobsson stated that math can be used to identify social problems. That the analyses that have been done over the past years have put the city in a better place with even better policing. He asked about GPS tracking of where officers are going to which Ms. Haynes indicated that the software is new and she doesn’t yet know how it will interface with her current software. CM Miller encouraged folks to approach and engage officers and go for ride alongs. CM Hazen showed a GPS application in use in Macon County that tracks all law enforcement units. 8. Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission 2018 Annual Report – City Council Member Brown) CM Brown asked CM Roberts to take the chair. He and Craig Shonkwiler, City Engineer, presented the BPAC annual report. CM Brown noted this as an annual requirement and proceeded to review the report and several additional slides. He noted the membership of the committee including the University of Illinois, the Park District, and the School District. He reviewed the history of BPAC and its purpose. He listed accomplishments of issuing 2 bicycle master plans and achieving first Bronze and then Gold level bicycle friendly status, the only such community in Illinois. This ranking is based on engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement evaluation and equity. CM Brown reviewed projects of the past year including several bike/multiuse paths have been completed on Country Club Drive and North Cunningham Ave. The MCORE project is ongoing with one section completed between Wright and Green. Underway is a new path at Crystal Lake. Several planning projects are completed or underway including KRT-Weaver Park connectivity, Urbana Bicycle Wayfinding, and a KRT feasibility study to extend the KRT into Urbana. He also noted that a Pedestrian Master Plan is being developed with CCRPC. CM Brown reviewed other projects such as the brick walkway repair project, speed limit reductions, crossing at several intersections, crash reports, and showed one of the education videos that have been produced. He reviewed the placement of sidewalk decals for downtown no-ride zones which were not popular with business owners but Mr. Shonkwiler indicated that they are considering using these near Durst. He summarized various advisory recommendations provided to council by the commission. CM Brown noted that bicycles on sidewalks need to yield to pedestrians. He summarized the report card from the League of American Bicyclists comparing us to Platinum level. The presentation ended with a review of partner groups. Finally CM Brown noted that Bike Month starting with a tour of the KRT this coming Saturday and Bike to Work Day will be May 1. CM Wu asked about brick to cement sidewalk transformations. CM Brown noted that at Main and Lincoln, the proposal is to add a bike lane that would intersect with the brick sidewalk for a short section and will need city council approval. 9. Adjournment With no further business before the committee, Chair Roberts adjourned the meeting at 9:53 pm. Charles A. Smyth City Clerk This meeting was video recorded with website link (viewable on demand): https://www.urbanaillinois.us/node/7563 This meeting was broadcast on cable television (UPTV) and streamed live: http://urbanaillinois.us/uptv Minutes Approved: May 13, 2019 Page 4 of 4