City Council Regular Meeting

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES DATE: Monday, July 8, 2019 TIME: 7:00 P.M. PLACE: Urbana City Council Chambers, 400 S. Vine St., Urbana, IL 61801 The City Council Committee of The Whole of the City of Urbana, Illinois, met in regular session Monday, July 8, 2019, at 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Urbana City Building. ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Bill Brown; Dean Hazen; Shirese Hursey; Dennis Roberts; Maryalice Wu; Diane Wolfe Marlin, Mayor; Charles A. Smyth, City Clerk ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: Eric Jakobsson ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: Jared Miller STAFF PRESENT: Sheila Dodd; Sanford Hess; Kay Meharry; Carol Mitten; Joel Sanders; John Schneider; Bryant Seraphin; James Simon OTHERS PRESENT: Annie Adams; Sandra Ahten; Elderess Melinda Carr; Danielle Chynoweth; Jeannie Covert; Cope Cumston; Patrick Depret-Guillaume; Nancy Dietrich; Dottie; Belden Fields; Jason Finkelman; Stephanie Fertado; GEO Local 6300; Nick Goodell; Mike Ingram; Barry Isralewitz; Karthik Kakarala; Brenda Larcom; Stuart Levy; Allison Martell; Shelley Masar; John McNally; Karen Medina; Paul Mueth; Matthew Murray; Adam Nichols; Lisa Powers; Ann Quackenbush; Ivan Ruiz; Russ Rybicki; Sarah Scott; Darya Shahgheibi; Geraldine Theobald; Bobbi Trist; Brian Vura-Weis; Bishop King James Underwood; Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood; Members of the Media Chair: Shirese Hursey, Ward 3 1. Call to Order and Roll Call With a quorum present, Chair Shirese Hursey called the meeting of the Committee of the Whole to order at 7:07pm. 2. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting CM Hursey made a motion to approve the minutes from the June 24, 2019 meeting. Motion seconded by CM Roberts and carried by voice vote. 3. Additions to the Agenda There were none. 4. Public Input Mayor Marlin gave a statement about the situation with the Independent Media Center (IMC). She said the City is committed in working through the issues with the IMC in a way that works for everyone involved. She said she would meet with IMC President Karen Medina and Treasurer Danielle Chynoweth to identify areas that need to be addressed. The goal is to have a short term solutions to issues, and make longer term changes to the ordinance and fee structure to help all local venues thrive. Among those who were present and in support of the IMC were Annie Adams, Sandra Ahten, Danielle Chynoweth, Jeannie Covert, Cope Cumston, Patrick Depret-Guillaume, Nancy Dietrich, Dottie, Belden Fields, Jason Finkelman, Stephanie Fertado, GEO Local 6300, Nick Goodell, Mike Ingram, Barry Isralewitz, Karthik Kakarala, Brenda Larcom, Stuart Levy, Allison Martell, Shelley Masar, John McNally, Paul Mueth, Matthew Murray, Adam Nichols, Lisa Powers, Ann Quackenbush, Ivan Ruiz, Russ Rybicki, Sarah Scott, Darya Shahgheibi, Geraldine Theobald, Bobbi Trist, and Brian Vura-Weis. Feelings expressed by those supporting the IMC were that it is a Committee of the Whole Minutes Monday, July 8, 2019 Page 2 of 4 venue that serves the community by providing a place for arts and culture, for people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures, and is one of the few places left where groups can meet. Fines, restrictions and probationary period should be dropped and guidelines set that do not hinder the ability of IMC to serve the public. Karen Medina, IMC President, spoke about the current situation with the IMC and the City of Urbana. She said that due to some incidents that took place at the IMC, (some of which had nothing to do with IMC or events there), they now have to submit an special event application for any type of nonrecurring event that lasts beyond 8:00pm, which would include poetry events, theatre pieces, movies, one-time bike projects and more. Each application requires a nonrefundable $100 fee, which has increased from $25 in fiscal year 2018-2019. The $100 fee which would apply to about 75 events per year at the IMC. The city does not exempt nonprofit organizations from paying the fee, or offer them a reduced amount. CM Wu moved to allow Karen Medina up to 10 minutes for her statement, which was seconded by CM Roberts and carried by voice vote. Ms. Medina continued by saying that the IMC would like to work with the city to move forward. They are asking that the city remove the 12 month probation, add a waiver to the fee schedule for special events held by non-profit groups, and amend the special event ordinance so businesses and venues are not punished if they call for police service, and change requirements so large scale event rules are not applied to small, indoor events. The IMC will work with police on the security for the events held there. Bishop King James and Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood did not wish to speak but wanted their concerns about the Dr. Ellis subdivision sewer problems entered into the record. 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 There was none. 7. Resolution No. 2019-07-026R: A Resolution Certifying a Community Housing Development Organization for the Urbana Home Consortium (Habitat PY 2018) Grants Manager Sheila Dodd presented this resolution and said this along with the next two resolutions would provide HOME program funding to Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County for developing affordable housing in the community. She said the City of Urbana is the lead agency for the HOME Funds received from the federal government, which cover Urbana, Champaign and unincorporated Champaign County. The federal government requires that 15% of the funds be set aside to be given to a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). The only CHDO in the consortium area at this time is Habitat for Humanity. They have applied to be certified and for funding to build three houses in Champaign and one house in Urbana, as well as operating funds to help them build the houses. This resolution and the following two resolutions, if approved, would provide the funds for Habitat to build the four houses in Champaign and Urbana. CM Roberts made a motion to send Resolution No. 2019-07-026R to council with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by CM Brown. It was suggested this resolution and the following resolutions and ordinance could be put on a consent agenda for the council meeting. CM Roberts moved to send Resolution No. 2019-07-026R to council on a consent agenda. Motion seconded by CM Brown and carried by unanimous voice vote. Committee of the Whole Minutes Monday, July 8, 2019 Page 3 of 4 8. Resolution No. 2019-07-027R: A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Urbana Home Consortium Community Housing Development Organization Agreement (Habitat CHDO Operating PY 2018) CM Wu moved to send Resolution No. 2019-07-027R to council and consent agenda with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by CM Hazen and carried by unanimous voice vote. 9. Resolution No. 2019-07-028R: A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Urbana Home Consortium Community Housing Development Organization Agreement (Habitat CHDO Developer PY 2018) CM Roberts made a motion to send Resolution No. 2019-07-028R to council and consent agenda with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by CM Wu and carried by unanimous voice vote. 10. Resolution No. 2019-07-029R: A Resolution Approving Amendment No. 1 to an Emergency Solutions Grant Subrecipient Agreement with the C-U Men’s Shelter Grants Manager Sheila Dodd presented this resolution and said the City of Urbana is a pass through agency for the State of Illinois Emergency Solutions Grant. This resolution amends the original amount of $14,135 allocated to the C-U Men’s Shelter for FY 18-19, and adds $1,105, making the total amount allocated $15,240. The additional amount was added because the shelter stayed open longer than anticipated, due to the early onset of cold weather that lasted longer than expected. CM Brown made a motion to send Resolution No. 2019-07-029R to council and consent agenda with recommendation for approval. Motion seconded by CM Roberts and carried by unanimous voice vote. 11. Ordinance No. 2019-07-038: An Ordinance Amending the Intergovernmental Agreement for the Creation of the Champaign County Geographic Information System Consortium Internet Technology Department Manager Sanford Hess presented this ordinance. He told the committee that the Champaign County Geographic Information System Consortium, was formed by the City of Champaign, City of Urbana, Village of Savoy, Village of Rantoul, Village of Mahomet, University of Illinois and Champaign County in 2002. The agreement between the entities was made because they thought they could be more effective working as a group to do mapping for the area. Champaign County is the lead agency for the consortium. This ordinance amends the intergovernmental agreement for the consortium by changing the fee to join the consortium to a one-time upfront payment of three times the first year’s membership fee. Membership fees are based on the share of the population. Also amended in the agreement is the amount of assets returned to members in the event the consortium is terminated. The amount returned to those who joined later would be less than those made to the original members. CM Brown made a motion to send Ordinance No. 2019-07-038 to council with recommendation for approval and to add it to the consent agenda. Motion seconded by CM Wu and carried by unanimous voice vote. 12 Discussion – Section 14-52 Event applications, permits, deadlines, late applications City Administrator Carol Mitten began the discussion by thanking council for allowing her time to gather the relevant background documents to share with them. She said she was involved at a high level with some of the recent dealings with the IMC related to Section 14-52. Ms. Mitten provided documents pertaining to events that took place over the last two years with the IMC and the City. She said she thought the events ordinance should be amended with thoughtful consideration concerning the use of an events space like the IMC. Ms. Mitten said she felt the existing ordinance could be amended to relate to an “events space use type” like the IMC. In Committee of the Whole Minutes Monday, July 8, 2019 Page 4 of 4 reference to the increase in the event permit fee from $25 to $100, she said the $100 better reflects the cost of city resources needed to review the permits, but does not reflect the entire cost of the process. She said even though there has been no policy in the past of a discount for non-profits, council could consider a reduced fee or no fee. CM Wu read a statement from CM Jared Miller. He suggested that the city lift the restrictions and requirements from the IMC while a solution to the issue is sought. Continuing the current restrictions could only hurt the IMC and all that it has to offer to the public. IMC treasurer Danielle Chynoweth spoke about the inception of the IMC and her part in the organization. She said she would like the city to come up with short term solutions to avoid charging the IMC the $100 fee for each event, and to work on collaborating with the IMC, especially in light of the new hotel coming in. She said she would like to work further with the police department on security for events. 13. Discussion - Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) – Recommendation to expand sidewalk snow removal districts CM Bill Brown, who is also BPAC chair, presented this item. He told committee members that BPAC recommended expanding the current sidewalk snow removal routes because of new development in the area, which will increase foot and bicycle traffic. He said the current ordinance, enacted in 2011 defines three districts, which are the University district, downtown District and Philo Road district. It requires walks to be cleared within 24 hours after the public works director has declared a snow event. The proposed expansion includes: changing the northern boundary of the Downtown district from Water Street to University Avenue, including a portion of Broadway Avenue north to Park Street, moving the northern boundary of Campus District from Springfield Avenue to University Avenue, and adding two corridors including both sides of University Avenue and Green Street, from Downtown district to Campus district. He said there were only about seven or eight owner occupied residences in the expanded area that will be affected by this. CM Brown said the resolution by BPAC did not pass unanimously. Assistant City Engineer Craig Shonkwiler, the City representative on the commission, expressed concern about city resources that will be needed to enforce the ordinance. It was suggested that the owner occupied units be excluded from the required snow removal because of the difficulty in finding someone to do snow removal on sidewalks, and because people sometimes go away for periods of time during the winter. Suggestions from committee members included excluding owner occupied residences from mandated snow removal, and mandating it for everyone in each district. Mayor Marlin said Green Street will be the main corridor connecting campus to downtown and the newly renovated hotel, and it will be important to make it very easy for people to use sidewalks to access downtown. She further information will be necessary, including what the City’s experience has been with clearing sidewalks for owners who do not do it, and what the cost recovery from those owners has been. 14. Adjournment With no further business before the committee, Chair Hursey adjourned the meeting at 10:06pm. Kay Meharry Recording Secretary Meeting materials and video, can be found here. Minutes approved: August 12, 2019