City Council Regular Meeting

URBANA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DATE: Monday, August 19, 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 August 19, 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), Bill Brown (Ward 4), Dean Hazen (Ward 6), Jared Miller (Ward 7), Charles A. Smyth (City Clerk), Diane Wolfe Marlin (Mayor) ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: None ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: Eric Jakobsson (Ward 2), Dennis Roberts (Ward 5), Shirese Hursey (Ward 3) STAFF PRESENT: Carol Mitten, James Simon, Charles Lauss, Elizabeth Hannan, Sanford Hess, Jason Liggett, Jake Schumacher OTHERS PRESENT: News-Gazette, WCIA, Fox, Bishop King James and Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood, Elderess Melinda Carr, Danielle Chynoweth, Durl Kruse, John Maggio, Taylor Dent, Mike Lehman, David Rogers, Mark E. Fitzgerald, Les Cotton, Brenda Rogers, Meghan McDonald 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 7:02 p.m. B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING City Council Member (CM) Miller made a motion to approve minutes from the August 5, 2019 regular meeting, seconded by CM Brown, and passed by unanimous voice vote. C. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA At the Mayor’s request, Committee Item 4, Ordinance 2019-08-046, was removed from the agenda pending corrections following a motion by CM Wu, second by CM Hazen and approval by unanimous voice vote. D. PUBLIC INPUT Bishop King James Underwood and Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood did not wish to speak but asked that their concerns regarding the Dr. Ellis Subdivision sewer issues be entered into the record. Elderess Melinda Carr did not wish to speak but asked that her continued concerns about the Dr. Ellis subdivision sewer issues, equity and historic impact be entered into the record. Danielle Chynoweth read from a prepared statement her concerns related to Public Access programming and UPTV. She noted the uses of the franchise and PEG fees, building UPTV membership, additional government broadcasting of boards and commissions, and growth of public access programs in the past ten years. She complimented UPTV management, the easy access to UPTV but noted the desire for more space and equipment. Ms. Chynoweth no longer sees a need for a separate channel but suggested a path forward with respect to funding, collaborations, and partnerships that could potentially grow into a fifth channel. Page 1 of 4  Library Annual Report: Celeste Choate, Urbana Free Library Director, provided the Annual Report on the Urbana Free Library. She provided council with written documents including the state required IPLAR document. In her presentation, Ms. Choate summarized highlights from another fabulous year. She noted Champaign County Master Gardeners who redid Megan’s garden in conjunction with Glen Davies mural, and provided a number of statistics including 28000 individuals attending 814 different programs, and 11,500 cardholders, 760,000 items checked out, 57,000 reference questions answered, and 43,000 sign-ins to computers. She noted use of facilities, numbers of visitors, and current checkout levels. She summarized various major repairs to the HVAC and porch, highlighted various partners and programs, and provided details on new collections developed in response to patron requests. She ended her presentation with information about the archival of Chanute Airbase Museum materials, the Teen Open Lab, and plans for the coming year, including an update of the strategic plan as well as making progress on their capital plan. Mayor Marlin, having attended opening day activities with the Urbana School District, noted the important role the library has with respect to early education and thanked Ms. Choate for her presentation. E. UNFINISHED BUSINESS UPTV Update: Mayor Marlin noted that this is an update following earlier communications concerning UPTV and public access programming and is for discussion only. Jason Liggett, UPTV Station Manager and Sanford Hess, IT Director, presented the update. Mr. Liggett provided findings on the feasibility and logistics of undertaking a fifth public access channel. He provided example programming schedules for a Government and Education Channel in conjunction with a Public Access channel. The government channel would continue to carry all city related programming of meetings, information, school, and park related items run by city staff. The public access channel would carry community or publicly provided items such as news, religious, locally produced programs, and commentary programs. He reviewed the processes by which local providers Comcast, i3, and AT&T would carry a fifth channel. They solicited feedback from UPTV membership which included a request for space, a larger studio, and a performance venue, methods for maximizing viewing audience, increasing partnerships with other media organizations, and a stable funding source. Finally, he indicated that the next step would be to work over the next six months on a recommendation for partnership and a transition plan. Durl Kruse read from a prepared statement his concerns related to public access programming. He indicated a lack of understanding for why the city is undertaking this process and was concerned about a potential loss. He reviewed the fiscal basis of staff’s concern about funding noting franchise and PEG fees received, providing tables from past and current city budgets. He disputed the conclusion that there is insufficient funding and suggested that the city hire a part time staff member whose responsibility would be public access programming. In response to CM Brown on soliciting proposals that include ongoing funding from the city, Mr. Liggett noted that nothing has been ruled out, and they are open to any that are brought forward by community organizations. Mr. Liggett noted that the first question asked has been whether funding is included. F. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES 1. Committee of the Whole a. Ordinance No. 2019-08-043: An Ordinance Amending Urbana City Code Chapter 9.5, Article II (Raffles/2019) For the committee, CM Miller moved Ordinance 2019-08-043, seconded by CM Wu. Mr. John Maggio provided public input noting that his questions had been answered prior to the start of the meeting by Mayor Marlin and Clerk Smyth. Mayor Marlin thanked him for attending. Mayor Marlin reported that staff had responded via email to concerns raised at committee and Page 2 of 4  had prepared a possible amendment limiting the value of prizes to $1,000,000 in a single raffle. CM Wu thanked staff for their responses and will support this change. CM Miller moved to amend the ordinance, adding the section limiting the prize value to $1,000,000, seconded by CM Wu. With no discussion, the motion passed by unanimous voice vote. With no further discussion, the motion to approve Ordinance No. 2019-08-043 passed by roll call vote (4-0): Brown – Aye; Hazen -- Aye; Miller – Aye; Wu – Aye. b.Ordinance No. 2019-08-044: An Ordinance Amending Schedule J of Section 23-183 of the Urbana Local Traffic Code Prohibiting Parking at all Times on Certain Streets (Springfield Avenue at Busey Avenue) For the committee, CM Miller moved Ordinance 2019-08-044, seconded by CM Brown. With no discussion, the motion passed by roll call vote (4-0): Brown – Aye; Hazen -- Aye; Miller – Aye; Wu – Aye. c. Ordinance No. 2019-08-045: An Ordinance Amending Schedule M of Section 23-190 of the Urbana Local Traffic Code to Establish a Tow Away Zone in a Specified Place on a Certain Street (Baronry Drive) For the committee, CM Miller moved Ordinance 2019-08-045, seconded by CM Brown. With no discussion, the motion passed by roll call vote (4-0): Brown – Aye; Hazen -- Aye; Miller – Aye; Wu – Aye. G. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES There were none. H. REPORTS OF OFFICERS There were none. I. NEW BUSINESS 1. Mayoral Appointments to Boards and Commissions a. Civilian Police Review Board 1. Darrell S. Price – term ending June 30, 2022 Mayor Marlin nominated Darrell Price and listed some of his qualifications. CM Wu moved approval, seconded by CM Hazen and passed by unanimous voice vote 2. Public listening session on recreational marijuana sales in the City of Urbana Mayor Marlin began the listening session by reading a statement indicating the purpose of the listening session. She noted that state law will allow for the sale and use of recreational cannabis, that the local dispensary will be permitted by the state to operate a recreational dispensary, that the city is entitled to enact up to a 3% sales tax that could generate $150,000 to $300,000 in needed city revenues, and that a 2016 Township referendum resulted in 75% of voters in favor of legalization. She also noted that this was simply a listening session with no action or discussion to be undertaken by council. Taylor Gent, returning from living in Washington DC, stated her support for recreational cannabis but was interested in equity issues related to incentives for small businesses for additional dispensaries and keeping local monies local. Mike Lehman noted that he’s worked on this issue since 1990 and supports sale of recreational cannabis. He expects such sale to spur economic development and there is potential demand from students and visitors. David Rogers, Executive Director of Lifeline Connect, a residential recovery center for men recovering from substance abuse and addiction. He spoke against sale of cannabis as an entry level drug as indicated by his work with his clients. He indicated concern for increased accessibility particularly with respect to children. Page 3 of 4  Mark Fitzgerald spoke in favor of cannabis sales comparing it to sale of alcohol. He noted that marijuana will be sold in controlled, secure environments. He also noted the historical criminalization of marijuana. He commented on the use of the word recreational with respect to alcohol and suggested that adults should be allowed to make their own choices. Les Cotton, Pastor of Apostolic Life Church, board member of Lifeline Connect, and a graduate of that program. He spoke in opposition to the sale of recreational cannabis. He noted statistics from Colorado on impacts of marijuana sales. He also noted it as an entry level drug. Brenda Rogers did not wish to speak but wanted her position in opposition to sale of recreational cannabis noted. Meghan McDonald spoke in favor of recreational cannabis sales. She is a seven year resident and graduate of the University of Illinois, now working in the community. She noted that she is a rape survivor and suffers from PTSD for which she is receiving treatment. She noted her use of cannabis as the only effective treatment. She also commented on the negative impact criminalization has had on many and noted trauma as a gateway issue. The mayor noted receipt of email in favor of sales of cannabis from E&D Olmstread and Cheryl Bowie. She also noted that Sean Albers, agent of NuMed Dispensary, is in the audience and available to answer questions. She thanked folks for coming. J. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the council, Mayor Marlin adjourned the meeting at 8:13 p.m. Charles A. Smyth City Clerk This meeting was video recorded with website link (viewable on demand): https://www.urbanaillinois.us/node/7621 This meeting was broadcast on cable television (UPTV) and streamed live: http://urbanaillinois.us/uptv Minutes Approved: September 3, 2019 Page 4 of 4