City Council Regular Meeting

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES DATE: Monday, March 14th, 2022 TIME: 7: 0 0 pm PLACE: *Virtually Via Zoom, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, IL 61801 The City Council of the City of Urbana, Illinois, met in regular session Monday, March 14th, 2022, at 7:00pm. ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Diane Wolfe Marlin, Mayor; Phyllis D. Clark, City Clerk ELECTED OFFICIALS VIRTUALLY PRESENT: CM Maryalice Wu, CM Christopher Evans, CM Shirese Hursey, CM Jaya Kolisetty, CM Chaundra Bishop, CM Grace Wilken, CM James Quisenberry ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Darcy Sandefur, Bourema Ouedraogo, Carol Mitten, Sheila Dodd, Dave Wesner OTHERS PRESENT: Dr. Eric Green, University of Illinois Professor; Alexa Smith, John Hopkins, Maiah Caise, Christopher Eng, Asli Topuzlu, Students of Dr. Green’s Class; Andrew Niselhoff, IDHA; 1. Call to Order and Roll Call With a quorum virtually present, Chair Mayor Marlin called the meeting of the Urbana City Council to order at 7:25 PM. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING February 28th, 2022 Motion to approve by CM Bishop and seconded by CM Wilken. Vote by roll call: AYE: Quisenberry, Wilken, Bishop, Kolisetty, Hursey, Evans, Wu NAY: None 3. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA CM Wilken motioned to add a presentation on food waste and a plastic bag tax by Dr. Eric Green’s class before public input seconded by CM Evans. Vote by roll call: AYE: Kolisetty, Wu, Evans, Hursey, Bishop, Wilken, Quisenberry NAY: None Page 1 of 5 4. PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC INPUT 1. Student Projects U of I Presentation Dr. Green provided a brief introduction for his class. The first group began their presentation on addressing food waste and food insecurity in Urbana. Students established their credibility, shared their project goals, and proposed practices that the City could adopt to reduce food waste and food insecurity. The second group began their presentation on a proposed plastic bag tax to reduce environmental contaminates. Students explained the functional differences between a bag ban and a bag tax. The group presented possible outcomes for the City including financial impacts. The students cited other municipalities successfully implementing plastic bag taxes. 2. City of Urbana ARPA Response & Recovery Allocation - Mayor Mayor Marlin announced upcoming opportunities for the public to provide ARPA input. Motion to amend public input guidelines to prioritize the first thirty minutes of public input for ARPA by CM Wu and seconded by CM Hursey. Discussion ensued. Vote by roll call: AYE: Wu, Evans, Hursey, Kolisetty, Bishop, Wilken, Quisenberry NAY: None Rev. Dr. Evelyn Underwood expressed frustration at opportunities for public input. Spoke in support of the Council contributing to match the mil campaign for additional funding to the SWFT program. Stressed the importance of supporting the minority communities. Brandi McCoy likes the idea of a wellness center within the City but feels that the focus of funding should be the residents most impacted by COVID. Spoke in support of the math the mil campaign for additional funding to the SWFT program. Eddie Pratt Jr. spoke in support of the match the mil campaign for additional funding to the SWFT program. Stressed the importance of addressing systemic infrastructure issues. Fiona Munro strongly encouraged City council to correct infrastructural issues within the Dr. Ellis Subdivision with ARPA funds. Echoed support for the math the mil campaign for additional funding to the SWFT program. Joan Grave echoed support for infrastructure rebuild for sewer system in the Dr. Ellis subdivision. Julie Watkins stressed importance of supporting job development and infrastructure improvements. Patrick Thompson spoke in support of utilizing the ARPA funds for economic development, job creation, and hiring a diversity compliance officer at the City. Hopes to see funds used to serve communities to address historic inequities. CM Wu read on behalf of Kanittha Fay (see attached). Alison Colgrove submitted written comment for public input (see attached). 3. Public Input None. Page 2 of 5 5. COUNCIL INPUT AND COMMUNICATIONS CM Wilken thanked public for their input. Apologized for confusion with presentation this evening with regard for whom would be presenting. Mayor Marlin provided further clarity on the scheduling evening’s presentation and asked that all presentations be routed through the Clerk’s Office. CM Quisenberry echoed a member of the publics input about the structuring of the survey and changes that could be made to increase efficiency. CM Wu announced that the neighborhood rezoning meeting regarding R7 housing (fraternity houses) will be rescheduled to Tuesday March 29th over Zoom instead of over RingCentral. CM Kolisetty thanked City staff for being flexible while receiving public input on R7 rezoning. Extended appreciation for Dr. Green’s presentation and provided further clarity on presentation scheduling. CM Evans thanked public for input. Stressed the importance of developing all portions of the City equitably. CM Hursey spoke in support of the City providing additional information about the Dr. Ellis subdivision infrastructure. Spoke in support of the plastic bag tax. Mayor Marlin shared that the City strongly supports input and engagement from all residents of the city including students. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 7. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES Committee Of The Whole (Council Member Grace Wilken – Ward 6) 1. CONSENT AGENDA a. Ordinance No. 2022-03-010: An Ordinance Amending Schedule H of Section 23-93 of the Urbana Local Traffic Code Requiring Stop Signs at a Certain Intersection (Ogelthorpe Avenue at Rainbow View; Montgomery Street at Rainbow View; Michigan Avenue at Ogelthorpe Avenue; Michigan Avenue at Abercorn Street; Michigan Avenue at Montgomery Street) – PW b. Resolution No. 2022-03-026R: A Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of a DCEO Grant (Nevada Street Lighting Project) – CD Presented by CM Wilken. Motion to approve by CM Wilken and seconded by CM Kolisetty. Vote by roll call: AYE: Wu, Evans, Hursey, Kolisetty, Bishop, Wilken, Quisenberry NAY: None. 2. REGULAR AGENDA a. Resolution No. 2022-03-024R: A Resolution Approving the Transfer of Volume Cap in Connection with Private Activity Bond Issues, Single-Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds, and Related Matters (Private Bond Cap Allocation – Assist Programs, Series 2022) – CD Presented by CM Wilken. Motion to approve by CM Wilken and seconded by CM Wu. Community Development Director Sheila Dodd helped respond to questions. Questions and discussion ensued. Andrew Niselhoff from IDHA was asked to help respond to questions about development. Page 3 of 5  CM Wilken and second CM Wu withdraw the motion on the floor. CM Kolisetty motioned to send item back to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion. Seconded by CM Bishop. Further discussion ensued. Vote by roll call: AYE: Wu, Evans, Kolisetty, Bishop, Wilken, Quisenberry NAY: Hursey b. Resolution No. 2022-03-025R: A Resolution Approving the Transfer of Volume Cap in Connection with Private Activity Bond Issues, Single-Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds, and Related Matters (Private Bond Cap Allocation – IDHA, Series 2022) – CD Presented by CM Wilken. Primary discussion occurred concurrently with Resolution No. 2022-03-024R. Motion to approve by CM Wilken and seconded by CM Wu. Discussion ensued. Motion was amended to include language “a minimum of” prior to dollar figure allocation by CM Bishop and seconded by CM Quisenberry. Vote by roll call on amendment: AYE: Wu, Evans, Hursey, Kolisetty, Bishop NAY: Wilken, Quisenberry Vote on motion as amended by roll call: AYE: Wu, Evans, Hursey, Kolisetty, Bishop, Wilken, Quisenberry NAY: None 8. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES None. 9. REPORTS OF OFFICERS Mayor Marlin shared that staff met with City of Champaign in relation to utilization of ARPA funds to reduce community violence. Pride 2022 will once again be held in the City of Urbana in October. This upcoming Thursday will be the return of the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade. City meetings will return to in person on April 4th. 10. NEW BUSINESS None. CM Bishop inquired about additional information on the R7 zoning changes. Mayor Marlin directed toward information on the website and shared that there would be information brought to council later. Page 4 of 5 11. DISCUSSION a. Rental Assistance for Individuals Impacted by Gun Violence – CD Community Development Director Sheila Dodd introduced the topic and shared that steps have already been taken within the community by community partners to provide rental assistance for individuals impacted by gun violence. Hope is to launch the program in May of this year and intend to utilize some of the City’s CDBG and HOME funds to launch this program through intergovernmental agreements. The purpose of tonight’s discussion is to assess council support of pursuing this opportunity in order to facilitate a future presentation with the grant agreements and intergovernmental agreements. Council would have final approval. Discussion and questions endued. Mayor Marlin called for an informal straw poll. Council consensus was for the City to proceed with preparing the agreements for Council approval at a future meeting. Further discussion ensued. CM Quisenberry inquired about procedural options for his planned upcoming travel for work. Mayor Marlin asked that the next meeting instead be chaired by the next available Council Member. The next Committee of the Whole shall be chaired by CM Evans as CM Wu will also be traveling. 12. ADJOURNMENT With no further business before the Urbana City Council Chair Marlin adjourned this meeting at 9:27 P.M. Darcy Sandefur Recording Secretary This meeting was video recorded and is viewable on-demand HERE. Minutes approved: 03/28/2022 Page 5 of 5  Sandefur, Darcy . From: · Kanittha Fay <kanittha.fay@gmail.com> Sent: . Monday, March 14, 2022 6:42 PM To: !City Council Subject: ARPA Public input for public record , _ ***·E~ail.FroinAn External Soq.rc·e ***_ Use caution when clicking on.links oropening attachments. - I would like ask that my council member, Jaines Quise~berry read my email below at tonight's meeting Dear Mayor Marlin, City Council Members and City Clerk, For the ARPA survey; we believe that it is crucial thatin addition to·the check boxes, we ask for the closest intersection for the Urbana respondents' place of residence. . . It will help the city to have more accurate information for- future analysis. Residents from different wards might have:difforent needs. (It was done during the Imagine Urbana survey.) Mistakes can easily be made using the . check box feature alone especially . on a smartphone. Sincerely,· Kanitthafay 1 Sandefur, Darcy From: . L~' Alison Colgrove <alcolgrove@gma1l.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2022 12:02 AMr: · To: !City Council {_J Subject: ARPA Public Input for Public Record- . _· *** Eniai}FrQmAn External_SoQ.rc·e ***.. Use cautii:m wheri clicking cinlinks or_ o ening attachments. -__ Good Evening City Council members, Thank you so much for developing the survey to give residents the opportunity to provide feedback on how the ARP A funds should be used, which will help the city of Urbana set priorities for spending the funds from this one time program. I'm emailing with a suggestion about a concern that may seem minor but could impact the input you receive. It seems to me that the street intersection question provides very valuable information that could be used to assess people's needs and concerns based on their residence location. Because ofthis, it seems like the street intersection question should be combined with question number one or at least be moved to the first page, rather than presented as optional data on the second page. Hopefully, with the survey as is, Urbana residents will take the time to provide this information with other input so that the city of Urbana can make decisions based on specific citizen feedback and best address citizen needs and concerns with this valuable funding opportunity. Thank you for listening, Alison Colgrove 1805 N Willow Rd.:) 1