City Council Regular Meeting

CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE CITY OF URBANA MEETING MINUTES DATE: Monday, May 16, 2022 TIME: 6:30 p.m. PLACE: Urbana City Building, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, IL 61801 The Urbana City Council Committee of the Whole, met in regular session Monday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m. ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT: City Council Members, Maryalice Wu; Christopher Evans; Shirese Hersey [6:45]; Jaya Kolisetty; Chaundra Bishop; Grace Wilkens [6:34]; James Quisenberry; Diane Wolf Marlin, Mayor; and Phyllis D. Clark, City Clerk. ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Carol Mitten, Will Kolchowsky, John Zeman, Tim Cowan, Carmen Franks. Kat Trotter, Marcus Ricci and Kevin Garcia 1. Call to Order and Roll Call – Chair, Jaya Kolisetty With a quorum present, Chair Kolisetty called the Committee of the Whole to order at 6:30 PM. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETING April 18, 2022 May 2, 2022 CM Bishop moved to approve the minutes of the April 18, 2022 and May 2, 2022 meetings, CM Wu second. The minutes were approved by unanimous voice vote. 3. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA None 4. PUBLIC INPUT: a. Julie Watkins – Commented on the presentation from last week and showed concern for the residence in the Dr. Ellis Subdivision as it relates to the sewer situation and the apparent taxing issue that has been added to their plight. She encouraged the consideration of hybrid meetings as well and stated that the United States need to encourage more social housing in this country. b. Phil Fiscella – Spoke in support of the Township Assessor, Wayne Williams, being allowed to attain the software that will give him the ability to review changes  to properties through the Recorder of Deeds records without him physically going to their office. This software will give him the ability to assess how well Laredo Software works and whether it would be to their advantage to keep it past the 3 years. c. Habib Gray – Addressed the Committee about a life threatening call that he made to the Police department. He was not happy with the level service he got and feels that there needs to be some reprimand for their lack of action. d. Allan Max Axelrod – Commented that the Ellis Drive Subdivision is not along as it relates to the sewer system, however, it is the first subdivision that African- Americans could purchase a home. Mr. Axelrod read an article entitled, “Segregation in the Heartland” dated in 2019. “Levels of segregation within the Champaign, Urbana, Danville and Peoria areas have remained unchanged since the 1980’s counter to the prevailing national downward trends.” This was the same point used in 2017 not to discuss when these different communities were developed. He also feels that going remote would be prudent. e. Eric Saks – Thanked the Mayor, Council and staff for their untiring work on the R-7 zoning ordinance and appreciated them listening to the concerns of the neighborhood and implementing some of the ideas brought forth by the residents. f. Eldress Melinda Carr – Concerned citizens of the Dr. Ellis Subdivision and wants to continue to express the importance of this Council to continue to hear the needs of the residence of Dr. Ellis Subdivision sewer/sanitary system issues. You have a hard decision to make as it relates to how the funds that are forthcoming should be distributed. We want you to keep Dr. Ellis Subdivision in the forefront of your mind and allocate what is needed to correct the problem. g. Brandi MV McCoy – Submitted written comments, please see attached. PRESENTATION: Mr. Dennis Roberts, Chair of the Urbana Sister Cities program presented the Champion of Youth Award to Ms. Linda Lopez, Executive Teacher in the Department of World and Classical Languages at the University High School, known as Uni High. With the efforts of Ms. Lopez and her students the interactions with students in Thionville was such a positive experience for all of the students the National Sister Cities Organization chose to present this award to Ms. Lopez and her class here at University High School in Urbana. 5. STAFF REPORT: Presented by – Tim Cowan, Will Kolchowski, John Zeman and Carmen Franks a. Capital Improvement Plan Mr. Cowan stated that the presentation tonight will be brief and questions are welcomed. Through power point presentation there was explanation of what a capital improvement plan is comprised of such as, capital replacement and investment expenditures; improving City assets; group of dedicated funds and project based activities. How Capital Improvement Plans are decided is through executive summary; capital asset summary; transportation project book; facilities project book; sewer system project book and the money aspect of it is the fund reports. The process includes working with partners, asset summary review, project lists, maintenance programs, financial projections and fund balances. Questions and answers ensued. b. ARPA Public Input Review – Presented by – Ashlee McLaughlin and JD McLanahan from RPC Ashlee McLaughlin and JD McLanahan presented the power point setting out the steps that was used to gather the information that culminated the feedback from the public input. He stated that there was 596 respondents that expressed many comments. The majority of the respondents were women that expressed about 1,000 + unique ideas that the City could utilize for use of the ARPA funds. Ashlee presented on the goals and outcomes of the ARPA funds. Goals that were repeated most in all five of the areas was that money should be invested back into people the need most and/or impacted most by the pandemic, progress toward greater equity, opportunity to meet basic needs and impacts that increase future stability for the community at large. Overarching goals such as transportation, utilities and future preparedness. Urbana need more outdoor public spaces, more safety and law enforcement and healthcare for everyone. Concept plan should identify goals to guide the City’s allocation of the ARPA funds. Discussion ensued. 6. DISCUSSION: ARPA Accelerated Track Option for Time Sensitive Projects and Programs – Presented by Will Kolchowski Mr. Kolchowski presented a proposal to Council for the option to allocate funds on an accelerated track for projects that may be time sensitive. The delaying of some of these projects may cause them to be in jeopardy of surviving. Discussion ensued.  Mayor Marlin stated that during the discussions of the ARPA funds the Council wanted to concentrate on the Council Goals before discussion the ARPA distribution. During the month of December through March we held many goal setting sessions and has established some great goals that align with ARPA guidelines which brings the Council to the proposal being presented tonight. Questions and discussion ensued. Chair Kolisetty introduced Resolution No. 2022-05-040R: A Resolution Authorizing Intervention in a Pending Property Tax Assessment Appeal before the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (Family Video Movie Club, 1901 South Philo Road) Resolution No. 2022-05-041R : A Resolution Authorizing Intervention in a Pending Property Tax Assessment Appeal Before the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (Walgreens, 302 East University Avenue). Resolution No. 2022-05-042R : A Resolution Authorizing Intervention in a Pending Property Tax Assessment Appeal Before the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (Nabor House Fraternity, 1002 South Lincoln Avenue). City Administrator, Carol Mitten, presented the following Resolutions asking the Council to grant the City permission to intervene in these three cases to not have their assessments reduced any further than what has been determined by the Champaign County Board of Review. Chair Kolisetty called for a motion to send Resolution No. 2022-05-040R; Resolution No. 2022-05-041R and Resolution No. 2022-05-042R to Council for approval. CM Wu moved that these three resolutions be considered in omnibus fashion, CM Hursey second. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. CM Quisenberry moved Resolution No. 2022-05-040R; Resolution No. 2022-05-041R and Resolution No. 2022-05-042R to Council for approval on the Consent Agenda. CM Wu second. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Chair Kolisetty introduced Ordinance No. 2022-05-015: An Ordinance Amending the Urbana Zoning Ordinance (R-7, University Residential Text Amendment / Plan Case 2438- T-22) This Text Amendment was presented via power point by Kat Trotter and Kevin Garcia. The Plan Commission voted unanimously to send the Text Amendment to Council for approval with suggested changes that were made on April 2nd. On May 2nd the Committee of the Whole directed staff to differentiate between the east and west sides of  Lincoln Avenue, and clarify reuse of an existing building and parking requirements for commercial use with a special use permit. Staff has made the changes and is asking that the text amendment be moved forward for approval. Chair Kolisetty called for a motion to send Ordinance No. 2022-05-015: An Ordinance Amending the Urbana Zoning Ordinance (R-7, University Residential Text Amendment / Plan Case 2438-T-22) to Council for approval. CM Wu moved Ordinance No. 2022-05-015: An Ordinance Amending the Urbana Zoning Ordinance (R-7, University Residential Text Amendment / Plan Case 2438- T-22) be sent to Council on the regular agenda for approval. CM Wilken second. Motion Carried by unanimous voice vote. Chair Kolisetty introduced Ordinance No. 2022-05-018: An Ordinance Amending the Urbana Zoning Ordinance (Solar Energy System Text Amendment / Plan Case 2425-T-21) The Zoning Ordinance was presented Marcus Ricci. He stated that staff recommend changing the proposed amendment to remove agricultural zoning districts to a committed zoning district over to having them be a special use district and to remove R-6B; R7; B-1; and B-2. It is suggest that the rest of the language be unchanged. Chair Kolisetty called for a motion to send Ordinance No. 2022-05-018: An Ordinance Amending the Urbana Zoning Ordinance (Solar Energy System Text Amendment / Plan Case 2425-T-21) to Council for approval. CM Quisenberry moved Ordinance No. 2022-05-018: An Ordinance Amending the Urbana Zoning Ordinance (Solar Energy System Text Amendment / Plan Case 2425-T-21) be sent to Council for approval with the corrections. CM Bishop second. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. ADJOURNMENT With there being no further business to come before this body, Chair Kolisetty adjourned the meeting at 10:25 p.m. ___________________________ Phyllis D. Clark, City Clerk Minutes Approved: 06-21-2022 Recording Secretary  From: Brandi MV McCoy Sent: Monday, May 16, 2022 6:23 PM To: !City Council Subject: Public Comment 05-16-22 *** Email From An External Source*** Use caution when clickin on links or o enin attachments. Please read this comment aloud if time permits. Good evening, I'd like to advocate for a hybrid meeting option. I repeatedly find myself without the ability to attend in person due to scheduling conflicts and while emailing my comment is obviously an option, it does not demonstrate the same level of engagement, in my opinion. Urbana City Council is not the only intended audience for many public comments. The public comment space is also one where people from different sub-communities, who would never otherwise interact, can come together. Public comment is not only a way to address the council, but to ask the community for support; to show the community there is a problem they may not know about. Even having the comment read aloud by a council member does not do justice to that level of community engagement. It's a beautiful level of community engagement and participation, and one that should not be gatekept. I would also like to note that when not present, 9/10 I am listening. I am present virtually. If council members can participate virtually barring technical issues in their remote locations, why can't members of the public who would so choose? Not even for an entire meeting, but for the few brief moments it takes to make their voices heard in a literal sense. Illinois State's Attorney Kwame Raul has said it's acceptable. IT resolved the volume issue, as far as I'm aware at least, for remote listeners. I have optimism that they are also capable of resolving any issues with a hybrid participation model, even if it takes a little time. Encourage community input in any way possible, and allow a hybrid option for those without the ability to attend in person so we may have every opportunity to work together as a community in-hand with city council to make Urbana better in every possible way. Thank you, Brandi MV McCoy 1