Champaign Roundup

The Champaign City Council addressed a few issues this week. Earlier the News-Gazette reported that they'd be taking up expanding a diversity program and taxicab rules in their Tuesday regular meeting. On the diversity program from Monday's News-Gazette:

Champaign looks to broaden diversity incentive program
Champaign City council members will vote this week on expanding diversity incentive payments to any project commissioned by the city of Champaign.

As of now, such incentives are only used in Champaign's public works department, which focuses on infrastructure, buildings, land and vehicle equipment. There are 15 other city departments.

If approved Tuesday night, the expanded incentives would apply to female- and minority-owned businesses, as well as others the city contracts with.

More at the full article here. The bill passed at the meeting (jump to the vote from the meeting video here). And on the taxicab rules from Tuesday:

Champaign council to consider changes in taxicab regulations
The changes proposed for both Champaign and Urbana would do away with blanket restrictions for drivers with any felony conviction and would make some taxis display a "cash only" sign. The Champaign City Council is scheduled to vote on the matter tonight.

The changes would apply to vehicle-for-hire services, which the cities define as taxis and limousines but not ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft.

In Champaign, there are 33 companies operating 50 vehicles with 85 drivers. Twenty-four of those are single-vehicle operators with a single driver.

Should the measure pass, only drivers with certain felonies — like DUI, fraud, a sexual offense, theft, property damage or using a car to commit a felony — would be restricted from obtaining a vehicle-for-hire license. And an appeals process would be set up for denied licenses.

More at the full article here. The two bills (available here and here) that changed those rules were consolidated and passed unanimously by the council (jump to the vote from the meeting video here). The News-Gazette had a follow up of other issues addressed at the same Council meeting yesterday:

Champaign council OKs final plan for housing development near Walmart
The city council approved the final plat for a new housing development near Walmart on Tuesday, but not before council member Alicia Beck asked some pointed questions about accessibility.

The Havens, a Housing Authority of Champaign County development that would mainly serve senior citizens and people with disabilities currently living at Skelton Place, is planned for the Market Place subdivision. The closest bus stop to the proposed entrance is a quarter-mile away at Walmart...

Fellow council member Vanna Pianfetti assured Beck that she's had conversations with the developers and MTD, and the transit authority is "very open to conversations about moving bus stops..."

In other business:

— Council members voted Tuesday to expand diversity-incentive payments given to any project commissioned by the city. Until now, such incentives have only been used in Champaign's public works department, with a focus on infrastructure. Tuesday's vote expands the incentives to any female- and minority-owned businesses.

— The council approved an $85,000 contract for Farnsworth Group of Champaign to repair a brick sidewalk downtown and complete a sidewalk on Hagan Street near Bloomington Road where there is a gap. The company will also work on repairing two railroad crossings and a bridge, but those projects won't begin this year.

— Three new Champaign police officers were inducted Tuesday, as well as one firefighter. Also, Roger Cruz, who served as the president of the firefighter pension board, was promoted to deputy fire chief.

More at the full article here. And finally, the mayor also designated a "festival district" that coincides with the upcoming "Friday Night Live" event:

Champaign's first 'festival district' designation set Friday
Mayor Deb Feinen, who also serves as the city's liquor commissioner, announced the designation from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, which coincides with the final "Friday Night Live" event of the season. It means customers of participating restaurants and bars can buy alcohol and drink it outside in the district generally bounded by Main Street on the north, University Avenue on the south, Neil Street on the west and Chestnut Street on the east. Neil from Main to Washington streets is also part of the district.

Participating merchants can provide wristbands and serve alcohol in paper or plastic cups to customers who want to enjoy live music while drinking on public property within the festival district.

Drinkers have to buy alcohol from a participating establishment and wear an official wristband to have open containers. Residents are not allowed to bring alcohol bought somewhere else into the district.

Full article here. More information on the Friday Night Live event here.