Champaign City Council Updates

It's been a busy couple of weeks for the City of Champaign's government, from wine walks to a massive collaborative planning project downtown. Starting a couple weeks ago, the Council was addressing more typical small town business. From the News-Gazette:

Champaign council OKs liquor-code changes for wine walks, raffles
Wine walks" and "queen of hearts" raffles will be coming to Champaign as early as this summer, now that Champaign City Council members have signed off on changes to the city liquor code.

The "wine walk," which the Champaign Center Partnership had pushed for, will allow patrons to go from store to store and sample alcohol. Supporters say it's a way to promote small businesses downtown; were it not for the changes approved Tuesday, each business would have had to purchase its own temporary liquor license. Now, only one is required for the whole event.

Council members also voted to amend the original bill, which called for events to be no longer than five hours (it was changed to four) and sampling sessions to take place between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. (it was extended until 8 p.m., in part to keep crowds downtown during "Friday Night Lights")...

Development Services Center had expressed interest in allowing "queen of hearts" raffles, in which people buy tickets for a chance to pick the queen of hearts from a card deck. If it's not chosen, the jackpot rolls over...

Council members also approved about $1 million in work for the Bradley Avenue project, which aims to address pedestrian safety after two fatal pedestrian accidents in the past three years.

Full article here. Last week the News-Gazette had an overview of the City of Champaign's Study Session meeting:

Champaign council OKs developing guidelines for sponsoring special events
Champaign City Council members directed staff Tuesday to prepare a policy setting guidelines for how the city sponsors and funds special events.

The city code defines a special event as one requiring use of the right of way within Champaign, but there's no formal guidelines currently in place for determining the amount of money the city gives out or reimburses or that addresses the staff impact of processing applications and handing out money.

The city currently treats requests on a case-by-case basis...

The council was not ready Tuesday to give the authority to grant sponsorship or case-by-case funding of special events to a commission, as some other cities in the state have done. So members directed staff to come up with guidelines they can use when considering special-event funding.

Full article with more information and commentary of council members and city staff here. In an article previewing the meeting, the News-Gazette had an excerpt that summed up some of the staff concerns:

The way the city has supported events in recent years is not sustainable, according to staff. Based on Champaign's financial forecast, they wrote, "it is unlikely that the city could identify recurring funding for special-event support without cuts to existing initiatives or finding a new revenue source."

The city devotes about $120,000 annually to sponsorship of special events, with $50,000 of it in cash and the rest in covering police, fire and public works costs.

That full article here with a list of examples of such events. The full staff report is available here on the city's website. At the same study session there was also a report on possibly expanding household hazardous waste and electronic recycling collection locally. That full staff report is available here. An overview from the News-Gazette a couple weeks back is available here. The City of Champaign also has a listing of local options for collection, though some involve some planning and/or a drive: Where Do I Recycle It? WCIA also had a blurb and short video segment on local collection here.


"The Yards"

At yesterday's Special Study Session of the City Council they looked at the collaboration project called "The Yards" with a notable absent collaborator. From WILL today (with a short audio segment and visual aids):

‘The Yards’ Downtown Development Clears Hurdle At Champaign City Council Study Session
Champaign City Council members indicated in a study session Tuesday night that they’re ready to commit future tax revenue to help a quarter billion downtown project known as “The Yards”.

Council members voted 7 to 2 to direct city staff to continue negotiations with developers of the project, to be reviewed at a future study session.

“The Yards” would include an a multi-sports arena including an ice surface for a proposed U of I Division One hockey team, a convention center, a hotel, apartments, expansion of the Illinois Terminal building, and parking structures.. But some questions --- and complaints --- remain...

Council members voiced other concerns about “The Yards” project, including whether the area could handle the expected increase in traffic, whether the parking structures would be enough to handle the project’s parking needs, and whether the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics would actually commit to establishing a Division One hockey team that would play at the proposed new ice arena. No DIA officials were present at the study session, which drew pointed remarks from some council members and audience members...

Hans Grotelueschen, one of the developers for “The Yards”, says he expects to answer many of the questions raised at Tuesday night’s study session at the next city council study session on the project. He says his hope is to start construction on the development later this year, with completion in the latter half of 2021.

Full article here, including some concerns about priorities with the Garden Hills Neighborhood improvements that I'll be highlighting in a post specifically about the improvements and hurdles there soon. Council member Fourman who represents the Garden Hills Neighborhood had some additional criticisms, however, as the News-Gazette highlighted in their coverage:

"The city has consistently shown that it cares about tourists more than its own citizens," she said. "It's not a surprise to anyone that I've had issues with this development. I was told it was going to be a hockey arena. Where is the U of I? Is this even a project without them? And no traffic study? Seriously?"

Fourman said the answers to affordability questions in downtown were worrisome, and added that whereas Costco, which is planning to build a store in the former Bergner's space at Market Place Mall, was able to provide specific information on jobs, salaries and benefits, The Yards was not.

"This is unacceptable," Fourman said. "I'm very disturbed by my council members' excitement. For one, it doesn't have any real partners. Without the U of I involved, what is this project? I'm disgusted with my fellow council members that they're OK with this. I care about my job, and this development is not a representation of the people."

More at that article here. For additional information on the funding strategy of the City, the News-Gazette's preview of the meeting had a detailed explanation of the TIF bonds and how they work here. For additional information on the Costco planning and incentives, the News-Gazette had additional coverage here. Smile Politely also had a recent update on their "The Yards" coverage with a lot of helpful links and information here.