City of Champaign Updates

This post covers the most recent Study Session topics on ordinance violation fines and the five year housing and community development plan for federal funds.It also covers some other updates and news items related to the City of Champaign (jump to link) on topics such as the Planning Commissions's recent recommendations, a damaged traffic light by an uninsured driver, and an update on the City's Southwest Master Plan for development around Curtis Road and the I-57 interchange.

The City of Champaign looked at reducing its fines for ordinance violations at its last study session. The video of the study session report on ordinance violations had a helpful explanation of how ordinance violations work. They explain the rationale behind them, how they're enforced, the state laws guiding local municipalities, and an overview and history of the fine levels in Champaign. That video is available here. The written report is available here. The News-Gazette had coverage earlier this week:

The city puts certain alcohol-related ordinance violations, such as underage drinking and using a fake ID, in its highest tier of offenses, for which the fine is $350.

At this week’s city council meeting, several council members said those fines are too high and instructed staff to adjust them for consideration at a future meeting...

In fiscal 2019, the city collected $635,971 in fines, which staff noted is less than 1 percent of the city’s general revenue fund. “Champaign does not use fines as a significant source of revenue to make up the City budget,” staff wrote in a report to council.

More at the full article here. Also covered at the study session was a five your plan relating to affordable housing priorities and related funding. Basically the City has to explain how it plans to use funds towards housing issues related to grants and programs for housing and community development. Excerpt from the written report:

The Five-Year Consolidated Plan and associated Annual Action Plans serve as the application for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

High priorities from the previous (2015-2019) Consolidated Plan were to provide affordable housing, eliminate slum/blight and support public services. Significant progress was made towards these goals with the completion of housing rehabilitation to 225 households, the near completion of the Bristol Place Redevelopment and the public services support to youth in the CommUnity Matters program.

The development of the new 2020-2024 Five-Year Consolidated Plan includes active collaboration with Champaign County, the City of Urbana, the Housing Authority of Champaign County, CU Public Health District and the Champaign County Continuum of Service Providers to the Homeless...

Recommended housing priority areas for the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan are: owner occupied rehabilitation and weatherization, affordable rental housing opportunities, homelessness support and reduction of lead-based paint exposure.

Recommended community development priority areas for the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan are: public services for youth and special populations, public facilities and infrastructure improvements and economic development.

Full report is available here. The video presentation is available from the Study Session here. UPDATE: A schedule for public input was posted on the City's twitter account. Image below (click to enlarge):

Other City of Champaign Updates:

The City's Planning Commission recommended a change to parking requirements that would allow a car wash facility to open near the AMC theater. The recommendation notes that the theater doesn't use all the parking spots now except one time during the highest grossing movie of all time. From the News-Gazette earlier this week:

The Champaign planning commission recommended the city council approve changes to its parking requirements for theaters so a car wash can open next to the AMC multiplex...

The car wash originally sought a minor variance from the zoning board of appeals. While that bid was rejected, a possible solution was recommended by the planning commission — reduce the number of parking spaces required per theater seat...

The planning commission recommended the change, which still needs council approval, and the theater’s property still needs to be subdivided so the northeast corner lot can be sold to Club CarWash.

That full article available here.


Tom's Mailbag in the News-Gazette had two updates in the past couple weeks on a traffic light that was struck by an uninsured motorist. Here's a basic overview of the damage from the February 7th Mailbag:

“When the cabinet was hit by a vehicle and demolished, we had to place a temporary cabinet and rewire everything to get the lights back on. That was accomplished by the end of the initial day of the accident. However, the intersection and lights basically went back to ‘factory reset,’” he said. “This meant all legs got an equal amount of time, left turn lights came on with no cars in left turn lane, pedestrian buttons were not working, etc.

“By Tuesday of this week, the pedestrian buttons were reprogrammed. As of Wednesday of this week, the left turn cameras and the timings have been tweaked to what they were prior to the accident. A new cabinet (with a price tag of $30,000) has been ordered. It will take approximately one month to be built and delivered. Once it is delivered and installed, the intersection should function nearly identical to what it did before last week’s accident.”

That full Mailbag here. And more information in the February 14th Mailbag about the uninsured driver's liability and the city likely being on the hook for the damages:

From the Champaign Police report: “It was discovered that Unit 1 ran off the road and hit a traffic light and electrical box. Unit 1’s license plate was left behind in the debris. Unit 1 driver was located at his residence along with the vehicle...

“Unit 1 driver admitted to being impaired while driving. Unit 1 driver stated he turned too fast and lost control of his vehicle. Unit 1 was towed and impounded. Unit 1 had significant front end damage...

The city will attempt to pursue legal action against the driver if possible, said Champaign City Attorney Fred Stavins.

That full Mailbag article here.


And last month there were a couple updates on the City's Southwest Master Plan for development. From WAND last month:

Anyone who has walked or driven past the southwest end of Champaign has probably seen some major changes recently.

Champaign leaders said their master plan is finally seeing some progress after many years of working on a plan for it.

"The master plan covers a mild square around the Curtis Road interstate. It is an area you can describe as four separate quadrants," said senior planner Lacey Rains-Lowe.

Full article and video segment available here. The News-Gazette had an overview of various businesses making plans in that developing area here.