City of Champaign Winter Updates

The past few months have seen new district map, some important new appointments, updates on gun violence, and community investment. There will be a separate post for Unit 4 and the City of Champaign's gun violence funding issues.

The 2024 Primary Election (and first day of Spring!) is coming up on March 19th. Check out the VoteChampaign / League of Women Voters Candidate Guide for non-partisan candidate information. The City of Champaign's City Council and Mayoral elections are during odd years, but there are other local government races on the ballot.

Redistricting:

The City Council approved a new district map for the city this month. From the city's Engage Champaign website:

On January 9, 2024, the City Council adopted new geographic boundaries for City Council Districts. This approval followed a lengthy project to gather input and map suggestions from the public through the engagement project outlined on this page. This project is now complete, and an interactive version of the adopted map can be viewed through the City's website.

There didn't appear to be much, if any, local coverage of the redistricting process towards the end. The City's process appeared to carefully take current law and court precedent under serious consideration. Other than keeping an eye on the process, I did not hear any specific concerns about the proposed maps towards the final stage. 

Back in early December the City Council switched the map under final consideration from map #6 to #9. The issue was referred back to staff to finalize. From the 12/5 minutes: 

After a brief explanation of the Council Bill by Mayor Feinen, CM Beck, seconded by CM Pianfetti, moved to refer the item back to staff for map proposal #9 consideration, instead of map proposal #6. A roll-call vote was taken; all voted yes.

As the minutes suggest, there was no discussion or comment during the amendment vote or referral back to staff (video jump to). One can still compare the two maps from an older Study Session report from 10/6/2023: 

Goal Setting: 

The City Council unanimously approved its two year goal setting language at its 1/9/2024 meeting (video jump to) (see previous Cheat Sheet post on the goal setting meetings last fall). The city's Engage Champaign website has a page devoted to the process with links to more information.

Crime and Gun Violence:

The Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) program with Flock Safety was renewed and expanded according to the News-Gazette (see 12/12 City Council video and minutes here). The News-Gazette had an editorial in favor of the renewal afterward. The Champaign Police Department continues to report reduced shootings and a drop in violent crime. From the News-Gazette coverage of January's Champaign County Community Coalition:

The Champaign Police Department is moving in the right direction and not looking to make any wholesale changes — at least according to Deputy Police Chief Geoffrey Coon...

Champaign saw an almost 50 percent drop in shootings in 2023 compared to 2022 and a nearly 75 percent drop in shootings last year compared to 2021, a release from the city police department said...

Coon pointed to the department’s increased investment in building relationships with community members, as well as the implementation of new technology like license-plate-readers and “old fashioned police work” to the drop in violent crime.

That full article here. The full Community Coalition video is available here with law enforcement updates beginning about 2 minutes in. C-U Citizen Access has previously reported that violent crime and shootings have fallen in both Champaign and Urbana in spite of the policy and ALPR technology differences. Other metropolitan areas saw similar drops in gun violence and violent crime as reported by the Springfield Journal-Register.

Flock's gunshot detection system, however, will likely not be continued in the City of Champaign when that contract expires next month. C-U Citizen Access had more coverage on that here.

Champaign Deputy Chief Kevin Olmstead said Flock marketed the technology to be 90% accurate at detecting gunshots within 90 feet of the discharge. However, that accuracy rate has not been held in Champaign.

“To date, the system has not yet lived up to performance expectations, including misidentifying some sounds — such as fireworks or a vehicle backfire — as possible gunfire,” Olmstead said in a statement. 

To continue using the detectors, the annual cost would be $25,000 per square mile, which brings the city’s cost to $32,500 per year. The current contract will end on Feb. 27, 2024 unless the city council votes to continue usage.

More information at that full article here (as well as some previous coverage of the problems from C-U Citizen Access).

Other crime and gun violence related Champaign updates:

• The News-Gazette continues to give updates on guns reported lost or stolen in the area. On 1/12 they printed a summary of some examples from last summer.
• Additional coverage on additional high definition "public safety cameras" at over a dozen intersections form the News-Gazette and WCIA. This is in addition to a previous approval for a new new surveillance van last summer. The van was described as a "Multi-Purpose Vehicle" in the agenda, but also as "Premier Surveillance Platform" with a Command Center and Tech Center in the manufacturer's specifications. Those specifications are available on the Cheat Sheet twitter page here.
• The News-Gazette had coverage of the City's approval of more anti-violence programs as part of its Community Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint. They specifically highlighted the Raynard Glass' mentorship program in additional coverage as well. Mr. Glass thanked the City for its supporting during the 12/12/2023 City Council public comments.
• The News-Gazette and Daily Illini had coverage of the City Council's approval of a second round of violence prevention funding.

Other Champaign Updates:

• Champaign Park District on future Clark Park renovations from the News-Gazette.
• Andy Quarnstrom was appointed to be the new Champaign Fire Department Chief after the retirement of Gary Ludwig. Quarnstrom was promoted from his role as acting deputy fire chief and had to resign in his other local government role as Township Supervisor. The City of Champaign fast-tracked the process of appointing a new Township Supervisor according to the News-Gazette and WCIA.
• The News-Gazette also reported that Kyle Patterson, the current County Board Chairman, has been appointed to be the next City of Champaign Township Supervisor, likely sometime in February. WCIA had more with Patterson here. The News-Gazette also had coverage of the other Township Supervisor applicants. Their interviews with the Township Board (same members as the City Council) is available here in the meeting video.
• University Group building and Campustown headquarters updates from the News-Gazette.
• The 12/29/2023 Kathy's Mailbag feature in the News-Gazette had updates on the Garden Hills drainage project and some information on Champaign Fire Department fire truck repairs.
• The News-Gazette highlighted City staff donations to non-profit organizations.
• WCIA and the Daily Illini had coverage of the City of Champaign receiving a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2023 Municipal Equality Index.