The Urbana City Council met on Monday for its weekly meeting, voting on the fiscal year budget for 2024-2025.
The meeting began with the announcement of three promotions within the Urbana Fire Department. Chase Jones and Stephan Bert were both promoted from the rank of firefighter to engineer. Zachary Brooks was promoted from a candidate to the rank of firefighter.
Later, Nicole Muffitt addressed the council on behalf of The Well Experience, a community support group with a number of care programs for underserved and marginalized youth.
Muffitt requested that the council approve the fiscal year budget only if it limits increased policing and eliminates a substation in the Philo District, believing that crises must be resolved through resources and relationships, not through the threat of punitive action.
“It is through community and resources that violence is resolved and trauma is healed,” Muffitt said.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
An earlier draft of the proposed fiscal year budget included increases in police funding, including improvements to community relations, technology upgrades and increased staffing — a new deputy chief, a training sergeant and community engagement officers. These requests were made by Urbana Police Chief Larry Boone.
The increases in police funding have been a controversial issue for the city, with discussions being held among the city council and Urbana constituents at several meetings.
A session of public input as well as council input took place before the budget vote.
The city council approved the fiscal year budget without the police funding increase, instead approving an amendment to establish a citizen-led “Alternative Response Program,” with $300,000 in recurring funds and a one-time $150,000 grant from the community service fund. The program, overseen by a citizens task force, will be managed and funded through community development services.
The council also approved an amendment adjusting the Urbana Zoning Map and another amendment redistricting the Urbana wards.
The meeting concluded with mayoral appointments.
