Champaign city officials addressed plans regarding the city’s 150th Anniversary Celebration and council goals for 2010 and the decade at their regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night.
Champaign’s 150th Anniversary Celebration committee proposed three events to be held in 2011 to mark the sesquicentennial. The three events, “Honor Yesterday,” “Celebrate Today,” and “Build Tomorrow,” will take place from March 2010 to March 2011 in chronological order.
“What we really want to celebrate is where Champaign has come from and what it is today,” said LaEisha Meaderds, 150th Celebration coordinator. “The events and activities are made to pay reverence to our heritage, acknowledge present-day achievements, and inspire our future.”
The events and legacy projects, including a fountain and funding for the year-long celebration will come from the general fund, the downtown taxing district fund, and from the East University taxing district fund. Meaderds said the committee hopes to attract private donations to cover additional expenses, such as staffing. Financing for the legacy fountain will be taken from funds established for construction of another fountain. The committee is gathering artifacts and relics from Champaign residents to narrate the city’s history. The collection will be showcased in an exhibit this March.
“We want to honor the gifts and contributions that our citizens have offered within in the community and beyond,” Joe DeLuca, a special events committee member, said.
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Goals discussed for the decade included improving city services, promoting environmental sustainability, and maintaining a healthy economy. Dorothy David, assistant city manager, said strategic initiatives are being undertaken to make progress on these goals within the next two years.
Along with these issues, council members voted on ordinances for reclassifying zoning codes, contracting with a redesign service for the city’s public Web site and authorizing City Manager Steve Carter to begin reconstruction of the John Street drainage system. All members voted yes on these ordinances.
