Champaign City Council Tuesday night to discuss a number of resolutions, including an intergovernmental agreement with the University. The University has given money to non-profit groups in the Champaign-Urbana area, including the Champaign County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation and 40 North/88West, Inc. for some time now.
The University has traditionally given money to these organizations because they stimulate development, and encourage people to come to the Champaign-Urbana area, said Michael LaDue, council member district 2.
Previously it was responsible for distributing the money directly to these organizations, but due to changes in policy the University can no longer do that, said economic development manager, Teri Legner.
The University has agreed to give the money to the city and they will then allocate the money to separate groups. In other words, each of the non-profit groups will still be receiving university money; it will just be distributed by the city, said Legner. The money the university provides to each of the organizations is used for specific purposes within each group. The funding goes to assistance in marketing the research park, providing services for start-up companies, conducting public awareness campaigns, partnering with campus-town business groups among many other places.
The city council must approve the agreement tonight for it to be valid. Should it be approved, it will be valid for three years at which point the university will need to enter into a new agreement, said Legner.
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In addition to the agreement with the university, the council will also be discussing the launching of their new city website. The new web site is supposed to be more user friendly, allowing more access to city information. LaDue said he thinks the current website is easily maneuverable but he will listen to what the new setup will have to offer. Thomas Bruno, council member-at-large, said the new website will also have a different layout. Bruno added that the nine members of the council are not webmasters but they have some input to offer.
The new website is scheduled to go public Wendesday. The council will convene at 7 p.m .at the city building, 102 N.Neil Street.
