Champaign City Council convened Tuesday night for regular meeting to discuss 14 bills, among which are resolutions which support the infrastructure development of the University research park.

One of the council bills approved a local agency agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation, allowing the using of capital bill funding for implementing new infrastructure.

Another council bill requested the approval of an engineering services agreement with Clark Dietz Inc. The agreement will entail $227,000 for the extension and design of Hazelwood and Gerty.

A final associated bill will increase the annual budget for the capital improvement fund by additional revenues and expenses totaling $227,000 each.

The university has received $6, 316, 050 in Illinois Capital Bill funding for the development of the South research park.

In order to utilize the funding, the university needs to make an agreement with a local agency or enter into a state agreement.

The University research park board has emphasized the need for three particular street extensions, Fourth street, Hazelwood Drive and Gerty Drive.

The city has agreed to oversee these infrastructure agreements for the University.

A recent study by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability has shown that taypayer funded public safety pension fund contributions have risen by 50 % from 2004-2008 in all of the Illinois communities that were studied.

Thus, the city’s tax levies for public safety pensions are going up, but most of the city’s revenue is on the decline.

The discrepancy between the increasing tax dollars contributed to the pension funds and the decreasing tax dollars available has created concerns for the city.

A resolution on the agenda will allow the city manager, on behalf of the city, to join the Illinois Pension Fairness for Illinois Communities Coalition. The coalition is formed of municipalities that have united to encourage pension reform.

In addition, the resolution will encourage the governor and state legislature to reform the public safety pension system so that it is less of a burden on tax payers.

Will Kyles, council member district 1, said that having to fulfill pension requirements with a limited budget has been hard for the city.

Gordy Hulten, council member district 5, said he agrees that there needs to be pension reform in Illinois.

“We need pension reform in Illinois, that’s why we’re going to join this consortium,” said Michael LaDue, council member district 2.

He added that state needs the reform before we go further and further into debt.

“The state legislature mandates these automatic pension increases and basically orders the municipalities to meet them,” he said.

The council voted to approve joining the Illinois Pension Fairness for Illinois Communities Coalition.