The Champaign City Council met on Nov. 7 to discuss various topics ranging from passing proposed bills to police taser policy.
The meeting began with the presentation of a certificate naming Champaign a Welcoming City by the nonprofit organization Welcoming America. Champaign became the first city in Illinois and the 21st in the country to receive this certification.
Melissa Bartolo, senior director of Welcoming America, was there to present the certification.
“(We) applaud your leadership in building a welcoming society where everyone, including immigrants, can fully contribute and shape our shared prosperity,” Bartolo said.
After accepting the certification, Champaign Mayor Deborah Feinen said, “I hope that everyone in our community knows that they are welcome here and we want you to build your life here.”
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The meeting then transitioned to reviewing proposed bills, all of which were passed without objection.
The Champaign Police Department proposed authorization of the purchase and replacement of up to 100 tasers. This bill approves the purchasing of approximately $450,000 worth of tasers, licenses and accessories.
Several community-focused entities received funding per a bill required by the American Rescue Plan Act. Carle Foundation Hospital, Crime Stoppers, DREAAM Academy, First Followers, Housing Authority of Champaign-YouthBuild, STEAM Genius, Trauma and Resilience Initiative, Stephen’s Family YMCA and East Central Illinois-Youth For Christ were all met with another round of funding for “all their amazing work,” Feinen said.
The University’s Research Park received support through a cost-share agreement with the city. This bill allowed for a contribution of $100,000 to the LabWorks project, a laboratory space necessary for nurturing startups.
An engineering services agreement was made to break ground on the renovation of Park Avenue, an area in downtown Champaign.
“(I) hope that we include as much as possible pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and also make it as accessible as possible,” said Kathy Shannon, City Council member, about downtown Champaign. “We’re not just a welcoming city for people from all over, we’re also a Welcoming City for people of all abilities and modes of transportation.”
