Champaign council approves budget amendments, contracts, zoning updates and equipment purchases

The Champaign City Council on a 7–0 vote approved a series of ordinances and resolutions authorizing contracts, budget amendments, equipment purchases and zoning updates during its meeting.

Council action included authorization for outside professional services, purchases under Illinois joint purchasing arrangements, and appropriations for street work and staffing changes. Several items drew brief public comment and one resident asked for clarification about the use of outside legal counsel for an ongoing housing-related case.

A consolidated set of bills amended the FY2024–25 budget and updated the city salary and position control report to reflect staffing and position changes. Separate measures approved publication of the official zoning map (annual, required by state law) and a package of omnibus text amendments to the city zoning ordinance. The council also approved a professional services agreement for a comprehensive parking study and management plan and a change order to a contract for police recruitment testing services.

On procurement and capital items, the council approved purchases and contracts that include: an agreement for data storage and disaster recovery systems (not to exceed $535,843.85); the purchase of four vehicles through the Illinois State joint purchasing program (total $281,166); a contract for the 2025 concrete street improvements project with a low bid of $1,673,880 and an additional appropriation of $1,006,748 from the state motor fuel tax fund; the rental of up to two waste compaction trucks for yard waste collection (not to exceed $44,700 for the initial contract period, with renewal options); and the purchase of road salt through the Illinois joint purchasing program (not to exceed $182,391.36). The council also authorized the city manager to contract for liability, casualty and workers’ compensation insurance for the coming policy year at a cost of $1,314,277.

Members of the public spoke briefly on the parking study, urging retention of coin- or locally serviced meters rather than relying solely on credit-card apps, and on a budget amendment that would fund outside legal counsel; a resident asked why the city was using outside counsel rather than in-house attorneys. City staff explained the need for retained experts and outside counsel in a case involving more than 500 units across 29 buildings and said trial is set for later this year.

Votes at a glance

- Council Bill 2025-028 — Professional services agreement with SU Institute of Health and Education Evaluation Assessment and Research LLC: authorize contract (not to exceed $75,000 for 03/01/2025–03/01/2026) for evaluation services related to the community gun violence reduction blueprint. Outcome: approved 7–0.

- Council Bills 2025-029 (budget amendments) & 2025-030 (salary schedules/position control) — consolidated: amend FY2024–25 annual budget for various funds and update staffing/position grades. Outcome: approved 7–0.

- Council Bill 2025-031 — Amend Champaign Municipal Code sections to clarify procedures for use of third-party temporary employment agencies for short-term vacancies. Outcome: approved 7–0.

- Council Bill 2025-032 — Resolution rejecting all proposals for on-site harassment prevention training (RFP dated 07/11/2024). Outcome: approved 7–0.

- Council Bill 2025-033 — Approve change order (not to exceed $20,000) to contract with National Testing Network, Inc., for police recruitment/testing services (total not to exceed $54,400). Outcome: approved 7–0.

- Council Bills 2025-034 & 2025-035 — Agreement with Elrod Friedman LLP for legal professional services (agreement amount not to exceed $600,000) and budget amendment to allocate $500,000 of general fund balance for legal services. Outcome: approved 7–0. (Staff stated the funding would cover outside counsel and experts for a housing-related case involving multiple buildings; trial later this year.)

- Council Bill 2025-036 — Resolution approving publication of the official zoning map (annual requirement under state law). Outcome: approved 7–0.

- Council Bill 2025-037 — Omnibus text amendments to chapters of the Champaign Municipal Code (zoning ordinance amendments). Outcome: approved 7–0.

- Council Bill 2025-038 — Professional services agreement with Desmond, Inc. for comprehensive parking study and management plan (base fee $45,840; total not to exceed $70,000 with reimbursables). Outcome: approved 7–0. (Public commenters asked city to consider coin-operated meters or local administration.)

- Council Bill 2025-039 — Authorize purchase of road salt via Illinois joint purchasing program (FY2026; not to exceed $182,391.36). Outcome: approved 7–0.

- Council Bill 2025-040 — Authorize agreement with Rantoul Truck Center LLC to rent up to two waste compaction garbage trucks for yard waste collection (04/01/2025–03/01/2026; $7,450/month/truck; total not to exceed $44,700) with optional renewals at higher monthly rates. Outcome: approved 7–0.

- Council Bill 2025-041 — Authorize purchase of four vehicles through Illinois State joint purchasing program (total $281,166) and declare four existing vehicles surplus. Outcome: approved 7–0.

- Council Bills 2025-042 & 2025-043 — Accept bid and authorize contract with A & A Concrete LLC for 2025 Concrete Street Improvements (contract $1,673,880) and appropriate an additional $1,006,748 from the state motor fuel tax fund. Outcome: approved 7–0.

- Council Bill 2025-044 — Authorize agreement with Storecom, Inc. for network storage equipment, disaster recovery, backup services and implementation (not to exceed $535,843.85). Outcome: approved 7–0.

- Council Bill 2025-045 — Authorize city manager to execute agreements for property/liability/casualty and workers’ compensation insurance with USI Insurance Agencies, LLC (policy period 04/01/2025–03/31/2026; total $1,314,277). Outcome: approved 7–0.

Clerk items and financial approvals

The council approved vendor payments totaling $2,375,263.95 and payroll for 03/28/2025 totaling $2,393,087.02 by voice vote.

Why it matters

The actions update the city’s budget and staffing authority for FY2024–25, commit funding for litigation support and consultant work, and authorize capital and operating procurements that will affect public works, public safety, IT infrastructure and parking policy. Several of the measures include multi-year or renewable cost commitments and appropriations tied to state purchasing programs or the Illinois Highway Code.

What’s next

Several contracts will require city manager execution and implementation by departments. Staff signaled that the legal-services funding responds to an active, building-scale housing case where outside experts and counsel are expected to be needed through trial later in the year.