Urbana council approves solar-farm special-use permit, adopts budget amendments and refers FEMA grant

The Urbana City Council on Monday approved an ordinance to allow a solar farm at 1210 East University Avenue and adopted two budget amendments, while sending a separate FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant budget item back to the Committee of the Whole for additional work.

The ordinance approving the solar-farm special-use permit (plan case no. 2513SU25) was presented by the Committee of the Whole and approved on roll call. Council members who recorded affirmative votes included Wu, Evans, Hersey, Colasetti, Wilkin and Quisenberry; the mayor announced the ordinance was adopted.

The council also approved an omnibus revision to the annual budget (recorded in the meeting as ordinance number 20 25 - 11 - 032). That budget amendment was moved by Council member Grace, seconded by Mary Alice, and passed on a roll call vote with the members present voting yes.

A separate budget amendment tied to FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant funding (recorded as ordinance number 20 25 - 11 - 034 during the meeting) was not decided on substantive approval. A councilor said more work was needed and moved to refer the item back to the Committee of the Whole for the Dec. 1 meeting; the motion to refer (moved by James and seconded by Mary Alice, per the record) passed on a voice vote.

The meeting also adopted budget amendment number 4, described as the TIF 4 ending amendment (listed in the meeting as ordinance number 20 25 - 11 - 033). During discussion Council member Chris asked whether voting yes would commit the council to spending $965,000 to acquire farmland. Olivia from public works responded: “Your budget you would be budgeting funds for that, but we can’t acquire property without an additional action by council, which would come before council in December.” That clarification was incorporated into the council’s discussion; the TIF-related amendment was adopted on roll call.

In addition to formal actions, the council received a report from the Regional Planning Commission: Mary Ellis said the RPC had received $380,000 to examine infrastructure and climate vulnerabilities in the area and reported that LIHEAP and CDBG funding appeared fully funded; she also warned that homeless-services funding changes could reduce the local ability to support people experiencing chronic homelessness in a worst-case scenario.

Votes at a glance: - Special-use permit, solar farm at 1210 East University Avenue (plan case 2513SU25): adopted on roll call (affirmative votes recorded from Wu, Evans, Hersey, Colasetti, Wilkin, Quisenberry). - Ordinance 20 25 - 11 - 032 (omnibus budget amendment 3a): adopted on roll call. - Ordinance 20 25 - 11 - 034 (FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant: budget amendment 3b): referred to Committee of the Whole (Dec. 1) for further work; referral motion passed on voice vote. - Ordinance 20 25 - 11 - 033 (budget amendment number 4, TIF 4 ending): adopted on roll call; staff clarified that appropriating money does not itself complete a property acquisition, which would require a separate council action.

The council adjourned with no additional business.