Urbana approves $37,000 to help Cunningham Township shelter after council rejects larger increase
Loading...
Summary
The Urbana City Council approved a recipient agreement and matching budget amendment to provide $37,000 for staffing at the Cunningham Township winter shelter after voting down a separate proposal to raise the city's contribution to $50,000.
Urbana — The City Council on Jan. 12 approved a recipient agreement authorizing the city to provide $37,000 to Cunningham Township for staffing at the Winter Public Emergency Shelter, and adopted a related budget amendment to allow the spending. Council members voted down a separate motion to increase the city contribution to $50,000.
Councilmember Mary Alice moved the resolution authorizing an agreement between the city and the Cunningham Township supervisor’s office to support daytime (and, as amended, nighttime) staffing at the Winter Public Emergency Shelter located at 109 East Park Street in Champaign (the Armory Building). The council also approved Ordinance 202601001 (Budget Amendment No. 5) to make the funding available in the city’s accounts.
The debate centered on whether Urbana should increase its contribution now to $50,000 to strengthen regional fundraising. Councilmember Grace argued the city has discretionary surplus funds and said raising the amount would be "a bigger offering" to encourage other municipal partners to contribute. Grace moved the $50,000 amendment, but the motion failed on roll call: Wu — No; Evans — Yes; Colasetti — No; Wilkin — Yes; Quisenberry — No.
Councilmember Jaya, while expressing strong support for additional funding for unhoused residents, said she preferred to approve the amount requested by the township now and pursue any larger contribution after more information or broader regional commitments are available. "I do support additional funding for housing services for folks who are unhoused," Jaya said, noting she did not want to delay approval.
After defeating the increase, the council approved the original $37,000 contribution and the budget amendment to permit daytime and nighttime staffing. The final ordinance vote included Mayor Williams and passed on roll call with all members present on that vote recorded as voting yes.
Clerk-recorded roll calls for the key votes show consistent participation from Councilmembers Wu, Evans, Colasetti, Wilkin and Quisenberry. The earlier technical corrections to the resolution addressed an incorrect facility name and a missing address in materials; staff told council the packet and agreement language were updated before the vote.
Next steps: The recipient agreement is authorized and the budget line was amended; council members said they would revisit additional contributions if regional partners do not provide the anticipated support and as further needs are documented.
