Council approves $54,592 University of Illinois contract to design police‑community advisory entity after representation amendment

Springfield — The Springfield City Council on April 21 voted to approve a contract with the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, not to exceed $54,592, to research and help design a community‑born advisory body intended to improve police–community relations.

Council debate centered on who should sit on the advisory body. Alderman Gregory pushed for a written requirement that “at least half of its advisory body members shall be comprised of individuals that reside in the two beats that have the highest crime rate,” arguing those residents have lived experience with policing that should shape the board. A council amendment inserting that language into the project scope passed before the ordinance was approved.

Police Chief Beal described the effort as an outgrowth of community work beginning in 2022 and said the University would aggregate existing local data and help design a framework tailored to Springfield. “My goal would be by the, by uh September 1st to have this thing completely done,” Chief Beal said, describing a timeline for completing the study and recommendations.

Gail Simpson, a former alderwoman and member of the Community Health Roundtable, told the council the group produced a 2022 white paper and has been seeking a research‑grounded, sustainable entity. “We developed a white paper in March of 2022,” Simpson said, and urged the council to support a community‑led model rather than a city‑appointed panel.

Alderwoman Conley and several other council members said they expected the University’s research to recommend strong community representation and said adding the amendment put that expectation into writing. The council voted to approve the ordinance as amended; the motion passed unanimously (recorded vote: 9 yes, 0 no).

The contract will fund facilitation, community engagement and a research‑based plan to develop bylaws and a mission for a body that stakeholders described as an arm’s‑length, community‑led oversight and relationship‑building entity. Council members said any future funding requests for operating or implementation costs would return to the council for consideration.

The council flagged that the University will not itself appoint members; community groups involved with prior convenings will be central to forming the entity and implementing the advisory body once bylaws and the structure are recommended.