What we’ve accomplished for Urbana
Foundation for Our Future
We resolved serious financial problems, modernized systems, restructured departments, and completed long-overdue planning efforts to help build a foundation for Urbana’s future. These disciplined efforts provide the stability, information, and staffing necessary to make thoughtful decisions on how we spend your tax dollars for city infrastructure, programs and services. These efforts also ensure our ability to maintain services and programs for residents and businesses during the pandemic.
Over the past four years we:
Eliminated a $2.5 million structural budget deficit
Rebuilt city financial reserves
Restored pension funding
Repaid outstanding loans for METCAD 9-1-1 service
Hired a professional City Administrator after 11-year vacancy
Completed Storm Water Master Plan Update
Completed City Facilities Assessment and Master Plan
Completed citywide Pavement Condition Assessment
Launched re-write of the Comprehensive Plan
Completed “What’s in Your Square” visioning for Lincoln Square site
Completed Feasibility Study for Kickapoo Rail Trail Extension through downtown
Implemented new Financial Services System (MUNIS)
Installed new telephone and communication system in city facilities
Rewrote City Alcoholic Liquor Code (Chapter 3)
Navigating the Pandemic
The City of Urbana is working closely with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District; city, county, and township offices; social service agencies; business and industry advocates; educational institutions including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Parkland College; state and federal agencies; and many community volunteers.
To date, our community has achieved a high level of public health compliance and has maintained relatively low COVID-19 positivity rates. The City worked with community partners to provide housing, food, and other support services. We have helped businesses hardest hit by the pandemic to apply for state and federal assistance and have modified the city code and zoning ordinance to accommodate new ways of doing business.
Together, we will survive this pandemic and emerge to thrive on the other side.
Our top priority is to maintain the health and well-being of our community. Early on, we established four goals to address the COVID-19 crisis:
Reduce the spread of the disease in our community
Avoid overwhelming the local healthcare system
Maintain core programs and services
Help residents and businesses navigate through unprecedented challenges
Improved Business Climate & Public Infrastructure
We strengthened community partnerships, improved Urbana’s business climate, and expanded our tax base through a number of projects that will help our community grow. This is reflected in major new construction, renovation and restoration projects; business expansions, new home starts, and small-business start-up grants.
Our major initiatives include:
Gather - Extended-stay hotel/multifamily project at corner of Lincoln Avenue and University Avenue
200 South Vine – First new residential construction in downtown Urbana in 15 years
1007-1107 W. University – Multi-use commercial/residential project
Landmark Hotel - Signed development agreement for $15 million renovation of historic hotel to Hilton Tapestry Boutique
Green Street Multimodal Corridor Enhancement, Phase 5 -Street and sidewalk reconstruction from Lincoln Avenue to Race Street
Kinch Street and Nevada Street - Installation of new streetlights and replacement of deteriorating lights
Illinois Department of Transportation University Avenue Improvements - Street, sidewalk, lighting improvements from Wright Street to Maple Avenue
Aspen Court - $5.2 million renovation of 137 units of affordable housing
Pinewood Place - 1606 E. Colorado Avenue with 24 units of affordable housing for seniors and persons with disabilities in partnership with the Housing Authority of Champaign County
Partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build seven new affordable homes for first-time homeowners
“Think Urbana” tax incentives supported 68 projects for a total of 294 housing units between 2026 and 2020.
Facilitated successful transition of Stone Creek Golf Course and related facilities to the University of Illinois Division of Athletics while keeping remainder of subdivision on the property tax rolls
Approved first recreational cannabis dispensary and cannabis craft grow facility
Added Urbana Downtown Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places
Sustainable Urbana
Time is running out for this nation to address the impact of climate change. While navigating the COVID-19 pandemic has consumed much of our time and energy this year, the fact remains that we must reduce greenhouse gas emissions and incorporate resilience and sustainability into everything we do.
Over the past four years we:
Established a 41-acre solar farm on former landfill
Promoted group purchasing of residential solar panels and geothermal systems
Expanded role of the Sustainability and Resilience Officer to include planning for climate change
Joined Climate Mayors/Mayors National Climate Action Agenda
Promoted pesticide-free lawns
Renewed Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community designation
Updated Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans
Established the 8-acre “Nourish Urbana Farm” to restore soil on city-owned property and support local food production
Successfully operated Market at the Square in 2020 with COVID-safe practices that served as a model statewide
Served on Mahomet Aquifer Protection Task Force and helped author Mahomet Aquifer Protection Task Force: Findings and Recommendations (21 December 2018)
Institutional Racism & Public Safety
We are at a crossroads in history. Cities must work for racial justice and social inclusion. An important aspect of that work will focus on public well-being, safety and policing. Another part will focus on our community working together for equity in education, health care, housing, and economic opportunity.
Actions to date include:
Adopted the (NAACP)/Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police “Ten Shared Principles” for community policing
Began revisions of the Urbana Police Department Use of Force policy to be consistent with The Ten Shared Principles and President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing
Joined the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) to help the City take effective, sustainable action toward racial equity.
Partnered with City of Champaign Diversity Advancement Program to increase economic opportunity for minorities and women
Piloted Crisis Co-Responder Team to follow up with individuals in mental or behavioral health crisis.
Implemented use of body worn cameras for all patrol officers to increase transparency and accountability.
Began to update policies and practices of the Civilian Police Review Board and to strengthen citizen oversight and accountability
Implemented plan to eliminate racial disparities in traffic stops
Expanded roles of Human Rights and Equity Officer and Community Engagement Coordinator to focus on youth programming and equity in housing and employment.
Adopted Vision Zero policy as a systems approach to achieve safety for all road users
Way to Go, Urbana!
We’re a small city with a BIG commitment to excellence and innovation. Some special achievements are listed here,
Urbana Fire and Rescue Department: ISO Class 1 Public Protection Rating achieved by less than 1% of all fire departments nationwide (2019)
Finance Department: Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Award, first-ever for City of Urbana (2020)
Renewed status as Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community, one of 25 Gold or Platinum Level communities in State of Illinois (2018)
Midwest Living Magazine Greatest Midwest Food Town-Champaign-Urbana (2017)
American Association of Retired Persons/World Health Organization Age Friendly Community
Urbana Public Arts and Culture Program: Established first-ever Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate in the City of Urbana and launched the Downtown Get Down (2019-20)
Community Outreach- All About U—monthly newsletter and Coffee with the Mayor-quarterly events in neighborhoods around the city.
