The Urbana City Council appointed a successor for former Ward 6 Council Member Grace Wilken. The group also eliminated the mayor’s ability to vote in a certain committee meeting.
Southeast Urbana’s incumbent council member Grace Wilken resigned earlier this week. Residents of Ward 6 can apply by September 11 to be appointed to Wilken’s former seat.
After years of discussion over how Urbana should use surveillance technology, officials have enacted a measure that implements transparency requirements and mandates city council approval for departments to adopt new tools like license plate readers or facial recognition software.
The council voted 4-1 to allow the 32-unit apartment building to be built along Boneyard Creek following significant debate among residents.
The city council once again heard from public commenters on both sides of the debate surrounding the redevelopment project, setting the stage for a possible vote next Monday.
Officials in Urbana had a busy week at city council. They rejected a proposal to grant landmark status to the former Civic Center downtown, which may become the site of a new transit center. The city also approved a new budget and appointed a new Ward 5 council member.
The Urbana City Council is expected to take a final vote at a special meeting on July 6.
The new rules prohibit the city from investing in certain companies that profit from war or conflict.
The city released a statement on Wednesday paying tribute to Bishop. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2016, according to the city.
During a Monday Committee of the Whole meeting, the city considered a developer proposal to build a four-story apartment building on West Main Street just north of Boneyard Creek.
Steven Doggett will take over the position from Urbana’s interim fire chief, Tal Prendergast. He’s been serving in the interim role since December.
Chaundra Bishop, who represented northeast Urbana on the city council, said she is stepping down to to put more focus on her health. The city is expected to take applications from residents hoping to complete her term.
Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams appointed Verdell Jones III to fill a vacancy in Ward 4. Jones is a firefighter in Champaign and leads a nonprofit that uses sports to mentor young people.
Tal Prendergast has served the Urbana Fire Department for 17 years and the Danville Fire Department for five years.
Zachery Mikalik has been with the Urbana Police Department for nearly 18 years,.