President Darrell opened our Zoom meeting at 7:00am.

 

There were no announcements.

 

 

PROGRAM
(notes provided by the unorthodox and unconventional Paul Conforti)

 

Bob introduced Mayor Diane Marlin of Urbana.

 

Mayor Marlin was elected mayor in 2017. Prior to being mayor Diane served two terms on the city council – first in 2009 and re-elected in 2013. Diane was also president of the Urbana Rotary Club in 2016.

 

Diane is from LaSalle County, Illinois and first arrived in Champaign County in 1971 to attend the University of Illinois where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and a Master of Science in Foods and Nutrition. Diane met her future husband, John, while attending the U of I.

 

The major portion of Mayor Marlin’s presentation was to highlight the four major projects currently underway in Urbana.

 

1) Gather Point at Lincoln and University is a $45 million project of mixed-use hotel, apartments, commercial and common areas. This development will also be a visual gateway upgrade for visitors approaching the University of Illinois from Lincoln Ave.

 

2) University Avenue upgrade in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Transportation. This is a $8 million project to improve the surface, lighting, handicap ramps and pedestrian handrails at intersections.

 

3) Landmark Hotel is being redeveloped into a Hilton Tapestry property. $15 million has been designated for this project. The Landmark Hotel (the name will be changed) first opened as The Urbana Hotel in 1924. While the property is being renovated inside and out, the outside will maintain its familiar look to keep its historic building designation. A major part of the redevelopment plan is to weave into the renovation the history of the property and its associated identity. Having a brand such as Hilton is vital to the plan to attract more visitors to the property.

 

4) Goodyear development at Vine and Elm Streets will be a mix of two- and three-story apartment buildings. This project, being developed by Green Street Realty, is the first residential development in downtown Urbana in 15 years.

 

Other developments include a mixed-use construction on University Avenue on the site of the previous Niro’s Gyros restaurant. Also, phase 5 of the M-Core project is scheduled for this year which will resurface and improve Green Street from Busey Avenue to Race Street.  These improvements will be a significant corridor upgrade between the University of Illinois and Lincoln Square.

 

Other activities being managed out of the Mayor’s office include:

 

-The first city wide storm sewer update since 1980

-Facilities master plan project in which all city owned property will be assessed for ways to improve both building and employee efficiency. City employees are providing input as to how each facility can be upgraded to provide improved working conditions. Andrea Ruedi was hired from Fox Development to oversee the master plan.

-As liquor commissioner, Mayor Marlin oversaw the complete rewriting of the City liquor code to provide better flexibility for existing and new businesses. The new code was vastly streamlined by eliminating confusing and overlapping categories and making it more conducive to fit into modern business concepts.

-The City’s financial software was updated and is now cloud-based.  This update provides significant efficiencies and also provides access from city units not based in the city building.

 

Mayor Marlin was especially satisfied that, at least before the pandemic, the City’s financial position was meeting its goal of keeping 15% of its operating budget in reserve. This is especially important now putting the City in a much improved financial position to meet the demands of the pandemic.

 

Mayor Marlin was also excited to announce the May 2nd opening of The Market at the Square. This year’s market will be different to meet the restrictions placed on us by the pandemic. It will be a food only market, there will be no food touching until you make a purchase, and vendors will be trained to maintain the highest level of cleanliness and hygiene throughout the event. Masks will be worn by both vendors and shoppers. There will be an exception to the food only vendors, and that will be mask makers. The Market at the Square will not be quite the social event it has grown to be but as Diane said “It will happen, and will be part of the new normal.”

 

The meeting was closed with a rousing Zoom rendition singing Happy Birthday to Mary Kay!

 

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)

 

*The following meeting dates and speakers are included for reference purposes only.  At this time, it is not clear which, if any, of these speakers will still be available to speak on the listed dates.*

April 30th – 

May 7th – Debbie Hensleigh (Phyllis)

May 14th – Club Assembly

May 21st – TBD (Cary)

May 28th – TBD (Charlie)

June 4th – TBD (David)

June 11th – Champaign Rotarian Craig Rost will speak about the Clinton Lake Sailing Association

June 18th – TBD (Ondine)

June 25th – Pass the Gavel ceremony