Urbana City Council to start work on alternative response task force this month

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The city of Urbana is working on the Alternative Response Task Force.

Consulting firm BerryDunn is leading the creation of the task force. They previously have made reports on recommendations for the Urbana Police Department.

It will feature both community practitioners and city personnel as members. Local leaders hope they will discuss topics like possible alternative responses models, service providers and cost estimates, along with a timeline that changes should be made in.

BerryDunn consultants wants to start the task force by the end of the month and conclude before the end of the year, but that depends on members’ schedules. After the task force concludes, a report will be written up with suggestions for Urbana leaders to implement.

The city council also moved forward an ordinance on the next city council meeting’s agenda that would allow a new interpretative sign for the African American Heritage Trail in front of the Cinema Art Theater on Main Street. The sign will display information on the history of Black businesses in the city.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Monday.

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