Normal updates human relations code with LGBTQ+, race definitions (2024)

NORMAL — The Normal Town Council on Monday amended the human relations code to include gender identity as a protected class and modernized definitions for race and sexual orientations.

The human relations code, last updated in 2006, prohibits unlawful discrimination in employment, public accommodations, financing and housing, according to town documents.

The amendment adds gender identity as a protected class, defining it as "the actual or perceived appearance, expression, identity, or behavior of genders, whether or not that appearance, expression, identity or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with a person's designated sex at birth," according to town documents.

Secondly, the amendment changes the definition of sexual orientation from the existing definition of "the actual or perceived state of heterosexuality, hom*osexuality or bisexuality" to "an individual's actual or perceived romantic, physical or sexual attraction to other persons, or lack thereof, on the basis of gender," according to town documents.

Furthermore, the amendment modified thedefinition for the term "race" and "includes traits associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protected hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists," according to town documents. This definition is reflective of the definition in the Illinois Human Rights Act.

"Many of us have established our lives here in Bloomington-Normal and we want to feel as if we enjoy the same rights and protections as other minority communities," said Dave Bentlin, president of the Prairie Pride Coalition, during the public comment portion of the meeting. "The changes you vote on tonight will help make the town more welcoming and equitable environment for all."

Bentlin as well as Karla Bailey-Smith, steering committee president of the American Civil Liberties Union of Central Illinois, and Meighan Hopper, president of the Bloomington-Normal Chapter of PFLAG, spoke during public comment and shared their support for the amendments.

Bailey-Smith said their steering committee takes inquiries from people when they experienced discrimination and is happy to know that they can inform individuals of the update complaint process.

"Passing the proposed updated language to the human relations code will signal to families and individuals currently living here and those seeking a new and safer place to live that the Town of Normal welcomes and supports them," Bailey-Smith said.

Hopper, who is also a parent of children who are part of the LGBTQ+ community, said a lot has changed since 2006 and these updates are important for protecting those individuals today and people who might move into the community.

"I'm here to stand in support of this amendment not only for those in the community that will be affected by this change but also for my young adult children," Hopper said.

Library parking

The council also approved a parking license agreement between the town, Normal Public Library and Rutherford Suites to continue public access to a parking lot at the southeast corner of the intersection of Fell and College Avenues.

Rutherford Suites operates the apartment complex at 202 N. Fell Ave., Which is across College from the lot.

According to town documents, the library will pay $19,250 for the first year and the cost will increase by $750 each year for the subsequent four years.

The agreement with Rutherford Suites also requires the town to provide access to 69 spaces in the College Avenue parking deck to satisfy parking requirements for its tenants.

In 2018, the town and library entered into a similar agreement with Rutherford Suites in which the library paid $15,000 annually until the agreement expired on July 31, 2023.

The parties extended the agreement for one year at a lease rate of $18,500 but the extension expires on July 31.

Trustee Kathleen Lorenz noted the increase in the new agreement, which is about 4% every year and about 16% over the life of the new agreement, and asked town staff why Rutherford Suites increased their annual rate.

City Manager Pam Reece said the original agreement from 2018 was generous and although the town does not know the exact reason why the rate has increased, she assumed it could be to accommodate rising property taxes as well as property maintenance.

"I think what we're seeing in this particular agreement is more typical for a property owner to have some sort of annual increases in their lease arrangements," Reece said.

Deputy Corporation Counsel Jason Querciagrossa added that the agreement was ultimately led by the library board of trustees, which hadpreviously approved the new agreement at their June 19 meeting.

This new agreement also includes a provision allowing Rutherford Suites the ability to reclaim up to 10 parking spaces if they install electric vehicle charging stations or an ATM. If it does that, the annual lease fee will be decreased based on the proportion of spaces taken back.

Budget amended

The council amended the fiscal 2024 budget to reflect a $9.11 million decrease in budgeted revenue and a $19 million decrease in budgeted expenditures.

Finance Director AndrewHuhn said there were no unusual budget adjustments, and much of the spending decrease was related to Uptown Underpass project funds being reallocated from fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2025.

Other factors included an increase in Normal's share of state sales tax revenue, realigning library funds and moving vehicle and equipment replacements to fiscal 2025.

Town staff also is in the process of finalizing the fiscal 2024, which ended June 30, with an estimated surplus of $655,000 attributed to savings across many operating accounts. The general fund is projected to end the year with a balance of $22.2 million.

"It's not a large surplus this year compared to other years but it's really positive growth and we get to go into the budget process with extra money to allocate to immediate projects and operations,” Huhn said. “As part of our process, the council needs to approve the budget but also approve changes so now that we're done with the fiscal year we can come to them for a final approval."

Pavement work

The council awarded a contract to repave a deteriorating section of Constitution Trail on the north side of town andresurface three circular basketball courts at Carden Park, Fell Park and Savannah Park.

This section of the trail is approximately 3,740 linear feet on the north side of Raab Road from North Linden Street to the driveway of the Normal Fire Department’s Station No. 3 at 1200 E. Raab Road.

The work involving application of a 1½-inch asphalt overlay on the existing surface was contracted out to Rowe Construction of Bloomington. Three bids were received for this project and Rowe's was the lowest at $69,406.

The basketball courts show the effects of heavy use and weather since they were last resurfaced in 2015, according to town documents. Substantial cracks in the surface at Savannah Park will require an acrylic repair kit before resurfacing.

Two bids were received and ProVantage Systems of St. Charles was the lowest at $26,374.

Both of these projects are slated to be completed later this summer.

The council also appointed Ben Matthews to the Planning Commission and Eric Stegemann to the Asahikawa Sister Cities Commission. Both will fill vacancies with unexpired terms.