City Council Raises Concerns Over Turner's Downtown Legislation

Aldermen worry new governing board could sideline city's authority over development projects.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 6:54pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty city council chamber, with sunlight streaming in through the windows and long shadows cast across the room, capturing a sense of quiet contemplation and civic responsibility.The Springfield City Council debates its role in shaping the future of the city's downtown development.Springfield Today

The Springfield City Council expressed skepticism over recent state legislation proposed by Senator Doris Turner that could lead to the improvement of the Bank of Springfield Center and the construction of a new hotel. Aldermen are concerned the bill could create a new governing board that would diminish the city council's authority over downtown development projects.

Why it matters

The city council wants to maintain control over downtown development, fearing a new county-level governing board could make decisions without adequate city representation, similar to issues they've faced with other county-level entities like the health board and animal control.

The details

Alderman Roy Williams plans to introduce a resolution asserting the city council should be the primary authority, not any county-level entity. Another alderman, Jennifer Notariano, noted the city has already spent significant time developing a downtown master plan that she believes the new legislation could undermine, unlike the town of Normal which she says has successfully followed its own master plan.

  • Last week, Senator Doris Turner announced legislation that could impact downtown Springfield.

The players

Doris Turner

A state senator who has proposed legislation that could affect downtown Springfield development.

Roy Williams

A Springfield city alderman who plans to introduce a resolution asserting the city council's authority over downtown.

Jennifer Notariano

A Springfield city alderman who expressed concerns that the proposed legislation could undermine the city's existing downtown master plan.

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What they’re saying

“We have to be the City Council, and be the authority over it. Or else, we'll be in that same boat we're in when it comes to other Sangamon County-type things, like the health board — we ain't got no representation [sic]. 'No, we don't want anybody from the City Council on it.' Or, the Animal Control. Same thing. Everything that goes county ain't [sic] always good for the city. Stand up and be the aldermen and the alderwoman we're supposed to be.”

— Roy Williams, City Alderman

“There's not even been an attempt to touch the Master Plan that folks in this community only a year or so ago had worked really hard to put together. Granted, it was not a whole, clear, detailed plan. It was a broad outline of a vision of what people in Springfield want from their downtown.”

— Jennifer Notariano, City Alderman

What’s next

The city council plans to introduce a resolution asserting its authority over downtown development projects in response to the proposed state legislation.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the ongoing tension between state and local control over urban development, with the Springfield City Council determined to maintain its decision-making power over the future of the city's downtown, even as state lawmakers seek to intervene.