DANVILLE — Aldermen went along Tuesday night with Mayor Scott Eisenhauer’s goals to reduce public housing and Section 8 subsidized housing in the city.

The goal is to rebuild mixed-income housing and help residents with government subsidized housing on a short-term basis.

Mayor Scott Eisenhauer said there are “far more success stories” in other communities that have already rebuilt new, modern mixed-income housing developments in place of older complexes like Fair Oaks.

Ward 1 Alderman Rickey Williams Jr. said some Fair Oaks residents are ashamed to say they live there. He supports the deconcentration of public housing residents into scattered site housing.

“I think it’s high time we got on it,” Williams said.

Prior to the council’s vote, Crosspoint Human Services Executive Director Thom Pollock urged the aldermen to vote against the consolidated plan.

“Increasing vouchers facilitates development of replacement housing for the people currently living in public housing,” Pollock said.

“Section 8 is not the cause of crime or violence or a draw to unsavory people to migrate to our community. Section 8 is merely a federal subsidy that assists people who without it have to pay 50-60 percent of their gross income for housing,” he added.

The housing recommendations are part of the city’s consolidated plan it will send to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The consolidated plan lists strategic goals and breaks down about $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funding areas for the city.

Even Ward 5 Alderman and Danville Housing Authority board chairman Mike Puhr voted in favor of it. But he said reducing Section 8 vouchers might be a problem, especially to help displaced public housing residents.

DHA officials are looking into funding options to raze the Fair Oaks public housing complex and rebuild fewer, more spacious, mixed-income living units.

“We support changing the look of (public housing),” Puhr said.

The DHA also is looking at becoming a Moving to Work housing authority, which could put a time limit for a person living in public housing.

The DHA’s annual plan discusses the exploration of HOPE VI funding to demolish older housing and build new structures at a reduced density.

There also could be HUD Choice Neighborhood Initiative program funding available.

Other public housing sections of the plan address the DHA’s waiting list preference referring to local residency — Eisenhauer wanted individuals to have lived in the county for at least three years, which can’t be required — and increasing community service hours required of some residents from eight to 40 hours a month.

Also Tuesday, the city council:

-- Learned that Eisenhauer will present a resolution for the council to approve next month urging Gov. Quinn to reconsider the income tax funding cut to municipalities and appealing to the General Assembly to not support it. The city could lose about $850,000.

-- Approved a liquor license for Harrison Park Golf Course and a new three-year golf pro agreement with John Smith, who would be the liquor license holder and receive the revenue. Aldermen voting against the license, Williams, Sharon McMahon and Lois Cooper.

-- Authorized $58,500 in professional services by Farnsworth Group of Champaign for the Carver Park renovation project.

McMahon thinks the city’s match of the state grant, about $150,000, could be better spent elsewhere — such as to possibly save a couple jobs if they’re to be cut due to the possible state income tax funding cuts.

But Ward 1 Alderman DeMarko Wright said residents and children in the Carver Park area have been “patiently” waiting for the park improvements.

“I know it’s a much-needed project,” he said. “I think now is the time to move forward and get it done.”

If the project isn’t completed by December, the city loses state grant funding.

-- Authorized funding applications for the Fairchild Subway replacement project.

-- Did not approve a special-use permit for an athletic center at 400 Sager St. in the B1 Neighborhood Business Zoning District.

Ward 4 Alderman Terry Baldwin said there still have been parties and other events in the building causing problems.

City officials indicated they’d love to see the wrestling group in a functional facility, but building owner Marvin Davis is not cooperating with the city.

-- Rezoned a house at 622 S. Bowman Ave. from R2 single-family residential medium density to B2 highway business for the purpose of operating an office/retail establishment.