Daily Archives: February 22, 2008

City Council, City of Peoria, Peoria Public Schools

Joint City Council/School Board to meet

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AgreementThere will be a joint meeting of the Peoria City Council and Peoria Board of Education on Feb. 28 at 3:00 p.m. in City Hall, room 404, to discuss “the enhancement of communities surrounding new schools.” The agenda will be:

I. Review of the committee charge.

II. Review of the committee work.

III. Presentation of “School / Neighborhood Impact Zones” concept.

IV. Discussion of School / Neighborhood Impact Zones in the context of the committee charge.

V. Consensus agreement on plan to move forward with School / Neighborhood Impact Zones as presented or as modified.

VI. Adjournment

The facilitator for the subcommittee, Bill Collier, has also provided this additional information that was distributed by the city:

TO: PEORIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT 150 BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ADMINISTRATION, CITY OF PEORIA MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS

FROM: BILL COLLIER, SUBCOMITTEE FACILITAOR, EDUCATION LIAISON FOR MAYOR ARDIS

DATE: FEBRUARY 21, 2008

SUBJECT: JOINT CITY COUNCIL / SCHOOL BOARD SUBCOMMITTEE – AGENDA FOR UPCOMING MEETING.

A meeting of the subcommittee on Safe Schools / Safe Neighborhoods, established last fall by District 150 Board of Education President Dr. David Gorenz will be held at 3:00 PM on February 28 in room 404 at City Hall. Some might say that they thought that the subcommittee had died and that nothing had been accomplished. As the facilitator for the committee I apologize for the length of time that has passed; however, I want to assure you that a great deal of work has been done and we are ready to meet once again.

A review of planning activities would include the following activities:

  • Based on the December meeting of the Safe Schools / Safe Neighborhood subcommittee a concept put forth by Councilman Jacob, combined with a previously discussed concept by Councilman Manning, the facilitator put together a focused proposal for discussion among those councilmen and Pat Landes of the City staff.

  • Councilman Gulley was brought into the discussion and Ms. Landes expanded her conversations to include almost all City departments.

  • A presentation was made to Dr. Gorenz, Ms. Ross and Mr. Cahill with the intent to host a subcommittee meeting based on that presentation.

  • Councilmen Jacob, Manning and Gulley along with Ms. Landes continued to meet and work on details.

  • Tri County Planning Commission Executive Director Terry Kohlbuss then entered the picture and has added much to the discussion along with his staff’s support.

  • A “draft” proposal has been developed and is still being worked on, but the time for a subcommittee meeting is right. The “draft” proposal will be the focus of the February 28 meeting.

It is difficult to inform everyone of a proposal, and at the same time not create concern as to why a particular group was informed first. I am sensitive to that concern thus I thought it might be informative if I offered a couple of comments related to the path I anticipate this proposal taking.

First, the “concept” originated in the subcommittee meeting so it was my position that it should return to the subcommittee before going forward to the City Council, School Board, other governmental bodies and the general public through the media.

Since City Council members and City staff have developed the concept into a proposal the next logical step will be for a formal City Council presentation in the near future followed by a similar presentation before the School Board. Once we reach a consensus with those two bodies, we will take the proposal/concept to the Park District, County of Peoria, neighborhood associations, social service agencies—a nearly unlimited list of potential partners.

It is my hope that all subcommittee members will be present and I would welcome all school board members, City council members as well as all relevant administrative and management team members from both bodies. In my opinion this presentation is what I call BIG. I am very impressed with the time, energy and leadership that George, Bob, Clyde, Pat and Terry have given to this project. What has been most impressive, however is their passion to support District 150 and revitalize the neighborhoods. I really believe that if the proposal is accepted and given priority Peoria will be looked at for developing a comprehensive cooperative agreement among a large and diverse number of participants.

Please free up your schedule, attend this important meeting, offer your comments-suggestions-concerns and help formalize this far reaching, long-term neighborhood revitalization/stabilization project.

Thursday February 28 3:00 PM in room 404 at City Hall.

Thank you,
Bill Collier

City of Peoria

Tracy Cross to present market study for downtown housing Feb. 26

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I heard about this from Peoria Economic Development Director Craig Hullinger during the Heart of Peoria Commission meeting. He wouldn’t give any details, but he said they asked for an honest study of the market for downtown housing, and he wasn’t sure what to expect, but that the outcome is positive. So he encouraged us to watch or listen to the presentation at the next council meeting.

Here’s the city’s press release:

Market Study for in and near downtown housing – Presentation Feb 26 at 4:00 pm at City Hall

The City of Peoria has retained the prestigious housing market research firm of Tracy Cross to assess the market for new and rehabbed housing in and near downtown Peoria. The firm will present their findings at an open meeting at the City Council Chambers of the 4th floor of City Hall at 419 Fulton Street at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2008. The firm will answer questions.

Anyone interested in urban redevelopment in Peoria, or in developing, building, or living in or near downtown Peoria is encouraged to attend.

Continue reading Tracy Cross to present market study for downtown housing Feb. 26 →

Bradley-Epworth UMC, The Uplands

Bradley-Epworth withdraws special use request

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Bradley-Epworth UMCNeighbors had steeled themselves for a vigorous debate on a church expansion proposal Thursday night, but the issue was defused when the church withdrew its special use request.

Bradley-Epworth United Methodist Church, 1314 W. Columbia Terrace, has been acquiring property for the past few years. They purchased 1215 N. University St., adjacent to the church, in September 2004, and in 2005 got a special use permit to house its student ministries there. Since then, the church has purchased two more homes on University (1205 and 1207) and the house at 1216 N. Elmwood, which is also adjacent to the church. They currently use the homes at 1205 and 1207 University as rental property. The Elmwood house is vacant.

The stated long-range plan was to acquire up to ten properties, leave the houses intact, but use them for ministry purposes, such as a 24-hour house of prayer, a coffee shop, etc. They would also pave the back yards of the properties to provide additional parking for the church.

Church officials recently requested a special use permit for the Elmwood property to use the house for church offices.

The church is located in the Uplands neighborhood. The Uplands Residential Association voted in favor of the church’s special use request in June 2007. However, several URA members — including several Elmwood Ave. residents — complained that they were not informed a vote was going to be taken on the special use request at that meeting. Only nine people attended the June 2007 meeting.

The issue was on the agenda again Thursday because the one of the intended uses of the property was to house guest speakers overnight in one of the bedrooms of the Elmwood house. That use was not approved at the June 2007 meeting because it wasn’t presented as part of the special use request. Church and URA officials mistakenly believed that overnight stays would not have to be specified in the special use request since the house is already zoned residential. When they found out that all uses had to be specified, URA officials brought it back to the Association for a vote.

But the vote never happened.

Jerry Jackson, Second VP of the Association and chairman of the Associations’ Zoning and Land Use Committee, read a short e-mail from Bradley-Epworth pastor Tom Eckhardt. Here’s the e-mail, reprinted in its entirety:

Jerry [Jackson] and Bernie [Goitein, URA President],

I wanted to let you know that Bradley Epworth Church is withdrawing its request to the city for special use zoning of the property at 1216 N. Elmwood. In addition, we no longer plan to use our properties currently zoned as residential for any purpose other than residential, specifically that there will be no effort on our part to put in parking for the church behind the University properties or anywhere else.

Tom Eckhardt
Pastor, Bradley Epworth Church

Jackson also stated that it was his understanding the church would be divesting themselves of the properties at 1205 and 1207 N. University, and that the church is looking for an alternative site to hold their largest worship service.

No reason for the change in plans was given.

Several Elmwood Ave. residents published an article in the neighborhood newsletter, The Uplander, outlining their concerns about the church’s recent acquisitions and expansion plans. It’s unknown whether the article’s publication prompted the church to reconsider its special use request.

After the e-mail was read, several members in attendance indicated they felt this was a positive development for the neighborhood. However, one couple that spoke at the meeting thought it was a negative, saying they were worried that the houses on University would fall into the hands of a slumlord. If that happened, they said it would negatively affect their property, since they live across the alley from those houses.

Museum Block, State Legislation

Museum may get state grant: $12 million grant passes first hurdle

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A House appropriations committee has recommended approval of a bill that would give $12 million to the Peoria Regional Museum. The bill would have to pass the full House, Senate, and get the Governor’s okay before the museum would actually get the money.

Here’s the most interesting part of the Journal Star’s article on this effort:

[Lakeview Museum CEO Jim] Richerson said the proposed Peoria project consists of two pieces: a museum with an estimated price tag of $65 million to $75 million and a Caterpillar Inc. visitors center.

$75 million? Are they expecting that construction costs are going to rise by potentially $10 million in the next year, raising the total cost of the project by more than 15%? If so, then that $12 million in state money, if it actually comes to fruition, would mostly cover the increase in costs, still leaving a potential $22 million shortfall.

The contract with the city expires, I believe, at the end of the year (I’ll have to double-check that). So the question is, will the city extend their contract again or pull the plug?

And here’s another question. “The House Appropriations Committee on Public Safety voted 13-0 for House Bill 4664, sponsored by Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria,” the Journal Star reports. What does capital funding for a proposed museum have to do with public safety? Do these committee names have any meaning whatsoever?