Monthly Archives: April 2008

City of Peoria

Peoria Cares [Updated]

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Dialing 494-CARE

“Hello, Mayor and City Council office.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I thought I was calling the Peoria Cares number.”

“He’s off today, so it rolls over to us.”

“Okay, well, I was wondering if there was a problem with the City’s website today; I can’t get it to load.”

“I can give you our I.S. department’s phone number. It’s 494-8100.”

“Thanks.”

Dialing 494-8100.

[something unintelligible]

“Hi is this the City of Peoria I.S. Department?”

“Yes it is.”

“Hi, I was referred to you by the Peoria Cares number. I was wondering if there was a problem with the City’s website; it doesn’t seem to be loading for me this morning.”

“Who is this?”

“C. J. Summers.”

“Are you with a company?”

“No, I’m just a citizen who wants to get some information from the City’s website and it won’t come up.”

“Hold on a second.”

[phone ringing 4 times]

“Your call is being answered by Audix. John [mumble-mumble] is not available….”

[Me hanging up phone, mumbling to myself] “Who cares?”

UPDATE: Mike King from the city called me after I posted this (and he left a comment, too) and helped me figure out what was wrong. Apparently it’s a problem with my ISP. Many thanks to Mike for his quick response! I also concur with other commentators that when Sean is manning the phone, you get great service at the Peoria Cares number. (Although, I’ll also point out that I didn’t get bad service from Sean’s fill-in, but rather from the person who answered the I.S. department’s line. Mike explained that they don’t usually get calls from citizens.)

Healthcare, OSF St. Francis

OSF sues Dr. Banno and Peoria Day Surgery for racketeering

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On Wednesday, April 23, OSF Healthcare System filed suit in U. S. District Court (read the complaint here) against Dr. Joseph Banno and Peoria Day Surgery Center: three counts of racketeering and one count of consumer fraud and deceptive business practices.

There’s already bad blood between these two groups. In September 2006, Peoria Day Surgery Center filed an antitrust lawsuit against OSF Healthcare, doing business as OSF St. Francis Medical Center. The charge was that OSF was participating in anti-competitive business practices and trying to force Peoria Day Surgery out of business. That case is still pending, currently scheduled to go to trial in December of this year.

This new case alleges that Dr. Banno and Peoria Day Surgery Center (PDSC) have been perpetrating a fraudulent billing scheme since as early as 1997. Basically, the suit says that Banno and PDSC were not charging their patients the proper co-insurance amounts, instead passing those costs on to their patients’ employers through deceptive billing practices.

Besides the deceptive billing practices, this arrangement also caused a lot of people to choose PDSC for their surgical needs who would have otherwise gone to OSF. In other words, there was no co-pay at OSF, but there was supposed to be a 30% (later 50%) co-pay at PDSC. If PDSC had been charging patients the proper co-pay amounts, most patients arguably would have gone with the cheaper option — OSF. Thus, OSF lost considerable revenue because of PDSC’s practices, the suit alleges.

OSF is suing for unspecified damages and demanding a jury trial.

Not sure why this major development has not been reported in the mainstream media yet.

City of Peoria

Another proud Peorian

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Kirk Wessler gave his list of things he likes about Peoria in his article Sunday. He credits my “Be Positive About Peoria Day” post as his inspiration. I’m glad to see that catching on.

For all the irritating things about Peoria, there’s also a lot to like. Nowhere is that truer than sports in Peoria. For a city our size, we’ve got a ton of sporting events and nice facilities in which to watch them.

It’s good to remind ourselves of the good things once in a while… but not so much that we get complacent. There’s still a lot of room for improvement.

Kellar Branch

Bibo gets the facts wrong on Kellar

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Terry Bibo writes an opinion column for the Journal Star, so I don’t begrudge her expressing her advocacy for converting the Kellar Branch rail line into a dedicated trail, even though I obviously disagree with her. But it does bother me when she says things like this, as if it were a fact:

Even though the Peoria Park District has money banked to make it happen, the trail has languished for years. That’s because Pioneer Rail Corp. rarely uses the railroad line but says it will one of these days. The city of Peoria hasn’t forced the issue.

Wrong, wrong, and wrong.

First, she makes it sound as if the Park District has money in hand, sitting in a bank somewhere for this project. What they actually have are grants for which they applied prematurely (before they had STB approval to convert the line) that are sitting in limbo, and have been for over a decade.

Secondly, the trail has not languished because of Pioneer. The trail has languished for one main reason: the Park District insists that the only option is to replace the rail line with a trail. If they would have pursued alternatives, they could have had the thing built by now. But they’re not willing to compromise with side-by-side, on-street, adjacent-to-street, or other alternatives. They’ve decided to lay siege to the rail line, willing to wait it out for as many decades as it takes to get their way — at taxpayer expense, of course.

Thirdly, Pioneer isn’t even the superficial reason the trail has been held up. You may recall that the City got Pioneer kicked off the line and replaced with Central Illinois Railroad (CIRY). CIRY was supposed to provide service to Carver Lumber via the Kellar Branch until the western connection was built, then provide comparable service via the western connection. Furthermore, they were supposed to petition the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for discontinuance of the middle portion of the Kellar Branch so it could be converted to a trail, which they did initially. But CIRY never provided service over the Kellar Branch (breach of contract), and their service via the western connection was so poor that Carver Lumber complained to the STB for relief. The STB granted that relief by reinstating Pioneer on the line. CIRY also withdrew their petition for discontinuance (also breach of contract). So if Ms. Bibo and the Journal Star are looking for a scapegoat in the rail carrier arena, they should be complaining about CIRY, not Pioneer. But you’ll never hear the truth from the Journal Star on this issue. They’ve got their boilerplate (“Pioneer is to blame for everything regarding the trail because we don’t like them”), and they’re not going to deviate from it.

Fourthly, “the City of Peoria hasn’t forced the issue”? Seriously? Are you kidding me? The City has been carrying the Park District’s and Peoria Heights’ water on this issue for 17 years. The City has spent tens of thousands of dollars on legal fees to force the issue. They’ve built a $2 million connecting track to try to force the issue. After a decade and a half of fighting this, they’ve finally seen the handwriting on the wall and are trying to come up with another alternative — hence, the rail/trail committee that’s looking at shared use of the corridor.

Peoria Heights, in contrast, is now trying to pick up where the City left off fighting the STB, only this time spending their own taxpayers’ money for a change. They’re going to keep tilting at windmills, and they’re going to keep wasting more time and money while not ever getting a trail built. But they’ll be praised for trying anyway, at least by Mayor Maloof and the Journal Star.

City of Peoria, Comprehensive Plan

Comprehensive planning not easy, City discovers

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A recent “Issues Update” from the city outlined the difficulty city staff is having getting participation in the Comprehensive Planning process from certain segments of the community:

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SURVEY – PRELIMINARY RESULTS. As part of the Comprehensive Plan re-write process, the City made an online survey available to the public in order to help gauge levels of interest and importance for various public services. A copy of the preliminary report was presented in Issues Update last week. The preliminary results were presented to the Planning Commission at their April 16, 2008 meeting. During the presentation, several of the commissioners had questions related to the percentage of response from several areas and groups. Specifically, the response rate from the African-American community was significantly below the relative percentage of Peoria’s population. The response rate from the 1st Council District was also below the proportional population amount. Several steps were taken by City staff to provide direct outreach before the launch of the survey, and in anticipation of difficulty reaching some population groups. Additional outreach efforts were made as the survey results were received.

Some of these outreach efforts included:

  • Partnership with the Peoria Public Library to make computers and assistance available to anyone wanting to take the online survey in a library.
  • The placement of two of the three “Help Plan Peoria” billboards in areas of the city that were anticipated to have low response rates.
  • Direct mailings to all faith based organizations in Peoria, requesting that an encouragement be placed in bulletins or newsletters requesting participation in the survey.
  • Direct mailings to all neighborhood associations, neighborhood watch, and business watch groups encouraging them to have their association members participate in the survey.
  • Direct outreach to the Black Chamber of Commerce and the African American Contractors Association requesting that they encourage their members to participate.
  • The provision of 250 paper surveys with self addressed stamped envelopes to residents of the Southside in response from a community leader in that area.
  • A recorded telephone message from the mayor targeted to areas of low response requesting participation in the survey.
  • The placement of “Help Plan Peoria” posters on several CityLink buses.
  • Placement of ads in the Traveler Newspaper.

Despite all those efforts, survey results show only 58 of the survey takers identified themselves as living in the first district, and only 29 described themselves as African Americans.

This is the second attempt at gaining input from citizens. The first one was through a series of public meetings that were so poorly attended that the City decided to cancel the second round of meetings and instead go with the online survey. The survey saw increased participation, but only from certain groups (including a lot of people who live outside the city). So, getting citizen input appears to have been a bit of a struggle.

The Issues Update went on to say:

Although the online survey has been closed at this point, there is still ample opportunity for participation in the Comprehensive Plan process. A series of Public Hearings will begin at the May Planning Commission meeting, and will continue on a monthly basis through September or October of 2008. At each of these meetings, City staff will present recommendations to the Commission, and the Commission will accept public comment and testimony on the recommendations. Further, any resident can call the Planning Department at 494-8600 with comments related to the Comprehensive Plan and the future of Peoria, or send a comment via email to planning@ci.peoria.il.us A detailed listing of future public meetings related to the Comprehensive Plan will be distributed in a future Issues Update.

What’s surprising to me about this whole process is that no consultant — no city planning expert — was called in to help. Not that I think we need a consultant to do every little thing. But this is no little thing.

Consider that we’ve hired a consultant to do a traffic study for the west bluff. We hired a consultant to develop the Heart of Peoria Plan and write the Land Development Code, both of which covered about 8,000 acres of the city. We hired a consultant to help us with the CSO project. We had Caterpillar come in to provide Six Sigma training. We’re likely going to hire a consultant to do an engineering study for the Kellar Branch rail/trail issue.

But for the City’s Comprehensive Plan — the guiding document that will define our public policy direction on everything from land use to transportation for the whole entire city for the next 20 years — we think we don’t need any outside help for that? We have all the expertise we need in house, even though we evidently don’t have it for any of the other, comparatively smaller things I just listed? If the City can’t figure out a way to engage all the stakeholders and get adequate representation from all parts of the city, how will they be able to put together a comprehensive plan that will address the needs of the whole community?

This plan is too important to be one of the few initiatives on which we try to save money by not hiring an expert to assist us. This isn’t the Developer’s Handbook, it’s the Comprehensive Plan! The future of our City will be guided by this document. It’s imperative that we get this one right.

City of Peoria

Riverfront planning session to be held May 3

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Green-Edge PlanThe City’s Economic Development Department has been trying to drum up support for their newest riverfront plan, sometimes called the “Green Edge Plan.” In case you’ve forgotten, this is a plan to build a road along the riverfront from the RiverPlex north to Spring Street (and eventually further north to connect with Grandview Drive) and construct townhouses on the northwest side of the road.

A workshop has been planned for next Saturday, May 3, 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Gateway Building, to get public input on the plan. Here’s the invitation and agenda:

Discuss what Peoria can do to encourage continued improvement in Riverfront Planning.

8:00 a.m. Welcome – Ray Lees, Planning Commission
8:10 a.m. Tom Tincher- Heartland Water Resources Council
8:30 a.m. Terry Kohlbuss – Tri-County Regional Planning
8:45 a.m. Craig Hullinger- Economic Development
9:00 a.m. Break-out session of 10 person planning group.
Discuss ideas, goals and proposals.
11:00 a.m. Present outcome to group
12:00 p.m. Adjourn

The citizen’s input will be placed on the City of Peoria blog at peoriaed.blogspot.com and incorporated into Riverfront planning efforts.

This plan has been getting its fair share of criticism. Owners of Detweiller Marina aren’t too keen on it because of how it would impact their property. Environmentalists aren’t happy with the fact that it would be displacing park land. Others wonder why we’re spending our energy and resources on this plan when we have other plans still in the hopper that we’ve only scratched the surface on — like the Heart of Peoria Plan and its four form districts, just for starters. Still others are concerned that the same developer who gave us “Riverfront Village” (concrete platform on stilts that blocks the view of the river) is involved in this plan.

At the March Planning Commission meeting, environmental activist Tom Edwards brought his own alternative plan to share with the commissioners:

For the record, Mr. Edwards’ alternatives listed on his document titled, “A Synopsis of a New Vision for Peoria’s Historic Riverfront Area,” dated March 11, 2008, are listed as follows:

  1. A hiking/biking trail on the River’s Edge from McCluggage Bridge to the I-74 Murray Baker Bridge.

  2. Keep all development on the outside of the Riverfront Park, i.e., between Adams Street and the park. There is a lot of empty land there, plus little used buildings that could lend themselves to other uses, including apartments and some thriving commercial artists among the solid industries already there.

  3. Begin a continuing long-term joint program of the City and private property owners to locate in existing buildings. Fill in this area with multi-faceted types of development. Improve the attractiveness of Adams Street itself. It is the first view many people get of the City and Riverfront – plus, the view a great many commuters have to live with daily.

  4. With money that would be spent on the proposed highway through the park, instead begin an outreach program with fix-up cost sharing incentives for the entire North Valley neighborhood west of Adams Street.

  5. The former Rock Island Railroad depot building at the foot of Morton Street: Make it a museum for River history.

  6. The proposed apartment development on privately owned land next to Detweiller Marina but not surrounded by the public’s park: It would be a total of 45 units, plus its large parking lot at the foot of Spring Street. This would be a negative for the present and future of the park. It and its parking lot would wall off part of the park and River view to the general public.

    Solution: Arrange a trade for this Riverfront parcel for available land directly opposite but on the outside edge of the park, which would allow apartment residents to have both green space and the lake to view from their windows, and the building and its parking lot would be consuming none of the park or River frontage itself.

  7. There is a small wooded tract at the foot of the McCluggage Bridge. A Riverfront road would eliminate it; but it would be a shady terminus for a simple hiking/biking trail, as well as remaining a green entranceway to the City at the bridge.

  8. Whether called island or peninsulas, river fill is simply more river fill. Halt all taking from the lake; rather, add to it. The River is our lifeline; its lake, our crown jewel.

Mr. Edwards’ plan would be quite a bit more expensive than Hullinger’s, since it would involve the acquisition of private property. One reason Hullinger is putting development on park land is because the city already owns it (this park land is unique in that it’s owned by the City and not the Park District). However, I do agree with Mr. Edwards in this: the City needs to promote (and possibly even incentivize) the reuse of existing buildings in built out areas.

I haven’t quite made up my mind yet, but I’m leaning toward the “let’s finish current plans first” camp. I like Hullinger’s idea, but it just feels like the timing isn’t quite right.

2008 Campaign

Darin LaHood pizza party planned

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From an invitation/press release:

Dear Neighborhood Associations and Fellow Peorians:

We are writing to invite you to a Pizza Party at Agatucci’s Restaurant to meet Darin LaHood, candidate for Peoria County State’s Attorney. Please join us for an evening of pizza and beverages and to hear from Darin regarding his plans to help improve our City’s crime problems and make our neighborhoods and streets safer.

As you are aware, everyday we continue to read about crime affecting all areas of Peoria, including efforts to attract jobs and improve our schools. We need a new and aggressive person in our State’s Attorney’s Office – someone with fresh ideas and a willingness to work with others. Darin is especially committed to working with the City to battle crime and pledges to be a part of cooperative efforts to do so. That is why we are supporting Darin for State’s Attorney. We look forward to seeing you at Agatucci’s.

WHEN: Thursday, May 22nd, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Agatucci’s Restaurant, 2607 N. University.
Complimentary pizza and beverages.
WHY: Enjoy delicious pizza and meet and hear from Darin LaHood.
QUESTIONS: Please call Susan at 253-5153.
(There will not be a solicitation for money at the event)

The invitation is signed by seven City council members (Eric Turner, Bob Manning, Ryan Spain, Gary Sandberg, Patrick Nichting, George Jacob, and Jim Montelongo) and Mayor Jim Ardis.

If I get an invitation to a Kevin Lyons pizza party, I’ll pass that along as well.

Peoria Public Schools

D150 looking to save money by cutting instruction time, arts

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“Well, I guess you can cut the arts as much as you want, Gene. Sooner or later, these kids aren’t going to have anything to read or write about.”

–Glenn Holland, “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” 1995

Peoria Public Schools logoI went to Whittier Primary School this morning. My kids will be going there next fall (I’m sure District 150’s administration is thrilled — I’ll have so much more to blog about now). Jackie, my oldest, has been going to a private school. It’s a small Christian school that’s been struggling to reach critical mass and just couldn’t do it, so it will be closing at the end of the school year. She’ll be going into third grade. Maggie, my youngest daughter, will be entering kindergarten.

So we went to the “Kindergarten Roundup” this morning to meet the principal — interim principal, as it turns out — and the teachers, and take a little tour of the school, and take a bus ride around the block. It was a fun morning.

One of the things we (and some other parents new to the school) wanted to know was what time school started and ended. I thought the answer was a little odd. “This year, school starts at 8:45″ and “lets out at 3:15.”

This year? Why the disclaimer?

Well, as it turns out, I had missed a very important part of the story on this past Monday’s school board meeting. Apparently, one of the school district’s efforts at saving money is to shorten the school day and cut some of the arts in the process:

But officials early on in the meeting Monday said job cuts may not be on the horizon, alluding to discussing late into the night the option of shortening the school day for primary students and their teachers instead. Students would have 45 fewer minutes at school; teachers’ days would be a half-hour shorter.

The savings, officials said, were estimated at $600,000 to $750,000 by reducing what’s spent on part-time prep teachers. An additional $45,000 to $60,000 would be saved by eliminating missed prep periods.

Scheduling changes would make up for some of the lost day and art or music classes could take some of the cuts, officials said, not essentials such as math and reading. That measure is expected to be discussed more at the May 5 board meeting.

Make the day shorter, and cut the arts. That’s how they’re considering saving money. Oh, but they won’t cut “essentials,” such as multiple superintendents math and reading. It’s interesting that they don’t see the arts as “essential.” Research shows:

  • Learning in the Arts is Academic. Learning experiences in the arts contribute to the development of academic skills, including the areas of reading and language development and mathematics.

  • Learning in the Arts is Basic. Arts learning experiences contribute to the development of certain thinking, social and motivational skills that are considered basic for success in school, life and work. These fundamental skills encompass a wide range of more subtle, general capacities of the mind, self-perceptions and social relationships.

  • Learning in the Arts is Comprehensive. The arts help create the kind of learning environment conducive to teacher and student success by fostering teacher innovation, a positive professional culture, community engagement, increased student attendance, effective instructional practice and school identity.

But hey, gotta save money somewhere. It only makes sense to cut multiple superintendents instruction time and the arts.

Hat tip: Billy Dennis and PeoriaIllinoisan.