Daily Archives: June 3, 2008

City of Peoria, Peoria Public Library, Peoria Public Schools

City, D150, and Library Board to consider Expo/Richwoods site

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The Times-Observer is reporting that officials from the City, District 150, and the Peoria Public Library will be meeting today at 4:30 p.m. to discuss possibly building a new library on D150 property by Richwoods High School and Expo Gardens. There’s a catch:

Ardis said that closing the Lakeview Branch and building the new North Peoria library branch on, or near Expo Gardens, would trim $8 to $10 million off the proposed $35 million cost of the entire library plan.

Let’s see, how was that referendum question worded again? Here it is:

“Shall bonds in the amount of $35,000,000 be issued for Library purposes of the City of Peoria, In Peoria County, Illinois, of acquiring, constructing and installing a new library building and additions to existing facilities (including site acquisition, library materials and technology) and related fixtures, furnishings, improvements, facilities and costs, bearing interest at the rate of not to exceed 7%? Paid for by a property tax increase approximately 16 cents per $100 of the equalized assessed valuation.”

That referendum was based on the Library’s master plan, which included expanding Lakeview and building a new branch in far north Peoria. Having the city step in now and suggest closing Lakeview and building a new library across the street from the fourth district is kind of a bait and switch, isn’t it? Expo Gardens is not much farther north than Lakeview, compared to how far north the City has grown.

I can see why Gary Sandberg feels like he wasted his time over the past year.

City of Peoria, Heart of Peoria Plan, New Urbanism

The new LDC: Do whatever the heck you want

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I’m not quite sure why we even have a Land Development Code or a Form Based Code. We spent a lot of time meeting with citizens and stakeholders to come up with the vision of what we want to see. We spent a lot of money codifying that vision. But all of that work was for naught if we’re not going to enforce it.

Once again, someone has blatantly violated the Land Development Code (this time in the Sheridan Triangle Form District). And once again, the city has rolled over and played dead.

The new owner of the old Dairy Queen at Sheridan and Loucks put vinyl siding on his building, even though the Form Based Code for that area explicitly disallows vinyl siding. Then, after the fact, he asked for an administrative deviation from the Planning and Growth department. He got it, natch.

Message received by the development community: “Ignore the code. Do whatever the heck you want. Yeah, it would be best if you asked beforehand so we can rubber-stamp your variance in advance. But if that’s too much trouble, hey, just do whatever and ask for forgiveness later. We’re flexible.”

Peoria Public Schools

Citizens protest shorter school day

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Last night, over 60 parents, teachers, and other concerned individuals protested the District 150 Board of Education’s decision last month to cut the school day by 45 minutes in 12 primary schools. The picture to the right is courtesy of Diane Vespa who helped organize the demonstration and took plenty of photos.

The issue was not on the school board’s agenda, but Superintendent Ken Hinton did say that he is meeting with several interested groups and will report back to the board. He was vague on exactly when he would be reporting back, but it could be as soon as the next school board meeting on June 16. It doesn’t appear the issue will be on the agenda for reconsideration at that meeting, however. Hinton went on to say that he would not be “pressured, threatened, or intimidated,” but would only do what he feels is best for the children. I’d like to know how restoring 45 minutes of learning time to the primary school day could not be in the best interests of the children.

In addition to the demonstration, opponents of the 45-minute cut in learning time are going door-to-door with petitions to show the school board there is broad public support for the board to reverse their decision. Those petitions will be presented at the next school board meeting.

Also at last night’s meeting, Don Jackson announced that the local chapter of the NAACP opposes the cut in learning time.