All posts by C. J. Summers

I am a fourth-generation Peorian, married with three children.
City Council, City of Peoria, Taxes

Township property taxes are going up

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On the agenda for Tuesday’s City Council meeting is this item under Town business:

RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Proposed Estimated Tax Levy of $2,179,219 with an estimated tax rate of .13663 for the Town of the City of Peoria and enter this action into the permanent record.

The item goes on to say that “the proposed estimated levy of $2,179,219, represents a 2.5% increase in the aggregate levy over last year’s tax extension.” Translation: taxes are going up. The tax rate itself may not be going up due to increases in home values (EAV), but don’t let that fool you. When a government body levies more money than the year before, that’s a tax increase.

Museum Block

New fiction section added to InterBusiness Issues

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I enjoyed reading Brad McMillan’s article in InterBusiness Issues this month. It was quite entertaining. I had no idea he was such a good fiction writer, or that IBI had added a fiction section. Check out some of these knee-slapping lines:

The notion that this [museum] project was elitist and was forced on the community from the top down is simply false. Instead, this grass-roots initiative included nine museum groups and hundreds of volunteers…

Grass-roots initiative? Yes, this little “grassroots initiative” was pushed along by common, everyday people like various CEOs of Caterpillar and other large corporations, U.S. Congressmen, State Senators, and local mayors — all of whom are chronicled in Mr. McMillan’s article, by the way. And that “grassroots” marketing campaign that cost almost a million dollars? It was nothing short of miraculous the way the common folks were able to come up with that kind of money. The whole project was a modern-day “Little Engine That Could” story.

Our legacy Build the Block project is funded 55 percent private and 45 percent public….

And if you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell you. The County alone is pumping over $59 million (including bond interest) into the project, the City’s contribution is roughly $17 million (land, TIF proceeds through 2021, improvements to Water Street), we’re getting $9 million in public funds for the parking deck ($4 million in federal highway administration funds and $5 million in state capital funds) — what are we up to now? $85 million? That’s already over 60% of the $140 million project.

…it was the broad-based collaboration between labor groups, museum collaborators, families and business that helped pass a sales tax referendum during the worst part of our economic recession.

…by promising to build an IMAX theater, use 100% local union labor, not bond out more than $40 million, and not bond out until all the private funds were raised — all promises on which they’ve now reneged.

Mike Everett, president of the West Central Illinois Building Trades, tirelessly raised money and put up signs for the Build the Block campaign, knowing that it would provide 250 local construction jobs for his men and women over 25 months.

Except that, since this is a public project now, those construction jobs will have to go to the lowest bidder, and that’s not necessarily going to end up being local laborers. I’m sure the museum supporters are hoping it will end up being local labor, since they promised in their TV ads it would be built with “100% local union labor.”

Through the efforts of so many, the 15-year hole in the heart of Peoria will now be filled with one of the single most important cultural and economic developments in our region’s history.

Fifteen years ago was 1995. Sears was still open and doing business on the block then. They didn’t close the store and move to Northwoods until 1998, so the block hasn’t been a “15-year hole in the heart of Peoria.” But I’m quibbling. Why let facts get in the way of a good story, right?

Amtrak, City of Peoria, Illinois Dept. of Transportation

Amtrak study for Peoria delayed another year

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Since 2007, Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation have been studying the feasibility of reestablishing a Peoria-Chicago passenger rail route, but completion of the study has been delayed multiple times. IDOT Bureau Chief of Railroads George Weber now estimates the report will be released in late summer or early fall of 2011.

“Unfortunately, studies such as the Peoria one have had to be further delayed because of priorities with the FRA [Federal Railroad Administration] and projects that we (State of Illinois) have been awarded federal funds,” Weber said via e-mail. He added that railroad companies (which own the corridors and physical tracks and ties) are doing modeling and capacity studies for a number of similar projects nationwide, and that is also contributing to the delay.

Ridership on the Chicago to St. Louis Amtrak route continues to increase, up about 15% over last year according to IDOT statistics. Overall ridership in Illinois is up 8% from the same period last year.

2010 Election

Gordon uses Obama’s name to help her campaign

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Shortly before election day, some new signs started popping up all over the southern portion of Peoria. They said, “President Obama Needs You To Vote” in red, white and blue. At the bottom, it says in small letters, “Paid for by Friends of Jehan Gordon.” Interesting campaign strategy. She must feel that people who voted for Obama would naturally vote for her, too. But I’m still a little unclear on why Obama needs you to vote — “you” in this case being people who live in the southern part of Peoria and are voting for a state office.

General News

Old Jumer’s hotel to become supportive living facility

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From my in-box:
A press conference will be held on Tuesday, November 9th, to announce the purchase of the Peoria Castle Lodge, the former Jumer’s building on Western Avenue. Petersen Health Care will announce the opening of Courtyard Estates of Peoria, a supportive living facility like The Residences at Plainview.

“Supportive living” is an alternative to nursing home care, according to the Courtyard Estates website: “By combining apartment-style housing with personal care and other services, residents can live independently and take part in decision-making.” Amenities include “three family-style meals a day, daily medication reminders, in-room dining during minor illnesses, free transportation to and from medical appointments, weekly housekeeping and linen service, daily trash pickup and bathroom cleaning, and a 24-hour emergency call system.” If you noticed that there are Signs of Nursing Home Neglect in New Haven, Connecticut, contact a lawyer immediately. There are currently supportive living facilities in Canton, Sullivan, and Monmouth like Summerfield Of Redlands. Petersen Health Care is working on another facility in Peoria, too, according to July’s InterBusiness Issues:

Petersen Health Care is developing an upscale senior living facility, to be known as the Courtyard Estates at Junction City. The four-story building will add a residential component to the expanding center, which will complement the rest of the site nicely. Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2011.
Despite the similarity in names, the Junction City project will be an “independent living” facility. You can visit the Carlton Senior Living official website to get an idea of facilities.

I think they should just call the new place “Jumer’s Estates,” because the place will forever be known as Jumer’s anyway. It hasn’t had Jumer’s name on it for at least eight years, but even in today’s press release it’s identified as “the former Jumer’s building.”

2010 Election

Vote!

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It’s election day. I hope you’ll all get out and participate in government by voting. Whenever people want to know what we can do about what’s happening in Washington or Springfield or right here in Peoria, I always say the biggest thing we can do is elect good leaders. Here’s hoping you find a few leaders like that on the ballot today.

2010 Election, Peoria County

Peoria County Board, District 3: Karrie Alms

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I’ve known Karrie Alms for a few years now, and I can tell you this: when she tells you that she believes in transparency in government, following established processes, and giving citizens the opportunity to have meaningful input — she means it. She has worked harder than anyone I know to hold our government leaders accountable. That’s not always easy. It often involves making dozens of calls and requesting a lot of documents through the Freedom of Information Act. Once, it even required taking legal action against the Park District at her own personal expense.

Karrie makes decisions on principle, not out of political expediency. Those principles include common-sense positions such as taking care of needs before wants (a basic-services-first position), keeping our debt load as low as possible, and keeping citizens informed and engaged in the decision-making process. She’s an independent thinker who makes decisions based on facts, wherever those facts may lead. She’s relentless in her search for all the information she needs to make the best decision.

Accessible, responsible, transparent, principled — these are the kinds of attributes I think everyone wants in a representative, and Karrie Alms has them. She is endorsed.

City of Peoria, Peoria Police

On second thought, maybe we do have too many police officers

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It wasn’t that long ago that the police were needing lots of overtime and help from the state police to handle violent hot spots in the City. But now it looks like they’ve got nothing better to do than conduct sting operations on people smoking in bars.

The Journal Star article says that “smoking violations [are] administrative in nature and not criminal,” and are adjudicated through “a complicated, quasi-judicial administrative system set up through the Illinois Department of Public Health.” So my question is, why are the police involved in the process at all? Why isn’t the health department sending inspectors into these bars like they do for restaurant inspections?

City Council, City of Peoria

Liveblogging the City Council 10/26/2010

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Hello! I’m coming to you live from Peoria City Hall, Council Chambers. I’ll be updating this post throughout the evening, so be sure to refresh your browser regularly to see the latest updates. Here’s tonight’s agenda:

ITEM NO. 1 CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS BY OMNIBUS VOTE, for the City of Peoria, with Recommendations as Outlined:

A. TAG DAY REQUEST from the KOREAN WAR VETERANS OF AMERICA, PEORIA CHAPTER #243, Requesting Permission to Sell KOREAN WAR DAISIES in the City of Peoria on FRIDAY and SATURDAY, JUNE 17 and 18, 2011. (Dates are open.)

B. Communication from the City Manager and Finance Director/Comptroller Requesting Authorization for the City Manager to Enter Into an AGREEMENT with PNC BANK for RENEWAL BANKING SERVICES for ONE YEAR, Commencing January 1, 2011, Under Terms of the Existing One Year Contract with PNC BANK with Specific 2011 Modifications; and Requesting Execution of an ADDENDUM to Incorporate Specific CONTRACT MODIFICATIONS Outlined in PNC Bank’s Attached 2011 Contract Extension Proposal.

C. Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Approval of an INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT with ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE Pertaining to MUTUAL AID Between POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

D. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management Requesting Approval of a SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT to the 2010 HUD ANNUAL ACTION PLAN to REALLOCATE $100,000.00 of HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP GRANT (HOME) FUNDS from a Subgrantee Project to the DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE (DPA) PROGRAM.

E. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management Requesting an INCREASE in the BUDGETED AMOUNT for the MacARTHUR APARTMENT PROJECT by $8,000.00 in CDBG FUNDS.

F. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Recommendation from the Zoning Commission and Staff to Adopt an ORDINANCE Granting a SPECIAL USE in a Class C2 (Large Scale Commercial) District for a RADIO TOWER for the Property Located at 2006 W. ALTORFER DRIVE, with Conditions.

G. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with Request to Receive and File the UPDATED 2010 – 2011 SNOW REMOVAL AND ICE CONTROL PLAN.

H. APPOINTMENTS by Mayor Jim Ardis to the PLANNING COMMISSION, with Request to Concur.

Kelley A. Lemons (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2012

I. APPOINTMENTS by Mayor Jim Ardis to the ADVISORY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RESOURCES, with Request to Concur.

Katherine Coyle (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2012
Judith L. Oakford (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2013

J. APPOINTMENTS by Mayor Jim Ardis to the FAIR EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING COMMISSION, with Request to Concur.

Jerrodean D. Ashby (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2012
Sherry Ellis-Smith (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2013
Verma Harris (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2013

Items removed from the consent agenda by the council person noted in parentheses: Item B (Riggenbach). The remaining items passed unanimously.

  • Item B — Riggenbach is upset about the cost of the City’s banking services. The City has about $50 million in 20 different accounts on deposit at PNC, Riggenbach says, and it’s a “very attractive piece of business for a financial institution.” He says the “earnings credit rate” has dropped significantly, resulting in an extra $20,000 in banking fees from PNC. Recommends putting out an RFP for banking services; says we saved over $30,000 the last time we did that in 2005. Complains that this is coming to the Council at the last minute — too late to put this out for RFP. He moves to approve, but adds a stipulation that the staff bring back an RFP before September next year on this issue.

    Sandberg asks staff why they didn’t put this out for an RFP this year. Finance Director Scroggins says an RFP was done in 2008, and none of the other banks qualified. PNC worked with the City and gave them a very good earnings rate at that time. Because of the recession, the market is not good right now for looking at banking services, so they felt it was most prudent to bring this up for a one-year extension this year and do an RFP next year. Sandberg asks why no bank could satisfy our requirements the last time we went out for an RFP. Are our requirements reasonable? Response from Scroggins: It’s not that they couldn’t, but that they wouldn’t meet our requirements. Sandberg again challenges the requirements. Treasurer Nichting says another factor is that there’s not much demand for money right now because of tight credit markets. Says PNC is offering the City a good deal right now, and is giving us good quality of service.

    Van Auken says her issue is not with staff’s decision per se, but rather that they don’t share it with the Council until October, at the 11th hour. Staff should tell the Council to keep them in the loop within enough time for the Council to redirect staff if they disagree with staff’s direction. Riggenbach concurs with Van Auken. Ardis says the same thing happened a couple weeks ago regarding an insurance contract, and says Council wants to see change from the staff.

    Motion passes unanimously.

ITEM NO. 2 Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Approval of the AMENDMENT to the 1996 INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT Between the City of Peoria and the PEORIA CIVIC CENTER AUTHORITY, Said Amendment Pertaining to HRA TAX WITHHOLDING, and Requesting Authorization for the City Manager to Execute the Amendment.

Spain moves to defer until December 14, seconded by Van Auken. Passes unanimously.

ITEM NO. 3 Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Adoption of an ORDINANCE Vacating Approximately 507 FEET of the ALLEY RIGHT OF WAY on the NORTHERN END of Said ALLEY Located Between SPRING STREET and CAROLINE STREET, and Between N.E. ADAMS STREET and BOND STREET.

Gulley says this is a project “we’ve been working on for a number of years.” Moves to approve, seconded by Riggenbach. Gulley asks privilege of the floor for anyone to address the council on this issue.

  • William Ordaz — Represents Detweiller Marina Neighborhood Association. Requests that the council deny this action. He addresses the same concerns I reported in my previous post. Says that when TIFs are significantly changed, it must go before the Joint Review Board, and that hasn’t happened with the northside TIF. For example, the S-curve that was part of the TIF and has now been removed — that’s a significant change to the TIF that was never brought before the Joint Review Board, he says. He’s also concerned about lack of transparency. Asks the council if they’re really for core neighborhoods.

Sandberg says he’s “perplexed” because the communication says the alley vacation is the “first step” in an expansion project. The first step should be meeting with neighbors, applying for rezoning, etc. Also is wondering when the City has ever approved a partial alley vacation. (Rhetorical question.) He says it’s never happened because we have policies and procedures against it. Are we just doing it because it’s a $15 million project? “Are we just whores?” he asks.

Gulley says this is not a $15 million project, so that’s not the driving issue. The item before us is vacation of the alley. Also says no business is going to spend money on architectural drawings, etc., if they don’t have their parcels assembled to do the project. He says this is a “simple vacation of an alley” and that it is allowed in a TIF. In this case, the first step is vacating the alley. The next step is to develop site plans and drawings for the project. Then we can meet with the neighbors to talk about site approval and how it fits into the neighborhood and take care of the concerns brought forward.

Sandberg reiterates that we’re only vacating part of an alley. Gulley says we did the same thing on Third Street, which starts an argument with Sandberg that Ardis breaks up. Sandberg then moves for one-month deferral, seconded by Spain. Gulley says there are problems with the deferral because we want to move forward, and a deferral will put us into December and delay the project, which will cause us to miss opportunities. Says the “problems” that have been brought forth are not really problems, and are no reason to hold up the project. Argues that it should be passed tonight. A motion to defer would be “anti-business” in Peoria, he says.

Ardis says this hinges on precedent because of the length of the alley vacation and safety of egress. Public Works Director Barber steps forward and says we’ve had meetings on this alley “a year or two ago when this first came up.” Says there’s a long dead-end alley off Wisconsin at Republic, etc. Says the neighbors at this location (under discussion tonight) do not have any concerns. Van Auken asks if police and fire were involved in this meeting. Barber says he doesn’t remember. Spears asks if property owners have changed in the past two years since the last neighborhood meeting. Barber says yes — O’Brien bought several neighbors’ property so he now owns the property on both sides of the alley all the way to Jim’s Autobody.

Spain is still concerned and wants information on what the new project is. Says he will support the deferral. Also says that the alley vacation shouldn’t be seen as a deal-killing threat. If the council okays the alley vacation, it doesn’t mean they’re any more or less likely to support the expansion plan.

Deferral passes 8-2 (Gulley and Montelongo voting nay).

ITEM NO. 4 Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Recommendation from the Zoning Commission and Staff to Adopt the Following:

A. ORDINANCE Amending APPENDIX B of the Code of the City of Peoria Relating to FEES; and
B. ORDINANCE Amending APPENDIX C of the Code of the City of Peoria Relating to FEES.

Spain/Turner move to approve 4A; passes unanimously.
Spain/Van Auken move to approve 4B; passes unanimously. No discussion either item.

ITEM NO. 5 Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Recommendation from the Zoning Commission and Staff to Adopt the Following:

A. ORDINANCE Amending APPENDIX B of the Code of the City of Peoria Relating to VEHICLE PARKING and STORAGE; and

B. ORDINANCE Amending APPENDIX C of the Code of the City of Peoria Relating to VEHICLE PARKING and STORAGE.

Van Auken/Turner move to approve 5A. Sandberg says he’s concerned about unintended consequences of this action. Says that it may result in more of these vehicles being parked on the street instead of on a person’s private property. Also says enforcement would be difficult, if not impossible, because these regulations will impact small vehicles as well as large ones, when it was the large vehicles the ordinance was intended to impact. Nevertheless, motion passes 9-1 (Gulley).

Van Auken/Turner move to approve 5B. Passes unanimously.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

(10-068) Communication from the City Manager and Acting Director of Human Resources Requesting Approval to ENTER into an AGREEMENT Between the CITY OF PEORIA and all EMPLOYEE BARGAINING UNITS to EXTEND the JOINT LABOR/MANAGEMENT HEALTH CARE COMMITTEE for (3) YEARS, Effective January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2013.

Spain moves for four-week deferral, seconded by Van Auken. Passes unanimously with no discussion.

(10-391) Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Request to DEFER this Item Relating to WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITIES Until NOVEMBER 9, 2010, AND Request to EXTEND the MORATORIUM on the ISSUANCE of NEW PERMITS and APPROVALS. (New Communication)

Van Auken/Turner move to approve; passes unanimously without discussion.

(10-464) Communication from the City Manager Requesting for the City Council to Provide Direction to the Administration on the PRELIMINARY FY2011 OPERATING BUDGET.

City Manager Scott Moore asks that the item be deferred. Spain says he’s concerned about the amount of work left to do before a budget needs to be approved, and there are many items that need to be addressed soon. Moore says he’s still gathering information and wants to make sure Council has all the information they need to make decisions. Van Auken wants more analysis on why departments are suggesting certain fee increases — i.e., how did they come up with the amounts they’re suggesting?

Van Auken moves to defer the item until November 9, seconded by Spain; passes unanimously.

(10-465) Communication from the City Manager Requesting Direction to Staff Regarding POTENTIAL INCREASES to VARIOUS FEES and FINES.

Spain moves to defer until November 9, seconded by Irving; passes unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENTS Regarding FY 2011 CITY OF PEORIA BUDGET.

No one from the public speaks to the council on this item.

NEW BUSINESS

  • Turner says that he and Gulley will have a small business workshop on Saturday, Nov. 6 from 9-12 at Frank Campbell Community Center. Also thanks those involved in the recent Code Enforcement public meeting.

CITIZEN REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL

  • Savino Sierra — Speaks in favor of keeping police and fire department personnel from being cut in the budget. Also spoke in favor of O’Brien Steel’s yet-to-be-revealed expansion plans. Says sidewalks around schools flood when it rains hard. Says the City was supposed to fix them three years ago, but hasn’t done it yet.
  • Peg Pendell (sp?) — Speaks against Item No. 5 that passed tonight. Also speaks against membership in neighborhood organizations and I guess neighborhood organizations in general. She made a big point of saying she’s not a member “by choice.” She said Planning & Growth Director Pat Landes said that Item 5 was discussed with the public at neighborhood association meetings in June. She was offended/outraged that this was the way it was presented to the public. Threatens a “peasant revolt” if there isn’t more transparency in government.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

ADJOURNMENT

There is an executive session, but the public meeting is adjourned at 8:03 p.m. Good night, all. Next Tuesday is election day, so no council meeting is planned.