Category Archives: City of Peoria

City Council, City of Peoria

Council members may be able to phone in their participation

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teleconferencing phoneAnother big change that’s on the council agenda for Tuesday night is an amendment that would allow council members to attend meetings electronically (e.g., via telephone or internet connection) and vote electronically as well. So, for instance, if Eric Turner is going to be out of town on business for Caterpillar, he wouldn’t have to miss an important vote. He could call in, attend the meeting via telephone, and cast his vote with the rest of the council.

Under the proposed plan, electronic attendance would only be allowed if the council person can’t attend in person due to (1) personal illness/disability, (2) employment purposes or city business, or (3) because of a family or other emergency. Also, a quorum will have to be physically present, so you couldn’t have the whole council meeting electronically.

My guess is we won’t see this utilized a whole lot, but it will be entertaining when we do.

City Council, City of Peoria, HOPC

Council agenda misleading regarding HOPC request

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Here’s the item as it was presented to the council on the agenda for June 5:

ITEM NO. 2 REQUESTS for CONSIDERATION of the Following:

A. Communication from Mayor Jim Ardis with Request to Provide More Focus and Maximize Resources for the Implementation of the Heart of Peoria Plan Concepts by Adopting the Following:

  1. ORDINANCE Amending Ordinance No. 15,571 Pertaining to the HEART OF PEORIA COMMISSION Changing the STATUS of the HEART OF PEORIA COMMISSION;
  2. ORDINANCE Amending CHAPTER 23 of the Code of the City of Peoria Pertaining to EXPANSION of the PLANNING COMMISSION by FOUR POSITIONS; and
  3. TRANSFER and APPOINTMENT of HEART OF PEORIA COMMISIONERS to EXISTING PLANNING and/or REGULATORY COMMISSIONS, with Recommendation to Concur:
    • Beth Akeson (Voting): Planning Commission – Term 6/6/2007 – 6/30/2008
    • Joe Richey (Voting): Planning Commission – Term 6/6/2007 – 6/30/2009
    • Dick Schwebel (Voting): Planning Commission – Term 6/6/2007 – 6/30/2008
    • Christopher Summers (Voting): Planning Commission – Term 6/6/07 – 6/30/2009
    • Nancy Biggins (Voting): Zoning Board of Appeals – Term 6/6/2007 – 6/30/2009
    • Patrick Sullivan (Voting): Traffic Commission – Term 6/6/2007 – 6/30/2009
    • Bill Washkuhn: Commission Assignment to be Determined.
OR

B. Communication from Director of Planning and Growth Management with Recommendation from the Heart of Peoria Commission to MAINTAIN the COMMISSION’S STATUS Based on the HEART OF PEORIA COMMISSION’S MISSION STATEMENT, VISION, and CORE VALUES and the CONDITION that the Commission Develop a Work Plan by July 30, 2007, to Complete the Work with the Planning and Growth Management Department to Achieve those Goals.

The way this has been communicated to the council is, unfortunately, misleading. This makes it look like the choice is between the mayor’s proposal (all changes) or the Heart of Peoria Commission’s proposal (no changes). That’s simply not true.

What the Heart of Peoria Commission (HOPC) clearly voted on at their last meeting was their preference for option A above, but without subsection 1. In other words, we strongly agreed with the expansion of the planning commission and the appointment of Heart of Peoria commissioners to various commissions as outlined, but we do not want the status of the Heart of Peoria Commission changed (i.e., we don’t want HOPC decommissioned).

We looked at the pros and cons of continuing as a city-appointed commission versus as a private advocacy group, and we decided we could be more effective as a city-appointed commission. However, we also decided that, in order for the principles of new urbanism to have the most impact, we needed the dual appointments of HOPC commissioners on other commissions — especially the planning commission, since they oversee the city’s comprehensive planning process.

So it was a little surprising to read the council agenda and see the options set so starkly opposed, all-or-nothing. Hopefully, the council can get things sorted out on the council floor Tuesday night.

City Council, City of Peoria

Council reverses course, votes to eliminate fees

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I’m really confused. The city needs revenue. There are fees on the books to bring in revenue. The council voted to increase those fees last year. Yet, inexplicably, the council reversed that decision and is now eliminating those fees. What happened?

You may recall that last August a large property management company bought the old Commercial National Bank building (now used by National City), and they wanted the city to eliminate their annual fees for encroachments of their underground vaults on the public way. It came to light that the city had not been collecting the fee for something like 30 years, but no accounting was ever given for this gross oversight.

Well, last October, the council decided by a vote of 8-2 (Nichting and Ardis were the only nays) “to keep the existing ordinance and modify and update the fee structure regarding underground vaults.” Case closed, right?

Nope. City staff sent letters to the affected property owners and, lo and behold, they complained about the fee. They said it wasn’t fair. They said it would increase the cost of doing business downtown. City staff complained (again) that they’d have to go out to the businesses and inspect them in order to verify the proper fee. So the issue came up to the council again on May 22, 2007. This time, the council voted 9-1 (Manning was the only nay) “to eliminate the current annual fee as provided in the existing Ordinance.”

So, the multi-million-dollar company that owns the Commercial Bank building downtown won’t have to pay that extra $500 annual fee that was apparently of grave concern to them. City staff will get to save a couple of days of looking at building vaults. And the rest of Peoria’s citizens will continue to pay the regressive garbage fee.

Hey, as long as we’re eliminating fees and work, why not get rid of parking fees? After all, since the city is so spread out and there isn’t adequate public transportation, citizens are forced to drive to do business downtown, and thus forced to find someplace to park their car. Hence, using the city’s logic, it’s unfair to charge them for something that’s out of their control. All parking violations have to be verified and ticketed by city employees (meter maids). It raises the cost of doing business downtown. And it’s unpopular with citizens and businesses alike. So who will argue for the elimination of this fee? Anyone? Anyone?

*chirp* *chirp*

Let me guess: the $60,000 the underground-vault fees would bring in to city coffers isn’t worth the trouble, right? I’ll keep that in mind as the city works on the budget again this year.

City Council, City of Peoria

Changes coming to Council meetings

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The city council may only meet half as often if an ordinance amendment is adopted at Tuesday’s council meeting. The amendment would cut back council meetings to twice a month — the second and fourth Tuesdays. Currently, the council meets the first four Tuesdays of every month.

Another part of the amendment requires citizens wishing to address the council to sign a card and restrict their comments to City of Peoria issues. It’s not clear whether the card would have to be signed before the meeting, as is the County Board’s policy, or just before the person speaks.

City of Peoria, General News

Hundreds of new manufacturing jobs coming to Peoria

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Globe EnergyWhile Firefly Energy’s six-million-dollar loan guarantee from the city and county is getting all the press lately, there’s actually bigger news that has gone unreported.

On May 15, the City quietly approved as part of its consent agenda a business development fund loan of $150,000 to Globe Energy “for renovations, equipment, and operating expenses for their project located at 1610 W. Altorfer” in Pioneer Park.

Why is that big news? Because they’re going to be bringing 105 jobs paying an average salary of $50,000 to Peoria in the next 12-18 months, and plans to increase the number of employees to 600 within five years. For comparison, Firefly is planning to employ 65 people.

Here’s some details on Globe Energy from the council communication:

The owners/founders of Globe Energy, a female owned business, have spent 32 years developing a unique, world-patented technology that not only reduces the costs of heating large industrial buildings by 75%-91%, but also can reduce the environmentally harmful emissions caused by burning fossil fuels. The related company in England has a 25-year successful track record of installing high efficiency energy-saving systems across Europe for many large industrial customers including BMW, Dublin Airport, Renault, British Airways and Caterpillar. The U.S. Company has been granted full global rights to the technology by the founders and their U.K. entity and has recently successfully installed new heating systems in two Caterpillar facilities in the U.S.

Globe Energy has invested $3 million in the Peoria location thus far and owns intellectual property valued at $3.5 million. During Phase I of their project, which will be over the next 12-18 months, Globe Energy will renovate its building, purchase additional equipment, set up the manufacturing plant and add approximately 105 new positions with an average salary of $50,000. Phase I will require investment of $7.85 million.

Globe Energy plans to base its global business center and world manufacturing plant in Peoria to service the North American Market and then the rest of the world markets.

Within five years the Peoria operation plans to increase to 600 employees, adding positions in manufacturing, training, sales and marketing with a projected annual payroll of $32.75 million. This phase (Phase II) will involve additional investment of approximately $17 million which will be used to purchase property adjacent to their current location and to construct and build-out additional manufacturing space.

Pretty impressive track record, don’t you think? Here’s a world-class company locating here in Peoria, and yet there’s almost no coverage. Here we have a manufacturer bringing 100-600 jobs to the area, and still people talk as if manufacturing is dead and we should just put all our focus on med-tech jobs. (I’m not saying we shouldn’t go after med-tech jobs, mind you; I just think we need to have a diversity of jobs in Peoria, and manufacturing is an important part of that mix.)

Interestingly, Globe Energy may be needing rail service in the future, and since they’re located in Pioneer Park, that brings them into the whole Kellar Branch debate. For more on that, see David Jordan’s blog. Also, a big hat tip to Mr. Jordan for bringing public attention to this development through his blog.

City of Peoria, Traffic

How was the traffic forum?

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Traffic signal clipartLast night, instead of attending the traffic forum at Bradley, I instead took my daughter in to MedPointe where she was diagnosed with strep throat. By the time I got her prescription filled and got her back home, it was close to 7:30. She’s getting better — the trick is keeping her brother and sister away from her during the first 24 hours while she’s still contagious. 🙂

I did get a chance to check out the Blogger Bash for a while later in the evening. Eyebrows McGee was there with Mr. McGee, as was PeoriaIllinoisan, Brad Carter, Billy Dennis, Diane Vespa, David Henderson, and Precinct Committeeman.

So, did anyone go to the traffic forum? I heard a couple of reports on WCBU which were good, but does anyone else have any more details to share?

One of the suggestions I heard on WCBU’s report was an Uplands resident who suggested putting in cul-de-sacs to keep more traffic from filtering through the neighborhoods. I think that’s a terrible idea. When you shut neighborhoods off to through traffic, it puts more strain on the arterial roads like Main and University, forcing them to be wider and faster, just exactly what we don’t want.

My contention is that cut-through traffic per se is not the problem, but rather people speeding through the neighborhood. If motorists wanted to cut through at 20-25 mph, I doubt neighbors would have much complaint. It’s important to deal with the proper root issue so we don’t make things worse in our attempt to fix them.

City of Peoria, Traffic

Main Street traffic forum Tuesday night

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A traffic forum to discuss improving Main Street will be held Tuesday night, May 29, at 6:00 p.m. in the Bradley Student Center. Here’s a presentation from transportation engineer Ian Lockwood on how he helped West Palm Beach, Florida, change their public right-of-ways to not only accommodate motor vehicles, but also pedestrians and bicyclists and mass transit (hat tip: Pat McNamara):

It’s my understanding this video will also be shown at the forum Tuesday night. This event is open to the public.

UPDATE: Here’s the agenda for the meeting:

WEST BLUFF TRAFFIC FORUM
TUESDAY, MAY 29 6:00 PM
ALUMNI DINING ROOM
(first floor near the entrance to the Quad)

Agenda

  1. Opening Introductions (2 minutes)-John Haverhals
  2. DVD on West Palm Beach Traffic Calming (10 min.)-Pat McNamara
  3. Ren Park Traffic Proposals (5 min.)
  4. Peoria City Traffic Engineering (5 min.)
  5. Barbara VanAuken (5 min.)
  6. Gary Sandburg? (5 min.)
  7. Other Reactions and Statements concerning the Ren Park Traffic Proposals
  8. Other West Bluff Traffic Concerns

Also, Second District Councilperson Barbara Van Auken, who is convening this meeting, had this to say:

If you plan to attend, it’s important for you to understand that no decisions will be made at this meeting. Rather, I convened the meeting for the purpose of hearing the concerns and suggestions about West Bluff traffic and parking primarily from those who live, work and/or own businesses in the West Bluff. I anticipate that this will be the first in a series of meetings and that no final decisions and/or major changes can or should be made until the City has done a new traffic study during a time when Bradley is in session and the changes in I-74 have been in effect for a period of time. (I would expect this in early Fall of this year.)

Since Councilman Sandberg has been involved with these issues for many years, I invited him to join us to offer his insights.

Note: Right after this event, be sure to walk across the street to One World and join in the Blogger Bash!

City of Peoria, HOPC

Heart of Peoria Commission votes to stay city-appointed

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The Heart of Peoria Commission (HOPC) this morning unanimously approved of the Mayor’s plan to appoint HOPC commissioners to other city commissions including the Planning, Zoning, and Traffic commissions. However, it is also asking the council to maintain the HOPC’s status as a city-appointed commission. After carefully considering the pros and cons of continuing as either a private advocacy group or a public city commission, the HOPC members felt the city’s interests could be best served by remaining public.

The issue is scheduled to go before the City Council on June 5.

City of Peoria, HOPC

Tomorrow’s HOPC should be interesting

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The Heart of Peoria Commission (HOPC) will be discussing its future tomorrow, and that future may be a short one.

There’s a plan on the table to decommission the HOPC, freeing the members to form their own private advocacy group if they so choose, just like many other successful not-for-profit groups (e.g., Peoria City Beautiful). The proposed plan would also appoint several of the current Heart of Peoria Commission members to other commissions, such as Planning, Zoning, Traffic, and the Zoning Board of Appeals. Some commissioners are already dual-appointed. The plan is scheduled to go before the City Council on June 5.

Since this may be the last regular Heart of Peoria Commission (HOPC) meeting ever as a city-appointed commission, I thought I’d post the meeting agenda in case anyone is interested in attending what could be an historic event:

CITY OF PEORIA
HEART OF PEORIA COMMISSION MEETING
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2007
CITY HALL, 419 FULTON STREET, SUITE 404
8:00 AM – 10:30 AM

AGENDA

All Agenda items are subject to possible action.

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 11, 2007

3. REVIEW, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION WITH RESPECT TO MEMORANDUM TO COUNCIL FOR JUNE 5, 2007, CONSIDERATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: PAST, PRESENT AND POSSIBLE FUTURE OF THE HEART OF PEORIA COMMISSION; PENDING POTENTIAL UPSTREAM APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS OTHER CITY COMMISSIONS; TRANSITIONING; FUTURE ROLE(S), FORM AND ACTIVITIES OF THE HEART OF PEORIA COMMISSION AND RELATED MATTERS.

4. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION/RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL RE: SEARCH FOR A NEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO GIVE DUE CONSIDERATION TO INSURE CANDIDATES ARE ATTUNED TO AND HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH CONTEXT SENSITIVE STREET DESIGN AND SUPPORT NEW URBANISTIC APPROACHES TO PUBLIC WORKS.

5. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION, INCLUDING ESTABLISHMENT OF A TIME FRAME FOR COMPLETION, IF STILL NECESSARY OR ADVISABLE, ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WORK PLAN TO SUBMIT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

7. NEW BUSINESS

8. COMMENTS: Public (5 minutes per person)

9. FUTURE MEETING(S)

10. ADJOURNMENT

Inquiries: Gene Lear, 309/494-8604

Notice that the future of the HOPC isn’t the only topic on the agenda. As possibly our final act, we will likely be passing a resolution outlining what qualifications we would like to see in the candidate who will succeed Steve Van Winkle as Director of Public Works when he retires later this year.

Even though the public comment period is listed at the end, if you ask ahead of time you might be granted the privilege of the floor earlier if you want to speak specifically to one of the issues on the agenda before we take action on it.