Hello everyone. Welcome to council chambers at Peoria City Hall for another City Council meeting. I arrived a little late. The consent agenda has already been passed, except for items “D” and “I,” which was pulled off by Gary Sandberg. Discussion is going on right now. Here’s the agenda:

PETITIONS, REMONSTRANCES & COMMUNICATIONS – CITY OF PEORIA

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

A. NOTICE OF LAWSUIT on Behalf of FREY CORPORATION Claiming Damages Suffered as a Result of Their Liquor License Being Revoked at 1823 W. Lincoln on November 25, 2009, with Request to Receive for Information and Refer to the Legal Department.

B. Communication from the City Manager and Police Chief Requesting Approval to DECLARE TWO RETIRED PPD SQUAD CARS (Units #524 and #615) EXCESS PROPERTY and SELL THEM to PEORIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #150 SECURITY for One Dollar ($1.00) Each.

C. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Approval of an Amount Not to Exceed $145,000 to NEGOTIATE RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION for the CONSTRUCTION of STAGE 1 of the IMPROVEMENT of the INTERSECTION of NORTHMOOR ROAD and SHERIDAN ROAD. (Refer to Item Nos. 05-609, 08-052 and 09-154)

D. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management Requesting Approval of a SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT to the 2009 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM to CANCEL the PHA LIGHTING ACTIVITY, Funded at $54,667.00 and Replace it with a HARRISON HOMES REDEVELOPMENT STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY ACTIVITY Funded at $54,667.00.

E. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management Recommending Approval of a Request from the BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS of GREATER PEORIA to Participate in the City of Peoria’s COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT POCKET PARK PROGRAM.

F. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management Requesting Authorization for an APPLICATION for FEDERAL ASSISTANCE Related to CRITICAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS Around the GLEN OAK and HARRISON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.

G. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Request to Concur with the Recommendation from the Administration to Award the 2010 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER GRANTS to the Following NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS: BILTMORE HEIGHTS, CENTER BLUFF, DETWEILLER MARINA, GLEN OAK PARK, HAMILTON PARK, HARRISON HOMES, HAWLEY HILLS, HEART OF PEORIA, HICKORY GROVE, HIGHT POINT, JACKSON CORNERS, MADISON MANOR, MOSS-BRADLEY, NORTH FLORENCE, OLDE TOWNE SOUTH, PARKVIEW ADDITION, PARKVIEW ASSOCIATION, ROLLING ACRES, STERLING OAKS, UNIVERSITY EAST, UPLANDS, and WARDCLIFFE, in the Total Amount of $8,400.00.

H. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management Requesting Authorization for the City Manager to Enter into a CONTRACT with the CENTER FOR MUNICIPAL SOLUTIONS to PROVIDE WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION CONSULTING SERVICES at No Cost to the City.

I. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with Request to Award a CONTRACT to the LOWEST BIDDER, KREILING ROOFING COMPANY, for the REPLACEMENT of the MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUILDING ROOF, in the Amount of $82,167.00.

J. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with a Request to Award the CONTRACT for the IMPROVEMENTS to the ELEVATOR PITS at Various Locations to the LOWEST BIDDER, THYSSEN-KRUPP ELEVATOR CORPORATION, in the Amount of $11,650.00.

K. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Approval of a CONTRACT EXTENSION to J.C. DILLON PLUMBING, INC., for PLUMBING MAINTENANCE, for an Annual Cost of $50,000.00 Extending to June 2011.

L. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Approval of a SEWER IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT with the GREATER PEORIA SANITARY DISTRICT for the REPAIR of SEWERS, as a Part of the City of Peoria’s SEWER REHABILITATION (DESIGN AREA 1 SEWERS, MANHOLE REHABILITATION PROJECT 4) and Requesting Concurrence in the Award of the CONTRACT for the Work to WALKER EXCAVATING CO., INC., in the Amount of $118,147.81.

M. Communication from the City Manager and Finance Director/Comptroller Requesting Adoption of an ORDINANCE Amending the CITY OF PEORIA BUDGET for FISCAL YEAR 2010 Relating to the ACTION PLAN to ADDRESS the POTENTIAL 2010 BUDGET DEFICIT OF $1,500,000.00.

N. Communication from the City Manager and Finance Director/Comptroller Requesting Adoption of an ORDINANCE Amending the CITY OF PEORIA BUDGET for FISCAL YEAR 2010 Relating to the LOCAL ENERGY ASSURANCE PLAN (LEAP) GRANT, in the Amount of $200,000.00.

O. Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Approval for a CLASS H (Temporary Outdoor) LIQUOR LICENSE at 1601 W. NORTHMOOR, EXPOSITION GARDENS, for a FUNDRAISER on SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2010.

P. Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Approval of an APPLICATION for a CLASS H (Temporary Outdoor) LIQUOR LICENSE at 1601 W. NORTHMOOR, EXPOSITION GARDENS, for FUNDRAISER on SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2010.

Q. Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Approval for a SITE APPLICATION for a CLASS “A” (Tavern) LIQUOR LICENSE at 3201 N.E. ADAMS, with Recommendation from the Liquor Commission to Approve.

R. Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Approval of the SITE APPLICATION for a CLASS “A” (Tavern) LIQUOR LICENSE with a SUBCLASS 1 (4:00 A.M. Closing) and SUBCLASS 2 (Live Entertainment) at 531 MAIN STREET, with Recommendation from the Liquor Commission to Approve.

S. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management Regarding the 2009 HUD CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER), with Request to Receive and File.

T. REPORT of CITY TREASURER PATRICK A. NICHTING for the MONTH of FEBRUARY 2010, with Request to Receive and File.

Consent agenda had already been passed when I arrived. Council is currently discussion item “D” above, and it’s mostly a dialogue between Gary Sandberg and Clyde Gulley; not sure what Gary’s concerns are. It sounds like the problem is that this is a new project that wasn’t considered during the capital budget process, so Gary thinks this is an inappropriate reallocation of funds. Gulley moves to approve item D, seconded by Van Auken; passes 7-2 (Sandberg, Ardis). Note: Spears and Jacob are not in attendance.

Sandberg also removed item “I” — didn’t catch his reasons. Van Auken/Gulley move to approve. Passes 8-1 (Sandberg).

ITEM NO. 2 Communication from the City Manager and Acting Director of Human Resources Requesting Approval to RENEW the CONTRACT with BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADVANTAGES EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM for THREE YEARS.

Spain/Van Auken move to approve. Turner questions why BHA was chosen when it’s the high bidder. Human Resources director Kimberly King argues that we’re “getting the best price for the best service” — basically, BHA offers better service, which is why they’re higher-priced. King says 36% of City work force uses BHA’s services. Motion passes unanimously.

ITEM NO. 3 Communication from the City Manager Requesting Authorization to CONTRACT with HVS for up to $15,000.00 to PROVIDE ANALYSIS and CONSULTATION Regarding DOWNTOWN HOTEL PROJECTS.

Turner/Spain move to approve. Sandberg asks how we hired HVS in 2006 initially. City Manager Moore says it went out of RFP, and this firm was chosen from four respondents. Sandberg says HVS also provided analysis for the St. Louis Renaissance headquarters hotel; they said it would have high occupancy rates and draw more conventions, but in fact, the Renaissance became insolvent and was taken over by the city. Moore says HVS says that’s because 9/11 happened after that study was done. Sandberg says the council members only want to spend this money for cover, and they just want the consultant to say what they want to hear. Passes 8-1 (Sandberg) — no surprise.

ITEM NO. 4 Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Adoption of an ORDINANCE Creating a PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY RIVERFRONT ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.

City Attorney Randy Ray gives an update; evidently, they’ve excluded the railroad that runs through this area from having to give consent to the road being closed. Mayor invites Jay Goldberg (Riverfront Programming Advisory Committee) to come up and explain the idea behind this “entertainment district.” You can read all about it here. Gulley moves to approve after gushing over how wonderful the idea is, seconded by Turner. Sandberg supports it, but makes it known that he will support any group of businesses who want to shut down the road in front of their shops in order to provide an “entertainment district” (e.g., Main Street). Montelongo moves to amend the motion so that 90% of the “renters” instead of “owners” in section 4 are required; no second, so the amendment dies. Sandberg mentions that the Traffic Commission has not met for three months — he asks why this item did not go to the Traffic Commission instead of the Liquor Commission. Barber says he didn’t see it as a big traffic issue because there isn’t much traffic on Water Street. The bigger question (not germane here, however) is why hasn’t the Traffic Commission met for three months? Why do their meetings keep getting canceled? But I digress. Motion passes unanimously.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

(10-133-A) Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Approval of an AGREEMENT with the ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION for FUNDING of PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING and the CONSTRUCTION of a PORTION of ORANGE PRAIRIE ROAD from AMERICAN PRAIRIE ROAD to ALTA ROAD.

MOTION ON THE FLOOR: Amended Substitute Motion to approve the agreement with Illinois Department of Transportation for funding of preliminary engineering and construction of a portion of Orange Prairie Road from American Prairie Road to Alta Road, to change the last word at the end of paragraph 4, page 3 of the agreement to “State” instead of “City” and leave the responsibility with the State to negotiate the terms of the Jurisdictional Transfer.

B. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION and with a Request to Approve the REVISED AGREEMENT with the ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION for the FUNDING of PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING and the CONSTRUCTION of a PORTION of ORANGE PRAIRIE ROAD from AMERICAN PRAIRIE ROAD to ALTA ROAD.

The question is, who is responsible for upgrading the current Route 91 to urban standards after the State moves the Route 91 designation to the newly-constructed road? IDOT says it should be the city’s responsibility, of course. Sandberg (and other council members as of last meeting) think it should be the State’s responsibility. But since the state is offering $17 million now, the council will probably approve it, ignoring the fact that in the future, the city will have to pay more than twice that amount to bring the roadway up to urban standards. This project will only be funded if the jurisdictional transfer line item (that says the City will be responsible for the old road once the route designation is moved) is retained.

Irving is okay with all this, evidently. He asks for the original agreement to be approved.

The amended motion from the last meeting failed 1-8 (Sandberg voting yea). Irving moves to approve the original motion with some minor amendments to the language. Spain says the question tonight is whether we want one rural road or two, and whether we should take advantage of state funding for building a second one. Sandberg says the real question is what is our vision for the future of this area? How should those roads be designed? Motion passes 8-1 (Sandberg).

NEW BUSINESS

• Turner says the Riverfront Village stairs are a public safety hazard and needs to be addressed. He’s heard concerns from his constituents about it and would like to see the council address it. Manager Moore says we’ve gotten estimates on repairing this which they can bring back to the council on the 27th.
• Spain reminds everyone about the Great American Clean-up this weekend.
• Sandberg wants to know how much money the City of Peoria spent on Vice President Biden’s trip to Peoria, and whether the policy was followed to ask for repayment of those costs. Moore will report on that at a future meeting.
• Riggenbach acknowledges his daughter’s mathematics award.
• Gulley reminds everyone that the 24th is National Comcast Community Day, whatever that is. It apparently is a project to refurbish the Boys and Girls Club structure.
• Ardis asks for a status update on crime cameras, reminds everyone about the new “Stepping Up” project started by the Heartland Partnership, and he reminds everyone about the education symposium next Wednesday with Arne Duncan. And if you have a wad of cash to spare, you can attend that last event.

CITIZEN REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL

• Terry Knapp — Wants everyone to read a Diane Ravitch book (“The Death and Life of the Great American School System“) before the educational symposium.
• LaVetta Ricca — Puts on a hat with an American flag on it and unfurls another small flag and asks everyone to participate in the Great American Clean-up, especially on the South Side.
• Savino Sierra — General comments on litter and keeping the City clean, fixing sidewalks around Trewyn School, etc.
• Roger Sparks — Speaking about Item 3 (hotel project consultant). Roger is disabled and talks about how hard it is to get around this city when sidewalks are in such bad repair or non-existent. Says money should be put into infrastructure instead of being given to a private developer to build a hotel. Amen, brother.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

ADJOURNMENT

There is an executive session, but the public and press are not allowed, so I’m free to go. The meeting is adjourned at 8:11 p.m. Good night everyone.