It’s Tuesday evening, and time for another Peoria City Council meeting. I’m coming to you live from Peoria City Hall, Council Chambers. I’ll be updating this post throughout the evening, so refresh often.

Absent tonight are Mayor Ardis and 5th District councilman Dan Irving. Mayor Pro Tem is At-Large councilman Eric Turner.

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

A. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Police Chief Requesting Approval to PURCHASE 24 ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY RED and BLUE LED POLICE CAR LIGHTING SYSTEMS and to ACCEPT the LOW BID of ILLINOIS FIRE AND POLICE EQUIPMENT, in the Amount of $27,192.00.

B. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Finance Director/Comptroller Requesting Approval to PURCHASE FURNITURE for VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, from LINCOLN OFFICE, in the Amount of $2,151.48.

C. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Approval of a FINAL PAY ESTIMATE, in the Amount of $14,739.50, which is $14,739.50 or 7.79% over the Contract Amount of $189,289.20, for the HICKORY GROVE ROAD BIKE TRAIL and STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (West of Dunmore Drive to Columbine Drive).

D. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management Requesting Approval of an AMENDMENT to the HAND UP DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 2009 CHDO PROJECT SCOPE to DEVELOP TWO NEW SINGLE-FAMILY OWNER-OCCUPIED HOMES Located on the 3400 Block of SYLVAN LANE (Parcel ID Numbers 13-24-453-014 and 13-24-453-012) and CANCEL DEVELOPMENT of TWO SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES Located In the 3400 BLOCK of HARVARD AVENUE. (Amends Item No. 09-326)

E. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management Requesting Approval of a BUDGET REVISION to the AMERICAN RECOVERY and REINVESTMENT ACT of 2009 Regarding the HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION and RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM (HPRP) FUNDS as Outlined in the Council Communication.

F. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Recommendation from the Subgrantee Selection Committee to Approve the Award of HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION and RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM (HPRP) FUNDS as Outlined and to Authorize the City Administration to Execute the Necessary Agreements.

G. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Police Chief Requesting Approval of a THREE-YEAR CONTRACT with HARRIS S. UNIFORMS (Sam Harris) for the ANNUAL PURCHASE of UNIFORMS for COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, CIVILIAN PERSONNEL, and PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS for a Total Amount of $253,000.00.

H. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Adoption of an ORDINANCE Amending CHAPTER 18 of the Code of the City of Peoria Pertaining to TRANSIENT MERCHANT LICENSING. (Refer to Item No. 09-442)

I. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Recommendation to Adopt an ORDINANCE Amending Ordinance No. 13,361, the EXISTING OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, as Amended, in a Class N1 (Institutional) District for BRADLEY UNIVERSITY to Allow for a BUILDING EXPANSION to an Existing Structure Located within the Campus of Bradley University Known as the HILLEL HOUSE Located at 1532 FREDONIA STREET, with Conditions.

J. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Recommendation to Adopt an ORDINANCE Amending Ordinance No. 10,726, a Previous Special Exception with a Special Use, in a R4 (Single Family Residential) District for an EXISTING CHURCH with the Addition of a PARKING LOT for Property Located at 1316 S. LARAMIE STREET and 3025 – 3031 W. LATROBE STREET (Parcel ID Nos. 18-18-301-012, 18-18-301-013, 18-18-301-014, 18-18-301-015, and 18-18-301-016), with Conditions.

K. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Recommendation to Adopt an ORDINANCE Amending APPENDIX B of the Code of the City of Peoria and an ORDINANCE Amending APPENDIX C of the Code of the City of Peoria Both Relating to OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS.

L. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Approval of a SITE APPLICATION for a CLASS C-5 (Convenient Store/Gas Station) LIQUOR LICENSE at 9109 N. ALLEN ROAD, with Recommendation from the Liquor Commission to Approve.

M. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Approval of a SITE APPLICATION for a Class G (Restaurant, Beer and Wine Only) LIQUOR LICENSE at 1212 W. GLEN, with Recommendation from the Liquor Commission to Approve.

N. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Approval of an APPPLICATION for a CLASS H (Temporary Outdoor) LIQUOR LICENSE for ILLINOIS BLUES COALITION, INC., for an Event to be Held on the Platform at RIVERFRONT VILLAGE, 100-120 S. W. WATER STREET on October 10, 2009, with an Alternative Location in the Lower Level Parking Deck in Case of Inclement Weather.

O. APPOINTMENT by Mayor Jim Ardis to the FIRE & POLICE COMMISSION, with Recommendation to Concur:

Dianne Happ (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2012

P. APPOINTMENT by Mayor Jim Ardis to the RENAISSANCE PARK COMMISSION, with Recommendation to Concur:

Kip McCoy (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2013

Q. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Economic Development with Request to Receive and File the Documentation from the Economic Development Council Regarding the FIRST AND SECOND QUARTERS 2009 PERFORMANCE INITIATIVES Under the Scope of Work for the Contractual Agreement Between the City of Peoria and the Economic Development Council.

R. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Economic Development Regarding the PEORIA PARK DISTRICT’S FIRST AND SECOND QUARTER 2009 REPORTS OF ACITIVITIES for the RIVERFRONT AND GATEWAY BUILDING, with Request to Receive and File.

Items I (Barbara Van Auken), B and H (Spain), L and M (Montelongo), and A and G (Sandberg) were removed from the consent agenda. Also, Spain is abstaining from Q, and Jacob is abstaining from L, M, and N. Montelongo moved to approve remaining items, seconded by Sandberg. Passed unanimously.

• Item A is for LED lights. Gary Sandberg (At-Large) questioned whether this expense is really necessary given the city’s current financial situation. We have mechanical lights that currently work, so why the need to switch to LED? Sandberg moves to deny; seconded by Ryan Spain (At-Large). Barbara Van Auken speaks against the motion. Spears speaks in favor. Motion fails 4-4; Eric Turner (At Large), Spain, George Jacob (At Large), and Van Auken voting nay; Sandberg, Jim Montelongo (At Large), Bill Spears (4th Dist.), and Clyde Gulley (1st Dist.) voting yea. Then, Spain moves to approve item A, seconded by Van Auken. Motion fails 4-4 (along the same lines as before, only in reverse).
• Spain moves to defer item B, seconded by Van Auken. Motion passes unanimously.
• On to Item G: Sandberg asks why our specifications are so narrow that no one except Harris can meet them. This is practically a sole source because of the way we’ve written our specs, leading to the high cost. Sandberg moves to deny item G; seconded by Gulley. Van Auken comes to the defense of the police department request again; asks leading questions of Chief Settingsgaard in order to make her point that this process and request is justified. Spears asks how Settingsgaard can know this is a reasonable, competitive price when there are no other bids; really, a rhetorical question. Spears makes substitute motion to defer until October 27 so he can get a report back on how much was spent on the last contract for comparison; Van Auken seconded. Motion passes unanimously.
• Spain talks about Item H, which is designed to help the city make sure they’re getting their sales tax receipts due from transient merchants. Says this is a step in the right direction, and gives props to Sandberg. Spain moves to approve; seconded by Sandberg. Sandberg says this is a step in the wrong direction; “it obfuscates whose responsibility it is to collect, pay, and submit the sales tax to Springfield.” He urges the council not to approve this motion. Spain disagrees; he says the problem is that we don’t know these transient merchants exist. By requiring there to have a license puts them on the radar screen. Sandberg counters that a better solution would be to require each and every transient merchant to register with the State. Ray says every person who is doing the selling does indeed have to be licensed with the State. Motion passes 8-1; Sandberg voting nay. Note: Although my name was used in Sandberg’s example, I do not have a transient merchant license.
• Van Auken pulled Item I off the agenda just so she could thank a couple of Bradley representatives, one of whom is my neighbor, Seth Katz. Van Auken moves to approve; seconded by Spain. Sandberg cannot support motion because “it does nothing to create a buffer between an institutional activity use (that is more than doubling in size) and a single-family neighborhood.” There’s no 25-foot transitional buffer yard included. We don’t need to provide ten parking spaces for students who live on campus (within the institutional zone). Van Auken asks Planning and Growth Director Pat Landes to clarify the requirements and if this project meets them. Landes does so. Sandberg says we need to establish “good planning principles” that minimize the risk of conflict between institutional uses and residents. Motion passes 8-1; Sandberg voting nay.
• Montelongo moves to deny Item L; seconded by Spain. Montelongo wants to deny based on its close proximity to a large shopping area. Motion fails, 4-4 (Sandberg, Spain, Turner, and someone else voting nay).
  Spain moves to defer until October 13; seconded by Van Auken. Motion passes unanimously.
• Motion to defer Item M until next meeting by Montelongo; seconded by Van Auken. Motion passes unanimously.

ITEM NO. 2 Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Recommendation to Approve an INTERGOVERNMENTAL BOUNDARY AGREEMENT Between the CITY OF PEORIA and the CITY OF WEST PEORIA DEFINING the ONE and ONE HALF MILE EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION for BOTH COMMUNITIES, and to Authorize the Mayor to Execute the Agreement.

Motion to approve by Van Auken; seconded by Montelongo. Motion passes unanimously. No discussion.

ITEM NO. 3 Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Economic Development Requesting Approval to Enter into a TIF REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT with IRON FRONT, L.L.C. to Reconstruct the EDGEWATER BUILDING Located at 414 WATER STREET in the Warehouse District TIF, and to Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute the Necessary Documents.

Motion to approve by Gulley; seconded by Van Auken. Sandberg asks some questions of Economic Development Director Craig Hullinger for clarification. Specifically, why is the total cost of renovation pertinent when all the city cares about is the EAV increment? (Rhetorical.) Also, on what are we going to use the predicted increment increase? Answer: Whatever we can in the Warehouse District. Spain says he will be supporting the motion. Motion passes 8-1; Sandberg voting nay.

ITEM NO. 4 Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Economic Development Requesting Approval to Enter into a TIF REDEVELOMENT AGREEMENT with HGI, L.L.C. to Reconstruct a Four-Story Building Located at 408 S. W. WASHINGTON STREET, a One-Story Building Located at 412 S. W. WASHINGTON STREET, and a New Building Inside an Existing Facade of a Former Retail Store and Warehouse Building Located at 420 S. W. WASHINGTON STREET, All Located in the Central Business District TIF, and to Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute the Necessary Documents.

Gulley moves to approve; seconded by Van Auken. Sandberg speaks against motion for same reasons as last item. Motion passes 8-1; Sandberg voting nay.

ITEM NO. 5 Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Economic Development Requesting Approval of an AMENDMENT to the CITY OF PEORIA/IRON FRONT, L.L.C. REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT Requesting the City to Grant HGI, L.L.C. an OPTION TO LICENSE PUBLIC PARKING LOT “C” UNDER THE ROBERT H. MICHEL BRIDGE, Located in the Warehouse District TIF, and to Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute the Necessary Documents.

Gulley moves to approve; seconded by Van Auken. Sandberg asks if anyone around the horseshoe knows what “licensing the lot” means. Blank looks. State of Illinois owns the lot, leases space at $55 per space per month. The “license” says the developer only has to pay half that amount ($22.50) as long as he leases all 78 spaces. And, these spaces would no longer be available to the general public. Why are we cutting our rates when we’re hurting for cash? Spain says he’s also concerned because he works in an office that leases spaces at $55/month, so if this passes, his office will probably try to cut the same deal with the city. We could lose more revenue.

Van Auken asks Hullinger to explain the disparity. Hullinger says the lot is owned by the State of Illinois; it gets little use even though it’s free to use by the public. Hullinger doesn’t think the rate is out of line given its location. Sandberg says this lot is one block away from the “museum rectangle.” “Why aren’t we valuing that?” “We throw away things of value and then wonder why we’re poor.”

Tim Riggenbach (3rd Dist.) asks if we would still get use of the lot under this license agreement. Hullinger: yes. Riggenbach: How many spaces are rented at $55 currently? Hullinger: None. Gulley: That’s why he’s in favor of this agreement; we’re not getting any revenue currently. Montelongo: How long is the license for? Hullinger/City Attorney Randy Ray: Ten years, with options to continue. Price can go up as city’s price for downtown rentals goes up.

Motion passes 7-2; Sandberg and Spain voting nay.

ITEM NO. 6 Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with a Request for the City Council to GRANT a REQUEST from the EAST BLUFF NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICE (EBNHS) to Adopt an ORDINANCE Extending the EAST BLUFF NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICE SPECIAL SERVICE AREA and to SCHEDULE a PUBLIC HEARING on OCTOBER 13, 2009, at 6:15 P.M. to be Held at City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 400, 419 Fulton Street, Peoria, Illinois, Relating to the Consideration of RE-ESTABLISHING the EAST BLUFF NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICE SPECIAL SERVICE AREA.

Riggenbach moves to approve; seconded by Spain. Sandberg asks why we’re going to have a public hearing after we approve creating this. Ray: This vote is just to start the process, not give final approval. There has to be a second vote after the public hearing for this to get final approval. Points out that West Bluff Housing Service is still in existence, but doesn’t use tax money anymore; seed money should not continue indefinitely. East Bluff housing service was created 20 years ago (1989).

Riggenbach reiterated Ray’s comment that this is only beginning the process. He’s impressed with the way the East Bluff housing service is run now, acknowledging there were problems in the past.

Motion passes unanimously.

ITEM NO. 7 Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Adoption of an ORDINANCE Authorizing the Execution of the ILLINOIS PUBLIC WORKS MUTUAL AID NETWORK AGREEMENT (IPWMAN).

Public Works Director David Barber gave some background on this request. Montelongo moves to approve; seconded by Spain. Motion passes unanimously.

ITEM NO. 8 Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Recommendation from the Zoning Commission and Staff to DENY a REQUEST to REZONE Property Located at 1120 N. E. JEFFERSON STREET from a Class R6 (Multi-Family Residential) District to a Class CN (Neighborhood Commercial) District.

Gulley abstains from voting. Jacob moves for deferral; seconded by Montelongo. Motion passes unanimously.

ITEM NO. 9 Communication from the Interim City Manager and Acting Director of Human Resources Requesting Authorization for the Staff to EXTEND the VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INITIATIVE to all REMAINING APPLICANTS. (Refer to Item Nos. 09-394 and 09-277)

Interim City Manager Henry Holling asks his assistant Chris Setti to give background on this request. There’s only one remaining applicant. The council had set a cap of 30 applicants, and the city got 31. The city believes it would be prudent to extend the cap to accept that 31st applicant. Spain asked some follow-up questions.

Motion to approve by Van Auken; seconded by Gulley. Motion passes unanimously.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

(09-277) Communication Requesting INITIAL DIRECTION ON STEPS TO REDUCE THE ANTICIPATED FY 2010 BUDGET DEFICIT:

A. Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Public Works with REPORT BACK and Request to PROVIDE DIRECTION to STAFF Regarding CHANGING the CITY’S SIDEWALK PARTICIPATION PROGRAM and SIDEWALK IN NEED OF REPAIR (SINR) PRGRAM from an 80/20 CITY/CITIZEN SPLIT to a 50/50 SPLIT.

MOTION ON THE FLOOR: Adjust the Sidewalk Assistance Program and the SINR Program to a 50%/50% split, which should be reviewed on a year-to-year basis.

Van Auken makes substitute motion to adjust the Sidewalk Assistance Program to a 50/50 split, to be reviewed on a year-to-year basis (in other words, dropping the SINR portion); seconded by Spain. Note: “SINR” is “Sidewalks In Need of Repair.” Spain asked Van Auken about SINR. Van Auken is concerned that potential liability to the city could wipe out any savings they get from dropping SINR from 80/20 to 50/50, so that’s why she’s removing it from the motion.

Sandberg asked how much the City is paying for the sidewalks at Sheridan Village. Barber: 100%. Sandberg won’t be supporting the motion; we should give the same benefits to the residents as the developers get.

Gulley asked some clarification questions. Turner asked for Barber’s estimate as to how much participation we can expect. Barber: Numbers will be down.

Jacob clarified that if SINR is not reduced, we will have to find that predicted savings elsewhere. He would like to see more data on this item, because he thinks we can make some changes to the proposal that will be a win-win. For example, he’d like to see if we can charge 80/20 for residential properties, but 50/50 for commercial properties.

Jacob makes substitute motion to defer until Oct. 13 for further study; seconded by Spain. Motion passes unanimously.

A discussion with Barber about the SINR program ensues, led by Van Auken. Van Auken moves to defer the SINR program discussion until Oct. 13; seconded by Gulley. Gulley asks for areas that don’t have any sidewalks to be included in the report back/communication from staff. Motion passes unanimously.

B. PUBLIC COMMENTS Regarding the FY 2010 BUDGET.

The floor is open.

• John White. Has some concerns regarding the garbage collection contract for next year, and how money can be saved by modifying trucks to pick up garbage and recycling; thus, new trucks would not need to be purchased.
• Savino Sierra. Urges city unions to accept wage freeze.

NEW BUSINESS

• Turner reported that Jacob, Spain, and Turner spent the weekend at the Regional Neighborhood Network Conference.
• Jacob reported on the need for volunteers to help do a door-to-door survey in the Glen Oak Neighborhood Impact Zone this weekend (Saturday, Sept. 26). Call 494-8600 if you want to volunteer for a couple of hours.
• Spain reminded everyone of the 2010 Census. Our performance is important as federal dollars are tied to our population as determined by the Census, so participate.
• Spain, Turner, and City Clerk Mary Haynes gave accolades to Interim City Manager Henry Holling, who is leaving. The new City Manager (Scott Moore) takes over in October.

CITIZEN REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL

• LaVetta Ricca: Spoke on the issue of uniforms that was debated earlier in the evening. Buy local.
• Savino Sierra: Also praises Holling.
• John White: Speaks against TIFs. They hurt the city. They hurt the residents. They hurt the school district. It’s okay to be generous sometimes, but other times you have to say “no.”

EXECUTIVE SESSION

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to go into executive session by Montelongo; seconded by Spain. Motion passes unanimously.

Motion to adjourn by Spain; seconded by Van Auken. Motion passes unanimously.

Good night, and have a pleasant evening, everyone. I’m going to Whitey’s if you want to come down and have a slice of pizza or something. The time is 8:54 p.m.