Flashback: December 1, 2006. A major snowstorm hit Peoria and crippled the city for days.
The next month, the city was “investigating ways to improve their current snow-removing plan.” They decided to collaborate with Caterpillar and a Commercial Snow Removal Naperville service to make their improvement efforts a Six Sigma project. The results of that project were contained in a report published in June 2007. There were many suggestions for improvement, but one of the big ones was this (emphasis added):
The team understands that more snow routes should be added due to city growth of over 26 center lane miles within the past few years. The City Street Department will be looking at this over Spring/Summer 2007 and will institute better action plans with these routes and possibly develop routes within routes to even out the growth of those zones. The city currently has 25 snow routes and more routes will be added at a later date…. The community has grown over 26 center lane miles in the past seven years and will be growing another ten center lane miles later this year due to new neighborhoods being developed. No consideration has been given for equipment or manpower needed to clear the streets.
So, in 2007 we had 25 snow routes, and this was clearly seen as inadequate given the physical size of Peoria. Fast-forward to July 2008: the Public Works Department is proposing a new snow plan that incorporates many of the suggestions from the Six Sigma report, including this: “Due to growth, the number of snow routes needs to be increased to add one additional route.” That was approved in August, so we now have 26 snow routes.
And that brings us to next Tuesday’s City Council meeting, where the Public Works Department will be proposing yet another new snow plan. On the precipice of the winter season, we are presented with this (emphasis added):
The changes in the Plan for 2009-2010 include a change in the number of Snow Routes that will be covered based on proposed adjustments in staffing levels for 2010. In 2008-09 we included 26 Snow Routes and 5 Hill Routes. For 2009-10 the Plan includes 23 Snow Routes and 4 Hill Routes. The three Snow Routes eliminated were each split into the three adjacent routes. While this will increase our response time, we do not think the public will see much change in our response, during most events. We also still hope to complete our response to most events within about 18 hours after the end of the snow event.
Keep in mind, Peoria hasn’t gotten any smaller or removed any streets between August 2008 and October 2009. Yet we’re supposed to believe that they can go from 26 snow routes to 23 — 23!! — and we’re not going to “see much change” in response time? Imagine if this had been presented right after the snow storm in 2006. “In response to the city being shut down for over a week due to snow, we’re proposing that we remove two snow routes.” I don’t think that would have flown, do you?
But even aside from the really large snow events which are admittedly infrequent, the Six Sigma report made it clear that more snow routes were needed to provide adequate service levels — even for routine snow events — because of the growth of the city. Now either the Six Sigma report woefully overestimated our snow route needs by three routes, or Public Works is giving us a snow job now.
We all know the truth: the city council is cutting staffing, so there aren’t enough drivers anymore to sustain 26 routes. Thus, Public Works is putting unconvincing optimism into its report on how it will meet the council’s high demands for snow removal with fewer routes than we had in 2007. Fortunately, though, we’ll have a new Marriott hotel, and museum, and new landscaping on the Jefferson Street side of the Civic Center (to the tune of $600,000+), so who needs adequate snow removal, right?
The next question is, which routes will be cut? Where will the decreases in service levels hit the hardest?
- They’re eliminating route #4 and incorporating it into adjacent routes 3 and 5. That means the near north side will see a decrease in service.
- They’re eliminating route #10 and incorporating it into routes 9 and 11. That means pretty much the whole East Bluff will see a decrease in service, as well as the west side of Knoxville between Nebraska and War Memorial.
- They’re eliminating route #18 and incorporating it into routes 17, 19, and 20. Route 17 is picking up the majority of route 18. That will affect most neighborhoods north of Glen Avenue, south of Pioneer Parkway, and east of University.
All the other routes will stay the same. I can’t wait to hear the justification for making most of the cuts in high-density neighborhoods while maintaining service levels to low-density areas in the far-flung north and west regions of the city.
Pray for a mild winter.
Is there $600,000.00 in the budget for landscaping on Jefferson in front of the Civic Center? Haven’t heard that mentioned in the budget talks-are you sure?
Wacko — Hard to believe, but yes! It’s on the agenda for Tuesday night. It’s cleverly titled “Jefferson Avenue Safety Improvements,” but the description reveals it’s just landscaping:
And the financial impact?
Priorities.
Plant a flower, fire a cop.
Well, this is an El Nino year…
Absolutely nothing surprises me regarding priorities on how money is spent.
“Plant a flower, fire a cop”. Mahkno that is funny.
That should be a campaign motto for someone in the next elections.
Here’s another goodie: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/fiddling-while-rome-burns.html
“Meaning
To occupy oneself with unimportant matters and neglect priorities during a crisis.”
I can’t think of a more appropriate phrase.
Speaking of wasting money, has anyone heard the amount of Lonteen’s settlement from the CVB? I think that’s another taxpayer supported venture, if I’m not mistaken.
Consider this:
The residents of the East Bluff and near north side are better served by Public transport than other neighborhoods. Many live in those areas because of public transport and walking proximity to social services. A high percentage of the population in that area is unemployed.
If the snow service in those areas is reduced, it will affect far fewer “employed’, tax payers than in the more affluent neighborhoods. Further, those in the area who are are employed are more likely to be employed in the art of burger flipping or some other unskilled, low wage trade that will not have the same economic impact of say, a Caterpillar engineer.
As to the issue of crime, I would think that snow and uncleared streets would actually reduce the level of crime in those neighborhood, and/or serve to help solve crimes as Peoria finest would be able to navigate to the residence of the perpetrator by following the footstep leading away from the convenient store on the corner or corpse lying in the byway.
I think Peoria could maximize its untapped athletic potential of a good snow season by forming a Bi-Athlon Club, for the same population to whom was targeted “mid night basketball”, only in this case instead of the “run and shoot”, the kids could be taught to “shoot and ski”
Chase — Were you trying to be funny or just generally offensive?
glad you and your intellect are in Michigan Chased-out.
It’s TIF money approved in last years budget and can only be spent in the TIF.
Cj- totally off topic but CNBC (Cable channel 38) is doing a show about Wal- Mart
you may want to watch
Mazr:
Regrettably they have been fiddling for years! 🙁 And the fiddling puts me in mind of the grasshopper and the ant story….
Time to buy a monster truck for this winter in Peoria, I suppose.
About the Jefferson Ave. Safety Improvements ———
Why would extensive landscaping keep people from crossing at that particular point of Jefferson Ave.? If it will consist only of plants and trees, people will walk and stomp through and around it all. Only a fence type obstacle would do what they are attempting. And how good would that look? Keep the cops and hand out jaywalking tickets maybe?
I like to hear Chase POV, I may not agree but I certainly enjoy reading him more than some others.
And why does Dave Haste, or whatever his name is still have a job w/ the COP? Who does he have in his hip pocket? A particular council person?
Paragraphs 1 & 2 are facts
Paragraph 3 is a conclusion
Paragraph 4 is is a bit of irony along the lines of Sandberg’s suggestion many years ago that PPD provide bail money for the gangsters arrested for killing another gangster.
Perhaps a bit dark, but having lived in such neighborhoods, I appreciate the humor.
I would entertain a motion that Peoria should make those three unused plows available for use by people running for mayor and city council in those districts whose routes are affected.
-Scott
… and I think they outta be able to mount their own campaign signs on the plows while in use.
Chase, I live in the aformentioned area and all of my neighbors are employed and none of us flip burgers. Is your neighborhood being cut from the snow route plans? I didn’t think so.
Be prepaired for long delayed response by the police due to snow clogged streets, further delayed fire response, ambulances not able to get to the call, Ameren and other utilities unable to respond . Closed streets. Only then will the snow plan be changed . It might take someone getting hurt or dies. or someone “important” has issues with the cut back snow plan. We got a lot from the 6sigma snow study process. But hey we have the Midtown TIF here….sucking cash from the city, lets have another TIF!!We also coud get landscaping..