City of Peoria, East Bluff, Peoria Public Schools

Say goodnight, Garrie

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Garrie AllenOn WCBU (89.9 FM) tonight, they aired a half-hour interview with outgoing District 150 School Board member Garrie Allen. They touched on many topics, but I was particularly interested in his remarks about the Glen Oak School controversy.

Garrie Allen believes the city should butt out of the school board’s building plans — that it’s none of their business — unless, of course, they are in favor of the school board’s plans, in which case their help is welcome. He further believes that the residents, parents, and city council have an agenda: they want the school district to “clean up” the East Bluff, which he kept calling “a blighted area.” That should be the city’s job, he contends, not the school district’s.

Allen stated he was really surprised when all the controversy erupted over the Glen Oak Park location for the school. He said he thought the school board would be praised for their progressive and innovative idea and people would be lining up to volunteer their help to make it happen. Instead, the only group that really understands what the school district is trying to do, says Garrie, is the park district, which approved an intergovernmental land-sharing agreement with the school district.

I couldn’t be more disappointed with Mr. Allen’s comments.

I don’t remember Mr. Allen asking the city to “butt out” when they offered their police force to double as truancy officers. I don’t recall the city being asked to “butt out” when Mayor Ardis challenged the community to raise money for a “Peoria Promise” program that would reward students who stayed in District 150 with a free or partially-paid college education. Apparently, Mr. Allen thinks cooperation is a one-way street, from the city to the school district.

And what kind of hyper-provincial mentality believes that cleaning up a blighted neighborhood is somehow opposed to the school board’s educational objectives? One would think the school board would welcome and assist attempts to stabilize the neighborhood, since that would improve students’ home environment — and if their home environment is safe and stable, it will be easier for students to focus on their school work. But instead, Mr. Allen paints the city’s attempts to work with the school board to stabilize neighborhoods as something that will help the city, but hurt the students. This kind of twisted logic would leave Solomon scratching his head.

I had the pleasure of voting against Mr. Allen in the last election. He lost by a considerable margin, but I savor the small part I played in his defeat.

You know what amazes me about this whole Glen Oak School thing? It’s that, despite the fact that nearly every parent, neighbor, representative, resident, professional, worker, etc., in the East Bluff and the city at large has expressed disapproval of the district’s plan, the school district still thinks that they made the right decision and are doing the right thing. They’ve had Bradley professors, city commission members, a state senator, Glen Oak students, etc., all speak out against the board’s actions. Are they deterred? Has the thought, “Hmm, maybe we were wrong,” crossed their minds, if even for a fleeting moment?

Hardly. If anything, they’re all the more steeled in their opinions. If Moses walked in the district offices on Wisconsin with two tablets that said “Don’t build on Glen Oak Park” and brought 10 plagues on the district, I’m convinced the board would ignore him, too (no doubt citing separation of church and state). This kind of overconfidence is baffling, yet endemic in this board of education. For a school district that wants to build a “community center” style school, they sure are doing their darndest to alienate the community.

I think the only thing we can do is exactly what we did to Mr. Allen. Vote them out at the next available opportunity.

ADDENDUM:  I see on the July 11 council agenda that there’s intergovernmental cooperation between the school district and the city called the “Safer Neighborhood Schools Sidewalk Improvement Project.” I wonder if Mr. Allen signed on to that agreement, or if he felt the city should “butt out” of that, too.

Uncategorized

Conspicuous Consumption

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I’ve lived in Peoria all my life, and I’ve yet to find anyone who can answer this puzzle for me: What is so special about Beachler’s Amoco (corner of War Memorial and University) that their gas is always 10 to 15 cents per gallon higher than everyone else in town? And why in the world are there always people there filling up?

Is it a status thing — like wearing the hottest brand of clothing? Is it a full-service station, where a gaggle of grease monkeys run out, ’50’s-style, and start checking your oil, tire pressure, washer fluid, etc., in addition to filling up your tank and making friendly conversation with you? Does a genie pop out of the pump and grant you three wishes? Do they have a special blend of gasoline that smells like a fresh chocolate mocha if you accidentally spill it on you or your car?

Any of these things might make their “special” prices worth it. But, from what I can tell, it’s just like any other gas station. So why the high prices?

The Peoria Chronicle

Add the Chronicle to your newsreader!

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I was reading PeoriaIllinoisan’s post, “An Open Letter to Bloggers,” and got lambasted by this line:

Your blog doesn’t have an Atom/RSS/XML syndication feed. It was smashing stuff, truly, but I keep forgetting to check it for new posts and articles. If you had a syndication feed — it’s a built-in option with most blogging software — I could bookmark your blog in Bloglines.com or any desktop newsreader, and be alerted to every update.

Well, I’ve never used syndication feeds, so I never really thought about it before. It turns out that these feeds were built-in to the snazzy WordPress software, but I didn’t have any links to make it easy for people to subscribe.

So now, taking a cue from the Blogfather, I’ve signed up with FeedBurner to make it easy and convenient for you to add my little blog to your newsreader. I’ve added a “Subscribe” link in the menu bar at the top of the page, as well as on the side bar under the “Meta” menu. I hope you all find this to be a useful addition to the site.

If you have any other suggestions to make the site more user-friendly or interesting, leave me a comment or shoot me an e-mail. As always, thanks for reading!

Peoria Public Schools

District 150 Realtor: Nice work if you can get it

Peoria Public Schools logoIt’s been quite a mystery, trying to figure out how Keller Williams Premier Realty got the nod to provide all of District 150’s realty needs. You would think, with homes sure to bring in over $2,500 each in commission, the district would bid out professional services like a realtor. But not so.

If the school district wants to acquire property, they don’t go directly to a realtor — they call their attorneys: Kavanagh, Scully, Sudow, White & Frederick, P.C. Their attorneys then work with a realtor whom they have retained for approximately 18 years now: Dinah Mannlein, formerly a Re/Max realtor, now general broker for the Keller Williams franchise office in Peoria.

In a letter from District 150’s attorneys dated 19 April 2006 to Controller and Treasurer Guy Cahill (obtained via an FOIA request), attorney David J. Walvoord explains the history of this contract arrangement:

This relationship began in 1988, when I was asked by an in-coming Superintendent for a recommendation for a real estate broker to help him relocate to Peoria. Of the several names I gave him, Ms. Mannlein was chosen. Shortly after that time, the District needed the services of a real estate professional to help acquire several properties for the District and [former Superintendent] Dr. [John] Strand and I recommended Ms. Mannlein to the Board of Education. Either the Superintendent or I sent her a letter retaining her on behalf of the District, she was to be paid a commission of five (5%) percent based upon the purchase price of any properties, which were part of a project, or, if there were isolated properties put on the market by their owner for sale, she was to receive the standard buyer’s side commission of 3.5%, which is paid by the seller.

The dates are a little sketchy, but it’s clear Ms. Mannlein has been the district’s realtor for a good long time. The letter goes on to share some of the projects she’s worked on, including “the acquisition of a number of properties for the Tyng School expansion, Whittier School and Glen oak School site expansions, Lincoln School site acquisition, Columbia Terrace purchases, Central High School–North Street purchases,” and “the Lindbergh lot purchase on North Sheridan.” Nice work if you can get it.

Walvoord also explains the working arrangements between the district, attorneys, and Keller Williams Realty:

The realtor works directly with me, as attorney for the District. They take directions from me and make reports to me. In turn, I keep the administration advised as to the status of the project.

The current purchases of properties on North Prospect and East Frye Streets at Glen Oak Park are under the same agreement.

Not only do reports and directions go through the attorneys, so do commissions on the sale of property. The settlement charges (i.e., commissions) for seven of the eight acquired properties were not reported on the HUD-1 settlement statements. Instead, Keller Williams billed Kavanagh, et. al., P.C. for the commissions, which are as follows:

Address Sales Price Commission
2102 N. Prospect $140,000 Paid by seller
2126 N. Prospect $98,000 $4,900
2138 N. Prospect $82,000 $4,100
2142 N. Prospect $90,000 $4,500
2144 N. Prospect $89,000 $4,450
2206 N. Prospect $120,000 $6,000
2208 N. Prospect $133,500 $6,675
2212 N. Prospect $125,000 $6,250
TOTAL $877,500 $36,875

Except for the one property noted above, the sellers are not paying the commissions on these properties — the school district is, albeit indirectly.

Incidentally, I’ve never met Ms. Mannlein, but I’m sure she’s a very nice person. According to a press release from the Peoria Area Association of Realtors, she won the Association’s Distinguished Member for Community Service Award “for her exceptional volunteer work with Peoria Junior League, Children’s Home, Peoria Symphony, American Cancer Society, Methodist Hospice, Family House, Peoria Zoological Society, Peoria Garden Club, Crab Orchard Homeowners Association, and her church.” No one could accuse her of not giving back to the community.

That said, I’m still surprised that this contract for realty services never comes up for review or renewal. Not that I have any beef with Ms. Mannlein being the district’s realtor in perpetuity (we should all be so lucky), but doesn’t such an arrangement seem unusual for a public body? To provide all the district’s realty business (and commissions) to a single realtor for almost 20 years without any kind of review?

I’m just asking.

City of Peoria, Heart of Peoria Plan, Traffic

A pedestrian-friendlier Washington Street?

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Ironically, Tarter’s article (“Destination Downtown,” 7/4/06) is about the push to make downtown more pedestrian-friendly. One could be excused for wondering why this is necessary when there is such a plethora of parking on every block. But leaving that aside for a moment, let’s look at one of the suggestions being floated:

“It’s fundamental that we make (Washington Street) more pedestrian-friendly,” said City Manager Randy Oliver indicating the six-lane road creates a barrier between Downtown and the riverfront.

Okay, that’s not an intrinsically bad idea. But when DPZ Consultants (authors of the Heart of Peoria Plan) looked at our street grid, they designated downtown streets as either “A” grade or “B” grade. “A” grade streets were suitable for slowing down traffic and making more pedestrian-oriented, whereas “B” grade streets were suitable for service entrances and other more automobile-oriented purposes.

Guess what they designated Washington Street? Yep, “B” grade. Their reasoning was that, since so many parking garages open onto it, it was already being used as a service street. Plus, it’s a state route (Route 24), which carries a fair amount of truck traffic through town.

The state route designation adds even more complexity than that. Not long ago, Steve Van Winkle wanted to add diagonal parking along a portion of Washington Street and the state denied his request. When I met with Van Winkle at one of the recent charrettes, I asked him about that, and he stated that Route 24 would most likely have to be moved before Washington could be made more pedestrian friendly.

So, the question becomes, where do we put Route 24 so that it doesn’t “create a barrier between downtown and the riverfront”? Or would it be better to leave Washington as a “B” grade street, but try to do little things (that meet state approval) to make it marginally more pedestrian-friendly?

Caterpillar, City of Peoria, Museum Block, Parking

Cat Logic: If we have too much, then we need more

9 Comments

In today’s installment of “Cat Logic,” we turn to Steve Tarter’s column in today’s business section of the Journal Star titled, “Destination Downtown.” I was unable to find it on the web for linking purposes, but here’s the gist of it:

Caterpillar Inc. hired Walker Parking Consultants (wow, a whole company dedicated to parking consulting — what a fascinating job that must be) to look at “a 13-block Downtown area that includes the former Sears block site for Caterpillar’s visitors center.”

Their findings? There’s a surplus of parking, and it’s anticipated that there will be a surplus of parking in the future:

In an area along the river bounded by Adams, Fayette and Harrison streets, consultants determined there were 5,011 parking spaces available with the highest use coming on a weekday morning when 64 percent of the spots were occupied. The lowest use came on a Saturday morning when only 15 percent of available parking was used.

Now, how would you, Average Joe, interpret those findings? If it were me (and I’m no high-paid executive or parking consultant), I would say we don’t need any additional parking created downtown. If, at the very busiest time of day less than 2/3 of the parking is being used, I’d say — we’ve got this problem licked. We’ve reached a saturation point; no more parking needed. Done.

What does Cat say?

Despite the finding, Caterpillar is looking for more parking at the location. “There’s a great deal of unused parking in that (Downtown) site. But Museum Square will depend on convenient parking of those visitors,” said Mark Johnson, Caterpillar’s project manager; referring to an underground parking garage that will add $3 million to the project cost while providing space for 189 cars.

Huh? Now, think about this a second. At the busiest time of any given week, not more than 64% of 5,011 spaces are being used. That means there are at least 1,804 spaces available within a 10-block area downtown at any given time. But Cat believes that the this site’s success will “depend on” having 189 more spaces (at about $15,873 per parking space) immediately on site. I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say a Six Sigma black belt hasn’t been working on this project.

Incidentally, note the central location of Museum Square in the study area:

Downtown Parking Study Area

All the parking in the 10-block area — between 1,804 and 4,259 empty spaces at any given time — is within two blocks of Museum Square. In fact, the majority of it is within one block.  But according to Cat, that’s not good enough.

This is a colossal waste of money on top of an already flawed design for the Sears block. The Heart of Peoria Commission, which has been saying all along that we don’t need more parking downtown, has been vindicated by Cat’s own independent consultant’s study. But it doesn’t matter. Cat will continue on their present course, undeterred by the facts.

Peoria Public Schools

District 150 accused of racial discrimination

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Kay RoysterThe Journal Star reports today that former Peoria Public School Superintendent Kay Royster is suing the school board (and board members Aaron Schock, Vince Wieland, Sean Matheson, and Mary Spangler individually) for racial discrimination.

Read the case for yourself
(13-page PDF file):
Kay Royster Suit against District 150

Everything I read in the suit can be explained based on performance issues rather than racial discrimination (in my opinion), except for this:

In approximately October 2002, less than three months after her contract period began, a meeting of Board Members was organized to discuss terminating Royster. Board members Allen and Martha Ross were not invited to the meeting. Both Allen and Ross are African-Americans.

If that allegation is true, it certainly is damning. Why would Allen and Ross be excluded if it were a mere performance issue? It will be interesting to follow this case and see the evidence presented during trial, assuming the parties don’t settle out of court before then. Royster has demanded a jury trial.

Meanwhile, the children of district 150 continue to be the ultimate losers in this battle. No matter whose fault it is, money that should be going to provide the best education for the students is instead going to lawyers.

Peoria Public Schools, Public Building Commission, State Legislation

Governor to protect Peoria taxpayers before signing PBC bill

I’m not a fan of Gov. Blagojevich, but I was thrilled to read this in today’s paper:

“We just want to make sure that if there’s going to be any talk about an increase in anybody’s property tax, that it can’t just happen by the School Board (or the Public Building Commission). It’s got to be by referendum,” Blagojevich said Friday.

Thus, he’s going to amend the PBC bill (SB2477) that Sen. Shadid asked him to sign to ensure just that. This is a victory for Peoria County taxpayers. The possibility of the school board being able to get around a referendum to increase taxes was the biggest complaint about the PBC bill. The governor’s amendment will make sure taxpayers are protected.

City of Peoria, Traffic

I Hate Driving

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Lester WireIn 1912, Lester Wire invented the first American traffic signal in Salt Lake City, Utah, and driving hasn’t been the same since. In the 1950s, they even invented the interstate highway system just to get away from the cursed devices.

Traffic signals are a large part of why I hate driving. And now that Peoria has them posted just about every 100 feet all over the city, I’m starting to think I could travel faster by bicycle.

Stop. Wait. Wait. Arrow. Wait. Go. Stop. Repeat at every intersection.

Now I know why Chevy came out with the “Sprint” back in the ’80s. No vehicle has been more aptly named for city driving, where sprinting is all you can accomplish between stop lights that are apparently timed to keep traffic travelling an average of 20 mph.

The worst lights of all are the ones that change for no reason. For instance, the light at Knoxville and McDonalds, south of McClure. There may not be anyone there at the light either direction in the middle of the night, but it will change just for the heck of it as a lone car approaches from the north. And there you sit, idling, burning precious fossil fuel while trying to convince yourself it would be wrong to run it, even though there’s no one around to see you.

Stop lights add frustration to an experience that is already maddening because you have to (a) suffer interminable road construction and (b) share the road with other drivers.  Ever seen car commercials from the ’50s, where having a fine automobile on the open road meant freedom, relaxation, and exploration?  Ha!  Maybe when there was only one car per family and all the highways were new that was possible.  Today, it’s not uncommon for a family to have more vehicles than licensed drivers, and of course all the nation’s highways are in a state of perpetual disrepair.  The 1950s’ dream has become the 2000s’ nightmare.

Driving has lost its allure for me.  I would be happy riding the bus to work every day, if I didn’t need my car to run job-related errands all week, and if it didn’t take three times as long as driving.   Occasionally, when my car has been in the shop, I’ve taken the bus to and from work, and despite the extra time it took, I found it very relaxing.  I could read the paper, plan out my day, and not once be concerned about traffic lights or other drivers.

Hmmm…  Read the paper, plan the day, be unconcerned about lights or other drivers — that pretty much sums up what the driver in front of me was doing on my way to work today….

Photo credit: UDOT