Hello everyone. I’m here at City Hall, room 400, for the Peoria City Council meeting on this Flag Day 2011. It’s very warm in council chambers, and the windows have been opened to help cool things off. It appears that all the council members and mayor are in attendance, and there is a rather long agenda for this evening. As usual, I’ll be adding my comments about the proceedings under each item below (the consent agenda is a single item). Also in attendance are Chris Kaergard from the Peoria Journal Star, Tanya Koonce from WCBU-FM, and Shaun Newell of 1470 WMBD radio.
Without any further ado, here’s tonight’s agenda:
ITEM NO. 1 CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS BY OMNIBUS VOTE, for the City of Peoria, with Recommendations as Outlined:
A. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with Request to Accept the LOWEST RESPONSIVE BID of LORUSSO CEMENT CONTRACTORS, INC., in the Amount of $225,551.22 with 10% contingencies of $22,555.12, and Award a CONTRACT for the HARRISON IMPACT ZONE 2011 IMPROVEMENTS (Grinnell Street from Folkers Avenue to Griswold Street), in the Amount of $248,106.34.
B. Communication from the City Manager and Finance Director/Comptroller Requesting Adoption of an ORDINANCE Amending the City of Peoria Budget for Fiscal Year 2011 Relating to the BUREAU of JUSTICE ASSISTANCE BULLETPROOF VEST PARTNERSHIP FY 2010 FUNDING AWARD, in the Amount of $38,651.00.
C. Communication from the City Manager and Police Chief Requesting Approval for the PURCHASE of 179 GATOR HAWK HELIX BODY ARMOR VESTS from the UNIFORM DEN Utilizing the STATE OF ILLINOIS JOINT PURCHASING CONTRACT and the PURCHASE of 21 GATOR HAWK LITEX-FEMALE BODY ARMOR VESTS from SAM HARRIS UNIFORMS, Utilizing CIP FUNDS Plus a Match from the BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE BULLETPROOF VEST PARTNERSHIP, as Outlined, in the Total Amount of $82,067.05.
D. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Recommendation from the Human Resources Commission (HRC) to ADJUST the 2011 PUBLIC SERVICE GRANT AWARDS to Reflect the Decrease in the 2011 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) ALLOCATION from HUD.
E. Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Approval of a SETTLEMENT of LAWSUIT Filed by ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL, Case No. 10-L-382, in the Amount of $10,258.06.
F. Communication from the City Manager Requesting Approval of the FOURTH AMENDMENT to the SPRING GROVE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT By and Between the City of Peoria and PEORIA CITIZENS COMMITTEE for ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY (PCCEO), Successor to SPRING GROVE CONSTRUCTION LTD. PARTNERSHIP, EXTENDING the AGREEMENT for 27 Months and Requesting Authorization for the City Manager to Execute the Necessary Documents.
G. Communication from the City Manager and Communications Manager Requesting Approval to Enter into a CONTRACT with BARRACKS CATER INN and CHEFS CATERING as the EXCLUSIVE CATERING SERVICE BUSINESSES at the GATEWAY BUILDING.
H. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Approval of the PEORIA/PEKIN URBANIZED AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY (PPUATS) FY 2012 AGREEMENT, in the Amount of $42,459.34.
I. Communication from the City Manager and Finance Director/Comptroller Requesting Adoption of an ORDINANCE Amending the City of Peoria Budget for Fiscal Year 2011 Relating to the U.S. DEPARTMENT of JUSTICE COPS HIRING PROGRAM GRANT for YEAR ONE, in the Amount of $835,410.00.
J. Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Approval of the APPLICATION for a CLASS H (Temporary Outdoor) LIQUOR LICENSE from the PEORIA AREA TRACK & FIELD CLUB for an EVENT at the FULTON PLAZA on FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2011.
K. REAPPOINTMENT and APPOINTMENT by Mayor Jim Ardis to the FAIR EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING COMMISSION, with Request to Concur:
REAPPOINTMENT:
Edward Jackson (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014APPOINTMENT:
Michelle Sanders (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014L. REAPPOINTMENTS by Mayor Jim Ardis to the FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSION , with Request to Concur:
Lane W. High (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014
The Honorable Alexandria Scott Pearson (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014M. REAPPOINTMENTS by Mayor Jim Ardis to the LIQUOR COMMISSION , with Request to Concur:
Mike Miller (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014
DavId Turner (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014
W. Eric Turner – Deputy Liquor Commissioner – Term Expires 6/30/2012N. REAPPOINTMENT and APPOINTMENTS by Mayor Jim Ardis to the PEORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, with Request to Concur:
REAPPOINTMENT:
F. Eugene Rebholz (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014APPOINTMENTS
Lucy Gulley (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014
Tara Canty (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014O. REAPPOINTMENTS by Mayor Jim Ardis to the PLANNING COMMISSION, with Request to Concur:
Michelle Anderson (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014
Joseph Richey, Jr. (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014P. REAPPOINTMENTS by Mayor Jim Ardis to the RIVERFRONT PROGRAM AND POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE , with Request to Concur:
Bob Marx (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2013
Susie Stockman (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2013Q. REAPPOINTMENTS by Mayor Jim Ardis to the SISTER CITY COMMISSION, with Request to Concur:
Gloria Cassel Fitzgerald (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014
Bradford B. Ingram (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014
Rex K. Linder (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014
William B. Roeder (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014
Gary Schmidt (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014R. REAPPOINTMENT and APPOINTMENT by Mayor Jim Ardis to the SPRINGDALE CEMETERY MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY, with Request to Concur:
REAPPOINTMENT:
Kent Rotherham (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2015APPOINTMENT:
Floyd C. Dailey, Jr. (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2015S. REAPPOINTMENTS by Mayor Jim Ardis to the TRAFFIC COMMISSION, with Request to Concur:
Brandon Lott (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014
Michael Vespa (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014T. REAPPOINTMENT by Mayor Jim Ardis to THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, with Request to Concur:
Edward Barry, Jr. (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014
U. REAPPOINTMENTS by Mayor Jim Ardis to THE ZONING COMMISSION, with Request to Concur:
Gregory A. Hunziker (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014
Curt Davis (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014V. Communication from the City Manager Regarding the PEORIA PARK DISTRICT FIRST QUARTER 2011 REPORT of ACTIVITIES for the RIVERFRONT and GATEWAY BUILDING, with Request to Receive and File.
W. REPORT of the CITY TREASURER PATRICK A. NICHTING for the MONTH of APRIL 2011, with Request to Receive and File.
Items removed from the consent agenda: G (Van Auken), F and R (Sandberg). The remaining items were passed unanimously.
- Item F — Sandberg will not be supporting it. Spring Grove is not an urban neighborhood, but a suburban subdivision. Gulley/Turner move to approve; passes 10-1.
- Item G — The original plan was to have up to four caterers that would have exclusive rights to cater things at the Gateway building, but only two answered the RFP. There is discussion on how to get four caterers as originally desired. Van Auken suggests that the council accept the two caterers on the agenda tonight, but put out another RFP for two more caterers — with the caveat that they can’t bid any lower than the two bidders being accepted tonight. Sandberg says we should not just keep doing the same thing we’ve been doing for the past 15 years, i.e., losing money on these caterers. He says we should establish the amount to rent this asset to protect the taxpayers. Gulley wants to approve the bids, but agrees with Sandberg, as he doesn’t think the current situation is fair. [Incidentally, the timer on the council floor is not working, so tech support was called to fix it, and a guy is working on it during this discussion.] Irving asks why there is a different percentage of gross between the two bidders. Answer from Urich: we allowed the bidders to set their own price, essentially. Also, why is the number four? Why can’t it be two or five? Answer from Urich: Smaller number of caterers is more manageable. Akeson doesn’t like “changing the rules of the game midstream,” but nevertheless, questions why it’s structured this way. She agrees with Gary: Why not just set a rental price and let people choose their own caterer? Weaver wants to split this into two questions. Riggenbach just reiterates what everyone else has said.
Weaver moves first to accept the language as presented, but strike the word “exclusive,” seconded by Turner. Spain says he’ll be supporting the motion. Sandberg asks why we’re being fair to two businesses while being unfair to the 116,000 taxpayers in Peoria. He says it’s a flawed process. Motion passes 10-1 (Sandberg).
Weaver next moves that staff come back with a plan to maximize profitability, seconded by Spain. Sandberg still is against it. Ardis asks Sandberg what better idea he had proposed over the past 13 years. Sandberg said he’s been suggesting what he’s suggesting tonight. Ardis said that the shorter answer was that Sandberg didn’t suggest anything. Motion passes 10-1 (Sandberg).
- Item R — Sandberg says he’s not willing to approve reappointments until he gets a status report on Springdale Cemetery. There’s a small tiff with Van Auken when Sandberg accuses her of not caring about the taxpayers. Van Auken asks the chair to uphold Roberts Rules which says all comments should be directed to the chair, not individual council members. Sandberg moves to defer, seconded by Spain. Passes 9-2 (Van Auken, Gulley).
ITEM NO. 2 Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with Request to ACCEPT the LOW BID of STARK EXCAVATING, INC. and AWARD the CONTRACT, in the Amount of $1,693,126.90, with Additional Authorization of $84,656.35 (5% for Contingencies) for the WILHELM ROAD and BRIDGE (Growth Cell 1A Phase II) PROJECT, Subject to Peoria County and Owner/Developer Group Approvals and Execution of Agreement for Phase II Roadway Improvements (Wilhelm Bridge) for Growth Cell 1A and Subject to Peoria County Acquiring the Necessary Right-of-Way for the Project. (Refer to Item Nos. 05-691 and 08-338)
City Manager Urich asks to defer this item until after items 6 and 7 on the agenda. Gulley so moves, seconded by Van Auken. Passes unanimously.
(Motion later passes unanimously with Weaver abstaining due to owning property in the area.)
ITEM NO. 3 Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Approval for the SOLE SOURCE SALE of a 2008 FORD F-750 FULLY-EQUIPPED FORESTRY BOOM TRUCK (Unit #2008) to the CITY OF DANVILLE, ILLINOIS, FOR $115,000.00.
Van Auken/Gulley move to approve. Sandberg says that selling this type of equipment means the City cannot adequately take care of public rights of way, such as boulevards, and then the taxpayers have to take care of things with private money that should be done with public money. If we keep cutting these kinds of services, he says, people will vote with their feet by moving out of these neighborhoods.
Gulley asks Director Barber for some clarification. Barber says that basically we used to contract with the Park District for mowing and tree removal, but now we’ve put these out for bid and have private contractors doing it now, and there have been some problems with the new contractors.
Motion passes 10-1 (Sandberg).
ITEM NO. 4 Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Approval to Direct Staff to CONSTRUCT a SIDEWALK on the SOUTH SIDE of NEBRASKA AVENUE from LEHMAN ROAD to PIERSON AVENUE (Approximate Length of 700 Feet) and to Authorize Utilizing $8,500.00 in SIDEWALK PARTICIPATION PROGRAM FUNDING and C&G Concrete Construction Company to Perform the Work.
Van Auken says the state gave neighborhood groups direct grants for public improvements, and this is one of the projects the neighbors decided they wanted to do with their grant money. This project is in West Peoria, but in the City of Peoria’s right of way, so we had to get the cooperation of West Peoria and Mayor Dillon and City Link (because they wanted to upgrade the bus stop). Van Auken moves to approve, seconded by Turner.
Sandberg says this area came into Peoria 47 years ago as part of the Richwoods annexation. And at that time, the people were promised if they come into the city, the City would build them sidewalks and curbs. To date, no sidewalks or curbs have been built. So he supports the building of sidewalks. He adds that he thinks that replacement of deteriorating sidewalks should be funded 100% by the City of Peoria rather than the adjacent property owners. He cites the City’s rebuilding of sidewalks around HyVee as precedent.
Gulley asks Barber if this is a combination curb and sidewalk. Answer: no curbs, just sidewalks. He asks why we’re using the Sidewalk Participation Program funds to build new sidewalks when they are supposed to be used for replacing sidewalks. He says new sidewalks around schools have been denied to come from this fund, so he wonders why we’re changing our policy now for this request. He says he hopes, if we’re changing the rules, that these rules are applied equally to all citizens.
Motion passes unanimously.
ITEM NO. 5 Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with Request to Direct Staff to IMPLEMENT the DESIGN and CONSTRUCTION to CONVERT LOUCKS AVENUE, Between Sheridan Road and McClure Avenue, from a ONE-WAY STREET to a TWO-WAY STREET.
Van Auken moves to approve; says this is part of the redesign of Sheridan Triangle. She says this will be very helpful to businesses in the area and access to their businesses. She says this will help us achieve some of our long-term goals in Sheridan Triangle; says we don’t have the money to do the whole project. Motion seconded by Riggenbach.
Sandberg says he has no problem with Loucks becoming two ways. He asks why those traveling south on Loucks can only turn right onto McClure. It would take you in a circle back where you came from. Director Barber said there were visibility issues and they didn’t want it to be a cut-through. Ardis says he agrees with Sandberg and would like this looked at again to see if traffic flow could be improved at this intersection. Van Auken says she agrees and would like to take this back and see if a left and right turn can be facilitated.
Urich says that this design can be changed even if this action is approved tonight. Ardis isn’t buying it and asks for a deferral until the second meeting in July. So moved by Van Auken/Riggenbach. Motion passes unanimously.
ITEM NO. 6 Communication from the City Manager and Finance Director/Comptroller Requesting Adoption of an ORDINANCE Amending the City of Peoria Budget for Fiscal Year 2011 Relating to the TRANSFER of GROWTH CELL 1A PLEDGED PROPERTY TAXES to PAY for ENGINEERING FEES NOT TO EXCEED $165,000.00 for PHASE II ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT – WILHELM BRIDGE.
Irving/Turner move to approve. No discussion. Motion passes unanimously.
ITEM NO. 7 Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Approval of an AGREEMENT for PHASE II ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT (Wilhelm Bridge) for GROWTH CELL 1A with the COUNTY OF PEORIA and the OWNER/DEVELOPER GROUP, and Requesting Authorization for the City Manager to Execute the Document.
Irving/Van Auken move to approve. No discussion. Motion passes unanimously with Weaver abstaining due to owning property in the area.
ITEM NO. 8 Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Adoption of an ORDINANCE Providing for the IMPROVEMENT of WEST RIDGE ROAD (N. Isabell Avenue to N. Sheridan Road) for ORNAMENTAL STREET LIGHTING and ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
Riggenbach asks for privilege of the floor from the public on this item.
- Tom Stafford — Thanks Akeson for her help. This project started four years ago, and the petition was originally for ornamental lighting only such as they have in the Knolls, he says. He says the project has grown to include making changes to the street and sidewalks. He said he was told by the Planning Commission that 60% of the residents approved of the changes, but he says that many of those signers are not residents. He would like this to be just ornamental lighting.
- Kevin Simbley (sp?) — He is adamantly opposed to this project. Says the street has no potholes, yet they’re planning to resurface the street. Says he doesn’t use or own the sidewalk, so he doesn’t think he should have to pay for it. He also says the ornamental light will be poorly placed and hurt his property value. He says this project isn’t a necessity.
- Kathy Kiley — Says when she moved into her home in 2009, she had no idea this project was in the works. She says a lot of things change in four years. She thinks a four-year-old petition should hold no weight today. She says the street and sidewalk are in good condition and do not need to be replaced. Each resident would end up having to pay over $3000 for this project, and she says the people here just can’t afford it. Also says a lot of other places in Peoria are more in need of the City’s portion of the funds. Asks if a new poll could be taken of the residents on this issue.
Riggenbach talks about the problems with the current special assessment process, and says that the lack of communication is being addressed. He also says that the cost can be repaid over ten years. He says we should look at options for helping those with special financial needs. He doesn’t think the rules should be changed in the middle of the game. Moves for approval, seconded by Van Auken.
Sandberg decries the amount of time it takes to implement these special assessment projects. “If we can’t develop a product that can be accomplished in one or two years,” he says, we won’t build neighborhoods, but tear them apart.
Van Auken would like to know how many contacts the district council member has had and what they’ve been. Riggenbach says he had 17 contacts in favor and four opposed.
Weaver says this is a “bad situation” given the fact of the recession we’ve just gone through. Is there a way to go back through the petition process? [At this point there’s a disruption as someone from the audience just sauntered across the floor and started talking to Gulley. He’s removed by Chiefs Settingsgaard and Tomblin.] Resuming. Ardis says it’s a no-win situation that has been faced before. Ardis says the original petitioners played by the rules and have been waiting in line for four years, so to change the rules now would cause more disruption and call into question other recent decisions by the council. Weaver says he’d like to know what other communities do so we can change our process for the better and things don’t languish for four years.
Akeson agrees we need a process change. She would like to see what can be done to help those in financial hardship.
Motion passes 10-1 (Gulley).
ITEM NO. 9 Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management Requesting Adoption of ONE of the Following:
A. ORDINANCE “A” Granting a SPECIAL USE in a Class I-2 (Railroad/Warehouse Industrial) District for a 22-FOOT TALL OFF-PREMISE SIGN for Property Identified as the Former RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY and Within the 6000 BLOCK of N. KNOXVILLE ROAD, with Waivers and Conditions; OR
B. ORDINANCE “B” Granting a SPECIAL USE in a Class I-2 (Railroad/Warehouse Industrial) District for a 26-FOOT TALL OFF-PREMISE SIGN for Property Identified as the Former RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY and Within the 6000 BLOCK of N. KNOXVILLE ROAD.
Passes 10-1 (Sandberg).
ITEM NO. 10 Communication from the City Manager Requesting Approval of AMENDMENTS to LEASE #30-014-02-AN and LEASE #30-013-07-AN; Requesting Approval of a TEN-YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT (#30-014-02-AN 2012), with a Five-Year Extension, with ADAMS OUTDOOR ADVERTISING COMMENCING on JANUARY 1, 2012, as Outlined; and Requesting Authorization for the City Manager to Execute the Necessary Documents.
Irving moves to approve, seconded by Turner. Sandberg is opposed to putting this ugly billboard on public property. Motion passes 9-2 (Sandberg, Akeson).
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
(11-221) Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Request to Concur with the Recommendation from the Zoning Commission and Staff to Adopt an ORDINANCE Rezoning Property Located at 1120 W. MULTIFLORA LANE from the Present Class A-1 (Agricultural) District to a Class R-1 (Single-Family Residential) District.
Irving/Van Auken move to approve. No discussion. Passes unanimously.
(11-222) Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Request to Concur with Recommendation from the Planning Commission and Staff to Approve a RESOLUTION Approving the PRELIMINARY PLAT for KIRCHGESSNER SUBDIVISION, which Establishes Three Single-Family Lots, and Approves Various Waivers for a Residential Development, Generally Bounded on the West by MULTIFLORA LANE and on the North by U.S. Route 6 and Receive and File the REPORT BACK.
Irving moves to approve with changes that he enumerated, basically adding more conditions for the future hook-up to City sewers, seconded by Turner. Turner asks the privilege of the floor for Roger Sparks. I wasn’t able to hear his specific concerns, but he generally expressed his concern about the lack of ADA compliance by the City.
Sandberg basically says that a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, as Emerson would say. Everything else has been waived, but we’re holding to “consistency” on Lot 3, he says.
Motion passes 10-1 (Akeson).
NEW BUSINESS
Ardis asks the Council to supply additional questions to Urich for an upcoming policy session by the end of the week. So moved by Van Auken/Riggenbach. Passes unanimously.
CITIZENS’ OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL/TOWN BOARD
No citizens to address the council.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
No executive session. Van Auken/Weaver move to adjourn. It’s 8:23 p.m. The timer is still broken, and it’s still hot in here! I’m going to Whitey’s now for a pizza. Feel free to join me!
You missed where Gary asked the mayor to Control BVA’s histrionics…the sighs, the faces, the rolling of the eyes. We’re all so proud of her.
Sheridan Triangle discussion about Louck’s. why is this being asked? The five way intersection revamp was supposed to come in conjunction with dealing with Louck’s. The residents all caught at the time that it would be a right turn only and that wouldn’t be the best solution.
Kind of makes you wonder about Van Auken. Has she ever actually seen the area she is talking about. Since the three lanes are currently one way, they create a bypass for traffic around the business area. Those who want to shop can drive in, those who are simply passing through do exactly that. The quick passage along Loucks makes it easier for people traveling from the east side to the west side without having to further congest the cross streets of McClure and Forest Hill. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Actually she was pretty involved there. It just doesn’t make sense to pick that portion of the plan when what happens with that section would be guided by the rehab of the intersection. There has to be some other deal in the works.
The only advantage I see to this is getting a street fixed. It’s such a small section, I don’t see how it’s going to improve business there. That said, I’m not against the change, just confused by why it matters.
$100,000 for 2 block section of road is a lot of money when there is a larger plan which is apparantly never going to be implemented. that’s 2 cops which could actually be patrolling this area instead of being shifted to other areas at the will of our leadership. That would have a much larger impact than doing the 2 blocks of Loucks.
One bar in that area received $20,000 GRANT. The law was changed specifically to do this. Now $100,000 for sidewalks. BVA is serving her political donors well with everyone else’s tax dollars. Quite corrupt.
tj. the facade improvements were meant to be loans not grants, the three that got grants were campaign supporters. I am not sure if the project proposed included sidewalks or not, would have to go back an reread it. The entire area was supposed to have been redone for the business district with new sidewalks, landscaping, rework the bad intersection, replace curbs, lighting etc to breathe some life into the area and be one of the pilot projects for the form based code districts. It is the smallest and least expensive of them all, but the one not touched. With the Liquor Store gone, it has the greatest chance of success. It would have brought in new taxes for the city and decreased the need for code and police involvement (thereby saving money). It would have spurred other projects and improvements in area that greatly needs improvements. This was promised to the residents before the hotel, before the East Bluff TIF, before Columbia Terrace, before the Warehouse district funding, before those in line for sidewalk projects, before the museum project got underway. We were told we didn’t have the money and it was pulled from the budget. We understood that hard times were coming and were willing to wait, but apparantly all that means if you understand and are willing to wait is that you are weak and although there still is no money projects to benefit developers, a hospital, pushed by the EDC, chamber, HP, etc. will be done anyway, and you are forgotten, your area allowed to further decay. This is very frustrating and there is no excuse. Lynnhurst gets 1.5 million for lights, West Ridge gets 3/4 of a million to replace sidewalks that are in good repair and to pave a street with no potholes.
long story short. YES.