Good evening, readers. Here is tonight’s Peoria City Council agenda, along with live reaction from yours truly (remember to refresh your browser occasionally to see the most recent comments if you’re following along live):
ITEM NO. 1 PUBLIC HEARING to Consider the Approval of the AMENDED DEVELOPMENT PLAN for the DESIGNATION of the HOSPITALITY IMPROVEMENT ZONE BUSINESS DISTRICT.
The public hearing is now open. First, some general comments about the proposed amendment from Bobby Gray of the Economic Development Department. He gives a brief overview, then turns it over to Jean Linwald of Cameros (sp?), the consultant who found that Staybridge Suites is blighted. She doesn’t present any new information that isn’t already in the council communication.
- Ed Coomb (sp?) — Speaking on behalf of Staybridge Suites. Has employed 30 people over the past 11 years. Has $2 million in sales. All these visitors have “taken a toll” on the building. Is planning to invest $2 million in the building, landscaping, and parking lot. Also going to redo the interior decorating. Says they don’t understand why they weren’t included in the original plan.
- Bob Marx — CEO of the PACVB. He says the property “needs help.” He says it needs to be updated and upgraded. Says it will help us as a City compete in the marketplace.
- C. J. Summers — Not opposed to Staybridge being included, but the definition of “blight” is meaningless, and why are we doubling the project funds from $6 million to $12 million?
Public part of the public hearing ends, and now the council is discussing. Sandberg asks why we’re going from $6 million to $12 million. Bobby Gray says they wanted to increase the budget now “just in case additional projects come into the area” so they don’t have to come back to the council again for another amendment later. So, my take: they want a blank check from the public.
Whoa — the consultant just said that in the future there may be ANOTHER hotel built on a city-owned parking lot. Really?
Gary asks the City staff to delineate the additional ways the money can be spent (the differences between the original list and the new proposed list). I’ve covered that in a previous post, so I won’t reiterate it here.
Akeson asks the guy from Staybridge why the taxes on hotels are so high. He says it’s to provide funding for the convention and visitors center to allow the community to market itself.
And that’s the end of the public hearing.
ITEM NO. 2 CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS BY OMNIBUS VOTE, for the City of Peoria, with Recommendations as Outlined:
A. Communication from the City Manager and Police Chief Requesting Approval to DONATE SQUAD CAR #569, a 1994 CHEVY CAPRICE with 71,000 Miles, to the WHEELS O’ TIME MUSEUM.
B. Communication from the City Manager and Police Chief Requesting Approval for the PURCHASE of 15 PANASONIC TOUGHBOOK LAPTOP COMPUTERS, for Use in Squad Cars, from CDS OFFICE TECHNOLOGIES, in the Amount of $58,950.00, from Approved Capital Improvement Plan Funds.
C. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Request to Award the 2011 ADOPT-A-RAMP PROGRAM to S. F. PAULI BUILDERS, in the Amount of $70,000.00, from the 2011 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.
D. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Approval to PURCHASE REAL ESTATE Located at 607 EAST ARMSTRONG AVENUE, in the Amount of $50,000.00, for the IMPROVEMENT of PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE from Berkeley Avenue to Glen Oak Avenue.
E. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Approval of an EXCHANGE of REAL ESTATE Located at 801 N.E. GLEN OAK AVENUE for a PORTION of the Property at 815 and 833 N.E. GLEN OAK AVENUE, for the IMPROVEMENT of PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE from Berkeley Avenue to Glen Oak Avenue.
F. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with Request to Approve the EXCHANGE of REAL ESTATE Located at 1307 W. GLEN AVENUE for a Portion of the EXISTING RIGHT-OF-WAY Along the UNIVERSITY STREET SIDE of the Property, for the IMPROVEMENT of the UNIVERSITY STREET and GLEN AVENUE INTERSECTION and to ADOPT an ORDINANCE VACATING a Portion of the UNIVERSITY STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY Adjacent to the East Side of the Property Located at 1307 W. GLEN AVENUE.
G. Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Authorization to RETAIN the FIRM of HEYL, ROYSTER to Represent the City in the Case of JOHNSON, ET AL. VS. CITY OF PEORIA.
H. Communication from the City Manager Requesting Approval of the 2011 CONTRACT Between the City of Peoria and the ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL for CENTRAL ILLINOIS.
I. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Approval of an AMENDMENT to the PEORIA/PEKIN URBANIZED AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY (PPUATS) FY 2012 AGREEMENT, in the Amount of $5,413.95. (Amends 11-236)
J. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with Request to AWARD the CONTRACT to the LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS, TAZEWELL COUNTY ASPHALT, INC. (TCA), in the Amount of $16,825.00, and PA ATHERTON CONTRUCTION, INC. (PAAC), in the Amount of $20,000.00, for the PARKING SEALANT and DRY-WELLS in the POLICE HEADQUARTERS and MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUILDING PARKING LOTS, as Outlined.
K. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management with Recommendation from the Zoning Commission and Staff to Adopt an ORDINANCE Amending Ordinance No. 13,932, as Amended, in a Class C-2 (Large Scale Commercial) District for a SHOPPING CENTER to Add a GROCERY STORE, GAS STATION, CONVENIENCE STORE, and CAR WASH, and to Remove a Previously Approved Condition for the Property Commonly Known as the SHOPPES at GRAND PRAIRIE Located at 5201 W. WAR MEMORIAL DRIVE, with Conditions.
L. Communication from the City Manager and Finance Director/Comptroller Recommending Adoption of an ORDINANCE Amending the CITY OF PEORIA BUDGET for FISCAL YEAR 2011 Relating to the Target Corporation Donation, in the Amount of $1,000.00; the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) Grant, in the Amount of $4,000.00; the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Technology Grant, in the Amount of $18,832.00; and the East Bluff Rebound Basketball Team Methodist Gift, in the Amount of $1,000.00.
M. 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 ICJIA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM GRANT, in the Amount of $54,359.00.
N. 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 the Following:
1. ORDINANCE Amending APPENDIX B of the Code of the City of Peoria Relating to ZONING CERTIFICATES Being Void Within One Year if Not Acted Upon;
2. ORDINANCE Amending APPENDIX C of the Code of the City of Peoria Relating to ZONING CERTIFICATES Being Void Within One Year if Not Acted Upon.
O. Communication from the City Manager with Request to Direct Staff to CHANGE the PROCESS of ENTERPRISE ZONE EXPANSION REVIEW and PUBLIC HEARING by Removing it from the Responsibility of the Planning Commission and Returning it to the Responsibility of the Designated Zone Organization.
P. APPOINTMENT by Mayor Jim Ardis to the MAYOR’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE for the DISABLED, with Request to Concur:
John Block (Voting) – Term Expires 6/30/2014
Q. Communication from the City Manager and City Treasurer Requesting Adoption of the REVISED CITY OF PEORIA INVESTMENT POLICY.
R. Communication from the City Manager and Finance Director/Comptroller Regarding the MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT for JULY 2011, with Request to Receive and File.
The following items were removed from the consent agenda by the councilman indicated: J, K, O (Sandberg). Everything else passed unanimously, with Spain abstaining from Item H.
- Item J — Sandberg asks what the problem has been that this is supposed to fix. Barber says they want the water runoff to go to dry wells instead of dumping it directly into the river, apparently in a proactive approach because future regulations will require this water to be treated before it gets to the river. Sandberg confirms that this is only a storm sewer, not a combined sewer — in other words, it’s just rain water runoff. He says this is a waste of money, and completely unnecessary. Weaver/Akeson moves to separate the motion so they can vote on the dry wells recommendation separately from the other items. That passes with Van Auken, Irving, and Turner voting no. The first item passes 10-1 (Spain). Van Auken moves to approve the dry wells item, and speaks in favor of the motion. Urich says it’s a federal mandate that the city is trying to follow, prompting Sandberg to reiterate that this is only storm water runoff that goes a block and a half. He says the federal laws of which they’re speaking are for parking lots up at, say, Sheridan Village, not for parking lots a block and a half from the river. Urich disagrees, saying they have to comply even for this parking lot. Barber agrees, saying they have to comply with the Federal Clean Water Act, and that if we don’t clean up this water runoff — even though it’s storm water — we’ll not be in compliance (in the future, when certain regulations take effect). Water runoff from parking lots are not considered “clean water” by federal standards because they can and do contain salt, petroleum contaminants, etc. Spain says he’s voting against it because he thinks it encourages surface parking lots on major street frontages. Several council members speak in favor of clean water. Motion passes with Sandberg, Spain, and Weaver voting against.
- Item K — Sandberg objects to there being a gap in sidewalks/bike paths in this project. Irving asks Ross Black (Planning & Growth) to explain why. Black says the parcel on the corner of American Prairie and Orange Praire does not have sidewalks because they are put in when the parcel is developed, and this parcel is not being developed yet. Sandberg points out that once a residential area is 80% built out, it’s required to have a sidewalk on the exterior of the subdivision. He says this sidewalk is on the exterior of a shopping center that is 80% built out. He believes the owners should be required to put in the sidewalk. “It’s our responsibility to create connectivity” for pedestrians, he says. Irving says the city is following policy regarding sidewalks, and says this is a good project for that part of town. Ardis praises the project, too. Sandberg continues to pursue “closing the gap” in the sidewalk, and says he’s not expecting HyVee to put it in, but the Shoppes at Grand Prairie because this is a revision to a special use. He gets cut off by the five-minute rule. Akeson says she agrees with Sandberg, but she doesn’t think we can change our sidewalk policy on the fly with this request. Randy Ray agrees. Irving/Turner move to approve; motion passes 10-1 (Sandberg).
- Item O — He says all this provision does is reduce the number of opportunities for public input and public hearings. He thinks this provides less transparency for enterprise zone hearings. Van Auken/Spain move to approve without any further discussion. Passes 9-2 (Sandberg, Akeson).
ITEM NO. 3 Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Recommending Approval of the LOW BID of R. A. CULLINAN & SON, in the Amount of $3,788,074.54, with Authorization up to $4,091,000.00 (Additional 8% for contingencies) for ORANGE PRAIRIE ROAD EXTENSION.
Irving/Turner move to approve. Weaver abstaining. Motion passes unanimously with a little discussion. Urich says the Issues Update is posted on the City’s website. I didn’t know that. I wonder where it is?
ITEM NO. 4 Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Requesting Approval of an INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT Between the City of Peoria and DUNLAP COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 323 Regarding the CONSTRUCTION of the INTERSECTION of HICKORY GROVE ROAD and ALLEN ROAD.
Irving/Turner move to approve. Irving praises Dunlap schools. No further discussion. Passes unanimously.
ITEM NO. 5 Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Action on the SITE APPLICATION to Add a SUBCLASS 1 (4:00 A.M.) LICENSE to a CLASS A (Tavern) with a SUBCLASS 2 (Live Entertainment) LIQUOR LICENSE at 1801 S. W. ADAMS, with No Recommendation from the Liquor Commission.
Gulley is abstaining due to conflict of interest. Turner/Sandberg move to approve. No discussion. Motion fails 3-7 (Sandberg, Spears, Turner voting yes, all others voting no). I guess we’ll never know why this was denied, since no one spoke to the issue.
ITEM NO. 6 Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Action on the SITE APPLICATION for a CLASS A (Tavern) with a SUBCLASS 2 (Live Entertainment) LIQUOR LICENSE at 315 MAIN STREET, with Recommendation from the Liquor Commission to DENY.
Gulley is abstaining due to his relationship to the petitioner. Turner moves to approve. Ray says applicant has withdrawn his 4 a.m. request. Seconded by Spain. Sandberg asks why everyone denied a 4 a.m. liquor license to an area downtown that’s designated for 4 a.m. liquor licenses. He asks why the council has the “mindset that all four-o’clocks are bad”? Ardis says he made his decision based on the police department’s recommendation, both on this item and the previous one. Motion passes unanimously.
ITEM NO. 7 Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works Regarding a REPORT that ADDRESSES QUESTIONS RAISED at the WASHINGTON STREET PROJECT POLICY SESSION on July 19, 2011, with Request to Receive and File, and Request to PROVIDE DIRECTION to STAFF on the LIMITS of the PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
Urich gives a summary of the policy session that was held on this item and the current council communication. Spain moves to approve Option 1, seconded by Van Auken. Sandberg supports the motion, but wants to know if TIF funds can be used to make these improvements instead of general fund money. Motion passes unanimously.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
(11-327) Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with REPORT BACK Regarding FUNDS SPENT on SIDEWALKS for the GLEN OAK SCHOOL AREA and the Amount that has been Committed for the HARRISON SCHOOL AREA, with Request to Receive and File.
Approved without discussion unanimously.
Sandberg says that lane widths can be less than 11′ because we adopted the Duany plan.
NEW BUSINESS
No new business.
PRESENTATION
ITEM NO. 1 PRESENTATION Regarding the COMPREHENSIVE LABOR STUDY FOR PEORIA METRO, with Request to Receive and File.
“Regionalism” is important. 68% of those employed in Peoria live outside of the city. Wow! Discussion question, readers: What does this statistic say about Peoria?
Received and filed unanimously.
CITIZENS’ OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL/TOWN BOARD
- Savino Sierra — He’s disappointed the council defeated the request for the 4 a.m. liquor license for La Copacabana, a Mexican bar. He thinks it was discriminatory.
- LaVetta Ricca — She had a nice eulogy for one of her neighbors who recently passed away.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
That’s all. Goodnight everyone!
you build a hotel. Then you tell how many millions you have made, then you ask for tax dollars to help pay for refurbishment of said hotel. wouldn’t refurbishment be part of your cost of doing business. Your business caters to “strangers” to make your profit, then you complain that “strangers” are in your hotel and they are not taking care of it so you have to refurbish it. This is increasingly more stupid. Arguement is that each hotel uses the tax money that it puts into the fund. Why not take the bureaucracy out and let them open a savings account?
We couldn’t possibly ask a developer to add another 150ft. of sidewalk to fill in a gap in continuity. Why are we electing these bozos?
“Regionalism” is important. 68% of those employed in Peoria live outside of the city. Wow! Discussion question, readers: What does this statistic say about Peoria?
Where should we start…..
“Regionalism” is important. 68% of those employed in Peoria live outside of the city. Wow! Discussion question, readers: What does this statistic say about Peoria?
Karrie says “Where should we start . . .
Well, I will start by stating there is there is limited housing stock in Peoria of the type offered in surrounding communities such as Dunlap, Washington, Metamora, Brimfield, etc . . . that is newer affordable housing.
Many of the blogs want to attribute all Peoria’s woes to the condition of District 150 and though it may be a contributing factor it is not the end of the story.
How many of the people who work in Peoria but live outside the city were once residents of the city? This is a “which came first the chicken or the egg” argument. Maybe their leaving the city helped to create the problems. Most of the rental houses in Peoria were once occupied by their owners. In their rush to move on to bigger and better homes and locations, they sold their houses to landlords instead of to homeowners. District 150 is as much a victim as it is the culprit.
Frustrated says “Many of the blogs want to attribute all Peoria’s woes to the condition of District 150 and though it may be a contributing factor it is not the end of the story.”
If any of the 68% have children, I’ll go ahead and say the #1 reason is 150 followed closely by crime. And of the remaining 68%, I find it hard to believe that “newer affordable housing” is a reason.
The 2 big reasons families choose a place to live is crime and schools. Peoria fails on both counts.
And what builder would want to build an area of “newer affordable housing” in the city of Peoria? And then have a realtor try to sell 150? You can’t change the facts on crime in this city.
You have a good school system and low crime and the builders and people will come, which would explain the affordable housing and growth in Dunlap, Washington, Metamora, Brimfield. People didn’t move over there to gaze at the cornfields.
D150 is not the end of the story but it is the first 6 chapters of the 10 chapter book.
I live in Morton in a house built in the 1940s…I could have easily found that in Peoria, for probably less money, but I chose Morton for the schools. End of story…case closed. It was 100% the schools. I work in Peoria so imagine the gas/time I could save if I lived here…but it won’t happen as long as I have a school age child.
How about this – employers would rather hire white people who live outside the city rather than hire black people in the City who apply for the jobs. Look at all of the black folks without jobs… sure many of you will say it’s because they lack skills and/or don’t want to work. Not true – affirmative action does not play in Peoria and never has.
Those of you that work – how many black folks do you have in your office?
The people I have worked with who live outside the city – never lived in the city only wanted to come here for work. These people from outside the City are not all at Cat with the choice to live here or there; you can find secretaries in law firms who drive all the way from Galesburg and DeMack to work in the big City of Peoria.
“that is newer affordable housing” Huh? There is nothing affordable about that ‘newer’ housing. I think a lot of folks who do move out of Peoria are doing so precisely because of the schools, the crime, and for some race is a subtle factor too. Their move has little to do with affordability. Indeed I think they overburden themselves in their mortgages to move there. I see it when we visit folks living out there. Big house, green lawn, little to no furnishings inside, or the furnishing are noticeably downscale from what the house would cost.
Sidenote… our economic situation came about and continues on precisely because so many people have overburdened themselves with more house than they should responsibly have.
Mahkno:
When is the last time you have been house shopping in Peoria? I spent my summer doing it. I love the older neighborhoods in the north end of Peoria . . .Edgewild, High Point and the areas in and around Prospect. I also was looking in the Knolls. I promise you all those areas come with a hefty price tag and most need significant updating. I most certainly could purchase a house in a corn field in Dunlap for less or the same money and have an up-to-date house. Plus, there is very limited houses on the market in the neighborhoods I mentioned at any given time, so it makes it difficult for families moving into the area to choose Peoria if it is their preferred place to live.
Mazr:
I am afraid cannot agree with your assessment of the education District 150 provides. My child just started at Richwoods and it offers the most AP classes in the area. My child came home this week to report that she impressed with the professionalism of all her teachers and they seem eager and prepared to teach. She need mention today, that although many are ready to go, unfortunately the textbooks are not – – – it is these types of organizational issues, IMO, where the District comes up short.
Frustrated, you’re now talking about a different issue.
Maybe 150 does provide a good education. But many will not chance it.
My point was the main reason people go over the bridge or out of Peoria is 150 or crime. And I’m sure a survey of those who work in town and live out of town would reflect that. Affordable newer housing would probably not even be in the top 5. You are the 1st person I’ve heard give that as a reason for not living in Peoria.
A house in Edgewild or the Knolls will probably last a lot longer than a McMansion in the Dunlap cornfields, if you’re here for the duration.
My kids went to district 150 schools. Both excelled and both got an excellent education. They went on to college and both have degrees with one just a hop away from a Masters. Both make good money and have jobs. District 150 does work. The constant beating down on this district with the blogs and people who quarterback every decision they make gives the schools in Peoria a negative look. Sure, I sometimes wonder why the Board does what it does and I wonder about why they hire the people they do to run our schools. Overall, they get the job done. The problem with District 150 is their clients. Being a public school, they can’t pick and choose students like Peoria Christian or Notre Dame. Believe me, those schools will pick and choose.
Then I have to say I am flaber gassed by Emerge’s post. It’s right out of the 1960s. I think it’s bullshit too. How about this: Employer hired a black guy because he had too and over looked the most qualified person who by the way was white. How many years did that happen? Again, everyone else’s fault but the person in the mirror.
Emerge – what is average level of education of unemployed blacks in Central Illinois? Of whites? I would suggest that if all struggling with poverty had placed a priority on becoming “skilled” or “educated”, more opportunities for livable wage jobs would exist. It’s not so much about color as it is about intellectual capability and personal responsibility. Many don’t value “free education”. How do you change that?….
Emtronics and Emerge, the truth lies somewhere in between, but I don’t think things have changed enough. I have told this story before–I will tell it again. In 1955 I worked as a high school senior through the Coop program at Caterpillar in the Education and Training Department. I didn’t think I was racially aware at the time because I knew few to none black people. However, I asked the head of the Ed and Tr dept, if he would ever high a black college graduate to work a white collar job at Cat. He said, “only if he was more qualified than any white candidate.” It took quite a while after 1955 before that changed at Cat–not sure how much it changed. Change comes slowly and 1955 wasn’t that long ago–at least, it seems like yesterday to me. 🙂
I think we get the wrong idea of the job market and the number of blacks who work in Peoria because we see mostly black employees in schools, other social and government agencies, and jobs in the service industry(check out lines, some restaurants, etc.) Those government jobs so many of you complain about are the only shot many college educated blacks have a shot at. Right now with a job shortage, who do you all believe will get first shot at jobs in Peoria? Yes, affirmative action has helped a bit, but, I think most of that help has been in public sector jobs where the rules are followed more fairly. The private sector is not that open to black college-educated young people.
I can name so many black young people–college-educated–who had to leave Peoria to get jobs for which they are qualified. Many flocked to Atlanta. Sorry, Emtronics, the more I think about it, the more I think Emerge isn’t that far off. As far as education goes, I know I’m hard on many administrators, which happens to mean that I’m hard on black administrators because there are more in 150 than ever before. That said, remember leadership in education is a relatively new field for black people. They learned by watching and working under white administrators–enough said.
There are, I believe, a significant number of people who go to work every day in Peoria and never come in contact with a black co-worker.
Just askin–you just made a some broad assumptions about many people. Do you know any black middle class people in Peoria? Sounds like you don’t think they exist–well, they do.
I know many who do well and very well. The correlation to be drawn between employed or not is education/aptitude, not race.