The City has set its “top” and “high” strategic priorities at its latest planning session, reports the Journal Star:
Of 27 possibilities, the council labeled only six policy priorities as “top” priorities for 2011-12. Those included focusing on code enforcement performance and direction, developing a school strategy and action plan, focusing on short-term shared services with Peoria County, prioritizing city services, framing the city’s economic development strategy, and the redevelopment of the Hotel Pere Marquette into the $102 million Marriott Hotel project.
What do you think, Peoria? Are these your top priorities?
I agree with the focus on code enforcement, shared services with Peoria County, and prioritizing city services. I don’t know what “framing” our economic development strategy entails, but if it’s a discussion about what we will and won’t do to attract business, I think it would be a worthy discussion.
I question the value of spending city resources to develop a “school strategy and action plan.” We have separate public bodies that administer the public schools in this area. It seems redundant to me that the City would now be spending its time discussing schools, too. What’s next? Will area school districts start spending their time on a city strategy and action plan?
And then there’s the Wonderful Development. Despite the developer’s inability to meet any deadlines in either of the redevelopment agreements he’s inked with the City, and despite the fact that he’s having trouble paying his bills across the river, the City Council is apparently still just itching to give him $37 million of taxpayer money. Regardless of who is developing it, this is not a top priority in this city right now. The redevelopment of the Pere Marquette should be done by the private sector, just like the former Holiday Inn City Centre was recently transformed into a Four Points by Sheraton without any City assistance. The City has no business getting into the hotel business; they should let it go and focus on improving their core services instead.
The council also prioritized a management agenda for the coming year. Of the 14 items, the council selected “top” priorities for engaging the community on appropriate behavior, developing a neighborhood crime reduction strategy, containing health care costs, a community investment plan for capital and equipment, study fees, and reorganize the city.
That’s all well and good, but the real test of whether it’s a “top” priority will come at budget time. Will these priorities really be reflected in the budget? Or will the increased debt service created by non-essential items like the Wonderful Development crowd out the community’s top needs?
Developing a strategy for a four-year state university leaped to a “high priority” status for the City Council to address…. [City Manager Patrick Urich] said in the next six months, the council will have discussions with state lawmakers and other state officials about whether there is an opportunity for Peoria to land a four-year public school…. Other “high priority” polices included directing an early retirement program for city employees, updating financial policies, providing more assistance for businesses, developing a strategy for landlord and tenant accountability, and advocating for a rail link between Peoria and Normal.
I’m befuddled by this attempt to attract a new four-year public university. Where did this idea come from? How long has the council been talking about it? How did this rise to the top of the list?
I like the idea of working on a strategy for landlord and tenant accountability; hopefully something positive will come from that. Updating financial policies is certainly a good idea, assuming they strengthen fiscally-conservative policies.
I think we currently provide more than enough “assistance for businesses.” We regularly waive our zoning regulations to the detriment of surrounding homeowners. We use the Enterprise Zone to benefit businesses all over the city instead of the depressed areas it was intended to help. We loan taxpayer money to businesses that doesn’t always get repaid, and we give away no small amount of tax money as a direct subsidy/grant (e.g., $37 million for the Wonderful Development). We can’t afford the “assistance for businesses” we’re providing now; how can we afford to do more? Oh, that’s right, we’ll cut police, fire, road maintenance, and other basic services.
And finally, they’re now advocating for a rail link with Normal. I applaud the priority to reestablish rail service to Peoria, but the rail link needs to be with Chicago, not Normal. Nobody wants to take a train to Normal. Such a link would not attract enough ridership to be feasible. I’ve written on this topic at length before; you can read more here and here.
Peoria is the only major metropolitan area without an upper-division public university. I have no issue with exploring what it would take to either create something or to expand the current U of I presence in Peoria. Rail should also be brought to Peoria, as part of a new Chicago to St. Louis line.
As far as helping business goes, I’d like to see the City implement processes that would make obtaining the required licenses and such a more efficient process for prospective business owners. I think this would be a lot better than abusing zoning and misusing Enterprise Zones, not to mention cheaper.
The Marriott project needs to go away. The longer Council supporters continue to make excuses for Matthews’s inability to start the project, the worse they look. This is not a popular project with the Peoria public. The Pere should be renovated with private funds. If Mayor Ardis wants a positive legacy, he can start today by helping to scrap non-essential projects like this and pushing for a renewal of the City’s commitment to basic services.
What are the enrollment rates at Illinois’ OTHER four year universities? If they are not turning away prospective enrollees, than it follows that there is NOT room for another four-year university in Illinois. Case closed. It does not matter one fig what Peoria’s movers and shakers want or do not want.
It is my understanding that Bradley is struggling to maintain enrollment levels. Having a ‘new’ four year university of quality in Peoria would in no way help that. While state and private universities can co-exist, even in close proximity, I don’t think Bradley sees it’s future being akin to that of Wesleyan in Bloomington-Normal.
I would welcome a more Wesleyan like vision tho; small, fixed size, modest athletics, quality over quantity and flashy sports programs. Wesleyan is highly rated for a small liberal arts school.
Better idea would be to attract a law school. that way, people could go at night, during the day and it’s something that isn’t in this part of the state.
I found it interesting that the J Star quoted John Erwin as saying ICC isn’t even considering becoming a 4 year institution… Wonder why?
This is funny considering I have always heard otherwise (or at least that ICC has been considering this move).
I also do not believe that Bradley (or any of the local schools) are “struggling” to maintain enrollment levels. If anything, enrollment levels have been up. Of course every institution of ‘higher’ education’ has been whining about meeting sky-rocketing costs, etc. When has this ever NOT been the case?
Of course it is impossible to vote one way or another on this issue until the details have been worked out: exact location of the campus, affiliation with another Illinois university (if any), what will Peoria’s stake be in all of this, will the salary of the basketball coach of the new school be in line with what Ford makes at BU (HA!), will there be a Starbucks on the new campus…?
Will the faculty and admin of the new school become political pawns of the current crop of Peoria elite…you know, like every employee at BU and/or ICC supporting that ridiculous museum….?
People: NO ONE is going to build a new four-year university in Peoria. Get over it.
We have the new East Villge TIF. Where does that fit in? Or not?
The rail link to Normal does lead to Chicago…just through Normal. It is likely much less expensive to build the link in that direction to meet the current track leading from Normal to Chicago than to cut across a bunch of empty farmland to meet the track further north.
CD wrote: The rail link to Normal does lead to Chicago…just through Normal.
Fine, as long as patrons are not required to change trains enroute. I would have no problem with that.
It is likely much less expensive to build the link in that direction to meet the current track leading from Normal to Chicago than to cut across a bunch of empty farmland to meet the track further north.
No need for new rail line construction – existing rail lines can be used.
Let’s understand the big picture. Peoria-Chicago is already a short haul run – making patrons change trains enroute (at Normal) is a sure way to ensure failure. What if Peoria Charter Coach made passengers going to Midway or O’Hare switch buses at Normal? How many would choose to drive instead?
If rail passenger service is to return to Peoria, it needs to be done right, or not all. And that is the point CJ and I have been trying to make ever since this half-baked proposal came to light.
The landlord/tenant issue should be #1 on the list. With what is probably an outdated list on the city website of some 7,500 homes, there is a huge need to get this situation in check. While there is now a landlord registration that is in place, I suggest the fee be increased and other measures i.e. liens be enforced. You can only blame the residents for so much of the problem, at the end of the day the landlord owns the home. In most cases more than one non-owner occupied property.
A 4 year state university the likes of a U of I extension program would not attract anyone that isn’t already around. Concentrate on making ICC a top tier place for continuing education. Bradley will be Bradley. And move on.
Train service needs to come back to the area. If the leaders want to compete with neighboring towns it is necessary.
The Pere development should immediately be dropped. Those funds could be used in any number of ways. Most importantly is infrastructure. The city needs to step back from being a bank and loaning/granting to businesses and worry more about simple services which in turn will bring in more private investment.
Although the Heart of Peoria Plan was never fully adopted or implemented it is still relevant. Why it is still relevant is because Peoria’s leaders wasted many opportunities years ago. The city is paralyzed by progress and change.
Roguemonkey ….. Amen!
There are many factors in the landlord tenant problems. There are many bad landlords who don’t maintain their properties but the major problem is IL law on eviction. If a bad tenant is in the property it can take months to get the property back. Legal fees, lost rent, damages it all adds up very quickly. If someone doesn’t pay utility bills the services get cut off but if someone doesn’t pay rent they can get away with it for months leaving the landlord with a worthless judgement that most likely never get paid.
If you want landlords to take control of their properties then eviction law most be reformed first.
Secondly, the tenant needs fined for code violations like, grass cutting, garbage cans not being used and trash. Not the landlord. There is no reason why I should get a $50 fine for the tenants not useing trash cans. I use my trash cans at my house.
Echoing Karrie, Roguemonkey. Good statement, and makes perfect sense. Which means the current City Council would reject it on the spot.
I agree with Conrad; not so much financial assistance, even though it would be nice for local small business owners, but the process to get all of your permits, licenses, etc. in this city is a nightmare. The whole maddening process to get a liquor license from the city/state/health department is enough to make you want to drink your first order. They tried the One Stop Shop thing which was a joke (my personal experience, anyway).
Hard core code enforcement. And it applies to the city, too: some weed/grass maintenance under their care is pretty shabby.
I’m worried what they will include in prioritizing city services. If it doesn’t start with a fully staffed police force, it is wrong. And those who live on Kansas and Arcadia between Wisconsin and Prospect have their roads fixed so driving on them doesn’t resemble a ride at Six Flags.
Mr. Matthews has had enough time to get financing. If the banks, etc. won’t give him money, it should be a big flashing red light to our councilpeople and they need to pull the plug. Instead, I’m sure Chief Settingsgaard would love to have that type of money in his budget.
SHOULD BE FIRED ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CRIME IN PEORIA HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE HE GOT HERE. WHAT HAS HE DONE ABOUT ANYTHING? I’M SURE HE IS A NICE GUY BUT HE IS A FAILURE AT THIS JOB.
@The Police Chief – yes, crime has been on the rise. However, part of the problem, at least in my opinion, is that often the victims and witnesses won’t come forth and “snitch” on the criminals. The police cannot be held responsible for that. I have personally witnessed the witness’ scattering like bugs as soon as the cops show up and start asking questions.
I brought this up more than a decade ago, when there was still a lot of grass growing on the NW side of downtown, SE of Bradley University, that either a state university or the dramatic expansion of Bradley University was what was needed to maintain the retail base in downtown Peoria and raise the property values in the surrounding zipcode 61602-61606.
I’ve lived in three similarly sized communities where a state university was sitting on top of a downtown: U of Ohio in Athens Ohio, U of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana and U of M in Ann Arbor.
Off of the top of my head……the local economic impact per university student is between $50k-75k per year. CJ? David Jordan? Dr. Scott (BU Econ Dept)?
A modest public university with a student base of 5000 would mean at least quarter of a billion dollars annually to the local economy. There is nothing else out there that would offer the same opportunity, where you are going to use state and federal dollars to re-develop a targeted area and substantially raise the real estate tax base.
On an even more micro-economic level – I am not surprised that Ardis is behind this in that no-one would understand better than the former manager of the Lucky Lady, a student body’s impact on a local business.
If a law school is to be added in the area, I think the best fit would be to work with BU to add that to their curriculum offerings as its name and recognition is well-recognized in the Chicago area and beyond and would be able to draw top students to the area.
If there was truly a huge financial benefit to come to this city from renovating the Pere Marquette then the private sector would be climbing all over each other to get the project. But no one has stepped up with a better idea, and improvement to the idea, or cash money to do it on their own. They all want the city to fund the basic plan and then they will go in and do the deal for more money than our budget will have for the next five years. Its NOT a profitable idea and private investors know that so they are staying far away from it. Take a sign from them that this is a choke hold on the city for a long long time. Same as the museum is going to be and any of the other ridiculous projects that have been brought up in the past five years asking for city monies. Wake up people we can’t afford to be or look like, or act like another city. You can’t drive a Cadillac on a Volkswagen budget.
David P. Jordan wrote:
Let’s understand the big picture. Peoria-Chicago is already a short haul run – making patrons change trains enroute (at Normal) is a sure way to ensure failure. What if Peoria Charter Coach made passengers going to Midway or O’Hare switch buses at Normal? How many would choose to drive instead?
Depending on which airport you are going to, you will have a bus change on Peoria Charter Coach. Usually at Joliet, but sometimes at Pontiac. I have ridden Peoria Charter for trips to the Chicago airports, and never realized what a huge inconvience it was for me to have to change busses. Guess I better start driving.