8 thoughts on “Policy session scheduled for Oct. 2”

  1. Is this only for special lighting in the Orchard District.
    Just the 2nd district? Will this be for all of peoria? Is this meeting just the council? or who? Will the meeting get neighborhood input?

  2. It is only for the Orchard and it sucks IMO. This money should be used for something other than this that is more important, not to add another notch to someone’s lipstick case.

  3. No, it’s not just for the Orchard District. It came up because that’s where Van Auken wanted to use the funds, but the council voted instead to divide the question — i.e., to first deal with the policy issue before applying it to a specific project. After the policy is settled, the Orchard District will likely have to vie for the funds in competition with other parts/districts of the city. The meeting on Oct. 2 will be a public meeting to the best of my knowledge; I believe it’s going to take place at the normal council meeting time and place.

  4. What is the amount of CDGB funds available? Is this a fund that must be used within a certain time frame or it is lost forever?
    After the rebuild of the Arbors, I don’t see the 2nd District being in line for more pork projects.
    Mitch

  6. Richard: According to the council communication from a couple weeks ago:

    Reprogramming of unallocated CDBG fund balances: 94CDOO $40,000; 04CD99 $105,884; 04CDOO $23,689; 05CDOO $60,427. This is not a budget amendment.

    On an annual basis, the Council allocated approximately $1.9 million of CDBG funds for various activities.

    The 2007 budqet allocated $722,000 (36%) for Housing &Neighborhood Programs and staff; $463,000 (23%) for Code Enforcement; $296,000 (15%) for Public Service Programs; $233,000 for Planning & Administrative expenses; $145,000 (7%) for Indirect Costs; and $116,000 (6%) for Public Infrastructure Programs. At the discretion of the Council, and with the exception of Public Service and Administrative expenses, CDBG funds can be allocated in different percentages based upon the needs in the community.

    It doesn’t appear to me that there’s a time limit since some unallocated funds appear to date back to 1994.

  7. CJ,
    $50,000 was recently taken away from the Orchard District, put into the general sidewalk funding program and then $50,000 of those funds (tax dollars–called corporate funds). This was reported during the council meeting that these funds were going to expire. I thought these were block grant funds as well.

    The question about the policy and the funding for the Orchard lighting was asked to be split by a number of neighborhoods. The prospect of being able to utilize CDBG funding in a slightly different manner that we have been can benefit all sections of the city where those funds are eligible to be utilized. Basically south of McClure to River and south end. This is going to be a topic of discussion at the Sept Alliance meeting. The reason this topic is before a policy session is to set up guidelines for these funds. I, personally, believe that it makes sense to rehab a section of town or a neighborhood in its entirety, meaning, do the sidewalks, curbs, lighting (not necessarily ornamental) bury the utilities, add trees and even garbage cans, then move on to another area. The current system is a hodgepoge of repairs where a sidewalk will get done here and a street light there. It is not effective. It does not spur investment in these sections of town. etc. A good policy needs to set to prevent abuse by any future staff, elected or otherwise.

    At a recent Alliance Meeting, Mike Sims asked neighborhood leaders what types of projects we would like to see these funds utilized. We developed a pretty comprehensive list.

    Once a policy is in place, then comes the Orchard District proposal and others. Does it meet the cirtiria for full CDBG funding? Each Neighborhood could submit its own proposal. It has possiblities to help transform some areas and also has possibilities for political abuse, hence the need for a policy session.

    What we really need to advocating is a bigger piece of the city’s Capital Budget. It is much more substantial than the $605,000 of current unallocated CDBG funds an the potential nearly 2 million in future year funds. 1/2 of entire city’s capital budget is spent in only one area of town. We need to be better stewards of what we have before building more. When I brought up that citzen input needs to be part of the captial budget allocation process at at comprehensive planning session, an unnamed office scoffed at the idea saying “that’s why you have elections”. This is the real battle as there does not seem to be any changes in these trends in the name of “economic development”. Pick the correct battles and arm yourselves accordingly.

  8. Perhaps, the City should invest in getting their Lead-based Paint “House in order”.

    This would be for the good of everyone in the city, both furure potential victim and perp, alike.

    We’re # 1, you know. GO PEORIA.

    Westside Environmental Plan of Action Committee, Inc.

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