Peoria Pundit

UPDATES at the bottom of the post:

I’m at Peoria City Hall, waiting for the meeting to start. Spent some time chatting about the stimulus package with the folks who arrives early. Council Eric Turner says that 60 percent of Caterpillar’s sales are overseas. The company REALLY wants “buy American” provisions removed.

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Question: Will Peoria City Council member Gary Sandberg DEMAND that if President Obama stumps for his stimulus package in Peoria, the White House pay for police protection he received? I cannot think of anything more overtly political than this stimulus package.

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Clyde Gully is complaining about lack of funds to fix serious drainage issue in his district. My comment: “The problem is so bad , they can’t afford to fix it.” That got a chuckle.

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Proclamations are starting.

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The Peoria County Bar Association lady is kinda cute. It’s Sonny Williams, from the city’s legal department.

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Society of Women Engineers are here for a proclamation. She’s cute too.

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Item C and 09017 removed. from agenda. No word why.

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City Clerk is reading the consent agenda.

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For some reason, my aganda packet wasn’t there waiting for me when I got here. Having to resort to the Web. Horrors.

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Removed: K. Approved.

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K: 2009 FEB 10 Resolution Methodist Medical Center to Construct Maintain Covered Passageway over Hamilton

Sandberg is wondering how there can be no neighborhood concerns about construction of the overhead walkway. Sandberg says that he is aware of many. He also wants to know how the bridge preserves an older neighborhood? Public Works Director Dave Barber says that he was under the impression this was approved earlier and was within council wishes.

Sandberg is also questioning fees due to their use of public right away. He says there’s no increase in sees during his lifetime. He wants to know if this locks us in forever. City Attorney Randy Ray says there would be limits on how much they increase this fee.

Sandberg says city staff cannot find one incidence in which Methodist payed ANY fee ever, let alone 10 cents per foot. “I guess ZERO cents per square foot is what the standard is.” He says the lost of the vista down Hamilton is worth compensation to the city’s taxpayers. “We haven’t gotten a penny dueing the last 25 years.” He wants the city to determine what a fee ought to be and try to collect it.

Barbara Van Auken says that when developmental agreement was approved, a petition was turned in from neighborhood enthusiastically approving the development. “I’m not surprising that some people may not like this.” She says “the vast majority of the neighbors” surrounding this approve.

Motion to approve. Passed 9-1. Sandberg Nay.

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ITEM NO. 2 Communication from the Interim City Manager and Assistant Director of Planning and Growth Management Requesting Authorization for the CITY OF PEORIA to APPLY for $4 Million in NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM FUNDS from the STATE OF ILLINOIS.

Councilman Turner and Mayor Jim Ardis praise city staffers and Councilmember George Jacob for their work on this.m Mayor says that lack of foreclosures in this city allowed city to apply for these funds. Manning also thanksed Turner and Jacobs, called this a change to revitalize neighborhoods. He thanks Ross Black and Pat Landes. Two impact zones, around Glen Oak School and Harrison School are in these areas. They will assist families to become homeowners.

Motion passed.

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Unfinished business:

Communication from the Interim City Manager and Police Chief Regarding the REPORT BACK from the POLICE DEPARMENT Regarding the BENEFITS of the SEGWAY, with Recommendation to Receive and File. (New Communication)

Motion to receive and file. “We were proven right by this report.”

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Communication from the Interim City Manager and Corporation Counsel Requesting Approval of a RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING the HIGHEST PRIORITIES of the CITY OF PEORIA Pertaining to STIMULUS PACKAGE PROJECTS. (New Communication and New Resolution)

Gully is wondering how staff came up with this list. He was under impression we would discuss this. Wonders about sidewalks. What was criteria to assign these location.

Ardis says this is direct result out of last meeting’s discussion. Says we identified the Combined Sewer Overflow project AND a list of sidewalks, but doesn’t limit or exclude any sidewalk project.

Gulley says we have yet to determine the highest priorities yet. “When I look at this list, I see no first district projects on this list … I believe some locations that are not on this list that are in more need than the items that are on this list.

Council member Bill Spears: “When we talk to legislators for this money, we aren’t going to list specific sidewalks. This gives us a direction and a voice as one body … they are hearing what we want.”

Gulley: “If we are going to speak in one voice, we need to just speak of sidewalks. We needent do a list.” He doesn’t want to be accused later of agreeing to a list later when the money is doled out later. We need to speak to legislators in one voice about those projects in the greatest needs. Says he knows of streets that people cannot walk down without wearing boots after rain. Says it’s unfair for city to ticket residents for standing water on their property, when the city want fix the roads and streets to prevent the water from building up on PUBLIC property.  “That will be a better pitch.”

Sandberg; Problem is that projects have to be shovel ready. “These are drainage problems. Not as easy to build a sidewalk where there are problems with drainage that need to be addresses. You just can’t just pour congrete or you’ve diverted where the water gows.”

Sandberg: No stronger advocate for sidewalks in 20 years. Public sector has a responsibility. Should not replace a sidewalk where there is no curb. We should replace curbs on arterial streets where decades of overlays have essentially removed the curbs.He also got a better explanation for Clark and Darst project. Questions whether it is shovel ready.

Dave Barber says he attended a meeting about these projects. All money coming in through existing federal programs, to states for distributions. Will have to comply with federal standards. I’m much less optimistic about getting any money for these projects. 44 percent to Chicago area, 55 to downstate. We don’t stand to get more than $4 million. Now we are talking about projects that have already started through federal project. This includes Northmoor and Pioneer Parkway projects. Maybe Northmoor by 2010. Might be in better shape with new authorization in 2009. “Don’t get your hoopes up.” Land aquisition and engineering will probably have to be done. CSO project most likely, with Northmoor next most likely.

Sandberg asked again about Darst and Clark: Widen street, new section of pavement, use ditches rather than gutters. Sandberg wants city to consider what neighborhood needs, rather than just do it cause we get the money.

Van Auken: Thanked Sandberg and Gulley. But says it’s NOT just the southside than has drainage problems. Mentions area along Gale that abuts the 4th District, as well as her 2nd District.

Motion to approve: Passed 10-1.

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Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management Requesting Adoption of an ORDINANCE Granting a SPECIAL USE in a Class WM (West Main Form) District for a VARIANCE from the Street Wall Requirement Along DOUGLAS STREET for the Development of a MEDICAL/OFFICE/RETAIL DEVELOPMENT for Property Located at 725 and 741 W. MAIN STREET, 712-714-716-718 W. RUSSELL STREET, and 1012-1014-1016-1020-1022 N. DOUGLAS STREET, with Conditions.

Van Auken defered to Feb. 24 meeting. Montelongo abstains. 9-0.

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Communication from the Interim City Manager, Director of Public Works, and Police Chief Requesting Approval of a SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT for the CITY SECURITY SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE, with MIDCO, INC., for a Two-Year Period March 1, 2009, through February 28, 2011, in the Amount of $39,931.32 for the First Year and $39,000.00 for the Second Year, and Billing for this Contract Will Be on a Quarterly Basis.� (New Communication)

Billing for this on a quarterly basis.

Passed 10-1.

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Communication from the Supervisor of General Assistance and Town Treasurer Requesting Approval of a RESOLUTION Authorizing NAMED BANKS to ACT as DEPOSITORIES, ETC., of the Town of the City of Peoria, and Authorizing the Town of the City of Peoria to ACCEPT and RELEASE SECURITIES FOR SAFEKEEPING Held by a THIRD PARTY and Authorizing NAMED BANKS to HONOR CHECKS and DRAFTS.

This is town business.

Passed 10-0.

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New business.

Turner asked if council members are ready for digital transition.

Ardis says yes. Laughter.

Councilmember Bob Manning wants a report on problems with mics and with teleconferencing. Council member Jacob was unable to attend via teleconferencing because of technical issues.

Sandberg wants to know how many times sound system has been updated to a new and improved system during the past 25 years.

Ardis says that anyone who wants to address future town meeting just have a petition signed by 15 electors in order to be on agenda. This is NOT a city requirement. He seems apologetic. City Clerk says she has written legislators about how this affects the nature of “town meetings.”

Gulley: He wants a report back. Not sure what about. The press table is clueless.

Ah. “revisions to Chapter 17.”

Sandberg: Wants there to be an analysis about how we compare to other, regional communities.

End of new business.

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Communication from the Interim City Manager and Director of Economic Development Regarding a PRESENTATION from the ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Pertaining to 4TH QUARTER 2008 PERFORMANCE INITIATIVES Under the Scope of Work for the Contractual Agreement Between the City of Peoria, County of Peoria, and The Heartland Partnership.

Two week deferal. 9-0. Spain abstains.

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Citizens request to address the council.

Four have addressed.

He has a letter. Reading. Doesn’t give his name. Complaining about motorcycles. Says that no one is doing anything about it. Says that officers say that citations don’t get processes, says that officers tell him that motorcycles aren’t covered by noise oedinance. Randy Ray wrote a letter to him explaining the ordinance. “I’m not the only citizen who doesn;’t like the motorcycle noise.”

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Mr. Sierra: This fellow hear has spoken for me. I think he has a legitimate complaint. It is nerve wracking.” He commends publiv works department since they started removing tree limbs and branches. “They’ve done a superior job.” Says they deserve.

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Mr. Pettyjohn. He manages rental properties. He is upset at the lack of drainage and curbing. The problem Mr. Gulley mentioned is in the 2600 block of Humbolt Street. He spoke at Southern Gateway meeting. Elderly people have to walk through 4-6 inches of mun after a heavy rain. We have sidewalks sitting six inches lower than the street. Diaslysis patient has to be wheeled out. I have to go in and clean out the properties and get the mud out because of the lack of draining.Ask property owners maintain their property in a property manner. Why can’t the city maintain it’s property in a proper manner.

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Laura Folts (sp). Lives in Galesburg. I’m back to say goodbye to Bob Manning. I can understand why he isn’t going to run again. Good luck and enjoy your kids. She’s also selling firefighter calenders in Galesburg. She’s sold 4.  She says she’s fighting in Galesburg like she did in Peoria when she lived her. She misses Peoria and the council.

She’s a big fan of the council.

“Maybe when you are running again, I’ll come back with a fake name and vote for you.”

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No executive session. Woo Hoo.

Adjourned.

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