>>> WELCOME TO AT ISSUE, I'M H. WAYNE WILSON.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE CONVERSATION WILL BE ON ISSUES ABOUT PEORIA, ILLINOIS, CITY GOVERNMENT.

WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT CRIME, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT RAIL SERVICE, THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, ALL COMING UP WITH THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY, PATRICK URICH.

AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND THE MAYOR, RITA ALI.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> LET'S START WITH CRIME, RITA.

WE HAD 33 MURDERS IN 2021, DOWN TO 24 IN 2022.

SHOOTING INCIDENTS DOWN 8% ROUGHLY.

IS THIS THE START OF A GOOD TREND?

I KNOW THAT'S HARD TO PREDICT, ARE THERE PROGRAMS IN PLACE YOU THINK WILL CONTINUE THIS TREND?

>> I CERTAINLY THINK SO, H., I THINK WE'RE DOWN, VICTIMS WERE DOWN, SHOOTINGS ARE DOWN, IT'S A POSITIVE TREND AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S COINCIDENTAL.

I THINK IT'S BEEN BASED ON STRATEGIC TACTICS, SOME STRATEGIC PROGRAMS AND MEASURES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE.

THAT HAVE CAUSED THE REDUCTION.

AND MORE OF THOSE PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES ARE GOING TO I THINK HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON REDUCING HOMICIDES AND CRIME IN PEORIA PEORIA.

>> YOU HAVE SEVERAL THINGS IN PLACE THAT ARE RELATIVELY NEW, LICENSE PLATE READING, THE PROGRAM THAT THE CHIEF HAS PUT INTO PLACE.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU LOOK AT THAT GIVES YOU A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE COMMUNITY.

NO ONE WANTS CRIME IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE DON'T WANT OUR NEIGHBORS AND FAMILIES AND CHILDREN BEING SHOT AND KILLED, THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ENGAGED, I WOULD SAY LIKE NEVER BEFORE, AND THEY ARE TIP 411 TO REPORT CRIME INCIDENTS, VIOLENCE, SHOOTINGS, THEY ARE ENGAGING WITH THE POLICE AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO SAY, WE'RE TIRED OF THIS LEVEL OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THE SOLUTIONS.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE RACIAL EQUITY COMMITTEE.

THERE'S A TASK FORCE THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER, IT WAS FORMED IN THE FALL OF 2020, AND CAME OUT WITH A REPORT IN 2022.

IS THERE A NEXT STEP WITH THAT?

>> SURE, AS THE JOINT TASK FORCE OF RACIAL EQUITY, I DON'T TAKE CREDIT FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER, IT WAS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WORKED TOGETHER TO PUT TOGETHER THIS COMMISSION OVER 150 PEOPLE THAT WERE SELECTED TO SERVE ON THAT COMMISSION.

THERE ARE 8 FOCUS AREAS, THEY FOCUS ON AREAS WHERE THERE'S DISPARITIES BASED PONG RACE, SUCH AS THE JUSTISE SYSTEM, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, ADULT AND CHILD EDUCATION.

SO SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS, EIGHT DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE THERE'S DISPARITIES, HEALTH AND SO FORTH.

SO THERE'S BEEN PROGRESS, THERE'S BEEN WORK THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE OVER THIS PAST YEAR, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ANNUAL REPORT THAT COMES OUT IN FEBRUARY THAT WILL DOCUMENT THE PROGRESS THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE, AND THE STEPS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE MOVING FORWARD.

>> DO YOU HAVE A FEEL YET FOR WHAT AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE MIGHT SEE IN FEBRUARY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE COMMISSION TO MOVE FROM TALK ABOUT ROOT CAUSES AND REALLY EXAMINING THE DATA AND THE GAPS TO MOVING TOWARD SOLUTIONS AND LOOKING AT POLICY -- LOOKING AT PRACTICES.

THAT MAY NEED TO BE CHANGED IN SOME MANNER TO BE MORE EQUITABLE.

>> PATRICK, LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF PEORIA.

THE CITY HAS PUT QUITE A BIT OF MONEY INTO WESTERN AVENUE, McARTHUR, ET CETERA.

WHAT PROGRAMS DO YOU SEE AS HELPING THE SOUTH SIDE OF PEORIA?

>> I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE THAT SHOULD HELP AND WILL CONTINUE TO HELP THE SOUTH SIDE, WE HAVE CREATED TIFF DISTRICTS IN ORDER TO FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE HAVE PUT MONEY INTO INFRASTRUCTURE YOU MENTIONED, WESTERN AVENUE.

WE HAVE A BRAND NEW FIRE STATION AS WELL ON THE SOUTH SIDE THAT COVERS MOST OF THE SOUTH SIDE.

WE HAVE PROGRAMS FOR HOMEOWNERS AS WELL, AND FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS, IF THEY'RE LOOKING TO BUY A HOME IN THE SOUTH SIDE.

WE HAVE PROGRAMS SUCH AS A ROOF REPAIR PROGRAM WE CAN PUT IN PLACE, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TRIES TO MANAGE TO HELP TO GROW AND STRENGTHEN NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE'VE TRIED TO WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ACROSS THE CITY, IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO APPLY.

WE'VE WORKED WITH OUR NONPROFITS TO PROVIDE CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS FOR THEM, IF THEY HAVE SMALL NEEDS THEY CAN WORK ON.

WE'VE BEEN DOING A NUMBER OF THINGS, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED.

WE NOW HAVE TWO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.

ONE'S A SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ON McARTHUR AVENUE, AND THE OTHER IS A SCATTERED SITE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT NEAR SAINT ANNE'S CHURCH.

THE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE PROJECTS GOING-FORWARD, AND THE ZONING AND REZONING THE PROPERTIES MAY NEED.

AND THE SPECIAL USES THAT NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE.

$25 MILLION OF INVESTMENT THAT GOES TO THE ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

THEY'LL GO IN FOR THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS TO GO IN TO SUPPORT THAT PROGRAM.

WE COULD SEE OVER 100 UNITS OF BRAND NEW HOUSING COMING INTO THE SOUTH SIDE, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT UP TO THIS POINT IS PUBLIC MONEY, THE DOWNPAYMENT HOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM?

>> PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT, THE HOUSING IN THE SOUTH SIDE, 50% OF THE HOUSING HAS NOT BEEN MAINTAINED, FORTUNATELY THROUGH THE LAND BANK, AND OTHER GRANTS THAT WE HAVE WE'RE DEMOLISHING THOSE HOMES, VERY OLD HOMES THAT ARE NOT REHAB ITABLE.

WE'RE SEEING MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW HOUSING, AND SOME CASES, ENTIRE BLOCK WILL BE RAISED IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM AND SPACE FOR NEW HOUSING.

WITHOUT HOUSING, HOUSING IS KEY.

WITHOUT HOUSING, WE CAN'T ATTRACT THE POPULATION TO SUSTAIN THE GROCERY STORES, THE BUSINESSES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GROCERY STORE DESERT, FOOD DESERT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT GROCERY STORE, MAYOR.

IS THERE ANY PROGRESS IN ATTRACTING SOME SORT OF FOOD OFFERING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF PEORIA?

>> THERE'S BEEN SOME WORK WITH NOT JUST THE FARMERS MARKET STYLE AND THE GROW YOUR OWN TYPE OF OPPORTUNITIES, BUT THERE'S BEEN REALLY A STUDY TO TRY TO ATTRACT MORE GROCERY.

WE HAVE TO GET THE PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE HOUSING TO GET THE POP LACE, OTHERWISE A GROCERY STORE COMING IN THERE IS NOT LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IF WE DON'T HAVE THE HOUSING, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE POPULATION.

>> BECAUSE THE SOUTH SIDE OF PEORIA IS DOWN TO LESS THAN 15,000 PEOPLE NOW?

>> YES.

>> IT USED TO BE THREE TIMES THAT?

>> YES, WHEN I GREW UP THERE IT WAS ABOUT 33,000 PEOPLE.

>> WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SOUTH SIDE DEVELOPMENT, LET'S GO UP TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST SIDE.

THAT'S THE AREA WHERE YOU HAVE A NEW TIFF DISTRICT THAT THE COUNCIL IS IN THE PROCESS OF SAYING, LET'S MOVE TO OUR 11th TIFF DISTRICT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN.

>> SO THE AREA IN QUESTION IS THE AREA INSIDE OF ROUTE 6, IF YOU DRIVE PAST ON ROUTE 6, THERE'S LARGE CORN FIELDS WE HAVE WEST OF ALLEN ROAD.

IT'S AN AREA THAT BACK IN THE '90s, THE CITY PAID FOR THE SEWER CAPACITY IN THAT AREA.

NOTHING HAS DEVELOPED FROM AN INDUSTRIAL STANDPOINT THAT WOULD COMPLIMENT THE PIONEER INDUSTRIAL PARK.

THAT TIFF HAS BEEN DESIGNED NOR DEVELOPMENT, USING TIFF TO FIND THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS WE WOULD NEED.

EXTENDING TOWN LINE TO RADNOR, BUILDING ALL THE INTERIOR STREETS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED.

WITH THAT, THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT NEEDS TO GO INTO INFRASTRUCTURE.

WITH THAT, WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DUNLAP SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEY HAVE THEIR CAPITAL NEEDS.

THEY'RE ALMOST ENTIRELY FUNDED BY PROPERTY TAXES.

WE WORKED OUT A REVENUE SHARING AGREEMENT THAT WOULD CALL FOR -- IF THERE'S AN ANCHOR DEVELOPMENT, THEY WOULD GET 15% OF THE TAX INKRECREMENT THAT WO COME OFF OF THAT DEVELOPMENT, AND 22 1/2% OF EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> THIS IS CALLED MEDINAH PLAINS.

>> THE INTENT IS FOR THIS AREA TO BE INDUSTRIAL AND SOME COMMERCIAL.

THERE'S NO RESIDENTIAL PLANNED FOR THIS AREA.

WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO FOCUS ON INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES.

WE'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE COME TO US THROUGH THE GPEDC TO TRY TO COMPETE FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

WE DON'T HAVE THE SITES IN PEORIA TO GROW WITHOUT US FACILITATING THIS SPACE IN MEDINAH PLAINS TO TRY TO GROW.

IT'S THE AREA WE'VE ZONED AS OUR FUTURE INDUSTRIAL PARKS.

WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY REAL ABILITY TO SEE THAT GROW AND DEVELOP.

WE'RE HOPEFUL THIS WILL DEVELOP IT.

>> IN REFERENCE TO GREATER GDPC, IS THE LONG FORM OF THAT.

CAN WE TALK ABOUT STRATEGIC PLANNING, MAYOR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THERE'S A PLAN IN PLACE TO CREATE CITIZEN INPUT FOR A STRATEGIC PLAN.

THIS IS PRETTY BROAD SOUNDING, DOES THIS INCLUDE EVERYTHING?

IS EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE.

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WE'RE SEEKING.

THERE ARE SOME PLANS THAT ARE EXISTING, THAT ARE STRINGING TOGETHER.

THEY'RE EXISTING PLANS, THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT, THE RIVERFRONT.

PULLING TOGETHER THE EXISTING PLANS THAT WE HAVE, TAKING INVENTORY OF THAT, BUT ALSO ENGAGING THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY AND LOOKING AT OUR VISION.

LOOKING AT OUR MISSION, REVISITING THOSE, AND THEN ASKING, WHAT DO WE WANT TO LOOK LIKE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?

TEN, 20 YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES, THIS HELPS TO INFORM THE BUDGET PROCESS WHEN WE COME TOGETHER, BUT WE ENGAGE OUR RESIDENTS.

BEENGAGE OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, WE ENGAGE OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND OTHERS IN HELPING TO CREATE THE PLAN FOR PEORIA.

>> WILL THIS BE A SURVEY OR WILL THIS BE A BROAD COMMISSION LIKE THE RACIAL EQUITY COMMISSION.

>> IT'S MORE OF A SHORT TERM, BUT MORE INTENSE, I WOULD SAY, OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER.

BOTH VIRTUALLY AS WELL AS IN PERSON TO PROVIDE INPUT, TO HAVE IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS, TO TAKE THE DISCUSSIONS EVEN FROM THE BIG TABLE AND OTHER SOURCES INTO CONSIDERATION.

BUT HAVE A FACILITATOR TO HELP TO FACILITATE THAT PROCESS.

>> IS IT TOO EARLY TO SAY, I'M A CITIZEN AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO FOCUS ON X LONG TERM?

IS THERE SOME PLACE WE CAN GO NOW?

>> NOT YET, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

WE'RE PUTTING A REQUEST ON PROPOSAL FRIDAY.

WE'RE GETTING A FIRM OR CONSULTANT THE TO HELP US PLAN THE PROCESS.

SO WE WANT TO ACTUALLY LAUNCH IN JUNE AND HOPEFULLY TO WRAP THINGS UP BY SEPTEMBER BEFORE OUR BUDGET PROCESS BEGINS.

>> SPEAKING OF BUDGET, PATRICK.

THE CITY'S BUDGET IN ROUND NUMBERS HAS GONE FROM $200 MILLION GIVE OR TAKE, TO ABOUT 265, THAT'S A HUGE INCREASE.

>> IT HAS BEEN.

PART OF THAT IS ARPA MONEY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 2024 IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET?

>> I THINK WE'LL SEE OUR AGGREGATE SPENDING WILL GO DOWN.

BECAUSE OF COVID, WE RESTRICTED OUR CAPITAL SPENDING, AND THEN WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PLAY CATCH UP.

WE'VE BEEN -- THE MAYOR IS A BIG ADVOCATE FOR SPENDING OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY, AND WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDS THAT HAVE COME INTO THE CITY.

AND THOSE ARE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, THAT MONEY IS ONE TIME MONEY THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING.

SO I SEE THAT OUR BUDGET IS GOING TO GO DOWN PROBABLY IN 2024, 2025.

BACK PROBABLY IN THE 230, 240 MILLION DOLLAR RANGE.

WE'VE BEEN ALSO VERY FORTUNATE COMING OUT OF COVID, IN '21-'22 AND EVEN I THINK AS WE LOOK AT '23 THAT OUR REVENUES ARE COMING IN STRONGER THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

DEFINITELY IN '21 AND DEFINITELY IN '22, THAT'S GOING TO HELP US AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF OUR LONG TERM OBLIGATIONS LIKE LEGACY COSTS LIKE PENSIONS.

>> PENSIONS, LET'S TALK ABOUT PENSIONS.

IF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, FIRE AND POLICE HAD SEPARATE PENSIONS, THE CITY FUNDS THAT, THE CITY DOES NOT DESIGNATE THE BENEFITS, JUST FUNDS IT.

THE FIRE POLICE, THERE ARE 650 SOME REGULAR ONES.

THERE ARE NOW TWO POLICE AND FIRE STATEWIDE.

YOU'RE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR FUNDING THAT, THAT IS, YOU HAVE TO REACH WHAT THE ACTUARIALS SAY IS FUNDING BY 2040.

>> CURRENTLY WE'RE FUNDED AT ABOUT 55%, THAT MEANS WE HAVE 55% OF THE ASSETS AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THOSE FUTURE PENSION OBLIGATIONS, AS WE LOOK AT THIS, AS WE HAVE TO GROW FROM 55 TO 90 OVER THE NEXT 17 YEARS, IT'S GOING TO MEAN MORE RESOURCES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PUT ASIDE FOR PENSIONS, THAT MEANS ONE OF TWO THINGS.

IT MEANS THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO HAVE TO SUPPORT REVENUE INCREASES TO PAY FOR THAT, OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW WE TIGHTEN OUR BELT AND TAKE MONEY THAT WOULD BE DEDICATED FOR SPENDING AND SHIFT THAT INTO RECOVERING PENSIONS.

WITH THIS BUDGET INNING CREASE WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, THAT GROWTH AND PENSION COST FOR THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR YEARS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PAY FOR OUT OF THE UNANTICIPATED REVENUE WE'VE RECEIVED OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

>> YOU DID TAKE A FINANCIAL HIT IN THAT -- ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, THE CITY INITIATED, THE COUNCIL INITIATED A PROVISION, THE PENSION FEE THAT THE PUBLIC PAID BEYOND TAXES THAT WAS SUN SETTED.

HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT?

>> THAT WAS ABOUT $2 MILLION OF REVENUE THAT WE ANTICIPATED COMING IN TO COVER PENSION COSTS, SO WE HAVE FILLED THAT WITH OTHER RESOURCES FROM THE CITY.

AND THIS PAST YEAR, WE INCREASED OUR CONTRIBUTIONS BY ANOTHER 2 $1/2 MILLION, WE PUT 4 $1/2 MILLION OF OTHER REVENUE STREAMS INTO PENSIONS IN THE PAST YEAR.

AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO GROW OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

>> A QUICK SIDE QUESTION WITH REGARD TO THE CITY REASONABLY SHOULD HAVE A RAINY DAY FUND.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

IS IT THREE MONTHS OR SIX MONTHS?

>> IT'S THREE MONTHS.

WE LOOKED AT 25% OF OUR GENERAL FUND EXPENSES.

>> THAT WAS 25 MILLION OR SO?

>> CORRECT.

>> WHERE ARE WE?

>> WE'RE AT OVER 50%.

WE'RE CURRENTLY IN A VERY GOOD FISCAL POSITION.

>> OKAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT RAIL SERVICE, MAYOR.

THE CITY OF PEORIA, JOLIET, OTTAWA, MORRIS, ET CETERA, THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE RAIL SERVICE CHICAGO TO PEORIA, THAT'S A $2.5 BILLION UNDERTAKING WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE.

WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND HOW SOON MIGHT IT HAPPEN?

>> CERTAINLY THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING GIVES US HOPE.

THE LEADERSHIP WE'VE HAD IN PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN AND IDENTIFYING A CORRIDOR THAT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS GIVES ME HOPE.

THE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH AMTRAK, WITH THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, THE LEADERSHIP WE HAVE HERE LOCALLY WITH THE HELP WITH FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION RAY LAHOOD HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

WE'RE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF APPLYING FOR FUNDING TO BE SELECTED HOPEFULLY INTO THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION IDENTIFICATION CORRIDOR PROGRAM.

AND IT CREATES A PIPELINE OF PROJECTS THAT WILL BE SUPPORTED WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT, WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT, IN ORDER TO BUILD YOUR CORRIDOR OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

IT MAY TAKE 7 TO 10 YEARS FOR TRAIN SERVICE TO GO IN AND OUT OF PEORIA, TO AND FROM CHICAGO.

BUT WE HAVE TO START NOW IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, IT'S A TRAIN THAT I WANT TO RIDE.

>> YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY A ROUTE.

YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY A STATION?

>> WE'VE DONE THAT.

>> NOW YOU NEED SOME MONEY.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

>> SPEAKING OF MONEY.

CITY MANAGER, HUGE UNDERTAKING FOR THE CITY, PROBABLY 125 MILLION TOTAL FOR FIXING WHAT'S CALLED COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW.

WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS, YEAR ONE WAS AN AREA JUST SOUTH OF WOODRUFF ACADEMY.

HOW DID THAT TURN OUT?

DID THAT MEET EXPECTATIONS?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY MET EXPECTATIONS, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK WE WERE ABLE TO DO, REALLY AROUND LINCOLN SCHOOL AND WOODRUFF HIGH SCHOOL AND STREETS LIKE MARY AND CAROLINE, IF YOU'RE IN THE NORTH VALLEY, YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, IT'S FANTASTIC.

WE PUT IN PERMEABLE PAVEMENT AND PAVERS IN THE CURBLINE, SO AS THE STORM WATER HITS THE CURB, INTODAY OF IT CONVEYING THE WATER INTO A STORM SEWER DRAIN, THIS WATER ACTUALLY WILL SOAK INTO THE GROUND AND IT WILL INFILTRATE BACK INTO THE SOIL.

MOST OF THE AREA IN THE RIVER VALLEY, IN THE ILLINOIS RIVER VALLEY IN THE CITY OF PEORIA HAS VERY SANDY SOILS, WE'RE EXCITED WE'RE ABLE TO USE THAT FEATURE IN ORDER TO CAPTURE RAINWATER AND JUST RECYCLE IT.

I THINK THAT'S THE NICE THING.

YEAR TWO, THE COUNCIL JUST APPROVED US GOING-FORWARD WITH THE SECOND YEAR OF THIS, WE SHIFT NOW TO THE SOUTH SIDE, FROM McARTHUR TO WESTERN.

KIND OF PARALLELING ON OUR SIDE STREETS, THE LINCOLN AND HOWARD CORRIDOR IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

WE'RE EXCITED THAT THIS NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE ABOUT $7.8 MILLION WORTH OF WORK WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE SOUTH SIDE AS WELL.

>> WILL THAT LOOK SIMILAR TO WHAT THE NORTH VALLEY -- >> IT SHOULD LOOK SIMILAR.

WE'LL HAVE MEETINGS WHERE WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE DESIGN WITH THE COMMUNITIES SO WE CAN GET THEIR FEEDBACK.

WE DID THAT IN THE NORTH VALLEY, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, THAT'S ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE TOLD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WE WOULD DO, IS ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL.

>> LET'S TURN TO THE CIVIC CENTER.

THE CIVIC CENTER NEEDS A NEW ROOF, IT'S 41 YEARS OLD, I BELIEVE.

AND BECAUSE THE CITY IS A PRIMARY FUNDER OF THE PEORIA CIVIC CENTER, AT LEAST IN CAPITAL PROJECTS, WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS FOR GETTING THAT ACCOMPLISHED.

>> WELL, THE CIVIC CENTER GOT A STATE GRANT OF $25 MILLION FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS, AND THEY ARE SPENDING THAT, IN FACT THE CITY IS PROVIDING SOME CASHFLOW ASSISTANCE WITH THAT, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE HELPFUL, IT'S A BIG FACILITY, IT'S A VERY NEEDY FACILITY, IN TERMS OF THE COST OF A ROOF FOR THE CIVIC CENTER, AND THERE'S OTHER REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED.

THERE'S A LONG LIST.

THE CITY HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE CIVIC CENTER.

>> HAS THE CITY HAD ANY INPUT INTO THE ICE PLANT THAT THE PEORIA RIVER, THEY NEED ICE TO SKATE, BECAUSE THERE'S MONEY ALLOTTED FOR THE SCOREBOARD, THE NEW SOUND SYSTEM, LOCKER ROOMS, NEW SEATING IN THE LOWER BOWL.

WHAT ABOUT THE ICE PLANT THAT IS ORIGINAL TO THE BUILDING.

>> WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE ICE PLANT FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL, IT'S BEEN AN ON GOING CONCERN BECAUSE IT'S EXTREMELY COSTLY TO MAINTAIN.

THERE'S A NEED TO REPLACE THE ICE NOW.

IT'S MULTIMILLION DOLLARS IN COST.

THE CIVIC CENTER AUTHORITY HAS HAD DISCUSSIONS IN TERMS OF ATTENDANCE AT GAMES, BEEN REDUCED OVER TIME.

WHETHER THE SIZE OF THE FACILITY, ARENA THAT'S BEING USED IS NOW APPROPRIATE FOR LONG TERM, MAYBE IT'S A SHORT TERM SOLUTION AND SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES SHOULD BE EXPLORED LONG TERM.

>> IF THOSE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ARE MOVING THE RIVER MAN TO A FACILITY DOWNTOWN, DOES THAT REMOVE THE CONCEPT OF WE BRING PEOPLE TO WHAT WE WANT TO BE A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN AREA?

>> I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY GOING TO DEPEND.

IT'S GOING TO DEPENDS ON WHERE THAT LOCATION IS, AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR PEORIA, AND WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE OTHER SPORTING ACTIVITIES ALL OVER THE CITY, IF YOU LOOK, WE HAVE THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER SPORTS COMPLEX WHICH DRAWS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE A YEAR TO PEORIA.

WE HAVE THE PARK DISTRICT FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT ARE ALL, AND BEYOND THE CITY'S BORDERS THAT PROVIDE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

MAYBE THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF YET, THAT WE COULD BUILD UPON.

>> THE MOST RECENT COUNCIL MEETING ASKED FOR THE PEORIA RIVER MEN ISSUE TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AS AN AGENDA ITEM.

ANY INSIGHT INTO WHAT FORM THAT MIGHT TAKE?

>> THAT DISCUSSION IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN SIDE DISCUSSIONS, ONE ON ONE, TWO TO TWO.

BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD AS A COUNCIL, THAT DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING REPLACING THE ICE OR HOW WE HANDLE THE WHOLE SITUATION WITH THE RIVER MEN ISSUE.

WE'VE HAD SOME SIDE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PEORIA CIVIC CENTER AUTHORITY.

I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE CIVIC CENTER AUTHORITY AND THE RIVER MEN TAKE PLACE, I THINK THERE'S SOME TENSIONS THERE.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT PLANNING SHORT TERM AS WELL AS LONG TERM.

>> AND WITH THAT, WE HAVE RUN OUT OF OUR HALF HOUR OF TIME FOR DISCUSSION, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO PATRICK URICH, CITY MANAGER.

AND THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR, RITA ALI.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE BACK NEXT TIME WITH ANOTHER AT ISSUE, THIS IS ACTUALLY A CITY ISSUE COMING UP.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT COMPLETE STREETS.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLES AND VEHICLES ALL SHARE A STREET ON THE NEXT AT ISSUE.