Peoria City Council

The Peoria City Council got its first look Tuesday at proposed changes in road standards for new subdivisions.

At-Large Peoria City Councilman Sid Ruckriegel announced Thursday he is running to retain the seat he was appointed to last November.

Peoria City Council looked at several ways to make neighborhoods more cohesive Tuesday night. 

One recommended change in land development codes would put properties into "unified" zones.

Under typical zoning, residential, office and commercial properties are in separate zones. But Community Development Director Ross Black says a new unified development code would give the city more flexibility.

  Peoria City residents will pay more starting in May for their sewer bills. The Peoria City Council voted nine to two approving the fee increases for this year and next.

The additional revenue is needed to cover regular maintenance on city owned sewer lines. It will also pay for a one-point-three million dollar contract for  AMEC Environment and Infrastructure.

The City of Peoria is reviewing the widespread, lengthy power outagethat followed the December 28th storm.

The Peoria City Manager says his office met with Ameren officials to talk about the storm power outage response. Patrick Urich says it was a productive meeting. “I think we came away from it with a better understanding for the need to keep the lines of communication open, from not only from the upper levels of the organization but also from down as low as we could possibly get it.”  

The Peoria City Council is set to appoint a new member next week. The Council will vote to appoint Sid Paul Ruckriegel to the At-Large seat vacated by Chuck Weaver.  Ruckriegel would join the council before it votes on next year’s budget.  To that end, he says one priority is to incorporate thoughts from residents into the spending plan:

The Peoria City Council deferred voting on the 2016 budget to a meeting early next month.  The main issue is road funding:

The Peoria City Council will vote on property and motor fuel tax hikes Thursday night, among other increases.  It's part of a plan to put more than $5 million in new revenue for roads:

The City of Peoria's first proposed budget includes tax hikes, some layoffs and fee increases.  The goal is to fill a $6 million spending gap:

Long term goals include increasing the number of minority fire and police department employees to 40-percent in the next decade.  To that end, recommendations include using a pass-fail exam for police applicants, step-up recruiting efforts within the city and create fire and police ‘cadet’ programs.  Group co-chair, Dr. Rita Ali, says other goals include more frequent testing to give candidates a better shot landing in a police or fire hiring pool, and get District 150 more involved to explore the departments:

So far six people have applied to fill a Peoria City Council seat vacated by Chuck Weaver. 

The Peoria City Council will soon have a vacancy.  At-Large Councilman Chuck Weaver will leave the post to fill a vacant term in the state senate.  City Attorney Don Leist says the council will have 60 days from Weaver’s resignation to pick a new councilmember.  He says the Council will likely issue a general notice and accept applications from those who are interested in the seat.  Whoever fills the seat will serve until the election in the Spring of 2017, according to state municipal code.  

Uber can now operate in the City of Peoria.  The measure was approved by the City Council, and follows months of deferrals:

  Renovations are on time and on budget for the Peoria City Council Chamber to be finished by January. 

Those interested in having video gaming machines in Peoria will likely have to prove their establishments first. The Peoria City Council is considering a proposal requiring newly-licensed taverns or beer and wine-only establishments have minimum monthly food, and beverage sales of $1,500 for a year before adding video gaming machines.

Peoria’s Washington Street and Warehouse District projects are nearing completion. Washington Street is still on schedule to be fully complete by Halloween, and is already open to traffic.

The City of Peoria is considering how to handle video gambling cafes. The council's policy session on the subject came about three hours into last night's meeting.

  The Peoria City Council Tuesday night tabled the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex and its economic development components. The Sports Complex, Hotel and special service areas proposed for the northern part of the city have repeatedly been deferred. 

The City of Peoria is hiring a public relations specialist. The city eliminated the position more than two years ago trying to balance an operational budget deficit.

The Montessori Children’s House of Peoria passed its first hurdle to purchasing the historic Washington School property. The Moss Bradley Neighborhood Association unanimously approved of the Pre-K to sixth grade academy becoming part of its neighborhood.

This Peoria City Council has become accustomed to deferring several agenda topics in each meeting. This can be frustrating to the people affected by the decisions and to Council members working on the proposals.

The Peoria Housing Authority is asking for the City’s help in finding suitable property for replacing the Taft Homes.