Peoria City Council

A proposed Peoria sports complex has the backing of a major sports merchandise company. Louisville Slugger is partnering with Peoria group, Corp 24, to build the facility that will include 10 outdoor synthetic-turf baseball and softball fields and a 125-thousand square foot dome. The complex will be built near the Shoppes at Grand Prairie.

The City of Peoria will not exercise its option to buy Illinois American Water Company. The council voted eight to three against going ahead with the purchase. It’s an option that comes before the city every five years because of a purchase agreement between city leaders and Illinois American Water in 1889. Councilwoman Beth Akeson voted to pursue the buyout option.

  The Peoria City Council is re-considering it’s strategic direction. It’s a management method the city manager says it useful in helping set policy. 

The recent uptick in gun violence in Peoria has the attention of the City Council. It was a topic of conversation under new business during Tuesday night’s meeting. 

The Peoria area where the most gunshots are fired may soon get some special law enforcement technology. The Peoria City Council votes on the $405,000, 3-year contract during tonight’s meeting. 

  The Peoria City Council members have the next two weeks to meet with the 31 people who’ve applied to fill the remainder of Gary Sandberg’s at-large seat. 

Anyone interested in being part of the Peoria city council can apply at the Mayor’s office. Mayor Jim Ardis and the council are charged with filling the vacant at-large council seat held by Gary Sandberg. Sandberg died more than a week ago of heart disease likely compounded by the heat.

The Peoria City Council spent nearly three hours in executive session after last night’s regularly scheduled business meeting.

  The City of Peoria is revising the boundaries of its Central Business Tax Increment Financing District. That works to the benefit of other taxing bodies like Peoria School District 150. The School System will receive at least $500,000 more in tax revenue under the new boundaries. That’s property tax money that would have otherwise been captured in the TIF District fund for 35 years.

The City of Peoria is considering its options when it comes to a financial bailout for the Peoria Chiefs Stadium. The council is holding a special meeting next week to discuss options when it comes to public and private funding for the ballpark. Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis says the meeting is to figure out how to make the Peoria Chiefs financially viable long term:  

  The Peoria Police Department is getting a new assistant police chief. The goal is to free-up time for Chief Steve Settingsgaard to administer the Don’t Shoot Peoria program. That means the vacant Don’t Shoot Law Enforcement Coordinator position is being reallocated to fund the assistant chief position.