Chairman Andrew Rand apologized for not beginning the Oct 10 meeting promptly at 6 p.m. due to waiting for State  Representative  Gordon-Booth, who wished to attend the opening agenda item. The first agenda item was the appointment of Brandy Bryant as the new Board District 5 representative.  Rachel Parker previously held this position and resigned to accept appointment as County Clerk. Board member Steven Rieker announced he would abstain on the vote as he did not have information about the appointment prior to the meeting. Several board members spoke in support of Ms. Bryant. The appointment was approved with a vote of 15 yes, zero no and 1 abstain. The public seating areas of the board room were filled at the opening of the meeting. Much of the audience left after the appointment.

Mike Rucker, Chairman, Friends of the Rock Island Trail, spoke during citizen comments. He expressed concern about the village of Bellevue board being opposed to the potential rails-to-trails project from Bellevue to Farmington. Mr. Rucker said he thinks the project would be an asset to Peoria County off-road bicycle routes and for area recreation and tourism. District 1 Board Member Sharon Williams, whose   area includes the Bellevue section of the proposed trail, commented that she was in support of the project and is looking into the issue.
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The meeting Consent Agenda followed and contained eleven items which were approved. One zoning approval and a resolution for a bid approval followed and both were voted yes. The meeting was adjourned approximately 6:50 p.m.         Joyce Blumenshine, Observer

Current Park Board Meeting
Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Michael Williams as the Southern District Trustee.
New Park Board Meeting
Southern District Trustee Williams was seated.
Trustees voted to receive and file reports on the PPD 4-Pronged Commitment to Diversity Action Items as follows:

1. Community Workforce Development- Matt Freeman, Supt. Parks Division/Carl Cannon, Elite  
2. Peoria Park District Contractors and Suppliers- Rebecca Frederickson, Supt. Planning, Design, and Construction Division
3. Peoria Park District Workforce Development- Shaleese Pie, Supt. Human Resources
4. Access to Peoria Park District Facilities, Parks, and Programs- Brent Wheeler, Deputy Director

Power Purchase Agreements for Solar for four PPD facilities were deferred to the next scheduled meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 6:08 PM by Chairman Robert Johnson and adjourned at 7:03. All trustees were present except Trustee Cassidy. The next scheduled PPD Board meeting is 10-23-19.
Farrell Davies, Observer

​  The Peoria County Election Commission approved the spending of moneys received through various grants. 
  Approved was the schedule for early voting for the March 17, 2020, general primary.  Early voting will begin forty days before the election at the Commission office and two weeks before the election at other locations.  ICC North will not be a voting location because of its proximity to the Commission office.  The schedule and locations should be on the website now.
  Tom Bride, executive director, is looking for a Ballot Packet Scanning & Sorting System to computerize verifications for vote by mail.  The request for bids has resulted in three companies asking for information.  Hopefully, more information will be available at the November meeting, with a vote in December.
  Quorum included: Matt Bartolo, James Manning, and Sandra Burke. A representative of the State's Attorney's office was present.  
 Irene Pritzker, Observer

​Oct 8 meeting (Jensen absent most of meeting) had several interesting discussions:

• First reading on code item “air rights” which was explained to be more about property lines than air rights- allowing agreements for buildings which are close to purchase “air rights” from neighboring building.
• First reading on an amendment of the adult use cannabis ordinance regarding “infused”  products. Those may be edibles such as cupcakes, gummies, etc. Clarification was that the state licensed dispensaries are the only locations that can sell those infused products.
• First reading review of Ordinance creating Article 19 (Operation of a Cannabis Business) of Chapter 18 Licenses and Miscellaneous Business Regulations of the Code of the City. Discussion included: being licensed similarly to places that sell tobacco or that sell liquor, distanced to schools and daycares changing to 1000 feet instead of 500 feet, licensing and fee and fine schedule, on-site consumption, etc.
• Deleting section 20-112 of Chapter 20 of the City Code pertaining to adult possession of cannabis.

​Cheryl Budzinski, Observer

PEORIA HOUSING AUTHORITY (PHA) FIVE YEAR CAPTAL FUND PROGRAM                                                                  2020 AGENCY ANNUAL PLAN
The PHA recently completed a series of public hearings to get input from citizens on their Five Year Capital Fund Program (FY 2020-2024) and Annual Plan.  The United States Human Services and Urban Renewal Department (HUD) requires a 45-day public comment period starting August 21, and ending October 4, 2019.  Copies of the plans for public review can be obtained at the Peoria Housing Authority, 100 Richard Pryor Place, Peoria, IL.  There were five public meetings scheduled.  The meeting attended by Cheryl Budzinski and myself was on September 9 at PHA office at Harrison Homes.  The meeting was led by Melissa Hofstadter; Kandace Simpson, PHA Administrative Assistant was present.
Melissa gave an overview of the specific developments and goals for sites for 2020; the PHA receives approximately $1.5 million annually and has 2 years to obligate funds and 4 years to expend them. 

​Chairman Cannon opened the Oct 7 Monthly Meeting at 4:30 pm with Commissioners Renee Andrews and Kim Furness absent.  There were four individuals who spoke during Community Comments. 

• First, was a resident of Harrison Homes, a young mother of four children who stated her apartment had issues with sewer back up, odor and lack of water over approximately 5 months.   While maintenance had responded to this situation, it was not resolved.  Executive Director of PHA, Ms. Newman was present, as well as Harrison manager, who met with the resident before she left the meeting.  Chairman Cannon, as well as Ms. Newman apologized to the resident and committed to resolve this issue and provide a safe environment for her and her children. 
• The second resident also resided at Harrison Homes.  She expressed concern for overall safety for her and her children.  Resident had been shot while on her porch in July and was reluctant to allow her children to play outside due to gun violence.  Commissioner Cannon responded that the Board would be voting at the meeting to expand security services at the site and that security cameras and lighting had been recently upgraded.  Commissioner King expressed her concern and apologized to resident for her experiences.
• The third speaker was a family member of a woman residing at Taft Homes.  She expressed concern about the locked gates throughout the complex making it difficult for children walking to and from school or to get the bus and forcing them to walk along busy, highly trafficked roadway and plan for clearing sidewalks and roadway in complex during winter.  She expressed frustration that gates being locked appeared to be punishment on those living there, as well as visitors.  Another concern was how emergency vehicles would easily access the complex.  Ms. Newman informed family member that EMT’s had access to KNOX Box for keys to gates, mentioned communication on complex by way of newsletter for residents, including security cameras, and making changes in when gates open for safety of school children walking to nearby schools or bus.  PHA Security Officer briefly discussed updating list of persons not allowed on PHA property, new trespass policy and that there was decrease in unlawful acts by non-residents.

​At the Peoria City/County Landfill Committee meeting Sept 18, the waste receipt report from Waste Management showed a drop in landfill tonnage for August 2019 with the year-to-date waste at 113,582 tons compared to 120,091.64 tons in 2018.

Foth staff presented a report researching declining waste trends at the current Peoria City County Landfill 2 (PCCL2), which was requested by the Landfill Committee. Several interesting bar graphs comparing amounts of recycling by year and tonnage at the landfill along with other analyses reached the following conclusions:

• recycling has a relatively minor effect overall on the landfill as the total tonnage is very small in comparison to total waste receipts at PCCL2 even with the new Peoria options of no-fee recycling toters and city-wide curbside pick-up;
• changes in the waste industry are affecting PCCL2 waste receipts as many former municipal solid waste collection companies that previously disposed of waste at PCCL2 are either closing or being purchased by other waste companies and these waste streams are being sent to other locations. The research showed PDC is gaining market share and Waste Management, Inc., appears to be having a reduction; in a comparison of tonnage  of waste received, the PDC Indian Creek Landfill at Hopedale shows an increasingly higher tonnage received while PCCL2 is dropping in amounts.
• The comment that waste receipts have decreased over the last decade across the region attribute the economic climate and sustainability efforts and states only a marginal impact from recycling. This report and other documents for the Landfill Committee meetings are posted on the City of Peoria website.

 All members were present at the September 10 meeting and arrived early.  Minutes, expenses, and reimbursement for expenses related to the HAVA Security Grant were approved.  Additional cameras, door access panels, software, and training have already been added.  Director Tom Bride will also be asking for partial reimbursement for some County expenses that were pushed by election needs.
            Staff is currently looking at ballot readers, and a Request For Purchase will go out once exact needs are determined.  The State's Attorney was not present, but Director Bride reported that the County is getting close to a determination on the property tax issue (whether the landlord is responsible for real estate tax on the part of the building housing the election commission).
Irene Pritzker, Observer

​Trustees unanimously approved three motions that will give the City of Peoria the ability to complete the Bike Trail Connection in Glen Oak Park.
Staff reports were given including a Strategic Plan Update by Executive Director Emily Cahill. The update included the following highlights:

• As a part of overall PPD development efforts, a Legacy Fund is being established to help sustain the Peoria Park District.
• Data collection and analyses is being utilized to improve the tracking of PPD assets.
• Data collection and analyses is being used to improve volunteer coordination,
• Four solar projects will be implemented in 2020.
• Efforts to recycle and go “green” are underway.
• A commitment to diversity document has been prepared and will be presented at the next meeting.

Linda Daley convened the Aug 20 meeting at 4pm with all Board Members present - in person or on the phone.

• Presentation/Update from the shaft Civil War Monument Committee (CWMC).

Last month, the Authority Board requested of this Committee that they make a presentation at the August Board Meeting to answer the following questions: funds raised, funds spent, cost of project, and projected completion date.
 Committee Members from the shaft 1866 Civil War Monument Committee presented the timeline of their work:
*March 6, 2019 – A contract was signed by Bruce Brown, as CWMC member, with Otto Baum Company, Inc. contracting this entity to perform and complete the engineering, design, restoration and re-erection work of the Civil War Monument Project.
*A number of the original stones were recovered and restored. Missing stones were reproduced by the company that made the original stones.
Budget for project $45,540.  $31,100 has been paid to date with a remaining payment of $18,140 to be paid for erection of the monument.  With respect to any future costs for maintenance or landscaping, the Authority Board was advised that there is a current surplus of $5,440 in the account, with an available Cat match in April of 2020 of $1950 for a total of $7,390.