Wow. The Consent Agenda passed with no one removing an item. Of course there were only 4 items on that agenda. Short meeting – an hour and 17 minutes.
Recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission and Staff to ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending Appendix A, the Unified Development Code, relating to short term rentals in all residential zoning was deferred until Aug 11. Recommended 2020 - 2021 BUDGET RESTRUCTURING as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Council has provided direction to reduce capital programs by $26.7 million and restructure January 1, 2021 debt payments of approximately $10 million and the issuance of a $20 million line of credit and/or working cash bond. At the May 12th Council meeting, Council directed the Manager to come back with a recommended $10 million in operational cuts. A total debt service package of $30 million would require additional resources to repay the debt. The additional $2 million needed to restructure debt could be absorbed by existing revenues, however the $20 million of working capital would need a repayment source. Assuming that source was property taxes, the increase would cost the owner of a $100,000 an additional $66.66 per year. The recommended operating reductions which will result in service reductions include staff reductions of 94 employees, contractual and supply reductions of $3.3 million. The position reductions include 37 vacant positions across the organization and 57 positions that would be reduced by layoff. Voluntary separation for firefighters with 20 years of service was deferred to Aug 11 ($25,000 incentive toward health insurance premiums for early separation if processed in August.) The 50-year storm last week created havoc in Councilwoman Moore’s district. Homeowners have had issues of water backup into their homes. Cheryl Budzinski, Observer The meeting was almost four hours long. Many of their recent meetings have been that longer.
You are aware of the gaping hole in the city’s budget and the two proposals the councilpersons are considering regarding staffing. Well more that one person also commented that staff reductions are not the only consideration, they will be considering raising taxes since staffing changes will not completely fix the budget. Council approved recommended appointments to 22 committees and commissions including seven for the CDBG Public Service Advisory Commission and eight for the Advisory Committee on Police and Community Relations. (Past president Farrell Davies was reappointed to CDBG.) Short Term Rentals STR was discussed at length. The city had indicated they would require a “special use” permit to allow VRBO’s, Air B’n’B’s, etc. to operate in our residential areas. But, they are proposing (First Reading) 20-182 STR’s be an allowed Commercial Use within all residentially zoned areas in the city subject to the properties paying hotel license, hotel tax, and comply with life safety codes. One question unanswered, was if these are not allowed by restrictive covenants of a Homeowners Association, can they operate within that neighborhood? There are many of these currently in operation. Cheryl Budzinski, Observer Oct 22 meeting (Ruckregal absent) Public Hearing regarding the 2020-21 Biennial Budget had two people speak: Downtown Development Board requested funding in the budget as had been done previous years; Peoria Area Assoc of Realtors requested there be no increase in property taxes – the city should find additional sources of revenue.
Oct 8 meeting (Jensen absent most of meeting) had several interesting discussions:
The council approved a resolution Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Illinois being the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment Allowing Women to Vote for Elective Office. Councilwomen Jensen and Ali spoke to the motion.
There were a lot of questions about the Township report. Large Ameren expenses and legal expenses were questioned. Supervisor Abdnour responded. http://www.peoriagov.org/city-council/meetings/
Interesting, yet very long meetings! I admit that I do not attend all City Council meetings and so it is nice to have the podcast/video available. I was especially discouraged when I watched the December 4 meeting. At about 1 hour:25 minutes, the council’s frustration with the budget and with citizens/business groups’ input (criticism) was not well received. There were repeated comments about the small percentage (@11%) of our real estate tax bill going to the City, which is kind of true. Actually, it is @14% if you include the garbage fee which is the city’s. Also, when you look at all your utility bills with charges, fees or taxes- stormwater fee, electric/gas charge, cell phone fee/tax, water bill fee/tax, GPSD charge/fee, you understand that real estate taxes aren’t the only money the city collects from us. And, now a pension fee. Please pay attention to the At-Large City Council candidates in the Primary Election on February 26. We need the ten best candidates to continue to the April election. Go to candidate forums. Ask the candidates for specifics –such as, what is the candidate’s specific solution for the budget? How will they work with other council persons to sell their solution? Cheryl Budzinski, Observer The Nov 27 meeting continued the budget discussion. Of particular note, Councilman Montelongo had asked to look at specific parts of both expenses and revenue. Specifically, they looked at eight expenses that support other agencies: Springdale, Animal Control, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Civic Center, Debt Service, Downtown Development Comm, Peoria Area Economic Development Council, and Minority Employment Action Team. Representatives of most of those agencies answered questions from Council and presented their work. None were cut, but it was interesting to look at other areas besides cutting Public Safety.
Revenue items: Interesting that Councilman Cyr participated in meeting by phone. Mayor Ardis asked the Councilman if he had questions or what his vote was at the beginning of discussion or vote.
Consent Agenda item 18-236, which was "pulled," was a contract with Change and Innovation Agency, LLC for a 3 day Innovation Academy Training. But the Peoria Innovation Team - which was financed by a grant from Bloomberg Foundation- has an uncertain future since the Bloomberg grant runs out of grant funding soon. No discussion on CEO Council MOU or the Water Due Diligence - holdup is from CEO Council. No discussion on EPA feedback on the Combined Sewer Overflow. Most discussion was about the budget hole. (See PJStar for more information on that.) Cheryl Budzinski, Observer The big item was Manager Urich announced they were looking for $600,000 in cuts to expenses.
Councilwoman Moore requested a deferral of regular business item 18-231 which was to amend the Biennial Budget to use the Storm Water Utility Fund to purchase the Simantel property at the foot of Spring Street for $159,000. This was interesting because exactly what is the City Council allowed to spend the Storm Water Utility money on?? Cheryl Budzinski, Observer |
In the LWVGP News (blog) section you'll find
View by Date
December 2020
Categories
All
|