​On April 13, 2021, the Peoria City Council approved the following by Omnibus Vote: 

• recommendation from HOME FOR ALL CONTINUUM OF CARE for Funding allocation of EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT COVID FUNDING to Specified Agencies for $795,903.00;
• purchase of one Genesis Extraction Tool System for $27,400.00;
• purchase of nine complete self-contained breathing apparatus and twenty-nine air cylinders for $74,545.00;
• and contracted with REHIG PACIFIC COMPANY to purchase 702 New 95-gal. garbage carts for replacement and inventory, not to exceed $36,310.10.

After discussion, the following items were approved: 

• adopted ordinance to revise City of Peoria annual budget for 2021 to recognize grant from Illinois Housing Development Budget for $200,000.00 for Strong Communities Program and corresponding expenditures;
• amendment to 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan for submittal to Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD);
• reallocation of prior year Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Fire Station 4;
• and adopted Ordinance to amend City 2021 Annual Budget to recognize Grant received from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for Program known as Business Recovery Grant Program for $1,385,000.

   In regular business, the council voted to approve zoning request for 1.5 acres of 4.5-acre parcel at University and War Memorial Drive for financial services.  Community Development Director, Ross Black, explained that a special use request is site specific and future development of remainder of the parcel would also require special use request and go through hearing process.   City staff and Councilperson Grayeb met with neighbors to agree on traffic flow from banking center via driveway access on Florence Ave.
   In unfinished business, the council adopted Ordinance updating the City Code for Short Term Rental Uses after many months of delay.  Currently, short term rentals through Airbnb, VRBO and other websites by owner of home are not been legal in Peoria.  Under this agreement, home owners wanting to rent room or single- family home would have to live in home in order to meet guidelines for rental.  Property not lived in by an owner would require a special use permit to rent out the home.   In addition, existing covenants or rules of neighborhood associations could prohibit rentals.  Currently, hotel taxes are not collected on rentals; Airbnb has reported it would collect hotel taxes from property owners if city required that, forwarding funds to the City.  In addition, Airbnb would work with Peoria Police Department through law enforcement portal for any issues on property rented through Airbnb.
   On a final note, Council Person Riggenbach questioned safety of panhandlers at busy intersections.  Interim Corporation Counsel, Chrissie Peterson, related that it is difficult to enforce limitations on this but that it should be done in safe manner.  She will provide report back at next meeting.  Ms. Peterson reported the ACLU has upheld protection for individuals holding a sign and soliciting money on public property and prohibits discrimination of these persons.  
Connie Romanus, Observer

​   The Peoria County Board of Election Commissioners held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.  All commissioners were present except for Dr. Pinto, who is out of town.
    According to Executive Director Tom Bride, the April 6 general election went relatively smoothly.  They were a little short of judges, having only 243 available that day.  A few judges had quit, and there were not as many student judges working as in the past.  One-third of voters cast their votes early, either at early voting locations or by mail, and two-thirds voted on election day.  Total turnout was 17 ½% of those eligible to vote.
   With the next election not occurring until March of 2022, it is time to discuss upcoming projects:

• These include the redrawing of precincts- In the past, new precinct lines were drawn after the city, county, etc. were done drawing their district lines.  Use of census data is required, but that will not be available until after the deadline for new lines.   
• the mailing of new voter registration cards, and
• a Request For  Proposal for a new voting system. Director Bride wants to wait until June 1, to send out an RFP for a new voting system in case there is some new legislation passed by the State.  There will still be plenty of time to make a decision.  The County purchasing department sends out RFP’s, and the commission receives the responses.  A group that includes the County IT department and the commission’s attorney will go over the replies.

   After setting the time and date of the next meeting and the official canvass of the April election, the commission went into executive session about specific employees. 
   Only one question arose during public comments.  Would the RFP be open to the public?  The answer was yes, and probably even presentations by vendors.
Irene Pritzker, Observer