Peoria City Council Meeting - October 14, 2025

The Peoria City Council met on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. All council members were present. The meeting included four proclamations, approval of the consent agenda, discussion and approval of a nuisance gathering ordinance, a financial report, and extensive discussion and approval of multiple budget motions to balance the 2026-2027 biennial budget. Nine citizens spoke during public comment on homelessness, police conduct, and the downtown incident of September 28.

Proclamations

• Clergy Appreciation Month (October 10-13 as National Faith and Blue Weekend): Mayor Rita Lee presented the proclamation. Pastor Martin Johnson and Chaplain Linda Butler accepted, thanking clergy for their contributions. The Peoria Police Department chaplain program recorded 858 volunteer hours in 2024, including 294 ride-alongs.
• Respiratory Care Week (October 19-25, 2025): Recognized respiratory therapists. Mary Beth Kreg and Sandra Schaefer from Illinois Central College accepted, along with student Derek Derrickson. Approximately 175 respiratory therapists in Peoria area and 120 more in Tri-County area.
• America's Gold Star Families Incorporated (September 28 as Gold Star Mothers and Families Day; September 29 week as Gold Star Families Week): Darren Funk and Frances Maddox accepted. The Murray Baker Bridge was lit in gold on September 29-30.
• Civic Leadership Academy Graduates: Tim Shelley, Peoria County Communications Coordinator, accepted on behalf of graduates. The program has been running since 2005.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of September 23, 2025, and September 30, 2025 (joint meeting).
• Approved town item 25-280 (October 2025 actual and November 2025 anticipated expenditures for the Town of the City of Peoria).
• Approved consent agenda items 25-281 through 25-288, including: workers' compensation settlement ($119,072.39 to a firefighter), intergovernmental agreement with Greater Peoria Sanitary District ($99,704 for sewer cleaning/inspection), IDOT agreement for intersection improvements at US 150 and Willow Knolls Drive/Big Hollow Road, dedication deed for Grey Oak Subdivision, amendment to Class K catering liquor license, and three appointments to city boards/committees.

First Reading

• 25-289: Ordinance amending Section 28-62 to reduce the Transportation Commission from 11 to 9 members to improve attendance and quorum. Passed unanimously.

Discussion Items

• 25-290: Accept $50,000 organized retail crime grant from the Office of the Attorney General and amend budget (requires 2/3 vote). Approved unanimously.
• 25-291 (Nuisance Gathering Ordinance): Introduced by Mayor Ali and Corporation Counsel Hayes in response to the September 28 downtown incident where a large crowd disrupted officers rendering aid to a gunshot victim. The ordinance allows police to order dispersal of gatherings of 10 or more where at least two of 14 (originally 11, later corrected) qualifying offenses occur (e.g., underage drinking, illegal parking, public indecency). Modeled after Normal and Springfield ordinances. Councilmembers discussed First Amendment concerns (Vespa raised potential overreach, but voted yes after counsel assurance of content-neutrality and narrow tailoring; Councilmember Sear questioned effectiveness given existing laws; others expressed confidence in police discretion). The ordinance passed unanimously after amendment to reflect 14 qualifying offenses.
• 25-292 (Financial Report): Finance Director Kyle Craddy presented the unaudited financial report for August 31, 2025. Revenues down 2.7% vs budget, expenses down 4.2%. Sales tax strong. Councilmember Sear asked about stormwater fund balance; clarification given that July figure of $48M included physical assets; cash basis was $27M. Motion to receive and file passed unanimously.
• Budget Discussion (25-278): Director Craddy presented report backs on 16 council questions (CIP by project type, tax & fee report, ARPA fund usage, tax rates by taxing body, unspent capital, accounts receivable aging). Detailed discussion on accounts receivable ($35M total, primarily stormwater and housing fees; collection rates, liens, and use of memorandum of judgment). The council then considered nine budget motions introduced by the City Manager.

Key Outcomes (Budget Motions - all passed unanimously unless noted)

1. Motion to not accept proposed fee increases for garbage, sewer, and stormwater fees for 2026 and 2027. Revenue reduction of $1.1M (2026) and $1.14M (2027). Passed unanimously.
2. Motion to move $1,030,000 (Hickory Grove Road) and $1,600,000 (Sheridan Road) construction expenses from 2026 to 2027, keeping engineering in 2026. Passed unanimously.
3. Motion to add $6,400,000 Federal Rail Administration New Corridor ID grant. Passed unanimously.
4. Motion to add state grant for Wisconsin Avenue (Forest Hill to McClure), freeing $6.9M in state motor fuel tax for other projects. Passed unanimously.
5. Motion to add Land Bank Grant of $2,000,000 ($1,201,100 in 2025 budget, remainder in 2026). Passed unanimously.
6. Motion to add $100,000 for Exposition Gardens maintenance in both 2026 and 2027. Passed (1 nay - Councilmember Sear).
7. Motion to add SAFER grant in fire department budget. Passed unanimously.
8. Motion to reduce sewer operating expenses by $600,000 (2026) and police/fire pension contribution by $2,000,000 (2027). Passed unanimously after clarification that this reduces an additional contribution above the required payment.
9. Motion to increase real estate transfer tax revenue by $250,000/year and building permit revenue by $100,000/year for 2026 and 2027. Passed unanimously.

Next Steps: Truth and Taxation hearing next week; final budget ordinances expected for the November 4 meeting.

New Business

• Announcement of Illinois River Cities and Towns Initiatives conference (Nov 5-6) in Peoria.
• Peoria ranked 9th best metro area to buy a home by Consumer Affairs.
• Recognition of small business milestones: Popcorn Heaven (10-year anniversary), Agatucci's Pizza (100th anniversary, street naming on Oct 15).

Public Comments & Testimony

Nine citizens addressed the council:

1. Keishi Bernard (Lula): Urged council to address homelessness crisis; noted forced movement of encampments and loss of motel project; requested better coordination and a permanent shelter. Stated multiple deaths and incarcerations of unhoused individuals.
2. Heather Stacy: Shared direct experiences with unhoused people being forced into hiding, making service delivery difficult; opposed policies that criminalize homelessness.
3. James Thomas: Criticized lack of food access in South/North ends, vacant homes, and low wages; urged investing in people; questioned police response in downtown incident and called for accountability.
4. Worth Mohammed: Challenged the characterization of downtown crowd as criminals; argued that ticketed offenses (e.g., drinking, smoking weed) do not make someone a criminal; claimed officers pushed a woman and left a shooting victim; urged reconsideration of the nuisance ordinance.
5. Rio Arbuckle: Expressed exhaustion as a service provider; said the city's encampment displacement has hurt outreach; shelters are overcapacity; called for better solutions.
6. Marjorie Schweibel: Advocated for anger management programs starting in kindergarten to address root causes of violence and trauma; cited generational issues.
7. Tian Garcia: Spoke about her partner, one of the individuals arrested in the downtown incident (not one of the five charged but detained); alleged police used excessive force, denied medical care; partner is a crane operator facing job loss; asked for due process and transparency.
8. Lucinda Overton: Shared story of child removal from hospital without warrant; alleged systemic racism and harassment by police and agencies; called for body camera retention, due process, and trauma-informed training.
9. Curtis Smith (veteran): Criticized police response on Sept. 28 (lack of loudspeaker, chaotic commands, excessive force); questioned probable cause for felony charges; called for independent review, better training, and accountability. Also alleged racial profiling.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned without executive session.