Good evening, everyone.

It is six o'clock PM on Tuesday, November eighteenth, twenty twenty-five.

I'd like to welcome everyone to the Peoria to the meeting of the Peoria City Council.

I'd also like to welcome everyone in our historic city council chambers as well as our audience watching on cable channel 22 and on the City of Peoria YouTube channel.

Madam Clerk, the council mics are open.

Please call the roll.

Mayor Ali present.

Councilmember Allen.

Present.

Councilmember Carmona.

Councilmember Sear.

Here.

Councilmember Gordon Young.

Present.

Councilmember Jackson.

Here.

Councilmember Kelly.

Here.

Councilmember Euler.

Here.

Councilmember Riggenbach?

Here.

Councilmember Valpula.

And Councilmember Vespa.

Here.

You have a quorum present, Madam Mayor.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Everyone, excuse me, everyone, please join me and stand for a moment of silent prayer or silent reflection, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

And to the Republic for which it stands.

One white nation under God, individual liberty and justice.

Madam Clerk.

We are at the approval of the minutes.

Okay.

I'm just gonna back up just a moment.

Normally we do proclamations first, but we don't have any proclamations tonight.

But we do have an acknowledgement that I would like to share with you.

I received a letter from Nicole Stewart.

Um she's the president of the Central Illinois Municipal Clerks Organization, CIMCO, and she made me aware that Deputy, our own deputy clerk Courtney Cole, has been selected as the recipient of the 2024-2025 presidential award from this organization.

And before we applaud her, I'd like to um read what that means.

The Central Illinois Municipal Clerks Organization, SIMCO, Presidential Award.

This award is given annually to one member whose service, initiative, and commitment go above and beyond supporting SimCo's mission to promote efficient clerk operations, foster collaboration, educate the public, and encourage professional growth.

Simcoe, am I saying that right?

Yes, you are.

Okay.

Simcoe President Nicole Stewart selected Courtney for her outstanding contributions this year.

As vice president, Courtney managed online registration for the Back to the Basic Seminar, a two-day training event for municipal clerks to refresh skills, learn best practices, and network with peers, coordinate speakers, and ensure smooth operations.

President Stewart highlighted Courtney's initiative, creativity, and reliability, noting her active involvement, thoughtful questions, fresh ideas, and willingness to assist wherever needed.

Her dedication and attention to detail have made a significant impact on Simcoe, its members, and clerks throughout the state of Illinois, and I can easily say that you're making a tremendous impact on our city government as well, and we're blessed to have you here.

You're welcome.

There was a press release that was uh sent out and it included her picture and it included the information on the award.

So we we hope JJ that get that gets published in your newspaper.

No pressure.

Okay, madam clerk, back to the minutes.

Sure, at the approval of the minutes.

Councilman Riggenbach.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I move to approve the minutes of the joint city council town board meeting held October 28th, 2025 is printed.

Seconded by Councilman, Councilwoman Jackson.

Any questions or comments?

Please cash your ballots.

Motion passes unanimously.

Madam Clerk.

We have one town item.

25-318 is a request from the town officials to approve the October 2025 actual expenditures and to approve the November 2025 anticipated expenditures for the town of the city of Peoria.

Trustee Gordon Young.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I move to approve town item 325-318.

So a second, seconded by Trustee Allen.

Any questions or comments?

Please cash your ballots.

Motion passes unanimously.

Madam Clerk.

We have two public hearings.

The first one, 25-319, is a public hearing regarding the proposed Adams Liberty Tax Increment Financing District.

And we need a motion to open the hearing, please.

Okay.

Can I get a motion to open the public hearing?

Move by Councilman Carmona, seconded by Councilwoman Gordon Young.

Any questions or comments?

Please cash your ballots.

Motion passes unanimously.

Madam Manager Kimberly Richardson.

Is there any comment?

Madam Manager.

Good evening.

Good evening, Mayor and Councilmembers.

Yes, good evening to everyone.

So I'm very happy to bring to the council our public hearing related to the Adams Liberty Tax Increment Financing District.

This is consisting of one square block bounded by Liberty to the east, Jefferson Street to the north, Harrison Street to the west, and Adams Street to the south.

And this is also the block where we are working on the redevelopment of the P as we call the PNC Bank and Creve Core building and adjoining parking deck.

This plan is going to represent a part of our strategic goal of revalues of revalidizing our downtown and incorporating mixed residential and commercial use in our buildings.

So today I have a quick overview of just what we've done so far to get us here today.

And I just want to acknowledge that we also have Herb Klein here from Klein Incline to answer any legal questions as it relates to the TIFF and how we put the TIFF together.

So if there's any further questions, I'm here to answer them.

And again, we have Herb Klein here to answer any questions as it relates to the plan itself.

Thank you.

Is there anyone here that would like to speak to the public hearing regarding the proposed Adams Liberty TIFF tax increment financing district?

Again, is there anyone here that would like to speak to the public hearing regarding the proposed Adams Liberty Tax Increment Financing District?

And finally, is there anyone here that would like to speak to the public hearing regarding the proposed Adams Liberty TIFF district?

Can I get a motion to close the public hearing?

Moved by Councilmember Kelly, seconded by Councilmember Euler.

Any questions, comments?

Please cash your ballots.

Motion passes unanimously.

Madam Clerk.

The second public hearing 25-320 is a public hearing regarding the proposed Northwoods Mall tax increment financing district.

Madam Manager.

Oh, can I get a motion to open that public hearing?

Move by Councilmember Allen, seconded by Council Member Gordon Young.

Any questions or comments?

Please cash your ballots.

Motion motion passes unanimously.

Madam Manager.

Thank you, Mayor.

The Northwoods Mall tax increment area that we are looking to move forward is really a plan to address what we're seeing not just locally but nationally when it comes to the older infrastructure of our mall infrastructure and commercial in light use.

In that area, we have 13 vacant parcels that have been vacant for quite some time and have not seen redevelopment really happening over the course of the last several years.

And so understanding that this area continues to see a high rate of vacancy and infrastructure deterioration.

We wanted to provide some abilities for the city to be able to support some type of financial incentive to get development to continue to happen in that area.

With that being said, we did have a again another uh joint review board committee meeting a committee meeting that occurred in October.

We have our public hearing today, and then again in January of 2025, we'll be coming forth to uh be present the uh ordinances to approve the plan and the increment.

So with that being said, if there's any further question, I'll be willing to answer it at this time.

Thank you.

Is there anyone present that would like to speak to the public hearing regarding the proposed Northwoods Mall tax increment financing district?

Is there anyone here that would like to speak to the public hearing regarding the proposed Northwoods Mall TIFF district?

And finally, is there anyone here who would like to speak to the public hearing regarding the proposed Northwoods Mall TIFF district?

Can I get a motion to close the public hearing?

Moved by Councilman Carmona, seconded by Councilman Allen.

Any comments or questions?

Please cash your ballots.

Motion passes unanimously.

Madam Clerk.

We are on to the consent agenda.

25-321 is a communication with request from the CDBG Public Services Commission to approve the 2025 Community Development Block Grant Public Service Funding Recommendations in the amount of 270,000 dollars.

25-322 is a communication with request to approve the funding recommendations from the Home for All Continuum of Care for the 2026-2027 emergency solutions grant in the amount of 156,382 in 2026.

25-323 is a communication with request to approve a change order to the professional services agreement with Patrick Engineering for Corridor Identification and Development Step 1 in the amount of $50,000.

25-324 is a communication with a request to approve an intergovernment intergovernmental agreement between the City of Peoria and Greater Peoria Sanitary District to line selected city sewer segments in the low bid amount of $94,800 with an additional authorization of $9,480 for contingencies for a total project amount of 104,280.

25-325 is a communication with request to approve a state motor fuel tax resolution for the Pioneer Parkway multi-use path from Allen Road to Knoxville Avenue in the amount of 190,000.

25-326 is a communication with request to approve a resolution for signatory authority with the Illinois Department of Transportation for authorizing the city manager to sign federal funding forms and electronic signature forms on behalf of the city.

25-327 is a communication with request to concur with a recommendation from the planning and zoning commission and staff to adopt an ordinance approving a special use in a class WH warehouse form district to paint murals on a structure within a historic district for the properties located at 825 Southwest Adams Street.

25-328 is an appointment by Mayor Ali to the Housing Commission with request to concur of Marwin Spiller.

25-329 is an appointment by Mayor Ali to the Transportation Commission with a request to concur of Nathan Johnson.

25-330 is a communication with request to approve the site application for the expansion of an existing class B1 restaurant 25% food liquor license with a subclass one 4 a.m.

closing hours with on-site consumption and the retail sale of alcohol for J and J Pizza Plus Inc.

Doing business as hoops pub and pizza at 516 Main Street with a recommendation from the Liquor Commission to approve.

25-331 is a communication with request to approve the site application for a class B1 restaurant 25% food liquor license with a subclass one 4 a.m.

closing hours with on site consumption and the retail sale of alcohol for 500 through 516 Main Street LLC doing business as TBD at 512 Main Street, contingent upon the issuance of a certificate of occupancy with recommendation from the liquor commission to approve.

25-332 is a communication with request to approve the site application for a Class D hotel liquor license with the retail sale of alcohol for on-site consumption for Peoria Hotel Owner LLC doing business as Stay Bridge Suites at 300 West Romeo B.

Garrett Avenue with a recommendation from the liquor commission to approve.

And 25-333 is a communication with request to approve the site application for a class B1 restaurant 25% food liquor license with a subclass 1 4 a.m.

closing hours with on-site consumption and the retail sale of alcohol for 500 who through 516 Main Street LLC doing business as TBD at 500 Main Street, contingent upon the issuance of a certificate of occupancy with a recommendation from the liquor commission to approve, and that concludes our consent agenda.

Are there any items?

Thank you, madam clerk.

Are there any items to remove from consent?

Councilmember Kelly.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Uh 2531 and 2533, please.

2533.

And 33.

331, 333.

Correct.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay, thank you.

Are there any other items?

Councilmember Sear.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Move to approve the balance of the consent agenda.

Seconded by Councilmember Gordon Young.

Any questions or comments?

Please cast your ballots.

Motion passes unanimously.

Madam Clerk.

25-331 is a communication from the city manager and corporation council with a request to approve the site application for a Class B1 restaurant 25% food liquor license with a subclass one 4 a.m.

closing hours with on-site consumption and the retail sale of alcohol for 500 through 516 Main Street LLC doing business as TBD at 512 Main Street, contingent upon the issuance of a certificate of occupancy with recommendation from the liquor commission to approve.

Councilmember Kelly.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Just for information's sake.

TBD does not refer to a situation where the name is to be determined.

Right.

It is the name of the facility.

Is that my understanding?

Uh Council Hayes.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Yes.

The developer and the owner are here.

Um we're fortunate.

Mr.

Ritterbush has decided that his one of his retirement passions is going to be redeveloping the 500 block of Maine.

And this is the first time council's seen action in this arena, but we'll see an awful lot of activity there adjacent to the Madison, where he's undertaking a project that will expand the present hoops, which is a matter that was already approved on the consent agenda, and then develop the next two units so that that entire block are going to be entertainment and restaurant type facilities.

And so in our hospitality district, we're seeing an expansion of hospitality in property that's been idle all too long, and we're very grateful for those efforts.

The TBD indicates that we're still working on our redevelopment agreement with them.

They're still working on some of their concepts, and TBD really does mean to be determined.

They're gonna market uh a name, but they haven't come up with it yet.

So both of these items that you've identified with that moniker on them is simply because they were not yet prepared to make a final determination of how they're gonna market those amenities.

But we're we're very excited as staff to be providing a local investor coming forward and taking on the task of of revitalizing that entire block.

And so uh we're looking forward to that.

Thank you.

Prior to prior to licensing, we will have that name.

Correct.

It's it's my understanding that they're close to coming up with the name and that they would draw that.

And one of the things that came up just for the council to understand is those places are not ready to open, they won't be ready to open till this summer.

We may need an extension.

You know that you have to open a newly authorized site within six months or seek an extension, and they're they've already indicated that they may need that, but they're targeting somewhere around July, as I understand it.

Uh, but as we all know, taking on our older historic buildings often presents some um unforeseen challenges, and so they're gonna do what they can to open that this summer.

But TBD literally means they haven't come up with their final determination on the name yet.

Thank you.

Yeah, I think it's a great question, uh, Councilman Kelly, and we're I think we're all happy to see this development take place, and um, but isn't there a requirement to have that name finalized before we actually issue a license?

Yeah, they'll have to have that for the license, absolutely.

Okay, you're correct, Your Honor.

Okay, sorry if I wasn't clear in my response.

Okay, no, no problem.

Councilman Mayor.

If I could have uh and I apologize for interrupting, but I want to mention something else that we approved in the consent agenda.

Um present here is Diane Sissman, the general manager and Joe Motomedi, who's the project manager manager, staybridge uh has undergone a tremendous amount of rehabilitation, it's all new furnishings.

You've seen the activity over there, you've seen the construction activity, it's been ongoing for a while.

This uh license will allow them to provide some amenity for their guests.

They're gonna be providing that as a as an incentive for their hotel guests, but they're uh gonna reopen in February, and they got improved on the consent agenda, and they're probably gonna get up and walk out.

But I just wanted to thank them and their organization for their investment in our downtown area.

Thank you, Honor.

Absolutely.

Councilman Kelly, does that satisfy your question?

Uh uh yes, it does.

And uh it's a small point, but maybe in the future, if we have a similar situation, we could put TBD in parentheses.

Uh that way it would be clearer that it's to be determined rather than that's the name.

But I am uh personally, since I have the mic, I'm personally thrilled with the revitalization efforts that are going on there.

This is a to me a wonderful site, but it's been neglected for quite a long time, and uh I'm I'm thrilled that uh we have some folks, local folks, who uh wish to redevelop it.

So thank you, madam mayor.

Sure.

Would you like to make the motion?

That's a very good idea, madam mayor.

Okay.

Um move to approve item 2531.

Okay, seconded by councilman Oiler.

Any questions or comments?

Please cast your ballots.

Motion passes unanimously.

Madam Clerk.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Councilman Kelly.

Uh thank you, madam mayor.

Uh I move to approve item 253.

Oh, okay.

All right, is there a second, Councilman Oiler?

Any questions or comments?

Please cash your ballots.

Motion passes unanimously.

Madam Clerk.

We are at regular business.

25-334 is a communication from the city manager and director of community development with a request concur with recommendation from staff to adopt an ordinance approving a special use in a class C N neighborhood commercial district to adapt establish a halfway house for the property located at 1924 Southwest Adams Street.

And on your desk, there is a handout with an updated council communication and ordinance.

Madam Manager.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Council.

So this is a request for a special use to establish a halfway house at 1924 Southwest Adams.

This property has an existing two and a half story building that was built sometime long ago in the past.

Sorry.

The uh staff, there will be three staff that will be present during normal business hours, and then security will be present 24 hours, seven days a week.

The program was really intended as the planning and zoning commission heard through their public hearing to help parolees rebuild their lives, get back on their feet with housing and support.

Can I answer any questions?

I I have some questions.

I think I see some more questions on the um around the horseshoe as well.

But I toured that building with uh director Dolan and some of his team members and inspectors and so forth, and uh we were actually looking for potential locations to support uh unhoused populations at the time, and this was just a few months ago.

Um what type of investment is being put into that uh facility to bring it up to par because it it wasn't quite livable at the time.

Can you can you talk about that?

Yeah, the the review through our um building inspections and our development review award does require that that property will have to be thoroughly inspected and meet our life safety regulations.

So there probably will be as you mentioned, some improvements needed to make sure that it's a safe building to house to house persons there.

So they haven't really communicated the level of upgrade that's going to take place.

They haven't gone into great detail other than they've they're well informed that that will be a requirement if this is approved and ultimately through a building review inspection to meet all the regulations.

Okay.

But they have releasing it, right?

From the owners.

Uh I believe they may have an option to purchase.

Okay.

Okay.

Councilmember Kelly.

Thank you, madam mayor.

Um I'd like to ask whoever should be asked what the changes are on the yellow sheets versus what we uh received.

And I apologize for not mentioning that.

So the yellow paper is because of the timing of our planning and zoning commission meeting, which was held yesterday.

So we weren't we didn't have that uh information in your original packet.

The public hearing was held.

The planning and zoning commission voted unanimously to approve with the the conditions as um presented from staff.

Um so that that is the update, and I apologize for not making that clear to you.

Uh thank you.

And uh just uh another point.

I believe I I believe that that property uh was at least in one of its incarnations, uh the uh the I2 Hall in Peoria, uh before they built uh out on Farmington Road.

Uh but I'm very happy to hear uh that that's a wonderful structure.

It's a beautiful structure.

And I'm glad uh to know that uh it's being revitalized and put to good use.

So thank you.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

You're welcome.

Councilmember Jackson.

Uh thank you, Madam Mayor.

I um would like to know uh Miss Allison is a representative uh from the group here.

Uh I got an opportunity to speak briefly with uh one of them last week, and I spoke to Mr.

Carl Callaway, who is a fillow ill affiliated with the program, and they have been collaborating with them uh already.

Um is I was told somebody would be here tonight.

Uh is anybody represented?

Uh would you uh mind just coming up and uh just giving the council a little bit of an overview about uh the organization, what you've been doing, and um what your plans are.

Okay, I I wasn't preparing to come.

I was just coming here to listen to the meeting.

This is Mr.

James McCoy.

James McCoy, Pure Illinois.

Um you need addressing No, uh just tell us your uh position or affiliation.

I'm a therapist, I'm a therapist with Grow.

Um, and one of the things that they talked about with the facility, because a lot of people just keep mentioning the halfway house.

But the main thing that really needs to be mentioned is it's mental health therapy.

Right, and that's the main piece.

But the people that are gonna come in are transitioning, and as we know, one of the biggest problems that we have in the city is we don't have enough mental health providers.

And I was happy when I retire from the city and I actually started participating with Grow.

They're actually not asking for any funding, but yet bringing these services to our our citizens here in town.

So when I started working with them and seeing their different visions, we actually service over a hundred kids in the schools right now, and this is something they're looking to do on their re-entry part.

I don't have a lot of details because right now our main focus is the kids we work with in school, but I know that they have a functioning house like that in Chicago, and they're looking to duplicate that type of service here, and they want to really tap in a re-entry, and our CEO, his big thing is mental health there, because he he worked for the social services before he started the business.

I'm sure she already gave you Grow, you know, his guy restoring order, and that's his whole that's his whole purpose.

But the big thing that I think really attracted me was I know financial resources are a problem why a lot of things don't take place.

And when they said they're willing to use their money, bring it here and provide services for people in our community.

That's what attracted me to Grow.

And I I apologize.

I thought uh someone else was gonna be here uh who I spoke to well over the weekend and and um was uh given an update.

And uh, so I didn't mean to put you on the spot, but uh just for the council who was not familiar with the organization and and the good work they do.

And uh I just kind of wanted to give them an overview.

And from what I've had a chance to uh ascertain is that uh it's just temporary.

Uh these individuals will be transitioning into work and things of that nature, uh, with the goal of becoming uh viable, productive uh citizens, uh wherever they decide to permanently relocate.

So uh based on the information I was given, I uh felt like Mayor, this would be a great opportunity for uh individuals to get an opportunity to uh get back, get acclimated and reintegrated into the community as well as into the workforce, given the uh supportive and the wraparound services that uh grow provides.

Uh so uh based on that, madam mayor, um I uh plan to support this program.

I think it's a wonderful program, and I support uh everything that I've heard about GROW thus far.

You want to make a motion?

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, thank you very much for your opportunity to give us a summary.

Uh Madam Mayor, I would like to go ahead and approve item number 25-uh 334 for approval.

Seconded by Councilmember uh Riggenbach and continued discussion.

Thank you.

Uh Councilwoman Jackson.

Councilmember Euler.

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.

Can we get an explanation for where the residents of this facility are going to be coming from specifically?

Uh what was shared at the public hearing yesterday is that they're from the Illinois Department of Corrections.

So they are not necessarily folks that came from the city of Peoria originally.

Not necessarily.

So the proposal would be that we're bringing more folks to the city of Peoria that need more social service dollars.

Is it possible that they tried to move the residents from uh Illinois Department of Corrections closer to their home where their families are?

I guess I have that question as well.

I I am not familiar, I I would I don't know.

And I guess I'm really not asking you uh director Allison, but does anyone else, uh Mr.

McCoy, anyone with uh Grow know the answer to that question?

Yes, uh we will be basically working with guys that's from Peor.

Can you tell us your name, please?

My name is Daryl Pierce.

I'm the supervisor of Grove Mental Health.

Uh so we'll be basically working with people around in these uh in the century, Illinois.

We wouldn't be bringing people from Chicago because normally that's not how I go when people come home.

We also have work with the ATC, so his guys they'd be coming from there, uh get jobs here, and when they get ready to get parole out, they got to go all the way back home.

They could be a nice transitional to if they can get somewhere here and they can stay independent and have a job when they get out and have somewhere to go instead of paroling all the way back to the city when they have jobs and have a new start.

Councilman Oiler, I know Carl Holloway just walked in the door, so yeah, I don't feel like I fully got an answer to my question.

I don't know if Mr.

Holloway can answer that, but Mr.

Holloway, uh can you ask you question again once he gets up there?

My question is where are the folks that would be moving to this facility coming from?

What what is their originating location before they went into the Illinois Department of Corrections?

Before they went in.

So excuse me.

Good evening.

My name is Carl Holloway.

Uh thank you for this opportunity.

Uh so where were they coming from before they went into the incarceration?

Is there a question?

Correct.

I'm gonna say that these are from Peoria.

These individuals are from Peoria and they're gonna be living in Peoria when they complete the workforce development, which is in the halfway house.

So before they went to the Department of Corrections, every one of these individuals was a resident of the city of Peoria.

From my understanding, when they leave incarceration, but excuse me, prior to their going to incarceration, these individuals coming to this specific halfway house are going to be individuals from Peoria relocating to Peoria or coming from Peoria.

And there's some specific guidelines that outline that somewhere that we have definitive proof that that's the case.

At this particular moment at this particular time, no, but we can't get that information for you.

So I I could support a deferral on this until we have information like that, but I absolutely cannot support an approval without information like that.

And I and you know, just to be transparent, I have extreme amount of concern with this going in the area of town that it's going because we have an over-saturation already of folks that are on public service dollars and needing extra social service agency assistance that is completely consuming our downtown, and we are fighting this issue on a daily basis that it's all clustered in the downtown warehouse district area.

I I applaud the effort that's being made, and I think that you know the program is a very good thing.

I personally have done things like this, so I believe in it on a personal level, but to continue to put all of the needed social service agency programs in downtown does not work for me, so I will not be supporting approval.

Thank you.

That's not downtown though.

I I see the warehouse district as downtown.

I know where the building is.

What's the where edge of the warehouse district?

This is over by UFS.

Correct.

Okay, you'll consider that.

Yeah, yes.

Okay.

Could I also say something, Madam Mayor?

Yes.

These are not just individuals that are gonna be living off the fat of the land.

These are going to be individuals that'll be going through a workforce development program.

Okay, dealing with uh getting their soft skills together, getting prepared to be in the workforce environment.

So they're not just gonna be eating off the fat of the land.

The whole purpose of this halfway house is to help individuals get on their feet so they won't be public service public uh service individuals, excuse me, public service aid individuals, okay.

So that's the whole idea of this whole thing, and to decrease the violence specifically in this area.

Okay.

Thank you, Mr.

Holloway.

Yes, ma'am.

Yeah.

Uh council councilmember Gordon Young.

Thank you, madam mayor.

Um, I'd like to add some additional context because I actually work in this field, um, and see the importance and a necessity of this uh this opportunity.

That's exactly what it is.

Um, inside of the Peori County jail, we begin that process when they're arrested.

We're working on rehabilitation.

We're working on um getting their GE GED, providing mental health services, getting them on psychotropic medication so that they can begin that process of change, and then once they go into the Department of Corrections, they have opportunities to continue that growth or that work on change.

The reason why this is important is when we're talking about the reducing the recidivism rate, programming is important and also having a peer group, a a group, a village around you.

My own research has proven that individuals who are released from prison are more successful when they have programming to return to, when they have stable housing, when they don't have to go to someone's house that doesn't want them there, when they are seeking gainful employment.

One of the requirements from this program is mental health, and also they're looking at the whole person.

I'm looking at vocational training.

I went to this location a couple times because I want I'm always checking to see what the environment is like.

Are there homes there?

Are there children there?

What type of population?

You're not talking about you, I know there's an exclusion of individuals that have been convicted of sex offenses, and that's a big concern for people.

Um, but the main thing is understanding that this is the front line of public safety.

That how do we make change if we're not willing to give people the opportunity for change?

Um, I do believe that this is an asset and it's something that this community needs, but most importantly, we can't say that we want to reduce violence, we want to reduce, we wanna, you know, improve the quality of life, but we won't give folks a chance.

We're talking about 12 or 10 to 12 beds for people who otherwise may not have the same chance, may not have the programming.

And and you know, I I talk to people every day.

I just talked to someone who's 34 years old, and I diagnosed him with autism.

How he went throughout the entire school system, sometimes things get missed, sometimes it turns into antisocial personality disorder, turns into a lot of things.

And so when you have people who are willing to step in and provide the support, it's really valuable and it's really rare.

Um teen challenges just down the street, and they've been operating for years and creating these changes.

One of our greatest assets in this community who works in re-entry, graduated from that program 27 years ago.

And so again, I think um this organization has their hand, their their finger on the pulse of this community, and in particular this population.

One more thing I want to add as it relates to people who are paroling to this community.

There are times when there's an individual who may be from another city.

They want to change their lives, they don't want to go back into that environment that was detrimental to them.

And so there are times when they've made relocate relocate to another place.

That's not uncommon.

What I'm hearing from this organization is they're going inside of the prisons, sometimes on a volunteer basis and meeting with people and almost like recruiting individuals who are in programming who are ready for change, and when they get out, they've already developed that relationship, they've already qualified, and the process continues.

So we're starting it in Peoria, and the goal is to end it and to create a new change and a new normal for these individuals.

I applaud your efforts, and I certainly support.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

You're very welcome.

Councilmember Reagan Bott.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I certainly love the concept of what this is and hearing the mental health therapy aspect of it, I think speaks to something that this council has talked about quite a bit.

So it definitely is hitting the nail on the head, if you will.

But to be honest, I never heard of Grow until I saw this on the council agenda.

So you're headquartered in Chicago, is that what I understand?

Yes, sir.

The headquarters is in Chicago.

They've been around since 2012.

They've actually been in Peoria a little bit over a year, and there's a Peori office here as well.

And we have partnerships with the school district, Art Inc., uh, where you have partnerships with uh elite as well.

So we've been doing work with parole here as well, also with probation.

That being adult and juvenile, and working with uh kids starting at age five and working with adults up to at least 65.

You're certainly again um attached with some of the organizations that we all have a lot of respect for.

So that speaks highly of your efforts, I think, as well.

Um I was part of that group that toured that building with the mayor back in January.

Yes.

And um it is gonna take millions of dollars is what's the financial, I mean, I don't expect you, I don't know your role with the organization, but are they is the organization parent organization aware of the condition of that building?

I'm not at liberty to answer that question.

I'm I'm a therapeutic mentor.

Okay.

Because that is that's we were looking for opportunities for other organizations to step up in the in the unsheltered space, and that was one of the buildings that have been recommended to us.

And we we just walked away shaking our heads with the amount of work it takes.

If we were to defer this for two weeks, would that what kind of impact would that have on the um future moving forward on this?

Would that be something that would be acceptable?

Because I think there needs to be a little more um assurance from that the organization understands what they're doing, and just to make the council members like myself who weren't familiar with your outreach in Peoria to get acquainted and sit down and have a cup of coffee, if you will.

Absolutely deferral.

Absolutely.

You want to make that motion to defer to the next council meeting?

Yes, that's uh move to defer this item until the December 8th meeting.

Seconded by Council Member Euler.

Um we have a deferral a motion to defer, and we have some more commentary.

Can I go ahead with the commentary council?

Do we need to vote on the deferral first?

Per the local rule on deferrals, council can direct staff about additional items to develop between now and the next meeting related to you know the discussion, but it's supposed to end the debate on the matter.

So it's just the deferral and what additional elements beyond the financial reality and investment required and the clientele uh or origins that councilman Oiler asked if there's any other questions that need to be developed, that's appropriate.

Thank you.

Okay.

So I mean, I don't think you can guarantee that everyone from the organization or everyone uh who's going to live there is originally from Peoria.

I I can't see that you can or will guarantee that.

But I think intent, if there's an intent uh that the majority are from the area, I think maybe you can express that.

Sure, but I don't think we can hold you to every everyone you know who resides there is originally from Peoria.

I I just can't see that happening.

Okay.

Um Madam Mayor, can you hold on for a second?

Did you want to say something?

I just wanted to tell you we are always aware of the situation of the building.

I went only about thousand times myself.

So they we we don't ask for no money to find a building.

Okay, yeah.

I need to we need to vote on the deferral.

We have a motion to defer and a second.

Please cast your ballots.

Motion is approved, and this will be deferred until uh November the 28th, Tuesday, November the 28th.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

December 9th, Mayor.

I'm sorry.

December 8th.

December 9th.

When is it?

December 9th is our next city council meeting.

Oh, I thought we were doing it two weeks from now.

We're doing a month.

Yeah, we moved it because of the holiday.

Okay.

We're in an off week.

Yeah.

Because we would have met next week if it wasn't.

No more council meetings this month.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk.

25-335 is a communication from the city manager and director of community development with a request to concur with recommendation from staff to adopt an ordinance rezoning property from a class 01 arterial office district to class C2 large scale commercial district and approve a special use in a class C to large scale commercial district for a research testing and development laboratory for the property located at 2601 West Richwoods Avenue, Peoria, Illinois.

Madam Manager.

Thank you.

Um again, we have Lee Allison here to speak on this item.

One thing I wanna like to just say up front.

This project that we have in front of you today is something that I would say is why it's important for us to continue to work with our small businesses as a startup out of Peoria.

I was gonna say Peoria next.

There have been looking for a graduation space for the last three years.

So since I started, uh they have been looking for a location, and they needed a very particular type of space in order to grow their business and grow their organization and their needs.

And the fact that we've been able to, they were able to work with us, helping them find a location and stay within Peoria as they expand their business.

So I just want to acknowledge that this is very exciting to see that they are able to stay within Peoria as they continue to grow as a company and provide some additional services that we may not see directly, but as for the industry for which they served you.

And so I'm I will hand it back over to Aliy Allison to speak to the reason why we're in front of you today.

But as for the business, I am just so excited to see that we're able to find a location for them to expand into and stay in Peoria and grow.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anything to add, Director Allison?

Yeah, I madam managers said it well.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I can answer any questions to explain the yellow paper.

And I apologize, it's the same.

We had the public hearing for this case yesterday, which wasn't available for your packet as it went out.

So the update is the planning and zoning commission's review and vote to approve unanimously for this two-part rezoning and special use.

This is also a district one.

Yes.

Councilwoman Jackson.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I just had one question.

Uh manager, assistant manager Richardson talked about expansion, uh, which we are exited about.

Um does this mean I I see they are listed as having 10 to 12 employees now.

Is that uh on top of what they already had, or are they adding more or that would be their additional, so the 12 will include what they currently have.

So that'll be the total.

Okay, all right.

Well, uh, it sounds like it's a wonderful um opportunity to help a small business, especially uh if it means keeping them here in Peoria and doing the research work that uh this particular group does.

So if there are no questions, Madam Mayor, I would like to make a motion that item 25-335 be approved.

Is there a second?

Second by councilwoman uh Gordon Young.

Uh questions, comments?

Councilmember Kelly.

Uh thank you, Madam Mayor.

Um perhaps it was some sort of an error, but I believe when this was read by our clerk, she said that this was to be on Richwoods Boulevard.

And the um packet and and the correction also uh says uh Forest Hill.

That's what I uh figured.

Is there a confusion here or just I I don't know what happened here who can provide clarify clarity?

Uh Director Allison.

The correct address is is the 2601 West Forest.

Forest Hill, yes.

Now I'm starting to doubt myself.

That is the correct address, which is what 2601 West Forest, not Richwoods Avenue.

Right.

So that is a typo well and that's what was in.

Okay.

Uh thank you very much, madam mayor.

Good find.

Uh, with that correction, uh, we have a motion and a second.

Please cash your ballots.

Motion passes unanimously.

Madam Clark.

25-336 is a communication from the city manager and corporation council with a request to adopt an ordinance amending chapter 21 parks and public grounds.

Council Hayes.

I'd like to defer to uh city attorney Mosson Perkins on this mayor.

Thank you.

For once in my life, I had to raise the microphone.

Good evening, Council.

Madam Mayor, thank you for the floor again.

It's a pleasure to be in front of you.

Um, this is an ordinance in front of you, amending chapter 21, uh parks and public grounds.

It's regarding filming in the city of Peoria on parks and public grounds, specifically streets, sidewalks, places that the city would have a concern of safety.

Um the reason this chapter is being modified is it's being a it's piggybacking on the process we currently have in place for public events.

But filming is its own beast, so therefore there are changes or additions to the code within this chapter that are being proposed in front of you today.

Uh part of it is the application process would be slightly different.

The insurance and bond requirements would be slightly different, and there's a carve out for student films as we acknowledge that student films might not have the same budget as uh large scale production.

There are local incentives of putting this process in place within our code, including attracting temporary workers, uh spending at local businesses and benefiting the municipal economy in general.

The policy in place would help with the safety and security of our citizens, and it would help coordinate city services for production companies looking to film with Impeoria.

Now I know what you're thinking.

Why put this process in place?

Well, Stacey Peterson has received a communication or two from product producers asking and inquiring about filming in Peoria.

While bigger cities like Chicago have a process in place, we're looking to also put that process in place to mirror cities similar in size, like Rockford and Champaign, who also have processes in place.

There is also a tax credit for producers in Illinois in 2008, the General Assembly passed the Illinois Film Production Tax Credit Act, offering producers a credit of 30% of qualified expenditures, including post-production.

So because of this tax credit that has existed for a while, putting this policy in place for Peoria might attract potential producers to see that we have a process, and our ducks are essentially in a row to track that kind of business.

Any questions?

Council Perkins, how do our fees, the application fees for filming permits?

How do they compare to say champagnes?

I don't want to use Chicago, but how do they compare the champagne?

Well, very similar.

So we mimicked the fees similar to our public uh events, um, so they're very comparable with that respect.

Um, there is a carve out for uh 30 days or less if an application is received.

The only reason being is that city staff does go through an extensive public events process.

Um there are a lot of departments that need to be involved, and with the time crunch and everyone having to drop everything to address uh fairly short time request.

Um we felt like that additional fee was warranted.

Would this include, I mean, like riverfront property?

It could potentially mayor, it would be application.

Each application would be addressed on its face, and there is a spot in the application per location that's being requested.

So city staff would acknowledge each location location and dates.

Okay.

I'm just thinking about people.

Well, I mean, are we talking about professional films?

Correct directors or just your lay people?

Professionals, just professionals.

Okay.

That's better.

Otherwise, it's yeah.

Okay.

Councilmember Allen.

Uh thank you, Madam Mayor.

Uh, me and you were on the same wavelength because I was thinking about how do we determine who's professional versus who's out there with the iPhone, maybe being a content creator.

And so uh, how are we determining that and maybe going up to them and reminding them that they may need that permit uh just to avoid any confusion?

Yeah.

So a lot of our concern comes with blocking streets, right?

Um, so if there is a blockage of some sort on city property, that would need to be addressed through our permit process.

We don't necessarily or the intent is not to define what is professional and what is not.

There are large-scale productions filmed on iPhones.

Um, we've seen multiple movies done so recently.

So that's not the intent of this process.

It's mostly to find a way to make it safe and secure for the citizens while this filming is occurring.

So if someone is essentially setting up a uh a set essentially that would be considered you know and they're impeding on people getting around or moving around the sidewalks or anything like that but someone out there with an iPhone maybe shooting some content, you know, we wouldn't look to uh enforce them for enforce this on them.

We would hope they would go through our process before they start and I know what you're thinking might not always happen but um that's why we have police officers and community development to help regulate that.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you Madam Mayor you're welcome thank you council Parkinson does anybody want to make a motion councilmember Rigamba moved.

Okay.

Second by council member Allen continued discussion or questions uh council member kelly I was I just punch the button to make the motion madam mayor okay all right um councilmember thank you madam mayor I was just gonna say I think this is this this um could potentially open up the opportunity to get Peoria out there more often and um if if producers realize that that we are welcoming that opportunity um so I'm I'm glad to see this being put in place so that when the opportunity comes we know how to address it and we're not gonna be caught flat footed if you will so thank you please cash your ballots motion passes unanimously thank you madam clerk 25-337 is a communication from the city manager and finance director comptroller with request to receive and file the month ended September 30th 2025 and audited financial report I'm sorry um yep madam manager yes ma'am uh I will hand it over to our finance director Kyle Crady uh thank you madam manager um in front of you tonight is the uh month ended September 30th financials um the kind of story is gonna be very similar to what you've heard from me the last few months um we do have uh revenues down about 1.6 percent compared to expected budget um the the main driver as to why we're seeing that is really um when we get into this process during the budget it's always a little difficult to have a uh assessment of when we're gonna receive um our state grant reimbursements um so if you look if you're further in the document and you look at the general fund we're lower than expected on our state sources um and that's really driven by just a timing factor when it comes to us receiving those state grants um because we continue to see strong sales tax as well as income tax receipts um I think the other good piece of news is that we the the revenues are up 1.6 percent year to year to date versus last year um so we are still seeing a a positive growth trend um in our revenues this year um on the expense side um also good news we're down about three percent compared to budget um and then compared to last year we're down 11.6 percent I think that can sound like a very large number but I think what it needs to be put in context with this is um that was really the end of our ARPA spending and we had a lot of expenditures ARPA related that occurred um during that time period so that's really why you've seen a drop off in the expenses in the general fund.

And you know I think from an overall standpoint um having gone through the the budget process the council approved at the last meeting um nothing in this report is is uh moving or altering what we had told council we would end uh the this year with that I'm available if council has any specific questions council members thank you madam mayor I just got a couple questions and I just need to be I heard you're I think you're have answered my question already but I need to be reassured when I look at page nine of 10 uh and I understand our budget is not a linear budget but on their revenues year to date the actual we're up 76 million dollars the uh budget was 124 million dollars we're about or short and and I mean this is the end of the third quarter so we've got one quarter left so we're averaging on revenues about 25 million dollars a quarter and I like I said I know this is not linear but we're 48 million dollars away from your production I just need to be reassured a little bit that you feel comfortable uh for the last quarter will we'll generate generate about 48 million dollars in revenues.

I just need to be reassured a little bit that you feel comfortable uh for the last quarter will we'll generate generate about 48 million dollars in revenues.

Yeah, so I your point is exactly the case.

Uh our revenues and how we do it.

It is linear in the sense of uh it is pretty common in terms of how it works, but it's not linear in terms of equal percentages quarter by quarter.

Um so really that first quarter of the year, we don't get and we don't recognize most of our state sales taxes or our local our local sales taxes.

Um we don't also recognize a lot of our income tax receipts because really we have to look at the intended quarter.

Um so what you find is in that last quarter of the year, yes, we have those three months that we'll collect as part of kind of the the normal course, but we also have in some cases with state sales tax an additional three months we collect in the or we recognize in the last quarter, so six total um total months um and then two more months of state income tax.

Um so usually we see that quarter being, and I think to your point, it's sometimes being close to half of our receipt of our revenue during the year.

So that's why I I still feel comfortable saying to council that we're gonna be on course with um what we laid out in the budget.

So same question for uh below they're on the expenditures.

We're at $88 million.

We got our 20, so we're $38 million away.

I know you have more control on the expenditure side.

Same question.

Yeah, so the the I would say the expenses are a little bit more linear.

The one thing that we'll run into at year end is we do accrue back some expenditures, especially payroll that really make that last quarter have a lish a little bit of additional um expenditure.

The other part that is baked into this uh kind of numbers is our large we pay the existing debt for the civic center out of the general fund.

Um we have our principal payments that occur at the end of the year.

Um so that is the a larger piece of expense that does show up in here.

Um, but we do take that into account with our assumption that that would be spent in the fourth quarter.

But overall, um I we are trending in a place to to be below budget on our expenses.

Thank you, sir.

Last question would be on page uh nine, I believe, last page, or 10 of 10, I should say.

Yeah.

So I'm always concerned a little bit when we spend more money that we take in.

And there's about three or four accounts that are that way for last quarter.

And uh on the ending fund balance, there's only a couple now.

I mean, I'm not gonna talk about refuse.

I know we're on the garbage, we're on our way to pay that off.

But tell us a little bit about the hospitality uh TIFF and uh the other one was the health care.

Where are we in the negative on these two accounts?

Um so uh quickly with the hospitality TIFF.

Um, council may remember that um when we extended the hospitality TIFF a few years ago, I believe it was back in 2021.

Uh the main reason was for us to re-amortize our debt.

Um previously our debt uh payment each year was around two and a half million dollars.

We were able to refinance it with the extension of the TIFF down to about a million and a half.

Um so what we're seeing is and it's not gonna be necessarily an overnight process, um, but we're working our way towards getting that that fund back to zero.

It's just gonna be a number of years.

Um as we start to see growth and we start to see some of the development that was discussed tonight that will help expedite um some of that recovery.

But that is a that's a fund that we are gonna be a little bit more long term and getting back to zero.

Um in terms of health care.

Um, you know, I as I talked about during the budget process, it's been a very difficult year for us in terms of our health care losses.

I think it's a pretty consistent theme you're hearing across the country.

Um, and so our uh health care costs just on medical this year up almost four million dollars year over year.

Um so we are on pace to uh be close to break even this year.

The real difference is we sit here today is we are self-insured, so we have to work with a third-party reinsurer for our large losses, and that has to go through a process where we pay it and they reimburse us.

So some of this is some of those large claimants and not getting our reimbursement payments yet, but by the time we get through the end of the year, those will be recognized as revenue.

And last question, I'm sorry, madam mayor.

Um I want to talk to uh to you about the accuracy of some of these numbers here.

I know you have to make some changes uh during the budget session.

Uh the two I'm looking at right now, I just want to make sure these numbers are accurate for OPEB and the stormwater utility, the account balance.

The account balance.

I know they had you have to make some correction, and they now accurate.

So the OPEP fund is accurate, uh, inclusive of the existing loans that are that are part of the OPEP fund.

So that number is accurate.

Um with the stormwater, if you remember correctly, part of that discussion was around the kind of how fund balance is described in uh business type activities or enterprise funds.

The previous number included uh non-liquid assets.

The the change in this is only recognizing in essence cash or liquid assets.

So that's really to I think that's a better indicator of available resources.

So that was the correction on that report.

Thank you very much, Director Craddy.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

You're very welcome.

Do you want to make a motion?

Move to approve uh the uh what is that called?

Uh move to approve the month 10 budget or financial report.

I should call it called the financial report.

Receive and file.

Receive and file, the financial report.

Thank you, madam mayor.

Second by council member Allen.

Any other questions or comments?

Please cash your ballots.

Motion passes unanimously.

Thank you, Director Craddy.

Madam Clerk.

We are at unfinished business.

None.

None.

Then we're on to new business.

I I have a question on a new business.

Uh will you just remind us when the dates for the remaining council meetings for the rest of this year?

I believe we just have one more.

That would be December 9th.

Is that correct?

Correct.

Okay.

December 9th.

And there's no more after.

All right, Councilmember Regenbach.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Um, I received an email from a constituent um last week, just with daylight savings time taking place and talking about pedestrian safety and bicycle safety, and just reminding those people that are riding bikes at dusk that um cars oftentimes don't see them.

So proper lighting is essential for their safety as well as those pedestrians along the way.

So you just want to encourage people to be aware of that.

Um, uh Director Dooland, thank you for the emails this week about um continuum of care funding.

And I'm not I'm not sure how much um we want to get into that right now, but could you just give us kind of a highlight and just it it's it sounds like it's potentially catastrophic for us as we deal with the unsheltered issue here in Peoria.

Uh yes, sir.

Thank you, uh Mayor and Council.

So uh the continuum of care, uh, as you all are know is kind of the umbrella organization representing kind of all the social service agencies and local government, our community.

Uh that is kind of uh years ago what the federal government wanted to do is the pass through for federal funds.

Uh last week they reduced uh they released their updated NOFO uh which uh outlines their uh spending uh requirements and the plan going forward.

Um, due to the government shutdown, it's a little late getting released uh and it shortened the window from 90 days to 60 days.

So it's actually uh going to be due back to the federal government uh in early January.

Uh the continuum governing board, which the city is a part of with a multitude of other organizations, actually met earlier this week to kind of discuss the various changes in that uh notice of funding opportunity.

I think the area of changes that we'll see the biggest impact is a shift uh uh priority from the federal government uh from permanent supportive housing services uh to transitional housing services.

So transitional housing services uh is something where uh people who are going to live in there have a time requirement uh of 24 months where permanent supportive housing is kind of the uh housing first model where you provide housing and then you provide services through that process.

Uh the transitional housing has some additional requirements for people who are uh utilizing it.

In addition, they changed the formula a bit.

Uh historically, about 90% of the funding the continuum gets as the pass through, which is a little over $2 million.

About 90% of that was pretty much guaranteed that they would get.

Uh, that is shifted and changed to where 30% of that amount is guaranteed.

And then the other 70 goes back into a competitive grant process.

Uh so uh and of that 30% that is now guaranteed, only 30% of that can go to permanent supportive housing.

Um I think that uh Kate Green with the continuum of care and all the nonprofit partners are trying to really still understand the impact of what that would like look locally.

Um, but we know we have about 250 permanent supportive housing units in our area.

Uh you're talking Glenhaven, I mean Glendale Commons, uh Madison 3, uh the Dream Center, um, Goodwill, Center for Prevention of Use, all have money from this um continuum of care, permanent supportive housing.

So they're gonna have to make a decision if they're going to transition those units to transitional housing, uh, which would then add an additional timeline for residents to be able to use it.

They could no longer be in there uh indefinitely, they'd be down there for two years and then kind of shift out of that housing.

Uh and so it could have uh very, very large impacts for our community.

Uh unfortunately, too, due to the timing.

Uh some of these funds uh run out in March.

Uh similar to how we handle our federal funds.

Uh sometimes when the federal government doesn't approve things very quickly, uh, we can still move forward because their entitlement grants that we know we could get funding and paid back for, like our CWG home, those type of funds.

We know we'll get paid back because uh we at least have the allocation, even if we might not have the funds in place.

Uh because of the timing of these in March, uh, they don't know if they'll be approved to essentially switch them from permanent supporting to transitional housing.

So you could see uh them having to make a decision on what to do with those units uh before the funding final funding decision is even made.

So um I'll keep count continuing to keep council updated as the continuum of care keeps working through this issues.

I think our social service agencies are gonna have to go back to their boards and make a decision of what they're going to do in the future.

Uh there's additional requirements with the funding that your organization has to agree to, um, and they'll have to make those decisions as well if they're gonna pursue that.

So um it could have a large impact.

As I said, 250 units for our most vulnerable population uh will be a very large thing for our community.

Um and I think the continuum will still kind of work on how to navigate that situation as they prepare for the NOFO.

Uh and if the federal government makes any changes related to it.

Thank you, I guess.

You get more than you bargain for but I it's hard to wrap your arms around this when you think about the last 14 months.

We've been working to find ways to increase permanent supportive housing.

That that's been the clog in the system by many accounts, and we need more permanent supportive housing.

Yes.

And that opens up the transitional housing and and the emergency shelters and on down the line.

So to suddenly have the federal government pull the rug out from under us on permanent supportive housing.

This this is this is a pause and think hard moment for communities around the country.

Not just Peoria, but for us, we're talking about 250 units.

So if you have a relationship with Congressman Lahood or Sorensen or our senators, we need to make them aware of the significance of these changes.

And we're struggling as it is.

We still have 50 ish people unsheltered, let alone at least so um this is this is a very dire warning.

And Director Dillon, thank you for keeping us up to date so far, and again, appreciate the updates as you get them from the continuum.

Thank you, Madam Carey.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Allen.

Uh thank you, Madam Mayor.

Uh friendly reminder, just for the listening public, uh, tomorrow from 6 to 7, I'll be hosting a uh information session via Zoom about uh the business development district proposal happening at Glen Hollow uh shopping center in District 4.

Um, if you would like to attend that meeting, you can access the Zoom link registration uh information via the City of Peoria's website.

Just click on view all events and you'll see it listed uh there.

You can register and then you'll get the um information in your email, and you can join us tomorrow.

Uh we're excited.

We have uh representation from our economic development staff that will be doing an overview of what a business development district is, uh, be able to answer any questions, comments, concerns any participants may have, and hopefully uh we'll be able to uh feel a little bit better about this potential proposal.

So look forward to engaging and educating people tomorrow, and hopefully we have a good turnout.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

You're welcome.

That's great.

Councilmember Kelly.

Uh thank you, Madam Mayor.

Uh Director Dooland, could you step back up, please?

I was not aware uh uh Councilman Riggenbach of these changes.

I was not aware uh Councilman Riggenbach of these changes.

Um the folks who are currently in permanent housing.

Um does the clock start on 24 months for those folks.

Uh that's a good question.

Uh, I don't think that's completely clear yet.

Uh that's some of the clarification the continuum is trying to seek to see if it's uh the clock starts new as the new funding cycle, and that's the 24 months, or if you look historically, if they've been in kind of new new hope apartments, for example, for four or five years, uh, has their 24 months passed.

Uh, we're not entirely sure about that yet.

Okay, thank you.

Yeah, thank you, madam mayor.

You're welcome.

Madam Clerk.

We are at Citizens Opportunity to address the city council, and I believe we have one.

We have one card.

Uh Miss Dusty Moultrie.

Good evening.

My name is Dusty Moultrie.

Sorry about my dress.

I had grandmother duties at dance tonight before I came.

Um, I am coming because I did a presentation in front of the safety committee and the mayor on Friday, and I am a licensed clinical social worker.

I am a therapist.

I am a passionate Peoria native who moved for nine years, and I'm coming home.

And one of my passions is youth.

And I seen the guys from Grow come in here, and I got kind of excited because those are my old peers from youth farm back in the day when we used to work there.

So I know those guys have been working also with the community with kids at risk for a long time.

What I'm bringing and proposing to the community is something that I have researched and looked that we're not yet addressing.

The youth's behavior in the community is not just a child's problem, it's a family problem.

Generally, youth don't develop violence and behaviors on their own.

It comes from within the home.

What I've done in the past nine years in San Antonio is work with probation schools, judges, to provide therapy, evidence-based models, because what you find in Miss Young can probably say is research-based models, evidence-based models, suggest that when you go to the family for these problems, and you develop the connection problems, the communication problems, the problems within their home.

Oftentimes, maybe there's already been violence in the home.

That's the first place where they see it.

And you can repair some of these things within the home.

You have better outcomes, and you can do this through evidence-based models.

I work for an agency called Vision Quest.

They've been doing this in San Antonio for the past 12 years.

I fortunately have had the opportunity to be a part of this for the past nine of those 12 years.

We are shown to reduce recidivism, create connection, and it's a model that runs coinciding with a lot of these great programs that Peoria already has.

The missing piece is going in the home and repairing the family.

I heard a lot about re-entry tonight, too.

Having those kids when they come out of placements or you know, IDOC for youth, and they come home, they still come home to the family that they had the problem with before they left.

We do that.

We connect them, we reconnect, and we make the relationships better because you can put a band-aid on a child through therapy, but they still got to go home.

And so, what I'm asking tonight is let me sit at your table with you for a little bit, and let me tell you about the program, because I truly have a passion about this community.

I've been in front of you guys for a lexus multiple times, but I'm here about the whole community, and I really want to come back home and I want to bring my experience and I really want to make a difference.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Moultrie.

Madam Clerk.

We are at executive session.

I would like to invite a motion to adjourn and to convene in closed session immediately following adjournment of the city council meeting, pursuant to the Open Meetings Act 5ILCS 122C2 to discuss collective negotiating matters between the city and its employees or their representatives.

Pursuant to the Open Meetings Act 5ILCS 122 C11 to discuss pending litigation.

And pursuant to the Open Meetings Act 5ILCS 122C21 for approval by the body of closed session minutes.

Can I get a motion move by Councilmember Sears, seconded by Council Member Allen?

Please cast your ballots.

Thank you for your service.