OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Peoria City Council Meeting – December 9, 2025: Final Meeting of the Year

City Council Meetings — Tuesday, December 9, 2025
BodyPeoria, Illinois
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateTuesday, December 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:08:40

Transcript — Verbatim
0:47

Yes, ma'am.

0:48

That's all.

0:48

Yes, ma'am.

0:49

It'll tell you.

0:50

That's speaking.

0:51

Yes, that's on.

2:42

So the same thing as my shoulders.

2:44

I was like this material.

2:51

Two of them need to be replaced.

3:24

Good evening, everyone.

3:27

It is six oh three PM on Tuesday, December ninth, twenty twenty-five.

3:33

I'd like to welcome everyone present in our historic city council chambers.

3:38

I'd also like to welcome everyone in our city council.

3:42

Um excuse me, as who's watching on Cable Channel Twenty Two and the Peoria YouTube channel.

3:53

Madam Clerk, Council Mics are open.

3:55

Please call the roll.

3:59

Mayor Alley.

4:00

Present.

4:01

Councilmember Allen.

4:02

Present.

4:03

Councilmember Carmona.

4:05

Here.

4:06

Councilmember Sear.

4:08

Here.

4:09

Councilmember Gordon Young.

4:11

Present.

4:12

Councilmember Jackson.

4:14

Here.

4:15

Councilmember Kelly.

4:16

Here.

4:18

Councilmember Oiler.

4:19

Here.

4:20

Councilmember Wiggenbach?

4:22

Here.

4:23

Councilmember Valpola.

4:25

Present.

4:26

Councilmember Vespa.

4:28

Here.

4:29

Madam Mayor, we have a quorum present.

4:31

Excellent.

4:32

Everyone is here.

4:33

This is our final meeting of City Council meeting of twenty twenty-five, and we have quite a full agenda tonight.

4:41

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

5:14

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

5:27

Madam Clerk.

5:30

We are at proclamations.

5:32

We have one proclamation tonight, and it is the 125th anniversary of Family Corps.

5:42

I'd like to ask Family Corps CEO and Lading Ferguson, Family Corps Chief Program Officer, Ron Tyler, Family Corps President of the Board of Directors, Todd Hasty, and Family Corps's first vice president of the Family Corps Board of Directors.

6:10

Thank you all for joining us tonight.

6:15

We're as originally known as Associated Charities and Philanthropies.

6:33

And we're as established as Associate Charities and Philanthropies in the Assembly Room of Peoria City Hall in 1900.

6:44

The agency has operated as Family Corps since 2010.

6:49

It has also been known as the Family Welfare Association of Peoria, Child and Family Services, Counseling and Family Service, and Counseling and Family Services.

7:02

I remember all those names.

7:05

No matter the name, Family Corps has consistently evolved to meet the needs of families while remaining rooted in its founding values.

7:16

And whereas Family Corps provides services to 19,164 clients and families every year.

7:26

The agency works with schools, the court system, and other social service agencies to connect counseling, intervention, preventative education, and other support services, such as assistance with adoption and foster care, single parent services, and youth outreach.

7:46

Whereas Family Corps plans to continue its mission of instilling hope by creating the right balance of resources and care to foster and equip equip healthy, productive children and families.

8:00

And whereas as the agency commemorates its 125th anniversary of service, the city of Peoria congratulates Family Corps on its continued efforts to promote safe environments for children and families.

8:15

Now, therefore, I read Ali, Mayor of the City of Peoria, Illinois, do hereby celebrate the 125th anniversary of Family Corps in Peoria, Illinois.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████24%
Economic Development██████████████████18%
Public Engagement█████████████████17%
Public Works███████████████15%
Fiscal Sustainability███████7%
Racial Equity███████7%
Public Safety████4%
Miscellaneous████4%
Personnel Matters████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Peoria City Council Meeting – December 9, 2025

The Peoria City Council held its final meeting of 2025 on Tuesday, December 9, at 6:03 PM. The meeting included a proclamation, approval of minutes, township items, and a consent agenda with several items pulled for discussion and separate votes. Key topics included forgiveness of debt owed by Exposition Gardens, extension of the Joint Commission on Racial Justice and Equity, a new lobbyist contract, a union collective bargaining agreement, and creation of a business development district for Glen Hollow.

Proclamations

  • The council recognized the 125th anniversary of Family Corps (formerly Associated Charities and Philanthropies), which serves 19,164 clients annually. Family Corps CEO Lading Ferguson, Chief Program Officer Ron Tyler, Board President Todd Hasty, and First Vice President accepted the proclamation.

Consent Calendar

  • The following items were approved unanimously without discussion:
    • Approval of minutes from the November 18, 2025 joint city council/town board meeting.
    • Township item 25-338: Approval of November 2025 actual and December 2025 anticipated expenditures for the Town of Peoria.
    • Consent agenda items 25-339 (2026 regular meeting schedule), 25-342 (program manager services for transportation, construction, sewer, solid waste, and stormwater – total $9,875,000), 25-345 (appointments to Sister City Commission), and 25-347 (appointment of Jarrell Glass, Angela Weck, Abigail Appleton, and Timothy Doyle to Sister City Commission).

Discussion Items

  • Item 25-340 – Release of Debt Owed by Exposition Gardens Incorporated

    • Councilmember Sear moved to deny forgiveness, arguing the city should not write off the debt (over $450,000). The motion failed 6-5 (nays: Jackson, Riggenbach, Euler, Gordon Young, Allen, and Oiler; ayes: Velpula, Kelly, Sear, Carmona, Vespa, and Ali – note: Mayor Ali voted no on the motion to deny).
    • A subsequent motion to approve the debt forgiveness (Euler, seconded by Riggenbach) passed 6-5 (nays: Velpula, Kelly, Sear, Carmona, Vespa; ayes: Jackson, Riggenbach, Euler, Gordon Young, Allen, Oiler, and Ali). The city manager explained the debt is likely uncollectible due to Exposition Gardens' insolvency and that the bank had already forgiven its portion.

  • Item 25-341 – Two-Year Charter Extension for Joint Commission on Racial Justice and Equity

    • Councilmember Allen recused himself due to his employment with Peoria County. The commission has produced annual reports but some councilmembers requested more tangible outcomes. The motion to approve passed with one nay (Carmona) and one abstention (Allen).

  • Item 25-343 – Contract with Government Consulting Solutions as City Lobbyist

    • The contract is $7,500 per month for four lobbyists. The city manager noted the need for representation in Springfield beyond the local legislative delegation. The motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 25-344 – Collective Bargaining Agreement with Mechanical Systems Maintenance Local 353

    • The contract runs from December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2029, and includes a residency requirement change from 20 to 25 miles. Councilmembers Euler and Carmona opposed the expanded residency. The motion passed 7-2 (nays: Euler, Carmona).

  • Item 25-346 – Glen Hollow Business Development District

    • The package includes three ordinances: approving a business district plan, designating the district, and imposing a 1% retailer's occupation tax and service occupation tax. Councilmember Carmona moved to defer until a citywide policy for such districts is established, but the motion failed (nays: Valpula, Jackson, Riggenbach, Euler, Gordon Young, Vespa, Allen, and Ali).
    • After debate, the council approved each ordinance separately on 8-3 votes (nays: Kelly, Carmona, Sear). Supporters argued the tool is needed to retain and attract retail, while opponents cited the burden on taxpayers and potential for abuse.

Key Outcomes

  • Debt forgiveness for Exposition Gardens was approved (6-5).
  • Joint Commission on Racial Justice and Equity charter extended for two years (approved with one nay).
  • Lobbyist contract with Government Consulting Solutions approved (unanimous).
  • Union contract with Local 353 approved (7-2).
  • Glen Hollow Business Development District ordinances approved (8-3 each).
  • All other consent agenda items approved unanimously.

The meeting concluded with no further business.

Meeting Transcript

Yes, ma'am. That's all. Yes, ma'am. It'll tell you. That's speaking. Yes, that's on. So the same thing as my shoulders. I was like this material. Two of them need to be replaced. Good evening, everyone. It is six oh three PM on Tuesday, December ninth, twenty twenty-five. I'd like to welcome everyone present in our historic city council chambers. I'd also like to welcome everyone in our city council. Um excuse me, as who's watching on Cable Channel Twenty Two and the Peoria YouTube channel. Madam Clerk, Council Mics are open. Please call the roll. Mayor Alley. Present. Councilmember Allen. Present. Councilmember Carmona. Here. Councilmember Sear. Here. Councilmember Gordon Young. Present. Councilmember Jackson. Here. Councilmember Kelly. Here. Councilmember Oiler. Here. Councilmember Wiggenbach? Here. Councilmember Valpola. Present. Councilmember Vespa. Here. Madam Mayor, we have a quorum present. Excellent. Everyone is here. This is our final meeting of City Council meeting of twenty twenty-five, and we have quite a full agenda tonight. Everyone, please join me and stand for a moment of silent prayer, our silent reflection, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Madam Clerk. We are at proclamations. We have one proclamation tonight, and it is the 125th anniversary of Family Corps. I'd like to ask Family Corps CEO and Lading Ferguson, Family Corps Chief Program Officer, Ron Tyler, Family Corps President of the Board of Directors, Todd Hasty, and Family Corps's first vice president of the Family Corps Board of Directors. Thank you all for joining us tonight. We're as originally known as Associated Charities and Philanthropies.

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