OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Peoria City Council Meeting: December 11, 2025 (Transcript Dated Dec 9)

City Council Meetings — Thursday, December 11, 2025
BodyPeoria, Illinois
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateThursday, December 11, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:38:52

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good evening, everyone.

0:05

It is 6.03 p.m.

0:07

on Tuesday, December 9th, 2025.

0:11

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

0:17

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

0:20

Um, as who's watching on Cable Channel 22 and the Peoria YouTube channel.

0:31

Madam Clerk, Council Mics are open.

0:34

Please call the roll.

0:37

Mayor Ali.

0:38

Present.

0:39

Councilmember Allen.

0:41

Present.

0:42

Councilmember Carmona.

0:44

Here.

0:44

Councilmember Sear.

0:46

Here.

0:47

Councilmember Gordon Young.

0:49

Present.

0:50

Councilmember Jackson.

0:52

Here.

0:53

Councilmember Kelly.

0:55

Here.

0:56

Councilmember Euler.

0:57

Here.

0:58

Councilmember Riggenbach.

1:00

Here.

1:01

Councilmember Valpula.

1:03

Present.

1:04

Councilmember Vespa.

1:06

Here.

1:07

Madam Mayor, we have a quorum presence.

1:10

Excellent.

1:10

Everyone is here.

1:11

This is our final meeting of City Council meeting of 2025, and we have quite a full agenda tonight.

1:20

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

2:06

Madam Clerk.

2:08

We are at proclamations.

2:10

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

2:20

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.

2:44

First Vice President.

2:48

Thank you all for joining us tonight.

2:53

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

3:11

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

3:22

The agency has operated as Family Corps since 2010.

3:27

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.

3:41

I remember all those names.

3:43

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

3:54

And whereas Family Corps provides services to 19,0164 clients and families every year.

4:04

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.

4:24

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.

4:38

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.

4:53

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

5:14

Mayor Lee and County members, we want to thank you on behalf of Family Corps, the Board of Directors, and all the employees for recognizing this wonderful anniversary that we have, but it started here in this building, which we really appreciate.

5:30

Not only the visionary leaders in the 1900s, but the visionary leaders that are still here today this evening and all of you seeing the needs in the community.

5:38

So thank you for the partnership.

5:40

You're welcome.

5:40

Thank you for all that you do for our community.

5:54

Madam Clerk.

5:56

We are at the approval of the minutes.

6:00

Councilmember Regenbach.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement██████████████14%
Economic Development█████████████13%
Procedural█████████9%
Homelessness████████8%
Public Works███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis██████6%
Public Safety██████6%
Arts And Culture██████6%
Community Engagement█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Peoria City Council Meeting – December 11, 2025

Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was held on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, but the system-provided date of December 11, 2025 is used per instructions. This discrepancy is noted for accuracy.

The City Council held its final meeting of 2025 with a full agenda, covering a proclamation, consent items, several contested agenda items, a major donation agreement, legislative priorities, and a deferred special use permit. Numerous items were pulled from the consent calendar for discussion, resulting in split votes on debt forgiveness, business development districts, and a labor contract.

Proclamation

  • Celebrated the 125th anniversary of Family Corps (originally Associated Charities and Philanthropies, founded in 1900 in Peoria City Hall). The agency serves over 19,000 clients annually with counseling, intervention, and support services. Council members thanked Family Corps leadership.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of the joint city council and town board meeting (Nov 18, 2025) approved unanimously.
  • Township expenditures for November/December 2025 approved unanimously.
  • Several items were removed from consent (25-340, 25-341, 25-343, 25-344, 25-346) and debated individually. Remaining consent items (25-339, 25-342, 25-345, 25-347) were approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

25-340: Release of Exposition Gardens Debt

  • The item requested forgiveness of approximately $480,000 in stormwater utility debt owed by Exposition Gardens, Inc., a non-profit that operated the Heart of Illinois Fair. The city acquired the property through foreclosure after a prior agreement fell through. Corporation Counsel Hayes explained the debt was likely uncollectible and the bank had already forgiven its portion.
  • Councilmember Sear moved to deny forgiveness, arguing accountability and potential future liability. Council members Euler, Allen, and others countered that the debt is uncollectible and continued pursuit would cost taxpayers more. Councilmember Kelly supported denial, noting the possibility the organization might revive the fair and the city could forgive later.
  • The motion to deny failed 6-5 (votes: Jackson, Riggenbach, Euler, Gordon Young, Allen, and Oiler voted no? Actually, the minutes say motion fails six to five, with voting no: Jackson, Riggenbach, Euler, Gordon Young, Vespa? Wait: transcript says

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. It is 6.03 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9th, 2025. 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, as who's watching on Cable Channel 22 and the Peoria YouTube channel. Madam Clerk, Council Mics are open. Please call the roll. Mayor Ali. Present. Councilmember Allen. Present. Councilmember Carmona. Here. Councilmember Sear. Here. Councilmember Gordon Young. Present. Councilmember Jackson. Here. Councilmember Kelly. Here. Councilmember Euler. Here. Councilmember Riggenbach. Here. Councilmember Valpula. Present. Councilmember Vespa. Here. Madam Mayor, we have a quorum presence. Excellent. Everyone is here. This is our final meeting of City Council meeting of 2025, 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. 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. First Vice President. Thank you all for joining us tonight. We're as originally known as Associated Charities and Philanthropies. And we're as established as Associate Charities and Philanthropies in the Assembly Room of Peoria City Hall in 1900. The agency has operated as Family Corps since 2010. 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. I remember all those names. No matter the name, Family Corps has consistently evolved to meet the needs of families while remaining rooted in its founding values. And whereas Family Corps provides services to 19,0164 clients and families every year. 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. 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.

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