Annual Town Meeting and City Council Meeting - April 14, 2026
Annual Town Meeting and City Council Meeting - April 14, 2026
The meeting began at 6:14 PM with the annual town meeting of the Town of the City of Peoria, followed by the Peoria City Council meeting at 8:15 PM. The town meeting addressed two public petition items: a request for a special town meeting on senior services and an advisory referendum on the Illinois Human Rights Advocacy Protection Act. The city council approved several resolutions, including a budget amendment, park funding, and sign ordinance changes, and recognized multiple proclamations.
Consent Calendar
- Town Meeting: Approved the minutes of the April 8, 2025 annual town board meeting (voice vote, unanimous).
- City Council: Approved the consent agenda (items 26-80 through 26-83) including a fire department promotional exam contract, employee compensation resolution, and two mayoral appointments to the Advisory Committee on Police Community Relations and the Housing Commission (unanimous).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Town Meeting – Senior Services Petition: Julie Bonar (Neighborhood House) spoke in support, citing loneliness statistics and health impacts. Devon Sidnore expressed concern about funding but acknowledged senior needs. Elector Alan questioned the timing of a tax levy before a study. Elector Kelly opposed, citing other community organizations and limited public funds. Elector Carmona supported the process. Elector Euler supported discussion but not a tax levy. Gordon Young supported after clarification.
- Town Meeting – Advisory Referendum: Justin Luba (petitioner) explained the referendum would gauge public opinion on the Illinois Human Rights Advocacy Protection Act. Kathy McNeil spoke in favor, citing First Amendment rights. Greg Johnston opposed, arguing the law is anti-discrimination and the question is divisive. Paul Beyersdorf opposed, stating it is not township business. Lawrence Michard (Peoria for Palestine) supported, calling it participatory democracy. Lydia Wilson supported, emphasizing human rights. Noah Palm supported, arguing it is local. Joseph Strauss opposed, citing anti-Semitism and noting the date coincided with Holocaust Remembrance Day. Felix Scoville supported, noting it is only a ballot question. AJ opposed, criticizing Israeli actions. Another speaker supported the question. Lois Warrenberg opposed, equating boycott with religious discrimination. Jessica Jordan supported, clarifying boycott of a state vs. religion.
- City Council – Citizens Opportunity: Jessamine Hill announced the 2026-2027 Central Illinois Homeschoolers Resource Guide and urged collaboration. A second speaker discussed beautification and community assets.
Discussion Items
- Senior Services Petition (Town Meeting): The town attorney confirmed the petition was valid. The electors voted to call a special town meeting to discuss forming an ad hoc senior services committee and a potential tax levy. The special meeting was set for May 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
- Advisory Referendum (Town Meeting): The electors voted to place the non-binding question on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The question asks whether Illinois congressional (state) representatives should support the Illinois Human Rights Advocacy Protection Act. The vote passed with 28 nays and a majority in favor.
- Resolution in Support of Local Zoning Authority (City Council): Councilmember Hayes explained the state's BUILD initiative and proposed bills that preempt local zoning. The council unanimously approved a resolution opposing the preemption and urging the General Assembly to preserve local control.
- CDBG Budget Amendment and MLK Park Funding (City Council): Item A (budget amendment of $250,000 for public service grants) passed unanimously. Item B ($477,000 for MLK Park rehabilitation) passed with Councilmembers Carmona and Kelly voting nay, citing competing priorities.
- Sign Ordinance Amendments (City Council): Three ordinances (signs, non-conforming signs, and wall signs in form districts) were approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Town Meeting: Elected Rita Ali as moderator. Approved financial affairs. Called a special town meeting for May 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM to discuss senior services. Approved placement of an advisory referendum on the November 2026 ballot regarding the Illinois Human Rights Advocacy Protection Act.
- City Council: Approved the consent agenda. Adopted a resolution opposing state preemption of local zoning authority. Approved a $250,000 budget amendment for CDBG public service grants. Approved $477,000 for MLK Park improvements. Approved three sign ordinance amendments.
- Proclamations: Recognized Arbor Day, Fair Housing Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the Junior League of Peoria's 90th anniversary.
- Announcements: Upcoming events included a Main Street TIF meeting (May 28), Fire Station 16 open house (April 24), Moving Housing Forward event (April 22), and others.
Meeting Transcript
If everyone can take their seats, we'll get started shortly. So yeah, she only had two seats left and there's people who are going in there. So No, no, no. Sorry. Oh, what? Oh, this is not co-operating. Oh, it's not. It gave me a whole spiel right. I should respond to it. Uh maybe we should uh word sign. It's fine, I can just read this as well. We still have people coming into uh city hall, so we're going to give them a moment to get settled in some other rooms and then we'll get started. Thank you for your patience. I appreciate it. Do you mind do you have here? If we can have money for that view, yeah. Yeah. Well, this is my favorite. I mean, I'd love to just see that book one time. You're trying to get hooked up downstairs, so it's the computer's not working right. I think we're full. We're having technical difficulties. So they're working on it right now. To the one ten. So we're good. Okay. We're getting ready. Great. Thank you. Can I have room four o four, please? Room four. Great. Thank you. Okay, we'll go ahead and get started. The annual town meeting of the town of the city of Peoria is now called to order at six fourteen PM. Please rise for a moment of silent prayer or silent reflection, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Under Ellen Law, anyone wishing to make motions and vote at the annual town meeting must be a township elector. Elector is defined under the law as a person registered to vote within the township, no less than twenty-eight days before the date of the annual town meeting. Please note that the township boundaries are different from the city of Peoria's boundaries. If you wish to vote at this annual town meeting, you must check in at the table outside or downstairs on the first floor and obtain a numbered index card to show proof of electoral status during any votes. The first order of business is the election of a moderator. Nominations are open for the position of moderator. Please state your name for the record as you make the motion. Great, thank you. Do you can you stand and say your name, please for the record? Can you spell your last name, please? Thank you very much. Are there any more nominations from the floor?
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