OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Peoria City Council Meeting – May 26, 2026: Expo Gardens Agreement, Amphitheater, and ShotSpotter Renewal

City Council Meetings — Tuesday, May 26, 2026
BodyPeoria, Illinois
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateTuesday, May 26, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:13:37

Transcript — Verbatim
5:02

I appreciate it.

5:07

If everyone would take their seats, we're going to get started in about thirty seconds.

5:13

Thirty seconds.

5:25

I wasn't sure if that was supposed to be part of it.

5:50

Good evening, everyone.

5:52

It is six o'clock PM on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

6:01

I'd like to call the meeting of the Peoria City Council to order.

6:05

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

6:18

Madam Clerk, the council mics are open.

6:20

Please call the roll.

6:22

Mayor Ali.

6:24

Councilmember Allen.

6:25

Present.

6:26

Councilmember Carmona.

6:27

Here.

6:27

Councilmember Sear.

6:29

Here.

6:29

Councilmember Gordon Young.

6:31

Present.

6:31

Councilmember Jackson.

6:33

Here.

6:34

Councilmember Kelly.

6:35

Here.

6:36

Councilmember Euler.

6:37

Here.

6:37

Councilmember Riggenbach?

6:39

Here.

6:39

Councilmember Valpula.

6:41

Present.

6:41

And Councilmember Vespa.

6:43

Here.

6:43

You have a quorum present, Madam Mayor.

6:45

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

6:46

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

7:16

Liberty and Justice.

7:27

Madam Clerk.

7:29

We do not have any proclamations.

7:31

Is that correct?

7:32

So then we would be on to the approval of the minutes.

7:35

Councilman Riggenbach.

7:37

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

7:38

I move to approve the minutes of the joint city council and town board meeting held May twelfth, twenty twenty-six as printed.

7:45

Seconded by Councilwoman Jackson.

7:48

Any comments?

7:49

Please cash your ballots.

7:56

Motion passes unanimous.

7:58

Unanimously.

7:59

Madam Clerk.

8:00

We are at the consent agenda.

8:02

26-117 is a communication with a request to approve the 2026 annual action plan for submission to the Department of Housing and Urban Development with a total grant allocation of $2,563,351.03.

10:00

26-122 is a communication with request to adopt an ordinance vacating a 150.06 feet by 16 feet portion of an alley within block 10 of Barry and Edition, running parallel to Johnson Street and McBean Street, perpendicular to MacArthur Highway and Saratoga Street, and adjacent to parallel and adjacent to parcel identification numbers 18-08-419-008, 18-08-419-009, 18-08-419-010, 18-08-419-011, 18-08-419-018, 18-08-419-019, 18-08-419-020, 18-08-419-021, and 18-08-419-022 in Peoria, Illinois.

10:58

26-123 is a communication with request to approve the side application for a Class K rental hall liquor license with on-site consumption and retail sale of alcohol for upstage theater company LLC doing business as upstage theater company at 416 Hamilton Boulevard with a recommendation from the liquor commission to approve.

11:21

26-124 is a communication with request to approve the site application for a Class B restaurant 50% food liquor license with on-site consumption and retail sale of alcohol for Chola's The Empire LLC doing business as Chola's Indian Restaurant at 1301 West Pioneer Parkway, suite 137 with a recommendation from the liquor commission to approve.

11:47

And 26-125 is a communication with request to an add a subclass 1A 2 a.m.

11:54

closing hours to an existing class B restaurant, 50% food liquor license with on-site consumption and retail sale of alcohol for Vault Peoria LLC doing business as the vault at 240 Southwest Jefferson Street with recommendation from the liquor commission to approve.

12:12

And that concludes our consent agenda.

12:14

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

12:15

Are there any items uh to remove from consent?

12:17

Councilmember Sear.

12:19

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████25%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Affordable Housing███████████████████19%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Fiscal Sustainability█████████9%
Economic Development██████6%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Community Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Peoria City Council Meeting – May 26, 2026

The Peoria City Council met on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the council chambers. Mayor Ali presided with all 10 councilmembers present, constituting a quorum. The meeting covered consent agenda items, a major intergovernmental agreement for the Expo Gardens redevelopment, contracts for the D Hanks Amphitheater, a third-party claims administrator, a ShotSpotter renewal, and a tabled proposal on urban decay abatement.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 26-117 (removed from consent): Communication to approve the 2026 Annual Action Plan for HUD, with a total grant allocation of $2,563,351.03. Councilmember Sear asked questions about administrative costs (20%, 10%, 7.5% for different grants) and the process for selecting agencies. The item was later approved unanimously.
  • Item 26-118 (removed from consent): Communication to approve public service application priorities for CDBG funds. Councilmember Sear inquired about why certain organizations (e.g., K She and Lulay) were not listed; Director Doolin explained the application requirements, including audits and the option for fiscal sponsors. The item was later approved unanimously.
  • Other consent items (26-122 through 26-125) were approved en bloc without objection: alley vacation, two liquor license approvals (Upstage Theater Company and Chola's Indian Restaurant), and extended hours for The Vault.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Molly Cadigan, a resident, voiced strong concerns about illegal fireworks in her neighborhood, describing repeated incidents over five years, including a garage fire, property damage, and distress to pets and neighbors with PTSD. She urged the council and police to enforce existing laws against illegal fireworks, noting that calls to police have been ineffective. The council took no immediate action.

Discussion Items

  • 26-126 – Expo Gardens Redevelopment IGA with School District 150: Corporation Counsel Hayes presented an intergovernmental agreement for property exchange and conditions for developing the former Expo Gardens site into a residential subdivision (~200 homes) with limited commercial frontage on Northmore Road. The school district agreed to provide a second access point on University Street, exchange a small parcel, and allow developer to reconfigure parking. The city will give the district a parcel for a facilities building and agree not to create a TIF district. The city will use the Urban Enterprise Zone for incentives. Councilmember Allen asked about buying the land versus exchange; Hayes noted mutual benefits. Councilmember Valpula asked about the RFQ status (responses due June 8). The motion passed unanimously.
  • 26-127 – D Hanks Amphitheater Contracts: Two contracts requiring supermajority votes: (A) Core Construction Services for construction management with a guaranteed maximum price to be determined, and (B) Terra Engineering for design and engineering. Hayes explained the Hanks Foundation preselected the teams, funded up to $11 million, and escrowed funds. City exposure limited to remedial site work and potential additional items requiring separate council approval. Councilmember Kelly asked about shortfall risk; Hayes confirmed no current exposure. Motion to approve item A passed unanimously. Item B also passed unanimously after questions from Councilmember Sear about supplemental funding.
  • 26-128 – Sole Source Agreement with Lode Star Claims: For third-party administration of general liability claims, three-year agreement at $346,413 total, replacing Gallagher Bassett. The current workers' compensation TPA (Lode Star) will expand services. Motion passed unanimously.
  • 26-129 – ShotSpotter Renewal: Chief Dixon presented a three-year renewal at $316,035/year (5% first-year increase, then flat). Described benefits: faster response, evidence collection, transparency page. A representative from Sound Thinking (Kevin Johnson) praised Peoria's model. Councilmember Gordon Young asked about July 4th fireworks protocol – the system is turned down during fireworks displays. Motion passed unanimously.
  • 26-130 – Resolution for Urban Decay Abatement Review Board: Councilmember Kelly proposed using the urban decay ordinance for Expo Gardens (10-year tax abatement on new structures). After discussion, he moved to table the item for future consideration. Mayor Ali and Councilmembers Jackson and Gordon Young opposed the tabling, arguing it conflicts with the school district agreement and does not fit the area. Motion to table passed 7-2 (with Ali, Jackson, Gordon Young voting no).

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: 2026 Annual Action Plan (26-117), public service priorities (26-118), Expo Gardens IGA (26-126), Core Construction contract (26-127A), Terra Engineering contract (26-127B), Lode Star Claims agreement (26-128), ShotSpotter renewal (26-129).
  • Tabled: Resolution for urban decay abatement review board (26-130).
  • Upcoming: Sister city delegation (50th anniversary with Friedrichshafen, Germany) next week. RFQ for Expo Gardens extended until after school district approval on June 8.

Meeting Transcript

I appreciate it. If everyone would take their seats, we're going to get started in about thirty seconds. Thirty seconds. I wasn't sure if that was supposed to be part of it. Good evening, everyone. It is six o'clock PM on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. I'd like to call the meeting of the Peoria City Council to order. I'd also like to welcome everyone who's here in our historic council chambers as well as our listening 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. 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. And Councilmember Vespa. Here. You have a quorum present, Madam Mayor. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh, please join me, everyone, and stand for a moment of silent prayer or silent reflection, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Liberty and Justice. Madam Clerk. We do not have any proclamations. Is that correct? So then we would be on to the approval of the minutes. Councilman Riggenbach. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I move to approve the minutes of the joint city council and town board meeting held May twelfth, twenty twenty-six as printed. Seconded by Councilwoman Jackson. Any comments? Please cash your ballots. Motion passes unanimous. Unanimously. Madam Clerk. We are at the consent agenda. 26-117 is a communication with a request to approve the 2026 annual action plan for submission to the Department of Housing and Urban Development with a total grant allocation of $2,563,351.03.

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