City of East Peoria City Council met Feb. 10.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The Honorable John P. Kahl Mayor of the City of East Peoria called the Working Session of the City Council of the City of East Peoria, Illinois to order at 5:00 P.M. with the meeting having been properly noticed. The City Clerk certifies that notice of the meeting was duly served upon Council Members via email on Friday, February 6, 2026 at approximately 2:45 P.M.
Upon the roll being called the following answered present: Mayor John P. Kahl, Commissioners Daniel S. Decker, and Commissioner Mark E. Hill.
Absent: Commissioner Seth D. Mingus and Commissioner L. Sutherland.
Mayor Kahl explained that the Special Meeting is called for the purpose of discussion on the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 City Budget planning, including Summary of Revenues, Capital Expenditures, and City Council budget deliberations and stated that no formal action would be taken at the meeting by the City Council. Mayor Kahl introduced Director of Finance, Jeff Becker. Director Becker discussed the general fund revenues on that include increased non-home rule and municipal tax increased because the taxes are included. State replacement tax decreases because the state is reducing those funds. There is a reduction for reimbursements that are for the water and sewer that was discussed two weeks ago. Water and sewer funds were discussed with the annual increase in the rates.
Director Becker discussed the five-year capital plan. He first explained the proposed capital expenditures for the 2026-2027 fiscal year that includes police, fire, streets, Camp Street TIF, West Washington Street TIF, Hotel/motel, water/sewer, gaming, and MFT funds. Expenditures include a new police station, squad cars, Axon, monitors for fire, air packs, Central Station expenses, ambulance, a plow truck, paving & maintenance of streets, striping, concrete, Bass Pro maintenance, EastSide Centre addition/upgrades, gateway signage, maintenance of riverfront trees/railings/concrete repair, a F-250 truck, water and sewer main, Center Street expenditures, and Street Maintenance.
Director Becker next discussed the planned capital expenditures for the next fiscal years in years 2-5 going through each of the departments. Items in the Police Department included items such as squad cars, Axon, and taser/body camera replacement. Items in the Fire Department include AED Replacement, Monitors, Air Packs, Engine, Central Station, and Ambulance. Items in Solid Waste and Streets include Garbage Truck, plow Truck, and Paving & maintenance. Items in the Camp Street and West Washington Street TIFs include striping, Bass Pro Maintenance, and Striping, Slab jacking & Sidewalk (West Washington Street TIF). Capital Expenditures in Hotel/Motel includes concrete/fence repair/paving/fields, EastSide Centre Addition/Upgrades, EastSide Drive/Parking Lot, Plow Truck, Bell Tower, and Riverfront, tree, railings, and concrete repairs. Planned Capital expenditures in Water/Sewer includes purchase of an F-250, water main, sewer main, and expenditures on the North Main Water Treatment Plant. Planning capital expenditures for Gaming include EastSide Centre Fields, Center Street expenditures, and EastSide Centre addition. Planned capital expenditures in Motor Fuel Tax funds including Street maintenance expenditures.
There was a discussion regarding the Monitors for Fire. Fire Chief Zimmerman explained that the city operates on the Lifepak 15 units. The new version is the Lifepak 35. Right now, the software is still ok. However, in the future, there will need to be an upgrade to all the Lifepaks if it is required. If the city can stay with the Lifepak 15s, Chief Zimmerman recommends staying with them. Chief Zimmerman explained that the city is not in a dire situation right now.
Commissioner Hill inquired about pushing out the funds for the last two fields at EastSide Centre to the future years. Mayor Kahl explained that some of the funds will be used on Center Street to get that development started and that it is planned to do the fields in a few fiscal years. Commissioner Decker inquired about field upgrades. Mayor Kahl explained that fields 5 and 6 need to be upgraded. Director of Tourism and EastSide Centre Kory Brown explained
that he feels that we should finish the fields up at EastSide before beginning any other items. Mayor Kahl asked for comments from the city council.
Mayor Kahl asked for comments from the audience. There were no comments from the public.
Commissioner Decker and Hill explained that they feel we are in a good position with the planning and a 5 year plan is a good thing.
Motion by Commissioner Decker, seconded by Commissioner Hill; Mr. Mayor, I move you that we adjourn the meeting.
Yeas: Commissioners Decker, Hill, and and Mayor Kahl.
Nays: None.
Mayor Kahl declared the motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 5:14 P.M.
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