City of East Peoria City Council met Jan. 27.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
WORKING SESSION MINUTES
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, January 23, 2026 at approximately 2:30 P.M.
Upon the roll being called the following answered present: Mayor John P. Kahl, Commissioners Daniel S. Decker, Commissioner Mark E. Hill, Seth D. Mingus, and Commissioner L. Sutherland.
Absent: None.
Mayor Kahl explained that the Special Meeting is called for the purpose of discussion on the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 City Budget planning 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 explained that salaries listed are estimated at 2.5% increases for this budget and no new positions are listed. Tonight, the capital budget will be discussed, and the capital will be discussed at a future meeting. Director commented on the budget projections for the Marina budget for the coming fiscal year. Projects for revenues are flat. Expenditures are mostly the same. There is an expenditure on the purchase of a forklift next fiscal year that will be paid in cash as no loan is needed. Director Becker and Mayor Kahl thanked Brad and his staff for their work on the Marina. Mayor Kahl explained that the Marina Management Contract with Omega 9 Marina, LLC at the next City Council meeting.
Director Becker discussed the Water and Sewer Fund. He explained the administrative fee is being removed. There was an increase in the meters line item to replace failing units over the next three years. The administrative fee is also being eliminated from the sewer department. There is money being allocated for pipe for sewer and water and for payment of water treatment loans.
Superintendent of Street, Bret Tucker, discussed the street maintenance budget and explained that there are not many changes, as it is relatively flat. He next discussed the garbage collection and disposal budget that includes an increase in payment for the purchase of a new truck from last year that is completing the payment of it. Superintendent Tucker discussed the Street Budget was discussed including revenues. The street and bridge fund budget is relatively flat. There are some capital items that are included and will be discussed more at the next budget working session.
Director of EastSide Centre and Tourism, Kory Brown discussed the EastSide Centre and Tourism budgets. He commented on the estimated revenues for EastSide Centre. The facility is booked every weekend after Easter. Fitness memberships are fairly flat and building rentals are up. Food and beverage numbers are up that go along with the rentals and usage. It is a full calendar for indoor and outdoor seasons. He discussed expenditures for the Reccreation Center Building there are increases salaries especially with concessions. There are also increases in food and beverage and contracts is up slightly. Director Brown commented on the fitness center estimated expenses with increases in maintenance and repair line items; but. the budget being relatively flat otherwise. He discussed the outdoor operations being relatively flat. Maintenance costs are still needed for staff for events. He commented on the hotel/motel tax revenues is relatively flat and the Winter Wonderland receipts were down slightly. There were also two bad weather weekends that could have affected the revenues. Director Becker explained that hotels in the TIF do not show up in the hotel/motel tax fund because that revenue goes to the TIF. Commissioner
Decker when the expiration for the Embassy TIF. Director Becker explained that he does not know exactly; however, offhand he believes it may be around 2032.
Director Brown discussed talks of hiring a part-time position for the Festival of Lights as volunteers are down. He discussed the parade fund and Winter Wonderland are about the same. Grounds and Maintenance expenditures is proposed to increase to better beautify the park and facilities. There is a placeholder for capital improvements for the grounds and maintenance, and exact expenditures have not yet been determined. Mayor Kahl inquired about the city park line item and the costs and the overage this year. The big costs were for fixing the irrigation by
Commercial Irrigation. He is hopeful that the irrigation is buttoned up. Director Brown also commented on the master gardener that is taking care of the park and is being paid. He is confident that the $20,000 proposal will cover the costs in the coming fiscal year.
Fire Chief Zimmerman discussed the ESDA budget. There is an increase in maintenance and operating for the siren replacement purchase. There are plans to replace two new sirens in the next few years and then the city should be good with sirens for a while. The Fire Budget is relatively flat budget. There is a proposed increase of 2.5% for raises and every other line item remains the same as last year.
Chief of Police David Catton and Deputy Chief Billingsley came up to discuss the Police Budget. Deputy Chief Billingsly explained that there are not a lot of changes. Overtime and Animal Control went up due to actual contractual costs. Utility costs went up due to the new police station, and it is an estimate as they do not know those exact costs. The other operating budget line item is up and is for the meridian barriers for security at the 4th of July and the Festival of Lights Parade. Motor fuel is proposed to be down due to actual costs. K-9 expenses is proposed to increase an additional $25,000 because the oldest K-9 is retiring this year.
Director of Planning and Community Development, Ty Livingston, and Facilities Manager, Jason Schell, discussed the Planning and Community Development and Buildings maintenance Budgets. Director Livingston introduced Mr. Schell to the City Council. Mr. Schell is trying to maintain as much in-house as possible in the coming fiscal year. The city has over 100 facilities to take care of. There is a proposed reduction in salary to remove a part-time inspector, because the city now has a contractual inspector. There is a proposed reduction in contractual services line item because the comprehensive plan is completed.
Director Becker commented on the Governing Body, Legal, and Boards and Commissions budgets with those budgets remaining relatively flat. City Clerk discussed her budget that includes an increase for PDF remediation to make PDFs accessible for the website. Director Becker discussed the Accounts and Finance budget that remained the same. Information Technology contractual went up $5,000. Fire Pension and Police Pension fund budgets were discussed. Bond and interest fund budget and the Street Lighting fund discussed. Social Security, Workers Compensation, and Unemployment budgets were discussed. Marina Debt Service, Camp Street TIF, West
Washington Street TIF, Riverfront TIF, Motor Fuel Tax, and Riverboat Gaming were discussed.
Mayor Kahl asked for comments from the city council. Commissioner Decker explained that the City Council will look over everything.
Summary of Revenues, Capital Expenditures, and City Council deliberations are scheduled to be discussed on February 10, 2026, at a Special Meeting for a Working Session. The city will get more information on estimates for the revenues. Mayor Kahl explained that the city has been conservative in their estimates. Once more information is obtained to get better estimates and they will share those estimates.
Mayor Kahl asked for comments from the audience. There were no comments from the public.
Motion by Commissioner Decker, seconded by Commissioner Mingus, Mr. Mayor, I move that a closed meeting or executive session of the city council be held at the conclusion of this regular meeting to discuss the following matter or matters according to exceptions provided in the “Open Meetings Act” and specified as follows:
Section 2(c)(11) – Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.
Yeas: Commissioners Decker, Hill, Mingus, Sutherland and Mayor Kahl.
Nays: None
Mayor Kahl declared the motion carried.
Motion by Commissioner Mingus, seconded by Commissioner Decker; Mr. Mayor, I move you that we adjourn the meeting.
Yeas: Commissioners Decker, Hill, and Mingus and Mayor Kahl.
Nays: None.
Mayor Kahl declared the motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 5:33 P.M.
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