Peoria Standard

City of East Peoria City Council met Feb. 22.

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 4:01 P.M. with the meeting having been properly noticed. The City Clerk certifies that notice of the meeting was duly serve upon Council Members via email on Thursday, February 17, 2022, at approximately 9:55 a.m.

Upon the roll being called the following answered present: Mayor John P. Kahl, Commissioners, Daniel S. Decker, Mark E. Hill, Seth D. Mingus, and Michael L. Sutherland.

Absent: None.

Mayor Kahl explained that that the Special meeting is called for the purpose of Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget Planning discussion on Summary of Revenues, Capital Expenditures, and any City Council Budget Deliberations. He further explained that there would be no formal action at the meeting and it is for discussion purposes only. Mayor Kahl turned the discussion over to Director of Finance/Treasurer, Jeff Becker.

Director Becker discussed a summary of the revenues. Last year, total revenue for the Camp Street and Washington Tif was around $22.9 million and this year is $27 million which is a large increase. Sales tax is up from pre-Covid while use tax is down. People were shopping online and now people are shopping in stores more and less online. The City is being conservative moving forward. As far as the departmental revenues, the only significant change is in the Fire Department with the GMT money that was discussed at the last budget meeting. Everything else has stayed around the same. There is an anticipated rebound of Hotel/Motel Tax. Riverboat Gaming came in over the budgeted amount and the gaming is being budgeted at $3,000,000 on those revenues next year which are budgeted slightly below the pre-COVID revenues.

Commissioner Mingus inquired as to the Riverboat Gaming Revenue. Director Becker thought that the five years ago the Riverboat Gaming Revenue was around $5,000,000 or $5,500,000. They believe that the amount peaked at around $9,000,000 around 2006 or 2007 and has been decreasing since. Video gaming has increased and there have been more casino licenses added that have impacted Par-A-Dice Casino.

Director Becker discussed the 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan. This is a five-year plan and he the discussion will focus on the upcoming fiscal year plan. He began with general funds and public property the includes expenditures for Parking Lots, the Comprehensive Plan, and Buildings. Director of Planning and Community Development, Ty Livingston, commented on the Comprehensive plan which has been updated in around 17 years. The Comprehensive Plan is important, as it speaks to development and discusses infrastructure, and community engagement is involved in the planning. The Comprehensive Plan guides future development and opportunities. This amount represents a dollar match for a grant, or we can utilize the Regional Planning Commission and pay for it out of pocket. The buildings amount is above and beyond normal maintenance from year to year. Police capital expenditures include squad cars, radios, Axon, and taser replacement with the last 3 years of a 5-year contract.

Chief Brodrick commented on Axon that is an all-in-one total solution for body worn cameras, interview rooms, and the in-car cameras and stored in the cloud instead of having three separate systems. This takes the officers hands out of dealing with the storage media as it is stored in the cloud. The Axon prevents liability and issues with data corruption and lost videos. It is the best total solution and provides coverage for the City and officers. There is savings in time in that it can send a link to the attorneys to have them pull up the information on their own. He explained that there are a few drawbacks that include the cost of the system. One safety feature called signal side arm where an officer draws a taser or firearm, it activates body-worn cameras and any in car camera within 30 meters of that draw. There is also a prerecord function. It also alleviates a lot of manpower needed with requests for information from the recordings. Mayor Kahl commented on the City of Pekin using this system, and the benefit that it has been to that department. Commissioner Hill commented on this being a benefit and efficiency that will be created with the new software. Commissioner Decker commented on the benefit of body worn cameras. The storage of the data is expensive; however, it is something that needs to be done.

Director Becker presented the Fire Capital Improvement Expenditures. Those planned expenditures include AED Replacement, Monitors, Air packs, a new Engine, new Truck, money for the new ICC Fire Station, and an ambulance. The ICC Fire Station $500,000 is in addition to the grants received for the Fire Station Construction. Mayor Kahl explained that the numbers for construction of the ICC Fire Station have gone up due to the costs of materials and inflation increases. Fire Chief Knapp discussed a 2007 used truck that was purchased and is in good shape, the mileage is low and hours on it are low. The truck is around $1,000,000 less than what a new truck would be today. Fire Chief Knapp explained that they are excited with this purchase and the savings.

Director Becker explained that a new Garbage with mechanical arms is planned in the Capital Improvement Plan. The arms are separate from the trucks and must be added. The bulk of the cost is the cost of the truck itself rather than the arms. Director Becker discussed Streets Capital Improvement Plan expenditures that include Radios, a Sweeper, and a Plow Truck. Garbage and Recycling/Streets Supervisor, Ric Semonski commented about the age of the plow trucks that will be replaced that are 12 and 14 years old.

Director Becker discussed the Camp Street TIF Capital Improvement Plan expenditures that include Camp and Riverside Drive intersection, Camp Street Trail and Trailhead that involves a grant, six HVAC Units replaced at Bass Pro, Striping, and Bass Pro maintenance. Director Livingston explained that there are opportunities for grant funding that is available regarding trail items. Mayor Kahl inquired about the proposed location of the trailhead. Director Livingston explained that the proposed location of the trailhead provides much more convenient access point and will likely be used more, and it is not a large parking lot. Commissioner Sutherland feels that the money needs to be spent on roads before it is spent on trails. The trail is already in place, this expenditure will be for the trailhead. Director Livingston said that this funding comes from separate funding from roads. Commissioner Hill commented finishing this project for the trail and that is a balance between the spending for the future and quality of life in the City. Commissioner Decker commented on focusing on not just focusing on one area but the need for a well-rounded community and spending on roadways and on other items such as trails. He understands that people the roads are the most important and he feels that the City is focusing on the importance of the roads. He is supportive of this by trying to get things for all people, including those that want a better trail system. Director Becker commented on the West Washington TIF Capital Improvement plan for Striping, slab jacking, and sidewalks. The estimated capital improvement plan expenditures total around $6,727,250 for the general fund for the next five years.

Director Becker presented the proposed Hotel/Motel Capital Improvement Plan expenditures for the next five years. Those proposed expenditures include, concrete/fence repair/paving/fields improvement and repairs, EastSide Centre addition and upgrades, purchase of an F-550 Truck, concession buildings repairs/improvements, EastSide Drive repairs, Festival Parking Lot improvements/repairs, EastSide Centre roof repairs/improvements, Winners Way repairs, Field Drags, purchase of an F-250, Gateway signage, and expenditures on railings and concrete repair.

Director Becker presented the Water/Sewer Capital Improvement Plan proposed expenditures for the next five years that includes a pipe saw, dump truck, backhoe, replacing a truck from 1996, Highview reconstruction, water and sewer main, Life Station Automation, Lift Station Replacement, SCADA Upgrade, and North Main Water Treatment Plant expenditures. Water & Wastewater Superintendent, Cord Crisler, discussed in more detail the capital improvement plan proposed expenditures for Water and Sewer. Commissioner Sutherland expressed gratitude to Superintendent Crisler for his work on the budget planning. Commissioner Sutherland explained that he would like to start a replacement plan for water and sewer main replacement, expressed enthusiasm to see $600,000 for main replacement in the proposed capital improvement plan, and the interest in spending for more main replacement in the future.

Mayor Kahl commented on all of the needs and necessities of the City and the benefit of having a capital expenditure five year plan. He feels that the plan helps the city plan and move forward on projects.

Director Becker presented the Motor Fuel Tax Capital Improvement Plan proposed expenditures for the next five years. Those expenditures include Street Maintenance in the amount of $1,000,000 for the upcoming fiscal year and $900,000 in years 2-5. Other street projects outside of the Motor Fuel Tax expenditures include, Camp Street and Washington Street repairs, Highview Road repairs, and proposed expenditures on Street Maintenance total around $8.9 million from MFT and other funds for the next five years. Supervisor Semonski and Commissioner Decker commented on Street projects for the coming year.

Mayor Kahl explained that there are projects that are not included in the capital expenditures plan. Mayor Kahl commented on the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) funds. The city has received the first half of around $3.2 million. Mayor Kahl explained that new software is needed. He feels that the City is lacking in legal fees and efficiencies. He asked that the software upgrade begin this year. He commented on a needs assessment for engineering and construction and design for the Police Department Building so that it will be site ready when a site is found. The software upgrade is estimated around $1.5 million, and he proposes taking $500,000 of ARPA fund and spread the rest of the costs over the next several years. Commissioner Mingus explained that he is in favor of the software upgrade. He commented on the new fire station and explained that is will likely impact the budget and having potential costs that will come down the road. When moving from three to four stations, there are increased needs, and a determination will need to be made on how to man four stations.

Commissioner Hill commented on the financial/permitting software and how antiquated it is. There are items outside of the financial portion of the software needs that need to be considered. This is an enterprise software that will create efficiencies. He commented on developing a list regarding the needs of the system by the City. Commissioner Sutherland commented on the complexity of the payroll process and the need for an enterprise system that makes that payroll process easier and more efficient. Commissioner Decker commented on the plow truck and garbage trucks and the need to plan for capital expenditures for the future.

Mayor Kahl asked for any comments from the audience. There was no response.

Motion by Commissioner Mingus, seconded by Commissioner Decker; Mr. Mayor, I move you that we adjourn the meeting.

Yeas: Commissioners Decker, Hill, Mingus, and Sutherland and Mayor Kahl. Nays: None.

Mayor Kahl declared the motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 5:04 P.M.

https://www.cityofeastpeoria.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_02222022-957