Peoria Standard

City of East Peoria City Council met Feb. 27.

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 23, 2024 at approximately 9:48 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 Commissioner Michael L. Sutherland. Absent: None.

Mayor Kahl explained that the Special Meeting is called for the purpose of Fiscal Year 2024-2025 City Budget Planning discussion on the EastPort Marina, Summary of Revenues, Capital Expenditures, and City Council Budget Deliberations. He explained that no formal action would be taken at the meeting and turned the discussion over to Director of Finance, Jeff Becker. Director Becker discussed the marina budget that had revenues of a couple thousand less than last year. This year the Marina is being conservative on income. The most notable thing is between the winter storage and the slips is that they have reallocated those funds a little bid. He discussed the marina expenditures that are around $15,000 less than last year because they have tried to do more work inhouse and tried to eliminate costs. There is an increase in salaries and an increase in utilities from last year. He asked for any questions from City Council. There were no questions.

Director Becker discussed the revenue side of the budget. 3.9% increase in revenue for total general fund and there is no property tax in the general fund this year because it is being used in other areas. Sales tax is showing an increase similar in line with 2023. Most fees such as permits and licenses generally stayed the same. There is a transfer out to go to offset the deficit in Camp Street TIF which bring the general fund revenues to $29.4 million. He asked for any questions on these revenues and there was no response.

Director Becker discussed each of the department budget revenues. Police department difference is down $180,000 which is the grant from Senator Koehler. In Fire, the biggest difference is the ambulance GMT as it fluctuates up and down, so they are being conservative. The other difference is the $1.9 million and now showing zero for the grant for the fire house. Solid Waste revenues are estimated to stay flat. He commented on IMRF, which is mostly property tax funds. The Fire Pension is being paid for with revenue from property taxes and state replacement. The police pension is being paid with taxes and state replacement. The bond interest fund includes revenues from property tax from Access Road 6 SSA. The street department show flat revenues that includes road and bridge tax and the township share from PPRT with the reimbursement being down a little due to the grant from Senator Koehler from last year. The street lighting, social security tax, and unemployment are paid for from property tax. The workers compensation is paid from property tax, along with state replacement and telecommunication. Marina Debt service is flat. Hotel/Motel has been updated to $1,000,000.

Camp Street TIF has a slight increase and TIF taxes which is part of the hotel/motel tax. There is an increase in rentals and leases which is the Conference Center lease at Embassy Suites. There is a slight increase in property tax in West Washington Street TIF, an increase from the hotel/motel and business district taxes, and the interest received in that fund. Water Sewer has an increase due to the 3.5% and there is no increase in the sewer capital. Motor Fuel Tax is up a little bit from last year; however, year over year it is remaining flat. Mayor Kahl explained that, with electrical vehicles, none of the money for the higher registration fees of those vehicles is shared with municipalities. With the push to have more electric vehicles, it will impact that city down the road. Director Becker discussed the Riverboat gaming revenues which is estimated at $3.5 million that includes a hold harmless payment that year and another one this year. The revenues will exceed the budget due to those; however, it is only a two-year payment and will go away. Riverboat Gaming Revenues made the payment on the Marina bonds, and it will begin going down.

Mayor Kahl asked for any questions or comments on revenues. There was no response. Mayor Kahl explained that the city is conservative in its revenue projections.

Director Becker then discussed the Five-Year Capital Plan. He began with a discussion of the proposed 2024-2025 budget that includes expenses for Parking lots and buildings under the Public Property Department. Capital Expenses for Police included expenses for FY2024-25 for Station Engineering, a New Station, Squad Cars, Axon, and Taser Replacement. Fire proposed capital expenses for FY2024-25 include AED Replacement, Monitors, and Ambulance. Solidate Wage and Streets proposed capital expenses for FY2024-25 include a garbage truck, plow truck, and paving & maintenance. Camp Street TIF proposed capital expenses for FY2024-25 include Camp & Riverside Intersection Project, Samp Street Trail & Trailhead, Striping, and Bass Pro Maintenance. Hotel/Motel proposed capital expenses for FY2024-25 include concrete/fence repair/paving/fields at EastSide Centre; EastSide Centre additions and upgrades; an F-250 truck purchase; and Riverfront Park trees, failing, and concrete repair. Water and Sewer Department proposed capital expenses for FY2024-25 include Water Main expenses, Sewer Main expenses, and Springfield Road Project expenses. Gaming fund proposed capital expenses for FY2024-25 include two EastSide Centre softball field upgrades. Finally, Motor Fuel Tax Fund proposed capital expenses for FY2024-25 include Camp & Riverside Drive Intersection Project and street maintenance expenses. Mayor Kahl commented on the Riverfront Park being $25,000 per year for the next five years and explained that it is the prudent thing to do to keep up with the maintenance, rather than wait on the maintenance. Mayor Kahl also explained that Camp and Riverside Intersection Project is a Tri-County Regional Planning Commission Project.

Director Becker then went through the proposed capital expenses for the remaining four years of the Five-Year Capital Plan. For the Public Property Department, proposed capital expenses include parking lots and buildings. The Fire Department proposed capital expenses include Monitors, Air Packs, Fire Engine, and Central Station Upgrades. The Solid Waste and Streets proposed capital expenses for the remaining four years of the Five-Year Capital Plan include a garbage truck, two plow trucks, and paving & maintenance. The Camp Street TIF fund proposed capital expenses for the remaining four years of the Five-Year Capital Plan include Camp Street Trail and Trailhead expenses, Bass Pro HVAC, Striping, and Bass Pro Maintenance. The West Washington Street TIF fund proposed capital expenses for the remaining four years of the Five-Year Capital Plan include Striping, slab jacking, and sidewalk expenses. The Hotel/Motel fund proposed capital expenses for the remaining four years of the Five-Year Capital Plan include concrete, fence repair, paving, and fields at EastSide Centre; Eastside Drive expenses; F-250 truck expenses; Bell Tower expense; Gateway Signage expenses; and Riverfront Park trees, railing, and concrete repairs. The Water/Sewer departmentproposed capital expenses for the remaining four years of the Five-Year Capital Plan include Water main expenses, Sewer main expenses, and Water Treatment Plant expenses. The Gaming fund proposed capital expenses for the remaining four years of the Five-Year Capital Plan include the two EastSide Centre softball field upgrades and additions to EastSide Centre. Finally, the Motor Fuel Tax fund proposed capital expenses for the remaining four years of the Five-Year Capital Plan include various street maintenance expenses. Director Becker gave a breakdown of the roadways that were planned for maintenance over the next five years in the 5-Year Capital Plan that included Springfield Road, Veterans Drive, Pinecrest Drive, East Washington Street, Centennial Drive, and Camp & Riverside. Mayor Kahl explained Pinecrest Drive is budgeted into a FY 2025-26 because the Springfield Road Project came out above what was estimated for the project.

Mayor Kahl explained that this was meeting is just for discussion and city council came make comments for any changes.

Director of Planning & Community Development, Ty Livingston, spoke about the bell tower that was taken down. The goal is to use the bells somewhere else. He explained that this is a placeholder, the location is not known right now, and there is hope that the costs will come in under $100,000. Gateway signage is also in the budget. Director Livingston explained that it is anticipated to place signage at any entry location, and he believes that the consultant regarding branding will be suggesting locations that would be good for the signage.

Director of Tourism & Special Events, Korey Brown, discussed the EastSide Centre improvements. He explained that in the fall field 10 is expected to be improved and the following year in the fall will be fields 8 & 9. In the future, fields 5 and 6 (the smaller fields) are anticipated to be improved. Any Addition/dome was discussed and its timing. Director Brown indicated that he would like the other fields completed before any addition or dome to be completed. He discussed improvement planned on field 10 that include the scoreboard being redone, seating improvements, dugouts improvements, and others.

Mayor Kahl thanked Director Becker and everyone for their presentations on the proposed budget. Mayor Kahl asked for any comments or questions from the City Council on the Capital Budget.

Commissioner Decker commented on being impressed with the improvements at EastSide Centre. He likes the addition mentioned and what it could add to the complex. He commented on the excitement about the road projects and commented on Oakwood and Centennial not being ignored, but rather, being future projects. He discussed opportunities to improve the Riverfront Park area.

Mayor Kahl asked the council members to reach out with any changes or questions. He explained that $34 million on street projects is being spent this year. Around 10 years ago, the amount spent on roads was around or less than $1 million. The amount spend on Springfield Road is large and the projects need to be tackled one at a time. It is important to also ensure the infrastructure underneath the roadways is improved as well. He commented on the funds being spent and some of those particular funds needing to be spent on certain items.

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

Commissioner Decker commented on Dairy Queen being placed where it is. He explained that if the property is appropriate where it is located then it is ok. He explained that those items do not come before City Council and if they meet code that are ok.

Commissioner Hill commented on speaking with the owner of Twistee Treat and that the City did not seek out Dairy Queen and Dairy Queen in this area. He commented on the Capital Budget and wanting to spend more money on streets. He commented sources of revenues and funds being from different areas and many of these expenses not being funded by property tax funds. He commented on the items where the property taxes are paid toward which are limited (for instance, IMRF, workmans’ compensation, pension funds, etc.). All the capital expenses that were discussed today are not coming from the property tax funds. Commissioner Hill expressed is pride in how we are allocating the money.

Mayor Kahl commented on the funding of the police and fire pensions. The city funded the pensions at around 100% for many years to get ahead of the curve. The city is now better off for it. The bond rating has improved due to our debt obligations. He is confident in our financial performance and what the city has done.

Commissioner Decker disagrees with the mandate of 90% pension funding by the year 2040. There have been discussions about decreasing that mandate. Other communities will not be able to meet that amount by that time. He feels that the pension funding will be relaxed and that the City will be in a better position down the road.

Director Becker explained that Police Pension is funded at 63% and the Fire Pension is funded at 64%. Mayor Kahl explained that the city began being 40 percentiles of funding and are headed in the right direction.

Commissioner Sutherland feels that more money needs to be spent on streets. He also wants the infrastructure underneath the roadways to be improved at the same time. They cannot go faster than the pipe can be put in front of them. He commented on the Springfield Road project being a surprise and the funding needed for the Springfield Road project will slow down other projects as the Springfield Road project needs to have money spent on. He explained that he needs two years to get things from the EPA, manpower, and bids done for the project. He explained that the state bureaucracy is bad and takes a lot of time. He explained that many of the state employees are still working from home, which he believes makes things go slower. He thinks that we should fix the swimming pool issue for the youth in this area. Mayor Kahl feels that the pool is the responsibility of the park district. Commissioner Sutherland thinks that the city should team up with the park district or something else to get a pool. He commented on the Cedar Street project being delayed, which he thinks the delay is good because the City is having to move infrastructure due to the states project without any assistance from the state. He thinks that the state should help the city with the costs of items from their project.

Water and Wastewater Superintendent, Cord Crisler gave an update on the Cedar Street project. He explained that they are still proceeding to move forward with the project. There is a new engineer on the project, and Superintendent Crisler will find out more after a meeting that will be coming.

Commissioner Decker inquired about the future intention is with the Cedar Street Bridge and commented on concerns about the bridge, its style, and age. Mayor Kahl explained that he is unsure.

Commissioner Mingus expressed excitment about the capital improvements, including improvements to EastSide Centre and Springfield Road improvement. He feels that the city is moving in the right direction.

Mayor thanked Director Becker and department heads. He explained that it will be a busy agenda next week. The first reading on the budget and appropriation ordinances is anticipated for March 19 and second reading on April 2. He asked that the elected officials reach out to department heads with any questions or concerns.

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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 5:46 P.M.

https://www.cityofeastpeoria.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_02272024-1143