Peoria Standard

City of East Peoria City Council met Jan. 28.

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 24,2025 at approximately 2:00 P.M.

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

Absent: Commissioner Michael L. Sutherland.

Mayor Kahl explained that the Special Meeting is called for the purpose of discussion on the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 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. He began discussion on the proposed Marina budget. He explained that the Marina revenues are estimated to increase. He highlighted the certain Marina expenses and explained that the Marina is estimated to make a profit of $110,000 to $120,000 for the year.

Water & Wastewater Superintendent, Cord Crisler discussed the water and wastewater budget. (Page 30) Superintendent Crisler explained that salaries are proposed to increase in the coming fiscal year. There is also a proposed increase for sewer maintenance, while other expenses are estimated to stay relatively flat. Overall, it is a relatively flat budget outside of longevity and other estimated increases. There is a 3% increase in wages built in. Director Becker and Superintendent Crisler explained that there is a proposed increase in revenues for a reconnection fee. Superintendent Crisler explained that the reconnection fee is a fee to turn water back on after a bill is overdue for a certain amount of time and encourages people to pay prior to water being shut off. He explained that their water must be shut off and there are customers that regularly have water shut off and then must be turned back on. When water must be turned off and turned back on, it ties up the city resources.

Director Becker commented on the Streets, vehicle maintenance, and solid waste budgets, as Superintendent of Street Ric Semonski is not able to be present at the meeting. Director Becker explained that the proposed vehicle maintenance and solid waste budgets have a three percent increase for salary and then it is proposed the rest of the expenses are relatively flat. He discussed the proposed street maintenance budget that has a proposed increase in contractual services are up, along with street signs. There is a decrease in the street paving line item due to the Springfield Road project being completed.

Director of Planning and Community Development, Ty Livingston, and Director of Building and Inspection, Robert Cole, came up to the podium to discuss their department budgets. Director Livingston explained that the contractual services line decreased for the coming fiscal year because the comprehensive plan is winding down. He commented on the branding effort that is wrapping up. They are now introducing the brand to the public with signage beginning to be worked on for welcome signs and directional signs. He explained that the GIS has migrated to the cloud and online permitting has been implemented. Director Livingston commented on developments that will be coming this year, including a new hotel, the BluTowne development, Best Buy, Boot Barn, among other development efforts in the City. Commissioner Decker inquired about the Springfield Road apartments and who they would be open to. Director Livingston believes that it would be open to the public. Director Cole discussed the Public Property budget that includes proposed expenses in property maintenance.

Director of Tourism and Special Events, Kory Brown, discussed the Tourism and special events budgets. He explained that rental revenues are up, as are concessions revenues, and other revenues at EastSide Centre. The expenses include salary increases. Other proposed expense increases include Contractual services, a printing increase for signs, and an increase in painting and cleaning expenses. The other expenses are relatively flat. Director Brown discussed the Outside Operations budget and explained that it remains mostly flat. Director Brown discussed the proposed Hotel/Motel budget, including Hotel/Motel revenues being up and Winter Wonderland being down slightly. Hotel/Motel expenses were discussed.

Fire Chief Bobby Zimmerman discussed the Fire and ESDA budgets. He commented on the siren replacements and splitting them up. The Fire budget has a proposed increase of 6.7% that includes contractual obligations. He commented on Overtime expenses and Contractual Service expenses were discussed. He explained that the City may save some money by decreasing the overtime line item by the estimated amount of around $25,000.

Chief of Police, David Catton, and Deputy Chief of Police, Ryan Billingsley, commented on the Police budget that is proposed to be relatively flat. Deputy Chief Billingsley explained that the salaries are direct costs and are contractual. There was a senior retirement which brought that amount up. He commented on animal control line item that is a contractual cost. One of the largest proposed increases is the squad maintenance, as the police have an aging fleet. He explained that the Motor Fuel costs have gone up. The operating expenses is up as well. He explained that the Capital expense line item is for the new station. Deputy Chief Billingsley explained that there was an additional K-9 added; however, there was a significant donation received from someone that helped to pay for some of the expenses.

Director Becker discussed the Governing body budget and the Boards and Commissions budget. The Boards and Commissions budget includes the Fire and Police Commission which has an increase for examinations. Director Becker explained that the City Administrator budget includes an additional Human Resources position. Director Becker discussed the Accounts and Finance proposed budget that includes expenses for replacing servers and switches. He commented on other expenses that include the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund budget that remains flat. There is a slight decrease in Fire Pension contribution and the Police Pension contribution has decreased slightly. Unemployment Insurance expenses remains flat. Director Becker commented on the Marina TIF, Camp Street TIF, West Washington Street TIF, and Motor Fuel Tax budgets. He explained that the Riverboat Gaming expected gaming to go down slightly. There was a discussion about pension payments. Director Becker explained that the funding percentage is in the upper sixties for pension payments. Mayor Kahl explained that the current law states that the pension funds must be 90% funded by 2040, and there are discussions about changing the law to be 90% funded by 2050. Once the city meets the obligations, it will flatten out. Mayor Kahl believes that it is a good idea to continue down the path of funding the pension according to the current legislation.

Revenues are scheduled to be discussed on February 11, 2025. 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, they will share those estimates.

There were no other comments from the public.

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 5:36 P.M.

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