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OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST PEORIA, ILLINOIS TUESDAY February 12, 2008 - 7:00 P.M. WEST PEORIA CITY HALL 2506 W. ROHMANN AVENUE, WEST PEORIA IL
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of West Peoria, Illinois was held at the West Peoria City Hall on February 12, 2008.
1. CALL TO ORDER Meeting was
called to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of
Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro Tem Mathewson 3. ROLL CALL The following
members were present: Alderman Dohm, Alderman Dwyer, Alderman
Ganson, Mayor Pro Tem Mathewson, Alderman Meismer, Alderman Roberts,
Alderwoman Thomas, and Alderman Venzon. Also present: Attorney Bill
Connor, and City Clerk Carole Stephens. Mayor Dillon is out of town,
City Administrator Carlson is ill. 4. ADDITIONS AND OR DELETIONS FROM AGENDA None
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve the Minutes from the January 22, 2008 City Council Meeting was made by Alderman Ganson and seconded by Alderman Meismer ROLL CALL
VOTE – Ayes 8 - Ganson,
Meismer, Dohm, Dwyer, Mathewson, Roberts, Thomas, Venzon
6.COMMUNITY POLICE REPORT Officer Chris
Watkins reported; last week the Peoria County Sheriffs conducted a
drug raid in the 2100 block of West Callender and seized a pound of
marijuana and staking out a couple more houses in West Peoria.
There haven’t been any accidents during the bad weather thanks to
Henry and the Street Department on doing a great job. We are still
having problems with the cars getting off the streets so the street
department can plow. The County Sheriff Department is spot checking
the bars for the Smoking Ban. No fines are given out. They send a
report to the State and the State makes the decision to fine. 7. MAYOR’S REPORT Mayor Pro Tem
Mathewson reported that the Building Committee has been meeting and
will continue to meet often. The Committee is working on the Garage
Building below the hill and a Government Building for the City of
West Peoria and the Township. Everyone is welcome to attend these
meetings. If you would like to become involved, please come. The
meetings are always posted. 8. PUBLIC COMMENT None 9. RESPONSE TO WEST PEORIA RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION QUESTIONS ON MANUAL HIGH SCHOOL. Attorney Conner hand delivered a letter to all the City Council Members with the answers of the two questions concerning Manual High School that was asked of the council. 1) Detachment of West Peoria from District 150. It is possible to do, but it would require the consent and approval of District 150 School Board and whatever School District West Peoria would decide to go into. The Regional Board of School Trustees stated it would have to be approved in both School Districts and election/referendum on that question. This is possible as long as we meet all the hurdles. 2) The question whether or not there is a voucher system now that can be used for the residents to obtain for education for: private school, home schools. public schools, some states do have those, Illinois does not. Right now there is a tax credit which allows a write off $500.00 worth of private school tuition, but you have to spend $2,250.00 for qualified education expenses to get the $500.00 tax benefit. From time to time there are some vouchers proposals from Springfield that come up. They have been approved by the Courts they just haven’t been enacted into law in Illinois. 3) Dave Pittman representing the West Peoria Resident Association gave the answer to the Third question: Given the restructuring of Manual High School is going under the next few years would it be possible for West Peoria High School age students be allowed to attend other 150 District High Schools? The answer is yes. This will begin in 2008, so if you know of any high students they may very well have the opportunity to choose other schools. It was brought up by Alderman Ganson, that it was his understanding that they were going to have a choice of high schools and if a particular school was filled then the lottery would fill the spots. Dave Pittman said out of the approximate 250 West Peoria kids, only approximately 60 of them went to Manual.
10. APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NO. 2008-02 AN ORDINANCE DEFINING AND RESTRICTION GARAGE SALES AND AMENDING TITLE 5, BUSINESS REGULATIONS OF THE WEST PEORIA CITY CODE was made by Alderman Dohm and seconded by Alderman Ganson. Discussion: The requirement for the Garage Sale Signs is: Times, Dates and Address only. Once the garage sales are finished, it is required to remove all sign within twenty-four hours. Garage Sales will be for no longer than three days and can only be one every three months. ROLL CALL –
Ayes – 7 Dohm, Ganson,
Dwyer, Mathewson, Meismer, Roberts, Venzon 11. PUBLIC COMMENT None
12. OTHER BUSINESS – DISCUSSION ONLY None
13. COMMITTEE REPORT A. FINANCE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN MATHEWSON – CHAIR The Finance Committee met on February 5, 2008. Our Vista Volunteer Krystiana gave an update on projects that she has been working on. West Peoria Night at the Rivermen’s Game, she has been working with the Park District to get the walking track shoveled when it snows and put more lighting around the trail, and has accomplished both of these. They are shoveling the track and in the process of getting the approval of homeowners that live by the walking track for lighting. Krystiana is in charge of the Jamboree Run, which will be held on June 7th. She is also working on the plaque that will go on the “Welcome Wall” at the corner of Western Avenue and Main Street. She is also working on communication with the residents by putting out a pamphlet in between the WPRA newspapers that come out quarterly to inform the residents what is going on; like a new Ordinance, etc. The Finance Committee is working on the budget. We are working on the TIF District with some of their regulations. Our next meeting is March 4th, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall B. LAND USE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN DOHM – CHAIR The Land Use Committee has not met since the last council meeting; our next meeting will be February 20th, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. A copy of the Land Use Property Code was distributed to everyone. We would like to have this back by February 20th. If there are any corrections the Committee can make them and then it will go back to the Planning Committee where they will vote to approve this, once we give them a final draft. The Land Use Committee worked on this for several months, with the help of City Attorney Connor, his office, and Mical McFarland. C. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN DWYER, CHAIR The Public Safety Committee met on February 5, 2008. The Public Safety Committee went over the budget, reviewed the Zoning Code Officer’s Report, we discussed the Parking Ban Ordinance and agreed to partner with the Transportation Committee to iron out some of the problems with Waste Management; the pick up of garbage at the curb only and not in the alleys. We will need feedback from the Council. We also review the Tri Regional Planning Power Point Presentation regarding Farmington Road Streetscape and the Committee discussed the emergency operations and proposal by ALERT NOW, and tabled. it. Our next meeting is March 4th, at City Hall at 7:00 p.m. Discussion: Alderman Mathewson mentioned that the Tri Country Regional has furnished a CD for the Farmington Road Streetscape, he advised everyone to watch it. D. TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN VENZON, CHAIR The Transportation Committee has not met since the last City Council Meeting; our next meeting is February 14th at City Hall at 6:30 p.m.
14. PUBLIC COMMENT Dave Pittman from the West Peoria Residents Association suggested the Staff to work on Coordination of all committees.
15. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn this meeting was made by Alderman Roberts and seconded by Alderman Ganson. Motion carried unanimously by voice. Meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Carole Stephens, City Clerk
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