Board of Trustees

Village of Peoria Heights Board of Trustees March 19, 2024 The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. Everyone stood for a moment of silence and the Pledge to the Flag. Upon calling roll, the following Trustees were present: Sarah DeVore, Jeff Goett, Elizabeth Khazzam, Jennifer Reichert, Matthew Wigginton, and Brandon Wisenburg. Trustee DeVore was present remotely. Others present included Mayor Michael Phelan, Village Administrator and Chief of Police Dustin Sutton, Village Clerk Stephanie Turner, and Village Counsel Attorney Mark Walton. Attorney Walton explained Trustee DeVore was present remotely due to work, and the Board would need to make a motion to accept her attendance. Trustee Wisenburg made a motion to accept Trustee DeVore’s remote attendance, and Trustee Reicheert seconded the motion. The Board voted 5-0 to approve with Trustee DeVore abstaining from the vote. Mayor Phelan announced he and Community Development Director, Mr. Wayne Aldrich, would need to leave the meeting early for a prior arranged speaking engagement. Clerk Turner read correspondence from Mr. JT Kellock protesting the budget shortfall. Mr. Kellock objected to the Board’s approval of the fire department without long term financial analysis. Trustee Wigginton made a motion to approve the minutes from the February 15, February 24, and March 5, 2024 meetings. Trustee Khazzam seconded the motion. The minutes were approved 6-0. Mayor Phelan opened the meeting to public comment on agenda items. Mr. Shawn Edwards came forward representing the Peoria Heights Art Collaborative presenting the third poetry collection of works by students of the Peoria Heights High School. He noted the project was started by Ms. Mary Beth Noebel, and the project will continue into the future. He invited everyone to the debut noting the positive impact of the project. Ms. Barb Milaccio, Exhibit A Gallery, came to urge the trustees to vote against the retail tax increase. She stated the businesses would have more pressure, and it was a punishment to the businesses for being successful. She noted the business are a large part of the reason the Village is able to accomplish what it does. She expressed businesses will have to leave if they keep getting taxed and noted businesses are still recovering from COVID. She urged the Board to vote down the sales tax increase. Ms. Jill Wakefield, Peoria Heights Chamber of Commerce, past president, urged the Village to note no. She spoke about the already high tax rate noting that increasing rates could pull business from the Village to the City of Peoria. She suggested marketing the Village more in order to encourage increased sales. She noted that businesses have received complaints, and clients have chosen other businesses in Peoria. She shared businesses are already being questioned about tax rates. Mr. Joseph Burger, 4319 N Galena Rd, shared concerns about his property being claimed by IDOT. He stated that IDOT would be claiming 25 feet rather than 10 feet as previously discussed. He talked about properties being removed from the tax rolls and the impact to taxes. He shared there would be a public meeting soon and encouraged others to attend. Mayor Phelan noted it was a state road and a state project so the VIllage might not be able to do anything, but staff and counsel would review the situation. Mr. Jeff Huebner, owner of Trefzger’s Bakery and Trailside Event Center, agreed with Ms. Milaccio and Ms. Wakefield. Mr. Hueber spoke about the danger of increasing sales tax to fund budget shortfalls without addressing the long-term impact of expenses. Mr. Huebner urged the Board to find a different alternative and vote against the sales tax increase. Mr. Hugh Higgins, owner of Hearth, acknowledged the difficulty of balancing the budget. He acknowledged the potential of the Beck’s project. He spoke on behalf of the restaurants, noting he hadn’t been asked, but believed it was a shared mindset. He noted that the restaurants and the retail have created a destination in the Village. He shared he received complaints regarding the sales tax rate for years from clients renting his restaurant. Mr. Higgins noted the difficulty restaurant owners face with changes to labor laws made by the State of Illinois. He noted restaurant owners were facing difficulties and urged the Board to help by voting against the sales tax increase. Hearing no additional comment, the Board moved on to old business. Hearing no old business, the Board moved on to new business. Trustee Khazzam made the motion to approve Resolution 2024-01: A Resolution in Support of And Authorizing Application By The Village Of Peoria Heights for Community Project Funding And Congressionally Directed Spending For the Design And Construction Of Decorative Roadway And Pedestrian Lighting For IDOT Route 29 Project. Trustee Goet seconded the motion. Trustee Khazzam explained the resolution authorizes Director Aldrich to apply for grant funding for lighting for the multi- use trail being installed along Route 29. She noted it would help with safety on the trail and benefit the residents along Route 29. Director Aldrich shared it would also help with aesthetics and place making to announce that people traveling on Route 29 they were in Peoria Heights. He noted it would spur economic development both above and below the bluff as well as enhance the project and provide security enhancements such as call stations, security cameras, etc. Trustee Wisenburg asked if the vote would commit the Village to the $500,000 match. Trustee Khazzam agreed noting it would put the Village in very bad position to decline later. Trustee Khazzam stated the funds could be pulled from the capital improvement fund. Chief Sutton noted that the Board would be able to discuss how it would be integrated in the budget if it was awarded. Trustee Wisenburg noted the Board has concerns about the budget and objected spending funds on decorative lighting. Trustee Khazzam protested the disdain of decorative lighting noting its importance for safety as well as branding the Village. Mayor Phelan noted the project’s importance long-term speaking about potential for economic development. Trustee Khazzam noted that the Village has the responsibility to install lighting which is much more than the match for the grant. Trustee DeVore questioned if the Village was creating a TIF district on Route 29 and if the Village could use TIF funds. Director Aldrich allowed it would depend on the specifics of the grant, but most likely it could be TIF and/or BDD eligible. Trustee Wigginton noted the Village is later going to discuss ceding bonding authority with the Board discussing the possibility of bonding to fund expenses related to the Route 29 construction. Trustee Wigginton questioned the timing of the expense with Director Aldrich stating it typically takes a year or more. Trustee Wigginton noted it would take a literal act of Congress to receive the funding. Chief Sutton shared that IDOT was anticipating construction to begin in 2027. Trustee Wisenburg questioned the timing of the expense and funding. Chief Sutton stated he would review options though the expense would not be coming soon. He also noted that the Village had a large capital improvement plan. Trustee Wisenburg praised Chief Sutton’s work in creating large surpluses the last few years. Chief Sutton noted he would be working on options for the Board. Resolution 2024-01 was passed 5-1. Trustee Wisenburg voted nay. Mayor Phelan apologized and took his leave at 6.14 pm. He noted the mayor pro-temp, Trustee DeVore, was remote so he asked Trustee Goett to chair the meeting. Trustee DeVore made a motion to deny Ordinance 2024-1726: an Ordinance to Increase Home Rule Tax Municipal Retailers Occupation Tax and Home Rule Service Occupation Tax in the Village of Peoria Heights. Trustee Wigginton seconded the motion. Trustee DeVore noted she wanted to deny it because she believes taxes will have to be raised later. She stated when the Village has to raise sales taxes she wants to see a larger impact than what’s being discussed. Trustee DeVore stated she believes the direction the Fire Department is headed is not setting it up for success. She expressed the Board needs to consider a lot of factors and more alternatives. Trustee DeVore stated support for the PHFD and the desire to see them thrive with staff and volunteers. She noted that the majority of the Board approved to add to funds to the budget for the PHFD so it could gradually grow. She noted the Board approved an increase of $454,316 but the current Fire budget was over that around $390,000. She stated she would like to see Trustee Wigginton, Chief Decker, herself as chair of finance, and Chief Sutton work together to reduce the budget. She noted that public safety is important, and the Village has strong partnerships. She expressed the Village needs to start smaller and work its way up rather than setting the PHFD up for failure. Trustee DeVore noted she would consider increased funds in the following fiscal year but, meanwhile, she encouraged trustees to deny the sales tax increase. Trustee Wisenburg said he opposed the sale tax increase. He also agreed with Trustee DeVore’s concerns on the fire budget stating the Village must maintain a balanced budget. Trustee Reichert agreed as well noting she had met with Chief Decker to offer suggestions for additional cuts. The motion to deny Ordinance 2024-1726 passed 5-0. Trustee DeVore made a motion to approve Ordinance 2024-1725: a Special Ordinance Authorizing the Ceding of Private Activity Bonding Authority. Trustee Khazzam seconded. Attorney Walton stated it was an annual action. The Village has borrowing authority allocated by the State. In years the Village doesn’t plan to use its bond authority, the local agency asks to take the bonding authority for local economic development. Trustee Wigginton noted the Village might need the useful tool in the future. The Board approved the ordinance 5-0. Trustee Reichert explained that the resolution is to extend the deadline for the Village’s current grant. Trustee Reichert made a motion to Resolution 2024-02: Resolution Of the Village of Peoria Heights Approving Amendment to Grant Agreement with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Trustee Wigginton seconded the motion. The resolution was passed 5-0. Trustee Goett asked for miscellaneous business. Hearing none, Trustee Goett asked for general comments from the audience. Mr. Burger stated IDOT was holding a meeting the following night and urged the Board to attend. Trustee Khazzam thanked Mr. Burger and shared the open house was from 4:00-6:30 pm at the school. Hearing no additional comments, Trustee Goett closed the meeting to public comment. Trustee Wigginton made a motion to adjourn, and Trustee Reichert seconded the motion. The Board of Trustees voted 5-0 to adjourn at 6:28 pm. _____________________________________ ______________________________________ Michael Phelan, Mayor Stephanie Turner, Village Clerk