Board of Trustees

Village of Peoria Heights Public Hearing April 1, 2025 The Public Hearing was called to order at 5:00 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, Matt Wigginton, and Brandon Wisenburg were absent. Others present included Mayor Michael Phelan, Village Administrator and Chief of Police Dustin Sutton, Village Clerk Stephanie Turner, and Village Counsel Kate Carter. Director of the Public Library, Mr. Shawn Edwards, came forward to provide an overview of the Library’s budget noting spending was pretty flat. He reported that the Library had only increased its spending a total of 3% since 2019. He noted the library is continuing its expansion project and expects to have the design process finished very soon. He explained the Library will be seeking a state library grant to offset construction costs. The plans for expansion also include expanding landscaping and connecting the Library to the trail. Mayor Phelan offered Director Edwards compliments on the Library’s frugal spending and excellent service. Chief Sutton provided an overview for the Village’s budget noting it was a balanced budget. Chief Sutton thanked department heads and the financial assistant for their hard work in balancing the budget. He noted there were a lot of projects planned for the coming year, including grant matches and water infrastructure improvements, and thanked the Board for their question and hard work during the budgeting process. He announced it was due to the Board’s fiscal responsibility and policies that the Village was estimating a surplus of $350,000 at the end of the current fiscal year. Mayor Phelan opened the meeting to public comment. Hearing no public comment on the budget, Trustee Goett made a motion to adjourn. Trustee Khazzam seconded. The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m. by a vote of 6-0. _____________________________________ ______________________________________ Michael Phelan, Mayor Stephanie Turner, Village Clerk  Village of Peoria Heights Board of Trustees April 1, 2025 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, Matt Wigginton, and Brandon Wisenburg were absent. Others present included Mayor Michael Phelan, Village Administrator and Chief of Police Dustin Sutton, Village Clerk Stephanie Turner, and Village Counsel Kate Carter. Trustee Khazzam made a motion to approve the minutes from the March 18, 2025 meeting. Trustee Reichert seconded the motion. The minutes were approved 6-0. Mayor Phelan opened the meeting to public comment. Hearing no comments, Mayor Phelan closed the meeting to public comment. The Board of Trustees moved on to old business. Hearing no old business, the Board moved on to new business. Trustee Khazzam made a motion to approve Ordinance 2025-1758: an Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Peoria Heights TIF District No. 3 TIF Redevelopment Agreement by and Between the Village of Peoria Heights and Pearl Enterprises of Illinois, LLC. Trustee Reichert seconded the motion. Village Counsel Attorney Nic Nelson, from Jacob and Klein, Ltd, explained the agreement is a fairly standard agreement similar to the Village’s previous agreements. It’ll include an 80% net increment reimbursement of TIF property taxes to the developer. Attorney Nelson explained the agreement differs because there are three phases. He explained each phase has its own financial incentives which might be triggered if both parties take action. He stated it was written like that because the Village had a limited amount of private funding incentives to offer. If the Village amends the TIF plan, which there is no obligation to do so, then the financial incentives increase. Attorney Nelson also spoke about the Village’s obligation to help pay for the burying of utility lines along Glen Avenue. Mr. Elias, representative of the developer, emphasized the agreement requires building and completion of Phase 1 before any obligation occurs. Director of Community Development, Mr. Wayne Aldrich, invited Mr. Kemper, representative of Pearl Enterprises, forward to speak about the project vision. Mr. Kemper noted Mr. Pearl, owner of the company, is excited to move forward. He spoke about the office expansions into a new second floor, including lease space, as well as retail space on the first floor. Trustee DeVore questioned the situation with the current tenant. Mr. Kemper explained the building had a 300 person occupancy so the current tenant will fit. Trustee DeVore asked about the location of Phase 1B with Mr. Kemper explaining that there hasn’t been design on later phases. Trustee DeVore asked about timing of burying the utility lines. The Board discussed benefits of burying the lines during construction as opposed to waiting for completion with Attorney Nelson and Director Aldrich offering benefits to both options. Trustee DeVore asked if there had been discussions regarding impact on traffic with the construction. Director Aldrich spoke about burying the utility lines. Trustee DeVore asked about reimbursements. Attorney Nelson explained that the property tax reimbursement is net which means the calculations are after intergovernmental agreements, specifically the reimbursement of the school district, and after any administrative fees. Trustee DeVore noted the Village hadn’t been higher than 75% reimbursement stating the project would set a precedent. Director Aldrich offered the project was a major project. Attorney Nelson noted as a rehab project the project wasn’t going to generate the same amount of value as new construction. Trustee Wigginton asked about funding for burying the utility lines with the Board discussing BDD and TIF options. Chief Sutton spoke about issues the Village has had with those specific power and utility lines taking down power and phone lines in Village Hall. Mayor Phelan noted the agreement was unique in that it was a job creation incentive. The Board voted 6-0 to approve the development agreement. Trustee Khazzam made a motion to approve Ordinance 2025-1757: an Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Business Development District No. 1 Redevelopment Agreement by and Between the Village of Peoria Heights and Charlotte Beck, dba Golden Finch Boutique & Coffee Shop (1308 E. Seiberling Ave). Trustee DeVore seconded the motion. Trustee Khazzam explained the property will be two spaces combined with improvements and ADA compliance. Ms. Beck-Caley came forward to provide an overview of her business speaking about her plans and hope to open by the end of May. Trustee Wisenburg asked if Ms. Beck-Caley had purchased the building. Ms. Beck-Caley stated she was renting. Trustee Wisenburg noted the Board had recently approved an agreement for building improvements with the owners. The Board spoke about improvements for the tenant as opposed to improvements for the owner. Ms. Beck-Caley spoke about her standards for her business and her reasons for putting money into the property as a renter. Trustee Khazzam noted the Board had precedent in previous agreements. Trustee DeVore, as a business owner, spoke about her experience outfitting a business including installing drywall at past locations. Trustee DeVore asked Director Aldrich about reviewing the qualifications for BDD program. Director Aldrich noted he was working on that. The Board voted 6-0 to approve the agreement. Director Aldrich noted he had met with the City of Peoria regarding Prospect Road. He explained the City will be sitting with the Village as partners in the project seeking funding. The zoning rewrite continues. He’s anticipating there will be public meetings regarding the project in May. Additionally, the Village will be applying for federal funding for the replacement of the Lake Avenue water main. Trustee DeVore made a motion to approve Ordinance 2025-1755: a Special Ordinance Authorizing the Ceding of Private Activity Bonding Authority. Trustee Wisenburg seconded the motion. Trustee DeVore explained the Village passes the ordinance every year to transfer its bonding authority to the regional partner rather than ceding that bonding authority to the State where it could be used anywhere. The Board voted 6-0 to approve the ordinance. Trustee DeVore made a motion to approve Ordinance 2025-1756: an Ordinance Authorizing Continued Imposition of a Residential Waste Collection and Disposal Fee. Trustee Goett seconded the motion. Trustee DeVore explained the Village must past an ordinance every year setting fees. Trustee Wisenburg requested the Village remove itself from billing for the service. He noted other communities that allowed private contracts for waste disposal. Mayor Phelan asked how that worked for its residents. Trustee Wisenburg noted he wasn’t sure. Trustee DeVore spoke to the increased cost for an individual versus the bargaining power of a collective. She suggested the topic be researched prior to action. Trustee Wigginton noted the wear and tear of multiple providers. Trustee Goett also spoke in favor of collective action noting not everyone would put forth the effort to negotiate rates. He also noted the likelihood of a discounted rate since the Village guarantees payment to the vendor. Chief Sutton stated it was a negotiation point, but the contract doesn’t end until 2028. He spoke about the improvements the company had offered and noted that it was a moving target. The Board voted 6-0 to approve the waste collection fee ordinance. Trustee Reichert made a motion to approve Ordinance 2025-1759: an Ordinance Amending Title 8, Chapter 2a of the Village Code of the Village of Peoria Heights, for the Purpose of Establishing Water Rates in the Village of Peoria Heights, Illinois. Trustee Wisenburg seconded the motion. Trustee Reichert explained the ordinance created a 5% increase effective 5/1/25 and an additional 5% increase 12/1/25. The Water Company was delaying a 10% increase which was proposed for 12/1/24 and skipping the 8% increase which was proposed for 12/1/25. The rate increase would continue to grow funds for the water capital improvement plan, but also factored in grant funding and low interest loans awarded by the State. Trustee Wigginton noted he had previously voted down an increase, but he believes that the improvements the Village has made, approval for a water treatment plant, pending construction on lead service lines, funding for a new water main on Galena Road, warrant an increase. The Board voted 6-0 to approve the ordinance. The Board voted 6-0 to approve the ordinance. Superintendent of Public Works, Mr. Chris Chandler, informed the Board that the EPA would be sending a letter approving the Village’s construction of a water treatment plant. The EPA will announce SRF funding in July, and the Village hopes to receive funding for the treatment plant. Trustee Wisenburg noted the Village had been working on the project for a very long time and how long regulatory approval takes. He asked Superintendent Chandler about recent discolored water, and Superintendent Chandler noted the recent extreme weather fluctuations as well as the upcoming hydrant flushing. Mayor Phelan asked for miscellaneous business. Trustee Wisenburg questioned the Water Company disconnecting water service for nonpayment of garbage fees. Trustee Wisenburg expressed his dislike of the policy. Superintendent Chandler explained the fees are through the same account even when billed separately. Chief Sutton explained the Water Company was going to be combining the water and garbage bills again soon. He noted the request to separate the bills had come from residents, but many residents expressed their dislike of the separated bills. Clerk Turner explained the timeline for recombining the bills which will include extensive notice to the residents. Trustee Wisenburg asked if the Village would be providing a spring clean up. Chief Sutton noted he was in the process of determining a date with GFL. Trustee Wisenburg requested an electronic clean up as well with Chief Sutton noting he’d look into the details. Trustee Wisenburg questioned the INF charges on the water bill. The Board discussed the history of the charges, which are to fund infrastructure maintenance. Trustee Wisenburg expressed his dislike of the fee’s name and a desire to see it eliminated. Chief Sutton explained the fees are dedicated to repayment of a loan. Clerk Turner will provide the Board with payoff information on the loan. Mayor Phelan opened the meeting to public comment. Hearing none, the meeting was closed to public comment. Trustee Goett made a motion to adjourn, and Trustee DeVore seconded the motion. The Board of Trustees voted 6-0 to adjourn at 6:58 pm. ____________________________________ ______________________________________ Michael Phelan, Mayor Stephanie Turner, Village Clerk