[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6386497,"mediaKeyId","2118051-bbc661693a05b44b0773c3ecd86b4d69","parentId",2118051,"title","Peoria Council adopts 2025 joint legislative agenda, adds warehouse parking and regional mental‑health request","audioSeconds",1802,"startMs",1008000,"endMs",2810000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2118051-bbc661693a05b44b0773c3ecd86b4d69&start=1008&end=2810","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2118051-bbc661693a05b44b0773c3ecd86b4d69/thumbnail_1008000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6386497/Peoria/Peoria-County/Illinois/Peoria-Council-adopts-2025-joint-legislative-agenda-adds-warehouse-parking-and-regional-mentalhealth-request","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6386497-15537945050da87c259f02b583742d11/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204290&Signature=hI1Kf17pjFOqqXGWER8BRtQo5NGpqHJ1kdR4mBNLlSE1HltsoMjQMVeMC3eyladVm2w0QOqlmKgE8nsF3dm7iF3D6603a3-w8Rur38fTdKPJTHSQI~3tUjxS8MXaBHB3Tfr5-19uXVhwckZwl7s62KhLGkQzYKBWEl~Lqw7fiW~NMJdRXbt8aDzwhzaaNOVMeIPdBZHO4FH53MS506YbVBJypHFdgXKNW9mXT-xPfOMy6Bcx3T0onCKmJb5lHw6wu~tF5xxU0HySdHcvPYcT7sRBPdQ-GzVFQ0lnv6hplUcLb3TpZ5f6qJHOjXV8i3wBc~~uYGig9FmoGXid22rilg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Peoria, IL","date","2025-01-16T08:07:25.023Z","article","The Peoria City Council on Tuesday adopted the city and county’s 2025 joint legislative agenda, approving a package of state requests that include pension changes, housing incentives, public‑safety proposals and several capital funding priorities.

City Manager Patrick Ulrich presented the packet to the council, outlining direct sponsorship requests (items the city is asking legislators to introduce) and other advocacy positions. \"As you know, it's that time of year again when we put together our, annual wish list for our, state legislative delegation,\" Ulrich said while describing requests ranging from public‑safety pension amortization to housing incentives for households earning roughly 80–140% of area median income.

Key elements in the packet include:

- Public‑safety pension reform to extend the amortization period for police and fire pensions.
- A request that the local delegation oppose bills that would roll back “tier 2” retirement designations for public employees, which staff said would increase municipal fiscal costs.
- Proposals to encourage “missing middle” housing: a homeownership tax credit for middle‑income buyers; a tax credit to stimulate multi‑unit rental construction; and enhanced state support for the local land bank to ready properties for housing.
- Public‑safety amendments (possible statutory changes to the SAFE‑T Act), including proposals to increase penalties or mandatory detention for certain repeat violent offenses if a trailer bill is introduced at the state level.
- Authorization requests for automated traffic‑law enforcement (red‑light and speed cameras) and funding requests for capital projects: $25 million for Main Street improvements, $15 million for riverfront work, $3 million for McArthur Avenue and $3 million for Pioneer Parkway, plus requests for Pioneer Parkway, Laramie Avenue, and Springdale Cemetery road network improvements.

During discussion council members added two items to be included on the legislative list to be shared with the delegation: a request to study or fund a parking structure in the warehouse district, and language asking the legislature to consider reestablishing regional mental‑health center capacity (a state facility like the prior Zeller center that served a broader region). Council Member Euler moved approval of the list with the warehouse district parking addition; the motion was seconded and the council approved the agenda unanimously.

Council debate included a range of views on the public‑safety proposals. Council Member Grama described rising property crime and urged stronger detention options for repeat offenders; Council Member Vespa, a former public defender, cautioned against mandatory detention rules that might penalize people with distant prior convictions and urged case‑by‑case judicial discretion. Multiple members also stressed opposition to state preemption of home‑rule powers; staff and several council members asked the delegation to resist bills that would remove municipal authority.

A few members also asked for the legislative packet to reflect ongoing infrastructure and safety needs: a $2.5 million street‑lighting grant effort (working with Ameren) and a newly requested state contribution to pedestrian and vehicle barriers at large‑crowd venues.

What’s next

The council’s legislative breakfast is scheduled for the next morning; staff said the city, county and health department will present a combined program to the delegation. Council members said additions to the packet do not bind individual members to every item — they described the packet as a broad advocacy list to inform state lawmakers. Several members requested continued council updates as the legislature acts on individual bills.

Ending

The council directed staff to forward the adopted legislative agenda to the city and county delegation and to monitor specific bills, particularly those affecting home‑rule authority, public‑safety statutes and housing incentives.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Peoria City Council Meeting January 14,2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Peoria City Council on Tuesday adopted the city and county’s 2025 joint legislative agenda, approving requests on pensions, housing, public safety and capital funding and adding a parking‑structure and regional mental‑health request.","taxTitle","Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois","taxId",2826,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6386502,"Peoria council approves up to $80,000 reimbursement to Lula, $105,000 grant to Dream Center to expand shelter capacity",2351,2745000,5096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2118051-bbc661693a05b44b0773c3ecd86b4d69&start=2745&end=5096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2118051-bbc661693a05b44b0773c3ecd86b4d69/thumbnail_2745000.jpg","/articles/6386502/Peoria/Peoria-County/Illinois/Peoria-council-approves-up-to-80000-reimbursement-to-Lula-105000-grant-to-Dream-Center-to-expand-shelter-capacity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6386502-b0a4a4aebf914bfda65704683aa6a986/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204290&Signature=h-JnSKa1OjrHITn-P409eXbcMxag3j90-0wksGrztbtcsmwbojAx3skUvZh-NcxttG8Lc6UccLoWDmmvndkSAGMuxxMshCJUSegK75ohn5EVc6JJyhY4rKF0MNyk9STnFtDfIUub6YSqJBJCX~lhX-NAXpP1Nyz13uMwQpXiVzdPDnCrkv6GCPfbrJ~Z2pFlC2wEkRgB6KHGs0mwtNCqp9Ar1LD7ECx0rC~OzdRw0~ZuTA1N0zj-TpluQ-gXffouTuC4enGtqoIFJ0q0yt3H5vTHW5k~Is2dG-3y6fpZdVRS9~VKY94odLsvUUGFjP7Iz1HOLlDCDJhEihyIjb~Qyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Peoria City Council on Tuesday approved emergency reimbursements and a shelter expansion grant to help people living in encampments find temporary shelter this winter.

The council voted unanimously to authorize reimbursable payments to Lula NFP for documented motel costs (not to exceed $80,000) through the end of February 2025, and to award Dream Center Peoria a $105,000 grant to expand its shelter capacity for up to three months.

The actions followed an extended discussion about how to balance immediate life‑safety needs during a cold spell with longer-term strategies for mental‑health treatment, detox and permanent supportive housing. Council members and staff said the payments are reimbursements — not direct contracts — and will require documented invoices reviewed by city finance staff before payment.

“Kayshi Bernard,” a Lula NFP representative who spoke at the meeting, told the council: “We’re deeply grateful and just to be clear, the amount of residents that we've had stay in our transitional pop up shelter is 61 as of right now. There is nobody left in camp as of right now.” That public comment was cited by several council members as evidence the motel approach had eased immediate risk for many individuals and made case management easier.

City staff said Lula began arranging motel rooms on Jan. 3 without prior city commitment; Council Member Riggenbach said Lula’s initial, self‑funded effort cost about $16,000 for the first ten days. Corporation Counsel Hayes explained the city prefers a reimbursement model to reduce direct liability exposure from operating or contracting for third‑party shelter placements.

Community Development Director Joe Doolin briefed the council on the Dream Center award, saying the center’s expansion focuses on couples and women and is intended to add temporary bed capacity that can be evaluated for effectiveness over the winter.

Several council members pressed for measurable follow‑up. Council Member Oiler (Euler) asked staff for weekly updates on the number of people sheltered, the number still unsheltered and plans to move people from temporary placements into longer‑term housing. Council Member Riggenbach and others emphasized case management and coordination among service providers, citing Phoenix Community Development Services, OSF’s street medicine team and Salvation Army planning.

Not all council members were comfortable with the amended dollar total. One member said they would have voted for a smaller, immediate amount and stressed that motel rooms are a short‑term fix; others argued the larger, two‑month reimbursement is a pragmatic next step while shelter capacity and mental‑health projects are developed. Multiple members urged the council to prioritize a regional mental‑health center and more permanent housing solutions in conversations with state legislators.

Doolin also told the council that two larger shelter/capacity projects — the Phoenix project and a Salvation Army expansion — are expected to start in the coming months and could conclude around June 2026, but he said both are multi‑year, multimillion‑dollar undertakings that will not replace immediate winter shelter needs.

Votes at a glance

- 25‑9: Motion to approve reimbursable grant award to Lula NFP to reimburse motel costs for unsheltered individuals, amended to reimburse through Feb. 28, 2025, not to exceed $80,000; moved by Council Member Riggenbach; seconded by Council Member Gordon Young; outcome: approved (unanimous).
- 25‑10: Motion to approve grant award to Dream Center Peoria in the amount of $105,000 to expand existing shelter capacity; moved by Council Member Riggenbach; seconded by Council Member Allen; outcome: approved (unanimous).

What it means

Council members and service providers described the reimbursements and the Dream Center award as emergency, transitional measures intended to reduce immediate harm and make it easier for outreach teams to connect individuals to housing and services. City staff said the payments will be vetted through the grants and finance departments and that future recommendations for longer‑term funding may be presented as winter needs evolve.

Public comment and service‑provider testimony were central to the council's deliberations: Lula and Dream Center speakers described clients’ improved readiness for case management once sheltered; several council members called for more targeted mental‑health capacity, detox beds and recovery housing to reduce repeat homelessness.

Ending

Council members asked staff to provide regular progress updates to track who remains unsheltered, how motel and shelter stays transition into longer‑term placements, and what additional city or regional investments will be needed. The council did not commit new permanent shelter facilities at the meeting; future capital or recurring operating requests will return for separate approval.","On Jan. 14 the Peoria City Council unanimously approved reimbursable support for Lula NFP’s motel placements through February and a $105,000 grant to the Dream Center to expand shelter capacity as the city implements its encampment ordinance and coordinates social-service responses.","actionData","errors"]

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Peoria Council adopts 2025 joint legislative agenda, adds warehouse parking and regional mental‑health request

Peoria council approves up to $80,000 reimbursement to Lula, $105,000 grant to Dream Center to expand shelter capacity