At Issue #2622 - City of Peoria issues

>>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON "AT ISSUE." JOINING US ON "AT ISSUE." I AM H. WAYNE WILSON. I AM H. WAYNE WILSON. THE CITY OF PEORIA COUNCIL HELD THE CITY OF PEORIA COUNCIL HELD A POLICY SESSION TWO NIGHTS AGO, A POLICY SESSION TWO NIGHTS AGO, AND THEY DISCUSSED ECONOMIC AND THEY DISCUSSED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. DEVELOPMENT. IT IS AN AREA THAT HASN'T BEEN IT IS AN AREA THAT HASN'T BEEN PAID MUCH ATTENTION TO RECENTLY. PAID MUCH ATTENTION TO RECENTLY. IN FACT, THEY HAVEN'T HAD A IN FACT, THEY HAVEN'T HAD A DIRECTOR FOR MAYBE FIVE YEARS OR DIRECTOR FOR MAYBE FIVE YEARS OR SO. SO. WE WILL TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC WE WILL TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN JUST A MOMENT, DEVELOPMENT IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT A FEW OTHER THINGS CITY BUT A FEW OTHER THINGS CITY BUSINESS WE WILL DISCUSS, AND WE BUSINESS WE WILL DISCUSS, AND WE WILL DO THAT WITH ROSS BLACK, WILL DO THAT WITH ROSS BLACK, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AT THE CITY OF PEORIA. AT THE CITY OF PEORIA. ROSS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ROSS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. BEING WITH US. >>THANK YOU. >>THANK YOU. THE MAYOR IS HERE, ALWAYS GOOD THE MAYOR IS HERE, ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU, MAYOR. TO HAVE YOU, MAYOR. JIM ARDIS, THE MAYOR OF PEORIA. JIM ARDIS, THE MAYOR OF PEORIA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PATRICK URICH, CITY MANAGER FOR PATRICK URICH, CITY MANAGER FOR THE HE CITY OF PEORIA. THE HE CITY OF PEORIA. AND WITH THAT, LET'S START WITH AND WITH THAT, LET'S START WITH WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT, WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT, SALT, COLD, POTHOLES, ETCETERA. SALT, COLD, POTHOLES, ETCETERA. WHERE ARE WE IN TERMS OF TRYING WHERE ARE WE IN TERMS OF TRYING TO KEEP THE ROADS IN SOMEWHAT TO KEEP THE ROADS IN SOMEWHAT PASSABLE SHAPE. PASSABLE SHAPE. >>WELL, THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH >>WELL, THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH WINTER FOR US. WINTER FOR US. THIS IS ONE OF THE SNOWIEST THIS IS ONE OF THE SNOWIEST WINTERS WE HAVE HAD IN A NUMBER WINTERS WE HAVE HAD IN A NUMBER OF YEARS. OF YEARS. AS WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT, WE AS WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT, WE HAVE SPENT $1.9 MILLION ON SNOW HAVE SPENT $1.9 MILLION ON SNOW EVENT THROUGH FEBRUARY 18. EVENT THROUGH FEBRUARY 18. IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH YEAR OF WE IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH YEAR OF WE ARE STARTING TO SEE RIGHT NOW AS ARE STARTING TO SEE RIGHT NOW AS THE WEATHER IS WARMING, AND SNOW THE WEATHER IS WARMING, AND SNOW MELTED AWAY, THE POTHOLES HAVE MELTED AWAY, THE POTHOLES HAVE INCREASED. INCREASED. WE HAD ACTUALLY TWO AND A HALF WE HAD ACTUALLY TWO AND A HALF YEARS WORTH OF ROAD SALT ON YEARS WORTH OF ROAD SALT ON STOCK FOR US, IN STOCK FOR US. STOCK FOR US, IN STOCK FOR US. WE WERE ABLE TO USE MOST OF WE WERE ABLE TO USE MOST OF THAT. THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS A SITUATION UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS A SITUATION WHERE WE SPENT SIGNIFICANTLY WHERE WE SPENT SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN WE HAD BUDGETED OVER MORE THAN WE HAD BUDGETED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE BEEN THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE BEEN OUT LIARS FOR US SIMPLY BECAUSE OUT LIARS FOR US SIMPLY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T SEE AS MUCH SNOW AS WE WE DIDN'T SEE AS MUCH SNOW AS WE HAVE THIS YEAR. HAVE THIS YEAR. THIS YEAR WAS REALLY KIND OF THIS YEAR WAS REALLY KIND OF GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION WHERE GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION WHERE WE HAVE SEEN FAR NOR SNOW THAN WE HAVE SEEN FAR NOR SNOW THAN ANTICIPATED. ANTICIPATED. >>COUNCIL BOMB WOMAN BETH >>COUNCIL BOMB WOMAN BETH AKINSON, 480 MILES OF STREETS AKINSON, 480 MILES OF STREETS THIS THE CITY. THIS THE CITY. THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS MAYBE HALF THE STAFF IT DID TEN MAYBE HALF THE STAFF IT DID TEN YEARS AGO. YEARS AGO. HAS THAT BEEN A PROBLEM IN HAS THAT BEEN A PROBLEM IN KEEPING UP WITH THAT MANY MILES KEEPING UP WITH THAT MANY MILES OF ROAD WITH LESS STAFF. OF ROAD WITH LESS STAFF. >>NO, WE HAVE DONE REMARKABLE >>NO, WE HAVE DONE REMARKABLE JOB OF USING THE STAFF WE HAVE, JOB OF USING THE STAFF WE HAVE, USING TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES DURING USING TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES DURING THE WINTERTIME, AND ALSO USING THE WINTERTIME, AND ALSO USING CONTRACT EMPLOYEES. CONTRACT EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SNOW ROUTES WE HAVE, NUMBER OF SNOW ROUTES WE HAVE, BUT WE HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE BUT WE HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE WHERE THE STAFF ARE OUT WHEN WE WHERE THE STAFF ARE OUT WHEN WE GET TWO OR MORE INCHES OF SNOW, GET TWO OR MORE INCHES OF SNOW, THEY MOVE INTO THE RESIDENTIAL THEY MOVE INTO THE RESIDENTIAL STREETS, BUT THEY FOCUS ON THE STREETS, BUT THEY FOCUS ON THE PRIMARY ROUTES BEFORE THEN, AND PRIMARY ROUTES BEFORE THEN, AND OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THE STREETS OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THE STREETS DRIVABLE AND PASSABLE WITHIN 18 DRIVABLE AND PASSABLE WITHIN 18 HOURS OF THE END OF THE HOURS OF THE END OF THE SNOWSTORM. SNOWSTORM. WE HAVE BEEN REALLY GOOD THIS WE HAVE BEEN REALLY GOOD THIS YEAR ON THE PRIMARY ROUTES. YEAR ON THE PRIMARY ROUTES. WE HAVE BEEN REALLY RESPONSIVE, WE HAVE BEEN REALLY RESPONSIVE, I FEEL, ON THE RESIDENTIAL I FEEL, ON THE RESIDENTIAL STREETS AS WELL. STREETS AS WELL. >>YOU HAVE HAD LOTS OF PRACTICE >>YOU HAVE HAD LOTS OF PRACTICE SO FAR THIS MONTH. SO FAR THIS MONTH. SECOND SNOWIEST SEASON IN SECOND SNOWIEST SEASON IN PEORIA'S HISTORY. PEORIA'S HISTORY. LET'S TURN TO THE STATE OF THE LET'S TURN TO THE STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, MAYOR. CITY ADDRESS, MAYOR. IN THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU IN THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU AND MAYOR MORE I SI UP IN AND MAYOR MORE I SI UP IN ROCKFORD AND DANVILLE AND OTHER ROCKFORD AND DANVILLE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES, MEDIUM SIZED COMMUNITIES, MEDIUM SIZED COMMUNITIES ARE IN THE PROCESS COMMUNITIES ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FORM 051C3 ORGANIZATION SO OF FORM 051C3 ORGANIZATION SO YOU CAN BRING MORE ATTENTION TO YOU CAN BRING MORE ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE SIZE THE NEEDS OF THOSE SIZE COMMUNITIES IN SPRINGFIELD. COMMUNITIES IN SPRINGFIELD. WHERE DOES THAT STAND? WHERE DOES THAT STAND? >> WELL, H, WE ARE -- WE HAVE >> WELL, H, WE ARE -- WE HAVE GOTTEN INFORMATION PUT TOGETHER. GOTTEN INFORMATION PUT TOGETHER. THE ATTORNEYS ARE FILING IT THE ATTORNEYS ARE FILING IT SOON. SOON. I HAVEN'T HEARD IF IT I HAVEN'T HEARD IF IT ACTUALLY -- THE PAPERWORK HAS ACTUALLY -- THE PAPERWORK HAS BEEN FILED FOR THE BEEN FILED FOR THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT. NOT-FOR-PROFIT. THE MAYOR IS -- OTHER MAYORS AND THE MAYOR IS -- OTHER MAYORS AND I ARE ACTIVELY MEETING AND I ARE ACTIVELY MEETING AND TALKING RIGHT NOW STRATEGIZING TALKING RIGHT NOW STRATEGIZING SOME OF THE THINGS WE MAYBE ABLE SOME OF THE THINGS WE MAYBE ABLE TO GO DOWN TO SPRINGFIELD AND TO GO DOWN TO SPRINGFIELD AND TALK ABOUT. TALK ABOUT. WE ALL HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES WHEN WE ALL HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO THE SOME OF THE IT COMES TO THE SOME OF THE URBAN PROBLEMS AND THEN WE ALL URBAN PROBLEMS AND THEN WE ALL HAVE ISSUE OUTSIDE OF THAT HAVE ISSUE OUTSIDE OF THAT SCOPE. SCOPE. THE PROBLEM REALLY WHAT IS GOING THE PROBLEM REALLY WHAT IS GOING ON IN SPRINGFIELD THIS YEAR WITH ON IN SPRINGFIELD THIS YEAR WITH THE ELECTIONS IS THERE IS NOT A THE ELECTIONS IS THERE IS NOT A REAL HIGH CONFERENCE LEVEL OF A REAL HIGH CONFERENCE LEVEL OF A LOT OF WORKING DONE. SO WE ARE LOT OF WORKING DONE. SO WE ARE TRYING TO BE SMART ABOUT WHAT WE TRYING TO BE SMART ABOUT WHAT WE DECIDE TO GO DOWN AND PUSH AS DECIDE TO GO DOWN AND PUSH AS OUR FIRST BIG EFFORT. OUR FIRST BIG EFFORT. >>ALTHOUGH THE CITY COUNCIL >>ALTHOUGH THE CITY COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE DIRECT IMPACT ON DOESN'T HAVE DIRECT IMPACT ON EDUCATION, IS EDUCATION ONE OF EDUCATION, IS EDUCATION ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THE TOPICS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH OTHER MAYORS? DISCUSSING WITH OTHER MAYORS? >> IT IS. >> IT IS. AND REALLY THAT'S THE ONE THAT AND REALLY THAT'S THE ONE THAT IS MOST CONCERNING TO YOU WILL A IS MOST CONCERNING TO YOU WILL A THE OTHER MAYORS, TOO. THE OTHER MAYORS, TOO. WE ALL HAVE SITUATIONS IN OUR WE ALL HAVE SITUATIONS IN OUR CITY, BAR NUN, THAT HAVE MORE CITY, BAR NUN, THAT HAVE MORE THAN ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT WITHIN THAN ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT WITHIN THE CITY. THE CITY. SO YOU ARE NOT JUST THERE FOR SO YOU ARE NOT JUST THERE FOR ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT WE ALL ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT WE ALL HAVE A COMMON THREAD IS THAT WE HAVE A COMMON THREAD IS THAT WE HAVE THE OLDER SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE THE OLDER SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT REPRESENTS THE MAJORITY OF THAT REPRESENTS THE MAJORITY OF THE URBAN PART OF THEIR CITIES THE URBAN PART OF THEIR CITIES OR OUR CITIES IS STRUGGLING. OR OUR CITIES IS STRUGGLING. SO AS WE HAVE TALKED BEFORE, WE SO AS WE HAVE TALKED BEFORE, WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE NUMBER ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT PROHIBITS OUR ONE ISSUE THAT PROHIBITS OUR CITIES FROM GROWING IS THAT CITIES FROM GROWING IS THAT NEGATIVE PERCEPTION OF THE NEGATIVE PERCEPTION OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO THOSE ARE -- THAT'S WHY THAT SO THOSE ARE -- THAT'S WHY THAT TOPIC OF EDUCATION IS VERY TOPIC OF EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. IMPORTANT TO US. WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER OUR SCHOOLS, AND THEY ARE HAVING OUR SCHOOLS, AND THEY ARE HAVING NUMBER ONE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON NUMBER ONE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO GROW. OUR ABILITY TO GROW. IT IS AT THE TOP OF OUR LIST IN IT IS AT THE TOP OF OUR LIST IN TERMS YOU WANT TO TRY TO FIGURE TERMS YOU WANT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN OUT HOW WE CAN THE MAYOR MENTIONED EDUCATION. THE MAYOR MENTIONED EDUCATION. YOU SHOULD POINT OUT HERE ON AT YOU SHOULD POINT OUT HERE ON AT ISSUE IN THREE WEEKS ON ISSUE IN THREE WEEKS ON MARCH 20, WE WILL HAVE THE MARCH 20, WE WILL HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DISTRICT 150 SUPERINTENDENT OF DISTRICT 150 IN PEORIA ON THE PROGRAM. IN PEORIA ON THE PROGRAM. LET ME TURN BACK TO THE CITY LET ME TURN BACK TO THE CITY MANAGER AND ASK, YOU HAVE BEEN MANAGER AND ASK, YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AN AGREEMENT, A NEW WORKING ON AN AGREEMENT, A NEW AGREEMENT WITH THE WATER AGREEMENT WITH THE WATER COMPANY. COMPANY. >>THAT'S CORRECT. >>THAT'S CORRECT. >>UP TO THIS POINT, DATING BACK >>UP TO THIS POINT, DATING BACK TO THE 1800'S, THERE HAS BEEN AN TO THE 1800'S, THERE HAS BEEN AN EVERY FIVE YEAR WINDOW WHERE THE EVERY FIVE YEAR WINDOW WHERE THE CITY COULD NEGOTIATE THE CITY COULD NEGOTIATE THE POSSIBLE BUY OUT OF THE WATER POSSIBLE BUY OUT OF THE WATER COMPANY. COMPANY. HOW MIGHT THAT AGREEMENT CHANGE? HOW MIGHT THAT AGREEMENT CHANGE? >> WHAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT >> WHAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT IS CHANGING IT TRAN CHOICE IS CHANGING IT TRAN CHOICE AGREEMENT LOOKING AT 20 YEAR AGREEMENT LOOKING AT 20 YEAR FRANCHISE AGREEMENT THAT WOULD FRANCHISE AGREEMENT THAT WOULD IN ESSENCE ELIMINATE THE FIVE IN ESSENCE ELIMINATE THE FIVE YEAR BUY OUT PROVISION FOR THAT YEAR BUY OUT PROVISION FOR THAT 20 YEAR PERIOD OF TIME. 20 YEAR PERIOD OF TIME. IN CONSIDERATION OF THAT, THERE IN CONSIDERATION OF THAT, THERE WOULD BE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WOULD COME BACK TO THE CITY IN WOULD COME BACK TO THE CITY IN FORM OF FRANCHISE FEES AND SOME FORM OF FRANCHISE FEES AND SOME ADDITIONAL PERMIT REVENUES THAT ADDITIONAL PERMIT REVENUES THAT WOULD NET THE CITY ROUGHLY WOULD NET THE CITY ROUGHLY $2.2 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL $2.2 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO BE USED FOR REVENUE TO BE USED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PURPOSES FOR THAT INFRASTRUCTURE PURPOSES FOR THAT FORESEEABLE FUTURE. WE ARE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. WE ARE WORKING ON THIS AGREEMENT WITH WORKING ON THIS AGREEMENT WITH THE ILLINOIS AMERICAN WATER THE ILLINOIS AMERICAN WATER RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW. WE HOPE TO HAVE IT WRAPPED UP BY WE HOPE TO HAVE IT WRAPPED UP BY THE END OF THIS WEEK, AND THEN THE END OF THIS WEEK, AND THEN THE PLAN WOULD BE WE WOULD ROLL THE PLAN WOULD BE WE WOULD ROLL IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND GIVE IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND GIVE THE PUBLIC AMPLE TIME TO LOOK AT THE PUBLIC AMPLE TIME TO LOOK AT IT, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANT, IT, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANT, HOLD A COUPLE OF MEETINGS, BOTH HOLD A COUPLE OF MEETINGS, BOTH IN SOUTH PEORIA AND IN NORTH IN SOUTH PEORIA AND IN NORTH PEORIA SO WE CAN EXPLAIN TO THE PEORIA SO WE CAN EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHAT THIS POTENTIAL PUBLIC WHAT THIS POTENTIAL FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WOULD FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WOULD ENTAIL. ENTAIL. >>$2.2 MILLION OVER WHAT TIME >>$2.2 MILLION OVER WHAT TIME PERIOD. PERIOD. >>2.2 ANNUALLY OVER 20 YEAR >>2.2 ANNUALLY OVER 20 YEAR PERIOD OF TIME. PERIOD OF TIME. >>SO IT WOULD BE EVERY 20 YEARS >>SO IT WOULD BE EVERY 20 YEARS YOU WOULD HAVE A WINDOW TO LOOK YOU WOULD HAVE A WINDOW TO LOOK AT THE POSSIBLE BUY OUT. AT THE POSSIBLE BUY OUT. >> YES, THAT'S CORRECT. >> YES, THAT'S CORRECT. >>AND TWO NIGHTS AGO, MAYOR, THE >>AND TWO NIGHTS AGO, MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN NEIGHBORS AND AGREEMENT BETWEEN NEIGHBORS AND THE BOARD OF EXPO GARDENS ON THE BOARD OF EXPO GARDENS ON LIMITING CERTAIN ACTIVITIES LIMITING CERTAIN ACTIVITIES DURING CERTAIN HOURS WITHIN DURING CERTAIN HOURS WITHIN CERTAIN CONFINES. CERTAIN CONFINES. IT SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN A RATHER IT SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN A RATHER SMOOTH PROCESS, DIFFERENT FROM SMOOTH PROCESS, DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE OVER THE LOUISVILLE THE ONE OVER THE LOUISVILLE COMPLEX. COMPLEX. IS THIS A NEW APPROACH? IS THIS A NEW APPROACH? IS THIS HOW THE CITY WANTS TO IS THIS HOW THE CITY WANTS TO LOOK AT THESE KINDS OF DISPUTES LOOK AT THESE KINDS OF DISPUTES IN THE FUTURE? IN THE FUTURE? >> I WOULD SAY IT IS NOT A NEW >> I WOULD SAY IT IS NOT A NEW APPROACH. APPROACH. AND THE APPROACHES WERE VERY AND THE APPROACHES WERE VERY SIMILAR, ALTHOUGH THE EXPO SIMILAR, ALTHOUGH THE EXPO GARDENS DISCUSSION DIDN'T CATCH GARDENS DISCUSSION DIDN'T CATCH QUITE THE MEDIA WHEN THE QUITE THE MEDIA WHEN THE RETENTION THAT LOUISVILLE DID. RETENTION THAT LOUISVILLE DID. THE PROCESS WERE THE SAME. THE PROCESS WERE THE SAME. COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE DISTRICT HELD SMALL MEETINGS WITHIN THEIR HELD SMALL MEETINGS WITHIN THEIR DISTRICTS TO DISCUSS THE DISTRICTS TO DISCUSS THE PROJECTS WITHIN THOSE NEIGHBORS, PROJECTS WITHIN THOSE NEIGHBORS, WE HAD STILL HAVE THE SAME WE HAD STILL HAVE THE SAME PLANNING MEETINGS AND ZONING PLANNING MEETINGS AND ZONING MEETINGS. MEETINGS. SO THE PROCESSES WERE VERY SO THE PROCESSES WERE VERY SIMILAR. IT WAS MORE OF A MEDIA SIMILAR. IT WAS MORE OF A MEDIA HYPE ON THE LOUISVILLE PROJECT HYPE ON THE LOUISVILLE PROJECT AS OPPOSED TO EXPO.py AS OPPOSED TO EXPO.py >>MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE LOUISVILLE >>MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER, NEW COMPLEX EXPO SLUGGER, NEW COMPLEX EXPO ALREADY ESTABLISHED? ALREADY ESTABLISHED? >> YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT'S PART >> YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT'S PART OF IT. OF IT. A LOT OF PEOPLE AND REALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE AND REALLY OUTSIDE OF BOTH THOSE AREAS IS OUTSIDE OF BOTH THOSE AREAS IS THE EXPO AND RURAL AREA. THE EXPO AND RURAL AREA. THERE WAIT A LOT OF DISCUSSION THERE WAIT A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN THE CITY ABOUT THEM. IN THE CITY ABOUT THEM. I MEAN IT REALLY FOR THE MOST I MEAN IT REALLY FOR THE MOST PART IMPACTS THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS PART IMPACTS THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT SURROUNDING THEM. RIGHT SURROUNDING THEM. SO FRANKLY, THE EXPO DISCUSSION SO FRANKLY, THE EXPO DISCUSSION DIDN'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF DIDN'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF DISCUSSION IN THE COMMUNITY, AND DISCUSSION IN THE COMMUNITY, AND OUTSIDE OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED OUTSIDE OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER, THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER, THE COMMUNITY IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT COMMUNITY IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE THAT PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE ATTRIBUTES OF IT AND WHAT IT ATTRIBUTES OF IT AND WHAT IT WILL BRING TO PEORIA. WILL BRING TO PEORIA. >>THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT HAS >>THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT HAS SEEN CLOSE TO $30 MILLION WORTH SEEN CLOSE TO $30 MILLION WORTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT, OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT, AT LEAST IN THE PROCESS OF AT LEAST IN THE PROCESS OF SEEING THAT IMPROVEMENT. SEEING THAT IMPROVEMENT. WHEN WILL WE HEAR AN WHEN WILL WE HEAR AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON ONE OF THOSE KEY ANNOUNCEMENT ON ONE OF THOSE KEY WAREHOUSES, A DEVELOPER COMING WAREHOUSES, A DEVELOPER COMING IN SAYING "I AM GOING TO TO DO X IN SAYING "I AM GOING TO TO DO X WITH THAT WAREHOUSE." WITH THAT WAREHOUSE." I THINK IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR I THINK IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN AND HAVE THIS SOMEONE TO COME IN AND HAVE THIS BIG EXPLOSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT BIG EXPLOSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT S GOING TO BE THIS -- TURN THE S GOING TO BE THIS -- TURN THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT ON ITS EAR WAREHOUSE DISTRICT ON ITS EAR WITH ONE ANNOUNCEMENT, THAT'S WITH ONE ANNOUNCEMENT, THAT'S NOT ON THE HORIZON. NOT ON THE HORIZON. I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE A I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER WHICH IS NOT JUST ONE. NUMBER WHICH IS NOT JUST ONE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING AT PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROPERTIES, A SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROPERTIES, A COUPLE HAVE CLOSED ON SPECIFIC COUPLE HAVE CLOSED ON SPECIFIC PROPERTIES. PROPERTIES. WE WILL BE HEARING A GROUP OF WE WILL BE HEARING A GROUP OF ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS SPRING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS SPRING AND SUMMER ABOUT PROJECTS THIS THE SUMMER ABOUT PROJECTS THIS THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT THAT ARE -- WAREHOUSE DISTRICT THAT ARE -- THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE HAVE THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME. BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME. AND WHAT WE ARE -- WE HAVE AND WHAT WE ARE -- WE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACKNOWLEDGED THE LIKELIHOOD OF US LANDING SOME COMPANY THAT US LANDING SOME COMPANY THAT WILL EMPLOY 2,000 PEOPLE AND WILL EMPLOY 2,000 PEOPLE AND PROVIDE ALL THIS SPIN-OFF IS NOT PROVIDE ALL THIS SPIN-OFF IS NOT VERY LIKELY. VERY LIKELY. BUT THE REALITY IS IT IS GOING BUT THE REALITY IS IT IS GOING TO BE A GRADUAL GROUP OF TO BE A GRADUAL GROUP OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE GOING TO BUSINESSES THAT ARE GOING TO COME IN AND WILL GAIN MOMENTUM COME IN AND WILL GAIN MOMENTUM AS WE GO. AS WE GO. I AM VERY CONFIDENT WE WILL BE I AM VERY CONFIDENT WE WILL BE HEARING A COUPLE OF HEARING A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE SUMMER. ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE SUMMER. >>CAN YOU SHARE WHAT TYPE OF >>CAN YOU SHARE WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS THOSE MIGHT BE? PROJECTS THOSE MIGHT BE? >> TO BUILD ON MAYOR'S COMMENTS, >> TO BUILD ON MAYOR'S COMMENTS, I WOULD JUST POINT TO OUR I WOULD JUST POINT TO OUR FRIENDS DOWN THE ROAD IN NORMAL. FRIENDS DOWN THE ROAD IN NORMAL. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT UPTOWN IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT UPTOWN NORMAL DID WITH THEIR NORMAL DID WITH THEIR REDEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CENTRAL REDEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, IT TOOK 20 BUSINESS DISTRICT, IT TOOK 20 YEARS TO GET IT TO THE POINT YEARS TO GET IT TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS AT TODAY. WHERE IT IS AT TODAY. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY LONG WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY LONG TIME ON THAT. TIME ON THAT. WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPLEMENTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AREA MANY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AREA MANY MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE PROPERTY BEEN TALKING TO THE PROPERTY OPENERS IN THAT AREA ARE LOOKING OPENERS IN THAT AREA ARE LOOKING AT MIXED USE BUILDINGS. AT MIXED USE BUILDINGS. THEY ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO THEY ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO ACQUIRE THEM FOR BOTH HOUSING, ACQUIRE THEM FOR BOTH HOUSING, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL. RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL. SO THERE IS SOME UNIQUE SO THERE IS SOME UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE ARE HOPEFUL WILL BE POPPING THAT WE HOPEFUL WILL BE POPPING THAT WE WILL HEAR ABOUT THAT EARLIER WILL HEAR ABOUT THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR -- LATER THIS YEAR. THIS YEAR -- LATER THIS YEAR. >>WE ARE ON TOPIC OF ECONOMIC >>WE ARE ON TOPIC OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. DEVELOPMENT. LET'S TURN TO THE PERSON WHO IS LET'S TURN TO THE PERSON WHO IS MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT RIGHT MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT RIGHT NOW IN CITY, AND THAT'S ROSS NOW IN CITY, AND THAT'S ROSS BLACK. BLACK. YOU, TWO NIGHTS AGO AT THE YOU, TWO NIGHTS AGO AT THE COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WAS A COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WAS A POLICY SESSION, AND YOU MADE A POLICY SESSION, AND YOU MADE A PRESENTATION ALONG WITH YOUR PRESENTATION ALONG WITH YOUR STAFF. STAFF. YOU POINTED OUT I AM GOING TO YOU POINTED OUT I AM GOING TO LOOK AT SOME POSITIVES IN THINGS LOOK AT SOME POSITIVES IN THINGS YOU ARE GOING TO DO. YOU ARE GOING TO DO. YOU POINTED OUT SEVERAL THINGS YOU POINTED OUT SEVERAL THINGS THE CITY HAS NOT BEEN DOING. THE CITY HAS NOT BEEN DOING. FOR INSTANCE, NO LOANS FROM THE FOR INSTANCE, NO LOANS FROM THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND FOR THREE REVOLVING LOAN FUND FOR THREE PLUS YEARS, AND TWO MAJOR LOANS PLUS YEARS, AND TWO MAJOR LOANS IN DEFAULT. IN DEFAULT. >>CORRECT. >>CORRECT. >>CAN YOU EXPLAIN REVOLVING LOAN >>CAN YOU EXPLAIN REVOLVING LOAN FUND FOR AUDIENCE AND HOW YOU FUND FOR AUDIENCE AND HOW YOU MIGHT TURN THAT AROUND. MIGHT TURN THAT AROUND. REVOLVING LOAN FUND WAS REVOLVING LOAN FUND WAS INITIALLY FUNDED WITH GRANT FUND INITIALLY FUNDED WITH GRANT FUND FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALONG WITH MATCHING FUNDS FROM ALONG WITH MATCHING FUNDS FROM LOCAL FUNDS. LOCAL FUNDS. IT IS DESIGNED TO BE A IT IS DESIGNED TO BE A SUBORDINATE LOAN PROGRAM. SUBORDINATE LOAN PROGRAM. SO SOMEONE WANTS TO OPEN SO SOMEONE WANTS TO OPEN BUSINESS, EXPAND A BUSINESS, BUSINESS, EXPAND A BUSINESS, THEY WOULD GET A PRIVATE LOAN THEY WOULD GET A PRIVATE LOAN FROM PRIVATE LENDER, AND THE FROM PRIVATE LENDER, AND THE CITY WOULD HELP TO BRIDGE THE CITY WOULD HELP TO BRIDGE THE GAP, IF YOU WILL, IN THE GAP, IF YOU WILL, IN THE FINANCING BY PROVIDING SOME FINANCING BY PROVIDING SOME FUNDS FROM THIS REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS FROM THIS REVOLVING LOAN FUND. FUND. BY DEFINITION IT IS REVOLVING. BY DEFINITION IT IS REVOLVING. SO AS THE PAYMENTS COME BACK IN, SO AS THE PAYMENTS COME BACK IN, THEN THE FUNDS WOULD BE THEN THE FUNDS WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR NEW BUSINESSES AND AVAILABLE FOR NEW BUSINESSES AND FOR EXPANSION. FOR EXPANSION. REALLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE REALLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND THERE WERE A REVOLVING LOAN FUND THERE WERE A COUPLE LOANS THAT WENT BAD, THAT COUPLE LOANS THAT WENT BAD, THAT WENT INTO DEFAULT. WENT INTO DEFAULT. AGAIN R BY DEFINITION, WE HAVE AGAIN R BY DEFINITION, WE HAVE LONE LOANS ARE SOMEWHAT RISKY. LONE LOANS ARE SOMEWHAT RISKY. IF THEY WEREN'T SOMEWHAT RISKY, IF THEY WEREN'T SOMEWHAT RISKY, THE BUSINESS OWNERS WOULD THE BUSINESS OWNERS WOULD PROBABLY NOT NEED TO USE THE PROBABLY NOT NEED TO USE THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND AND COULD REVOLVING LOAN FUND AND COULD GET FUNDS FROM PRIVATE SOURCES. GET FUNDS FROM PRIVATE SOURCES. WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF DEE WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF DEE FAULTS WITH THE REDUCTION OF FAULTS WITH THE REDUCTION OF NUMBER OF STAFF IN THE ECONOMIC NUMBER OF STAFF IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNCTION OVER THE DEVELOPMENT FUNCTION OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE SIMPLY LAST FEW YEARS, WE SIMPLY HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MARKET THE PROGRAM AS WE SHOULD. MARKET THE PROGRAM AS WE SHOULD. SO SOME CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM SO SOME CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM GUIDELINES WILL BE COMING BACK GUIDELINES WILL BE COMING BACK TO COUNCIL OVER THE NEXT COUPLE TO COUNCIL OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, THEN WITH THE OF MONTHS, THEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL STAFF, COUNCIL HAS ADDITIONAL STAFF, COUNCIL HAS ENABLED US TO HAVE THROUGH THE ENABLED US TO HAVE THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE WILL BE ABLE BUDGET PROCESS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET UP AND ROLLING AND TO GET UP AND ROLLING AND PROVIDE THESE FUNDS AGAIN IN PROVIDE THESE FUNDS AGAIN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL PRIVATE LENDERS. LENDERS. >>BEFORE YOU CONTINUE ON THE >>BEFORE YOU CONTINUE ON THE LIST OF IMPROVEMENTS. LIST OF IMPROVEMENTS. PATRICK, HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN PATRICK, HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE THERE HAS BEEN AN ECONOMIC SINCE THERE HAS BEEN AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR? DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR? YOU ROLLED THAT DEPARTMENT, WHEN YOU ROLLED THAT DEPARTMENT, WHEN CRAIG LEFT, YOU ROLLED IT INTO CRAIG LEFT, YOU ROLLED IT INTO ROSS' DEPARTMENT. ROSS' DEPARTMENT. >>WELL, CRAIG LEFT IN 2009, I >>WELL, CRAIG LEFT IN 2009, I BELIEVE, WHEN THE CITY OFFERED A BELIEVE, WHEN THE CITY OFFERED A VOLUNTARY SEPARATION PLAN FOR VOLUNTARY SEPARATION PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES DURING THE DOWNTURN IN EMPLOYEES DURING THE DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY WHICH IS TO THE THE ECONOMY WHICH IS TO THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND IS ONE OF REVOLVING LOAN FUND IS ONE OF THE OTHER MAJOR FACTORS, THE THE OTHER MAJOR FACTORS, THE LENDING ENVIRONMENT HAS CHANGED. LENDING ENVIRONMENT HAS CHANGED. THERE AREN'T A LOT OF COMMERCIAL THERE AREN'T A LOT OF COMMERCIAL LOANS BEING LOANED OUT AT THIS LOANS BEING LOANED OUT AT THIS PERIOD OF TIME, LET ALONE A LOAN PERIOD OF TIME, LET ALONE A LOAN DESIGNED TO BE SUBORDINATE TO DESIGNED TO BE SUBORDINATE TO THESE COMMERCIAL LOANS. THESE COMMERCIAL LOANS. SO WE HAVEN'T HAD AN ECONOMIC SO WE HAVEN'T HAD AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SINCE 2009. DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SINCE 2009. THAT'S AN ISSUE FOR US, AND IT THAT'S AN ISSUE FOR US, AND IT IS ONE OF THE KEY CHALLENGES FOR IS ONE OF THE KEY CHALLENGES FOR DIRECTOR BLACK AS HE MOVES DIRECTOR BLACK AS HE MOVES FORWARD IS HOW TO FILL THAT FORWARD IS HOW TO FILL THAT CRITICAL POSITION TO LEAD THE CRITICAL POSITION TO LEAD THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS FOR THE CITY. THE CITY. >>THAT POSITION WILL BE FILLED >>THAT POSITION WILL BE FILLED BY THE END OF THE SECOND BY THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER? QUARTER? >> WE ARE HOPEFUL. >> WE ARE HOPEFUL. SO LET'S TURN BACK TO ROSS, AND SO LET'S TURN BACK TO ROSS, AND TWO NIGHTS AGO YOU SAID THERE TWO NIGHTS AGO YOU SAID THERE HAS BEEN NO GOOD EXCHANGE OF HAS BEEN NO GOOD EXCHANGE OF THOUGHT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THOUGHT BETWEEN THE CITY AND BUSINESS OWNERS. BUSINESS OWNERS. WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT? WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT? WHAT IMPACT IS THAT HAVING? WHAT IMPACT IS THAT HAVING? >> WELL, THERE HAS BEEN NO >> WELL, THERE HAS BEEN NO FORMAL EXCHANGE. FORMAL EXCHANGE. WE CERTAINLY HAVE CONVERSATIONS WE CERTAINLY HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH BUSINESS OWNERS ALL THE WITH BUSINESS OWNERS ALL THE TIME. TIME. BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO FORMAL BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO FORMAL OUTREACH PROCESS. OUTREACH PROCESS. MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE A PLAN, MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE A PLAN, PROGRAM IN PLACE WHERE CITY PROGRAM IN PLACE WHERE CITY EMPLOYEES, SOMETIMES WITH EMPLOYEES, SOMETIMES WITH PARTNERS FROM THE CHAMBER OF PARTNERS FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SOMETIMES WITH COMMERCE, SOMETIMES WITH PARTNERS FROM REGIONAL ECONOMIC PARTNERS FROM REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, WILL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, WILL GO OUT ON BUSINESS VISITS. GO OUT ON BUSINESS VISITS. SOMETIMES THEY ARE CALLED SOMETIMES THEY ARE CALLED BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION VISITS. VISITS. SOMETIMES THEY ARE CALLED SOMETIMES THEY ARE CALLED OUTREACH VISITS, BUT IT IS OUTREACH VISITS, BUT IT IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY STAFF AND FOR REGIONAL ECONOMIC STAFF AND FOR REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF TO SIT DOWN DEVELOPMENT STAFF TO SIT DOWN WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE ACTUALLY CREATING THE JOBS AND ACTUALLY CREATING THE JOBS AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE SEEING IN THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT, SEEING IN THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT, WHAT NEEDS THEY MAY HAVE, AND WHAT NEEDS THEY MAY HAVE, AND THEN CREATE SOME LINK AG WITH THEN CREATE SOME LINK AG WITH WHAT THE CITY COULD PROVIDE TO WHAT THE CITY COULD PROVIDE TO THEM TO HELP THEM AS BUSINESS THEM TO HELP THEM AS BUSINESS OWNERS. OWNERS. THAT'S THE PROGRAM THAT WE NEED THAT'S THE PROGRAM THAT WE NEED TO PUT INTO PLACE. TO PUT INTO PLACE. >>MORE PROACTIVE THAN REACTIVE? >>MORE PROACTIVE THAN REACTIVE? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> ABSOLUTELY. >>THE -- ANOTHER POINT YOU MADE >>THE -- ANOTHER POINT YOU MADE WAS THAT THERE IS NO ESTABLISHED WAS THAT THERE IS NO ESTABLISHED MEASUREMENT OF SUCCESS FOR MEASUREMENT OF SUCCESS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT FOR WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT FOR THOSE MEASURING TOOLS? THOSE MEASURING TOOLS? I -- WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS I -- WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS THE ICMA ORGANIZATION, THE ICMA ORGANIZATION, INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGERS INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGERS ASSOCIATION, HAS A PERFORMANCE ASSOCIATION, HAS A PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT PROGRAM THAT A MEASUREMENT PROGRAM THAT A COUPLE OF HUNDRED COMMUNITIES IN COUPLE OF HUNDRED COMMUNITIES IN THE NATION PARTICIPATE IN. THE NATION PARTICIPATE IN. THEY LOOK AT DIFFERENT ASPECTS THEY LOOK AT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. EVERYTHING FROM FIRE SERVICE TO EVERYTHING FROM FIRE SERVICE TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TO CODEI9t ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TO CODEI9t ENFORCEMENT, AND IT ALLOWS ENFORCEMENT, AND IT ALLOWS COMMUNITIES TO LOOK AT THE SAME COMMUNITIES TO LOOK AT THE SAME ASPECTS ACROSS ALL SORTS Oñ ASPECTS ACROSS ALL SORTS Oñ SIZES AND SHAPES AND LOCATIONS SIZES AND SHAPES AND LOCATIONS OF CITIES, AND REALLY BENCHMARK OF CITIES, AND REALLY BENCHMARK HOW WEkYU HOW WEkYU ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THE MEASURE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEASURE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS MUCH OF THE WORK CAN END UP IS MUCH OF THE WORK CAN END UP NOT TURNING OUGHT TO BE NOT TURNING OUGHT TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS PARTICULARLY SOMETHING THAT IS PARTICULARLY TANGIBLE. TANGIBLE. IF JUST FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE GO IF JUST FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE GO OUT AND MEET WITH 50 BUSINESS OUT AND MEET WITH 50 BUSINESS OWNERS IN A GIVEN YEAR, THEN, TO OWNERS IN A GIVEN YEAR, THEN, TO ME, THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING. ME, THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING. WE HAVE TALKED TO 50 OF THE WE HAVE TALKED TO 50 OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PROVIDING NEW PEOPLE WHO ARE PROVIDING NEW JOBS AND CREATING NEW JOBS IN JOBS AND CREATING NEW JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT BEYOND THAT THE COMMUNITY. BUT BEYOND THAT MEASUREMENT WE DID THE MEETINGS, MEASUREMENT WE DID THE MEETINGS, THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN'T THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN'T NECESSARILY SAY BECAUSE WE HAD NECESSARILY SAY BECAUSE WE HAD THESE MEETINGS THERE WERE 30 THESE MEETINGS THERE WERE 30 JOBS CREATED OR A COMPANY JOBS CREATED OR A COMPANY DECIDED TO EXPAND. DECIDED TO EXPAND. SO THAT'S WHERE IT GETS A LITTLE SO THAT'S WHERE IT GETS A LITTLE TRICKY IN TERMS OF MEASURING THE TRICKY IN TERMS OF MEASURING THE SUCCESS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SUCCESS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. >> ONE OF THE TOOLS FOR ECONOMIC >> ONE OF THE TOOLS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MAYOR, IS ENTER DEVELOPMENT, MAYOR, IS ENTER PRICE ZONE. HOW SIGNIFICANT IS PRICE ZONE. HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THAT IN YOUR ESTIMATION? THAT IN YOUR ESTIMATION? I -- I THINK ALL OF THE TOOLS WE I -- I THINK ALL OF THE TOOLS WE HAVE ARE SIGNIFICANT IN THIS DAY HAVE ARE SIGNIFICANT IN THIS DAY AND AGE JUST BECAUSE WE ARE -- AND AGE JUST BECAUSE WE ARE -- WE REALLY CAN'T RELY ON ANY BIG WE REALLY CAN'T RELY ON ANY BIG HELP FROM SPRINGFIELD AND HELP FROM SPRINGFIELD AND WASHINGTON D.C. WASHINGTON D.C. WE HAVE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN WE HAVE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING LEGISLATION DONE FOR GETTING LEGISLATION DONE FOR SOME STATE AND FEDERAL HISTORIC SOME STATE AND FEDERAL HISTORIC TAX CREDITS. TAX CREDITS. RIVER'S EDGE REDEVELOPMENT RIVER'S EDGE REDEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE PROVIDES INITIATIVE PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR US, BUT IT IS OPPORTUNITIES FOR US, BUT IT IS AS COMPETITIVE AS IT IS FOR ALL AS COMPETITIVE AS IT IS FOR ALL OF OUR CITIES OR BETWEEN ALL OF OF OUR CITIES OR BETWEEN ALL OF OUR CITIES TO TRY TO ATTRACT NEW OUR CITIES TO TRY TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BUSINESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW EXISTING BUSINESSES, THERE GROW EXISTING BUSINESSES, THERE AREN'T THAT MANY DIFFERENT TOOLS AREN'T THAT MANY DIFFERENT TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO INCENTIVIZE THAT WE HAVE TO INCENTIVIZE THOSE BUSINESSES TO COME. THOSE BUSINESSES TO COME. WHETHER IT IS ENTERPRISE ZONE OR WHETHER IT IS ENTERPRISE ZONE OR T.I.F., BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT T.I.F., BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TOOLS THAT COMMUNITIES OUR SIZE TOOLS THAT COMMUNITIES OUR SIZE USE FOR THESE TYPE OF THINGS, USE FOR THESE TYPE OF THINGS, THEY ARE ALL EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THEY ARE ALL EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE NONE OF US ARE FLUSH BECAUSE NONE OF US ARE FLUSH WITH CASH TO SAY HERE IS A PILE WITH CASH TO SAY HERE IS A PILE OF CASH TO COME IN AND SET UP OF CASH TO COME IN AND SET UP SHOP HERE. SHOP HERE. THAT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT THAT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE BEING ENTERPRISE ZONE BECAUSE BEING ENTERPRISE ZONE THAT'S LEGISLATION, AND IT IS A THAT'S LEGISLATION, AND IT IS A COMPETITIVE PROCESS TO APPLY COMPETITIVE PROCESS TO APPLY FOR? FOR? >> IT IS. >> IT IS. WE WILL HAVE TO APPLY BY THE END WE WILL HAVE TO APPLY BY THE END OF THE YEAR TO BASICALLY RESET OF THE YEAR TO BASICALLY RESET THE ENTERPRISE ZONE INSIDE THE THE ENTERPRISE ZONE INSIDE THE CITY BOUNDARIES. WE WILL BE CITY BOUNDARIES. WE WILL BE COMPETING AGAINST OTHER COMPETING AGAINST OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION AND COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION AND OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE FOR THE RECERTIFICATION OF STATE FOR THE RECERTIFICATION OF OUR ENTERPRISE ZONE. OUR ENTERPRISE ZONE. I THINK WE HAVE A COMPELLING I THINK WE HAVE A COMPELLING CASE TO MAKE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CASE TO MAKE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CITY OF PEORIA AND SOME OF THE CITY OF PEORIA AND SOME OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AND ISSUES WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AND THE EVALUATION CRITERIA THE THE EVALUATION CRITERIA THE STATE WILL LOOK AT. STATE WILL LOOK AT. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE BUILD UPON THAT AND FOCUS OUR BUILD UPON THAT AND FOCUS OUR EFFORTS. EFFORTS. IT WILL TAKE HAVING A POLICY IT WILL TAKE HAVING A POLICY DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THE AREAS THEY WANT US TO FOCUS THE AREAS THEY WANT US TO FOCUS ON WITH THAT APPLICATION AS ON WITH THAT APPLICATION AS WELL. WELL. >>THAT'S ONE OF YOUR GOALS FOR >>THAT'S ONE OF YOUR GOALS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR IS TO THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR IS TO PRESENT THAT APPLICATION TO PRESENT THAT APPLICATION TO COUNCIL? COUNCIL? >> YES, SECOND QUARTER OF THIS >> YES, SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, WE WILL COME BACK TO YEAR, WE WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH THE OUT LYING OF COUNCIL WITH THE OUT LYING OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE NEW THE APPLICATION FOR THE NEW ENTERPRISE ZONE WHICH IS DUE TO ENTERPRISE ZONE WHICH IS DUE TO THE STATE. THE STATE. >>ALSO BRING REVOLVING LOAN >>ALSO BRING REVOLVING LOAN FUND, REWORK OF THE REVOLVING FUND, REWORK OF THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND. LOAN FUND. >>YES. >>YES. >>WHAT ABOUT CDBG FUNDS? >>WHAT ABOUT CDBG FUNDS? >> DO THE SAME WITH THAT. >> DO THE SAME WITH THAT. WITH ALL OF THE PROGRAMS WE WITH ALL OF THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE, EITHER PROGRAMS IN HAVE, EITHER PROGRAMS IN EXISTENCE RIGHT NOW THAT NEED TO EXISTENCE RIGHT NOW THAT NEED TO BE RETOOLED OR NEW PROGRAMS BE RETOOLED OR NEW PROGRAMS BECAUSE OF NEW FUNDING AND BECAUSE OF NEW FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE FIND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE FIND AVAILABLE. AVAILABLE. IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE WAY IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, IT IS REALLY THREE I LOOK AT IT, IT IS REALLY THREE COMPONENTS. COMPONENTS. THERE ARE PEOPLE, THERE IS THE THERE ARE PEOPLE, THERE IS THE PROGRAM, AND THE PROCESS. PROGRAM, AND THE PROCESS. WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE WITH WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE VACANT THE EXCEPTION OF THE VACANT POSITION WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE POSITION WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE GOT THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE HAVE GOT THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE TABLE. TABLE. PROCESS, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON PROCESS, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT A VERY LONG TIME, LAST YEAR, IT A VERY LONG TIME, LAST YEAR, YEAR AND HALF, WE TRY TO YEAR AND HALF, WE TRY TO SIMPLIFY AND MAKE THE PROCESS SIMPLIFY AND MAKE THE PROCESS EASIER. EASIER. PERHAPS TO THE ANALOGY OF PERHAPS TO THE ANALOGY OF POTHOLES, IT IS DIFFICULT TO POTHOLES, IT IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE DOWN THE STREET WITH DRIVE DOWN THE STREET WITH POTHOLES. POTHOLES. IT IS HARD TO DO DIFFICULT TO DO IT IS HARD TO DO DIFFICULT TO DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IF POTHOLES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IF POTHOLES IN THE WAY. IN THE WAY. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE PROCESS SIMPLER, AND THIRD PROCESS SIMPLER, AND THIRD COMPONENT ARE THE PROGRAMS. COMPONENT ARE THE PROGRAMS. WE HAVE LIMITED PROGRAMS THAT WE WE HAVE LIMITED PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN MAKE AVAILABLE. CAN MAKE AVAILABLE. ONE OF THE REASONS WE NEED TO ONE OF THE REASONS WE NEED TO GET OUT AND TALK TO THE BUSINESS GET OUT AND TALK TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS WE NEED TO TAYLOR COMMUNITY IS WE NEED TO TAYLOR THESE PROGRAMS TO WHAT THE THESE PROGRAMS TO WHAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY NEEDS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY NEEDS OF THE DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE FOR DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE FOR IT TO BE MY IDEA WHAT THE IT TO BE MY IDEA WHAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY NEEDS IN BUSINESS COMMUNITY NEEDS IN TERMS OF PROGRAMS. TERMS OF PROGRAMS. IT HAS TO BE WHAT THE BUSINESS IT HAS TO BE WHAT THE BUSINESS CREATORS NEED IN THE PROGRAMS. CREATORS NEED IN THE PROGRAMS. >>THAT'S IN CDBG AND THOSE OF >>THAT'S IN CDBG AND THOSE OF YOU THAT AREN'T FAMILIAR YOU THAT AREN'T FAMILIAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT. GRANT. ONE OF THE PROCESSES OR ONE OF THE PROCESSES OR PROGRAMS, MANY NOT SURE WHERE IT PROGRAMS, MANY NOT SURE WHERE IT WOULD FALL, BUT THE VIRTUAL WOULD FALL, BUT THE VIRTUAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER. DEVELOPMENT CENTER. WHAT MIGHT THAT BE AND HOW MIGHT WHAT MIGHT THAT BE AND HOW MIGHT THAT HELP? THAT HELP? BECAUSE, REMEMBER, CITY OF BECAUSE, REMEMBER, CITY OF PEORIA HAS A REPUTATION WHETHER PEORIA HAS A REPUTATION WHETHER IT IS EARNED OR NOT, THAT IT IS IT IS EARNED OR NOT, THAT IT IS EASIER TO DO BUSINESS ELSEWHERE. EASIER TO DO BUSINESS ELSEWHERE. IS THIS PART OF THAT STEP TO SAY IS THIS PART OF THAT STEP TO SAY ", NO REALLY YOU CAN DO BUSINESS ", NO REALLY YOU CAN DO BUSINESS IN PEORIA?" IN PEORIA?" >>WELL, I WOULD DISAGREE TO THIS >>WELL, I WOULD DISAGREE TO THIS NECESSARILY EASIER TO DO NECESSARILY EASIER TO DO BUSINESS ELSEWHERE. BUSINESS ELSEWHERE. HOWEVER, YES, I THINK THE HOWEVER, YES, I THINK THE VIRTUAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER WILL VIRTUAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER WILL MAKE DOING BUSINESS WITH THE MAKE DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY EASIER. CITY EASIER. JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE, IF JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE DECIDES THEY WOULD LIKE SOMEONE DECIDES THEY WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND THEIR SMALL RESTAURANT TO EXPAND THEIR SMALL RESTAURANT RIGHT NOW, THEY WANT TO ADD ON RIGHT NOW, THEY WANT TO ADD ON OR THEY WANT TO MOVE TO A OR THEY WANT TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION IN TOWN, DIFFERENT LOCATION IN TOWN, REALITY WITH THE TECHNOLOGY THAT REALITY WITH THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE OR LACK THEREOF OF, THEY WE HAVE OR LACK THEREOF OF, THEY HAVE TO TALK TO SOMEONE BETWEEN HAVE TO TALK TO SOMEONE BETWEEN 2:00 THIS THE MORNING OR 5:00 IN 2:00 THIS THE MORNING OR 5:00 IN THE AFTERNOON MONDAY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. FRIDAY. THE INFORMATION THAT THEY REALLY THE INFORMATION THAT THEY REALLY NEED IS NOT READILY ACCESSIBLE NEED IS NOT READILY ACCESSIBLE TO THEM ONLINE THAT THEY CAN TO THEM ONLINE THAT THEY CAN JUST GO TO AT 3:00 IN THE JUST GO TO AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING IF THAT HAPPENS TO BE MORNING IF THAT HAPPENS TO BE WHEN THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT IT. WHEN THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT IT. THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT. THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT. THE SECOND STEP IS TO ALLOW THE SECOND STEP IS TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY APPLY FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY APPLY FOR CONSIDERATION FOR PROGRAMS OR CONSIDERATION FOR PROGRAMS OR FOR APPLICATIONS FOR APPROVAL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR APPROVAL ONLINE VERSUS HAVING TO COME ONLINE VERSUS HAVING TO COME DOWN TO CITY HALL, WE LOVE IT DOWN TO CITY HALL, WE LOVE IT WHEN BEAM COME TO CITY HALL, TO WHEN BEAM COME TO CITY HALL, TO COME DOWN TO CITY HALL AND FILL COME DOWN TO CITY HALL AND FILL OUT A PIECE OF PAPER WE THEN OUT A PIECE OF PAPER WE THEN PROCESS. PROCESS. YOU MENTIONED A BUSINESS YOU MENTIONED A BUSINESS REGISTRATION PROGRAM. REGISTRATION PROGRAM. IN TWO SENTENCES, WHAT IS THAT? IN TWO SENTENCES, WHAT IS THAT? >> BUSINESS REGISTRATION >> BUSINESS REGISTRATION PROGRAM, A LOT OF COMMUNITIES PROGRAM, A LOT OF COMMUNITIES HAVE BUSINESS REGISTRATION OR HAVE BUSINESS REGISTRATION OR OPINIONS LICENSING PROGRAM, OPINIONS LICENSING PROGRAM, SOMETIMES THEY ARE SOMETIMES THEY ARE INTERINTERRELATED. INTERINTERRELATED. IT ALLOWS THE COMMUNITY TO IT ALLOWS THE COMMUNITY TO COLLECT BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT COLLECT BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUSINESSES IN TOWN SO WE CAN THE BUSINESSES IN TOWN SO WE CAN HAVE A BETTER CONVERSATION WITH HAVE A BETTER CONVERSATION WITH THE BUSINESSES, WE HAVE BETTER THE BUSINESSES, WE HAVE BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IS OUT THERE, KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IS OUT THERE, AND THEN WE CAN CREATE BUSINESS AND THEN WE CAN CREATE BUSINESS LINKS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO LINKS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO CREATE IN YOU SIMPLY DON'T KNOW CREATE IN YOU SIMPLY DON'T KNOW WHO IS OUT THERE. WHO IS OUT THERE. >>TUESDAY NIGHT, MAYOR, COUNCIL >>TUESDAY NIGHT, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN SPAIN SAID HE WASN'T MEMBER RYAN SPAIN SAID HE WASN'T TOO -- WASN'T TOO THRILLED WITH TOO -- WASN'T TOO THRILLED WITH THE IDEA OF BUSINESS THE IDEA OF BUSINESS REGISTRATION. REGISTRATION. HE WANTED TO KNOW MORE. HE WANTED TO KNOW MORE. WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT. WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT. >> I THINK EVEN WHEN THEY ARE >> I THINK EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NEW IDEAS ON SOMETHING WE NEW IDEAS ON SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF BEFORE, THE HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF BEFORE, THE ONE THING WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS ONE THING WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS PUT A PERCEPTION OUT THERE WE PUT A PERCEPTION OUT THERE WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE MORE OF A ARE TRYING TO CREATE MORE OF A BUREAUCRACY THAN WE ALREADY BUREAUCRACY THAN WE ALREADY HAVE. HAVE. I DON'T SEE THAT. I DON'T SEE THAT. I PUT THIS IN THE CATEGORY OF I PUT THIS IN THE CATEGORY OF DATA MINING. DATA MINING. YOU CAN'T KNOW WHAT IS OUT THERE YOU CAN'T KNOW WHAT IS OUT THERE AND WHAT THEY MAY MEAN NEED FOR AND WHAT THEY MAY MEAN NEED FOR ASSISTANCE IF YOU DON'T KNOW ASSISTANCE IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS OUT THERE. WHAT IS OUT THERE. IT IS THE KNOWN, UNKNOWN, AS IT IS THE KNOWN, UNKNOWN, AS SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY. SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY. THE WAY I READ ROSS' ANALOGY OR THE WAY I READ ROSS' ANALOGY OR DISCUSSION ON THIS, WE NEED TO DISCUSSION ON THIS, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS OUT THERE. KNOW WHAT IS OUT THERE. WE CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY OF A WE CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY OF A BUSINESS OR B BUSINESS, OR C BUSINESS OR B BUSINESS, OR C BUSINESS IS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. BUSINESS IS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. IT IS DATA MINING FOR US, AND IT IS DATA MINING FOR US, AND CAPTURING THOSE ASSETS AND CAPTURING THOSE ASSETS AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE HAVE IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY. IT IS ALSO GOOD THE COMMUNITY. IT IS ALSO GOOD TOOL TO SEE WHAT WE DON'T HAVE TOOL TO SEE WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HELPS US IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HELPS US WHEN WE ARE TALKING TO WHEN WE ARE TALKING TO BUSINESSES ABOUT COMING TO BUSINESSES ABOUT COMING TO PEORIA, ADVANTAGES OF DOING PEORIA, ADVANTAGES OF DOING BUSINESS HERE, WE KNOW WHAT WE BUSINESS HERE, WE KNOW WHAT WE DON'T HAVE, TOO. DON'T HAVE, TOO. >>TIME THOUGHT, PATRICK, ALDI >>TIME THOUGHT, PATRICK, ALDI CLOSED ON THE SOUTH SIDE, A FOOD CLOSED ON THE SOUTH SIDE, A FOOD DESERT DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW. DESERT DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW. MIGHT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IF MIGHT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IF IT HAD BEEN MORE ESTABLISHED IN IT HAD BEEN MORE ESTABLISHED IN CITY, MIGHT THAT HAVE MADE A CITY, MIGHT THAT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN TRYING TO KEEP, IF DIFFERENCE IN TRYING TO KEEP, IF NOT ALDI, SOME SORT OF GROCERY NOT ALDI, SOME SORT OF GROCERY STORE DOWN THERE? STORE DOWN THERE? >> I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD SAY >> I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD SAY THAT IT WOULD HAVE KEPT ALDI THAT IT WOULD HAVE KEPT ALDI THERE. THERE. I THINK THAT IT MAY HAVE ALLOWED I THINK THAT IT MAY HAVE ALLOWED US TO KNOW SOONER THAT THEY WERE US TO KNOW SOONER THAT THEY WERE PLANNING ON LEAVING. PLANNING ON LEAVING. IF WE HAD A MORE ROBUST IF WE HAD A MORE ROBUST BUSINESS, ATTENTION, EXPANSION, BUSINESS, ATTENTION, EXPANSION, OR OUTREACH PROGRAM, WE MIGHT OR OUTREACH PROGRAM, WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY ISSUES THEY WERE SEEING IN THE ISSUES THEY WERE SEEING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND TRYING TO BE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND TRYING TO BE MORE PROACTIVE WITH THAT. MORE PROACTIVE WITH THAT. SO THAT'S THE ADVANTAGE OF SO THAT'S THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING THE OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN HAVING THE OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN PLACE IS YOU ARE ABLE TO DO PLACE IS YOU ARE ABLE TO DO THAT. THAT. SOMETIMES CORPORATIONS MAKE BIG SOMETIMES CORPORATIONS MAKE BIG DECISIONS. DECISIONS. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME ALDI THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME ALDI HAS MADE CHANGES IN THE PEORIA HAS MADE CHANGES IN THE PEORIA REGION IN TERMS OF MOVING REGION IN TERMS OF MOVING LOCATIONS. LOCATIONS. SO I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT SO I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT IN THE LARGER SENSE OF HAVING IT IN THE LARGER SENSE OF HAVING AN OUTREACH PROGRAM ALLOWS US TO AN OUTREACH PROGRAM ALLOWS US TO REALLY WORK TOWARDS REALLY WORK TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF THOSE UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF THOSE SPECIFIC BUSINESSES IN THOSE SPECIFIC BUSINESSES IN THOSE SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS. SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS. >>AND WITH THAT, WE ARE OUT OF >>AND WITH THAT, WE ARE OUT OF TIME. TIME. I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THE I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. CONVERSATION. WE WILL INVITE YOU ALL BACK. WE WILL INVITE YOU ALL BACK. LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO ROSS LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO ROSS BLACK, PATRICK URICH, COMMUNITY BLACK, PATRICK URICH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY, AND THE CITY MANAGER, AND, CITY, AND THE CITY MANAGER, AND, OF COURSE, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF COURSE, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, JIM ARDIS. OF PEORIA, JIM ARDIS. THANK YOU ALL THREE FOR THIS THANK YOU ALL THREE FOR THIS DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION. >>THANK YOU. >>THANK YOU. >>WE ARE TAKING A COUPLE WEEKS >>WE ARE TAKING A COUPLE WEEKS OFF AT "AT ISSUE." OFF AT "AT ISSUE." WE WILL BE BACK MARCH 20 WITH WE WILL BE BACK MARCH 20 WITH DISCUSSION WITH SUPERINTENDENT DISCUSSION WITH SUPERINTENDENT OF DISTRICT 150. OF DISTRICT 150. AND MARCH 27, ANALYSIS OF AND MARCH 27, ANALYSIS OF GOVERNOR QUINN'S BUDGET ADDRESS GOVERNOR QUINN'S BUDGET ADDRESS THAT WE HAVE SEEN THE DAY BEFORE THAT WE HAVE SEEN THE DAY BEFORE THAT PROGRAM AIRS. THAT PROGRAM AIRS. IF YOU HAVE CHANNEL 47 PROGRAM IF YOU HAVE CHANNEL 47 PROGRAM GUIDE, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT GUIDE, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THOSE TWO SHOWS WE ARE IN THE THOSE TWO SHOWS WE ARE IN THE PROGRAM. PROGRAM. WE MADE CLERICAL ERROR. WE MADE CLERICAL ERROR. SCHOOL DISTRICT 150 SCHOOL DISTRICT 150 SUPERINTENDENT, GOVERNOR QUINN'S SUPERINTENDENT, GOVERNOR QUINN'S BUDGET ADDRESS. BUDGET ADDRESS. >>WE WILL SEE YOU THEN.>>