Peoria unanimously approves $11 million Hanks Foundation amphitheater for riverfront district

Thank you. Good evening everyone. Thank you. It is 6 o'clock p.m. on Tuesday, September 9th, 2025. I'd like to call the meeting of the Poria City Council to order. And I'd also like to welcome everyone who's here in our historic city council chambers as well as our listening audience watching on cable channel 22 and on the city of Poria YouTube channel. Madame clerk, the council mics are open. Please call the role. Mayor Ali present. Council member Carmona here. Council member Seir here.

Council member Gordon Young present. Council member Jackson here. Council member Kelly here. Council member Rianbach here. Council member Velpula present. And council member Vespa here. You have a quorum present. Madame Mayor. Thank you madam clerk. A notice was received by council member Allen and council member Oiler of the city council in accordance with rules established in ordinance number 16142.

Council member Allen and council member Oiler would be deemed authorized to attend the meeting electronically unless a motion objecting to council member Allens and council member Oilers's electronic attendance is made. seconded and approved by twothirds of the members of the city council physically present at the meeting.

If no such motion is made and seconded, then the request by council member Allen and council member Oiler to attend electronically shall be deemed approved by the city council and the presiding officer shall declare council member Allen and council member Oiler present. Hearing no objection. Um, Madame Clerk, council member Allen present and council member Oiler here. Great. Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much.

Uh, please join me everyone and stand for a moment of silent prayer or silent reflection followed by the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Madame Clerk, we are at proclamations. We have four proclamations tonight and I've asked council members to share in the reading of those proclamations.

The first proclamation uh recognizes co- national co-responder and crisis responder week and we have uh Shamim Lal Jalil. She's the director of co-responder and social services unit and Cassandra Steel who is the lead licensed clinical social worker of co-responder social services unit. Will you Oh, there we are. Come to the podium. Thank you.

Whereas the city of Peoria is committed to supporting individuals in crisis and recognizes that engaging co-responders, peer support professionals, and mobile crisis teams is a crucial effective practice for addressing behavioral health issues in our community. Oh, they brought a whole team. Great. And a baby.

Whereas the Peoria Police Department's co-responder social services unit was established in 2023, bringing together law enforcement and human services professionals to provide the right intervention at the right time and connect people experiencing crisis including mental health disorders and substance abuse issues to appropriate resources.

And whereas the co-responder social services unit team provides emotional support, serves as a liaison between victims and officers, and helps deescalate tense situations through a traumainformed approach. And whereas services provided by the co-responder social services unit include, but are not limited to, temporary housing, relocation assistance, practical safety items, and transportation support.

And whereas experiencing a traumatic event can be profoundly destabilizing, profoundly destabilizing, the co-responder social service unit aims to be that person for the victim, offering compassionate, consistent support both during and after a crisis. Now therefore, I, Reed Ali, mayor of the city of Peoria, Illinois, do hereby recognize September 14th through September 20th, 2025 as National Co-responder and Crisis Responder Week in Peoria, Illinois. Good evening.

It is with deep gratitude and humility that I accept this proclamation on behalf of the Puria Police Department's co-responder social services unit and our incredible partners um Trillium Places mobile crisis response teams. I want to sincerely thank you, Mayor Rita Ali, and um distinguished council members, the chief and assistant chief, and everyone who has continued to support and up uplift our work that we do in the community.

This recognition during National Co-responder and Crisis Responder Week is not just an honor, it's a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, collaboration, and community crisis care. To our co-responder team and the mobile crisis responder um teams, thank you for showing up every day with courage, empathy, and unwavering commitment. You meet people in their most difficult moments and help them take the first steps toward healing. You just don't respond to crisis.

You help people rebuild after um the crisis that they experience. To our community, thank you for trusting us, engaging with us, and walking alongside us. Your uh partnership is essential to everything that we do. This proclamation is a celebration of the relationships that we have built in the community. Thank you again for this meaningful recognition. We are proud to serve PIIA and the um and to continue building a stronger, more resilient community. Thank you. You're welcome.

You've been a tremendous asset. Yes, you've been a a tremendous asset and addition to the work of our Peoria Police Department. So, we're so grateful to have you. And Cassandra, did you have comments as well? I always have comments, mayor. Okay, Cassie, thank you for Thank you for bringing the baby. I I didn't I've never I've heard about the baby, but I haven't had a chance to meet the baby. So, well, thank you for the grace of allowing our whole family to be here.

Um, I just, you know, this has been a project that we've been working on for a long time and we would not be successful. We would, sorry, we wouldn't be successful in this program if it wasn't for our partners at the mobile crisis response team. Um, we've been able to work as partners, both of us, on the same scene many times, and our program wouldn't, our community wouldn't be as open to our program as they are if they weren't already here. So, we appreciate them as well. It's true.

Thank you so much. Great job. Thank you. Our next uh proclamation recognizes National Preparedness Month. We have Kate McIntyre who's with the Poria City County Health Department Emergency Preparedness uh planner is her title and Council Member Tim Brigenbach is going to share the proclamation. Thank you, Mayor.

Whereas National Preparedness Month creates an important opportunity for every community member in the city of Puria to prepare their homes, business, communities for any type of emergency, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. Whereas investing in the preparedness of ourselves, our families, our businesses, and our neighborhoods can reduce fatalities and economic destruction in our communities and our nation.

Whereas federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, private, and volunteer agencies are working to increase public activities in preparing for emergencies and to educate individuals on how to take action.

And whereas emergency preparedness is the responsibility of everyone in the city of Poria and all community members are urged to make preparedness a priority and work together to develop their own emergency preparedness plans ensuring that individuals, families, and communities are prepared for disasters and emergencies of any type. Now therefore, Rita Ali, mayor of the city of Poria, does hereby recognize the month of September as National Preparedness Month in Poria, Illinois.

This 9th day of September 2025 McIntyre, just wanted to say thank you to the mayor and the council for this proclamation. just and to remind the public um to be prepared, make a plan, build a kit, and stay informed. And you can get a lot more information at ready.gov, Puria County website under emergency management, and the Puria City County Health Department under emergency preparedness. Thank you so much. You're very welcome. Thank you.

Our [Applause] next proclamation recognizes Peoria Reeds and we have Randall Yelbertton who's the executive director of Peoria Public Library and Elise Hearn who's the head of Peoria Reeds committee and manager of programming for the Peoria Public Library. Thank you for being here. Uh we have council member uh Denise Jackson who will share the proclamation. Thank you, Madame Mayor.

Whereas September has been recognized as National Library Card Signup Month by the American Library Association since 1987. And this year, Poria Public Library will celebrate with the kickoff of its one book, one city initiative, Poria Reads. And whereas this year's Poria Reads theme revolves around music, something that all Peorians can embrace.

And whereas Poria Public Library along with partners from Bradley University, Methodist College, and Neighborhood House selected Holding the Note, Profiles in Popular Music by David Remnik as the book for this year's initiative. And whereas the goal of a collective citywide read is to engage our community in exploring diverse topics, including uplifting topics such as the love of music from a new perspective.

Now therefore, Rita Ali, mayor of the city of Peoria, Illinois, encourage all community members to participate in the one book, one city initiative and do hereby recognize September as the kickoff of Poria Reads in Poria, Illinois, dated this 9th day of September, 2025 AD. [Applause] Mr. Yelbertton. Uh, hi, my name is Randall Yelverton. I'm the executive director of the Peoria Public Library.

We want to thank Mayor Ali and the members of the council for taking the time to highlight that not only is September National Library Card Signup Month, but this is also the month we kick off Poria Reads, our one city, one book initiative. We appreciate the mayor and council for your ongoing support of the library and its important mission of providing information to all community spaces for everyone and recreation for all Peorians.

In a moment, I'm going to introduce Elise Hearn, our new head of both programming and our Poria Reads committee. But first, I'd like to remind every Peorian listening tonight that now is the perfect time to get your library card. We have partnered again this year with CityLink. So all you have to do is to show your library card to ride public transit for free for the whole month of September. Great. We call this our fine free fair free campaign and it has been very successful.

We've we've uh we're grateful for the support of city link in this initiative. Other participating libraries and find free fair are Poria Heights, Peakin and FondeLac. The success of this program started in Poria has led to similar initiatives in nearby communities like Normal and Bloomington. It's always nice to see them following our lead for our initiatives. Uh Poria Public Library is also celebrating 5 years this month of being fine-f free. Accessibility is more important than anything.

It's why we exist and fines or the threat of them should not keep anyone from using the library. We have so much to offer at the library, including streaming films, music, ebooks, print books, meeting spaces, computer and internet access for all, free classes, author visits, summer reading. I could go on all night about all the things we offer, but instead, I'll invite you all to come take a tour of the library. In fact, we have a public tour tomorrow at 10:30 a.m.

at our main library and more scheduled throughout the fall. These tours are open to everyone. And now, I'd like to introduce Elise Hearn. She recently became our head of programming, which means she's also in charge of Peoria Reads. She's been at Peoria Public Library for more than a decade as manager of our Lake View branch and of course now is our head of public programming. All right, Elise, I will turn it over to you. Thanks.

Thank you, Randall, and thank you, Mayor Elli, and council members. For more than 20 years, Poria Public Library has hosted a citywide literary event inviting all residents to read the same book at once. In fact, next year we will celebrate 25 years of Peoria Reads. Every year, our committee chooses a book that we believe has the ability to resonate with all Peorians. This year, we've chosen Holding the Note: Profiles in Popular Music by David Remnik.

With Puria's long history of music, we hope everyone will be excited to read about some of our most influential musicians, songwriters, and performers of the last 50 years. Icons like Paul McCartney, Artha Franklin, Leonard Cohen, Buddy Guy, Bob Dylan, just to name a few. The author, David Remnick, is a Pulitzer Prize winner and editor of The New Yorker. This book is a compilation of intimate interviews he's done over decades and it really is a fascinating read.

You can check out your cop a copy at your favorite Poria Public Library location. We also have digital copies and audiobook versions. But the other great thing I'd really like to highlight tonight it about Poria Reads is that it gives us a chance to develop themed programming around the book. We will have special Poria Reads programs offered throughout the fall and into early next year.

So, of course, we'll have book clubs where people can talk about the book, but a couple of programs I'm really excited about are one we've partnered with Poria Players Theater to get a backstage tour and mini performance of Rent. Um, that's later this month. And then next month, we're doing an intro to singing class with Peoria's own Edie Barard. Uh she in fact has convinced me to sing a song about that my great uncle composed.

Um my third great uncle Henry Cohen wrote Canadian Capers which was sung by Doris Day in the film My Dream Is Yours and I will be singing Canadian Capers in his honor in October at North Branch. So wow. If come come watch me fail. Um, but I will be singing it in in his. So, um, these are the kinds of fun things and community connections that I think is the best part of Peoria Reads. And I hope everyone here tonight is and listening will take part.

Uh, you can find find out more about Peoria Reads on the libraries website poria library.org. Thank you. Thank you. Wow. great choice in your book and I'm going to get a copy as soon as I can. Uh, strong cities have great libraries and we're we're very grateful for our great library in Peoria. Thank you for your leadership. Our last Yes. Our last proclamation recognizes National Senior Senior Center Month.

And we have Peggy Hakez, executive director of Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging, and Christa Fuller, the program coordinator for Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging. Uh, sharing our proclamation. Wow. I know. Look, party. Wow. a lot of advocates there, a lot of supporters. Uh we have uh Councilman John Kelly who will share the proclamation. Thank you, Madame Mayor.

Whereas National Senior Center Month is celebrated each September by the National Council on Aging or NCOA and the National Institute of Senior Centers NISC to highlight the value of our nation's senior centers in the lives of older adults. And whereas the Older Adult Act of 1965 along with the laws creating Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security recommended that all communities have a designated center that focuses on the well-being of retired persons.

And whereas the researchbased outcomes of senior center participants demonstrate that older adults who participate in senior center programs can learn to manage and delay the onset of chronic diseases and experience measurable improvements in their physical, social, spiritual emotional mental and economic well-being.

And whereas the NISC's theme for this month is powering possibilities, flip the script, encouraging us to challenge outdated stereotypes about aging and recognize the contributions that older adults make to their communities through their financial impact, work experience, talent, and guidance.

And whereas Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging initial programming in Peoria has grown in attendance in his first grant year, averaging 40 to 50 participants from Peoria's robust aging population at weekly events and 20 participants in satellite events. And whereas Graceland's Center for Purposeful Aging will continue weekly programming and fundraising building toward creating a community-based senior center for Peoria residents.

Now therefore, Rita Ali, mayor of the city of Peoria, hereby acknowledges September as National Senior Center Month in Peoria, Illinois, dated this 9th day of September, 2025. [Music] Thank you, Mayor Ali, and members of city council for proclaiming September as senior center month. It's an honor to follow all these other organizations and part of why I believe PUI is such a great place and why I'm committed to making a senior center.

On behalf of Grayson Center for Purposeful Aging, we're honored to receive this recognition. One of our favorite mottos is celebrating past, present, and future. So celebrating the past, we had gratefully acknowledged the wisdom, experience, and the financial, social, and emotional contributions that older adults have given to Poria. Three years ago, when this proclamation was first presented, Graceland had just received its ARPA funds to launch our aging with vitality programs.

Since then, we've grown tremendously. Attendance has increased over 300%. Participation has grown from four to eight people once a week to 30 to 35 to 55 twice a week. Programs have doubled and are soon to triple. Participants come from 24 different zip codes representing every district in this room. We are a diverse and inclusive community welcoming people from all social, racial, and economic um backgrounds. Celebrating the present.

Today, Graceland is um proud to be a congregate meal site in partnership with Neighborhood House. We are supported by grants from the community foundation and impact central Illinois and by donations from participants in comm community the community. Our center has become a place of connectivity, dignity, empowerment and joy. The smiles you see on the participants reflect the real stories of changed lives. For example, you'll like this one.

A caregiver reported to us just last week that their spouse's memory has improved so much through engagement at um Graceland that they can no longer get away with forgetting to do their tasks. A daughter tearfully thanked us because her mother, once so lonely that she was talking to pictures in her home, now has community and purpose. The need is great and the solution is achievable.

We invite you to visit on a program day and experience the laughter, the learning, and the community for yourself. As we brought to city council in May when we recognized the value of older adults in our community, now is the time to flip the switch. Every one of us, if we are blessed to do so, age every day. It's time to shed the agist attitude of aging as enablement and debilitation that is frankly disrespectful.

Did you know that a negative attitude toward aging can actually take up to seven years of your life away? Yikes. So, Graceland is changing that. We celebrate aging as a privilege. Celebrating the future. Looking ahead, the need is urgent. 33% of Puria's residents are over the age of 50. 20% are over the age of 65. By 2030, there will be more people over the age of 60 than there will be for people younger than 18.

Now is the time to create a full-time 5day a week center where older adults and families can find access to resources and services, learn strategies for healthy aging, and live their later lives with purpose and vitality. As a reminder, Poria is the eighth largest city in Illinois and in the in this um in Illinois and the only city in the top 20 that does not have a senior center. The gap has to be closed. The cost of inaction are high. One in five adults, older adults, faces loneliness.

One in three struggles with health issues related to social isolation that can cost up to $1,900 per person per year. If you do the math, that can add up to nearly $22 million of preventable health care costs in Illinois in PIIA. And compare that to the cost of a nursing home of $90,000 a year or assisted living at $4 to $5,000 per month. The return on investment is clear. For $400,000, we could launch a sustainable center with staff, space, and supplies.

O empowering older adults to remain healthy, independent, and engaged contributors to our community. Most centers are funded by a robust combination of civic dollars, either through the park district, township, or other tax dollars, grants, including the United Way, local agency on Aging, business underwriting, and donations and fundraising. Poria can do this if the need is recognized and if we have people to come alongside to support older adults in the community.

I also realize that many of you may not understand or appreciate what a senior center can do for this community because you might not have been exposed to it. I encourage you to go online or better yet go visit one of the centers all around um Poria. You can go to the Ark, the activity and recreation center in Normal, which is like a Riverplex facility specifically for older adults, or the Miller Center in Peacin, or Senior Services of Central Illinois in Springfield.

They are vibrant centers filled with activity for older adults who are choosing to live their later lives well. So, in closing, next year when we gather for this proclamation, I'm confident with your leadership, with your connections, and the support of PIA's businesses, healthc care, financial, and education institutions that together we can be celebrating a ribbon cutting of a new center. Wouldn't that be awesome? I'm also want to thank Congress um Councilman Allen.

He is always at one of our at our programs for his ongoing support. A center for older adults in Puria, I promise, is not a luxury. It's a necessity. Older adults are the backbone of our families, our economy, our tax base, and our city. It's time for Peoria to ensure that a senior center plays in Poria. As a newly retired nurse of 45 years and a family member of a loved one with ALS, I know the value of today. But don't we all?

When we kiss our loved ones goodbye, we have no idea what the day will bring. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. So, let's take action now. Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your commitment to the well-being of older adults in Poria. Thank you. You're welcome. [Music] Congratulations on your amazing progress. You've made a lot of progress and thank you all for coming out. I see a lot of friends and peers out there. Okay. Madame clerk, we are at the approval of minutes.

Councilman Brigenbach. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I move to approve the minutes of the city council meeting held on August 26, 2025 as printed. Seconded by council member Gordon Young. Any questions or comments? Please cast your ballots. Councilman Allen I. Councilman Oiler I. Motion passes unanimously. Madame clerk, we have one town item.

25-240 is a request from the town officials to approve the August 2025 actual expenditures and to approve the September 2025 anticipated expenditures for the town of the city of Poria. Council member Gordon Young. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I move to approve item 25240. Is there a second? Seconded by council me uh trustee, sorry. Seconded by trustee Kelly. Any comments or questions? Please cast your ballots. Trustee Allen. I. Trusty Oiler. I. Motion passes unanimously.

Madame clerk, we are at the consent agenda. 25-241 is a communication from the city manager and director of public works with a request to approve a contract with Davyy Resource Group for the Smart Tree Inventory and risk assessment in an amount not to exceed $375,000. 25-242 is a communication with request to approve the following amendments to master services agreement number 22395 for various engineering services. A first amendment to the master services agreement with AKRF Inc.

to extend through December 31st, 2026. B. First amendment to the master services agreement with Baxter and Woodman Consulting Engineers to extend through December 31, 2026. C. Second amendment to the master services agreement with Crawford, Murphy, and Tilly to extend through December 31, 2026. D. First amendment to the master services agreement with Dubberry Engineers to extend through December 31, 2026. E. First amendment to the master services agreement with Farnsworth Group, Inc.

to extend through December 31 2026. F. First Amendment to the master services agreement with Fair Graham Engineering and Environmental, formerly Midwest Engineering to extend through December 31, 2026. G. Second amendment to the master professional services agreement with FA in infrastructure and environment LLC to extend through December 31, 2026 and in an amount not to exceed $350,000. H first amendment to the master professional services agreement with Hansen Professional Services Inc.

to extend through December 31, 2026. I, first amendment to the master professional services agreement with Henman Engineering, Inc. to extend through December 31, 2026. J, first amendment to the master professional services agreement with Herman and Associates to extend through December 31, 2026 and in an amount not to exceed $150,000. K. Second amendment to the master professional services agreement with HR Green, Inc. to extend through December 31, 2026 and in an amount not to exceed $350,000.

L third amendment to the master professional services agreement with Hutcherson Engineering Inc. to extend through December 31, 2026 in an amount not to exceed $250,000. M First Amendment to the Master Professional Services Agreement with Infrastructure Engineering, Inc. to extend through December 31, 2026. N third amendment to the master professional services agreement with Mau Stutes Inc. to extend through December 31 2026.

O second amendment to the master professional services agreement with me and Hunt Inc. formerly Simbayant to extend through December 31, 2026. P3 amendment to the master professional services agreement with Millennia Professional Services of Illinois LTD to extend through December 31, 2026 and in an amount not to exceed $950,000. Q second amendment to the master professional services agreement with Prairie Engineers to extend through December 31, 2026 and in an amount not to exceed $250,000.

R, first amendment to the master professional services agreement with resource environmental solutions LLC to extend through December 31, 2026. S first amendment to the master professional services agreement with Terara Engineering LTD to extend through December 31, 2026 and in an amount not to exceed $1,100,000. T first amendment to the master professional services agreement with Thovven Wade and Martian Inc.

to extend through December 31, 2026 and U first amendment to the master professional services agreement with WSPUSA Environment and Infrastructure Inc. to extend through December 31, 2026. 25-243 is a communication with a request to approve a resolution regarding the approval of close session minutes.

25-244 is a communication with a request to adopt an ordinance vacating,420 square ft of alley between and immediately adjacent to parcel number 18-04-209-038 lots 25 and 26 of Maple Ridge edition to the city of Pory, Illinois. 25-245 is an is an appointment by Mayor Ali to the Advisory Committee on Police Community Relations with a request concur of Shannon Marlin.

25-246 is an appointment by Mayor Ali to the downtown advisory commission with a request concur of Carrie Snyder, Camush McWan, and Bose Sutherland. 25, excuse me, 25-247 is an appointment by Mayor Ali to the housing commission with a request concur of Lamont Carroll. 25-248 is a reappointment by Mayor Ali to the Poria Housing Authority Board with a request concur of Sirron Graham.

25-249 is a reappointment by Mayor Ali to the Poria Urban Forestry Advisory Board with request concur of Ella Maxwell and Mike Price. 25-250 is an appointment by Mayor Ali to the public arts advisory commission with a request concur of Margaret Peggy Maloof. and 25-251 is a reappoint by Mayor Ali to the public building commission with a request concur of Kin Casper. And that concludes our consent agenda. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Are there any items to move from consent agenda?

Council member Seir. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Move to approve consent agenda. Seconded by Councilwoman Gordon Young. Does anyone have any items to remove? Please cast your ballots. Council member Allen. I. Council member Oiler. I. Motion passes unanimously. Madame clerk. We are at regular business.

25-252 is a communication from the city manager and corporation council with a request to accept and approve the letter of intent from the Hins Foundation for a restricted restricted donation for a riverfront amphitheater. And on your desk there is a handout um with a presentation and a discussion with friends of Riverfront Park. Mr. Manager. Uh thank you Madame Mayor. This is a a great evening.

We've been um in discussions with the Hangst Foundation um about uh restricted donation uh that they would provide to the city of Poria uh in the amount of $11 million. And with that uh we would construct an amphitheater on the riverfront uh in Festival Park just south of the riverplex. Um we have um um been negotiating uh a letter of intent that you see in front of you here. Uh this is really what as we envision it to be the very first phase in this project.

Um what we would like to do is continue to work towards a formal donation agreement. Uh that would be more binding in terms of of uh what we would do. Um so what I'd like to do is just kind of walk through the letter of intent.

Um then we have representatives of uh Terra Engineering uh with us this evening uh that have been working with the Hanks Foundation uh that'll walk through uh how this fits in with our riverfront plan uh that we adopted in 2023 as well as um uh some of the proposed ideas that they're they're starting to uh to um discuss as part of the proposed uh amphitheater itself. Um so there's two sections of the agreement.

I'm going to talk about the non-binding section and I'm going to turn it over to our corporation council to talk about the binding portion. That's more the the lawyer discussion side of things. Um so in the non-binding uh section of the um u agreement, it does clarify that the Hanks Foundation uh has objectives and purposes that are consistent with what we do on the riverfront. Uh that they promote uh the arts by wanting to to create a performing arts center or an amphitheater.

uh and that they were looking to elevate the quality of life uh of residents in and around central Illinois. Uh the second piece talks about the location that we're really looking and talking about Riverfront Park. We're talking about the area south of the amphitheater in between uh you know the Bob Michael uh br or the excuse me the Murray Baker Bridge uh and uh the Riverplex is what we're talking about as far as the location.

Um, you know, what they've talked about is building an amphitheater that could potentially uh hold events up to 5,000 people. Uh, we would look at an amphitheater and then there would be uh removable seating. You know, we are in a flood plane. We'll talk the Terara will talk about that in a little bit. Uh, George and Kevin from Tara will. Um, so we can't have permanent seating. So, we have to have seating that needs to be removed and then and then brought in for different events.

uh because as as it floods and then it's going to recede, we've got to be able to to manage that. Um so so that's something that we would look at, you know, a combination of the temporary seating and then lawn seating uh that would be provided similar to concerts and activities that have occurred over the past several years on our riverfront. Um the the Hanks Foundation would provide a charitable contribution of $11 million towards the project.

Um we would then, you know, work with them on getting the site um to kind of fit within the the plan, the riverfront plan, but uh with some differences that are included within that. Um we would utilize the $11 million for the construction of the amphitheater and then the corresponding space around that amphitheater um for the the patrons that would come and and visit. Um, in addition, uh, as we as we build in this, uh, project, uh, there's a couple of other things.

They've stipulated that they want a construction team to be, uh, Core Construction, and we do have, um, the the CEO of Core Construction and the founder of Core Construction, Wayne Bomb, is here uh, with us this evening. Tara Engineering. Um, Tara is representing uh, has kind of worn hats. They've worn our hat for us in terms of the Riverfront plan, but now they're they're working on behalf of of the Hanks Foundation and then Epstein Global Architects.

So, they've stipulated who we would would work with uh on the project. Um they've also asked in consideration for their donation that there would be a dollar fee on any ticketed event, any any any event that has a price tag. Uh and that that would go back towards their charitable mission. Uh their educa their foundation. I think they've been uh what we've talked about at least initially is that that would be for educational scholarships for students in in the tri county area.

Um they've asked for naming rights of the amphitheater. Um uh Mr. Jim Hanks who is the the founder of the foundation um lost his wife D and uh he wants to name the amphitheater after her. Uh so those are the provisions generally uh of the of the non-binding side.

And now I'm going to turn it over to our corporation council to talk about the binding provisions and then we'll turn it over to terror engineering to walk through um the plan and then we'll be able to answer questions that council may have. Okay. So when a a private entity steps into the public space through a public private partnership confidentiality of issues are become part of an agreement.

the primary elements of the binding part of this letter of intent have to do with that uh reality and um I wanted to uh comment about a couple questions I've received about this. The issue is clear in the letter of intent and will be uh codified more substantially in the ultimate agreement between the parties that the city is subject to the uh to the Freedom Information Act as well as the local records act.

And so there is acknowledgement in uh the agreement that uh the material that the um Hanks Foundation may provide to us that they mark confidential or proprietary will be held confidential by the city to the extent that the uh freedom of information act does not require disclosure.

So the Freedom of Information Act recognizes there will be uh agreements like this indicates that um it is subject to an exception under the Freedom Information Act if that information could in some way damage the propri proprietary or private interests of the entity and there isn't some other compelling reason to disclose.

So um for the public satification if there's a dispute about that parties can take that dispute to the public access counselor and the public access counselor can issue either a binding or a non-binding opinion that would guide the city about a disclosure.

our um interaction with the Hanks Foundation will um in large part be um subject to um uh disclosure because an awful lot of that information is going to relate to construction documents and things like that that will ultimately be public records and will be subject to disclosure ultimately. um some of the other Hanks Foundation information about their own operations.

Uh the city isn't necessarily need to proceed with the transaction, but there will be some information exchange which may well fall under these confidentiality provisions and uh the city will marshall those issues and make sure that we attend to them. Um so other than um each party then also exercising their best efforts towards this outcome uh that basically is the content of the binding provisions and why those were split out.

Um most provisions in any letter of intent are ultimately going to be non-binding and so that's why these confidentially confidentiality provisions were separated into some binding provisions. Um, I've seen agreements with private entities and public entities in the past. This is consistent with the p practices of some of those uh private entities that I've seen and so I'm comfortable with these terms and I'd be happy to answer any questions about them. Thank you. You're very welcome.

I I do before you go on, I do want to recognize uh the former mayor of Washington, uh, Mayor Gary Maner, my friend. Thank you very much for being here. also the president of the Peoria Park District, uh, President Robert Johnson, and, um, Miss Emily Cahill, who is the executive director of the Peoria Park District. Thank you all for being here, Mr. Manager. Uh, thank you.

At this point, what I'd like to do is turn the floor over to Terara Engineering to walk through the We just have three slides, so it won't be very long. and um we'll walk through that and then uh I'd like to address um some correspondence that's on the council's desk that came from the friends of Riverfront Park and then we'll be able to answer any questions. Good evening. Oh that's my Can you hear me? Yes, we can now. So, my name is George Garib.

I'm a senior vice president with the engineering. I've been really fortunate for the last uh four decades to work on projects like this that bring communities together and I'm really really happy that uh on behalf of the Hanks Foundation we are able to uh make this uh hopefully make this very fruitful for the city. This amphitheater not only brings uh people together, brings community together but also it's a landmark for the Peoria downtown.

It provides economic development and the most important part part is it befits exactly the vision for the master plan for the riverfront that was developed and approved by the council in 2022. I'm going to turn it over to our friend Gary Maner to speak a few words uh on behalf of the Hanks Foundation and then we'll Kevin will give you quick uh overview of the slides. Thank you, George. Uh, Mayor Ali and council, uh, thank you for giving me a few minutes today. Uh, Jim Hanks is a friend of mine.

He was a year ahead of me in class. Uh, Washington High School back in that era, 71 and I was 72. Uh, D. Hanks, his wife, was a classmate of my wife's, 1973. We had 400 uh, students in each class. So, Jim Hanks and I probably didn't even know each other in high school. He was football, wrestling, I was basketball, baseball, and we had different interest. Uh obviously the as smart as he was, I wasn't in any of his classes. Uh he went on to be a chemist, a biotech guy.

Uh had a company in Buffalo, New York. He and D met at a family reunion or a class reunion, multi-year class reunion, and started Facebook chatter and different things and started talking. Uh ended up getting married. Both their spouses had passed away. and they enjoyed going to the amphitheater in Darren Lakes in Buffalo, New York where his company was. Now he lives in Marco Island and he and D moved there unfortunately untimely death that uh D died way too young.

Uh and so he always enjoyed going to an amphitheater and he called me and said I think Washington Illinois would like to have an amphitheater and I'd like to pay for it. Well, we went about two and a half years trying to do it in Washington and unfortunately it didn't work out. Location might have been some of the issue and some of the uh claiming my wife was a conflict of interest was another issue which she was not.

Um but anyway, this is a great opportunity and he just wants to leave something for the Puria region. He he and his mom both were in the Navy and they had boats, motorboats. He said he always ran his motorboat near the location where this is going to be. So he thinks it'd be cool. He looked up and said after Washington uh effort failed, he called me and said why not Poria?

He said the riverfront is such a beautiful place that and he's a good friend of John Morris at Eureka when John was at Eureka and he said why not put it on the riverfront with a backdrop with a bridge and a Murray Baker bridge with beautiful lighting and everything and I said I'll see what they want to do. So here we are and I hope uh you enjoy the presentation. So thank you so much. God bless each of you. Thank you Mayor Maner. Thank you again. Kevin Graham.

I'm the senior landscape architect and director of design for Terra Engineering. And um I will keep this very brief.

Um, as we're really just getting started into looking at this, so there's nothing concrete at this point, but as as Patrick said in 2023 when we finalized the the riverfront master plan that you all adopted, um, and after a lot of public input throughout the process, um, I think, you know, as a slide that's up right now, focuses on the area between the Murray Baker Bridge and the River Plex has been used as you know um for many concerts um community events um and various of various sizes concerts and festivals over over the years.

And I think, you know, as we looked at the at in the master plan, thinking about looking at the the the sunset over the Poria skyline, what a wonderful venue. And then when the Hins Foundation um sought to locate this facility along the riverfront and they asked our opinion, would this fit? It's like, well, it's what's in our plan, right?

And um so we looked at the riverfront and as as a great fit and both in line with the approved plan but really is a great launching pad for the riverfront uh implementation. So we know that again as mentioned the area is within flood plane floodway. There's a number of things we're going to have to work through both with the the Department of Natural Resources and the regulatory folks, but we have an idea of how to do that. And there are ways we can build within that.

We can't restrict the flow and and we know those those rules that we're going to have to work with. And I think this can be a wonderful uh resilient design that one that responds and allows the water to flow through but allows the functions of the of the park to to carry on.

So, we had a couple conversations with the park district who has managed facilities along this uh riverfront um uh and looked at ways we could bring together how would we put together a performance pavilion, maintain the festival grounds, provide concession areas, the support facilities and the infrastructure that would need to be done. And by far this is not the plan.

Uh but we're just kind of speculating and looking at different ways that we could organize and facilitate some of these these needs. So, we're very excited to to uh see this process move forward and as the the donation agreement gets uh more ingrained and finalized to really have the design team start looking at this and exploring, you know, the the virtues of of placement and orientation.

But to reiterate, uh, locating this between somewhere in between the River Plex and the Murray Baker Bridge, creating a wonderful backdrop, a launching pad for the for a great riverfront mass uh implementation and rebirth of that riverfront. I think this is a great opportunity and we're excited to to help implement and see that future. Thank you. Yes, Mr. manager.

Thank you, Madam um the friends of Riverfront Park uh met with the the mayor and myself back in the end of July and um they submitted to us uh prior to the council meeting a list of questions and we've included that in the packet and they just had some information that they they asked of us um you know where was the where will the footprint be and so as you can see this is south of the plex kind of facing back towards the Murray Baker Bridge.

Um they asked why we didn't include this, you know, that they had the meeting with us in the neighborhood concerns and it was just simply an oversight on that part. Um they asked us about the due diligence of of the Hanks Foundation and where their money is coming from and um you know so we responded to that.

Um, we included some information in there uh about um what you know they asked the question about what is the risk to the taxpayers about cost overruns and uh you know I think we would we you know at this point in time with any construction project you may have cost overruns.

Uh we're going to look at that and we're going to monitor that, but we're also going to work with the Hanks Foundation on trying to uh structure a design that we can live that we can all live with and that we can all accommodate those overruns building into the donation that into the amount of the donation.

Um they also asked about uh uh the dollar per ticket sold and we talked about that being consistent with the charity's purpose um and that we would continue to to monitor that uh and again that they asked about the foyer uh components as well. So, that was included in the uh packet for your your consideration. I believe it's been included in the electronic packet for the public uh to review as well.

Um I you know, one of the other elements that came up is maintenance of the property and how is that going to be handled? And you know, we've got a a long-standing relationship with the Poria Park District uh that goes back for more than 20 years um on the operations and maintenance of the the riverfront park.

Uh and so we anticipate that that operations and maintenance will be handled by the park district uh and that we will work with them just as we've done uh over the years uh to to encourage the uh events to occur, encourage the festivals to occur. You know, we have a number of different festivals that are that occur throughout the year.

Uh those are starting to wrap up now and we're moving into kind of the end of the season's fine art fair that'll be coming down and we don't anticipate this will impact that as well. So, um, you know, the riverfront is, uh, is, uh, really the heart of our region, and it's an opportunity for us, uh, to build upon that. Uh, and so at this point, we'd be happy to answer any questions that the council may have. Okay.

I'm going to start with asking, um, assuming that, uh, we get approval of the letter of intent by council today, when do you expect to come back with the, um, restricted with the donation agreement? I think that, you know, I I probably shouldn't speak for the attorneys in terms of how long that might take, but uh I would think that within the next couple of months, we should be able to be back uh certainly before the end of the year uh with a donation agreement in place. Okay.

And I know that the foundation uh was asking or part of the agreement was that there would be a dollar per ticket that would go back to the foundation. And from my understanding, that money would go toward things like scholarships that the foundation uh would issue as part of what they do in terms of being a foundation or their purpose and mission. And I just want you to think about if there were 5,000 people or 5,000 tickets sold at the amphitheater and there were 15 events.

This is speculating that we would max it out, right? 15 events, that's $75,000 in one year. So, it's not like they're trying to get rich off of this event. They're looking to, you know, have some uh way to also benefit their scholarship fund. That's correct. Okay. Council member Seir. Thank you, Madame Mayor. First of all, I want to start by offering my sincere sympathy to Mr. Hanks. I've been uh I've been through this and uh I know how difficult it is. Uh tonight uh uh if my colleague Mr.

Grab was here, he would say the details are the devils are in the details. So I will be watching. Uh obviously this is just a letter of intent. Uh and I think tonight is really a time for celebration. I mean if we don't it's like a private and public partnership. There's not uh too many opportunities. That's the first time for me being here eight years, the last eight years that we have some private money wanting to be invested right here in Peoria.

I'm sure it won't be perfect, but uh it's really for me a time of celebration tonight. So, uh Madame Mayor, with your permission, I'd just like to move to accept and approve the letter of of intent. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Welcome. Is there a second? Seconded by Council Member Velpula. Continued discussion. Council member Vespa. Uh thank you, Madame Mayor. Excuse me. Um yeah, and I uh I also um share my condolences with uh Ms. uh D. Hangst.

Um uh I uh I do have a few questions and I know we're kind of preliminarily um you know drawing up the uh the designs and this is just a letter of intent. I know it's not fully binding. I I know uh the binding provisions uh I've read it. They seem reasonable asks. Um I think it gives us six months in order to come up with a permanent agreement or donation agreement as you call it. Um it's an exciting uh proposal. Um but I mean there will be costs for the city of Poria.

Um you know one is probably flood insurance. Um this being on a in a flood plan. So you're shaking your head Mr. Manager. We don't we don't carry any flood insurance. Um just based upon our our current coverages that we have. Um, you know, we what we're trying to do is to build resilient structures in even in the riverfront park plan. We anticipated that the riverfront is going to flood because it will flood.

It's just and and we want to build it resilient enough so that we can we can clean it off and be ready to go once the waters recede. And that's that's the intent of the design. And I don't know if there's anything more that Tara might want to add in terms of the comprehensive plan, but that was our intent behind that. Um, is that so we don't carry flood insurance for that. Right. Okay.

So any any flooding wouldn't destroy the permanent structures and it wouldn't destroy you know the green space where people would be sitting and uh, you know, watching the shows. So, so what's happened in the past, you know, 2013, 2017, 2019 when we've had floods is after the flood, we come out and we power wash everything down, clear it out, and it's back the way it was.

and and you know that's um there are marks on the um on the river station building that if you walk past it there are chalk marks at the where the high water mark of the floods were back in in 2013 with the big flood that we had back then. Um so um we anticipate that in in in terms of of looking at at how we can build that to be resilient and I maybe if I could just ask Mr. to just talk a little bit about that because he's really the architect of the riverfront plan design. Yes.

And and and and as we went through the planning for the riverfront master plan, um there are some really good examples of cities that have similar concerns. Louisville, Cincinnati, and they've built these wonderful worldclass parks. and learning from what they've done. We've toured, talked with them, interviewed them, and a lot of it is is designing you. We know it's going to flood, so we design if it's a a water fountain or something, um that it has caps on it so it can close off.

So things are plugandplay, so we can remove it. The idea is to be able to be able to move things out of the water uh flooding before we know it's going to come. The nice thing about a flood along the river, we know when it's going to happen. It doesn't happen overnight, right? So, we can plan for that. We can um plan structures and and equipment so that it's high and dry and can be maintained. And that's really what the hallmark of the the riverfront master plan uh really called for. Okay.

All right. Sounds good. Um but we will uh being the city have to um bear some of the costs of building out sewer electric lines um for the for the facilities. Right. So, so there are there are sewers. There's plenty of sewers on that site and and there is um we know that there's irrigation systems on the site. We know that there is currently some power and lighting that we have on the riverfront uh that's there.

I think that we know that in conversations that we've had with the park district, when we have larger events, we've got a challenge with bringing in more power. So, that's something that we're going to have to look at how we get that brought in. Um, we'll look at how much of that as part of the facility work uh will build into that $1 million budget though first and that'll be something that we'll try and continue to talk about when we get into more detail work and design. So, okay.

Uh, how many of these structures are permanent structures? It looks like it looks like there's the main stage and then it looks like that's probably I mean you're probably looking at the main stage would be it. Uh there may be um as we look at some concession booths if we we we go that route. Uh the park district has utilized um um portable uh concessions um to great effect on the riverfront when we've had different activities and events.

So that's something that we'll dig into and explore a little more about that to see if we need to have uh that. Um I think even in the the layout that Mr. presented here. Um we have most of the main entrance of people coming in through the gateway building and then into the site into Festival Park that way. Um so um it's just a matter and there are restroom facilities in the gateway building. So the question is you know if we did more where would we have to put those? Do we use portaotties?

How do you know how do we structure that? Um that's been pretty consistent with what the the park district has done over the years um with different events and concerts that they've had uh in Festival Park. Okay. So, this talent facilities um which is on the map. Yeah. Just south of the Riverplex, you're not we're not envisioning that as being a permanent possibly. I mean, that's something that we need to look at.

You know, one of the things if we're bringing in a larger uh act, you know, do they need a green room? Is there something they would do? Is so the question is, is that an addition onto the riverfront or the riverplex building that we look at something there or is that something that could be done? you know, they also at the same time we talk about about that type of space, you also have acts that want to stay on their tour bus. So, the question is, you know, how do you structure that in a way?

Um, that's I think something that's still to be determined. Okay. And, um, uh, looking at the design, it looks like the amphitheater is going to be facing southwest, correct? Uh, toward the sun or at least the sun, you know, whenever it whenever this uh drawing was made. Um but uh so we have Providence Point Apartments, which is the former Taft Homes um kind of northwest. This is going to be southwest. Mhm.

So, I mean, is there is there a legitimate concern about, you know, increasing the noise, disrupting the quality of life for people in these apartments, while at the same time, we're trying to improve the quality of life for everybody in the community. So, we we had a concert earlier this year, u 5,000 people on the riverfront. It was a rock concert. Had no complaints that came back from Providence Point about the about the the concert.

We've had every July 4th we have we have hundreds of thousands of people in the area that are coming down and we don't seem to have complaints about that. The park is there to be used. The way that this is oriented, it's oriented a so that the sound will be moving away from Providence Point. So it's not, you know, towards the residences. It's more towards the central business district is where was where the sound would be directed. So okay.

Yeah, I think those other concerts tend to tend to um face away from Providence Point and I like the idea that this would not be facing that um that direction. So, um All right. Thanks for answering my questions. Thank you, Madam Mayor. You're welcome. Council member Gordon Young. Thank you, Madame Mayor. I um was going to start off with a a different sentence sent sentence, but I want to respond to my colleague um regarding the uh the sound or the facing of the music.

I spent a lot of time at festivals over the summer and most of them were actually stage faced Providence Point. Um and a lot of the residents of Providence Point were actually there for a lot of those. I do certainly understand your concern, but there's been so many outdoor um concerts and festivals. Um like that's just the culture there. I certainly appreciate the consideration for the residents.

Um but it it to me it doesn't seem like it has been a problem in the past, at least from the people that I've spoken to and those that I know that have recently moved to those beautiful apartments. Um I just have a few questions and these these questions I don't know who would answer them but they're questions that um constituents have asked me about um and this of course would be given the uh letter of intent is approved. Okay. So there's three of them.

One would be um will this take away from any events that could potentially be at the civic center? Um no I don't believe that. I think that this is um complementaryary to the efforts that we're doing at the civic center.

Um and certainly uh in our community, we've seen that with the festivals that we've had on the riverfront uh and with concerts that we've had on the riverfront uh during the summertime that uh it adds to the quality of life and brings people into our community and allows residents of our communities to to celebrate and use the the riverfront as it's intended. I would add uh councilwoman that the GM of the civic center, Mr. Akre, is is very hopeful that this happens. Okay. All right.

Thank you for that. The second question would be um and it the question is simply what about Glenn Oak Park Amphitheater? Maybe I can maybe I can ask uh Emily Cahill to come forward. I think that that um the park district does have plans for Glenn Oak Amphitheater and um you know certainly the the more options we have for people to get out and enjoy our parks, we would welcome that. Okay, good evening. Patrick's right. There are spaces and places throughout our community.

We are known for our fine arts. We're known for music. And so to have varying locations that support different size audiences is critical to that. It is not feasible for us to think that Glennok Park could host a 5,000 person concert uh because of the the density of the that neighborhood and the size of that bowl.

So this actually fills a really important gap in that inventory and opportunity for us to bring different kinds of acts to the community and to meet the different varied interests that our our citizens have for music entertainment.

Um, I do want to just echo Mayor Ali's point that there would be a collaboration with the civic center to use their resources and their capacity to work with different promoters to bring in some of those large-scale acts for us to all collaboratively as public bodies work together to maximize the vibrancy of this amphitheater once it's in place. Thank you very much. I I definitely like the idea of having various places throughout the city um to go for entertainment.

Um, another question that, um, this was a conversation today. Someone was complaining, um, or voicing a concern regarding their tax bill. And so, the question is, will it cost the taxpayers any money? Well, the the the riverfront is currently maintained and operated with the park district, but with the city's support as well. So, there is some financial support that comes from both the park district and the city in order to maintain and operate the the riverfront park.

Um, that's going to continue. I don't believe that the park district I think the park district does um have some general tax dollars that goes towards the operation of the riverfront. Um just as the city uses our uh operations and you know as we build out uh capital improvements on the riverfront you know that comes from our local tax dollars.

So there is going to be a cost but you know we anticipated that with the adoption of the riverfront plan that the riverfront plan as it was built out was going to have additional operating expenses that we would have if we want to program it and if we want to utilize that space and make it um what we all want it to be uh something that we can be proud of uh something that represents our region and that has the activities and and amenities that we would like to see from the Bob Michael Bridge to the Murray Baker Bridge and even further north along the the riverfront.

So that's that's you know still part of of what we have to do. We we build that into our budgets every year and anticipate that those costs will be there directly. Um if there are and this is you know obviously it's too early to build into that. But if um as we look at at if there's an opportunity to provide more larger acts to come on a more frequent basis to our riverfront I think that's something that we'll plan with the park district on.

you know, are there ways we can structure this like an enterprise fund that manages those revenues and it stays within that uh in order to keep that. In fact, I think our agreement with the river uh with the park district does call for if there are any revenues that are generated outside of this that it stays within the riverfront park to be able to provide those amenities to the community. Okay. Thank you for the information, Mr. Manager.

And my final uh comment is gratitude and a thank you to the Hint Foundation. Um what a wonderful gift um and a wonderful opportunity. There have been times um you know I'm I'm a sophomore, a junior at this point on this council and I've heard um you know numerous times where Peoria dropped the ball or the council didn't um you know should have voted yes in favor of something and didn't. Well, this is one that I don't want to go on record uh denying. So, you will definitely have my approval.

I think it's an amazing opportunity. Thank you, Madame Mayor. You're you're very welcome. Great questions. Council member Rianbach. Thank you, Madame Mayor. And let me begin by um thanking you, Mayor Maner, for being here representing the Hanks Foundation. And please extend our um sincere thanks to Mr. Hanks and the entire board for for this um letter of intent. I think it's really important for us to go back to that riverfront master plan that we approved just a couple years ago.

That plan has an buildout of north of $20 million. We've got $15 million committed from the state that we're we're waiting to draw in on, but clearly there's always been a shortfall on that. As I remember the discussion that we had that night when we approved it, we talked about private fundraising and how would we ever get close that gap and how could we close that gap?

Well, at the risk of being sacriiggious, I guess God answers prayers sometimes because this seems like a a real gift to the community. And I think it's something that um we we take humbly and and thankfully. It's it's so important, I think, that we remember a couple things that this has been part of the plan. Um Mr. Graham clearly said it and I I wrote it down to get his quote. It's in our plan.

Th this is something that we had extensive public input on and the council approved and it's it's in the plan. It's been in the plan and now we have a funding mechanism to make it part of the reality. I think it's also important to note that the 11 of us aren't going to be picking the acts that come to the to the venue that we're going to have our professional partners from the Poria Park District working with the um entertainment um brokers to to fill that void.

So, I've actually had people say, "Well, who's going to come?" It's like, "Don't ask me." You know, I'll tell you who I want. Um, I don't know if AC/DC plays in small venues like that or not, but um, but seriously, we're going to do this, right? And and this this letter of intent tonight is the first step in getting the serious dialogues going. Mr.

Hayes is going to be pretty busy here these next few weeks working out the details, but I have confidence in his representation of the city and all of us taxpayers to make sure that that this is something that we will look back on in 40 years just like we look at the civic center and say where would we be without it? So, so, um, I'm going to be an enthusiastic supporter of it.

And again, our thanks to the Hanks Foundation, um, for bringing this opportunity to us and and to our friends at Tara for their diligent work through the years in putting this plan together. It's got to be just as exciting for you gentlemen to see some of this funding opportunities coming into reality. So, thank you, Madame Mayor. The location is in all of our downtown, but it is in the third district. Is that right, Councilman? Coincidentally yes. Council member Jackson.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um I um as I've listened to the comments tonight, I uh appreciate the comments uh from all of my colleagues, especially uh from Mr. Seir. Um it's not too often that uh we are provided $11 million and this money uh as uh council member Rianbach has stated fits in well with not only our riverfront plan but uh I think the big picture uh as we look to redevelop our downtown as well uh and hopefully bring our boat back uh to the riverfront. So um I'm excited about it.

I think it'll do wonders for uh just bringing more people to downtown Peoria. And as somebody who lived in Buffalo, New York for four years, I I can say that the arts is it's big. It plays big. And one of the things I would, you know, if if I could put my bid out, I've always uh been interested in seeing more jazz come back to the riverfront. And uh to me, this would be the perfect venue to uh bring more jazz and other arts to our community.

So, thank you to uh Mayor Maner and the Hincks Foundation and everybody who uh has been a part of putting this project together. Uh I will be in support of it. Thank you, Madam Mayor. You're welcome. Ditto to all those uh comments. You know, our river and our riverfront is one of our greatest greatest assets here in Peoria. And this donation from the the Hings family only enhances our river and and the riverfront. It takes it really to another level to have this opportunity.

So, thank you for this tremendous gift. I I think this is going to work out. I believe it's going to work out and it looks like we're going to have the support uh of the council. Our riverfront plan is complemented by this opportunity and we know it's a an awardwinning plan already. So where do we go from here? Mr. Ger awardwinning and now we have another plus one. third time is a charm and I I truly believe Peoria is the right location. Council member Kelly, thank you, Madame Mayor.

Um I'm just as we all are, I'm just very grateful to the Hanks Foundation that they would uh consider this for our wonderful city and our wonderful uh riverfront. I uh must take my hat off to the eloquence of all of my colleagues here who have spoken because all of my questions have been answered. So, I'll be short, but I uh this could truly be a a catalyst leading us to places we we can't quite imagine at this point. And I'm I'm very excited about it. Uh I'm uh looking forward to it.

The uh the found the foundation was centered in Washington. Very proud of its Washington roots, etc., etc. It didn't work out there. I'm so thrilled that that was not the end of the end of the line. And to come right back and say, "Well, what about Peoria?" I'm just I'm just thrilled. So, thank you very much. Thank you, Madame Mayor. You're welcome. Uh, Councilman Allen, did you have any comments? Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, can you hear me? Okay. Yes.

Well, first off, thank you uh for the um opportunity to participate this evening and uh thank you to the Hints Foundation um for their interest. Um, one of the things that uh, Mayor Manure said, I believe in his remarks um, when he was, I think, either approached with the question of why not Peoria or how how about Peoria? And I think that that is a a great question that we always want to be asked when it comes to things looking to come to our our wonderful city.

You know, why not Peoria or how about Poria? And so, I know that we're at the genesis of this conversation. And there's a lot of details that we still need to work out to make sure that this is mutually beneficial for both the foundation and the and the city of Peoria and all the constituents and stakeholders that we represent. But I'm very excited that they are have decided that Poria is a good destination uh for this project and look forward to hopefully seeing it come to fruition.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. You're welcome. Uh Council Member Oiler, do you have comments? Yes, I do as well. Can you hear me? Okay. Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. I'd like to start with uh thanking the group for being here to give this presentation and this opportunity to us. I'm very enthusiastic about the possibilities. is being one of the members that focuses a lot on economic development and the viability of our riverfront and downtown.

When this um opportunity I saw um get terminated in Washington, the city manager and I were having a discussion and I said we need to go see what it takes to get it here. So, I'm very hopeful that we will be able to work that out.

And I I know that uh the mayor has been working on this as well as some of the other council members to make sure that we have this opportunity in our city and we take advantage of it because too often we get criticized for not being the community that takes advantage of an opportunity out there and we lose it to somewhere else. So, I'm quite encouraged that we have this in front of us.

I do want to make sure that we do our due diligence and do this right so that we don't face uphill battles later. And I sent some of my comments and questions to the manager and to George at Tara and the city attorney today to make sure that we're addressing some of the concerns that I have early and wanting to understand this dollar per ticket donation and where that goes and how it's used and the structure of how this private partnership will work.

But tonight, the first thing is to get past deciding that we're on board with moving in this direction and I sounds like we all are and that's going to be great. So, thank you everyone for your contribution. Thank you. Thank you everyone for your comments. Uh we do have a motion on the floor in a second.

But before we proceed with the final vote, if there's no objection, I would like to give an opportunity for a representative of the friends of Riverfront Park to um have comments if if you would like. Hi everybody. My name is Kathy McNeel. I think you've seen me here before, but this issue is uh I I'm representing uh an Illinois notfor-profit group known as Friends of Riverfront Park and our concerns are about the proposed location of the amphitheater.

Um, we want to emphasize that Riverfront Park is a lovely green space located on the north side of the downtown riverfront area and we just couldn't find it acceptable if any kind of plan were to disrupt or interfere with the area known as Riverfront Park. And so we expect that the documents such as the letter of intent will clearly specify that the location of the project will be south of the riverlex and not interfere with Riverfront Park. Let's see. I lost something here.

Um there have been other issues brought up to you um by the organization known as Friends of Riverfront Park and we would hope that you would consider that list before you do any approvals um in your final draft. We'd appreciate if you would let us know what you think about those issues or you know what the answer to our concerns are. So, thank you for your time and sounds pretty exciting. Really does. Thank you for your input. Appreciate it. Everyone, please cast your ballots.

Council member Allen I. Council member Oiler. I motion passes unanimously. Thank you, Madame Clerk. Thanks, everyone. 25-253 is a communication from the city manager and director of public works with a request to approve an agreement with HR Green for the combined sewer overflow reduction storage project in an amount not to exceed $2,700,000. We're going to hold just for a few minutes. Mr. Manager. Uh, thank you, Madame Mayor.

I'd like to turn over the floor to our public works director to walk through this item. Thank you, Mr. Manager. Madame Mayor, Council, um, actually, I just I I can't help it. I'm going to jump off the agenda and go back to the previous point. One other point for the council. You adopted a strategic plan recently, and I happen to be that department where it says implement the riverfront plan. One sentence, it's what you gave us. This is an amazing first step.

So, or excuse me, that was an amazing first step because I've been wondering what will be the first step in something that grand. So, um I'm really proud to be your public works director after hearing what I just heard. So, good job all of you. So, kudos. That's from me more than anything. So, the actual item before us, I'm sorry, is the subject of what we had our policy session with you back in June. The direction we're taking toward the consent decree and how we will meet it.

um the somewhat I would say a uh departure not necessarily a departure but a turn away from green and going offline with storage. This will provide for the planning if you will in the design stage location what our final look will look like for a 6.4 million gallon offline storage tank uh that we are starting to refer to as the Eden Fat project somewhere in that general location. It is preliminary engineering and what's going to go into it.

Again, about 5% of the overall cost, which of the tank is approximately $60 million overall. Again, this represents about 5% which is average for this type of work. Um, again, you have seen a full presentation on this. I'll go as deep as you want to go, but I believe all of you know what this is for, and I will leave it at that unless you need more. Any questions? Can I get a motion to approve? Moved by Council Member Sears, seconded by Council Member Carmona.

If there's no questions, please cast your ballots. Council member Allen, I. Council member Oiler, I. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Director Powers. Madame Clerk, 25-254 is a communication from the city manager and finance director controller with a request to receive and file the month ended July 31, 2025, an audited financial report. Mr. Manager, uh, thank you.

It's that time of the month where we do our uh monthly financial report and I'll turn it over to our finance director Katty. Kyle Katty. Uh thank you Mr. Manager. Um in your packet is the month ending July 31st financial report. Um the overall good news with the report is that revenues are going in the direction that we want them to go and expenses are also going in the direction we want to go.

And so um we are 1.7% uh ahead of anticipated budget in terms of our revenue in the general fund uh to date and we are down 1.9% compared to budget year to date. Um in both of those cases we're also ahead on revenues compared to last year and down on expenses compared to last year. So those trends are um are a good sign in terms of where we will end the fiscal year.

That is obviously something that we are uh busy on review on because in two weeks I'll be providing council with a copy of the 2026 budget. Um so that's something we're working on, but we're seeing good signs in terms of where the financial picture is um for the year. Um and with that, I'll take any questions from the council. Council member Seir. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Director Katty, thank you for taking my phone call the last couple days again.

Um, just got a comment and one question tonight. Tell us a little bit about um what are your expectation the next 4 to 12 months for the city of Peoria and for this great country? Um, you know, I think uh that is a a very good question. Um obviously some of the economic signals the last I would say few weeks especially on the jobs front has not been pos necessarily positive positive in terms of an of an indication of the economy.

Um right now when we look at kind of looking forward into next year's budget um the consensus estimate uh from economists is still around a 2% increase in consumer spending. Um we will see if that changes but that is the plan that we have going forward and that's how we're planning um in terms of what the next 12 months looks like. Thank you. Uh thank you Director Ky. I mean I just uh I know we're going to start the process the next few weeks.

I mean I'd just love to have conversation with my colleagues. Uh no we really need to try to and Mr. Manager looking at me. We need to really try to uh live now within our means. I mean, I'm always uh not very excited about issuing new bonds and debt. So, I'm sure we'll have some of those conversation, but I'd love to see us uh I mean try to live within our means and conserve our cash because we will have some some difficulties in and slow down in the next two years.

So, um thank you very much, Madam Mayor. You're welcome. Do you want to make a motion? Move to uh is that a file or Receive and file. Move to Move to receive and file. Madam Mayor, seconded by Council Member Carmona. Any other questions? Please cast your ballots. Council member Allen. I. Council member Oiler. I. Motion passes unanimously. Uh quick question, Mr. Manager. our our next um our first budget meeting is it next week or is it the 23rd?

So, we will be presenting the budget to you on the 23rd. It'll go on file that day and then we'll have our first meeting September 30th. Okay. Thank you. All right, Madame Clerk, we are at unfinished business. No unfinished. Okay, then we are on to new business. Is there any new business tonight? [Applause] No new business. Um, we are at citizens opportunity to to address the city council and we have not received any cards. So then we are at executive session. Okay.

I would like to invite a motion to adjourn and to convene in close session immediately following adjournment of the city council meeting pursuant to the open meetings act 5CS 122C5 to discuss the purchase of real property for the use of the public body including discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired and pursuant to the open meetings act 5CS122C 21 for approval by the body of close session minutes. Uh moved by council member Seir, seconded by council member Kelly.

Please cast your ballots. Council member Allen, I. Council member Oiler, I. We will see you in close session. Thank you. Thank you for your service.