ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager with a Request to APPROVE the ANNUAL CITY AND COUNTY JOINT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
Body
BACKGROUND: Each year for the last few years, the City and County of Peoria have jointly hosted a breakfast for area state legislators. The event offers both bodies an opportunity to network with state elected leaders, ask questions, share concerns and advance local items of interest. While the date of this year’s breakfast is still being finalized, it will be held before the end of January.
A summary of the proposed legislative agenda items is included below. The agenda is separated into three different areas. There are eight issues for which the City and/or County are directly asking legislators to sponsor legislation. There are eleven issues for which the City and/or County are asking legislators to support a particular position. Finally, there are fourteen requests for funding of capital projects. Both City and County and Health Department requests are listed below, as well as any joint requests. Council is being asked to approve City and joint initiatives.
Requests for Direct Sponsorship
• Joint Request - Sales and Use Tax Reform: Reform sales and use taxes related to internet / online sales.
• City Request - State Historic Tax Credit 5 Year Carry Forward: Reinstate the 5 year carry forward provision removed in the extension of the State Historic Tax Credits.
• City Request - Broaden Sales Tax Base: Taxing services (in addition to goods) would increase state and local revenues, bring Illinois in line with most other states, and allow localities to lower home rule sales tax rates on goods.
• City Request - Public Safety Pension Reform: Support common sense reforms for the public safety pension system, including adoption of a 30-year rolling amortization period and allowing Police and Fire pension boards the ability to make investments similar to IMRF.
• County Request - Juvenile Justice Reform: Make time from arrest to detention hearing consistent with Federal Law (40 hours).
• County Request - Bail Reform Act: Appropriate dollars in State Supreme Court budget for their request to fund pre-trail supervision staffing.
• County Request - Use of Hanna City Work Camp (HB 4319): Permit the County of Peoria to use the Hanna City Work Camp property for either a public or a private purpose.
• PCCHD Request - Public Health Funding Formula Update; Currently public health funding is conducted through general assembly appropriation utilizing outdated funding formula that does keep step with Public Health Standards - Request sponsorship that will base funding on per capita.
• PCCHD Request - Behavioral Health Treatment Funding; In order to address both the increase Opioid Crisis as well as other behavioral health disorders, support funding opportunities specifically addressing treatment options for all payer types.
Request for Position Support
• Joint Request - Illinois Fiscal Concerns: Support efforts that protect and enhance existing revenue base of local governments in the face of increasing pressure to use traditionally local revenues to bridge the State budget gap.
• Joint Request - Automatic Appropriation Authority for Local Funds: Amend revenue laws for local funds (i.e. Motor Fuel Tax, video gaming, etc.) so funds are automatically distributed rather than subjected to annual appropriation.
• City Request - Walkable Urban Areas: Funnel the local share of State Motor Fuel Taxes directly to municipalities or require IDOT to comply with local design guidelines and policies when rehabilitating infrastructure.
• City Request - Preserve Home Rule Powers: Support efforts to preserve home rule authority when drafting statewide legislations (i.e. cannabis, video gambling, etc.)
• City Request - Red Light Cameras: Expand the use of Red Light Cameras for motor vehicle safety to downstate communities.
• County Request - Juvenile Justice Reform: Strongly oppose any attempt to increase the defined age of a juvenile from the current age of 17.
• County Request - Medicaid Pending for Skilled Nursing Facilities: Resolve backlog of CMS' Macon County office to comply with Federal Law and rule on Medicaid Pending requests with 45 days.
• PCCHD Request - Tobacco21 (HB 4297/SB 2332/ HB4297): Support raising the minimum age of tobacco sales from 18 to 21 years old to improve tobacco control and align with Tri-County Health Priorities.
• PCCHD Request - Grant Transparency - Report (SB2256) Support amending GATA to compile an annual budget implementation report.
• PCCHD Request - Prompt Payment- Interest (SB2255) Support amending State Prompt Payment Act.
• PCCHD Request - Oppose Elimination of Community Health Needs Assessment and Improvement Plan requirements from 77 Illinois Administrative Code 600 Certified Local Health Department Oppose language that would eliminate the requirements for LHDs to routinely assess and develop evidence-based strategies to address their jurisdiction’s health priorities.
Capital Projects
• City Request - Pioneer Parkway Extension: Support funding for the extension of Pioneer Parkway.
• City Request - Pedestrian Infrastructure on State Routes: Support funding for construction of pedestrian infrastructure on existing state routes, especially War Memorial/150 and Knoxville.
• City Request - Glen Avenue Repair: Support funding for the rehabilitation of Glen Avenue from University to War Memorial Drive.
• City Request - West Main Street: Support funding for the rehabilitation of West Main Street from Farmington Road to Globe Street.
• City Request - Western Avenue from Farmington to Lincoln: Support funding to reconstruct Western Avenue from Farmington Road to Lincoln (State Project).
• City Request - Pedestrian Overpass over War Memorial: Support funding to reconstruct improve pedestrian safety on War Memorial and Charter Oak by constructing a pedestrian overpass (State Project).
• City Request - Sterling and War Memorial Intersection Reconstruction: Support funding to reconstruct the intersection of Sterling and War Memorial.
• City Request - Ameren Substation relocation at Sterling: Support funding to relocate the Ameren Substation from Sterling Avenue
• City Request - Pedestrian Infrastructure: Support funding for pedestrian infrastructure improvements in the City where none currently exist.
• County Request - Glen Avenue Reconstruction: Support funding to reconstruct Glen Avenue from Sheridan Road to Ill Rte 40 / Knoxville Avenue.
• County Request - Lake Street Reconstruction: Support funding to reconstruct Lake Street from Sheridan Road to Ill Rte 40 / Knoxville Avenue.
• County Request - Maxwell / Middle Roads Reconstruction: Support funding to reconstruct Maxwell Road from Ill Rte 116 to E.M. Dirksen Parkway, including rehabilitation of a bridge structure over unused Union Pacific RR right-of-way.
• County Request - Old Galena Road Phase 4 Reconstruction: Support funding to reconstruct Old Galena Road from Boy Scout Road to the State Street roundabout and from the roundabout to Route 29.
• County Request - Roof Replacement: Support funding to replace the roofs of the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center, Peoria County Jail Addition, and portions of the Peoria County Courthouse.
• County Request - Replace Fleet Garage and Salt Dome: Support funding to replace the County Fleet Garage and adjacent Salt Dome.
• PCCHD Request - Support Funding that promotes HiAP approach towards Capital Projects; incorporating Complete Streets projects to address multi-usage, increase walkability, and promote neighborhood safety.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The individual items on the legislative agenda represent opportunities for the City to save money, operate more efficiently, or invest in major community projects.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Many of the legislative items would benefit neighborhoods. The Metro Peoria Committee discussed the agenda and achieved consensus at their January 5, 2017 meeting.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The legislative agenda will be formally adopted by Council.
IMPACT IF DENIED: Communication will be sent to the legislators that we do not support these items.
ALTERNATIVES: City items can be added, deleted or modified.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City
2. Safe Peoria
3. Beautiful Peoria
4. Grow Peoria
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Grow employers and jobs.
2. Invest in our infrastructure and transportation.
3. Have an efficient government.
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office