>>> HELLO.

I'M H. WAYNE WILSON AND WELCOME TO "AT ISSUE," WHERE WE WILL HAVE A PEORIA MAYORAL FORUM BETWEEN JIM MONTELONGO AND RITA ALI.

BOTH ARE MEMBERS OF THE PEORIA CITY COUNCIL AND THEY ARE EACH HOPING TO REPLACE FOUR-TERM MAYOR JIM ARTIS, RETIRING FROM THE MAYORSHIP.

THIS PROGRAM IS A ONE-HOUR PROGRAM, WITH OUT-TIMED ANSWERS.

NO-TIMED ANSWERS.

WE WILL ALTERNATE THE RESPONSES GOING FIRST ON ALTERNATE QUESTIONS.

AND THERE WILL BE CONTINUED CONVERSATION AT MY DISCRETION.

THE CANDIDATES MAY FOLLOW UP.

WE WANT TO FULLY EXPLAIN THEIR POSITIONS SO THAT'S WHY THERE IS NO TIME ON THIS PARTICULAR EVENT.

THE -- THERE ARE NO OPENING STATEMENTS.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE CLOSING STATEMENTS OF APPROXIMATELY 90 SECONDS EACH AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM.

BY AN EARLIER FLIP OF THE COIN, RITA ALI WILL GO FIRST ON THE INITIAL QUESTION.

AND MS. ALI, THAT QUESTION IS PROPERTY TAX RATE IN THE CITY OF PEORIA IS $1.12.

AND 45 CENTS FOR THE LIBRARY.

WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON PROPERTY TAX RATES AND DO YOU SEE A SCENARIO WHERE THE PROPERTY TAX OR OTHER TAXES OR FEES MIGHT BE INCREASED?

>> EVERY TIME I'VE RUN FOR OFFICE AND WHILE I'VE BEEN A COUNCIL MEMBER, I'VE BEEN CONSISTENT IN SAYING THAT WE SHOULD NOT RAISE ANY MORE PROPERTY TAXES.

PEORIA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PROPERTY TAX RATES IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

OF COURSE, THE STATE OF ILLINOIS HAS THE HIGHEST PROPERTY TAXES IN THE COUNTRY.

SO WE SHOULD NOT OVERTAX OUR HOMEOWNERS.

SO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO GENERATE REVENUE.

WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL INCOME WITHOUT OVERTAXING OUR HOMEOWNERS AND OUR RESIDENTS.

>> MR. MONTE GONG LO -- MONTELONGO, SAME QUESTION NOW TO YOU.

>> IT'S BEEN SOMETHING I KNOW IF YOU RAISE THE PROPERTY TAX ON OUR PEOPLE, YOU'RE GOING TO CAUSE THEM TO WANT TO LEAVE.

YOU'RE GOING TO CAUSE OUR BUSINESSES TO WANT TO LEAVE THE AREA.

SO FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL TOOK A VOTE ON RAISING PROPERTY TAXES AND MIAMI OTHER TAXES ON -- MANY OTHER TAXES ON THAT NIGHT, I VOTED AGAINST RAISING OUR TAXES FOR THAT VERY REASON.

I STATED ON THE COUNCIL FLOOR THAT NIGHT, WE ARE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

WE NEEDED TO RIGHT-SIZE OUR BUDGET AT THAT TIME.

BUT I THINK THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL, WITHOUT ME, WAS TO RAISE TAXES AT THAT TIME.

HERE WE ARE FIVE YEARS LATER, WE HAVE A DECLINING POPULATION.

BOTH FROM PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES LEAVING, LEAVING THE AREA.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN NO LONGER RAISE TAXES ON OUR PEOPLE OR WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THAT TYPE OF ACTION HAPPEN BY OUR PEOPLE.

>> SO THE POSITION IS THE SAME, YOU BOTH ARE OPPOSED TO RAISING THE PROPERTY TAX.

BUT ON OTHER TAXES OR FEES, AND I'LL ALLOW MS. ALI TO GO FIRST, OTHER TAXES AND FEES, MIGHT THERE BE A SCENARIO WHEREBY YOU WOULD INCREASE THOSE TAXES OR?

>> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.

WE DO HAVE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT RETAIL TAXES.

I WOULDN'T GO THERE.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE COULD BE -- MIGHT BE ANOTHER LOOK AT TAX ON ALCOHOL.

THAT'S NOT A TAX THAT PEOPLE FROWN AT A LOT AT CERTAIN BUSINESSES -- CERTAIN BUSINESSES PROBABLY WOULDN'T WELCOME THAT VERY MUCH, BUT THERE'S BEEN SOME OTHER STATES THAT HAVE USED AN INCREASE IN ALCOHOL TAXES TO HELP TO ADDRESS SOME OF THEIR CRITICAL BUDGET ISSUES.

AND IT'S -- IT HASN'T REALLY HURT THOSE ECONOMIES AND I'M TALKING ABOUT INDIANA.

INDIANA INCLUDING GARY, INDIANA, HAS RAISED THEIR ALCOHOL TAX.

AND IT HAS ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR ECONOMY.

GARY, YOU KNOW, HAS -- WAS A STILL INDUSTRY TYPE OF CITY THAT WAS REALLY HURTING.

AND IT'S STARTING TO COME BACK.

IT'S STARTING TO REFRESH AND REDEVELOP AND RECOVER FROM MANY YEARS, DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT AND POPULATION LOSS.

>> THE QUESTION OF YOUR POSITION ON FEES AND OTHER TAXES OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY TAX, MR. MONTELONGO?

>> SURE.

ONCE AGAIN, JUST FIVE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A NUMBER OF TAXES AND FEES THAT WERE INCREASED.

I VOTED AGAINST EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE FOR THAT VERY SAME REASON.

PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IT.

BUSINESSES DON'T LIKE IT.

AND THEY WILL LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES AND FIND NEW LOCATIONS.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY -- THAT'S HAPPENED.

GOING TO RAISING TAXES OR FEES SHOULD BE THE ABSOLUTE LAST OPTION FOR US.

WE NEED TO BE SMART ENOUGH WITHIN OUR OWN BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EXPENSES DO NOT EXCEED OUR REVENUES AND WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE AS A CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

SO WE NEED TO MANAGE THINGS BETTER.

I WANT TO USE MY EXPERIENCE OF BEING A BUSINESS OWNER, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE SAME TYPES OF CHALLENGES THAT I FACE EACH AND EVERY YEAR AS A BUSINESS OWNER, THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE EITHER INVESTING OR YOU'RE HAVING TO WATCH YOUR BUDGET VERY CLOSELY AND A LOT OF TIMES YOU HAVE TO CLEAN UP AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR EXPERCENTS ARE IN LINE.

-- EXPENSES ARE IN LINE.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY POSITION.

NO MORE TAXES AND NO MORE FEES.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION WILL BE ANSWERED BY YOU FIRST, MR. GOTE LONGO.

CITY EMPLOYMENT HAS DROPPED BY 145 POSITIONS IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

IN THAT TIME AUTHORIZED POLICE POSITIONS HAVE DECREASED BY 6%.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS LOST 17% OF ITS EMPLOYEES.

CITY HALL HAS DROPPED BY 28% OF ITS STAFF.

AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS DOWN 38%.

THE COST TO RETURN THOSE JOBS TO THE ROLLS WOULD BE ABOUT $18 1/2 MILLION A YEAR.

CONSIDERING BOTH YOUR RESPONSES WITH REGARD TO THE PROPERTY TAX, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO STABILIZE EMPLOYMENT LEVELS IN THE CITY?

>> COULD YOU BE A LITTLE MORE -- IN THE CITY?

LIKE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES?

>> FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.

FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW.

WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON GENERATING REVENUES FOR OUR CITY.

AND THAT'S BEEN MY POSITION.

WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON OUR SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES TO GROW AND EXPAND.

WHEN THEY GROW AND EXPAND, THEY'RE HIRING EMPLOYEES, BRINGING PEOPLE BACK INTO PEORIA.

WHEN THEY'RE DOING THAT, WE HAVE MORE TAX DOLLARS AND REVENUES TO ADD TO THE CITY.

WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT -- THAT FOCUSED EFFORT.

RIGHT NOW WHERE OUR BUDGET IS AT, AND OF COURSE WE'RE COMING OFF THE PANDEMIC AS WELL, AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL WITH THIS HERE, BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE MANAGE OUR BUDGET AND NOT LET OUR EXPENSES EXCEED OUR REVENUES.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT THIS THING OUT HERE BEFORE WE START ADDING NEW PEOPLE TO OUR PAYROLL.

>> AND THE SAME QUESTION TO YOU, MS. ALI.

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, MANY YEARS AGO I USED TO WORK FOR THE CITY.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

BUT DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, AND THAT WAS IN THE 1980s, THERE WERE OVER A THOUSAND FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES THAT WORKED FOR THE CITY OF PEORIA.

NOW THERE'S 615 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES THAT WORK FOR THE CITY OF PEORIA.

WE HAVE CUT, CUT, CUT.

WHEN WE CUT PEOPLE, WE CUT SERVICES.

AT ONE TIME THE CITY OF PEORIA HAD AN ENTIRE DEPARTMENT THAT FOCUSED ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THAT NO LONGER EXISTS.

THE CITY OF PEORIA HAD AN ENTIRE DEPARTMENT THAT FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THAT NO LONGER EXISTS.

SO YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT OUT OF SOME BUSINESS THAT REALLY THE CITY SHOULD STILL BE IN THE BUSINESS OF AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY, NOT JUST TRANSFERRING THAT RESPONSIBILITY OVER TO A REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITY, BUT THE CITY LOOKING OUT FOR THE CITY.

SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO BUILD OUR CAPACITY TO BRING IN EXTERNAL FUNDING.

I'VE DONE THAT FOR MANY YEARS IN TERMS OF BRINGING IN GRANT FUNDS, EXTERNAL GRANT FUNDS, FEDERAL AS WELL AS PRIVATE SECTOR FUNDING, TO HELP TO -- TO HELP TO FUND PERSONNEL COSTS.

YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENT THAT I -- DIVISION THAT I HAVE NOW AT ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE HAS MORE THAN MOST OF OUR EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE DIVISION OF ABOUT 300 PEOPLE IS EXTERNALLY FUNDED BY MORE THAN 80%.

THAT MEANS THE SALARIES OF THE INDIVIDUALS ARE BEING PAID FOR NOT OUT OF THAT BUDGET BUT OUT OF EXTERNAL FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN TO OUR ORGANIZATION.

>> AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND.

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, SO OUR CITY DOES HAVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S A -- DEVELOPMENT TEAM.

IT'S A SMALL TEAM.

WE HAVE OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND OTHERS THAT WORK FULL TIME IN THIS AREA.

AND PART OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TO FILE FOR GRANTS JUST AS WELL.

SO THAT IS PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT THEY DO TODAY.

AND I THINK THEY'RE DOING A REALLY NICE JOB AS WELL.

WE'VE ALSO HAD NOT ONLY ARE THEY DOING THAT PART OF THEIR JOB, MORE RECENTLY THEY'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON AS FAR AS RECEIVING MONEY FOR THE RELIEF, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ALL THE SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO GRANTS.

I THINK THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.

I THINK WE HAVE A CORE GROUP OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE DOING A GOOD JOB FOR OUR CITY.

>> AND I WOULD RESPOND TO THAT BY SAYING, WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE A SMALL LEVEL OF I WOULD SAY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESPONSIBILITY.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S SMALL.

WHEN I FIRST CAME ON COUNCIL TWO YEARS AGO, MAY OF 2019, THAT AUGUST WE HAD A STRATEGIC PLANNING THREE-DAY -- THREE-DAY STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT.

AND I BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THAT'S NOT OUR JOB.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS NOT OUR JOB.

AND I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREED THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GREATER PEORIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL BUT THE CITY OF PEORIA HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO THE CORE TEAM THAT MY COLLEAGUE IS SPEAKING OF, AGAIN, HAS SMALL LEVELS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THERE'S SOME SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT IN TERMS OF REALLY LOOKING OUT TO BRING IN EXTERNAL COMPANIES TO OUR CITY, REALLY HAVING A MARKETING PLAN TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS TO OUR AREA, THAT'S NOT BEING DONE IN A VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND AGGRESSIVE MANNER AS IT SHOULD.

>> MR. MONTELONGO?

>> SURE.

WE DO A LOT OF COLLABORATING WITH THE GREATER PEORIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND THEY HAVE A TEAM.

THEY'RE ALSO RECEIVING GRANTS TO HELP NOT ONLY PEORIA BUT THE REGION AREA.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THAT COLLABORATION.

REGIONALISM IS IMPORTANT FOR US.

AND ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE A CORE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

AND YES, THEY ARE WORKING ON -- THEY'RE THAT FIRST VOICE FOR PEORIA WHEN IT COMES TO ANY BUSINESS WANTING TO COME INTO PEORIA.

RIGHT THERE RIGHT NOW.

VERY EXPERIENCED PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN -- WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION AND MS. ALI, YOU'LL RESPOND FIRST.

THE FIRE AND POLICE PENSIONS MUST BE 90% FUNDED BY 2040.

FIRE AND POLICE PENSIONS CONSUME NEARLY 21% OF THE CITY'S CURRENT OPERATING BUDGET.

IT WAS 11% OF THE BUDGET JUST 13 YEARS AGO.

HOW WILL YOU ADDRESS THE ACCELERATING PENSION COSTS AND WHAT WILL YOU ASK OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WHICH HAS A LOT OF SAY IN THE BENEFITS THAT ARE GIVEN, IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE?

>> SURE.

SO YOU DON'T DO IT BY BEATING UP POLICE AND FIRE.

YOU DON'T DO IT BY PUTTING A STATEMENT ON THE BALLOT THAT SAYS, SHOULD WE FUND POLICE OR SHOULD WE FUND FIRE AND PITTING POLICE AGAINST FIRE IN TWO DIFFERENT STATEMENTS ON A BALLOT AS YOU SEE WHEN YOU GO TO VOTE.

THAT'S NOT HOW YOU DO IT.

OF COURSE THE CITY COUNCIL DOESN'T VOTE PER SE ON THE PENSIONS.

IT'S A STATE ISSUE, BUT IT CERTAINLY DOES AFFECT US.

SO WE HAVE TO WORK MORE CLOSELY, MORE AGGRESSIVELY IN GETTING OUR VOICE HEARD IN SPRINGFIELD, IN WORKING WITH OUR LEGISLATURES AND BRINGING THEM -- OUR STATE LEGISLATORS, BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, BRINGING THEM TO THE TABLE FOR MORE CONVERSATION.

OF COURSE, THERE'S REPRESENTATIVES, THERE'S UNION REPS IN SPRINGFIELD THAT REPRESENT THESE -- THESE GROUPS AS WELL.

SO THERE'S -- YOU KNOW, THE LOBBYISTS AS WELL.

SO IT'S VERY COMPLEX.

BUT WE HAVE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND WE SHOULD NOT BLAME OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS, OUR HEROES WHO PROTECT AND SERVE THE CITIZENS.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND IT BEGINS WITH SOME SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATURE.

-- LEGISLATORS.

>> AND MR. MONTELONGO?

>> SURE.

SO, FIRST OF ALL, THE PENSION LIABILITY THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO BE GOOD ON IT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING THOSE PAYMENTS GOING FORWARD HERE.

WE DO NEED A PLAN.

I PLAN TO HAVE A GROUP OF FINANCIAL EXPERTS WORK WITH ME TO HELP COME UP WITH A GOOD GAME PLAN FOR IT.

DEFINITELY WE NEED TO BE WORKING WITH THE STATE LEGISLATORS.

IF WE COULD GET MORE TIME ON IT, I THINK IS WHAT THE SOLUTION IS GOING TO BE, INSTEAD OF 20 YEARS, IF WE CAN GET THAT OUT TO 30 YEARS, THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT WE NEED TO BE GOING.

BUT THAT DECISION IS NOT UP FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE.

IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE STATE DEVELOP.

SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO WORK WITH THEM.

>> BUT AS MAYOR, YOU WOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH STATE LEGISLATORS, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

>> YES, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM.

WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE OTHER -- I THINK WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OTHER CITIES AND TOGETHER AS A COALITION, TAKE THIS ON WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATORS.

>> AND THE RESPONSE FROM MS. ALI?

>> YEAH, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK IT HAS TO BE A CONVERSATION, LOCAL CONVERSATION WITH STATE LEGISLATORS.

AND YOU KNOW, I -- YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT PEORIA.

IT'S A STATEWIDE ISSUE.

IT'S ACTUALLY A NATIONAL ISSUE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A STATEWIDE ISSUE WHERE WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION.

>> A RESPONSE OR NEXT QUESTION?

AND THIS WILL GO TO YOU, MR. MONTELONGO.

>> SURE.

>> PEORIA HAS 181 MILLION DOLLARS IN GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT.

THAT'S DOWN FROM 210 MILLION IN 2010.

ANNUAL DEBT PAYMENTS ARE AROUND $20 MILLION A YEAR.

IS THE $181 MILLION AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF DEBT AND HAVE THE FUNDED PROJECTS BEEN OF VALUE?

IN GENERAL, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A SPECIFIC PROJECT, BUT WHEN YOU ISSUE THE BONDS, DO YOU SEE VALUE IN THOSE PROJECTS OR SHOULD BE A PAY AS YOU GO PROCESS?

>> DID YOU HAVE SOME SPECIFIC PROJECTS -- >> NO, THIS IS A GENERAL CONVERSATION ABOUT $181 MILLION WORTH OF DEBT RIGHT NOW.

DOES THAT CONCERN YOU?

>> THE DEBT THAT WE'RE CARRYING RIGHT NOW, ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S VERY CONCERNING.

WE ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SHRINKING POPULATION IN PEORIA.

AND WE NEED THAT POPULATION.

WE NEED HOMEOWNERS THAT PAY TAXES.

WE NEED THOSE HOMEOWNERS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE SHOPPING AND WE ARE VERY MUCH ON THAT SALES TAX REVENUE THAT DRIVES OUR CITY.

SO ONCE AGAIN, WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON OUR -- ON GROWING.

WE CAN NO LONGER INCREASE TAXES AND FEES ON PEOPLE.

THE ONLY DIRECTION THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS TO GROW REVENUE SO THAT WE CAN PAY THE BILLS THAT WE HAVE COMING AT US, TO PAY FOR THESE DEBTS THAT WE HAVE.

>> AND MS. ALI?

>> I'D LOVE TO BRING THE DEBT DOWN TO UNDER $100 MILLION.

YOU KNOW, ALL DEBT IS NOT BAD.

WHEN IT'S AN INVESTMENT.

JUST LIKE A BUSINESS OWNER TAKES OUT A BUSINESS LOAN TO INVEST IN THEIR BUSINESS.

ALL DEBT IS NOT BAD IF YOU'RE USING IT FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSE.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF GOOD PROJECTS FROM ROAD PROJECTS THAT WE'VE INVESTED IN.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE.

THOSE PROJECTS.

SO I WOULDN'T SAY THAT ALL OF OUR INVESTMENT -- OF COURSE, WE MADE SOME BAD DECISIONS WITH REGARD TO CERTAIN PROJECTS.

THE PEER MARQUETTE FOR ONE.

BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE INVESTING OUR DEBT.

AND GET IT DOWN AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO SEE A GOAL SET TO GET THE DEBT DOWN BELOW $100 MILLION WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD.

>> AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

>> SURE.

AND I'D LIKE TO RESPOND, ABSOLUTELY, THE PIER MARQUETTE HAS BEEN A HUGE REASON WHY WE SHOULD NOT BE USING PUBLIC FUNDS TO INVEST OR TO PUT MONEY INTO PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT CITIES DO.

WE DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS AND DECISIONS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT HOPEFULLY WE'VE LEARNED OUR LESSON.

AND NO LONGER GO FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT -- I WOULDN'T EVER SAY NO TO INVESTING IN AN IMPORTANT PROJECT, A PRIVATE SECTOR -- PUBLIC/PRIVATE SECTOR VENTURES HAVE WORKED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

BUT I THINK THEY HAVE TO BE VETTED.

AND YOU KNOW, IN THE CASE OF THE PIER MARKET, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS -- MARQUETTE, I DON'T THINK WAS ENOUGH VETTING.

BUT I THINK THERE ARE CERTAIN INSTANCHIONS THAT CANNOT BE TOTALLY IGNORED JUST BECAUSE IT'S A PRIVATE SECTOR PROJECT.

BECAUSE PUBLIC/PRIVATE SECTORS VENTURES CAN BE VERY SUCCESSFUL AND VERY PROSPEROUS.

>> YEAH.

WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED OUR LESSON.

THAT'S $40 MILLION THAT'S GOING TO BE COSTING THE TAXPAYERS.

ONCE AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTS TO BE ABLE TO TO YOU THE DUE DILIGENT ON THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT CITIES DO.

WE'RE GOOD AT POLICE, FIRE, AND OUR ROADS.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD HAVE OUR EXPERTISE FOCUSED ON, NOT MAKING INVESTMENTS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO.

AND WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING GO TERRIBLY WRONG LIKE THE PIER MAR KEPT, WHO'S ON THE HOOK?

OUR PEOPLE.

WHAT HAPPENS?

WE DON'T HAVE FUNDS FOR POLICE, FIRE, AND ROADS.

THAT'S ONE REASON WE SHOULD NOT GET INVOLVED WITH THAT.

WE COULD GET INVOLVED IN A SPECIAL SERVICE AREA.

AND I'M PROUD OF LIKE PORTILOS NOT USING TERRORISTS' DOLLARS BUT BEING ABLE TO PUT A 1% TAX ON THE FOOD THAT'S COMING OUT OF THERE THAT MADE THAT DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN.

WITHOUT THE SPECIAL SERVICE AREA, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE IT.

THAT HAS BROUGHT IN A LOT OF TAX REVENUES FOR THE CITY WITH THAT DEVELOPMENT.

>> AND FOR CLARIFICATION FOR THE VIEWERS, THE SPECIAL SERVICE AREA TAX ACTUALLY WENT TO THE DEVELOPER, NOT TO PORTILLOS, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> IT WENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S CORRECT.

NOT TO IMPORTANTLYITO -- PORTILLOS.

>> DID YOU WANT TO ADD?

>> I WANTED TO ADD THAT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF EXPERTISE WITHIN OUR CITY THAT WE HAVE NOT CAPTAINIZED ON, THAT WE HAVE NOT -- CAPITALIZED ON, THAT WE HAVE NOT BROUGHT IN.

WE HAVE SO MUCH TALENT.

WE HAVE BRILLIANCE AMONGST OUR PEOPLE HERE THAT WE HAVE NOT UTILIZED, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN KIND OF SHUT OUT.

SO I REALLY WANT TO TAP INTO THE EXPERTISE THAT WE HAVE HERE LOCAL.

LOCALLY.

THESE ARE SOME RETIRED PEOPLE, SOME STILL WORKING PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE CERTAIN SKILL SET.

AND THEY ARE EXPERTS IN CERTAIN AREAS.

THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO ACTUALLY VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND THEIR SERVICE IN HELPING TO MOVE PEORIA FORWARD.

SO THE LACK OF EXPERTISE IS -- IS NOT EXISTENT.

IT'S THE LACK OF THE USE OF THE EXPERTISE THAT WE HAVE MONDAY OUR CITIZENRY.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION, AND MS. ALI, YOU'LL RESPOND FIRST.

THERE IS FINALLY A CONSENT DECREE WITH THE E.P.A.

FOR THE COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW PROJECT.

THE TOTAL COST OVER 18 YEARS IS PROJECTED TO BE ABOUT $117 MILLION PLUS INTEREST.

AND PLUS 2.2 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR EACH AND EVERY YEAR FOR MAINTENANCE OF THOSE GREEN PROJECTS.

THE CITY WILL BECOME THE FIRST 100% GREEN COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW PROJECT IN THE COUNTRY.

SO WHAT SOURCE OF FUNDING TO YOU SUGGEST -- DO YOU SUGGEST THE CITY USE FOR FUNDING BOTH CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS?

>> WHAT SOURCE OF FUNDING?

>> WHAT SOURCE OF FUNDING?

>> WELL, I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INVEST IN THIS PROJECT.

AND I'M PROUD THAT WE FINALLY HAVE THIS AGREEMENT IN PLACE.

IT'S GOING TO CREATE JOBS.

IT'S GOING TO CREATE A MORE HEALTHY COMMUNITY, A MORE GREEN COMMUNITY.

AND WE SHOULD BE PROUD THAT WE FINALLY HAVE SOME SOLUTION TO ADDRESSING REALLY THE GARBAGE THAT'S BEEN PUT INTO OUR WATER SYSTEMS.

SO AGAIN, THERE'S A -- I'M BIG ON BUILDING OUR CAPACITY TO GENERATE EXTERNAL RESOURCES.

THE E.P.A.

JUST CAME OUT WITH SOME FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP WITH GREEN PROJECTS.

EVERY TIME WE SEE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, WE OUGHT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEM AND DECIDE WHETHER YOU KNOW, WE CAN BID OR WHETHER WE SHOULD BID OR NOT ON THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXTERNAL FUNDING, AGAIN.

WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO RELY ON OUR CURRENT BUDGET.

IN FACT, WUNG, WE BALANCED OUR BUDGET LAST YEAR, LAST OCTOBER AT $217 MILLION AND THEN COVID HIT AND WE WERE ALL IMPACTED.

WE HAVE TO BUILD OUR CAPACITY AGAIN TO BRING IN EXTERNAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT WE WANT AND NEED TO DO IN PEORIA, INCLUDING THE GREEN PROJECTS THAT THE E.P.A.

PROJECT THAT IS YOU'RE SPEAKING OF.

>> -- PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF.

>> AND THE SAME QUESTION WITH REGARDING TO FUNDING OF THE CSO PROJECT?

>> SURE.

SO IT'S ONE THAT I HAD A LOT OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT, MY CONSTITUENTS, TO HELP EXPLAIN THE WHOLE COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW.

IT'S THE MIXTURE OF THE RUNOFF WATER AND WHAT THE FLUSH FROM YOUR TOILETS, ALL GOING INTO ONE LOCATION.

WHEN THE SYSTEM IS OVER CAPACITY, IT WOULD THEN DUMP IT INTO THE RIVER.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN NO LONGER HAVE HAPPEN.

SO BY THE ACT OF CONGRESS, THAT'S WHY TO CLEAN UP THAT ISSUE -- WHY WE HAVE TO CLEAN UP THAT ISSUE.

NOW, WE HAVE THE STORM WATER UTILITY FEE WHICH WILL BE USED FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND WE ALSO HAVE SEWER RATES THAT ARE GOING TO BE GOING UP AS WELL.

THAT'S HOW THE FUNDING IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE COSTS GOING FORWARD.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW FROM OUR SIDE, WE HAVE NOT SEEN ONE DRAWING YET TO KNOW WHAT THESE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN AFTER THE CITY MANAGER, WHAT IS THIS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING SO MUCH FUN OVER -- MONEY OVER THE NEXT 18 YEARS OF TAXPAYERS MONEY.

WHAT DOES THIS GREEN PROJECT LOOKING LOOK, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO BE HAPPENING.

WE NEED CITIZEN INPUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO WE'RE STILL IN THIS WAITING GAME HERE, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE JUST FINALLY SETTLED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

I WAS HAPPY THAT WE SETTLED BECAUSE THERE WAS A GREAT AMOUNT OF RELIEF TO THE CITY WITH ALL THE PENALTIES THAT WERE ACCUMULATING OVER THE YEARS THAT WE HAVEN'T SOLVED THIS ISSUE.

>> AND THE REASON THAT I BRING UP EXTERNAL FUNDING, OF COURSE, THE CSO, YOU KNOW, FEES THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING, EVEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, NONTAX PAYING MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.

EVERYBODY IS REALLY EXPECTED TO PAY THE CSO FEES AND WE CAN EXPECT THAT THOSE ARE LIKELY TO GO UP AND IS JUST -- AND JUST AS JIM POINTED OUT T SEWER RATES GOING UP.

I'M TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO LESSEN THE BURDEN ON OUR TAXPAYERS BY AGAIN LEVERAGING, BUILDING OUR CAPACITY, TO GENERATE REVENUES TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL INCOME AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO PEORIA SO THAT WE CAN LESSEN THE BURDEN.

YES, WE HAVE TO INCREASE OUR POPULATION.

AND THAT'S WHERE JOB AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COME IN.

WE ARE LOSING PEOPLE -- YOU KNOW, 2019 -- SWIENL WHEN CAT -- 2017, FROM CATERPILLAR RESTRUCTURED, WE'VE LOST THOU OF PEORIAEN TO OTHER PLACES.

WE'VE LOST THEM ACROSS THE RIVER.

WE HAVE TO DO LIKE COLUMBUS, OHIO, WHO IS A SMART CITY.

I WANT TO PUT PEORIA ON A PATHWAY TO BE A SMART CITY.

THEY'RE IN THE FROST BELT JUST LIKE WE ARE.

THEY'RE A COLD WEATHER CITY JUST LIKE US.

WE'RE NOT IN THE SUNBELT, SO WE'RE NOT DRAWING PEOPLE WHO WANT THE WARM WEATHER.

WE HAVE TO BUILD OUR CAPACITY TO BE A SMART CITY, TO THINK SMART, TO BRING OUR COESS TOGETHER -- C.E.O.s TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY SMART JOBS TO, RETAIN POPULATION AND TO DRAW POPULATION, TAX-PAYING CITIZENS TO OUR AREA.

>> DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND?

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, THIS STORM WATER UTILITY FEE WAS PASSED A FEW YEARS AGO AND I WAS -- I VOTED AGAINST THAT BECAUSE AT THE TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS A MONEY GRAB.

IT WAS BASED ON 400 PROJECTS THAT NEEDED TO BE COMPLETED FOR OUR CITY.

AND YOU KNOW, WAYN'TED TO SEE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS, THAT'S HOW I REALLY CAN TELL WHAT'S GOING ON.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A MONEY GRAB FROM OUR CITY.

YES, EVERYBODY -- EVERY PERSON HAS TO PAY THAT FEE.

I JUST -- I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A FAIR TAX OR FEE THAT WAS GOING ON AT THE TIME.

I KNEW EVENTUALLY IT WAS GOING TO GO OVER TO THE COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW ISSUE.

BUT I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WAY TOO EARLY.

YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THERE'S A GROUP ALREADY WORKING ON SMART CITY TYPE STUFF AND WHO ARE ALSO APPLYING FOR GRANT.

-- GRANTS.

I'VE BEEN HEARING THIS GROUP THAT'S WORKING RIGHT NOW, SOME OF THE PEOPLE LIKE RALEY'S IN OUR CITY WITH THE TRI-COUNTY PLANNING.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION AND MR. MONTELONGO, GOES TO YOU FIRST.

REGARDING TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICTS, HAVE THEY BEEN COST EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS AND PLEASE INCLUDE IN YOUR ANSWER DISCUSSION OF THE GOOD AND THE BAD TIF DISTRICTS, INCLUDING MIDTOWN.

>> SO YOU KNOW WHAT -- TIFF DISTRICTS, I THINK THEY ARE HELPFUL.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MEANT TO HELP AREAS THAT ARE DECLINING.

AND TO TRY AND GET THEM BACK ON THEIR FEET.

SO IT'S A TOOL WE HAVE USED MANY DIFFERENT TIMES IN OUR CITY.

UNFORTUNATELY IT TAKES AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN GOING FORWARD WITH OUR TIF SO WE CAN HAVE THAT MONEY AVAILABLE TO GO BACK TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO -- IN MIDTOWN I THINK THAT WAS NOT A GOOD PROJECT THAT HAPPENED FOR THE CITY.

THAT WAS YEARS AGO.

I THINK THAT WAS BASED ON -- AS FAR AS I RECALL, WITH CUB FOODS -- >> CUB FOODS ON KNOXVILLE.

>> WHEN CUB FOODS DECIDED NOT TO NO LONGER BE IN BUSINESS THERE, THE CITY WAS LEFT HANGING HAVING TO PAY THE BILL.

SO TO SPEAK.

>> AND THE SAME QUESTION ON THE VALUE OF TIF DISTRICTS TO YOU.

>> I THINK THEY CAN BE QUITE VALUABLE.

AGAIN, IT'S A VETTING PROCESS.

IN TERMS OF HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT.

I THINK THAT WE'VE INVESTED SOME TIFF MONEY INTO SOME PROJECTS.

WE'VE EVEN GIVEN TIF MONEY TO SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER SOME WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND SOME HUMAN SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS.

AND I THINK THAT THAT WAS A VERY GOOD USE OF THE FUNDING.

DIERKS -- T-IF FUNDING AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITY ZONES I THINK IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR AREA.

SO I'M NOT OPPOSED TO T, F BUT -- TIF BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO DO MORE WITH REGARD TO DUE DILIGENCE IN TERMS OF HOW THE MONEY IS TARGETED AND SPENT.

>> AND WE GO TO OUR NEXT QUESTION, WHICH WILL GO TO YOU FIRST, MS. ALI.

WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY AND WE TALKED ABOUT INCENT WRIECHES FOR BUSINESSES, JUST -- INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESSES, I JUST WANT TO EXPAND ON THAT.

WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON ATTRACTING BUSINESSES THAT WILL ACTUALLY PAY HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD SALARIES.

ADDRESS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IN YOUR ANSWER.

>> OKAY.

SO I AM A BIG SUPPORTER OF BUILDING A WORKFORCE.

WORKFORCE THAT HAS THE SKILLS THAT HAVE LABOR MARKET VALUE.

THOSE SKILLS THAT EMPLOYERS ARE INTERESTED IN.

THOSE SKILLS THAT EMPLOYERS NEED, BECAUSE BUSINESSES MOVE TO A CITY, NEW BUSINESSES, BECAUSE IT HAS A QUALIFIED WORKFORCE.

AND THEY TYPICALLY WORK WITH THE CITY OR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENGINE OF THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE THEIR ORGANIZATION SUCCESSFUL.

SO I THINK THAT PEORIA RIGHT NOW ONLY 6 -- ONLY 40% OF THE ADULTS IN OUR REGION HAVE A CREDENTIAL POST -- POST SECONDARY CREDENTIAL BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.

FOR A REGION TO BE STRONG, WE NEED TO BE AT 60%.

SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND WE'RE DOING THAT WORK IN TERMS OF PREPARING OUR WORKFORCE TO OUR PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO ATTRACT KANSAS CITY TO OUR -- ATTRACT COMPANIES TO OUR AREA.

DES MOINES, IOWA, DID IT WITH FACEBOOK.

FACEBOOK MOVED TO DES MOINES, IOWA, BECAUSE THEY HAD A SKILLED WORKFORCE.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SKILLS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR.

AND FOLLOWING THAT OTHER I.T.

COMPANIES CAME, BECAUSE OF THAT SAME FORK WORST.

AND SO PEORIA CAN DO THE SAME THING.

OF COURSE, WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH GREATER PEORIA EDC.

THE C.E.O.

COUNCIL HAS A REGIONAL WORKFORCE ALLIANCE GROUP THAT HAS THREE DIFFERENT FOCUS AREAS.

UPSKILLING, THE EMERGING WORKFORCE, THE MULTIPLE BARRIERS WORKFORCE, AND I CO-CHAIR THE MULTIPLE BARRIERS COMMITTEE WITH LORRAINE BRYSON OF THE TRICOUNTY URBAN LEAGUE.

BUT THERE'S SOME IMPORTANT WORK BEING DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO TRY TO GET TO THE 60 SPURS.

SO -- 60%.

WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH GREATER PEORIA EDC, I THINK CHRIS SAID HE'S DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

THEY FOCUS ON THE REGION AND WE CAN'T FORGET THE FOCUS ON THE CITY.

THE REGION IS IMPORTANT, BUT THE CITY IS IMPORTANT AS WELL.

AND SO THE CITY OF PEORIA HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY AND WE HAVE TO DO A ABOUT THE JOB.

>> -- BETTER.

>> AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF OFFERING INCENTIVES TO COMPANY THAT PROVIDE HEAD OF FAMILY SALARIES.

>> SURE.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US IS TO FOCUS ON THE SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES, THE CHANCES OF LANDING ONE OF THESE LARGE COMPANIES IS VERY SLIM.

EVERY CITY IN THE UNITED STATES AFTER THEM -- ARE AFTER THEM.

IF WE FOCUS ON OUR SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM GROW AND EXPAND INTO NEW MARKETS, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT GROWING AND EXPANDING HERE.

IT'S A DEEPER ROOT INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

I'LL SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SUSTAIN.

SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR GENERATIONS.

WE HAVE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF SEVEN TO 8,000 BUSINESSES HERE.

THE WE SEE THEM ALL START TO GROW AND EXPAND, THAT'S GOING TO BE BIG FOR OR CITY.

WE'VE SEEN CITIES LIKE DENVER AND ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, USING VERY SAME METHOD.

IT'S CALLED ECONOMIC GARDENING.

WHEN YOU FOCUS ON YOUR SMALL BUSINESSES, YOU'LL SEE THAT POPULATION -- THEY'RE HIRING EMPLOYEES, POPULATION GROSS, AND YOU GET MORE REVENUES INTO YOUR CITY.

NOW, WE DO HAVE SOME OF THESE INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESSES, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING IF THEY'RE BUILDING NEW L THEY CAN SAVE ON SALES TAX.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON AND I'VE HEARD THIS FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, -- THEY ARE VERY ADAMANT THAT WE CHANGE THE WHOLE STIGMA THAT PEORIA HAS, THAT IT'S HARD TO BUILD IN PEORIA OR HARD TO DO BUSINESS IN PEORIA.

SO I WANT TO USE THIS BUSINESS GROUP TO HELP US REWRITE OUR CODE AND PREPARATION WE HAVE A MORATORIUM ON OUR FEES SO THAT THAT ENCOURAGES DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AND MS. ALI?

>> YES, AIT CREATED THIS LIVING WAGE CALCULATOR FOR THE WHOLE NATION.

I THINK THEY WERE HIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO CREATE THAT.

BUT YOU CAN GO IN TO THAT WEBSITE AND YOU CAN IDENTIFY YOUR AREA.

PEORIA, FOR EXAMPLE.

THE LIVING WAGE FOR ONE PERSON IN PEORIA IS ABOUT $FEN TEEN UPON -- $14.68 PER HOUR.

THE LIVING WAGE HOURLY RATE.

OKAY?

YOU PUT IN ONE ADDITIONAL PERSON -- LIKE A CHILD, FOR EXAMPLE -- AND THAT HOURLY FAMILY SUSTAINING WAGE JUDGMENTS UP TO ABOUT -- JUMPS UP TO ABOUT $THERE 2 -- $3 -- $22 AN HOUR.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE CHILD CARE AND EXPENSES THAT COMPANY ACCOMPANY A FALL OF TWO VERSUS A FAMILY OF ONE.

WE HAVE TO PREPARE OUR PEOPLE A JOB THAT'S PAYING A FAMILY SUSTAINING WAGE, NOT JUST A LIVING WAGE OF $15 AN HOUR.

AND THOSE ARE JOBS.

WE HAVE JOBS.

WE HAVE JOBS IN HEALTHCARE.

WHERE OUR HEALTHCARE IS OUR LARGEST EMPLOYER NOW.

WE HAVE JOBS THAT PEOPLE CANNOT FILL, THAT COMPANIES CANNOT FILL BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS.

I WANT TO BUILD A STRONG WORK -- SKILLED WORKFORCE IN PEORIA.

SO ONE, THEY CAN TAKE THE JOBS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE OPEN THAT ARE GOING UNFILLED BY LOCAL PEOPLE.

AND TWO, THAT WE CAN CREATE A WORKFORCE THAT WILL ATTRACT ADDITIONAL COMPANIES TO OUR AREA.

SOME OF THOSE AREAS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, CDL TRUCK DRIVING, HEALTHCARE OF COURSE, MANY DIFFERENT HEALTHCARE JOBS.

AND EVEN THE AREA OF EDUCATION.

>> LET'S CHANGE OUR FOCUS SOMEWHAT AND MR. MONTELONGO, YOU WILL ANSWER FIRST.

ARE THERE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY TO COOPERATE WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTAL BODIES SO THAT YOU CAN BETTER PROVIDE SERVICES?

>> YOU KNOW, FOR A LONG TIME WE'VE HAD A COMMITTEE TO WORK WITH -- FOR EXAMPLE, THE COUNTY, LOOKING FOR WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER.

I KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ANIMAL CONTROL HAS BEEN ONE THAT THE COMPANY HAS TAKEN OVER AND WE PAY A PORTION OF IT TO HAVE THEM MANAGE THAT.

I THINK WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO CONINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO DO THINGS MORE EFFICIENTLY BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

AND THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE EXAMPLES THAT I WOULD HAVE.

>> AND THE QUESTION OF GOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION TO YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M A COLLABORATOR AND I THINK THAT WE CAN PROGRESS MUCH FURTHER WHEN WE BEGIN TO COLLABORATE MORE INTERGOVERNMENTALLY AS WELL AS WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF A RECENT COLLABORATION.

AND THIS WAS A COLLABORATION FOR A -- A PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS GRANT.

A GRANT THAT CAME OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.

PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS FOCUS ON THE MOST DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES IN AMERICA.

WELL, WE HAVE ONE HERE AND IT'S CALLED PEORIA 61605.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DISTRESSED ZIP CODE AREAS IN THE ENTIRE STATE AND THE NATION.

WELL, WE CAME TOGETHER WITH THE COLLABORATION OF OVER 50 BUSINESSES, SNOQUALMIE RUSS COMMUNITY- -- NUMEROUS COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATION ENTITIES TO COLLABORATE ON SUPPORTING 61605 WITH A PROPOSAL OF A $30 MILLION GRANT.

AND WE HAD TO MATCH IT WITH 100%, $30 MILLION IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION.

WELL, WE MATCHED IT WITH $165 -- 165% CONTRIBUTION, $49 MILLION IN-KIND MATCH LOCALLY.

I PROP AND PRAY THAT WE GET FUNDING FOR THAT, BECAUSE IT WILL HELP LIFT THE PEOPLE OF 61605, INCREASE THEIR EDUCATION, INCREASE THEIR INCOME, ADDRESS THEIR HEALTHCARE ISSUES, ADDRESS THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.

AND IT'S CALLED THE PEORIA CRADLE TO CAREER INITIATIVE.

OR PEORIA CCI.

AND I SPEARHEADED THAT INITIATIVE.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION FOR BOTH OF YOU, FIRST DO YOU, MS. ALI.

THE CITY WILL RECEIVE 46 MILLION DOLLARS IN CORONAVIRUS RECOVERY FUNDS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

WHILE THE CITY -- WHILE THE CITY MANAGER EX -- RECOMMENDS EXPENDITURES.

WHAT GUIDANCE WOULD YOU OFFER ON HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY?

>> WE JUST GOT WORD THAT THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GETTING FROM THE STIMULUS FUNDING, THE RELIEF, COVID RELIEF FUNDING, $46 MILLION FOR PEORIA.

SO IT'S JUST BEEN A FEW DAYS THAT WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THAT INFORMATION.

SO WE REALLY HAVE NOT EVEN GOTTEN TOGETHER AS A COUNCIL YET SINCE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.

AND YOU KNOW, IT HAS CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS TO THAT FUNDING.

BUT I WOULD HOPE -- AND I KNOW I HAVE READ, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS.

SO WE WANT TO GIVE RELIEF TO SOME OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, OF COURSE.

THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY I THINK TO GET MORE HIGH SPEED BROADBAND THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE AREAS THAT ARE NOT SUPPORTED.

INTERNET OR INTERNET ACCESS IS ALMOST A BASIC REQUIREMENT THESE DAYS.

THAT'S HOW YOU GET INFORMATION TO HEALTHCARE, THAT'S HOW YOU APPLY FOR JOBS.

I MEAN, NOT HAVING THE BASIC HIGH SPEED INTERNET BROADBAND IS A REALLY -- IT'S A DEFICIENCY FOR PEOPLE.

AND SO YOU KNOW, I WANT SOME OF THE MONEY SPENT TO SUPPORT THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR HIGH SPEED BROADBAND AND THAT CONNECTIVITY THAT WE NEED.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING, AGAIN, WE HAVE NOT DELVED INTO BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

>> AND MR. MONTELONGO?

>> SURE.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST BEEN A WEEK AGO THAT THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THIS COVID RELIEF PACKAGE FOR CITIES.

WE SHOULD BE RECEIVING IN THE NEXT SIX WEEKS AT LEAST HALF THE MONEY AND THEN THE OTHER HALF WITHIN A YEAR OF THAT TIME.

IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO KIND OF TELL A STORY TO HELP EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE WHAT THE THOUGHT PROCESS SHOULD BE FOR OUR CITY.

I THINK IF YOU -- IMAGINE HAVING THIS HOUSE.

YOU HAVE A FOUNDATION ISSUE IN IT.

YOU HAVE STRUCTURAL ISSUES WITH IT.

YOU HAVE SIDING THAT'S FALLING APART.

YOU HAVE YOUR ROOF FALLING APART.

AND YOU HAVE A DRIVEWAY THAT IS CRUMBLING.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU COME IN TO THIS BIG LUMP SUM OF MONEY.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY ON?

ARE YOU GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY ON A BIG FLAT SCREEN TV?

OR A NEW CAR?

I THINK THE ANSWER IS WE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THE FOUNDATION OF OUR HOUSE, THE STRUCTURE, FIX ALL THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED, INCLUDING THE CRUMBLING DRIVEWAY.

ON THE CITY'S SIDE, VERY MUCH THE SAME WAY.

WE NEED TO BE VERY RESPONSIBLE WITH THIS QUNS TIME AMOUNT OF MONEY -- ONE-TIME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE ARE GETTING.

SO LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, WE APPROVED $10 MILLION BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO BE SHORT $10 MILLION, SO WE WERE GOING TO TAKE OUT A BOND WHICH WE HAVEN'T YET, $10 MILLION BOND OR LOAN FOR PEOPLE TO HELP UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS, AND SO I THINK $10 MILLION SHOULD GO IMMEDIATELY TO FILL THAT HOLE THAT WE WILL HAVE.

THE SECOND, OUR ROADS ARE IN TERRIBLE CONDITION RIGHT NOW.

SO WE NEED TO TAKE THAT MONEY AND FIX EVERY POTHOLE THAT WE HAVE AND GET OUR ROADS BACK ON A PATH TO PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SO THAT THEY'RE IMPROVING EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

THIS IS A REALLY BIG ISSUE FOR PEORIA.

AND I THINK THIRD, WE HAVE OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE SPENT ALL OUR RESERVES.

WE'VE SOLELY STARTED TO BUILD -- SLOWLY STARTED TO BUILD THAT BACK UP.

I THINK WE NEED MONEY BACK INTO THE RESERVES AND GET US BACK UP THERE.

WHEN WE DO THAT OUR BOND RATING WILL GO UP.

IT MEANS LESS INTEREST RATES TO OUR BONDS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE -- HAVING THE MONEY IN OUR RESERVES MEANS THAT WE HAVE MONEY FOR FUTURE YEARS, FOR OUR BASIC CITY SERVICES.

OUR POLICE, OUR FIRE, AND OUR ROADS.

BUT ALSO WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, WE HAVE SOME REALLY GIANT YET LIABILITIES THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF.

THE PENSIONS AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, COLOR 330 MILLION OVER -- $330 MILLION OVER THE 20 YEARS.

PIER MARQUETTE, $40 MILLION AND THE COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW IN THERE.

SO WE HAVE SOME GIANT THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF.

I THINK THIS IS THE BASIC OR GENERAL THINGS THAT I THINK MOST OF THE COUNCIL WILL AGREE TO.

THERE MIGHT BE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED -- I'M SURE OTHERS HAVE IDEAS.

BUT I THINK THOSE COME AFTERWARDS.

WE NEED TO DO THE RESPONSIBLE AND PRIEWNTD THING TO MOVE OUR -- PRUDENT THING TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD.

>> MS. ALI, FOR THE AUDIENCE'S BENEFIT, MENTIONED THERE'S SOMETHING YOU CAN'T USE THE MONEY FOR AND THE TWO MOST SIGNIFICANT ONES IS YOU CANNOT USE IT FOR PENSION BENEFITS AND YOU CANNOT USE IT FOR CUTTING THE TAX RATE IN THE CITY OF PEORIA.

WE GO TO MR. MONTELONGO, TO RESPOND FIRST TO OUR NEXT QUESTION.

WHAT STEPS WOULD YOU TAKE AS MAYOR TO ENSURE INVOLVEMENT BY AND FAIR TREATMENT OF DIVERSE GROUPS, WHETHER THAT BE RACE, AGE, GENDER, ET CETERA.

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK -- WHAT'S IMPORTANT YOU KNOW -- WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE COUNCIL AT-LARGE BACK IN 2007, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAW IMMEDIATELY IS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH WOMEN OR MINORITY-OWNED PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT.

OUR CITY CONTRACTING.

SO I PUT TOGETHER A PLAN WITH THOSE IN CITY HALL TO TEACH OUR BUSINESSES HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.

IT WAS A PROGRAM THAT STARTED WAY BACK THEN.

IT'S STILL GOING ON TODAY, MAYBE NOT DURING THE COVID RELIEF TIME.

BUT IT'S A PROGRAM THAT'S STILL GOING ON.

AND HAS RESULTED IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CONTRACTING TO OUR SMALL MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.

SO CONTRACTING IS ONE THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME OUTREACH, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN BUSINESSES OR THE HISPANIC-OWNED BUSINESSES OR ASIAN-OWNED BASIS -- BIGGS, THAT WE GET THEM INVOLVED IN THE CONTRACTING.

SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO AND CERTAINLY WE NEED TO HAVE A CITY LAUGH THAT LOOKS MORE LIKE WHAT OUR COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE.

I ASKED IN OUR CITY MANAGER'S GOALS THAT WE PUT THAT IN THERE SO THAT WE COULD HOLD SOME ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE MINORITY HIRING IN OUR CITY.

>> MS. ALI?

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION FOR OVER 22 YEARS.

I WAS BRADLEY'S FIRST DIRECTOR OF MULTI-CULTURAL STUDENT SCRFERS.

I WAS ICC'S FIRST DIRECTOR, AND NOW VICE PRESIDENT OF WORKFORCE AND DIVERSITY.

YOU KNOW, DIVERSITY IS ABOUT AIN INCLUDING EVERYONE -- IS ABOUT INCLUDING EVERYONE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT EXCLUSION.

IT'S ABOUT INCLUSION.

AND SO YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO ENGAGE OUR CITIZENS, ALL THE CITIZENS FROM ALL DIFFERENT RACES AND ETHNICITY, MORE SO IN THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE CITY.

WE NEED TO GET THEM INVOLVED IN A MORE MEANINGFUL WAY.

WE NEED TO USE THEIR TALENTS AND BRING THEIR TALENTS IN.

THERE'S PEOPLE THAT WANT TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP SOLVE PEORIA'S PROBLEMS.

AND AGAIN, BRILLIANT PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE THAT CAN BRING CERTAIN GIFTS TO HELP US TO SOLVE PROBLEMS IN PEORIA.

SO I WORKED WITH A GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS LAST YEAR AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD TO BRING TOGETHER SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, SOME QUICK WINS AND SOME LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY AND WE CREATED A JOINT CITY/COUNTY COMMISSION ON RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY THAT ENGAGE OVER 160 -- THAT WILL ENGAGE OVER 160 INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE IN THE CITY AND COUNTY IN EIGHT DIFFERENT AREAS IN A DRY ES -- ADDRESSING ISSUES OF DISPARITY IN HOUSING, IN JUSTICE, IN MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION, IN JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DRIVEN BY DATA.

AND I'M VERY EXCITED THAT VERY SOON, WE'RE GOING TO BE ANNOUNCING THAT CHARTER, THAT CHARTER GROUP THAT WILL BEGIN THE WORK.

>> BRIEF RESPONSE?

>> I HAVE NONE.

>> NEXT QUESTION.

AND THIS WILL BE OUR FINAL QUESTION BEFORE CLOSING AT THE SAME TIMES -- STATEMENTS.

AND WE'LL GO TO YOU, FIRST, FOR ANSWERING THIS QUESTION.

THE CITY COUNCIL HAS SET A GOAL OF REACHING 40% MINORITY EMPLOYMENT IN BOTH THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

THUS FAR, EFFORTS HAVE FALLEN SHORT.

WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS DO YOU HAVE TO BOOST MINORITY EMPLOYMENT?

AND THIS IS SIMILAR, ALONG THE SAME LINE AS THE PREVIOUSEY, BUT THIS IS -- PREVIOUS QUESTION, BUT THIS IS THE COUNCIL-SET GOAL FOR FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYMENT.

>> SURE.

SO NATURALLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REVISIT THE GOAL.

OKAY?

40% WAS DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT GOAL.

WE'RE FALLING SHORT.

AND IT'S NOT LIKELY FEASIBLE THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER.

SO THE TEAM IS GOING TO REVISIT THE GOALS AND TARGETS, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER STRATEGIES AND PLANS THAT WE CAN REACH THOSE GOALS AND TARGETS.

I WAS PART OF THAT INITIAL GROUP.

I CO-CHAIRED A TEAM WITH AL HOOKS, A LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADER, AND WE HAD POLICE AND FIRE AT THE TABLE.

THEY WERE -- IT WAS A GREAT TEAM EFFORT.

AND WE SET TOGETHER -- WE HAD 10 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING DIVERSITY WITHIN POLICE AND FIRE.

IT WENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

I WAS NOT ON AT THE TIME.

BUT THEY APPROVED THOSE 10 RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF DIVERSIFYING THE NEW HIRES AMONGST POLICE, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT YOU CAN TAKE THE TEST PER YEAR, MORE OUTREACH.

WE HAVE CADEL PROGRAMS -- CADET PROGRAMS.

WE HAD ONE WITH POLICE AND FIRE BUT THIS WAS A UNION ISSUE WITH ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT IF YOU LAY OFF, YOU KNOW, FROM FIRE, THAT THEN YOU HAVE TO CUT THE CADETS FIRST.

SO I THINK WE REVISIT SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.

BUT IT'S GETTING BACK TO THE TABLE AND KEEPING YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE.

AND RECOMMITTING AND REESTABLISHING THOSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.

>> MR. MONTELONGO, THE QUESTION OF REACHING THAT 40% GOAL FOR THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> SURE.

CERTAINLY WE HAVE OUR CHALLENGES BECAUSE OF COVID.

AND SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT CITY COUNCIL HAS MADE.

AND MUCH AS MS. ALI HAS SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF IT IS A UNION-TYPE ISSUE AND OVER SENIORITY AND FIRST IN AND OUT.

SO SOME OF THAT HAS KIND OF STYMIED IF RESULTS THAT WE WERE -- RESULTS THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

BUT ALL OF THESE EFFORTS TO HAVE THIS OUTREACH IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL AREAS OF DIVERSITY FOR THE CITY.

>> A QUICK QUESTION BEFORE WE GO TO CLOSING STATEMENTS.

WHAT SINGLE TRAIT DIFFERENTIATES YOU FROM YOUR OPPONENT?

WHAT IS THE BEST TRAIT FOR YOU TO BE MAYOR, AND WE'LL START WITH MR. MONTELONGO?

>> SURE, YOU KNOW THE BEST TRAIT FOR ME IS I'VE BEEN A BUSINESS OWNER FOR JUST ABOUT 30 YEARS.

MY COMPANY HAS HAD TO COMPETE WITH NOT ONLY NATIONAL COMPETITORS BUT GLOBAL COMPETITORS.

SO WE'VE HAD TO BE CONSTANTLY REVISITING OUR APPROACH TO ATTACKING THE MARKET.

OVER THE YEARS I'VE HAD TO DO SALES AND MARKETING.

I'VE HAD TO DO ACCOUNTING.

I'VE HAD TO DO PAYROLL.

AND YOU CAN -- YOU KNOW, I NEED TO KNOW THE TIMES WHEN WE NEED TO INVEST AND I NEED TO KNOW THE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE TO RETREAT.

AND OUR EXPENSES.

SO -- >> THE SAME -- I'M SORRY, BUT WE HAVE TO GIVE YOU TIME FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT AS WELL.

SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

>> SURE.

AND IF I WERE TO PICK ONE, I WOULD SAY THE COLLABORATOR.

THAT I'M THE COLLABORATOR.

I'VE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY COLLABORATIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WITHIN BUSINESS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR.

REALLY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, WHETHER THEY HAV DIFFERENCES OR NOT, TO WORK ON A COMMON GOAL, TO WORK FROM A COMMON PROJECT, TO -- THAT WILL BRING BENEFIT TO THAT EFFORT.

SO COLLABORATOR.

THAT'S THE TRAIL.

>> -- THE TRAIL.

>> AND BECAUSE MS. ALI STARTED -- STARTED FIRST WITH THE QUESTIONS, YOUR CLOSING STATEMENT FIRST.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.

I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE TO THAT.

SO THE PEOPLE IN PEORIA WILL BE CHOOSING WHO THEY THINK WILL BE THE BEST PERSON TO BE MAYOR OF PEORIA.

WE ARE TWO DIFFERENT CANDIDATES, WITH TWO DIFFERENT STILL SKILL SETS, WITH TWO DIFFERENT PATHS TO SOLVING PEORIA'S PROBLEMS.

I BELIEVE PEORIA NEEDS A BUSINESSPERSON -- AN EXPERIENCED BUSINESSPERSON WITH CITY COUNCIL EXPERIENCE THAT CAN TACKLE OUR FINANCIAL CRISIS, THAT CAN FOCUS -- AND DELIVER ON BASIC CITY SERVICES, OUR POLICE, FIRE, AND OUR ROADS.

AND AS WELL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH EMPLOYERS TO GROW JOBS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THAT PERSON IS ME.

I HAVE SIX TIMES MORE EXPERIENCE ON CITY COUNCIL THAN MY OPPONENT DOES.

I HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD BEING A DISTRICT AND AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.

I HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE AND I'VE BROUGHT MY CONSTITUENTS TOGETHER FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AS A DISTRICT, 10 YEARS OVERALL.

WITH MONTHLY MEETINGS, WHERE WE HAVE SOLVED SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY ISSUES, AND JUST OVERALL SOME OF OUR CITY ISSUES.

I CREATED A BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE WITH NORTHWOODS MALL, WESTLAKE, AND GLEN HOLLOW SHOPPING CENTER AND THE GISES AROUND THERE AND WE HAVE BUILD COMMON GOALS TOGETHER.

THAT AREA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST SALES TAX REVENUES FOR THE CITY.

BESIDES THAT, I WANT TO USE THIS TO -- THIS VERY SAME METHOD TO COLLABORATE WITH THE ENTIRE CITY, BOTH WITH PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES OVERALL.

>> AND TO MS. ALI?

>> YES, SURE.

MY POP PRIORITY -- TOP PRIORITY AS MAYOR IF ELECTED WOULD BE TO SENSE OF MISSION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

TO BRING ALL OF US TOGETHER TO BUILD ON OUR STRENGTHS AND TURN OUR PROBLEMS INTO OUR OPPORTUNITIES.

I WILL UTILIZE OUR GREATEST ASSET TO HELP TO ADDRESS THE MOST SERIOUS CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE -- POPULATION LOSS, ECONOMIC STRUGGLES, AND SERIOUS CHALLENGES SUCH AS NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY.

THE GREATEST ASSET IS THE PEOPLE.

YOU.

THE PEOPLE OF PEORIA WHO ARE COMMITTED, TALENTED, AND SMART.

TOGETHER WE WILL BUILD A NEW VISION FOR PEORIA, CREATE A SMART AND THRIVING CITY, AND ATTRACT NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR REGION.

I'M THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT AND ENDORSEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION TRADE ORGANIZATIONS, EMPLOYER THAT PROVIDE APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING THAT LEAD TO FAMILY-SUSTAINING WAGE JOBS.

THE SIERRA CLUB OUR ENVIRONMENTAL WATCHDOG, DEDICATED TO ENSURING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY.

TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS THAT KNOW MY LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO CHANGING THE LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION.

AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE THE SUPPORT AND ENDORSEMENT OF SMALL BUSINESSES, OF THE POLICE, BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION, THE PEORIA FIREFIGHTERS, AND OTHERS WHO KNOW THAT I CAN BUILD BRIDGES WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY.

I WILL BE A CHAMPION FOR PEORIA.

>> AND I SAY THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU TO JIM MONTELONGO, WHO IS THE FOURTH DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE CITY OF PEORIA, AND TO AT-LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER RITA ALI.

THANK YOU BOTH.

AND NOW IT'S YOUR TURN.

EITHER ON APRIL 6TH OR BEFORE, VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE YOU THINK IS BEST TO LEAD THE CITY OF PEORIA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "AT ISSUE."

WE'LL SEE YOU YES, TIME RIGHT HERE ON WTVP.