Dr. Kiran Velpula is the newest member of the Peoria City Council.
The council voted unanimously Tuesday night to appoint Velpula to serve the remaining two years of Mayor Rita Ali's at-large term.
Velpula said he's eager to serve.
"I'm very excited and happy to be here today, and to be selected for the at-large position," he said.
Ali previously told WCBU that Velpula was the "consensus" candidate chosen from the three finalists.
He is an assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria. He also serves on the WCBU Community Advisory Board.
More than two dozen Peorians applied to fill the vacancy on the council.
Council gives initial OK to fulfillment centers
The Peoria City Council unanimously approved a first reading of a new zoning ordinance allowing for fulfillment centers.
Peoria Community Development Director Ross Black says fulfillment centers box and ship goods, and accept returns.
"We believe that not only will this provide an opportunity for fulfillment centers if they choose to locate in Peoria, but it also provides an opportunity to provide a reuse for currently vacant commercial space that may not be viable right now to be refilled with typical retail uses," said Black.
The proposed ordinance classifies a small fulfillment center as being up to 15,000 square feet. That use is allowable in commercial, industrial, and office districts. A large scale fulfillment center is anything larger than 15,000 square feet, and would be available in industrial and some commercial districts.
The ordinance comes back in two weeks for a second and final reading.
