Low-speed gas-powered bicycles will no longer be allowed on Pekin streets, sidewalks and bike paths.
The Pekin City Council on Monday approved an ordinance amendment proposed by Police Chief Seth Ranney to ban the so-called "DUI bikes."
Ranney said his department has received complaints about the bikes for several years, adding increased enforcement and extra patrols haven't reduced the problems.
"Residents and businesses have complained about loud noise violations, not following traffic laws, and a disregard for other vehicle and pedestrian safety," Ranney said.
"For want of a better term, we've dodged a lot of bullets. These bikes haven't caused any significant injuries or deaths."
Ranney and City Manager John Dossey said the bikes can be manipulated to go faster than intended, which is a major reason they can be unsafe on roads.
Council member Jake Fletcher voted against the ban.
He said he agrees with the reasons for the ban — he's been passed by bikes driving in the turn lanes on Court Street and Broadway Road — but the ban is an "overreach" and impacts people who need a bike for transportation and drive it legally.
"I don't think we have the right as seven people up here to tell the people of Pekin what they can use for transportation," Fletcher said.
Ranney said he sympathizes with Fletcher's point of view and he struggled with proposing the ban because of it, "but sometimes people breaking the law ruin something for people doing things the right way."
Council member Peg Phillips said she heard complaints about the bikes from residents before and after the April election, "so we're doing what people asked us to do."
Under the ban, which will go into effect in 10 days, the first offense results in a warning. Second, third and fourth offenses result in a ticket and fines of $100, $300 and $500, respectively. Bikes are impounded on the third and fourth offenses with a $200 fee.
The vote for the ban was 5-2. Council member Rick Hilst also cast a "no" vote.
One more school year for Pekin bus department
The city of Pekin took another step Monday toward getting out of the school bus business.
The council passed a resolution notifying District 108 and District 303 that it will not renew the city's intergovernmental agreements with the districts for school bus services when the agreements expire June 30, 2026.
The districts were informed about the non-renewal last summer after the council decided that the city should no longer provide school bus transportation. The resolution Monday was the official notification required by the agreements.
Pekin is the only city in Illinois that provides bus service for its school districts. It has provided the service since the 1970's.
The vote for the resolution was 6-0, with Hilst abstaining.
Winter averaging on sewer bills tweaked
Also Monday, council approved (no votes in parentheses):
- Making changes to the winter averaging of monthly sewer bills, which are based on water usage. In winter averaging, a homeowner's average monthly winter water bill or actual bill -- whichever is lower -- is charged during summer months. One of the changes approved Monday was making the summer months June through October and eliminating May. Another change was making the default winter water use average 3,750 gallons from 2,500 gallons. The vote for the tweaks was 4-3 (Fletcher, Hilst, Dave Nutter).
- Lifting a six-month moratorium on permits for residential ground-mounted solar arrays that went into place April 14 and was scheduled to run through October. The Zoning Board of Appeals reviewed city regulations regarding residential ground-mounted solar arrays during the moratorium and didn't feel any changes were needed. The vote for lifting the ban was 5-2 (Mayor Mary Burress, Karen Hohimer). Hohimer asked the ZBA to make a recommendation on whether residential ground-mounted solar arrays should be a special use like commercial ground-mounted solar arrays.
- A residential TIF agreement for Margaret Herrman, who plans to build a new home at 1915 Velde Drive at a cost of more than $400,000. Hermann will receive as much as $45,000 in property tax rebates over a maximum of 10 years. The vote for the agreement was 6-1 (Hilst).
- A 15-year contract with Solar on Earth, which has an office in Chadwick, that will save the city about $53,000 per year in electricity costs. The city will receive solar credits for getting energy from the Hudson Township solar farm in McLean County starting next year. The vote for the contract was 4-3 (Fletcher, Hilst, Nutter). Other area communities have entered into similar arrangements with Solar on Earth.
Fire Department's $1.785 million ladder truck won't be delivered for 4 years
By unanimous votes Monday, council:
- Gave permission to the Pekin Fire Department to place an order for a Pierce Enforcer 75-foot aerial ladder truck with MacQueen Equipment of St. Paul, Minn. The cost of the truck is $1.785 million, due at delivery, which is expected to be in four years. The department's newest ladder truck is a 2013 Alexis that has had major issues during its time in Pekin and is not a good candidate for refurbishment, said Fire Chief Trent Reeise. By the time the department receives its new ladder truck, the Alexis will be 17 years old.
- Approved a special use request by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for a ground-mounted solar garden next to the school at 3201 Court St. The solar garden will be enclosed by a 6-foot-tall fence with screening, and evergreen trees and bushes on the Court Street side to further block the view from the road.
- Approved a special use request by Karen Walker to operate a beauty salon at 1022 Washington St. The building was most recently an HVAC business and residence, and previously a place for storage and parking for Pekin Prescription Lab.
- Approved a site plan submitted by Tazewell Area Credit Union for a digital sign, concrete island that will hold an ATM, and one-lane drive-up teller at 2990 Court St.
- Approved a site plan submitted by Excalibur Seasonings for an industrial research building with parking next to the company's facility at 1800 Riverway Drive.
- Approved a policy that requires TIF and Business Development District funding applications for a project to be received by the city before any building permits are issued for the project.
- Approved the appointment of Melanie Matthews as chairperson of the Tourism Committee replacing Lelonie Luft, who resigned from the committee.
- Approved changes to the city's vehicle seizure and impoundment ordinance that mirror the updated state law.
- Approved the vacation of an alley that runs northwest and southeast between Fifth Street and N. Eighth St.
Council told Pekin Park District's field rental fees cut into soccer tournament's fundraising efforts
Troy Tarter, director of the Tony Fulk Memorial Classic youth soccer tournament held over the Memorial Day weekend, thanked the council Monday for approving a $5,000 tourism grant for the sixth annual event.
Part of the grant, Tarter said, went to pay for athletic trainers to staff the games.
A tournament-record 100 teams from 27 clubs played 170 games over three days at the Pekin Park District Sports Complex and Sandrock Sports Park in North Pekin, Tarter said, with an estimated 3,500 visitors coming to town.
Pekin's Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn were sold out for the weekend, Tarter said.
But it wasn't a totally positive weekend.
Tarter said field rental fees charged by the Pekin Park District for the fields at the Sports Complex climbed 600% from last year, making it the tournament's second-highest expense behind the pay for referees.
Combined with a park district decision to collect all proceeds from vendors, Tarter said, the loss to the Pekin Pride Soccer Club that puts on the tournament was an estimated $8,000.
"That's an unaffordable expense for a not-for-profit club like ours," Tarter said. "We may need to ask for more money from the city, look for other venues like Sandrock to play games, or look for other ways to make up for the loss."
