Backlash against Flock Safety automatic license plate reader cameras and other similar systems has increased across the country in recent years, as people raise concerns over their misuse and potential privacy invasions.
While some municipalities have reversed course on the use Flock cameras, others like East Peoria and Pekin have remained committed to the law enforcement technology.
On Tuesday, several community members spoke out against Flock cameras at the East Peoria City Council meeting, pointing to an investigation into possible abuse of the system in neighboring Creve Coeur. Ultimately, the council voted in favor of purchasing 10 additional cameras.
The Peoria Police Department is among the Central Illinois agencies utilizing Flock Safety systems. In his latest regular interview with WCBU, Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich said the city hasn’t given any thought to changing its policy.
“We take the use of Flock cameras very seriously. Our department has reviewed our utilization of Flock cameras, and we are going to continue to utilize that technology,” said Urich. “It has proven itself to be very effective in helping us to solve crimes here in the city of Peoria, and I don’t anticipate us changing anytime soon.”
Asked what message that sends to those who have raised concerns about the Flock data, Urich responded “the Peoria Police Department is utilizing Flock cameras as they are supposed to be used.”
TIF Districts
Urich expressed optimism that the newly established West Main Street tax increment financing [TIF] district will produce the desired outcome of sparking economic growth along the corridor stretching from Downtown Peoria to the Bradley University campus.
“The intent is that we utilize this as a tool to encourage the redevelopment of the commercial properties within this area, with the hope that we’ll see additional private investment along the stretch of West Main,” said Urich.
The majority of the West Main TIF area falls within Peoria City Council member Alex Carmona’s Second District, yet he was the only one to vote against its approval. Carmona thinks the property value growth it creates is artificial, and that ultimately residents in the TIF area pay higher taxes.
“Our hope is that we see property value growth, and the intent behind TIF districts is that you’re growing the tax base,” said Urich. “It is one of the few tools that the General Assembly, the State of Illinois has given municipalities to be able to try and encourage the redevelopment of properties that are currently undervalued and underinvested in.”
Urich acknowledged higher property values will increase the amount of property taxes residents will pay, but he said the redevelopment and reinvestment in the specified geographic area is beneficial.
“What you’re doing with the TIF district and with the TIF incentive is, you’re asking a property owner to make investments into their property and to redevelop it, and then utilizing the incentives that are reimbursed on the back end for their development expenses,” said Urich.
He noted TIFs have proven successful in other areas of the city, particularly in the Warehouse District where the city was able to layer a TIF on top of federal and state historic preservation tax credits and an enterprise zone designation to encourage redevelopment.
“Without TIF and historic tax credits, we wouldn’t have the Warehouse District that we have today,” said Urich. “Without the opportunity that we’re starting to see for TIF in other parts of the city, we wouldn’t see the type of redevelopment that we have.
“That’s the essence of a TIF district is, ‘but for’ this incentive, there would be no development in that area.”
Among the newer TIF Districts in Peoria is one established to assist development of the Galena Road Industrial Park. The planned $40 million business center recently received a $600,000 federal appropriation on top of $150,000 in state funding to assess infrastructure needs.
Urich said the federal dollars secured by U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood will be used to offset Peoria County’s costs for acquiring the 53-acre property from the Illinois American Water Company.
“The next steps are to start the design work on what the business park might look like, utilizing those state funds, reimburse the county for using the federal dollars for their purchase, and then moving forward so that we can plan for what will be a 53-acre business park,” he said.
City projects
Urich said the city remains in negotiations with a developer on redevelopment plans for the city-owned Tower on Adams block consisting of the PNC Bank Building, the Creve Coeur Building and a parking deck. He said he hopes to bring a proposal to the city council for approval within 30-45 days.
Urich said the city is continuing with its legal efforts to force the owner of the Riverview Plaza to bring the shuttered tower into compliance with building and fire codes, but there have been no updates on making any progress. The 20-story downtown building has been closed since February 2024.
Regarding plans to convert Exposition Gardens into a large-scale residential neighborhood, Urich said city staff intend to have a third round of discussions with prospective developers in hopes of deciding on a preferred project by the end of the year.
Urich said items on the upcoming city council meeting agenda include approval of the Peoria Civic Center’s annual budget and final consideration of a proposed Tourism Improvement District.
“This is a request of the hoteliers in Peoria to include a 1.5% assessment on room nights at the properties that they hold,” said Urich, noting the city will collect the fees and transfer the proceeds to Discover Peoria, the branded name for the convention and visitors’ bureau.
“Discover Peoria will utilize those funds to allocate for proportionally back to the hoteliers, based upon how much they generate. It’ll be utilized for trying to increase tourism activities inside the City of Peoria.”
