Peoria Mayor Conducts Growth Session: Sustainability Guides Discussions
April 24, 2008
Source: Steve Tarter
Department: Journal Star
PEORIA - A new commission is coming to the city that will focus on "sustainability," Mayor Jim Ardis announced Wednesday at a
brainstorming session attended by about 60 citizens at the Gateway Building.
Amir Al-Khafaji, chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction at Bradley University, will head the commission,
said Ardis, who called on Peoria to take a leadership position on sustainability issues.
City economic development director Craig Hullinger defined sustainability as, "Leaving the city better than you found it," but
there were plenty of sustainable topics cited by those in attendance.
Working in discussion groups, participants of the "Green Plays in Peoria" program cited a wide variety of topics, such as improving
transportation options, encouraging recycling and providing incentives to help homeowners and businesses save on energy.
Mark Bauer of Bauer Energy, based in Wayland, Mich., suggested attention be focused on "firms that seek to buy carbon credits
to offset their carbon footprint."
Other energy issues discussed included solar power. "There's a 30 percent tax credit offered by the federal government on
improvements involving solar electricity or solar thermal. But that credit expires at the end of this year. We need to bring
education to the table," said Bauer.
Energy consultant Brian Kumer called for boosting energy information to the public. "Utility education needs to be mandated," he
said.
"The problem is that people don't know who to believe when it comes to energy," said Brad Arnold, vice president of sales and
marketing for Globe Energy.
Other issues revolved around making Peoria more pedestrian-friendly. "We have to slow down traffic on Main Street and in the
Downtown," said Michele Richey, co-owner of Tri-City Machine Products Inc., 1506 SW Washington St., who said that despite a 35
mile per hour speed limit, trucks routinely traveled at 50 miles per hour on Washington.
Brandy Dietrich of the Farnsworth Group architectural firm related how a Chillicothe subdivision includes park land in its
development, prompting Jennifer Brady of the Coalition for a More Walkable West Bluff to ask if new subdivisions allow for those
who want to walk to shopping and business destinations.
"Only if you're a long-distance walker," answered Peorian Kenny Carrigan.
Other transportation topics included the upgrading of area bike paths. "We think (they) need to be improved, plus they need to
be connected," said Tommy Arbuckle III of AFE Construction in Mackinaw, who presented his table's ideas to the group at large.
"We want to provide an education program for citizens, including capitalizing on what people are already doing to create more
awareness," said Jody Howard of Caterpillar Inc., who represented another group of brainstormers.
First District City Councilman Clyde Gulley spoke of the need to make better use of the city's resources, including beefed-up
recycling efforts.
"Sustainability starts with people like you," he said.
April 24, 2008
Source: Steve Tarter
Department: Journal Star
PEORIA - A new commission is coming to the city that will focus on "sustainability," Mayor Jim Ardis announced Wednesday at a
brainstorming session attended by about 60 citizens at the Gateway Building.
Amir Al-Khafaji, chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction at Bradley University, will head the commission,
said Ardis, who called on Peoria to take a leadership position on sustainability issues.
City economic development director Craig Hullinger defined sustainability as, "Leaving the city better than you found it," but
there were plenty of sustainable topics cited by those in attendance.
Working in discussion groups, participants of the "Green Plays in Peoria" program cited a wide variety of topics, such as improving
transportation options, encouraging recycling and providing incentives to help homeowners and businesses save on energy.
Mark Bauer of Bauer Energy, based in Wayland, Mich., suggested attention be focused on "firms that seek to buy carbon credits
to offset their carbon footprint."
Other energy issues discussed included solar power. "There's a 30 percent tax credit offered by the federal government on
improvements involving solar electricity or solar thermal. But that credit expires at the end of this year. We need to bring
education to the table," said Bauer.
Energy consultant Brian Kumer called for boosting energy information to the public. "Utility education needs to be mandated," he
said.
"The problem is that people don't know who to believe when it comes to energy," said Brad Arnold, vice president of sales and
marketing for Globe Energy.
Other issues revolved around making Peoria more pedestrian-friendly. "We have to slow down traffic on Main Street and in the
Downtown," said Michele Richey, co-owner of Tri-City Machine Products Inc., 1506 SW Washington St., who said that despite a 35
mile per hour speed limit, trucks routinely traveled at 50 miles per hour on Washington.
Brandy Dietrich of the Farnsworth Group architectural firm related how a Chillicothe subdivision includes park land in its
development, prompting Jennifer Brady of the Coalition for a More Walkable West Bluff to ask if new subdivisions allow for those
who want to walk to shopping and business destinations.
"Only if you're a long-distance walker," answered Peorian Kenny Carrigan.
Other transportation topics included the upgrading of area bike paths. "We think (they) need to be improved, plus they need to
be connected," said Tommy Arbuckle III of AFE Construction in Mackinaw, who presented his table's ideas to the group at large.
"We want to provide an education program for citizens, including capitalizing on what people are already doing to create more
awareness," said Jody Howard of Caterpillar Inc., who represented another group of brainstormers.
First District City Councilman Clyde Gulley spoke of the need to make better use of the city's resources, including beefed-up
recycling efforts.
"Sustainability starts with people like you," he said.
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