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Water Issues in Peoria, Illinois

Water: Advocating for Protection Chicago, Illinois. June 27, 2018. Elaine Hopkins, LWVGP Board Member. Joyce Blumenshine , Member. Water Issues in Peoria, Illinois. Lightning Talk by LWV of Greater Peoria. Three Issues of Concern:

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Water Issues in Peoria, Illinois

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  1. Water: Advocating for Protection Chicago, Illinois June 27, 2018 Elaine Hopkins, LWVGP Board Member Joyce Blumenshine, Member Water Issues in Peoria, Illinois Lightning Talk by LWV of Greater Peoria

  2. Three Issues of Concern: 1) City assessment for municipal ownership of the privately owned water company2) Pollution from Combined Sewers: Untreated Sewage and Storm Sewer Overflow into the Illinois River3) Land & Water Conservation Fund: Issues Regarding a Public Park on the Illinois River

  3. 1) Assessment for Water Ownership financial analysis for public ownership of our Water Utility Should proceed important attributes of a water utility: transparency; local control of rates & Water quality; local governance; public oversight; high quality service • LWVGP Annual Meeting unanimous vote to proceed • We have held many public programs on this issue • Goal is to assess cost & full analysis through City due diligence research on local ownership of water supply • Drive launched for City to Adopt Conflict of Interest Policy RE Water Company $$

  4. 2) Combined Sewer Overflow: Combined Sanitary and Storm Sewers Discharge Raw Sewage Into Illinois River • US EPA requiring city to address this pollution • LWVGP has held varied programs on this issue; another will be on June 20th • City is proposing a “Green Solution” of rain barrels and gardens, bio-swales, green roofs, permeable pavers • Controversy includes costs; delays in City moving forward; proof proposal will work to hold back enough water

  5. 3) Federal Land and Water Conservation FundCity Officials Proposing to Sell Public Riverfront Park Purchased with LWCF Funds to a Private Developer What Are Federal LAND AND WATER Conservation Funds • Most significant federal funding source for open space and conservation lands • Acquires and protects parks, wildlife refuges, recreation areas, historical sites nationwide • Problem: this parkland can be sold in states with weak oversight like Illinois • Peoria Park Issue! Come to our caucus Friday, June 29th, 7:30 a.m. in the Boulevard B Room

  6. Final Approval for LWCF land sale is with the National Park Service SAVE LOCAL PARKS ENFORCE LWCF RULES SUPPORT THE LWCF These agencies are subject to political pressure Federal agency relies on the state reviews and gives states preference Some states discourage conversion while others enable it • They rely on the state natural resource agency for review and approval of application

  7. PEORIA LWCF PARK PROBLEM Private development in Riverfront LWCF park will remove 6.3 acres of open space and pollute the Illinois River with run-off and contaminated storm water Natural prairie; 130 mature trees, mature landscaping planted by park district and a historic railroad turntable will be destroyed

  8. Peoria Riverfront Park Is Used by All Schools and Park District Oppose Land Sale Peoria Public Schools USe Area Planned for Sale FOR Student Outings Peoria Park District and Public Schools have passed resolutions against selling the parkland, but City Hall still pushes project Location is Environmental Justice issue Public Housing Apartment Complex and Historic Neighborhoods are nearby

  9. Peoria Riverfront Park Is Used by All Public Wants Park to Be Saved • Park is largest public open space along the Peoria City riverfront for general use and not impacted by ticketed events • Numerous memorials are located along the edge, including tributes to Dan Fogelberg • Popular loop trail will be lost if city proceeds with land sale

  10. Here is how the system works: law allows land sale and swaps Peoria proposed ‘swap’ land floods and is not of equivalent recreational usefulness or value LWCF regulations allow the owners to convert the public park to private development if they replace the acreage PROBLEMATIC And ABUSED in Peoria Regulations are not enforced in some states like Illinois State natural resource agency has to approve application Replacement land is to be of equivalent recreation use and approximate value but abuses often occur

  11. LWCF Is The Essential Program for Public Land Protection and AcquisitionEnforcement of LWCF Regulations Is Essential • In Illinois, LWCF has provided over $213 million • Funding has save public access to trails, historic sites, neighborhood parks, part funding for Lincoln Home National Historic site, Cook County Forest Preserves, Byron Rock River Ogle County • Examples of major funding are Emiquon, Chautauqua and Meredosia National Wildlife Refuges Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge wetlands view

  12. Contact Your U.S. Representative: Save the Land and Water Conservation Fund • Contact Your Federal Legislators to support full funding and renewal of the LWCF • LWCF program future at risk • All funding expires September 30, 2018, unless Congress acts to renew and fund • Funding comes from fees on off-shore oil and gas extraction • Graph at right shows LWCF allocations 2006-2015

  13. Come to Our Caucus! SAVE OUR LWCF PARKS! Peoria Riverfront Park Case Study Friday June 29, 7:30 am Boulevard B Room Elaine Hopkins and Joyce Blumenshine League of Women Voters Greater Peoria

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