PEORIA, Ill. – A plan to try and make Peoria apartment complexes safer passed first approval Tuesday night, but passing a final vote is not a guarantee.
1st District Councilwoman Denise Jackson brought forward an ordinance for discussion on first reading that would affect complexes with more than 50 units. The plan would require owners of the complexes to provide an on-site property manager during the work week, at least one or two security guards on-site depending on the time of the day, and a video surveillance system that covers all entrances and exits, parking areas, and interior common areas.
Jackson told her fellow councilmen that the proposal was more than three years in the making. She says there have been situations that have occurred in the complexes which compromise public safety.
To make her case, Jackson invited people who have been affected by crime and other dangerous incidents at the complexes. Michael Winters told a story of how he was assaulted by three people at Schlarman House, after he asked them to turn their music down a little.
In another story from Schlarman House, a careworker talked about her assault from June. The careworker stated that a woman punched her in the nose and attempted to run her over with a vehicle while the careworker was trying to pick up garbage in the parking lot. The woman also reportedly attempted to knock the phone out of the careworker’s hand while she was trying to call 911.
A woman who lives at Oakwood spoke about watching TV in bed with her great-grandkids, and the door randomly opened and closed. She says her car has also been vandalized, and packs of water have been stolen from her. Another resident of Oakwood spoke about a squatter harassing people and selling drugs.
“If they don’t respect law enforcement, and you got staff and employees that don’t feel safe, can you imagine how the residents are feeling?” Jackson said.
Jackson’s fellow council members sympathized with her in the need for making apartments safer. But there were questions on whether the plan would be practical.
The main concern raised was the cost to implement the security measures, and a potential cost passed on to residents.
“If we make all these landlords have two people on site at all times, and then they raise the rent, then these renters could be out on the street, and we have more people on the street,” said At-Large Councilman Mike Vespa.
City Attorney Patrick Hayes told the council that an estimate done for similar security measures at New Hope Apartments would have cost anywhere between $500,000 and $600,000 per year.
2nd District Councilman Alex Carmona stated that the ordinance could also scare away developers from investing in and building new complexes, if they had to incur the additional costs.
Mayor Rita Ali and some councilmen suggested changing the nuisance ordinance to target better those that break the rules consistently.
A second vote has yet to be scheduled.
