Full Text of HR0525 102nd General Assembly
HR0525 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | 3 | | Representatives wish to congratulate Jim Ardis on the occasion | 4 | | of his retirement as mayor of the City of Peoria; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, Mayor Ardis has served as mayor from 2005 to | 6 | | 2021; prior to his election as mayor, he was appointed to the | 7 | | Peoria city liquor commission in 1997; he served on the Peoria | 8 | | City Council as an at-large member from 1999 through 2005; he | 9 | | is currently the second-longest serving mayor in city history; | 10 | | and | 11 | | WHEREAS, Public service has been a legacy for Mayor | 12 | | Ardis's family; his father, Jim Ardis Jr., served as a Peoria | 13 | | city councilman from 1969 to 1973 and his grandfather, John | 14 | | Bulger, served as Peoria County Clerk; and | 15 | | WHEREAS, Mayor Ardis's time as mayor has seen improvements | 16 | | in infrastructure, public safety, economic development, | 17 | | neighborhood stability, relationships with other units of | 18 | | local government, and public and private education in Peoria; | 19 | | and | 20 | | WHEREAS, Mayor Ardis has been instrumental in many | 21 | | projects throughout Peoria; he established the Peoria Promise, |
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| 1 | | which is a groundbreaking school scholarship program that | 2 | | supports economic development by giving young people a chance | 3 | | to stay in Peoria for a higher education, therefore delivering | 4 | | a more skilled workforce in Peoria; and | 5 | | WHEREAS, Mayor Ardis launched the Don't Shoot violence | 6 | | prevention initiative, which sought to decrease shootings and | 7 | | gang-related violence; this program required an immense amount | 8 | | of communication, planning, and execution; this prevention | 9 | | initiative has saved lives and community resources and | 10 | | produces a better and more safe community; and | 11 | | WHEREAS, Mayor Ardis implemented a litter-pick program, | 12 | | reinforcing the city's efforts to encourage a litter-free | 13 | | community; he called for a coordinated liter removal and | 14 | | environmental management throughout Peoria and created the | 15 | | litter committee aimed at getting citizens involved in | 16 | | beautifying Peoria; and | 17 | | WHEREAS, Mayor Ardis expanded tourism opportunities in | 18 | | Peoria in many transformative ways; he oversaw the restoration | 19 | | of the Hotel Pere Marquette to a world class Marriott hotel and | 20 | | accompanying Courtyard Marriott attached via skyway to the | 21 | | expanded Peoria Civic Center; he also led the transfer of | 22 | | city-owned land in downtown Peoria to develop the Peoria | 23 | | Riverfront Museum and Caterpillar Visitor's Center; these |
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| 1 | | tourism promotion activities helped bring revenue to Peoria | 2 | | through attraction of visitors and conventions to the hotel | 3 | | and the Peoria Civic Center; and | 4 | | WHEREAS, Recreation opportunities were initiated in the | 5 | | Peoria community under Mayor Ardis's leadership as well, | 6 | | including projects such as the Louisville Slugger Sports | 7 | | Complex and the expansion and connection of the Kellar Branch | 8 | | of the Rock Island Trail, a project awaiting action for more | 9 | | than three decades for the region; and
| 10 | | WHEREAS, A consummate advocate in Springfield on behalf of | 11 | | issues related to cities and villages, Mayor Ardis served as | 12 | | an Illinois Municipal League Board Member and Executive Board | 13 | | Member; he was a strong leader for municipal policy issues in | 14 | | Springfield on the need for pension relief for cities and an | 15 | | early advocate for concealed carry in the State of Illinois; | 16 | | and
| 17 | | WHEREAS, The Peoria Warehouse District was developed | 18 | | through the leadership of Mayor Ardis, including the creation | 19 | | of the Warehouse District TIF, securing 25 million in state | 20 | | and federal infrastructure and funding the completion of | 21 | | numerous redevelopment agreements that delivered new | 22 | | restaurants, shops, and residential facilities to the | 23 | | community; and
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, Mayor Ardis has shown great dedication to the | 2 | | City of Peoria and to the citizens of Central Illinois by his | 3 | | skillful navigation through the great recession and the | 4 | | COVID-19 pandemic; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, Mayor Ardis's goal has always been the betterment | 6 | | of the City of Peoria by demonstrating core values of | 7 | | responsibility, professionalism, accountability, and | 8 | | transparency; he has worked tirelessly to build a stronger, | 9 | | safer, and more prosperous community; he has excelled at | 10 | | making tough decisions and building opportunities for Peoria | 11 | | to attract jobs, retain talent, and provide a welcoming | 12 | | environment to families throughout the community; therefore, | 13 | | be it
| 14 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | 15 | | HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | 16 | | we congratulate Jim Ardis on his retirement as the mayor of the | 17 | | City of Peoria, and we wish him the best in all his future | 18 | | endeavors; and be it further
| 19 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 20 | | presented to Mayor Ardis as a symbol of our respect and esteem.
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