Peoria City Council approves video gambling restrictions

PEORIA — After multiple attempts, the Peoria City Council approved restrictions on video-gambling outlets.

Approval might have been accidental. But for at least one council member, it appears to be a happy accident.

By a 6-4 vote Tuesday night, the council enacted a requirement that new video-gambling applicants derive at least 80 percent of their revenue from food and drink in each of the previous two years. The vote capped a monthslong process that included much discussion, as well as rejection of at least three regulation proposals.

It wasn’t until after this meeting that it became apparent the latest proposal came close to rejection, too.

At-large Councilwoman Beth Jensen was among those who voted in the majority. During previous discussions, she said she favored a distance requirement between video-gambling facilities. This proposal, one of four city staff offered, included no distance or quantity stipulation.

Afterward, when asked why she voted to approve a distance-free proposal, Jensen said she had done so by mistake. Had Jensen voted no, as she intended, the final total would have been 5-5. The motion would not have passed.

“Actually, I got confused,” Jensen said. “I just realized it when I was sitting here, and I went, ‘Oh …’”

Jensen’s main concern was regulation of so-called video-gambling cafes. Those establishments offer gambling but little in the way of food or drink. One such establishment already operates in Peoria, and another that’s been approved has yet to open.

In effect, what the council decided Tuesday isn’t conducive to new video-gambling cafes opening in Peoria. That’s fine with Jensen.

“I don’t have a problem with people that are legitimate restaurants and taverns having a video game,” she said. “I think we should have an ordinance prohibiting or limiting the cafes where the primary purpose is just to do video gambling, and they serve potato chips and soft drinks on the side.

“I think what passed is going to prohibit them from opening up right now.”

The 80 percent solution was part of each proposal. Others included a 1,500-foot separation between video-gambling establishments or a limit of five per each of the five council districts. A fourth proposal included both requirements.

The approved proposal is similar to one state Sen. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, has proposed in the Illinois General Assembly.

Mayor Jim Ardis joined Jensen in the affirmative. So did councilors Casey Johnson, Jim Montelongo, Ryan Spain and Eric Turner. Beth Akeson, Chuck Grayeb, Denise Moore and Chuck Weaver voted no. Tim Riggenbach was out of town on business.

A moratorium on video-gambling cafes in Peoria had been in effect. Akeson favored its continuation and is concerned about verification of sales figures under the new plan.

“This might make everyone feel OK, but I don’t know if it is actually going to achieve the limiting scope we’re looking for,” she said.

In other business during a 90-minute meeting — the shortest in recent or not-so-recent memory — the council:

• Approved land-use changes that allow Methodist College to establish its new campus at the site of the former American TV & Appliance building, 5801 W. War Memorial Drive.

• Approved land-use changes that allow RLI Corp. to expand its North Peoria campus.

• Approved for liquor sales the site of the new location of John S. Rhodell Brewery, 100 Walnut St. The brewery, which had been located along Water Street, is to reopen in June.

Nick Vlahos can be reached at 686-3285 or nvlahos@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @VlahosNick.