Common Council Committee/Deliberation Meeting

Bloomington Common Council-Deliberative Session Minutes Council Chambers, City Hall, 401 N. Morton Street, Bloomington, Indiana Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 6:30pm CALL TO ORDER [6:31pm] Council President Stosberg called the meeting to order. 1. ROLL CALL (* indicates participation via Zoom) [6:31pm] Councilmembers present: Isak Nti Asare (arrived at 6:51pm) At-Large Courtney Daily District 5, Council Parliamentarian Matt Flaherty At-Large Isabel Piedmont-Smith District 1, Council Vice President Dave Rollo District 4 Kate Rosenbarger (arrived at 6:51pm) District 2 Andy Ruff At-Large Hopi Stosberg District 3, Council President Sydney Zulich District 6 City staff, officials, and guests present: Nicole Bolden City Clerk Kari Bennett Deputy Administrator/Attorney Christine Chang Temporary Council Researcher Gretchen Knapp Deputy Mayor 2. AGENDA SUMMATION [6:32pm] Stosberg summarized the agenda. The council would discuss outcome-based budgeting and 2027 priorities. Topics included progress on outcome-based budgeting, outcomes in city plans, prioritizing outcomes, public comment, and next steps. 3. DISCUSSION OF OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING AND PRIORITIES FOR 2027 [6:33pm] Piedmont-Smith gave an overview of outcomes-based budgeting versus priority-based budgeting and city progress towards prioritizing outcomes. Councilmembers and Deputy Mayor Gretchen Knapp discussed categorizing outcomes, funding, and measuring success. Councilmembers discussed structural challenges, adding the environment as a new category, starting with the outcome rather than a specific program, and conscientious categorizing. Councilmembers discussed existing outcomes in each category including housing & homelessness, high-performing government, economic development, public safety, transportation and mobility, community health & vitality, and environment, and suggested other outcomes. For housing & homelessness, ideas mentioned included implementing clear and easy processes, preventative and wraparound services, rare and non-repeating homelessness, short-term versus long-term outcomes, walkable neighborhoods, and follow-through on preplanned projects. Under high-performing government, councilmembers discussed better collaboration between administration and council, structures to create plans and fund projects, better public engagement, maintaining city assets, and council/city clerk functions. For economic development, comments included living wage jobs, neighborhood hubs/public spaces, filling vacant spaces, renaming the category “economic health,” arts enhancement, and simplifying entrepreneurship. Councilmembers moved to public comment after this category. Christopher Emge commented on outcome-based budgeting. Kevin Keough commented on outcome-based budgeting. Councilmembers noted their top three outcomes for each category for future discussion. They discussed the need for processes for structuring/formalizing plans, holding future conversations, and better communication between council and mayor. Meeting Date: December 10, 2025 Stosberg stated there would be a special session called by the mayor regarding the Hopewell development on Monday, December 15th at 4pm. The last regular session of the year would be Wednesday, December 17th at 6:30pm. Piedmont-Smith said the Committee on Council Processes would meet Thursday, December 11th at 6pm. 4. ADJOURNMENT [8:37pm] Stosberg adjourned the meeting. 04 APPROVED by the Common Council of the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana, upon this ________ day of March __________________________________________, 2026. APPROVE: ATTEST: _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Isak Nti Asare, COUNCIL PRESIDENT City Clerk Nicole Bolden Clerk’s Note: The above memorandum summarizes the motions passed and issues discussed rather than providing a verbatim account of every word spoken. Bloomington City Council meetings can be watched on the following websites:  Community Action Television Services (CATS) – https://catvstv.net  YouTube – https://youtube.com/@citybloomington Background materials and packets are available at https://bloomington.in.gov/council 2