Common Council Regular Session

In the Council Chambers of the Showers City Hall, Bloomington, COMMON COUNCIL Indiana on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 6:30pm, Council REGULAR SESSION President Isabel Piedmont-Smith presided over a Regular Session of January 17, 2024 the Common Council. Councilmembers present: Isak Nti Asare, Matt Flaherty, Isabel ROLL CALL [6:30pm] Piedmont-Smith, Shruti Rana, Dave Rollo, Kate Rosenbarger, Andrew (Andy) Ruff, Hopi Stosberg, Sydney Zulich Councilmembers present via Zoom: none Councilmembers absent: none Council President Isabel Piedmont-Smith gave a land and labor AGENDA SUMMATION [6:31pm] acknowledgment and summarized the agenda. Stosberg moved and Ruff seconded to suspend the rules to consider APPROVAL OF MINUTES [6:31pm] the minutes for approval. The motion received a roll call vote of Ayes: 9, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. March 8, 2023 (Regular Session) March 29, 2023 (Regular Session) Stosberg moved and Ruff seconded to approve the minutes of March April 4, 2023 (Regular Session) 8, 2023, March 29, 2023, April 4, 2023, and April 12, 2023. The April 12, 2023 (Regular Session) motion was approved by voice vote. Rana reported that she would be stepping down from the City REPORTS Council the following month due to her family's plan to relocate. She • COUNCIL MEMBERS thanked people for their support and best wishes. She noted the [6:35pm] one-year anniversary of the racially motivated attack on the Asian American student who was stabbed while riding a city bus, and let people know about the various community groups that were hosting events to address the impact of the attack. She thanked members of the community who spoke at the previous council meeting. Stosberg announced her upcoming constituent meeting. Rollo announced his upcoming constituent meeting that he planned to hold with Ruff in attendance. Rollo discussed the concept of concurrency as it related to city planning and growth. Ruff noted the recent passing of local artist, Brian Garvey. There were no reports from the Mayor or city offices. • The MAYOR AND CITY OFFICES There were no council committee reports. • COUNCIL COMMITTEES Daniel Olson, Jim Shelton (via Zoom), an unidentified member of the • PUBLIC [6:45pm] public, and Christopher Emge offered comments to the council. p. 2 Meeting Date: 01-17-2024 There were no appointments to boards or commissions. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS LEGISLATION FOR SECOND READING AND RESOLUTIONS [7:04pm] Stosberg moved and Ruff seconded that Resolution 2024-01 be Resolution 2024-01 - To Approv0 introduced and read by title and synopsis only. The motion was Recommendations of the Mayor approved by voice vote. Deputy Clerk Jennifer Crossley read the for Distribution of Community legislation by title and synopsis. Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds for 2024 Stosberg moved and Ruff seconded that Resolution 2024-01 be adopted. Anna Killion-Hanson, Interim Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND), highlighted key points on the recommendations for the distribution of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. She gave an overview of the program, the factors that determined the allocation, the review process, and a breakdown of the proposed funding. Zulich asked for clarification on how the estimate was calculated Council discussion: and how it could potentially change. Killion-Hanson explained that the final amount would be determined by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the funding agreements spelled out for the recipients how their funding would change if the final amount was more or less than the estimate. She noted that there had not been significant changes over the last several years. Stosberg asked about organizations that did not receive the funding requested and any trends related to who was chosen for funding. Killion-Hanson noted that she was new to the process, but that there were usually some organizations that did not receive funding. She said each applicant was scored and given allocations. Rosenbarger agreed that there were usually more requests than dollars available. She said that allocations were somewhat hit or miss, and planned to discuss allocation distribution with staff in the upcoming year. Rana asked for a restatement of the criteria for organizations to apply for funding. Matthew Swinney, HAND Program Manager of Housing and Construction Projects, gave an overview of the physical improvements side of the process. Flaherty asked about allocations across different categories, specifically the decision to cap amounts given for administration. Killion-Hanson thought it was set by HUD and said she would let the council know if she was incorrect. Resolution 2024-01 (cont'd)  Meeting Date: 01-17-2024 p. 3 Piedmont-Smith asked if the award amount from HUD was less than expected and asked for more clarification. Killion-Hanson explained the allocations were estimates, but they had to start the process before they had final numbers for several reasons. She noted that the exact dollar amount from HUD had not varied by more than 10% over the last ten years. Piedmont-Smith asked about the calculations and if reductions were required. Cody Toothman, HAND Program Manager, explained the scoring and funding method, and how they would decrease the funding if necessary. Zulich asked how organizations that re-applied for funding were evaluated for their use of funds. Killion-Hanson said she was not sure and would get back to the council. Stosberg asked how the allocation to the HAND department was different than a general government expense. Killion-Hanson said she did not know and that the numbers were set by HUD. She said she would do additional research and get back to the council the next day. Piedmont-Smith asked for the email to be sent to all of the councilmembers or just the council office. Public comment: There was no public comment. Council discussion: Piedmont-Smith asked why members of the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) were listed with their terms ending on August 31, 2024. Killion-Hanson said she was not sure and would get back to the council. Swinney said the date was meant to fall at the end of each funding year before the new process began for the following year. Rollo said that the committees had done good work. He noted that the overall funding for the CDBG program had decreased over the years but the number of applicants had increased. He said the city could anticipate a continued decrease or flatlining of funding and the next logical step would be to address the issue through the Jack Hopkins Social Service Fund. Flaherty agreed with Rollo overall and suggested combining the Jack Hopkins Social Services Funding Committee and the CDBG Citizens Advisory Committee for Social Services to better meet the need to have one process and more dollars available. Rosenbarger noted that she had worked on both committees and that the processes for applicants were difficult to navigate. She hoped software could be used to make things easier and have a more equitable application process. Vote to adopt Resolution 2024-01 [7:35pm] p. 4 Meeting Date: 01-17-2024 The motion to adopt Resolution 2024-01 received a roll call vote of Ayes: 9, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. LEGISLATION FOR FIRST READING [7:35pm] Stosberg moved and Ruff seconded that Appropriation Ordinance Appropriation Ordinance 2024-01 2024-01 be introduced and read by title and synopsis only. The - To Transfer Funds from the motion was approved by voice vote. Crossley read the legislation by Motor Vehicle Highway Restrict title and synopsis. Street Fund into the Motor Vehi_ __ Highway Fund and to Additionally Piedmont-Smith referred Appropriation Ordinance 2024-01 to Appropriate ARPA State and Local the Regular Session to meet on January 24, 2024. Fiscal Recovery Fund Expenditures Not Otherwise Appropriated for 2024 There was no public comment. ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT Stephen Lucas, Council Attorney, reviewed the council schedule. COUNCIL SCHEDULE [7:37pm] Piedmont-Smith reminded the council interview committees to collaborate with the clerk's office for filling board and commission vacancies. Piedmont-Smith adjourned the meeting. ADJOURNMENT [7:38pm] APPROVED by t~ mmon Council of the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana upon this 7 ~day of /--&h:2r UA-L/, 2024. I APPROVE: ATTEST: Isabel Piedmont-Smith, PRESIDENT Nicole Bolden, CLERK Bloomington Common Council City of Bloomington