Common Council Regular Session

Bloomington Common Council-Regular Session Minutes Council Chambers, City Hall, 401 N. Morton Street, Bloomington, Indiana Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 6:30pm 1. CALL TO ORDER [6:30pm] Council President Stosberg called the meeting to order. 2. ROLL CALL (*Indicates participation via Zoom) [6:32pm] Councilmembers present: Isak Nti Asare At-Large Courtney Daily District 5, Council Parliamentarian Matt Flaherty (absent) At-Large Isabel Piedmont-Smith District 1, Council Vice President Dave Rollo District 4 Kate Rosenbarger (arrived 6:32pm) District 2 Andy Ruff (arrived 6:33pm) At-Large Hopi Stosberg District 3, Council President Sydney Zulich District 6 City staff, officials, and guests present: Nicole Bolden City Clerk Lisa Lehner Council Attorney Ash Kulak Deputy Council Attorney Jennifer Crossley Deputy Clerk of Communications and Outreach 3. AGENDA SUMMATION [6:33pm] Piedmont-Smith noted that it was Japanese American Day of Remembrance and gave a brief historical overview of the Japanese concentration camps. She said that President Donald Trump was intending to revive the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 which was the law that paved the way for Japanese-Americans incarceration during World War II. Stosberg summarized the agenda. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES [6:35pm] Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded to approve the minutes from October 01, 2024, and October 30, 2024. The motion was approved by voice vote. 5. REPORTS [6:36pm] 5.1. Councilmembers: Asare commented on upcoming payment in lieu projects that were for low income, Section 8 housing. The goal was to use the funds to improve the properties. There would also be upcoming legislation regarding the Trades District, and things like alley vacations and plats. Rollo discussed council’s role in traffic and street modifications which were under the purview of the city engineer. He spoke about the closure of Kirkwood Avenue. Piedmont-Smith spoke about Resolution 2024-25 which instructed that the Plan Commission revise the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to add single room occupancy as a residential use. It was adopted on November 20, 2024 with a ninety day timeline, however, Planning and Transportation staff had advised that it was cost effective to combine that public notice with other notices for amendments to the UDO.  Meeting Date: February 19, 2025 Piedmont-Smith moved and Asare seconded that council grant an extension of time allowing another ninety days so that the Plan Commission should submit to the council within ninety days of today. The motion was approved by voice vote. Piedmont-Smith expressed disdain for President Trump for destroying the United States democratic republic and betraying allies around the world by violating the constitution. He was usurping powers held by the legislative branch, and Piedmont-Smith gave various examples. She urged everyone to continue to speak up and speak out. Stosberg summarized a revised job description for the Council Attorney which needed to be approved. Stosberg moved and Daily seconded to approve the job description for the Council Administrator/Attorney as presented in the packet. There was council discussion on drafting a letter describing priorities for the Council Attorney and benefits of having a discussion on council’s expectations for that position. Clerk Nicole Bolden noted a potential issue with granting the council attorney and council president the authority, in conjunction with HR, to discipline and terminate employees. That was a significant change. Council could use executive sessions to discuss personnel issues. There was additional discussion on possible actions. Stosberg extended the time for reports until 7:10pm with no objections from the council. The motion to approve the job description for the Council Administrator/Attorney as presented in the packet was approved by voice vote. Stosberg reported from the Plan Commission and noted that the plan for the Monroe County Convention Center passed. There was discussion on updates to the Unified Development Ordinance. Anna Killion- Hanson, Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development department had given a presentation. There would be legal research done on the authorities given to council and the city engineer for Title 15 changes. 5.2. Mayor and City Offices: Jessica McClellan, City Controller, reported on the Community Revitalization Enhancement District (CRED) funds. She gave a brief history and stated that $9.8 million was spent by Economic and Sustainable Development department, Engineering, Planning, Street, and Parking. The remaining balance was $7.5 million, in the General Fund, and could be used for any legal reason within the city. There was discussion on how to spend that remaining balance, the original purpose of the CRED, and its history. 5.3. Council Committees: There were no council committee reports. 5.4. Public: Steve Volan commented on CRED and highlighted its history, council districts, and uses such as a downtown public transit circulator. Greg Alexander spoke about bicycle and pedestrian safety and concerns, and vehicles not obeying traffic laws which was dangerous to bicyclists. 6. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS [6:57pm] 6.1. Zulich moved and Stosberg seconded to make appoint Nicole Browne to seat C-1 on Fire Merit Commission. She summarized the state legislation that created the Fire Merit Commission and Police Merit 2 Meeting Date: February 19, 2025 Commission and noted that the Police Department opted not to have a merit commission. The motion was approved by voice vote. 6.2. Zulich moved and Rollo seconded to reappoint Tara Dunderdale to seat C-1 and Justin Vasel to seat C-2 on the Commission on Sustainability. The motion was approved by voice vote. 6.3. Stosberg created the Fiscal Committee and for 2025, appointed Piedmont-Smith (Chair), Asare, Rollo, and Stosberg. 6.4. Stosberg noted the Budget Task Force that would work with the administration and included Asare and Zulich. Kulak clarified that if the Budget Task Force was created by the council president, then it fell under the requirements of the Open Door Law (ODL). There was discussion on previous task forces and their compliance with ODL. What the governing body did was what determined compliance with ODL. The purpose of the Budget Task Force was to reduce overhead and workload, like notices, for staff. Bolden reminded council that the clerk’s office handled public notices, memorandums, and attendance tracking. Additional discussion resulted in moving forward with the Budget Task Force. 7. LEGISLATION FOR FIRST READING [7:14pm] 7.1. Appropriation Ordinance 2025-02 To Additionally Appropriate From the Opioid Settlement Funds for the Downtown Outreach Grant Program Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Appropriation Ordinance 2025-02 be introduced and read by title and synopsis only. The motion was approved by voice vote. Bolden read the legislation by title and synopsis. Stosberg referred the legislation for a second reading at the March 05, 2025, meeting and noted that meeting would serve as the public hearing for the legislation. 7.2. Ordinance 2025-08 An Ordinance Re-establishing Cumulative Capital Development Fund Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Ordinance 2025-08 be introduced and read by title and synopsis only. The motion was approved by voice vote. Bolden read the legislation by title and synopsis. Stosberg referred the legislation for a second reading at the March 05, 2025, meeting. 8. LEGISLATION FOR SECOND READING AND RESOLUTIONS [7:16pm] 8.1. Ordinance 2025-05 To Amend the Following Titles of the Bloomington Municipal Code Regarding Resident Boards and Commissions: Title 2.12 “Boards, Commissions and Councils”, Title 2.19 “Housing and Neighborhood Development”, Title 2.23 “Community and Family Resources Department”, and Title 2.20 “Bloomington Board of Park Commissioners” Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Ordinance 2025-05 be introduced and read by title and synopsis only. The motion was approved by voice vote. Bolden read the legislation by title and synopsis. Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded to adopt Ordinance 2025-05. Piedmont-Smith presented the legislation and provided highlights of the proposed changes. Stosberg moved and Rollo seconded to adopt Amendment 01 to Ordinance 2025-05. Stosberg passed the gavel to Piedmont-Smith then gave details on Amendment 01. 3  Meeting Date: February 19, 2025 Amendment 01 Synopsis: This amendment, sponsored by Cm. Stosberg, would make additional minor changes to Title 2.12 and Title 2.23 governing several City commissions. The changes include grammatical corrections, updated references to the Bloomington/Monroe County Human Rights Commission, more simplified reporting requirements, clearer language, and a Monroe County residency requirement for Commissions on the status of children and youth and the status of women. Deputy Clerk Jennifer Crossley commented in support of Amendment 01. There was brief council discussion on residency requirements. The motion to adopt Amendment 01 to Ordinance 2025-05 received a roll call vote of Ayes: 8, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. Piedmont-Smith passed the gavel back to Stosberg. Asare moved and Zulich seconded to adopt Amendment 02 to Ordinance 2025-05. Asare presented Amendment 02. There was discussion on how to verify that an applicant’s primary place of employment was within the city limits or Monroe County. There was no public comment. There was discussion in favor of, and in opposition to, Amendment 02. Bolden noted that Amendment 02 proposed new duties to be under the purview of clerk staff, such as verifying employment, and reminded council to include her office in discussions pertaining to altering code or clerk staff duties. The motion received a roll call vote of Ayes: 3 (Daily, Zulich, Asare), Nays: 5 (Ruff, Rollo, Piedmont-Smith, Stosberg, Rosenbarger), Abstain: 0. FAILED Council discussed how the proposed changes were identified, and if the boards and commissions had been consulted. Piedmont-Smith clarified that staff liaisons had been consulted, who then consulted with the board or commission. She described specific examples. Christopher Emge, Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, spoke in favor of Ordinance 2025-05. Dr. Justin Vasel, Chair, Commission on Sustainability, appreciated the collaboration of the Council Committee on Council Processes with the commission. The commission supported the legislation. Steve Volan said boards and commissions should be consulted if there were proposed changes. He was grateful that Amendment 02 did not pass. Jami Scholl spoke about living in the county and the city and supported one or two seats for county residents. There were council comments on the proposed changes, the consulting of boards and commissions, and that more research was needed on whether or not to include county residents. It was noted that local students, including kindergarten through high school, used information from boards and commissions. The motion to adopt Ordinance 2025-05 as amended received a roll call vote of Ayes: 8, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. 8.2. Resolution 2025-02 To Update the Established Interview Standing Committees 4 Meeting Date: February 19, 2025 Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Resolution 2025-02 be introduced and read by title and synopsis only. The motion was approved by voice vote. Bolden read the legislation by title and synopsis. Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded to adopt Resolution 2025-02. Stosberg passed the gavel to Piedmont-Smith and then Stosberg summarized the legislation. There was no public comment. The motion received a roll call vote of Ayes: 8, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. 9. ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT [8:37pm] Christopher Emge commented on the Plan Commission, developments, and land use. 10. COUNCIL SCHEDULE [8:40pm] Stosberg reviewed the upcoming council schedule and potential changes that might arise. 11. ADJOURMENT [8:44pm] Stosberg adjourned the meeting. APPROVED by the Common Council of the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana, upon this 17 _______ day of September __________________________________________, 2025. APPROVE: ATTEST: ____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Hopi Stosberg, COUNCIL PRESIDENT City Clerk Nicole Bolden Clerk’s Note: The above minutes summarize 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 5