Common Council Regular Session

Bloomington Common Council-Regular Session Minutes Bloomington Council Chambers, City Hall, 401 N. Morton Street, Bloomington, Indiana Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 6:30pm 1. CALL TO ORDER Council President Stosberg called the meeting to order. 2. ROLL CALL (*Indicates participation via Zoom) [6:31pm] Councilmembers present: Isak Nti Asare 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 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 Lisa Lehner Council Attorney Ash Kulak Deputy Council Attorney Taylor Brown Assistant City Attorney Jessica McClellan City Controller James Sanders Commission on the Status of Black Males Erin Reynolds Commission on the Status of Children and Youth Andrew Shannon Community and Family Resources, Safe & Civil City Director 3. AGENDA SUMMATION [6:31pm] Stosberg discussed the historical importance of Margaret McCullough, Indiana’s first female school superintendent in Bloomington, serving schools from 1874-1889. She then summarized the agenda. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES [6:33pm] Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded to approve the minutes from January 08, 2025, January 15, 2025, February 12, 2025, April 03, 2025, and April 09, 2025. The motion was approved by voice vote. 5. REPORTS [6:35pm] 5.1. Councilmembers: Ruff spoke about his time at the Margaret McCullough School and noted the building had been acquired by Indiana University and turned into a gallery. Rollo announced his and Ruff’s upcoming constituent meeting. He commented on the first Earth Day and the city’s Earth Day events. He discussed the loss of wildlife around the world and how people could help. Piedmont-Smith highlighted the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for filing a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s agenda to allow the United States’ Department of Education’s attempts to prohibit lawful efforts to ensure that Black students were afforded equal educational opportunities.  Meeting Date: April 16, 2025 Rosenbarger noted an upcoming expiration to a seat on the Bloomington Transit Corporation and encouraged the public to apply. Zulich reported from the Capital Improvement Board (CIB) meeting that day where bonds were sold. Daily spoke about social services organizations which faced a decrease in funding. She discussed All-Options and the diaper and period programs, and more. Stosberg discussed invasive species and Monroe County Identify and Reduce Invasive Species (MCIRIS), a local organization helping to remove invasive species. She noted her upcoming constituent meeting and reported from the Metropolitan Planning Organization. 5.2. Mayor and City Offices: James Sanders gave the annual report of the Commission on the Status of Black Males. He discussed the commission’s charge and focus, a recap of 2024, and 2025 goals. Erin Reynolds-Nylund gave the annual report of the Commission on the Status of Children and Youth. She gave an overview of the commission and its purpose, key achievements and impacts, challenges and resolutions, and goals for 2025. Stosberg extended the time for reports for five minutes with no objection from the council. Andrew Shannon, Safe & Civil City Director, Community and Family Resources department gave summary comments for both commissions. 5.3. Council Committees: There were no council committee reports. 5.4. Public: There was no public comment. 6. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS [7:26pm] On behalf of Interview Committee Team C, Zulich moved and Asare seconded to recommend the reappointment of Tatiana Peters to seat C-4 on the Commission on the Status of Children and Youth. The motion was approved by voice vote. 7. LEGISLATION FOR FIRST READING [7:27pm] 7.1. Ordinance 2025-16 To Vacate Public Parcel Re: A 20-Foot Wide Alley Segment Located in the Southern Half of the Alley Between West 10th Street and West Maker Way (The Mill, Petitioner; City of Bloomington Redevelopment Commission, Owner) Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Ordinance 2025-16 be introduced and read by title and synopsis only. The motion was approved by voice vote. Clerk Nicole Bolden read the legislation by title and synopsis. 2 Meeting Date: April 16, 2025 7.2. Ordinance 2025-17 An Ordinance to Amend Ordinance 2024-19 That Fixed the Salaries of Officers and Employees of the Police and Fire Departments for the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana for the Year 2025 Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Ordinance 2025-17 be introduced and read by title and synopsis only. The motion was approved by voice vote. Bolden read the legislation by title and synopsis. 7.3. Ordinance 2025-18 An Ordinance to Amend Ordinance 2024-20 That Fixed the Salaries of Appointed Officers, Non-Union, and A.F.S.C.M.E Employees for All the Departments of the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana for the Year 2025 Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Ordinance 2025-18 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 Ordinance 2025-16, Ordinance 2025-17, and Ordinance 2025-18 for a second reading at the Regular Session scheduled for May 07, 2025, noting that the meeting would also serve as the public hearing for Ordinance 2025-16. 8. LEGISLATION FOR SECOND READING AND RESOLUTIONS [7:29pm] 8.1. Resolution 2025-07 To Approve an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement Between the City of Bloomington, Indiana and the Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Resolution 2025-07 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 that Resolution 2025-07 be adopted. Taylor Brown, Assistant City Attorney, presented the legislation and highlighted an auto-renewal clause. There was council discussion on state code and interlocal agreements, and a standard annual increase of 3% for Information Technology Services (ITS) fees and corresponding services. The next step for the interlocal was for it to go before the Public Transit Corporation Board. The motion to adopt Resolution 2025-07 received a roll call vote of Ayes: 9, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. 8.2. Resolution 2025-08 To Approve Recommendations for Distribution of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds for 2025 Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Resolution 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. Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Resolution 2025-08 be adopted. Matt Swinney, Program Manager and CDBG Project Manager, Housing and Neighborhood Development department, presented the legislation. He described the CDBG program and its purpose. The program was funded under the United Stated Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He discussed the recommended allocation of CDBG funds, eligibility, requirements, funding categories and processes, and summarized recent projects. He then presented CDBG impacts in the city. There was discussion on how to better collaborate social services funding while not violating federal regulations. There was additional discussion on the recommended allocations, projects, potential impacts resulting from changes by the federal administration, and prioritizing social services funding. 3  Meeting Date: April 16, 2025 The motion to adopt Resolution 2025-08 received a roll call vote of Ayes: 9, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. 8.3. Appropriation Ordinance 2025-04 To Transfer from the General Fund to Various Departments within the General Fund, and to the Economic Development Local Income Tax Fund, the Park & Recreation General Fund, the Parking Meter Fund, the Parking Facilities Fund, the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund, the Alternative Transportation Fund, the Fleet Maintenance Fund and the Sanitation Fund Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Appropriation Ordinance 2025-04 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 that Appropriation Ordinance 2025-04 be adopted. Jessica McClellan, Controller, presented the legislation and provided details on allocating funds to department budget’s personnel line item. There was discussion on future appropriation ordinances and usage of overtime in the Sanitation department. The funds would be used exclusively for salaries and benefits. The appropriation ordinance was net neutral, did not request additional cash, and simply moved budgeted spending. Stosberg noted that the public comment period qualified as the public hearing. There was no public comment. The motion to adopt Appropriation Ordinance 2025-04 received a roll call vote of Ayes: 9, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. 8.4. Appropriation Ordinance 2025-05 To Amend and Transfer Appropriations in the Alternative Transportation Fund, Cumulative Capital Development Fund and Park and Recreation General Fund for Expenditures Not Otherwise Appropriated Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Appropriation 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 that Appropriation Ordinance 2025-05 be adopted. McClellan presented the legislation and highlighted what the transferred funds would be used for. The Parks department was able to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds instead of the General Fund funds which could then be used for other things like maintenance and repairs. Tim Street, Director, Parks and Recreation, gave additional details on the planned maintenance and repairs. Stosberg noted that the public comment period qualified as the public hearing. There was no public comment. Councilmember Asare stated that during the previous fall’s discussion on the General Obligation (GO) bonds, it seemed that funds for those projects were not already in the budget, but in fact, were. Stosberg agreed. The discussion could have been clearer and needed improving. Flaherty clarified that the pertinent information had been included in the packet for the meeting when GO bonds were discussed the previous fall. The motion to adopt Appropriation Ordinance 2025-05 received a roll call vote of Ayes: 9, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. 4 Meeting Date: April 16, 2025 9. ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT [8:37pm] There was no public comment. 10. COUNCIL SCHEDULE [8:38pm] Stosberg reviewed the upcoming council schedule and recognized Deputy Attorney Ash Kulak on their last day of employment. She thanked Kulak for their hard work and contribution to the City Council. Councilmembers expressed their thanks to Kulak. 11. ADJOURMENT [8:41pm] Stosberg adjourned the meeting. APPROVED by the Common Council of the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana, upon this 03 _______ 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