Common Council Regular Session

Bloomington Common Council-Regular Session Minutes Bloomington City Hall, 401 N. Morton Street, Bloomington, Indiana Wednesday, September 03, 2025, 6:30pm CALL TO ORDER [6:33pm] Council President Hopi Stosberg called the meeting to order. 1. ROLL CALL (*Indicates participation via Zoom) [6:33pm] 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 (absent) District 2 Andy Ruff At-Large Hopi Stosberg District 3, Council President Sydney Zulich (absent) District 6 City staff, officials, and guests present: Nicole Bolden City Clerk Lisa Lehner Council Attorney Kari Bennett Deputy Council Attorney Christine Chang Temporary Council Researcher Jessica McClellan City Controller Anna Holmes Legal, Senior Assistant City Attorney Carrie Albright Environmental Commission Joanna Sparks Parks Department, Urban Greenspaces Manager Rachael Johnson Planning and Transportation, Senior Environmental Planner 2. AGENDA SUMMATION [6:34pm] Stosberg spoke about Labor Day which was established by an act of congress in 1894 after massive worker riots led to better wages, improved working conditions, and reasonable work hours. She recognized the passing of Pat Williams, former City Clerk, that morning. She then summarized the agenda. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES [6:38pm] Daily moved and Asare seconded to approve the minutes of February 05, 2025, April 16, 2025, and July 16, 2025. The motion received a roll call vote of Ayes: 7, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. 4. REPORTS [6:40pm] 4.1. Councilmembers: Piedmont-Smith reported on a recent court ruling against the president’s use of the National Guard and active duty military in United States’ cities because that violated Posse Comitatus. The action was unconstitutional and she hoped that city mayors and state governors would speak out against it. Daily expressed her condolences on the passing of Pat Williams. Stosberg spoke against mid-decade changes to voting maps in order to shift the balance of elections. There were many resources to use to draw equitable maps but there were some clinging to power, including Indiana. She gave details on Indiana’s district maps and statistics on voting.  Meeting Date: September 03, 2025 4.2. Mayor and City Offices: Justin Vasel, Chair, Commission on Sustainability, discussed the 2024 Annual Report, COS, its mission, and $7000 in grants for sustainability projects funded by the Economic and Sustainable Development department. He noted initiatives and priorities to improve the COS’s effectiveness, and sustainability generally. He encouraged council to work with COS on legislation for sustainability and resilience. He thanked Shawn Miya, staff liaison, and Jolie Perry, Sustainability Program Coordinator, for being great resources. Ruff asked about collaboration with Indiana University (IU) and Vasel said one commissioner was from the IU Office of Sustainability. Piedmont-Smith asked about expanding the TerraCycle specialized recycling boxes to other neighborhoods. Vasel stated that was one of the goals. There was additional discussion. 4.3. Council Committees: There were no council committee reports. 4.4. Public: Matthew Austin spoke about the Taste of Bloomington food waste pilot program and gave details. John Linnemeier spoke about the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and against a fourplex. Mark Haggerty commented on the composition of council, candidates without opponents, the loss of democracy in the city, and against snipers aiming at pro-Palestine protests. 5. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS [7:17pm] On behalf of Interview Committee Team C, Rollo moved, and Asare seconded to appoint Maria Puscama to seat C-4 on the Commission on Hispanic and Latine Affairs. The motion received a roll call vote of Ayes: 7, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. 6. LEGISLATION FOR FIRST READING [7:20pm] 6.1. Ordinance 2025-33 To Establish the Fiber Connectivity Fund For Digital Opportunity Initiatives Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Ordinance 2025-33 be introduced and read by title and synopsis only. The motion received a roll call vote of Ayes: 7, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. Clerk Nicole Bolden read the legislation by title and synopsis. 6.2. Ordinance 2025-34 To Establish a Fund For the Proceeds Of the Surety Bond Secured For Work on Fiber Optics Network For the City Of Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Ordinance 2025-34 be introduced and read by title and synopsis only. The motion received a roll call vote of Ayes: 7, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. Bolden read the legislation by title and synopsis. Stosberg noted the ordinances would have a second reading on September 17, 2025. 7. LEGISLATION FOR SECOND READING AND RESOLUTIONS [7:23pm] 7.1. Resolution 2025-13 To Establish the Affordable Housing PILOT Fund of the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana 2 Meeting Date: September 03, 2025 Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Resolution 2025-13 be introduced and read by title and synopsis only. The motion received a roll call vote of Ayes: 7, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. Bolden read the legislation by title and synopsis. Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded to adopt Resolution 2025-13. Jessica McClellan, Controller, said the legislation would establish a fund to hold receipts from the four payment in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) affordable housing apartment complexes, as required by state code. They were Cambridge Apartments, Henderson Court, Country View, and Evergreen Village. She gave details on payments made, forthcoming funds, and appropriation of the funds based on allowed uses. It was unclear if the payments already made had been used or not, since they had been in the General Fund. The total amount would be put into the new fund, from the General Fund. Council’s role in the process, and whether the funds could be used in the county, was discussed. McClellan said the funds had limited allowed uses, and the goal was to narrow the uses to within the city, though state code did not require the funds be limited to the city. Anna Holmes, Senior Assistant City Attorney, explained that the funds were under the city’s purview and could be limited to the city. There was additional discussion on the resolution establishing a fund, council’s deliberation on the appropriation of the funds, the timeline, and reporting on the funds. Kevin Keough commented on complying with state and federal funds, audits, reports, and noncompliance. Flaherty said the funds should be used for income diversity in neighborhoods and to subsidize housing costs for individuals, in an unaffordable market. The city could choose policies that focused on that. Stosberg asked about not having established a fund for the original PILOTs; McClellan said there was nothing in code about consequences. Stosberg reiterated her concern that the funds to be used in the city only. The motion to adopt Resolution 2025-13 received a roll call vote of Ayes: 7, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. 7.2. Resolution 2025-14 A Resolution of the Common Council of Bloomington, Indiana Designating Bloomington as a BEE CITY USA® affiliate. Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded that Resolution 2025-14 be introduced and read by title and synopsis only. The motion received a roll call vote of Ayes: 6, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0 (Rollo out of the room). Bolden read the legislation by title and synopsis. Daily moved and Piedmont-Smith seconded to adopt Resolution 2025-14. Carrie Albright, Chair, Environmental Commission (EC), presented the BEE CITY USA (BCU) program and the legislation. Climate change and human practices were endangering pollinators and 35% of native bee species were at risk. Bloomington had taken steps to protect pollinators and would continue to do so. Hosting pollinator events and outreach activities and maintaining signage provided by BCU, and annual reporting was required. There would be an annual fee of $400 to be paid from the EC’s budget. Benefits of the designation included access to materials for outreach, online workshops and trainings, and access to Xerces Society pollinator conservation and pesticide reduction staff. Asare asked about specific outcomes. Joanna Sparks, Urban Greenspace Manager, said the city was already doing outreach and events. A committee would be formed, too. Rollo asked if other insects were included and Albright said yes. Sparks added that all pollinators would be included and listed examples. Ruff asked for about pesticide reduction, and Sparks said it was not required for the certification, but, the Parks and Recreation’s Integrated Pest Management Plan required the city to minimize the use of pesticide and to use it carefully. Stosberg asked for more information on the committee. Rachel Johnson, Senior Environmental Planner, Planning and Transportation, said it was required by the Xerces Society and there would be qualifications for members, and public meetings. There were no conflicts with other certifications like Tree City or Bird City and the goal was to work together for an improved environmental space. The Environmental Resources Advisory Council, the Sassafras Audubon Society, and Monroe County Parks 3  Meeting Date: September 03, 2025 department had worked on the Bird City certification. It was important to not overload one group with work so the new committee would be focused on the BEE CITY certification. There was discussion on the state of pollinators in the city and the city’s focus on removing invasive species, increasing native species, and reducing habitat loss due to development and human activity. Stosberg asked about involving residents and Albright said awareness and outreach were core components of the certification. There was no public comment. Rollo appreciated Sparks’ work and urged the public to use native species. Insects were the basis of the food chain, and they were in decline. Bees were an indicator species. Asare, Piedmont-Smith, and Daily thanked those who worked on the certification. Stosberg spoke about monarch butterflies in her neighborhood, and perhaps tracking the number of residents who have converted their yards to native species for pollinators. Sparks noted a neighborhood pollinator garden in Park Ridge East partly funded by the Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) department grant. Four and half acres of invasive plant species were removed. She gave details about volunteering and training there. Ruff asked about the impacts of deer on places like the neighborhood pollinator garden, and Sparks said there was a six-foot fence there. The motion to adopt Resolution 2025-14 received a roll call vote of Ayes: 7, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0. 8. ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT [8:25pm] Christopher Emge, Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, thanked council and the administration for their work on the 2026 budget. He provided some suggestions. 9. COUNCIL SCHEDULE [8:27pm] Stosberg mentioned the deliberation session on housing with Planning staff. Piedmont-Smith noted the Committee on Council Processes meeting on September 08, 2025 at 12:15pm. 10. ADJOURMENT [8:30pm] Stosberg adjourned the meeting. APPROVED by the Common Council of the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana, upon this 14 _______ day of January __________________________________________, 2026. APPROVE: ATTEST: ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Isak Nti Asare, 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 4