Bloomington Common Council Regular Session – September 18, 2025

Note: The meeting was called to order on September 17, 2025, but the official date for this summary is September 18, 2025, as provided. The session covered agenda amendments, approval of minutes, multiple reports, public comment, and legislative actions including first readings, second readings, and resolutions related to fiber optics, water utility bonds, a housing authority update, and an EPA endangerment finding letter.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The council approved the minutes from February 19, 2025 (with a minor grammatical revision) by a unanimous roll call vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• First Public Comment Period (Items Not on Agenda):

  • A resident expressed opposition to the construction of a fourplex in his neighborhood, requesting an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to allow neighborhood residents to vote on such projects. He urged council members to consider a vote on this measure.
  • A representative from Exodus Refugee Immigration (Community Engagement Coordinator) thanked Councilmember Zulik and the Bloomington Police Department for their support. She requested that the city budget include a contracted language interpretation service for first responders and city departments, noting that Exodus clients speak over 20 languages and that such a service would ensure equitable access to city resources. She offered free training to city departments on how to use phone interpretation services.

• Second Public Comment Period (on specific legislation):

  • On Ordinance 2025-34 (surety bond fund): A commenter asked about the city’s total exposure from the subcontractor’s failure and whether the main contractor (Meridium/M Street Fiber) is liable for damages and fines. He expressed confusion about who is ultimately responsible and requested clarification.
  • On Ordinance 2025-33 (fiber connectivity fund): A commenter expressed confusion about the overall fiber project status, noting the master agreement may not be in compliance, and questioned whether citizens are getting good value. He requested an assessment of the project’s progress and quality.

Discussion Items

• Council Member Reports:

  • Councilmember Daly encouraged applications for boards and commissions, noting that previous applicants who were not appointed should reapply.
  • Councilmember Piedmont Smith introduced a letter for council to sign opposing the EPA’s reconsideration of the 2009 endangerment finding for greenhouse gases. She explained that a repeal would remove the legal basis for climate pollution regulations, increase air pollution, and accelerate climate change impacts. The letter, from the Public Rights Project, argues that local governments rely on EPA regulation and that the proposed rule fails to consider harms to communities. After a brief discussion, the council voted unanimously to adopt the letter.
  • Councilmember Rallo condemned political violence, referencing the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and urged that political differences be settled through civil debate, not violence.
  • Councilmember Sari (Rosenbarger?) added that school shootings also have no place in society and noted that there has been a greater reaction to one person than to hundreds of school children shot over the past 25 years.
  • Councilmember Sari (likely the same person) also reported on the Plan Commission’s September 8 meeting, where they voted 7-1 to forward a positive recommendation on changing residential rooming house use to single room occupancy, with updated definitions. The council will take it up after budget discussions, likely late October/early November. He also updated on the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) votes on the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), including constructing a sidewalk along the bypass between North Walnut and Kinzer, and reconstructing the pedestrian bridge over the bypass near Arlington, with majority funding in 2029.
  • Councilmember Sari also announced a constituent meeting on Sunday, September 21, at 1:30 PM on Zoom.

• Report from the Bloomington Housing Authority (BHA):

  • Executive Director Nathan Ferreira presented an overview of BHA operations. Key points:
    • BHA has completed its second Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) conversion, meaning there is no longer traditional public housing. All units (Walnut Woods, Reverend Butler, Crestmont) are now under low-income housing tax credit deals with investor oversight.
    • BHA serves over 1,700 households (about 3,400 individuals) through Section 8 vouchers, with long waiting lists. Residents pay no more than 30% of income toward rent. Waitlist closed in April 2025 with 1,764 weights for housing choice vouchers.
    • Voucher utilization is at 68%, down from 70%, attributed to the pause of the Landlord Risk Mitigation program (funded by ARPA, now being replaced by the city). The program is expected to resume.
    • BHA is expanding resident services: Family Self-Sufficiency (80 participants), Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROS) program, grocery shuttle (in partnership with health department), eviction prevention, and a digital equity program.
    • Nonprofit Summit Hill CDC is developing: Core Community Flats (38 units, including 9 permanent supportive housing, on track for summer 2026); Chandler Early Learning Center (28 infant/toddler seats and 3 affordable apartments, named after Rev. Marvin Chandler); and a Community Land Trust with 9 homes, seeking new properties (including a four-plex pilot and a partnership with Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard for a food-oriented development).
    • BHA is exploring essential function bonds for workforce housing (up to 120% AMI) and a potential 185 additional units via another RAD/Faircloth deal.
    • Revenue for next year includes $936,000 in city grants (mostly ARPA), with ARPA funds expected to be spent down by 2026.
    • Ferreira stressed that land contributions are critical for affordable housing development and requested the city consider freeing up land for such projects.
    • Councilmembers asked about the Landlord Risk Mitigation fund size ($200,000 requested), the breakdown of grants, and ideas for land acquisition. Ferreira suggested the city could donate land or partner to purchase land.

• Legislation – First Readings:

  • Ordinance 2025-35: Amends Title 9 (Water Rate Adjustment) to reflect increased costs and debt service payments.
  • Ordinance 2025-36: Authorizes up to $71 million in waterworks revenue bonds for capital improvements at Monroe Water Treatment Plant, distribution system, and a new service center.
  • Appropriation Ordinance 2025-08: Transfers funds from general fund to fiber connectivity fund for ITS department per the master development agreement with Meridium/M Street Fiber.
  • Appropriation Ordinance 2025-09: Appropriates general fund expenditures for ITS, engineering (reimbursed by IU), and a transfer in the clerk’s office.
  • All four ordinances were introduced by roll call votes and will be heard for second reading on September 30, 2025 (Tuesday, due to Yom Kippur).

• Legislation – Second Readings and Resolutions:

  • Ordinance 2025-34 (Surety Bond Fund): Established a non-reverting fund to hold $1 million received from a surety bond for damages caused by subcontractor AEG’s work on the fiber optics network. Corporation Counsel Margie Rice explained that the city received the bond payment on July 8, 2025, after filing a notice. The fund will be used for city costs related to the damages; appropriations will be requested later. Councilmembers discussed the scope of allowable uses (“any other lawful purpose”), the potential for over $7 million in fines, and the role of the new contractor (M Street Fiber) in fixing right-of-way issues. The ordinance passed unanimously.
  • Resolution 2025-16 (Food & Beverage Tax Advisory Commission): Requested the Food and Beverage Tax Advisory Commission (FABTAC) to recommend expenditures for the Capital Improvement Board’s (CIB) 2026 budget. Treasurer Jeff McKim presented, noting that the CIB budget is funded by the food and beverage tax and requires this statutory procedure. The resolution passed 8-1 (Councilmember Rosenbarger voted no).
  • Resolution 2025-15 (Council Liaison Expectations): Codified expectations for council members serving as liaisons to boards and commissions. Sponsored by Councilmember Zulik, it assigns each interview committee member to be a liaison to 2-3 boards, requiring at least one meeting per year and three check-ins. Councilmembers discussed implementation, accountability, and the timing of feedback. The resolution passed unanimously.
  • Ordinance 2025-33 (Fiber Connectivity Fund for Digital Opportunity): Established a non-reverting fiber connectivity fund (amended to explicitly state “non-reverting”) to support broadband access for income-qualifying residents. The fund will be seeded with $1 million over four years ($250,000 annually from the general fund). Controller McClellan and ITS Director Dietz explained that the city will match up to $350 per connection, with M Street Fiber covering costs above $700. The ordinance passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Votes:
  • Minutes approved unanimously.
  • Letter opposing EPA endangerment finding repeal adopted unanimously.
  • Ordinance 2025-34 (surety bond fund) adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution 2025-16 (FABTAC request) adopted 8-1.
  • Resolution 2025-15 (liaison expectations) adopted unanimously.
  • Ordinance 2025-33 (fiber connectivity fund) adopted unanimously after amendment.
• Next Steps:
  • The four first-reading ordinances will have second readings and public hearings on September 30, 2025.
  • The city will return to request appropriations from the surety bond fund and the fiber connectivity fund.
  • The BHA will continue to seek land and funding for affordable housing; the city will consider ways to free up land.
  • The fiber optics construction is expected to resume in the coming weeks, with completion anticipated by late 2026.
  • The council scheduled a special budget session on September 24, 2025, and noted the next regular session on September 30, 2025 (Tuesday).