Bloomington Common Council Regular Session - April 2, 2026

The Bloomington Common Council held a regular session on April 2, 2026, beginning at 7:07 p.m. The meeting included approval of minutes, reports from council members and commissions, extended public comment, and extensive deliberation on Ordinance 2026-06 (the Hopewell PUD). The council postponed final action on the PUD to the April 22, 2026 meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the December 17, 2025 regular session as resubmitted (unanimous).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Claudia Brink (resident) spoke in support of modular housing, citing 15% cost savings, year-round construction, compliance with Indiana code, stability (2x6 supports), a local builder who has built 96 modular homes, and environmental benefits.
• Joe Davis (530 S. Washington St.) complained that city employees removed his cooking firewood and composted leaves from his front yard during the Brighton Bloomington Project. He demanded return of materials or threatened criminal proceedings.
• Kevin Keogh (online) urged the council to ask external auditors about the 15-month delay in the FY2024 audit, including factors such as audit readiness, fee increases, and impacts on bondholders. He also raised concerns about a fully paid $95,000 contract with incomplete deliverables.
• Paul Russo criticized the city's lack of enforcement against distracted driving after a 10-year-old girl was struck by a driver running a stop sign while on a cell phone. He argued that traffic enforcement, not just engineering, is needed.
• Emily (Trailview resident, last name not given) spoke about the benefits of living in Trailview (affordable, safe, close-knit) and urged that Hopewell’s planning prioritize affordability for those who need it most.

Discussion Items

Report from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission

• James Sanders presented the 2025 annual report: the 32nd annual commemoration had over 200 attendees and raised over $9,000 in sponsorships, involving 16 community partners. Other accomplishments included a Black Inventors trivia game at 10 community events, 40 Days of Peace volunteer service, and Remembrance Day activities. Future plans include supporting the NAACP’s Freedom Schools Project, creating educational materials on King’s six principles, and a six-part community conversation series. Two commission seats are vacant; Sanders invited applications.

Committee on Council Processes

• Councilmember Pete Mosswith reported proposed standard procedures for discussion at first reading of legislation (following passage of Ordinance 2026-05). He also presented a proposal to require each piece of legislation to have a council member sponsor. After discussion, the council voted 8-1 (Rallo dissenting) to continue work on the sponsor requirement.

Hiring Committee

• Discussion on the job description for the Council Administrator/Attorney. HR Director Dr. Paychek clarified changes to the supporting memo but not the description. Councilmember Stousberg noted that “non-essential secondary” should read “secondary.” A motion to empower the hiring committee to make HR-recommended changes passed 9-0. A second motion authorized the committee to contract with external vendors for up to $50,000 and a maximum hourly rate of $400, also passing 9-0.

Hopewell PUD (Ordinance 2026-06)

• Mayor Kelly Thompson offered to hold multiple meetings throughout April to finalize details, urging the council not to vote that evening and targeting a final decision by the May 6 meeting.
• Council attorney Clark Kirkman (Clark Quinn) provided legal guidance on the council’s authority to impose reasonable conditions under IC 36-7-4-1512, distinguishing the Misty Woods case and noting that conditions must meet a “rational nexus” and “rough proportionality” standard.
• Assistant City Attorney Dana Kerr, representing the RDC, argued that changes to text, drawings, or exhibits that substantially alter the PUD constitute amendments and cannot be unilaterally imposed. He proposed that conditions altering the PUD be sent back to the RDC for approval.
• Reasonable Condition #4 (50% permanent affordability, with 15% at ≤90% AMI and 35% at ≤120% AMI) was discussed at length. Sponsors Councilmembers Rosenbarger and Stousberg defended it. Objections from the petitioner and public speakers (including Nate Ferrara, Chris Turnsey, Ben Barranco, John Zodie, John Fernandez) argued it could make the project financially infeasible or limit lender flexibility. The council did not vote on this condition but used it as a basis for further negotiation.
• Reasonable Condition #11 (narrowing lanes to 15 feet, with potential fire code exceptions) was debated. Fire Chief Roger Kerr stated that 20-foot clearance is required, but exceptions exist (e.g., sprinklers, 150-foot hose reach, mountable curbs). Councilmember Flarity proposed alternative designs. Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development Shawn Hittle defended the design team’s choices, stating that PUDs allow deviations from code. After public comments, the council concluded that further discussion was needed.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to continue work on council sponsor requirement passed 8-1 (Councilmember Rallo opposed).
• Motion to empower hiring committee to amend job description passed 9-0.
• Motion to authorize external counsel (up to $50,000, $400/hr) passed 9-0.
• Motion to remove Drew Heron from the Historic Preservation Commission passed 9-0.
• Motion to postpone Ordinance 2026-06 (Hopewell PUD) to the April 22, 2026 regular meeting passed (voice vote). The council will use its April 15 deliberation session to continue discussions.
• The council did not vote on any individual reasonable condition; they served as a basis for future negotiation.
• The meeting adjourned shortly after 10:35 p.m. after a final public comment period.