The Bloomington Common Council held a regular session on Wednesday, September 3, 2026, beginning at approximately 6:30 PM and adjourning around 11:15 PM. The meeting included reports from council members and city offices, a presentation on a city branding project, committee reports, appointments, public comments, and readings of multiple ordinances and resolutions. Key actions included approval of a collective bargaining agreement with police and firefighters, passage of an ordinance to allow more flexible alcohol permits, and a first reading of a comprehensive zoning reform ordinance.
Hiring Committee Recommendation: Councilmember Daly moved to hire Jake Rossman as Council Administrator Attorney with a salary of $101,411 plus benefits. After discussion, an amendment was added making it contingent on HR background check and negotiated start date (target October 12, 2026). Motion passed unanimously (9-0). The hiring committee will be maintained for future tasks.
Public Safety Local Income Tax (PS LIT) Committee Report: Councilmember Piedmont Smith reported. The PSAP (central dispatch) budget for 2027 is $4,808,541. Current PSAP rate (0.0631%) would yield only about $3 million, leaving a large funding gap due to past reliance on reserves. The committee recommends increasing the PSAP rate to the maximum 0.1% and the total PS LIT rate from 0.25% to 0.2869%, keeping municipal revenues constant. Legislation will follow.
Appointments and Removals:
Ordinance 2026-20 (First Reading) – UDO Amendments to Improve Sustainability and Housing Affordability:
Resolution 2026-17 – Agreement with CJM for Public Safety Deliberation Sessions: Councilmember Piedmont Smith presented. CJM will facilitate sessions on September 9 and October 21, 2026. Funding from council's other services budget line. Passed unanimously (9-0).
Resolution 2026-15 – Four-Year Police CBA (Don Owens Memorial Lodge 88, FOP): Deputy Mayor Knapp summarized: 3% COLA each year; increased maximum longevity pay from $5,000 to $12,500 after 20 years; specialty pay adjustments; bereavement and comp time changes. Union voted 44-16 in favor. Department has 95 officers; 60 eligible voted. Passed unanimously (9-0).
Resolution 2026-16 – Two-Year Firefighters CBA (Local 586): Deputy Mayor Knapp summarized: 3% COLA each year; added logistics/training officer appointments; increased union time off; holiday pay from $100 to $300; new post-employment health care plan (PEHP) with city deposit of $150 quarterly per member plus voluntary vacation time conversion; retiree insurance subsidy of $5,000/year for up to 10 years. Union voted 88-13 out of 101 members. Passed unanimously (9-0).
Ordinance 2026-19 (First Reading) – Title II Amendment for Police Titles: Assistant City Attorney Edina Casmanian presented. Changes senior police officer to officer first class and previous officer first class to officer second class to align with new CBA. Fiscal impact of $450,000 in additional PERF contributions over the life of the CBA, already budgeted for 2027. Passed unanimously (9-0).
Ordinance 2026-18 (Alcohol Beverage Permits) – Final Discussion and Adoption: Councilmember Asari presented amendments to original draft. Amendment 1 (amended twice) moved several requirements (60% food sales, 50% local ownership, etc.) from minimum eligibility to general considerations, but after further amendment, the 50% local ownership requirement was reinstated. The requirement for restaurants (as defined by state code) was kept. Discussion included concerns about maintaining local ownership and food service emphasis. Ordinance passed 8-1 (Councilmember Stasberg voted no).
Of do we get one, two, three, four, five? Yeah, we have we have enough. Um this um uh regular session of the Bloomington Common Council. Um will the clerk please call the roll? Yeah. Councilmember Stasberg? Here. Oh sorry about that. Um Pete Mott Smith? Here. Zulik? Here. Asari. Yes, here. Daily? Here. Rallo? Here. Ruff. Rosenbarger. Here. And Flarity. Not yet. Okay. All right. Um the agenda should be posted there. Um the honorable clerk also prints out a handful if you need them. They're also posted online. Um we have a fairly packed agenda today. Um so after um we'll have a handful of minutes possibly for approval. I don't know. Um, and then we have reports um from council members um from city offices um and from council committees, and then we'll have a moment um for um uh public comment. Um we also have some appointments uh to boards and commissions and some other matters, and then we have uh one, two, three things for first reading and one, two, three, four things for second reading and resolutions, and then finally there'll be a second period um of public comment. I'm making one slight amendment um to to the agenda um is that uh Mayor Thompson is not going to be um speaking uh today. Um and so apologies uh for that. Um she just got tied up in something else and just set notice. So other are there any other amendments or or motions? I move to allow public comment after uh presentation from uh city offices. Second. There's a motion and a second, any discussion. Um can uh can we be more specific about uh uh time periods for that? Like is a public comment for a certain period of time or uh uh three minute public comment like uh yeah uh sorry I move to allow uh three minutes per speaker for public comment. Uh I think standard time just on the reports? Yes. Second. Okay, there's a motion and second, any further discussion? All right, will the clerk please call the roll? Councilmember Flarity? Yes. Stasberg?