City of Bloomington City Council Met Feb. 8.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
This meeting was conducted under Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order 2020-07 Section 6, which was reissued and extended by Executive Order 2021-04, and implemented in response to COVID-19, which suspended in-person attendance under the Open Meeting Act, 5 ILCS 120.
The City Council convened in regular session virtually via Zoom conferencing with the City Manager, Tim Gleason, and City Clerk, Leslie Yocum, in-person in City Hall’s Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Mboka Mwilambwe.
Roll Call
| Attendee Name | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Tari Renner | Mayor | Absent | |
| Jamie Mathy | Ward 1 | Remote | |
| Donna Boelen | Ward 2 | Remote | |
| Mboka Mwilambwe | Ward 3 | Remote | |
| Julie Emig | Ward 4 | Remote | |
| Joni Painter | Ward 5 | Remote | |
| Jennifer Jazmin Carrillo | Ward 6 | Remote | |
| Mollie Ward | Ward 7 | Remote | |
| Jeff Crabill | Ward 8 | Remote | |
| Kim Bray | Ward 9 | Remote |
City Manager, Tim Gleason, provided an update on McLean County Health Department’s COVID-19 vaccination statistics and availability of the vaccine. He stated that the City had awarded $152,000 for the Residential Direct Aid program of the Community Development Block Grant COVID-19 (“CDBG-CV”) and he provided a status update on the applicants for the second round of CDBG Small Business COVID-19 Assistance Grants. Recognition/Appointments
A. Presentation of the City of Bloomington Police Department Police Officer's Commission Certificate to Officers Russell, Stone, Pippins, and Nelson, upon their completion of an eighteen-month probation
Interim Police Chief, Greg Scott, presented four Bloomington Police Officers who had completed their field training and provided a brief background of each: (1) Matthew Russell; (2) Adam Stone; (3) Jesse Pippins; and (4) Patrick Nelson. Leslie Yocum, City Clerk, then swore in each officer and Mayor Pro Tem Mwilambwe expressed his appreciation for each officer’s service and dedication to service.
Public Comment
Mayor Pro Tem Mwilambwe opened the meeting for public comment. Zachary Gittrich spoke live, and Trevin Gaffney was named as having emailed public comment.
Consent Agenda
Items listed on the Consent Agenda are approved with one motion; Items pulled by Council from the Consent Agenda for discussion are listed and voted on separately.
Council Member Bray made a motion, seconded by Council Member Crabill, that the Consent Agenda, including all items listed below, be approved as presented with the exception of Items 8.F and 8.L.
Mayor Pro Tem Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Mathy, Boelen, Mwilambwe, Emig, Painter, Carrillo, Ward, Crabill, Bray
Motion carried.
Item 8.A. Consideration and action to approve the Minutes of the January 11, 2021 Regular City Council Meeting, as requested by the City Clerk Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Minutes be approved.)
Item 8.B. Consideration and action to approve Bills and Payroll in the amount of $6,647,860.70, as requested by the Finance Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Bills and Payroll be approved.)
Item 8.C. Consideration and action to approve Appointment to the Housing Authority Board, as requested by the Administration Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Appointment be approved.)
Item 8.D. Consideration and action on an Intent to Award and an Agreement with Stark Excavating, Inc., for the Locust Street CSO Elimination and Water Main Replacement Phase 2, in the amount of $4,330,316, as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Intent to Award and Agreement be approved, upon concurrence from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.)
Item 8.E. Consideration and action on a Resolution Approving Loan Agreements with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency from the Water Pollution Control Loan Program and Public Water Supply Loan Program for the Construction of the Locust Street CSO Elimination and Water Main Replacement Phase 2, in the amount of $4,212,591, as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Resolution be approved.)
Item 8.F. was pulled from the Consent Agenda by Council Member Carrillo.
Item 8.G. Consideration and action on an Ordinance Amending the Budget Ordinance for the Fiscal Year ending April 30, 2021, to increase the Community Development budget by $74,765.20, as requested by the Economic & Community Development Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Ordinance be approved.)
Item 8.H. Consideration and action on an Ordinance Amending the Contract Between the City of Bloomington and the City Manager, as requested by the City Council. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Ordinance be approved.)
Item 8.I. Consideration and action on an Ordinance Amending the Budget Ordinance for the Fiscal Year ending April 30, 2021, to increase the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) budget by $546,029, as requested by the Economic & Community Development Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Ordinance be approved.)
Item 8.J. Consideration and action on an Ordinance Approving an Amendment to the Amended and Restated Lease Agreement with the Public Building Commission and McLean County, reducing the City’s rental payment for FY 2022 by $122,622, as requested by the City Clerk Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Ordinance be approved.)
Item 8.K. Consideration and action on an Ordinance Approving a Zoning Map Amendment for Property Located South of Southgate Drive and East of South Main Street, Approximately 7.31 Acres in the Southgate Commercial Plaza Subdivision, from B-2 Local Commercial District to C-1 Office District, as requested by the Economic & Community Development Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Ordinance be approved.)
Item 8.L. was pulled from the Consent Agenda by Council Member Carrillo.
Item 8.M. Consideration and action on a Liquor License Change of Ownership Application from PSM Shell, Inc., d/b/a PSM Shell, located at 2401 E. Oakland Ave., holding a Class GPBS (Gas Station, Package Sales, Beer and Wine Only, Sunday Sales) license, to Jay Sadhimaa Two, LLC, d/b/a Bloomington Shell, for the same license type, as requested by the City Clerk Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed License be approved contingent upon employees receiving BASSET certifications, a local manager being established, and upon compliance with all building, health, and safety, codes.)
Item 8.N. Consideration and action to approve a Lake Bloomington Lease Transfer and Supplemental Agreement for Lot 18 in Block 3 in Camp Kickapoo, from Anne Bliss, to the petitioners, Douglas C. and Tracey A. McCord, as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Lease Transfer and Supplemental Agreement be approved.)
Items Pulled from the Consent Agenda
The following item was pulled from the Consent Agenda by Council Member Carrillo:
Item 8.F. Consideration and action on an Ordinance Authorizing a Text Amendment to the Bloomington Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 44 of the City Code, to Establish the R-D Downtown Neighborhood Residence District, and Further Authorizing Map Amendments to the Official Zoning Map for Properties in the City of Bloomington, as requested by the Economic & Community Development Department.
Council Member Mathy recused himself as he was a resident of Dimmitt’s Grove. Council Member Carrillo thanked all who worked on the item.
Council Member Carrillo made a motion, seconded by Council Member Emig, to amend Table 4-2 of Exhibit B of the proposed Ordinance to allow group living, agency operated group homes, group living dormitories, and commercial boarding rooming houses with a Special Use Permit.
Mayor Pro Tem Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Boelen, Mwilambwe, Emig, Painter, Carrillo, Ward, Crabill, Bray
RECUSED: Mathy
Motion carried.
Council Member Carrillo made a motion, seconded by Council Member Emig, that the proposed Ordinance for the map amendment be approved as recommended by the Planning Commission and that the text amendment Exhibit B be approved as amended.
Mayor Pro Tem Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Boelen, Mwilambwe, Emig, Painter, Carrillo, Ward, Crabill, Bray
RECUSED: Mathy
Motion carried.
The following item was pulled from the Consent Agenda by Council Member Carrillo:
Item 8.L. Consideration and action on an Ordinance Amending Chapter 35 of the City Code to add Two Ex-Officio Youth Members to the Public Safety Commission Review Board, as requested by the Administration Department and the Police Department.
Council Member Carrillo read Trevin Gaffney’s emailed public comment and expressed interest in youth members being given voting privileges. She stated that she had received a number of concerns and suggested a closer review of the Public Safety and Community Relations Board (“PSCRB”) by-laws.
Council Member Carrillo made a motion, seconded by Council Member Mathy, to amend the proposed Ordinance to allow PSCRB Youth Board Members on the Board with the ability to vote.
Council Member Painter recognized Gary Moore, a Bloomington High School Senior, who initially proposed the inclusion of youth members on the PSCRB. She expressed her belief that the Ordinance should be approved as submitted by Mr. Moore and suggested that voting be considered separately in the future.
Council Member Boelen agreed with Council Member Painter.
Council Member Crabill asked for clarification on the differences of making the youth Members ex-officio verses full members with the ability to vote. Jeff Jurgens, Corporation Counsel, stated that the PSCRB had discussed giving voting rights to youth members, but had instead decided to submit the Ordinance to Council without voting rights included.
Council Member Ward expressed support in the current motion and provided examples of maturity for the 16 to 21-year-old age group.
Council Member Bray commented to the community engagement segment of the PSCRB meeting. She supported the Ordinance as submitted by the PSCRB and expressed interest in future considerations for allowing voting.
Council Member Emig supported the amendment and suggested that Council table the item to allow for additional input by the PSCRB and the original submitter.
Council Member Mathy expressed support of the amendment and echoed the sentiments of maturity level in the proposed age group for youth members.
Council Member Boelen expressed concern that the Board composition would need to be reviewed if additional members with the ability to vote were added.
Council Member Painter read the original submission from Gary Moore that requested the addition of youth members.
Council Member Ward asked for clarification on the PSCRB name as listed on the agenda.
Council Member Boelen clarified the name was Public Safety and Community Relations Board.
Mr. Jurgens explained that Michael Hurt, Chief Diversity Officer, stated that the PSCRB discussed non-voting privileges for youth members and reminded Council that the Board was created and designed by the Council.
Council Member Carrillo called the question.
Mayor Pro Tem Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Mathy, Mwilambwe, Emig, Painter, Carrillo, Ward, Crabill
NAYES: Boelen, Bray
Motion carried.
Council Member Boelen asked how the amended Ordinance would affect the Ordinance that determined the number of board members. Mr. Jurgens responded that Code language would be updated to reflect the amendment.
Council Member Carrillo made a motion, seconded by Council Member Ward, to approve the proposed Ordinance as amended.
Mayor Pro Tem Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Mathy, Boelen, Mwilambwe, Emig, Painter, Carrillo, Ward, Crabill, Bray
Motion carried.
Regular Agenda
The following item was presented:
Item 9.A. Consideration and potential action regarding Ordinance 2020-18, An Ordinance Declaring a Local Emergency Due to the COVID-19 Virus & Enacting Various Emergency Measures, as requested by the Legal Department.
No modifications were recommended.
City Manager's Discussion
City Manager Gleason highlighted the Curbside Farmer’s Market, which had replaced the Indoor Farmer's Market due to COVID-19. He recognized an upcoming Downtown event that celebrated female entrepreneurs and he informed the community that Bloomington had 50 female-owned businesses in the Downtown area. He then celebrated Michael Hurt, Chief Diversity Officer, for his completion of Certified Diversity Executive credentials. He went on to remind the community where to find the Budget 101 videos on the website and encouraged the community to learn about the budget process.
Mayor's Discussion
No Mayor's Discussion was had.
Council Member's Discussion
Council Member Mathy stated that Mayor Renner missed the meeting due to a personal emergency.
Council Member Crabill reminded the community to apply for the CDBG Residential and Small Business Grant programs.
Council Member Boelen highlighted the PATH Crisis Center and their continued efforts to place homeless individuals into motels due to the cold weather. She encouraged the community to support PATH if they were able.
Council Member Emig echoed comments on PATH and recognized the partnership between Dimmitt’s Grove Neighborhood and the City. She then commented on the benefits of group homes and support of a Special Use Permit for them. She encouraged the community to complete Connect Transit’s survey on the new transfer center location.
Council Member Bray recognized Saint Valentine’s Day and encouraged all to step into the role of ministry and service.
Executive Session - Cite Section
Mayor Pro Tem Mwilambwe made a motion, seconded by Council Member Boelen, to enter into Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining per Section 2(c)(2) of 5 ILCS 120 and Personnel per Section 2(c)(1) of 5 ILCS 120.
Mayor Pro Tem directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following: AYES: Mathy, Boelen, Mwilambwe, Emig, Painter, Carrillo, Ward, Crabill, Bray Motion carried.
Return to Open Session and Adjourn
Council Member Ward made a motion, seconded by Council Member Bray, to return to Open Session and adjourn the meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following: Motion carried (viva voce).
The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
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