City of Bloomington City Council met Aug. 23.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The City Council convened in regular session in-person in Government Center Chambers at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe.
Roll Call
| Attendee Name | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Mboka Mwilambwe | Mayor | Present | |
| Jamie Mathy | Council Member, Ward 1 | Present | |
| Donna Boelen | Council Member, Ward 2 | Present | |
| Sheila Montney | Council Member, Ward 3 | Present | |
| Julie Emig | Council Member, Ward 4 | Present | |
| Nick Becker | Council Member, Ward 5 | Present | |
| Jennifer Jazmin Carrillo | Council Member, Ward 6 | Present | |
| Mollie Ward | Council Member, Ward 7 | Present | |
| Jeff Crabill | Council Member, Ward 8 | Present | |
| Tom Crumpler | Council Member, Ward 9 | Present |
A. Recognition of Service
Mayor Mwilambwe recognized Council Member Jennifer Carrillo for her service on City Council and presented her with a commemorative plaque.
Public Comment
Mayor Mwilambwe read a statement of procedure for public comment and the following individuals spoke in-person: (1) Jenee Clark; (2) Kurt Hudson; (3) Bob Sampson; (4) Kathy Petty; (5) Matthew Toczko; and (6) Mary Kramp. Gary Donohue and Brandon Gray 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 Boelen 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 7.K., 7.I., and 7.J.
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Mathy, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Becker, Carrillo, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler Motion carried.
Item 7.A. Consideration and action to approve Bills and Payroll in the amount of $7,729,599.33, as requested by the Finance Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Bills and Payroll be approved.)
Item 7.B. Consideration and action to approve 1) the Purchase of A) two (2) Labrie Expert (T) 2000 Helping Hand Dual Arm Automated Side Loader Bodies from Key Equipment of Bridgeton, Missouri, in the amount of $452,139.00, using Sourcewell Contract (#091219- LEG, exp. 11/15/23); and B) two (2) 2021 Crane Carrier Model LDT2-30 Chassis from Cumberland Servicenter of Elk Grove Illinois, in the amount of $359,140.00, using Sourcewell Contract (#060920-CRN, exp. 8/1/24), for a total of $811,279.00, and 2) the Authorization to Dispose of the two (2) 2012 Crane Carrier LGT2-26 Automated Collection Trucks by online public auction, as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Purchase and Disposal be approved.)
Item 7.C. Consideration and action to approve the one-year (August 2021 - June 2022) School Crossing Guard Contract with All City Management Services, Inc. (ACMS) in an amount not to exceed $118,000, as requested by the Police Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Contract be approved.)
Item 7.D. Consideration and action to approve a Contract with SiteMed to provide OSHA-required Medical Surveillance and Physical Evaluation in compliance with NFPA 1582, in the amount not to exceed $50,000 annually for FY 2022 & FY 2023 ($100,000 in total), as requested by the Human Resources Department and the Fire Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Contract be approved.)
Item 7.E. Consideration and action to (1) renew the Agreement with Jellyvision (via the ALEX tool) as a limited source, so that employees may be better educated regarding their 2022 – 2024 benefits, (2) transfer administration of Flex Card/Health Savings Accounts from 121 Benefits to HAS Bank, and (3) authorize Gallagher to sign the Jellyvision Reseller Agreement on behalf of the City of Bloomington, as requested by the Human Resources Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Agreement be renewed, Administration be transferred, and Authorization be approved.)
Item 7.F. Consideration and action to approve an Agreement with McLean County Asphalt Co. Inc. for the City Parking Lots Project (Bid #2022-07), in the amount of $281,113.09, as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Agreement be approved.)
Item 7.G. Consideration and action to approve an updated City of Bloomington Investment Policy, as requested by the Finance Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Investment Policy be approved.)
Item 7.H. Consideration and action on a Resolution Authorizing the Initiation of Text Amendments to the Bloomington Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 44 of the Bloomington City Code, as requested by the Economic & Community Development Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Resolution be approved.)
Item 7.I. was pulled from the Consent Agenda by Council Member Ward.
Item 7.J. was pulled from the Consent Agenda by Council Member Boelen.
Item 7.K. was pulled from the Consent Agenda by Council Member Crabill.
Item 7.L. Consideration and action to approve an Application from Barmania, LLC, d/b/a Drifters, to be located at 612 N. Main St., requesting a Class TAS (Tavern, All Types of Alcohol, and Sunday Sales) Liquor License, as requested by the City Clerk Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed License be approved.)
Item 7.M. Consideration and action to approve a Lake Bloomington Lot Transfer and Supplemental Agreement for a portion of Lot 3 in Block 12 and Lot 3 in Block 14 in Camp Potawatomie, from the Estate of Rosslyn and Marilynn Elvidge, to the petitioners, Christopher and Sarah Powell, as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Lot Transfer and Supplemental Agreement be approved.)
Items Removed from Consent Agenda
The following item was presented:
Item 7.K. Consideration and action on an Ordinance Approving the Final Plat of Davis Block Subdivision, as requested by the Public Works Department.
Council Member Crabill received concerns about how the development would affect the Eastgate Subdivision. He reported that, after discussions with staff, the sewer inlets would flow water north instead of south towards the Eastgate area.
Council Member Crabill made a motion, seconded by Council Member Becker, to approve the proposed Ordinance be approved, subject to the petitioner providing the required sureties.
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Mathy, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Becker, Carrillo, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler Motion carried.
The following item was presented:
Item 7.I. Consideration and action on an Ordinance Amending Bloomington City Code Chapter 2, Section 85 Pertaining to Public Comment, as requested by the Legal Department and the City Clerk Department.
Council Member Ward stated that she pulled the item to highlight the importance of it. She explained the current public comment process and how the Ordinance would allow public comment to be received virtually. Council Member Ward discussed with Leslie Yocum, City Clerk, how individuals could register for public comment.
Council Member Ward made a motion, seconded by Council Member Crabill, that the proposed Ordinance be approved.
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Mathy, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Becker, Carrillo, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler Motion carried.
The following item was presented:
Item 7.J. Consideration and action on an Ordinance Amending the City Policy on Street & Alley Vacations, as requested by the Legal Department and the Public Works Department.
Council Member Boelen made a motion, seconded by Council Member Emig, to table the item until the September 13, 2021, City Council meeting.
Mayor Mwilambwe and Jeff Jurgens, Corporation Counsel, discussed the proposed Ordinance, which would amend the current policy to allow Council to waive the fee associated to the vacation, if desired. Mr. Jurgens clarified that the Ordinance that appeared in the Regular Agenda addressed the specific alley, which Council had a public hearing on at the August 9, 2021 City Council meeting. He explained that the policy would not be effective immediately.
Council Member Boelen expressed confusion with the item.
Mayor Mwilambwe and Mr. Jurgens discussed meeting procedure.
Council Member Ward and Mr. Jurgens discussed the potential to approve the Regular Agenda item and decline the Consent Agenda item, as well as any potential issues.
Council Member Montney asked for clarification on market value versus perceived value of the property. Mr. Jurgens explained the process of how staff determined the face value of the property. Bob Yehl, Assistant Director of Public Works, provided additional detail on how staff determined the value of the property. Council Member Montney expressed concern with the formula in that the property was not marketable. Mr. Jurgens responded that the City was allowed to request compensation for City-owned property.
Council Member Becker agreed with Council Member Montney and believed the City should move forward.
Council Member Mathy pointed out that Council’s discussion had turned to the alley vacation item on the Regular Agenda. He stressed instead that Council should focus on whether to table the Consent Agenda item.
Council Member Ward and Mr. Yehl discussed how only an adjacent property owner could benefit from the purchase the alleyway.
Council Member Crabill and Mr. Jurgens walked through the current alley vacation policy and that it doesn’t allow Council to waive property vacation fees for private ownership consideration, whereas the proposed amendment would give them that option. They then discussed process and ability to appeal the determined value of the property.
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Mathy, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Ward, Crabill
NAYES: Becker, Carrillo, Crumpler
Motion carried.
Regular Agenda
The following item was presented:
Item 8.A. Presentation of the City Youth Enrichment Program, as requested by the Human Resources Department.
City Manager Gleason told the community about the City’s Mentorship Program comprised of local students from the JULE Foundation and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (“NAACP”). He then asked Nicole Albertson, Human Resources (HR”) Director, to address Council. She provided a brief background of the Program and explained how the program had grown. She was excited to celebrate the program and praised staff for aspiring to grow the program and adding more enrichment opportunities. She recognized Jade and Andre Hursey, JULE Foundation founders, multiple Mentorship participants, and their parents. She also recognized Nikita Richards, Community Relations Manager for the City, who had been an integral part in the creation and continuance of the program. She introduced four Mentorship participants and invited them to present to Council.
Sahara Williams of Normal West High School was a mentee in Public Works. She discussed gaining interview experience, learning about City government, and how spending time in an environment with adults helped her communicate better with them. She noted that she couldn’t learn these things in school and appreciated how she was treated like an adult. She looked forward to more young adults participating in the program.
Jadon Eatman of Normal Community High School was a mentee in the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department as a T-Ball Leader, where he learned how to save money, be punctual, and communicate with children. He expressed his excitement to return to the program in 2022.
Jackson "Alex” Phillips of the University of Illinois-Chicago was a mentee in the City Clerk Department. He spoke about learning about the liquor license process, and all the things the City does to ensure businesses run appropriately. He complimented his time as a team member in the City Services Hub (“The Hub”) and shared that he was excited to share that he was able to stay on for a semester as a seasonal employee. He complimented the team for treating him equally and spoke about his great experience.
Bradley Jackson of Normal Community High School was able to be a mentee with multiple departments where he gained insights and perspectives on each. He learned the value in community connections and was involved in projects where he made a positive impact in residents’ lives within the Public Works Department. In his time with HR, he participated in interviews and was able to provide feedback on candidates, as well as work on an employee spotlight video project with another Mentorship participant. He worked with the City’s Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, where he learned the importance of diversity and inclusion of all backgrounds and abilities. He noted his time with multiple people within the Police Department and that his dispatch experience reinforced his appreciation for police officers. He recommended more students get involved in the program and it be advertised in even more ways.
Mayor Mwilambwe expressed appreciation to staff, students, and their parents involved in making the program a success. He discussed the importance of diversity and looked forward to the program continuing to grow.
Council Member Boelen commended the students for their participation.
Council Member Carrillo also commended the students.
Council Member Crabill appreciated the program and encouraged those who have not yet graduated to stay in touch with City staff for employment opportunities.
Council Member Emig celebrated the mentees and highlighted their leadership. She hoped they would help spread the word about the program.
Mayor Mwilambwe recognized the founders of the JULE Program, Jade and Andre Hursey, and pointed out that Andre is a Public Works’ employee. He highlighted the Hurseys’ work in the community.
The following item was presented:
Item 8.B. Consideration and action on an Ordinance Approving the Vacation of an Alley between Lot 8 of McDowell Subdivision and Lot 4 of J B Stevensons Subdivision, which will Vacate an Alley between 508 and 514 E. Jackson Street, and Waiving the City's Compensation Requirement, as requested by the Public Works Department and the Community Development Department.
City Manager Gleason asked Jeff Jurgens, Corporation Counsel, to advise Council how this item could be addressed since the policy amendment ordinance had been tabled earlier in the meeting. Mr. Jurgens explained that Council had two options: (1) it could approve the Ordinance and waive the compensation requirement or (2) table the item and direct staff to prepare an ordinance that required compensation where Council would vote at a future meeting.
Council Member Mathy made a motion, seconded by Council Member Emig, to approve Alternative A: that the proposed Ordinance be approved.
Council Member Mathy expressed support in the item and explained that the alley was in disrepair with no plans in place to fix it for years. He noted that the Petitioner wants to update and maintain the property and believed it was in the best interest of the City to waive fees for the property so that Petitioner could move forward.
Council Members Boelen and Mathy discussed use of the property. Council Member Boelen believed that there should be compensation, or the City should consider looking into brick restoration opportunities with the alley.
Council Member Ward expressed her belief that if the item was approved, it would benefit a single private resident. City Manager Gleason noted that, if approved, it would be a mutually beneficial arrangement because the City would experience savings in maintenance. Council Member Ward was not in favor of the item.
Council Member Crumpler supported the current motion as the City did not have intentions of replacing the alley.
Council Member Emig and Mr. Yehl discussed that the City had not received funds for alley vacations in the past. They also speculated that the requirement of payment would likely hinder private citizens’ desire to obtain property to maintain. Mr. Yehl noted that the Petitioner had indicated he did not wish to move forward if payment was required. Council Member Emig supported the item.
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Mathy, Montney, Emig, Becker, Crumpler
NAYS: Boelen, Carrillo, Ward, Crabill
Motion failed because a ¾ vote in favor of the waiver was required for it to pass. Mr. Jurgens confirmed vote requirements for passage.
Council Member Carrillo made a motion, seconded by Council Member Boelen, that Alternative B: that the matter be tabled until September 13, 2021, be approved and an Ordinance be brought back with a requirement that compensation be paid.
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Mathy, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Becker, Carrillo, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler Motion carried.
Finance Director's Report
City Manager Tim Gleason introduced the item and asked Scott Rathbun, Finance Director, to address Council. Mr. Rathbun discussed issues with finding labor and how staff have adjusted their processes for capital projects. He presented the Fiscal Year 2022 (“FY22”) financial summary and discussed FY22 major tax revenues through July 31, 2021, highlighting key factors and increases in revenue. He presented FY22 general fund revenue and expenditures by category and provided updates on significant changes. Mr. Rathbun went on to discuss general fund highlights of FY22 and noted factors that impacted the cost of projects.
Council Member Mathy noted that a significant amount of people were in town at the Ferrero Roche manufacturing plant, which contributed to the increase in hotel/motel tax.
City Manager's Discussion
City Manager Gleason highlighted multiple upcoming Downtown Bloomington events and Welcoming Week. He recognized Interim Chief Greg Scott's retirement and thanked him for his 25 years of dedicated service.
Interim Chief Scott thanked Council for the opportunity to serve and recognized the outstanding men and women of the Bloomington Police Department. He thanked his wife, Trina, and their daughter for their continued support throughout his career. He received a standing ovation from Council, staff, and all present at the meeting. He was also accompanied by his grandson, who he looked forward to spending time with in retirement.
City Manager Gleason noted that according to the 2020 Census, Bloomington grew from approximately 76,000 to 78,000 residents. He stated that an offer had been extended to a Police Chief finalist and hoped to have a press release in the coming days.
Mayor's Discussion
Mayor Mwilambwe thanked Interim Chief Scott for his service and for stepping into the Interim Chief position. He thanked Mrs. Scott for her support, noting the difficulty of being a spouse to a first responder. He then informed the community that, with Council Member Carrillo’s resignation, he and staff were processing applications for a replacement.
City Manager Gleason noted with the return of the student population to Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University, and in light of the Delta variant of COVID-19,
COVID-19 numbers were being closely monitored. He stated that there was significant communication happening between both University Presidents and City Administration. Mayor Mwilambwe noted that both universities had a high vaccination rate.
Council Member's Discussion
Council Member Ward encouraged residents and students to get vaccinated.
Council Member Mathy thanked Interim Chief Scott and Council Member Carrillo for their service. He recognized the staff members who made the Saturdays on the Square concert series possible.
Council Member Emig echoed appreciation for Interim Chief Scott and Council Member Carrillo for their service. She echoed the statements of Council Member Ward.
Council Member Boelen also echoed appreciation for Interim Chief Scott and Council Member Carrillo for their service. She noted a coalition of organizations that would have a booth at two upcoming Farmer's Markets to spread the word about Welcoming Week.
Council Members Crumpler and Crabill shared appreciation for Interim Chief Scott and Council Member Carrillo’s service. Council Member Crabill discussed conversations on alternative uses within the asphalt program with staff.
Council Member Carrillo thanked Council for their kind words. She shared concerns with rules on housing status for Council Members and believed it created barriers for individuals of lower income households to run and hold office. She explained that the previous mayor had worked closely with former Council Member Black, Ward 7, when he resigned from his position to appoint a successor based on his recommendation. Council Member Carrillo stated that she had not been contacted for a similar process, but hoped that the interview process would be intentional based on her values, which had voted her to office. She strongly encouraged Council to appoint a Ward 6 representative that aligned their views with hers as she was elected by the Ward 6 community to represent them. She thanked Council for the opportunity to serve her community.
Executive Session - Personnel - Section 2(c)(1) of 5 ILCS 120
Mayor Mwilambwe stated that an Executive Session was scheduled, but had been cancelled. Council would reconvene in Executive Session on September 13, 2021, to discuss the item.
Adjournment
Council Member Boelen made a motion, seconded by Council Member Carrillo, to adjourn.
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Mathy, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Becker, Carrillo, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler Motion carried (viva voce).
Meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
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