City of Bloomington City Council met Jan. 10.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The City Council convened in regular session virtually via Zoom conferencing with Mayor Pro Tem, Jamie Mathy; the Deputy City Manager, Billy Tyus; and City Clerk, Leslie Yocum, in-person in the Government Center Chambers at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Jamie Mathy.
Roll Call
| Attendee Name | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Mboka Mwilambwe | Mayor | Absent | |
| Jamie Mathy | Council Member, Ward 1 | Present | |
| Donna Boelen | Council Member, Ward 2 | Remote | |
| Sheila Montney | Council Member, Ward 3 | Remote | |
| Julie Emig | Council Member, Ward 4 | Remote | |
| Nick Becker | Council Member, Ward 5 | Remote | |
| De Urban | Council Member, Ward 6 | Remote | |
| Mollie Ward | Council Member, Ward 7 | Remote | |
| Jeff Crabill | Council Member, Ward 8 | Present | |
| Tom Crumpler | Council Member, Ward 9 | Remote |
No recognitions or appointments were made.
Public Comment
Mayor Pro Tem Mathy read a statement of procedure for public comment aloud. Chris Barnhill and Adecia Henkel had emailed public comment prior to the meeting. Seve Day and Carmen Boulden Day provided in-person public comment. The following individuals provided remote public comment: (1) Jenee Clark; (2) Matthew Toczko; (3) Carol Koos; (4) Edward Breitweiser; and (5) Olivia Butts.
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 Item 7.G.
Mayor Pro Tem Mathy directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Mathy, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Becker, Urban, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler Motion carried.
Item 7.A. Consideration and action to approve the Minutes of the November 15, 2021 Committee of the Whole Meeting, as requested by the City Clerk Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Minutes be approved.)
Item 7.B. Consideration and action to approve Bills and Payroll in the amount of $10,120,970.15, as requested by the Finance Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Bills and Payroll be approved.)
Item 7.C. Consideration and action to approve Appointments and Reappointment to Boards & Commissions, as requested by the Administration Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Appointments and Reappointment be approved.)
Item 7.D. Consideration and action to approve a Purchase Order with Dell, Inc. for the Microsoft Enterprise Software Annual Renewal for software maintenance and support covering the City's Microsoft licensing, in the amount of $199,312.77, from the State of Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology Joint Purchasing Contract CMT #1176800, as requested by the Information Technology Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Purchase Order be approved.)
Item 7.E. Consideration and action to approve an Agreement with Gildner, Inc., for the FY 2022 CDBG West Bloomington Sidewalk Corridors Program (Bid #2022-05), in the amount of $107,581.90, as requested by the Public Works Department and the Economic & Community Development Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Agreement be approved.)
Item 7.F. Consideration and action to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Bloomington and Bloomington Public Schools, District 87, so that they can purchase rock salt from the City during winter 2021-2022, in the amount of $66.97 per ton for the existing supply left over from the 2020-2021 season, and in the amount of $69.95 per ton once the existing supply is exhausted, not to exceed 250 tons, as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Intergovernmental Agreement be approved.)
Item 7.G. was removed from the Consent Agenda by Council Member Crabill.
Item 7.H. Consideration and action to approve a Contract with Donohue & Associates, Inc., for Fort Jesse Tank Rehabilitation construction, observation, and contract administration, in the amount not to exceed $186,800, as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Contract be approved.)
Item 7.I. Consideration and action to approve a Contract with Shive-Hattery, Inc., for the Lake Parks Maintenance Building Design, in the amount not to exceed $70,500, as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Contract be approved.)
Item 7.J. Consideration and action on a Resolution Authorizing Waiving the Formal Bidding Process and Approving the Carahsoft Technology Corporation at Granicus Agreement/Quote for Three (3) years in the Amount of $101,233.28, as requested by the Information Technology Department and the City Clerk Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Resolution and Agreement be approved.)
Item 7.K. Consideration and action on a Resolution Authorizing Waiving the Technical Bidding Requirements and Approving the Contract Between the United States Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Central Midwest Water Science Center and the City of Bloomington for the Installation, Operation, and Maintenance of Stream Gages on Six Mile Creek, Money Creek, and Kickapoo Creek, in the amount of $74,400 for FY22 and $43,200 for FY23, for a total amount of $117,600, as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Resolution and Contract be approved.)
Item 7.L. Consideration and action on an Ordinance Authorizing a Construction Contract Between the City of Bloomington and Fisher Tank Company for the Fort Jesse Tank Rehabilitation (Bid #2022-12), in the Amount of $4,059,300, as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Ordinance be approved.)
Item 7.M. Consideration and action to approve a Lake Bloomington Lot Transfer and Supplemental Agreement for Lots 19 & 20 in Block 2 in Camp Kickapoo, from Craig C. Hart to the petitioner, Craig C. Hart, Trustee of the Craig C. Hart Revocable Trust Dated July 16, 2021, as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Lot Transfer, Petition, and Supplemental Agreement be approved.)
Item 7.N. Consideration and action to approve a Lake Bloomington Lot Transfer and Supplemental Agreement for Lot 2 in Block 2 in Camp Iroquois, from Janet Wiser to the petitioner, The Wiser Family Trust Dated October 26, 2021, as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Lot Transfer, Petition, and Supplemental Agreement be approved.)
Items Removed from Consent Agenda
Item 7.G. Consideration and action to approve an Agreement, as a sole source, with Flock Safety for a 24-month fixed annual cost to automatically renew each year contingent on approval in the annual budget, as requested by the Police Department.
Council Member Crabill read portions of an article from the International Association of Police Chiefs that highlighted potential risks associated with the implementation of surveillance similar to that of the proposed traffic cameras being considered. He expressed interest in creating strong written policy to govern staff use and access of the program. He then thanked Police Chief Jamal Simington for his recent email providing additional information on the cameras. He expressed concern with the timeline for considering and approving the contract, as well as stressed the need for public input. He was supportive of leveraging technology to protect residents, but was concerned about privacy.
Council Member Crabill made a motion, seconded by Council Member Ward, to table the item to the February 28, 2022, Council Meeting.
Council Member Ward noted support of additional surveillance by her constituents and provided an example of when cameras would have been beneficial in an incident near her property. She expressed mixed feelings on the item overall and believed time was needed to have necessary additional discussions.
Council Member Boelen believed the item could be tabled to an earlier date than February 28th and suggested a public hearing be held at the next Committee of the Whole. She expressed support for the item with additional discussion. She provided two incidents, including the Jelani Day case, where cameras could have been instrumental.
Council Member Montney expressed support in the item and cautioned delaying the item as it could be a tool to keep residents safe. She stressed the cameras were limited to license plates and not facial recognition. She further expressed her support.
Council Member Crumpler expressed support in the current motion. He supported the item and the new technology, but requested time to connect with his constituents. He also believed the public should have an opportunity to weigh-in. He believed that even with additional discussion the item could come back before February 28th.
Council Member Emig was supportive of the current motion and thanked Chief Simington for the information that he provided. She noted that BPD (Bloomington Police Department) planned to implement a retention policy for data to be addressed on a regular basis and ensured accountability to Council. She encouraged collaboration with the community.
Council Member Becker expressed support in the item and reported that his constituents, specifically around the abandoned bowling alley, fully supported the installation of additional security measures. He too believed the cameras could have aided in the Jelani Day case. He did not support tabling the item, but requested that if the item was tabled, it be for the shortest delay motioned.
Billy Tyus, Deputy City Manager, explained that the agreement would purchase and install ten license plate reader cameras to be placed throughout the City. He highlighted limitations on stored data and went on to explain that the cameras would be used for major crimes. He stated that the cameras would not target one specific area and then mentioned examples of the types of crimes in which the license plate readers would be used.
Police Chief Jamal Simington explained that the BPD had taken a slow and diligent approach to the implementation of cameras. He explained that staff have worked closely with other communities that have implemented similar camera programs and noted their overwhelming positive feedback. He noted that the cameras would be in addition to the 18 public safety cameras already in use and that they would significantly reduce staff time. Chief Simington went on to explain that BPD was drafting procedures by comparing best practices of other municipalities throughout the nation to ensure proper use of the new technology. He explained that access rules would be very tight and highlighted that if given the opportunity to purchase the technology, Bloomington would be one of the first to have a dashboard display of results. He ended by discussing audit procedures and an annual presentation the Department intended to provide to Council for additional transparency.
Council Member Crabill stated that he would like the item to appear before the Public Safety and Community Relations Board ("PSCRB") and the Technology Commission.
Council Member Crabill made a motion, seconded by Council Member Ward, to amend the current motion on the floor by tabling the item to the February 14, 2022, Council Meeting.
Council Member Boelen discussed her reasoning for the earlier meeting recommendation and desire to amend the current motion. Council Member Boelen and Mayor Pro Tem Mathy then discussed parliamentary procedure on motions.
Mayor Pro Tem Mathy stated that while he was a proponent of technology, he expressed mixed feelings regarding the installation of these cameras. He discussed the duty of Council to protect the community and noted the Technology Commission’s work to draft privacy policies on the data that the City captured.
Mayor Pro Tem Mathy directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Mathy, Boelen, Emig, Urban, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler
NAYES: Montney, Becker
Motion carried.
City Manager's Discussion
Deputy City Manager Tyus informed Council of the PSCRB's next meeting date. He then highlighted multiple upcoming Downtown events.
Mayor's Discussion
Mayor Pro Tem Mathy expressed sympathy to the Jelani Day family. He explained that he had received numerous questions regarding the case, and he stressed that Council Members receive very limited information on ongoing investigations. He then reminded residents to stay diligent as COVID cases had recently significantly increased.
Council Member's Discussion
Council Member Crabill also expressed sympathy for the family of Jelani Day. He recommended that BPD increase providing regular updates to the Jelani Day family.
Executive Session
No Executive Session was held.
Adjournment
Council Member Boelen made a motion, seconded by Council Member Crumpler, that the meeting be adjourned.
Mayor Pro Tem Mathy directed the Clerk to call the roll, which resulted in the following:
AYES: Mathy, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Becker, Urban, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m.
https://www.cityblm.org/government/city-council/meetings-agendas
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