City of Bloomington City Council met Jan. 23.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The City Council convened in regular session in the Government Center Chambers at 6:00 p.m., Monday, January 23, 2023. Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance ending with a moment of silent prayer/reflection.
Roll Call
| Attendee Name | Title | Status |
| Mboka Mwilambwe | Mayor | Present |
| Grant Walch | 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 |
| De Urban | 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 |
Public Comment
Mayor Mwilambwe read a statement of public comment procedure. No emailed public comment was received. The following individuals spoke in-person: (1) Jackie Beyer; (2) Karla Baily-Smith; (3) Jennifer Golliday; and (4) John Morrissey.
Recognition/Appointments
The following item was presented:
Item 6.A. Proclamation for Health for Humanity Yogathan, as requested by the Administration Department.
Mayor Mwilambwe read the Proclamation and presented it to Sudhir Pai the representative from Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS). Mr. Sudhir Pai spoke about Yogathan and its 18th year of practice in 350 centers. He spoke about several acts of service the HSS holds as well and reaffirmed HSS’ commit to continue to serve the community.
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 Ward made a motion, seconded by Council Member Boelen, to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of 7.E.
Item 7.A. Consideration and Action to Approve the Minutes of the December 12, 2022, Regular City Council Meeting, as requested by the City Clerk Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Minutes be approved.)
Item 7.B. Consideration and Action to Approve the Minutes of the January 9, 2023, Regular City Council Meeting, as requested by the City Clerk Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Minutes be approved.)
Item 7.C. Consideration and Action to Approve Bills and Payroll in the Amount of $9,533,476.57, as requested by the Finance Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Bills and Payroll be approved.)
Item 7.D. Consideration and Action to Approve the Purchase of Tyler MUNIS Annual Software Licensing Maintenance with Tyler Technologies in the Amount of $109,860.45, as requested by the Information Technology Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Purchase be approved.)
Item 7.E. was pulled from the Consent Agenda by Council Member Montney.
Item 7.F. Consideration and Action on an Ordinance Approving a Utility Agreement for the Extension of Sewer and Water Mains and for the Provision of Sewer and Water Services between the City of Bloomington and TKnTK, LLC, as requested by the Public Works Department, and the Economic & Community Development Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Ordinance be approved.)
Item 7.G. Consideration and Action on an Ordinance Approving the Preliminary Plan for HDI Subdivision for the Property Generally Located Near the Intersection of E. Hamilton Road and Bunn Street, Consisting of 40.92 Acres More or Less, PINs: 21-15-152 -010, 21-15-151-018, 21 -15-102-005, 21-15-102-006 and 21-15-151-020, as requested by the Economic & Community Development Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Ordinance be approved.)
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call roll:
AYES: Walch, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Becker, Urban, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler Motion carried.
Items Pulled from the Consent Agenda
The following Item was pulled by Council Member Montney:
Item 7.E. Consideration and Action on a Federal Lobbying Professional Services Agreement with Thorn Run Partners for the City for a Three-Year Period Beginning on February 1, 2023, as requested by the Administration Department.
Council Member Montney expressed concerns about cost and effectiveness of the Item. She explained that she didn't believe the Item reflected the priorities of the City.
Council Member Crumpler agreed with Council Member Montney and expressed his believe that it was a lot of money to spend on the service. He asked about expectations and wondered if other communities benefited such a service.
Deputy City Manager, Billy Tyus, explained that staff believed the contracted service would allow the City to be more intentional with efforts to secure funding. He spoke about the difficulty of keeping up with legislation and how having an outside perspective would help secure additional funding in the long run. He shared why Thorn Run was selected and why it was important for the City to have such a contractor advocating for it.
Council Member Crabill asked about how the proposed compensation compared the last lobbyist hired by the City. Mr. Tyus distinguished the difficulty between City involvement at the state-level and at the federal-level including costs. He emphasized Thorn Run's achievements and how critical it was to take next steps given the next Congressional session fast approaching.
Council Member Ward stated that she’d like to spend some time with the company in order to ensure she could voice the priorities of her Ward. Mr. Tyus agreed and explained that if the Item were approved, Thorn Run would meet with Council and Staff very soon to determine priorities. The two then discussed timelines.
Council Member Walsh made arguments that current elected officials at the state and federal levels should be fighting for and speaking for the City.
Council Member Montney spoke about several organizations that the City belongs to that are supposed to be lobbying for the City as part of the City’s memberships.
Council Member Emig spoke to contract language that demonstrated the company's accountability and what they would be required to do for the City.
Council Member Becker asked about the City's confidence on a return on investment. Mr. Tyus stated that he couldn’t guarantee funding, but that based off conversations with others who utilize Thorn Run for similar types of service were very happy with their results.
Council Member Crabill agreed with and echoed Council Member Emig’s comments. He believed it was necessary to contract for the service.
Council Member Crabill made a motion, seconded by Council Member Ward, to approve the Item as presented.
Council member Crumpler spoke about different communities paying less for similar services and wondered why costs ended as they did. Mr. Tyus explained that different agreements would have different levels of service and that he couldn’t speak to other agreements. He stated that the City would be the only community represented by Thorn Run in the State of Illinois.
Council Member Montney and Mr. Tyus discussed the idea of Thorn Run advocating on the City’s behalf. Council Member Montney was critical of the idea.
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call roll:
AYES: Boelen, Emig, Ward, Crabill
NAYES: Walch, Montney, Becker, Urban, Crumpler
Motion failed.
Regular Agenda
The following Item was presented:
Item 8.A. Consideration and Action on a Resolution Approving the Fiscal Year 2024 John M. Scott Health Care Trust Grant Awards and Programmatic Agreements, in the amount of $712,364.68 for Category I and II Grants, as requested by the Economic & Community Development Department.
Deputy City Manager Tyus introduced the Item and William Bessler, Grants Coordinator.
Mr. Bessler spoke about the healthcare needs of the community and thanked everyone involved with the John M. Scott Health Care Commission. He introduced Karen Stepp, the Commission Chair.
Ms. Stepp spoke about the different types of grants available, as well as funding, application statistics and funding requests. She then broke down $712,364.68 funding recommendation delineating between the different areas of health the grants focused on.
Council Member Crabill and Ms. Stepp discussed the number of applicants for the year compared to last, as well as the number of new and repeat organizations that had applied.
Jeff Jurgens, Corporation Counsel, explained that Council Member Urban had recused herself because she sits on one of the non-profit boards involved.
Council Member Crabill made a motion, seconded by Council Member Boelen, to approve the Item as presented.
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call roll:
AYES: Walch, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Becker, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler
Motion carried.
Council Member Urban recused herself at 6:49 p.m. and returned at 6:56p.m. The following Item was presented:
Item 8.B. Consideration and Action on a Resolution Adopting the City Council Retreat Final Report Identifying Strategic Priorities and Associated Milestones as Compiled by Strategic Government Resources, as requested by the Administration Department.
Deputy City Manager Tyus introduced the Item and spoke about next steps.
Council member Boelen expressed concerns with the Report not specifying priorities. Mr. Tyus stated that next steps would be to determine priorities. They then discussed how often the document would be reviewed. Council Member Boelen expressed concern that some of the objectives fell outside of the City's purview.
Council Member Ward provided clarification on an objective.
Council Member Boelen expressed the importance of clear wording and direction.
Council Member Walch made a motion, seconded by Council Member Emig, to approve the Item as presented.
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call roll:
AYES: Walch, Montney, Emig, Becker, Urban, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler
NAYES: Boelen
Motion carried.
Finance Director's Report
Scott Rathbun, Finance Director, addressed Council. He discussed major tax revenues for Fiscal Year 2023 and compared year-to-date figures to variances from prior years. He spoke about the State grocery tax suspension running from July 2022 to June 2023 and highlighted utility tax numbers. He then discussed General Fund Expenditures and the Enterprise Funds. He ended by reminding the community where to locate the presentations on the City's website.
City Manager's Discussion
Deputy City Manager Tyus discussed multiple upcoming events at City properties and in the Downtown. He also thanked Ferrero for participating in the Tour De Chocolat event.
Mayor's Discussion
Mayor Mwilambwe thanked Police Chief Simington for his working in starting the Lights On Program in which officers give motorists pulled over with a vehicle light out a voucher to get the light fixed instead of giving them a ticket.
Council Member's Discussion
No discussed was had.
Executive Session
Item 13.A. Claim Settlement - Section 2(c)(12) of 5 ILCS 120
Council Member Boelen made a motion, seconded by Council Member Becker, to enter Executive Session per Section 2(c)(12) of 5 ILCS 120 for a Claim Settlement.
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call roll:
AYES: Walch, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Becker, Urban, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler Motion carried.
Adjournment
Council Member Boelen made a motion, seconded by Council Member Ward, to return to Open Session.
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call roll:
AYES: Walch, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Becker, Urban, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler Motion carried.
Council Member Boelen made a motion, seconded by Council Member Emig, to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried (viva voce).
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
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